The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10
More Work and Study,
Less Pomp and Show
in the Italian Royal
Court Than at Any
Other

che Queen, dressed in peasant costume.
with stout boots and alpenstock, made
really serious ascents and thoroughly
enjoyed the arduous exercise and the
adventures and contretemps that IL
brought her. Since her wdowhood the
queen Mother has become q fearless
and enthusiastic motorst, and her
shattered nerves seem to find solace
ana tranquility in the rapid mo-
uon through the air, Illuminating
in the independence and absence OF
surveillance and etiquette which makes
that sport prominently the luxury OF
royalties. The Queen Mother is a de-
voted Catholic. but, in consequence OF
the relations between the Church and
state in Italy, she can never visit the
Pope or assist at any of the great func-
tons of her church; her influence has
been consistently. some say too fire.
quently, exercised in favor of religion
and of all things connected with mat
tiers ecclesiastical.
She is true Lady Bountiful and her
charities, public and private, are on a
vast scale. She has founded and en-
dowed number of philanthropic in
stitutions, in the working of which she
takes the warmest interest, and since
! u
house near her own palace as an
orphanage for one hundred little chill
dren, called the Queen Margherita
Home" visiting them almost every
| day.
1t is reported that Victor Emmanuel
II. said of his son Humbert, then quite
young, II know Humbert; he is an ex-
cellent youth, he has good sense and a
good heart, and he will do we'll" and
the second King OF United Italy Is to
great extent summed up in these
words. Unlike his father, he was not
great statesman or quick to judge
the character and value of those
around him. he was not even a man
Of exceptional ability, but he conscien-
tiously strove to do his duty as a con-
stitutional monarch he was a gallant,
upright, honorable gentleman, and his
simple, manly, warm hearted nature
made him respected and beloved by his
people. King Humbert was keen SOL
der, and at CustoZa in 1866 he showed
all the reckless disregard of personal
safety which characterized his race,
being almost forced from the field by
Nino BiXio the Garibaldan hero while
his brother Prince Amedeo. was
wounded in his first action at Santa
Croce. King Humbert was always
deeply interested in his army and its
welfare, and his influence was perhaps
more strongly felt in the foreign than
the internal policy OF his kingdom: he
encouraged, or at least he had not the
strength TO oppose Crispi's imperialis-
tic dreams. for which the country was
not yet ripe. and was in>favor OF Italy's
alliance with the two great military
Powers of central Europe.
His practical good sense and also his
sense OF honor was shown by the deter
mined efforts which he made in the
early days of his reign to grapple with
the vast legacy of debt caused by Vic
tor Emmanuel lis wildly extravagant
generosity and charity. Although
Parliament offered TO provide the
necessary funds, King Humbert refused.
insttuting instead sweeping economies,
cutting down unnecessary expenditure
in every direction, though he was al
ways ready to relieve distress and help
worthy objects.
When terrible foundations carried
ruin and destruction 10 the Venetian
provinces and Verona was threatened
10y the waters OF the Adige King Hum
bert hurried. to the spot. visiting tho
most dangerous places, comforting the
injured and encouraging the SOL
dicrs in their efforts to relieve.
When Casamclola, in the island
of IsChia was overwhelmed by
a peculiarly violent earthquake,
King Humbert went there, exposing
himself to danger and infection with
an utter disregard OF self and when in
1884 one of the worst known outbreaks
of cholera was driving the eXcltable and