Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-24
THE Fl;ebt of the Duke of Tuscany.

The advices by the Adelaide announced thai
the Tuscan army demanded of the Duke to join
France and Sardinia, and declare war against
Austria, and that he declined, but Immediately
took flight. The first government, therefore,
oyerthrown by the present European convulsion
is. singular enough, one of the most liberal The
New York Post has the following in relation to
the fugitive Duke:
LeoDold H., Grand Duke of Tuscany, is the
second son of the Grand Duke Ferdinand Ill,
and was born at Florence, on the Srd of October
1897. During his infancy his family suffered
political reverses, being driven out of their do.
minions by the French. Returnining to Ger
many his father caused the young Leopold to be
educated, first at Salzburg and afterwards at
Warzburg. In 1914, on the fall of Napoleon,
Florence was restored to the Grand Duke and
Leopold returned with his family to his ma
tive city. In 1917 he married Saxon Princess
and in 1854. on the death of his father, succeed
ed TO the ducal chair. During the troubles Of
1s4S he was again expelled, but soon returned
to his capital, and on the 22nd of June, 1850, Q
convention was signed 10y which ten thousand
Austrian troops should occupy Tuscany and sup
port the authority of the sovereign.
Frequent vicissitudes proved to Leopold that
direct tyranny would endanger his government
but as a scion of the house Of Hapsburg, and the
grandson of German emperor, his feelings nat
urally inclined towards imperial rather than re-
publican traditions. Indeed whatever might
have been his inclinations, the influence of Aus
tria was 80 decided that he dared not be too lib
era. Yet he certainly has done great deal for
the moral and material improvement OF Tuscany
than which no Italian country now exhibits
greater evidence of prosperity. 1t is chiefly to
Leopold II. that the Tuscan people owe their
splendid roads, their substantial stone bridges,
their new railways and many OF their institu-
tions of education.
AS patron Of the fine arts, the Grand Duke
of Tuscany also deserves mention. BY his di-
rection the invaluable art treasures OF Florence
were freely thrown open to public inspection,
including the galleries of his own palace. ln re-
ligion he has exhibited considerable tolerance,
as the Protestant communities of Pisa, Leghorn
and the capital city, will confess; although the
persecution, in his dominions of the Madial, has
prejudiced against him many of the Protestant
countries.
In person, the Grand Duke is rather prepos-
sessing BE is now sixty-two years of age, but
looks much older. His hair is of light grey
color, and he stoops slightly while walking
His countenance betrays certain marks OF care
and suffering, which are attributed by many to
domestic trials, cherished relative being attict-
ed with insanity. In manners he is affable and
pleasant. and was accustomed to ride out daily
in the Oascine, sometimes in a carriage, with the
members of his family, and sometimes horseback
his eouipage being only distinguished by the res
peet with which the bystanders gaze upon it
from the more dashing turn out of my Lord
Noodle, of England, the wealthy Mr.. Smith, OF
the United States, or the lesser lights of the
Florentne nobility.
In the more retired parts of the Csscine-the
beautiful wooded park that lies upon the banks
of the Arno. but short distance from the city
he was often fond Of stroling alone, and many
strangers at Florence have passed him careessly
by without thought. Those who recognized
him would raise their hats, to which the Grand
Duke would respond by similar salute, there
being no further formality or etiquette In this
than what would mutually pass between the
President and citizen of the United States.
But with all these excellent qualities Leopold
is not popular in Tuscany. The presence OF
Austrian troops constantly irritated the people,
who do not think that they gratuitously afford
to the public, on the open space in front OF the
Ducal Palace and in the Csscine, a sufficient re-
WaIu lOT tuo uuWoIOOnu0 PiSoShoNo Va SAASo NSNSs
Chi" Indeed, the presence of these troops can
never be forgotten by the people, for daily pa
rade takes place in the principal streets. 10
stranger it is very interesting to listen to the
music of the band, and to see the well trained
drills of soldery passing along in their ,pictu,
rescue costumes-some with helmets adorned
with waving plumes, others with the jaunty
caps and feather of the Savoyard mountaineers,
while their well. FURNISHED bayonets cast light
nng-ike flashes Of light upon the frowning
walls of the palaces of Strozzi and Medici. To
stranger this is all delightful-but then strsng-
ers do not have to pay for all this glitter and pa
rade.
This with other causes, has combined to make
Leopold II. unpopular. He knew it, and was
prepared for any coming political event He
had just returned from visit to the dying King
of Naples, when he heard the rumble of the po-
tical earthquake, and timid and nervous as he
is, notwithstanding his refined tastes and beney-
olence he fled from Tuscany at the moment
when she is in danger. In this flight Leopold
leaves the most beautiful city of continental Eu-
rope, and the most luxurious home that any liv-
ing monarch has occupied.