The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-24
AT CASTLE GARDEN.
ecsNEs ABOUT THE GREATEST
DOORWAY IN THE WORLD.

The Portal Through which Millions Eu'er
the Unfsed states-How the New Corners
Look and Aot-Tt Vas Here That denny
Lind sang Years Ago.
The old Castle Garden building Is not
a pretty one Il is simply an old fash
ioned round stone fort. from which the
implements Of war have been missing
some forty years. and in their place are
few railings dividing tie floor into
large cribs or pens into which the cani-
grants are herded almost ike cattle
But il Is IN amazingly Interesting build
ing. IN itself il carries the mind b1cE
10 the revolutionary period. when the
CITY WIS In lis lribyhood-a little village
clustering around the Battery. Then one
recollects that after this Il was a fashion
able gathering place. a sort 81 opera
lOusr. the one IN which Jenny Lind sang
when she was here After thag the in
tercst IN the old building ceased TO he
local. and las become almost universal
rather than national. for winding through
its single great apartment from the boats
on the river side to the gates that face
the park has passed a food Of men and
women from every civilized land. num-
bering 100000 souls. and building up
our population by method unprecedent-
ell IN tie worlds history.
scAxxIxG A SHIPS LOAD.
Two ship loads OF greenhorns were
filing into the old fort as stood looking
on into the first pens from boats that
had brought them from ships lying cut
in the harbor. Down the bay the health
ofacers had assured themselves that there
wcrc no contagious diseases aboard. but
at the water gate Of the Castle were
other doctors who narrowly scanned
every .emigrant as he or she landed. and
who every now and then touched one on
the shoulder and babe him stand aside
Il was their business 10 discover any
such severe sufferers from illness as
mr-ht seem 70 he unable 10 make their
own way in this country, all cripplcs
and whatever young girls might happen
along who appeared to be on the verge
Of motherhood without the accompani-
ment Of husbands. These amount TO
very many every year. All such were
afterward closely questioned, and unless
there was somebody to guarantee that
they should not become a charge upon
the public they were sent back 10 Europe
by the steamer lines that brought them,
at no Charge to them OF the authorities,
because it Is the duty of the steamship
A.. al rrrl.r. fr.r
passage on the other side and to refuse
10 bring ef1igrants Of this sort
These people were al waiting their
turn TO give their name, age, birthplace
and destination for the clerks to put on
record in the biz books Of the garden.
While they waited they smoked their
pipes. nursed their babies. bought un-
Ialata5lc looking repasts At provision
counters, washed and tidied themselves.
sprawled out on the beaches and slept,
and 50 were Obliged 10 spend the greater
part Of the day until the boats from the
railroad depots should come up in IL
afternoon 10 take them up town or over
To jersey. and thence into the rapacious
NAV Of the great west. Some of them
had their money changed by brokers APP
pointed for the purpose, who doubtless
make great deal Of profit. but are under
bonds to charge no more than Wall street
rates Of commission, and to change the
single silver piece of the poorest Italian
woman at the same rate as the 81 900 Of
one of the well 10 do.
PROTECTED FEOM sHARPERs.
The only money the emigrants can
part with in the garden now must so
for provisions or railroad tickets or 70
the very enterprising barber who has
shop there and seems in much demand
Ills signs are peculiar. They are in
German, and they announce "Razoring,
fifteen cents; head washing, twenty
cents. The signs Of the provision
dealers show that loavcs of rye bread
fetch fifteen cents. or other bread ten
cents; that cheese goes for twenty cents
pound. and that the other articles iD
strong demand are ham, pumpernickei,
lager beer and pie. all Of which are sold
AT rates proPortionate to the prices given
above.
Doubtless there is 4 good deal Of
swindling and extortion practiced among
the landlords who keep the emigrants'
boarding house in the streets all around
Castle Garden. but it is the emigrant's
fault if he suffers very badly, FOR = great
many Of these places are licensed, g.
reasonably well conducted. and are
sponsible FOR the manner in which tn.
treat their guests.
But this IS 4 very wicked city. and
down about the Battery is very wicked
part of il. 30 that. even if an emigrant
manages TO get into good house where
lac is not charged more than twice IS
much as he ought 10 be. he cannot
safely venture a half = blocke away
from his lodgings without being ap-
preached by some Of the bOldest and
most plausible and most ingenious rms
c,ils in town. who make it business
10 live upon these people. The best plan,
after all. is for the emigrant not to leave
Castle Garden al all. but follow the
routine course of the majority of his
fellow passengers. and start away by
railroad. with his tickets looked after
and his baggage carried free. on the
Afternoon Of the day he lands.--Juian
Ralph in Pittsburg Bulletin.