The story
The beautiful young princess was weary of the formality and ceremony that encompassed her. She had read many books and from them had gained the idea that she would be far happier as a simply peasant than as the daughter of a king. Even when it came to her marriage, she sadly reflected, there was no romance, for her father had arbitrarily contracted an alliance for her with a neighboring prince. The princess was taking her drive one day and was sadder than ever. She saw a wedding procession issue from a neighboring cottage, and pityingly watched the mother of the bride, as she turned into her lonely house. In the field the princess noticed a young farmer, and she thought that the romance which had been denied her might come into her life. By the time she returned to the castle she was pitying herself exceedingly, and had decided to be a caged bird no longer.
The princess secured a peasant’s gown, and, well supplied with money, stole away from the palace, she thought forever. Before going she opened the cage of her pet canary and watched him fly away happy with his new-found liberty. In the life outside the castle the princess found she was handicapped by her ignorance. She gave alms to a crippled man, and he scandalized the community by spending it in riotous living. She met the young farmer and he horrified her by roughly kissing her. She procured a home with the mother of the bride and her money was stolen by that depraved old woman. Disillusioned, the princess returned to her castle. Just outside the gate she came upon the little bird she had set at liberty. It, too, had found itself unfitted for an adventurous life. Strange, fierce birds had attacked it, and the little canary was feebly trying to return to the castle, when its mistress came along. The bird was glad to be placed it its gilded cage again. The princess was glad to return to her old life, marry the prince, who was really a very decent young chap, and retain the place which her birth and breeding entitled her to fill.
Summary from The Moving Picture World · 7 June 1913
