The sun., 1902-10-05
ITALIANS MAKING THEIR way.
TYPICAL CASES or SUCCESS IN
THE BROOKLYN COLONY.
Men Who Began With Nothing and Are
Now Rich-Itaiians Becoming Amer.
icanized. Too-Lost Grip Of the
Padrones--Swindiers Among Them.

Fifteen years ago there was in Brooklyn
thick-set, good-humored young fellow
who was known to all his acquaintanceS
"a Tony. He lived in one of the worst
garrets in one of the worst italian tene-
ments on Union street, near the Bay. and
he spent his days and much OF his nights
toiling about with trunks on his back.
He spoke little English, he ate bla ok
bread and garlic and onions, with macaroni
and cheese as an occasional treat, and he
| worked for 81 day Tor fellow country
man who was in the express business. All
no owned was the old suit OF clothes on
his back and the strength and courage
that nature had given him.
To-day there il a brisk. int Iii gent look
ing, dark-complex American citizen
| OF 35 years or so, who owns an entire block
| of houses and shops on Union street and
has a handsome cottage at Bay Ridge
He Ia well dressed, he speaks fair English
even though he can hardly read and
write; his wife and children ride in car
riage and are attended by servants, and
people call him Mr. Antonio.
And yet he was Tony the porter.
He came here first as a sailor working
| 'ci w. iiis iIct pihS' wa
was in the eSpressman's employment
When he had scraped together t2s he
bought very old horse and wagon and
set up for himself in the express business.
Soon he had good wagon. then two good
wagons, Then he took lease of house
and subet it. and aiter that his capital
doubled every year.
Such is the story Of Tony. II Ia typical
Of the success that is almost common In the
! various Italian quarters to-day. The his
tory Of Nincsnzo, for instance. differs from
1t only in details
Twelve years ago yincenzo was a boot
black with a stand at the corner Of Front
and Main streets. Providence one day
led the late John ]. McGarry, the politician
and contractor. to patronize Vnoenzo.
McGarry was thoughtful during the oper-
tion on his boots. but the fact that Vim
cenzo was a cheerful and willing worker. and
that what his hand found to do he did well
caught his attention.
Can you find half dozen men TO work
for mef' he asked.
"Sure!' cried Vincenzo as many "a you
want"
He promptly got McGary the half dozen
men and saw that they were good and fit.
McGarry liked his style, and Vincenzo a
month later, sold out his boot black busi-
ness and went TO bossing sub-contrac,s.
He put the same industry, honesty and
eye to artistic finish into this work that
had distinguished his shoe backing and the
result is that he is now one Of Brooklyn's
Leading contractors with fortune. One
Q 10, 30, ka ,b,,,o To-
tute, another is in Columbia University and
his residence il an ornament 10 the Heights,
Then there is Michael. Ten years ago
Michael was a longshoreman helping TO
unload a steamer On the pier an impor-
tant nt-looking gentleman tried 10 instruct
an Italian skipper.
The Italian skipper did not understand.
The gentleman shouted. Still the Italian
skipper did not understand.
Loud calls for an interpreter arose. but
there was no interpreter till the stream Of
human ants that were toiling up and down
the gangplank stopped and with many
gestures. and much broken English. pushed
one Of their number, a grimy young fellow
whose hlackened face was illuminated by
cleaning eyes and glistening teeth, to the
front.
The excited gentleman caught at him.
He proved 30 capable and intelligent an
Interpreter that the gentleman found him
another place where he used his muscles
less and his brains more.
He did much more interpreting and pres
emily passed on 10 other things. To-day
Michael is one Of tho most prosperous
stevedores Of New York harbor.
Sixteen years ago man who hadn't
500 to his name hired dim little shop at
the foot Of Union street and with one assist
ant began making macaroni, which he
peddled about himself To-day that man
has big factory and almost monopolizes
the macaroni trade Of the United States.
He has house on the Park Slope and his
automobile. with his wife and daughters
riding in II. goes down the Coney Island
Boulevard every fine day
On the stafT of 81, Francis College is a
professor who five years ago was working
on an Italian daily newspaper for o. week
There was need Of Latin inst ructor at the
college, and this man applied for the place,
The superior found him TO lie good linguist.
and his immediate engagement followed.
4 ragpickor who few years ago was
going around with bag on his back now
owns five houses on Carroll street and lives
in style on the Hill.
Another Tony who was boot black him
self few years ago and now controls
many Of the bootblaCks on the ferryboats
and at the big hotels. proved his standing
in the sporting world the other day by
selling racehorse for $4,000
Rocco, who ia Tony's rival in the ferry
and hotel bootblack business and lives
in Mott street is politician Of note
who serves under the banner Of Timothy
d. Sullivan,
Tho man who controls the second hand
bottling business in Brooklyn began twelve
years ago with push cart.
And 40 il goes all over the city. Italians
who seemed to be hopslessly handicapped
by lack Of education and ignorance Of the
country are making fortunes out Of things
that Americans would throw away and In
ways that might seem well nigh impossible.
They control or are prominent in boot
blacking. rag picking, fruit selling. street
peddling, all sorts Of navy work and much
Of the loading and unloading Of vessels.
They are spreading out all the time and
invading new fields.
There are Italian bookmakers at the
racetrack now and Italian barber shops
apA raat,prapta ara comma, srhz.a -.