ITALY: Immortales

Princes and statesmen are wont to attempt to immortalize themselves by founding societies and orders into which they can lure men of imperishable fame in other walks of life. The great Cardinal Richelieu, for example, practically forced Corneille and the famed clique of notables who frequented informally the house of Valentin Courart to allow themselves to be "incorporated" into L'Académie française, for the greater glory of "Cardinal, King, and Country." Last week Il Duce, Benito Mussolini, rapped out a few terse commands to his Cabinet, and...

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