New-York tribune., 1911-02-23
An Italian Viceroy.

e The Marquis Salvage -Raggi. now on fur
lough in Rome. holds the most highly paid
Office Of any in the gift OF the Italian gov
eminent, namely. that OF Niceroy Of Italy's
extensive possessions in Africa. He could
have had a first class embassy In Europe
for the asking. but that required the pos
session Of some private fortune in addition
70 salary, and the marquis is not well off.
ie came quite prominently to the fore by
his bravery and resourcefulness during the
siege of the foreign legations at Peking.
where he was Italian Minister at the time.
lie knew we'll how 10 handle the Chinese,
and managed 10 get even with so astute
statesman as the great Ii Hung Chang.
THE latter had a very poor opinion Of Italy,
which no did not take the trouble 10 visit
when IN Europe. and any little esteem
which he had disappeared with ItalYs
hsckdown in the San Nun Bay question. and
the circumstances Of the recall OF the Ital
Ian Minister De Martino from Peking.
When Sslvago-Ragei arrived in China 10
take up the post of Minister he was re-
oeiycd by Ii Hung Chang, who. with his
sccgstomed brusquerie, not to say bru-
,alitv. exclaimed:
Il congratulate YOU that your country
had enough money 10 send YOU here"
we are richer than you suppose" replied
the marquis. and could lend China
MONEY"
That ! do not believe" responded III
Hung Chang. why. Just look. You and
your countrymen dress in wool, while Ve
Chinese look at nothing but silk. We
must be richer"
That Is Just where YOU make mistake"
retorted the MARQUIS "We consider silk
vulgar. and discarded II for our woollen
clothes over a century ago Now we use
silk ONLY for our Innings holding up his
overcoat and showing its silk lining You
see. China is at least a hundred years be-
hind Italy"
From that time forth the marquis never
had N complain Of want of respect on the
Iort Of either ii Hung Chang or any other
Of the Chinese dignitaries. The marquis
who is - very eood-looking man. is mar
ticd 10 daughter OF the illustrious ho-
man and Hungarian house Of Pallavcini'
WHO by reason Of her beauty used TO be
known in Roman society as La BeHa
Pallayicini" before she became his "lfe'
she had with her throughout the siege her
hltie boy. who bears the odd nickname OF
Pari- and who used 10 chatter Chinese IKE
g. native. While she was looked upon pS
reason Of her stature. ana dark and I'M
posing beauty. with a sort Of awe by the
natives. her little boy was simply wor-
shipped by them and they were as devoted
10 him as only Orientals know how to be 10
children on one occasion his native at
tcndante dressed him up in Chinese cos
tune in which he made his way 10 his
mother houdoir. So extraordinary WAS
Tho change that she entirely failed TO rec
ognizo him. and. thinking him some native
ehtd. asked him what he wanted. When
.-hs.an wered In Chinese. with a grin, she
otanery and ordered him OFF. ringing q
Ae1l for the servants 20 come and put him
Qlt II was not until he laughed and spos-
irophizsd her in Italian that she really
recognized him.
The Marquis Salvage Ragsi was rstnef
BADLY treated by his government, man
sally speaking. in connection win the
siesc o. the legations al Picking for' haF'
ins lost ~ his belongings and these 81
H. vito through the plunderiDS ot the
italian mission b. the Boxes. he, before