The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-15
CRAWFORD AND ITALIANS.
Novelist Replies to an Attack Upon
Hina hy the Don ChisciOtte.

Italian papers that have attacked +. Marion
Crawford for his alleged breach of courtesy
to the Italians recently published the follow
ing communication from the novelist. TIE
letter reveals mere clearly than biography
ever could the temper and inner life Of the
man. He strikes straight out with plain
phrases. thus:
Sir: In an article which was published in
the Don Chisc;otte on Friday, Oct. H. entitled
I'm Ozpite che Potretbe Tornare" CA
Guest Who Might Return"). there are sew
eral. certainly involuntary. errors concern
ing which I request you to have the courtesy
10 publish TIE following statements:
In the frs place the above mentioned arti-
Gle causes it 10 be understood that I was
born and educated in the United States, that
some few years ago I cane to Rome where
I was welcomed caressed and hattered as
the most celebrated novelist (which I am
notl: that after accepting every hospitality, l
returned to America for the purpose OF writ
ing all that 7 could in the newspapers against
that same Italy toward whom I deep
-ly indebted. and what was more. that had
precisely. and with intention. chosen the oe-
easion Of the Count Of TURNS visit to the
United States in order 10 publish a work cal
eulated 10 offend him.
We're all these statements true-as with
out doubt the writer Of that little article
must have belieyed-he would be perfectly
justified in qualifying ne as the ordinary
foreigner. and I myself would add, Of but
little respecJabnity 10 whom the journalist
refers
But the facts are very different
HIS LIFE STORY.
7 was born in Tuscany in 1854. of American
parents Thomas Crawford, my father. was
a distinguished sculptor (sea British Ency-
clopedia. Larousse, Brockhaus and others.
+f,a
year OF his premature death. The greater
part Of my youth was passed at Rome and
after having studied in various colleges and
universities in America. England and Ger
MANY. I terminated my studies in the Roman
university tthe rector at that time being
Commentator Professor Valeri, a friend Of
my fathers. ard also attended the lectures
on Sanscrit and comparative philology given
BY the harmed Prof. Lignana). AT the same
time I was already occupied with English lit
erature. I afterward passed four years and
a half in the East Indies and in the United
States as a journalist critic. and finally nov
elist up 10 the time Of my marriage, when I
took up my residence in the province of Ma
pies. Just as my father had resided at Rome,
and where I possess a small estate.
Stranger I am. it is true. and an American
and a Republican. but certainly not any ordi-
narv passing stranger.
No one VIII deny my right 10 speak, ac
cording 10 my manner Of understanding the
world. Of the actual state CT Italy and Of her
fiscal and political condition.
wrote therefore, an article for the New
York Herald al the request Of the editor at
the time when the popular agitation at Milan.
Naples and elsewhere was still going on
The article was published at New York in
the edition OF Sunday. May Is
do not know whether H. R. H. the Count
the United States.
HE SAID NOTHING NEW
New for many years, and in more than
twenty novels as well as in other of my
works I have never once ceased to express
precisely the same opinions as those con-
tanned in the lstter to the New York Herald
Many OF the phrases and all the opinions will
be found in ny books. and as my few friends
in Italian society-whether Roman OF Neap-
olitan-have done me the honor OF reading
several OF these works of mine, ii is very evil
dent that they could have turned their backs
upon NE long ago had they wished 10 do SO.
7 was never presented to that courteous
and cultured society and but rarely go inte
il being By profession man Of letters, Just
as my father was q sculptor by profession
ard by 10 means a society man: but it would
be q marvel indeed if two generations of men
honestly residing in Italy from 1887 until 1895
members OF a family belonging TO the good
society CT the United States, had not entered
into friendly relations with some Italian fam
lies.
Unfortunately. the above very sensible opin-
ion does not appear 10 be shared by the great
majority of our American cousins, who are
too apt to be led astray by the megaIomanous
nonsense with which the columns of their vel
low journals abound.
On The orher hand bava navar l,noclrsd
at closed doors, have never asked anything
Of society, and have accepted but little, as
every one who knows me IS well aware.
Being q profound admirer Of historical
artis-ical and literary Italy and of her Latin
temPera Eent, allow me TO think as I please
about the modern politics and future exist
ence Of the country, and 10 speak in nv
own fashion. ike the republican that I am,
as 1 have always thought and spoken, and as
I always VIII think and speak There are
Italians Who have said much more and far
worse
The author Of the little article in Don
Chisciotte e1nnCt have seen my letter 10
the View York Herald, otherwise he could not
hayc asserted that in the paper-my only one
uFcn Italy Tor many years. had spoken bad
ly OF the nation, customs, institutions, So
ciety and Of the court
The original is on my table, and is at the
tie condition Of not suppressng the good that
Is said therein about the house of Savoy in
order 70 publish only the structures on The
government.
THE HOUSE OF SAVOY.
Those, however, who have read the article
in question reproaeh me for having said that
the house of Savoy is not of Italian origin
I said, in fact. that not drop Of Italian blood
runs in their veins.
This is q genealogical verify, and admitted
By every historian.
But I never said that the sovereigns are
not Italian. They became Italian the day
that the kingdom of Italy was created, or,
if you viii, the very instant in which Italian
unity vas conceived. In like manner the head
Of the house Of Savoy might have been called
Sicilian during the short time he occupied
that throne; when king of Sardinia Sardi-
MAN; now being king OF Italy he is an Italian:
but the house Of Savoy Will always be the
house of Savoy, and Savoy is not and never
was Italy. Is what I write perhaps an Of
Tense? The truth never could offend a race
which is equally stranger to falsehood as to
fear.
Were I Italian by blood as I am by birth
I would cry: Viva Il Rer' dong live the
kingD because I have the greatest admiration
for courage and probity in the man as in the
sovereign. I would also exciaim: .sviva Il
Papa" because l am a good Catholic but !
would never say Viva il Governo,' because
should be free to think Just what good oy
bad I pleased of it. But as long as live
stranger though be, and American and 70.
publican; I viii say viva Italy. the land n.
the arts of civilization and culture, the faith