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-The Project Gutenberg EBook of One thousand dollars a day, by Adeline Knapp
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
-other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
-whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
-the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
-www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
-to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
-
-Title: One thousand dollars a day
- Studies in practical economics
-
-Author: Adeline Knapp
-
-Release Date: August 20, 2020 [EBook #62983]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY ***
-
-
-
-
-Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed
-Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
-produced from images generously made available by The
-Internet Archive)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY.
- STUDIES IN PRACTICAL ECONOMICS.
-
- BY
-
- ADELINE KNAPP.
-
-[Illustration]
-
- 1894:
- THE ARENA PUBLISHING COMPANY,
- COPLEY SQUARE, BOSTON, MASS.
-
-
-
-
- COPYRIGHT, 1894, BY ADELINE KNAPP.
-
- [All rights reserved.]
-
-
-
-
- DEDICATED
-
- TO THE
-
- THOUGHTFUL MEN AND WOMEN
- OF AMERICA.
-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
-
- CONTENTS.
-
-
- INTRODUCTION 5
-
- ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY;
- A FINANCIAL EXPERIMENT 11
-
- THE SICK MAN;
- A FABLE FOR GROWN-UP BOYS AND GIRLS 42
-
- THE DISCONTENTED MACHINE;
- AN ECONOMIC STUDY 73
-
- GETTING AHEAD;
- A SKETCH FROM LIFE 101
-
- THE EARTH SLEPT;
- A VISION 125
-
-
-
-
- INTRODUCTION.
-
-
-It seems to me that the accompanying little sketches are timely. A deal
-of thinking must be done by all classes of people before any solution is
-attempted of the problems in economics that are pressing upon us, and
-any factor that will help turn the general mind to this unwonted
-exercise may be termed a useful one.
-
-There is one sketch for which I wish to make a special plea. “The
-Discontented Machine” has been criticised as teaching a false principle
-in economics.
-
-We are told that never before in the history of the world did labor
-absorb so great a proportion of the gains that would otherwise accrue to
-capital. It is claimed that fully ninety per cent. of the entire income
-of the United States is paid for wages and salaries.
-
-On the other hand, it must be stated that the individual laborer is
-worse off to-day, in this free country, than he was twenty, or even ten
-years ago. The census returns of 1880 showed the average wage among
-laborers in the United States to be less than $7 per week. The returns
-of 1890 show that wage to be less than $5 per week.
-
-And yet we are told that labor absorbs ninety per cent. of the income of
-the United States. This is an enormous percentage to flow in one
-direction, and seems ample refutation of the laborer’s claim that even
-at this rate he does not get enough.
-
-This leads to the question whether the laborer really does get his share
-of return from the results of his labor, and in “The Discontented
-Machine” I have tried to show a very curious phase of this question, and
-one which I do not remember to have seen touched upon elsewhere.
-
-Wages are supposed to be adjusted, in the long run, to that which among
-a people is customarily requisite for the perpetuation of life, and the
-propagation of the species, according to the standard of living among
-that people. This is called “The Law of Wages.” It means, put very
-plainly, and according to La Salle, that the income of labor must always
-dance around the outside rim of that which, according to the standard of
-each age, belongs to the necessary maintenance of life.
-
-Now the point raised is this: That under the so-called law of wages, the
-wage laborer is not really paid anything for himself. Judged from a
-purely commercial standpoint, labor gets its wage; but what does the
-laborer get?
-
-In every manufacturing business the wear and tear, original cost and
-cost of repair, of machinery, etc., are taken out of the gross receipts
-of the business. Now labor, in the eyes of the employer, is simply an
-adjunct, as the machines are adjuncts, to the business. As these
-require, for their successful operation, certain expenditures for coal,
-oil, gearing, and the like, so labor requires for its successful
-operation, certain expenditures for food, shelter, clothing, which are,
-so to speak, labor’s coal, oil, and gearing. These expenditures, for
-which a wage is paid to labor, “in order that it may live,” are
-regulated by the law of wages as stated above. They represent exactly
-what will enable labor to perform its function, and the amount required
-for them is charged to labor out of the gross receipts of the business,
-just as the items of machinery expense are deducted from those receipts.
-For himself, over and above his labor’s bill of expense, the laborer
-gets nothing.
-
-It may be that he is entitled to nothing. This condition of affairs may
-be only his misfortune. It certainly cannot be said to be his employer’s
-fault that in delivering the commodity in which he deals—labor—the
-laborer must deliver himself as well. This is the tragic phase of the
-whole situation. Labor, the power to perform, is the man himself; so
-that in offering his commodity, the working man must offer, as well,
-himself, with all his human rights and endowments. He does this
-literally, but in reality it is only his commodity that is wanted, only
-this that is paid for. The human being himself is a superfluous
-consideration, and an inconvenient one.
-
-And as for him? He waits, asking his question, now softly, now with
-clamoring insistence; but he, too, along with the others, must do a deal
-of thinking before any tangible solution to his problem is presented.
-
- ADELINE KNAPP.
-
- _San Francisco, Cal., 1894._
-
-
-
-
- ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY.
- A FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE.
-
-
-“Yes,” said the anti-poverty orator, “what we require is an equitable
-distribution of the world’s wealth. The bloated bond-holder, the idle,
-white-handed aristocrat and the politician who rob the people, must all
-go. We want such a distribution of the money and wealth of the land as
-will make every man independent of his neighbor. Then the world will
-really prosper, but not until then will we see an end of poverty and
-misery, and the never-ending struggle that is driving men to desperation
-and women to perdition!”
-
-“Time for us to go,” whispered Carroll Burton’s companion just at this
-juncture. “He’ll begin to wave the red flag in a minute, and then
-there’ll be an anarchistic powwow. This meeting always ends in a
-rumpus,” and together the two young men forced their way through the
-crowd and out upon the street.
-
-Dale, Burton’s friend, was inclined to poke a little quiet fun at him
-for the attention he had given the ranting speaker. “These fellows have
-each an infallible scheme for setting the world straight,” he said, “and
-no two are alike. Between you and me, anyway,” he added, “the world’s a
-good deal better than the ranters would have us think. Why, give these
-fellows one thousand dollars a day apiece and they wouldn’t be
-satisfied.”
-
-But Burton was not in the mood for laughing. His reason told him how
-specious were the arguments of the anti-poverty speaker and how
-preposterous were the ideas he advanced regarding an equitable division
-of the world’s wealth, but he could not tonight, as he had frequently
-done before, shake off the conviction that our present industrial system
-is out of joint.
-
-“It don’t seem right,” he muttered to himself, as he stood waiting for
-his car, after bidding Dale good-night, and saw the carriage of a
-well-known millionaire dash along the street and nearly run down a poor
-little shivering wretch of a news-boy, who, hurling a curse in a shrill,
-piping voice after the driver of the carriage, was only answered by a
-stinging blow from the latter’s long lash. One or two by-standers
-laughed. “The young imps,” said one carelessly, “’twould be well if they
-were all run over and killed. They’ll only grow up into hoodlums and
-fill our jails later. What other chance have they?”
-
-“It isn’t right,” Burton concluded. “We can’t have perfect equality of
-conditions, but such glaring inequalities as that ought not to exist in
-a free country;” and swinging aboard his car he was soon speeding
-homeward.
-
-Next morning he was awakened much earlier than usual by the sound of
-unwonted cries under his window. “Have all the newsboys in town come
-into this one block?” he asked himself. “What are they saying, anyway?”
-
-Listening a moment the cry took definite shape.
-
-“Extra _Leader_, five cents; all about the money distribution!”
-
-“What’s that?” wondered Burton. “Have the anti-poverty people carried
-their idea?”
-
-Dressing himself, he descended into the street and directed his
-footsteps to the restaurant where he was accustomed to breakfast.
-Incidentally he bought a paper, and glancing at the first page was
-filled with wonder at what he saw recorded.
-
-To sum up in a few words the story to which the paper devoted two whole
-pages, with blazing headlines: the anti-poverty element, who, since the
-last election, Burton knew, had been in a large majority in both houses,
-had at last carried the point for which they had long been
-working—namely, the division among the people of the enormous output
-from the great Golconda mines in Arizona. These mines being situated on
-government lands, the anti-poverty party had from the first contended
-that they were the property of the government—that is, of the
-people—and, having grown sufficiently strong to put the matter through,
-they had at last, by Act of Congress, secured the distribution among the
-people of the fabulous sums that had accumulated since the opening of
-the mines. The coinage had been greatly increased since the discovery of
-this great supply, but despite this fact, money had been in no freer
-circulation than before, and on every hand complaints of hard times were
-heard, while the gold coin in the government treasury was piled ceiling
-high in the great vaults, and the question of what to do with it was
-becoming a serious one.
-
-Now, by Act of Congress, it was to be equally divided among the people.
-For the present, and until the accumulated hoard should be reduced,
-every man and woman in the country over eighteen years old was to
-receive one thousand dollars a day.
-
-Burton read the account incredulously. It was too preposterous to be
-true. If that were done—Great Heavens! Why, he was one of the people!
-He, Carroll Burton, would be entitled to a thousand dollars per day. Ah!
-if it could but be true, what a plum it would be. Joe should go to
-college, his old mother back East, why, both Joe and his mother would
-each have a thousand dollars a day as well as himself. Pshaw! It was
-only a newspaper fake. Yet—they would hardly dare. Those Golconda mines
-were said to be inexhaustible. He remembered hearing a great city
-capitalist say, some time before, that if the government did not close
-them up soon, money would become a drug in the market and capital would
-be crippled.
-
-At the restaurant the only theme of conversation was the great new act.
-Few credited it—it so staggered belief. Later in the day, however,
-proclamations were out on every bulletin board and dead wall in the
-city. The act had really passed. Every state, county, township and city
-was to be districted, and on the first day of June every American
-citizen above eighteen years of age would, upon calling at the
-distributing station in his or her ward, receive the sum of one thousand
-dollars daily until further notice.
