The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-07-09

The student who stands highest in the grad
uating class at Yale College delivers on com.
mencement day the vaedctory Grafton 1t is
an honor for when all the hard workers con
tend during their college course, and it is only
obtained by the young man who makes the
best average record in all his studies and at
all the examinations.
This wear the valedlctorian was Jew, and
one of the Youngest members of his class.
His name is Charles Wittenberg Holzheimer,
and he comes from Elmira IN this state
There was very close race for the place, and
! it seems that not until the final examinations
were over was it determined whether he or
connection from California should be accord
cd the prize. This youth from the Pacific
coast has name which smacks strongly OF
Holland-Adrian Sebastian Van de GRAFT
Therefore IN the scholastic contest at Yale n
Jew came in first and Dutchman second.
We also see that the first prize for excellence
IN defamation was won by Chinarlan, Mr..
Chung We cannot regard 1t as remarkable
that 2 dew should obtain the first place IN his
class, for Jews are often the best scholars in
our schools Nor Is i, surprising thata young
mnil of Ouch descent stood next 10 him, for
Holland has been noted for lis steady WORKERS,
But that the most accomplished orator at ale
College should he a Chlnaman is something
very far out of the ordinary course.
In our city public schools the best pupils
are very apt to be Jews. They take the lead
both in scholarship and department so often
that the principals expect to see Jews at the
head of the classes. When prizes were given,
not long ago, to the pupils OF the grammar
schools who had made the most credtable re-
cord during a specified time, the majority OF
them were carried off by boys of Hebrew pa
rentagc And yet the proportion of Jews in
our population is small as compared with the
English, Irish and Germans.
We see, therefore, that in scholarship, as
well as in trade and finance, the Jews are
making rapid Roadway IN the United States
Country hotel proprietors may reject them as
boarders out of Difference TO the prcjudices or
tastes of people of other religions, but they
are getting into their hands large part OF the
money of the country; they are controlling
great departments of business; and they are
carving off the hOnOrs at our schools and col
leges. That wonderful race, indomitable, pa
tient, resourceful, alert and keen. witted, IS
bound to press forward and gain til prizes OF
life wherever it is permitted TO have free
course. Even where 1t IS oppressed it multi
plies rapidly, and keeps what 1t gains.
There is already great mixture OF blood IN
the United States, but it is going to tie more
marked in the future If the immigration
which for the last twenty five years has poured
IN upon US shall continue during the rest OF
the century, it will not be long before the ma.
| iorlty of the inhabitants Of thi, country will
be directly descended from these newly ar.
rived foreigners. The old English stock will
be IN the minority and 1t will be hard to find
any of it which shall not be crossed with 9th.
er races. so tar, the intermlnglng seems to
be producing good results The people of the
United States are growing stronger and heal
thier and handsomer than they were in the
past And the new corners fIOm Germany,
Scandinavia Ireland and England bring with
them characteristics which Will help to carry
forward the improvement
| Even now the names in colleges and school
catalogues, on the street signs, and IN the rolls
other races besides the English and irish are
coming 70 the fore.-N. y SIM