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EVENING PUBLIC LEDGERr-PmLADELPHIA. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8,, 1922
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WEEN-E YED R UMANIAN PRINCE FINDS AMERICA
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THE REALITY OF ALL ARABIAN NIGHTS DREAMS
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bibesce, Minister te United
States, Views Country TVith
Eye of an Artist
LAND OF WONDERS,
SA YS ENVOY-WRITER
Condemns "Main Street" and
Leves Bebe Daniels, Marvel
of the Films
k MERICA it. like an Arabian Nights tale come true!
A In that one sentence Prince Antoine Bibesce, RumnnianMinister te
tie United States, sums up the complexity of impressions he has received
'here in the last two years.
All the gossamer threads of fancy in theso old wonder stories, the
prince believes, are in the shuttle of life here and are weaving a pattern
of civilization that outdistances imagination.
The Prince is net only a diplomat with a background of life in many
European capitals, particularly Londen and Paris, but her is n creative
artist as well. And it is with the eyes of a playwright and litterateur that
be likes best te envision America.
"Europe has se mnny things te learn from America," said the Prince
. during a flying visit te Philadelphia, his first since his appointment te
Washington in the summer of 1920. "America is like an Arabian Nights
Ule come true, a land of perpetual wonders. Europeans nre able te
ipprcciate this country even better than the Americans themselves, for
they bring witn tnem a iresnness
tt view
"I strongly admire the part played
in American civilization by American
women. I don't think there Is a
I country in the world where woman
plays her part with greater perfec
tion. In artistic achievement, in
music, in general culture, she is
comparing mere than favorably with
her sisters of the Old World."
Playwright of Nete,
Praises American Stage
The Prince's compliment is all the
stronger because his career has
brought him into Intimate contact
with the elite of Europe and has
made him a familiar in the salons of
Paris, Vienna and pre-wnr Petregrnd
and the drawing rooms of Londen.
Prince Bihesce devotes some of
Ms lerurc te playwriting and Berne
of hi", comedies have achieved
celebrity in France. One of his
plays which had a long run at the
French capital is "Les Jalenx."
It was quite natural, therefore, for
the Prince te talk abelit the Amer
ican stage.
"There has been a tremendous
development of the American
stage," hi? remarked. "But in spite
of that development I de net be
lieve th.t American talent is en
couraged enough. As seen as a play
is produced in Londen or Parjs it
is sought for this country.
"I might describe myself as a
free tralir in things intellectual.
One of the very best things for the
world, enu of the most powerful
means toward international under
standing, is an interchange of lit
erature and music and nrt. But the
Lfaet remains that producers should
de mero te onceurncro the talent
they hnve right here in this ceun
try."
The Prince grew intrespective for
few moments. Then his gn7.e be
tame direct again and lie smiled as
though trying te .temner the dic
tum.
Comments en Writers;
Commends Women Authers
"Art, you knew, is net a thing
from the outside. It isn't a thing
that can be grafted en you. There
re plenty of young writers here
who really have things te say."
Edith Wharten, the Prince be
Heves, has a wonderful personality
Md he is a great admirer of her
erks. He noted that another
eman novelist, Gertrude Atherton,
Wher caustically criticized Mrs.
.Wharten's "Glimpses of the Moen."
''But I would rather have n sec-Wd-ratc
work from a flrst-rate ner-
WB than thr nnnnaif s V. ...n nr.
Ha in.J. il . ... !
, - ..muu ii cienr no was net criti-
C1ng Mrs. Athcrten's own works by
implication.
"All the pnlntings of Rcmbrnndt nrc
m rnnsterpieepH : neithni- .. ,.n ti.n
Impositions of Beethoven. Tim great-
w tnitiR i nrt is personality."
fne Pi incc nm, gpeke Wllrmiy of
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Royal Diplomat Declares Rumania Will
Never Jein in Possible Slavic Outbreak
Against Civilization and That Constan
tinople Seme Day Will Be Christian
nge en the Black Sen. Under the new
order, its neighbor is the e-cnlleil in
dependent republic of the Ukraine which
mnny regard ns under the thumb of
bevlct Russia.
