The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-10-03

Or centuries it has been the
custom of certain old world
governments to confine the
Jewish population to definite
section of the cities where the
Jewish population has been large.
These Jewish confines have been
known as Ghettos. When the exodus
of Jews from Russia, from Poland,
from Roumania, and Hungary was at
its height these old world Hebrews
took unto themselves that section Of
the lower East side of New York
which lies east of the Bowery clear
down to the East river and in the
course of time this district became so
wellnigh universally Jewish that the
word Ghetto came to be applied to it.
1t was in reality veritable Ghetto,
comparable to the greatest Ghettos
of the old world, only vaster. 1t is
still today greater city Of Jews than
the world has ever known. Accus-
toned through the centuries which
have gone to be forcibly confined
within a given area, transplanted to
the new world, where no such re-
strictions have ever existed, these
people have yet adhered very large
ly to their traditional habits. Held
together not only by the bonds Of
orthodoxy, but by the scars of ancient
political bondage, they have brought
with them not only their religion,
their racial traits and customs, but
the forms Of life and habits which
their previous existence had imposed
upon them. It would seem a mis-
homer, perhaps, to characterize any
section Of this wonderful city as "un-
changing" but the Ghetto represents
more nearly unchanging New York
than any other.
Street Merchants.
In the perspective of 30 years, or
even 20 years, the lower East side
has completely altered. Immigrants
from Great Britain and Ireland and
from Germany, who at that time prac-
tically possessed this section, have
departed. Their exodus began with
the advent Of the Jewish population.
Certain streets were, however, re-
tanned by these nationalities until
very recently, but now even this old
guard has given up and the section
II altogether Jewish, with a slight
fringe Of Italians. In other words,
the great orthodox Ghetto Of ten
years ago is the self-same Ghetto to-
day, only more 80. Here and there
a towering Office building has taken
the place of tenement house or a
ramshackie business building; Ger
tain magnificent schoolhouses, the
largest in the world. have been erect
ed, but the drift Of life through all
the old streets Is just the same. Push
carts line the streets to the incon-
venience and decentralization Of traf-
DC, whole blocks Of them, solid, In
certain streets. and on these carts
are displayed every conceivable ar
ticle Of necessity to human existence.
At the corner Of Essex and Hester
streets is the same old Jewish labor
market, where loiter the workmen
waiting to be employed, carpenters
with their saws and hammers, lock-
smiths with their huge rings Of keys,
plasterers, bricklayers, men Of every
grade, representatives of every trade,
standing hour after hour, and from
time to time bargaining, with pros
pective employer over the price OF
their time and their labor. The pea
nut stands. the old women peddling
strings Of garlic and bags Of onions.
the fruit vendors and the pickle mer-
chants with their pals Of luscious
cucumbers, picked apples and toma-
toes. and down under the shadow OF
the new bridge the fish women, whose
wares are exposed to all the dust
and dirt and filth that flies through
this miserably uncared-for section OF
the city.
On almost every corner and scat
tered through many blocks. are the
pavement soda water fountains, where
soda OF many bright hues Ii DIS
pensed 1t one and two cents glass.
The dcorways ara blocke4 by Tt oad
women, whose chief occupation =
y