The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26
SCENES AT THE ITALIAN COURT.

To have been the intimate friend and
CONFIDENTIAL adviser during many years Of
victor Emmanuel, the first king OF Il
united Italy. to have seen service in the
Italian court for more than two ordinary
generations. and to have fought CALAMITY
for the cause of independence and liberty
throughout a struggle which was nothing
less than hopeless in its inception and
desperate in its execution. there are no
small claims to fame OF curousy varied
sort. So, when the good General Count
Della nvcca is importuned to write his
memoirs, his friends have little trouble
in persuading the gallant old courtier to
undertake task which is certain 10 have
an interesting resultant for this per-
suasion Of the generals family and frien Is
the lover of entertaining biography must
express his thanks.
EDrico Della Rocca was born in Turin
June 20, 1907. the fourth son OF Charles
Philip, who was In turn the second son
of the Marquis Caspar Morrozzo OF Blame,
as inveterate an old aristocrat as ever
made peasant tremble. IT seems to be a
fact that the Marquis Blame did not even
learn from the French revolution that
there was need OF prudence At least his
grandson tells delicious anecdote of the
seizure of fifteen horses of his by the
French while the armies OF the republic
were in possession of Italy, whereupon the
marquis, doubly wroth at having had IN
suit added to injury in the French obser
walton that lit will do Citizen Morocco
good TO walk had the finest mules
brought in from his estates, harne9sud in
the most splendid manner and driven
| through the Turin streets ending with Il
parade in front of the governors palace.
| Such character would, OF course, disin.
herit son of his who presumed to marry
| against his wishes. This befei Charles
| Philip, for, though the lady of his choice
was Of the most ancient lineage, she was
poor, and the marquis never saw his
grandchildren-nor their parents after the
marriage This resulted in the best posi-
| BILE bringing up Of the seven sons bora to
| the happy couple, for they were equally
removed froSa poverty and riches.
Enrico was educated by his parents for
lack of another school. and in 1916 was
selected as one of five pages for the suite
of the kings nephew and heir presump-
tive the prince of Carignano. He wore a
| startling uniform of scarlet and silver,
white stockings, silver buckled shoes aud
! hat shaped like a boat; and his duties
|
cess, attend TO their wants when in public,
| carrying the trains of the ladies of their
| court who were old enough to wear them,
! and amusing them all. The military school
was opened in that year after long in
PERMISSION and Della Rocco was among
| the first students there enrolled. Short
! brooches, cloth CATERS TO the knee, a
swallow tailed coat of blue, with crimson
plpings. the small clothes being white win
ter and summer, made up the uniform OF a
] body of youths who were to be trained,
mos only in the use of arms and the GUS
| toms and art Of war, but in every pos
sible fatigue and privation. 1t was March
| IA. 1920, that the prince who was to be
! Victor Emmanuel, king of united ithly,
was born to the Princess Carignano, just
| as the first movements of freedom were
making themselves felt. 1t was that same
year that Della Rooca began his studies
for the general staff. Among his associates,
| almost from the first, was Camille di
Csvour who shares with the king the
honor of restoring the peninsula to the
| government Of its own sons.
There are some pleasant pictures OF the
court in the old days, The count recalls a
fire in the palace in 1921, which was said
to be the work of the Carbonari or other
revolutionists. The prince of Carignano he
recalls, went out in his white court cos
tune and returned after doing duty as
fireman with his satins and silks be-
draggled and his feet in high boots, much
to the disgust of the queen. When Victor
Emmanuel was still the duke Of Savoy II
was his pleasure to ramble through the
streets like the caliph in the Arabian
Nights" and Della Rocca was usually his
companion. Once they were recognized
and retired in haste only to find later that
they had been under complete police pro-
lection from the beginning, their secret
rambles being perfectly we'll known to the
court. Just before the granting OF the
constitution in that busy year. ls4s' Baron
lie Tour, an old field marshal IN the wars
then governor OF Turin, sent for Della
Rocca and said to him: Il have Just seen
the king and he remarked, They want the
constitution. and shall never grant IT.
From which" the old campaigner CON
Guided You may know that the constitu-
tion viii be granted Immediately And
It was.