The Portland daily press., 1881-12-05
Initiating an Emigrant.
A Fresh Arrival put Through the Tortures
of the Turkish Bath.
New York Times.

|
women in costumes we see only in the neigh
borhood of the Battery; men and women laden
with great bundles, and children without sin
| gle one of the glees or graces of our own young
sters. 1t is hard to realize that In the steerage
| of every steamer, close held in the breasts Of
the people, come as many hopes and fears, as
many proud ambitions. dreams of liberty and
happiness, as many doubts and fond anticipa-
tions, as could they be boxed and baled, like
merchandise, would make cargo for the entire
| Atlantic feet. These men and women when
they set foot upon our shores, have often
brought about what has been the bright dream
| OF their whole lives; they are in America,
where their parents or their aunts or their
cousins came before them; they have brought
messages from fond old parents on the other
side to prospering children on this; love tokens
from sweethearts to lovers; some little Old
World deicacy trough enough and cheap
enough no doubt, but beyond all price, to some
yer-to-be-rsmembered relative who crossed
the seas. And If we overlook these things in
the men and women, how much less do we
waste thought upon upon the children-little
rascals in clumsy boots and blue CAPS and the
coarsest and warmest of clothes. 1t is impos-
sible to cross the plaza in front of Castle Gar
den ON any fair day without encountering @
half dozen homely couples, leading between
them chubby little youngster just able to tod
die along-an incumhrance positively Of no use
to any one but the owner. Yet it is often this
very same little chap (of SO little account to
anybody beyond his parents that he might be
laid in the Potter's Field without more sympa-
thy than can be wrung from a Coroners certi-
ficate) that has brought his parents to far-away
America. Strange 1t is, Of course, that such
people should have the same love for their
child, the same hopes for him, that we have
for ours, but true as strange: and so they have
brought him to the only place they know
of under the sun where he will have fair
chance to develope whatever is in his little
noddle.
Few of the emigrants (and anybody who in
sists that they should be called immigrants. as
some people do, is kindly invited to explain at
what point on the Atlantic they cease to be
emigrants and become immigrants) come to
America without some definite idea OF where
they are going and what they wish to do.
Above all, they have some friend here, most OF
them who has prospered, and to whom they in
tend to apply for advice. ii nothing more, as
soon as they find him. Their friends In Amer
lea have all prospered, il their letters home are
lively air few months is likely to be such
Ounce as to write home that he has made
failure. The best foot is always put foremost,
and America has been pictured to them as only
well illustrated by the story told of the jsnitor
of the City Hall-a story that probably IS not
true, but that nevertheless illustrates the point
100 we'll to be lost. They say OF this gentleman
(who came not so very long ago from the coun-
try where a man who pays rent is little worse
AZ hot altar a had Haau IqDit0r
of the City Hall few months he obtained
photograph of the building, and mailed it TO
his old mother across the water, telling ner
that was a very faithful representation OF his
Winter residence in New York. That the SIM
pie. minded em;grants are not much oftener
robbed and swindled than they are Is due TO
the watchful care of the Commissioners W ho
take them in charge and their agents, But
that they should sometimes be made the vic
TINS of innocent jokes by shrewd Americans
or even by tfeir own countrymen who have
learned the ways of the new country, is
not at all to be wondered at. An instance OF
this latter kind happened in Brooklyn few
DAYS ago, and as the practical joke was played
upon one of his own conntryme9 by an IRISH
man who is known as one of the kindest heart
ed men in America, and as 1t resulted in moth
ing but good to the victim, and as it was really
as funny thing as ever was done IN solemn
Brooklyn, it deserves to be told. The nara
tive is an exact statement of fact, except III the
grant was initiated. :
An irish gentleman who shall be called
Clark (solely because that is his real name)
came To America years ago, and went into BUS
mess in Brooklyn, at No. 80 No-mstter-what
street. His business fiourished and he made
money, and is now as comfortable and content
ed an adopted citizen as ever voted against the
Brooklyn ring He is as fond OF JOKE as some
of his countrymen are OF spirits, and he IS also
a devoted disciple of the Turkish bath. In the
In Tralan6 from which Mr.. CLARK
came there was, when he left, little young
ster whose name of course, was Pat. Fat, In
due course of time, changed from barefooted
and freckled little boy into barefooted and
man. Believing that the older portions of Ire
land were too dull for him, he determined to
trv new part of the kingdom, and so came to
America. He had no relative here, strange
enough, and only one friend. But upon that
friend he descended, armed with a letter OF in
PRODUCTION. The friend was the aforesaid Mr..
Clark; and Pat had no misgivings about the
certainty of finding some good employ yment
without delay, for was not Mr.: CLARK, sure, a
great man? and was he not his friend? So
when Pats shio landed, early in the afternoon,
he inquired his way quickly to Brooklyn, and
soon stood in his friends office.
Mi, Clark, as it happened, was Just closing
the Office, having arranged to go up to clinton
street tn lake Turkish bath, and Pats arrival
DELAYED him. But Pat presented his precious
Of work did he want to do? No matter
what. ANYTHING that would provide
food and shelter till he had time to look
around.
II don't know" SAID Mr.. Clark, whether
will be able to find you anything to do The
great trou i,le il Won are act Red Man, and
it's not easy work to get job for anybody that
isn't"
"a phwat?" said Pat.
"a Red Man." Mr.. Clark repeated.
''No. indeed, that 1 am not" Pat gasped,
indignant. I'm whoite mon; livery incn OF
me-"
aHere in America" said Ndr. Clark, 1--WE
all belong to great secret society called the
Independent Order of Red Mon, and man
who doesn't belong to the order hss no chance.
The best thing you can do is to join the socie-
ty." -
'tDo you want me to lose my Sowl, Mr..
CLARKE" exclaimed Pat, who had been brought
up with the aversion of his Church to secret
societies.
'fOh, that's all well enough in the old coun-
try" said Mr.. Clark, ,"but it won't do in Amer
lea. If you want to amount to anything here
you've got to be a Red Man."
Pat deliberated a few minutes, and the need
of bread and butter overcame his scruples.
"And could get something to do If was TO
be Red Man?" he asked.
"Without doubt" was the reply.
Sand could you make me Red Man, Mr..
Clark?''
"Wny, certainly; LII 90 III tnlS very altcE-
noon. I'm just going to meeting OF the order
now. Come right along, and you'll be q Red
Man in less than an hour"
Together they went up Clinton street to the
Turkish bath, where Mr.. Clark was we'll
known. He aought two tickets, and the pair
were soon in the dressing rooms, where Pat
was instructed to array himself in the airy, but
graceful habiliments of the Turkish bath. The
young emigrant, being bashful, at first object
ed to this, but it was explained to him that
it was positively necessary If he desired to be-
come a Red Man and make living in Ameri-
ca In few moments he was arrayed in as
well-ftting suit of fresh bog-skin as ever was
made-only this, and nothing more; for he
had never even heard of Turkish bath be-
fore, and he had no idea of the use of the large
Turkish towels in which most bathers wrap
themselves.
''We have to go, in the first place" said Mr..
Clark, "into the Grand Council Chamber,
where the council is now in session. You must
not for your life, speak word while there, no
matter what you hear others say. Ii the coun-
Gil are satisfied with you they will give orders
by q series of signals you will not understand
for you to be conducted before the Sanhedrim
in another room. III these rooms seem to you
to be uncomfortably warm you mutt remember
that the American climate is very hot in the
Snmmer, and the sooner you become used
to it the better. But, above all things, do not
open your mouth"
An attendant advanced aud showed the pair
= - InT- t..n~a .xRn NFr