St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-02-08
Observation-Disclosures
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

directly D6n1Du me, between Il man anu
woman, old acquaintances it seemed,
who had found themselves by chance
in the same seat.
She was just from trip "Out West"
and their conversation turned quite
naturally upon-the late strike, the state
of feeling now existing among the la
boring classes, the coming winter, and
how all it's great necessities were to be
met.
s'The financial troubles which are
harassing the country may be traced
nearly or remotely to extravaganza"
said the man. at is singular how little
money it takes at regular wages, before
the average laboring man ventures be-
yOnd his depth in the way of ordinary
household expenditure, if not in actual
luxuries."
ave all recognize that peculiarly
characteristic feature in our American
society,"" replied the woman. "Were
we to crash out the desire latent in
every heart to rise in the world, the
most potent individualism of our coun-
try would be lost"
"EXcuse me, madam, for reminding
yOu that you are repeating the talk Of
eiIO uiCdoOuiiiS, SOhh pidihihS5 hIdoSCS
without stopping to consider that the
injudicious spending of his so-called
scanty and hard-earned wages only rem
ders the wOrkingman ridiculous in the
eyes of all sensible people, and neither
elevates him mentally, morally nor so
cially. We were speaking of the strike
among the railroad employees. just
look for moment at the condition of
the railroad men and their families /;
you know some of them, dare say"
"Certainly. Il great many, living as |
do in the neighborhOOd of il junction :
and my husband being in general
store, we find them our heaviest GUS
toners. | have often wished they would
take word of advice in regard to their
purchases and general manner of living.
Not one in twenty-five lays up Il cent.
The single men, as rule, are more
self-indulgent than those with families.
There are few teetOtallers among them
all. The ten-cent standing drinks, with
treats, consume a large percentage of
their wages. They nearly all use to-
bacco immoderately, and another heavy
percentage goes in smoke and saliva.
You are Il family man aud understand,
us well as do, the quantity of raw ma
terial in the way of food that may be
bought at present prices for, say, forty
five dollars per month. But | have
noticed that these men will not be con-
tent with the necessaIies, or even the
comforts, of life. They must have the
luxuries. They live IL month behind,
have a 'stoIe book and get trusted
every month for just as much as the
m q a ~,
is frequently in arrears for board, and
it is not an unusual thing for him to be
ION the borrow before another pay day
comes round"
"All very true" replied the gentle
as good as yOu,' which rules in the
United States. The employees wife
wants to dress rs well as the employers
wife. The women are not always en-
tirely to blame, however, for frequently
your railroad fellow marries girl for
her good looks alone, and he likes to
have her make Il display i'll the cars and
at the stations. 1t takes but short
confidential chat with the brakeman to
find out who has the handsomest 'wo-
man ON the road, and if he owns her
himself he is not slow to tell you so.
There's case in hand just opposite
| glanced in the direction indicated.
A young woman in stylish cloth trav-
elling suit trimmed with fur, having
with her two children, "A boy about six
in navy-bue sailor suit, and baby
whose garments were foolish and dis
gusting mass of lace and embroidery
The poor child could only be looked
upon as an object of pity, SO loaded was
it with adornments.
'Who is it ~
ga freight brakeman's wife who lives
up here at the terminus. You can see
her on some of the trains nearly every
bright day. Look again, three seats i'll
'front.'"
Again my eye followed in the di-
rection indicated. A gentleman and
lady," each busy over morning paper ;
he in jaunty basket cloth suit, she in
plum-coOred silk, with hat, wrap and
gloves to match, and such jewelry, ear
rings, pins, watch, chain, charms, rings,
bracelets.
"The president of the road and his
daughter ?"
''By no means an engineer and his
young wife. She takes in sewing"
"To help get along l suppose 2"
''Oh, no, to enable her to make as
much display in the way of dress as the
master mechanics wife. The most
dressy woman who attends our church
is another engineers wife. l noticed
her last Sunday looking like fashion
plate in her black gros-grain silk dress,
Paisley shawl, imported hat, lavender
kids, and elegant jOwelry. They rent
the old Fisk mansion, live in style, en-
tertain handsomely, and keep horse
and carriage. While these things are
continued she takes certain place in
society. This hand-to-mouth sort of
business goes on while he works regu-
larly, but if he should die tomorrow
the Brotherhood would have to bury
him.
81 could multiply instances where the
most objectionable extravaganza pre-
walls. Brown is fireman he keeps
one fast horse all the time, sometimes
two or three. He has string of dogs
following at his heels whenever he walks
out on nights and Sundays. He wears
black velvet coat and an imitation
diamond pin and ring. He changes
off to go to all the horse trots, and
should you see him anywhere you would
take him to be sporting man. You
have seen Tom -, perhaps7 7 He is
an engineer, boards with his wife and
child at hotel, furnishes his own rooms
and has expended as much on the ele-
CANT chamber set as would be necessary
to furnish small tenement in as good
style as he can afford has silver ice
pitcher, salver and goblets in his parlor,
presented by the engineers on road
where he formerly worked-a put up
affair, OF course. Should you see him