On Tour With Queen Marie

On Tour with Queen 3 Larie By CONSTANCE LILY MORRIS Mrs. Ira Nelson Morris Robert M. McBride Company NEW YORK MCMXXV1I MIR MAJISIY QVl I-N MARII Ol KOl SANI COPYRIGHT, 1927, BY ROBERT M. MC BRIDE COMPANY Published, March, 1927, ON TOUR WITH QUEEN MARIE PRINTED IN THE UNITKD STATES OF AMERICA ARE EYES AND EYES. Blue, gray, myopic, squinted and astigmatic. And each of them sees a different aspect of the same sight. The vision that the newspapers got of the Queen of Roumanians American tour, with no exceptions, had so decided a quot squint quot to it that my only excuse for being a raconteur of the trip is that, from my vantage ground, I got so very different a view. I saw from within and I saw from without, and I got from it all so thoroughly satisfying and inter esting an impression of the Queen as quot star, quot and of America as mise en scene, orchestra and director not to speak of author and scene shifter too, that I feel my view of the whole performance, from a seat very close to the stage, is at least worth the trouble of putting into black and white. To me it was all drama, and I have tried to set down the actors and the action as it came. For myself, one of the supers in the affair, I can only say I derived the most lasting benefit. It was more than pleasure it was knowledge to see my country, the United States, as it was presented to me on this trip big, broad, generous. In no other v Preface way could I have had before me just the aspects, each so unique, these individual states gave to a visiting Queen, and I am humbly grateful. Each night, no matter what the strenuousness of the day, I propped my eyelids open long enough to put down what I saw. A few details of the trip Ihave omitted, for the simple reason that I perhaps did not view them with my own eyes. This is a personal record and not an itinerary. I wish to acknowledge the kind assistance of Miss Elmira F. Grogan in the preparation of this book. Before the departure of Her Majesty, I suggested to her that I would write this journal for publica tion and give the proceeds to the Roumanian Red Cross. The Queen graciously consented. I trust this little volume of memoirs will serve to bring relief to many of the destitute of Roumania by replenishing the coffers of the Red Cross, and will also in some measure express the sincere admira tion I feel for my friend Queen Marie, who, while every inch a Queen, is at the same time an outstand ing personality. a L M. New York, Jaauary 15, 1927. vi CHAPTER PAGE I THE ARRIVAL 13 II LAYING PLANS . 1 8 III THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY AND WASH INGTON . . .26 IV A DINNER PARTY AND THE PHILADELPHIA TRIP .... 42 V AN ENTERTAINMENT FOR A PRINCESS . ., 62 VI AN OVERBURDENED SABBATH . .70 vii OFF . . .... 76 VIII THE HEART OK CANADA . . . . 86 IX EN TRAIN . ... 94 X WINNIPEG AND THE ENTOURAGE . 10 1 XI THE TWIN CITIES AND THE FARMERS OF NORTH DAKOTA . . . 1 09 XII MR. SAMUEL HILL, THE DREAMER OF THE NORTHWEST 121 XIII TILTS AT WINDMILLS . . 33 XIV THE PEACE ARCH GLACIER NATIONAL PARK 141 XV DENVER 149 XVI HISTORY 158 XVII KANSAS CITY ST. LOUIS SPRINGFIELD . 1 65 xvm CHICAGO 173 XIX SHOPPING INCOGNITO ., . .183 vii Contents CHAPTER PAGS XX THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB SPEECH AND JANE ADDAM3 . 94 XXI INDIANAPOLIS CHANGE OF PLANS . . 203 XXII LOUISVILLE AND THE quot OLD KENTUCKY HOME quot . . . .211 XXIII THE LAST DAYS . . . .222 XXIV AU REVOIR 233 i via HER MAJESTY QUEEN MARIE OFROUMANIA Frontispiece FACING PAGE THE QUEEN S WELCOME IN NEW YORK . . . 16 QUEEN MARIE S VISIT TO THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 48 HER MAJESTY BRAVES A RAINSTORM TO REVIEW THE CORPS OF CADETS AT WEST POINT . . 80 HER MAJESTY REVIEWS THE UNITED STATES MID SHIPMEN AT ANNAPOLIS, 80 THE QUEEN IS VESTED WITH TRIBAL HONORS BY AN ABORIGINAL CHIEFTAIN 112 QUEEN MARIE DONS A TWO-GALLON HAT TO FRAT ERNIZE WITH THE PLAINSMEN . . . .113 QUEEN MARIE DELIVERS THE DEDICATORY ADDRESS AT THE MARYHILL MUSEUM ..., ...