The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-01
CASTLE GARDEN.
WHERE EMIGRANTS FROM THE
OLD WORLD ARRIVE.
Scenes Of Humorous and Pathetic
Character How Emigrants
arc Received-Peoplc in
Variesated Array.

tarlcSuCcu ARRAY.
A New York correspondent nf the Al
bany Journal says: The interior Of Castle
Garden is ike scene from comic opera.
Everything is foreign. 1t is u great
semi. circular structure with as little use
less ornamentation as a Kansas barn.
The floor is divided into compartments
by low ratings, aud in each of these is
lunch counter, q few benches, and q
desk that looks ike an auctioneer's
stand. From one compartm mt, or pen,
to another are passage ways just wide
ough to admit one person at time.
When fresh lot of cmigrants arrives the
desks are moved up to the railinSs by
these passages and all the people have to
pass through and answer the questions
of the inspector. The process is RAPID,
for at this Stage all that is learned is the
emigrant's name, his occupation or trade,
etc. If man is able to take care OF
himself he can readily show 1t, and when
there is any doubt about it the inspector
does not attempt to settle it but passes
tie man along into cne of the neighbor-
ing pens, there to wait o further and
closer examination. If in this cXamina-
ton the cmigrant cannot show that he is
prepared to make his living without be-
coming burden to the community, he
is taken up to Wards Island to stay until
the vessel on which he came is ready to
return. He is thcn put on board and
gets free pas to his native land.
There are always immigrants in the
garden. They are usually waiting for
the departure of train for the West.
Some of them are expecting relatives to
call for them, and as they wait they wan
der about in pairs or groups, or .loli on
the tcnches just like the choristers IN an
opera. The difference is that the thor-
listers are usually arrayed in their best
gowns and 50 present an attractive spec
tace of ga:ly trimmed short dresses,
bright faces and and general air OF fes-
tivity. In the garden the short dresses
are to be seen and all the unique styles of
apparel known to European peasantry,
but the fine colors are in the huge bun
dies on the floor, if present at all, and
tie faces bear expressions of fatigue and
sadness. Women stalk about in skirts
that reach just below the knees, the
limbs being protected from view a d the
weather by heavy leather boots like those
worn by Maine lumbermen. Many OF
the men wear knee breeches and caps
with feathers. Varied are the emotions
expressed by the people congregated in
the garden. Watching them from the
window in the secretary's office, which
is one story above the floor, L saw a
woman suddenly leave the lunch she was
preparing for herself and several children /;
and rush acrjss the steps with arms
outstretchcd and mouth wide open in on
exaggerated expression OF joy. She ran
full tilt into the embrace of a man who
had Just entered, and they hugsed and
kissed each other and danced up and
down cxtravagautly for three minutes.
The child;en came flocking about,
some little shyly, as if they were only
slightly acquainted with the stranger or
were only distant relatives. He gave
them all hearty paternal greetings and
they returned to the lunch and ate -
gethcr. 1t were easy enough to build
Hp pretty romance about that scene, or
about the young couple in another pen
who sat with their aims about each
others waists and smiled and smiled.
But what of the sounds of moaning and
violent weeping from people in room
adjoining the reception hall, if the rough
gai den can be so dign;fed? Simply a
family OF deluded Russians who thought
they were coming to a country where
bread grew on the trees, and houses were
waiting for them. The Interpreters have
told them their fate, that they must
return by the steamer that brought them
over, for they have not dollar among
them ard know no trade. They have q
remote chance left to remain, fer if any
one appears during their stay at Ward 8
Island, who will guarantee their support
or otherwise assure the commissioners
that thcy will not become beggers, they
will be allowed to find a home In
America. immigration soci: ties under
the aus ices Of different nationalitles are
constantly on the watch to that no
wo thy man gets treated uniustly through
carclcssncss of the officials or from tn
immigrants inability to expia n his con l.
dit:on. The officers of these societies
CO operate with and assist the commits
sioners in the discharge of their duties.
It does not seem probable therefore that
any cases exist where injustice has been
done by returning people to their native
countiiey.