While the Prince wns visiting his
estates this summer, IiIr nntive country
wns beginning te rcilrnft her constitu
tion in order te co-erdlnnte the lnws
und legnl systems of old Itumnnln nnd
the new provinces. A strong effort is
being made for the State te nrquirc
subsoil rights which would include oil
and mineral rights.
Oil Is the talisman nowadays In the
nrt of' high politics nnd Itumnnia has
some rich oil fields nf her own. But
of that Bibesce did net spenk.
As for the Turks, the Humnnlnn
Minister has n grpnt sorrow becausp
they were permitted te return te
Europe. "I grudge them their victory,"
he snid. Then he ventured n prephcc
without daring te state when its ful
fillment will come.
"Constantinople will yet become n
Christian rity," lie declared. "Petpr
the Great wrote In his testament : 'The
kingdom of the world belongs te the
person who holds Constantinople.' "
Churchill, the younger son of the
Duchess of Marlborough, formerly Con Cen Con
sucle Vnnderbllt, of New Yerk.
The christening was held in the Greek
Church of St. Sephia, Bnyswnter, nnd
the baby wns nnmed Priscilln.
The little princess Is new two yenrs
old, n rosy, chubby youngster who pre
fers te be called "Billlc," a preference
the Prince ascribes laughingly te
American Influence.
The Prinre's fellow-countrymen hnve
settled in this country in fairly lnrgp
numbers. There nrc approximately
10.", (XX) here, the majority being resi
dents of New Yerk, Pennsylvania and
Ohie.
The latest census placed the Rumanian-born
population of New Yerk
nt 40,11(5, thnt of Ohie nt 13.00S, of
Pennsylvania at 11,230. of Michigan
nt 0331, nnd of Illinois nt C233.
Rumnnin Is a hercditnrv constitu
tional mennrchy. The Legislature is
composed of a Sennte nnd Chamber of
Deputies, the former with 120 members
elected for eight yenrs. Tlip heir ap
piuent, eight Bishops nnd two repre
sentntives chosen by the T'nivcrsities of
Bucharest nnd Jassy, nrc members of
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Prince Antoine Bibesce, Rumanian Minister te
the United States
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Geerge Bibesce, wlie, in 1843, at the
age of forty, was elected by the peeplu
of Wallachia and Meldnvin ns their
Ilospednr or Prince, 'flip election wns
confirmed by the Suhllinp Perte, which,
in thesp days, exercised suzerainty eer
all the seuthestcrn I'urepenn states ex
cept Greece. ,
Prince's Ancestry Frem
Leng Line of Royalty
l'rlnrp Geerge Bibesce is credited
with abolishing Invery, transforming
Bucharest Inte a Western and civilized
city nnd endowing his entire country
with u system of reads and highways.
In fact he transformed It from nn
I Oriental into n Hurenc-in Stntn en Op.
cidentnl lines. Eventually overthrown
by political intrigues, he took up his
residence in Paris, where he died In
1S73.
The old IIopednr or Prince mnrrled
Zoe Mavrocerdato. the ndeptnl daugh
ter and sole heires of Jie lust Prince
of Brnncevnn. of the house of Bass
nr.'iba. The Bassnrnhn. were one of thu
hIteric families of Southeastern Eu
rope. Their iHnastv wns founded by Binds
Rudelph of Basarnba, who established
himself as ruler of Wallachia in 1200,
his descendants furnishing no less than
seventeen everelgns te that country.
Toward the end of the six ecntb cen
tury the Bassaral.ns acquired the do de
main of Brnnceveni, nnd In 10SS were
created Counts of Brancenn, in the
peerage of Hungary, belnj advanced
five yenrs later by Emperor Leepold
te the dignity of Princes of the Hely
Reman Empire.
TIip nibpoces received recognition of
their Wnllachlnn tl le of Prince by the
Austrian crown prier te the formation
of the Rumanian mennrchy. The Rui
mnuinn envoy is n first cousin of the
piesent head of the family.
