Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-22
ITALY,S POPULAR
KING AND QUEEN
They Are Known as Friends of
the People - Family Life in the
Quirinal-Royalty on the Human
Level.
Bu EDGAR MELs

NJ
v has ruled italy since 1900, when hi
father Humbert. was assassinated at Monz
by an anarchist. on his accession to tn
throne the Prince Of Naples proved himsel
truly a king In strength of mind II not o.
body. For Victor is only feet Q inchet
| high, Of weak physique, who for a long tint
| felt that he could not marry, as he feared
| to give a race of weakling Kings to Italy
Yet he is a soldier Of moro than ordinary
ability he Is q master in electric science
and speaks German, French and English
| fuently.
| Trained TO succeed to a throne, Victor did
| his utmost to attain physical vlgor. Long
| walks; long horseback rides; long hours of
study In the fresh air of the Alps; keen
interest in science; a desire to accomplish
things worthy of a monarch, made Victor
Emmanuel a klngly figure despite his dimln-
utive stature. And now comes the strangest
part Of the tale-Victor Emmanuel mod
eled his life after that Of the present German
Emperor. An intense admlrer also of Bis
marck, whom he compared to Epamnondas
in creating giant State out of a small one,
Victor Emmanuel initiated the Kaiser as
best he could, even to the brusqueness Of
manner affected by the German ruler at
times. The Italian King feared ridcule Of
relaxed what he considered kingly dignity
except when in the company Of fellow sci
entists or far away from the court and its
restrictive etiquette. But he has outgrown
this feeling and In private life he is charm
Ing companion utterly without polse or af-
fectation: meeting every one on frankly
human level
A Chapter of Romance
be Of 90
Queen Of Italy, cluster far more romantic
associations. Many a tale has been written
about this regal beauty from the fastnesses
of the BLACK Mountain" her home land.
Beautiful Elena, known In her earlier days
as "le mademoisele Montenegro" had
dreams of ascending a real throne long be-
fore she became the consort OF Victor EN-
manuel. Her father King Nicholas, has six
daughters, all beautiful, living in something
like royal poverty on $4,000 a year. Once
on time the family paid a visit to the
court at st. Petersburg. Within a month
Grand Duke Peter Nicolaievitch had become
the husband of Militia, the eldest sister,
and In another 30 days the Duke of Leuch-
tenberg had married the second sister. An
astasia.
AS for Elena, the entire court fell in love
with her, and 1t was common gossip that
Alexander III sought her hand for his eldest
son, the present Czar. But Cupid had his
own plans, for neither the Czarevitch nor
Elena could be induced to consent to a we'd
ding, and the project was abandoned. Then
Elena fell in love with the little Italian
Crown Prince and he with her, and so they
were married in 1896 and have lived happy
ever after.
The nuptials were celebrated with great
In
were thronged with tremendous crowd to
see the bridal procession. First came the
civil marriage at the QuirinaI, where the
bridal couple signed the marriage contract
with gold pen set with diamonds. pre-
sented by italian patriotic societies Then
the wedding party drove in open carriages
drawn by six horses to the Church of Santa
Maria degli Angeli where the religious serv-
Ice was celebrated by Mgr. Piscicoli.
Private Life of Royal Family
Since those halcyon days four daughters
and son have come to bless the House of
Savoy Italy. too, has blessed the ruler and
his consort for 1t Is doubtful IL there is a
more popular royal pair in Europe than
Victor Emmanuel and Elena, his Queen
Ever alert to the needs of their people: first |
10 succor them In need, when the terrible |
'orces of nature destroyed Messna and dur |
ng days of horror following the more re- |
cent earthquakes-at all times, the King and |
Queen have been human beings first and |
'ulers afterward.
Elena loves children-not merely her own !
'ut all children. She arises at 7 o'clock that |
The with her own hands may help them |
With their morning toilette She anuses
herself by making for the little ones such |
fishes as are given to the children of her
native land, Montenegro, and the Princesses
20 into ecstasies over their mothers cook
ng.
Only lately did the King permit Yolanda
o be photographed; he did not wish the
'ostal cards to be blazoned with her por-
rait' But one day lady OF Queen Mar
sherita's palace told the Princess grand
mother that the people were gossiping about
folanda
''They say, your Majesty, that the King
loes not wish the Princess photographed
because she is not perfect, physically"
"Your tongue is too long. my dear" re-
'lled the Dowager Queen. But after that
iolanda was photographed and Mafalda
co. with her mother
When Marconi was feted at Rome. be-
ause OF his discovery of wireless teIee-
Apply Queen Elena, on learning that his
mother was in the hall, sought her out. and
extending her hand to her said, How hapnv
'ou are to be his mother. Does not the glory
eem to be doubled when 1t comes from our
hildren?"
Queen Elena does not interest herself in
ohtics When a lady asked her II she
elped the King to expedite current affairs
he answered:
i content myself with putting sand on
ny husbands letters"
When she appears in her carriage in the
'orso with the King all the fine ladies there
uldazzie her in splendor OF dress. She
ften wears a violet dress and Is sean so