Woman’s Magic Spell

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6519, 7 April 1931, Page 11

Woman’s Magic Spell

MYSTERY ENGLISH BEAUTY FAMOUS POET’S INFATUATION A mysterious blonde Englishwoman w'as tho reason why Gabriele D’Annunzio, Italy’s famous poet-dramatist-patriot, was professing in January to be preparing to die in spectacular fashion. This mystery woman, said to be strikingly beautiful went to II Vittorialc, D’Annunzio’s princely estate on Lake Garde, on a pilgrimage, like thousands of other women admirers of the poet from all parts of the earth. The woman was so fascinated that, she remained for some days as a guest. But she finally had to return home to England, and D’Annunzio promptly announced that he had fallen in love with his beautiful visitor, and was heartbroken at her departure. "In one -second I have slipped front the seventh heaven to the lowest depths of despair,” the poet wnote to one of his friends. "Through some magic this beautiful blonde Englishwoman lighted in my old hermit’s heart again the flame of love that had died live years ago. She has gone, and I am heavy-hearted. I feel that she will never come again. And what is life without her?"

D’Annunzio felt so gloomy that he telegraphed his favourite sculptor, Renato Brozzi, to go to 11 Vittoriale at once to design his mausoleum.

Brozzi at once started work. Just as soon as the mausoleum was ready D’Annunzio insisted that he w T as going to take a farewell of this planet. He stated that he would die by being blown from a cannon.

"When I have disappeared in a storm of fire and smoke," the poet told his followers, "you must search thoroughly, and you will find my right ear, for there is not a more perfect organ in tlic world, and it cannot- perish."