The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
"B. MUSSOLINI."

phatic sentences he thanked them for their greeting, for their help and CO., operation. He spoke to them of the strict discipline and observance of laws which Fascismo expected, de- manded and imposed upon it's follow CTS, and ended with a salute to the King of Italy.
 The floodgates of applause burst. The bands, one after the other, start ed the Fascista march, "Giovinezza" The crowd cheered and surged back ward and forward in an attempt to touch the human idol.
 l was standing within foot of Mussolini on the platform beside him. Hat in his right hand, left hand thrown in his pocket, he stood, stern ,ly studying the crowd. His huge eyes were wide open, darting rapid ly in all directions and occasionally he would moisten his lips and give that nervous twitch of his neck. His body was tense, erect.
 As he stood there before the scrut- mixing gaze of the crowd and later as he tried to mingle among them and be one of them, he did not smile. he could not smile. He was too deeply moved by the ovation. He seemed puzzled. Was he searching, wonder ing what 1t all meant? That seemed plausible explanation of his ex- pression. There was fear, timidity, in his face-the fear of not being great enough, of falling short of what | these people thought he was and ex- pected of him. His wandering, searching eyes, and certainly the mobility of his mouth seemed to say, ''I am not a superman. I am human being who is doing his utmost to live up to your estimate of him. I have a conscience, am sincere, I am trying to be worthy of this, but am human. human, human" Yes. there was a t,, !, ,Jo- for sympathetic judgment. for human understanding. He shook hands with hundred admirers, a hundred | idolaters. but even then he hardly smiled. The people had put him on pedestal and he could not, be dared not come down to them
 Wedge Clears Train.
 The whistle blew signalling the time for the trains departure. The mob pressed forward, tanning against the sides of the train. Back!
 back!' The trainmen tried to motion the crowd away but it would not move until a band of Fascist took it upon themselves to form a chain and wedge through between the crowd | and the train.
 arm raised to the level of his shoulder in the Fascista salute, was leaning out of the window of his compart- |
 Men stood bareheaded waving their hats and arms. Women threw flow CTS and kisses and shrieked the Duce's s name in the hope he would turn and look at them. There were young men who shouted "Eja, Fla, Alalah!' and older men whose eyes were moist. Above it all come the piercing, dis cordant notes of the Fascist anthem. Slowly the train pulled out. Dim
 mer and dinner grew the voices. Mussolini turned from the open win dow. He stood still for moment
 with his back turned toward the
 countryside where further converts
 had gathered to pay their homage. The sternness about his mouth had disappeared. It was set, but with the
 under lip tucked in as if to keep 1t
 from quivering and his eyes were l lowered. He could not raise them. A Duces eyes must not shed tears. The demonstration witnessed at Alessandria was repeated in other cities through which the train passed,
 smaller in extent but the same in spirit. At Torino two days holi- day was declared in honor of the Duces visit. The streets were a mass
 of color, the red, white and green of Itlay hanging out of every window. CTwo years ago only those who be- lieved in risking their lives for their