The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15
CHANGES ON LONG ISLAND.
SOME EFFECTS OF NEWCOMERS ON
EAST N LIFE.

Progress or tho Poles. who no Most or tho
Pnrtu work and Arc Forcing Native Girls
FROM Domestic s~crvice-Catholic Churches
Becoming Common-kcGroes and Melons.
Changes among tho people Of tho cast end of
Long Island, as regards tho mingling Of races
and local customs and habits. havo been slow
and comparatively few, considering tho prox.
unity Of that section to New York city and New
England and tho REORGANIZATION with these
points. But they are becoming more marked
year by year, and some row ono characterizos
almost each succeeding season. Tho old Long
Islanders are talking moro about these changes
now than ever before. 1t Is we'll within the mem-
DRY OF the present generation when O Roman
Catholic priest was not n common sight about
the east end. There were not enough people OF
that faith In many Of the communities to sup
port n church. 1t is not 30 now. The old Now
England influences still predominant In matters
Of religion, unless Univorsalism-which the old
timers regard almost as one with free thinking
has taken hold, rs 1t has In some sections; but
there are many Catholics. priests are familiar
sights along the highways, and the Catholic
churches stand among those of the Protestant
denominations. They are not 30 old-looking,
the Catholic church buildings. but they are con-
epicuous, rs arel the Catholic cemeteries there.
by the cross which surmounts stecple or gate
way. Catholic orders, long kept Off all Long
Island under tho rule Of the late Bishop. nre
now establishing themselves in different places.
The other residents are perhaps gladder now
OF the presence OF the priests than at the first
overcoming OF their inherited prejudice they be-
licved they over could be, for the Polish popula-
ton. itincrant at first, has become sufficiently
largo and settled to be a factor with which they
are reckoning. 1t used to be 80 that no resident
thought twice II his daughter had occasion to
m ont nj riglf Nn,v th,rn Ia ,r,li,,;,ary tall,
as to the possibility OF meeting strange Poles
along the roads. And the excitability of tho
Poles has made them. since their numbers in
creased, a subject OF thought. Altogether, sat
i%sfaction has been expressed in different quar-
tors recently that the Catholic Church Is there
to exert its influence over the strangers.
SO far as appears in tho common gossip tho
first Polandors to be seen and remembered were
q couplo who used to come through the island
sharpening scissors and tools. They came year
after year. beginning when tho fathers OF the
present generation were still cultirating their
property. and continuing until only n few years
ago. They made friends Of the people and slept
In tho haymows Of their customers. But it was
many. years before enough of ,tEeir country.
Il" the common e%%%@ iii life. wy" these "'f firs So c on 's seem tn
have discovered the shortage of farm labor
farmers sons to Sp' the " cities and to have
put their compatriots in the way of new EN-,
ftho!y perform the bulk OF the labor that is hired
IN the fields. At first there was only a single
much English. used to walk miles to visit one
another. or ST musing alone. after work was
have always been gentle, or at least not III.
behaved. Only their strange features and gen
crnl uncouthncss caused the creepy feeling to
which the girls have confessed.
Although they have been many In number for
several years II Is only recently any of them
have become land tenants. Two pooled their
resources Inst year and this season are working
q small tract down behind Sodom schoolhouse.
Peconic and southold.. The old house on the
place out Of repair-thcy have not bothered to
tX up. but sleep in it, boarding several Of their
fellows there despite it's appearance, which in
The sight OF a batch OF them with their cadaver.
Gus features and piercing, eyes, shabby, but pic
squat grouped together in the shelter Of the
tumbling piazza roof. after n shower at dusk. Is
siim9s5 T 1nr sim,os, e B"t the spectacle has fas,
The Poles have introduced another new factor
into the life Of the farms and tho villages this
season. Scattered throughout the section are
young Polish women whom they have brought
here and found places for at household and door
and their shortcoming in this particular has a
very decided effect upon the domestic service
the housewife than though she could communi
cate with them freely, and therefore, their ser
disappearing, girls. They are. however, SO
anxious to learn the language that they
are lulto VIKING 10 serve rs long as may DS
, necessary at low wages. and to work hard: They
are sturdy lasses; capable of the hard work OF a
ttHhen naw Ways %n' Of 5fsEk o "gpS@r 10 and nd'o OF tS"iHi%s
) In their anxiety TO learn, the language they
sometim:s pick up words which they seize upon
D wife. occasionally to her great scandal. These
young women are usually the sisters, or cousins
Another effect of their presence is to send such
5 OF the native girls AS had contemplated 60
other lines OF work. as the Americans
i cannot live. or viii not work At the wages which
become fairly proficient in English and at their
work. still another effect is the change in the
relation of mistress and maid which follows
1 upon the advent of the Polish girl in a house
0 The old American democratic custom which
( practically one OF the family. and on an equa!
footing with the family, except that she did
Il more ", waiting on INC table ana M n morS n ~hi"h OH
7 sat at the table with the family and rode ia
r church With them, gives way to an approx
the servant In town.
. The present summer has seen q change in one
: limo OF work in some Of the suffolk county towns
D that is distinctly an innovation at the east end
. Tho, blacksmiths or horseshocrs ms they ar!
= Southold and somo other places keep their shops
c closed now on saturday, afternoons. And tho
I movement il not the work OF n union.
/, There are not many negroes to be secn. about
a the enst end, on the north fork OF the island
2 Grcenport. But there are enough OF them al
!" the brickyard 10 have moved Q farmer OF Arsha
mOUOquo- pronounced thSllnOIinluCk Wnt
i wanted to raise some this year Il
i hide the patch away further from any ronc
than is any cultivated field for miles around. ]
8 takes "A drive OF half an hour over a winding
8 and devious path. through underbrush part 9
o the limo and part Of the time through wood
$ which ARE almost p%athlcss. to reach, IT. To tn'
o II or to find tho why ont of II at night would h
r n hopeless task. Even watermclons were toler
T. ably safe, aforctimc;, out that way, or at ,leas
the farmers were willing TO part with such few
ms some romping neighbors' children chose Il
. take, but with n negro colony at hand precau
tiUns became necessary. Slowly the native
came to SEQ 1t so.