Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-12
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

committee of the D. A. r. The
Tower of Babel fell because of con-
fusion of tongues, but it had nothing
on the AmericaniZation School. which
falleth not, because its 81 varieties OF
tongues are not in such confusion.
X x X X
Here is an extract from the speech
of welcome to the 1,080 fellow I'M
migrants. delivered last Sunday at the
Capitol, by S. H. Hanessian, president
of the Citizens Association, made up
of students of the school. 1t is quoted
because it is typical of the sentiments
of the students. 1t will be notice.
how the speaker refers to the United
adopted citizen" and not as a foreign
land, assuming the attitude of the
boy whose parents had chosen him.
and not one who had been forced to
be an American by accident of native
birth. Said Mr. Hanessian:
Fellow members
"In behalf of the Americanization
School Association of the District of
Columbia I extend to you hearty
welcome to our Capital and wish that
your short visit here be pleasant anc
interesting.
"You are here on a patriotic pill
grimage, to see the Capital of your
country, to fill your hearts with juss
pride, and go back with greater love
and admiration for your Nation.
Washington, more than any other
city, typifieS America: it stands at a vast
monument to the glory and achievement
of great nation, marching upward and
onward. It is a huge tribute to the
heart and soul of the master builders
of America. Every stone, every statue,
every memorial is page OF history.
telling us in clear and unmistakable
words of the glory of our forefathers, Of
their sacrifice, of their love for their
country.
Here you come nearer to Washington,
Lincoln, Hamilton, Jefferson and hosts
of true patriots and great Americans.
You hear their message in stone and
statue-their message OF good citizen
ship, true patriotism, love for your fel-
low Americans and sacrifice - your
ideals
This is the great heritage Of our
privilege as American citizens. And 1t
should be our paramount duty to pre-
serve that heritage, and follow their
lead for the glory of America.
ours is a republic of more than a
hundred millions of fellow citizens. This
vast number should not cause us to for
common brotherhood under one flag.
THE moment we forget that we are
one as a nation, and that we owe each
other a duty as fellow citizens, we be-
tray our ignorance of the ideals of de-
mocracy, and We become untrue to the
motto United We Stand
And here, more than anywhere else.
We realize the meaning and beauty of
the National Union-one in ideal, one
in destiny.
From the very top of this building
shines forth light-the light of liberty.
1t is symbolical of the spirit which has
guided this Nation throughout its his
tory, leading it to the glorious present.
While standing under the shadows
of this historical building, in sight of
this torch of liberty, let us resolve once
more TO be true to America and her
ideals, and dedicate ourselves to the
glory OF this great Nation
1t is speeches like that which consti-
tute feature of the daily classes, fol-
lowing suggestion made by student
from Czeehoslovakia. Among the
themes of the current week were 1.-THE
S 0 S" by one from Italy, THE Severe
Winter in Europe" by one from Czecho-
slovakia, 'Lindbergh" by a German.
Washington" by Syrian. Abraham
Lincoln" by a Chinaman. "Comdr.
Byrd by a German. Edison" by a Pole.
Theodore Roosevelt" by Greek, THE
Viewpoint of Latin Compared With
That of the Anglo-Saxon" by Haitian.
My Family by a Russian, How to
Live, How to Rest" by a Norwegian.
etc. This morning French demoiselle
sang French songs and then interpreted
their spirit into Yankee language-tres
belle ct bien chic.
y x + y
There are many Americans who in
their ignorance of the alien population
make the mistake of assuming that all
aliens, while unfamiliar with the Amer
lean language. must be uneducated. The
range OF eruditiOn among students COW
erS the span between illiterateS, even as
to their own native language, up to uni
verSity graduates and technical experts,
lacking only the English language.
There are special Glasses for alien
and the men are urged to send
their wives to school as we'll as attend
ing themselves. Not only are school
privileges adapted to these women. but
an underkindergarten Is maintained for
the care of babies while the mothers
are studying grammar and pronunci-
alton and Yankee ways of doing things.
Also. thanks to the generosity of the
Rotary Club, omnibuses, three times
week. gather up these mothers and their
children from all parts Of the city and
carry them to school. Women are given
enhanced self-reliance when they dis
cover that under the Cable law, passed
by Congress in 1922, women are not de-
pendent upon their husbands for natu-
raliZation. but they can become natu-
rallied Americans on their own account.
(Copyrtsht, 1929, By Paul v. col,ins.)