The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-06
MUSSOL|N| AND
HIS "a HOURS
Continued From Page u

my time would permit. I enjoy sea
bathing. a heritage of race, for we
Italians are by nature sea-dogs from
the beginning Of time.
Today the sport which I find most
adapted to my needs and certainly
acceptable to my tastes is that Of
horseback riding. I devote my one
precious hour allowed by my rigid
daily schedule to that sport. 1t
combines a surety of physical fitness
with a generous measure of mental
relaxation. / am supremely devoted
to it, l love horses. 1 love the ex-
ercise. l love the out-of- doors and
the thrill of the gallop and the jump.
My love for horses dates back to
my childhood. 1 remember, for 1t
is indelibly impressed upon my mind
when ] was five, how 1 was first
placed on a horse and learned to
trot and gallOp without a saddle. !
renewed the sport while a young
man, this time using a saddle and
getting the thrills Of speed and the
joys Of the spring Of the animal.
Today. have a greater love for
the horse; It is the emblem of speed
and strength. 1t may be capricious
and tricky, but disciplined, 1t is re-
sponsive and sure. Unfortunately.
IT possesses no sense of humor but
what it lacks there is more than
compensated in its desire to go the
limlt-in heavy harness, to pull
hard in war, to follow the enemy in
his flight; on the track, to run the
fastest.
My riding now is enjoyed when
the joys and thrills Of speed and
strength return. 1 get the greatest
pleasure in galloping across the
fields, where there are plenty of OBJ
the horse a chance to do its best. My
time does not permit me to follow
the hunt, but I know of nothing
more thrilling than to be on the
back Of a fast falloping steed, with
a jump and leap increasing the ex-
element.
Pleasant is Rome and its environs
plain on the campagna offer the
wide expanse and natural rough
ness adapted to the gallop and the
jump. There, is the free straight
away to let the animal out Along
the path Of the ancient Romans,
the way goes, where the Claudian
aqueduct for fifty-one miles, a mas
terpiece Of ancient engineering and
architecture. still stands, defying the
ages. There we trot on the bride
path of the Caesars.
Denies RumOrs of Illness
l have six horses in my stable
four Arab and two Italian. Ny
Arab horses were presented to me
by Arabian and African sovereigns,
and native chiefs in our African
colonies. They are the most beau
tiful animals 1 have ever seen. They
are not quite so high as my two
native bred, which came to me from
the ministry Of the war. The Arabs
are spirited and nervous, ready to
make dart across the campagna
whenever L choose. But my favor
lite horse is the Italian bred Ruzo.
wich. / like him because he is my
best companion, knows me. responds
to my touch and trots to my taste.
This one hour on the horse keeps
me in perfect physical condition.
Rumors and gossip of my being an
invalid would find sparse confirma-
ton indeed in the morning gallon.
l feel massive of body, strong in
every nerve fiber, supremely fit to
meet the heavy responsibilities
which my office demands.
1 read with genuine pleasure the.
letters l receive daily from Amer
lea advising me how to be restored
to health. These letters contain the
most fantastic cures for the most
fantastic ills. There is the usual
vegetarian diet. fruit diets, starva-
ton cures and baths. One admirer
wrote me to turn to the book of
Timothy and there l should find the
necessary key to complete health.
Another urged me to try a diet of
radishes as a great builder of
muscle and nerves. Still others i'm
plored me to take large quantities