CRISPI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4898, 9 October 1901, Page 4

CRISPI.

Pranceseo Crispi was born at B/bera in Sicily, in 1819, and was thus in his eighty-eecoud year when he died. He studied for the law at Palermo, and subsequently migrated to Naples, where he quickly became identified with the agitation against the tyranny of Ferdinand 11., and was active in the conspiracies which brought about the overthrow of the kingdom of two Sicilies in 1848. No living statesman haß passed BO *omar>tie & career as Orispi. A Republican and a friend of Mazzini, he was instrumental in organising the revolt in Palermo in 1848, which drove the Neapolitans from Sicily, leaving them only Messina and three otber ports. And Palermo set the example of revolution to Europe. % Crispi's private life, and especially his three matrimonial adventure?, were so far interesting to students of character that they clearly showed what kind of man he really was — impulsive, tenacious, fiery, and self-confident. He was bnly 18 years old when, while studying Jaw in Palermo, be fell in love with Hoeioa Sciarra, a daughter of fria housekeeper. His father, apprised of his infatuation, sent Francesco to an estate he possessed in Sciacca, in the interior of the island. Shortly afterwards tbe cholera broke out in Palermo with great violence, and young Crisps f earing for Eosina's life, took a hoiße from bis father's «bb)e and rode to Palermo, notwith* standing the grave danger which be incurred by braving the cholera. On bis arrival he found, to his horror, that the entire Sciarra family bad perished with the exception of Eosina and her only sister.

His decision was taken at once. He sold the horse for £4», and, with no available means but this sum of money married the object of his affections. His father, not having heard from him for many months, came to tbe conclusion that Francesco must have died of cholera, when one day he recognised his long-missing steed between tbe shafts of a royal mail cart. Following up the clue afforded by the stolen horae, Crispi senior, eventually discovered his son, and made him an allowance sufficient for the maintenance of the young couple. .Crispi was then 22, and two years later be suffered tbe first greal sorrow of bis life by tbe death of his wife. Crispi passed away unconscious, without suffering, and without recognising anyone. The affairs of the great statesman are said to be in the greatest confusion. The house or villa where he died, and for which he spent a million francs, is overloaded with mortgages, bo thafc the family are lefb totally unprovided for. Hib widow will have to depend for future support upon what she will get from the papers and memoirs of her husband. These are said to be extraordinarily interesting and valuable. It was said, with some appearance of truth, that if the slate had not undertaken the funeral expenses the family would have been unable to aseunae them.— 1 M.A.P.'