Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-05
Observation-Disclosures on Our DUTY
Hon. We Haze Entirely Neglected the Foreig,
nfed How the Nev National Americana
BY Helen Astor (Mrs. Vincent Astor)
Member Of tho Executive 8,

those who took part In Bundle Day in New
York last Winter and sow the immigrant
mothers and babies that came there for
clothing were In way getting An insight into the
most serious question before America to-day
how to make these people American and to share
our opportunities with them.
This Is one OF the most interesting phases OF the
work Of the National Americaniaation Committee
the women and children and homes OF our immi-
grants Nobody Is paying much attention TO them
the interest Is all for the and for citizenship
and for preparedness. But we shall never get any.
where a nation until our Immigrant women are
taught English and naturallEed and until their
homes made American.
Our committee Knows there in New York
state alone 1913 cities and towns with n population
of $500 Or And laS OF these have foreign.
born population which Is over 10 per cent OF the
whole. In some cities much hgher-n New YORK
city for instance. 40 per cent. in Albany 30 per
cent in Buffalo % per cent. Rochester "a per cent.
Syracuse % per cent and And besides this
there are camps and quarrics aud cannerics and
mines and brickyards where the workers al.
most all II not entirely immigrants. Here there
living quarters for the workmen but nothing
that you could properly call community at ALL
certainly not an American community.
You/can sec what this means-it means that
from bnetenth 10 onc-half OF the homes in
most important industrial towns are not American
homes at all. And permanently good American
citizens will never come out of them, no matter
how many night school classes we establish
unless the women are helped too
And Amercanzing the women is very different
matter from AmericaDizing the II You go
about 1t In the right way you can get foreign born
men to come to classes in the evening. They are
used to going somewhere outside-to their job at
least But Immigrant women are not used 10
going out at all They do not have TO be shown
that their place Is In the home" They stay there
with very great persistence. And this means that
we shall have to carry America TO them. Amer-
canizatlon parties or Americanization classee
not enough. Immigrant women afraid to
come 1t is all 80 new and strange.
The immigrant womans position Is different
from the rest OF her family here in America The
husband goes to work. and even If his fellow work
men are foreign too he Is likely to find some thing
American In the course OF the day AT the corner
store or In the barber shop he hears the English
language, and in the course OF time learns a few
American customs. The children at the public
Indeed pretty soon they decide every family ques.
ton that has anything to do with American stand.
ards. They become the real authorities, and the
poor mother Is 80 dependent them to make her
purchases for her and translate America TO her In
every way that she can hardly question their
wisdom.
cleans and cares for the home size raises chill.
dren; she supplements the income by taking work
nome; she takes boardeTs. She is the slave of all
work she forms the dull old.wprd BACKGROUND
OF her American family-who often become
ashamed OF II ana OF her. She does not learn Eng.
nsh: she gets the leftovers OF America from her
progressive family; she does not become Amerl.
canned, she does not absorb ideals and ideas:
she learns little about American foods and about
ways or caring for her children in the new and
very diherent climate She knows nothing about
american weather, and will try to keep the first
cola WINDS OF Autumn out OF the house. much as
she would try to keep out the plague She knows
hotnns about american vegetables, American
housekeeping implements, American stoves.
rs II ood that she sometimes puts them to
strange uses! She does not even know American
mon money y is 1t odd that she often appears improv
t III her way or spending it-especially II the
installment plan" expert reaches her as he verv
oIteh Goes! Above all. she does not know English;
ana ie, this postpones indefinitely an acquaintance
with American ways