Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-07-21
BACK TO NAPOLI.
STORY OF A FRAGMENT OF REAL
LIFE As PORTRAYED IN 4
NEW STAGE PLAY.
Showingthe Operations of the lmmi
grafton Law as ii Affects Those
who Attempt to Enter the Ameri-
can Portals.

RrdIIOn Law as IL hlISCtS lnOSS
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
a childish eXuberance and abandon.
He is never st picturesque or 50
pathetic as when he has just doubt
fully intrusted himself to the great
machinery of Il new land and law.
lie hasn't been much on the stage
this immigrant-but Il fragment oi his
life finds its WAY there in Il one=ael
plaY called The Land of the cree,
10y W. &. De Mile, which was e Z re
Gently at a Nassar Aid Society matt
nee. 1t is described by the Times lis
Il 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. Ills
clothes are cheap and poor, bul lheA
are plainly not his working Sarb. ana
Il bright holiday handkerchief is knot
ted about his throat. His eyes are
keen and %eXpectant. Evidently IL Is
Il 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.
as he peers through the gates mt the
incoming crowd. is almost beside HIM
self With delight.
Il waita three year he explains.
breathleSsly. Il Worka verra hard and
slya de money 10 bring to me my
Maria and my two little ones
lie can hardly wait for the gate 10
be opened. But the officer has more
to find out. His questioning brings out
further details. Luigi earns 50 ii week
with his pick and shovel. The wife
is not strong. she speaks a little Eng
lisl. The officer looks doubtful. but
says nothing.
Then all at once the boat is i'll.
The Italian catches Il sight of them
through the gates.
Ma, ma, Signore. she comea last,
She getta lame back and two baby.
Ah-Dio! Maybe she missa da bout
All, Nedete Maria mia Ecco-Nedete
ecco-Ah mia moglie-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:
All, 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 mt Luigi's great sal
ary-15 lire until Luigi is forced to
explain:
"Yes, yes; in Neapoli it is 10 lire,
but in New York it is only 50, not so
muche.'
Then in quick, excited phrase he
draws roscatc pictures of Il future in
which peanut stands and prosperity
walk hand in hand.
Presently the officer returns. lie
draws Luigi aside. His face is kind,
but his words are terrible. 1t appears
that the little wife does not come up TO
the requirements. She is not healthy.
She has no money, and Luigi has only
that 50 a week. II is not enough 10
support Il family. The wife must 60
back 10 Naples. 1t is hard to make
Luigi understand. Maria, hearing
nothing, plays happily with the chill