The Washington herald., 1906-12-03
GETS PRIZE TOO LATE
Italian Poet Cannot Live But
a Few Months Longer.
NOBEL AWARD OF $4,000 HIS
Gicsue Carducci, Professor in Uni-
ve=sity, in Declining Years Accepts
Aid from the Queen-sian of Moods
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Highest
Decoration of His Nation.

Rome, Nov. 17.-Too late to be of service
to him comes the award of the Nobel lit
erary prize Of $4,000 to Giosue Carducci,
the famous Italian poet. The old man
Is breaking down. Even the most opti-
mistic Of his friends hardly expect him to
survive more than few months.
All his life Carducci has been a poor
man. The professorship of literature,
which he held for fOrty-five years in the
University OF Bologna, brought him in
but a modest salary-merely sufficient TO
supply his daily needs. His writing
brought him fame. but little money
When iII-healtb compelled him to resign
his post at the university a few years
ago, he would have been reduced to abb
solute want had not the Italian govern
ment bestowed a pension OF g. 400 a year
upon him.
But the prize will enable him to make
some provision for his family. and that
will be a source OF the greatest satisfac-
tion 10 him. He has two married daugh-
ters and seven grandchildren, to whom he
is devoted. So much did his inability to
lay by anything for them prey upon his
mind that a few years ago he proposed
to sell his really excellent library for their
benefit.
Queen Comes to His Aid.
Hearing OF this, Queen Margherita
bought it outright for a generous sum on
the condition that he should retain pos
session Of it for the rest OF his days. Al
the same time she bought him a house
and insisted that he should occupy it,
rent free.
From no other hands would the poet
nave accepted such a gift. But he wor-
ships Queen Margherita. II was she vino
converted hin-an ardent Republican and
the poet Of Italy's struggle for independ-
ence-tO monarchism His change of DO
litical faith bore fruit in one OF the fin
est Of his poems. "Eterno feminine Re
gale, which he addressed to her It
aroused great indignation among his Re
publican admirers and subjected his pop
ularity 10 a severe test, but he stuck 10
his new creed, and even the Republicans
in time forgave him. for logic and consist
ency are not generally expected Of a poet
Carducci is short and broad in figure.
with a shock of snow-white hair. by
which he gains much impressiveness. He
has much Of the eccentricity which is
supposed 20 be the especial privilege Of
genius. He Is careless Of his personal ap-|
pearance. He is peppery-tempered and
gives way TO outbursts Of wrath on Slight
provocation, but his anger is like that
of child-shoTt -lived-and ne never bears
malice. He hates being made "A lion OF.
and cannot endure being stared at
Man Of Strange Moods.
Autograph hunters are his pet aversion.
He is man Of moods, and strangely
susceptible to climatic influences. On
one bleak, wintry day on his way to the
university. he slipped and fell, and when
he reached the lecture hall be was in one
Of his worst humors. 'Petrarch" was
the subject Of his lecture. But he had
spoken only a few words when he sud
denly stopped short, picked up the volume
Of "Petrarch,' which lay on the desk be-
fore him. hurled 1t al the students. clap
ped his hat on his head and exclaimed
''TO the devil with Petrarch and all the
others while this weather lasts, stalked
out Of the room. The weather lasted for
q month, and for a month Carducci stay
ed away from the university.
It has several times been suggested that
Carducci should be awarded the Collar
Of the AnnUnziata. which is the highest
decoration in Italy. and confers royal
rank. The whole nation would applaud
the bestowal Of such an honor on its
beloved poet, but there Is On obstacle /
which seems insurmountable. The arts
Ind no place in the list Of achievements |