Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-09-18
CASTLE GARDEN.
WHERE EDfIGRANTs FROM THE
OLD WORLD ARRIVE.
Scenes Of Humorous and Pathetic
Character - How EmiRrantS
are Received-People in
Variegated Array.

A New York correspondent Of the Al.
bany Journal says: The interior Of Castle
Garden is like scene from comic opera.
Everything is foreign. It is great
semi circular structure with as little use
Jess ornamentation as o Kansas barn.
The floor is divided into compartments
by low ratings, and in each of these Is
alunch counter, few benches, and
desk that looks like an auctioneer's
stand. From one compartment, or pen,
to another are passage ways just wide
enough to admit one person at a time.
When fresh lot of emigrants arrives the
desks are moved up to the ratings by
these passages and all the people have to
pass through and answer the questions
of the inspector. The process is rapid,
fcrat 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 csh readily show it, and when
there is any doubt about it the inspector
does not attempt to settle it but passes
the man along into one of the neighbor-
ing pens, there to wait further and
closer examination. If in this examlna-
ton the emigrant 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 then put on board and
gets flee pass to his native land.
There arc always immigrants in the
garden. They are usually waiting for
the departure of train for the West.
Some of them are expecting relatives tn
call for them, and as they wait they wan
der about in pairs or groups, or loll on
the benches just like the choristers in an
opera. The difference is that the Choir
listers are usually arrayed in their best
gowns and so present an attractive spec
tace of gaily trimmed short dresses,
bright faces and and general air of fes
tivity. In the garden the short dresses
are To be seen ard ali 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
the faces bear expressions of fatigue and
sadness. Women stalk about in skirts
that reach Just below the knees, the
:imbs being protected fromview and the
weather by heavy leather boots likethose
worn by Maine lumbermen. Many of
the men wear knee brooches 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, saw
woman suddenly leave the lunch she was
preparing for herself and several children;
and rush across the steps with arms
outstretched and mouth wide open in an
exaggerated expression of Joy. She ran
full tilt into the embrace of man who
had Just entered, and they Rugged and
kissed each other and danced up and
down extravagantly for three minutes.
The children came focking 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 lunth and ate to-
gether. 1t were easy enough to build
up pretty romance about that scene, or
about the young compile in another pen
who sat with their arms about each
others waists and Ssiled and smiled.
But what of the sou ADS of moaning and
violent weeping from people in room
adjoining the reception hall, if the rough
garden can be SO dignifed' Simply
family of deluded Russians who thought
they were coming to country where
bread grew on the trees, and houses were
waiting Cor 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 and know no trade. They have
remote chance left to remain, for if any
one appears during their stay at Wards
Island, who will guarantee their support
or otherwise assure the commissioners
that they will not become beggcrs, they
will be allowed to find home in
America. Immigration societies under
the auspices of different nationalities arc
constantly on the watch to see that no
worthy man gets treated unjustly through
carelessness of the officials or from the
immigrants inability to explain his con-
dition. The officers of these societies
cooperate with and assist the commits
sioners in the discharge of their duties.
1t does not seem probable therefore that
any cases exist where injustice has been
done by returning people to their native
countries.