The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
THE FAVORITE or THE KING.


ROME. Dec. Am episode of the late King
Humbort's private life has recently been
brought before the Italian courts, and all
attempts to hush the matter up. OF at least
TO prevent tho details from becoming public.
have proves unavailing.
In 1850 King Humbert il said TO have
soduced a girl of IS. the only daughter OF
Count ErcoIano Gaddi Hsrcolani. a dis
tinguisled army officer who fought at ths
siege Of Venice in 1898 and subsequently
followed Gsribaldi in the so-called wars OF
independence. The Count was medalled
for valor and was made a knight OF the
Order Of st. Maurizio in 1891. {,
The girl, Cesarina by name, had talent
as a pianist and gave concerts in the princi-
pei Italian cities, especially at the Scala
OF Milan. which Queen Margherita and
several members of the royal family at
tended. She came TO Rome in 1880 and per-
formed at the Argentina Theatre. where
King Humbert saw her the first time.
He caused her to be presented at court.
Subsequently she was installed in a villa
outside one of the gates of Rome and was
now as ia favorita del Re-" Two
years later she bore the King a son who.
was named Umberto.
When Count Hercolani discovered the
dishonor of his daughter his sorrow was
50 great that he became mad and sought
to Rrsassinate the King. lumber was
warned in time and the Count was sent to
a madhouse, where he still is. old. infirm.
but unforgiving.
la Favorita efter a couple Of years fell
in disgrace, owing. it is said. to court ins
triGues. At frs. sle received a small pen-
sion, but this was afterward stopped. While
the King was alive she obtained from time
to time snail subsidies. but these too
stopped and the Countess and her son were
reduced to utter d~eslitution.
Eventually she obtained an engagement
as pianist in a fourth rate music hall in
Rome, where she may be seer. her dark
eyes and traces Of her former beauty still
sury iving. Every night she plays Nea-
politan songs on a badly tuned piano. Her
wages amount TO 90 soldi, or hall u dollar
a night.
Some time ago the Countess V,as per-
suaded TO ask The royal household for the
Payment of her suppressed pension. The
Socialists took up her case. GLAD TO rake
MP n scandal that had been almost for
gotten. furnished her with the necessary
money to Undertake "A lawsuit against tho
royal family. and the case was brought
before the courts.
The most practical solution of the matter
on the art Of the royal household would
have been to efiect a compromise and pay
the pension requested. Instead OF doing
this the defendants attempted TO prove
the charge unfOunded. They produced
n certificate of birth Of the Countess show
ing that she was over II in 1880, and they
UIalifed the lawsuit as an attempt at black
pure and simple.
Naturally the case was dismissed, but
tho Countess appealed to a higher oourt
and succeeded in convincing the Judges
that the certificate OF birth was a forgery
and in proving that she was actually the
mistress of the King and that as such she
was in receipt OF a pension from the royal
household. The case has been sent back
by the (ourt Of Appeals to the lower tri-
bunal and il is expected to come on shortly.
It promises to make a sensation and 1t may
caIse Queen Margherita to abandon her
Roman residence.