The Scroll of history is replete with stories that stir the heart and fire the naggination. Sagas of the rise and fall of nations like the total annihilation of Carthage in a single month, or the great movement that started from the cave of Vallombrosa to carry out its dream and build, after ten centuries, the world-wide Spanish Empire, are truly Homeric in their subject matter. But few tales are more magnificent than that of the phenix of a free united Italy, rising from the ashes of the fires of revolution that had swept the peninsula so long.
Led by the little kingdom of Sardinia, the Italian states swept aside the Papal authority, threw off the Austrian yoke and laid the foundations of what has become under Mussolini, one of the Great Powers. And in this process of resurrection and reconstruction no man did move than Count Camillo di Gavour.
The great Sardinian minister served in the army in his youth, and imbibed the revolutionary doctrines of the time during his military service. After a career as a man of business and as an editor of II Risorgimento a Liberal journal of great influence, he became a member of the Sardinian Cabinet in 1850 as Minister of Finance and two years later became Premier.
His policy was to secure the internal material welfare of Sardinia, so that she might become the leader in the struggle for Italian unity and independence. By a comprehensive revision of taxes and a stiffening of the industrial backbone of the country, he procured his desired internal reform.
But his great diplomatic coup was his alliance with France and England against Russia in the Crimean War. This seemingly visionary step, which gained him many foes, was based on the expected alliance of Austria with Russia. The neutrality of Austria balked this part of the scheme but Sardinia gained two powerful friends in western Europe, and was recognized as the leading state in Italy. Cavour's repute in European diplomatic circles was tremendously enhanced.
Cavour's term of ministry in Sardinia will be the subject of Professor Langer's lecture in History 20a in Harvard 6 at 12 o'clock today. Other lectures of interest are:
10 O'CLOCK
"Epicureanism", Professor Woods. Emerson D. Philosophy A.
12 O'CLOCK
"Italian Painting of the 11th Century", Professor Post. Fogg Museum, Fine Arts 9a.
"Separation of Powers", Professor Holcombe, Harvard 5. Government 3a.
"Euripedes' Bacchantes", Professor Gulick. Sever 26, Greek 11.
2 O'CLOCK
"17th Century Writers of History and travel", Professor Murdock. Sever 11, English 50a.
