Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-05-13
NEW YORK LETTER
Points about Spanish Immigra-
ton to the United States.


NEW YORK, May IL Especial. AL
though there was an unusual and uneX-
pected influx of Spanish immigrants last
week who were promptly sent back TO
the land whence they came, the number of
Spaniards arriving here this year so far is
rather below than above the number of
the same period of last year
The total number of Spanish immi-
grants at this port during the fiscal year
of 1886 was 351. For tho fiscal year
1867, closing July /, there were nearly 100
more, or 4lS. To date during this fiscal
year. with less than two months remain
ing, there have been less than 300. More
como from Ireland, Scotland or Germany
in a single month as n rule than from
Spain in an entire year, while at present
rates the proportion of Italians to Span-
iards is as 90 or moro to /. But II must
be admitted that the grade of the Spanish
immigrants is generally above the aver
age, nearly every one being well trained
at some sort of skilled labor.
Thus among the Spanish immigrants
arriving during the last fiscal year there
were bakers, II clerks, carpenters, Is
mariners, masons, 20 cigar makers,
blacksmith, "A cabinet maker and a dress
maker, besides other skilled workers,
while of unskilled laborers there were few
or none, and nearly every one had money
enough on hand to take care Of himself
until he should be able to earn his way.
They como from all tho spanish provinces
and not from some special part Of the
kingdom, as in the case with the immi-
grants from some other countries.
One spaniard's Hard Luck.
So far the Spaniards in New York,
Q q I'll. . I,..r .ttr,
try, have been sufficiently careful as to the
expression Of their feelings To escape get
ting into troublo with their enthusiastic
neighbors. a story of the patriotism of
American schoolboys and the hard luck OF
a loyal Spaninrd comes from IA nearby sub
urban village which is probably fair in
dex of hat would happen to any span
lard who should bo too Outspokcn here.
The Spanish subject Of this tale settled
in this village some ten years or more ago.
He was abjectodly poor at the time, and
some kindly disposed villagers made up
small purse to set him up in the peanut
business He attended to il strictly, gave
the schoolboys of the place good measure
and soon had sufficient trade to enable
him to put a snug little sum in the bank
every month. After awhile he added con-
fectionery to the stock Of his modest stand,
and two or three years ago surprised his
old friends by buying fairly substantial
and roomy residence on one of the well to
do streets Of the village. Ever since then
no has been n well recognized village char
actor to whom every one proudly directs
the attention Of all strangers, and his bust
ness and property have steadily increased.
One evening last week, however, he
made a fatal mistake \ schoolboy Gus
toner presented him with an American
flag, suggesting that it would add to his
popularity to fly 1t over the stand. This
was like applying fire 10 fax. In moment
the Spaninrd was jumping up and down
in an ecstasy of rage, uursing the flag and
the country in both English and spanish
and pouring out imprecations on the local
members of the national guard who were
about TO 20 into camp and upon all Yam
kee pigs" In general, especially Sigsbee
and Sampson and Dewey. When the span
lard had exhausted his vocabulary, he
trampled the flag in the mud.
BY this time a small crowd Of angry
boys had gathered about the stand, but as
the hour was late they contented them
selves with informing the Spaniard that
he must apologize the next day or take the
consequences. This made him more fran
tic than ever, but ho was allowed to 90
/ home unframed. Early the next morning
before he opened his stand a friend advised
him TO keep dark for few days, but he
declared he would not and started boldly
for the stand. He had no sooner got in
/ sight Of the place, however, than he CON
/ cluded discretion was the better part, for
the stand was surrounded by u bowling
/ mob Of boys of from 10 to 10, every ono of
/ whom waved an American flag. This re-
/ suited in his beating a hasty retreat to his
/ home. Later he got clear Of the town
secretly, being escorted for protection
| by guard of two constablos. The boys
| started after him, vowing vengeance for
his pros spanish words, and when it was
| learned be had skipped they covered his
/ house with their flags, which at last ac-
/ counts were still waving triumphantly in
every breeze that blows.
To complete the story it must be added
that the boys also destroyed his stand ut
terly and ate all the peanuts and candy in
stock, TO the great and immediate profit of
half dozen village doctors.
Our Consul at Manila.
o. F. Williams of Rochester, United
States consul at Manila, whose dispatch
to his wife saying the Spaniards had sur
rendered seems to have been the first real
! ly authoritative statement of that fact, is
personally known to many New Workers.
He is an appointee of President Mckinley,
but his service in the Philippines is not
his first consular experience, as he was
consul at Hayro under President Harri-
son. Mr., Williams is not far from so, is
an American from the crown of his head
to tho sole of his foot and before he entered
the consular service was engaged in edu-
cational work, besides being an occasional
and valued contributor to the newspapers.
His recently published consular report
Rs to the resources of the Philippines and
the great value to the United States of
close commercial relations herewith
shows that he has made careful inyestiga-
ton Of the subject. He has doubtless made
a close study also of the people and gen.
eral conditions there and will no doubt be
of material benefit to Admiral Dewey
| in whatever administrative work that gal
liant seaman has to carry ON between the
present and the arrival of definite instruc-
tions from the government.
Plenty of War Plays.
If it were little earlier in the season,
there would surely be a great deal of money
to be made this spring out of new war
plays Even as it is there will be quite a
run of what might be termed the belliger-
ent drama before the theaters close for the
summer. "The Man-o' wars Man" and
mi ~