The sun., 1902-10-05
hundreds Of dollars and then return to
ltalY for he remain indar Of their dars

nuuuIeu OI uOldTs anu lnen return 10
Italy for the remainder Of their days
Now, though they don't love Italy less
the bonds that unite them to this country
have become much stronger and this is
the land Of the present and future for them
Young America has invaded their homes
in the shape Of their children who are at
tending public schools.
The wealthy Italians, no matter what
their origin, are social souls, fond of good
living the theatre, the opera and especially
the racecourse They enjoy life all the
better on account Of their early hardshps
and their vivacity makes them notable
additions 70 tho circles that receive them.
Though thrifty. they are rather generous
than mean. and though they all drink
vine they are temperate. Their greatest
vice seems to be gambling. More than
half the knings and shootings that hap
pen among them have their origin in this
gambling.
Year by year the tendency of the Italians
10 think and act for themselves in poll
tics grows stronger. The Italian vote,
ten years ago, was the absolute chattel Of
the padrones whose agents secured the
emigrants in Italy and brought them out
10 work under secret contract. The pa
drones, in their turn. were the servants of
one or other of the minor political bosses
and all the men they controlled pumped
their votes as they were ordered
Since that time the padrone's influence
has been much weakened and the Italian
vote is struggling toward Independence.
Al the last election both parties sought to
conciate it by putting Italian candidates
on their tickets.
Though it has usually been cast for the
Democrats, because the padrones have
depended on Democratic city officials for
contracts the Italian vote is al heart Re-
publican. The prosperous intelligent Ital-
iana are Republicans on principle,
Americans who live near Italian colonies
are bewildered by the number of festivals
observed by the inhabitants They keep
American holidays with enthusiasm, but
in addition seem to have at least dozen
Fourth Of Julys when they decorate their
houses with bunting parade in all the glory
of regalis and in the evening deafcn the
neighborhood with cannon and guns and
light up the aky with fireworks
This is all on account Of patron saints.
In Italy each locality has its patron saint.
These patron saints have followed the
Italians 10 America and are honored here.
A. has been said, the padrone is not 50
strong "a he was. He still has his agents
in Italy. hut they get fewer recruits than
formerly and those who do fall into the
padrone's clutches emancipatc them selves
much sooner than formerly.
L.. 81 ,l.,,,tt. ltN,t fall
81 i'll for the ignorant Italian. One hat was
very frequent in past years was tho bank.
Enterprsing fellow Countrymen used 10
So, up what they called banks, in little
shop. throughout the Italian colonies, The
Italians deposited their savings IN them
and every now and then one of the bank
ers gathered all the cash hr could lay his
hands on and ran away. leaving a mob Of
depositors who wanted to cut him mp into
souvenirs
Now tho Italians have found ont that there
are banks and banks and they pat ronize
solid institutions. Some savings banks
have enormous amounts of their money on
deposit and they arc notable for the regu-
larity with which they apply 10 receive
their interest.
active and successful. hut the work Of the
United States Secret Service mon has put
a stop TO most OF their operations. Still
there are plenty Of rascals in III" Italian
colonies.
A typical operation Of this sort was per-
formed in Brooklyn six months ago. A
looking Italian mounted the
bootback stand Of a fellow count ryman
near the Borough Hall and asked while he
was getting a polish on his shoes, where
was the house Of the Italian priest.
Il have made a lot Of money" he said.
"and am going to give the priest $40. 900 in
order that he may bestow 1t on some worthy
fellow countryrnan."
"Why give il to the pricst?" asked the
bootblack
Il don't know who else to give il TO-" re-
piled the rich stranger
"Give il to me- suggested the boorback.
"You?" said tho other.
He thought for awhile and then said.
All, but how do know that you would
make good Use Of i'' How do know that
you are not spendthrft?"
"Oh. no, no." cried tho bootblack. II am
a careful man would do much with your
money. I already have 5000 saved
Show II 10 me-" said the stranger
1T ia at homo with my wife" said the
bootblack Il will get IT,"
He quickly brought his money and gave