Legacy, Confidences

Marie was kissing Marie; mother was embracing daughter; Dowager Queen Marie of Rumania was bidding a gracious, willowy farewell at Bucharest, last week, to Queen Marie of Jugoslavia, her recent house guest (TIME, March 5).

Rumanians learned of the parting with dour thoughts, Jugoslavs with joy. Reason: Queen Marie of Jugoslavia carried home to Belgrade in her special train, last week, documents transferring to her a huge cash legacy from her late father, King Ferdinand of Rumania (TIME, Aug. i). Generous, the bequest amounts to 80,000,000 lei ($4,800,000), a sour grape for Rumanians, a plump plum for Jugoslavs.

By contrast, the bequests to Marie of Rumania from her late husband, are not in cash but in the form of a life tenancy of Cotroceni, her favorite palace in Bucharest, plus barely sufficient life grants and stipends to keep the wolf a decent, royal distance from her door. Therefore, the departure of Marie of Jugoslavia, figuratively bearing 80,000,000 lei, must have tried her mother's nerves. So serene and queenly is Marie of Rumania, however, that two days later she was confiding optimistically to correspondents.*

Of her palace home she said: "I hope that Cotroceni will remain a hospitable centre for those who are suffering and are in need, for those who take an interest in art and literature or who work for charity, besides being a home for my children. In short, Cotroceni will continue to be the heart of the country."

Twiddling the little key to her jewel box which always hangs from her left wrist, Queen Marie continued:

"I wrote a story lately for the children of America, as I had promised during my visit to the United States in 1926.

"When I began to write my story I experienced difficulty in finding material that would interest them. I finally hit upon the following idea--"The old grandmother in a little American house brings a little orphan child a Rumanian doll. As soon as the child takes the gift in its arms the doll comes to life and starts to sing Rumanian songs. The child is fascinated. Then, as if by magic, the doll whisks the child away to distant Rumania. . . .

"The American child and the bewitched doll, accompanied by a little Rumanian shepherd child, travel through Rumania. Rumania would not hold such charm for American children if the Queen of Rumania didn't live there. It was not easy lo describe myself, but I hope I succeeded.

"In the meantime, the King dies. In order that the story be up-to-date, the children find the Queen in mourning among the lilies of the Black Sea, which is not black, but blue. Here the American child takes leave of the Queen. The child awakens and recognizes its grandmother, to whom it tells its impressions of Rumania."

After pausing for an instant, Her Majesty added as a potent afterthought: "I am also writing the story of my life. . . . It is a long task. ... As a child I knew all the great personalities of the day."

Speaking at last of her six-year-old grandson, King Mihai of Rumania, the Dowager Queen, 52, said: "At present he speaks only two languages, Rumanian and English. He is a very understanding child and he often blurts out the most unex pected remarks. He is good looking. . . . But whenever I see him a certain sadness overcomes me, for we cherished other dreams for him."

Presumably such "other dreams" envisioned King Mihai in the status of Crown Prince, and pictured on the Rumanian throne his now abdicated father, Prince Carol, eldest son of Queen Marie.

During the week Prince Carol continued to dwell at the smart, sumptuous Hotel Negresco, in Nice, French Riviera, with his auburn haired Jewish friend, Mme. Magda Lupescu (TIME, Feb. 27). A hard-boiled Chicago Tribune correspondent penetrated their decent privacy to the extent of discovering that they occupy one room and bath not facing the sea.

Headlined the Tribune, prematurely: CAROL AND HIS SWEETIE BROKE, LIVE IN i ROOM.

*-Since the death of King Ferdinand, Queen Marie has not ceased to have "conversations" with correspondents; but her principal lady in waiting contends that "such 'conversations' are not 'interviews,' which could not possibly be granted while Her Majesty is in mourning."