The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-10-19

cioont 70 the nrst appearance of stranger
amongst strange shOp-mates, but also Sc
cured for him n quiet, respectable board
ing-hopss On State strees, and in various
other ways sndeared himself to the young
man from Philadelphia, a. he was face
tionsly called by some Of the men.
For the first iew davs nothing transpired
oatsade the usual routine Of shop life On
the fourth day sfter Richards arrival in
the shop, an incident occurred, which,
though casual and apparently of no mo-
ment, still had deep effect upon the mind
OF our hero. The men had been toiling
hard all day, but towards evening they
evidently seemed disposed to rejoice that
the day was 30 nearly spent. They enter
ed more generally into conversation, and
tas younger men became somewhat hila-
nous and bOlsterous, and hailed each
other,
From out their youthful lore,
With ssrAEs Of siangy 'repertoir@.'"
The older men, though not really in the
caste Of the dramatis personae Of the gener-
nj uproar, still enjoyed the sportive ebul-
liency of the younger spirits Richard did
not partAke Of this recreative feast, being
NJ yet not entirely assimlated to his new
surrounding. However. it pleased him
AAo6OAyy - AC WCAi AACW Silat ECCIc6blOH IOT
the mind was relief for the body, and that
the terribly exhaustive demands working
men are necessarily compelled to make on
their muscular system are in a measure
lessened, or rather the system is better en-
abled TO Withstand them, if the mind is d.
rected from the ills Of the body
A merry heart doeth good like medicine
And if workinglnen could only bring to
their labors a light heart, they would bring
from them less tired and weary body.
For these reasons Richard was glad to
see the men work and be gay and happy at
the same time. Suddenly, as if an earth
quake had swallowed the shop, the men
were mute and still, the songs were broken
off abruptly. Jokes and puns, half made,
were smOthered with suppressed cough,
the hum Of voices ceased, and there pre-
vailed a sepulchral silence. The cessation
Of modulated sounds was so sudden that
Richard was startled, and looked around in
wOnderment, hut could see no cause for
the strange Proceeding. He however motto
ed a man in the middle Of the shop, his
right foot on the seat Of n shaving horse,
the elbow Of the right arm resting ON the
raised knee, and the hand supporting the
chm. He was leisurely smoking a large
briar-root pipe, and was regarding our hero
with sharp, penetrating stare.
Richard looked ct the new conner curl
ously enough, as he Immediately OWNED
who he was. He also believed his unex-
pected appearance upon the scene occasion
ed the sudden muteness among the men.
Mr.. Relvason advanced into Richards
berth, and asked him roughly and bluntly
il he was q stranger in the city
" am, sir, answered Richard with cool,
polite stiffness.
The tone appeared to offend the I" lord
of the shop" and he said with curt sharp
ness
''How long have you been here "
Four days, sir" replied the other,
with the same imperturbable gravity Of ex-
pression
What's your name r
Richard Hrbyght
Richard what r
" "Arbyght, sir.
"The devil -
No, sir, but Arbyght," said Richard,
inothe same quiet manner.
Where did you come from ? roared
Relvason.
. Philadelphia, replied Richard, as cool
az ever.
g Young man, you must be more re-
spectful when talking to me. l am owner
Of these shops. You will please remember
that fact. Do you hear r.
- L do, sir. Your relation to these shops
was presumed by me to be what you have
kindly informed me it is, when iirst saw
you and, sir, if have not shown yos
the respect and Difference due your posi-
tion, it Ii because my conception of the
amenities of sociality and the difference one
man should show another, is defective, al
though it has never been 10 regarded be-
fore.
"You are equite an orator, said the boss,
with a sneer which was not lost upon Rich
ard, who replied with equal irony
You are quite complimentary thank
you, sir.
The foreman here put in an appearance,
.and shook his head suggestively at Rich
ard, but the young TrojAn's blood was up,
and he stood like . stag at bay awaiting
the next attack.
II Like your impudence, young man,
but while You remain in my employ | wish
you to remember that you are the employ
ed and the employer"
Where shall store the surplus stock, p"
asked Rulless, in q vain effort to break of
the conversation. But Arbyght was not to
be choked of He folded his muscular,
sinewy arms an his massive breast, and
looking his employer unhinchingly in the
face, he said
Mr.. Relvason, would be very sorry
indeed to be nhpudent to any man, much
less to the man between whom and myself
there should exist friendly and harmoni-
GUS relations, and in the present instance,
allow me TO say that in my opinion the I'M
putAtioR 10 misapphed. What you are
pleased 10 call imPudence, ] am pleased TO
call imPudence, l am pleased TO truthfully
term the expression of impartial justice to
myself, and the vindicatiOn OF my own
sense Of honor for / would have you re-
member that |, too, am MAN ~ well AZ
you. When You wish me to not forget
that am the employed, | understand you
TO mean that should not forget that am
the inferior. Nov, SIR, you must pardon
me if ] tell YOU fraRkly that cannot com
ply with your injunction. Aside from our
external surroundings and artificial orna
nlentation Of mind and body, and standing
in our primal naked individuality, claim
we are equals. We, meet on terms Of
squlity. We meet - buyer and seller. !
have commodity which you desire TO pur-
chase and which am willing TO cell for
consideration which You are disposed to
give in exchange for il. Sach being the
case, where arises Tho diNpremce in our 30
cial positions Why should be the in
feriorl Our coming together was mutual,
and together We will remain only Just 50
long n our relaeions prove mutually agree
able"
You are a dangerous man, air fire.
brand that must be extinguished ~ and Mr..
| Relvason, with knit brOws and scowling
visage left the shop
| For GOdh sake" said the foreman,
don't talk in that way again" s
why not Have said sught but the
truth l''-
Il