The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-03
IN TEE xoUMASKAN CoL0Nr.

,Come Here Nut the V1stoas Have BooA
Dispei,es-As Exclusive NeisAserhssa.
About i've years ago large number Of i'm
migrants. such as had never before passed
through Castle Garden. came to New York.
The attendants at Castle Garden wondered at
them. for they seemed to be very different
from the ordinary immigrants. and the in
terpreters took great fancy to them because
they could talk with them In q number Of
different languages. The strangers came
from the little country Of Roumania. and nearly
all Of them were Jews. They were not like
the Russian or Polish Jews. however. and not
one had to be returned because OF poverty.
sickness. or any other reason. They would
not mix with the other immigrants. and they
looked down upon the ignorant persons Of all
nationalities with whom their life in the
steeraCe had brought them in contact. For
several years the Roumanians figured more
or less among the immigrants arriving at chs
Rort Two years ago they ceased coming. and
Vow it is very seldom that the Ellis Island Of.
fcials see Roumanian. At the time that the
immigrants were surprising the officials many
OF their neighbors who were better provided
with worldly goods. We're coming in the cabins
OF the vessels. They continued to come for
some time after their brethren in tho Storage
had ceased to appear. but about six months
thereafter Roumanan cabin passengers were
scarce also. About Is. 900 Roumanian Jews are.
In this city and Brooklyn now the great ma.
jorty living on the east side. and their pre-
dominance in Eldridge street has caused heir
neichbors to nickname that thoroua6fsrs
Roumania avenue"
The story OF how these immis nts came to
this country. the reason why the immigration
ceased 80 suddenly. and the account Of their
experiences in New York are extremely inter-
~-kt- To- -. T. H.
manians congregste during idle hours and
talk over old times and tho struggles OF the
present. One is the Cafe Elias at % Delaney
street. another is . cafe at W Allen
street. and the third is cafe in East
Houston stree. A hall In East Houston
street is the meeting place OF the Socie.
tate Dramatica Romans Carmen sylvia. or
the Carmen Sylvia Roum anian Dramatic Soci-
ETY.. The President OF the society. and one OF
the leading Roumanians In New York. is Mr.. I.
Goldenberg. OF 40 Delaney street. The sudden
immigration to this country. he explained was
the result OF the restrictions which hampered
the Jews Of Roumania They did not suffer as
their co-reliGionists have in many other
countries. and 1t is remarkable that nearly all
who have come here love their native land with
passionate devotion. and find their greatest
pleasure in talking OF its beauty and the kindly
character OF it's people
mo prejudice exists against the Jew In
Roumania." he said. and II the masses had
the right to speak. the disabilities under which
We were placed would have been removed long
ago. Jews and Christians mingle as brothers
and.sisters In society. and call each other by
their first names We 60 to school and to COL
lege together. and We love each other ire
spective OF religious differences. The reason
for this Is very simple. Roumanfans are very
enlightened and therefore very liberal Men
OF brains are priced among men Of money.
There 10 no more cultured people. no
more polite and agreeable people. The
laws against the Jews relate only to his occu-
pations. There is no ghetto and no restriction
upon his intercourse with others The laws
prevent his holding rank rs commissioned
officer in the army and restrain him from
practising law or medicine and from voting.
They also bar him from acting as apothecary
or keeping cigar store or saloon. Tho latter
restriction would never havo bothered us. but
the others did. Perhaps. il We had been per-
secuted by our neighhors. or had boon looked
down upon. as In Russia. for instance. wo
would not have resented these rostric-
lions which. at least inflicted no phys
ical harm upon us: but 1t was because
We were regarded everywhere as equals that
We felt deeply the humiliation OF being dis
franchised. The laws were for political eject
only. principally to please Russia To be
sure every Jew could make application to the
Government for the rights Of . citizen. but
unless he had Influence he would grow old
and feeble before his applied would receive
T. ihs 6iTsST circles. haSs no dioufS about
s 10 bow how this thing works will sim
Sy sDa n The
Parliament for my district When no was ut
home was frequently his guest and he was
that should be disfrauchsed. Yet what did
4 all amount to? As soon as he went to the
Parliament he forgot ell about me-. or else no
lost his heac. as many egislators 40. and be-
came mere puppet In the hands Of the lead
svendss q emplo,ymsnt open to me were Of
mercantile nature. but ] abhorred com
MERGE " was my ambition TO enter tie
army, 0ut there again WAS blocked; l could
might have had the genius and courage OF
GRsa:, could not go higher. l had passed
spent I'VE years In acquiring nay higher educa-
tlou, and yet could hope for nothing more