ITALY’S RULERS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12983, 26 November 1902, Page 5

ITALY’S RULERS

Many who have seen the young King of Italy (writes the Rome correspondent of an American paper) find it difficult to believe in all they hear of his determination and marked originality. His features are rather insignificant—an insignificance which his fair hair, colourless complexion and short stature only serve to accentuate. But those brought in contact with Mm say he has a strong will which nothing can move when he has once made up his mind. It is admitted, however, that his heart is in the right place. But to two classes of his subjects he is Mghly annoying, as ho has an investigating turn of miud—and is fond of his wife. The former characteristic is, perhaps, the more unforgivable, as no one likes to be found out, while, on the other hand, it is allowed that even a King has a right to love his own spouse. His most odious habit—in the eyes of those concerned—is to appear suddenly when and where he is least expected. at'east he found a man. Civil Service clerks do less in Italy than in any other country —I scarcely expect this statement to be taken in earnest—and' are about twice as numerous. One day the Minister of Foreign Affairs wished to increase his staff, but the Royal sanction was withheld with the word “ wait.” The next day at 9 a.m., his Majesty appeared at the Foreign. Office, where the hours are from eight to twelve, and from three to four or five, and not waiting to be announced, went directly to the Minister’s sanctum. Empty! He went through the whole suite of rooms on that floor and then up and ever up, through one deserted room after another. To bo sure in one he found a cat, and in one or two even mice were playing about, but two-legged animals were conspicuous by their absence. Finally, in the last room on the top floor a young man was discovered, scantily clad, shaving. His fright and embarrassment were so great that he lost his wits and told the truth. “ How is it you are so early?” asked Victor Emanuel, suavely. “ I—l didn’t like to go home,” stammered the poor wretch, giving wild dabs at his lather-covered chin. “ I don’t understand,” said the King. Then catching sight of the dress clothes on a chair, he added: 11 Oh, I .see, you have been out all night! Well, inform- the Minister I called.” The next time that high personage saw the King the latter said: ‘‘l congratulate you on your hardworking young, men, but perhaps it would be just as well not to add to their numbers and to see that they do not use, their offices as dressing-rooms.” “come in and be d —D.” Another set of men “victimised,” as they express it, are the military. “ I like to call my life my own,” grumbled one comfortable looking officer to me, “ but, with that jack-in-the-box, a morning snooze is out of the question. Just when you are wondering if it is time, for your early coffee there is a ring from the sentinel, and you rush down, perhaps, without your collar, to be confronted by the King, who looks like a thunder cloud, and will not accept apologies. It is a confounded nuisance.” Another recounts that it was known that gambling was going on among the soldiers, but that those guilty could never be detected. Tfie King had given strict orders that it was to be put down among officers as well as men. “ One evening,” he went on, “ some of us fellows had nothing 1 ' to do, so a harmless game of cards was proposed, and I, as senior officer, gave my consent. 1 Stakes got higher and higher, until there was a considerable sum of money on the table, and we quite forgot time and place. At last the young fellow who had won steadily staked every cent bo had made, and I put down the same sum. “ Just as we were in the thick of it and things seemed going in my favour, a knock came at the door, and I shouted ' come in,’ but there was no response. After a few Seconds again the tap-tap, and I, exasperated, exclaimed: ‘ Come in and be d—d,’ whereupon the door slowly opened, and the King looked me straight in the eye. I leave it to you if it was not hard lines The King’s fault of being in love with the Queen is what another class of his subjects finds objectionable. He is economical, they mumble, because his wife does not know how to, spend; h© does not entertain, because his wife is jealous; he does not flirt, because his wife has a temper; he buries himself in his hunting-lodge on the Island of Monte Christo, because his wife likes to shoot, etc.

UNCLE NICHOLAS GETS THE Eliri'T BOTTLES. To tell the truth, it was supposed that a young King and Queen would entertain lavishly, dance, snake merry night _ and day, dress extravagantly, in fact, give a boom to smart society. Instead, here is Victor Emanuel, in love with his wife, and credited -with seeing everything with her eyes, which are very modest and retiring. There are several stories now going the rounds regarding her economy, and which halve caused disgust in many breasts. As all the world knows, the Souse of Montenegro, from which the Queen hails, is as poor as a church mouse, so that the Quirinal Palace stores are rifled for the father-in-law’a benefit, while old clothes, even down to empty bottles, are expressed in packing cases to “ Uncle Nicholas,” as the Prince of Montenegro is called here. Now, whait are those bottles for? The question agitates inquiring minds ; but uselessly, as the thing remains a mystery. Some say they are for wine, but no wine is made in Montenegro, or anything else that is bottled, so it is vaguely supposed that they are sold!

