The Irish standard., 1895-11-16
It'll y Uu1uUlI VI LII UlU
interesting Matters concer rning
Italy's Prime Hin
ister.
His Life Is Daily Guarded by Off
GERS at the Expense of
the Nation.
Two Women Who Crept Into
Crispi's Life and Cow
erned Him.

An exciting game is about to be played
IN thu Italian parliament signor Crispi
with The approval OF King Humbert, is, it
IS believed, about to take prominent
part in eastern affairs in the event OF
their developing into activity. People
who are supposed 20 be in his confidence
aeciare that in the event of Russian in
vas3cn Of Armenia, which is still on the
cards, the British and Italian govern
ynenss have arranged for counter dem
cEstretion in their interest and in an
equitable division of spoil. The plan
vcnid include Inc dispatch of British war
ships % Constantinopie and of an Italian
squadron TO Tripoli. OF course there is
deal Of conjecture about this. but it is
something more than the idle gossip of
amateur diplomats, says a dispatch from
Ro-ae.
Signor Crispi's old enemy, Sibnor Clio
iiIti-whom no one believes would ever
take active part in political life again af-
Tar the failure Of his attempt to Danish
Crispi from if by the most outrageous
nesns-has cropped up again and threat
ens 70 take hand in the debates which
are soon 10 take place upon Crispi's home
and foreign policy. The Italian Bismarck
Is likely 70 And his resources taxed TO the
Utmost. He has most TO hope from the
general belief OF all classes that he is
Tie best man for the head Of affairs.
During this month Crispi has celebrated
fis seven ty-siyth birthday. Nevertheless
eveI in looks he is anything but an old
man Energetic. restless by tempera-
,nent. he leads wonderfully active life.
seldom leaving the Italian capital even
when the heat OF the Roman SUNNI er
drives everyone else to the seaside or the
mountains. He is perhaps the only Ital-
len statesman who understands what
business means, and in this fact may rest
the secret Of his remarkable success. 9th
g Italians work by fits and starts. with
!els intervals Of Incidence. Crispi, to use
at America nisTn. works all the time,
He is perhaps as much misunderstood
as any man living. According to ti1etin-
Gtvfduai temperament Of the critic, Crispi
IS fated CT adored. lauded as an angel, or
decried as demon. The truth is, AS with
riost things On this sphere, he is
neithsr as black nor as white as he is
painted His personality is very mark
ed and complex one. OF that there can be
To Sn'sht. By some he is represented as a
cancelled parvenu. a Miles Gloriosus a
man fond of show and luxury. but to those
who have caught a glimpse of the quiet,
busy life he leads III his ittie house in
Via Gregoriana these accusations are
known 10 be unfounded. hE
Crispi's residence is an unpretsDding
one-stGried affair, neat and comfortable
hut looking more like the elegant garcen-
Mere Of a -about-town than the pal
ace Of a statesman. 1t is situated near
the Tiazza di Trinita del Monti, well
known 10 all tourists in Rome, and stands
opposite the quaint old mansion common
" called Ternpie.te, where the celebrated
painter FREDERICK Zuccari lived. and
wlNch his descendants still occupy. This
soot IS one Of the loftiest in Rome. From
the window of his library Crispi can see
the soaring dome of st. Peters and almost
see the ipng-rebed priests Of the vatican,
who eeaslessly execute the political be-
hests Of Radl,Dol!a and pray night and day
for the overthrow of Hunbert and the re-
storstien CT the temporal power of the
rspacy.
The front door is closely guarded by
gan;fsrnis and policemen, some in plain
clothes These men, or at least three of
them always follow hin in a cab on his
daily drives to and from the ministry of
ths interior Of the Fuiazzo Braschi Since
she recent attempt on his life by Leg3
Crispi seems always to fear the repetition
of such an outrage. Consequently his
house Is guarded night and day. aud when
he drives from the Via Gregoriana to The
Palazzo Braschi the coachn1an has orders
TO change the iteIerary every day. This
excess of prudence on the part of an ex-
Garibsldian, and one who has fought on
many battlefield for the cause of Italian
Independence, has laid him open to some
ri6icule and some not wholly undeserved
censui'e, and has helped to weaken his
popularity A certain section of the pub
lii: is beginning to complain of the cost OF
thus protecting the life OF he prime min
lister, which amounts to 200 pounds per
month when ne is in Rome, and rises to
much higher figure when he leaves Ii
IN the present state OF italian finances
this is heavy price to pay for one man s
nervousness
On passing through the front door we
find ourselves in a courtyard surrounded
by a co1onuade OF Doric pillars. A door on
The left opens into the garden; to the right
a marble staircase leads UP to the apart
meDts occupied by the prime minister and
his wife, Donna Lima, the sole occupants
pf the dwelling since their only child, Pc
pima was married to the Prince Of Lingu-
alessa, young Sicilian noblenlall The
rooms are furnished In good taste, with
put any showiness, but with simple ele-
sance. In these quiet, comfortab bic apar t
.nents, which, unlike many habitations al
The great, have a useful and lived Unlike
appearance, are no traces OF the Sardan-
apalus against whose tabled extravaganza
Signor Gioiitti has so often declaimed in
The chamber of deputies, and is about Il
ieciaim again. 55S S] s4ss
Il is here-Ilot in the chamber Of dep
Ities or at the Paiazzo Braschi that The
tea. man can be seen and known. And
the real man is very different from wha,
his adversaries or even his partisaAs sup
pose. # gs
Never was there more thorough dis
beilever in the maxim :. Take the goods
NE gods pruTide thee; = for. of these good
nirgs which gladden. the hear ts be sim.
pier or worldlier mortals, Crispi does not
Avail himself at ALL He sleeps title, eats
y ss and does not drink or smoke Instead
sDf fndnlging in eopious liba of beer
Ike Biemarck ur wen nat CRIT
Il drink q not I'm II funz d
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