Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-29

Resist Feeding Her
Daddy Earle came in. He wore defeatist
sort of iook.-n0nee" he said my mother
hung a sign on me and that's what gave me
the idea about putting Betsy When
we hung it around her neck, she looked at US
accusngly and said Daddy what good is
this sign? 1t says please don't feed me-"
just if saying it. How you ex-
pect people to mind me if they don't mind
you?'"
Mrs. Earle sighed again
When we first told her she shouldn't
take candy from people, she pointed out that
it wouldn't be polite to refuse. We have al
ways taught her TO be polite. Then told
her that she was TO obey us and not accept
candy, and we told her, too. TO explain to her
friends that she would be disobeying if she
took candy from them.
That was the same day Mrs. Maroni be-
gan giving her cup cakes
AT that moment Betsy coyy suggested that
she would like to have some Of Daddys birth
day candy but Mrs. Earle was firm-"No
candy today because probably Betsy already
had consumed more than normal amount.
Well then" Betsy chirped please may
! smell it ?"
This was too much for Mamma Earle who
handed Betsy a dish of bonbons which the
little glamour girl shifted long and ecstatically.
Somehow Betsy sensed the disappearing glare
OF Papa Earle and suddenly put the dish back
on the table-intact.
We've taught her never to ask for thingss
but she never seems to have to ask-not
audibly anyway" her father said.
She seems to have a technique all her
next door-he pulled her through bronchial
pneumonia-and he gave her some gum-drops
She noticed that the refrigerator door was
open and said: You know. next to gum-drops
l like milk. She got a nice big glass of 1t.
Perhaps Dr. Walsh could tell you more
about her."
Betsy's daddy had underestmated DIR.
Walsh's nonpartsanshp. Why should people
give Betsy candy?" he rumbed. We'll, people
always give sweets to children-but Betsy, she
was just born to eat candy. Besides, what
can you do with mite of four who hears your
name once and knows it by heart next time
she meets you? Fifty per cent of the people
in Readsboro from the Italan-Austrian
Tyrol-they were brought up here half CEN
fury ago to build the dam and the railroad
and even the older people can't pronounce
some of the names. But names like Marche-
giani, Francischetti Delnotaro, Bombadier-
and Jones. They've never seen anything like
her. OF course they give her candy, or any
thing else she wants.
Besides" he chuckled she's extra bright
says things you'd never expect to come from
a child OF four. Watch: He reached into
his pocket Betsy, have smoker" he asked
Never touch tobacco" shot back Betsy
"See what I mean?" said DR.. Walsh.
They ask her that question all over town.
Just to hear what she'll say
Across the street from DR.. Walshs home
Mrs. Ada Goodell keeps a candy store. The
eyes of the white-haired old lady sparkled
when she saw Betsy.
Betsy just visits with everybody" said
Mrs. Goodell-but she wouldn't say a word
about Betsy's candy magnetism
1t is still fine question in Readsboro
whether the townsfolk are actually cutting
down on Betsys candy rations Some of the
more thoughtful friends of the little celebrity
probably There is evidence of this in the
fact that Betsy's appetite for spinach, eggs.
toast and fruit juices is improving.
But, on the other hand, and as a great
many people who are familiar with Betsy's
peculiar technique suspect, Betsy may just be
forcing this appetite to keep her generous and
admiring friends out of the doghouse.
Only Betsy knows the real answer. and as
one old-timer at the post office remarked:
Betsy is a perfect little prospector. She
knows how to keep the sources Of her supply
a secret"
Mr.. and Mrs Earle are just about resigned
to the fame that Betsy has brought to Reads
boro and to her family. The parents assisted
in the somewhat difficult matter Of having
Betsy photographed for publication.
This tedious for Betsy procedure was
about half completed when Betsy, calling upon
her unfailing diplomatic device, went on a
strike. with fidgets.
1t was then and there that the photog-
rapher revealed himself particeps criminis
by calling Betsy over TO obscure corner Of
the room.
There in the shadows, followed UNDER
handed transaction from which Betsy emerged
smiling-and in possession of cents worth
Of gum-drops