New-York tribune., 1920-02-01
She Is Her Sisters Keeper

Italian, gesticulating wildly With her
arms to demonstrate her points. Shs
would not allow the swarthy little
woman to cry, but insisted she listen
to all her arguments about doctors.
hospitals and her duty to her chil.
dren.
What # she would miss ths RtGs
boy? Wouldn't she miss him moro
# he died? Anyway, if she wasn't
going to meet people half way IN
America when they tried TO help
her, then she'd better go back to
Italy and stay there.
Finally she became less excited
and more gentle to the other woman.
She sroked her lean, brown hand,
and now and then cuddled the Pa
lermo bambino TO her with little
cooling noises.
The storm was over, the baby had
fallen asleep aid Mrs. Palermo
nodded acquiescence to the quiet
questions Of Giuseppina.
Finally they both laughed over
some little thing and turned TO the
visitor, who sat near by, lost IN won
der at the completeness of the little
drama she had witnessed. Although
she could not understand all that had
been said, year Of college Italian.
together with her struggles t. be
understood in this Italian district,
had enabled her to follow most Of
Mrs. Rocca's extraordinary presenta.
tion Of the argument
Well, signorina, tell you me tx,
and ne fix. Kate, tel the aay now
whata you think" SAID Mrs. Rocco,
Gaming back exhausted and mopping
her forehead with the end Of b aclS-
bordered handkerchief drawn from
her sleeve.
"signorina," began Mrs. Palermo
hesitatingly, "I sorry maka you 50
mucha troub'. You let me visit Tony,
I let him go on the 'ospital, and the
baby, try what you say. one-a week.
When the baby 40 cry so much.
always try what yea say.D
"0h, am so glad" answered the
visitor, with real relief anA SAT- fac
ton shining in her eyes, for now.
Mrs. Palermo, can coms this
afternoon and pay the rent and hep
you. Tomorrow you and w.'l take
The baby over to tie Health Center
to get her weighed and put or the
ight kind Of feeding. and TIA sure IL
won't be long before she vii laugh
all day instead Of cry. You know
she added, we think lot Of you ard
the children, and tha. i3 Why / fele
so badly about everythug7
Me sorry me no unnerstan', sig
norma. Meobe all right now, eh?7
asked Mrs. Palermo hopefully.
Yes. Oh, Pm salo ,r, can make
everything all right" ass4loa the
young lady, rising TO ea, "and so,ne
times When you don't understand
you 90 ask Mrs. Rocco, won't you, 50
she can eXplain?"
81, 81, Katie" broke in Mrs Roc
co. Il help-a you do what tic lady
say"
On the way back to Guiscppina's
house the visitor tried to TEL! her
how much she appreciated her good
Offices, that nobody else could haze
done it. Mrs. Roccos only answer
vas Well, signorina, you ala
time helpa nae. Now me vera happy,
me help- you tell you me fix, and
nae fix, that's all"
SO it is the JOB OF the real soeial
worker, Ike the true phy s.eiaa, to
realize her own limitations. ani 10
know when 10 call in "cansultins
specialists" ike Mrs. Rocco. Such
action is never a conf ssioa of weak
ness, but an evidence Of real vision.
over l.soo families ~ho ueed soma
such guidance as does Mrs. Palermo
are now under the care Of he Char
ity Organization Society. The society
wants volunteers to help in this wor.;
and IS ready to offer them experience
and training A twelve weeks
training course FOR volunteers IS to
start February 10, and Miss Clare
Tousley, who has charge Of this
work, viii be glad to interview any
who are interested at her office, los
East Twenty-second Street, before
that date.