The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-12-04
KIM NcxoR ENANzzZ sELzAkY
Leads the Simple, LaborIous Life.

Leads the Simple, Laborious Life.
In Italy, where all are so intimately simple
where domestic life is a passion, 1t pleased him.
the first of the nations mobiles, to lead the simple,
laborious life of a great bourgeois and to give
the example of the domestic virtues, and yet
these qualities, however appreciable in normal
times, had, so to say, the inconvenience of not
being visible from near at hand and of max
ing no sensational impression on the judgment of
the crowd, which is always fond of a certain
amount of the theatrical. Scarcely had the great
upheaval of the war come to call forth from the
depths of the popular soul all the great qualities
that were there latent than Italy in its entirety
drew itself up before its new destiny and then,
all OF q sudden, the people remarked in their
king the most vital qualities of Italy itself and
recognized in him their true leader.
This king, to whom the most captious critics
could only reproach a certain want of military
display, at once made the finest of all displays
shine around him, namely, that of courage, of
royal love for the people and the army, of in
trepidity in the presence of danger, of kindness
Tor the woes of the humble. That chivalrous
prestige which wars and great human crises
cause to irradiate around the truly noble souls.
irradiates now around Victor Emmanuel. He
has proved today that the best means of be-
ing a popular king in a great country is to show
that one deserves it.
Private communications are not held directly
with the king, even at the front, but through the
intermediary of his staff.
On certain more important occasions Count
Cadorna, the generalissimo, is the medium. Then
an opportunity may be accorded the public to
read as interesting a letter az the following, from
General Cadorna to the editor of the Idea Nazi.
onale, who had written to announce the offer of
$4,000 lire (~$1O.00O), made by a Mr.. Clerici, for
distribution among the soldiers who may cap
ture the first Austrian flags. The Italian com.
mander wrote:
A Letter From the Chief.
Il have had Mr.. Clerici's Cenerous ant patriotic
offer communicated to the troops under nv COM
mand. In my lame and in theirs ! beg YOU To
express to the donor our gratitude for the munif-
cent act, q new proof of the admirable rivalry
throughout tn country by all classes, from the
most conspicuous to the most humble, in en-.
Veloping the army with ! fGme of affection and
confidence, the army which. with Italy in its heart.
oners every day with serene Joy the example Of
the most elevated spirit of sacrifice. | am person.
ally grateful to you for your noble and aatterine
sentiments and for your good wishes, which | re-.
turn in the name of our brave soldiers.
"Signor Clerici could not have chosen a mora
worthy messenger than you, whose untiring work
as a militant apostle contributed SO much To
hasten the hour of national awakening and yindi.
cation of rights. through which the dream
sighed for by our fathers. is about to be trans.
formed, by the force of arms and of national vir.
tues, into a radiant reality"
Probably more than any other army TODAY the
Italians are spurred on by a battle cry, the word
"Savoia," Savoy. 1t is the dynastic name of The
royal mouse. and in uttering IL the soldier thinAs
of his beloved king, of Vittorio Emanuele al casa
Sayoia.