The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-30
HUMBERT SLAIN.
(Continued from First Page.)


tant papers, daily files, and the latest
parliamentary bills, a study chair OF the
strongest and rudest simplicity, and a
revolving apparatus, fill his faVorlte
corner. Shelves upon shelves on mill
tary tactics and naval matters, the lat
est works on field management ana the
arts OF fort building and war oeIenSe'
on discipline and military government
comprised his private library Wnlch Is
absolutely nude as far as sclentlnc, po-
etical or artistic matters are concerned
The king frankly confessed that for art
or music he had no understanding or
appreciation, and went further tnan
Botticeli, who declared that IN the
blotch made on a wall by throwing
sponge saturated with color, can be
seen the finest landscape. He said that
to him the highest form OF art was
reached in the modern French poster
LAS much color and as many lines as
possible in a given space"
When in his own billiard room or in
the field the king talked easily and well
on subjects which interested him. He
could never resist stopping to look at
fine piece of horse flesh, and would
travel all over the peninsula and under
take any amount of annoyance to see a
collection of choice animals. In the
royal park near Pisa, the king had a
stud farm of several hundred horses,
which produces some splendid steeds.
During the informal receptions held
during the Roman season by the king
and queen, his majesty was accustomed
to retire to his den and discuss the lat
est racing news with a few chosen
spirits In receiving and entertaining
in the same room the king and queen
never Joined in their conversation. The
queen drew round her q little circle of
artistic, musical, literary and scientific
men, with whom she converSed intel
ligently and almost brilliantly, while
the king collected in another part of the
salon, the soldiers and politicians of the
company.
The one continual contention between
Humbert and Margherita was the
queens really extravaganza taste in the
matter of dress.
One year, not long ago, the king, desir-
ing to give his consort a birthday present,
appealed to one of her ladies-in- waiting
able. The lady was for a moment at a
loss and then, remembering that for some
long list of accumulated bills, which her
very generous allowance could not cover,
told the king that her majesty needed
nothing new, but was very anxious about
the bills for dresses which were overdue
and which she could not pay The king
on her birthday morning Margherita
found as her gift this great bundle of re-
cent string of pearls which 1t had been
the kings custom to present to her each
Humbert had a perfect horror of the
long ceremonious official dinners custo-
mary in court circles, and his table was
bare OF all undue extravagancles IN the
way of eatables or table decorations
conversation was possible Course fol-
lowed course in quick succession, and I'M
less the guests were very attentive to the
matter in hand they found the ceremony
over and neither bite nor sup taken. The
king himself fairly gobbled for the first
two or three courses, and then, his appe-
tite being satisfied. he would stop and
engage in conversation, with the persons
nearest him. About eight years ago, on
being threatened with most serious and
dangerous affection of the throat, he was
advised to smoke less than he was doing,
"a al Italians Humbert
asked if it would be better if he gave liD
tobacco altogether The doctors agreed
that if he smoked less the disease would
grow less serious. but could not be en-
habit. Immediately the king heard this
he stopped short and never again put
self-control went through every smallest
act of his life, and he had no patience
by self-indulgence or fntemperance.
All the world hOnored the newly crown
the payment of the mass of debts, honor
able and otherwise. left to him a herit
age by his prodigal father.
There was none but admitted the real
nobility of character which led Humbert
to set off to Naples at the first danger
of the terrible cholera epidemic. He went
fearlessly from house to house, an army
of privately paid nurses and physicians
in his wake, and never rested until bet
ter sanitary conditions were effected. This
prompt and heroic action changed the
whole history of Naples, which since this
great epidemic and the consequent re-
building and renovation, accomplished in
great part by the private contribution and
personal supervision of the king has
made it into one of the most fiourishing
and commercially prosperous: If not quite
the most important seaport in the PENN
sula-
If there was an instant and decided ac-
ton to be taken, Humbert could be relied
upon as certain to stand where a brave
knight and a heroic king would be found,
ment to be given, calm and collected and
continuous moral bravery in demand, re-
had surrounded himself by court of able
and powerful spirits, then 1t was that
able to cope with circumstances In mo-
ment of great Importance Humbert would
cling wildly to some ant1quated conven-
ness by leaning blindly on such a man as
his late prime minister 1t was his logged
obstinacy which led him to shield and
protect the corrupt politician who has led
Italy into such scandal
Humbert had a childish longing to have
mighty ''vivas'' If he could catch the
echo from the windows of the grim OUR
shouting III uzzah." he was content. Sc
cure in his belief that he possessed the
love and confidence of his people, he never
dreamed that it is easy for a frenZied
mass of excitabie, ignorant men and wo-
men to cry viva II re- but that it is
just as easy and not less probable that in
the same excitement they might turn and
king passed, believing himself the true
and only monarch of Italy; you would
mat We're Were nnt bnrTahs and as Ines
passed and things grew no better these
mutterings grew stronger.
Since the marriage of the Prince of
Naples the king had taken a great fancy
to the beautiful young half barbaric Mon
tenegrine, and the two rode and hunted
together, leaving the queen and her. son
to enjoy more placid and intelligent pleas
ures. Recently when the Princess of
Naples shot her first wild boar the king
was excited and proud beyond measure
and when she sent it to Rome as a. per-
sonal gift to her father-in-law there was
special dinner given in honor of her
first kill.
Excursion to Ottawa