St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-06-20
Taking of Americans.
How Two Syrian Boys Made Good and
Became Citizens of the United Statess

Taking of Americans.
How Two Syrian Boys Made Good and |
Became Citizens of abe United states. |
Among those who will graduate from |
the public schools this week are two Syr-
ian boys, Samuel Maroon and Joseph |
Maroon, aged "a and 21 years respect
lively. They have been in our schools |
through the seventh, eighth and ninth |
grades and about all their education
was obtained in St. Johnsbury. The
story of their life and their struggle to
get an education is a most interesting
one.
Samuel Maroon was born near Tripoli
in Syria, which is part of the Turkish
empire, and when about IA years old
was fred with the desire to come to
America. Some of his friends had been
across and told him great things about
this country, and though his parents at
first OBJECTED they finally consented
and gave him enough money to pay his
passage to New York. He started from
home alone and the government officials
had no idea he was going to the United
States else they would have forbidden
him to leave the country. He took
steamer from Beirut to Ak xandria in
Egypt. and after visiting Cairo, sailed
tor Marseilles. He stayed there week
and was almost homesick enough to re.
turn home, bat finally decided to keep on
his way and went to Paris and thence to
Havre where be engaged passage on
| liner tor New York. He found friends on
shipboarc and landed in New York after
being a month from home and with Sc
in his pocket. He could speak only the
| Syrian dialect and his first surprise was
that people had to work for living in
the United States. He had been deceived
into thinking that money was so plenty
that nobody worked, and in one week
all his money was gone and he had not
found employment. Then he found some
| friends who had Wholesale store and
they advanced him $25 worth OF goods
and he started out as peddler selling
Yankee notions. He soon made enough
money to pay for his first outfit and
bought some more goods and started
through New England. In nine months
he had made enough monty so that he
was enabled to send back his passage
money to his father in Syria. Then he
bought team and added clothing to
his line OF goods. After two years OF
travel as a peddlar he entered the employ
OF New York jewelry firm and sold high
class goods to customers OF the firm.
As business prospered he sent for his
younger brother Joseph. The latter was
not as enthusiastic about coming and
had to run away in the night to escape
the Turkish officials who were looking
for any emigrants to America. He
bought his passage ticket of an agent
who received a large graft" in the
transaction and thereby guaranteed to
get him to Alexandria. He rowed to the
boat two miles in the night in a heavy
storm and in this trip lost all his belong
ings. When he reached New York be
told the custom house officials the name
of the firm his brother worked for and he
was passed along as desirable new
conner. The two brothers worked to-
gether, as they have ever since, and
Joseph went to school in the sixth grade
at White6eld, N. H., one term. After 6
year he entered the Lisbon public schoo
where be remained year, working hi:
way by selling goods out OF schoo
hours and in vacation time. Then h'
went to Boston and entered the nigh
school for term.
The brothers came to st. Johnsbury
about three years ago aud have support
ed themselves by selling oriental goods
They have proved apt pupils, thougl
they have had to study very hard tt
keep up with the other scholars who hat
earlier years in school and who are Sc
much more familiar with the Englist
language. Samuel is the literary schola
and has sent his father a story OF tn
discovery of America, bringing hi
historical poem down through tn
revolutionary war. He has also trans
lated this into English in metrical form
The boys expect to return to Syria thi
summer to buy more goods to return il
the fall and complete their education
! Both are American citizens, having beer
i naturalized here at the December term o
court. Joseph expects to study medicin
= and after getting his degree will spend
year in Cairo and then locate in th
country OF his adoption. Samuel wi
e also remain in this country and engag
K in the mercantile business.
During their stay in St. Johnsbury the
n have made m any friends by their genis
t manner, and their perseverance to owe
:. come all obstacles. Their history is a
example to every American boy to in
4 prove the opportunities which b
Inheritance in free country has give
. him.