Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15


~ man-dramatist, who loved the
limelight so intensely, voluntarily
given up the world and become hermit?
Or is Mussolini keeping him prisoner in the
magnificent castle near Milan either by force
or by bribes for fear that he will attack the
Fascist regime?
All Europe is buzzing with gossip about this
strange enigma, for D'Annunzio is one of the
most colorful personalities alive today and there
is considerable basis for the report that he is a
prisoner-literally bird in golden cage
dozen times in the last seven years the poet
has announced with flourish of trumpets that
he was going out INTO the world again.
Once he intended to go to Rome. On another
occasion he decided to fly to Naples for the
wedding of the Kings nephew, the Duke of
Pouilles. Still another time he announced that
he would come to Paris to see the Coincide
Franchise present his new play, THE Light
Under the Bushel" Another scheme was to fly
from Italy to the Argentine. Only a month ago
he promised to appear at Nice for the opening
of one of his new plays. He orders trains, mo-
torcars and airplaneS to convey him. He sends
kilograms announcing his departure. He packs
his baggage.
Then suddenly at the last moment power
full and mysterious influence that seems to
operate in velvet gloves upsets all his plans.
"Mussolini fears that D'Annunzio will escape
from Italy and attack him as Basco Ibanez
lampOoned King Alfonso from the Riviera the
poets friends declare resentfully. "D'Annunzio
dislikes the Duce intensely, and being the great
est living master of the italian tongue he could
simply deluge him under a barrage of vitriol
and mockery and set the whole Italian people
cursing laughing at their dictator So Mus
solini very cleverly hatters D'Annunzio with
titles, honors and riches-it costs more than
100000 year to maintain II Vittoriale-and
puts him under such great obligations that the
poet is too decent to attack him
When the poet announces that he wants to
go to France or somewhere else, Mussolin thinks
up some urgent reason for him to remain at
home For example when DAnnunlo decided
to fly to BuenoS Aires, MusSolini decided to
publish at the states expense de luxe edition
OF the poets works, and so forced him to stay
and supervise it. DAnnunzio Is a prisoner
caught in pot Of honey and enchanted with
golden bonds.''
The Fascists simply laugh at this treory.
which has wide credence in anti-Fascist circles
in and out of Italy.
"A prisoner? Bosh!'' they scott. "D'Annun-
zio has become a saint. Do YOU want the
proof? He does not keep a harem any more!
As for harming Mussolini with his scribbling
what piffe!" But in spite of these Fascist de-
malls, all Italy knows that the Duce does his
utmost to avoid offending the poet
To understand the extraordinary back
ground, the delicate relations between the two
men, one must remember that only eight or
nine years ago MuSSol1ni was unheard of
whereas Gabrielle dAnnunzo was a national
hero. He had flown over Vienna during the
war; he had seized Plume for Italy and held it
for two years against all the allies: he had
written some of the most fascinating books in
the italian language. He was also a great SEN
tlmental hero, a grown-up Valentino, for he
personifled all the romance of love His ad-
ventures were legion. The women who f1acked
to Fiume to worship him were almost as numer-
Gus as the fish in the sea What lover!
a ND then, to very great degree the poet
was responsible for the birth of the Fascist
movement Fascism obviously copied after
DAnnunzio's military organization. The Ro-
man salute, the black shirts, the tasseled can
the insignia, the trappings, the whole spiritual
and patriotic essence of it, originated among
the young miltants at Fiume
The march on Rome-it was also D Annunzio
who first suggested it, about 1922 He and his
Ffume followers shouted and shouted and
shouted about 1t, and then suddenly Mussolini
popped up, organized a bigger movement and
actually marched on Rome. When he did he
refused to take the poet along or even to allow
him to join the Fascstsi
D'AnnunZio, the dreamer never forgave Mus
Solini the man of action, for-stealing his thun-
der. His delicate feelings were cut to the quick,
his very soul scared. He ragged, cursed and
turned green with envy. Was a hero ever
treated with such base ingratitude? To be the