The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-08-26
BY FRED MENAGH
Copyright, 1895. by King Features
Syndicate, Inc

eff you 60 around personally
and ask public officials for
something you need-they think
you are Red"
Such was the observation of
dark, handsome Gus Graziano,
husband Of blond, pensive Hilda
Graziano, one of the leading con-
tenders in the million dollar Millar
Will Maternity Marathon. Count
ing parents and children, there
are IL members of the Graziano
family. Gus, a greenhouse worker,
hasn't had a steady job for years,
and has been forced to go on
relief. Gus continued:
"And so whenever / need
something very badly / always
sit down and write q nice letter
to the mayor Of Toronto, Mr..
Samuel Mcbride. / even named
one of my little boys Sammy in
honor Of the mayor. He has been
very good to u.s."
Flashing his white teeth in a
charming smile, the imperturb-
able Gus told how the mayor had
personally seen to it that the
problem of bed shortage was
solved for the Grazianos. Aghast
upon receiving a letter from Gus
telling how he had only three
beds for his large family, the
mayor promptly saw to it that
q fourth was sent around right
away. So now the thankful
Grazianos enjoy the compare
tive luxury of sleeping three
abed, instead of four.
The family is faced by many
other annoying tribulations. But
the theory is they can be philo-
Sophical about it all if they get
a good nights rest.
For example, the Grazianos
must eat in relays, there being
but three cups, five plates and
three chairs in the entire eStab-
lishment, which consists of five
rooms Gncluding the kitchen)
and bath. Then, besides, the
Graziano radio needs a couple
Of new tubes.
Weekly Food List
The strain placed upon the
meagre pieces of dishWare in this
household can be readily appreci-
ated when one contemplateS the
huge amount of groceries re-
uuired weekly to satisfy Graziano
appetites. Their weekly food or
der reads like restaurant
kitchen supply bill:
"a lOaveS of bread
IS quarts Of milk
3 pounds of butter
IL pounds of Stewing meat
rs pounds of potatoes
3 pounds of tea
pounds of sugar (SOmetimeS)
"a pounds Of flour (sOmetimes)
The daily menu for this phil
osophical, happy-go-lucky family
seldom varies. Breakfast: bread
and tea; Lunch: bread and tea;
Dinner: bread, stew, few pota-
toes, milk. Spaghetti or maca-
roni is sometimes substituted for
the stew. And when the radio is
working they always enjoy music
with their meals. Gus loves oper-
attic ariaS.
Mr.. and Mrs. Graziano are both
a trifle vague as to how much it
costs to run their household.
After all, a person can't very well
keep track Of household accounts
when there isn't any money to do
the figuring with.
One thing-both Gus and Hilda
ike the house they are living in
at IA st. Davids Pl. much better
than others they have been in.
It is the last one in row of small
brick dwellings which line each
side of a dead alley. Surprisingly
enough, even the rats on st.
DavidS Place don't seem to be
quite so large or ferocious as in
other neighborhoods, according to
Gus. Nevertheless, each night be-
fore the family retires Gus erectS
a makeshift barrier at the foot OF
the stairs, to make it little more
difficult for the rodents to get to
the second floor.
That has been since Bubbles"
the Graziano mother cat, diSap-
peared three days after she had
kittens. Bubbles" was a rood
ratter. "Tootles," the successor to
Bubbles" is not quite so keen in
that respect. "Tootles," whose
kittens were taken away from her,
has been borrowed from the fam
lily next door in a sort Of wet nurse
capacity. Gus explained:
Because I just couldn't think
of drowning those poor, helpless
little kittens or let them die"
One disappointment
There is one great disappoint-
ment which came to cloud Gus
happy outlook on life, however.
One of his sons was born on
the birthday of the late King
George of England, who was
then alive. Gus, a loyal British
subject, promptly named the child
George, and wrote the King a
letter telling all about it. He
never got an answer.
Over at the home of Steffann