Evening star., 1933-11-12
Continued From First Page)

| tCOnIlDueQ TIUul rms II dSC.J
| to resist the assault of the enormous
barbarian masses invading them and
| making them their prey, impoverishing
and running thereby the whole civiliza-
ton of the world.
Acting on this principle. birth con-
troll is discouraged in Fascist Italy as
immoral and unhealthy, while. on the
hand. the greatest attention is given to
the Institute of Maternity and Infancy;
no difference is made between legiti-
mate or illegitimate children; it is alb
solutely forbidden to dismiss married
women from employment because they
are married. On the contrary. mothers
should be and are favored in every way
In fact, it may be said that in no other
country Is motherhood surrounded With
so much respect as in Fascist Italy.
Tax Placed on Bachelors.
In Sweden. for instance, an Office giii
loses her Job if she marries. No ele-
mentary school teacher can keep her
place if married This naturally dis
courages matrimony and maternity. In
Italy such regulations are strictly 1or-
hidden. The tax on bachelors was IN
stituted not only for an economic pur-
pose. but also to encourage young men
to marry.
In this matter the solicitude of the
government invariably inquiries into the
particulars of all cases. The press has
been asked to carry on campaign
against the fashion of thin women.
Even fashion plates are to snow nor
mally curved and graciously plump fg-
ures. instead Of very slender ones. Inc
hslf-staryed type of woman has been
IL ssoriciC woman to MAKE
her undesirable and to ridicule her
WHY? Because by following mistaken
or insufficient diet women not only
harm themselves, suffering almost IN
variably from general debility and nerv-
Gus disorders, but imperil the future OF
the race. a
AS a logical result of the ideas and
measures adopted by the Fascist gov
ernment. women inscribed in the tas-
cist party are encouraged to give theH
entire attention to the care OF maternity
and infancy. The Duce once alluded III
very eloquent terms to philanthrophy as
a thing of the past. Under the Fasclst
regime the place of philanthropy has
been taken by directed social assistance,
and it is hoped to put in practice the
idea of social solidarity. In other words,
il NAV be said that Fascism itself
adopted and aims at the divine, unas-
suming. generous Christian virtue OF
charity.
Charity Is Order of Day.
Charity is, in fact, the order OF the
day of the activities of the feminine
"Fasci." 1t is an activity of social
order. out which indirectly has a most
ef1icacious political result. The main
object is to help working women. moth
ers and children in all the stages OF
their existence. organizing, through as
siStance, campaign against the olsln-
tegrating forces of misery and corrup-
ton by reinforcing the primeval nu-
cleuS of society-the family.
The problems with which woman is
faced are naturally not easy, but Sc
rious and arduous in the extreme. Fem
inists may well remark: "A great deal
is demanded of her-what does she get
in return? Very little indeed"
To give much and receive little is the
common lot OF mortals, and one which
unfortunately weighs more heavily on
women. 1t is nothing new in feminine
existence. But, on the otner hand, the
Italian woman receives the reward most
dear to her heart-namely the deep,
almost religious tribute of respect Of
the family and of her children. And
this. too is the reward best adapted
to the spirit and customs Of Italian
life.
Women in Italy have every oppor-
tunity for full education. 1t is. indeed,
very little known abroad that all our
public schools are entirely open to
women, not in separate classes, but,
outside the primary or elementary
schools in complete co-education.
Women also can teach in these same
masculine schools, except in few fun
damental subjects to which it is gen.
orally believed that the male tone of
mind is better suited.
Italy Is Land Of Madonna.
As to her property or to her earn
ings. the Italian woman is fully en-
titled to handle these as she sees fit,
without any restrictions whatsoever,
just like a man as soon as she has
reached her majority She has full
rights to go into business or enter the
professions. whether married or single,
on the same basis as man. The ap-
proval of her husband, formerly neces-
sary when she desired TO sell. give away
or mortgage her property (she always
could buy without any permission) was
abolished by law in 1919.
Italy is the land of Mater Matuta,
that remote Etruscan divinity carrying
a child Madonna like in its arms Italy
is the land of the Madonna and of the
Child Jesus where the head of the poor
est and humblest little child receives
by reflex an aureola of glory from the
Supreme Divinity. The joyful mys-
teries and the sorrowful mysteries of