Evening star., 1939-05-07

since I can't be, might as we'll
have fun with my money"
His generosity constantly put us
to shame. He was forever handing
out coins to the beggars, who
Fascist propaganda to the contrary
swarm throughout Italy.
Son Of Exporter.
Pasquale is 25 years old and the
son of Milanese exporter. Sched-
uled to enter his fathers business,
he has benefited from a good edu-
cation. He has travelled some in
England, France and America and
graduated from the University of
Florence with a degree in law.
After a year and a half with his
fathers business, he quit, having
decided to go into the new Italian
motion picture industry.
We first became acquainted with
him at the Government Moving
Picture Academy in Rome, where
he was studying to become a busi-
ness director. He finished his
studies recently, has a contract
with a producer, and is now hard
at work laying out the financial
plans for three movies that are to
be made this summer.
But he also finds time to indulge
IN his passionate delight, the opera.
We used to go with him occasionally
and one night remarked that We
thought Italian music far more
typical of the Italian spirit than
imperial conquests and Fascist Of
fensives.
But you can't eat music!" Pas
quale grinned. Twenty years ago
we were known all over the world
as bunch of guitar players. But
now we are first rate power. After
all. we have 100000 people who
have to eat. We need an empire
just as France and England do.
They took what they wanted when
ever they wanted it. But now
they're angry because we are doing
the same thing
NeneraHy on Fence.
This was a strong bit of politics
for our friend and typical only in its
realism and insofar as it demon
strated how his political thinking is
colored by his nationality. Generally
he is on the fence. He grumbles as
bitterly as all Italians about the
heavy taxes, but as far as his per-
sonal work is concerned he has little
complaint. The government hasn't
yet interfered with his artistic or
business desires.
They don't care what we make so
long as we don't make pictures criti-
cizing Fascism," he laughed once.
Anyway. all we're making now are
light comedies and few historical
epics."
1t is almost impossible for us to
imagine this boy as a tough soldier
out to shoot and destroy. Whenever
we admired the gay uniform of
passing officer Pasquale shuddered,
telling us how hot and uncomfort-
able 1t is to wear and how difficult
1t Is to carry the clumsy sword.
Fought in Ethiopia.
But he had fought In Ethiopia for
nine months.
Il didn't mind it so much until
they ordered us to use our bayonets," !"
he told us. Shooting isn't so bad,
because you can't see who you're
shooting at-you can even shoot
above his head. But when you charge
with a bayonet, you've got to look
in the fellows eyes and you've got
to stick him first or he'll shove his
bayonet into your own stomach"
Thoughts like this last one must
have been running through Pas
quale's mind as he sat on the edge
OF his chair while Harle wrote.
Its terrible" he moaned. "Yester-
day they took four fellows from the
office; today, five. The uncertainty
is awful. In September things hap
pened so fast that we didn't have
a chance to think. And then, finally,
nothing happened at all. But ever
since it's been getting worse-all
these speeches, and threatening, and
calling up more and more troops. We
smell war in the air, just like dogs
smell the scent of their prey. If it's
going to come, then, for Gods sake,
let 1t come soon 50 we can know what
Is going to happen. If we win, that
will be fine. If we lose, We shall be
dead, anyway.
But, II there Is a war, Tom and
Harle, please remember us as your
friends. Don't think badly of us.
We are not a bad people and we
don't want to tight any more than
u0ll do y