Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-04
THE QUEEN OF NAPLES.

RoME, IrALY, April 5, 1870.

Grief at the Loss of her Baby.
ROME, ITALY, April 5, 1870.
The poor Queen of Naples has lost her
baby. 1t is one of the saddest stories.
The child was healthy, fine girl. The
Queen, like many mothers with their first
child, wished to do the most perfect thing
in the way of nursing it. She sent for an
English nurse and hoped to have it
strong and hardy as English children are.
This woman, it appears, mismanaged ter
ribly. In the first place, being unaccus-
toned to Italian habits and ways, she
found fault with the bdglias, or wet
nurses; they we're discharged one after
another, to please her, until the poor
baby had no less than thirty-seven diff
ferent ones in the three months of its
short life. But the worst thing she did
was to give the poor child ice-cold baths
night and morning, and instead ofwrap-
ping the little creature up in flannel on
taking it out of the bath, she always ex-
tended the shivering, naked body on her
lap and tried reaction by slapping and
rubbing OF course the consequence
was Group, and the poor child died. The
mother, almost frantic, sent in every di-
rection for counsel, although surrounded
with physicians. 1t was very touching
to hear some Of these appeals. The
Queen has quite an intimacy with Miss
Hosmer, the sculptor. She has stood for
her statue, and both being good horse
women, they have met on special occa-
SONS at the Roman hunt. Thus the
Queen knew of John Biddle, Miss Hos
mer's grocer This John Biddle has a
wife and family of children. To this
woman the Queen sent, and when Jane
Biddle came, the poor Queen Sophia
said:
"You are mother. You have raised
many children. Tell me, what shall do
for my baby"
1t was very sad. The last scene was
the most grievous of all / have heard
it from person who was present The
Queen sat and held the poor dead baby
in her arms, extended upon her knees;
not tear fell, but the expression OF her,
face showed that her anguish was beyond
weeping. In front of her knelt the King,
sobbing and wailing aloud; he kissed the
child and his wife's hands, and then
rested his face upon the cold body, and
cried out his grief.
Only week before the death met the
King and Queen coming to the city from
a drive. 1t was near the Porta Pia, on
the Via Nomentano. They were in a
pony carriage, with footman in the
seat behind, and the King was driving.
They were coming into town slowly; the
husband was talking to the wife about
something earnestly; one hand held the
slackened reins, the other arm was
thrown across the back of her seat. She
was leaning against it, listening atten-
lively. They looked very happy as our
carriages passed slowly. / noticed how
radiantly beautiful happiness had made
her. Her face within the past few years
has been too sharp; since the birth OF
her baby it has grown fuller. / observed
on that day the rich coloring of her skin,
the softened expression of her eyes, the
pretty tender fullness of her lips. Poor
womanl The loss of kingdom and crown
never gave Sophia de Bourbon such sor-
row as this death of her baby. But that
first trial of her young womanhood
made her naughty, sharp and unamiable.
Mans injuries are apt to have this ser
rowful effect. But Gods griefs bring
their balm with them; the poor young
Queen will hardly return to her former
rebellious manner, now that she has an
an angel in heaven. We think this
babys death one of the most grievous of
blows to the Queen; it may prove her
greatest blessing ] did not mean to
sermonize on this story, but no wonder if
should feel like doing so, for sickness
and death have been so bad this last
month in Rome, that | am sure many an
American family will remember this
spring as the sad Roman season of 1870.
Sixty-two Americans have died this sea-
son at Rome--a large number out of the
little colony of visitors and residents. |
wish Americans would not come from
Naples TO Rome. Almost every case Of
fever has taken place in such instances.
The drainage at Naples is bad; travellers
bring the seeds Of. fever to Rome; the |
depressing, dehilitating climate Of this
place soon ripens the fatal disease.
Rome is not unhealthy TO residents, nor
to the visitor who has the self-denial to /
live slowly. Everything must be done
leisurely in Rome it is the place above /
all others where the dolce .tar. nieRfe !
must be indnlged in as a dnty, as sani-
tarv DraeaufiOn