The Washington herald., 1908-05-17


IN the Yves; End, discussing the emigrant
question at his club the other night,
when II you called any one to do a bit
Of repairing he was sure to be an Ameri-
can, an Irishman. or a German. Now
the sons OF these nationalities seem 10
have entirely disappeared from among
the smaller workmen. and the lockfitters,
paper hangers. painters. electricians.
plumbers. or stove filters who are sent 10
fix our home up come from Hungary.
Bulgaria. Southern Italy, Greece. Arabia
from every land under the sun. The
other afternoon I went home about 6, to
find a big. dark. black bearded man IN
my hall who locked as though ne was the
chief Of a den Of thieves. All he needed
was scarlet turban and long dirk 10
make him 1T. in appearance AZ least TO
lead the band that All Baba worsted.
frankly confess that I shuddered at
first sight Of this bloodthirsty looking
creature; but summoning my courage, 1
asked him in my deepest bass what he
wanted there.
I fixa da electric lighta.' my bandit
replied, and a smile, chndlike and bland,
.overspread his fierce face. I fxa da
electric iighta: he ALA rlghta now. see,
and with that he turned on the switch,
explaining in a sweet and gentle voice
Just what he had done. Here was lamb,
indeed. disguised in lions clothing; and
because the fellow inspired a liking in
me, and to make up for my hasty judg-
ment took out my case and offered him
a cigar. Again that winning smile illu-
mined his face as he took one In his dirty
fingers.
All grazia, multa grazla, senor,' he
said as he disappeared through the door
way, bowing 20 ne as low and with as
much grace as though I were a king and
be a courtier.
The next day a beautiful Greek came
to attend to some plumbing. Such a crea-
ture! He might have been a model for a
statue of Apollo, so tall and straight,
well modelled. and graceful was he My
wife and daughter have been talking
about nothing since but that mans
beauty. for no other word suits his exact
kind OF good looks. Since his brief visit
we have had Il couple Of Poles. a Moor,
an Armenian. and a Swede sent 10 do
odd jobs. but never an American, an
Irishman. or a German. Now. what has
become Of these latteT2"
They have farms OF their own, shops
Of their own, factories OF their own, and
they hire the foreign fellows to DO the
work, replied one OF his companions.
In q few years the foreigners who are
working for them to-day viii be no long
CT foreigners. but American citizens, and
they in turn will hire some Of the un-
f0rtunates who have just come over
Which makes me think OF an amusing
incident that happened in my family two
OF three years ago. l brought over from
Italy some ten years since one OF the
cleverest and most amiahle Italians
have ever met He was major domO Of
the whole establishment - chef, butler,
valet-and while he had control Of things
we never heard the creaking Of the wheels
In our domestic machinery Our friends
said it was too good TO last, and my wife
and ] used TO admit this 70 each other
when we were in a pessimistic frame Of
mind, bat that was not very often, anG
We enjoyed life under Marchetti's regime
as never before or since But il was too
good 10 last. One morning Msrehett re-
Guested a few moments conversation with
me before 1 went down town. The inter-
view. he insisted. should be private,
which surprised me, as he always spoke
quite openly with my wife about his af-
fairs. The reason, however, was soon
apparent. With tears in his eyes and his
mobile face showing the emotion he felt,
our faithful major domo Informed me
that he had become an American citizen
g. 10 ,F.. II q
bit as he said it-and that il did not be-
hoove an American citizen to work as a
house servant such labor was quite be-
meath the dignity OF an American citizen;
and so. very regretfully. he was COM
PEELED 20 leave our service. I argued with
Marchetti. I pleaded with Marehetti, I
caj0led Marchetti. and I then and there
offered 10 double Marchetti's wages, but
10 no purpose. The newly fedged Ameri-
can citizen remained obdurate: he would
not be convinced, he would not be bribed,
and he would not talk to the signOra, for
Marehetti knew he was only human, and
he could never have withstood her ap-
peal. II all ended by my paying Mar
chetti his money fifteen hundred dollars
OF accumulated wages, and his taking a
fearful farewell OF my wife and myself
The same afternoon he left for the West,
ana every now and then I get an affec-
tionate and grateful letter from him. He
owns a ranch. is person Of political I'M
portance, and was recently appointed
postmaster of his town. And that is what
/ becomes OF the thrifty emigrants that
come to our shores. Before many years
you viii find Marchetti or Marchetti's s
children in the House OF Representatives
making laws for you old Puritans,"