The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-30
SKETCH OF THE DEAD KING.
He Was So Years Old-Had Reigned
% Years.

King Humbert was born at Turin,
March IA, 1874. and was the son of King
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy and the
Archduchess Adelaide of Austria In his
early days he took to the army, and with
his father went through the campaign
in 1859 at the age of Is years. AT the
age of % he commanded a division of
the Italian army, and covered the re-
treat of the army after the battle of
CustozZa, in 1866. At the age of "a he
married his cousin, Margherita of Savoy,
and to them there was born one son,
who was named Victor Emmanuel Fer
dinand. In 1878, at the age of "a years,
Humbert ascended the throne left
vacant by the death of his father. Short
ly after his ascension to the throne there
was an attempt made to assassinate
him During the cholera epidemic in
1884 he gained great favor with his peo-
pie for the generous manner in which
he assisted the victims of the plague
out of his own private Golfers, and for
the bravery he showed in entering the
city of Naples at the time the epidemic
was at its height
When Humbert was % years old his
father put him in command of a di-
vision in the battle of Villafranca, and
the young prince managed his charge
so well that with a minimum of raw
infantry he, by stratagem, OvercaIne
whole regiment of cavalry at one turn.
Victor Emmanuel saw in the youth the
seed of a future general, and with the
narrow vision and One-sided prejudice
of the victorious soldier, he straightway
turned all his attention to educating his
son to be a soldier pure and simple,
nothing but soldier Prince Humbert
was sent to all countries that he might
learn the latest arts of war and mill
tary practice, and therefore we may
look to the father for the blame of ed
ucating a soldier to rule his people
when the battle was over, for placing
upon the throne a military ruler when
Italy was at peace, and needed with all
Of a IN
War-ravaged unity statesman king.
Since his early youth Humbert had
subjected himself to the severest per-
sona1 regulations, and for whatever he
can be blamed he can never be said to
have failed in any duty because of his
love of luxury or his dis1nclination for
physical fatigue or discomfort. He was
always, winter and summer, up and at
work at O'Clock in the morning; he
performed everything, down to the
smallest personal duty, for himself, with
military exactness; and was as pune
tual in all gagements and appoint
ments as business man whose time is
precious and who realizes the import
ance of not keeping other men OF az
fairs waiting. Unless there was some
accident or some unavoidable delay
over which he had no control or unless
he was accompanied by the queen, who
is nOtoriously behind time, Humbert
always appeared invariably the moment
he was expected. Three years ago, when
his life was attempted by an anarchist,
who sDrang into his carriage, as ne
was driving to the Russian embassy,
the king ordered his attendant to pro-
ceed in haste to the destination, and,
upon his arrival, made formal apology
for the delay, not mentioning the cause
of the consequently excusable failure to
come up to time.
No sun was too scorching for Hum
bert to stand beneath, no wind too pierre
ing for him to brave without a thought.
For hours he would stand unprotected
in downpour which had no effect upon
him, and he enjoyed being the toughest
and bravest man in his kingdom
In his tastes, barring his weakness
for horses the king was simple almost
to frugality; he despised all luxury, and
his own apartments were simple as a
barrack A writing table with count
less lettered pigeonholes filled with doc
uments, drawers upon drawers of neat
1y inyentoried manuscripts and impor-
eContinued on Sixth 1Page.)