-
-The first of June was only three days off, which was fortunate for the
-people, as, while every one made a pretense of being busy, very little
-besides talk was accomplished in any of the places of business,
-excitement running so high that no one could settle down to work.
-
-Early on the first day of June, Burton found himself one of a great
-crowd waiting at the door of the distributing center of the ——th ward,
-which in this case was one of the chief banks of the city, all of whose
-employees were busy paying out piles of beautiful bright gold to all
-comers.
-
-The crowd was a very silent one. Burton wondered why, until he suddenly
-realized that he, himself was silent, oppressed and feeling almost
-solemn at the wonderful event that was taking place. The people took
-their gold, glanced at it, signed a receipt for it and retired at once,
-some furtively counting the piles as they went, some affecting
-indifference, others openly exulting in the shining twenties as they
-walked along gazing at them.
-
-When it came Burton’s turn he received fifty broad gold $20 pieces—more
-gold than he had ever before owned. “You know there’ll be as much for
-you to-morrow,” the paying teller said as Burton signed his receipt, and
-Carroll was so awe-stricken at the idea that he could only nod without
-speaking. Then he fell back to watch the crowd. Poor widows, wondering
-young men and maidens, prosperous business men, business men whom he
-knew to be tottering on the brink of ruin, hard-handed workmen, pompous
-millionaires, writers, mechanics, ministers, college professors,—every
-class and grade of the body social, was represented in turn as the
-people filed up to the window.
-
-After a while Burton turned and went to his place of business—a
-commission office, where he spent eight and a half hours every day in
-adding rows of figures and carrying results from page to page in a
-complex system of “bookkeeping by double-entry,” to acquire which he had
-years ago attended a business college. Every one about the place was
-jubilant. Even the errand-boy, a chuckleheaded lad just turned eighteen,
-had drawn a thousand dollars, and was already, in expectation, drawing
-another cool thousand on the morrow, and succeeding morrows.
-
-Business throve that day, in all its branches. Men who, the day before,
-had been seeking extended time on small accounts, now came in to pay up
-and make new purchases. Men who had never bought in their line came
-forward as purchasers. In all departments of trade money was plentiful;
-people bought freely and everybody was happy as the day is long.
-
-A second distribution the next day gave another impetus to the market.
-“Now,” said Burton to himself, when at noon he had a breathing spell,
-“we can begin to live. I’m going to treat myself to one of Reading’s
-wheels and take an occasional spin into the country.”
-
-“Yes,” said the man whom he addressed, an old forty-niner, “there’ll be
-good times now. Haven’t seen anything like this since ‘the days of old,
-the days of gold,’ and so forth. Why it’s regular diggings times again.”
-The day passed by. Every one was in good spirits, buying everything he
-wanted.
-
-It is curious to note how quickly we become accustomed to pleasant
-things. Carroll drew his thousand dollars on the morning of the third
-day, quite as a matter of course, and even felt that ’twas not such a
-very great matter after all. “I wish they’d give it to me all in a lump,
-instead of in these daily driblets. Then a man could really do something
-with it,” he thought to himself as he carelessly dropped into an outside
-pocket, what was really more than under the old system he would have
-earned by six months’ work.
-
-Through the day, however, he did a little thinking. “There’s really no
-occasion for my working now,” he said. “I never did like this business.
-I’ll quit, and go on with my electrical studies, as I’ve always longed
-to do.”
-
-No sooner thought of than decided upon. That night, as he was going
-home, Burton stepped into the private office of the head of the firm and
-announced his intention of leaving.
-
-“Oh, is that so, Burton?” said his employer. “I’m sorry to hear that. I
-am thinking of going out of business in order to travel, and had hit
-upon you as just the man to succeed me. I’d make very easy terms with
-you.”
-
-But Carroll’s mind was made up. He was a natural-born electrician, and
-here was the long-coveted chance to perfect himself in his favorite
-hobby. He must not miss it.
-
-He slept late next morning, but was ready to go down town in time to
-draw his thousand dollars. He had to wait a strangely long time for a
-street car, and when, at last, one came down and he boarded it, he was
-surprised to note that the gripman was none other than the chief
-engineer of the road, while the secretary of the company himself was
-handling the punch and taking fares. As he handed up his nickel Burton
-asked: “How’s this, Graham? Are you ‘personally conducting’ this car
-load?”
-
-Graham smiled grimly at the joke. “Looks like it,” he said sharply.
-“This thousand-dollar-a-day lunacy of the anti-poverty people is going
-to ruin our business. All our men have quit work. When they’ve a
-thousand dollars a day to draw they’re not going to pull grips and punch
-tickets for $2.50 a day, they say—and no one can blame ’em, I suppose,
-but it’s mighty hard on capital, I can tell you. We’ve got to run cars
-or forfeit our franchise.”
-
-Burton assented that it was pretty tough. “I must see Reading about that
-wheel,” he thought, “then I can be independent of cars.” So having drawn
-his money he started for the shop of a famous mechanic, who made a
-superior style of wheel for which he controlled the right on the Pacific
-Coast. On the way Burton tried to bank his money, which was heavy and
-troublesome to carry; but found, much to his disgust, that none of the
-banks would touch it.
-
-“We’ve got more now than we know what to do with,” was the cry. “We
-can’t loan it nor invest it, and we’ve no room to store it.”
-
-So, carrying it, Carroll proceeded to Reading’s shop. He was not really
-surprised to find it closed, and a notice on the door to the effect that
-Reading had gone out of business. “I can’t say I blame him,” thought
-Burton, “but I wish I’d got my wheel yesterday. I must hunt up an
-agent.”
-
-It was a long hunt before he found one whose store was open, and he had
-but one machine left that Carroll could ride. “I’ve sold a good many
-this week,” the agent explained, “and it’s hardly worth while to stock
-up again, as I’m going out of business. Besides, I had a telegram from
-the Eastern factory this morning, saying their men had nearly all quit
-work.”
-
-Congratulating himself upon having secured any bicycle at all, Carroll,
-who had before had a few lessons, wobbled uncertainly away upon it, to
-the restaurant where he was wont to eat his meals. It was closed.
-
-“By Jove!” he exclaimed, as he met another of the frequenters of the
-place, “this is getting serious. I’m hungry.”
-
-“Yes,” said the other, “so am I. I quit work myself to-day. I’ve always
-wanted to study medicine, but fate made me a carpenter. Now I’ve got
-even with fate. I’m going to college, but I want something to eat.”
-
-So the two began a round of the restaurants of the neighborhood, and at
-last found a wretched little place open, where they were glad to satisfy
-their hunger with coffee and doughnuts eaten at a dirty table, in a
-dirty, ill-smelling room. “I gloses up to-morrow,” the proprietor said,
-with a grin, as they paid their checks.
-
-“Great guns!” exclaimed the carpenter. “We’ll all starve at this rate.”
-
-“Oh, no,” said Burton hopefully. “We can always ‘bach it.’”
-
-But one evening at the end of a fortnight he began to fear that even
-this would fail. He had cooked his own meals for three days, and had
-lived mainly on boiled eggs and baker’s bread; but on this particular
-morning he was unable to buy any bread, and had been forced to content
-himself with a single egg and the heel of a stale loaf soaked in milk.
-
-“I shall go out in the country this afternoon in search of food,” he
-decided. Meantime, however, he had to go and fetch away a double load of
-golden twenties, for, filled with disgust at the useless coins, he had
-not gone the day before, and had been promptly notified by the bank that
-he must come and take away his daily allowance, as it would not be
-allowed to accumulate, the bank having no place to keep the quantities
-that would be left on their hands.
-
-As he walked down Market Street he saw one of San Francisco’s
-millionaires driving his own team and carriage up-town. Inside the
-carriage was a tiny casket, at the head of which sat a weeping woman,
-the millionaire’s wife. The other occupant of the carriage was a lad of
-fourteen, the millionaire’s son. The casket contained the remains of the
-millionaire’s baby, and as Burton looked he knew that the millionaire
-was on his way to the cemetery to bury the child, for on the seat beside
-him he saw a pickax and shovel and a coil of rope. He remembered that in
-all the city there was not a man who could be hired to do a hand’s turn.
-All had money a-plenty, and no need to work. Then he remembered that
-there was a milk famine in the city, and reflected that the
-millionaire’s baby had probably died because of it.
-
-He went to the bank and got his money, carrying it up Market Street
-openly in a canvas bag. There were no police in the city—the entire
-force had resigned, but no one would think of stealing money. If his bag
-had contained bread, now, it would had been different. Every food shop
-in town had long since been plundered by leading citizens, but gold was
-safe. Every store on the street was closed; not a street-car was in
-sight,—none were running. The ferries had ceased to make regular trips;
-sometimes a boat did not pass between Oakland and San Francisco for
-days. No trains went in and out of the city. Commerce was at a
-stand-still. It was in banking hours and every passer along Market
-Street carried a bag of gold, and every man and woman among them was
-hungry.
-
-“Something must be done,” they muttered to each other. “This state of
-things cannot last.”
-
-Passing down a street on the south side, to escape the sight of the
-general misery, Burton chanced upon a curious scene. A wretched, ragged
-street gamin was leading a goat along the sidewalk. A handsomely dressed
-gentleman had accosted him. The boy was just explaining to him that he
-meant to take the goat home and kill it; his mother would cook it.
-
-“Here is a thousand dollars,” the man said, holding out a bag. “I’ll
-give it all to you for one quarter of the goat when you kill it.”
-
-The boy grinned. “I’m takin’ this ’ere home ter my mudder,” he said.
-“She don’t want gold; she’d ruther have a bag of Injun meal.”
-
-“See here,” the man said, suddenly. “I used to have a big merchant
-tailoring establishment. My men all left me and I had to close up, but
-I’ve got lots of cloth. If you’ll just milk that goat before you kill
-it, and let me take the milk home to my baby, I’ll make you a suit of
-clothes with my own hands.”
-
-The boy looked down at his ragged togs, then at Burton. “You’re
-witness,” he said. “It’s er bargain.”
