“He said it was typical of a particular European immigrant race.”
I heard the same thing many, many years ago. I think I know the “immigrant race” of which you speak, as that was the ethnicity I had heard about. Can’t really blame the kids, though, for the uncleanliness of their parents.
===I think I know the “immigrant race” ===
I did not say because times and cultures change. The important thing is that is was clearly the culture of a very particular race. That race now has hygiene within the norms of American culture. If they were still filthy, I’d say who they were.