The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-30
TRAVELLING SKETCHES.


Do the 26th Of August last, We left our
home in the city Of Chicago to attend the
international Labor Congress, which assem-
bled in Basic, Switzerland. on the 9Th OF Sep
TENDER, to which body We were delegated as
a representative, through the kind Partially
Of the members Of the American LlbJr Con-
gress which assembled at Philadelphia, o.
Monday, August IS, 1869. AS little or no
time was afforded for preparation, after con-
suitaIion with several earnest frien Is Of the
movement, we conclu led it was our duty 70
accept the appointment and leave the wis1 'm
of our action AMI its results =" the future.
A trip from America TO Europe has,
through the wonderful agency Of science and
steam, come to be regarded with less con-
Germ and consume less time thai a trip to
New York did twenty-five years ago. A
traveller can now leave any portion Of
our country for any portion OF the
habitable globe, aud reckor with almost mattI-
ematicAl precision, as to the da; anl dase
Of his arrival. The magnificent steamships
which bridge the Atlantic, commanded
by the most skillful and experienced Of sea
men, AMI in who's. construction scie1cs has
been exhausted, have robbed tins OcsLn Of
half it's terrors, AMI rendere! cDmm unic ltiOa
between the friends uf The old worl an the
new, a pastlne rather than n task. Our
shipbulliers anl merchants may deplOrs the
fact that the white win 5ed cruisers, OF which
the American skipper and people were so
Justly proud, no longer enjoy their pre-emi-
nence, or reflect an honor on our national
skill /; and lay the catering unctbn 10 their
souls that the loss is but temporary until
! they realize the fact that Great Britain owes
her position TO- day, as the first Commercial
nation on the globe, to her magnificent steam
marine, and the foresight Ut her shipbuillers,
that stedDI was destined to become the carrier
Of the worll--more than to any other agency
We shall remain just where We are, while
other nations who are willing to learn by ex
perence, will crow ui still further to the
rear, and take the place which W. SHOULD oc-
Cupy. More anon, however, on this import
ant subject.
Within an hours ride Of New York an in.
cident occurred which came near putting a
quietus upon all our aspirations, and depriving
the Labor Union OF the services Of their ode
/ legate." Tue forward axle of the slice ping
car was snapped like reed-And the wheels
| sent spinning down an embankment. The
fall Of the car broke the cor1 connecting with
the engine, 50 that for nearly mile, the pas
sengers were rocked from side to side, as
If 10 a cradle and when, providentalY, the
train was brought to a end, t WAS within
ten feet Of a tressel bridge sixty feet 10
height. "If," said the conductor, 1T had
been the forward instead Of the last car, It
would have been all up with u.s." However
all's well that ends we'll and after a delay
Of an hour or so, we proceeded on our jour
ney and arrived safe and sound in the great
metropolis.
In the evening, in company with several
friends, we paid a hasty visit to some Of the
labor organizations, and had the pleasure Of
addressing a large and enthusiastic meeting
Of the German cabinet makers, an organize
ton which numbers some 800 or 900 mem
bers. Mr.. Homrighausen, their delegate t.
the Labor Congress, had just presented his
report when we entered, so that we could moi
have seen them under more favorable auspi.
ces.
On returning to our hoiel, 10 company with
dent occurred worthy Of mention, which il.
illustrates the character of the lawless Vaga
bonds and rufians, who are unfortunately
the controlling element in that lily governed
city. While travelling in Fourth avenue
car, the gentleman referred to was attack cd
without the slightest provocation, by gang
Of roughs, and severely beaten. Soma OF the
passengers, upon calling for the police, we're
treated in a similar manner and strange to
add when the valiant guardians Of the law ar
rived, they refused to arrest the ruff ans gull
to Of the outrage. Taking the numbers of
two Of them-there were four in ALIVE
called upon the editor OF a leading journal
and made him acquainted with the facts
After listening to our story, AMI writing q
paragraph, he remarked, "Gentlemen, its lit.
tie use to expect any better, 50 long as this
clement controls every public office in New
York city. These scOundrels have more
power to secure appointments and dismissals
: than any class of men in New York, and W.
arc poWerless to prevent it, apparently. The
policemen are afraid Of them, and they have
good reason to be-" A sad, sad, confession
we thought, to come from public journal
list.
EAly the following morning we found our
selves at Pier No. As, on board the City o.
Paris, Of the Inman line, one Of the staunch
est crafts which floats the bosom of th,
ocean. As time and tide waits for no man
and as the vessel could not cross the bar at
to: 10 o'clock, the passengers were required
to be on beard by nine, three hours before
the usual time Of departure; so the mail
must be taken on board at the "Hook" Al
the time Of leaving draws nigh, the excite
ment grows more intense officers are hur
rying to and fro {; everybody is shouting TO
the steward, porters and hackmen are swear
ing BY contract kissings and blessings ar
showered fast and thick; al; on the deck il
hustle and confusion; tears and handksr
chiis are in demand; the steam blows faste
and louder. ''Cast off," shouts the captain
officers take their places, slowly the ponder
GUS crank commences to move, ana slowil
and carefully the gallant vessel glides frou
her moorings. We are of; everybody waves
handkerchief; good bye one and all Coz
bless the loved ones at home and our coun