The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-12-23
MAKING OVER FOREIGNERS.

New evidences of the value of the
work of the immigration Commits
sion, of which Senator Dillingham; is
chairman, are appearing almost
daily. The statement has just been
made in a preliminary report to
Congress that the physical form as
we'll as the habits of living and ways
of thinking of the descendants of
foreigners who came to America seek
ing homes, differ from that of their
ancestors.
The report says:
The inquiry was confined to New
York City and so far as the pres
ent report shows was restricted to
Sicillans and east European Heb
rews. A later report will give the
details of the investigation among
Bohemians, Hungarians and Scotch
The report indicates that the des
cendant of the European immi-
grant changes his type, even in the
| first generation, almost entirely
Children born even few years after
the arrival of the immigrant par
ents in America develop in such a
way that they differ in type essea-
| TALLY from their foreign-bor par
ents These differences seem to dew
elop during the earliest childhood
and persist throughout life. Every
part of the body is influenced in this
way, and even the form of the head,
which, has always been considered
as one of the most permanent hered-
itary features, undergoes consid-
cradle changes.
In an official synopsis of the Com
missions report attention is called
to the fact that even the most stable
racial characteristics seem to have
changed under the new environment,
and this fact is commented upon as
follows
This would indicate the concll
sion that racial, physical character
istics do not survive under the new
social and climatic environment Of
America. The adaptability of the va
rious races coming together on oar
shores seems, if these indications
shall be fully borne out in later
study, to be much greater than had
bene anticipated. If the American en-
vironment can bring about an as
similation of the head forms in the
first generation, may it not be that
other characteristics may be as
easily modified, and that there may
be a rapid assimilation of widely
varying nationalities and races to
something that may well be called ar
American type?
The commission feels that it is
too early to pronounce absolutely
upon this question.
THE investigation is by no means
complete, and, moreover, consider
ing the Importance of the subject, l.
should clearly be conducted on a
larger scale and in different sur
roundings in various parts of the
country and perhaps also be checked
up by certain investigations made
upon the same races elsewhere"
Were it not for Americas wonder
full power of assimilation. this coun-
try would soon be in great peril
owing to the great hordes of ignor.
ant aliens which have been pouring
J into the United States for years. This
statement, given out by the Imnli-
grafton Commission is very interest
ing as well as reassuring. The
| greater opportunities offered here
the increased freedom, and above
all the splendid training in good cit
izenship which the children o.
/ foreigners receive, in the public
schools have a wogldrous effect up
on the foreign element. While care
l full restriction is Wise. the policy O.