The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27

time he appeared here at Ellis Island.
Il knew him at once, and he knew me,
greeting me with smile. asked him how
he managed to get back again, and he told
me he had sold little piece Of land. l
learned then that he had done this every
time he had come over, but had always
sold just enough to bring him here, without
leaving him any money when he arrived.
HE seemed to have an idea that as soon
as he got his feet on American soil he would
be rich. On this fifth trip he had no money,
but we let him land. feeling that a man OF
his determination would hardly become
public charge.
I'VE had another old man here a little
while ago whose case reminded mo OF the
story Of King Lear. He had lived in this
country, and had brought up three daugh-
ters who. after they married, shipped him
back to Germany
But the Fatherland wasn't good enough
for him after having been resident OF the
United States. He scraped together little
money and came back. without letting his
daughters know until he landed here on
Ellis Island.
HE had no means and was rather help
less, so we held him to await the arrival
Of his daughters. None Of them put in an
appearance for two or three days. and when
they did come they had scant welcome
for their father
why were you so foolish as to come
back? You know we had no place for
you here was about all they said to him
at this little family reunion.
~They refused to take the old man of
our hands. In q day or two they came
back, and again went away without their
father. He was broken up about it, and
would ait for hours breeding on his
trouble.
But one afternoon after about a week
had passed. and we were beginning to think
that we would have to send the old man
back, his daughters came down with smiles
on their faces instead Of frowns. 1t seems
that there had been a general family con-
ference and the matter had been adjusted.
my opinion at the time was that the
youngest and best looking Of the daughters
had lent her influence to her fathers cause.
1t was at her side that he ambled down to
the ferryboat.
"Often we have women with children
here who have come to meet husbands
that are very slow in claiming them.
have seen poor women sit for days and weeks
with unopened bags as II they were in q
railway station waiting for their husbands.
Sometimes the husbands come at last,
and sometimes they never come. Since a
woman with children Is greatly handicapped
as worker, we usually have to send back
these forsaken ones.
"On the other hand, people often come
here who are too ready to receive women
immigrants whom they claim as relatives
or friends. Being here to protect not only
the interests of the Government, but also
| these helpless strangers, We very frequently
g. turn down their friends.
Plenty Of girls, particularly among the
Swedes and Germans, come over here &c
meet the men to whom they are engaged
to be married. We are always glad to set
these men, and in order that there may
be no delays In the matrimonial step, WI
take the young couple right around to thu
treasurer's Office and have the marriage
performed Immediately. Frequently in 1
day four or Ave fellows will come over her
to get their girls, and will return to tn
Battery married men.
Most Of them take 1t all good naturally
and, with some OF the friends the girl ha
made on shipboard, will hold little cele
bration on the ferryboat going back. Thes
festivities are often highly amusing to tn
bystanders, and they mean a prosperou
trip for the woman who sells fruit aboar
the boat.
Now and then, however, one OF thes
beaux will refuse to have marriage thrua
upon him. I met one OF this kind the othe
day.
Il told him he couldn't have the gil
unless he married her, and I urged tn
matter with him more strongly than usua
because could see that the girl wanted hir
to have her, and she was one OF those MOI
wegian peasants who have fresh, innocer
faces.
Il persuaded him to bring the girl aroun
to the treasurer's Office. We were the frs
there and the youth declined to be mai
ried right away. He wanted to see tn
thing tried on some one else.
I'VE waited little while and saw a cert
!, mony performed. He shook his head an
said that it was such a serious matter ths
he thought he wouldn't be married at al
:, The girl understood, and there were teal
. in her eyes as the young fellow went away.
Despite the talk to the contrary, m
:. observation has given me the opinion tn,
' there L. good material for citizenship
the great ma jority Of the people who CON
u to this country in the steerage. see mar
!. every day who show excellent charact'
. in their faces, and some are educated.
italian professional men, physician
the steerage, and now and then we have
member of the nobility, although l am NJ
ment oning the latter as desirable class
=. "One amusing representative of mob
= blood was an Austrian count. He didr
N have as much money as some OF the /
% borers, but he wore frock coat and 81
g hat and kept his must ache fully waxed
"Snce he passed through have read
d him cutting some figure in social circles.
Il told me he was a sociologiSt and was ma
10 ing tour of the world TO study the col
t. dition of the lower classes. He showed n
~ the autographs OF hundreds Of ailkeepe
>, and supplied the information that he WI
a looking particularly into metho Of caril
u for the criminal
N Except when he was guest OF friend
he said, he slept and got his meals in jail
i, and being very fond Of walking, as he to
III me, he tramped from one jail to anothe
D He was an interesting foreigner. but t
= truth is that they are all interesting.
10 sort Of panorama of human nature is Il
f.I<l LII .eo AVA orIyI a "