The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-06-22
THE HOME OF A MONARCH
Estate Of King Victor Emmanuel Of
Italy, and Its Various
Treasures.

San Rossore, where the italian royal
family pass their autumn months, H.
without exception, the most beautiful
estate owned by the house Of Savoy.
It extends from viarreggio to Livorno,
at the foot Of the Apuan Alps, combin-
ing the charm Of the seashors with
the attractions of the mountains, says
the London Globe Formerly It be-
longed to the archbishops Of Pisa,
from whom the grand dukes OF Tus.
cany purchased II and made IL state
property, which explains how II was
that In 1850, at the time Of the annex.
alton of Tuscany to the kingdom OF
Italy. It ranked as one of the gems In
the civil list of Victor Emmanuel IL.
The grand dukes resided there the
greater part of the year, and one, Lea
pold H.. built extensive farmhouses
within which are numerous breeding
animals. About these farms are wide.
spreading fields. where still horses
oxes. cows. sheep and buffalo Craze
In peace. San Rossore comprises also
extensive cultivated fertile lands; but
the greater part of it--and that is its
essential characteristic--is the thickly
planted woodlands. which yield an i'm
portant revenue from the sale of lie
pine trees. In these woods game is
most plentiful. while in the lakes,
ponds and small streams there is any
quantity OF fresh water fish, At San
Rossore one can indulge In almost any
sport, for there are wild boar. stays.
reindeer, pheasants, partridges and al.
most every species Of inland water
fowl.
OF all the curiosities at San Ros.
sore, the most curious, undoubtedly.
are the camels used for the purpose OF
removing the timber. These camels
are not by any means ordinary camels.
They are historical camels. and would
be proud of it were they conscious OF
it, for II is said their ancestors fig.
ured in the crusades. History tells us
that these animals were brought from
Syria to Pisa in galleys which the
Pisan republic had dispatched to the
Holy Land for the purpose of bring.
ing back a load of the mold from the
grave of Christ. II was supposed that
this mold had the peculiarity of alb.
sorbing the bodies buried in II. The
Pisans intrusted with the mission of
bringing II over evidently thought that
they could not do better when Il was
shipped 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 II
is their descendants which are used
for the purpose of shifting the. timber
from the royal demesne.
With regard to the dogs in the ken.
nels at San Rossore. every breed in
use for sporting purposes has been
perpetuated there, from the remotest
medieval times. They have their hos
pital, as well as small cemetery,
with its accompanying tombstones. on
which are recorded the names Of the
dogs which had their fieeting hours OF
celebrity in the hunting field. With
regard to the chateau itself. 1t is OF
somewhat modest appearance and di.
mensions, but It contains numerous
works of art Of priceless value.
Victor Emmanuel H. spent much Of
his spare time at San Rossore between
1864 and 1S7O-that is to say, at the
time when his capital was at Florence
and not at Rome. In 1868 the king be.
came very III. and so serious was his
oop ition tbot tho hiaho,, ~ DiSo xyoe
sent for to hear his confession. The
prelate came in haste and thought tc
profit by the opportunity to ask him
to make certain political concessions
"Eminence." said the king. III yor
want to speak about affairs of state
you will find my ministers in the next
room; oblige me by going there"