TABLE 93.-Per cent of persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by sex and general nativity and race of individual-Continued.

Upon reference to the totals in the foregoing table it is seen that more than 95 per cent of the persons of native birth but of foreign father were able to speak English, a greater proportion of males than of females being able to use the language. On the other hand, only about 52 per cent of the persons of foreign birth in the households studied were able to speak English, and a considerably larger proportion of males than of females had acquired an ability to speak the language. The reason for the more favorable showing of the males as compared with the females arises from the fact that a larger proportion of males than of females come into contact with American life and institutions through working and otherwise. As a rule, the immigrant women are practically segregated in immigrant colonies and have no association with American life or people except a little domestic service. Of the persons of foreign birth of the old immigration, the French indicate the least progress in acquiring an ability to speak English. The Norwegians and Swedes show the largest proportion of persons with English-speaking ability, with the Germans next in order. Of the races of recent immigration, the Turks show the smallest proportion, or only 1.4 per cent, of their total number able to speak English. The Bulgarians, Greeks, Japanese, Macedonians, Mexicans, and Servians also exhibit less than one-fourth of their number with English-speaking ability. Of the

southern and eastern Europeans, the highest degree of English-speaking ability is indicated by the Armenians, Bohemians and Moravians, Hebrews, and Syrians. Slightly less than one-half of the Croatians, South Italians, Poles, Portuguese, and Ruthenians are able to speak English. The Bravas and Finns show the least advancement in acquiring an ability to speak English. A considerably greater proportion of males than of females of the Flemish, North and South Italian, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Ruthenian, Slovenian, and Slovak races can speak English.

The table next presented exhibits the advancement in ability to speak English made by foreign-born members of non-English-speaking races after designated periods of residence in the United States. It shows, by sex, years in the United States, and race, the proportion of 246,673 employees of foreign birth who could speak English. TABLE 94.-Per cent of foreign-born employees who speak English, by sex, years in the United States, and race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 200 or more persons reporting. The total, however, is for all nonEnglish-speaking races.]

MALE.

TABLE 94.-Per cent of foreign-born employees who speak English, by sex, years in the United States, and race-Continued.

Upon reference to the total in the preceding table it is seen that there is a rapid advancement in the proportions of employees able to speak English corresponding to an increased period of residence in the United States. Of the total number who had been in this country less than five years only 28.6 per cent could speak English, as contrasted with 59.6 per cent with a residence of five to nine years and 83.1 per cent who had been in the United States ten years or over. The smallest proportions of employees able to speak English with a residence under five years are shown, in the order named, by the Cuban, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Turkish, Ruthenian, Polish, Macedonian, Greek, Finnish, Lithuanian, South Italian, Russian, and Roumanian races, all of which fall below the general showing for the total number of foreign-born wage-earners. Of the employees with a residence of five to nine years the Cubans exhibit a percentage of only 15.2 and the Spaniards of 16.4 with ability to speak English, while the French Canadians, South Italians, Montenegrins, Poles, Portuguese, and Ruthenians have percentages less than that for the total number of employees within this residence period. Of the employees who had been in the United States ten years or longer the Cubans, Spaniards, Mexicans, Portuguese, South Italians, Servians, Syrians, Poles, French Canadians, and Magyars, all of whom have less than four-fifths of their number able to speak English, indicate, in the order mentioned, the least progress in ability to speak English.

Of the males from southern and eastern Europe with a residence of ten years or over the smallest proportion of employees able to speak English is exhibited by the Servians, the showing of the Poles, Portuguese, Magyars, and South Italians being but slightly more favorable. The lowest percentages are found in the case of the Cuban and Spanish cigar makers. Almost three-fifths of these races are unable to speak the English language.

Upon referring to the totals for the male and female wage-earners it is seen that the former not only show a larger proportion than the latter in each period of residence with the ability to speak English, but exhibit greater progress in acquiring the language after specified periods of residence. As stated, this condition of affairs is due to the greater segregation of the female workers and their more limited opportunities, as compared with the males, for contact with American life and institutions. Of the southern and eastern European females who have been in this country ten years or longer, the South Italians exhibit the smallest proportion with ability to speak English. The Polish, Portuguese, Finnish, and Syrian females make a somewhat better showing than the South Italian, but fall below the proportion for the total foreign-born females.

The table which is next presented sets forth, by race of individual and by years in the United States, the per cent of foreign-born persons of non-English-speaking races in the households studied who were 6 years of age or over and who were able to speak English.

TABLE 95.-Per cent of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by years in the United States and race of individual.

(STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more persons reporting. The total, however, is for all nonEnglish-speaking races.]

Upon reference to the total of 43,249 persons studied, it is seen that there is a steady advancement in ability to speak English corresponding to period of residence in the United States. Among the persons who have been in the United States less than five years, the following races report less than 25 per cent of their number with ability to speak English: Lithuanian, Croatian, Finnish, Magyar, Polish, Russian, Ruthenian, Spanish, Macedonian, Japanese, Greek, Servian, Bulgarian, Turkish, Cuban, and Mexican, the two last named reporting none. Among those persons with a residence of five to nine years, only three races, the Cuban, Turkish, and Mexican, report less than 25 per cent with ability to speak English, and of those who have been in the United States ten years or longer, the Mexicans alone report less than 25 per cent. The unfavorable showing of the Mexicans is largely to be ascribed to the fact that the greater number of representatives of this race are coal-mine workers living in more isolated localities than the other races studied and consequently having less opportunity to acquire the language. Of the races of recent arrival in the United States the Armenians exhibit the highest percentage of persons with a residence of ten years or