The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-11
Frederick Haskin's Letter
Poles ir, America.
Especial Correspondence of The Argus.l

Buffalo, n, Y, Oct. 10.-The fact
that Poland has become at last o
united and independent nation will
not rob the United States of any
considerable percentage of the
Polish-born population, which has
come to play such an important part
in its business and Industrial life.
Many Polish-Americans are going
back for visits to their fatherland,
often to seek for friends or rela-
tives, but very few of them are go
ing to stay. They have become
wholly and permanently American.
This is the opinion of a promi-
nent citizen of Polish birth here in
Buffalo, which contains perhaps a
greater percentage Of Poles among
its 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 a day But when they OBJ
of them returned to the United
States.
America, it seems. has a power
full effect On the Polish immigrant.
He comes here meek from centur-
les of oppression. When he real
ICES 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 frugally. As a consequence, so
per cent of them own their own
homes, and the bank deposits of the
Buffalo Poles total about $35, 900, 600.
This is surprising to many people
who know the Poles as better
slenders than savers.
These people have so long been
discouraged by conditions in Europe
that their ambition has been said by
some critics to be dormant. George
Brandes pronounced the Russian
Poles dilettantes, playing with a
dozen careers in a lifetime, and
caring very little whether success
came with any of them. In Amer
lea, they manage to focus their am
billions. They regard this country
as land of great opportunities,
and most of them settle down to
make money.
How Colonies Are Formed.
Like other immigrants, they
gather in colonies in the big cities.
Chicago has the largest colony,
then Detroit, and then Buffalo A
few Poles came to these cities be-
cause work was offered there, and
from these nuclei the colonies grew.
Oppression at home had trained
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 COM
life, and in this country
they wished it to be the same. So
the value OF piece of property to
a Pole is still measured partly by
its closeness to the church of the
A market is also demanded by
the Polish mother wherever she
may be. Early in the morning on
Buffalo's Broadway in the Polish
a procession of housewives
can be seen passing The Poles
are epicureans, even more so than
the French, it is claimed. With all
the shops and their shortcuts TO
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 her
self
The Polish language which these
mothers, many of them, taught to |
heir children in secret in Europe,
IS on every tongue in the market |
parade. The children and the faith
ers generally mix with the Ameri- |
AN world and pick up English, |
slang included, in six months. But |
he mother from Poland often re-