Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-17
Among the Emigrants at Castle Garden.

Among the Emigrants at Castle 6arden.
AS the emigrants enter the Garden
from the landing stage they all have to
mass through narrow gangways, which
bring them in single file before two Of
ficials successively at the side OF each
gangway. The first registers the name
of each Individual arriving, what vessel
they came by, where they are from, the
number in family, their destination by
States, and their several occupations.
There is no time to waste here, for,
though the registers work hard and
steadily from half past seven in the
morning until often eight or nine
O'Clock at night, all four gangways are
kept constantly full, and the entrles are
as far as is consistent Win clearness,
made by abbreviations. when the emil
grant is asked his name, the chances
are that he has to lay down big sachel
or some other heavy bundle that
he has carried up to this moment, un-
button his overcoat, often his leather
coat under that, and almost always a
vest or two. from some mysteri-
GUS recess of which he draws
forth his passage contract, his tickets
for inland travel, if he has already pur-
chased them on the other side, perhaps
his baptismal certificate, and some
other papers. The register knows by
experience that it is OF no use to keep
shouting at him to merely tell his
name and answer the questions. To do
SO would merely confuse the poor fellow
and make him all the slower in his
movem, nts, and he is bound to estab-
lish his individuality by documentary
evidence, however long it takes him.
While waiting for him, the register
shouts to those next in line to get their
tickets ready, and the succeeding three
or four move on pretty rapidly. Then
comes another who has not heard the
order, and another like delay occurs.
Must have patience here" comments
the re egister, turning with grim smile
to the reporter. The women are gen.
orally much more prompt than the men
in having their papers ready. generally
coming up with them in hand, knowing
by this time that they are simply
packages, that these papers are their
labels, and they are to be forwarded
somewhere; but when called upon
TO come out of the animated pack
age condition and answer some ques-
tions. they are lost.
Where are you -oingp" buxom
Irish lass is asked.
"To Springfield, sor; fwhere me
brother is" f' t.
"What Springfieldp in what Statep
there are almost as many Springfields
as there are States"
Eyes, sor."
lis it to Springfield, Massachu-
settsp"
."'or to Springfield, Missouri"
"or to Springfield, IllinoisP"
Yes, sor."
After much confusion and exaspera-
tion of the register, who keeps his t. M
per with the patience of craven inn
age, she brings to light letter from the
brother she is going to join, and it is
found that the last Springfield named is
the right one.
From the registers desk they shuttle
along to the desk of an assistant booking
clerk employed by the railroad. The
distance is only a few feet, yet in that
short space some of them who have a
particular genius for making trouble
have already got their papers buttoned
up again in the innermost recesses of
their clothing. Hereit is necessary that
they shall be exhibited. The clerk looks
up with a quick, experienced glance
that tells at once where the person
before MIN Is from, anu ueHnanuS:
"Hoor reiser Du henp" or "Wo
reisen sic hin?" or lou allez vous9"
or "Hoor skal Du resa til9" ac-
cording as the person before him
is Danish. German, French or Swedish;
but if the broad countenance OF an En-
erald islander meets his eye, he puts the
same query in the familiar form,
"Fwhere are ye goin'?" Out come the
papers again. One has ticket for in
land travel, and is promptly reduced to
his normal condition of package by be-
ing set aside by Garden officer, who
tells him he will be collected and ship
ped at five o'clock. Another, who
has no ticket. is permitted TO retain
his personality of being q little
longer, until he shall have bought
ticket at the railroad Office twenty
feet away, to facilitate his doing which
the assistant booking clerk gives him n
filled-out memorandum to the chief
booking clerk, telling just where he
wants 10 go and what the price of his
ticket will be. About this time the
emigrant. escaped from the gangway,
finds himself near the exchange desks,
which confront the railroad office, and
by conspicuously posted signs in several
languages is informed of the market
rates of his foreign money.-Neso York
San.