The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-09

IF{VHlZd body those now here?
 IJrWA1l These questions are very important VNhEW lhey are making many intelligent
 w Americans do some hard thinking these days. The problem didn't amount to much as long the bulk of :ulmigra- ton came from western Europe-from Germany fngland, Ireland France Norway Sweden Den. marx In fact America sorely needed these sturdy lolk who came here to be one with us under the Stars and Stripes
 but or late years most of the immigration has been rom Russia, Italy, eastern Austria European ana Aslatlc Turkey-and the Lord only knows where else In this country they generally herd in city settlements, for the most part dirty ig. noraht burden to city communities They don't A "i'h us. lhey don't become part of our citzenship. Their traditions and ideals and con. ceptions of the American social order are not ours lucy re a sort Of 1ndgestibe lump in our gizzard
 Cities Tackle Job.
 Almost with the bravery of despair the larger citles-NeW York, Chicago, Cleveland Pttsburgb no'ei' s,,' where ioW-ciass immigrants espe- clally heavy in numbers-have set out to perform 1ne .asK or making citizens of this unpromising material The public schools are the most usefnl instruments for the purpose at hand
 our clty schools are becoming great "meltinp pots TOT all races and creeds Our small cities our towns and rural stretches do not have to Iace thls great problems solution directly but the general welfare of the nation depends on how well
 
 De, interested, encouraging onlookers
 This is really story about the work being done Ill one Dig high school ill Chicago a city with a very large foreign population In one grade school room there are children of seventeen dis tlnct nauonalities Just consider the task of mak. ing good, patriotic Americans of all of them Japanese, Chinese Turks and the rest It's he. ing done though. And there's hint in this story or what we can do to make local schools more useful to us than they are
 Rea! Melting Pot.
 The real melting pot of Chicago is situated less than mile from the citys business center It is melting pot that takes boys and girls old men / and graying women representing twenty national. 1ties and turns them from lonesome, bewidered strangers into useful, ambitious citizens. It teaches them everything from trades to dancing from woodturning to wireless telegraphy The melting pot Is Lane Technical school, the most remarkable of all Chicagos public schools and one of the most wonderful schools in the world. It has a teaching staff of more than hundred and fifty more than eighty classrooms and about eight thou sand pupils with the largest nightschool in the world.
 Lane teaches almost every subject imaginable, from the sixth grade of grammar school to the second year of college It teaches steam and electrical engineering, carpentry and agriculture. It teaches saesmanship and advertising. It teaches stenography, bookkeeping and designing. It teaches hundreds of other useful subjects And, of course, every subject at Lane is free. Lane teaches too, the love of work how to make friends and how to find place in the world
 Instead of opening at nine and closing at four. the majority of schools do, Lane is open all day and all evening. It opens at eight in the morning. At B. 30 1t starts special training for trades appren- tlces.
 Night Student Classes.
 From 5 30 until 930, the night students take possession. Nearly all of the night students employed at hundreds of different occupations dur ing the day, but, though they tired after their days work. they seize the opportunities at Lane to learn new languages, new trades or to fit them selves for higher wages in the trades at which they work during the day.
 There is a class in metallurgy for foundry fore men, in automobile engineering and re- enforced concrete. There is valuable class. too, to which young men may go if they are in doubt as to which trade profession they would be best suited. The vocational class prevents square pegs Iii round holes. Expert psychologists ques- ton the members of the class and advise them to their future.
 If you don't what you want, ask for it" is Lane's advice to seekers for knowledge. If several or women want to study some subject that IS not included in the regular courses they sign petition and class, under expert instruction, is started Some of the new classes journal ism copper work and automobile construction. Last year, advertising and Spanish were new sub jects but this year they take their places as reg ular classes.
 Opportunities for Girls.
 For the girl who works during the day, Lane proves especially inviting and valuable. It is hard to get acquainted in city. young man can go out alone at night. girl busy all day, has little time to make friends, It is pretty lonesome to spend evening after evening alone in a little room. It isn't necessary in Chicago. for Lane is ready to take care of lonesome girls, to give them pleas ant time and valuable instruction
 Three evenings each week the big gymnasium is