Quote Originally Posted by Mister Mets View Post
What was our welfare system in 1883, when the poem was written? When the tired and poor showed up, they were welcomed. And given shovels.

As an Italian immigrant said, when recalling their early days in America, “I came to America because I heard the streets were paved with gold. When I got here, found out three things: First, the streets weren’t paved with gold; second, they weren’t paved at all: and third, I was expected to pave them.”
Did they pay them? Sounds like a better deal than my ancestors got for "immigrating".