The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-07-19
BACK TO HAPOLI.
STORY or A FRAGMENT OF REAL
LIFE As PORTRAYED IN A
NEW STAGE PLAY.
Showingthe Operations of the Immi
grafton Law as IL Affects Those
who Attempt TO Enter the Ameri-
can Portals.


grafton Law as IL Affects Those
who Attempt to Enter the Ameri-
can Portals.
An hour at Ellis island ia New York
harbor. is full OF smiles and tears.
The newly arrived immigrant. before
be has changed his native garb, with
his outlandiEh boxes and bundles stiIi
about him, is eternally interesting.
His meetings and partings are full VI
a childish exuberance and abandon
He is never so picturesque or so
pathetic as when he has just doubt
fully Entrusted himself TO the great
machinery OF a new land and law.
He hasn't been much on the stage
this immigrant-but a fragment Of his
life finds It's way there in a one-act
/ play called THE Land Of the Free.
BY ". c. De Mile. which was seen re
Gently al a Fassar Aid Society matt
nee. II is described by the Times as
a simple little story, u 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
a bright holiday handkerchief Is knot
ted about his throat. His eyes are
keen and expectant- Evidently II Is
a great day for him. Ii needs little
| announcement from the good-natured
| officer TO bring out the whole story.
A big Mediterranean steamer Is just
landing its steerage passengers. Luigi.
rs be peers through the gates at the
incoming crowd. Is almost beside him
self with delight
II waita three year.. he explains.
~breafhIessly. Il worka vera hard and
/ saya de none 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
10 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 a little Eng
lIsh. The officer looks doubtful. but
says nothing.
Then all at nee the boat Is in
The Italian catches a sight OF them
through the gates
Ma. ma. signore. she comes last
She geffa lame back and two baby.
AU-D4Q4 nay HE cAE AAAC@I ia 80
All Vedete Maria mia Ecco-Nedete
ecco-Ah mia moglie-ecco-'
In another instant, the frail little
wife, in her Neapolitan costume, and
the two children. with their bags and
bundles. are all In their fathers arms.
while the officer goes of TO make his
report
with her head on her husbands
shoulder, Maria breathes in Italian:
-Ah. my husband. / see you again.
thank God"
To which the Americanized Luigi re
spends:
Isl. ST, carrissima. but now taIka
English. We all good Americans and
We live in Mulberry street ! gotta ds
little room for my Maria an Fabio an
Tessa."
Maria marsels at Lulgfs great sal
ary-45 lire until Luigi is forced to
explain:
"Yes. yes: in Neapoll it is 45 lire.
bAt in New York II is only 50, not so
mu2he.r
Then in quick. excited phrase be
draws roseate pictures Of a future in
which peanut stands and prosperity
hand in hand.
Presently the officer returns. He
draws Luigi aside. His face is kind,
but his words are terrible. II appears
that the little wife does not come up 10
requirements. She is not healthy.
She has no money. and Luigi has only
that 50 a week. II is not enough to
support a family. The wife must 20
hack to Naples. IL is hard to make
Luigi understand. Maria. hearing
nothing. plays happily with the chill