The Breckenridge news., 1906-07-11
BACK TO NAPOLI.
STORY or 4 FRA GMENT OF REAL
LIFE rs PORTRA YED IN 4
NEW STAGE PLAY.
Showingthe Operations of the Immi
grafton Law as il Affects Those
who Attempt to Enter the Ameri-
can Portals.

DhS "'hB NhN OPCI dNiOIlS VI NilC Nhihil
grafton Law as IL Affects Those
who Attempt to Enter the Ameri-
can Portals.
An hour at Ellis island in New York
harbor is full of smiles and tears
The newly arrived immigrant. before
he has changed his native garb, with
his Outlandish boxes and bundles still
about him, is eternally interesting
His meetings and partings are full Ot
childish eXuberance and abandon.
He is never so picturesque or so
pathetic as when he has just doubt
fully intrusted himself to the great
machinery Of new land and law.
He hasn't been much on the stage
this immigrant-but fragment of his
life finds its way there in a one-act
play called The Land of the Free, "
by W. &. De Mile, which was seen re-
Gently at a Nassar Aid Society matt
nee. 1t is described by the Times aS
simple little story, one that happens
day after day.
In a room of the big immigration
building, with its desk and its blue
coated official, an Italian workman
walks eXcitedly up and down. His
clothes are cheap and poor, but they
are plainly not his working garb, and
Il bright holiday handkerchief is knot
ted about his throat. His eyes are
keen and eXpectant. Evidently it is
a great day for him. 1t needs little
encouragement from the gOOd-natured
officer To bring out the whole story.
\ big Mediterranean steamer is just
landing its steerage passengers. Luigi.
rs he peers through the gates at the
incoming crowd. is almost beside him
self with delight.
Il waita three year" he explains.
breathlessly. II worka vera hard and
Sava de money to bring to me my
Maria and my two little Ones.'
He can hardly wait for the gate 10
h. opened. But the officer has more
to find out His questioning brings out
further details. Luigi earns 80 a week
with his pick and shovel. The wife
is not strong. she speaks little Eng
lish. The officer looks doubtful. but
says nothing.
Then all at once the boat is in.
The Italian catches a sight of them
through the gates.
ma, ma, Signore, she eOmea last
She getta lame back and two baby.
Ah-Dio. Maybe she missa da boat
All! Vedete Maria mia Ecco-Vedete
eccO-Ah mia mOgle-eccO!'
In another instant. the frail little
wife, in her Neapolitan costume. AMI
the two children, with their bags and
bundles, are all in their fathers arms.
while the officer goes off to make his
report
With her head on her husbands
shoulder, Maria breathes in Italian:
"Ah, my husband. see YOU again,
thank Cod
TO which the Americanized Luigi re
spends:
Isl, ST, carrissima. but now talka
English. We all good Americans and
We live in Mulberry street. | gotta da
little room for my Maria an Fabio an
TesSa."
Maria marvels at Luigis great sal
ary-45 lire until Luigi is forced To
explain:
Yes, yes; in Neapoli it is - lire.
but in New York it is only so, not so
muche."
Then in quick, excited phrase he
draws roseate pictures of a future in
which peanut stands and prosperity
walk hand i'm hand.
Presently the officer returns. He
draws Luigi aside His face is kind,
but his words are terrible. 1t appears
that the little wife does not come mp to
the requirements. She is not healthy.
She has no money. and Luigi has only
that 50 a week. 1t is not enough 10
support family. The wife must -
back to Naples. 1t is hard To make
Luigi understand. Maria. hearing
nothing. plays happily with the chill