In the early part of the eighteenth
century the family figured conspicuously
in the wars ngalnst the Turks. -When
Bucharest fell before n Tuiklsh nt
taek, Prince Censtnntlnp, then ruler
of Wnllachia. and four of his live sons
were carried off te Constantinople.
When they refused te abjure Christian
ity they were stiangled.
On the feticngtb of his marriage te
the adopted daughter of the last of the
Bnssnraba pilnces of Brancenn, the
Hospodar, Geerge Bibesce, assumed the)
name of Brnncevnn and Bassaraba. In
1SC0 the Austilnn Crown gave formal
recognition of his Wnllachlan title of
Prince.
The Rumanian envoy is a first cousin
of the present head of the family, Cen-
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The Prince and Princess, photo
graphed upon their arrival in
Washington two years age
en
"Main Street" Reuses
re of Diplomat-Writer
"Ut the Mlnlstcr'n n,, .i,i n.
"fS snnnne.l ;,...:.....,. ,...
l ei . ' ""ixiuriiiif ai ii mention
."Wnclelr Lewis.
kli'ii,h.inl!, l" llas ,IL,) America in
,. ' "vi. mm nnuniir.' it is
"OB UlUt onel. .. . . .. .. ...
D,rt,.ItS lirnvlnel.,1 I ... ,...
rew.miniln.i r..l...ll .... ..
,. " ""j".i-'. iiuc ine in
"nenccsami ti i,ini i.. ...
l , - '"IB HUIAIUK UK"Mi
wt condition in tlits ,.,.,... .,. e
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b u t the Nl'Qitceming8 dlHcussed
Ain" S Wl" dil,niipcar of them'
1 e Prince cenfeased that while he
wns net an out and out "movie" rn,
yet he likes the films or the cinema.
He used both words.
"The films, however, are in about the
snuie position ns the automobile wns
in 1!H)2," he snid. "There is a great
development ahead for them. Net only
color films, but methods of showing
the pictures In relief, ns it were, will
come lu time.
"As for the cinema celebrities, 1
suppose my favorite is Bebe Bebe
eh, yes, ISebc Daniels."
The Prince deserted books nnd pinya
and films for n time te touch en con
ditiens nuremi ns lie found them
Ids recent visit.
"In Northern Euiepe things nre
looking much brighter than they did
a year age," he stated. "At that time
must-of the peeple were tired, pro
duction suffered and there, wns n
shertnge of feedstuffs. Hut the habit
j of work is gaining a new held again.
j "As for the general situation in En
1 1 epe, there arc a certain number of
eutstnnuing proeioms which must be
settled, among them tiie question of
German reparations, the Russian prob
lem nnd the relation of Turkey te
Europe.
"The reparations question win be
settled in time, because it se huppens
that France and England can new
come te borne kind of an agreement.
France did net knew what te expect
of England, but new things are dif
ferent and It is only a question of ad
justing views."
Juit new the chancelleries of Europe I
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Princess Bibesce, who wna Elizabeth, daughter of former
Premier Herbert Asquith of Great Britain
are reported te be watching for the
move France threatens te nutke into
the Ruhr biiRln by .luiiuary Hi if the
Germans again postpone the reparations
payments.
Expects a Settlement
en German Reparations
But Prince Bibesce does net believe
France will again Uraw the sword and
threw her legion Inte thnt territory
as a tour de force. He expests te see
tome adjustment reached, borne rap
prechement between England
France that will mnke Germany lies!
into about further goading Frnlice.
Then thete is the Russian problem,
the scheming of Mokcew te drag ether
count lies into thu red welter of bol bel
ehclsm. And right there Prince Hlhesen
m
gin " he explained. "They haven't nny
of that Slav dlMirder which is exempli
lied m the wilting of Dosteievsky for an
cxnmple. The Rumanian people en the
whole hne n uiinen sense und n goeo.
judgment whih prevent them from
jicldlng le IleUhevist intrigue and
prei'iu.imh.
