davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

senator finally decided to do what he
could to aid the woman.
He asked her to call upon him. He
ascertained that the story Of her need
and worthiness was true In all particu-
lars and finally got her a position at a
salary sufficient to keep her and her son
from want.
Some days later. in the morning mail.
came letter for young Smoot, and his
fathers eye saw a five-dollar bill fall
out.
He demanded the reason for such an
Enclosure, and. taking the letter. he read
q deep expression of thanks from the
woman, and at the end:
Enclosed find SIS. instead of the 81
which my SON promised you should have
II you obtained me the position"
After the senator got through talking
with his young son the latter understood
thoroughly that government positions
are not given. even to the needy, on a
commission basis. Needless to add. the
money was returned.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

candidate. the opposition tried to work
off a gag regarded as a sure shot
1t seems that the pops" had written
a pamphlet in which Williams was hailed
as ''robber baron" "bloated pluto
GRAFT" etc. etc. His property. held In
several places, was really small In
amount. but this leafiet made 1t appear
that the holdings in a farm and town
property. as well as some stock. amounted
up into the millions.
Williams was speaking in q small city
when some Of these tracts began to cir
culate among the crowd. friend Sc
cured one and hurried to the platform.
Here, Sharp" exclaimed the friend,
anxiously. read this"
Williams read slowly. then grunted sor-
rowfully.
Gentlemen" he shouted. waving tho
pamphlet above the heads of the crowd,
81 have In nay hands here a paper which
accuses me OF being worth q million.
NV friends, this Is the first lie told about
me that wish was trus!''
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

new Episcopal minister had gone. He
visited the town and found q Methodist
chapel 1t was q quiet place. SO he
strolled down to the store determined to
could obtain the use OF the chapel for
his flock. On the steps sat an elderly
sage.
"'Are there many churches around
hereT asked the new Episcopal minister.
"a few replied the elderly sage.
grouchily. 'Cam'ellites an Methodists
and Baptists and the like
Amy Episcopaliansr demanded the
preacher.
One out on the lake yesterday re-
pied the sage. Looked somethin' like a
mallard duck only its bills longer. 81
Simmons shot It
And that" concluded Representative
Payne, "!s the status Of the new party"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

comings are indicated, the alien is de-
tanned and allowed to rest for few days
when more conclusive tests are applied
Many attempts. both pathetic and
amusing, are frequently resorted to in
an effort to deceive the examiners. Sell
dom do these attempts prove successful
yet never day passes that they are not
tried in a number of instances. Much
ingenuity is displayed in originating these
schemes and 1t requires all the vigilance
Of the immigration officers to detect them
It is the custom among the persons OF
a certain race to make their mentally un-
sound look very beautiful before appear
ing before the examiner; they are clean
and we'll groomed and have been in
structed to smile little when passing
the examiner. Many Of them pretend to
be deaf and dumb. knowing that under
some circumstances persons SO afflicted
will be allowed to enter the country.
One Of the favorite methods Of circum-
venting the examiners is to bring mentally
feeble persons to the country as second
and even first class passengers. This.
however, usually fails because tho health
authorities board all the incoming ships
and examine those aliens who travel above
decks. There is no escaping the vigilance
Of those who are charged with the all-im-
portant duty OF protecting the American
race from pollution.
1.-The other day." said DR.. Knox In cit
ing examples of attempted evasion Of the
health examinations. Il observed a well
dressed man running to catch up with the
line Of immigrants OF which he was the
last one. I stopped him and found he
was very lame. due to a dislocated hip.
He had practiced running step for pos
sibly many weeks In the hope Of thus
passing the medical officer undecided.
1T is almost impossible to keep up with
the many schemes these apparently tgno-
rant foreigners hatch up in their desper-
ate attempts to enter the country at all
hazard l have known them to come here
with glass eyes that virtually defy detec-
ton, SO perfectly do they match with the
good eye. A favorite trick of the totally
blind whose eyes, however, appear normal
on casual inspection Is to walk very close
to their friends who are In fact leading
them.
THE variety OF such schemes Is almost
endless. Persons with loathsome scalp
diseases wear wigs. Those who are
hunchbacked swear they got 1t on the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
Too Deep.

