The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-29
p FEW WORDS
OF MORHLIZING
Influence Wrought by Wom-
en- in Immigrants Homes.
1t Not Only Benefits the Head o.
the Family, But Permcates
the Nation.

| the NhtiOn.
Much fear has been expressed in this
| country within the past few years in re-
| gard TO foreign immigration, and there
| certainly does need TO be some reform
! in the mat. er. No foreign nation should
| be allowed the privilege of dumping its
! pauper element on our shores. But in
| spite of the pros and cons, there is one
| element that comes here, an element
! which, during all the years of our coun-
| try's history. has contributed 10 its pros
| perity and greatness. 1t is the element
| which comes here to build up homes. No
| matter how ignorant or rude Il man may
/ be, if he comes with wife and children
and goes to work to build up a home.
he is usually a safe man to have in the
community. 1t is quite wonderful how
| soon environment will change the char
acter of a people. The writer has lived
long enough to see wonderful transfer
nations Of this nation. and doubts not
that some of her readers have witnessed
the same.
Women come here from foreign coun-
tries; they are plodding and ignorant
They cover their heads with bright hand
kerchiefs or shawls; they go into the
fields and into the Kitchens, and do what
ever their hands find to do. Their chill
dren are sent TO the public schools. and.
presto, in few years these children
grow up TO be men and women, and. be-
fore the carefully bred and delicately
constructed native is aware, are occupy
ing some OF the best positions in the
land.
The first generation dress plainly and
live plainly. The second generation live
little better, while the third usually oc-
cupy fine houses and eat choice viands;
they wear silks, velvets and diamonds;
they ride in carriages drive fine horses
and are the aristocracy Of our cities.
Some most excellent reasoners on soci-
illogical questions claim that one cause
of the marvellous success Of the foreign
population in this country is the fact
that the women carry the purse. NO
matter they say, how tyrannical a
man may be, he may even whip his wife,
but ne allows her 10 carry the money
She does the business largely for the
family. If a COW, or horse, or a bit
Of land is to be purchased she goes with
her husband to see about the bargain.
And this custom seems in some way to
react favorably upon the family
Probably the reason is that a man US
ually treats his children about as he does
mis- wife. If he allows his wife to do the
family financiering he is apt to favor
the children in like manner. As a re-
suit, the children come up with business
habits and after all business habits are
the basis of material prosperity in this,
or, indeed in any country.
The best writer's on the philosophy Of
civilization testify 20 the fact that be-
fore any nation can have science, Htera-
ture, music. art IN all their perfection it
must first have an accumulation of ma
terial wealth. The first generation must
go to work and accumulate property;
the second must add TO 1t. while the
third generation can leisurely cultivate
the higher powers of the mind. Just
when and where the Anglo-SdXon ceas-
ed to surrender up his purse to his wife
is not recorded. Some very good author
tiles are malicious enough to say that il
was when he first set foot on American
soil, But if Dickens be authority, that
cannot be true. for IL will be remember
cd that Barkis made life a sorry one for
poor Pegotty. He kept his money in a
chest under the bed. and SO difficult was
1t to get ii out that a veritable gun
powder plot" had to be planned each
week in order TO obtain the family sup
plies.
1t was probably an enemy of the Pu-
ritans who said that they tore down ev-
cry idol but Mammon, and that they
worsh!ped most devoutly.
If there be any truth in the statement
1t was possibly owing to the sterility
Of the New England soil. The tillers Of
that soil had to pinch and save until
the habits of saving and pinching be-
came fixed traits in their character.
This often proved unfavOrable 10 their
own families. Their children came up
without a knowledge of money or its
uses. They were deprived of a business
education. and the result has been the
enterprising children of foreigners have
come in and taken many of the good
positions away from them.
II was probably the same evil genius
who reported the story Of the Puritan
worShiping Mammon that gave wings TO
the following:
The wife of a down east farmer
wished to go to the city and trade. She
asked her husband for some money. The
farmer watched his chance and the first
passer by was hailed to give him change
for a dollar.
He said: 1.-THE fact is. the old woman
wants to go to the city and trade. and
l know If l give her this hull dollar
she'll fool It all away
OF course, such a man as that can
only be classed with Cinderella and the
Sleeping Beauty, for he could never have
had an existence on this free soil of
America.
Among the many favorable things that
can be said in regard to American insti-
tutions is the fact that they very soon
mold the foreign population to such
way of thinking that Old Glory has the
same meaning to them that 1t has to
the native born. And so long as this
happy state of things continues there
will "a M