The New York herald., 1921-08-05
MONCREL PETDELAYS
SAILING OF Big Liner
Majesty of Italian Govern
ment Bends to Dispel Grief
Of Child Owners.
NOW FAMILY is HAPPY
Willie May Scratch in Peace
as Antonellis Continue
Journey to ITALY.
NOW FAMILY is HAPPY

Willie barks, and has four feet and
tail. but no one is ever going to pin
blue ribbon or a medal on him at
dog show. because Willie's pedigree
doesn't extend any further back than
the East Side ash can in which he was
born. He is just dog. brown in color,
fioppy as to ears, cringing and servile
as to manner, and frequently annoyed
by busy forms of life whose activities
necessitate Industrious scratchings.
Furthermore, Willie doesn't want any
ribbon or medals. All he wants is pats
and maulngs from George Antonelli,
who is 5. and Francesca Antonelli, who
is 3. Those, and an occasional bone,
are his thou, his book of verses. his
jug of wine and his loaf
Willie sailed for Italy yesterday on
the steamship Argentine with George
and Francesca but it looked for some
time as II he wouldn't make the trip.
He didn't until the Italian Government
took official cognizance of him and gave
him passport in the form of health
certificate. 1t happened that Joseph An
tonelli and his wife had decided to take
their hve children back TO Italy for
visit. and George and Francesca de-
cided that Willie must go along, because
life even in Italy without Willie would
be a barren thing ana vain.
So when the Antonelli family came TO
the pier late in the afternoon Francesca
and George were leading Willie by
two strings one tied to. his neck and
the other to his tail. Everybody was
excited. and perfectly happy until some
men on the pier told Antoneli that the
dog could go only as freight, and then
only il properly Grated and paid for.
Further, they told him that the animal
could not be landed at Naples unless a
permit for his passage was obtained
from the italian Government George
and Francesca began to snffle when
they heard this. and their sniffles turned
to whimperings, the whimperings to
crying. and the crying to such heart
broken bawllng that the business or
loading was abandoned while all the
passengers and pier men crowded about
the Antonelli family
Finally George and Francesca told
their father to go ahead to Italy III he
wanted to; they would not desert Willies
And when no attention was paid TO them
they disappeared and were not found for
half an hour. when a policeman discov-
cred them fast asleep with Willie on
some coffee bags in deserted part OF
the dock. Willie lay between them. and
George held tightly to the dogs tail,
while Francesca clutched his muzzle.
The cop awakened them and jumped. be-
cause Willie thought he meant harm and
tried to bite him. But finally the two
children and the dog were taken back
TO the gangplank.
The uproar was resumed when some
one tried to take the dog from the hands
Of George and Francesca. and finally
a. J. Backman. superintendent 6t the
line, summoned pier carpenters and had
the dog Grated Then he telephoned to
the shipping agents, and the agents Of
fered TO ship Willie to Naples for half
fare. IS. None of the Antonellis had SIS.
but finally a passenger, who said he
didn't like to see Willie look 80 re-
proachful at everybody. furnished the
money.
II seemed then that all that was ncces-
sary was to load Willie and let the boat
proceed. but n ships officer said he
couldn't accept the dog unless IL was ac-
companied by health permit from the
Italian consul. It was then past sailing
time. hut Mr. Backman held the ship
while he hunted up an attache of the
italian consulai who was on the dock,
and the attache went on board the ship
and found the italian Royal Commits
sioner. and the Royal Commissioner
gravely made out health permit so
Willie could 20 to Italy.
Then the ship sailed. almost an hour
late, and the last view the pier people
had Of her Francesca and Georgie and
Willie were on deck Francesca clutching
Wilie's tail and George clutching his
head. while Willie struggled fiercely. lie
appeared anxious to scratch.