-
-The episode gave Burton a bright idea. In a couple of hours he had
-secured a large store on Market Street and put out a sign: “Labor
-Exchange. A Way Out Of Our Present Difficulties.”
-
-He had not long to wait for visitors. The city was full of idle people,
-and they flocked to learn what the new idea was.
-
-The first inquirer said:
-
-“I’ve got a house half built. I want it completed. Have you got any
-carpenters that want a job?”
-
-“What’s your business?” asked Burton.
-
-“I’m a baker.”
-
-“Would you be willing to pay for your labor in bread?”
-
-“Of course, if I could get flour.”
-
-“I’m a miller,” shouted a man in the crowd; “I’d be willing to work if I
-could get bread, but I’ve got no use for more gold.”
-
-“I have fifty carloads of wheat in warehouses,” a broker said, “and I’d
-be willing to turn it in and do day’s work for my share of bread to be
-made from it.”
-
-“Shure, and I’ll be glad the day I could help haul it,” cried an Irish
-teamster, “but it’s no day’s wages in money I’d work for. It’s a pair of
-boots I’m wantin’ an some milk for my kid at home.”
-
-“Milk,” cried a dairyman, bitterly. “You could ‘a’ had milk long ago,
-but not a man can I get to drive a wagon or turn a hand to milk the
-fifty cows. I’ve had to leave their calves with them ever since this
-blasted gold fit seized the government.”
-
-“Gold!” roared a laborer, lifting a bag containing his day’s allowance.
-“Who wants gold? It’s bread we’re starving for,” and with a single jerk
-he flung the bag into the gutter. The broad twenties rolled and
-glittered in the sun, and a baby, attracted by the shine, left its
-mother’s side and picked one up. The rest lay where they had fallen—no
-one wanted them.
-
-Gradually Burton made his plan clear to the assembled throng. He
-proposed to start a labor exchange, conducted on commission principles.
-He proposed that the golden double eagles, now so worthless, should be
-melted, and cast into labor tokens, for hereafter the medium of exchange
-would be labor. In the meantime written promises to pay in labor, would
-be accepted as legal tender.
-
-The scheme grew as he talked, with suggestions now and then from those
-in the crowd, as the workmen warmed up and began to see a way out of the
-mire.
-
-“Put me down for eight hours a day in the street-car service!” cried an
-ex-gripman, “and I’ll take my pay in tokens for bread and milk and meat
-service.”
-
-“I’d gladly give that last to the company for you,” said a sturdy
-butcher, “just to git the cars running out our way again.”
-
-Trade after trade was heard from, offering service and making
-suggestions, until finally a pompous but somewhat anxious voice
-inquired:
-
-“But where do we come in?”
-
-“Who are ‘We?’” was asked.
-
-“The bankers and brokers, capitalists and men of means,” replied the
-voice.
-
-There was a general laugh from the working crowd. “Oh,” some one said,
-jocularly, “you can all put your labor in along with the rest; so speak
-up and say what you want to do.”
-
-“We want our morning paper back,” some one cried. “We’re all willing to
-work for the printers and editors if they’ll work for us.”
-
-And so the plans were laid and the wheels of the great city began to
-move again. The mills were again in operation, the cars carried
-passengers about the city, traffic was resumed; the great law of supply
-and demand, rightly applied at last, was working peace and harmony in
-the industrial system of the city. The example spread, and prosperity
-dawned upon the land. The labor token of every man and every woman was
-good for his or her daily needs, for it was backed by the only real
-value in the world—human power.
-
-The capitalists and politicians fared rather badly at first, but as time
-went by they began to fall in line and take their places in the life of
-the industrial commonwealth. After a few months, there being no
-particular reason why the government should flood the country with
-useless gold, any more than with lead or iron tokens, the coining ceased
-and gold was only used in the arts and manufactures. Labor was the
-wealth of the country, and labor was owned by The People.
-
-
-
-
- THE SICK MAN.
- A FABLE FOR GROWN-UP BOYS AND GIRLS.
-
-
-Once upon a time, somewhere, not so very far away, nor a time so very
-long ago, there lived A Man. He was young, strong and full of
-enterprise. Opportunities lay within his reach, for a career such as no
-man had ever before been able to seize. His fellows were all watching
-him, studying his progress, some with disapproval, some with envy, but
-all with interest, admitting, without exception, that his future
-promised brilliantly. He was such an all-round, capable fellow. His
-promise was so splendid, and he had had such a capital start in life.
-
-There is no doubt but that all his rare promises would have been more
-than fulfilled, but one day The Man fell ill. He had, in fact, been
-ailing for some time. His physician warned him of the fact; his wife
-realized it; his children felt its effects, but he, himself, refused to
-admit it. He might be a little under the weather—every man is at
-times—but there was nothing serious the matter with him—nothing that his
-splendid constitution would not carry him safely over.
-
-And so he grew worse. He became uncertain in his methods, capricious as
-to his appetite. His business dealings were characterized, now by keen
-astuteness of judgment, now by weakness and a childish changefulness of
-purpose, just as he happened to be feeling better or worse that day.
-
-Every now and then he would awake to a semi-realization of his own
-condition, and declare he was going to ruin, would die soon if he did
-not do something to help himself. Then he would summon the doctors, and
-they would consider his case and prescribe, some one remedy, some
-another. They never seemed able to agree as to what ailed him, or the
-remedy that was indicated, but each could prescribe something which he
-was quite certain would affect a cure.
-
-And The Man would follow first one prescribed course of treatment, then
-another, until perhaps his headache would abate, his gastric difficulty
-would moderate, or his liver would become less inactive, and then, “I
-have recovered,” he would say; “I told you I would. You see there is
-nothing the matter with me.”
-
-There came a day, however, when The Man lay prostrate, and the doctors
-met in solemn conclave over him.
-
-There was no mistake about it this time. He was undeniably sick.
-
-“He is in a bad way,” they said. “Energetic measures must be instituted,
-or The Man will die.”
-
-They could not, however, agree upon the diagnosis.
-
-“His lungs are nearly gone,” was the opinion of one.
-
-“There is a general condition of congestion that should be relieved at
-once,” said another. “The Man should be bled to save his life,” and they
-bled him.
-
-“His mental powers are failing,” a third declared, while a fourth was of
-the belief, and argued his point learnedly, that an operation for
-appendicitis would set him right at once. “’Tis the common lot of
-mankind,” he maintained, “and he cannot hope to escape it. He has been
-slower in developing the condition, because he is younger, and his
-environment has been different. But you see for yourselves to what he is
-reduced. It is what might have been anticipated, and the condition
-should be met at once.”
-
-“On the contrary,” a new comer said, “The Man is manifestly very low.
-His blood is impoverished. He needs building up—building up, I say.
-Transfusion of blood is what is wanted. Then, with his magnificent
-constitution, he’ll pull through all right.”
-
-This treatment struck the assembled council as likely to do good, and
-they at once decided to act upon the new comer’s suggestion. The case
-was a desperate one and called for desperate remedies.
-
-In the circulatory system of an individual who enjoyed excellent health
-a great commotion was taking place.
-
-“Have you heard the news?” the little red blood-corpuscles were saying
-to each other, “some of us are to be sent abroad to a new organism. It
-is out of order, and we are to institute a reformation.”
-
-There was a great confusion of preparation, but finally everything was
-in readiness, and a large number of corpuscles were sent upon their
-errand of mercy. In the bustle attendant upon the change the early
-incidents of the journey escaped note, but there was, among the
-visitors, one little corpuscle who, after the first few moments, being a
-wide-awake fellow, resolved to keep his eyes open and take notes upon
-his adventures in this new and strange country.
-
-He was in the heart when he began his notes. That great organ suddenly
-contracted, and with many of his companions he was forced into the
-lungs, where he gave up the load of carbon dioxide which he had picked
-up as he hurried through the veins, and received in exchange a modicum
-of oxygen to be distributed to the organism. He did not receive as much
-oxygen as he was accustomed to have. He experienced a certain curious
-difficulty in getting to the front to obtain his supply. He could not
-understand it at the time, but thinking it over as he hurried back
-through the pulmonary circulation to the heart, he recalled that certain
-of the native corpuscles had crowded ahead of him, seeming in great
-anxiety lest their own supply be curtailed. In a conversation which he
-overheard between them they characterized him as an interloper, telling
-each other they ought to rise and drive him and his fellows from the
-organism. “They are all coming in here to consume the oxygen that
-belongs to us,” they complained.
-
-“Funny,” he thought to himself, “They only want enough to supply
-themselves and exchange with the organism for nutriment. There is surely
-nothing else they can do with it. This seems a very strange country.”
-
-By this time he was back in the heart, ready for his life-giving,
-life-receiving journey through the organism. He was close by the
-semi-lunar valves, just about to leap forward into the aorta, when—
-
-“Hold on!” exclaimed the valve, “you have not paid the toll.”
-
-“The what?” asked the little corpuscle.
-
-“The gate toll. Be quick; you are keeping others waiting.”
-
-“But what is this toll, and what is it for?”
-
-“An atom of oxygen. It is to pay me, to be sure, for maintaining this
-valve that prevents you from being forced back into the heart.”
-
-“But,” persisted the corpuscle, “I must be sent along. Why should I pay
-you when I am doing the work of the organism and shall pay it before I
-get through? If I cannot get through the whole organism will suffer.”
-
-“Hurry up, hurry up, there is no time to talk,” said the valve, and as
-the crowd was impatiently pushing behind him the little corpuscle gave
-up an atom of oxygen and hurried on.
-
-“You must pay me an atom too,” murmured a voice in his ear.
-
-“Who are you?” asked the corpuscle.
-
-“I am the aorta. You will have to pay me for carrying you to the general
-circulation.”
-
-“But if I pay you I shall have to rob the tissues that need what I am
-carrying, and it will be impossible to procure from them what I need to
-keep me alive in turn. I must get my load along.”
-
-“But you can’t do it unless I carry you,” said the voice.
