Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-03


The impression which the chivalrous king
made upon me at my last visit TO the Italian
court, after not having seen him for hfteen
years, was a most agreeable one. DO not ina
CINE him to be a stiff courtier, but genuine
cheyalier-a sort OF media val landsknecht. who
seems to please the Italian on account of his
bluntness, which is so greatly at varisnce with
their polished, insiDuating manners. Although
only of medium stature, he presents q COM
manding appearance by his we'll rounded form,
his flashing eyes, and military bearing.
lie came to meet me with outstretched
hands, welcomed me heartily, and asked me
about my relatives, with whom he was sc-
quainted.
The same evening dined with him. Victor
Emmanuel, as true Piedmontese, munched
his gyi6iRi dong, thin bread rolls, and disdan-
ed partaking OF any other dishes. But his ab-
dine alone. Walking up and down in his room ,
he eats half dozen haifraw outlets from the
sidebosrd, and drinks with it half q Iitre of
strong Piedmontese wine. When attending
gala dinners he never eats any thing but the
aforementioned griffin.
The king dismissed me that evening later
than the rest of the guests, and invited me to 20
hunting with him next day.
Toward evening on the following day. in car
riages drawn by four thorough bred horses for
Victor Emmanuel has the finest stud of horses
in Europe, we reached the hunting-cas,le in
the GRAHAM Alps, the only mountainous region
outside of SpsiN where the ibeN is found yet;
ior II has long Neome extinct in Savoy, Swift
zeIland, and the Tyrol.
We had no companions but few aides ami
hunters. had presented two splendid needle
guns to the king, and he told me he was burn
ing 10 try them upon this noblest and rarest of
European game.
Early in the morning the king distributed the
cast Tor the hunt among as. A few carriers
were sent with provisions to an appointed place
IN the mountains, where we were TO meet at the
end of the hunt. The aides aud hunters ascend
ed mountsin-path to the left, while the king
and |, accompanied by single servant, advanc-
cd straight ahead. Victor Emmanuel was
dressed in a short black-velvet ia cket. In his
hand he hela long Alpine staff, and his rifle
was strung across his back. The sun rose ma
Jestically, and it soon became very warm. New
ertheless, the king made coed head way, so much
so, indeed, that was hardly able to keep step
with him. We left the forests behind us, and
passed through the alpine pastures. Every now
and then the king stood still to take breath and
then be scanned the heights through his field
glass We heard the shrill notes of the marmots
but dsdained firing at such ignoble game
Then we reached the snowy regions, and our
attendant declared that he clearly discerned the
fresh trail of an hex herd.
Suddenly the king metioned TO me, and,
handing me the field glass, pointed al several
dark spots between rocky slope and a gla-
cier. At a glance dscerned three fine speci-
mems of the ibex, grazing on a green ossisrthe
first i ever beheld. Not outstanding the great
distance, plainly saw how one of them turned
around, ana suspiciously snutfed the air The
animals had probably heard the noise of our as
cent, but had evidently not yet seen u.s. Nov
1t was all-important for us TO get between them
and the wind. The king ordered his attendant
us with loud noise, while we were to climb up
cautiously to meet them. We lay down pros
trate on the ground and watched the progress
OF the attendant. who, with the utmost circum-
spection, performed his arduous task 1t lasted
half an hour before he come up close to them
Al length lie rose within ten feet of the three
ibexes.
The king sprang to his feet His face was
flushed with excitement.
"Be ready to shoot!" he whispered to me.
. The distance is great, but you must show that
PrusslAns shoot welli''
We Climbed with the utmost caution little
higher. The king then drew from his belt a
small silver whistle, and blew on il. The mex {.
moment large ibex emerged from behind the
opposite rock, and tried TO cross the chasm sep
aratng 1t from us. The king fired, and the
hex rolled down the gorge. Ny bullet hit the
second ibex, which had closely followed the
first. But it sprang to its feet again, and tried
TO retrace ln steps. IL met, however, the third
ibeX, and both fell under our fatal bullets.
The excitement of this rare sport had half
maddened me. hurried toward the dead ami
mails, while the king followed me slowly. When
we reached them Victor Emmanuel, than whom
no one can be more generous, said the honor OF
the day belonged to me, although he himself
had fired the first lucky shot. Against this
protested; but he was innexible.
So, two of the IbeSes were declared to be
mine. What magnificent animals they are.
They are smaller than chamois, but, notwith-
standing their immense horns. by far more
agile. Their skin is not brown, like that of the
cbamois, but gray and shaggier.
The king now sent the at JendaDt to take the
game nome, anu tnen conducted me 10 the rem
devious. The road was the most magnificent
have ever travelled IN the Alps. Frequently we
had to join hands in order to get on. L must con-
fess that my strength was nearly exhausted: but
Victor Emmanuel walked on with astonishing
viger. i was glad when we espied the aides
whom We had left in the morning, and who re-
ceived us with enth usiastic cheers.
They were sitting round a large fire on seats
with them.
"You are good sportsman" said Victor f m
manuel, gayly, to me, land SO you must permit
me to treat you as SUCH"
He took up a chicken, and, seizing it BY one
of the hind legs, offered me the other, saying
gayly: ''Let us go halves.', We pulled asuad-
er, and got the bigger part.
'Now, a good goblet of our red wfnel" shout
ed the king. "This is better than all your gala
dinners"
Such was my hunt with Victor Emmanuel
He is every inch a sportsman, a soldier, and a
man Translated for the Journal from the GarteR
ldube.