TURIN PLEADS IN VAIN

prived of their king in life, and in death they thought he ought to hâve been theirs ; he was their fellowcitizen, reared amongst them ; he was the descendant of their ancient line of princes, who were ail buried at Superga. and no city had a prior daim to Turin. They rose in a wild démonstration of grief and anger, and compelled the authorities to send a députation to Rome to demand the body of their late sovereign. The young king was gratified, but at the same time embarrassed by these passionate démonstrations of affection for his father. He was deeply moved by the address of the députation, and explained în broken accents, that the Romans had asked, and must hâve, the king’s body ; it was a heavy sacrifice to him and ail his family, to give up the idea of carrying their father’s remains to the tomb of their ancestors ; but private feelings must yield to national interests. He would bestow on the city of Turin the king’s sword, helmet, and medals. Immediately after the funeral. Prince Amadeo carried these precious relies to Turin ; they were received by the syndic and municipality with tears of gratitude, and the following day seventeen thousand persons went to look at them.

During the eight days that elapsed before the funeral, ail business was suspended in Rome ; the shops and offices were closed, and from almost every house the tricolour bound with crape was hung out. In the streets were vast crowds of people dressed in mourning ; some eagerly reading the black-bordered journals and proclamations, and others gathered in knots conversing in low sad tones. The one all-absorbing theme was Victor

Emmanuel ; nothing else could be spoken of or thought of during that week of intense excitement and agitation.

On January 17, at teno’clock, thefuneral cortège left the Quirinal, its departure being announced by the firing of cannon. As early as seven o’clock the streets were lined with military, and the crowds were gathering so densely that it was with difficulty one could push through them to the Corso. Ail along the line of march every window, door, and balcony was draped in mouming, the tricolour with its crape pendant droopingsadly from the different storeys of the houses and public buildings. The crowds of ladies and gentlemen who filled the Windows and balconies were dressed in black, and provided with wreaths and bouquets of rarest flowers to throw upon the hearse. At the cross streets where carriages had to break up the crowds, the Bersaglieri stood three deep with drawn swords ; but the behaviour of the multitude was admirable.

After two hours’ waiting the procession came in view at the far end of the Corso, moving slowly to the Sound of a funeral march, composed especially for the occasion. A battalion of infantry with its band passed, then a body of cavalry, and after that there was a break of fifteen minutes or so, when the procession reappeared in a never-ending flood of military. Régiment after régiment poured into the Street, and moved slowly past, in ail their different varieties of uniform, making a brilliant spectacle : dark blue slashed with red, light blue with silver cord, gold and silver epaulettes, shining helmets, plumes of white ostrich feathers, of cock’s

D:giîiz-d Hy GoOglc