Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-05-16
Letter From Frank Harris.
ITALY AND TIE ITALIANS.

Letter From Frank Harris.
ITALY AND TIE ITALIANS.
ROME, Italy, April 30, 190l.-Last
week the Berlin Philharmonic orches-
ira was here for two concerts and it
seemed like meeting an old friend, and
it was good opportunity to compare
the German school of music to the
Italian, and, we'll, the Italianis beauti-
full, but it can hardly compare to the
German for strength, power and UNI
derstanding. Yet there is something
sweet and beautiful about the Italian,
even if there is an absence of strength
Here theatres do not begin until
after 8 o'clock for the evening per-
Torrance and the matinees begin at 5
in the afternoon, but if one goes up in
student row" which in all countries
is the last seat in the last row, one
must come o little earlier because
there are good many students.
TITS said theatre or church is a
good place to study nation. Well, 1
guess it's true, and although l have
not as yet seen many of either here in.
Italy yet have seen enough to notice
some of the smaller or should say
Ilarger characters of the nation.
AT the Philharmonic concert l was
sitting beside fellow with the most
beautiful mustache but the "bum-
miest" voice l ever heard, and really,
between the two he had pleasant
s|evening. His voice was just about as
true as is the promise of the average
politician, and right in the middle of
a Beethoven symphony he would cut
loose and sing away. 1t was lovely.
Then he'd stop and pull the mustache
and in the operation would always
manage to ram me in the small of the
back. Seeing as how the Italians have
} the right of way here there was only
one thing to do and that was to fold
. my seat and try another place, but
with the same result. The fellow
sat next that time insisted on singing,
yet his voice was better and he had no
mustache. don't know but it may
be the so called warm blood of these
Italians that makes them sing and
throw their hands around so, but real
ly, it seems to me one can enjoy any
thing just as much and keep it to
themselves. It's just as bad down
{; stairs, that is | couldn't hear anyone
singing down there yet saw dozen
J, throwing their hands around as if they
were directing the orchestra. But
while they do that, yet they have their
good side. A kinder people are not to
be found on the face of the earth to-
j day than the Italian, and really in
some ways they are better than the
Germans. Yet | must say that they
haven't the depth and the understand
ing of the Germans. But who has z
) No nation in the world today is as
sound as the German. tell you they
sare all there" But even il they
haven't that, yet the Italian will give
!, you the hand of friendship quicker
than will the German, aud he will try
to make you feel more at home.
) When one thinks that Italy is only
about thirty years old, it don't take
but q minute to see that it is a Won
/, derful country. Aud the time is COM
ing when Italy will be one of the
leading, If not the leading country Of
Europe. This young King they have
e now is the best king in Europe. He
takes more sincere interest in his
country than do any of the others.
The most of the others strike me as
being kings and if anything is left
over they are men, But this little
king is man and if there is anything
? left over he is king. He studies and
t thinks and doesn't spend his good
, hard time trying to impress the rest OF
the world with the fact that he is cit.
/, Mornings early he will get up and &c
out to the barracks while the soldiers
! are out attending drill, and go into
the kitchen and eat the food that is
, being cooked for the soldiers. They
say that many time all he eats all
day is just what he gets when he is
going around inspecting the barracks,
There doesn't seem to be any of the
customary frills about him. He seems
like real man, and all Italy from the
highest to the lowest like him.
The late Humbert, his father, was
just about the most beloved man il
: all the world. and really, when ar
Italian goes to talking about "Oul
; King Humbert" he seems as if he was
, going to cry. 1t was an awful thing
to kill man who was so loved by
: everybody as was Humbert. But thi!
king doesn't go around like his father
did. He spends most of his time tina
n isn't occupied with the reign of thu
= government in studying and trying t,
" see where ne can do good for tn,
u country. He is my kind of king
and you see II before he dies he doesn'