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Benito Mussolini, erstwhile Republican, was made Premier. It took a good deal of courage and intelligence to do that, but the King has never known fear, and intellectually comparatively few men dwarf him. No wonder that Queen Victoria called him "the most intelligent Prince in Europe" and that President Theodore Roosevelt subsequently came forward with a voluble seconder. During the three and a half years Italy was in the War, the King was at the front. He was, of course, Commander-in-Chief of the army, but he left the direction of the War to the professional soldiers and gave advice only when it was asked of him. During this whole period, except for such leaves as the common soldier was entitled to, King Vittorio remained at the front, and hardly a day passed that he did not visit some section of the front line, suffering hardship, risking his life. His service in encouraging the soldiers was of great value to the generals. So brave was he that it is recorded that, on several occasions, men were killed by shell splinters who had been talking to him a moment before. He did not go "scotfree" himself, being wounded in the left hand. With characteristic modesty and thoughtfulness, he forbade publication of the injury. Of his generosity, there are no end of tales. On the outbreak of war, he lent his palaces at Rome, Naples, Florence, Turin, Milan, Palermo and Venice to the nation as hospitals; and Queen Elena, who towers above her squat husband, dignified the nursing profession by serving as a nurse for the "duration of the War." In 1911, a would-be assassin made a dastardly attempt upon his life. In 1918, under the Victory Amnesty, the man was unconditionally set free. About the same time, the King gave lavishly many of his palaces to the nation and some large estates to Italy's veterans' association. Yet it is not these sterling qualities alone that have endeared him to his people. He had made it his business to go among them, to visit them in their homes and upon their farms and to take an intelligent interest in their welfare. It is doubtful if any King in the world today is so well known to his subjects as is King Vittorio. Certainly, none is better loved. A typical example of his regard for his people was given when the King and Queen hurried to the ghastly scenes of the earthquake at Messina and Reggio in 1908. They had gone not as ornaments, but to direct and to be of use. "With the earth still trembling," they distributed food, drink and clothing to the thousands of sufferers and with their own hands tended the wounded. An obsequious official, thinking to please the King, remarked that his presence had lessened the agonies of the sufferers. The King wheeled round and sharply retorted: "Don't talk such d—d nonsense." Small wonder that he is known the length and breadth of Italy, like his grandfather Vittorio Emanuele II, as il Re Galan-tuoino.