The drainage of the city has thus been greatly improved, the old wells closed, and pure water introduced from the mountains.

Moreover, at the last outburst of cholera a few years since, a noble deed was done which by its moral effect exercised a widespread healing power.

Upon hearing of this terrific outbreak of pestilence, King Humbert, though under the ban of the Church, broke from all the entreaties of his friends and family, went directly into the plague-stricken city, and there, in the streets, public places, and hospitals, encouraged the living, comforted the sick and dying, and took means to prevent a further spread of the pestilence.
To the credit of the Church it should also be said that the Cardinal Archbishop San Felice joined him in this.
Miracle for miracle, the effect of this visit of the king seems to have surpassed anything that St.Januarius could do, for it gave confidence and courage which very soon showed their effects in diminishing the number of deaths.

It would certainly appear that in this matter the king was more directly under Divine inspiration and guidance than was the Pope; for the fact that King Humbert went to Naples at the risk of his life, while Leo XIII remained in safety at the Vatican, impressed the Italian people in favour of the new regime and against the old as nothing else could have done.
In other parts of Italy the same progress is seen under the new Italian government.

Venice, Genoa, Leghorn, and especially Rome, which under the sway of the popes was scandalously filthy, are now among the cleanest cities in Europe.