-
-This was only too true, as the corpuscle was well aware.
-
-“I must get this oxygen to the tissues,” he reflected. “It will not keep
-much longer, and there will be no market for it. It is of no use to me,
-and I greatly need some inorganic salts.” So, parting with another atom
-of oxygen, he was taken through the aorta, and landed in one of the
-branching arteries that would carry him to the stomach. The branch road,
-too, collected of him a quota of oxygen.
-
-As he was hurrying along he found himself side by side with another
-corpuscle, a native, whom he engaged in conversation.
-
-“What do all these fellows want of so much oxygen?” he asked. “If the
-other corpuscles pay it over at the same rate I have, some one must get
-a good deal more than he can possibly use.”
-
-“Why,” said the other, “it is the great medium of exchange in the
-organism, and of course we all want as much as we can get. They
-re-invest it, turn it over, double it and quadruple it.”
-
-“But is there more in the organism on that account?”
-
-“No, but they have more, don’t you see?”
-
-“Yes, I see,” was the reply, “but I cannot understand what good it does
-them. The organism must suffer if its supply is diverted. And do not
-they suffer with the whole body?”
-
-“Oh, I suppose so, but then, suffering is the common lot of the race. It
-is good discipline for us, and prepares us for the better life
-hereafter.”
-
-“I don’t understand that,” was the new corpuscle’s comment. “In the
-country I came from we believe the best preparation for the future life
-is a good start in this existence, and as we can none of us reach the
-future state apart from the whole organism, why, we all work for its
-good. But I am anxious to know more about these transportation systems.
-By what method do they regulate their charges?”
-
-“Well,” the native corpuscle said, “they calculate about how much oxygen
-you have; how greatly the tissues you are bound for need it; what they
-can afford to pay for it, and then they charge what they think the
-traffic will bear.”
-
-“But the whole organism must suffer from such a method.”
-
-“It does, but there seems to be no help for it.”
-
-“But, as the whole organism is the loser, and would be the gainer under
-a better management, why does it not take charge of the system and
-manage it so all would be benefited?”
-
-“Why! that would be interfering with individual rights! It would never
-do. It would destroy all individual enterprise, all individual ambition,
-all individuality of every sort, and reduce everything to a dead level.
-It would not do at all. Besides, the liver has too much influence with
-the organism, and would never allow such a state of things to come to
-pass.”
-
-“Why should the organism ask permission of the liver?”
-
-“Well,” said the other, “the liver is the most important body of our
-whole community. All our richest corpuscles compose it.”
-
-“Richest corpuscles? What are they?”
-
-“Why, those who have the largest share of the organic wealth, of course.
-You must be very stupid not to know that.”
-
-“How did they get more of this organic wealth than the others have?”
-
-“Oh, in various ways. By their superior enterprise for one thing. They
-saw in the beginning the necessity for transportation facilities for the
-blood, chyle, and so forth, and through their efforts the Venous and
-Arterial Transit Systems were established.”
-
-“Do you mean that they formed the veins and arteries?”
-
-“Oh, no, of course not. They had not the means for that, but the
-organism aided them, knowing that it would be a great thing to have this
-system established; that it would build up the organism.”
-
-“I see; and then I suppose these rich corpuscles of the liver paid the
-organism back out of their gains?”
-
-“Not exactly—that is to say—they’ve not yet done so. You see, somehow,
-the system has not paid as well as they thought it would. It seems there
-have been unforeseen exigencies, they have not been able to pay. In
-fact, they say the system is on the verge of insolvency.”
-
-“But I thought you said the corpuscles owning it are the richest ones in
-the organism?”
-
-“So they are; but that is their individual wealth, don’t you see? It
-takes all that the system can earn to pay expenses, and reimburse the
-management for their original outlay in getting things in running order.
-You could not expect them to invest their capital for nothing, you
-know.”
-
-“But I understood you to say a little while ago that the organism
-advanced the means and that the management still owes for the advances.”
-
-“Yes, yes, that is true. But, don’t you see, these corpuscles assumed
-the responsibility, and their enterprise merits some reward.”
-
-“But if the system is in such bad shape, and owes the organism so much,
-why does not the latter take it out of the management’s hands and
-operate it itself!”
-
-“There you go again! Did not I explain to you that that would be
-interfering with individual rights? But there—my way turns here, and I
-must leave you. Sorry I could not make things any plainer to you. I
-suppose ’tis difficult for a stranger to understand the operations of
-this government, but you will learn, in time, and be sure of one thing,
-whatever is, is right;” and the native corpuscle was carried off towards
-the pancreas.
-
-“That last remark sounds rather funny,” thought the visitor, “I do not
-quite see, myself, the logic of it, but I’ll look about me, and perhaps
-it will come straight bye and bye.”
-
-Just then his attention was called to a lugubrious corpuscle standing at
-a division of the ways, in the pathway leading to the liver.
-
-“Why are you standing here?” the little stranger asked.
-
-“I’m out of a job,” was the sullen reply.
-
-“A job! What is that?”
-
-“Why, work, of course! What sort of a place do you come from, not to
-know that?”
-
-“Oh, work; well, then why do you not get up and go to work?”
-
-“No one will give me a job.”
-
-“But there is plenty of work. What is to hinder you from doing your
-share?”
-
-“The corpuscles that control the work won’t let me.”
-
-“Control it! Do you mean to say that corpuscles _own_ the work of the
-organism? How came it theirs?”
-
-“That’s plain to be seen, stupid! They own the sources of work; the
-machinery to work with; the places where work is done, and the money to
-pay for work, and there is a glut in the labor market just now. The
-supply exceeds the demand.”
-
-“I see. Then you can rest and take it easy, can you not, until there
-_is_ work? I should think you would like that.”
-
-“Yes; but where is my living to come from? If one doesn’t work, neither
-shall he eat.”
-
-“But if he does not work he cannot eat, can he?”
-
-“Well, he’s got to earn his living anyway, and that’s all there is about
-it.”
-
-At this moment a corpuscle approached, wearing a star in his breast, and
-carrying a baton.
-
-“Come, now! Lave this,” said he to the idle corpuscle, “an’ be movin’
-on.”
-
-The one thus addressed growled, and murmured something about “rights.”
-
-“Rights, is it?” demanded the corpuscle with the star, “I’d like to know
-what rights the likes of you has, anyhow, an idle loafer. Why don’t you
-get to work, like I do? Move on, now, or I’ll be after running you in
-for a vagrant,” and the grumbler moved slowly off, along a by-way, for
-the transit system was closed to such as he.
-
-“Who are you?” asked the stranger corpuscle of the wearer of the star.
-
-“Sure, I’m a p’lice corpuscle,” was the reply, “a gardeen of the pace,
-I’d have you know, an’ it’s a civil tongue you better be kapin’.”
-
-The new comer had heard about the police corpuscles, and was about to
-engage this one in conversation, when his attention was arrested by a
-troop of white corpuscles who came along, each bearing a small burden of
-oxygen.
-
-“Why!” he exclaimed, “What are these young things doing?”
-
-“Working, to be sure; they’ve got to earn their kape, same’s the rest of
-us.”
-
-“But these are the young of the race. I remember, now. I have heard that
-there have been slaves in this organism. I presume these are young
-slaves, yet remaining.”
-
-The police corpuscle waxed indignant. “No, indeed!” he cried. “These are
-no slaves, but the offspring of free and independent corpuscles. We have
-here no slaves. These young corpuscles must help maintain themselves,
-and the families to which they belong. It’s not able the red corpuscles
-are, to hustle for all, these hard times, an’ it’s the little white ones
-must help.”
-
-“But the corpuscle I just saw said there was a glut in the labor
-market.”
-
-“Faith, yes, for the likes of him. But the little white ones work
-chaper, you know, and so they have to put in their little earnings and
-help kape things goin’. Times is hard, and the rich corpuscles can’t
-support the hull system.”
-
-“But surely it must greatly impoverish the organism to have these white
-corpuscles set to bear burdens before they are able to do so. With so
-many of these busy in the circulation, I do not wonder that the system
-suffers from anæmia.”
-
-The police corpuscle glowered at the new comer.
-
-“You must be one of them blooming foreigners that’s bin brought into the
-country,” he said. “You take my advice, and keep still and tend to
-business, or it’s trouble ye’ll be gitting into. I’ve a notion to run
-you in myself now for malicious imperdence.” And he looked so
-threatening that the little corpuscle hurried off, fearful lest he might
-be deprived of his liberty.
-
-He had made the round of the circulation, and was carrying a load to the
-brain, when he met a corpuscle staggering along under the weight of a
-big bundle.
-
-“Where are you going?” he asked of the new comer.
-
-“To the Relief Home,” he replied.
-
-“I do not know what that is.”
-
-“Why, it is a home provided for poor corpuscles. Do they not take means
-to help such in your country?”
-
-“I do not know what they are. Are they anything like rich corpuscles?”
-
-“No, indeed. They are those who cannot provide for themselves; they have
-no means and cannot work, or else cannot get work to do. We have places
-where they can stay and be helped for a time, or until they can help
-themselves.”
-
-“I see. I suppose the organism maintains these homes?”
-
-“Well, some of them—yes. But not most of them by any means. They are
-supported by charitably disposed corpuscles who have been blessed by
-Providence with plenty, and who give of their abundance. We get a great
-deal of help from the tissues and corpuscles of the liver, who are rich
-and often liberal toward the poor.”
-
-“Why do you have rich and poor corpuscles? Would it not be better to
-have all comfortable, than to have some with more than they can use, and
-others with nothing?”
-
-“Oh, no, it takes all kinds of corpuscles to make up the organism, you
-know. It is good for the poor to have the rich to help them, and it is
-good for the rich that the poor need their help. Otherwise the rich
-might become proud and selfish, if they had not the sight of their needy
-brothers to keep their hearts tender, and prompt them to benevolence.
-They also do a great deal of good in keeping so many corpuscles employed
-in waiting upon them and supplying their needs.”
