New-York tribune., 1913-06-19
HOW IMMIGRANTS ARE
BEING MADE AMERICANS
Aaron SaIant, Hebrew, and
Mayo BoCko, Turk, Thank
Their Teachers.
LEARN ENGLISH QUICKLY
Glass at Educational Alliance
Praised for Desire to Be-
come Good Citizens
of u. S.

When Aaron salant walked into the
office Of the Educational Alliance. IN East
Broadway, lust seven months ago, and
asked DR.. Henry Fleishman, admins
traitor Of the building. to tell him where
he could learn the language of this coun-
try ne had to ask in Yiddish. because he
couldn't speak word of English. At the
closing exercises of the day classes for
adult immigrants at that institution yes
terday he made a peech of thanks In Eng
lish which. Dr. Fleishman said. many an
American born couldn't excel"
Mr.. Salants thanks were to the two
teachers. Miss Jeanette T. Wiener and
Miss Estelle Edith Cohen, who brought
the class Of ifty-Russians. Jews, Ger
mans. Hungarians. even some Turks
speCtacled and bearded men. housewives
with knotted hands, eager young working
boys and Cirls-all sorts and conditions Of
immigrants-to their present knowledge Of
English. And the thanks were also TO
David Belais-though he wasn't there
for the $ which was Mr.. Salant's share
Of the 800 Mr.. Belais gives every year in
prizes to the members of this class most
proficient in their studies. The other three
who carried off s. prizes were Zundle
Spier. Wolf Silewitz and Charles Smith
who has certainly changed his name. for
he never was born plain Smith.
Mr.. Salant's wasn't the only English
speech Of thanks. Mr.. Silewitz. also mid
die aged and bearded. assured the teach
ers Of his deep gratitude for having
taught him $50 veil and goot." Then
came other prizes-books chiehy-to pupils
who had done especially we'll One. life
= Abraham Lincoln went 10 Mayo
Bosko. a keen-eyed. broad-shouldered
young Turk, as prize for perseverance.
II take special pleasure in giving this
prize" Dr. Fleishman said. "Mr. Bocko
made two attempts to become an Ameri-
,an. The first time he came here he grew
discouraged because he had no one to
teach him our ways. and he went back TO
Turkey Then. for certain reasons. he
came again. and in this second attempt
he IS succeeding so well that he has taken
out his first citizenship papers"
The immigrants were Ike children over
their prizes. and those VINO got none We're
as proud as could be Of those who did
When Mr.. Bocko carried his book back 10
his scat his neighbors on every side
crowded around to look at IT, and one
gray-haired German. who didn't get any
prize himself patted him on the back
"Goot, Goot." he exclaimed
Il wish I could give them all prizes. for
tLey all deserve them" Miss Wiener said
They do work so hard and it's wonder
ful how fast they learn. They come TO US
right off the ship. some of them. Here's
ono now-been in this country only three
days" An eager-eyed young Jew rushed
up TO her at her nod. Here Joseph" she
said: will you take these books up
stairs?'
He bobbed his head ard hurried to the
stairway.
"He knows what upstairs means al
ready" said Miss Cohen.
There was a long programme Of recita-
tions. quotations and compositions by the
pupils, and then DR.. Fleishman made a
brief speech. warning the immigrants not
10 mistake liberty for license
Nothing but the English language is
taught in these classes for adult immi-
grants, for the alliance authorities feel
that a working knowledge of the speech
Of the country is the first requisite Of
citizenship. and indispensable in getting
Job.
Mr.. Salant is going to be a rabbi.