Identifier: spellofitaly00maso (find matches)
Title: The spell of Italy
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Mason, Caroline Atwater, 1853-1939
Subjects: Italy -- Description and travel
Publisher: Boston : L. C. Page & company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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VIII GOSSIP AND A GARDEN fT four the following afternoon the ContessaCarletti called for us at our pensione inthe Via Sistina, and we walked to theeastern entrance of the Borghese Villaby the Porta Pinciana. Just before reaching thePalazzo Margherita we perceived a little flurryin the quiet street, the Via Veneto, and the Con-tessa exclaimed with suddenly heightened colour, II Re! Preceded by a few mounted outriders, theroyal carriage a moment later was driven by. Wesaw seated in it a young Italian gentleman with athoughtful, also a rather humourous, expression anda very reasonable moustache for a son of the Houseof Savoy. Beside him was a young lady of dis-tinguished appearance, with velvety, serious, darkeyes. An illusive pensiveness lurked somewhere inthe ladys face, I fancied, in spite of a gracious smilewith which she met the salutations of the peoplestanding at gaze as the carriage passed.In the Contessas eyes I caught, in the instant of U2
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VITTORIO EMANUELE III. Gossip and a Garden 113 their passing, a look of profound and ardent homage,that look one can almost never see in an American face. What is the King Uke? I asked, hoping inmy heart that he was worthy of the devotion heinspired in tliis sweet woman, so thoroughly Italianin her sympathies. He is a cultivated gentleman and as a husbandirreproachable, and that, considering the history ofhis house, marks a fine process of evolution, re-plied the Contessa. I admire him sincerely formany things. He has the direct, straightforwardmanhness of his grandfather; his fathers simpletastes and business abihty, but unHke his father,who was a thoroughly mediocre man, Vittorio Eman-uele III has much personal distinction and is mostconscientious in his conception of his office. He isin earnest. Umberto, honest man, had no turn forkingship; he was Piedmontese and provincial throughand through; much more at home with his horsesand dogs than with his ministers always, and fonderof Pi

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