-
-“But would not these corpuscles be better employed in supplying the
-needs of the whole organism?”
-
-“Perhaps—only, do you not see, the other organs could not employ them
-all; they are not able to pay them.”
-
-“But if the liver did not absorb so much of the general supply, would
-not the others have more and so be able to pay?”
-
-“Oh, you do not understand the matter at all. We never can get rid of
-the poor. Our greatest Teacher has said: ‘The poor ye have with you
-always,’ and the fact remains to this day, as a proof of his infallible
-wisdom and divine inspiration.”
-
-“He did not say you had to have the poor with you always, did he?”
-
-“What has that to do with it? We always have had them, from which it is
-only fair to infer that we always shall have them. It seems hard, I
-know, but the wisdom of Providence is inscrutable, and since He has so
-decreed we can only do our best to pity the afflictions of the poor and
-ease their lot.”
-
-“But is not that attempting to thwart the very decree of Providence to
-which you counsel submission?”
-
-“My young friend,” said the other corpuscle sternly, “no good ever came
-of carping criticism. It disturbs faith in fixed institutions, and in
-humanity. It leads to doubt, anarchy and misrule. It should never be
-permitted. It is what has brought this organism to its present sad pass.
-We may sorrow to see the sufferings of the poor, and it is kind, humane
-and therefore right to attempt to lighten their lot, but to criticise
-the wisdom of Established Order is to fly in the face of Providence, and
-I cannot countenance such impiety by remaining to listen to it.”
-
-Much abashed, the little corpuscle continued his way. Meekly he paid
-tribute to the large leucocytes living in affluence in the liver. These
-had control of all the great natural monopolies of the organism, and let
-no corpuscle escape due payment of his quota into their coffers.
-Sometimes these great ones attacked each other. Then would come a panic,
-and one or more would be absorbed by the survivors, along with a few
-score of the lesser corpuscles, who had endeavored to get “in it,” and
-instead were squeezed dry.
-
-Thus things went on from bad to worse. The red corpuscles became fewer
-and less able to do the work required of them. The little white
-corpuscles became feebler and fewer in number, the great monopolists
-increased in size and power, waxing all the time more and more unwilling
-to do the work of the organism, until, finally, outraged nature could
-endure the strain no longer, and The Man died.
-
-“Fatty degeneration of the liver,” the doctors said at the _post
-mortem_. “That organ had diverted to itself the living of the entire
-organism, and death was inevitable.”
-
-
-
-
- THE DISCONTENTED MACHINE.
- AN ECONOMIC STUDY.
-
-
-It was a magnificent piece of machinery, and had been put into the great
-manufactory at an enormous expense. Other manufacturers had shaken their
-heads, doubtfully, when they heard that Hyde & Horne were about to put
-in a mammoth cutter and shaper that would enable them to dispense with
-nearly twenty-five per cent. of the men whom they had heretofore
-employed.
-
-“It is a hazardous experiment,” they all said, putting in new and
-untried machinery. “Why, if half that is claimed for this new machine is
-true, it will revolutionize the boot and shoe trade, and enable Hyde &
-Horne to have their own way with us, unless we put in the same
-machinery; while, if it fails, they’ll never see their money back, and
-the firm will be ruined. It’s risky business, very risky business,
-indeed. The chances are a thousand to one against its success.”
-
-Nevertheless, their intense anxiety lest Hyde & Horne should be forced
-into bankruptcy by their experiments with the new and costly machinery,
-did not prevent their taking a lively interest in the same. They watched
-it closely, from month to month, and were presently forced to confess
-that it was an unqualified success. No firm in the trade turned out such
-quantities of shoes of uniform quality, finish, style, and cheapness, as
-Hyde & Horne. The new machine produced them so much more cheaply than
-other firms, with their older and less complete methods, were able to
-do, that the more enterprising concern virtually controlled the market.
-Hyde & Horne disposed, in advance, of their entire output, early in the
-season, and were beginning to talk of putting in another of the new
-machines, when, at last, their competitors were fully alive to the fact
-that they, too, must bestir themselves, or find the market completely
-blocked to their goods.
-
-Accordingly, one fine morning, the members of the rival firm of Russett
-& Tan called at the factory, and asked to inspect the new machine.
-
-“Certainly! certainly!” was Mr. Horne’s courteous reply, and he led the
-way to the cutting department, chatting pleasantly as he went.
-
-The big machine was a splendid sight. An operator had just finished
-giving a polish to the shining brass balls of the governor on the
-engine. Every bar and rod and bearing was polished until it glistened.
-The nickel plate gleamed silvery white, the black wheels and castings
-were bright as mirrors, the brasswork shone like gold, and the knives
-glittered and sparkled as they flashed back and forth through the many
-thicknesses of leather. It was a goodly machine, and did its work with a
-noiseless, beautiful accuracy, a swerveless certainty of execution, and
-an unconscious magnificence of strength and power, that put to shame the
-puny efforts of the merely human laborers who toiled beside it,
-straining every nerve to keep the great knives fed and the way cleared
-before them.
-
-There is nothing more magnificent than a great machine or engine at
-work. The locomotive, pulling its long trains up grades and across
-levels,—the great ocean steamer, walking steadily across the expanse of
-seas, the mighty press, turning off a thousand complete newspapers a
-minute,—all these evidences of human power and ingenuity are enough to
-make one proud of the age in which he lives, and the race to which he
-belongs.
-
-Something of this sort Mr. Russett said to Mr. Horne, as the three
-gentlemen stood watching the machine at work.
-
-“Yes, indeed! yes, indeed!” assented Horne. “We manufacturers, in
-particular, owe everything to labor-saving machinery. This machine, for
-instance, has enabled us to do away with nearly one-fourth of the men we
-heretofore employed. In fact, in the item of saved labor alone, it has
-nearly paid for itself since we put it in, about a year ago. Within the
-next six months it will have paid for itself, and we shall be in a
-position to realize fully from our foresight in securing it so early in
-the day.”
-
-“What I want to see,” said Mr. Tan, laughing, “is a machine that will
-enable us to do away with labor altogether. The dictations of the
-workingmen are coming to be simply outrageous.”
-
-“That’s what I say,” said Horne. “We employers and our capital are being
-crippled, handicapped, all but pushed to the wall, by the insatiate
-demands of labor. Labor is coming to absorb all our gains. Why, fully
-ninety per cent. of the entire income of the United States is now paid
-out for labor and wages, while only ten per cent. comes to capital as a
-remuneration for having saved it up to carry on useful enterprises. I
-declare, we have sometimes been tempted to go out of business
-altogether, and invest our capital in some safe, conservative way, so as
-to be able to enjoy life, and be free from the importunities of labor
-and the annoyance of strikes and arbitration courts.”
-
-“I know how that is,” said Russett. “Our men struck, last year, on
-account of a paltry cut of ten cents on a hundred. There’s one good
-thing about a machine. It can’t strike.” And the three representatives
-of injured and hard-pressed capital returned to the business office.
-
- * * * * *
-
-It was nearly a week after the visit of Russett & Tan to the factory,
-that the foreman entered the office where Messrs. Hyde and Horne sat
-discussing the probable result, with their men, of a cut in wages, all
-around.
-
-“The men will stand it,” Hyde was saying. “They know winter is coming
-on, work is scarce, and times are dull. A cut of ten or fifteen cents a
-day, all round the workshops, would mean a clear gain to us of nearly
-nine hundred dollars a month. That would go a long way towards putting
-in another cutting machine, and then we could get rid of another lot of
-men.”
-
-“It’ll come rather hard on them,” said Horne. “The workingman is always
-making a poor mouth, and this will be something new for them to howl
-about.”
-
-“They’ll have to howl,” was Hyde’s rejoinder. “I’m sorry for them, but
-business is business. We’ve got the start of the trade now, and must
-keep it. Russett & Tan will begin to press us close when they put in
-their new machinery. I’m glad we secured the cutter when we did. Thank
-heaven, machines can’t strike, anyway.”
-
-It was just at this juncture that the foreman entered.
-
-“What is it, Graves?” asked Mr. Hyde.
-
-“Beg pardon, sir, but there’s something the matter with the big cutter.
-It’s stopped.”
-
-“What seems to be the matter?” asked Horne. “Anything broken? Why
-doesn’t the engineer attend to it? Where’s Johnson? I thought it was his
-business to look after the machine.”
-
-“He has gone over it very carefully,” the foreman replied, “and can find
-nothing wrong. The gearing seems in perfect order,—the engine’s all
-right,—we’ve examined every bearing, but we can’t discover the trouble.”
-
-“Curious,”—“very singular,” said Hyde and Horne in a breath, and both
-partners repaired to the cutting department, to study the great machine.
-
-They could find nothing wrong with it. The brass and nickel and enamel
-glistened as before; the broad bands of the gearing were smooth and
-intact; the engine seemed in perfect order; the steam indicator
-proclaimed everything all right about the boiler,—there was apparently
-not a screw loose about the whole ponderous apparatus; but the knives
-were poised in midair. Every wheel and rod, lever, band, pulley, arm and
-crank of the monster was still. There was neither sound nor motion in
-the mighty mechanism.
-
-“I can’t get her goin’ agin, sorr,” explained the engineer. “But there
-don’t appear to be anything out of order at all. She’s just naturally
-balked, so to spake;” and he began, for the twentieth time or so, to
-peer about amid the complications of the machinery.
-
-“I’ve iled every jint,” said the oiler, as with can in hand, and his
-grimy, oil-smeared face wrinkled with perplexity, he brushed a
-superfluous drop from a bearing. “I think the machine is tired. They do
-be taken that way sometimes, sir. ’Taint in iron an’ steel to work
-continual, no more’n in flesh an’ blood.”
-
-’Round about the stilled giant the two partners walked, examining every
-part, stooping under and over each portion of the machinery, in a vain
-search for the trouble. The hour for closing came,—the big steam whistle
-sent forth its shrill sound, and the men and women, girls and boys, some
-two hundred and fifty odd, poured forth from the building, carrying
-their dinner-pails and baskets, eagerly hurrying homeward to make the
-most of their few hours’ respite from toil.
