The Washington times., 1921-07-24
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Immigrant Health and tho
Community"

Immigrant Health and tho
Community"
Americanization from new and VI
tally important angle Is treated by
Michael NJ. Davis, jr., in his ''Immi-
grant Health and the Community
the fifth volume in the Harper's
Americanization Studies. Mr.. Davis
says in his opening cnapter:
The war forced Americanization
upon the public attention. Some de-
veloped q definite conception of Amer
icanixation without much serious
thinking. To them 1t meant teaching
English and civics. 1t meant getting
the immigrant naturalized- 1t meant
making people Americans by putting
them through certain instructions,
crowned by the laying on OF hands.
But the war made many others
think about this matter. 1t brought
them to see that Aner1canixation Inn
plies moro than mere instruction and
moro than naturalization. The assim-
tlatton OF ten, twenty. or thirty mil
lion people into q nation of over one
hundred million should mean mutual
understanding. not me swallowing of
one another. A common language
must be achieved, but also mutually
respected habits and standards of life.
Full Americanization is impossible
without an all-round TRANSMISSION of
All the important elements in human
lie, Mr.. Davis suggests that by
studying the ways and customs of the
immigrants, especially In the matter
OF food, we shall be able to help them
TO adjust themselves to new condi-
ions with as few changes as possible.
During the influenza epidemic in
1918 1t was plainly demonstrated that
neither district nurses, settlement
workers, nor visiting dietitians knew
much about the foods of the foreign.
born patients. Gallons Of American
soups and broths were served to
these people, only to be thrown out
untouched. This was ut q time when
diet was an important element In
fighting the disease"
After a thorough investigation of
the various foreign quarters, Mr..
Davis states the following conclu.
sions: Jewish children suffer from
too many pickles. too few vegetables.
and too little milk. Italian children
suffer from too large an amount of
macaroni, rice. and lard, and an in
sufficient amount Of vegetables and
fruit; while among the Syrians, Ar.
menians. Greeks. and Turks, the
children are usually well nourished.
with plenty of vegetables and min
erals in their diet.
The problem before the dietitian
wishing to restore health to a for
eign community, Mr.. Davis declares.
is not so much to introduce COM
plete American" dietary, as it is to
restore the former dietary balance by
supplying elements the alien has not
been able to obtain readily in this
strange country. He says:
IAN international menu should be
used in institutions of all kinds re-
ceiving any number of foreign born.
- An international menu is one which
is not confined to American dishes,
but which contains each day at least
one dish especially adapted to one
of the nationalities or races repre-
scented among the patients. This would
demonstrate to the patients that the
dietftian has considered them, and
them physically.
Published material which would en-
tighten Americans regarding the prac-
teal utility and enjoyability of many
foreign foods could be wisely used.
A study Of foreign Foods would
be an Americanizing agent Of prac-
tical value. American diet would be
improved and enriched, and many
Americans would be given a sympa-
fhetic appreciation and understanding
of our forefgn-born population through
the practical medium Of the kitchen
and dinner table"
Mr.. Davis attacks his subject from
all sides. To the primitive mind. he
says, healing seems a form of witch
cry or magic. He tells Of a trusting
Pole who paid $12 for love potion
In the form Of a powder. which. put
into his wife's tea. would certainly
restore her waning affections imme
diatefy.
Immigrant Health and the Com
munity' not only presents important
facts In tho health problem OF both
the alien and his adopted community
but gives US q remarkably intimate
insight into his tastes, habits, and
daily life
The Author Of Boots and Saddles
Is Visited By White Eagle.
Gen. A. Clusters widow could well
add an interesting chapter to her
Boots and Saddles were she to de-
scribe the visit she received in New
York city several days ago from
White Eagle, Sioux Indian rider and
poet. White Eagle bore a letter of