Evening star., 1900-08-18
KING HUMBERT's COURTESY.
Adventure of Two American Girl,
Who Were Driving i'm the Pfncio.
From the New York 5

From the New York Sun.
One of the things to do in Rome is to
drive in the rincio during certain hours in
The afternoon. When it was known that
their majesties We're also to drive in that
charming, tiny park. IL accentuated the So
ciai duty to try to be present. On one such
occasion two American girls had an in
teresting illustration of King Humber;'s
courtesy.
Inc only carriage they were able TO secure
was forlorn. broken-down, poverty-strick-
en- street cab. Not only was the crestv
cab uncomfortable and unsafe, but the sick
ly, starving. staggering horse and tattcr.d
coachman We're sufficient to illustrate 1
treatise on the subject of want and lisea.a,
IN spite OF their coachman's pDmn and
power of rags, they enjoyed Themselves
for In friendly fashion he Solubly poured
out information regarding places and rar-
sons OF note He knew their desire to see
the King and queen, who usually drove s,.ip-
arately. and so he kept on the lookout for
the royal equipages.
for half an hour round and round the
Americans followed the PRINCIPAL ayenI,a of
the Pincio, when to their CONSERVATION the-
learned that they had all that Time. been at
JUST sufhcient distance back Of the queens
carriage not to have seen it, After a little
consultation their driver planned an adroit
movement and short cut through narrow
road which should bring them face to face
WIN Nllt Iuttll- after tAeE turned
the deserted narrow side drive the atten-
uon of the two girls was attracted by a
drag and pair of superb black horses
whose driver, distinguished looking man
Win gray hair and military mustache
seemed to have caught the same idea Of
making a short cut. When the cabman
found that some one was endeayoriug 10
pass MIN. he calamity. in behalf OF his fair
passengers. blocked the way by deliberately
Keeping in the middle of the road
Several times the spirited black horses
ana thelr driver came nearly abreast of the
rauletrap. but each time they were Obliged
10 remain behind, because the cabman lust
wouldn't let them pass. This was kent I'M
for fully five minutes. Then, provoked at
the unrelenting determination of his rival 10
pass him, the cabman turned and scowled
ana 10 his horror saw king Humbert Half
bereft of his senses, he screamed III Re- II
Re-" C'The KING the King"
The women folk were too interested in the
king. who bowed to them most pleasantly
to realize what was happening until the
thlng happened. Between their drivers
frantic desire to get out of the way of The
royal Carriage and his wish to let the
American girls know that while the kim
was so near they ought to stare at him
with open mouths, he pulled the wrong rein
and thus locked wheels with the drag and
might have caused serious accident had
not King Humber mastered the situation
and acted promptly. In a moment an or
der to his lackeys set them at work ex-
Treating the cab. while he firmly kept his
il'is NUN utSIllllB dne ID, which tneV
Inclined to do
The cabman was too paralyzed with ter
ror TO be of any use. even his glib tongue
was at a standstill. though his dumb .nok
OF amaZement and fear spoke volumes Dur
ing the moments Of quick action nothing
was said. but the instant that the Imminent
danger OF the collapse of the cab was rxst
In the gentlest voice and the most graceful
manner, King Humbert expressed his re-
gret that he should have been the cause of
the accident, though he hoped the Young
women he addressed were in no wav in
iured.
Appreciation of his courtesy and delight
over the incident must have showed on
their young faces. for on answering thar
they We're not hurt. he quickly and commit
mentarily remarked on the unusual courage
of American demoiseles-his intuition on
this point rewarded with brilIianr
smiles-and he repeated his assurances thar
he hoped they would have no furiEer
trouble. With several successive and most
gracious bows he turned his horses round
ard gave the American girls advantage of
the road and position, showing in his face
which was illumined and pleased at their
evident pleasure, that he understood their
feelings In the matter. and understanding
their unspoken wishes. he determined TO
help them as far 1t lay in his power to
do 50.
By that generous act of giving them pre-
only the queen and other personages
memory of the accident and King Humbert's