National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-08-20


through which every man had to
pass on his way to the Shop,at least
twenty minutes before seven o'clock,
the hour at which work began. AS
the hour was striking about a dozen
of the two hundred men employed
in the establishment passed through
the Office, each looking surprised at
seeing the foreman so early or the
spot. Fiom that time up to half
past seven the men came dropping
in, singly or i'll groups, the same sur
prise at the foreman's presence i'll
the office being manifested by each.
1t was just half past seven O'Clock
when Burke appeared. The fore
man remarked in quiet way:
Let me saya word, if YOU please
Burke stopped. .frowned. and then
moved to the desk where the
foreman stood. The latter opened
a small blank book, and dipped
pen in the ink stand. His manner
was easy and altogether self-pos,
sessed. AS he held the pen ready
to write. he said.
with one or two exceptions we
have the residences of all the men.
Where do you live ?
you have nothing to do with
that replied Burke, his face red
dening.'
1T is thought best to know where
they i've answered the foreman,
with ont the slightest change in tone
or manner.
i regard such as an insult to the
men--aS an interference with things
in which YOU have no concern. We
are no slaves" The veins swelled
into cords along the temples and
over the forehead Of Burke.
no insult, nor interference in the
things about which we have no con
cern,i is intended, 'calmlyreturncd the
foreman. There is utility in the
rule, and it applies to both employ,
eIS and men
1T won't apply to me- answered
Burke, with angry vchemcnce.'
The foreman Shut the little blank
book laid aside his pen, and, with
out a sign OF feeling turned from
. the excited workman, who stood for
a while, chatting III thought,and then
( passed on to his place in the shop.
/ lie had just left the office when the
other man who had refused to give
his residence entered. \ night'S re
Election had cooled lis excited brain
and when the foreman said to him
Is he had said TO Burke, speaking
kindly, vet like one in earnest,
with one or two exceptions Ve have
the residences ofall the men. Where
do YOU live ? he gave the iniorma
tion desired unheSitatin@ly,and then
with certain feeling Of respect
toward the foreman that was unac
couutable to himself,he catered the
shop.
Did that chap aSl; You where yor
lived as Nou came through the of
flee ;! qucricd Burke, as his fellow
workman took his place beside hin
at the bench.
Yes
Nou didn't tell him p
.lcS.'
'llo. What a fool "
= Did he ask you ?
Yes answered Burke.
AND ven refused to tell y
= 'Or course did It's none oI
| his business where live
what did he say (!
Burke shrugged his shoulders
- Now that was Just where the Sho
= pinchrd. This saying nothing poi
lcy Of the new foreman, WhoW II
; opposition seemed to moNe. wa
$ beginning to be felt as a mask o
T. hidden power, against some move
4 mcnt of which he might posSlbI
find himself too weak iorrcslStanc'
f 90, he was dumb of course. Nlla
;, could he say ?
I 'Ilc mighl have said
/. Nv hat ? The man had hcsitatc'
/ That YOU were ilcc to stay or &c
= Let him say it. ! don't car,
c There alc other shops in town.
But he did care, and the suggc
II ton sobcrcd him not Il little, for !
. knew that Worhmcn Just then We
II in excess OF work, and SO good
Il place was not likely to be obtainC
in a long time. lie mouthcd
bravcly, however for II WHILE ~
y then became unusually silent al
attentive to his WORK.
There was Il pcrceptibIc change