ITALY'S ROYAL FAMILY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 3

ITALY'S ROYAL FAMILY

THEIR WORK FOR THE SOLDIERS

An interesting article appears in the lust i&sue of the "Queen," lrom the- puu uf jUndgo Donolioi) (.wile of (lie war correspondent), upon the lino war work for the nation which is being done li.v the Italian Koynl I'aniily. The article was written from Koine in tho earlier months of this year, and in the course o!' it sho says:—

"The love which Kinjj Victor Kmanuel's subjects huve aiways felt for him has (lamed into something approaching idolatry since, on the outbreak of hostilities, he led his army into battle. '11 liostro e un ro come si dev«,' say thoMtalians. And they challenge Iho world to produce a. finer. "Like our Henry V, us we know him out of Shakespeare's art, Victor Emniuiel loves io move unknown and unrecognised amongst hie men, sharing their bivouacs, learning practically what difficulties and trials capable of amelioration they avo called upon to endure, and

ganging the measure of their mettle. 'And if, under such circumstances,' said the officer who told me this, 'our King has sometimes had to listen to discussions of himself and his family, I dare swear that never onco has lie heard a word spoken that could give him anything but pleasure.' "The work in which Queen Eleanor has engaged ever since the first <lay of Italy's entry into the conflict has been no less a helpful inspiration to tho nation than has baen that of her august husband. Before h'er marriage she studied nursing, and, as might have been expected from the daughter of Montenegro's democratically Jtoyal house, did not play with the profession, but, like nnyono of humblest rank, passed regulavIV through each grado ;to gain her diploma. : . ' " '

"The result of her practical knowledge of nursing is seen in every war hospital and ambulance in Ualv, for, dowered with boundless energy, she travels from one corner of tho land to the other visiting them, and suggesting and organising improvements; but most of all is it seen in the adaptation to "the needs of a great hospital of the state apartments of the Royal Palace of the Quiriual, of whose nurses the Queen is head. Tears come into the eyes of her emotional subjects as they speak of Queen Eleanor's work. Only private soldiers are received at the Ouirinal Hospital, so it is on the humblest of her peoples that the nursing skill of the greatest lady in the land is expended. Through., the' kindness of the eminent statesman T philanthropist who in his one pair of capable hands holds the myriad ramifying threads of the Italian Bed Cross, Count della Somaglia, I have been able to visit this hospital (catalogued No. 1), and also that in Queen Jlargherita's Palace (No. 2), and see 'in being , the work .of Italy's two queens. "The transformation of the Quirinal is something to marvel at and rejoice over. Its state' apartments, with their magnificent tapestries, famous pictures, painted ceilings and panellings, have always been one of the sights of Home; yet to-day any visitor awake to tho inner beauty of things passing through them and noting tho white sheeting covering up all tho lower part of the richly-decorated walls., the simple iron beds in orderly rows, the spotless neatness of the tiers of fresh linen and medical supplies, will understand and echo Queen Eleanor's reply to someone who lamented the 'spoiling' of tho Quirinal: 'Never has the I'alace seemed to me 60 useful and beautiful as now!'

