A STRANGE MIXTURE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16608, 4 December 1919, Page 3

A STRANGE MIXTURE.

S»ME NOTES ON D’ANNUNZIO, Of all the strange things that have come out of the war, none is more amazing than the transformation it wrought' in Gabriele d’Annunzio, the Italian poet and novelist. The beginning of hostilities found him rich, suc : cessful and luxurious, known for his erotic writings, his bizarre clothes, and his many lawless love affairs. He was an esthete, a dandy, and a philanderer. At 01, an age when most men are rejected for army service, ha learned to fly and showed such prowess as an ‘ aviator that he was mentioned many times in communiques for conspicuous bravery, elevated to the command of a squadron, and hailed as one of Italy’s most daring birdmon. Now, at 55, he emerges as the firebrand leader of one of the most picturesque revolts in history,, defying the Allies and the Peace Conference, ignoring his own Government, and disconcerting the world at large by occupying' Piurne with an army of personal followers. And this is the man who, sis years ago, was noted as the possessor of two dozen silk dressing gowns I