New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-10

3oS Frederick A. Stokes Company
Mr.. Brandenburg dedicates his volume to his
wife who endured with heroism conditions
that, while not unbearable for me. were superla-
tive hardships for woman Of decacy and
hnement-" When one has read the Sock he feels
that the tribute is more than merited 1t
Cured TO Mr.. Brandenburg in studying the sub
ject Of immigration and reading much that had
beer written about its proposed restriction. that
little nothing had been said from the point
OF view OF the immigrant himself and that af-
ter all. the true light. the revelation of the
natural remedies and the only real understand
ing Of the immigrant situation lay in seeing from
the under side. in getting the immigrants point
Ct view TO compare with the public spirited
American one" Animated with the idea of
doing this very thing. the author and his wife
spent several months in tenement house in
the Italian quarter of New-York. and then
sailed for Italy in the steerage of the Lain.
Here they formed the acquaintance of Antonio
Squadrito. Sicilian barber settled in Stoning-
ton. who was returning TO his native town to
bring out a party of his relatives. After
short trip through the southern provinces Of
Italy the Brandenburgs followed Antonio TO
65ualtieri. became acquainted with his family
and their friends accompanied the party to
Naples and on the voyage to New-York in the
steerage Of the Prinzessin Irene. and assisted
in getting them placed in various occupations.
The account. merely regarded as of per-
eonal experience is exceedingly entertaining.
disagreeable as the adventure must have been
in many Of its features Most trying OF all
were the two trips in the steerage. where the
crowding. the filth the doors. the unappetizing
food and the roughness and brutality of the
stewards and some OF the officers hardly
20 be borne Why they are borne by the more
self-respecting immigrants is explained by MI
Brandenburg in the fear Of the immigrant Of
soing anything likely to endanger his CHARGES
Of landing He has lively appreciation Of the
stringency of the American immigration laws
Usually mis- entire little fortune and all his
hopes of the future are involved in his enter
prise. and the worst thing that can possibly
happen to him is deportation. So he suffers end
endures rehearses the answers he has been
taught 10 give to the questions he will be asked
on landing. and. pauper. criminal or contract
laborer though he may be. in the great major
fly Of cases he passes the ordeal successfully
Not that the examination is not searching
as it is possible to make it, but because, as Mr..
Jrandenburg argues, and others must sure
IL agree ii is held at the wrong end of the
Journey. The steamship companies do examine
the steerage passengers before emigration, but
their care is simply to eliminate those who will
obviously be unable TO pass the inspectors at
Ellis Island Most of the enligrants are already
far from their homes. and the usual method
has been to ship the ineligibles to Halifax or
Mexico and to trust to smuggling them later
across the border. Mr.: Brandenburg has con-
WINGED himself, and IS likely to convince his
readers that the only place where the record
of prospective immigrant be definitely
learned and his eligibility determined is at his
own home. The local authorities have it down
in black and white in every detail His general
reputation is known to his neighbors. The
thor believes that it would be perfectly FEAST
bic have boards of American inspectors act
inS in conjunction with our consular service,
visit annually the towns of Europe whence emf
grafton is intended expected. pass the
qualifications OF the applicants and issue per-
nliis good from the nearest port of embarka-
ton. The expense could be largely If not en-
tirely. borne by a fee. which in view OF ex-
tortions TO which the erngrant is subject
ed by INSCRIPTIONS runners and sub-agents
through working on his fears. would be saw
ing TO him in the end.
Mfr. Brandenburg thinks that nothing will be