"And it is she herself who has thrown over all the energising grace and charm of her personality. Practical in matters of hygiene, elie is also full of happy ideas for the comforting to forgetfulness of pain of the soldiers under her care and the inspiring them to loftiest patriotism. She vetoed the suggestion that the hospital, wards should be named after various royalties. 'No, , she said. 'Let us rather honour our heroes in them! , and proposed that they should bo known by the nanies of the first soldiers—privates or officials—decorated by the King on tho field of lattle. Thns'tho transformed Throne Room is now the 'Schenardi Ward, , -the Ambassadors , Hall the 'Dβ Rossi Ward,' and so on, each name recalling to its occupants a splendid deed of courage done by a compatriot in the present war. "The Queen of Italy follows each 'case , in her hospital not only with the eyes- of a nurse, but witli the'neart of a loving woman. She keeps nn album containing a photograph and a little life-s-ketch of each patient, and, when ho is discharged cured, presents him with a memento of his stay in the shape of a medal made from a coin minted in 1015 and inset with threo stones of the national colours, red, white, and green. "No less remarkable than that of Italy's two Queens is the war work accomplished by the Princess Eleanor o! Orleans, the Duchess d'Aosta. She is the organising head nud directress of all the Red Cross nurses, and recently received the decoration of the Silver Medal for Military Valour, with the following official statement of her claim to honour; 'Untiring in her work of charily, constant in self-sacrifice, a shining example of energy and courage to the Red Cross nurses; she, in spite of danger of every description, has remained in choleraiufeeted places and in camp hospitals of the first line under bombardment by the enemj , , upon the whole, front from the Trent to Isonzo, always calm and undaunted, a beneficent helper, carrying everywhere (even into buildings shattered by bombs from Austrian airships) loving comfort to our sick and wounded, and inspiring in all the highest faith and courage.'

"Any account of the war work done by the Italian Royal Family would be incomplete without a reference to 'the part token in it by the heir-apparent to the throne. The twelve-year-old Prince Humbert is the idol of his future subjects, and returns their affection with all the warmth of his eager nature, intelligent beyond his years, he is an ardent 'Irredentist' patriot, and follows each phase of the war like any vetewtn general of them,all. When offered a birthday or other treat he invariably chooses to visit the soldiers at the front .or tho sailors in some naval port of the realm. Just as King Victor Emanuel is the 'Priino Soldato' of Italy, so the little Prince is the 'Primo Esploratore , (First Hoy Scout), and in nil the works ot charity and helpfulness undertaken by these.budding soldiers he is their leader, lie is everywhere—opening bazaars, laying foundation stones, distributing military medals, visiting exhibitions of the work of 'niutiloti' , —and wherever he goes his bright, beaming face is as a ray ol sunshine to the nation in its day of storm and darkness."

Writing from France on May 10 a Mastorton boy who is lighting with the Australian Forces writes of the fighting which took iilnce at Laguicourt:—"We were in reserve trenches for n couple of weeks or so; then the division moved up to the front, and early one morning we 'hopped over,' took a section of Fritz'strenches, and for thirty-six hours held against several counter-attack 1 ; until relieved, when we went into 'supports.' This position, by tho way, is no picnic. as we found out. Frit/, shelled us all the time, and even pr.t a shell into Headquarters, killing one officer »nd wounding three. The division was terribly cut nn, ivnd uur bnttalion lost very heavily -itiilpod in officers anil men. General BiVdwood has issued an order which runs: 'The Brigade (ours) tho bravery and endurance shown was beyond all praise,' and 1 believe tho papers had head-lines, 'Anzacs beat the i'ni-sinn Guard.' It was a fact that Frit:: hail ' his test troops, Wiirtemburjjprs iind the Prussian Guard, ready awaiting our piuh for a week beforehand. Aβ r have sniil, it cost us heavily, b".t there is no doubt that Fritz sulYeral much inoru heavily than wo did. Our artillery is pitilo.ss. and is much more powerful than his. but in spite of newspaper talk us to his morale being shaken there were no signs of that in this affair, but then, as 1 have said, we struck (ho pick of his men."

E.xlract from a lot lor: "I liavn had Kiciit satisfaction with the .Daisy Vacuum Cl.-anvr-, purchased from you n few month" since, ami frankly rapretn my appreciation, as T find it both easy tu work and most ifl'eclive in cleansing carpels and upholstery. Indeed, [ would not asaiii bo without one at uiy price. 1 enclose clier|uo ,£fi, and desire yon to rr»:l iinotlier. No. 2. to my daughter, s!rs. -, Masterton .Station." Agents, Oscar r-I'p.vrll: and Co., nfi C'ulia, Street (hist l.i>k.w Bar.k of N.Z.).-Advt.