Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-08-08
King Victor.


from their thrones and held up others
to the scorn Of the world. Bat il has
alse made some henorsd and beloved,
not BY their own people only bM by
millions of the citizens Of other eorn-
tries. King Albert Of Belgium is one;
King Victor Of Italy Is another. Victor
has not the imposing presence and hero
ic bearing Of Albert, but his soul has
risen nobly to the occasion.
The extreme democracy OF Italy, says
Mr.. Herbert Vivian in Italy at War,
has always expressed itself in the
freest criticism of the monarchy.
During the agitation Of May, 1915,
when many persons feared that Italy
might shrink from war, the name OF
King Victor Emmanuel III was fire.
qusntly taken in vain. The press pub-
lished impudent cariCaturss and oren-
ly accused him of being swayed by
Austrian sympathizsrs.
Poor little man! So small, and rath-
er alone! He has splendid wife,
worthy daughter OF the old lien OF
Montenegro, and he hnds much homely
happiness in his sturdy family. Bat hs
has been the subject OF many sights
and much indifference; indeed, only In
Italy is it known how near he was to
exile in Nay, 1915.
But the time for pity has gone by,
and the King is now by far the most
popular man in the kingdom. He Is
almost a dwarf, with colorlsss face
slightly bronzed by the elements, a
crisp, manly voice, and a way OF laugh
ing with his eyes. He stands erect,
with his short legs wide apart. His
hair is beginning to grow gray, and
there are burrows on his forehead and
beside his mouth, yet he bears himself
like a young man, walking fast and
never firing. He speaks little and
simply, always to the point, looking men
straight in the eyes and awakening
strong feeling wherever he gees.
He buzzes about the battle front In q
little gray meteor, without escorts and
with no precautions for his SAFETY. He
sleeps little and cares sot vhsss he Is
quite happy in 10 Apiae hat o. on
straw. His fare 10 Of The Amplsst,-a
little cold meat, bread, eAeese and eho-
colate,-and he is alvays ready TO
share it with the nearest sslder. He
says "Tu" to everyone in fatherly way,
and welcomes familiarity from the SOL
dierS. They treat him as one OF them
selves, but none have ever taken advan-
tage Of his good nature. He laughed
heartily when an old soldier called out
to him, "Nay, Majesty, what be doing
here? This be no place for thee. Get
thee gone at oncew
He interests himself in all the men
he meets. Dear me-" he says, "what
lot of post cards! Are they all for
sweethearts? Give them TO me and
will send them with my own letters.
Such things should not be delayed"
"Why do you look so glum? No news
from your family? Cheer up! III send
a wire for you TO inquire" The SOL
diers see him praying with glstening
eyes over a dying comrade. "For you,
Majesty" gasped dying soldier as he
stretched out his arms. "Not so, my
son." was the grave reply; "for ltalyp
Another incident that happened on
the battle front gives a picture Of the
Kings courage. In the midst OF she'll
fire a lieutenant who had fallen, NOR
tally wounded, called a soldier, gave
him a few keepsakes TO convey to his
family and then ordered him TO fly.
But the soldier tried to carry the lieu
tenantto a place of safety. Some gun
ners called TO him through the internal
fire, "Save yourself! cave yoxrself!"
But still he remained. In fhe distance
a motor horn could be heard, and the
whisper went round that the King had
left the field. The soldier stih .trug-
gled with the officers body, but the
lieutenant died in his arms. Flingirg
himself on the corpse, the young fellow
exclaimed with tears:
Even the King has gone away!"
Then a hand touched his shoulder.
He shook himself, rose and stood at at
tention. "My dear boy" said the King,
"the car has gone, but the King is still
with you"
And there they remained till the end
Of the day.