Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-03
THE TENEMENT FAMILY
HABITS OF TYPICAL JEWELLERS
IN CROWDED DISTRICTS.
Resemblance to the Primitive Man
Migratory Ways-Little Curiosity
and Small Reasoning Power.


From the Independent.
A study of the tenement house family viii
at once suggest close resemblance De-
tween primitive and tenement house man.
Lack of capital, migratory habits, high
birth and child mortality rates, maternal
ignorance, uncontrolled parental anectlon
and sense of proprietorship. sex taboos,
lack of "self-determination" in matrimonial
choice and matrimonial instability are cir
cumstances of characters common to both.
In the inefilciency, lack OF initiative, naive
animistic habits of thought and sense of
preternatural interference at time of good
or evil fortune there is also a close resem-
blance.
Even the members of the family who have
had fair amount of schooling possess
small reasoning powers. They snow niue
curiosity or skepticism. If they are unable
to understand a thing in the beginning they
show little desire to comprehend its mean
ing Their frame of mind is unrefecting
and often complacent. They never argue
course of action has been wrong. A mother
will tell YOU that she has never thought
of a given subject since her childhood, just
as she has forgotten how to write.
What They Read.
Most of the men read daily or Sunday
papers The women have little oppor-
tunity to read. When they do buy paper
they discuss the latest murder, the last
automobile accident or the fashionable wed
ding with their neighbor. Few BOOKS are
read. except, perhaps. penny family pa
pers'' or ladies weekly journals. Inc
children of school age usually belong 10
nuhlic, church or settlement library. The
yonnger children have no books some
Among them are books of conundrums.
foxes magic, parlor tricks and fortune
telling. Every family has its Bible, with
registry of births ana deaths. ne MAJ
nut safely away or framed and hung on the
wall. .,,uo.,,o. Of
narAnts aunts, uncies. brothers, sisters,
cousins. etc. The pictures are copied from
monographs, or they are crayon drawings
made by the instalment artist Occasionally
there is found a hand painting. Inc cray
On is maid for In coupons given by the grocer,
or II is given free by the photographer
Sentimental and heroic pictures. picked up
at a sale on the avenue, given away by
sunday paper acquired with cigar eou-
uons adorn the wall. There are few exam
ples at original decoration
Memory cards, which express the sorrow
of the family, and give date of birth and
death of the deceased, are sent to the
friends of the family. A variation of the
memory card is the wax wreath ornament
with silver, framed in glass and wood.
The italian Home.
In the italian home. however, there is
usnalIy some attempt toward artistic ex-
nression. The daughter of the house takes
niano lessons for to finish her education
Her teacher guarantees perfect playing
within the year. The mother sometimes
goes to the church concerts. The children
take pride in singing in the choir. The
German parents know the German folk
songs. The Italians also have a natural
love for music. Oftentimes they arc famii-
lar with the weli-known opera melodies.
The Irish like the music of the organ grind
err, the street singer and the loud shriek-
Ing in the music halls. The chief event OF
the week In the young girls life Is the
racket to which she h taken by her
: plain n9KniT' or . .'masquerade- The
III apende her wesk'e vaoas - ~ neeh-