Bloodless

Where shirts are black and blood runs hot, challenges to mortal combat are by no means out of fashion. But enlightened Italian society does not impugn a man of high station if, in the rush of affairs, he finds it more convenient to surrender his duelling privileges to some staunch friend.

In one General Balbo, Premier Benito has such a friend. Oft and again some hothead will call Benito out for one thing or another. Last week it was General Peppino Garibaldi, fiery little grandson of the Liberator. Rebuked for criticizing the conduct of the National Militia on Austrian Armistice Day (Oct. 31), Peppino demanded satisfaction of the Militia's chief. But all Peppino got for his pains was the prompt acceptance of Balbo.

Which polite and eminently excusable evasion, of course, left Peppino free to decline in turn. The last that was heard of Garibaldi-to-Mussolini-to-Balbo was that the Permanent Court of Honor at Florence would consider the matter of redress for alleged contusion of Peppino's feelings.