At breakfast the following morning, the conversation turned upon immigration, and Hamilton read in a newspaper the statement that two large liners were in New York harbor and would dock that morning, that each carried a record passenger list of immigrants, and that Ellis Island was making preparations for a busy day.

“I’ve never seen Ellis Island,” the boy announced “Father, do you know if visitors are allowed over there?”

“I’m fairly sure of it,” his father replied, “but in any case there ought to be no trouble for you, since the Bureau of the Census is a part of the Department of Commerce and Labor, just as is the Bureau of Immigration.”

“I think I’d like to go.”

“I think you ought to go,” his father said.  “Taking up the population business, you ought to try to get hold of all the information you can, ahead of time.  I have been there several times, on business, and it is a most interesting place.”

Accordingly, the eleven o’clock boat from the Barge Office, New York,—­a pier near Castle Garden, the historic immigration station,—­carried Hamilton to the famous Ellis Island.  Preferring his request, the lad speedily found himself in the presence of the Commissioner.  He stated his wants briefly.

“Mr. Commissioner,” he said, “I’m an assistant agent of the Census Bureau in Washington, and I’m just going to my station as an enumerator for the population.  I have two days in New York and I’d like to learn how things are done on the Island here.  May I have a pass?”

The Commissioner answered briefly.

“Read this,” he said, taking a sheaf of manuscript out of the drawer of his desk, “and here’s a short review for the use of visitors, and I’ll send you in to the Chief Clerk to get a pass, and if there’s anything more you want, let me know.”  He touched a bell.  “Show this gentleman to Mr. Tuckman, and let him be given a special pass,” he said,—­and Hamilton was ushered out promptly, thinking as he went that this was evidently one place where time was not wasted.

The Chief Clerk was equally ready to assist the lad, and armed with his special pass he started round the building, finding himself practically free of the island.  Hamilton possessed the capacity of making friends readily, and with his alert manner and direct appeal, he usually secured attention.  Walking sharply through the place he soon found himself down in what was called the Information Division.  For the moment one of the clerks was not busy, and Hamilton, stepping up to him, began to ply him with questions.  A tall young fellow, who was standing nearby, listened for a few moments, then turned to Hamilton.

“See here,” he said, “you can’t learn much about Ellis Island just by asking questions, you’ve got to go around and see for yourself.”

“That’s just what I propose doing,” Hamilton answered, “but I thought it wouldn’t be such a bad plan to get an idea of things first, and then I should understand what I saw.  There’s not much use in watching things unless you understand just what’s going on.  I have some knowledge of it, of course, because the Commissioner gave me some reading matter to look over, and I’ve got a special pass, so that I want to make the best use of it.”