The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-09-16

There is utility iu tho rule and it ap.
plies to both tho employers and the
men
1T won't apply to mo-" answered
Burke, with augry vehemeuce
The foreman shut tho littlo blauk book,
laid aside bis pen, and without a sign OF
feeling, turned from tho excited workman,
who s,ood Tor a while, chatting in thought
and then passed Oh TO his place 10 the
shop. He had just left the Office when
the other man who had refused to give
his residence entered. A nights reflection
had cooled his excited BRAIN and when
the foreman said to him as he said TO
Burke, speaking kindly yet ike ouO iu
earnest, "Wuh ore or two exceptions We
have the residences of all the men
where do you live p he gavo tho iuIor-
nation desired unhesitatiugIy, aud then
with cortaiu feeling of respect toward
the foreman that was uDaccouutable to
himself entered the shop
Did that chap ask where you lived
as you came through the Office 2" queried
Burke, a, the workman took his place
beside him at tho bench.
Yes"
you didn't tell him ?"
Yes"
30, what iool!'
did be ask you7"
"Yos."
And you refused TO tell p
"Of course did. It's nono Of bis
business where live"
What did he say ~
Burke shrugged his shoulders. Now
that was just where the shoe was begin.
ming to pinch. This say-notbing policy
of the new foreman, whom no opposition
seemed to move, was beginning to bo felt
as mask Of hidden powor, against some
movement of which he might possibly
find himself too weak for resistance.
"Oh, he was dumb, of course What
could be say?"
"Hc might have said"
"What2' The man hositatod.
That you were free to stay or go
"Lot him say it. don't care. There
are other shops in town"
But ho did care, and the suggestion
Fobered him not little, for he know that
workmen just then we're ia excess of
work, and that so good place wns not
likely to be obtained 10 lcug time. He
mouthei it bravely, however. for while,
and then became unusually silent and
attentive to his work.
There was 40 perceptble change in all
the shops. Tho iact that nearly every
man had como in behind time. and that
tie new foreman was aware Of ii from
personal observation, was an uneasy, self.
rebuking consciousness in every mind,
leading to silence and application. Work
went on moro rapidly then usual. A
degree of order aud subordnation now
in tho establishment, prevailed. After
all the men we're iu their plaeea-the last
man being over forty minutes behind
time-ihe foreman took his rounds
through the shops aud put himself in
closer citation with the workuen Some
repelled him-somc manifested indlfler
ence-a few were courteous. But he
gave 10 sign of feeling, though all expert
onced q certain consciousness al rover in
nis presence
About eleven o'clock word come to
Burke that he was wanted in the Office
Tho foreman was thcro al0nc, looking
very placid, there was 10 afoFnrc-s oi
brow no evident marshalipg Of forces
for contett-no apparent Disturbances
u Wi h 70 4, {
ho said as Burke came in, speaking
pleasantly aud almost indiferently, as
though the matter in hand were OF but
slight personal interest, before reporting
the subject Of which we talked this morn.
ing back to tho firm. The requirement
is theirs, and | understand them to be in
earnest. | am as much bound, iC would
hold ny pluco, to SEQ it executed as you
arc to conform to tho rule The law
touches US equally. You refuaed to give
the clerk your residence, and | was TO-.
structed to obtain it this morning. As
you will perceive, have been 10 no hur-
ry TO report your second refusal, but il
you cdAero to tho stand taken, am with.
out discretion. Tho fact must be com
mun;cated, and then you will have to
leave, for it will be thought much better
to dispense with the services of ono work
man, however excellent than to permit
au out.ani.out infringement Of tho rule" "
The man clustered, used hard words.
demanded explanation touching the new
rule, and staggered about feebly for a
| 70 oil Of nh toh bla4 To-
ed nothing, He might as well have beaten
the air, for all the reaction obtained. The
end was complete breaking down on the
part of Burke, who, after giving his resi-
dence, went back to his work subduod
aud, it may be, wiser man.
AS il was vol known through tho os.
Enlistment that seven O'Clock was the
hour whom every man was expected to ba
at work, the new foreman did not ro o.an
! nounce the rule. He had notoed the
7 surprise shown by almost every man al
) finding him on the ground when they came
! and he waited to see if punctuality would
! not follow through every mans self CON
pulsioD. 1t turned out as he had autloi
pated. lust ad of only dozen workme1
being in the shops at seven, over cue
} hundred were in their places, and by
fifteen minutes past seven tic last lingcr
e er was on hand. The quiet of tho di er,
D ent rooms was even more noticeable OF
t this than on the preceding day yet nc
. Que could have answered clearly, aud tc
his own satisfaction a question as to tn,
real secret Of tho new ioremau's power
. over the men which was so remarkably
D apparent
Some time duriag tho afternoon of thi
day, Bueke having finished tho job il
. hand, was under the necessity of going tC
T rho potu fnrauor 70 roca;r,,