The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-06-21
.ROME'S PET, A WOLF.

In Many Small Ways the italian
Government Fosters Patriotic
Memories-Works Of Art a valu-
able Source Of lncome-Rivalry
With Vatican as Relic Collector.
A few months ago there appeared in
several of the Roman papers a curious
advertisement, which ran something
like this:
Wanted-To purchase Immediately
gray she.wolf, to replace the wolf of
the Capitol, which has just died.
Perhaps no one thing in Rome IL
lustrates more eloquently what may
be termed the programme OF patriot
ism adopted by the Quirinal than the
wolf of the Capitol. Hidden by the
shrubbery at the top Of the broad
staircase mounting to the Capitol 1t
occupies two wire-fivnted cages, about
ten feet across, where, at the expense
Of grateful municipality, 1t lives
life restricted, but of great social
distinction as the modern representa-
tive of the mother wolf that sucked
Romulus and Remus. Rome Is never
without its wolf, If 1t can help ITSELF
Imaginative. enjoying Whatever ap-
peals to the sense of mystery and the
supernatural the Romans like to be.
lleve the wolf legend authentic and
themselves the descendants of the
shadowy Romulus--a belief which the
government, for Its part, is only too
glad to play up"
For, In truth, the Capitoline wolf is
but one of those simple but immense
ly effective links between the Rome OF
Servius Tullius and the Rome Of Hum
bert which the Italian Government
never loses an opportunity to forget
when absent and to strengthen when
present. Insignificant as II may seem,
1t is factor In the programme of
patriotic education which the gov
ernment has set itself. The compre-
hensive lines on which this policy has
been conceived and the earnestness
with which 1t is being carried out
can hardly escape even the casual visi
tor to Rome. BY means that must
appeal TO the simplest imagination.
Il is stimulating the national spirit
and pride of the rising generations OF
Italian youths. and, as one preeminent.
ly potent means to this end, II is
bending every effort to make Rome
seem what in reality It ls--the Capt |
tai Of United Italy.
As far back as 1870. according to |
Prof Mario Cosenza OF the Latin de-
partment OF the College of the City of
New York. the municipality adopted
system OF nomenclature In the case
of new streets with the deliberate pur.
pose of teaching history and patriot
isue at the same time. In that year l
improvements were begun
In the eastern section with the lay
ing out of new streets In that part of
as once had his gardner and where
the railway station is now. Here tho
streets are named after the royal
house OF Savoy-Victor Emmanuel.
and so on. In the Lud.
ovisl quarter. which is rising from the
gardens of Sallust, the streets bear the
names OF the provinces OF united
Campania, Veneto.
Outside the medieval walls near the
once the site OF Nero's :
the streets are called after :
the great Romans of ancient times,
such as Pompey. Caesar. Finally. !:
those In the district around the old
Praetorian camp memorialize the fam.
ous battles of the War OF Unlihca.
Castelndardo. All
these latter centre around the Piazza
ielr Independence.
I'm Its rellos and works OF art"
said Prof. Cosenza. "the Qpirinal
inds tremendous aid to its patriotic
II also finds In them an
valuable source OF nation
Al income They are, In fact. one Of
he nations most important assets.
Rome for example, Is city OF about
100. 900 population. In the course OF a
rear this Is doubled by the tourists
who visit 1t, some of whom come for
ong periods OF study. and practically
III of whom are attracted by Its relies
md works OF art or by It's religious as
'ociations. Rome Is city of mem
'ries. Every landmark, every square
nch OF painting by a master. every
stitch '0i ancient embro,dery rnat
caves 1t impoverishes II by so much.
rhe same holds true for the country.
Tho arch enemies Of the Italian
Government In Its pious desire TO I