Dictations

The 14 chief harbor cities of Italy, headed by Genoa, were created "restricted free ports," last week by decree of Dictator Benito Mussolini. The outstanding "free port" of Europe continues Gibraltar --a city of exotic bargains dear to tourists. At the new Italian "restricted free ports" a small duty will have to be paid on only a very few kinds of articles--these "to be announced later." By invitation and command of Signer Mussolini, there was completed, last week, a score for the new Fascist Hymn of Labor. Composer: Pietro Mascagni, creator of the score of Cavalleria Rusticana. Fascist critics cried "solemn, melodious, impetuous," when his new opus was performed at Rome, last week, by a 250-piece brass band.

With lively symptoms of pleasure, Il Duce accepted as a gift, last week, a likeness of himself measuring 26 square yards in area. It had been exhibited as "The Largest Portrait Photograph in the World," at the recent National Photographic Exposition, Rome.