The Washington herald., 1909-01-17


the present King Of Italy by Queen Vic
toria, on the occasion Of his first visit to
England. The venerable ruler Of the Brit
ish empire was no mean judge Of char
acter. and. revere6 as the grandmother
Of old world royalty. had enjoyed, during
the then hfty-four years Of her reign.
unrivaled opportunities Of forming an
opinion concerning all the principal hg-
ures Of the history Of the nineteenth cen
tury. Her verdict upon Victor EN-
manuel III has been confirmed by COM
mon consent since his accession 70 the
throne in 1885. and he has achieved for
himself the reputation Of being in the
eyes. not only OF Monarchists. but even
Of Republicans, the most useful. level
headed. and altogether iTreproachaele oe-
cupant Of any European throne
Just q. present all eyes are turned to-
ward him. and his nanle is on every
tongue Il is not alone by reason OF the
unselfSh courage. the tireless energy, and
resgurcefuIneSs which he has displayed,
in devising on the scene Of the disaster.
measures for the relief Of the victims OF
the earthquakes that nave recently over
whelmed the southern provinces Of his
kingdom. with 50 much horror. desola-
ton, and ruin
But II is also Cor the reason that his
attitude with regard 10 the Balkan i'm
brOglIo IS g matter Of profound concern,
in connection with the efforts 10 avert a
great European war Germany and Aus
tria. France and Turkey. Russia and
Great Britain. not 10 speak Of Servia,
Montenegro, Greece. RoUmania. and Bull
garia. are ali endeavoring 10 secure his
coed will So great is the Importance at
tsched thereto. thar when Nicholas
1IOUTaVigff. the Russian ambassador who
has been particularly active and success
ful in promoting friendship between the
Quirinal and the court Of the Gar died
very suddenly the other day under rather
mysterious circumstances. a number Of
Continental organs Of the press. including
some Of the most reputable newspapers OF
Paris. Brussels Italy. and Russia, did
not hesitate 10 intimate plainly their con-
viction that he had been poisoned by
those Interested IN preventing any under
standing and intimacy between King Vic
tor Emmanuel and the Gar
is exciting attention and discussion in
every European capital Al Berlin and
in Vienna it is hoped that the appoint
meut may be accorded to Count Witte,
Who has the reputation Of being a Ger
manophile, and as averse rather than
favorable TO France and England.
From Paris and London. on the other
hand, every influence is being brought
10 bear upon Emperor Nicholas to induce
him 10 appoint as his new ambassador
At Rome some diplomat who would work
IN unison with Camille Barrere and Sir
Rennen Rodd. his French and British
colleagues. and cooperate with them in
endeavoring 20 detach Italy from the
triple alliance. IN order 70 join the
Russian combination More
over il is in this connection that King
Edward has arranged 20 visit Rome,
after leaving BiaTritz, toward the end
Of March.
This eageness on the part Of the vari-
Gus powers 10 obtain the good viii and
the support OF the court OF the QuirinsI
Is all the more remarkable when the
military and naval unpreparedness of
Italy. 20 which I have recently drawn at
tention in these letters. is taken into con-
sideration-
Under the circumstances It can only
BE- regarded IN the light Of a tribute 10
the personality and 70 the cleverness Of
Victor Emmanuel. who. during the nine
years that have elapsed since his becom-
ing King, has established a reputation for
strength Of character and statesman
ship. and has acquired IN an altogether
unparalleled degree the confidence and
the backing Of his coUntrymen, not only
Royalists. but also Clericals. Republicans
and even Socialists In fact, he may be
said 20 enjoy in q degree never possessed
by any other sovereign Of the Peninsula,
the backing Of united Italy.
There are two things OF which Victor
Emmanuel entertains a holy horror One
Is publicity concerning himself, while
the other has 10 do with the question Of
his stature The latter is a subject on
which he Is extremely sensitive, and yet
II Is necessary 20 refer thereto in order
10 portray him. The qualities Of ruler
ship are not. however. measured by
inches. and. as in the case Of the late
Queen Victoria. whose height he only
slightly surpassed. his bearing and his
cleveTness are such that all sense Of his
shortness quickly disappears
If I refer 20 the matter at all. II Is be-
cause small men have a far greater DIFF
ficulty in creating an impression upon
their feIlcw-citizens than those who have
the advantage OF them in size II Is
more easy Ter a prince who stands half
a head taller than those around him TO
be majestic. than one who does not. reach
70 their shoulders. That Victor Emman-
uei should, in spite of his being the
shortest monarch in Europe, have become
one of the most commanding figures Of
royalty, speaks volumes for his char
acter-
During the next few weeks. his name
and that Of his beautiful and gifted con
sort-a poetess. and one Of the most
gifted violinists in Europe-win be ap-
pearing at the head of so many hundreds
Of thousands Of programmes as patrons
OF the in1umerable entertainments that
are being organized all over the United
States for the benefit Of the victims of
the great earthquakes in Southern Italy.
that there are many readers Of The
Washington Herald who viii doubtless
be interested TO learn a little more about
these two foreign rulers 10 whom their
attention IS thus drawn
In the first place. let me correct a pOpu-
lar Impression which prevails over here
about Victor Emmanuel. which is de-
rived from his portraits He IS not dark
or swarthy, as most people who have not
seen him seem 10 believe. but blond. Ike
his grandfather and namesake who was.
however. wont 10 dye his mustache and
hair with the object Of imparting more
martial appearance 70 his features.
The present Kings eyes are of a pierc-
ing blue. and his mustache. ike his hair
IS fair, presenting a striking contrast 10
the raven hue of the magnificent tresses
OF his Montenegrin-born cOnsort. Queen
Helen. Ills eyes attract and interest