Another economy of the Queen ia in her bills for her personal adornment. Take, for instance, her milliner. Queen Margherito used, like a grande dame, to order the modiste to the palace, choose what she wanted, and never ask the price, but Queen Elena demands at once how much certain hats cost, and when the milliner asks, let’s say 25d01, she regards attentively the trimmings, etc., and then announces that it is far too high, and that the Duchess X. pays only 20dol, and why should she pay sdol extra for the same article. What is more, she usually gels the hat at her own valuation.

The King, on his side, is economical in

his stables, having just the number of horses necessary to his state, but m more. “What do I want with a hundred horses, when I can only use two at the same time?” he asked pertinently, and so the stables were promptly cut down by half.

When a great personage comes to Rome, and lodgment has to be obtained for him in one of the large hotels, the price demanded is by no means given, but a happy medium for the King and an unhappy one for the hotel is arrived at. In King Humbert’s time no remarks were made, and all bills :vero paid—after a time. “ A WHIPPER-SNAPPER LIKE TOU !” His Majesty and consort are at one in their love of sport, and are especially attracted to motoring, and as they go with faces covered, and with no retinue, the most ridiculous contretemps often occur. Last summer they eat off early one morning, and in the course of the day drew up at the foot of a mountain on which stands one of Italy’s most jealouslyguarded forts. The King, as is his custom, began to question the sentinel, who, his suspicions being aroused, soon turned from polite to surly answers. “No you can’t go up. No one but the King himself can go up without permission.” “ But I am the King,” protested Victor Emanuel. “Via,” shouted the soldier, “you are a spy, and if you don’t take off yourself, your woman and your infernal machine,” pointing to the motor-car, “ I will give you a real taste of the fortress. King indeed! I would he aishamed to have a whipper-snapper like you for a King!” His Majesty, somewhat red in the face, while the Queen was in convulsions of laughter, thought discretion the better part of valour, so he mounted and flew off, consoling himself that it was well to .have such faithful servants. Other forms of sport to which both are devoted are shooting and yaichting, the greatest passion of the Queen being the former, and the greatest delight of the King the latter. QUEEN HELENA AS A CRACK SHOT. No Montenegrin lives who does not love climbing and who cannot shoot. The last time the Queen, as Princess of Naples, was in her own country, she announced her intention of revisiting on foot the mountains about Oottigne. Her Italian ladies-in-waiting glanced at each other in consternation, and all, with one exception, begged to be excused, the request being good-naturedly granted. One, however, young and lovely, being ambitious for the favour of her mistress, determined to brave all and go. The next morning at six all had gathered except the venturesome lady, who at last appeared in a gown with a train, which, however; had been carefully pinned up. She had scent-bottle in hand, and wore high-heeled thin kid slippers. The Princess took in this vision and remarked smilingly that she looked pale, that evidently she was not feeling well and had better not undertake so arduous a climb. The hint was accepted and the beauty stayed behind. She lost nothing, as she has since been prime favourite, and often laughs over the incident with her Royal friend, who says: “ Never forget again that you are merely ornamental.” Of shooting, the Queen is past mistress. In a land where everyone shoots, where it is said the children, boys and girls, are born with rifles in their hands against the Turks, she is considered an exceptional shot. Her father, Prince Nicholas, is intensely proud of her achievements, and says he would willingly let her shoot an apple off his head if she could only be induced to try. “It is much easier for Elena to hit than to miss,’ he says. ;> it is an instinct with her to see straight. That straight sight is one of her characteristics in intercourse with people. No wavering, no roundabout ways! She looks you squarely in the eye, addresses to you a simple question, and expects, and usually receives, a direct answer. She employs perhaps less of the suavity of courts than is usual, and is rather terrible to moral backsliders, but she is honest and—perhaps better —she is good. The really sensible subjects of the Italian King are proud of him, and find his moral, home-loving mode of life a welcome change after the somewhat loose menage of the late reign. “It is like a breath of good, fresh salt air,” they say, “to hear that he associates with his wife by preference and wants' no better amusement than to play with his little daughter Yolanda—which- same young lady, by the way, is the darling of the nation. If there were a question of choosing between Humbert and the present sovereign, all, even the grumblers, would vote for the latter, as a man much more likely to lead, the nation to prosperity.