The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-11

TT was on one of my scouting expeditions, when
go out to examine what is variously called the
hobo, the unemployed. the down=and-outer, or more
pleasingly, the poor whom we have always with us.
On these trips almost invariably find someone in
teresting. This night l had special bunch that
was going to run across something worth whole.
I knew it for sure as soon set eyes on him.
He was youth sitting on wooden bench which
ran along the wall of cheap poolroom in the West
Madison Street district. He sat by himself and
looked alien to his surroundings. knew at glance
that he was not habitually accustomed to such
district. knew that he was not one of the petty
larceny thieves who infest these pool halls. And,
Altho particular judge of racial character
lstics knew Immediately too that he of North
italian stock
Now l have racial prejudices national IA
vorites on which to bet my money. But l will say
this Taking youth as whole, by and large, be-
neve there is no better class Of young chaps than
the boys of North Italian descent. If l
ploiter Of labor, / would pick them my victims
every time. Besides being intelligent well-manner-
ed courteous, and gentle of Speech they would give
any establishment much the appearance of male
beauty show
So went and sat down by this youth, to get his
story. l soon had it. Speaking both languages
equally well, he had as a boy, in fact under
the legal age, enlisted in the Italian navy, altho he
had been born in this country After serving there,
he had enlisted in the United States navy. Three
weeks before 1 met him, he had been discharged in
Boston, and given ticket to Chicago as the place
where he had enlisted.
Arriving here, he had no place to which to go.
His parents were dead and his nearest relative in
the city was an uncle with whom he not on
the best Of terms. For three weeks he had been
hunting for work, knowing no trade at which he
could offer himself. His money had run out. For
three nights he had slept out of DOORS altho was
in April, and still cold. The night before he had
slept in a contractors empty tool box the street
Knowing that he of course hungry, l took
him to restaurant. To my many readers the
Gold Coast will explain that, when you take a
chap of that character into eating place. you have
difficulty in getting rid of your money. They will
sit down to the lunch counter and remark casually
that they believe they will have sandwich and a
cup of coffee You have to urge them to order some
thing that looks like meal Even then they will
pass over the steaks and chops the card and light
on hamburger or liver and bacon, as being cheap
And they never have room for any dessert. They
fear to impose your generosity. did get some
thing like meal down DeRose, for that his
name, but he refused dessert.
After safely in the restaurant and he
could not thereby be suspected of limiting for meal
he mentioned that he had not eaten for twenty-fou
hours. Said he positively could not go out tn,
street and ask men for money He said that about
half hour before / appeared the horizon, he haC
decided that he must do He had gone out me
man who looked kind, stopped him. and then a
the last moment his courage had failed him and ht
had asked for a match Taking his match, with nj
IN ho OH ed with ha had hacl