New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-18
TOPICS IN PARIS.
Visit of King of Italy Regarded as d
Sort of Return of the Prodigdl Son.

Especial 70 The New-York Tribune BY French Cablel
Copyright: 1908 By The Tribune Association
Paris, Oct 1.-THE visit Of the King and
Queen Of Italy which has far not been
marked by a single hitch, is a brilliant djplO-
matte success for NJ Delcasse. the public I'M
preston exceeding the most optimistic forecasts.
Indeed. the picturesque entry into Paris Of the
young monarch with his Roman helmet sur
mounted by tall nodding white plunes, Is re-
garded by the public sort Of return of the
prodigal son, and the double kiss which Queen
Helen implanted on the cheeks Of Nine Loubet
is accented as a reconciliation between the two
foremost Latin nations. which for thirty years
had been kept apart by Observation-Disclosures and
by the luminosity Of Crfspi The people who
gather by tens Of thousands TO catch glimpse
Of the features Of the royal couple at every pos
sfble occasion do not manifest any such fiery
enthusiasm as marked the visit Of the Gar and
the Czarina but tho welcome seems deeper and
more sympathetic than that which character
lied the reception to King Edward last spring.
The 'Natin'' and a score Of prominent Liberal
newspapers employ the term the return Of the
prodigal SON. in referring TO the King OF Italy,
and the leading articles are brirnful Of RENT
niscences Of Palestro Magenta and Solferino.
A regiment OF zouaves. in the ranks in which
Victor Emmanuel II on the battlefield caused
brought 10 Paris and accorded a place of honor
in guarding the person of his grandson. Victor
Emmanuel III
The Republican press of Paris and through
out the country rejoices that this reconciliation
Of France and Italy is also marked by the sig
nature OF the arbitration treaty between France
and England. thereby bringing closer together
the three most liberal Of the great powers Of
r-,,-ore nd those whose institutions based
on representative government. whose ideas
free UP to date, democratic and progressive.
These two events the fraternal reception Of the
Italian sovereigns AMI the signature OF the arbi-
tration treaty with England. have. in public
opinion put France on more cordial and
more peaceful and sympathetic attitude toward
foreign nations than has been recorded since
1871
Personally. King Victor Emmanuel III and
Queen Helen have made a cheerful impression
here The King IS a much better looking
than his photographs indicate. His hair is not
black but dark chest 1ut, and his expression IS
honest straigh forward and earnest. I was
lucky enough 10 be seated near the royal box
during the gala performance at the Opera. The
King did not seem to take any interest in the
music but frightened up at the clever acting Of
CooueIin Cadet and LeIoir in Moliere's lie
Bourgeois
enthusiastic about the ballet. His quick. in
cisive glance scanned the tiers of boxes and he
talked quietly and earnestly with Nine. Loubet
who is a woman Of great tact and unobtrusive
intelligence. Queen Helen chatted in a friendly
way with President Loubet. and. in her rich
silk dress incrusted with silver and gold, and
wearing the magnificent royal coronet OF dia-
r1onds was fully head taller than either her
husband the King President Loubet her
host who are both considerably below average
height The King and Queen seemed rather
bored by too much ceremony. and were exces-
sively frugal and abstentious in appetite
scarcely allowing themselves 10 be tempted by
rare wines or by the delicate culinary efforts Of
the best Partisan chefs The King has expressed
great satisfaction with the bed of Napoleon I. in
which he sleeps at the palace Of the Ministry OF
Foreign Affairs. and Queen Helen has spoken In
terms Of admiration OF the gilt bronze bed OF
Marie Louise in which she reposes in her
beautiful Louis Seize and Empire chamber 10
decorate which the finest tapestries and rur-
niture have been selected from the chateaus u
Fontainbleau. Compiegne. Versailles the
non and the Louvre
An interesting theatrical feature or the itaiAa1i
week was the first production In Paris on
DAY night at the Opera Comique OF La iosCa'
boiled down into an opera OF three acts pS "
ciui. and which was brought out three years as'
at Rome The Partisan critics are severe uPo"
the Italian composers latest work saSihs -
lacks force and unity, and. IL spite OF the sia0
full excellence of the light passages cannot 0e
compared with his La Boheme Evsn sns en-