Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-12

-ss..,--i 81 ~ = ~ -
ANosDnscniir COLLECTION OF MERCHANDISE.
to say. are followers Of Mahomet: the ma
jsrity are Roman Catholics. and there Is
also a sprlnking N Presbyterians Greek
Catholics and other sects among them.
ihe syrians are eager seekers after
knowledge as well as profit; their school
IN Washington street Is well attended. and
there are ten young Syrana now receiving
z higher education IA the city colleges. To
aid the poorer and more Ignorant members
OF the colony the Syrian Society, differed
ny Americans and supported by voluntary
contributions, was organized a few years
ago ana has since done a noble work. Tho
society, among other things, supports a
nlsht school which Is always crowded, and
| know Of few stranger or more touching
slghtE than the ono a visit to this school
afnrds. The desire to learn shown by the
swarthy, hright-eyed eager attendants ls
almost pathetic In Its earnestness and fer
Vor, ana prophetic. too, OF brighter future.
10 attain which no present sacrifice seems
too great, In daily life the American dresr
Is closely followed by the syrllns, but on
state and social occasions they have ro-
course to their native customs, resplendent
with gold, silver and embroidery. then tho
colony takes on an added Oriental colorlug
and is more interesting than ever. aud ID
strange community u is. the members OF
which do thalr bookkeeping wrong end To-.
where Ice cream is made on the sidewalk
~ full view Of the waiting customer and
tho men smoke pipes with nix feet OF stem
never shaving the upper lip, read and write
backward when they read ana write at all
and when tired OF playing back Common
take string OF gayly-cOiorad beads and
from their manipulation extract ae much
pleasure as the native American Of tht
period does from horse race or a bali
game. However. these strange people are
eager to learn and adopt American ways
and manners. are quiet, orderly, sober and
Industrious, and as their numbers swOll
promise to become a benelcient factor Ia
the body polite,
have said that the colony supports ia
own newspaper. This journal. Sawkub
America. or tho star OF America, is a
unique addition to our journalism. Three
OF its four pages are printed In Arabic and
one In English. Tho paper has large cir
culation, ana Is the only Journal pubilahed IL
America which IS admitted to the palace OF
the Turkish Sultan. in whose domains
nearly, II not all, Of tho colonlsta wore
born. A special coy is printed on pareh-
mont for tho Sultan and then deliberately
glldad. Tho Shah u Persia and the Aineer
OF Afghauistan arc also Subscribers, the
list OF which reaches wherever a Syrian
merchant or traveller may have settled.
The star OK America &c edited by A. J. and
n. ]. Arbeely. They are The sons Of Dr..
]. a. Arbesly. tho hrst native Syrian TO
settle IN New York. Both are college grad
uatos, the one doctor aud the other a
lawyer. and In their careers Illustrate the
part the Syrian is hereafter to play in this
great city, which welcomes the men Of all
lands and makes thlm her Hons. The edit
oral rooms 0f the Star Of America in Pearl
o.. a @
pose instead Of work Diyans are arranged
about the walls, soft rugs strew the door
and the walla arc covered with Eastern
curlOs---a bit OF ancient Damascus set down
in latter-day New York,
Another interesting aud curious foreign
colony iE that Of the Austrian Slovaka. Al
home this romantic and picturesque people
constitute about one-half the population Of
the composite empire ruled by Francis
Joseph. There nre about 10000 Of them in
New York, and they oceupy that part OF
the crowded East Side bounded by the East
River and Norfolk. Monroe and Eighth
streets The slovslSs are quiet, inoiiensive
and Industrious, and many Of them are
skilled mechanics, but the great majority
OF them are ordinary laborers. content to
work for a small daily wage. Like the
Syrans the Slovaks show an eager desire
to become American citizens, and one Of
the bylaws OF the National SlovalS Society
provides that members must become citizens
a. the United States within six years
after landing. They have a weekly neRs-
paper printed in their mother tongue. edited
b. john Spavak remarkable young man
Of thirty who speaks six languages, and Is
counted a leader among his people, In re-
liglon they arc nearly all Roman or Greek
Catholics but the bonds OF race are stronger
than those OF creed. and religious differences
do not prevent them from iraternizing In
tho most cordinl manner.
Their national holiday Is the feast Of SITS.
Cyril and Mathodlus, which fails on July 6,
and IA celebrated BY the members Of the
colony with enthusiastic zeal. The sloyaks
have their own doctors. deal with their
own merchants and patFoni2e their own
sloyak restaurant near the East River. the
Mace vas heas and inviting, a huge repre-
septation OF the National Theater at Prague
covered ono wall and anothsr Of The castle
and village Of sternhcck on the River sazar
ma othcr SCUM. roast chickon. barley and
,,,,sh,,aons conposed tho dinner. which was
served on long deal table stretching
thc v.boie length OK the room. Many OF the
eiovsEs End work IN the towns about New
york hut come 10 tho city TO spend satuf-
Jav nieht aud sunday. returning TO their
homes Sunday evening. a music nall In
4 ttorney street Is iaY1rite slovak resort
~ h. slwavs filled on Saturday evenings;
heTa tho sicyaks indulge joyously In the |
nno,,s and pastimes Of their native land, !
~ ,,.rf,rn, the strange, picturesque dances /
for which they are noted. Beer Is drunk. |
losgs are s.ns snI aBys.rii \ always
LII. ..,,,,so,.,,es The sioyaks In physical as
,,s,.,s loosely resemble tie BohemiaHs. VITA
r 10, tbey arc on The friOndliest terms.
rbsis md strong antinathy Is a deep and /
uaayinr hatred for the Magyara, by whom
- Tbe sl6qaii colony Ia New FORK |
y 's', nrosuet IL the last Ten ytars-
- 60 40 is he Russian Hebrew colony; /
60 ~, 40 tnesa we're few. Il any Of |
, hvssn 5eepie 10 New York nov they num-
,sr about eopoeo, and ihsli rank. e a!eaa-
ny .s,4.s -o,ichiy ~ East Houston street
= ~ , -'ari5 Eas, nraadwaY on the south,
Ga ne ~. +, M a-osi aad Ludiow ftrtet
~. y. ~, ~. II Is one q INC moat thickly
nantiated spots in tie sasia. e, eentNlii,ls