The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-16
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FOREST
Frs.
AMERICA is MECCA
FOR WEST INDIANS.
Natives of the British Islands In This
Hemisphere DO Well in United
States.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

| REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Boston. Aug. 15.-Wh!le riding through
| West Indian village the other day an Amer
lean tourist stopped for refreshments.
School was being dismissed. and the boys
| always eager to see and speak with a
| stranger. crowded around him. The mar
| asked a few of them what they were going
to do when they grew up, and without ex-
! cepton they replied:
| Going to America, sir. soon as ever
| can get enough money for the passage
| That's the place where West Indians get
| on, for there's no room for them to sc
| ahead here
| The tourist made inquiries among all
classes of people, white and black, and
| found the same story everywhere Every
| family had son or daughter in the States
or one saving up money with the idea ol
| going there and making a fortune.
| America is the magnet for all enterprising
| spirits throughout the West Indies. There
| Boston. New York. Philadelphia, New Or
| leans Newport News. Baltimore and other
| cities along the Atlantic seaboard. These
| colonies never attract attention because
they are composed q. people who speak
| English and do not differ, outwardly. from
Americans. as most OF the other lmmleran AM
| do. But they are immigrant colonies. none
the less, with their own peculia1ties and
clannish sentiments.
THEY CLING TOGETHER
They cling together and make point OF
hunting up new arrivals from the Indies
and helping them to find their footing. They
retain feeling of loyalty toward their
they were born Rarely does a British,
Danish, Dutch or French West Indian be-
come an American citizen, however long he
may dwell in this country. In that RESPECT
grants.
And when they gather as they ;s, often do do
festive # Is 10 aas
honor to their own flag and their own mon
arch. But, though they thus decline to be
fons ana form an excellent in any
community in which they settle.
Usually they come to this country poor
haxs ns no 81
business methods. no acquaintance with the
ways of big city. Many young man ar,
where there is the largest exodus-with )?
or Sc in his pocket, and not a notion OF
what he is going to do or where he Is going
west Indian immigrants seldom have the
$50 required by law. but as they are always
first-class passengers the immigration in
Incredibly reckless. They will throw up a
job in Barbados. Jamaica or Antigua,
spend almost their last cent buying first
lea with wife and family. but without
money or prospects. -
THEY ALL SUCCEED.
Yet, somehow or other, they always
make good" and often win positions OF
Importance in the community.
when arrived here said a Jamaican
who holds a leading place in financial
circles in Boston. II was a youngster of
IS who had never seen a big town or city.
/ had just s. in my pocket. and my chum,
who came with me. had 81.
"Boston scared us at first-it was so
large and so full of people-but some West
Indian friends took us in hand and We got
MI oS clerks the first dav looked
for work. It was hard for the two Of us to
live on that 81 until our first pay day came
around. but we managed it. and ever since
we have gone ahead steadily.
american business houses as a rule. are
glad to employ British West Indians. They
are we'll educated. trained to responsibility
form youth. intent on making their way.
and familiar. Of course. with West Indian
products and requirements.
'I have followed the careers of hundreds
of West Indians who have come over here
and / have known very few of them to fail
and go back home again. Those few have
made the big mistake Of getting remit
tances from home"