The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-14
CHILEAN WORKERS
A HAPPY FAMILY
Idea Of Community Service
Strongly Implanted in
Native Character.
ARE NOT MONEY SAVERS
Immigrants Who Seek For
tune in Country Fail to I'm
derstand System.
BY GRACIELA MANDUJANo.

BY GRACIELA MANDUJANo,
Specially Written for the Lotin Amer'
con Section Of THE Sun.
Even in the idyllic valleys guarded b!
the mountains and the sea in tina
blessed stretch OF land called Chile. gu
Of place as they may seem, Ignorance
unwelcome guests TO a certain part o
the population.
To the superficial observer II mus
naturally. look absurd that the apocalip
tic visitors should find their abode ii
a country so rich and peacefully in &
country that boasts of being peopled by
brainy and brawny race for nobod,
could blame the Chilean roto OF beinl
too lazy or too proud TO work. or o.
ever having failed in his efforts. So Il
is source OF unpleasant feeling to have
the immigrants look upon the nativ,
worker with a condescendins smile. fol
they are not really superior beings, al
though earning the same wages they
know how to save a few pennies anc
live with relative decency and comfort
They forget that they have come to the
country with the sole intention OF max
ing some money and. using their train.
ing In economy and their good judgment
to provide for the emergencies OF the
blue days OF their old age.
The Chilean worker, on the other hand
considers himself and his neighbors ~
the members of big family. He does
not possess many things, but he loans
what he has and borrows what he needs
until in the end nobody knows who
bought originally the tenement broom
the cake Of soap, the cooking utensils
the very meat bones which after havins
been cooked 60 to the neighbours Dot tc
help and make the family soup substan.
tiaL Following this policy, the eldest
girl is borrowed to mind the little baby
or the boy to send him on an errand.
High Ideals of Service.
As the Chilean wage Garner has no,
a great field to speculate on the mos,
favorable investment for his money
back debts. rent and food requiring the
whole of II. he comes to look with a
certain respect to the foreigner who can
use the bank. an institution considered
by him to be for the sole benefit OF mil.
lionaires
But the truth Is that the same cause
that Keeps those people poor Is also the
reason why they have a smile in theii
faces during their long hours OF need
Let others call 1t carelessness, lack o.
ambition to succeed. i1nprovidence, fol
he who has looked beneath the surfac.
has seen only An excess OF generosity. ar
excess OF helpfulness.
To visit the most desolate tenement!
In Santiago is to find a fresh ideal fol-
life OF service. not so much because Il
inspires you TO be charitable for some
body else's benefit, but TO save your owr
self-respeot.
You feel that the millionaire shoult
not have made so much fuss for having
adopted some little orphan baby who
will not interrupt her peaceful dream!
o. affect her own children's food ration
after you have seen the ragged laundry
woman whose family has been doubled
by her adoptiona She did not have e
give a second thought TO the matter
orphan asylums are all right, but whole
sale charity has not a fund OF motherly
love. OF which she Is immensely rich anc
generous Besides. It might happen L
her own children.
So, when by chance extra salaries ant
no sickness bring the family some re
lief at the end of the week. they would
feel sincerely ashamed to think Of thu
savings bank while the neishbor acros,
the hall cannot work as a result of ar
accident and needs medicine and food.
Neither can the groceryman becom'
rich. for he has not the heart to be ex
acting or deny credits knowing as ht
does the condition of his clients!
Government Takes q Hand.
Tho same thing happens In every steI
OF the social ladder: disinterest and sac.
rifice are watchwords in family life and
public service to be Congressman
brings no more retribution than the
honor OF having been considered At fol
the service: to belong to the Fire De
partment and risk their lives in every
conceivable occasion is also an honor &c
which the young members OF The bes
families Of the country apply.
But the fact remains that there are
people who suffer unnecessarily. and
the Government itself has taken Of lat'
an uncommon interest to clean the coun
try from unhappiness as much as It il
possible. destroying its very germs. Thu
can be clearly seen in the message of thu
President OF Chile on the occasion o
the opening OF the sessions of Congress
which, as customary, supplies an inter
esting resume OF the progress made II
the country during the year elapsed, I
continuous movement. II somewhat ham
pered at times by the same sxtsrna
causes that have affected tho who'll
world.
The message--virile. recording deed
well done or well begun. without any o
that Irritating talk about undevelope'
posi- bilities or the hopeless comments o
might have beens-show the effort mad
to better the systems Of public educa
ton. to solve the problem OF better nous
ing conditions for the workers. 70 stabil
ize the foreign exchange. &c. and give
a splendid idea OF the healthy attitude
Of the country towards International af
the future.