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Show IRISH EYES Eighteen-year-old Patricia Kelly, petite, blond, and easy to look at, recently introduced herself at Detroit headquarters of the Works Progress Administration by demanding a job as foreman fore-man of a pick and shovel gang;. She was within her rights, too. Under the rules, one member of a family has a right to take the place of another who has been called to work and is ill. "Here is, an order, calling father to work." she said. "He ican't come. He is going to the hospital. Mother is in the hospital hos-pital now. and Iiaveitwo brothers and a sister to look out for. 1 read in the paper that one member of a family could substitute for another in PVVA work. Let me have my dad's place." "As foreman of a pick and shovel gang working in the street." gasped the official. The girl nodded, suppressing her tears her handkerchief tightly tight-ly knotted in her hand. "If you don't want to make me a foremari, she suggested, "just give me a shovel." "What experience have you ever had with a shovel? asked the official quizzically. Patricia was not in thj mod for joking. "I've often shoveled coal into our furnace," she insisted. "You had better go home and wait for an opening in a women's project." the official advised. "1 need work now." the; girl protested, "and 1 believe that 1 arrt entitled to it under your rules." "Since you insist," admitted the official, I'll have to talk this over with somebody." The official conference brought Mrs. Cecil R. Chittenden, Michigan State Director of Federal Writer's Projects, on the scene. One glance from Patricias blue eyes, and she capitulated. "I bet she can do more than shovel coal into a furnace," Mrs. Chittenden ventured. Yes, she could. She was a graduate of Fordson High School and had often contributed to the "Tower Tribune", the school publication. Furthermore, she was a very good typist. "Would you just as soon pound a typewriter for me as use a pick and shovel in the street? " asked the State Director. "I'd rather," the visitor agreed. "Then, 1 have ti job for you," announced Mrs. Chittenden. Patricia was overjoyed. "Now, 1 can bring my mother home and see that my father gets hospital treatment," she declared after the details of her employment had ben fixe up. Patricia may not write original articles for the American Guide, the Government's forthcoming five-volume hanlbook, but she will have an important part in preparing the perfected copy of the writers after the state headquarters editors have made their correction. The Kelly family lives at 7319 Neckel Avenue in Dearborn, near Detroit. Mrs. Kelly is suffering from, a serious illness and has been receiving treatment at the Henry Ford Hospital. Edward Ed-ward Kelly, the father, who has been out of work three years, has a stomach malady. The children in the family beside Patricia are Wiliam, 16; Robert, 14, and Betty Lou, 16. |