The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-10-19

when Mrs Plank hurst was Naylaid at ElIis Island last October she spoke appr lively Of the i111Ini grltt tsn de4 poi h general, and of the courtesy hfnted at it's similarity to certain prisons she had known Gould some of the other detained women become articulate they might tell q story Of ponotonous days spent in a bleak room while they waited, many with babies at their breasts. without read ing matter. without sewing material for themselves or toys for their chil-5 dren. without recreation or outdoor exercise of any. kind. until tlleir cases were settled.
 Fredetfo e Howee the new com missioner Of irr1nfs on at the port of New York; has set out to change sonae of the old tradition St Ellis Isl-= and and to make it comfo1tab1e waiting place for those uewcon1ers whose start in -Al1aerica. must be sale guard cd by certain prec autionary measures. Already he has h1troduced new spirit at the island Clerks. attendants and matrons tell the visi-s tor that the commissioner Is thu- rnanizing the place.
 The .shunnanizing began with a. single bench on the lawn. 'o1. weeks, Gommfss1oner Howe says he worked to transplant that bench from a laby- rinth Of benches packed away in q. seoreroorn to the plot of grass out :, side. Then followed other benches and the transp Iantlng of the inmates from their cheerless detention hall to those Benches
 At first some of the old women wept says Conmtssfoner Howe. when the bare walls of the detention room were transformed into changing picture of curious ships blue water and a misty new world across the harbor But they ceased to weep when they saw the children. hitherto penned up all day Jumping and shouting and growing rosy from play in the crisp outdoors
 Comm issioner Howe found a teach CT to direct the playground, and along with the teacher went every Kind of ball and jump ropes. Games are play 2 edssby 8 sort of sign language in this medley of w-headed Swedes brown Italian children, 4exicans, Irish-ail nafionaIitfes- But they manage to throw balls, to Htag each other and even to sauabble together in healthy nerriment. And around tne sides of the play quadrangIe sit the mothers with the httiest babies. enjoying the sport.
 Inside the building the sh1rfanizins'' IS also going on. Esarnerl9 husbands were shut up in one room, wives in another Now 9 door Is being brok en through wall ana there will be s,d :
 
 men may ming1a Cheap sewing ma teriaIs may now be purchased by the wenens foreign newspapers with lots of funny pictures are distributed. and there are toys for the children. Out on the big piazza. swings have been placed and more games intro- duced The other day live young men and g1ris were having hearty game Of -the-cornerf''
 On Sunday afternoons there is a band concert Of national airs and ramlliar songs In the near future Mr. Howe hopes to add folk dancing to the music of a phon ograph.
 By arraIgernent with the Board ot Education, the con1missioner has completed plans for a, school for de tained children and classes for adults The board will supply teachers and ct Ellis Island. therefore, on the very threshold of the country. these immi- grant children will begin their Amer 3can education
 Very little change has been made by Commissioner Howe in sleeping and boarding accommodations at ths island. The food, he thinks. is good but he has stationed inspectors in ths dintnE 1all :.tp tsAs any coEnE'Iaints