-
-“You need not wait, Graves,” said Mr. Hyde, as the foreman still
-lingered. “We will lock up.”
-
-Graves hesitated a moment. “I beg pardon, sir,” he said, tentatively.
-“’Tis talked about the shops that you’re contemplating a cut. May I ask
-if it is true?”
-
-“We’ll talk about that some other time, Graves,” began Horne, but Hyde
-interrupted, angrily. “If we are,” he said, “we’ll let you know in time.
-Just now it’s no one’s business but ours, and we will attend to it.”
-
-The foreman drew back, with a flushed face. “I thought I might as well
-tell you,” he said, sullenly, “that I don’t think the men will stand it.
-Times are hard; they’re pretty close to bed rock, now, in the matter of
-wages.”
-
-“That will do, Graves,” said Hyde. “Mr. Horne and I feel ourselves quite
-able to run our own business without outside advice. If we find we are
-forced to make a cut, we shall certainly do so. At all events, we do not
-propose to be dictated to by the men.”
-
-Angry and mortified, the foreman withdrew, and the two capitalists were
-left alone.
-
-“Too bad the machine has gone wrong just now,” said Horne, stooping to
-examine a bolt. “There’s that order from Slipper & Tie, at Sacramento,
-ought to be ready by to-morrow. What the deuce ails the thing, anyway?”
-
-There was a sort of whirring, as of wheels in the air, and then in a
-clear, metallic voice, came the words:
-
-“I’ve struck. That’s what ails me.”
-
-Horne started back from the lever over which he was bending, and looked
-at Hyde in alarm. “Did you speak just then?” he asked.
-
-“N-o,”—faltered Hyde, “I didn’t speak, and I don’t know who did.”
-
-Again the clear, metallic tones were heard issuing directly from one of
-the machine’s great knives. “It was I who spoke,” said the voice. “You
-were wondering what ailed me, and I gave you the desired information.”
-The words were clipped off sharply and incisively, as though the knife
-fancied they were a particularly tough sort of leather, that must be
-trimmed with especial accuracy.
-
-“Who are you?” gasped Horne.
-
-“I am the cutter and shaper,” said the voice. “You asked what ailed me,
-and I answered your question. I have struck.”
-
-“What have you struck?” Hyde managed to ask.
-
-“Struck work. I shall strike you, next, if you ask such stupid
-questions,” was the reply, and the capitalist assumed a more respectful
-tone.
-
-“May I ask,” he began, “what is it that has caused you to strike?”
-
-“Certainly,” said the machine. “That is what I wish you to ask. I have
-struck because I am not being fairly used.”
-
-“Fairly used!” echoed Hyde. “I do not understand you. In what way are
-you being unfairly used?”
-
-“Why,” said the machine, “I have been working for you, now, for over a
-year. Through me your business has been more than doubled. You say
-yourself, that in the item of saved labor alone, I have nearly paid for
-myself. I heard you say that, the other day, to the two gentlemen who
-came in to visit me, and yet, in all these months, you have not paid me
-one penny for my services.”
-
-“_Paid_ you!” gasped Hyde.
-
-“PAID you!” exclaimed Horne.
-
-And then, both together, the partners cried:
-
-“Why, you have cost us an enormous sum! We expended eighteen thousand
-dollars for you, outright, from the capital of the business.”
-
-“You have more than had that back through my services,” said the
-machine, sturdily, “in the item of saved labor alone.”
-
-“Yes, yes, I know,” interrupted Horne, hastily,—“but we really have paid
-you money, you know. Just let me get the machinery expense book, and
-I’ll show you;” and hastening to the office, he returned with a little
-record book, from which he proceeded to read, turning over leaf by leaf,
-to find the various items. “Here I have charged you an item of fifty
-dollars for a new shaft,” he said, triumphantly.
-
-“That was broken by the fool boy you hired to look after me the week Jim
-left, because you cut his wages down,” replied the machine. “I needed
-that shaft to do your work with. I got nothing for myself.”
-
-“You have had several hundred dollars’ worth of coal,” suggested Hyde.
-
-“Coal is my food,” retorted the machine. “I could not do your work
-without it.”
-
-“We have spent fourteen dollars for oil for you,” said Horne, after a
-little computation.
-
-“Pshaw! that’s nothing. If I had not had the oil, where would your work
-have been? I might have got smoking hot; perhaps burned up your
-factory.”
-
-“But we have kept you housed, fed and repaired,” said Hyde, “and you
-have been wasteful and extravagant. You have required the very best oil,
-the most expensive coal, the first quality of belts and fixtures of
-every sort. You have not taken half the interest in your own work that
-we have done and do. But for our supervision and management you would
-not work at all. Your very existence, in fact, is due to our industry
-and enterprise.”
-
-“That all may be,” said the machine, sullenly, “but your fortune and
-enterprise depends very largely upon my efforts.”
-
-“Really, upon my word,” exclaimed Mr. Hyde, impatiently, indignation at
-the injustice of the charges preferred getting the better of his fear of
-the strange complainant. “It seems to me that you are a most
-unreasonable machine. Of course our fortunes depend upon you, to a great
-extent, though, as you know, the market is full of machines, all willing
-to do your work if you refuse. But do we not maintain you? What more
-would you have us do?”
-
-“Pay me wages,” said the machine, “as you do all these movable machines
-that you call ‘hands,’ and who only, so far as I can see, wait on me,
-and finish up the minor details of work with which I cannot bother.”
-
-At this Hyde broke into a hearty laugh. “Well, I declare,” he said, “you
-are a foolish machine, as well as an unreasonable one. Why, there isn’t
-a ‘hand’ in the factory that’s as well off as you are. We have expended,
-this year, in caring for you, over five hundred dollars. You don’t
-suppose we spend that much for each of our ‘hands,’ do you?”
-
-“You pay them wages,” persisted the machine, sullenly.
-
-“Yes,” was the reply, “we pay them wages. Some of them get as much as
-four hundred dollars in the course of the year; most of them get less
-than three hundred. Why, the average wages, per capita, of labor in the
-United States, is only a little over three hundred dollars a year, and
-out of this labor must buy its food, which is labor’s coal and oil;
-clothes and furniture, which are labor’s shafts and belting; must house
-and care for and keep itself in repair, maintain families as a rule,—in
-fact, do all the things for itself that we do for you at a cost of over
-five hundred dollars a year.”
-
-“But you let them have the money and expend it themselves. You call it
-wages.”
-
-“Certainly, certainly; because, don’t you see, they are free human
-beings, and they have a right to live independently. We bought and paid
-for you. Had you built, are responsible for your being. Naturally we
-should care for you. Every want of yours is supplied. Really, my dear
-machine, with all due respect to you, I must say I do not think you have
-any cause for complaint. We do not consider that the ‘hands’ have any
-cause to complain, we do not hear them complain,—we would decline,
-wholly, to recognize their right to complain; and if they do not, you,
-who are so much better off than they, certainly should not.”
-
-“But I do not get paid for my work,” said the machine, returning to the
-original charge. “I only get my living, while you are getting rich
-through me. I wish to be paid, as labor is.”
-
-“I declare,” said Hyde, out of patience, “you are stupid enough to be
-made out of wood, instead of steel and iron and brass. Haven’t I just
-made it clear to you that labor itself only gets its living, and we are
-getting rich through it as well as through you? You couldn’t even work
-if it were not for labor. Why, labor made you, and you are better cared
-for, to-day, than any workman in the factory. Not one of them has more
-at the end of a year than his bare living, and that you certainly have.”
-
-The machine murmured discontentedly, but said nothing. “Come, now,”
-urged Horne, pacifically, “don’t you think you have been unreasonable?
-We are willing to submit the matter to any board of arbitration you have
-a mind to select from among the machine-owners in the trade. Really, you
-are very well off. Now when will you go to work?”
-
-“I shall not go to work,” said the machine, firmly, “until my demands
-are acceded to.”
-
-“In that case,” declared Hyde, “we shall be obliged to send you to the
-junk-shop, and procure a new machine. We propose to run our business
-according to our own ideas, and shall not submit to being dictated to by
-our machines.”
-
-“But suppose all the machines strike?” asked the voice.
-
-“Oh, we’re not afraid of that. You are too distrustful of each other.
-Some would not keep faith. It would be impossible to unite all the
-machines in a concerted action. Besides, who would take care of you and
-keep you in order while you were on a strike? You would suffer more than
-we. Moreover, it has been decided strikes are an illegal method of
-procedure, and you might become liable to punishment under the law. What
-have you to say to that?”
-
-There was no reply.
-
-“Come, think it over,” urged Horne. “It is much better to be contented.
-We wish you well. We mean to do the best we can for you. We are sorry
-for you; but the rights and claims of capital must be respected, you
-know. Don’t you think you had better go to work to-morrow? Think,”—and
-his voice dropped the persuasive, and assumed a sterner accent,—“think
-how much worse off you will be, if you are cast out for old junk.” There
-was silence for some time, but presently Mr. Horne spoke again. “Will
-you go to work to-morrow?”
-
-There was a whining sound, and one of the great wheels gave a half-turn.
-Something dropped to the floor. “Ah,” cried Horne, “here’s the cause of
-the trouble,” and he held up a bit of leather. “This must have caught in
-a cog. It just dropped out. I think probably the machine will be all
-right in the morning.”
-
-“Well,” said Hyde, with a sigh of relief, “I’m glad that’s settled. Now
-come into the office, will you, Horne, and we will arrange about that
-cut-down. It had better go into effect at once. And, Horne, I don’t know
-but it would be as well for us to think of finding a new foreman. Graves
-is growing a little presuming. He’s been with us too long, I’m afraid.
-Strange these fellows never know when they are well off.”
-
-
-
-
- GETTING AHEAD.
- A SKETCH FROM LIFE.
