The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-05-02

IL a deIusIon OF Une overweight magma
ton, a form O hysteria induced by the con
slant worry because of ltaly's terrible con
dition? Does the lovely queen, as she
wrings her hands and walks in the long
corridors lined with priceless treasures of
art, see into the future? Does she under
stand the terrible logic which insists that
misery when it can stand no more perse-
cution, turns upon the prosecutors and
rends them limb from limb?
Nothing can console her Each new de-
tail Of the uprising in Sicily, of the mad
revolt of anarchists at Massa di Carrara,
of the explosion OF bombs in Rome, of the
tempestuous speeches of the socialist depu-
ties in the chamber, but confirms her be-
lief that the revolution is ut the gates of
the Eternal City, and that upon its palpi-
tating wings come ruin and death for the
royal family in Italy.
Margherita Of Savoy is no coward.
Her terror is not the failing of a weak
mind. 1t Is the Impression of destiny
hanging above her and hers which has fas
tened upon her this dread mononania.
Her personal bearing is such as becomes
a queen. No doubt she would walk as res
olutcly up the steps of the scaffold as the
beautiful Austrian did long years ago
She was with the king when Passanante,
who now languishes in a lunatic asylum,
attempted 20 assassinate him. Although
she was just then IN weak health, she was
brave and did not even faint until the
danger was over.
Yet her mind doubtless received its first
serious shock on that occasion. Certain it
is that some time after the Passanante i'll
cident she was afflicted with mental trou-
bic, followed by nervous prostration.
Months of care brought her back to her
old independent, queenly and stately man
ner. But then she did not have the ex-
hausting and dangerous worries which
have come to king and queen since the de
cline of the monarchy began
Now, at the Quirinal which is besieged
night and day by the needy of all classes, is
a financial crisis which has prompted Hum
bert to sell all the royal palaces of which
he has the disposition, which has even
prompted the rumor that the jewels in the
historic crown of Savoy were to be sold to
the queen of England. How can an i'm
questionable woman, with the weight OF
great dread sinking deeply into her brain,
resist the temptation to yield to the mono
mania?
The scaffold rises before her, and she
means as she wanders i'll the palace: /
shall end like Marie Antoinette! The rev
olution is at hand!"
One gusty day, when the purple Medi
terranean was at play with the capricious
winds which SO easily rufile its surface,
Queen Margherita, with the Prince of Ma
pies, was making the voyage from Naples
to Genoa.
The sea rose in an alarming manner,
and the royal steam yacht which was
stanch enough for ordinary gales and
"bourrasques, began to labor heavily
Her prudent captain, mindful that he had
on board the heir of the house of Savoy,
ventured to ask the queen if she desired to
make the nearest land.
She said mo"
In the middle of the night frightful
gale threw the yacht into perilous posi-
ton. If the gale subsidized speedily, there
was no reason for not going on; If the ship
were compelled to labor long against 1T, the
chances were uncertain.
The captain seized his pencil and wrote
a respectful message, stating the exact
facts, which he ordered taken to the queens
stateroons at once.
Should he go on and take the risk? Or
should he put about and seek shelter in
the nearest port? In few minutes back
came the answer written by Margherita
herself, in a manuscript. Her message
ran;
"Avanti, Savoia" forward, SavoyD
the watchword, the battlecry Of the royal
house. The captain put the ship through
the waves, and, half drowned, the party at
last arrived safely at Genoa
Surely woman who in presence of such
sinister peril for herself and for her SON
a future king-as a maddened sea could