The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-07-13
BACK 10 NAPOLI.
STORY OF A FRAGMENT OF REAL
LIFE as P0RTRA FED IN A
NEW STAGE PLAY.

Showingthe Operations of the Imm
grafton Law as 1t Affects Those
who AttSmpt 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 OF
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 a new land and law.
He hasn't been much on the stage
this immigrant-but fragment of hi
life finds its way there in one-ae
play called THE Land of the Free,
by w. G. De Mile, which was seen re-
Gently at a Vassar Aid Society matt
nee. 1t is described by the Times as
simple little story, one that happens
day after day
In 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
a 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.
A big Mediterranean steamer Is just
landing its steerage passengers. Luigi,
as he peers through the gates at the
incoming crowd, is almost beside him
self with delight
II waita three year." he explains,
breathlessly. II worka vera hard ana
sava de money to bring to me my
Maria and my two little ones"
He can hardly wait for the gate to
be opened. But the officer has more
to find out. His questioning brings out
further details. Luigi earns 50 a week
with his pick and shovel. The wife
Is not strong. She speaks little Eng
fish. The officer looks doubtful, but
says nothing
Then all at once the boat is IN.
The Italian catches sight of them
through the gates.
INA, ma, Signore, she comea last.
She getta lame back and two baby.
Maybe she missa da boat
All! Vedete Maria mia Ecco--Vedete
ecco-Ah mia moglie--eccow
In another instant, the frail little
wife, In her Neapolitan costume, and
the two children, with their bags and
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 Godr'
TO which the Americanized Luigi re-
spends:
Isl, 81, carrissima, but now taIka
English. We all good Americans and
we live in Mulberry street gotta da |
little room for my Maria an Fabio an
ressa.
Maria marvels at Lulgi's great sal |
lry--45 lire until Luigi is forced to
explain:
"Yes, yes; in Neapoli it is 40 lire,
put in New York 1t is only 80, not so
nuche
Then In quick, excited phrase he |
travis roseate pictures of future in
which peanut stands and prosperity
walk hand in hand
Presently the officer returns. He
lraws Luigi aside. His face Is kind,
nut his words are terrible 1t appears
hat the little wife does not come up to
he requirements. She is not healthy.
She has no money, and Luigi has only
hat 50 a week. 1t is not enough to
upport family. The wife must go
mex to Naples. 1t Is hard to make
.uigi understand. Maria, hearing
lothing, plays happily with the chill