Evening star., 1919-04-17
Wants His Old Job.


Five or six thousand serbians-
maybe more-enlisted in the Serbian
army from the United States. Most
of them are dead. 1 found one bat
talon in Dalmatia which had been
made up of what was left of the
raded the battalion as a compliment
to America.
How many are going back to the
United States when the war Is over?"
1 asked. Hold up your hands"
Almost every mans hand went up.
Serbia is all right for the Ser
bians," said one big corporal, but
we're Americans. This isn't a good
country for Americans"
Not long ago I was in Belgium. 1t
seemed that every young Belgian /
met asked about America. Many
and every one knew friend or two
who had already completed his plans.
Two months ago l got Job with
the Y. NJ. c. A. in Paris for young
Frenchman who had volunteered in
the Foreign Legion in 1914 and had
fought through the war. He spoke
perfect English and was wizard
with motor engines. The "Y" raised
his pay unsolicited at the end Of the
first month. The ''Y'' was afraid some
one would buy him away.
Will Go~to Cooper Union.
Fine" said he. Every extra franc
I, get brings America nearer to me.
I'm going back to the Copper Union
Of drafting just where left off. But
must work here for q time.
haven't been able to save any money
out Of the nickel day France paid
me for fighting"
back:
Help me hnd jobs for some more
boys who used to work in America"
said he. They will soon be demobil-
lied and they all want to go back"
slow and dodderine, but she dodders
like flash Of lightning. Her states
men saw this situation coming long
time ago. They realized that men
whose home ties have been torn
apart by. tho war will look about for
leased from the army. They will not
live tho before-the-war life at the
before-the-war pay. So Great Britain
is trying to work out some plan to
make home more attractive for them.
The excess-the men who will move
colonies. Canada and Australia and
New Zealand will profit by the move
ment.
I'VE will cooperate in some way"
said a great Canadian in Paris some
months, ago; The ne III men nWa saaii do n1Ue not
know what yet-but we hope to keep
them all"
So with the Italians 1t takes some
time for an Italian to break definitely
with home. apparently. 1t Is SAID that
30 per cent Of the aliens now leaving
for Europe are Italians. They have
been making huge wages during the
war and they think they will live
forever after happily in Italy. Per-
haps they will, for the United States
each italian laborer who has returned
to italy in the past has been a mis-
sionary for America.
Live on Better Scale.
"They have learned to live on a
better scale than they ever did be-
fore" men say who watch them.
''They have parlors and sewing ma
chimes in their houses and they eat
of eating before they visited the land
Of plenty. A good share of them al
ways go back to America to stay
They find they are out OF sympathy
with homeland fashions: Every time
they tell their tales Of easy money
they inspire some youngster with the
ambition to go to the United States
and likewise get rich"
All over Europe these men are ad-
| vance agents for American goods.
| to get the goods, for our merchants
have had too much to do at home to
| bother about a mere continent that
wants to buy. It may be more dim
cult in the future. but the demand
is there. Hardly a town in Europe
big enough to have a public square
that does not OFFER some American
article in the front window Of its
| best shop. 1t is labelled American.
too. The name stands for something.
massive as the British like, or as
cheap as the German turns out. but
it is neat and handy.
Those who go back may find them
selves in hot water. Some of them
| ran away from military service. and
they will be punished All must pay
taxes on a scale never before dreamed
of, even in Europe. But there will
be plenty Of work for those who want
to work, for as soon as Europe gets
an enormous amount Of reconstruc-
tion work to do. Some time ago Amer
ican congressman talked OF restrict
ing European immigration. That may
not be needfu1. for Europe may forbid
her .trons %as o5y an th. oId aHS men
accounts may be permitted to take
refuge in America.
The men who worked in America
and volunteered for military service
in their home lands fear this above
all things. They protest passionately
that it would not be fair. They may
| be assured Of plenty of work in Eu-
rome at American wages. but that
docs not affect them. They have been
comfort, the abundant self-respect
they find over here that attracts. The
caste system in Europe antagonizes
them. The manner in which these
men hail an American-the friendship
| in face and voice-is q revelation.
"Hello, Jack" have been hailed in
Italy and Greece. and Serbia and all