A Social Study of the Russian German Ti 
present, the Bohemian is a patrician, while in Nebraska, where he 
is practically the only Slav group, he is considered decidedly 
plebeian. In the west, another nationality denominated “ Rus- 
sian” occupies the lowest seat in the localities where he has 
settled, for usually the immigrants of northwest Europe are his 
only competitors, and he is made to suffer in comparison with 
them. These local opinions are significant, not because they are 
well-founded or just, but because they explain in a large degree 
‘the relations which exist between these immigrants and the com- 
munities in which they live. 
In Lincoln the same ignorance, prejudice, and misunderstand- 
ing obtain concerning the Russian Germans which invariably 
exist in American cities having foreign colonies and which too 
often characterize the attitude of the average American toward 
the immigrant in general. Many people who have lived in the 
city for years are ignorant of the fact that the mother tongue of 
these foreigners is German instead of Russian. Not infre- 
quently some well-meaning citizen suggests that a pamphlet, or 
address, or bulletin be printed in the Russian language and dis- 
tributed among the people down in the foreign settlements so 
that they may get the benefit of it, all unconscious of the fact that 
not one in a hundred of these persons can understand, speak, or 
read the Russian language. Others are ignorant of the real 
character of the people, judging the whole group by the conduct 
of the few individuals who have a police record. Hence they 
“would be afraid to go through the settlements alone even in the 
day time,” and they warn anyone who intends to go that they 
“must be on their guard, for those people carry knives.” Even 
citizens of long residence, ordinarily well informed, are “sur- 
prised” at the ability of the children at school, at the neat ap- 
pearance of the homes, and at everything else commendable which 
they see on their first visit to the settlements. 
A deep-grained prejudice very often exists against these so- 
called “Russians.” Teachers who are sent into these districts 
resent the assignment, as a rule, and regard it as exile. Certain 
business men inform you that “ they would as soon see the Chinese 
come here as those people,” while others refuse to employ them 
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