The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-01-31
now THE DUKE Of Genoa
SUBS FOR THE klhG
by Henry Wood.
United Press staff Correspondent.

Tho Duke of Genoa who subs" as
King of Quirinal while Victor Eman-
ueI Is at the front, is fast proving
himself a formidable rival Of the lat
ter for the affections of the Italian
people. King Victor. however, seems
in no way disturbed. Eight months
ago he asked his august uncle 10
come down to Rome and sit In
for him. Until his return from the
Italian front this week the king had
not even returned to Rome to see
how his Sub" was getting away
with the Job. There Is perhaps no
royal family In Europe whose MEM
bers would do such a thing. The
house of Savoy now includes. be-
sides King Victor and the Duke of
Genoa, the Duke of Abruzzi, the
Duke OF Aosta and the Count of
Turin. The five are cronies. Each
has had the rigid military or naval
training required of every male
member of the House and each is
considered competent to be King.
Victor would just as soon trust one
as the other. He chose the Duke
of Genoa because he was the eld-
est. He figured the younger ones
could better serve Italy in their
respective positions as military and
naval commanders. The choice met
with disapproval only from the Duke
himself.
II know / am getting old" he said
wistfully to the court functionaries
who welcomed him to the throne,
but my hand would rather have
grasped the sword than the pen that
must sign the royal DEGREES"
King Victor has ever been known
as the most democratic sovereign in
Europe, although perhaps the title
of, Soldier King would better suit
him. His Sub has gone him one
better for democracy and won for
himself the sobriquet of the Civil
ian King.
The nearest the Duke of Genoa
came to accepting any of the kingly
that go with the job, is
at each day when he goes for his
drive in the country. Four caval-
rymen surround his carriage and a
corps of bicycle guards follow. The
police won't let him drive unless he
this escort.
In the evening he makes up for
1t by walking about the streets of
Rome in civilian clothes. accompan-
led only by his chief aidde-camp.
He trayerses the principal streets
and window shops as he goes along.
1t was while amusing himself this
way one evening that the Duke saw
a street car collide with fat wo-
man. OF all the men who leaped
to her assistance, the Duke got there
first. She was quite uninjured but
the Duke bundled her off to a hos
pital before she knew who had
helped her.
Half an hour later when the Duke
returned to Quirinal he sent his aide
to the hospital to make certain she
really was not injured.
When the Duke comes down to
Rome to "sit in" for his nephew as
King he does not bring his family
with him. His nearest relative here
S his sister, Queen Mother Margin
erita and he never tires of visiting
her hospitals and charity works with
her.
The Duke comes nearest to being
king on Thursdays and Sundays,
when the ministers bring the var
ous DEGREES to him for his yicarious
royal signature. 1t is then that he
gets first hand information from the
prime minister, the minister of war
and the minister of marine on the
of hostilities. The minister
Of marine especially never fails to
bring some news about his son, the
prince of Udine. who is commanding
4 squadron of submarines.
The Dukes new job brought back
10 public memory the fact that his
wife is a German princess. She and
III the children, however, are 10y
ally Italian.
Once a week the Duke tries TO
get away and go home to see them.
1t was while waiting for train
once to bring him back from one of
these home visits that a distinguish
ID army officer commiserated with
him that the war kept them both
from their families.
And. your highness, when do
you think the blessed war will end?"
the officer.