The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-13
Oh Thyra Sarufer Winslow

IL SS n years? Are we going to shut the gates
MAfykSW against the entry of more of them I'm.
MgMNI til we can digest" into our national
MdN%U body those now here?
These questions are very important.
WDkbW They are making many intelligent
WV Americans do some hard thinking
these days. The problem didn't
amount to much as long as the bulk of immigra-
ton came from western Europe-from Germany,
England, Ireland, France, Norway, Sweden, Den
mark. In fact, America sorely needed these sturdy
folk, who came here to be one with US under the
Stars and Stripes.
But of late years most of the immigration has
been from Russia, Italy, eastern Austria, European
and Asiatic Turkey-and the Lord only knows
where else. In this country they generally herd in
city settlements, for the most part a dirty, ig-
norant burden to city communities. They don't
mix with us. They don't become a part of our
citizenship. Their traditions anG ideals and con.
ceptlons of the American social order are not ours.
They're a sort of indigestible lump in our gizzard.
Cities Tackle Job.
Almost with the bravery of despair the larger
cltes-New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh,
hochester, where low-class immigrants are espe-
eiaLy heavy in numbers-have set out to perform
the task of making citizens of this unpromising
material. The public schools are the most useful
instruments for the purpose at hand.
Our city schools are becoming great "meItinp
pots for all races and creeds. Our small cities.
our towns and our rural stretches do not have to
race this great problems solution directly. but the
general welfare OF the nation depends on how well
the cities meet the task. We are, and we should
be, interested, encouraging onlookers.
This is really a story about the work being done
In one big high school in Chicago, a city with a
very large foreign population. In one grade
school room there are children of seventeen dis.
tinct nationalities. Just consider the task of MAX.
ing good, patriotic Americans of all of them
japanese, Chinese, Turks and the rest. It's he
ing done, though. And there's a hint in this story
OF what we can do to make our local schools more
useful to US than they are.
Real Melting Pot.
The real melting pot of Chicago is situated less
than a mile from the city's business center. 1t is
a melting pot that takes boys and girls, old men
and graying women representing twenty national
tiles and turns them from lonesome, bewildered
strangers into useful, ambitious citizens. 1t
teaches them everything from trades to dancing,
from wood-turning to wireless telegraphy. The
melting pot is Lane Technical school, the most
remarkable of all Chicago's public schools and one
of the most wonderful schools in the world. 1t has
a teaching staff Of more than a 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. 1t teaches steam and
electrical engineering, carpentry and agriculture.
1t teaches craftsmanship and advertising. 1t
1t 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 a place in the world.
Instead of opening at nine and closing at four,
as the majority of schools do, Lane is open all day
and all evening. 1t opens at eight in the morning.
At 8: 80 it starts special training for trades appren-
tees.
Night Student Glasses.
From $50 until $3.50, the night students take
Azzz.rtz- AToar1u II 81 fha nfnhf uftln n ~
employed at hundreds of different occupations dur
ing the day, but, though they are 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, courses in automobile engineering and re-
enforced concrete. There is a valuable class, too,
to which young men may go If they are in doubt
as to which trade or profession they would be
best suited. The vocational class prevents square
pegs in round holes. Expert psychologists ques-
ton the members of the class and advise them as
to their future.
IF you don't see what you want, ask for It" is
Lanes advice to seekers for knowledge. If several
men or women want to study some subject that is
not included in the regular courses they sign a
petition and a new class, under expert instruction,
is started. Some of the new classes are journal
ism, copper work and automobile construction.
Last year, advertising and Spanish we're 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
uroyes especially inviting and valuable. It is hard
to get acquainted in a city. A young man can go
out alone at night. A girl, busy all day, has little
time to make friends. 1t is pretty lonesome to
spend evening after evening alone in a little room.
II isn't necessary in Chicago. for Lane is ready to
take care of lonesome girls, to give them a pleas
ont TINA and valuable instruction.
Three evenings each week the big gymnasium is
irRENcHMAN OF HIGH MILITARY POSITION.
Gen. Pierre Auguste Roques, the new French
minister of war, succeeding General Gallieni, was
until his promotion. commandant OF the army OF
.ha woevre. which has of late given a good &C
~ n.aon41u hn MAJ nmardad ihe