The morning call., 1890-04-27

thunders of applause that rever berated throue-
out the former fortress. From that night until
May 3. 1856, the garden was devoted 10 q high
class of operate and other entertainments. The
American Institute fairs were held there at one
time and, although the lower portion of the civ
was no longer the fashionable place to live In,
the garden remained a leading place Of amuse-
ment.
For years the immigrants had been ingulfed in
a tide of knayery and temptation. "Runners"
for boarding houses OF the worst type, despicable
scOundrels with hundreds OF nefariOus schemes
rough DULLES and smooth-tOngued fiends beset
the steamship wharves and cast their nets for
the unwaly stranger OF either sex. To stamp
out the evil 1t was necessary TO secure some re-
ceptiOn depot at which to centraZe the entire
influx OF Immigrants. Castle GARDEN, with its
water front and ample space seemed an ex-
eellent spot. and SO II came about that the
Bureau OF immigration established themselves
here. Immigrants were protected from sharp
ers in New York and along the route they pro-
posed to travel after leaving. Officials speaking
every language aud dialect of Europe were upon
the staff OF the Commissioners, ready TO give in.
formation as to means of transport and the
probabilities OF employment In every State In the
Union. Facilities were given TO employers for
large numbers found occupation few hours
after landing, generally under circumstances
more favorable than the conditions they left be-
hind them.
Particular care was taken OF young and unpro-
tected females. OF course, the revolution was
not wrought In a day. The undesirable classes
whose very existence depended upon their plun-
der of the stranger, fiocked 10 the neghbOrhood
OF the new reception place. They had been
scotched, but not killed. Every now and
then sweeping and decisive action has been
called Tor in order 10 stay the abuses which
have managed to avoid the vigilance OF the
Com mssiOners. Many remember the out
cry which was raised over the decOying
OF young gitls into the haunts of evil the outcry
over the whIe-slaye traffic OF the Italian pa
droneS and other brutes Of different natonaliles
his was nnaly overcome, and now the prOtec-
ton has In large measure been changed from the
immigrant TO the community, the work OF the
OnlclalS recently having, TO a large extent, been
In The line OF asserting tile passage-paid paupers
OF England aud the criminals from those who
come here yOiun ary aud with good intent.
Since It's occupation by the Immigration Com
mlSsioners The Garden has known but little
change. The greatest event IN its recent history
was The fire which. on the afternoon of July 10
1876. entirely destroyed the wooden shell that
Colonel" French had erected and around
The fort, when lie transformed II into concert
hall. Several OF the Outbulldings also furnished
food TO the names. for the more modern portion
oil the Garden was as dry as finder, and the ire
spread with remarkable rapidity. Attempts were
made 10 cause the removal of the immigration
depot to some more secluded spot, and In cOnse-
quence the rebuilding of the Garden was some
what delayed. But the present structure was
built with little change from the original. The
balconies were, Of course, omitted. and the as
pect OF Inc ioor, with It's multfarlous Enclosures
where sat the money changers, the railrOad-ticke
sellers, telegraph operators, etc., is remarkably
like a cattle pen.
A tour OF Castle Garden on steamer day re-
vealed about as interesting scene as one can
well imagine. Here was seen The world in min.
iature just about as it Is. and, IL might be said
the raw material out OF which good American
citizens were manufactured. 1t was a yeritable
babel OF nations, and about the only parliament
OF man IN perpetual existence.