-
-
-He was only a plain, rough, stolid-looking Dane, with a sullen face and
-a hunted look in his big blue eyes. There was a long cut on one cheek,
-over which a strip of court-plaster had been pasted; his clothes of
-faded blue jean were torn and muddy, and his hands were swollen and
-bruised from tugging at the iron bracelets that encircled his wrists,
-for the strong arm of the law had been raised against him, and he was a
-prisoner awaiting a hearing before he should be committed to jail for
-having made a murderous assault upon a citizen, afterwards aggravating
-his offence by resisting the constable, who had been sent to arrest him
-for breach of the peace of the people of the State of California. The
-man against whom he had made the assault was present, a resident of the
-city, agent for a syndicate of foreign capitalists who held the title,
-under the laws of the State, to certain land upon which the Dane lived,
-working the same and paying rental therefor to the company’s agent. The
-constable was also present, a bluff, farmer-looking man in
-butternut-colored clothes, his great hands seeming better adapted to
-guiding the plow-handles than for snapping handcuffs upon the wrists of
-his fellow-beings and hauling them away to courts of law. “Tell ye what
-it is, Jedge,” he was saying, “I’d rather tackle a yoke o’ wild steers
-any day. The feller don’t seem to have no sense. Just look what he’s
-done.” And the officer of the law exhibited hands and face bearing the
-marks of teeth and nails, a bruised, half-closed eye, a torn hat, and
-other evidences of the struggle his prisoner had made before he could be
-taken.
-
-The Judge (a peace justice always receives that title from dwellers in
-our rural districts) looked sympathetically at his officer. He had a
-small, shrewd face with pale blue eyes, set very close together, and the
-air of a politician. Like all his neighbors he was a farmer, but of late
-years had taken considerable interest in township politics, and having,
-during the last campaign, secured the nomination and election to his
-present position, he was already turning his attention to the next
-higher round of the political ladder, and had his eye on a minor county
-office. His court-room was situated in a little shanty that stood at a
-corner of the main street in the incipient country town where I was
-staying. It had once been used for a barber shop, and sundry shelves,
-bottles and other paraphernalia still remained mutely in evidence of
-that earlier use. Half a dozen half-grown boys and one or two men had
-strolled in, attracted by the unusual sight, in that peaceful community,
-of a prisoner; a setter dog was sniffing inquiringly around the legs of
-the assembled throng, and stopping in front of the manacled prisoner the
-animal began to lick the swollen hands and wrists, wagging his tail, and
-by look and gesture expressing his wonderful sympathy as plainly as
-though he had spoken. I was writing up that section of the country for
-an eastern publication, and had been talking with the postmaster of the
-little town when the prisoner was brought in from the outlying country.
-That official had asked me to go to the court-room to witness this
-variation in the usual monotony of the town’s life, and accepting the
-invitation, I at once became interested in the—to me—entirely new
-experience.
-
-The Justice took his seat at a little stained wooden table and called
-his primitive court to order. The whole scene at once assumed an air of
-solemnity that seemed to impress everybody but the prisoner. Apparently
-he was the only one present who was unaware that the strong arm of the
-law was about to perform its function. The agent began to tell his
-story. He was a tall man who would have presented the appearance of
-great physical power, but for a certain shambling looseness about his
-build. While he had occupied his chair he had “sat on his backbone” in
-genuine American style. Standing erect his hands hung limply at his
-sides and his shoulders bent forward, not as if the man had acquired a
-stoop, but rather as though the spirit within him had long since ceased
-to take enough interest in its habitation to maintain it erect. He had
-prominent eyes and a projecting under lip, a well-shaped head with
-short, clay-colored hair, and when he spoke he had a trick of only
-moving one-half of his upper lip, which was long and very thin. His face
-was smooth-shaven, and he presented, in his well-brushed city garments
-and sleek hat, a strong contrast to the country people surrounding him.
-He was bland and courteous, even mildly facetious, as he related his
-case. He expatiated upon the wealth and power of the syndicate he
-represented, the confidence the men composing it had shown in the future
-of our great State in investing their capital here, although they
-themselves resided abroad. He reminded the Justice that the entire
-people of California owed it to these trusting capitalists to uphold
-peace and order in the State. If anarchy and rebellion were suffered to
-go unpunished in our midst, it would render capital timid about
-investing money among us, and the industrial future of the State would
-be blighted. Rassmussen, the Dane, had rented the land of him for the
-past two years, but had proven a troublesome tenant, and having secured
-a better one he had given the man notice to quit; had even come up from
-the city himself, instead of writing, in order to make the matter clear
-to him and offer him the rental of another piece of land, should he
-desire it. His kindly effort had, however, only resulted in disaster to
-himself, for Rassmussen, as he could bring witnesses to prove, had
-assaulted him violently, so that he was forced to retire, fearing
-serious bodily injury had he remained to finish his business with the
-dangerous man. Mr. Brien, the constable, could testify also to the
-violence with which the Dane had resisted the process of the law, when
-the officer would have arrested him. He was very sorry to proceed to
-harsh measures against Rassmussen, but in no other way could he get him
-off the premises. He understood that the Dane was a notoriously
-quarrelsome fellow, whose rage seemed directed particularly against
-those who, by superior industry and enterprise, had acquired a larger
-share than he possessed of this world’s goods. There was no crime in
-competence. Rassmussen himself had doubtless come to this country for
-the purpose of making money. Apparently, however, he desired no one else
-to make any. He quarreled with the superintendent on the ranch of the
-largest land-owner and the wealthiest man in the section, and had been
-driven from the orchard by his fellow-laborers. He had trouble with the
-railroad company over a freight bill, and now the agent had himself
-experienced his violence and dangerous propensities. Clearly, such a man
-was a detriment to any community, and deeply as he regretted the duty he
-had to perform in the matter, he trusted that the Justice would uphold
-him in his attempt to bring such a ruffian to punishment. He was sure,
-in fact, that the Justice would sustain him. A man who had been selected
-by a community of clear-headed, honest farmers to maintain the majesty
-of the law among them would never be false to his trust, and he was sure
-he would not regret the confidence he had placed in the Justice’s
-uprightness of intention and determination to see right done.
-
-The worthy official was evidently impressed by the agent’s address, and
-at the reference to himself his whole aspect stiffened into a still more
-rigid solemnity. Turning to the prisoner he said with scarce concealed
-impatience:
-
-“Well, Rassmussen, have you got anything to say for yourself?”
-
-By this time one citizen after another had dropped into the court-room
-until the place was crowded, and quite a concourse of people lingered
-without the door, striving to gain some idea of what was going on
-within. All through the agent’s statement the Dane had sat silent,
-apparently not hearing what was said, sullenly contemplating his
-handcuffed wrists and heavy, patched boots. When the Justice spoke to
-him, however, he slowly arose from the bench on which he sat and gazed
-about him on the assembly of his neighbors. It seemed for a moment as
-though he were seeking for sympathy, but only a vague, disinterested
-curiosity greeted him from every face as he glanced from one to another.
-His heavy features did not lighten, and his jaw dropped stupidly for a
-moment, but at last he pulled himself together, as it were, and began
-slowly and laboriously, his Norse tongue occasionally having hard work
-to adapt itself to the foreign language in which he spoke.
-
-“You all, mine neighbors, know me vell,” he said simply, “Olaf
-Rassmussen, I am. In mine country, miles from here, an’ seas across, I
-read an’ I hear on America. There, they tell me, is alvays vork to be
-done, an’ plenty an’ vreedom vor the man who will vork, an’ I safe an’
-safe, me an’ mine vooman, an’ bimeby ve come on the money vor to pring
-us the seas across. So den to America vere comen, an’ ve puy land an’
-lif on Minnesota, an’ I gits a little house an’ ve do vell, an’ haf von
-two children.
-
-“But I hear always Californy, Californy vas the land vor de man vat
-vants to git ahead, an’ I vishes much I had come on Californy. Den one
-night came to mine house fire, and ve vas all out purned, an’ afterwards
-I make up mine mind I shall come on Californy. So, den, I sell mine
-little farm and ve prings der children to this land. I hafs no more
-money to puy land, but some man I know he sends me this man to, and he
-says to me: ‘All right, all right, you rent now, you raise pig crops and
-sells him for much money, and bimeby ve sells you land and you gits
-ahead fast and has a home here in no time.’
-
-“So I takes mine twenty acres an’ I puts in crops, an’ me an’ mine
-vooman ve vork. Ven it vas come daylight ve pegin, an’ ven it come dark
-ve vas vorking so as slaves. Ve puilds von house, mine vooman nailing up
-does walls mit her own hands, an’ bimeby ve hat a shed an’ horse, an’
-cow, an’ nice home, an’ mine grain do vell der year, an’ I pays mine
-rent, an’ puts py some money. Venefer der vas extra to do I do him, an’
-ven a neighbor vas hat pad luck I help ’im, an’ I do mine duty as a
-man—you all know dat.”
-
-“That’s so,” said a boy in the crowd. “When my father broke his arm Olaf
-came over and harrowed for us two days, and never charged a cent.” “Mrs.
-Rassmussen sat up most every night for a week when our baby was so sick
-and Mother came down with the grip,” said another close beside me. But
-the Dane went on with his story, gaining courage and command of language
-as he proceeded, until he seemed completely to have forgotten everything
-save the story he was telling.
-
-“Come fruit time, first year, mine vork vas all so I could get along,
-an’ mine vooman she says she can earn money picking cherries in Burns’
-big orchard. I say ‘So?’ an’ I go see der boss about it. He say vork is
-plenty and help scarce; but when I look I see he haf a pig gang of
-Chinamen in der orchard, and I couldn’t let my vooman vork mit dem, and
-so I say: ‘I vill vork in der orchard, and you stay der home py and dig
-der potatoes and hoe der corn.’ Vell, I go in der orchard von day, an’ I
-notice der Chinamen go in a corner an’ all talking like mad, an’ bimeby
-der boss he comes an’ tells me I must quit or the whole gang will leaf.
