The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-12

and counts and barons ad libitum to SUI
round himself with company betitting his
rank. Umberto dare not follow this august
example, even assuming the willingness of
intended victims. for an Italian degree of
nobility is equal to public insult; SO ne is
constrained 10 treat relatives a whole
herd of commoners, sporting the order of
St. Annunziata. which ccnfers upon its
uninc umbents the title of His Majestys
Cousin" while Madame Lena, otherwise
Madame Crisri, Madame Minghetti, and
Madame Carroll, wives and widows Of pie
bian ministers respectively, constitute the
Queens guard of honor ON official occasions.
Once in great while the magistrates of
Tuscany, Piedmont, and Genoa pay fiving
visit too the Quirinal. only to return after
short season with stories that scandalize
their brothers and sisters. Rome, after all.
is slow place to the denizens of Florence.
Turin. and gay Naples. and not half exclu-
sive enough.
The Roman nobility. at least the part
worth knowing, the Solviati, Ruspoli, Orsi-
MI Massimi. the Aldobrandini, and others
have always steadfastly refused to have
anything to do with the Savoys and prefer
killing time with cardinals and monsignors
In their Olu-IdSulOO0u pdldCSS " odHSiuS
attendance upon the new lord and his
mistress. may their entertainments be ever
SO splendid. This negation is SO far-reach-
ing that the King finds it actually impossi-
Bile to I'll the post of Minister of the Royal
House in the manner intended, that is. by
the nomination of some Roman grandee.
The office has gone begging for the last
three months, ever since the dismissal of
Ratazzi. Each candidate processes to be
delighted with the prospects, but after
little while sends in his regrets" At the
present time Prince Doria-PamphIly has
the matter under consideration. but 1t is
ten to one that he declines the honor. All
these people believe in the imminent down
fall of the Savoys. and the restoration, or
partial restoration, of the Holy See. They
refuse to implicate themselves.
Crispi, to make matters worse, has CON-
promised his own position toward the Vati
can, and tie Holy See, with becoming alac
rity, helped him at the job. It is we'll known
that the Premier and his wife are not legal
ly married, inasmuch as Crispis first wife,
a native OF Malta, was alive when he es-
poused Nine. Lena. The prospective mother
in-la of Crispi's daughter, Princess Ling
uaglossa, took umbrage at this little matter
and refused to receive the young girl into
her family unless her parents had made
their peace with the church. Crispi there
upon petitioned Leo III. for a dispense"
with reference to the Malta marriage. and
the Pope, disregarding all presidents and
likewise the advice of his Cardinals, COM
piled with the unusual request forthwith.
Francisco and Lena, like two good chill
dren, were then formally married by a
Papal Cha plain in the private church of the
Palace Linguaglossa.
AS if ali these incidents and occurrences
were not enough TO furnish food for Iefec-
ton and darken the political horizon, the
noble brigands'' make special efforts to give
us a taste of the Estate of the future"
anticipated by many and dreaded by the
majority of law-abiding people.
CARNIVAL OF BRIGANDAGE.
Indeed, the question of public safety has.
within the last three months, been pushed
into the front rank of discussion. Opinions
differ whether it be a crime to possess
money. To possess money and venture
outside the city gates is very risky under
taking. Banditti with confidence breath
ing baptismal and awe-nspiring surnames
are robbing mail coaches and carriages,
hunting parties, and railway travellers,
within gunshot of tie guard houses. not to
mention the murders. robberies. and burg
laries that occur within the sphere of the
municipal police with dreadful regularity.
Our Campagna has become a second Sar-
DINA in all but fertility of soil; the crop of
rascaIs is astonishingIy rich. Knowing
people claim that the numerous police Wig
ilants employed by Crispi TO hunt down
Al hric in, of