The preceding table shows that of 746 persons reporting their conjugal condition, 26.1 per cent are single, 70.6 per cent are married, and 3.2 per cent are widowed. In the group of persons from 20 to 29 years of age 55.2 per cent are married and .6 per cent are widowed. Of those who are from 30 to 44 years of age 85.6 per cent are married and 1.5 per cent are widowed. Of the persons who are 45 years of age or over 83.9 per cent are married and 14.5 per cent are widowed. In the groups of persons from 20 to 29 years of age and from 30 to 44 years of age those of foreign birth show a considerably higher percentage who are married than persons who are native-born of foreign father; the persons of foreign birth show also small proportions widowed in each of these groups, as contrasted with none of the native-born of foreign father who are widowed. In the group showing persons 20 years of age or over the persons of foreign birth show 72.5 per cent married and 3.5 per cent widowed, as contrasted with 34 per cent of the native-born of foreign father who are married and none who are widowed. Among persons of foreign birth the South Italians show the highest per cent married in the group of persons from 20 to 29 years of age and from 30 to 44 years of age. In the first named group the Poles show the lowest percentage married and the highest per cent widowed, and in the last-named group the Lithuanians show the lowest per cent married and the French Canadians the highest percentage widowed. Among the foreign-born persons who are 45 years of age and over the Hebrews show the highest percentage married, closely followed by the South Italians and the French Canadians, the latter showing the highest per cent widowed in this group. Of all the foreign-born persons 20 years of age or over the South Italians show the highest per cent married and the Poles the lowest per cent married. In this group the French Canadians show the highest percentage widowed and the Lithuanians no persons who are widowed. In the groups including persons from 20 to 29 years of age, from 30 to 44 years of age, and 20 years of age or over, the females show a considerably higher per cent married than the males, while in the group including persons 45 years of age or over the males show a considerably higher percentage of married persons than the females. In the groups from 20 to 29 years of age, 45 years of age or over, and 20 years of age or over, the females show a higher percentage widowed than the males, while in the group of persons from 30 to 44 years of age a slightly higher percentage of males than of females are widowed."

AGE CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF HOUSEHOLDS STUDIED.

The table next presented shows, by sex, general nativity, and race of head of household, the percentage of persons in the households studied, within each specified age group.

TABLE 233.-Per cent of persons within each age group, by sex and general nativity and race of head of household.

(STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.)

[This table includes only races with 80 or more persons reporting. The totals, however, are for all races.]

Of the 1,345 individuals in the households studied, more than 50 per cent were over 20 years of age. The proportion of children is higher among the foreign-born than among the native-born, while the percentage of older persons is much greater among the nativeborn. Among the races the only striking variations from the average are the proportion of French Canadians in the oldest group, the proportion of Lithuanians and Poles in the 20 to 29 year group, and of Armenians in the 30 to 44 year group.

CHAPTER XIX.

GENERAL PROGRESS AND ASSIMILATION.

Ownership of homes-Citizenship-Ability to speak English-[Text Tables 234 to 238 and General Tables 154 to 159].

OWNERSHIP OF HOMES.

Home ownership by families, the heads of which were of foreign birth, may be considered as a strong indication of permanent settlement, and the facts in this connection relative to the families the heads of which were employed in the shoe-manufacturing industry in Community B are set forth in the following table, according to general nativity and race of head of family:

TABLE 234.-Number and per cent of families owning home, by general nativity and race of head of family.

The above table shows that 14.6 per cent of the families in this locality for which information was secured own their homes. The proportion of families owning homes is larger for the native-born of native father than for the foreign-born. Among the foreign-born, the Hebrews and French Canadians, in the order mentioned, have the largest and the South Italians and Lithuanians the smallest proportion of families owning homes.

CITIZENSHIP.

The table next presented shows, by race of individual, the present political condition of foreign-born males, in the households studied, who had been in the United States five years or over, and who were 21 years of age or over at time of coming to this country.

TABLE 235.-Present political condition of foreign-born males who have been in the United States 5 years or over and who were 21 years of age or over at time of coming, by race of individual.

(STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States.]

The above table shows that of the 122 foreign-born males studied who had been in the United States five years or over, and who were 21 years of age or over at the time of arrival, 25.4 per cent are fully naturalized and 11.5 per cent have first papers only. The proportion of individuals fully naturalized is largest in the case of the French Canadians, and that of individuals who have first papers only is largest in the case of the Poles.

ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

As regards the ability to speak English, the following table shows, by sex and general nativity and race of individual, the percentage of persons, in the households studied, 6 years of age or over who could speak English:

TABLE 236.-Per cent of persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by sex and general nativity and race of individual.

(STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.)

[This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more persons reporting. The totals, however, are for all non-English-speaking races.]

From the data presented in the preceding table it appears that the proportion of individuals 6 years of age or over, both males and females, who speak English is considerably larger in the case of the native-born of foreign father than in the case of the foreign-born. Among the foreign-born the Hebrews, Armenians, and French Canadians, in the order mentioned, have the largest, and the Greeks and Poles the smallest proportion of males, and the Hebrews, French Canadians, and Armenians have the largest, and the Lithuanians and Greeks the smallest proportion of females who speak English. Only 11.1 per cent of the Lithuanian females are able to speak English, as against 56.8 per cent of the Lithuanian males.

The progress of immigrants in acquiring an ability to speak English, according to age at time of arrival in this country, is considered in the table next submitted. This table shows, by age at time of coming to the United States and race of individual, the per cent of foreignborn persons, in the households studied, 6 years of age or over, who could speak English.

TABLE 237.-Per cent of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by age at time of coming to the United States and race of individual.

(STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.)

[This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more persons reporting. The total, however, is for all non-English-speaking races.]

Among the individuals in this locality for whom information was secured 95.2 per cent of those who came here when under 14 years of age are able to speak English, as against only 59.7 per cent of those who came here when 14 or over. All of the Armenians, Greeks and Hebrews who came to the United States when under 14 years, and a considerable proportion of the individuals of every other race except the Polish, speak English, while the proportion of individuals who came here when 14 years or over who speak English is largest for the Hebrews, Armenians, and French Canadians, in the order mentioned, and smallest for the Greeks and Lithuanians.

The progress made by employees of non-English-speaking races and members of their households in acquiring the ability to speak English after designated periods of residence in this country is set forth in the table next presented, which shows, by years in the United States and race of individual, the percentage of foreign-born persons, in the households studied, 6 years of age or over who could speak English.