g ENATOR TILLMAN, who is an anti
~ suffragist. listened calmly. at q din
ner In Washington. to an impassionsd
speech by a brother senator In suffrage's
behalf.
At the end of this speech q diner. As
he applauded enthusiastically. said to
Senator Tillman:
Hes a deep thinker amt her
Yes was the reply; he cant talk
three minutes without getting beyond
his Depth
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
IlT!1UAa1A1{ Poll 1871 RUSSIAN AND ITALIAN GIRLS =


and answers without the least expression
in face or voice
These characteristic reactions are pro-
duced mainly in the uneducated OF vari-
If they depart very far from what has
usually been the case heretofore the cir
cumstance is regarded as suspicious es-
pecially IL there is no apparent reason
for the depression.
''The frame of mind of the immigrant
Is not important In making a physical
examination. but it is all important in
the mental investigation. 1t is difficult
to realize the great mental strain these
ignorant foreigners labor under when
they reach Ellis Island. Nearly all OF
them have heard Of the rigid investiga-
ton they must undergo before being per-
mitted to enter the country. Therefore
1T Is not to be wondered at that they
contemplate the ordeal with apprehen.
sion"
DR.. Knox cites many instances that
have come under his personal observa-
ton where the immigrant has done him.
self an injury while thus laborins UNI
der the strain of apprehension. Not
long ago. the doctor related. an arriving
ali-n slashed himself across the wrist
with suicidal intent. 1t was plainly APP
parent that while he was not actually In.
sane. he was of unstable makeup and
was suffering from the mental strain
due to the long voyage In the steerage
and the ordeal that confronted him on
landing. He thus plainly showed his
weak resistance under an unusual strain.
Another case that came under the OBJ
servation of the examiners was that OF
an Italian boy, who had been abused on
shipboard by a sailor. The boy stood
the abuse as long as he could. and then
proceeded to polish up the deck with
the sailor. For this he was put In irons
and kept a. prisoner for the remainder
of the voyage. When he arrived at Ellis
Island he was in such frame OF mind
that nothing could be done with him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

alien is the last Of his family. and there
is nothing ahead Of him but sadness and
poverty and suffering. To this must be
added the brand Of fool that has been
placed upon him, because he has been
adjudged mentally incompetent.
These and similar considerations are
strong arguments In favor of skilled men
with strong humane instincts and abi-
ity to judge Of human nature, to conduct
the examinations of detectives with the
tests they have themselves perfected.
standardized and know how to interpret. !"
=
Examination Of aliens is not alto
gether confined to the use OF visual and
similar tests. Many questions are asked
by the examining physician through the
interpreter, and the aliens mental fitness
is largely judged through the readiness
and accuracy with which he replies. In
fact the quickness with which he grasps
the Significance Of the questions often
yields information Of the greatest value.
Here are some Of the questions that
are asked:
How old are your
'How old were you four years ago?'
What ship did you come on?'
What is the year of your birth?"
What place Is this?"
How many are six and sixT'
How many are six and severn?
How many are six and f1ve?"
what Is the day Of the week. date.
month and year,"
Can you count from ten to one?''
''Who Is the ruler OF your country?'
Have you memorized the address to
which you are going?"
To the average person the answers to
these comparatively simple questions
might mean but little. but to mon who
have asked them of many thousands OF
persons and know exactly how the av-
erage OF each race and type answers them
they contain a wealth Of accurate infor
nation. Indeed. they go long way to-
ward establishing the mental caiiber OF
the suspected mental defective.
II the questions have been answered
to the satisfaction Of the examiner the
allen is allowed to go his way. provided
he has passed the physical and other
tests. II they have not been satisfacto-
rily answered. and thus mental short
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

were said to be stolen several months
ago.
The department. although 1t has never
recovered ,Ae plans. has persistently
maintained that it has suffered no great
loss, as only a portion Of the sketches
were missing. and they were unimportant.
Not long ago veteran newspaper man
asked the question again and was told
by Secretary Roosevelt that nothing had
been heard.
sWhat about the three-turret gun
plans?' he asked next.
Great heavens!' cried Roosevelt when
were they taken?"
He was about to yell for further infor-
nation on the new theft when the news
paper man interrupted.
''They weren't taken as far as KNOW"
he said. II just wanted to see whether
or not they were important"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
The Young Idea.

Recently Senator
Reed Shoots boy
came to him with
a pitiful story of a
woman who need
ed a position. The
Woman's son was
his playmate, the
s e II q tor son
pleaded. and her
husband was away
in the southwest
with tuberculosis.
So eloquently did
the young orator
plead that the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
Too Much Reform.

