The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-30
The Private Life of victor Emanuel.

A little book cntitleu inc fTtOWt LVt ~
KING victor Emanuel is having great sale in
Italy. Ii IL written 10y n man Of ability. who
hides himself undor the pseudonyme OF
Fdusio. lie seems to have been an intimate
friend Of the King. and tells many Il funny story
about him.
Victor Emanuel was accustomed 10 rise nj 4
o'clock A. NJ. and his life WIS as regular as a
clock. He had fixed hours for receptions,
walking, private audiences. for theatres. which
he often visited. though he did not like music
and for reading which he delighted in, Books
concerning hunting and horses were his IA
vorites. lie dincd ut midnight before going to
bed, and 1t was often his only meal. He worc
the same clothes winter and summer. When
he was seen with nm overcoat on. he WAS sick
He dotcsted dress coat, and looked upon II as
a democratic invention TO confound master md
servants in the same garb. He also dislked
now hats. and only wore gloves when forced to-
and then only ON the left hand. He was never
seen with an umbrella. and rodc In an open
carriage, whether II showed or rainod. He was
accustomed To go to the theatres in n 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 the theatre. What can | do = said the
King; am not dressed. and cannot go back
to the palace: but must visit the Empress"
All at once an idea struck him. He pulled
of 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 perceiying that the cravat Of
the valet who guarded the royal box was the
least mussed he went up to him. and pulling
! of the desired object. tied 1t around his own
neck, remarking at the same time. L think
now look enough like a King Of Italy"
Another time. at the same theatre. the King
suddenly saw behind the glass door Of his box
tho shadow of Col. Gnlctti. one Of his intimate
friends. Don't move. Gallett said the King
in Piedmontese. Il want to make your portrait"
With this the King pulled out Of his pocket
lead pencil The carried them In all his pockets
and outlined the faco OF the Colonel ON the
glass. The next evening, between acts. the
King. on leaving his box for n moment noticed
II servant trying to rub ont this portrait with
cloth What are sou doing there ?" asked the
! King. Your Majesty. am trying 10 clean this
! glass which some fellow has dirtied. replied
| the servant. Don't take the trouble. am the
! fellow" answered the King CONFUSED with
laughter.
He was familiar with his domcstics and nevcr
| called them with bell. but with hi, voice. which
! could be heard a long way of. He would whis-
u FOR them when they did not come immcli-
ately. 1t was "a common thing in the palace to
hear the valet OF the King running about look
! ing for domestic, excaining that his Majes-
| ty Is whistling."
He loved TO talk with tho peoplo especially Mt
Naples where the people SPEAK ont what thoy
think. a. in Sunin. there exists in that city
the peculiar custom Of Offering visitor any
thing he may express his liking for. II .ou
| express admiration for anything whatsoever
belonging 10 n Neapolitan, he Immediately an
swers. 1t is yours" II you say To- q lady or
to a common woman. That's nice ring you
| have she will take II from her nncor and say.
The ring il yours A. in Spain. too. uo-
litcness requires that YOU roply No. thank
YOU But II YOU take the ring. II is given TO
you. The King hunting one day stopped at
a farm and expressed admiration for the
farmers two little boys. who were looking at
him with astonishcd eyes. Arc those your
SONS - said tie King " sire. thoy are yours. 90
responded the farmer o. But" replied the
King with a smile. don't remember Of ever
| having been here before"
Victor Emanuel was always r-idy 10 give
decorations. He looked upon it as n means Of
separating the high born from the people. both
Of whom were placed upon the same level by
the democratic dress suit He only hositnted
once. This was when Baron Nicoteza brought
him on ono occasion seventy parchmonts 10
sign. This is n great many at ono time. said
the King. Sire. responded the Minister
these are all eminent men. profoundly at
tached 10 your person" Il didn't know was
loved so much answered the King. a. he COM
menrei 10 sign the papers. He had the courage
IN decorate q comedian, Antonio Petite. who
died traRically a few years ago on the stage
amid the laughs 81 the audience Somebody
questioned the proprc,y Of making n comedian
a knight ono day in the presence Of the King.
An. he Is not The first clown who has been
decorated said the monarch. He remarked
one lay that neither cigar nor a cross should
ever be refused Tho cigars he gave away were
very expensive. once he opened his cigar case
an enormous one made OF Russian leather
10 the Mayor Of moighborng town. who had
come 10 pay his respects. Sire, this cigar
will be the glory of the town and II its magis.
trates; shall smoke il all my life" replied tn,
Mayor ns he put a massive cigar IN his pocket.
In the spring of 1870 Victor Emanuel Went
frequently To ono Of the popular theatres NJ
Floren -. The employers would await his ar
rival in n crowd at the door of the theatre. Thu
flower girls were also there in force. and Boppa
the Oldest in the business, never failed to ofTcl
the King bouquet. In accepting It he always
said. Thanks Beppa; and from time 10 tim,
he sont her bank bill One day. instead Of
bouquet, heavy embroidered cushion wa,
thrown into the royal carriage striking th'
Kings head and knocking his Int oft. TIN
young girl who made it. a singer in the chort
Of the theatre, was discharged forthwith. FOR
WIS noticed that the King was yoNed At her a.
ton. When Victor Emanuel heard IF her mis-
fortune. he sent her large sum Of money an
this message; Tell her not to aim at my hea'
next time. and 20 hc kind enough TO lci m
know beforehand when she is soin.; 10 throw
something at me-
The Kings libarali'y was continually oppose
> by tho Ministry. especially by Household
Minister, Commander N-one. who WINS tyrnn
meal in his economy The King did no
dare 10 ask him for money In order 10 pro
pitiato him in case OF need. he was nocustomc'
TO send him game. First one pheasant. the
two. then three. and when the Minister Nae got
ten in good mood, thoking would ask him f.
p small advance Of eight or ten Thousand dol
lars. The Minister soon became hah,uat'l q
this kind of solicitation, and. when he saw
pheasant coming from tho palace. he was in IN
hnbit Of romarking To- his friends All, appa