Wichita eagle., 1888-01-27
TRICKS OF IMMIGRANTS.
The REVERSE SIDE OF PICTURES
PAINTED BY REPORTERS.

characteristics of the Strangers Who Ar
rive on Our Shores-The Rustic and the
City Bred ImmiSrant-A Most Cunning
and Persistent Beat.
The popular belief is that the immigrant
coming to New York is badly Used indi-
vidual, and by the time he works his way
into this land of freedom he has been robbed
of everything he has and is cast thirsty ard
penniless upon the inhospitable shores of an
overcrowded nation To the Imagination a
fresh emigrant is the embodiment of inno-
cence, prey to every sharper and source
of revenue to any one disposed to take ad-
vantage of him. This as a rule may perhaps
be accepted as having some foundation in
fact, but there are glittering exceptions and
marked divergerces, that are sufficiently
prominent and sufficiently successful in their
efforts to square accounts with the natives,
to attract some attention and almost balance
the impositions put upon the arriving stran-
gers.
The classes among the immigrants made
up of farmers and residents Of the rural dis
tricts in the old country are Of course inter-
ested and pleased with everything they en-
counter in this new place; they revel in the
tables of the queer boarding houses run for
their reception; meat to them is a luxury
they may have hal but very few opportuni-
ties of enjoying, and they absorb the steaks
and outlets presented to them in wondering
and admiring haste, not questioning their
condition or fitness for the human stomach
These people have no comparisons to make,
10 precedents whereby they may govern
-
suddenly INTO an entirely new phase of life;
their simple existence heretofore affords no
means Of controlling their ideas in the pres
ent The neglected condition of the streets
in the immigrant localities escapes their at
tention; their eyes are filled with the large
buildings, the great ships, the gorgeous signs;
their ears hear nothing but expressions of adj
mration from their companions. The dust
that blows over them and the mud through
which they tramp is noticed, if noticed at all,
merely i'll its practical feature as an adjunct
to agriculture and its advantages when spread
over the acres some Of them titled ON the
anks of the Rhine, the Rhone, the Thames
or elsewhere. The neglected houses and the
unswapt rooms are familiar sights-it takes
them back in mind to the faderland, and they
feel more OF less at home
Different is it with those who have lived in
the cities of the old world. They come with
inclination to criticiSe. With them famil-
arity with the ways of centerS of civilization
gives them the right to comment, and the ex-
cessiveness with which they can indulge in
this marks them. in their own estimation. as
familiar With the manners of the world and
the pitfalls of its devious paths. These per-
sons are the oversmart. and their pleritude Of
confidence often lead. them into troubles that
the innocence and timidity Of the former
class prevent. Conspicuous among this
number are those who have nibbled at
education who come here with an intelli-
gence that extends a short distance beyond
tho ability to read and write, who indulge
in diatribcs against tho nation and its ideas,
its principles, lis government, its material
istic tenets, not in an anarchIstiC, but in a
deprecatorv, spirit The monarcbical idea
ciings 10 them they Gun no more free them
selves from il than could the natives Of that
small German principality adjoining France,
who declared that as their French neighbors
had a republic, they. too, must have repub-
lie. but, I'VE want our prince a. ruler OF our
republic7 they cried
The most Objectionable of al Immigrants
70 the boarding house keeper Is the Beriiner,
who, hailing from one Of the most important
cities in the world. and taking advantage q
the companionship OF strangers. presumably
ignorant OF his humble social status at home,
affects standing be has no right to, ard,
ike all characters Of narrow instincts and
slavish birth becomes obnoxiously arbitrary
and tyrannIcal when freed from the absolute
servitude in which Re has had to serve IN or
der TO earn subsistence, loudly critscizcs
the table, boasts OK the conspicuous men a.
whose hoard he has dined, browbeats the
waters. DULLES the house servants and i'm
poses uTcn the landlord a favOTIta af2cc.a-
ton Of this class, rather unusual in iHTni-
grant boarding houses, Il Standing their
boots or shoes at tho room door over night,
apparently for the single purpose q having
( something To find fault about tie next morn
inc. iuasmu.h o. they rel4.iE there u:,-
touched and uncIean@l
/ The most persisten: and cunning beat IL
the thoroughbred Polish jew Nothing II
( too small FOR him 70 claim, and nothing too
I Insignificant for him 70 avoid payment for.
( any excuse Is considered legitimate with bis
kind 70 warrant refusal - Tzy out money
: FOR whatever they may have enjoyed me
+ b..rlef. 81 QIite m ordinary scheme with
them. worked after they have dIn%d ard
. slept a. q barring ko1sc for week. y u
declare their positive ard answering be-
lief u tb- obi CATION and intention o! tlls
+ government 70 support and provide for
tEczu for ;he term u eign: days following
( their frs arrival IL tAIs country.
( Nor y it I1tr-S q Incr.e- With these fellows
( TIA; prJfuy,.. their rasa!lgy. I, IS an iuDorn
ard abnormal teBdeE.sy 20 rob. AID often,
when t-ev are brv.zt.t % q realization .,
: the n-cs=ssty o! iiqJ.!4tloa iEroagh tss- ca
yi~fl1E. tis,H;lz1 ust cau-sG~rate. aTEflTTsr1t
+ q z poi~-uIsns club. tres tal uIs5u ;heiT
kIlfe~ tear their lllIr an c.o;hss, tz-at their
, breasts eeH 1pGa theiE esdie@- ezi@yo-y Of
T seut- for protection from liss ungssdly rob
hers. teziare their iHteatloa 20 ki3 s6ezn-
sely-s, their eAii6rsn and their entire se7sv-
alien. aod inaalse II al to~ fantastic and
. e-.Eav4-a1. QaiEs peculiar AID distinctive