e to know more particularly the character of this
million and their promise as an element in our civilization. Thousands
of them are "birds of passage"--that is, they come and go, earning money
here and going back home to spend it and then returning to earn more;
but tens of thousands come to stay, and will play their part in shaping
our future.

[Sidenote: Distribution of Italians]

The distribution of the Italians is shown partially in the accompanying
diagram.[52] This, however, is based upon the Census of 1900, and does
not account for the million arrivals since 1900. The destination clause
in the immigrant's manifesto gives light upon the matter of
distribution, although the incomer does not always get to the point
named in his papers. From the official report for 1905 these results are
drawn:

North South
Locality Italian Italian Total

New York 9,733 81,572 91,305
New Jersey 1,272 11,494 12,766
Pennsylvania 7,554 43,078 50,632
Connecticut 1,626 5,835 7,461
Massachusetts 2,011 11,747 13,758
Rhode Island 196 2,422 2,618
Illinois 3,663 6,685 10,348
Ohio 861 6,230 7,091
Michigan 1,330 1,649 2,979
West Virginia 421 2,987 3,408
Louisiana 177 2,631 2,808
Missouri 769 1,477 2,246
Mississippi 674 213 887
Eight Southern States 467 1,036 1,503
California 4,513 1,081 5,594
Colorado 824 881 1,705

[Sidenote: Largely in Cities]

It is interesting to note that at least one Italian immigrant was
destined to every state and territory. Of the total Italian population
in this country in 1900, 62.4 per cent. was in the 160 principal cities,
and nearly one half in New York alone. The percentage of Italians
attracted to the cities is about the same as that of the Irish.

[Sidenote: Italians and Irish Compared]

An interesting parallel, indeed, may be drawn between these races. The
Italians to-day occupy largely the place occupied by the Irish of
yesterday. The Irish came in the earlier years by reason of distressing
conditions at home, forcing them to seek a living elsewhere; this is now
true of the Italians. The Irish were chiefly peasants, unskilled
laborers and illiter