The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-07-22
In New York
Nv PAUL HARRISON
Q iass MA

STdllOu pSOplS arc pECLty oII3SI
about enforcing the departures of
foreign visitors when their visas
expire. But an imperious grandame
who's susceptible to sea-sickness
| presents special problem.
She's from Spain, this naughty
old lady, and she's the mother of
Benito Collada, u. S. citizen, a
power in Manhattan's Spanish col
ony, and the owner of the city's
most authentic Spanish night club,
called Ell Chico.
Donna Collada long had planned
a visit to New York, and after ex-
tensive preparation she sailed. The
sea was very rough and she was
very, very ill. She had, in fact,
nothing but part of one cup of
tea on the six-day crossing. That
| was six years ago.
OfIicials at Sea
When the time came for Donna
Collada to return, brief extension
was granted her. When that stay
expired she fatty refused to 60.
Had an attack of the vapors when
| anyone even mentioned a ship.
And the sea, she felt sure, would
be unusually rough. American off,
Gals were bafiled, and declared
this was all very irregular.
Through an interpreter (since she
has disdained trying to learn any
English) she declared that she
would be very happy to be back
in Spain, not liking New York any
way.
More recently she even has gone
to Washington and patiently stated
her case to the ambassador, who
interceded for her. She grieved,
said Donna Collada, at the idea of
causing any Inconvenience to the
so-thoughtful state department of
her sons adopted country. How
ever, she continued grimly. it
would be out of the question for
her to consider returning to Spain
until the government of the United
States could assure her pleasant
weather and calm voyage. She's
| still here.
Playing Hockey
have heard the story of anoth-
| err Spanish mother-this one no
grand lady, but gypsy from the
Granada cave region: Her son Is
Vicente Escudero, the dancer who
has been SO widely acclaimed In
this country.
Escudero, plucked by managers
from his own habitat and present
ed in Paris, soon became famous
and moderately rich. Therefore he
| considered it time for his mother
| to forsake her vagabond ways and
settle down. He esta blished her in
a Paris hotel, left plenty of money,
and went on a tour.
On returning weeks later, he
found she had checked out. Traced
her to another hotel, and another.
| to pensions in the country, hostel
ries in other towns, and back to
Paris, where he caught up with
her. Seems that the old lady was
anxious to comply with her sons
new ideas about respectable living,
but that she just couldn't overcome
her wanderlust. And so she had
spent her days trudging about on
foot. carrying her own luggage,
and stopping each night at what
ever hotel she could find that had
sufficiently expensive-looking ia
cade.
Gala Vacation
A similar tale involves David
Freedman and his mother. Freed
man Is Manhattan's gag-master,
author Of many of the wis4-crack-
ing radio programs that you hear
from the lips of unjustly celebrated
comedians. He also writes maya
zine articles and skits for Broad
way shows. Earns great deal of
money. and has come a long way
from the squalid East Side tene-
ment in which he was born and
reared.
His mother has been living with
him in a penthouse near Central
park. Livins there In q reasonable
contentment with several servants,
but not seeming quite happy.
Freedman decided she needed a
change-complete rest In . noun
tain climate. So he made reserva-
tons at a hotel in the Catskills.
wrote her q check, and saw that
she was packed.
A few days later he teiephoned
to see how she was getting along,
and was alarmed to learn that she
hadn't reached the hotel at all.
Just then, though. he got a letter
from her, cheerfulIy assuring him
that she was having a fine time.
The pcstmark showed the letter
had been mailed IN New York.
freedman investigated. traced HE