New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-05

Fairchild. Illustrated Svo, PIP xvii, 27S.
New Haven: Yale University Press.
This study of one of the latest groups
to be added to the body of present-day
American immigration was undertaken
as part of the requirements for the de-
gree OF Phi. D. in connection with the
department Of anthropology of Yale
University. and was carried on under
the auspices Of the Carnegie Institution
at Washington. The author divides his
subject into three parts: Cd The condi-
tons. causes and sources Of Greek emf
grafton, this being study Of the Greek
at home and of current Greek social and
economic affairs and tendencies; CD the
Greeks in the United States. and (3) the
effects Of Greek immigration on the
United States and on Greece itself. The
author is cautious IN drawing conclu-
sions. averse from broad congratulations
in the case OF body Of aliens Of such
recent arrival and such small numbers.
and he handles what statistics are avail
able-they are scant and far from exact
with great reserve. laudably refrain
ing from basing qualitative conclusions
on merely cumulative data
His opening chapters on modern
Greece are worth while for their own
sake, and may be recommended to the
attention Of those Philhelenes who still
dwell in the glamour Of the first half of
the last century. The term Greek" as
he employs it, is racial. not national,
,lVor ha
the Turkish dominions in Europe and
Asia Minor as we'll as the immigrants
from the kingdom itself. The modern
Greek he finds TO be not so much dis
honest as sharp trader yet at the
same time incapable Of the successful
organization and management Of large
industrial and commercial enterprises
Tho chief, practically the only, cause of
Greek immigration is economic pressure
above all else. agricultural depression.
The most important Greek colony in
this country is found in Chicago. 1t
forms the basis Of Mr.. Fairchild's in
quiry into the conditions and progress Of
these immigrants among us. He also
devotes chapters to the Greeks in Lo-
well. this city and elsewhere, placing
their total numbers in the United States
between 175. 900 and 100000. Their per-
centage Of illiteracy is lower than that
of the Italians whom they also outstrip
IN the struggle for life wherever the two
races enter into competition here. They
are gradually ousting them from the
fruit business, and are notably sue
cessful in several small trades, espe-
cially those in flowers. candy and Ice
cream. and in the management Of eating
houses. barber shops. and the like. AS
candy manufacturers, by the way, they
are praiseworthy for their respect for
the pure food laws The evils connected
with the padrone system in the boot
black business have been suppressed to
, some extent AS unskilled laborers, on
railroad construction and the like, the
Greeks are considered more efficient
than the Southern Italians, no doubt be-
cause their standard Of living is de-
cidedlv &. higher one. Statstically, their
criminal record Is bad, but In reality
they are chiefly only minor offenders
against city ordinances and the like as
pedlers and pushcart men. Their moral
itv. i'm the narrower sense Of the word,
leaves much to be desired. Tuberculosis
is increasing at an alarming rate In
Greece. and II prevails among the Greeks
i'm this country. claiming its victims
especially among those who coming
u from country districts. settle in the
" crowded colonies in our cities. As yet
but few Greeks have become American
citizens. The author lays particular
stress on their ability 10 support them
selves here. They rarely, he says, APP
neal TO our charitable organizations, or
are found 10 stand in need Of their aid.
In the case Of so small a country as
Greece. and with 50 small population,
a study Of the effects of emigration
upon the country left behind is compare
lively simple and yields informing re-
suits. Whole agricultural districts Of
the kingdom are becoming depopulated,
the women doing the work In part, but
an immigration Of Albanian laborers has
already begun. The stream Of savings
RENTED home by the emigrants does not
for the loss Of so many Of its sons IN
their youth and early maturity; nor has
the returned emigrant thus far proved
the economic and educational leaVen he
was at one time expected 10 be. More
over. his numbers are steadily decreas-
Ing. The Greek, like other immigrants,
IS increasingly inclined TO remain In this
country. AS for his social and economic
influence upon American life, that is at
present still imperceptible.
Mr.. Fairchild presents his facts well.
They are not particularly encouraging
and in this they differ, unfortunately,
but little from those presented in similar
studies Of the other Southeastern Euro
pean nationalities and races that con-
stitute the bulk Of our present-day immi-
grafton.