New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-25
TRAINING ITALIANS.
Fifth Years York of ChiIdren's
Hid Society.

IN the annual report OF the Itahan evening
school just submitted 10 the Children's Aid Society
nv the principal. Mrs. Louisa z. Weygandt, an in
teresting retrospect was given OF the beginning OF
this work. Just fifty years ego.
Some "reminiscences were supplied by pupils OF
the old days one by Mr.. Martini. stil resident
Of the reighborhood. who YVES 4 member OF the
first class ever organized by the late f. A Cerqua,
@o- fifty years superintendent OF the society's
ITALIAN schools This was in 1855. when the Five
Points was Synonymous with whatever was de-
graded and criminal The locality was very diInly
lighted says the report. the few lamps scattered
about only revealed the repulsive nature OF the
Mace. The pestiferous exhaatons of 'he filthy
streets and moi less filthy sbanties. inhabited by
the lowest and most disreputaole characters. were
disgusting beyond description. The neighborhood
was densely settled by the most depraved classes
Of all natonaliJies, including some fifteen hunored
Of the poorest class of Italians"
Into this region went the late c L. Brace and
Mr. Cerqua, and visited from house TO house TO
induce the Italian children TO come TO school 1t
vas a work In those days. not only OF dihicnlly'
hut Of danger There was danger in the streets
with evil characters and in the houses. II
= child could few pennies the parents Woulo
allow it to to school Finally the hrs1 Grass
vas started including few men, boys and girls
who came partly out Of curiosity. This class had
10 move from building to building whenever II
could get the use OF room. and MI Aiar'l'i re-
counted with retrospective calmness how boys OF
other nationaltes would lie in wait 10 thrash the
boys of the Italian class
I am rot an educated man concluded Mr. Mar
tint for I had TO begin working when small
boy and could attend school, only in the evening.
but I have managed 10 bring up my family prop
erly 10 give my children good education and 10
acquire some properly, and credit II al TO the
teachings OF The Children's Aid Society when was
2 young boy
Mr.. tTugone- editor OF one OF the 1isnah Gaines
spoke follows:
TWENTY-FIVE years ago theret arrived in New
York from Italy youth OF seventeen years VINO
had neither friends relatives 20 greet him IN
his strange land He had only 81 20 in the world
and knew TO- where 10 GO. 1t was SUNDAY, anu
The streets were nearly deserted He thought
America was a strangely quiet place. No one ap-
reared 10 be working. and yet no houd2N crowds
were to be seen. What did II mean? IN his nome
81 Italy the people made holiday OF sunday
NeW-York seemed like q dead city eeIlhS very
sad and strange. he wandered up BroadWaH
noticing his forloTn look, spoke TO
him and finding that he had neither friends. work
nor money took him the socletyS Italian school
IN two days after I landed at Castle Garden l
was hard at work learning the printing trade III
this school, added Mr.. Frugone- I learned Eng
lish other branches well, and later became
editor OF Italian paper. - .
I have in my printing place an OLD machine
for cutting paper. This IS the machine which
50 many years ago. bought It when the class
here was broken up, and have kept 1t in reTnen1-
trance Of the help. the kindness and the good ad-
vice which set in the way Of advancement IN
The days when I needed all the guidance could
Most Of the money collected has been in small
society and this school. But one contribution was
2 generous one One of the old boys. now pros
uerous business man, came into ONCE one Gay
and handed his check for $3.50 He said that
he felt he owed It to the society in return for all he
had received from It
Mr. Frugone by keeping the matter constantly
las raised $4,000 toward another Italian school in
Little italy"