The Spectator., 1915-06-18
Action Arouses Enthusiasm in Most Democratic Kingdom
 in the World.
IS MUCH LIKE ROOSEVELT
Was Sickiy Child and Brought Him self to Hardy Manhood by Spartan Methods-is Man of Almost Universal Knowledge and
 Interested in Much.

Rome.-Victor Emmanuel III is 1om in the world When the plain l people of Italy finally forced the nation into war for the unredeemed Italian lands of Austria, their democratic king decided to share his soldiers hardships. His action in taking the field and turning the scepter tempo rarily over to his uncle, the duke of Genoa. has been received here with the widest enthusiasm and the house of Savoy was never more popular than today
 Their monarch just suits Italians. He is more like an American president than a European king. Italy for the most part is intensely republican. with , leaning to socialism It is greatly tinctured with American thought due to the close connection brought about by the return of emigrants from the new world.
 His majesty is also republican. with a drift toward socialism. He has made three leading socialists senators and has shown in various ways his deter imitation to solidify his people by ex- hibiting his tolerance of this most radical section of his subjects
 He also requested that his name be included in the list of electors. He insists that he be considered an ordi- nary citizen and he never misses re- cording his ballot at the polls after the fashion of President Wilson.
 In some ways the king resembles Theodore Roosevelt. He was a sick ly child. like the colonel. and brought himself to hardy manhood by Spar tan methods. He is a man of almost universal knowledge. interested in ev- erything, much like the Oyster Bay leader. He possesses great energy.
 His Part in War.
 What will the king do in the war? His part, like the kaisers, undoubtedly will consist in going from one part of the battle line to the other encourag- ing his troops. But Victor Emmanuel possesses too good sense to interfere with his general staffs in the actual
 
 He is a gallant horseman and this is source of qualification to the Ital- fans. for their cavalry is not surpassed anywhere in the world. The Italian army officers generally bring back the important prizes in every horse show they enter
 In person Victor Emmanuel is thor oughly Italian. His short. powerful figure, sweeping mustachios and cast of countenance are of a general type often observed throughout Italy He is fairer than most of his people, how ever. and blue-eyed
 Certainly King Victor Emamnuel is the right man in the right place-the king Italy needs in this supreme mo- ment." said the poet Gabrielle d'An- nunZio recently. after an interview with the monarch.
 Tt would be impossible to imagine better informed man." he continued. On hearing him speak one might al- most receive the impression at one moment that he was in Paris convers- ing with a statesman thoroughly con- versant with the subject from the French viewpoint; at others in Berlin, talking with a minister of the German emperor. or in London, in Vienna or Petrograd. The Balkans and East ern Mediterranean are so familiar to him that he might have lived there all his life.
 His lucidity of mind is astounding. and only surpassed by his unpreten- tious manner, which puts one com pletely at ease. There is amazement that this ruler. in addition to full filling the duties of state. could ab- sorb so much knowledge and possess such a clear and certain perception of foreign countries, interest and men. Was SickIy Child. When the king was a child he sui fered so badly from rickets that he