The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-21
TRICKS OF IMMIGRANTS.
THE REVERSE SIDE OF PICTURES
PAINTED BY REPORTERS.

Il
and Persistent Beat.
The popular belief is that the immigrant
coming to New York is badly used indi-
yidual. 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 and
| penniless upon the inhospitable shores Of an
| oyercrowded nation. To the imagination u
fresh emigrant is the embodiment OF inno-
| cence, a prey to every sharper and source
of revenue to any one disposed to take ed-
| vantage Of him. This as a rule may perhaps
be accepted as having some foundation in
fact, but there are glittering exceptions and
| marked divergences, that are sufficiently
prominent and sufficiently successful in their
| efforts to square accounts with the natives,
/ to attract some attention and almost balance
the impostions put upon the arriving stran-
gers.
The classes among the Immigrants made
| up OF farmers and residents vi 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
| Questionable food put before them on the
| tables of the queer boarding houses run for
L
they may have had but very few opportwni-
ties of enjoying, and they absorb the steaks
| and outlets presented to them in wondering
! and admiring haste, not questioning their
| condition ON fitness for the human stomach.
| These people have no comparisons to make,
no presidents whereby they may govern
! their opinions of things. They are ushered
| suddenly into an entirely new phase of life
| their simple existence heretofore affords no
| means OF controlling their ideas in the pres
! emf The neglected condition Of the streets
lin the immigrant localities escapes their at
tontion; their eyes are filed with the large
buildings, the great ships, the gorgeous signs
| their ears hear nothing but expressions OF ad
| miration from their companions, The dust
that blows over them and the mud through
which they tramp is noticed, If noticed at all,
merely in its practical feature as an adjunct
to agriculture and its advantage. when spread
| oyer the acres some Of them titled on the
anks OF the Rhine, the Rhone, the Thames
or elsewhere. The neglected houses and the
unswept rooms are familiar sights-it takes
them back in mind to the faderland, and they
feel more On 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 famili-
arity with the ways Of ccnters Of civilization
| gives them the right to comment, and tho OK
| cessiveness with which they can indulge in
| this marks them, in their own estimation, as
| familiar with the manners Of tie world and
| the pitfalls Of it, devious paths These per-
sons are the oversmart, and their plenitude Of
confidence often leads them into troubles that
| the innocence and timidity Of the former
| class prevent Conspicuous among Thu
| number are those who have nibbled at
education, who come here with an intelli'
gence that extends a short distance beyond
| the ability 10 read aud write who indulge
| in diatrbes against the nation and n ideas,
| it, principles, it, government, us material
| istic tenet. not in All anarchstic but III Il
deprecatory, spirit. The monarchicai idea
| cings to them: they can no moro free them
selves from it than could the natives OF that
small German principally adj Joining France,
| who declared that as their French neishbors
| had republic, they, too, must have repub-
| lie but, I'VE want our prince as ruler OF our
republic" they cried
| The most Questionable Of all immigrants
to the boarding house keeper is the Berliner,
who. hailing from one OF the most important
| cities in the world, and taking advantage OF
the companionship OF strangers, presumably
| ignorant VI his humble social status at horne,
affects u standing be has no right to, and,
like all characters Of narrow instincts and
slayish birth. becomes obnoxiously arbitrary
and tyrannical when freed from the absolute
saryitude in which he has had 10 serve in or
] der 10 earn subsistence, loudly criticizes
| the table, boasts Of the conspicuous men at
whose board he has dined, browbeats the
walters, DULLES the house servants and i'm
poses upon the landlord A fayorite aifecta-
ton Of this class, rather unusual in immi-
grant boarding houses, is standing their
| boots or shoes at the room door over night,
apparently for the single purpose OF having
something to find fault about the next morn
| ing inasmush as they remain there I'M
| touched and uncleaned.
! The most persistent and cunning beat is
the thoroughbred Polish Jew. Nothing Is
too small for him TO claim, and nothing too
insignificant for him 10 avoid payment for;
any excuse is considered legitimate with his
kind to warrant refusal to pay out money
for whatever they may have enjoyed the
| o. quite WIN
them, worked after they have dined and
slept at boarding house for week, is to
declare their positive and answering be-
lief in the obligation and intention Of this
government to support and provide for
them for tho term of eight days following
their first arrival in this country
| Nor Is it lack Of money with these fellows
that prompts their rascaiity. 1t is an Unborn
and abnormal tendency to rob, and often,
when they are brought to realization OF
the necessity Of liquidation through the con-
vincing, though not oonsiderate, argument
of policeman's club, they fall upon their
knees, tear their hair and clothes, beat their
breasts, call upon their endless category OF
saints for protection from the ungodly rob
beers, declare their intention to kill them
selves, their children and their entire gener-
ation and indulge in all the fantastic and
extravagant oaths peculiar and distinctive
Of a slavish and hidebound people. 1t is
only after this terrible exhibition of grief,
contempt for all mankind and self immola-
| ton upon the altar Of their Gvaricc, that
they draw from its hiding place In some cor
ner of their wrotched dress the dirty, greasy,
| i'll scented coin and pay up their score.
| One of their favorite oaths, usually in