The romance of Maria Sophia’s life ended at Gaeta: forced from the world’s stage with all the splendid promise of her youth unfulfilled, she has never since taken part in the affairs of men. Yet she is not morbid or unhappy. She looks back upon her life without bitterness, and if her heart has longings, it is not for her vanished crown and sceptre. The struggle for Italian unity has given place to other and newer events in the world’s history. The Queen of Naples has hidden her royal honors under the modest title of Duchess of Castro. When she dies, an almost forgotten episode will be revived and the “Heroine of Gaeta” recalled to the memory of men; but only the gray-haired soldiers who knew and served under the young Queen will remember how gay and brilliant she was, will see her again in all her fresh young beauty. Maria Sophia was a heroine but for a day; but time has no power to touch her memory. Clothed in the radiance of perpetual youth, she stands a glowing figure in the annals of history. Footnotes [1]The nickname of King Bomba was given to Ferdinand after the bombardment of Messina in Sicily, but also referred to the huge, unwieldy figure that he acquired, especially in the later years of his life. Appendix The following is a chronological statement of the principal events connected with this narrative: 1807 Birth of Garibaldi. 1810 Birth of Ferdinand the Second. 1836 Birth of Francis the Second. 1859 Death of Ferdinand the Second. 1859 Francis the Second succeeds to the Throne. 1859 Beginning of the Italian Revolution. 1859 Battles of Magenta and Solferino. 1860 Garibaldi Dictator of Sicily. 1860 Garibaldi enters Naples. 1860 Francis the Second driven from Naples. 1860 Annexation of Central Italy to Sardinia. 1860 Outbreak of Revolution in Lower Italy. 1861 Surrender of Gaeta. 1861 Victor Emanuel proclaimed King of Italy. 1862 Garibaldi invades Sicily. 1862 Garibaldi defeated and retires. 1866 French Garrison withdrawn from Rome. 1870 Victor Emanuel occupies Rome. 1882 Death of Garibaldi. LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE _Translated from the German by_ GEORGE P. UPTON 28 Volumes Now Ready _Historical and Biographical_ Barbarossa William of Orange Maria Theresa The Maid of Orleans Frederick the Great The Little Dauphin Herman and Thusnelda The Swiss Heroes Marie Antoinette’s Youth The Duke of Brittany Louise, Queen of Prussia The Youth of the Great Elector Emperor William First Elizabeth, Empress of Austria Charlemagne Prince Eugene Eugénie, Empress of the French Queen Maria Sophia of Naples _Musical Biography_