The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-11-23
iahtsofNewHrk
ByL.l. STEVENSON

The war in Europe may be more
than 5000 miles away. Yet 1t is
close to New York. In the city's
population are about 100000 who
were born in countries directly at
fected. Many dwell in communities
which are little cities within the
great city. Yorkville. for instance.
New York has about 1886, 900 Ger
mans and Austrians. Yorkville is
the representative German commu-'
nifty. There are German signs over
doors. In windows are bicycles,
furniture and many other articles
made in Germany with German
price tags, but with amounts in
American dollars. German Is the
language heard on the streets. Ger
man music is played in beer gar
dens where walters wear German
costumes and diners dance German
dances. So Germany in New York
in the Eighties east Of Lexington
avenue. Not all residents Of York
vile were born in Germany. But
thoughts Of even the American-born
turn to the homeland Of their par
ents. And many have relatives
there. So war news is Of primary
interest.
A short distance down from York
vile, in the Seventies between First
and Second avenues, is Little Bo-
hernia. It is separated from York
vile by strip almost solidly Hun
garian. In bakeries, kolaches are
displayed, with hoskas on Satur-
days. There are Czech names on
windows. Many Of the wares dis
played were made in Czechoslo-
vakia before the flag of that coun-
try came down. Bohemian Is the
language talked. Pilsener is on
draft in all the beer halls. The
restaurants are really Czech clubs.
Many jewellers in Little Bohemia
are citizens. Many were born here.
But there war news is Of first inter-
est. It is of all the greater interest
because many residents believe that
this struggle may bring the home
land back into existence.
The 100000 English and French
who live in New York, so far as I
have been able to discover, are
not settled in definite neighborhoods.
There are little groups of course
but not enough to be distinctive.
Yet among them there is the great
est interest as to what is occurring
across the Atlantic. In various res
taurants, in clubs and elsewhere,
the war is the general topic Of con-
versation.
New York is the home Of about
245, 900 men, women and children
who first saw the light of day in
Poland. The biggest Polish settle
ment is down on the East Side,
largely in the vicinity Of Tenth
street. There Polish music is to
be heard and on occasions Polish
costumes may be seen. The res
taurants serve Polish food and even
among those born here there is still
intense feeling for Poland-and in
terest in what is happening 5000
miles away.
There is Little Italy, of course,
since New York is the home Of about
10000 of those who were born in
that country. In Little Italy, pic
lures of Mussolini are displayed in
shop windows. There are also pic
lures Of Dante. AS for Italian food,
naturally that is served in Little
Italy. But as matter of fact it is
served all over town and Little Italy
is by no means the only Italian set
Element in the city. But it is the
most colorful-and the most sugges.
tive of the land across the sea.
OF those who were born in Rus
STA, New York has possibly 450, 900
all figures are indefinite because
the last census was in 1880. The
heaviest Russian population Is on
the lower East Side. Then, too,
there are many other nationalities
and descendants Of those who were
born in the belligerent countries.
Thus, as war 5000 miles away is
close to the city Of the 1000. 900.
But there is also this: I asked a
Czech youth what he thought Of the
war. His reply came in Bohemian.
'.He's telling YOU" said a volun-
teer interpreter, "that what he
thinks means nothing because now
he is an American"
BELL Syndicate-WNU Service.)