THE KING OF ITALY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 5

THE KING OF ITALY.

Some ten years ago I was presented .to the King of Italy at a ball given in Naples, where he was quartered with his regiment (writes a correspondent of an English paper). My first impression was that I was face to face with a ''student-" Here was a man w"ka, whatever pursuit he took up, would; persevere in it to the bitter end. The exceptional reserve be exhibits at first acquaintance is probably due to excess of study as a boy. Indeed, so hard was he kept at "work by his tutors that at one time it was feared his health would give way. One result is that he is one of the finest linguists living, and an inordinately clever man. His admiration of England and everything English is unbounded, a sentiment shared, by the way, by the majority of bis subjects. He never tires of seeking further information on Great Britain more especially with regard to. her Navy and Army. The second time I met I had been absent from ~ Italy about two years. Crowded as the room, was, he immediately came up to mc, and addressed mc by name, thereby attesting the faculty of 'never forgetting a face. Vhieh seems to be almost a royal prerogative. In soldiering, as with his tutors, he was as earnest as ever; and hi 3 regiment, in his eyes,, was never regarded as an excuse for what is known in this country as " a jolly time," but taken, seriously—very seriously. In appearance he is a man of very slight physique, with a nervous twitching affection of the eyes; he ia" also slightly lame, but in spite of this aiflietionhe was one of the best waltzers in Naples; and, as be was endowed wit*, the most charming, courteous manners, his popularity in a Neapolitan baUroeai has never been equalledIt may not be generally known that both the King of Italy and his Queen are passionate admirers of English' poetry. Among thoughtful Italians English native songsters have always found a stronger following than in. France, or even in the FatherlandShakespeare, Byron and SheUey ara household words with some of tha Italian Royalties. They never took! very much to Browning, despite "Asolando" and "Pippa Passes." Some of the patriots of the mid-century turned to the same sources for their inspiration. Garibaldi read Shakespeare is prison, and Mazzini chose Byron for his consolation when he also was in the same predicament. Queen Margherita. is devoted to the heroines of the Bard of-Avon, and has made a personal study of them for her own gratification. When King Victor was just beginning his boyish studies, his mother made it a rule that he should converse in nothing but English for several hours every Sunday afternoon. It is in consequence of this wise rule that he is to-day one sf the most finished E"glifffr scholars upon any Throne -of always excepting Leopold H. «sd &af*ez Wilhehn. . '" " ■