CHAPTER XI

Take Jonescu, an enlightened Minister of Education--“La bouche d’or”--His personality--A true Roumanian in his almost Oriental love of luxury--His town and country houses--Madame Jonescu as an authoress--Her menagerie of pets--The love-story of Take Jonescu--The meeting of the law student and the English girl--A trip to England follows--Obstacles are overcome and a happy marriage follows.

Take Jonescu, as he is familiarly known all over Roumania (Take being the diminutive of Demetre) was a most enlightened Minister of Education. He is an exceptionally clever man; gifted with powers of oratory far above the average, and is known in his own country as “La bouche d’or.” Although Take Jonescu has never yet been Prime Minister, it is certain that he will one day be called upon to occupy that position, which he is so well qualified to fill. He has held successively the portfolios of Justice, Education, and Finance, and is now rendering signal service to his country as Foreign Minister.

When the Conservative party is not in power, M. Jonescu follows his profession. He is the most brilliant advocate in Roumania, and the side that succeeds in retaining his services in a case is almost certain of success.

It has been asserted that M. Jonescu is a rich man, but this is scarcely the case. He has little or no _private_ means, being simply dependent upon his professional income, which is, however, very large. It is for him a very great sacrifice (from a monetary point of view) to accept a portfolio, as the salary paid to a cabinet minister in Roumania is only 30,000 francs (£1200).

In private life M. Jonescu has a charming personality. He is most kind-hearted, and ready to take the utmost trouble to help anyone in time of difficulty. His kind deeds are innumerable, and are always performed in such a modest manner that they are very often unheard of by the general public. The just cause of many a poor client has been espoused by Take Jonescu without thought or hope of reward.

He is a true Roumanian in his almost Oriental love of luxury. His town house in Bucarest is imposing. It is beautifully furnished, and always hospitably open to foreign visitors. But it was his villa at Sinaia in the Carpathians--where the present writer has often had the good fortune to be a guest--which excited the greatest admiration. It was a charmingly situated and perfectly appointed house, commanding a lovely view of the valley of the Prahova, and was an ideal home in which to recruit from the cares of professional or political life.

Many English guests were entertained there, and this is largely due to the fact that the late Madame Jonescu was herself an Englishwoman. She was possessed of great musical talent and was an authoress of no mean repute, as those can testify who have read her fascinating book _Only a Singer_. She was an able helpmeet for her husband, endowed as she was with very real abilities.

Both husband and wife were great lovers of animals, and it may almost be said that they possessed a small menagerie--dogs, deer, a bear, and a monkey being amongst their pets. It was chiefly owing to the efforts of Madame Jonescu that the “Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” established itself in Bucarest, where the work has long been carried on in a most efficient manner.

Of the ten dogs that Madame Jonescu possessed some years ago “Charlie” was decidedly the favourite. A large retriever, with a fine head and honest brown eyes, Charlie was made much of by everybody, and consequently thought much of himself. He was very fond of driving, and when the carriage came to the door for an afternoon’s visiting, Charlie seemed to think it was there for his special benefit. He always jumped into the carriage first, and there remained barking with all his might till in desperation someone would place a rolled-up newspaper in his mouth. Then perforce he became quiet, as he would not let go anything entrusted to him until permitted to do so.

Poor Charlie suffered very much in summer from the heat, and therefore at such times as his mistress was abroad, Charlie became a boarder at the Hotel Joseph in Sinaia. As the favourite dog of his mistress, he was treated by all the waiters with great respect, not one of them even presuming to speak of him other than as Domnele Charlie, _i.e._ Master Charlie. Every afternoon he was taken for a constitutional, either by one of the waiters or by a visitor who could be trusted. It was considered quite a privilege to be permitted to take Charlie for a walk. In spite of all this care, poor Charlie had to go the way of all flesh, and he had many successors in his mistress’s affections.

Another favourite pet was a bear which had been presented by a gentleman returning from the Caucasian mountains. This bear roamed at will in the courtyard, his further excursions being prevented by a man armed with a big stick, who was supposed to be always on guard.

If this man happened to be off duty for a short time, it was then Master Bruin’s great delight to penetrate into the house, much to the consternation of the maids. He proved such an adept at opening doors that one only felt safe when they were locked.

One afternoon Madame Jonescu was seated in the drawing-room chatting with some visitors. A slight noise was heard at the door, which slowly opened, giving entrance to Master Bear. Great was the dismay among the ladies, who completely lost their heads and fled to every corner of the room. Fortunately Madame Jonescu retained her presence of mind (she had no fear whatever of animals), took the bear by the collar and gently led him to the door. Once there, a call soon brought the bear’s attendant to the rescue, who took possession of his charge with strict injunctions not to allow him so much liberty in future.

As time went on, Bruin became too great a burden, so was given over to the authorities in Sinaia to place in the small menagerie that they had established near the monastery.

Before leaving the subject of pets, I may just mention one other--the monkey.

Armina by name and vicious by nature, this animal was not a favourite with anyone but her mistress. Although confined in a very strong cage, her fits of temper were so violent that she sometimes succeeded in breaking one or two of the bars. Once out of the cage, she careered up the trees and along the roofs of the neighbouring houses, and it was a work of great difficulty to induce her to return. The policeman who patrolled the street, and who had already made the acquaintance of Armina--indeed he was a special favourite with her--had often to be appealed to for assistance. It was very amusing to see how readily she responded to his blandishments, and he would return in triumph with Armina snugly cuddled up in his arms. The policeman was very proud of his friendship with Madame Jonescu’s pet, and went so far as to have himself photographed with Armina in his arms.

I am tempted here into a digression to tell a little story in which this same policeman figured. I think I have not mentioned before that Mr Alfred Richards, the brother of Madame Jonescu and a member of the English bar, spent some years in Roumania, where he was a great favourite in all circles. His health was delicate and the climate suited him. Mr Richards died a few years ago in England.

On one occasion Mr Richards was entrusted by King Carol with a special mission to the Porte. He chose to take with him as a sort of official attendant our friend (and Armina’s) the policeman. Mr Richards was decorated by the Sultan on the accomplishment of his mission, and it was expected that the policeman would receive some acknowledgment in accordance with his humble rank. I daresay small things interested us in that distant land, but I remember there was much speculation as to what Gheorgie would get, and what he would do with it. In the result we learned that he received from the Sultan a very considerable sum of money as a tip, and spent the whole of it on a splendid diamond ring; a curious investment, but by no means always a bad one in Bucarest.

The love story of M. and Mme. Jonescu was of a romantic nature. He was a young student travelling to Paris in order to finish his studies when a very pretty young English girl entered the compartment in which he was seated. Seeing that she was travelling alone, he gave her, as a gallant Roumanian, every assistance in his power. Susceptible to beauty as all Roumanians are, it was with him a real case of love at first sight. He followed up his advantage so eagerly, that Paris for the time was forgotten, and he crossed to England at once in order to make the acquaintance of the young lady’s parents. There were some obstacles, but in spite of them love carried the day, and that part of the story ended in a happy marriage.