Latorras & Dionnes

The Dionne quintuplets are not going to the Century of Progress Exposition. But last week Fair visitors in Chicago were able to gaze upon "the largest Italian family in the whole U. S."--21 strong. There was Mike Latorra, 49, Chicago truck gardener, and his wife Rosa. 44, and their children: 1) Mrs. Lawrence Damore, 26, mother of five; 2) Mrs. Lucille Quarante, 25, mother of three; 3) Mrs. Margaret Palella, 24, mother of three; 4) Mrs. Angeline Dell, 22; 5) Mrs. Dominic Damore, 21; 6) Sarah, 21, twin of No. 5; 7) Isabel, 19; 8) Vito, 17; 9) Michael, 16; 10) Rocco, 16, twin of No. 9; 11) Joseph 15; 12) Frank, 12; 13) Mary, 11; 14) Nicholas, 10; 15) John, 8; 16) Philip, 6; 17) Nancy, 5; 18) Rose, 2; 19) Benito Guy, 11 mo. On the way is a 20th child who, if a boy, will be named "Italo Balbo."

Five taxicabs took all the Latorras to the Exposition grounds last week. Mrs. Latorra keeps two washing machines going for the laundry of the children who live in the 14-room house Mike Latorra built by himself. Said he last week: "If you keep your head up and everybody pulls together, why, the more the merrier and the better chance you've got to get along."

Said Mrs. Latorra: "Mike is a wonderful man. He works hard and he is cheerful with the kids."

Neither cheerful nor proud was Papa Ovila Dionne last week at his frontier farmhouse near Callander, Ont. as his five little daughters went into a third recordbreaking week of life, to the marvel of the medical profession throughout the world. Marie, the frailest, upon whom the others had rolled when they were all in the one butcher's basket, was the first one to be placed in an incubator all to herself. Five days later each of the other four had her private quarters and a better chance for life. Three trained nurses were on the job.

One evening Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, 51. who delivered the quintuplets, telephoned his brother Dr. William Allan Dafoe. 40. Toronto obstetrician: "Can you come out this way? I need your moral support."

From Toronto Dr. William motored the 230 miles to the frontier village where Dr. Allan has practiced for 26 years. In the car were three tanks of oxygen and carbon dioxide to stimulate the babies' breathing in case they turned blue again. The doctor brothers talked until all hours of the morning. "It looks to me," reasoned Dr. Allan, "as though they were uniovular . . . one placenta . . . cords of different length." Dr. William: "I agree. . . ."

The Toronto doctor examined the quintuplets and mother, asked questions. Inferences led the brothers to "believe the babies to be seven-month babies, instead of eight-month babies as previously believed." Not for six weeks then would the quintuplets become normal. Dr. Allan Dafoe: "The kids are doing danged well. They shouldn't be living at all. But. dang it, they are living, and improving."

Meanwhile at Masham Falls. Que. one of Mrs. Dionne's cousins. Antoine Gauvreau. became the father of twin boys.

The one chance in 658,503 (87 cubed) that quadruplets would be born, last week happened to Mrs. Lawrence R. Wycoff, 30, of Sac City, Iowa. Promptly she named the three girls and a boy Lavern Darlene, Lavonne Darene. Lorraine Delaine and Lester Dean, hoped they would all grow up to rival Mary, Mona, Leota and Roberta Keys. 19. of Hollis. Okla.. famed because they reputedly are the only quadruplets ever to reach maturity. "The Bunch of Keys" graduated from high school last year, have just come home from Baylor University at Waco, Tex.

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