THE IMMIGRANT 83 



migrants but also to economic changes in the United States in 

 connection with the exhaustion of the public demesne and the 

 more intense industrial development. In fact this change had 

 already commenced in the case of the earlier immigrants. For 

 example a lower percentage of the Scandinavians engaged in 

 agriculture after 1880 than before. To a large extent it is due 

 to the foreigners' ignorance of the opportunities in agriculture, 

 the uncertainty of the returns, and the isolated condition of 

 American farm life. The friends and relatives of the recent 

 immigrant are in the cities and thither he goes. With the ex- 

 ception of a few in Wisconsin we find the Italian farmers in 

 New England, Middle Atlantic and Southern states, the Slavs 

 are found in New England, Pennsylvania, and the East North 

 Central and the West South Central states; the Jews in New 

 England, New York, and New Jersey; and the Portuguese in 

 Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 



Most of these peoples have been in America too short a time 

 to enable us to make definite conclusions as to their ability to 

 conform to our customs. The third generation seems almost 

 Americanized. Upon their entrance here they retain their typi- 

 cal food and clothes. Soon they find Old World styles and cus- 

 toms inconvenient and commence imitating the Americans. 

 They seem content, however, with the cheapest and coarsest food 

 and care little about its preparation. In selecting clothes they 

 often retain their predilection for gaudy colors. Of course, the 

 custom depends on the people. In general the Latins represent 

 the lowest type, the Slavs the middle, and the Jews the highest. 

 The Portuguese are considerably lower than the Italians. The 

 Bohemians stand foremost among the Slavs, showing a distinct 

 preference for good living and good clothes whenever they are 

 financially able to afford them. The same general tendencies are 

 observed in the case of houses. The Portuguese, Italians, and a 

 number of the Slavic peoples manage in shacks with gardens 

 right up to the walls. The Bohemians and Jews are eager for 

 more substantial dwellings. Many of these peoples care for 

 cleanliness and neatness neither outside or nor within their 

 houses. Nevertheless the Portuguese on Martha's Vineyard, who 

 are considered one of the lowest races in social standards, have 

 well-kept gardens and even some flowers around their houses. 



