The sun., 1917-09-04
GAVE BIRTHDAY
CLOTHES TO PAL
Joseph Paul Drugan, Is, Helped
His Chum Meet Girl in
Fine Style.

His fifteenth birthday is writ large
young life. He celebrated it Sunday
and as q souvenir OF the day received
brand new outfit. hat. suit, shoes. every
thing. from this father. Emmett Drusan,
Park Department foreman.
But that wasn't the only souvenir nor
Is II the reason that Joseph Paul wishes
he might have remained Il always. The
clothes are only a memory now. The
birthday is a nightmare.
Rugged out in the new regalis Joseph
Paul strutted out to Join the Sunday
promenade, happy as a lord. vain as a
peacock. proud as girl with new
gown on Easter. Feeling himself every
inch man he remained away till long
appeared at the family donicile. 1905
Second avenue. he was changed
creature, that is. If clAhes really make
or unmake men, or boys Of Ii.
Looked Like Prodigal Son.
Joseph Pauls appearance resembled
that Of the well known prodigal son.
His hat was worn and old, his suit was
ragged and mussed. his shoes were a
poor fit. and none OF these articles OF
apparel bore the label of the merchant
who had sold the birthday remembrance
to father.
But here the analogy to the parable
ends. II the elder Drugan saw his son
while yet he was afar off and ran and
fell on his neck. he didn't kiss him
Nor was there any calf. fatted or other
wise. for the penitent. The boy had a
good story, though. almost as good rs
| that Of the young man OF the Scriptures
who wandered from the old freside and
who when reduced to diet of husks
| reluctantly conceded that father was
| right.
Somewhere in Central PARK. said Jo-
| seph Paul, he was set upon by three
| men. who. deducing from his bandboxy
| appearance that he was man OF af.
! fluence. demanded his money or his
| life In strict accordance with the time
honored formula. He gave up his money
ll.l5. Then the robbers, casting COW
| etous eyes on the birthday uniform
stripped him OF his raiment meanwhile
| aiming a revolver at his head and an
| other at his stomach. as all discreet
| park highwaymen do when relieving iii,
teen-year-old boys OF their riches
| Relief In the Bushes.
| Fortunately. Joseph Paul was re
| lieved OF the necessity Of searching for I
| discarded barrel In order that he Nigh
return home to father In the bushe.
near by somebody had accommodatingi.
| left another full outfit of clothes--th,
clothes OF a youna man of about l5--
and these enabled Joseph Paul again L
appear on the public highways withou
offending any one OF Comstockian scru
pies.
Drugan pere notified tire police OF thu
holdup and Detective Nalmoli was sen
out from the Fourth branch to invest!
gate. Detective Nnimoli is quite a CUES
TONER and under his rapid fuslllade yes
,erday Joseph Paul slightly amended
his recital.
Il made a mistake when l was talk
ing with dad" he said In eject, e
wasn't really held up. I met some pal
In the park and one OF them had dat
with a girl He felt kinda ashamed 4
meet her in his old clothes. so h
asked me would I swap with him 70
an hour. Being as he's my pal l did II
I guess he forgot to come back"
The elder Drugan, overhearlng the in
terview. thanked Detective Naimoli 70
his services. but asserted that from tina
point onward he could attend to his 80
without assistance, 1t being Labor Da
he had plenty of time for the jol
> Wherefore Joseph Paul is convinced tina
birthdays. particularly birthdays comm
In juxtaposition with other holidays, ar
q snare and delusion. Also that pal
are not always what they seem and this
girls with whom ragged pals have date
> are (delsted by the censor).