ITALY: Fittorio’s Father

By what name is Benito Mussolini known to his children?

Does adolescent Signorina Edda Mussolini, 17, call him “papa”?

Do his stocky little sons, Bruno,

9, and Vittorio, 11, ever rush upon him with loud, comradely shouts of “Benito”?

Or do the Mussolini children, awestruck, call their father “Your Excellency,” after making smartly the Fascist salute?

Evidence upon this point was contained in a letter sent last week by II Duce at Rome to small Vittorio at Varese. There the Italian airplanes to be entered for the international Schneider Trophy are being groomed and conditioned by Italian flying Major Mario de Bernardi, winner of the Schneider cup last year (TIME, Nov. 22). Little Vittorio wanted to fly with the major, wrote to ask II Duce if he might, received the following reply:

“Dear Vittorio:

“I authorize you to fly at Varese. Many kisses. Your papa,

(Signed) “BENITO”