New-York tribune., 1902-12-25
HAD MEYER SEEN SANTA.
Grorn Up Italians Make Kfiss
K71ngke's ACQUAINTANCE.

An amphitheatre with seats ranging from floor
upward. packed with a living mass Of humanity;
pictures Of George Washington and Garibaldf.
draped with the flags Of America and Italy; down
in the central space. big, bright tree. and Santa
Claus and his little bag. This was the Christmas
scene the Italian Evening School on Deonard-st
Five hundred Italian boys, girls and men gathered
st the Christmas festivities in the big school con-
Quoted by the Children's Aid Society Less than a
third were girls, for the Italian parent feminine
education is more less of superhuity- On the
masculine side of the house members ranged from
little boys up TO mature men. who stand by the
bootblack chair the peanut stand all day. per-
haps and 20 to school at night Many OF these
hig boys and men had never seen Santa Claus
before Tor the benevolent old fellow is sort OF
German saint, who has extended his operations 10
include the United States. but does not operate
much in Latin countries.
Santa appeared after the Christmas songs had
been sung in all the glory Of flowing white locks
snd snow hecked coat. carrying his historic pack
AMI followed by one Of his children, a small Santa
IN Esquirnaux clothes He was greeted with up
-oarious applause, which redoubled when ne
presented Mrs. L. E wygant, the principal, with a
handsome silver loving cup This cup was pres
emf from q club Of young men connected with the
school, and indication OF the regard IN
which she is held by the school and the nelghpor-
hood Probably no one knows the Italian quarter
better or is better known by it, for Mrs Wygant
has taught in an italian school on the same spot
for tvrenty-fve years, without missing day
This school is great centre of activity In the
italian colony Men and boys come from the w1ids
of Jersey or the distant regions OF The Bronx 10
attend it and often the immigrants first evening In
the new world is spent in Of its classes where
he has been brought by a friend Several OF the
a-hers are italian young women. gTaouaUes Va
the public schools, and there is one Itanah cldss'
supported by the Italian government. IN winch tne
instructor is q young woman, recently a ueacnei
IN Italv This is a useful class, for many OF lhe
immigrants cannot read write their own IAN
image In some little Calabrian village they may
have fo1-nd small need of these accomplishments
hui in America they feel the need OF writing nome
and n cos+s them from 1G 20 . cents TO get edch
letter written. Many children also, Dorm III 'i4'
coun.rx are sent to this class by parents ANXIOUS
IN have than know read and write ltaliaii
as well as English Little boys attend tnls e'eliis
scbnol because they work in the daytime hey an
have teir working papers to show that thev are
fourteen hut they look very young ano sniaii
fourteen -. .I,ool NJ, 9
The Christmas treat at the evening schoo4 We We
;oa c-esro and cake served in the class Ioolns ar
e. &c eve-cises in the assembly room ~eIe o a.;
II took long time TO serve nye huq hII Class got
erS 5iffeSent rooms. and the ltaiIar L.. o,,-7Is
e. sIs. -, al IrefTv late in evening Ihe PusI6 ia
tberesore rejected such superfilltles a. csxe in
s,oons s-,6 vent off home, each J,a
~ bsrd AID a square of brick cream "'i 49,
- - Sa-,1e- Of melting in the otner