The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-28

/ kM$A on the spindle side VINO at
Il -. one time or another in the
past 200 years came over
| from Europe in t4e steerage. and IL on
/ arrival they had from any source the
| kindly care and protection this United
| States government today bestows on It's
| immigrant women, then let US be
| thankful for them, even though they
be long since dead and gone.
Few OF us native born are aware OF
the extent of that kindly official care
1t makes us prouder than ever OF our
| country when we know that the gov
! ernment practically holds itself respon-
sible for the fate on landing OF every
steerage woman passenger that sets
| foot on our shores.
There are about 100000 women immi-
grants to the United States annually
| and nearly half of them land at Ellis
/ island. in New York bay. There the
offices OF the immigration commission
er are; there every steerage passenger
must pass strict examination as 10
| health. previous good character and
ability 10 maintain himself ere ne is
turned loose on the land. Usually
about one-fourth or one-hfth oil the
steerage passengers are OF the feminine
whole shipload of Irish and Scandna-
Wan girls who migrate hither to go out
to service. They are country maidens.
often pretty as a snowdrop or rose
The credentials OF every one of them
are examined. Many have through
tickets, bought in Europe, 10 friends in
the west, with money for expenses on
the way. These are allowed TO go with
out delay Then there are those who
expect friends to meet them on arrival
In New York. go. then. into the de-
tention room and wait till your friends
come" says the officer. and to the de-
tention room they are sent Matrons
and women attendants who speak the
language of every immigrant are in the
receiving building 10 attend on their
own sex These women government
employees must pass civil service ex-
animation before they receive appoint
ment. A matron's salary Is 1900
year.
Human nature is human nature, and
all flesh is grass. Sometimes innocent
immigrant girls make the acquaintance
of persons on shipboard who for their
own purposes pretend TO be the girls
great friends They know the govern
ment regulations in regard TO womens
landing on our shores. They tell girl
they know OF a good place for her at
once on arrival. The girl believes them.
They then instruct her TO tell the off,
GERS that she is a relative of the one
whose acquaintance she made on the
ship so that she can get out quickly
and 20 TO the place. The steerage peo-
pie are landed at Ellis island The girl
who has been taught her story Is de-
tained till her friends come for her
The pretended relative arrives first. He
tells the officials he has come. let us
say. for his niece. Ragna Jansen. Rag
ma Jansen is called and approaches
smiling, her little luggage in her hand.
She starts to go away with her uncle.
Here is the next scene, which I myself
Witnessed the other day at Ellis island:
Stop" says the clerk. Come this
way"
Then he says to the man. This young
lady is your niece, is she7"
Yes" answers the man glibly, "and
have come to take her home"
Well" says the United States officer.
what are the names of her father and
mother?"
The pretended uncle boggles. hesitates
and is lost. At length he confesses he
~ llol tAdtllg TIE unCie OF the girl
but he is her good, fatherly friend. and
he has a good place for her to work in
a boarding house.
You can't have her" said the officer
'Ragna. you must go back to the deten-
ton room" And back an attendant
led her. TO await the arrival of real
relatives. the fake uncle Sinking fool
ishly as he disappeared. baffied, the girl
protesting vehemently. In the deten-
tion room. like other silly feminines, she
burst into tears, not knowing, poor fool.
1t is not exactly garden of Eden. that
detention room fun OF the steerage out
pourings Of all nations, and she did so
want 20 get OUT
II nobody at all comes for a girl and
she has no friends or money. she is
turned over 10 the society OF the church
10 which she belongs. and this always