The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-05-15
MUSSOLINIiS EYES
SWEEP OVER ITALY
Times Man Writes impress
8ionS of ForcefuI
Character
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMAIS
NEA Service NVr-frer-


"a ONE, May Is vengau" Mus
* solini-the worlds etransest
n d dictator-the man who hypno-
tised a nation as Sveugau hypnouzed
Trilby. Here is "a closeup Of him as
7 got it at his extraordinary Office
last night at the new ministry Of for
eign affairs.
Picture first his INTERCHANGEABLE
waitng-room to his office. Large
and stlu rather bare-the building has
been occupied as ministry Of foreign
affairs. but short while.
More Pictures,
About the walls number Of pic
tures-cherubs and woodland scenes
mostly-but most conspicuous Of all
is one Of MussoIni himself so large
that il covers half one walI-a heroic
picture In oils Of the premier az leader
OF the Fascisu soldiers famous
BLACK Shlrts'--he wearing the dig
unctive uniform himself and, in the
shadowy background, q column Of his
men swinging past.
Nothing very impressive about all
this save one thing. MussoHnrs hyp-
motto eyes staring down az you OUT
OF the picture.
So large Is AIussolinl's Office in
stantly felt myself dwarfed the mo-
ment I crossed the threshold II "a
like a grand ballroom. the ballroom
Of a royal palace. with enormously
high ceilings and a floor upon which
any number Of couples might dance
with ease.
Has a Star
About the walls. tapestries mostly,
but my Impressions flooded in upon
me too swiftly TO give them more than
a glance. In tina. corner nearest me
was an enormous globe. jet black. rep
sentng the heavens, and upon 1t. all
over. large stars Of gold Among
them somewhere was AIussollni's star,
in which he believes with all his
heart and soul
In the corner opposite me was an
other huge globe. this one of the
earth And in the center Of the room
a large. marble Winged Victory"
But these, like the tapestries. got
only a glance from mo for, in the cor
ner diagonally across the room from
great distance what appeared TO me
very small dat.top desk, or table, and
moving from behind It a very small
man.
This was Mussolini.
OF course. he ts not small Only
the enormous Office made him seem
so. He grew larger as ] made my way
across what seemed like acres Of
floor. and presently 7 found myself
nearing a man in riding clothes
black coat, drab riding breeches, rid
ing boots, white standing collar with
the ears" turned back, black tie.
Again Those Eyes!
mention these things in this order,
but I think the first thing / was con
scious Of as I approached Mussolini,
was his eyes-large. unnatural-look-
ing black eyes. piercing, and where not
black. very white. Pictures had
seen had not done those eyes justice.
From under heavy brows they bored
like Cimlets The mans square jaw
impressed. so did his high brow and
the unusual expression Of self conf
dence on his face. But his eyes almost
instantly absorb his other features and
more: They become the center of even
the huge room. that about which even
the furniture Of the room had been
adjusted.
"Howdydo," he said in English TAX
ing step forward and holding out
his hand.
Then he went back to his chair on
the other side Of his desk and sat
down. Putting his elbows on the
table. he leaned forward until his face
rested between his two hands. fingers
flat on his temples. He closed his eyes