Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-09
A HOUSE OF ROYALTY.
Magnificent Estate Of King of Italy
and Some of the Treasures.

Magnificent Estate Of King of Italy
and Some of the Treasures.
From the London Globe.
In few days, when the Queen of Italy
feels we'll enough to bear the strain Of the
journey. the royal family will leave the
chateau Of Racconigi where they have
spent the summer in the mild climate OF
Piedmont. for that Of San Rossore, near
Pisa. where they will spend the autumn in
the bracing atmosphere Of maritime Tus-
cany.
San Rossore Is. without exception, the
most beautiful estate owned by the house
of Savoy. It extends from Viareggio to Ii
vorno, at the foot Of the Apuan Alps. com.
bining the charm of the seashore with the
attractions Of the mountains. Formerly it
belonged to the archbishops Of Pisa, from
whom the grand dukes OF Tuscany pur-
chased 1t and made 1t state property, which
explains how it was that in 1850. at the
time Of the annexation OF Tuscany to the
kingdom Of Italy. 1t ranked as one of the
gems In the civil list Of Victor Emmanuel
II. The grand dukes resided there the
greater part of the year. and one. Leopold
II. built extensive farm houses, within
which are numerous breeding animals
About these farms are widespreading fields.
where still horses. oxen, cows, sheep ana
buffalo Craze in peace. San Rossore COM
prises also extensive cultivated fertile
lands; but the greater part of ft-and that
is Its essential characteristics the thick
Implanted woodlands, which yield an i'm
portant revenue from the sale Of its pine
trees In these woods game is most plen
tiful; while in the lakes. ponds and small
streams there Is any quantity Of fresh
water fish. At San Rossore one can in
dulge In almost any kind of sport. for there
are wild boar, stays. reindeer. pheasants.
cartridges and almost every species Of in
land water fowl.
"a ncit Qf Go f1,a
most curious, undoubtedly are the camels
used for the purpose of removing the tim
Der. These camels are not by any means
ordinary camels. They are historical cam
els, and would be proud OF 1t, were they
conscious of 1t, for 1t is said their ances-
tors figured in the crusades. History tells
us that these animals were brought from
SYRIA to Pisa in galleys which the Pisan re-
for the purpose of bringing back load of
the mould from the grave of Christ. 1t
was supposed that this mould had the PEI
culiarity of absorbing the bodies buried In
it. The Psans instructed with the mission
of bringing it over evidently thought that
they could not do better when 1t was ship
ped on board the galleys than to embark
as well the camels which had been laden
with It. These camels were sent on to San
Rossore. They prospered and multiplied
there and 1t Is their descendants which
are used for the purpose of shifting the tim
Der from the royal demesne.
With regard to the dogs in the kennel at
San Rossore, every breed In use for SPORT
ing purposes has been perpetuated there.
from the remotest medieval times. They
have their hospital. as well as a small
cemetery. with its accompanying tomb
stones. on which are recorded the names
of the dogs who had their heeting hours Of
celebrity In the hunting field. With regard
to the chateau itself. IT Is Of somewhat
modest appearance and dimensions, but 1t
contains numerous works of art of price,
less value.
Victor Emmanuel II spent much of his
spare time at San Rossore between 1864
and 1870, that is to say, at the time when
his capital was at Florence and not at
Rome. In 1858 the king became very i'll
there, and SO serious was his condition that