In the medieval pageant, I got to be a monk that was very grumpy. It was a lot of fun because I got to curse and be very rude. I even got to send my mom, dad, sister, and aunt away because I accused them of being a witch. I never actually finished my monologue because people left after I told them about my day, or I made them go away. Another thing that was funny was I asked people if I needed to explain what a bowl was. Some people even said yes!
A tenement, for those who don’t know, is a place that the living conditions are horrible, and the people who lived there were poor (well, most of the time anyway). Also, the definition is a house with at least 3 families living in it. A tenement is dark, humid and diseases spread quickly in it. A tenement apartment has 2-3 rooms, though they have very few windows.
One tenants was Bridget, 23 years old. Bridget’s family consists of, 3 girls, and her husband Joseph. the girls names are Mary Kate, 3 years old, Jane, 2 years old, and Agnes, 3 months old.
Bridget used to live in Ireland but left because of the bad year where the potatoes were diseased, and they did not have anything to eat. When she got to America, she first lived at Five Points, a small Irish neighborhood in New York. But then she felt that FivePoints wasn’t safe. She is now one of two Irish families living at 97 Orchard street, Little Germany. She made this choice because she wanted her children to be safer. She is a great mom who is really brave to move to this neighborhood.
12/4/1905
Dear Grandpa,
We were travelling in steerage but it was okay because we made it out alive. I saw some rich people and lots of poor people. The rich people were higher off the water because they paid for first class tickets. The poor people were with me in steerage. The worst part of the journey was when people got colds. The germs would spread very quickly. But otherwise the journey was good. The best part of the journey was when we saw the Statue of Liberty. When we entered the harbor I was relieved the cruel journey was over. But now it was inspection time and everyone was scared. Steerage was cruel and everybody hated it. We all feared the inspectors, they were scaring every immigrant without even being there.
We got to Ellis Island. I had my luggage and was going into the Great Hall and I saw the inspectors. The doctors were first, but then, were the much feared intelligence inspectors. It struck a lump in my throat. The doctors are very strict with the immigrants. All around people were either relieved because they passed, or sad because one or more members of the family did not pass. I heard sobs and sighs of relief all around me. The air was hot and stinky. I was waiting in line when I heard Everything about this. In the Great Hall it smelled hot and sweaty.
I finished waiting, and the doctor was ready to inspect me. I was examined closely and carefully. The doctors were strict and annoying but I got through. The mental tests weren’t very hard on me, 1. Tell happy faces from unhappy ones,2. simple math: ” The doctors embarrassed me by telling me to add 5 and 5″ and 3. put a puzzle together. It was very easy, and I didn’t get detained.
The legal inspectors asked 3 questions. The questions were: Where are you going to? Who will you stay with? And how much money do you have? My name did not get changed either.The Staircase of Separation brought tears and hope for new life. I was not a detainee and I did not have to wait for them to further test me. I was sad for those people who had to go to detention and be separated from their families, or just did not have the chance to live new life in the USA.
I was very happy to see my dad after so much time! I was so excited I ran down the stairs, bought myself a ticket for the ferry, and then wrote this letter. I will miss you and grandma a lot. It is like the Staircase of Separation in miniature.
Sincerely,
Jack
(ALON)