Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-13

manager. who pointed out row of small
buildings erected for their better accommo-
dation. explained that he could persuade
none of the gregarious people to occupy
these. All-men, women and children to-
gether-preferred to pack themselves. like
sardines. into the few rooms OF the meager
building In which / found them.
The Italian. as soon as deciding to settle
in this district. starts to buy his own
home and often patronizes one Of the local
building loan associations. He usually COM
mences his new nIe in a two-room house
i6 by Is feet and costing $3.50. He Is gen
orally prompt In getting out of debt and
unwilling to assume new obligations until
all old debts liquidated- Many of
the newcomers carry large sums about their
persons. An Italian and his wife recently
killed by a train had with them wallet
containing stf5. The house of another was
burned in the winter of 1885 and $3.50 OF
his savings was consumed Considerable
money is sent back to Italy to support rela-
tives or bring them TO this country These
Latins of Hammonton seldom become town
charges. Starting with practically nothing
they have bettered themselves and in
creased both the production and consump-
ton capacity of the community. according
to Miss Meade.
Effect of various stages of AmercaniZa
ton upon standards OF living have been
thoroughly studied by this investigator.
When they first take up their homes sew
eral families will crowd into one house,
but as soon as they are able each buys
home for himself and frequently brothers
build a little dwelling. which they share
until each can own his own. Great con-
tempt is shown for man who would rent
a house for 81 a month rather than crowd
his five children into one or two rooms
until he Is able to save enough for his
own home. Young couples never board.
but go to housekeeping, il in only
room. The rear of the first coIner's house
Is cluttered and what should be a front
yard Is generally vegetable garden, grape
vineyard WoOdy3 rS bY the second
generation little front lawns now being
p!cketed off and the improved type Of
house. with gable and balustraded porches.
is being adopted. Nearly every house of an
original immigrant has a shed where the
cooking is done in summer. and often the
cook stove is exposed outdoors to all con-
ditions OF weather. In some cases an old
fashioned beehive oven. made of brick and
cement, is used by several families. Tie
houses of these newcomers generally have
no heating apparatus except the kitchen
stove. In the latter wood gathered by the
women IS generally burned instead of coal.
There few cooking utensils and the
table remains without cover until the
Italian learns Of oilcloth which is then 80
highly esteemed that it is often sent as
gifts to friends in Italy. Redrooms are
often filed with a tumble of barrels trunks
and boxes used instead of bureaus.
The Bed Always Immaculate
However forlOrn or dirty the Italians
house the bed is always clean. This the
most distinctive item Of furniture. is set
up high on home made frames, or If
purchased. IS made high with feathered
mattresses. The women and girls spend
much time in making lace with which
they trim the sheets. while the bed Gov
ering is an ella borate piece of lace. occa-
sionally. put over some colored fabric.
When possible a girl makes several OF
these coverings for her wedding box.
sometimes Il year being devoted to -one
spread. The first advance toward comfort
and decoration in the remainder of the
house IS the acquisition of MOSQUITO net
tings, screens and cheap sash curtains.
The house later expands by the addition
of a parlor and more bedrooms. Dining
rooms are seldom provided. and carpets
and rugs are found only among the we'll
TODD
But in the homes of the second genera
ton chairs. sofas. touches. lace curtains
lamps and even pianos correspond to
those of Americans of the same class
The Italian of this category is now
greatly Influenced by the example of his