Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-12
CHILD WRITES PLEA
FOR FIREMAN PAPA
Mary Doran Asks Chief to
Send Him Home for
/ Christmas
HER QUERY AN ARGUMENT

Mary Dorm hns addressed TO tho chief
OF the Bureau Of Fire n communication In
volving n subject OF personal Importance.
Being youthful eight years past" as sho
proudly admits, MaryB experience ns n cor
respondent iB brief one. and Hhe does not
adhere Mt all times TO accepted formnlites
IN her tetter-writing. But being feminine.
Miss Dorhn wants what she WANTS when
che wants t." and aho makes known her
wants In query form.
Chief Murphy bolng masculine and ire-
man OF twenty-five yenrB experience To
boot. may popularity be regarded as lacking
In sentiment At any rate he has permitted
Miss DorRn's letter TO obtain publicity II
may be that communications bearing upon
the subject Of MiHB Doran's miRsive seldom
find their way TO the chief OF the Bureau OF
Fire. They may bo looked upon by tho
citizen public of Philadelphia as none OF
its business. Such letters may DO puerile
IN composition and OF no concern whatever
TO n busy workaday world. But their
rarity must be taken as excuse for their
publication and IN extenuatlon OF Chief
MurphyB action, He promises proper
apondent.
Miss Doran's letter reads;
Dear Mr.. chlef-My papa is a Are
man. He IN on Engine 90 lie has
been u fireman for ten years / am
eight years old and have two little
brothers. We. want papa homo for
Christmas. He Ia always nt tho fire.
house and we only sec him once in
while We haven't had him home with
as on Christmas that 1 can remember.
Sometimes he comes In for dinner while
wo are at school, 30 we don't SEQ him
like other little girls do their papaB.
You arc tho chief Can't you let uB
have papa home with us when Christ
mas comes just like the other little
girls in our street? II don't seem like
Christmas ought 10 be without papa.
He Just hurrles In and goes right out
again and never has time to play with
us Wo want him to our tree and
have dinner with us and all that.
Won't you let him home for Christ
mas just this once7
Maybe you have little girls OF your
own and know how much they like To
have you home on Christmas. l like
presents and candy, but oh I'D rather
have papa home with us just this ono
Christmas than all the rest. Please
ehlef, won't you do III
Yours respectfully,
MARY DoRAN.
$50 De Kalb street. West PhllR.
There is Mary's letter 1t was received in
his mornings mail by Chief Murphy Mary
has worded II with such childish naIveto
that he must be an adamRntIne fireman
who would not answer It's simple appeal
Chief Murphy ls stole ON duty, He In
human. however There is n fathers heart
something beHides formality In his makeup.
aE the men OF tho Fire Bureau know by
experience and contact.
Il is only among those citizens who take
no Interest In the bureau, save when they
need II TO protect their lives or property
from nre, that ignorance of the department
and the conditions therein prevails.
PERTINENT QUERIES
Little Mary has done what those citizens
their nnnNhV N a..
to know why her father Just because he is
, fireman, is not permitted TO be her
fathor In the same sort of way as the faith
srs OF other little girls who are her neigh
bors and playmates
And Christmas Is coming II Is "A holiday
FOR family reunion in the homes OF those
other little girls and has been as far back
as their memory goes. But Mary's retro
apection-sha Is only eight years old 20
be sure, but In all OF that span the little
home on De Kalb street has never once been
Frightened By the presence OF Hosanan
Doran. Mary doesn't understand why a big
CITY Ike philadelphia makes It's hremen
work twentyfour hours every day when men
n all other fields OF employment are allowed
time 70 be with their little girls and boys.
SO IN her juvenile quandary she puts
the question fairly up 10 the man she holds
responsible. 'Afr. Chief Murphy"
An older person might act differently
he might raise the question OF the right
Of q fireman 20 have family ties or having
set up household. why should he remain |
II the Bureau OF Fire at allY thereby con. |
Guiding that az this Christmas season or |
q any other time. IN fact, il Is not proper |
% consider Philadelphia firemen or their |
bur again obtrudes-ln the lines Of Mary |
DoFan's letter-anOther feminine trait: She /
ohstlnateiy persists IN asking for what she |
essareAi ana she appeals for the granting OF