Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-06-24
FROM TRANs-BAIKAL.
Russian Stupidity Sends Good
Citizens Here.
Jew Refugees in Palestine, England and
the Argentine Republic - Barrett
of Massachusetts-The Merry
Monarch's Palace.
rcoPYRIGHT, 1901


Years ago, when a former mania for
Jew batting was rife in Russia, went to
one of the receiving agencies maintained
by wealthy Hebrews of this country for
the succor of their race, and made a study
of the types found there Such a scene
of wretchedness did not soon expect to
see again, or to hear such tales of oppres-
sion. Surely, the world was getting
wiser, thought.
Some years later was passing through
Leeds, England, and, happening to visit
one Of the poorer quarters of the city,
saw again the same strange Oriental
faces that had haunted me for weeks
after visiting the agency here. There
were the venerable patriarchs in skull
caps, with long boards reaching to their
waists, and long coats tapping at their
heels, the same dark women, the same
beautiful, silent children, with melan-
choly born of generations of suffering in
their big, lustrous eyes. These were the
refugees from oppression who had found
shelter in England, and the opportunity
to work at starving wages for "sweat-
ing' wages.
few days ago I happened into the
SAAASo VA Sho AuuCIAC0h 1AoOEOW1
New York, and found that Managing
Editor Cohen had just been hearing the
story of a recent refugee from the Trans
Baikal District of Russia. This was
well-dressed, sturdy man of intelligent
features and medium height, with 800 or
400 roubles in his Enthusiastically q
desirable citizen for any coun try, one
would think.
A year ago the man from Trans -Baikal
had no notion of coming to America. He
had his little home near a station of the
railroad on which he worked, and his
wife raised vegetables. Then came a
notice that after a certain date, the 1st of
May or April last, don't remember
which, no Jews would be employed on
the railroads. So many occupations had
already been barred to his race that this
was like decree of Punishment. He
couldn't go farming; that was forbidden.
He couldn't open a butcher shop, for
hidden. He couldn't study medicine or
become a mechanic or anything at all to
which it was possible for a. railroad man
to turn his hand. But he could come to
America and did.
asked Mr.. Cohen what he thought of
the Palestine colonization and he seemed
very we'll impressed with it. One of tho
Rothschilds is backing it, has built
wine-pressing establishment, not as a char
ity, but as business speculation, and
hopes to aid his people indirectly by it.
The land is reasonably fertile and capa-
BILE of Improvement. The Argentine Re-
public colony doesn't seem to move much.
Baron Hirsch sent a farmer, an engineer
and another expert to make examina-
tions, and they reported several fine and
available tracts and a friendly Govern
ment. But the people raised a great row
about the proposed admission of Hebrew
colonists, and the project languished.
England is reasonably friendly to the
Hebrews, but has groaned much lately at
the number of them. So, as the capacity
of Palestine is limited, America is far
and away the best country for the refu-
goes to seek. Nor are they as likely to
become public charges as the poor of
other nationalities, for the Hebrews here
take excellent care of them.