Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-07-25
By Mary.C'arfer Roberts.


ian by Mrs. Graham Rawson.
New York: Covici Friede.
~ IGNoR LUSsU, the author Of
this book, fought for Italy
through the World War and
- subsequently became q mem
Der of the italian Parliament for
Sardinia. He opposed Mussolini and
consequently, as he tells, was assault
ed In his home by large body OF
Fascists.
In the process of defending himself.
he killed a man. He was tried and
acquitted, the father Of the victim
appearing during the trial and plead
ing for him. However. acquittal did
not mean freedom. Signor Lussu con-
tinued to be detained In prison for
some time after the verdict while ef-
forts were made to bring pressure on
his judges to reverse their finding.
When this failed, Sardinia being in
sentiment anti-Fascist, Signor Lussu
was sentenced to five years deporta-
ton and sent off to one of the Fascist
penal colonies for political offenders.
He remained there two years and then
escaped.
His present book, however, is less an
account of these personal adventures
than it is of the struggle between
Fascism and its opponents to possess
the obstinately democratic island OF
Sardinia. And it is still less history
of that struggle than it is an ironic
commentary on all government, in
which light it shines with brilliance
which cannot but put the reader In
mind, sorrowfully, of certain work
by Anatole France, and cause him to
wonder If the kingdom Of the Pengu1ns
Is not that of governments everywhere.
The scurrying cowardice, the megalo-
maniacal bombast which Signor Lussu
serenely records here as the tactics OF
Italy's statesmen, may be offensive to
the sensitive man and outrageous to
the lust, but in the last analysis they
must stand simply as ludicrous. He
himself, the chief sufferer, plainly
regards them as that. He deserves ad-
miration for his feat in setting them
down so that they become COM
mentary worthy to endure, instead
of a mere narrative of personal suf-
ferings.
In this respect his work is almost
unique among recent volumes devoted
to the prosecutions of individuals un-
der the various relationships. He
seems determined to deal with his
own troubles as little as possible. It
Is only in the closing chapters that he
gives them any space at all, and then
he does so without personal emotion.
That hysteria which has marked so
many similar works-particularly those
written by Na1 persecutions-is ut
terly lacking from his pages. Signor
Lussu, in fact, does not write like a
victim" He writes like writer.
Friendly advice to dictators would be
to leave such fellows severely alone.
It Is a mistake always to step on
genius. Only a dictator in the throes
of acquiring his dictatorship would
have the brash mentality to attempt 1t.
For seldom has there been a more
devastating book against Fascism. 1t
takes up not only the more famous
reputed crimes OF the regime-as the
Matteotti, Console and Pilati murders
but also deals with a multitude OF
comically loathsome minor occur
rences. OF them all Signor IuSsu
writes with humorous detachment.
Take, for example, the episode Of his
own arrest. His house had been sur
rounded by a yelling mob and was
being attacked on three sides.
Half an hour later" he writes, "the
police arrived ="
II heard blow on my door.
"Open, Signor Lussu!' 1t was the
voice of the chief of police. On my
honor swear that am here to pro-
tect you
THE rest echoed in chorus, Yes, we
are all here to protect you'll"
IT explained to the chief Of police.
through the door, that unfortunately I
was unable to trust his word.
IF you want to come IN, DO. But
I warn you that the light is out and
my revolver loaded. You can come
In with your hands up"
Impossible expostulated the poor
man, a chief Of police cannot enter
with his hands up
Very well, then, send a commits
sario And I suggested the name OF
one of those with him whose voice I
had recognized.
AN excellent idea said the chief
Of police. 'Signor Commissario, you go.
Il opened the door, and the COM
missario entered with his hands up"
Readers will also find irresistible
interest in the description Of the
famous march on Rome. Strictly
factual, 1t still is reminiscent OF
nothing in literature SO much as
Frances immortal account OF the
Penguin revolution. Here are some
random paragraphs from it:
"Signor Facta (the prime minister)
was extremely agitated. Never in his
parliamentary experience had he found
himself in such situation :. When
O group Of deputies urged him to take
fully, You want decisive step? Very
well, then, I'll blow out my brains
"Mussolini left Naples by train,
passed through Rome, and went on to
Milan, which is some 400 miles to
the north of the capital. 1t was a
curious position for directing battle,
as a glance at the map will show; in
fact, had he remained in Naples he
would have been nearer the scene of
action. Even according to modern
ideas of strategy, 400 miles from the
main fighting force is great deal;
but, on the other hand, Milan had the
advantage of being conveniently near
the Swiss frontier"
For q moment 1t really seemed as
though DAnnunzio might be able to
prevent q coup d'ctat. This opinion
was indeed widespread, so much so
that the General Confederation of
1abour, which up till then had held
the poet in detestation, sent him a mes
sage composed in thirteenth century
Italian, to demonstrate its friendly
feelings"