The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-03-23

her work the pupils were quite young,
many being in their teens, but now,
because emigration has nearly stopped,
they are mostly in the 40's and are
people who have resided here sometimes
for many years. Since a diploma from
night school is requisite to citizenship,
this is one of the first steps on the
road to becoming citizen.
| The oldest student to take the work
since Miss Handberg has been con-
nected with it is 76-year-old resident
of Winton, now enrolled in a class
handled by Mrs. Fogelberg. He emf
grated from Yugo-Slavia many years
ago, however, and his passport is dated
August 8, 1899, during the reign of
Franz Josef.
Night school is held from October to
Quoted during the entire public school
period. Most students complete the
work in two to three years. Some of
them are so interested that they at
tend for five or six years even though
they have been graduated at the annual
April exercises, taking advanced work
in English and writing.
Some years I have taught as many
as eight or ten different nationalities, %
Miss Handberg said. They have in
Guided Slovenian, Finnish, Swedish,
Norwegian, Italian, Bulgarian, Croatian,
English, Canadian, Greek and German.
ct is interesting to work with these
| foil Of fIooi
native countries, their customs and
their ways. They appreciate what you
do for them and remember it for long
time"
The road to citizenship is one that
calls for guidance on the part of some
one familiar with the details involved.
This is part of Miss Handberg'S job.
Every time new family arrives here
from a foreign country, she is notified
by the emigration authorities in New
York. She then calls on them.
If they wish to become citizens, the
first step is to apply for first papers
This can be done at any time by per-
sons 10 years of age or over. A fee OF
$3.50 must be sent along with the ap-
lplication to the commissioner of natur-
alization in Washington, and two photo
lgraphs must be included. Another $3.50
must be paid when the papers are re-
lceived.
After two years have expired they
lmay fill out the certificate of arrival
providing they also have resided here
for five years Another $3.50 fee and
1.-TWO more pictures must be sent in.
Then the applicant may petition the
Iclerk of the district court for citizen
Iship papers. He must be accompanied
by two persons who have known him
five or more years, displaying his night
school diploma, and pay SIS fee.
At the end of 80 days he will be given
la hearing before district court judge
land naturalization examiner and
Igiven his citizenship papers. If he has
been convicted of violating the laws of
his new country during the past five
years, however, he cannot be given his
final papers until five years have
Ielapsed from the time of such con-
Eviction.
The job of Miss Handberg and her
assistant, Mrs. Fogelberg, in brief, Is to
prepare applicants so that they will be
qualified for citizenship and assist them
in filing out tn various papers.
Price of citizenship: $3.50 in cash,
four 21a-inch square photographs, and
many long hours of study after the
days work is done.
This spring class of about 80 will be
graduated from night school. With
every diploma the members will receive
small silk American flag presented
by the Ely American Legion Auxiliary
unit. They are invariably placed in a
safe place together, Miss Handberg
says.
The largest class to be graduated was
a group of 20 persons in the spring of
1929.