ITALY: The Old Giovinezza

In Bari, on southern Italy's Adriatic coast, touring American Expatriate Josephine Baker, song and dance artist, called for amateur singers and dancers from the audience to compete for a special prizeĀ—a chocolate egg. Among those who volunteered was Federico Covella, 25. "I know only Giovinezza and can sing nothing else," he informed Miss Baker. Carefree and gracious, the mistress of ceremonies waved him on, bid the orchestra to strike up the tune.

As Covella broke into song at the top of his voice, many in the audience of 4,000 applauded loudly, though here & there some boos were audible. A front-row...

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