The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-12-04
ITALY HAS FEW
ROYAL WRITERS
Six of the Reigning House in
the Ranks
OF WORKING AUTHORS
LaureIs of queen Elizabeth Are In
Danger of Being Handed TO 9th
ers-Margherita's Prayer
Is still Sung
OF WORKING AUTHORS

From the Detroit Tribune.
| With the recent announcement from
| across the sea that two new works of
I travel are shortly to be published by
members of the Italian royal family, the
literary world asks itself: "Shall the palm
of literary genius. far as it per-
tains to royal families, long conceded to
| Queen Elizabeth of Roumania, be hand
ed to the talented members of the house.
hold of King Victor Emmanuel of Italy?"
For years the reading public has been
! acquainted with brilliant writings from
the pen of Queen Elizabeth, whose
works have been published under the
''nom-de-plume of Carmen Sylvia. She
is known throughout Christendom AS the
most talented and gifted among crowned
women OF her time. Her court has for
years been the center of artistic and in
! tellectual life In southern Europe and the
gathering place of noted writer's, scien-
| lists, musicians and artists. She has
| been a writer since her early teens"
| when her first poem appeared in print.
They were we'll received even before the
public had an inkling of who was hid
| ing behind the pen name of Carmen
| sylvia"
| During the past year or SO, however,
| so much attention has been attracted to
| the literary endeavors of members of
Italy's reigning family that the laurels
of Queen Elizabeth are in great danger
of being wrested from her.
The Duchess of Aosta and the Count
of Turin have both completed works of
travel that are scheduled to appear this
| fall The subject of each work is tour
of Central Africa. Both are to be richly
illustrated and will carry photographs
of their respective authors. 1t is the APP
pearance of these two books that has
given TO Italy the right to declare that
she has among her royal family six au-
thors, for King Victor Emmanuel, Queen
Elena. Queen Margherita and the Duke
de Abruzzi have also contributed much
| to the world of literature
Melted Money for Orphans
The Duke de AbruZz started his career
| as writer while still young man.
| He was scarcely out of the naval acad-
| envy when his name commenced to an
| pear in nautical reviews of Italy, France
and England, and later on he lectured
on scientific and geographical subjects
| His first book was an account of his
| two years trip in quest OF the north
pole. The first edition of several thou
sand was soon out ofAprint and a sec
| book Is in its third edition and has net
| ted large sum of money to the orphan
| asylum for the benefit of which the pub
! LEGATION was sold. The dukes expedition
| to the Mountains of the Moon was the
| subject of his second effort, and at pres
| ent he is engaged in writing ehe account
| of his exploration In the Himalayan re-
| gion, whence he returned last winter
Queen Elena is a poetess. The product
| OF her pen has often appeared in Rus
| sian publications. The queen-mother.
| Margherita, is also a poetess. She is a
| woman blessed with a highly educated
| artistic taste, and at the time OF King
! Humbert's death she told her wifely sor-
low In a beautiful prayer which is still
| sung in public.
| King Victor Emmanuel has a treatise
on numismates to his credit. AS is well
known, the King is passionate collec-
| tor of coins. His collection is reputed
| 70 be the largest in existence and has
cost him a good-szed fortune. In pre-
pairing his essay on numismatics he was
greatly assisted by Queen Margherita
and after the book appeared the King
was elected as honorary member of
many scientific and archaeological socie-
| ties of Italy, France and Germany
Debutantes in Writing
The Duchess of Aosta and the Count
| of Turin are two debutantes at the art
OF writing. and, especially in Italy, the
reading public is awaiting the publica-
| ton of their books with great interest
AS regards the duchess there is no doubt
that ner book will contain many pages
of beautiful description written in imi-
tation of DAnnuncio, of whom she is a
fervent admirer A number of her let