Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1913 — PRINCE WAS MAD 40 YEARS [ARTICLE]

PRINCE WAS MAD 40 YEARS

Francis Charles of Capua Hasn’t Had Haircut or Washed Himself in Recollection of Attendants.

Rome. —Extraordinary revelations are made of the mode of life of Fran-cis-Charles of Bourbon, prince of Capua, who is seventy-five and has lived a madman’s 4ife for forty years in the Villa Marlia Capannori. For several years now he has not spoken, having apparently been struck deaf and dumb in an apoplectic seizure. Every morning at 8 a servant knocks at the door of the prince’s bed-chamber and hurriedly places the breakfast tray—a sumptuous repast—through a sliding window inside the room. The prince jumps out of bed naked, throws a toga around his shoulders, and hides till the domestic has disappeared. He cannot bearany one to see him. He has neither shaved, had his hair cut, washed or cut his nails within the memory of his oldest retainers. Formerly, if he saw any one approaching him, he would make the most terrible noise, but nowadays, unable to give vent to his feelings thus, he claws at the air In front of him and lashes out with his fists, though the Intruders may be one hundred yards or more f away. But the most remarkable performance takes effect after breakfast Day after day, year in and year out, no matter what the weather is like, the unfortunate old man rushes stark naked out of the room, down the corridor, across the terrace of the villa to a chair. It Is always the same chair. Once It was removed and the prince fell down in one of his oft-re-curring fits. Seated on the chair he dresses himself slowly, being generally presentable by midday. The rest of the day Is spent within a circle of four or five square yards. The prince never moves further away than that from the chajr. Round anl round he walks, sharing his meals with the birds. He takes great delight in smashing all the crockery each day. At Bp. m. Is time for bed. A servant appears and that IS* enough. Fighting the imaginary foe, the old man rushes off to his room and locks the door.