New-York tribune., 1909-02-28
FOREG0 FOOD TO
SEEK KNOWLEDGE
NIGHT SCHOOL SCENES
AND TYPES.
Fathers Study 5cith Sons, Mothers
scith Daughters-Ffty Per Cent
of Pupils Foreigners.
BY Mary w. Mount.

! Not than fifty thousand of the 1211S7 pupils
enrolled IN the nnety-six free evening schools Of
New York foreigners. who unable 10 speak
a word OF English when they enter school to learn
with the mastery of strange tongue, something
| Of the history and customs of the land OF their
adoption. In the evening schools may be found
representatives from almost every nation under the
sun. but the type is the same. Ali come inspired
by the ambition better their condi-
tons and fit themselves for life Of broader use
fulness and of higher social plane than that
which they have occupied. They bring to their
tasks intensity OF application rarely found else
where and a self-sacri1ce and faithfulness to duty
not often surpassed. When lights from street
lamps curtainess windows and open doorways
have converted Mulberry street into chiaro-oscuro
Of blaze and blur, the crowded sidewalks are
shuttles OF hurryug forms Some are bent with
years and toll, and buoyant with youth
All press forward eagerly. Women are swallowed
UP in the shadows OF a great building at BayaTd
street; speed through the intricacies OF
Spring and Elizabeth and Mott streets. where the
upper stories OF School p receive them. All have
come from day OF toll In store. factory street
many fasting from labor study. They do not
like this mentioned; but If does exclaim. What
you have come without anything to eat?' they will
turn the matter lightly aside.
THAT is nothing What difference does two hours
maker
What difference to toll from the gray OF the morn
ing till dark OF the night: to press through storm
and cold. when Mulberry street Is hushed in
drifting snow. to learn ways by which they may
skilfuliy and then, TO 10 of the clock
seek food and rest?
PUPIL SEVENTY YEARS OLD.
Model pupils OF Mulberry street evening schools
are not adorned with medals Of gold is crowned
with silver hair and draws long faded black shawl
around a slender figure clothed in the hue.
She is nearing seventy years OF age and has
I scrubbed Offices from early morning until after
o'clock the evening and then FASTENED straight to
school. many years this pupil has not missed
a single night. though times there have been when
north winds have almost torn the black shawl from
her clutch and chilled the life IN body unfortihed
for the struggle by evening meal
Ireland furnished this faithful scholar in school
made UP almost entirely OF Italians There
enough Germans Russians and Scandinavians to
lend contrast color 70 this extraordinary assem-
blage. One night eight with eyes that
sparkled through upcured frnges. and dimpes that
played about red Tipped laughing mouths registered
together. All gave the same address. That led to
inquiry Two Who seemed to be little older than
the other six proved TO be mothers Of the rest
Botn families pooled their earnings and made a
home in two rooms of nat. In Italy the two
mothers had been chums. Their husbands deserted
them. The decided that existence might
be less hard in that golden land of promise
America. With little else besides their six children
they began life here As the children grew older
they helped the mothers who had toiled for them.
Different factories house them in the day; at night
they meet to study English ard 70 learn oressnak-
ing and millinery. that they r:ay all IN time
obtain more lucrative employment.
MOTHERS ACCOMPANY CHILDREN
Another such is q sparkling Iittlo beauty who
fairly sciati!lltes with pride when she says Il am
American! The allen speech OF her parents still
clung softly to her tongue when she told me tho
story Of her brief years.
There eleven Of u.s. she began. Father
has been parayzed for thirteen years. Yes-I don't
mind telling-I sold newspapers. My stand was on
Fulton and Pearl streets. Oh. did very WELL in
deed. Three OF us worked and mother helped. We
took care OF the rest. and came TO night school,
You remember how you with icicles hang
ing your eyelashes in the stormy nights?" re-
called the principal
Laughter sparkled in the young face II never
missed a night in five years, But see what it has
done for me! Now 1 do not sell newspapers any
more. l keep books and the money and l
have the accounts TO balance where work. II is a
very good position
Even humble history repeats itself. In a class
room was grouped happy family of mother and
children. The mother studied industrously. while
the children amused themselves quietly around her
II hard TO fancy this student standing all day
selling to support her little family and then
bringing them with her to school regularly every
night Nancy ambitious for her children All
day she worked. in storm and of weather to