The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-09

| pOpulatt0n, out one OF the most Qe9lrnDlt
elements In point OF thrift, industry. solidity
public spirit. and domestic attributes. tt
the antagonism which was once directed
against tho German emigrants succeeded
similar and recurring antagonism against
other newcomers. and just now. oddly
enough. It Ia most seriously manifested
against the Italians. through our usually
stoical and philosophic German neighboE
tho Stats Zeitun0. Our contemporary has
found sufficient reason for impartlng to its
readers q narrative calculated to thrill the
sympathetic heart and touch the sensitive
memory Of the least impressionable.
| Tho Stdais- Zeitun0 declares that. even In
politics. the swarthy son Of southern Europe
has come to be an important factor. and the
different parties use their best efforts to
secure the vote and support Of the Dagoes. 7"
| These "Dagoes. we are informed. GIUSEPPE
or GIAcOMO. are " honored nowadays by a
hearty handshake and friendly smile"
This. however. is merely an outward sign;
what underiies it Is told OF in detail.
Tho account begins with what it calls "our
STRENGTHENING brigade" In this and in
fact " in every kind Of work where pick and
shovel are used, the descendants OF CESAR
ohA DnSA % iSiSh ShPAchbC. tNCAU III Iuc
list OF pursuits monopolized by the italian
Is ragpicking. and we have this pic
turesque and impressive account OF the rag
picker: AS soon as the rays OF the sun
fall upon tho pavements Of New York, the
italian quarters send out large number OF
men and women who are bent upon cxplor-
ing every box and barrel on the sidewalk
Much as We might like to agree with our
contemporary in this. We cannot. because it
is not usage OF those In charge OF New
IorA households to put out boxes or bar
rels before sunrise. and. furthermore. be-
cause there is an ordinance which prohibits
and has practically destroyed the industry
to which our neishbor refers as thriving
so vigorously.
The fruit trade. too. has become mono1-
olized by the Italians. There is. 1t Is de.
clared. hardly q corner in the city that
has not been taken possession OF by an
Italian peanut ,ender." This does not nc
cord with our observation. A large ma.
1ority OF street corners arc not so occupied.
Most OF New York's corners are not occu.
pied. and Of those utilized by sidewalk
dealers very fair proportion are used for
selling newspapers. 1t would probably be
nearer the truth to say that one corner in
100. or one per cent. is utilized by Italians.
rather than to aver. with this jealous critic.
that hardly n corncr has not been taken
possession Of"
Next In the list Of Italian industries is the
bootblack's business. What has become
OF the native bootblack?" The idea that
he may have grown to manhood and become
occupied with the more lucrative pursuits
Of an able-boded adult. appears to be scout
ed. The American bootblack is spoken OF
as sort OF museum curiosity. Tho !S.aa,s-
Zeitun0 says sadly: - The rough but gener-
ally witty boy who had a ready and almost
always fitting reply for every gu estion. who
would think little Of giving new beauty and
splendor to the dirt-bespattered shoes OF the
citizen OF means, has been compelled to make
room for the Italian" How 1t all happened
seems more like n page from MARTHA
LAMBS History OF New York" or from
APPLEroN's Dictionary OF New York. than
the printed testimony Of the Stats Zeituno
Many hard-fought battle has been fought
Mt City Hall Park and. as rule. the weaker
sons OF sunny Italy had tn retreat before
the descendant OF the Celts with bloody
heads" The benefit WAS merely temporary.
however. and 1t brought to the victors u
short-lived triumph. For on the outskirts
Of the park did the GIovANN1s waylay the
customer and polish his boots for Ave cents
with the same skill and nsslduity for which
the victorious NIKE. JIMMY. or PADDY de-
manded ten
Yet JAMES and PATRICK. though gladi.
atoriiy victorious. refused to meet the cut
rates Of GIOVANNI, ALBERTO. and ToMMAso.
Tho picturesque result OF 1t was that upon
q brass-covered, spendidly ornamented
chair an Italian would 10 enthroned on
nearly every corner" In this respect he |
would seem to resemble tho peanut vender
who Is In possession Of every corner also.
Next among these trade vandals come |
the italian barber and the italian shoe |
maker. both Of whom are described rs sta |
toned. IL not on every corner. certainly on |
almost every block Of the poorer quar-
ters." This statement may not be exag.
gerated. but no allusion Is made to the fact |
that to the race OF French BARRIERS who |
formerly enjoyed the most profitable and |
fashionable custom. Germans have gradu- !
ally succeeded. Just as Italians have been
superseding Germans In what our contem-
porary calls the poorer quarters.
With music. too. the newly arrived Ital-
ians have presumed to interfere. from the
artist In the fashionable concert hall to the
player OF tho hand organ. The little Ger
man bands. whose members. with nevor.
ceaslng persistence. In rain and storm as
well as In sunny summer time. poured forth
from their old and battered Instruments
homely melodies that used to thrill all lis
teners and hll their hearts with passionate
longing" have been driven from the city.
These hapiess Germans. with their brass In
we're obliged " to wander away
Into the bleak and friendless country" but
the obstinate Italians remained. and since
u the Teutons have left the gates OF the I'M
grateful city. the Roman legion OF organ
grinders has increased two and three fold.
and now the little ones dance aud laugh
around GIOVANNI. and have forgotten
HANS, FRITZ, HEINRICH, and YocKEL. who
used to wake the memory OF bygone days
'f the fatherland with dulcet tunes Of cor