Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-22
NEW ITALY DESCRIBED
BY POET D ANNUNz|O
Lord of War and Death Now Rules,
and Nations Spirit Revealed
jn. Livery Soldier, !. 3. - Z 49,,
tsSvslStN,L,tsasssrt5SiIt-..lsy .tf.t< ,;sS-fr
SUPREME HUMAN, EXPRESSION
mo Other Country Possesses So
Perfect Accord With the Moral
aud Mental Structure OF Her
Great Men,"
ny LIEUTENANT GABRIEL
D'tNSUNZIO.

VENICE, August 21-Pushinc to-
ward tho war. going to join tho line
of fire. | have traversed the center
OF italy, from the Tyrrenean to the
Adriatic. from Latium into the land
OF the Fenctians the land where was
born. that nodded me to its image. into
inc dcep land whose picture shall re-
main impressed upon my mortal eve.
even if my eyclids should be sealed for
ever
In order TO comprehend to-day the
itaiian miracle, ii is necessary to hold
before the eye of the mind, as in a
clear vision. the image Of italy. the
aspect of her beautiful limbs. from
which harvests, artists and heroes were
born Verify. no other country pos
scsses 80 perfect an accord with the
moral and mental structure of her
great men. All her strength and all
her beauty appears to be constantly
tending toward Il supreme human ex-
preston.
Iherc was IA moment in Italy's his
tory when the harmony existing be-
tween her substance and her progeny
appeared to he marvelously complete
so that her natural forces and the
living work OF her sons combined in an
indescrihahly perfect equilibrium.
Old Harmony Rcnfflrms HerseIf.
The rugEcdncss OF her mountains
the course OF her rivers, the shane or
hcr valleys are recognizable in the
pulsations of her civil life. This har-
monN, which was too long interrupted
mas to-day rcatiirmcd herself and
widened its sphere The sons of Italv
suddenly resemble once moro their
great mother; they appear once more
bearing her imprint: they prove them
selves once more worthy of her
lie who looks our young soldiers in
the face is struck by the ancient char
actcristics of sudden beauty nodded.
from the inner depths to the surface.
by energy and by love. The spectacle
is so wonderful that ! do not rcmem-
Der to have thrilled with deeper emo
tioh before any other human picture.
u appears that italy, with all her
FAMOUS heroes, reveals herself in each
OF our soldiers. Arc not their raw
wounds the deepest scars OF the race,
which appear anew in their flesh.
shining forth with fresh splendor even
as revealed signs. | am inclined TO
believe IL when l behold tho features
OF wounded soldiers suddenly light up
with smile similar to that which i'm
the first Springtidc of our renaissance
itself in the bcatitude of angels and
virgins
The Italian Fighting Man.
An ardent but perspicacious courage,
n steady and ever-ready endurance, a
sobriety which recalls TO the mind the
three dried olives and tho drink of
water which formed tho fare Of the
Greeks. natural promptness in avail
ing themselves of Il strategem, in UNI
dertakinG enterprises single handed, in
silently offering UP tho sacrifice Of their
lives. In immolating themselves with
out vain glory; an ingenious and prac-
teal mind in tho art OF intrcnching
and encamping: gayety as keen as n
javelin; brothcrly feoling based on
charity. ready for every sacrifice to
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