The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-07
ITALY'S KING AT CLOSE RANGE
4 FRENCHMAN'S IMPRESSIONS or
VICTOR EMMANUEL.
or Surprisingly Youthful Appearance and
Military DemeanOr- HI Hopes for
italy-Does Not Like AutoinE. but Hs
FOnd Of Hunting-Broad In his Views.

Of surprisingly HOuthful Appearance and
Military DemeanOr Hi Hopes for
itaiy-Does Not Like Autoink. but Hs
Fond OF Hunting-Broad In Hs Views.
A French writer who recently had a long
interview with King Victor Emmanuel at
the Quirinal in Rome found nothing 80
remarkable about his appearance as its
extreme y~outhfulness. The visitor was re-
ceived at the palace by a General in the
Italian army. on duty as aide-de-camp.
He was ushered into a bare. empty little
parlor in the royal apartments.
As II by magic the General vanished
through one door and a slight young officer
in fatigue uniform stepped in through
another. This was the King but he put out
his callers hand briskly. exclaiming:
Good day. Sit down. Arc you going
to stay long in Rome?" and then started In
TO ask a long string OF questions about
France, the visitor himself and various
matters literary and journalistic.
Incidentally he spoke Of the poet Car
ducci. who died q few months ago. with
great feeling and admiration. comparing
him with Victor Hugo. As they talked the
Frenchman stored up impressions Of the
King.
Next after his youthful look. altogether
irr~econcilable with his age. which Ii 81.
his most striking characteristic is his mill
tary bearing. His forehead is wide and is
made more striking by his short, bristling
hair. His mustache is cut square across
the edge of his upper ip-brush style. the
French call it.
His figure is supple. his step and gestures
are rapid- He is the very type in precision
and grace Of carriage OF the young Lieu
tenant of Bersaglieri.
Presently the visitor managed to give
the talk a turn. He said he had heard the
King was an enthusiastic automobiles and
an excellent chauffeur.
Il a chauffeur" the King raped out
sharply: why, / detest the whole business.
or course | use an auto-use il a good deal:
but that's only because II Ia convenient
and goes fast. But l never dnve-or at
least only when I nav to-
The visitor looked 80 surprised-victor
Emmanuel has been written up all over
Europe as a crack chaufeur-that the
King laughed.
"Oh, well" said he. Il can hold the steering
wheel, as all the world can nowadays, or
at need mend a puncture. but nothing much.
My great exploit was meeting a motor bus
In trouble on tho Conf road.
Il looked it over and got II started. Yes,
quite a triumph, wasn't IL? suppose III
never hear the last Of it.
But the fact is I take no pleasure in
devouring kilometres with one eye fixed
on the next turn in the road and the other
watching for pebbles in your track. When
/ travel my great pleasure Ia to observe
the country.
Hove to ride OF drive at moderate speed
and drink in the pictures Of sea or mountain
or forest or town with which our Italy 10
so blessed. No. I an no chauffeur. A
true chauffe eur watches only his road and I
want TO watch everything else
Incidentally, the Frenchman says that in
the many journeys which the King and Queen
Helena make In all parts OF Italy riding.
driving and autoing they leave behind a
trail OF personal acts OF kindness which
render them the idols Of the people. A
valleys Of upper Piedmont where a little
girl Of 4 was sent to hand the Queen a bunch
OF Alpine lowers
Shopping 10 kiss the child the Queen
noticed that she was blind. The child was
at once taken into the carriage and the
doctor had said that the child's sight could
be restored by an operation, but the mother
was full Of ignorant fears and would not
consent.
~persuasions and Helena sent the little one
to Turin where an ooculist performed the
operation with complete SUCCESS. The
child was vent back to her native valley
not only seeing az well as any one but
laden with presents.
commented on his reputation ~ . yachts
man.