The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-11-14
R0NE'S PET, A SHE WOLF
A Sentimental Reminder of the
Ancient Legend.
KEPT AT THE CAPITAL

government Fosters Patriotic
Memorles-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 curious
advertisement, which ran something
like this:
Wanted-To purchase Immediately
o 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-fIonted cages, about
ten ieet across, where, at the expense
OF a grateful municipality, il lives
a 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-
iieve 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 1t may seem,
1t is a factor in the programme Of
patriotic education which the gov.
ernment has set itself. The compre-
hensve 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,
1t is stimulating the national spirit
and pride OF the rising generations Of
Italian youths, and, as one preeminent-
y potent means to this end, it Is
bending every effort to make Rome
sem what In reality 1t is-the Capt.
II Of United Italy.
AS far back as 1870, according to
rof. Mario Cosenza of the Latin de-
partment OF che 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
municipal improvements were begun
in the eastern section with the lay.
ing out Of new streets In that part of
the old Esquiline hill where Maecen-
as once had his gardner and whero
the railway station Is now. Here the
streets are named after the royal
house of Savoy-Victor Emmanuel,
Margherita, and so on. In the Lud-
ovisi quarter, which is rising from the
gardens Of Sallust. the streets bear the
names of the provinces OF united
Italy-LOmbardy, Campania. Veneto.
Outside the medieval walls near the
Janiculum. once the site of Nero's
gardens, 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
GUS battles of the War of Unlifica.
tion-Magenta, Castelfldardo. All
these latter centre around the Piazza
deli Independence.
In It's relics and works of art"
said Prof. Cosenza. ''the QNirinal
finds tremendous aid to It's patriotic
1t also finds in them an
enormously valuable source OF nation
al income. They are. in fact, one of
the nations most important assets.
Rome for example, is city of about
400, 900 population. In the course Of
year this Is doubled by the tourists
who visit 1t, some of whom come for
long periods Of study, and practically
all of whom are attracted by its relics
and works of art or by its religious as.
sociations. Rome is a city Of men,
ories. Every landmark, every square
inch Of painting by a master every
stitch Of ancient embroidery that
leaves 1t impoverishes 1t by so much.
The same holds true for the country.
The arch enemies OF the Italian
Government in its pious desire to
have and to hold are the American
whose ability to pay ten
times over what the Government
with It's paltry annual appropriation
for the purchase of antiquities can
afford, sorely taxes the patriotic scru-
pies of the owners of antiquities, and
the Vatican, now as ever a keen and
collector OF the two the
Vatican is the more deadly.
Hotel Clerk-A room with bath ia