Montevideo and the River Plate 97 



The statues at the entrance bespoke an affectionate 

 regard for the family which reigns to-day in the oldest 

 of the Latin lands. The love still cherished for Italy 

 by Italians who have embraced citizenship in the South 

 American republics revealed itself to me on frequent 

 occasions in interesting and pleasing ways. When the 

 theme of conversation happened to be the land of the 

 Caesars it was sometimes amusing to observe with what 

 enthusiasm and animation these exiles spoke of "our 

 country' and "our king.' For a moment the fact 

 that they had forsworn allegiance to that king and had 

 adopted citizenship in a cis- Atlantic republic seemed to 

 be forgotten, as memory recalled the land of their 

 birth. They love no less the land in which they were 

 born because they have learned to love the land in which 

 they live. It is natural and well that it should be so. 

 It makes for the peace of the world. The sons and 

 daughters of Italy, Spain, and Portugal, living in the 

 republics of the south, appear to have a deeper affection 

 for the lands which they have left behind them than is 

 cherished by Anglo-Saxons and Germans in the great 

 republic of the North. I smile as I recall the worship- 

 ful reverence displayed by an old Italian woman who 

 was thefemme de chambre in a house where I was a visitor, 

 and who happened to spy upon the dressing-case an 

 Italian decoration which I had left there after a festal 

 occasion on the night before, when I had worn it. She 

 eyed it for a moment, recognized what it was, and taking 

 it up reverently, kissed it, saying : ' How happy you 

 must be to have received such an honor from our king." 

 It now became plain that if the remaining hours be- 

 fore sunset were to be employed to advantage we must 

 secure an automobile. The chauffeur was instructed 

 to take us to Pocitos. We had a peep at this resort 



7 



