Sir Janitor

Over the ages, counts, princes and marquises have flourished and multiplied in Italy like olive trees. In the Italian view, a fancy title, like oil on a lettuce leaf, lends zest and flavor to a man's name. Italy's House of Savoy doled out titular rank in the Order of the Crown of Italy to almost half a million Italians. A janitor with 30 years' service-in a government ministry was virtually assured of a knighthood, and the right to be addressed as cavaliere.

Italy's postwar constitution neither approved nor forbade titles. Last December, however, the government introduced a bill instituting a new Order of Knighthood for Merit under the Italian Republic. "Ridiculous and insignificant," scoffed 82-year-old ex-Premier Francesco Nitti when the bill reached the Senate floor last week; but Nitti, it was pointed out, could afford to be disapproving--he already had 43 orders and decorations. The bill passed two-to-one in favor of more titles.

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