LEADER OF THE FASCISTS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1927, Page 7

LEADER OF THE FASCISTS

DAILY LIFE OF MUSSOLINI “TAKES LIFE AT THE JUMP” SOME STRANGE WRITINGS By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Jan. 5. "My mastery over my body and brain goes on all day and all night. My sleep is like a babe’s. I believe I could deep through the worst tumult, as I did in war-time bombardments, when 15 minutes off duty.” This is a passage in the first of a series of intimate articles written by Signor Mussolini for the British United Press descriptive of his average day. He says: "I can concentrate on one subject to the. exclusion of all others, and switch from one to another with the same concentration. "I retire at midnight ami rise at ,7 o’clock, giving strict orders not to be awakened, except for bad news. This was Napoleon’s rule. Ido not remain in bed a minute after the first yawn. Lying-in breeds stagnation and demoralises self-discipline. I then shave myself. I am an anti-whiskers man. Whiskers are a sign of decadence. When the decline of Roman glory began whiskers came into style. Fascism replaces them with cleanshaven youth. "Attired in riding breeches I go to breakfast. I wonder sometimes what tho Englishman, American or German would call it. There is no fruit, toast, sausage, ham and eggs, or coffee. It consists merely of a glass of milk taken without company. It would be an honour even for my brother to be invited to table. It is then 7.40, and I am ready for my morning canter.” “My day consists of one hour of recreation, seven hours sleep and sixteen hours of work. Eating is a minor function in my existence and is only a matter of minutes,” says Signor Mussolini in his second article. "I take life on s running jump. Jt is the life I am trying to instil into the hearts of the militant Fascists, to be ready and pulling on the leash, impelled by the thought of invincible destiny. “My clarion cry ie 'lt is necessary to live dangerously,’ which is the essence of the charmed life. The very idea of the 'fascio 1 is to be bound to a leader who will lift the torch of sacrifice and be the bravest of the brave.”