The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
GREEKS IN NElr YORK.


@O oSNA ANrNh
Future-Fern Gathering.
or the 1000 Greeks who form the Helle'
colony in New York fewer than POO arc women.
and only a small proportion OF these are pure
Crock in blood. The Greeks who como to
America are, with few EXCEPTIONS, shepherds
or farmers. with now and then a sailor. The
formor take to the pushcart life at once. The
newcomer Is taken care OF on his landing by
friends from his own locality. 1t In the boast
Of the Greeks that none OF their nationality
has ever applied to the city for aid. Nc matter
how poor they be, no matter how their savings
may have been absorbed by repeated arrests
for violating city ordinances, they will find
some way TO help q brother in need.
Tho colony is now comparatively poor. Ten
years ago. or even five years ago. many of
them were prosperous. They tell now how
when the custom was started among the
Crooks OF peddling flowers on the streets. $50
might easily be picked up in u few hours on a
pleasant day. and in a week sometimes there
were four or five such days. Fruit. too. made
as much for the rushcart men. But now all
that is changed and 81 q day is considered by
them as a very good average profit So
frequently are they arrested for violating
city ordinances that sometimes they make
pools on their chances when starting out in the
morning. The Greek is n gambler by instinct.
The pushcart man Is as hard worked as q slave.
II 1t is his own stock with which he starts out.
he will travel from Madison or Oliver streetto
Harlem. starting at 8 o'clock in the morning
and not returning until 10 or later at night
Then his stand must be made ready for this
next morning before he may sleep. The large
majority OF the Greek colony lead this life.
Down in Madison. Cherry and Oliver streets
Is the colony of the fruit and pushcart men.
Lately there has grown up on the west side
above Fourteenth street. in the locality where
40 rrNn fna IN hin lnnfl, n 1 IN "a NJ Nnrns
peddlers and dealers. Down in Madison. street
are many restaurants that are the gathering
two or more Greeks meet there goes on the
game Of chance. It may be for only penny
| savings OF a year frequently have changed
hands. In at. least two places in the lower
fSSlGny at ea@ stretei at no Se wye Years. T9 ip At t al tynSes
these, games Of chance are the, Greek dissipa-
ton. but the stakes, are SO small that it takes a
There Is one importer who makes a business
OF supplying to his countrymen the peculiar
products that the Greek palate demands.
After one or two experiences with Greek
e cheese and bread ,for frugal lovers, The
try are almost as rich as meats and fully rs sus-
tairipg. so that i does not seem so odd that
| cheese and still fought well.
1t is since the TurkishIGreek war e,specially
ony. At that time savings OF years were poured
out on Greece. Men from nearby towns who
had established fruit and flower trades will
took 1t back to, fight for the Great Idea"
When it was all over some came back in all
they had once done. Conditions had changed.
This country. was soon embroiled in its own
war, and business was not prosperous.
Some OF the Greeks take wives to themselves
and become citizens with the intention Of re.
manning here. But they are a minority; Most
and see no reason why they, should not aid in
its il r r. r. To that end 3Gat they hey long msv to Hs-
them out on Greece when they return.
One OF the employments. to which the Greeks
have, taken IS that Of fern gathering; The
Greeks found a few Frenehmen at it, imme-
iarged the Held. Ferrontos was. the chief fern
frosts come the fern Gatherer goes into the
woods with his knife and cords. Sometimes
one man has several others working for him.
Westchester. over into Connecticut and New
Jersey. up along the Palisades they 20:
a time. live In the deep. woods where the
finest ferns, grow. The ferns are cut and
they are piled up in some deep hollow in the
woods. Sometimes fifty or q hundred thou
sand go into one mound. over which are thrown
earth and leaves and bushes. All trace OF the
green treasure Is hidden but some mark left
by which it can be discovered by the proprietor
Then at another point still other ferns are
gathered In the same fashion. and when win;
ter comes and no green ferns are to be finn
his product. In winter the contents Of the
cache is worth four times its summer value.
1t Is q matter Of honor not to open another
some peculiar customs are adhered 70 blythe
One cropped out after the murder Of Ferrontos.
Two friends placed the, dead maids clothing
upon a table and. until the murdered brigand
was buried, spent their time. In. wailing for
him. This is a recognized method OF express
ing grief in Greece.