QUEEN MARIE IN AMERICA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19947, 15 November 1926, Page 10

QUEEN MARIE IN AMERICA.

QUIZZED BY YANKEE SCRIBES. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO. October 20. Despite the fact that the Americans are supposed to abhor royalty and main tain that a republican form of Government is best, all the country was worked up to a paroxysm of excitement when Queen Alans of Rumania and her royal party stepped upon American soil in New York. Day after day readers of leading newspapers of the United States had been regaled, if not even surfeited with a glorification of trivialities on board the Leviathan as it voyaged from France across the Atlantic until its arrival at Manhattan Island. To add to the excitement, American business firms were not slow to exploit the visit of the Rumanian Queen, and rival concerns fought desperately to obtain the Queens patronage for face powder and other cosmetics, and thousands of other articles. Rival motor car companies shook the elements when they competed for the honour of carrying the Royal party on their peregrinations in America Newsapaper syndicates and magazines be sought the Queen, even while she was at sea, to write exclusively for theii readers, until at last it was difficult for the battery of Yankee scribes massed at New York to expect to obtain even a few desultory impressions from the distinguished visitor when she stepped ashore. All the grandames of society struggled valiantly for the honour of being in a position to entertain the renowned regal personality of Europe. Detectives were engaged to “ shadow ” Miss Loie Fuller the world-renowned dancer, in an effort to ascertain what part she proposed to play in the activities of Queen Marie as there had been reports that the dancer, who, back in the 90’s, created a sensation on the stage with her “ butterfly dance,” was endeavouring to influence the Queen, whom she visited at the Royal Palace at Sinaia, in her social activities. Report also had it that Radu Djuvara me Rumanian charge d’affaires, who was in charge of the arrangements of the Queen, had resigned because of unwillingness “to work under a dancer.” Miss Fuller actually was ill in the Plaza Hotel, in New York, suffering from bronchitis, and through a companion she issued a statement saying she was absolutely innocent of any trouble in the Rumanian Legation over the visit of Queen Marie. The statement denied that she had been in radio communication with the Queen or that she had received any radio messages from her. Following this came reports that Queen Marie had decided to earn the price of her trip to America. Spurred on by criticism in her own country of her expensive journey at a time when economic conditions were unsatisfactory, it was said that the Queen was prepared to “do a Red Grange ” act on her arrival m New York, To back tfiis contention there appeared in jfew York so-called Queen Marie perfumes, toilet waters, gowns and other articles, all claiming the direct or indirect endorsement of her Royal Highness. The offers which many business firms made to her business agent were at such startling figures that it was believed the Queen would be justified in departing from royal precedent to accept some of them. The kinema industry were hot on the track, but Queen Marie indicated she would not consider an offer of 25,000 dollars for one day in the movies, although it was stated that she was' not adverse to “ writing a few scenarios.” With the Eastern railway and hotel accommodation free, it was said the Queen expected to return to Rumania with a nice bank balance to swell the fund she had been raising for needy children. Presents began to fall to her lot even before she reached New York, a wireless despatch saying the Queen had been presented aboard the Leviathan with a watch smaller than a sixpence piece, studded with 20 diamonds set in plati uum. It was made by Arde Bulova, a Rumanian living in New York. It took six months to make it. The Queen accepted the watch, and immediately began wearing it. It was the gift of the New York News Photographers’ Association Aside from all this phase of the visit a storm broke out in Western America respecting the Queen’s projected visit to Seattle and San Francisco, and the two leading railway companies caused a great surprise when they announced that they could not,, agree to transport the special royal train from Seattle to Southern Cali fornia for three dollars—a paltry 12s—which it was expected would be the nominal charge for the service on the railway. It was pointed out by the railway authorities that when the Queen of Belgium and the Swedish Prince visited Western America they both paid their expenses in full. No reason could be seen for making a distinction in the case of the visit of .Queen Marie and her entourage. A drizzling rain nich damped eyerying but the spirit of the smiling visitors and the cheering 1 .dreds, were features of the reception tendered - the regal party when the crowds forced their way to the Battery, New York, for a glimpse of the first Queen to visit America in seven years, and thousands lined the path of the royal party’s progress from the to the City Hall and on to the Pennsylvania Station, but the weather did much to prevent the noisy demonstration of welcome that had been expected. The City Hall Plaza itself was jammed with watchers whose determination could not be dampened bv rain, but they indulged in no cheering, and the line of march was thinly peopled in comparison to the fair weather crowds which have greeted other royalty and lesser celebrities with noisy abandon. Altho-srh there were not as much noise in the greeting as had been anticipated, t’ Queen and her party were treated to the peculiar •eception that lower Broadway always gives its famous visitors—the paper snowstorm. As .the 30 motor cars of the regal party proceeded through the great stone canyon, ticker tape spiralled to the street from a thousand windows, and the contents of countless waste-baskets fluttered through the air. Before her arrival at the Battery the Queen granted an interview n board the Leviathan . There were some 200 reporters huddled together in a dripping mass in the foyer outside the Presidential suite about a roped enclosure. "A hiish fell

suddenly and Marie was there, standing gracefully inside the ropes and i—uiling at the newspaper men and women. Clad in a wine-coloured velvet coat with black fur collar and cuffs and with a gold turban topping her chestnut bob, the Queen was in striking contrast to_ the bedraggled throng about her. Telling the reporters that she had heard ,n the boat about the barrage of questions they would hurl at her, the Queen proceeded to take the interview into her own hands. “1 have not yet had time to see much of America, she said, “but lam very excited. I anticipate having a lovelv time. I came here to see all the beautiful things in America. I don’t know what I want to see most; I want to see everything beautiful, and I know I shall find here some of the love that Rumanians have for Americans. I am especially interested in the position of women here, what they have been doing in the cause of peace. Women have done so much for peace. Some day women will end war; that is, if thev di i t start fighting among themselves? The interview lasted but a scant five minutes, and during that time the Queen talked steadily, her voice a soft ripple with a suggestion of the Scotch burr. . After the interview the Queen, her daughter. Princess Ileana, and her son, Prince Nicholas posed for photographs, and while thus engaged someone asked the Queen whether she would _ bo willing for Tloana to marry an American. ‘Oh, she is too young to have to worry about that yet,” the mother laughed, and Ileana and Nicholas both smiled. During the interview Marie spoke of her habit of constantly writing her impressions, and this brought a question whether she would write for any syndicates while in America. “Oh, I wouldn’t have time for that, _ she replied. “Is the report true that this is to be the only interview you will grant? she was asked “Well,” she responded, “I had to make some arrangement; I can t be giving interviews all the time, can 1. The representative of a Jewish newspaper asked about the treatment of Jews in Rumania, and Queen Marie replied: I' l6 Jews have been very fond of me. 1 hope they always will be. All people are treated alike in my country and the Jews are good people.” . ... On the Macom the Queen was asked it, when she returns to Rumania, she would take with hed her son, Prince Carol, who renounced his rights as heir apparent to the throne, but with whom she was reported to have effected a reconciliation just l before sailing. “I am afraid not yet, she said “He has made a great mistake in hie life and he will just have to take his punishment like anyone else. I hope he can come back some day.’ The Queen was whisked away through New York so quickly that Mannatten residents as a whole were hardly aware of her passing. She stepped ashore with her party at the Battery shortly before noon and hardly an hour later was on her way in a special train to Washington ceremonies at the New York City Hall having occupied the interim.