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


Memorles-Works Of Art a Valu
able Source of Income-Rlvalr>
With Vatican as Relic Collector
A few months ago there appeared IL
several of the Roman papers curioui
advertisement, which ran something
like this:
Wanted-To purchase Immediately
q gray she-wolf, to replace the wolf oI
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 tbs
shrubbery at the top of the broad
staircase mounting TO the Capitol, it
occupies two wire-tronted cages, about
tea ieet across, where, at the expense
o. grateful municipality, it lives
a life restricted, but of great social
distinction as the modern representa-
tive of the mother wolf that sucked
Rcmulus and Remus. Rome is never
without its wolf, If it can help itself.
Imaginative, enjoying whatever ap-
peals To the sense Of mystery and the
supernatural, the Romans like TO be.
heye 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 a 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 it 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 or 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.
IL Of United Italy.
AS far back as 1870, according to
rof. Mario Cosenza Of the Latin de-
Dartment 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
tsue 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
Campania, Veneto.
Outside the medieval walls near the
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, Castelfdardo. All
these latter centre around the Piazza
dell Independence.
In its relics and works OF art"
said Prof. Cosenza ''the QSirinal
finds tremendous aid to It's patriotic
propaganda. 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 a city of about
10000 population. In the course of a
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 it 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
millionaire, whose ability to pay ten
times over what the Government
with It's paltrv 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
experienced collector. OF the two the
Vatican is the more deadly.
Hotel Clerk--A room with bath ia