The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-07-27
DEEUGE or FOREIGNERS
POUR into AMERICA
THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS
FROM EUROPE ARE AGAIN
THRONGING ELLIS ISLAND.
PEASANT COSTUMES ARE GAY.

Bewilderment Overwhelms the New
corners Amid the Strangeness and
Confusion-A Regal Gypsy Grand
mother and a Wedding.
The quaint little city of Ellis Island
is busy again after five years of idle
ness and no foreign population. There
is life again on the two islands where
for so many years immigrants have
spent long days previous to entrance
into the United States. Gay bodlces,
bright, full skirts, even few WOOL
en- shoes and grandfatherly boards can
be seen any time of day on the walks
and in the corridors Of the buildings.
To the woman visitor Ellis Island
looked at first glimpse from the gov
eminent boat, which takes sightseers
hack and forth, much like a prison,
with the gray walls and stone build
ings. One island, joined to the larger
of the two by bridges, has extensive
hospitals and resident doctors quar-
tiers. No visitors are permitted on
that side. but over in the main build
ing sightseers are allowed IN practl-
callv all of the quarters and ottlces:
On the first floor of the main build
ing immigrants are Inspected by the
officials and then they are sent to
the hospitals for treatment, to hvlng
ouarters when they are indefinitely
detained. or to waiting boats which
carry these bewildered peasants to
New York. The day the woman vlsl-
tor saw Ellis Island no inspections
were made, but many of the lmml-
grants were being sent into New York
Some of them looked happy and eager
to see the skyscrapers; others-espe-
cially the women-were dazed and IN
different, most of them showing home
sickness and loneliness in their eyes.
Just as the visitors were leaving
the island they saw one of the nurses
leading young girl, about 10 years
old. to the hospital. She was strug-
Cling to get away, trying to JOIN her
father and mother and little brother
who were going on the boat. The
mother was sad and looked as though
she did not think much of the liberty
she had heard so much about. In
Italian the father was explaining to
his wife in the yellow bodice and red
stockings why their daughter was de-
tanned.
In the Big Mess Hall.
The woman visitor was not attract
ed to the dining room by any appe-
tizing .odors, but by the sound OF
marching and much shouting. AS the
tower clock struck II the doors were
opened and the immigrants were push
ed into the dining room for their din
ner, The food was clean and whole
some, but, served in large kettles and
tin bowls, it looked anything but at
tractive. Families were separated IN
the rush to eat, and more than one
little italian baby, with earrings and
long bright skirts, refused to touch
food until it's mother was found by
the attendant The women and chill
dren were taken into the dining room
first; then if any chairs We're. left
the men and boys were given places.
There is room for 1000 persons in
the hall at onA time, but usually now
adays it is necessary to reseat the
tables several times.
After watching the immigrants eat
their dinner the woman visitor Went
intothe railroad rooms where 1mml-
grants wait until a boat arrives to
take them to railroad stations IN New
York city. In this room relatives and
friends meet new arrivals from Eu-
rope. One woman, dressed in black,
wore black arm bands to show that
she was mourning for her sons killed
in the war. With her was young
daughter who, indifferent to onlookers
or the hustle around her, had eyes
only for her AmericaniZed sister,
wearing a blue silk dress, French
heels and rhinestone hair ornaments.
Next to the ticket offices was the
food counter, operated under govern
nent supervision, where boxes of food
could be obtained for use during
train journey. Boxes, neatly put up
in oiled paper, were placed IN racks
where price lists and menus were DIS
played. One rack, with macaronl or
spaghetti, already cooked, showed
plainly that it was well patronized by
italians. After purchasing boxes for
the trip to come guides take the I'M
migrants to the money exchange Of
fee where foreign currency is ex-
changed for that of the United States.
Here great care is exercised that no
loafers or money sharks" get the
coin of trusting immigrants who are
SO bewildered they are willing to go
with any one who is mice" or kind
to them.
A Gypsy Grandmother.
While standing in the waiting room
the woman visitor watched the new
American of Hester street greet his
grandmother, evidently queen of the
evpsies in Roumania, judging from