The New York herald., 1922-07-30
III

There could hardly have been more
inauspicious introduction to America
than our author experienced when
he arrived with his mother and
her five other children (the oldest
a girl of 10, the future states<
man being 81 as steerage passengers
from gallant little Wales. Her most
cherished property. two feather BEDS
acquired by dint of much sacrifice.
treasured beyond words, had been
stolen with the rest of the meager
baggage. In the feather beds, too,
was hidden all the money the poor
soul possessed. Then in the confu-
sion two of her little boys. aged G
and years respectively, had man
aged to get lost. and for two days
the frantic mother tramped the
streets looking for them, the other
children being locked the while in a
room of a cheap hotel. The two
children were found at length In q
rescue home for lost children, and
the grateful mother took her little
brood to Hubbard. Ohio. to join her
husband, only to find that he had lost
his employment Penniless and hum
CRY. they made the journey to Hub
bard. Let this incident and the
authors comment speak for them
selves: "a man on the train bought
gingerbread and pop and gave us
kids a treat 1t has been my prac-
tice ever since to do likewise for
alien youngsters that l meet on
trains" We do not wonder that
whenever an immigrant mother with
young children finds herself in
trouble at Ellis Island owing to our
stringent restrictions upon immigra-
| ton the officials know that an appeal
to the Secretary at Washington Is
! almost certain to be decided in the
mothers favor. And We can afford
to thank God for the humane heart
that remembers the troubles OF his
own mother long ago.
OOf Oh a SActl Jul ANNhVA
and his brothers and sisters knew
stern poverty in those early years.
The father found job at Pittsburgh
but the mother was dissatisfied with
the great smoky city. She wanted
open spaces for her children ana
flowers such as she had been accus-
toned to in Wales. Work and home
were found at Sharon and the family
lived in a company house" in the
yard of which iilacs were growing.
''They gave me joy says the author.
'and that is why the Mooseheart
grounds are filled with lilac bushes"
the reference being to the famous
city. near Chicago. founded ami
maintained by the Loyal Order of
Moose, Of which Mr.. Davis was for
many years the director general.
Errand boy, shoeblack, steel pud-
dler. clerk. union official. amateur
bandsman. head of great fraternai
order, member of the Presidents Cab
inet-truly this is the American epic
embodied in a single human life.
Fighting when necessary to assert
his rights. scrupulous in observing
the rights of others, proud of his
strong muscles and prouder still OF
the hardly acquired education. we
see him rise step by step until the
1 day comes when he is about to buy
a fine residence in the most fashion
able section of Pittsburgh. 'for the
old folks" But the father would
have none of the grandeur the sons
! love and pride had suggested TO him
and the old folks remained in the lit
| tie home That had been bought by
/ the father out of his own earnings.
1T has become a part of ourselves
he said: "it fits US like the wrinkles
on our faces" In this and other in
cidents we ret glimpses OF parents
whose simple homely wisdom and
whose solid virtues amply account
for the success OF the son. These