| Show Father FUther of Lad President fit l Hit Is N Now ow Dumb Mario Marid Passi Ascends the Throne in His Neighborhood but I the Grand Tenor Parent and His Family Silently Eye Telegram From Mr r. r Wi Wilson son 1 NEW NEV YORK Nov 12 BesideS Besides being the father of Mario Marlo Pass Passi tho the i boy who was struck by an automobile automobile automo automo- j automo-j bile in which President Wilson was I riding last week Frederick Pass Passi West Vest Thirtieth street faced at I least two responsibilities The first I and most important was the question ques ques- lion tion of the proper literary style in which to answer a telegram from the president inquiring about his hisson's suns sons health The message sent through Joseph P. P the presidents president's secre secretary tary was brought by y a messenger who was escorted upstairs by all I the tenants on the first floor seven children from next door and Marios Mario's two sisters Mario himself seated in state in the only big chair in the three-room three flat received and with one hand clasping his side h he hO peeked peeled at it with official delibera delibera- tion Lion Being only in grade he had to admit reluctantly that he couldn't read it but he kept his bIs gilded throne as a hero by moaning Indelicate in a delicate way and making veiled references to the havoc which Wils had made in his side with I that automobile In the meantime mean time while Mrs Passi ceased atI at at attacking attacking I tacking the peel of an apple and wiped het bel hands on an Julia JuJia 16 ii years rears old read the message Presidents President's Message Please telegraph me collect whether your son Mario suffered any ill effects from his accident yes yes- The president is anxious to know know- It was signed by Mr Tu amity Yah Yali roared Mario whose voice at least has not suffered I might be killed That fella fell a wit th the wool sweater in that automobile then would have to pay my funeraL funeraL funeraL fu- fu This idea appealed td tO him with gl gloomy omy enchantment He lie repeated t again and again for the edification of ot his bis sister Eleanor 13 years old and for for fora a woman neighbor with a headdress and a broom that that th i fella wit the wool sweater would have paid my funeral While Mario under unde the s soothing hands of his anxious mother walked gingerly ging-erly feeling his side and andI I squinting his eyes upward his sis sis sis- ter Julia who stays home while her I f mother works said may mayBe e her father father fa fa- fa- fa ther then would be be home soon He Hea a opera singer sing a grand grandS g ten ten- or she said But he aint aint worked in two years Always he says that want comedians and he here they aint comic This she translated to her mother who understands but little English The mother nodded I reverently and pointed to the pictorial pic- pic tonal supplement in the living room pinned to the wall Each separate outside the holy ones represented represented represented rep rep- picture resented a portly gentleman with fierce mustaches glaring upward Pa Pa she said sententiously Flat Poorly Furnished The flat in which they live Is sparsely furnished The floors are bare save for a few small rugs old year old son tm I o ioa an nfl n who h is learning be to be the so Julia said and the mother support support sup sup- port ort the family while the father with his tenor voice seeks seeks' operatic work where comics are not wanted As she explained this the door opened and Mr Passi Entered He was garbed in a braided cutaway and a startling cravat His wife took his hat his overcoat and his daughter gave him the telegram There was no lack of attention for Mr Passi and arid one caught a faint taint note of rivalry in Marios Mario's voice as ashe ashe ashe he walked about again with a hand to his right side Mr Passi read the telegram and contained himself well Yes he lie would answer it he said and Julia got the pencil and paper Mario said maybe he might see the thO doe doc to tor to- Mr Passi Pass whose daughter was picking a thread of off the cutaway nodded The daughter whispered asIf as asif asif if it were treason I wish my pa could get a job from the president He used to sing at Keith Proctors Proctor's and lots of oC places like that The father didn't hear He was smoothing his cravat From the lower and upper floors of the tenement tene tene- m ment nt house doors doors' opened and the name of Passi w was was' s' s whispered The word that the telegram from the flie president had come was passing along Mario with a dim dime dimi an n inquirer had given him went downstairs to get rid of it it-a it a triumphal procession in which his hand kept to his side But alas thrifty Mrs Passi halted him and hero or no hero he h hid had d to go back and sink once more into the tM big chair while Mr Passi Pass still with the lie telegram in one hand smoothed that cravat with the other |
