A Social Study of the Russian German 21 
In spite of the struggle against an adverse environment, the 
settlements as a whole do not present the characteristics of a 
slum. Here and there may be found a “foul back street” or a 
family “of slovenly or vicious type” such as constitute a slum; 
but these are the rarest exceptions. Order, system, neatness and 
thrift are the prevailing traits in the Russian German settlements, 
particularly as regards the buildings. The yards show less 
favorable results on account of the hopeless battle with the soil 
and the yet uncontrolled floods. Time and again have small 
trees and shrubs been uprooted and carried off, and blue grass 
sod covered inches deep with debris, so that the majority of 
householders despair of ever getting permanent results. In an 
attempt to raise the yards above the flood level, many of the 
people have filled them in with ashes and clay from excavated 
cellars which can be secured for the mere cost of hauling, and 
have thus shut off all hope of cultivation. But if the yards lack 
vegetation they do not lack system and order; and any place 
filled with junk or rags may safely be set down as not Russian 
German. A mended though often well-worn sidewalk, scrupu- 
lously clean even in the muddiest weather, leads from the street 
to the house. Fences, porches, houses, outhouses and barns are 
all neatly and freshly painted. The combination of colors is not 
always the most fastidious—chrome yellow porches and bright 
blue houses are conspicuous among the prevailing white of the 
dwellings and red of the barns—but everything which needs paint 
is protected by it. 
Neglect and decay of buildings is nowhere visible. On the 
_ other hand, many of the houses in the settlement are made over 
from half tumbled-down structures which were bought at a low 
price, and remodeled under the skillful and painstaking hand 
of the owner. The Russian German never occupies a house of 
this sort—unpainted, partly windowless, and dilapidated—and if 
such are seen in the settlements, the inhabitants will be found 
to be negroes or the lowest class of American poor. 
and since that date segregated vice has not existed in Lincoln. An earlier 
attempt (1904) made by the city council failed of enforcement by the 
police. Cf. Nebraska State Journal, May 28, 1904. 
147 
