Bravery

Sunning themselves on a pier at Cattolica, bathing resort near Ravenna on the Adriatic, were Signora Benito Mussolini and her 15-year-old daughter, Edda. A heavy sea was running. The wind was whistling. Spray was flying. Cutting the air like a scimitar came cries for help. Up jumped Edda, peered seawards, saw a bobbing head. Without hesitation she dived into the roaring brine. With long, strong strokes, she propelled herself to the bobbing head, which she discovered to belong to a woman. As the drowner was about to sink, Signorina Mussolini grabbed her, managed to keep her afloat until an armada of rowboated rescuers arrived.

On shore a vast cheering crowd had assembled to do Edda honor, but she, inheriting none of father's self-possession, took to her heels, fled home.

In Rome, Premier Mussolini heard of his daughter's bravery, exclaimed affectionately "La mia carina" (my little darling) and jumped into his racing car which he himself piloted to Cattolica.