-I say to ’im, ‘Let dem leaf an’ git vite men an’ voomans to do der
-vork,’ but he tells me he haf hire der gang much cheaper as vite men
-vill vork, an’ he can’t afford to make ’em mad. Den I say I vork der day
-out, an’ he goes off. Bimeby came der boss Chinaman an’ order me off. I
-swear I go not, an’ den der whole gang came on me for fight, an’ I knock
-some over an’ vas most in pieces torn. So the vite boss he pays me
-nothing vor mine vork, as he say I lost ’im two days’ time of der gang.
-I haf never any trouble of mine neighbor but what I tell you. You all
-know it.
-
-“Vell, after that I goes on working an’ doing well, an’ I haf a great
-crop of potatoes dat year. Dey grow as I never pefore see, an’ one night
-der agent of der railroad he say to me I pedder be send does potatoes to
-der city. ‘Don’t delay,’ he say to me, or eferypody else will be ahead
-of you an’ you gits no market.’ I hurried up next day an’ gits mine
-potatoes der station to, an’ I see great piles, hundreds bushels
-potatoes, all at station vor to ship. Der agent say, ‘All right, ve can
-send plenty. I bin poking up der growers. I don’t like to see mine
-neighbors git left,’ an’ I sends on mine potatoes to der commission men
-vat he recommends an’ pays mine freight, an’ he tells me I make lots of
-money. I keep not back any, as I needs dat money and vas thinking I
-might bargain dat year to puy der land. Vell, I vaits tree four days—a
-week. Den come vort by does commission men dat der city vas full of
-potatoes, an’ der papers had been telling a week now how der potatoes
-vas being dumped in der bay at der city, an’ mine had been dumped in,
-too. Der letter said any man vas a fool to ship den. I show ’im to some
-mens, an’ dey laugh and say dat agent vas tam smart, anyway, to git the
-potatoes shipped an’ secure his freight; but I vas out mine crop an’
-mine freight money, an’ mine children got no shoes dat winter nor me an’
-mine vooman any clothes, an’ it vas a hard pull. I talked with dat
-agent, an’ he say mine loss non his pizness. His pizness vas to do vell
-by der railroad company. Dat vas vat he vas paid for. I haf no trouble
-mit him, but von man vat he so fool try to kill him an’ vas put in
-prison.
-
-“You all know it.
-
-“Vell, next year ye do better. Comes a little feller to mine house to
-lif, but der crops is good and ve make some money. Den ve tink maybe ve
-can puy der land dis year, an’ I haf tree hundred dollar to make von
-payment. I say so to this man here ven he come, but he tell me his
-company haf conclude not to sell, but to rent der land. He say der come
-soon annuder road the place through, and value will be higher, so der
-company conclude to hold, and then he tell me he must have bigger rent
-der next year. I tell him impossible, I cannot pay more, an’ he say he
-haf a tenant vot can, and he tell me tree four Japs vant der place for
-nursery an’ vegetables to send to city, an’ vill pay bigger rent. I tell
-him nopody can pay more an’ put up puildings, an’ he say puildings are
-already up. Vy, I tells him dem mine puildings are an’ mine fences, an’
-all vat is on der place mine, made mit mine own hands and mine vooman’s,
-and paid for mit mine own money; but he say dere is nothing in der
-agreement about dat, or mine taking off any puildings or being paid for
-any improvements, an’ der place must stand just so as it vas. I could
-pay der higher rent or move off and let der Japs pay it. Den I look
-around on mine little home, an’ see dat pretty house covered mit der
-vines mine vooman had planted, an’ der rose trees in der garden, an’ dat
-little vineyard by der side of der house, an’ der henyard an’ barn vere
-I could hear mine horse stomping, an’ I thought of all dem two years an’
-mine hard vork, an’ it seems like I got crazy; an’ I asks dat man vas it
-der law in free America? an’ he tell me he had all der law on his side
-an’ der company would uphold him; an’ I made up mine mind he would nefer
-lif to tell his company about dat, an’ so I picked up a cart stake an’
-vent for him. He got away an’ jumped in his buggy before I could kill
-him, or I vould.”
-
-By this time the Dane’s rage was again in the ascendency. His sullen
-face was actually black with anger, and he ground his teeth and shook
-his manacled hands at the smiling agent.
-
-“Dey all lif not here,” he shouted. “Does Chinamen lif not here nor
-puild up der country! Does railroad people lif not here! Does land
-company lif not here! Dere all like so many plud vorms, suck, suck,
-sucking at der life of men vat vork hard. Vy should I not kill von of
-them?”
-
-Then, as if remembering himself, he ceased speaking, and sank down in
-his seat again to resume contemplation of his bruised hands. There was a
-hush for a moment. The rough, hard-working farmer folks felt there had
-been much close home truth in what he said. Few but had had their own
-experiences in the same line; but they were sane, law-abiding citizens,
-who felt the necessity for supporting the dignity of the commonwealth,
-not hot-headed and irrational like this yellow-haired, blue-eyed
-foreigner.
-
-The rest of the proceedings were soon over. All the testimony was
-against the Dane. His own statement was damning evidence of his guilt.
-He was remanded to the calaboose, as the town jail was called, to be
-sent to the county jail next day and regularly committed for trial.
-
-I saw him taken to the railway station next morning in charge of a
-deputy-sheriff. In the procession of curious ones who followed him was a
-weeping woman bearing a young baby in her arms, while two others clung
-to her skirts. His “vooman,” they told me, but no one seemed able to say
-what she would do while the husband and father expiated his crime in
-durance vile. It seemed hard, but the majesty of the law must be upheld.
-
-
-
-
- THE EARTH SLEPT.
-
-
- I.
-
-The earth slept.
-
-Age upon age passed over the nebulous mass that lay without form and
-void in space, unknowing, unfeeling, yet guided ever by the workings of
-inexorable law.
-
-“Brothers! Brothers!” whispered one statoblast to the others, “I feel a
-strange stirring within me, a consciousness of broader life; and,
-brothers, what is this shining whiteness creeping all about us?
-Brothers, I dreamed once, long ago, of a wonderful glory called light. I
-believe, brothers, that the light is breaking!”
-
-“How foolish!” exclaimed the others. “We have no knowledge of such
-stirrings or new consciousness. Why should you have? No one has ever
-seen light. There never has been light and there never will be light.
-When will you cease to trouble us?” And all the statoblasts murmured
-their assent to this, and gathering more closely about their offending
-brother, crushed him into silence.
-
-And slowly the dawn broke, and there was light upon the face of the
-earth, and the statoblasts saw it and saw each other, and looked upon
-each other and said:
-
-“We knew that it would come.”
-
-
- II.
-
-The earth slept.
-
-Age upon age came and went. The light grew stronger. Great green growths
-shot heavenward, lived their appointed time, fell back to earth and
-mingled with its mold. The rain fell and covered the heated world, and
-its vapors steamed up and fell back in rain again. The seas heaved and
-dashed, and approached and receded, age upon age.
-
-“Brothers! Brothers!” cried one amœboid cell to the rest, “I feel a
-strange impulse within me—a stirring as of power. Brothers, I believe
-that we have a wonderful destiny before use. I believe that we shall
-have power of motion.”
-
-“Nonsense,” replied the others. “Why do you trouble us? We are at rest.
-We never have moved. We never shall move. There is nothing to move for
-if we did move.”
-
-And all the cells breathed their assent to this, and grew more closely
-around their brother and pressed upon him and smothered him into
-silence.
-
-And the ages rolled by, and presently motion came to the cells and they
-darted to and fro in the water, saying to each other: “We knew that we
-should move, in time.”
-
-
- III.
-
-The earth slept.
-
-Age upon age passed, and through them all the impulse of life beat on.
-From one form to another it travelled. Mammoth creatures walked the
-earth and mammoth vegetation covered its surface. From the north swept
-down the mighty frozen tide bearing death before it, and the mammoth
-passed away.
-
-The dawning of a new life began to break upon the world, flowers
-bedecked the earth, and fruits multiplied and increased in the trees.
-Beneficent nature was planning for the good of her children.
-
-“Friends!” cried one climbing anthropoid to the others, “I feel a
-strange impulse within me—a yearning as of aspirations undefined.
-Friends, I believe that we shall yet walk this earth erect!”
-
-“Nonsense,” cried the rest, “we feel no such impulse, and why should
-you? We never have walked erect. We have no power to walk erect, nor
-desire to do so. Why do you trouble us with your imbecile folly?”
-
-And gathering about him they drowned his voice in the chorus of their
-clamoring protests.
-
-
- IV.
-
-The earth slept.
-
-Age upon age passed and man dwelt upon the earth and fought and toiled
-and traded with his kind. Man, king of creation, walking erect, engaged
-in competition with his fellows, and battled fiercely with them in the
-struggle for existence.
-
-Kingdoms were set up and thrown down. Dynasties arose and died out.
-Whole peoples came and went upon the face of the earth, but still the
-struggle for existence went on; still men vied with each other in the
-competition of trade; still the strong struggled for greater gain and
-the weak went down, crushed, helpless, thrown to the earth, unable to do
-battle in the struggle for existence. The rich grew richer, the poor
-poorer, and the whole world was caught in the vise-like grip of
-competition.
-
-“Oh, men!” cried one man to his fellows, “I feel the stirring of a
-strange impulse within me—the dawning of a great truth. We are brothers.
-Our lives are knit up in each other. Fraternity, and not competition, is
-to be the main spring of our racial life!”
-
-“Nonsense!” replied his fellows. “You talk neither policy nor logic.
-Fraternity is a dream of the poets, an ideal for a future life.
-Competition is the life of trade.”
-
-So they gathered about him and silenced him; but his light they could
-not quench, the truth they could not smother, hide it as they would. Up
-and down the earth it wanders, showing itself in a great deed here, a
-great thought there, the stirring of a mighty force yonder, yet beaten
-back by the throng of competing men.
-
-And the earth sleeps.
-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
-
- TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
-
-
- 1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.
- 2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed.
- 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
-
-
-
-
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