PERILS. — THE CITY. 181 



sus of Massachusetts, taken in 1885, showed that in 65 

 towns and cities of the state 65.1 per cent, of the popula- 

 tion was foreign by birth or parentage. 



Because our cities are so largely foreign, Eomanism 

 finds in them its chief strength. 



For the same reason the saloon, together with the 

 intemperance and the liquor power which it represents, 

 is multiplied in the city. East of the Mississippi there 

 was, in 1880, one . saloon to every 438 of the population ; 

 in Boston, one to every 329 ; in Cleveland, one to every 

 192 ; in Chicago, one to every 179 ; in New York, one to 

 every 171; in Cincinnati, one to every 124. Of course 

 the demoralizing and pauperizing power of the saloons 

 and their debauching influence in politics increase with 

 their numerical strength. 



It is the city where wealth is massed ; and here are the 

 tangible evidences of it piled many stories high. Here 

 the sway of Mammon is Avidest, and his worship the 

 most constant and eager. Here are luxuries gathered — 

 everything that dazzles the eye. or tempts the appetite ; 

 here is the most extravagant expenditure. Here, also, 

 is the congestion of wealth the severest. Dives and 

 Lazarus are brought face to face; here, in sharp con- 

 trast, are the ennui of surfeit and the desperation of 

 starvation. Tlie rich are richer, and the poor are poorer, 

 in the city than elsewhere ; and, as a rule, the greater 



between those of foreign parentage and those of foreign birth in the state in 

 which the city is located. If the city is in a state in which the tally was not 

 made, as for instance, Pennsylvania, Ohio or Illinois, the best we can do is to 

 mnltiply by the number which is the average for the whole country, viz., 

 2.:238. 



We hear it objected that one does not see in our cities any such proportion 

 of foreigners as is indicated by the above figures. It should be rememljered 

 that of the population foreign by birth or parentage, five-ninths were born 

 in the United States ; and at least one quarter of the foreign-born came to 

 this country in childhood, so that six-ninths or two-thirds of this popukition 

 though it remains largely foreign in ideas, becomes thoroughly American- 

 ized in speech and appearance. 



Accordingly if twenty-one per cent, of the population of Boston aj)pear 

 foreign, we must not be surprised to learn that sixty-three per cent, are for- 

 eign by birth or parentage. 



