New-York tribune., 1903-07-12

The contractors in the subway, in which many
Italians are employed. had a chance few
weeks ago to learn how quickly the Italian
laborer, the lowest class Of immigrant. grasps
American institutions This particular institu-
ton was the strike, and the foreigners took TO
it the babies OF Mulberry Bend take to gar
lie and maccaronL OF course they had Irish
walking delegates to start them, but it was not
long until they outdid their teachers
The walking delegates settled the strike TO
their satisfaction and personal profit
you can go back to work." they said to the
Italians.
aDoa we getta de hoursT demanded the
spokesman Of one gang.
I'VE getta de morea payT- Queried the head
Of another party, those who had gone out for an
increase in wages.
You go back to work" ordered the walking
delegate. Same hours: same pay We lost the
strike
The Italians were not so sure about that
They were filed with the strike idea and they
refused to dig until they got what they wanted
Other workmen were put on the Job, but not
for long. The Italians knew the answer. They
dropped rocks into the excavations Their wives
and children easily worked themselves into
frenzy, and the substitutes fed under storm
OF sticks and stones Eventually the Italians
were re-empIoyed and IN several instances they
gained their demands
Settlement workers say that the iniQuitous
padrone system Is disappearing In this city.
Railroad contractors, who can herd their men
together and keep them in gangs, are still able
to work the ignorant Italian. giving him little
more than enough to keep body and soul to-
gether. In the city, however, where the labOrer
live In separate tenements, they cannot long b
buncoed. and soon secure fair wages
There is one thing in which the Italian never
wavers no matter how great change in his sta
ton immigration may effect He holds by his
Church and clngs to all the religious festivals Of
his native town and province If he does NJ
know where the next meal is coming from he has
few pennies to buy candles for the patron saint
Of the Italian village which gave him birth
mothers children may be crying for bread, but
until the fire escape is decorated for the festival
they cry in vain. Little children patter bare
footed through the rain to place their offering
on a bedraggled street shrine, and never think
of spending the pennies for gunTny Italian tafty
with which the venders try to tempt them.
'I have been working in this district for two
years now" said young woman connected with
the West Side branch of the University Settle
ment and I've made study of Italian festivals
and celebrations, but I cannot tell where one
leaves off and another begins
This is due to the fact that people from whey
separated parts Of Italy are gathered together N
the same district There are almost as many
saints as there are days in the year and some
one is always celebrating Then there are gem
eraI festivals 10 the celebration Of which ItaI-
ians come from all parts of the city.
The Ascension of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
one of the biggest of the annual festivals, viii
begin on July 16 and last the remainder of the
week 1t is celebrated in Little Italy one Of
the three big Italian colonies in Manhattan be-