The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-11-09
Immigrants Children Are Real
Americans, Is Finding
of Commission.
MUTATIONS ARE VERY RAPID
FLOODING FOREIGNERS BECOME
SPRIGHTlY AND TAKE ON
AMERICAN HAeITs-soME RE.
TURN TO OLD HOMES.

OuCtlUS luSeSuSduOuo VuIlu6 INC ldct
year on the influence Of America in
the mental and physical development
of the foreigner. has come to the con-
clusion that the influence In the sec
ond generation 10 marked. and some
are for believing that q considerable
change takes place even in the first
generation. The extent OF this influ-
ence. in the latter case. naturally de-
ponds largely upon the age Of the I'M
migrant and degree in which condi-
tons differ.
One of the most prominent Russians
in New York tells the story of Slov-
ak girl whom he took from Ellis is
land Ave years ago to work in his
kitchen, illustrating how rapidly the
girl became Americanized. but show
ing also the grip upon her Of past Gus
toms and that her seeming later re-
version to the original type was more
rapid than her evolution into an Amer
lean.
When the girl arrived at Ellis island
she differed in no apparent particular
from the hundreds of her countrywo-
men who came at the time. The en-
ployer's daughter. who was born in
America. determined that she would
see what she could do for the immi-
grant girl. and began by dressing her
out in American clothes.
Soon Became Americanixed.
The employer declares that within a
S,Aop hn 6ivl vvh~ hod haov -
movement. became sprightly. that her
understanding showed marked i'm
provement. that she began throwing
her shoulders back and walking erect
ly, and that the dull expression char
acteristic. Of the face of the Slavic
peasant began to give way to one of
lively interest.
At the end of another year the girl
was speaking English nuently and as
sociating almost exclusively with the
young people of her age who had been
born In this country At the end Of
FIVE yea.s he declared that the girl
seemed as thoroughly Americanized
as II she had been American born.
Summoned Home to Marry.
Then came a letter from her father
stating that she must return home at
once and marry the man to whom she
had been betrothed. The letter seem.
ed to daze the girl. She read it over
and over, and when it's full purport
possessed her understanding she wept
and for q week she went about as II
stricken by great past bearing. She
explained to her employer that her en-
gagement had been brought about by
the village matchmaker. q garrulous.
gossiping woman. that IL type in all
Slavic villages. where most betrothals
are effected by some woman who
makes her living by that means, her
reward being in the shape Of presents
from the parents Of the bride and
bridegroom.
The man she was pledged to was a
laborer in the Aelds. They had work.
ed side by side in pitching hay. He
was ignorant He had never spoken
. word of love to her. In the village
where they lived 1t was the custom for
tho men to rule the household by the
might of muscle. They beat their
wives to make them obey and to help
their memories when they forgot.
Becomes 4 Slovak Again.
The employer understood. for he
too. was Slav. and knew the ways
of the peasants. but he did not sug
gest that she disobey the command OF
her father. The girl declared that she
was afraid to return; that she feared
her father would beat her when he no
ticed that she was different. and that
she was sure the villagers would not
understand her and would make fun
Of her. She feared that her husband
would take exception to her being diff
ferent from the other girls and that
he would beat her.
For q week before the steamer sail
ed the girl thought of nothing but the
life she was returning to. In that
week she changed markedly. the old
look came back in her eyes. the shout
ders dropped. the spring disappeared
from her step. She ceased to be an
American and again became q Sloval
peasant girl. The day before leaving
she went into the attic and dressed
herself in the clothing she had
brought with her to America. Mex,
abe made her blankets into q roll
which she tied with stout cord.
Then she took her American clothes
and . suitcase and satchel which had
been given her. and sold them all to Z
pawnbroker. The next morning she
carried her bundle to the steamer. re
fusing the offer Of her employer to
send it In an express wagon.
Racial Traits Transitory?
This incident indicates that racial
characteristics. other than physical
are transitory. that they are = matter
Of environment, rather than inherit
ance, and that mental Characteristic ii
in reality simply viewpoint. and that
the mental attitude of the Slovak and
other foreigners ID subject to quick
change under the influence Of Amerf
can Institutions and customs.
This influence Of America val
marked In the case Of . Russian girl
who landed at Ellis island the other
day. She had come to marry a man
who preceded her to America by three
years. They were married in the pres.
ence Of the immigration authorities
and aha lopS him thA uaxf Aav ~