But Croco is a game fighter, and within "21 hours he hada letter in the press claiming that' Mussolini had read him, Because certain essay by the Prima ster on the novelist Manzoni was a patent plagiarism from him, Croce. "Buz here the editor of the volume in which the essay had appeared weighed in, declaring thst though signed by the Prime Minister the essay was by somebody' else, and that Grace knew this, jar!" the Fascist press shouted! in chorus at Croce. "To me." Plied Croce, "it makes not the smallest difference whether Mus. solini thinks with his own brain or with that of an underling. Tam ready to believe that with his own eyes Mussolini has not only not read me, but not Manzoni either." Governmental tenderness has not increased towards Croce. since this episode.
And Gentile? He is certainly no Detter off. If the attacks upon him proceed from less lime lit quarters, they are devastating in their bitter Intelligence. Of late days a young. writer named Adriano Tilgher has Produced a booklet which must. Yank high among modern masterpieces of literary caricature. This! controversialist combines a white. hot ferocity of temperament with a rich Aristophanic hilarity. Ina hundred pages he inflates Gentile to an intense balloon of - pretentious solemnity, and explodes the result with a few deft pinpricks amid a resounding clatter of mirth. The book is dedicated "to. the memory of Schopenhauer, ator of schoolmaster philoso-of which the last, most ludiind_most despicable inearna tion is herewith chastised. utile and a Satirist Tt is a compost of essay, fable, and dialogue. The concluding di logue would raise " European laugh but for European ignorance of the Italian tongue. One thinks—irresiatibly of Aristophanes' Clouds,"
8 youns Athenian secks.
from Socrates to learn how to philosophies himself out of paying his debts. Tilgher shows us the modern Italian youth whose aim in life is "a little business, a little Bourse, a little journalism, a ttle politics." His father tells hi that for success he must have a Philosophie system.
'Philosophy, Dad, in these days? Better good tip' for the Stock Exchange."
But Papa insists, and Gentile's system is Bnally chosen, for with its aid, cays Papa, you can always keep in with those' in power always be consistent. Further, you heed not read Gentile, because no one else ever has, so there is ne fear of being found out.
the dialogue progresses. the south gets more auf more delighted vith the richness and resonance of the Gentilian phraseology. Iden, Act, Fact, Conerete. Abstract, Position, Crystallisation, and the other terms flow from his mouth in ever more complicated patterns. And at the end Papa sums up the system as tolley fou have thoughts? They are always true. You do deeds? Thes are always good. Error evil—that fs just what you thought and di before, viewed in retrospect. It was good and true then. Sleep the sleep of the just! In the present you can never err or sin, Do business, my boy, speculate, dance, eat, drink, Jenjoy yourself! But every now and then give 2 kind thought to the man who gave his whole life to labour so that you might never feel remorse for having acted against conscience and truth."
great man, this Gentile, Papa, a great man. Has he any enemies?"
"Why yes, boy, everyone haz
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.