"As n matter of fact, Rumnnin is a
sort of lui nT isrnliist IxiKlievism. Tim'
is why Riiinnui.i is playing se Important
n part in the Near East. People mij
the Rumanian iiriuy Is tee big" lie
shrugged his shoulders "but suppose
Riibsla tries an invasion? Russia
claims Besi.uabia and her acentK m
I trying te stir up trouble there."
Rumania's area was about doubled ns
und j a result of the war and the pence set-
iiemeui mic gained tlie provinces ei
Transylvania, Biihewina and Bessn-rublu.
New Problems Arese
With "Greater Rumania"
is a nun in iiil nid prnnifA .
wanted te bet aright thqje who tissume ! Cznrs Ris-nutbia was one of the rieh.'s.'
tint Rumania is a Slav nation and that1. .gilc.iltui.il provinces 1-, the H.mi. .
Russia. It wns occupied by the Ry.
iniiulnii nrmy seen after the Bolshevist
revolution. It has a considerable front-
it In unennntllilr. in tlm 41... 1 . .
blown from jthe Red capital.
"The Ruiuaniuns nre of Latin erl-
Princess Bibesce nnd her little
daughter, whom the father calls
"Billie"
Onp of the things that upholds Tur
key's hands, he remnrked further, is her
nbllity through the Moslem religion te
influence tlie Moslems of Morocco,
Egypt. Southern Russia nnd India
Even In "China the Moslem religion is
developing, he said.
Finally, the Prince's nimble mind
skipped back from tlie internntlennl
chessboard te tlie perennially interest
ing question of women.
"It might be somewhat lunnoreiis te
mention," he laughed, "thnt I nm
strongly feminist, while my wlfe is
just ns strongly anti-feminist."
Which is easily understandable, for
the Princess Bibesce was Miss Eliza
beth Aseulth. daushtei of the former
Prime Minister of England, whom the
suffrngists of Englnnd tried te stampede
into giving votes te women
Prince Bibesce wns attached te the
Rumnniun Legation at Pans when he
was presented te King Edward VII.
Mis charm of manner, and Ins sephisti
catien in the bet sense of th.it word
wen him the fiiendlv inteiet of the
King, who ceiitrhed te have him trans
ferred te Londen as secretary of lega
tion there.
Prince Wen Hand
of Asquith's Daughter
Bibesce's nnme imnri.ibly was in
cluded in tlie list of guests at dinners
and house parties nrinnged for tlie
King. It was while in Londen thnt the
Prince met nnd wooed Mls Asquith.
They were married April .'!(), 1010, nt
St. Margaret's Church, Westminster,
following a ceremony nt the Oithodex
Greek Church in Londen. The Queen
Mether Alexandra and Princess Victeria
were among the many distinguished
guests. King Geerge and ijuvcn Mary
sent gifts of jewelry nnd mnny ether
gifts were received from the royal
heiiBit nnd from the diplomatic corps.
When the infant daughter of the
Prince and Princess wjis christened in
July, 1020, Queen Alexnndrn, the chief
godmother, was represented by the
Duchess of Portland and sent a diamond
pendant te the baby princess. The
ether sponsors were the Marchioness of
Grnnby, the Countess Benckendeiff,
Lord Rebert Cecil and Lord Iver
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The Prince, from a phnteRraph taken. en the occasion "of hia visit
te Philadelphia this week
the Senate. The Code Napeleon is the
basis of the legal system.
Prince Bibesce is the son of the Inte
Alexander Bibesce. who, unlike his
three brothers, Gregery, Geerge nnd
.Niciie ns, was a itteratcur rather than
u soldier, although he fought for France
in the France. Clcnwin Wnr of 1870.
Ike grandfather it the Prince was
(tontine, who bears the title of Prince
of Brnncevnn. He is an officer of the
Rumnniun cnvnlry and wns murrled Iii
11)00 te the daughter of AntenlndeM, the
colossally rich merchant of Alcxnndrlii,
whose inngniflccnt gardens In the out'
skirts of that eity, along the Mahwou Mahweu
dlch, enjoy wide celebrity
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