Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-10-15
POLES IN AMERICA-By Frederic J. Haskn

~ UFFALO, N. Y, Oct. 1O.-The fact that
K Poland has become at last united and
Independent nation will not rob the
United States Of any considerable percentage
of the 'lish-born population, which mas
come to play such an important part in its
business and industrial life Many Polish
Americans are going back for visits to their
fatherIand, often to seek for friends or rela-
tives, but very few Of them are going to stay.
They have become wholly and permanently
American.
This is the opinion Of prominent citizen
of Polish birth here in Bunalo. which CON
tains perhaps a greater percentage of Poles
among it's people than any other American
city.
During the war 100000 Poles in the
United States volunteered to fight for their
country's liberty at 10 cents day. But
when they obtained that liberty for Poland
most of them returned to the United States.
America it seems, has powerful effect
on the Polish immigrant. He comes here
meek from centuries Of oppression. When he
realizes that the air is free he blossoms out.
He even develops traits that the Pole Is not
noted for Thus, this Polish citizen tells us
that his people in this city are great savers.
that they come here poor, but they live fru-
gally. AS consequence, 80 per cent OF
them own their own homes, and the bank de-
posts OF the Buffalo Poles total about $780,
100000 This is surprising to many people
who know the POLES as better spenders than
savers.
These people have so long been discour-
aged by conditions in Europe that their am
bition has beel- said by some CRITICS to be
dormant. Georg Brandes pronounced the
Russian Poles dilettantes, playing with a
dozen careers in lifetime, and caring very
little whether success came with any Of them.
In America, they manage to focus their am
billions. They regard this country as land,
of great opportunities, and most Of them set
tie down to make money.
How Colonies Are Formed,
Like other immigrants, they gather in col
onies in the big cities. Chicago has the larg-
est colony, then Detroit, and then Buffalo. A
few Poles came to these cities because work
was offered there, and from these nuclei the
colonies grew. Oppression at home had ira in
! ed them to cling to each other for advice and
support, and too, they eagerly sought out
neighborhoods where the beloved Polish
tongue could be heard.
They formed their communities around the
churches, and when the churches became too
crowded they built new ones. At home, the
church was the center of the community life,
and in this country they wished it to be the
same. So the value Of a piece Of property to
Pole is still measured partly by its close
ness to the church of the nefghborhood.
market is also demanded by the Polish
mother wherever she may be. Early in the
morning on Buffalo's Broadway in the Polish
a
seen passing. The Poles are epicureans, even
more so than the French, it Is claimed. With
all the shops and their shortcuts to house
keeping, the Polish mother makes her own
bread and noodles. And when she returns
from market her loaded basket is very apt to
hold a squawking goose or hen which she
will kill and pluck herself.
The Polish language which these mothers,
many Of them, taught to their children in
secret in Euro. e, is on every tongue in the
market parade. The children and the faith
ers generally nix with the American world
and pick up English. slang included, in six
months. But the mother from Poland often
remains Pole and clings to the familiar
ways all her life.
She does adopt the American clothes. The
gay national dress would be too conspicuous
perhaps. But even If she wished to wear it,
the shops of tt e district are full only of the
latest style. So for marketing costume, the
Polish women contents herself with plain
shirtwaist and skirt, and generally shawl
Not all the Poles in Buffalo are of the work
ing class. There are many wealthy families
and successful business and professional
men.
Three Types of Poles
The different Polish types that in this
country blend without difficulty as they grad
ually absorb American characteristics are less
adapta BILE in Poland. That is one difficulty
in the Polish situation now. There three