The role of reigning queens though splendorous is indefinite. Their duty to the State may be irreproachably discharged by mere male bearing.* Even more nebulous is the aggregate contribution to statecraft of the wives of Premiers, Ministers and Opposition leaders. They are too numerous to be counted, and too much at cross purposes to be broadly significant. But today a new class of august women loom as worthy of inspection. They are the Consorts of the world's six major Dictators. Theirs is the simplified problem and the dazzling opportunity of swaying a nation by persuading, cajoling or nagging at one man.
Senorita Mercedes Castellanos achieved politest world renown (TIME, April 23) when it was announced at Madrid that she, an orphan & a spinster of 47, would shortly be taken to wife by the Dictator of Spain, General Don Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, Marquis de Estella, 58.
Last week Senorita Castellanos became an even more piquant and challenging figure. In highest Spanish circles it was rumored that her marriage, although announced for next September, is about to take place secretly in Madrid. That the Dictator-Bridegroom can compel the Spanish press to keep his most obvious secrets was shown, last week, when he suppressed for three days a newspaper at smart San Sebastian which had dared to print a photograph revealing that the calves & ankles of Senorita Mercedes Castellanos are chunky and unslender—as are those of Queen Thuraya of Afghanistan (see Afghanistan).
Whatever the date of Dictator Primo de Rivera's wedding, Spaniards are relieved that he has chosen definitely, at last, among the too many ladies who have sought through him to sway the course of Spain. There was, for example, very recently, the Marquise de Arguelles. Perhaps it is well that her somewhat sinister influence will be supplanted by that of the Orphan & Spinster—who is one of the richest women in Spain, and accounted sage with the wisdom that comes from managing large monetary affairs.
Not since Dictators came recently into fashion has one married. Therefore the nuptials of Primo de Rivera loom as an unique event and focus the attention of alert, contemplative minds upon what manner of women are now deemed fit to be Dictators' wives:
Rachele Guidi Mussolini once served as a lusty taproom wench at the rustic inn of good Papa Allesandro Mussolini, sire of Benito. Wise Papa Allesandro warned the wench against his son. "Do not let yourself think of that young man," he is said to have said, "It would be better to throw yourself under a train. Married to him you will have neither happiness nor peace."
Precisely when and how Rachele Guidi and Benito Mussolini were married is still a topic for active speculation. A delayed civil marriage appears to have been followed by a still further delayed religious ceremony. But the union was fruitful from the first. Daughter Edda Mussolini is now 17, son Vittorio, 11, son Bruno 10, and Babe Romano Mussolini is aged six months.