The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-18

Happenings Noted when Immigrants
Arrive.
New York Times.

New York Times.
The happy side Of Ellis island is down
stairs. where the immigrants are being dis
charged into the arms OF their friends.
There is an iron grating AT one end OF the
space where the officer sits behind which
the immigrants wait. In front is railing.
behind which the friends are crowded. The
friends must pass in front OF the oficers
desk give name address. business ard re-
lationship. The immigrant. meanwhile.
stands back by the grating. and the two
signal each other silently. with beamins
eyes, until at last the officer waves them
away together. They side decorously
around the corner Of the grating. then the
newcomer drops his baggage and they kiss
rapturously.
Indeed, this long aisle OF departure should
be called kissing Lane. Men kiss each
other as often as women. and the happi-
ness in the faces OF all is enough to recon-
Gle the hercest neutrality-suspicious..
But the thing that CRATES upon American
sensibiities is the way in which the men
let the women carry their luggage: those
vast. wooden valises, covered with light
printed cottons; those mighty bundles, done
up in sheet or tableclOth, o. those great
covered baskets, in which the immigrant
woman packs her grip Tor America. 4
young man and his wife came out the other
CAV and were met by another. evidently
the brother OF one of them. They kissed
joyfully all around, but the two men per-
mitted The woman TO walk away carrying
a baby and a bundle, while they went
empty handed.
All the various grades OF Americaniza-
ton upon the immigrant are visible at this
point. A young man in checked summer
suit soft, light gray felt hat and tan shoes
meets his brother, a long, raw boy in
black cloth coat with swallow tails reach
ing TO his heels and the seams edged with
Astrakhan He sets his unwieldly wooden
grip upon the floor of kissing Lane 10 en-
brace his brother but the other puts him
off somewhat hastily, knowing he is In
land where men do not waste kisses IN
such fashion.
Two decent middle-aged women. in white
shirtwaists and neat black skirts, meet a
bedraggled little bareheaded girl OF four
teen or So in hobnailed shoes and dragging
a bundle big bedtck. She respect
fully kisses their hands, but one Is glad 10
see that they return II upon her cheeh-
They are two aunts, who have sent over
for a young niece whom they will bring up
and educate.
There are two girls in white hats laden
with roses, their faces eager with JOY, who
quickly satisfy the officer that they are per-
fectly competent TO look after their brother,
big lump OF boy who STANDS waiting
Once they get him In kissing Lane they
set upon him with one accord, and Tor a
minute one cannot tell which is brother and
which is sister.
At this place one may make up his mind
finally as TO the salient feature which dif-
ferentiates American women from all
others.
IT is the hat.
Men of all classes I'm the Western races
wear a hat, il seems; but only IN America
does the woman Of the pOpulace rise 10 the
same level. And. just when the lady OF
Japan puts off her charming kimona ana
dons the ugly Western dress certain
changes are wrought in her husband :
treatment OF her. when the immigrant
woman puts on a hat IL seems 10 mark
period in her progress.
There Is pretty. black-eyed woman at
the desk, fairly quiyering with Impotence.
She wears a white lace hat, a gorgeous hat.
and pink chiffon boa. and she waves her
hand and kisses her fingers to two young
! sisters, as pretty as she, but worn and
weary with their voyage, bareheaded, and
] with large sacks Of clothing upon their
/ backs. The magic word said, she flies 10
/ their embrace. hugs and kisses them. and
/ impetuously sweeps both their bags into
/ her own hands The man who is with her
| takes the bags from her and carries them
both himself. But, then. she wears a hat.