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Riis, Jacob A., 1849-1914

"The Making of an American"

A new life began for me, with greatly enlarged
opportunities. I had been absorbing impressions up till then. I
met men now in whose companionship they began to crystallize, to
form into definite convictions; men of learning, of sympathy, and
of power. My eggs hatched. From that time dates my friendship,
priceless to me, with Dr. Roger S. Tracy, then a sanitary inspector
in the Health Department, later its distinguished statistician,
to whom I owe pretty much all the understanding I have ever had of
the problems I have battled with; for he is very wise, while I am
rather dull of wit. But directly I get talking things over with
him, I brighten right up. I met Professor Charles F. Chandler,
Major Willard Bullard, Dr. Edward H. Janes--men to whose practical
wisdom and patient labors in the shaping of the Health Department's
work the metropolis owes a greater debt than it is aware of; Dr.
John T. Nagle, whose friendly camera later on gave me some invaluable
lessons; and General Ely Parker, Chief of the Six Nations.
[Illustration: Dr. Roger S.


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