FASCINATION

(Lat. fascinare, to charm), the exercise of an overpowering and paralysing influence upon some animals attributed to certain snakes. Squirrels, mice, and the smaller birds are said to be the most subject to this power; but the fact is far from clearly expiained, and is not perhaps even sufficiently demonstrated. Most of the accounts agree in describing the animal fascinated as having a painful consciousne of its danger, and the power exercised over it, but to be unable to resist the desire to approach the fascinator. It is probable that the real explanation of the phenomenon is in the influence of the intense emotion of fear upon the muscles. FASCISM. The crisis succeeding the European War was in Italy muoh more severe than in other countries, partly because the nation lacked strong political organizations and constitutional traditions, and partly because there was no ruling middle cla such as economic and political conditions had formed elsewhere. In 1919-20 the severity of industrial unrest was such that a revolution seemed imminent, especially after the Communists had seized certain factories. The lower middle cla , being economically impotent, and being sandwiched between the rich upper cla and the proletariat, resented the progre mado 395 FASHODA by the workers and allied themselves te the capitalists. The result was the movement known as Fascism (Lat. fasces=the bundle of rods carried by the lictors in ancient Rome), the distinctive dre of which is the black shirt. To the world at large Fascism appeared as the force which had saved ltaly from revolution. The leader was a lower middle-cla school-master, Benito Mu olini, who had dominated the Socialist party from 1912 to 1914. In the autumn of 1920 the numbers of the Fascisti grew enormously, ex-soldiers, land-owners, men of Mu olini’s own cla , and industrial magnates joined the movement. In Oct. 1922, there took place the march on Rome, a great event in the histery of Fascism. The city was entered by 200,000 armed fascists, the government was overthrown and a new one under Mu olini set up. Gtherwise civil war would have broken out. Since then Fascism has been supreme in Italy and Mu olini far more a dictator than a premier. Fascism has consolidated its power | by altering its constitution more than ence. In 1924 and again in 1928, by changing the electoral law, Mu olini secured a majority in the Chamber | and this he has since retained. Only these are eligible for election to the Chamber who are on a roll prepared hy the Grand Council of the Fascists, and there is a similar grip upon the minor governing bodies. In much the same way industry is controlled by Fascist organization. Although antagonistic to all ideas of constitutional government, Fascism hasundoubtediy done a great deal to make Italy prosperous. There is a society of British Fascists at 99 Bucking ham Palace Road, London, 8.W.1 and the movement has adherents in other countries. The British Fascisti movement is royalist and anticommunist.