MAYOR CHENEY of Hartford said
AVA of a reformer who desired to re-
vive some of the most intolerable OF the
Sunday blue laws:
1.-The man would stop us from reading
our Sunday newspaper, from taking our
Sunday auto ride"
He frowned.
"A reformer of his type" he said. may
be defined as one who believes I'm the d.
vine right of interference"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

cient tests that are used Is known as the
visual comparison test. 1t Is the 1nVen
ton Of officers OF the public health
service and has been found to be one
of the most effective in determining
the mental quickness Of suspected
feeble-minded persons. It consists Of q
series Of drawings and the suspect is
required to pick out set OF the draw
ings in a given number OF minutes
The whole test is standardized for the
examination of alien illiterates over
twelve years or age.
All Of the work of the examiners has
to be done through the medium of In
terpreters. since 1T is not to be expect
know all of the languages and their
various dialects that are spoken by
the immigrants. Frequently 1t hap
pens that even the large number OF In
a new dialect that has not hitherto
been met.
1T must be understood" said DR..
Knox. in outlining the position Of the
public health service In its examina-
ton Of aliens, that the examining Of
ficers' position is wholly a judicial one,
and they are neither for nor against
the immigrant The country Is the
plaintiff. and the alien is the defendant
and he is innocent until proved
guilty. The burden Of proof is upon
the country and Its representatives
rather than the immigrant. Perhaps 1t
Is we'll that this Is 50.
THE uninitiated person at first sight
may protest against the influx OF ragged
and very uncouth foreigners. but these
are qualities and not crimes, provided
the alien possesses no psychopathic or
other degenerate traits. Some must come
I'm from other lands to prevent racial in
breeding, which produces degenerates
partly as the result OF long line OF
educated progenitors
Extreme care always Is used In ex-
aiming aliens for mental diseases. since
to them it in an extremely vital question.
1t may be they have sold everything
they possess to make the trip and often
may have borrowed money besides. To
them 1t is indeed hardship to be de-
ported to the port whence they came. and
perhaps to walk many miles to their ma
tive village with the prospect Of prosecu-
ton for debt staring them in the face.
Nor is this all. Perhaps the deported
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
The Bitter Bitten.

II there IL one
thing on earth OF
which Senator John
Sharp Williams Is
innocent. 1t is his
being we'll on IN
this worlds goods.
for the accumula-
ton Of filthy lucre
Ia not one OF his
talents.
But back In the
old days. when
w I'LL a M 8 was
C a m p a l & n ] n g
against q populist
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
Husbands.

MISS HELEN TRAvERS, the presi-
4vA dent of the Bachelor Girls Club
of Duluth. said in toast. 1.-The Men,
at the clubs nineteenth anniversary:
And now We come to the man as hus-
band. Man as husband may be divided
into two classes-he whose meals dis
with his meals"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
Putting One Over.

Assistant Secre-
tary Of the Navy
Franklin Roose-
Welt IS q suave and
urbane man on
most subjects, but
the newspaper men
have found one
way Of capturing
his goat and lead
ing 1t around the
lot. That Is by
asking him about
the plans OF the
battleship Penn
sylvania. which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
Because Of Wings2

In the House the
other day some-
body made the re-
mark that the pro-
gressive party was
gaining strength
through the west.
T h a I remark
caused Represent
alive Serene Payne
OF New York to
smile.
1T reminds me-"
said he. "of q little
middle W e s I e r n
town to which g.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

ship" If this is the truth they are not
sent back. Parents nth understood i'm
beetle children who cannot walk declare
they are but eighteen months old. 4dany
of them claim to be citizens of the coun-
try when in fact they have never been
here before.
Persons with goiter bend the head for
ward to hide the affliction. while those
with false hands wear gloves. as also do
those who have contagious nail diseases.
Those with missing fingers or stiff elbows
hang overcoats or shawls over them
those with fiat feet wear arches. Women
with signs of disease on their faces wear
heavy wells and look indignant when
asked to remove them; persons who are
lame frequently carry heavy pieces OF
baggage to cover their awkward walk.
And SO 1t goes"
Practically every action by the exam
liner produces certain reaction in the
alien under examination. depending on
his race, education, previous environment
and experience. The asking of a ques-
ton without previous warning will in
variably result in very characteristic
reaction. according to the race from
which the alien has sprung.
For example," said DIR. Knox, take
the question How long did you attend
schools? Before the real answer is OBJ
tanned the reactive response is made. In
the case of the Irishman it is "What?"
In the case of the Scot 1t is a moment of
silence and then an answer to the ques-
ton. The EngEshman almost always re-
peats the question, and display of sur
prise that such a question should have
been put to him.
"On the other hand. the Frenchman
answers at once and directly, which also
Is the case with the German. Neither
wastes breath in replying. Such, how
ever, is not the case when the same
query Is put to the Hebrew. He always
spars for time and forces repetition of
the question and then takes his time in
answering.
THE Turk regards the questioner with
suspicion and the Armenian and Arab
with utter amazement. The Russian and
Pole answer without hesitation, provided
they understand. The Lithuanian will not
reply unless the examiners knowledge of
his language and the grammar of the
question is perfect. The Scandinavian
looks at the questioner with blank stare
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
LEAF CLUSTER EST Is OPERATEDInzE ENVELOPE
Test BUT IN % SECONDS P1cK OUT DESIGNS That
ANr TIT 7ur1c AT q

