THE QUEEN OF ITALY AT MESSINA

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 443, 27 February 1909, Page 11

THE QUEEN OF ITALY AT MESSINA

In come, says a writer m the ttsk? lQ^ml > the total destruction of Messina, m all its.appalling horror has .become one of. those events in- history which succeeding.generations: can scarcely realise, the heroism of Elena of Italy will cast a halo over her name, for to few Queenß bas.it been given to prove so splendidly her devotion to her husband's subjects ■ and her utter indifference to any danger for herself of Messina, Ministers 6f tile Oourt, the officers and sailors of the warships, all who saw-her say the same: that there are no words eloquent enough to do justice, to the, tenderness and untiring care she displayed towards the unhappy creatures, who; in many cases wero literally bereft, of their' : senses' by : the soenes through which: they had passed. .-..-• ° . Starting.from Rome the instant the enormous gravity of. the- disaster was confirmed her Maj.jty took hardly, any luggage with' her,-and--on .reaching Messina immediately changed her simple blue travelling dress for a more convenient nursing costume, such as any peasant might wear, which was hastily provided for her on ■■ the spot. .It is, a pleasure, to., listen to; the. enthusiasm ,of eyewitnesses, one of whom told me.:,'' There .was nothing to remind us that she was our Queen. They called her.the Angelo della Carita,' aud no. woman ever earned the title more deservedly. Poorly dressed, .with -her hair' arranged .-in severely: simple style, she. took no regard for her-own appearance, for. she had not an instant to spare.from, the care of others.. Her - eyes were red and: swollen with weeping, and often full, of tears,: but she always had a smile and words of encouragement for the scorers who required consolation so.sadly. ■-.-. XJnly twice we saw her break down 1 completely, when some - particularly pitiful in-stance,-occurred before her eyes, but' immediately -after she, would be .working 'away, harder than ever, to help where help was still possible; ; Many, of the, badly . injured -owe their Uvea to her, arid, particularly those who were conveyed on, board the Eussian warship. Slava. On hearing that the two doctors,, officers,, and sailors.oh board were in- 1 adequate to tend the five hundred wounded , -who had found refuge there,:the.Queen iai-' mediately, went in person to the Russian Admiral, and '..implored,-,h'im, as a favour- to hor to disregard all .rules, and-start-at once for .Naples. - Needless to add, before many hours, had;,.passed,- the, Slava was> on her .way thither.'! ' ... ;:

, ..Equally touching are the accounts given by the Minister of State,;Orlando, who describes how- Queen Elena commanded a- luggage, van full, of dress materials to bo ;requisitioned and'organised a.working room in which'the women who were not too badly injured might make garments for themselves and their'children, sotting the .example herself by quickly cutting out the most necessary clothing for the children. , While thus engaged, one poor little mite, came'..crying to. her, saying, "1 have lost-; my -. doll I" and' the - Queen, with tears in her. own eyes, in a few seconds made quite a pretty doll out of a remnant of stuff which, sent, the child away happy. And there was _only.' one word.' for, the- Queen, •whioh the;' Minister could not repeat'too often:-. '.>. ■: -,-.....- - ■ .

yStraorditiaria'; straordiriaria: straordinanal" .■■-.;..- -■ • .-.'...

Yet it was not only as,a nurse and consoler- that'sho distinguished-herself.. During the work of rescuing the survivors buried under the-.debris,"; .she ■evinced'as' complete a disregard for her own safety as did the Kmg,_-aud, once,' .when a'J.reriewed shock caused a. panic at'the improvised-hospital, she -was moro badly bruised than she would admit,-'while .standing before the door with extended.arms. to' ! check-a disordered flight which might: have'cost, more lives. ■ ° .•' ~ W' len a better system of aid. was organised their Majesties returned to Rome, entering at an unexpected moment, and by an unforeseen .route, :to,-avoid, aiiy demonstration of enthusiasm. All they. had passed- through had .harrowed .their, hearts, too and at first, they, could not speak of .what, they had seen, but their grief- and .sorrow were very, evident when they embraced: their chil-«en,-..fqr.-;it;pould not. fail to remind them ot.the poor littlo ones' of Messina, of whom so few, so very few, survive I:';

■ y .'■> ■■•'■ -FROCKS FOR TO-DAY I ', -V ; At Messrs.'George-and Eersley's, a special ■display, is' .being . made, of•' mucins, prints and- delaines , ; .:. • ■ -■;. ' " ' It is indeed marvellous, that, goods of this description;should bo reduced to such lowprices. ;- .In cotton, voiles, one is charmed by : the designs and colour tones. ; Conspicuously delightful is. one of these striped fabrics in two tones of petunia. Each tone is delicate and full of harmony as-also, is one in two tones of copper brown -.-Atipid; one is-able to have.a most effective and striking gown; and even when the''hot-' test days belong to the .past, these frocks look charming in the, house. ■' ,- • A particularly dainty and pretty line'is found in .the Swiss muslins of perfect design. ■■■;:■;. '-. -j : "■ These are quoted at 6d. a 'yard, and make up. into simple girlish frocks for street or home. •'_■■ ■" -'■; - . Delaines at Is. are,in;many patterns and colours. ;"■■'-. ; ■'■-,'. ' ■ i ; Something, unusual is the line .of cotton tussore, at lljd.,- the ordinary quotation being -ls;:;3d. . ' This is .'a'truly beautiful fabric, having the bright surface of silk, and' though light and particularly dainty' has substance, which en- ?• i ', fc to °e made up into smart and delightful frbckß .. or costumes.' . -, v ~ The colours are in • a ■ charming shade of deep stone blue, delicate. ivory. deep ecru and old rose. ■• ' ■■ .This is to be THE-material for next summer, so that it is necessary, for purchasers to buy at once, for, being a popular and exceptional line, it is sure to be cleared immediately. . Seldom does'one'see so-many fine and beautiful; goods displayed of such excellent (Quanty at tho oxtremelylow prices asked as at the Economic's sale now on. ■ ' Upon the lines are huiig choice muslins, in stripes, spots, and scrolly designs, all in such delicate tones/that it. strikes home to every .woman, how marvellously sweet and trim she can look'in a gown made from any' of. these materials, at a mere acknowledriment. ~ - , . . Miss Oldrey, so .well known ;as the head dressmaker for Messrs. George and Kersley, is:, moderate in her charges, and gives' full satisfaction to , her clientele. -. The windows aro showing wonderfully cheap goods of every description. .Frocks, of white lawn, tucked and inlet with beautiful Swiss embroidery and Valenciennes, are plainly marked at 6s. lid. and upwards. -■ . -,: . ...-., .Filet laco;blpuses.'at'3s;'6d! Washing skirts for a tew shillings m muslin and lawn. The ; Economic is now the most popular store m the;city, suited to all classes, where the fullest value;can be obtained for the money expended. •.••-: gO^i