New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-13

gangway and cabins. There are fewer tn saa tho
steerage passengers of. and consequently less yvav
Ing OF handkerchiefs and weeping The chief az
c'ternent appears TO be that OF boarding the
steamer The ticket itself. a piece of papAr as
large as page of foolscap has to be taken out A.
the loot OF the gangWay and shown. and what
Win exhibiting this and hanging on to their
monster bags they are kept busy for few rni,
utes Occasionally their trip up flying bridge is
delayed by parting salutations Sometimes an ac
qualntance accompanies them 10 the pier If it is
a man. there Is stout kissing on each cheek and
mucn embracing Sometimes the event is made q
day OF jolhty for the friends who remain possibly
'he servants or two or three households who have
obtained the day of for the occasion When the
FINLAND sailed a week ago two or three Italian
women OF different ages stood st the foot of the
sangway for nearly hour awaiting the de-
Parture OF the vessel When the band in the
saloon, half hour before the lines were cast off
began TO play a lively air it had the effect of
drawing tears to their eyes. AS the music died
away there were shining crystals under their lower
eyelashes- The effect Of the second piece by the
band was more severe than the first This time
the drops rolled down their cheeks. and they used
their handkerchiefs The third piece was more
than they could stand. and their bosoms rose and
fell convulsively they covered their faces with
their handkerchief
Once on board. the cornpIaisant mood returns It
does take long for the travellers to dispose Of
their baggage and prepare for the ocean voyage
The bag is thrown under the skeleton berth A
pipe or cigarette holder is pulled out, and he
is placdly smoking and surveying the preparations
for the departure of the vessel A few may have
musical instruments with them. In the steerage Of
the Finland TWO instruments could be heard an
hour before the vessel sailed The first to make
its appearance concertina- The droning of
this humble instrument torn TO shreds
BY the screech of a piccolo which man seated
on the lower berth in of the side compartments
had pulled out. He trying TO play from a book
held by another seated at his side It must
be confessed his playing was better than one would
have expected.
It was surprising how few were able to sneak
English. In this respect life in the United States
had done nothing for them. Only those who had
been here years were able to under
stand speak anything in English. An American
Of inquirng turn Of mind who wished to talk
to some OF these departing foreigners went into
one 81 the boarding houses which they frequent
and asked the innkeeper If there were anv there
who could speak English. There were dozen or
more gathered about the dining tables in a rear
room. The proprietor. who was a German said.
7 dnk nod. bud I will ask?' Then he called out
something in German There was no response
Nod sprachs English" he said turning
'Dey all 90 tomorrow back TO Chermany und
Russia
A steamship ticket Office was visited with no
better result Not could be found who could
speak the vernacular. The next morning he went
on board a steamer about To sail for Antwerp
In the steerage among q hundred more only two
were found VINO could speak English. One of these
was German who had been in this country for
sixteen years and had been thrown out OF work
and the other 8 tall. philosophical Russian
who had been a locomotive fireman for four years
and was going home 70 be with his wife and
family because he was sick. This lack OF familiar
tty with the official language OF the United States
illustrates forciby the dimensions OF the volume
or immigration which has flooded this country in
the last few years
WIN Gil these come back The general opinion
seems 70 be that this depends upon the labor mar
ket II those still here write that conditions are
favorable for securing employment those abroad
will return and many others with them Some Of
them, doubtless, will bring their wives The Italian
Consul General here thinks all OF those from his
country will return He said the other day:
All are anxious 10 get home for the HOLIDAYS
a large proportion Of those going are young men
They viii be back next year. You will find next
week the exodus viii stop. Those on the steamers
capable Of starting revolt if the steamers ara
not likely 10 get them home before the 18th Some
are going 10 get married Many are out Of work
because OF strikes in the West is cheaper living
in Italy than in this country