The Holly chieftain., 1897-12-10
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One Of the most curious sights which
he city has TO offer II the scene which
.akes place almost daily at the barge
,fsice dock when the boat londs Of immi-
grants from all parts Of the world make
heir entry into this country. It Il not,
,trictiy speaking. the first time that
hey have set foot upon American soil.
Tor they have been landed an hour OF
10 previously At the pier Of the steam
ship on which they came over, and, after
picking out their several pieces of bag
yage there. have been reembarked, with
Ill their worldly goods. upon the barge
,flice boat, which is waiting to receive
hem. But their arrival at the Battery
marks their formal entrance into the
United States, and 1t il not until after
hey have successfully passed the care
ful inquiries Of the registry Office that
they can be sure that the new land they
have chosen IL willing tc adopt them.
As the barge Office boat draws up to
her dock there is usually great nnima-
ton to be observed on her deck. The
passengers are standing about In little
groups, either talking earnestly, with
The abundance Of gestures characters
tic Of foreigners, or else gazing silently
toward the new city, as II fascinated by
its appearance. Every man, woman and
.hild manifests q desire to go ashore
Immediately, and II II were not for the
wholesome respect which they entertain
for the blue uniforms Of the .ofYicials
there would probably be something like
a stampede upon the gangplank. To
facilitate the work Of the registry clerks
the immigrants are divided of while
on the boat into groups of 80. and inter-
sals are allowed between the landing
Of the different groups, SO that there
may be no crowding. The only way in
which the groups can be preserved in
tact is by fencing them apart with
ropes, and the appearance Of the deck
;hus divided into pens is amusing.
On the forward end of the boat are
auge piles Of the larger pieces of bag
gage. too heavy and unwieldy for the
immigrants to carry in their arms.
Judging from the poverty expressed in
the costumes of the people, one would
not expect them to bring many posses
sions with them, but the fact remains
that there are bundles, baskets, boxes
and budgets Of all descriptions, in addi-
tion to the trunks and chests which
must be moved by the expressman.
The most picturesque arrivals are the
italian and Polish women, with their re-
splendent shawls and the gayly-deco-
rated handkerchiefs which cover their
heads in lieu of hats. Their gowns are
always short enough to satisfy the most
advanced dress reformer, and the most
popular style of foot covering seems to
be high knee boots Of stout leather. pre-
cisely like those worn by the men. The
women march ashore with the heavy
clumping tread which the boots compel
frequently carrying huge bundles upon
their heads and smaller ones in their
arms. Sometimes. however, II is baby
which takes the place OF second bun
die, and there may be two or three tod
dlers of varying sizes clinging to their
mothers skirts.
The father Of the family Is not idle
either: his arms are full of what are
presumably more family treasures il
boxes and bags. The wrappings Of til,
bundles are remarkable for their diver
sity. Besides the brown sacking ther,
are brilliant pink calicoes and multi
colored plaids, corresponding In kind Il
the clothes Of the owners. Not even tn,
children are exempt from burden-beaf'
ing. Nearly everyone that can walk hni
something to look after, and many o
them are seen to be hugging fast littl,
wicker or wooden chairs, evidently thei
own private property. Sometimes ,
band of Hollau6ers are conspicuou
among their poorer neighbors by rea
son of their gathering wooden shoe
and general air of better health ana
prosperity.-N " Tribune.