Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-12
LITTLE JEWISH LAD
MAKES DETERMINED
EFFORT TOO BECOME AN AMER.
loan CITIxEx-HAs CROSSED
OCEAN SEVEN TIMES AND
EACH TINE SENT BACK.

New York. Dec. 12.-If determi-
nation to become an American is a
praiseworthy ambition. little Benja-
min Axelrod. IL years old. Is worthy
OF all praise. Six times he has come
20 Ameica az a seowaway. Six
times he has been reported. Re-
Gently the lad arrived In sight OF the
statue OF Liberty for the seventh
time. The officials at Ellis island
expected him. and greeted him as
an old friend. Also. they will con-
%inue to send him back. unless some
one comes to the lads assistance.
But little Benjamin is not discourage
cd.
benjamin Axelrod is a little, under
sized Jewish boy. He was born and
raised In the little understood town
OF Pechunka. In the little. undersiz-
ed Russian providence OF Podelia.
There were many other little Axel-
rods at home. and not always did
NhcS nave tuOuRn 10 eat.
To Pechunka. in Podelia. there
came stories of great land beyond
the seas, where prosperity abounded.
and where even little boys were able
TO earn more copecks than a full
grown man in the land OF the Great
White Car. In that great land-so
ran the tale-no one went hungry
to his bed. There brown bread and
dried fish were unknown az steady
articles of diet and---wonder of won
dcrs-all folk ate white bread at
every meal.
Such tales appealed to the starry
er stomach and the active brain of
little Benjamin. He would become
an American. He would make his
sisters fine ladies' and his brothers
rabies. He would make a home for
his father and mother in that great
land Of peace and plenty-that land
where none are prosecuted because
they cling to the faith of their faith
ers.
Resoiutely he set his face toward
the setting sun. With a hamper of
| food on his back. he trudged across
Lithuania. Prussia and other strange
lands. to Rotterdam. No obstacle
was too great for little Benjamin.
Where strong men would have fail
a haD oil 1t.
self away In the hold of a steamer,
! and after the ship had left port VOL
| unteered TO earn his passage as q
| dishwashep.
At Ellis island the determined lad
found his first real diNicalty. He had
| no money, no friends or relatives
to vouch for him. Therefore-so
spake the stern official who represent
cd the strong arm Of the lew in great
Observation-Disclosures BENJAMIN Azel-
! rod must go back to Pechuaka
TIE boy was ,placed on returning
steamer bound for Rotterdam. II
! any thought. however, that he would
so easily give up his mission. they
| reckoned without Benjamin Axelrod.
A few weeks later the Ellis island
beauroerat again saw the homely
| eager face of little Benjamin. Again
| he had slowed himself away, again
he had earned his passage by honest
toll as diswasher. Again the Of
| fetal hardened his heart. Again he
said, Go back to Pechunka." Again
Benjamin went back. but not to Pc
chunka. Arriving at Rotterdam. he
boarded the next American bound
steamer. How he eluded the keen
eyes of the ships men. who had been
warned to keep n sharp lookout for
a little. understood Jewish lad, Is
known only to Benjamin. Perhaps.
since the boy has become an expert
dishwasher and fs a willing and able
worker, the ships officers are not
averse to his presence. In any event
little Benjamin continues to come
back. Thirteen times he has crossed
the Atlantic in the last few months.
Back and forth he goes, a human
shuttiecock between Rotterdam and
New York. whore the statue of Lib
erty blazes a welcome--to those who
have the price.