The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-28

side of the court and receive them with
cordial manifestations of their devotion
whenever they appear. They admire his
somewhat rough military appearance, his
fierce look and immense moustache
As child he was of L very delicate con-
stitution, but he outgrew it later on, aging
very early, however. Already as n boy of
ID he was serving as a soldier on the bat
tlefield side by side with his father In the
war of 1866 he was the foremost in the fight
and distinguished himself especially at
Peschiara, where he was commander-in-
chief. Villafranca and Custozzo, where, if
the glorious patriot Nisio Bixio had not
arrived at the right time, he would have
lost his life.
81 shall never forgive YOU not leaving
the affair solely to me" he exclaim ed in
the vehement excitement of the moment,
as the general described to him the danger
ne had been in. Also as diplomat he
has played an important part in the re-
organization of both the kingdoms of
Sicily and later on in Paris. He married
later than Is customary for a prince. but
lost his wife while yet bride. HIS sec
ond marriage was with his cousin Mar
gherita, daughter of the Duke of Genoa,
and the newly married couple took up
their residence in Turin. One year and a
half later their only child, Victor En-
manuel. the Prince of Naples, was born.
The king is reputed for the strict econ
omy he exercises, avoiding with relent-
less severity all unnecessary expenses
in his household and carefully studying
the regular expenditure of 4 court The
dinners and balls. which had become rep
rehensible under the reign of Victor En-
manuel and the Countess Miraiiore, now
bore an unblemIshed character, and the
oh to.it ,b alF = 10, ,,I
number OF horses, carriages and footmen.
Such order and shrewd economy alone en-
abled hlm to pay the enormous debts of
his father and to take part in all national
subscriptions for charitable purposes or
where the encouragement of art or science
was concerned. Proofs of his generosity
are numerous. Hearing OF the strait
ened circumstances OF the widow and child
of deceased court officer he visited the
family personally. 'it will be difficult TO
live on the small pension allowed you, so
let me do as a friend what the ministers
cannot do for you, accept an annual pen
sion OF 1000 francs from me.
The king attends to his private affairs
with an exactitude which has become sec
ond nature to him, and they occupy a
good deal of his time. In conversation he
likes TO dwell on accomplished improve
ments, and prefers to discuss financial and
economical questions to political or mill
his study. where. like a Florentine broker
of the middle ages. he looks over bills die
tateS letters, makes notes on his corre-I
spOndence; in short. as one of his officials
says. writes letters and counts his
money" His private secretary, Urban
Ratuzzi, a nephew of Cavour, exactly
suits his master in mis- love OF thrift and
economy that almost borders on avarlce
Their aversion to all unnecessary expenses
has become prOverbiai and IS often mildly
king appeared at luncheon with a waist
queen laughingly remarked: That suit
OF clothes was surely ordered by Katu2zi.
! recognize it in the measure OF the ma
terial."
The only person at court who inclInes to
extravaganza Is perhaps the queen; like
all Italian ladies'. she displays Z love for
luxury in her toilet and induces the court
ladies TO spend beyond their means in fol-
lowing her lead. In another direction,
however, the queen exercises remarkable
influence. She Is always endeayoring TO
improve her mind. Like her mother, the
duchess of Genoa, she reads much. She
speaks German, English and French
hUently. She also takes an interest in
fancy work, and Is always ready 10 aid the
working class. As a daughter OF the
house of Savoy, which always had clerical
aspirations. she endeavors TO ameliorate
the church and monarchy. These At
tenpts had several times caused suspicion,
and in many circles harmed her popular
ity. But even the most extreme republi-
can paper could never throw the slightest