Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-05-27
The Flight of the Duke of Tuscany.

The advices by the Adelaide announced that the Tus-
army demanded of the Duke to join France and
Sardinia, and declare against Austria and that be
declined, but Immediately took flight The first govern
ment therefore, Overthrown by the present European
convulson is singular enough one of the most liberal
The New York Post has the following in relation to the
fugitive Duke:
Leopold H., Graud Duke OF Tuscany, is the secoud
son Of the Grand Duke Ferdinand H. and born at
Florence, on the Sd of October, 1897. During his in
fancy his family suffered political reyerses being driven
out OF their dominions by the French Retiring to
Germany, bis father caused the young Leopold to be
educated, first at Sazburg and afterwards at Warzburg
In 1914 the fall of Napoleon Florence restored
to the Grand Duke and Leopold returned with the fam
lily to his native city. In 1917 he married Saxon
princess and in 1924 the death OF his father succec
ded to the ducal chair During the troubles OF S46 he
again expelled but returned to his capital aud
on the 22d of June, 1850, convention signed by
which ten thousand Austrian troops should occupy us
cany and support the authority of the sovereign.
Frequent vicssitudes proved to Leopold that direct
tyranny would endanger his government but as scion
OF the house of Hapsburg, and the grandson of Ger
man Emperor, his feelings naturally inclined towards
imperial rather than republican traditions. Indeed
whatever might have been his inclnaOns, the influence
of Austria decided that he dared not be too lib
era Yet be certainly has done a great deal for the
moral and material improvement of Tuscany than which
no Italian country exhibits greater evidence O
prosperity 1t is chiefly to Leopold H. that the Tuscan
people their splendid roads, their substantial stone
bridges their new railways and many of their nstitu
tiOns of education.
AS patron of the fine arts, the Grand Duke of Tus
cany also deserves mention By his direction the nval
liable treasures of Flortnce freely thrown oper
to public Inspection including the galleries of his
palace In religion he has exhibited considerable toer
ance, the Protestant communities of BiSa, LeghOrI
aud the capital city will confess although the persecu
tion in his dOniniors Of the Madial has prejudcc(
! against INN Protestant countries,
In person. the Grand Duke is rather prepossessng
He is slXtytwO years OF age but looks much Older
His hair is OF light gray color, and he stoops slightly
While walking His cOuntenance betrayS certain mark
of and suffering, which are attributed by many O
his people to domestic trials cherished relative ben!
afflicted with insanity. In manners he is atfabe ant
pleasant and was accustomed to ride out daily in tn
Casclne, sometimes In carriage with the members G
his family and sometimes on horseback his equpage ben
only distinguished by the respect with which the by
ISLANDERS gaze upon it from the dashng turn on
of my Lord Noodle, of England the wealthy Mr.. Smith
OF the United States the lesser lights OF the tlo~er
tine nobility.
In the more retired parts of the Cascnc-the beaut
ul wooded park that lies upon the banks of the Arn(
but short distance from the cty-he was often fond
stroling alone and many strangers at Florence hay
passed him carelessly by without thought. Those VIII
recognized him would raise their hats to which Il
Grand Duke would respond by similar salute, thel
being no further tormaty etiquette in this than whi
WOuld mutually pass between the President AMI a CIT
zen of the United States.
But with all these excellent qualities Leopold is NJ
popular in tuscany The presence Of Austrian troo
constantly irrated the people, who do not think th
the music they gratuitousy afford to the public t.
open space in front of the Duca Palace and in the "a
cine, sufficient reward for the unwelcomc presence
the Tedesch" Indeed, the presence Of these troo
can never be forgotten by the people, for daily para
takes place in the principal streets To stranger it
very interesting to listen to the music OF the band,
to the well trained drlc of sodery passing along
their picturesque cOstumc-somc with helmets adOrn
with waving plumeS, others with the auny caps al
feathers of the SavOyard mountaineers, while their
Furnished bayonets cast lighDng-lkc flashes of lig
upon the lrowning walls OF the palaces ot the Stroz
and MediC. To stranger this is all dcligbtul-b b
then straugcrs do not have to pay for all This glitter al
parade
This, with other causes has combined 10 make Lc
pOld II unpopular. lie knew it, and prepared #
any coming political event He had just returned fro
visit TO the dying King of Naples, when he heard Il
rumor of the political earthquake, and tmid and
vous as he is, Notwithstanding his refined tastes al
beneyolence, he fled from Tuscany at the moment who
she is in danger In this flight Leopold leaves the mo-
beautiful city OF continental Europe, and the most lux
rous home that any living monarch has occupied,