The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-01-17
.KENOSHAN MEETS
STRANGE REQUEST
ID. NJ. Gastaldi Exchanges
Photographs With Pre-
mier MussOlini.
AT LATTER'S REQUEST
Incident Reveals Life of the
Kenoshans Who in Youth
Knew Italy's Leader.

Like call from an almost forgotten
past, when he was a young nobleman
in Italy-an artist with great future
before him-has come a letter recently
to Dominic M. Gastaldi, now painter
of most moderate means of Kenosha,
from no less a parsonage than the
great Benito Mussolini, now premier
of Italy. Most strange, too, were the
contents Of the letter for it asked that
the Kenosha man, in memory of years
gone by, exchange photographs with
the famous Fascist leader of Italy.
Accompanying the letter was an au-
tographed photograph of Mussolini.
The Kenosha man has sent to Rome a
photograph in return.
Knew Him Years Ago.
st was years ago that l knew Ben
to-" said the Kenoshan as he told of
his past. the details of which were
largely unknown to most of his friends
in Kenosha. st was in Milan; Mus
solini was a young man employed on
the @Journale Italliene" there and !
also was trying my hand at writing.
Later l turned to art and for years
had a studio in Venice, which was the
gathering place for many of my
friends. Perhaps Mussolini visited me
there several times; | do not recall but
II do remember often talking with him
and discussing plans which he has now
put into execution"
Then he told of the years between
which have brought Mussolini to the
heights of his ambition while he came
to America to seek his fortune in the
melting pot"
Sold Studio at Auction.
81 was a member of noble family
lin Italy," he said. ''My brother, Count
Humbert GastaIdi, is now mayor of
Monte Carlo and another brother, Ri
cardo Gastaldi, is a high official Of the
Italian navy. l had gained some lit
tie renown as painter, having had an
oil accepted in high circles and had
established studio in Venice where
more than twenty artists studied with
me. Then there came message from
another brother in America urging me
to come to this country and sold my
studio at auction and came That was
have lived in Kenosha; art had to be
largely forgotten in the struggle to
keep my family"
In Kenosha Gastaldi has been an in
terror decorator, filling in the gaps by
painting of a more ordinary nature.
He has always been a leader among
the Italians Of Kenosha, having been
elected president of the Fascist organ
ization in Kenosha
President of Local Branch.
1t was through this fact that the
friendship with Premier Mussolini was
revived for the names of the officers
were sent to Rome and Mussolini, scan
ming through them came upon the
name of the friend of his youth.
Premier Mussolini has also asked for
picture of the entire Fascist branch
of Kenosha, of which the ''friend of
his youth" is now the leader. This
will also be sent to the premier.
In henosha Gastaldi and his family
live in a home of moderate means at
sos Park street His failure to reach
in America the success which perhaps
would have greeted him in his native
land has not embittered him against
the country Of his adoption.
Perhaps in Italy, would have"
and then he dismissed it with a wave
Of his hand. "But America is the land
of opportunity for my children. I am
satisfied"