When Americans, in their struggle to instruct the foreigners, have acquired for their own part a better knowledge of the characteristics of each race, when they rightly attribute the faults of foreigners to the painful conditions under which they lived in their own country, when they patiently bring to light the better qualities of those whom they aspire to educate, then that unity so desirable, so necessary for this great nation, will be perfected. Then there will be no more “foreigners,” but all races will be one people, offering their best efforts to the land in which they have equal obligations and equal rights. FOOTNOTE: [10] This and the two following paragraphs are part of an address given at an Americanization meeting held in Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1917. STEFANO MIELE That one should come to America for the sole purpose of making money, as the author of the following selection frankly states he did, may seem an unworthy motive; but, after all, it is not essentially different from the impulse that causes the country-bred American boy to seek the larger cities for what he thinks will be greater financial opportunities. Motives, in the final analysis, must be judged in large part by their issues and results. This young Italian, ambitious to become a lawyer and finding it impossible in Italy to get employment with an opportunity to study, decided to try his luck in America, where he was willing to “shovel coal,” “wash dishes,” or “do anything to get up.” In a little more than five years after landing at Ellis Island he was admitted to the New York bar. The following selection is reprinted from his article, “America as a Place to Make Money,” published in the issue of _The World’s Work_ for December, 1920. SOME OBSTACLES TO AMERICANIZATION I was about twenty years old when I first thought of going to America. But it is not so easy to leave one’s native land: it was not until three years later that I said good-by to my father and mother and our neighbors. I did not think for a moment that it was for the last time--I was only going to America to make money and then return to Baiano and the old folks. My father gave me a little money so that I could buy a second-class ticket. But I was young; I was starting on my first big adventure; and--in Naples my money went, this way, that way--I came in the steerage. It was no great hardship. My fellow-passengers were Italians, most of them laborers, men used to hard work. They were very happy--laughing, singing, playing--full of dreams, ambitions. Then came Ellis Island! Every one crowded--discomfort--lice--dirt--harshness--the officers shouting “Come here,” “Go there,” as though they were driving animals. And then the uncertain period of detention--sometimes a week, sometimes two, three, or even four weeks--it is as though a man were in prison. Ellis Island does not give the immigrant a good first lesson in Americanization.