New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-30
ITALIANS BY THOUSANDS.
WHENCE THE IMMIGRANTS COME AND
WHERE THEY GO.
TIE NEW BUREAU AT ELLIS IsIAND-PRorEssoR

TIE NEW BUREAU AT ELLIS IsI.AND-PRorEssoR
oIDRINrs WORK FOR HIS CoUNTRYNEN.
II Is not unreasonable to suppose that II one
heard old Ii Hung Chang for instance talk In his
native tongue. It would not so much resemble the
quackng of ducks in a mlllpond does the wobbly
chattering OF "pg-tailed heather when heard In
the gloomy recesses OF Doyers Pell SITS. Nor Is
reasonable to suppose that educated italian.
Of whom unfortunately there not many in
America, would be found utterlng the jargon which
one frequently hears In New-York from those who
call themselves his countrymen. The writer drifted
accidentally into discussion OF this nature the
other evening In a Broadway cafe with an Italian
who formed one OF party OF four. As he spoke
the language 1t was easy to recall some Of the
melodious infections hears in opera The name
OF this man Is Alexander Oldrini we'll known in
Rome he is In Washington where Baron Fava
has welcomed him frequently and proclaimed for
him personal friendship.
Professor Oldrin though yet only little
forty years old. bucked on n sword and shouldered
a rifle in behalf OF italian unity under Garibald
He proved also apt auxiliary In the arts OF
peace in the arts OF war. having been appointed
by his Government as Acting Commissioner at the
Worlds Columbian Exposition. where he had
charge OF all the Italian exhibits. on July @ last
he appointed chief agent OF the Italian Emgra-
ton Bureau at Ellis Island
HONORED BY SOCIETIES.
Professor Oldrini is member or the American
Academy Of Political and Social Sciences. the Ma
tional Geographic Society OF the United States. Geo
graphic Society OF Italy. the photographic Society
of France and the Elementary Instruction Society
OF Paris. He surely ought to know something In
terestng about the Italians who have come and are
coming TO America, and this Is what the writer
thought the Professor. leaning across the table.
said courteously: VIII you come TO the bureau.
Slgnor any day. and will tell you something that
no NJ int 70 he q
which I admire very much and read regularly? |
The invitation accepted and few days later |
the two men again found themselves face to face |
But the Professor just at that moment had little |
time to talk The big room was crowded with |
lot Of newly arrived immigrants They had come |
from Naples and from Genoa-that Is. they sailed |
from there. 900 Of them on the Kronprnz "A on the
Olympia and 159 on the Fuda
Enjoy yourself sir and smoke this cigar" Then
turning 10 the crowd he handled each in turn
like this: "Buon gorno signore. Ben
lrrivato AMIGO. Ia prma volta che vente Amer
caT' Which is as II he had said: Good day sir.
You heartily welcome. And is this the first time
that you have 10 America Each one IS
happy as he advances to receive his instructions
finding some one in authority 10 speak TO him In his
native tongue. Did you in your NE such a
motley crowd. though? Did you such fan
astc attire. and poor-the men with their heavy
lob-nailed shoes. that might have been operated
ipon by King Crlspin himself In the far past and
he women with their huge earrings. their varIe-
aed neckerchiefs and their plaid ehawls resembling
he Indian when the Indian in his glory and
iad his war paint on. To look a, O1rtni and 10
ook a, them and to hear Odrni and TO hear them.
rought back 10 mind the conversation mentioned at
he beginning OF this article. There appeared moth
ng In common between them. except the language
nd at all even 81 that. 10 use weknown
ull 1t is not account 81 any vicious procvitics
hey showed that these remarks made but
ather account Of their simplicity and apparent
very reason why the bureau was
established and why such OlIrlni put
/ Its head. The most intelligent looking among
hem barber. and he had been IN America
efore.