“My dear Colonel Davis:
“How is your friend Captain Crack Jawford, the go it spout?
“O. Henry.”
§ 244 Our Institutions Approved
A candidate for citizenship came to a naturalization bureau in New York to take out his first papers. The applicant was a Russian who spoke badly broken English. With him was a friend and sponsor from the East Side.
Under examination the candidate betrayed a tremendous lack of knowledge of national history and institutions and public men. Finally the examiner turned to the alien’s companion:
“Here,” he said testily, “this man’s ignorance is appalling. Take him away and explain something to him about the Constitution and the government of the United States. Don’t bring him back until he is better qualified.”
The East Sider led his crestfallen fellow-countryman away. Within an hour they both returned.
“Here,” said the Examiner, “what brings you here again?”
“Everything is all right,” stated the East Sider. “I took my friend out and read to him out of the Constitution, and he says he likes it first-rate.”