New-York tribune., 1921-08-07

Geological problems, the elimination OF
evils and the promotion of race culture
in its truest and most. comprehensive
sense. The book is not far from en-
cyclop@dic in scope, and it is excep-
tionally thorough in treatment and ra-
tlonal in tone. While of almost in.
dispensable v.slue to TIE professional
or official student of social conditions
and tendencies, IL is of no less inter-
est to every layman who is benevolent
ly concerned with the welfare of his
fellows.
From such study of the race uni
versal in civilized lands and its biolog-
ical tendencies and the forces which
affect its progress, it is logical and
profitable to proceed to more specific
study of the Strangers within our
gates" and to observe to what extent
immigrants are subjects of physical,
intellectual or spiritual cultivation.
That they require such cultivation
goes without saying. That is partly
because they chiefly come from the
lower social strata, corresponding with
those elements in our own land which
ere most in need of culture; and it is,
of course, partly because they are
aliens and should, for the good of all
concerned, be Americanized as prompt
ly and as thoroughly as possible.
In nine out of ten cases the immi
grant who comes hither finds himself
In new and strange environment
Houses, food, clothes, family life and
relationships, recreation, social activi-
ties, all present here a striking con-
trast to those which he knew in the
old country. 1t is imperative that there
shall be some readjustments Of such
matters in his life, and it is desirable
that these shall be Just as extensive
and as comprehensive as possible.
Many immigrants seek them, promptly
and earnestly, with some degree of
success. Others, through carelessness
CT 1neptitude, fail to do so, and con-
tinue to remain as largely as possible
alien to the civilization and the life
which they have entered.
That the immigrant should be left in
such matters to his own inclinations
and devices is blunder of criminal
magnitude. 1t will not do to say that
we did not fetch him hither, that he
came of his own volition, and that
therefore it is for him to work out his
own salvation. Entirely apart from
humanitarian considerations, it must
be remembered that we at least per-
n.itted him to come, even if we did not
actively encourage him, and that we
owe it to our own welfare to see to it
that he is made as welcome and as val
liable new resident as possible.
Professor Breckenridge therefore de-
scribes and discusses the topics Of
family life among immigrants, their
care of children, their habits Of saw
ing and the need that they shall be
taught the supreme economic lesson
of how to spend as we'll as how to save.
Much attention is also given to the
multitudinous mutual benefit and
other social organizations, to somc of
which SO large a proportion Of immi-
grants belong, or which they speedily
join after their arrival here. And all
this Is done in manner at once scien-
tific and simple, and always sympa-
thetic, as if written with broad mind
and clear vision and sane judgment,
with the benevolent purpose Of making
on the one hand his new home more
agreeable to the immigrant and on
the other the immigrant himself and
his children more agreeable and val
liable members of the commonwealth
which they have entered. A classified
catalogue of the official and unofficial
agencies Of adjustment" is remarkably
complete anG will be of immense prac-
tical value for reference, especially
since it is accompanied with much de-
scriptive and critical matter concern
ing them. 1t is on the whole singu-
larly instructive and also suggestive
book, making straight for construc-
tive work and telling what has been
done and what must be done to make
our much vaunted melting pot" some
thing more than 6 witches cauldron.