the psychopathically predisposed.' fire.
quently produce hot-tempered. impossible
offspring who never succeed in a world
which they curse until finally they leave
II in disgust
These individuals are feeble-minded.
but not in the ordinary sense Of the word.
Intellectually they may be very bright
and have ability to solve mathematical
problems and pass all the complicated
tests that can be given them. 1t is
rather In the emotional sense that they
are defective. They are high tempered.
impulsive, thoughtless and given to the
qualification of the baser passions. re-
sulting finally perhaps in murder and
other crimes. This type is really to be
feared more than the moron, or simple.
feeble minded person of more stable emo
tons. 1t is !. e aim of those who exam
Inc immigrants to detect just this class"
The detection of the effectiveness
among the horde of immigrants that year
ly pass the portals Of Ellis Island DR.
Knox does not regard as SO very DIM
cult. He qualified this, however, by say
ing that the faces OF the various types
of psychopathic cases are as open books
to the experienced examiner. The ex-
aminer studies the facial expression and
from this draws his preliminary deduc-
tions. He knows that educated and
highly civilized persons have learned to
control their expressions of feeling and
that frequently a smile may hide an
aching heart.
1t can be seem" continued the doc
tor. that facial expression is more
accurate criterion of what is in the
mind Of the uneducated alien than in
that OF the intellectually developed per-
son. The chalk mark that is placed on
the clothing OF the immigrant who Is
TO be held for further examination
serves other purposes than to tell what
they are held for.
Persons of stable temperament pay no
attention to it. high-strung. apprehen-
sive persons think 1t of grave impor-
lance and may cry. lament or gestlcu-
late. thus revealing their mental makeup
Some of the actually insane regard IL as
mark of honor or of doom. or as a
special attention of the Diety. or OF
the ruler of the land. guaranteeing a safe
passage to their destination"
Aside from the study OF the facial ex-
preston OF the arriving immigrant, there
are a number of simple tests to deter
mine their mental caliber These are
known as the iliiteracy tests and consist
of variety OF charts and drawings.
There also are sets OF different kinds
of wooden blocks that are to be placed
in a certain position in tray that is
constructed to contain them exactly in
one position.
One of the simplest and yet most eff
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28
ARE IDENTICAL !.

Of these men relax or should they
be entirely withdrawn from the work
they are doing. The stream of i'm
migration from the older nations Of
the world to this newer land of prom
Use Is growing day by day. With its
hope of liberty and independence and
probable affiuence Ii constantly draws TO
II those who would better their condition.
y
There was a time not so very far
IN the past when II was we'll known
that certain European governments
encouraged the immigration Of mem
bers of their criminal classes to this
country That today is an impos-
sibility. and largely so because of
the vigilance Of the public health Of
ncials at the ports OF entry. still.
there arrive on nearly every steamer
a certain number of mentally defec-
tive. diseased and otherwise unfit
Immigrants who must be separated
from those that the regulations per-
init to enter.
IN Is a far from pleasant duty that the
men of the public health service have TO
perform. Daily there are scenes enact
"a at Ellis Island that wiring the hearts
~ the most callous. Yet duty compels
.hen TO turn deaf ear to the many
headings Of relatives and friends OF those
whom they are forced 10 deport. These
cases, however, are CrpOSeG OIL with
Judgment. common sense and human
kindness
The work Of examining each immigrant
as he comes from the barge that has
h-ough. him from the steerage OF his
steamer to the receiving station at Ellis
island is not so verv difficult. nor yet is
:. an easy task. These immigrants are
known officially as third class and
when thew enter the station they are put
through what has frequently been re-
ferrec 10 as the sieve at Ellis Island"
AS they come from the barge they are
brought before the examiners. who imme-
dietely begin a general examination as
20 physical fitness These officers are
so experienced in the detection OF out
ward signs OF unftness and disease that
few escape their vigilant eyes.
II Is not 20 be expected. however. that
these examiners can detect defective per-
sons from the personal appearance alone
although this combined with their actions
IL OF great aid, especially as each type
and facial expression peculiar to itself
The duty Of applying the tests that
have proven so effecti~e in detecting the
mentally deficient falls chiefly to a young
physician. DR.. Howard A. Knox. DR..
Knox has been in the service a number
of years and already has shown himself
TO be one Of the most painstaking and
efficient examiners in the government en-
ployment He is an assistant surgeon
and 10 stationed at Eilis Island. Recently