The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-11

Something About New York's Famous
Ellis Island and the Immigrants
Who Land There.
Rv Constance Alerr.Eeld-

VINO Ldllu iiiSi q
By Constance MerriEeld-
had always thought that II was the
easiest thing in the world for foreigner
to come over here and get q finger in our
pie But | found out the other day after
q visit, 70 the famous immigrant landing
IN New York harpor that it wasn't On
course, l Tad a general idea that people
coming from the other side had TO go
through some sort of form or another IN
order to be allowed to saird-imln grants,
mean-but as to just what it was |. ike
good many other people, was woefui-y In
The dark
1t wasn't idle curiosity on my part that
inspired the invest. cation, either. | can
assure you, for / Went TO the place at the
spec IL commend OF my managing editor,
who teatg! athed me TO write up this
UNDUE feature CT Gotham especially FOR
the readers OF this newspaper. Noticing
nv strange appearance and the look Of
nuuiry upon my countenance one OF The
men at the Barge Office stopped me 10
ask my mission, and inning 1t out, sus-
gested that I get passage for the BOAT
which runs between the Barge Office and
Ellis Island.
\ DIFFICULT TASK.
AS there wasn't anybody around the
birSp. CIIltS NIlJlli A4lSNr olt444 iAAiS''
exactly now l was going to get across
TO the island until l happened to IN nix
that I'd make a try al the Sateman Who
takes up the tickets and passes at tae
entrance Of the Ellis Island 1oat-dock.
So | Just put On my most bdsueSs-like
expression, but feeling Just about as you
would if you were trying 10 30 by the
doorkaeper of q theatre Without ticket.
and marched boldly down the DOCK look
tho neither "a the 7 gilt nor lett.
Tickets, please came sharply from
the man in Uniform as [ hurried by the
little signal box in which he sat
.'Newspaper. reporter | said br.skiy
over my shoulder, and while the man
rt5od staring after me w th sort OF how
s,IdeIknow-that expression on MS face.
J rushed on down the dock and walked
aboard the little steamer wh ch was just
about to start on its 1 O'Clock trip.
Taking a seat on the bench outside the
cabin labelled For LADIES' l began TO
take an inventory OF my fello"-passen-
gers who seemed TO me 20 belong 10
about every nationality under the sun.
Most Of them were fairly well dressed.
and where there was more than two IN a
party they sat in little groups around the
decks ana chatted volubly in the languages
OF their various countries.
THE EXAMINATION.
From decknand I learned that they
were the friends OF foreigners who were
undergoing examina ton on Ell 5 Island,
and that they were going over TO join
them and come back with them when they
had been duly released from the super
vision of the Federal authorities.
Sitting near me on the bench I noticed
a blixom young woman with a we'll
tanned face and a clear, br ght complex
ion, who seemed TO pc in trouble about
something.
rrsl NJ q
though she would like 10 speak to me.
all of which I answered in the most en-
couragin, way / could. she slid herself
along by my side, and holding ont a
printed slip for my inspection, asked me
to please tell her i: there was anything
on the paper calling for the payment Of
charges. She spoke in a pleasant, we'll
modulated voice, and with an accent
which vas so fun Of br-r-rs that I took
Il tor granted that the highlands O.:
Scotland were her native hills.
The slip turned out 20 DE a receipt from
transfer company for two pieces OF
baggage. but the only reference to money
that I could ana was that which declared
thai the company would not be RESPONSE
Die for more II n $50 damages TO any one
pisca unless the value had been previously
declared by the owner. When had en-.
shered har II this effect the gIrl wen
on to tell me that the two pieces OF bag
gage referred 10 were bundle and a
valise. both Of which she was perfectly
aols TO carry without .nyboiys aid, ana
shs looked II.
a JEALOUS AGENT.
Now they want me TO pay thirty-fve
cents apiece for them said the girl.
plaintve'y. lard Heaven knows haven
the money to spare Why didn's they tell
me on the vessel that there were charges
"A man took them from me, and gave
me this little piece of brass. saving NOT 70
lose II. and then I was put aboard the
boat and taken to the island. without ever
seeing them again.
The transfer company's asen, at the
steamer had evidently been ove.-zeaIous
IN his employers Interests II not explain
ing 10 the girl that II her things were
Checked they would be charged for.
She had passed her examination prompt
" at Ellis Island. she SAID, and had that
morning come over to the bagga ge-room
at the Barge Oftlce and claimed her bag
gage, az she had been instructed 70 do,
out rather than pay the-to hes-Iarge
sum OF seventy cents without protest.
she was on her way back 10 the island.
with the rather vague idea OF presenting
the case to some one in authority
Now, if there u anything I am fond
er of than another 1t is to right the
sWronessot neopse who are moo AHA VT
out influence. so instantly arraved my
self OF the sid Of the Immigrant girl.
FEAR NOTHING.
BY this tine We were al the isarc:.
and as we disembarked l told the girl.
who was prcfuse IN her thanks, to FOL
low me and ar nothI7s''
Down a long platform divided by a.
high p cket fence we walked until we
ached the main building. which occu-
Pes. should say. at least an acre OF
ground. Surrounding It w~re number