National Republican., 1883-08-21
KING HUMBERT AT BCHIA.
How the Earthquake Bridged Chasm Be-
tween King and People
The Royal Visit to the Hospital in
Naples and Its Result,
Why the Calamity Falls With Heavy Force Upon
the Royal Family,
Victor Hugos Contribution TO the suf-
ferers-DulI Days in Paris,
&pncinL LeLLer.

bio hluB mas lOuCHGu All. ub ldlhlly VI
Savoy are soldiers, and every one knows how
Victor Emmanuel conquered and united
Italy. The present king (then Prince Hum
bert) was model of bravery and courage, SO
noted In fact, that ho was decorated at the
battle of Custoza, and no ono ever wore or
won honors more proudly
1t was natural that on hearing news of the
earthquake he should lose no time III getting
to the scene of the disaster. But it is many
weary hour TO Naples from Monza, the royal
country seat near Milan. The queen was
determined to accompany him, but there was
the little heir, the Prince of Naples, to be
thought of, and the royal lady sat in her
palace awaiting bulletins from her king, as did
the anxious in the time of the crusades or the
lovely Genevievo when Arthur and his
knights strobe TO battle for danger still lurked
at Ischia. The first telegram from the king
was touching. He said
"When saw those poor slaughtered babies
the fathers heart was touched. and it bled for
them"
When Humbert says anything he means it.
His tears fell at the sight of SO much desola-
tion and misery; genuine tears, not for the
public. but wrung from tho heart of
sovereign who is also father. When he was
offered facoR he refused it. Continue
your work my men," said he, 81 need no de-
odorizer. 1t is worse for you than me-"
OF all the provinces Of Italy yielding alle-
glance to the house Of Savoy, Naples and the
Sicilies have alone retained proud attitude.
All feeling is done away with now and for
ever. The kings visit to the hospitals in
Naples was thing long to be remembered.
Every sufferer held the hand not alone of
their king, but of n man like themselves who
had human heart and superhuman sympa-
thy. 1t sjust that the son of Victor Emman-
uel should be feared, but all soyereigns may
nn lilra him IN ha lnya1 forf
Do you know Queen Margherita2 No; well
picture to yourself beautiful woman with
eyes of heavenly blue hair ashen blonde, a
lovely complexion, and face full of sun
shine and sweetness--a face that even the
poorest peasant in Italy, from the Savoyan
Alps to bold Vesuvius, have seen wearing as
sweet a smile as she could bestow; the hum
bier the person, the reader the queen with
her arts to make herself beloved. She has so
succeeded that there is not one in the king
dom who does not adore the Lady Mar
gherita; named after patron saint, who was
an angel of grace and charity.
1t is an old saying about an "ill wind" and
80 on, but good will come to Italy of this
catastrophe. The test was cruel but effica-
cious. The kings courage, loyalty, and alb
solute disregard as to personal safety have
opened to him all hearts in the realm. When
the proud Sicilian weeps and recognizes "a
Savoyan sovereign, then is n day of harmony
come to the united kingdom. Subscriptions
are flowing in from every quarter, for there
are many poor to be thought of, many suffer-
ing and crippled. The wards of the Pelligrini
hospital in Naples are filled to overaowing,
the city is in mourning, and, to add to the
horrors of the scene, Vesuvius flashes forth
threatening flames, and faint but perfectly
distinct tremblings of the earth are heard at
not infrequcnt intervals in the vicinity of
Naples and Ischia.
France preserves avery sullen aspect Italy
is in disgrace because of the triple alliance"
Since Rome was mistress of the world states
men have mover been wanting in the Italian
kingdom; but all powers of mortal eloquence
are impotent when Contrasted with the raging
demons of fire and flood, natures all puissant
gigantic soveregns.
The king is indeed come Handicapped onto
his throne. Tho late foundations claimed
continuous attention and money. The pri-
vate eNchequer was drained for anterior
debts, which Humbert considered that his
honor demanded the payment of, aud now
1schia has "Out HerOded Herod" by the
enormity of its catastrophe.
Tho loss is doubly hard, as the Italian rev.
enue must continually suffer. The inun-
dated districts are exempt from tax for an iu-
definite time as are all provinces devastated
or destroyed by natural outbreak of elements,
fire, earthquake, malady, and SO on. King
Humbert is very plucky, and he needs super
human courage to sustain him against super
human disaster.
legitmatist organ Of Paris. NJ Meyer, the
cultivated and sympathetic director lin spite
OF the grumblings of Frenchmen in general),
had the courage to start subscription for the
sufferers at lschia, and round sums are already
flowing in. 1t is already announced that he
will be made chevalier of the Grand Cross
OF the Crown of Italy. Bravo Naturally the
other Partisan journals are biting their pol
ished nails for jealousy, but it it is useless.
The GautOis is certainly many lengths ahead.
Setting aside the cause, few nations could be
heartless enough to refuse sympathy to
even their worst enemy at such u time.
Suffering is mundane; relief should be like
wise universal. Party questions and political
chickering's should!b be of secondary Importance.
think one reason of France s great deCadenGe
is due to its ingratitude as a nation, This is
a specimen.
Victor Hugo to-day stands at the head of
the literary world. He reflects more honor
MS an individual on his country than ten
Gambettas or Louise MiChels or the present
combined cabinet and president of the repub.
lie. The great poet sent thousand francs to
the fund for lSchia accompanying it with
che following letter:
send Ischla thousand francs Tho catas-
trSphe Of lschia is more than an Italian catasro.
phe II is more than human Catastrophe; IL is n
eatAstrophe universal, feel deeply touched
send my mite. NICroR HUGO.
The Figaro, well known as one of the witties
but most uuwholesome of Parisian journals
huubs hHuIoNCI NlCtOE hugo may SAY int
earthquake of Ischia was happily u local
catastrophe. They do say that the inhab.
itants of Avenue Victor Hugo (once Avenue
d'Eylan) since his residence in the quarter
have suffered infinitely less than the inhab,
itants of Casamicciola.n The quiet irony O
the paragraph may rebound to the journalist.
wit, but scarcely TO his credit.
Victor Hugo has always responded with
heart and purse to misiortunes cry. By the
way, l saw the poet u few days ago. ii,
nodded little goOd-day from his window
He sits there often en- cpmence, as one
might say He looks well, hearty and
seventy-say, rather, sixty years old
never over eighty. He is a strange man
Many rich aud famous writer would have
built himself palace, filed it with cXtraor.
dinary objects of art and the world would
have wagged anew about poets house. how
he lives, tho richness of his surroundings, &c
Nothing of the sort | think that Victor
Hugo's hotel, as it is called, is perhaps the
smallest on the avenue 1t has little garden
back, is square, of white stone, two stories
only in height and the outer door opens right
onto the sidewalk. The poet usually sits al
window of the second story and is alway'
diligently reading his newspaper, Hespend,
hours this way, often looking up, and always
speaking to any passer-by who may accos
him, His voice is quite as strong and sympa
thetic as of old, which accounts for the dis
tinctness with which he is understood