The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-19

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people at the windows Of their palace every
afternoon; but In her widowhood she lives
retired. though now and then her oarriags
may be seen passing through the streets,
with four special policemen on bicycles
following 1t. These waited about the door
way OF the concert hall that afternoon
and constituted q very simple. II effective,
guard. In fact 1t might be said that In ita
relations with the popular life the reignina
family could hardly be simpler. The
present King and Queen are not so much
seen in public as King Umberto and Queen
Margherita were. but 1t Is known from
many words and deeds that King Victor
Emmanuel wishes to be the friend. II not
the acquaintance. Of his people. When IL
was proposed to push the present tunnel
with Its walks and drives and trolley lines
under the Quirinal palace and gardens. so
as to connect the two principal business
quarters Of the city. the King was notified
that the noise and jar Of the traffic In 1t
might interfere with his comfort. He asked
II the tunnel would be for the general ad-
vantage, and when this could not be denied
he gave his consent for the tunnel In words
to some such effect az THAT settles II.
'hOh tio oU Llhu CtuptTOT IdSb Ntoit6u
Rome he is said to have had some state
question as to whether he should drive on
q certain occasion to the Palatine with the
Kings horses or the Pope's. He who told
the story did not remember how the ques-
tion was solved by the Emperor, but he
said: sOur King walked"
All this does not mean republican SIM
plicity in the King; q citizen King is doubt
less q contradiction in terms anywhere
out OF France. and even there Louis Phi
lippe found the part difficult. But there IL
no doubt that the King Of Italy means to
be the best sort Of constitutional King, and
as he Is In every way an uncommon man
he will probably succeed. One may fancy
In him II one likes something of that
almost touching anxiety Of thoughtful Ital-
ians to be and to do all that they can for
Italy. In a patriotism that seems as en-
hghtened as it Is devoted. II I had any
critioism to make Of such Italians It would
be that they expected or that they asked
too much Of themselves. To be sure, they
O right to expect much, for they have
done wonders with a country which. with
out great natural ~resouroes except of heart
and brain. entered bankrupt into its na-
tional existence. and has o grown fnan-
oially to the Dimensions Of its vast treasure
building. with a paper currency at par and
OF equal validity with French and English
II the industrial conditions in
Italy were so bad as We compassionate
outsiders have been taught to suppose,
financial change is n Of the most
important events accomplished in Europe
since the great era OF the racial indications
began. No N will pretend that there
have not been great errors Of ~administra-
ton in Italy, but apparently the Italians
have known how to learn wisdom from
their folly. There has been a great deal
Of industrial adversely; the cost Of living
has advanced; the taxes are very heavy.
and the burdens are unequally adjusted;
spectators have been ruined. and
much honestly invested money has been
But wages have increased with the
prices and rents and taxes, and in q country
where every ounce Of coal that drives a
wheel Of production or transportation has
10 be brought a thousand miles manufac-
lures and railroads have been multiplied.
The State has now taken over the roads
md has added their cost to that Of its ex-
army and navy, but no reasonable
witness can doubt that the Italians will be
equal TO this as we'll as their other national
undertakings. These in Rome are pecu-
iarly difficult and onerous. because they
must be commensurate with the scale Of
antiquity. In a city surviving amid the
ruins of the past 1t would be gro
esque TO build anything Of the modest
modern dimensions such as would satisfy
y in other capitals. The Palace of
:, -az ~ a tsr.A 1vknn Itotar ~ ppo.
It a discount almost equal to that Of Ameri-
AN paper during the civil war, had to be
prophetic Of the present solvency in size.
The yet unfinished Palace Of jus tice Zone
iare not recognize its beauty above ones
must be planned so huge that the
story had to be left of IL the foun-
were to support the s~uperstruoture;
he memorial of Victor Emmanuel must be
II a vastness in keeping with the monuments
Il imperial Rome. some Of which it will
obscure. Yet as the nation has
,rown in strength under burdens and
it will doubtless prove adequate
O the colossal architectural enterprises of
Is capital. Private speculation in Rome
disaster twenty-five years ago. but
the city has overlooked with new life
he edifces that long stood like empty
epulchres. and public enterprises cannot
nally fail; otherwise we should not be
the Panama Canal or be trying to
eep the New York streets in repair We
nay confide in the ability of the Italians to
AIRY out their undertakings and to pay |
cost out Of their own pockets. 1t is
asy to c~riticise them. but We cannot criti-
ise them more severely than they ~oriticise
themselves; and perhaps as our oensure
annot profit them we might with advan-
age to ourselves. now and then, convert 1t
ito recognition OF the great things they
ave accomplished. w. d. HowELLs.
,EAF MUTE CONVENTION ENDS. |