Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-28
Stories of a King.

little book entitled the ''Private Life of
King Victor Emmanuel is having great sale
Italy. 1t is written by q man of ability,
who hides himself under the pseudonyme of
Fausto. He seems to have been an intimate
friend OF the king, and tells many funny
story about him.
Victor Emmanuel was accustomed to rise
at O'Clock "A. NJ, and his life was as regular
as clock. He had fixed hours for recep-
tons, walking, private audiences, for
theatres, which he often visited, though he
did not like music, and for reading, which
he delighted in. Books containing hunting
and horses were his favorites. He dined at
midnight before going to bed, and it was
often his only meal. He wore the same
clothes winter and summer. When he was
seen with an overcoat on, he was sick He
detested dress coat, and looked upon it as
a Democratic invention. He despised
gloves, and if he wore them at all it was only
upon his left hand. He was never seen with
an umbrella, and rode in an open carriage,
whethered it showed or rained. He was &C
customed to 60 to the theatres in a loose coat,
and preferred the popular theatres, where he
could smoke, for he was only comfortable
when with cigar in his mouth.
One evening, when he entered his private
box, he was told that the empress of Russia
was in t! e theatre. 'What can do?'' said
the king; ~ am not dressed, and cannot go
back to the palace; but must visit the en-
press" All at once an idea struck him. He
pulled off his sack coat and put on the dress
coat of the marquis de Bagnasco, who was in
the box. But he still needed a white cravat.
He looked about, and perceiving that the
cravat of the valet who guarded the royal
box was the least mussed, he went up to
him, and pulling off the desired object, tied
it around his own neck, remarking at the
same time, 81 think I look enough like
king of Italy,
Another time, at the same theatre, the
king suddenly saw behind the glass door in
his box the shadow of Col. Galletti, one of
his intimate friends. "Don't move, Gal
letti,' said the king of Pledmontese, ct want
to make your portrait With this the king
pulled out of his pocket lead pencil (he
carried them in all his pockets) and outlined
the face of the colonel on the glass. The
next evening, between acts, the king, on
leaving his box for moment, noticed a
servant trying to rub out this portrait with
cloth. "What are you doing there?' asked
the king. "Your majesty, l am trying to
clean this glass which some fellow has
dirtied,'' replied the servant. ssDon't take
the trouble, am the fellow,' answered the
king, convulsed with laughter.
He was familiar with his domestics, and
never called them with bell, but with his
voice, which could be heard long way off.
He would whistle for them when they did
not come Immediately. It was common
thing in the palace to hear the valet of the
king running about looking for a domestic,
exclaiming that "his majesty is whistling.'
He loved to talk with the people, especial
ly at Naples, where the people speak out
hat tn ey think. AS in Spain, there exists
in that city the peculiar custom of offering a
visitor anything he may express his liking
for. If you express admiration for anything
whatsoever belonging to Neapolitan, he
Immediately answers, sit is yours If you
say to ailady or to common woman.
''Ihat's nice ring you have" she will take
1t from her finger and say. 'sThe ring is
yours AS in Spain, too, politeness re-
quires that you reply, 'sNo, / thank YOU
But If you take the ring, it is given to you.
The king hunting one day stopped at farm
and expressed admiration for the farmers
two little boys, who we're looking at him
with astonished eyes, 'sAre those your sons?''
asire, they are yours responded the farmer.
"But, replied the king with a smile, ST
don't remember of ever having been here be-
fore.''
Victor Emmanuel was always ready to
give decorations. He looked upon it as a
means of separating the high born from the
people, both of whom we're placed upon the
same level by the Democratic dress suit.
He ony hesitated once. This was when