Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-24

mast 200 years came over
from Europe In the steerage' ana II on
arrival they had from any source the
kindly care and protection TINS uh'teu
states government today bestows on us
immigrant women, then let US De
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
II makes us prouder than ever OF our
country when we know that the gov
eminent practically holds itself respon-
sible for the fate on landing OF every
steerage woman passenger thal sets
foot on our shores.
There are about 100000 women iinmi-
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
err are: there every Storage passenger
must pass strict examination as 10
health. previous good character ana
ability to maintain himself ere ne Is
turned loose on the land. Usually
about one-fourth or one-ffth OF the
steerage passengers are Of the FEMININE
sex. but sometimes there is almost
whole shipload Of Irish and Scandina-
Wan girls who migrate hither to go Out
TO service. They are country maldehs,
often pretty as snowdrop or Wild
rose.
The credentials of every one OF them
are examined. Many have through
tickets, bought in Europe, to friends IN
the west with money for expenses on
the way. These are allowed to go with
out delay Then there are those VINO
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-
tentlon room they are sent. Matrons
and women attendants who speak the
language OF every immigrant are In the
receiving building TO attend on their
own sex. These women government
employees must pass a civil service eX-
animation before they receive appoint
ment. A matron's salary is $1,000
year.
Human nature II 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 20 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 OIL
GERS that she is a relative Of the one
whose acquaintance she made on the
ship so that she can get out quickly
and 60 to the place The steerage peo-
pie are landed at Ellis island. The girl
who has been taught her story Is de-
tanned 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 she?"
yes" answers the man gllbly, "and
I 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
is not exactly the uncle Of the girl,
hut he is her good fatherly friend and
he has a good place for her 10 work in
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. bafiied, the girl
protesting yehemently. In the deten-
ton room, like other silly feminines. she
burst into tears. not knowing, poor fool.
II is not exactly garden Of Eden, that
detention room full Of the Storage out