The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-04-15
q The statistics of illiteracy are of

three different kinds: In those Civ
ing the illiterates over six years OF
age. of course all the very old men
and women are included; those re-
lating to marriage include both men
and women of various ages, but most
of them young; among the con-
scripts the illiterates are young men
of twenty, all of whom ought to have
had chance of receiving instruc-
ton, and all of whom have been born
since Italy became an united coun-
try. 1t must be added that such is
the progress of education, that the
percentage of illiterates among mar
ried pairs and among conscripts
diminishes yearly, though more in
the north than in the south of Italy.
Of the emigrants coming to the
United States, in all probability 81
per cent.-or to take the figures in
their most favorable aspect, at least,
rs per cent.-do not know how to
read or write. We, therefore, have
to deal with an ignorant class of i'm
migrants.
Now, as to their thrift. In the
statistics of the savings banks are not
included the Government pawn
shops, the agricultural loan-banks,
or the various benevolent institu-
tons. The thrift of Southern Italy,
as shown by the savings banks, by
no means compares with that of
Northern Italy; nor do the country
districts approach in that respect
the large towns.
But the poverty of the peasantry
by no means argues want Of
thrift; for we find that those emf
grants who. have returned with a
little money are then able to dis
play those economic qualities which
distinguish Italians. For they are a
frugal, temperate and industrious
race. As the Italians are VIGOROUSLY
Woodworking and industrious, they
would prove extremely desirable set
tiers and, in the second generation,
good citizens, for the habit of thrift
is one to be encouraged rather than
discouraged in America; and fears
lest they might introduce lower
style of living to the detriment of
the country seem, at least to the
writer, unfounded.
In countries like the Argentine
and Uruguay, where lowing partly
to their numbers and concentration
they do not have so many difficulties
of language to contend with, the
Italians have proved a very desir-
able class of settlers, and in the
province of Rosario, for instance,
they are predominant. In other
parts of the Argentine they have
much of the trade in their hands
and control most of the river navi-
cation.
As to the morality of the Italians,
the reports of our consuls give very
favorable account. The percentage
of illegitimate is very small; but
Italy is country in which marriages
are made very early. have travelled
in almost every part of Italy at all
times of day and night, and have
ACfO4 OCCA III oAJ Uoy u4O1cSt0u-
Here, where / live, theft is rare,
burglary unknown; so that we lave
slept for weeks with unlocked and
even open, doors, and never think of
locking them during the day. A
murder has not been known here for
fifty years, until recently in quar-
rel between workmen from distant
provinces. Legitimate children are
very rare; crimes produced by lust
are almost unknown. Taking every
thing together it would seem that
the Italians, In spite of poverty and
illiteracy, are-if they remain in the
United States-a desirable element
to fuse with our motley population.
They bring to US the logical quail
ties of the Latin race, and they show
in the long run the effect of an ex-
perience which no other people in
Europe has had-of over two thous-
and years of civilization"
(Signed.) EUGENE SCHUYLER.