Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-15
From the Philadelphia Press.

rroD1 the ParlS american Register.
Last week told you what a citizen Of the
United States had done for king, and now 1
have the opportunity of telling you what the
king has done for the citizen. In other words,
spoke of the magnificent gift of the horse
Damascus, presented by j. W. Garrett, of Balti-
more. to King Humbert, of Italy Of course.
the king could not return the gift in kind. as
there is not in all Italy, some say not in all Eu-
rope, a horse as perfect as beautiful and as win
ming In his ways as Damascus. But the king
has hit upon an odd, unwOnted and also a yery
valuable gift. He has presented to Mr.. Garrett
stud of four fine Arabian camels, two male
ana two female, reared in italy, ana TODAY or
tomorrow they will be embarked at Leghorn
On one of the FlOriO-Rubattnoc Oast-line steam
ers to go to Palermo. whence they will probably
arrive at New York about the middle of Sep
TENDER.
But it may be asked: "Do they raise camels
In Italy," Yes they do. and have done it for
more than 200 years. In the good old days of
COsmO di MedIci about 1925 camels were i'm
ported into Tuscany, and were placed for breed
ing purposes in the Cascine or ducal farm of
San ROssOre, which had long been favorite
country seat and hunting place of the rulers in
tuscany. The modern traveller, as he whisks
along in the railway car from LeghOrn to Pisa.
may not remember that about three miles before
ne reaches Pisa he runs through plantation of
maritime Cor umbrella) pines, SO dense that he
would fancy himself In some forest region This
is portion OF the new royal farm of San Ros-
sOre which was the favOrite place in central
Italy as resort for the late Victor Emanuel,
Here it is that for more than two centuries and
nall camels have been regularly reared. Some
times. in the days of the Mecc there have been
as many as $50 Of these "ships of the desert at
one time on the farm of San ROssore. doing the
work OF beasts of burden, engaged in transport
Ing stone for building, gravel for roads. or in
gathering in the harvests Then too when the
Medlcean princes wished to make present to
the pOtentates OF Europe, no gift in the hand of
any ruler could surpass in royal estimation the
gift of a camel from San RossOre Victor Eman-
uel. who was great lover of animals of all
kinds. saw that the flock Of camels did not run
down after the grand duchy of Tuscany became
portion of United Italy, and when King Vic
tween one and two hundred of these exotic AMI
mails. originally from Arabia, and replenished in
breed from time to time with large fine animals
brought from Tunis. The present of four of the
best OF this flock, sent to Mr.. Garrett. makes an
era in the gift-giving of King Humbert, for to
no emperor or king, and to no royal cOnserva-
tory or governmental geological collection, has
the king ever sent SO many or such fine camels
as those which are now going to private citi-
zen In the new world. D. E. Curran. who so
successfully brought over Damascus, has the
Charge of these four camels and no doubt he
will be as fortunate in handing over to Mr. Gar
rett the royal gifts as he was in placing Mr. Gar
retts magnificent present in the kings hands at
MOnza-
San Rossore is one Of the places which will
always have historical interest connected with
the hrst king Of United Italy. Victor Emanuel
oid not like courts and court life though no
man could oe. or was, more cOurtly, and no one
more fuliy exacted and satisfied the formalities
OF court. But his delight was in camp and in
rurai lie and sports. All contemporary wit
nesses OF his behavior in his CAMPAIGNS c0rroh
crate the joy and the dash Of the man amidst
the stirring scenes of army life. He rejoiced in
the sound OF the trumpets as much as Job's
war-horse. The deep bass Of cannon and the
accompanying musketry suited him well. and
he once said that ''the only music he ever cared
for the only one that he could understand !"
was the inharmonious laundering and noise OF
the battlefield. Rural life, outdoor life-he
thoroughly enjoyed, whether on one of the
many royal preserves or amidst the wild valleys
and crags Of the Alps Of northern Italy, which
are far less trodden and far more inaccessible
than any portion of the Alpine territory In
Switzerland. 1t is said that the last hold the
hex (the steinbock Of the Germans) in central
Europe, is In few Of the recesses Of the Alps
whose nights look down upon the towers Of Tu-
rim and the spires of Milan. Thither every year
ne would repair. and in his gray shooting jacket
and his SOFT high Tyrolese hat he went every
where No one could stand more hardship and
rongh mountain climbing than he as he often
ieit MS few attendants far behind and with only
mountain hunter, sought in the widest spots
ibex.