Sanguinary Omens

"I am like the animals. I can feel the future as it approaches. Some instinct guides and warns me. My blood speaks! I must listen to my blood." Thus Signor Mussolini is wont to explain the promptings of his extraordinary political intuition— promptings which he has ever translated into action with disconcerting speed. Last week these sanguinary omens may be presumed to have fired his brain afresh. While most Italians slept he harangued a meeting of all but one of his ministers. By morning a sheaf of Cabinet decrees were issued which bade fair to alter the whole course of daily life in Italy. Decrees. I. Italian employers are empowered at once and until further notice to lengthen the working day of their employees by one hour, while paying them the same daily wage as heretofore. II. Italian newspapers are forbidden to print editions larger than six pages, from which must bs stricken all news of crime, sport, the arts, literature. News of other nations than Italy must be cut to a skeletonized resume. III. After Nov. 1, all gasoline imported into Italy must be mixed with a fixed proportion of Italian alcohol. IV. Builders are forbidden to erect luxurious private houses of any sort, must confine themselves to public buildings and to dwellings for workmen, the lesser bourgeoisie. V. Restaurateurs and vintners are prohibited from selling anything after 10 p.m., from opening until further notice any new premises whatever for the sale of food or beverages. All bread must hereafter contain at least 15% of non-white flour.

Legislated Frugality. Though Premier Mussolini adhered last week to his recent custom of maintaining a discreet reserve about his policies, the inspired fascist press hailed these new decrees as "the work of a great genius."

From their comment it was plain that Italy's continued excess of imports over exports has at length roused II Duce to legislate frugality upon his people. He is himself, un uomo magro (a lean man), a man who is "fit." Less wine and more coarse flour will toughen jovial Italian paunches into the likeness of his own muscular diaphragm. Less gasoline will be imported, less white flour, less newspaper pulp, less superfluous building material. . . .