St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-13
ST. PAUL TINE.

If Dickens had drawn his inspiration
from the homes and thoroughfares of st.
Paul, some of his characters would have
YEARLY trudged or vigorously paced the
Wabasha street with the throng that daily
fills its passageways at dawn and dusk.
The stream of humanity that col
lects and disperses at Bridge square
at a. III. and p. m, presents an
interesting scene. At no other place in the
city can 50 large or so representative col
lection of laborerS be seen. All ages, ma
tionalitieS and sexes jOStle each other and
press on to the tolls of the day or the
hearths and boards and greetings that
shorten the journey. There is the yigor-
Gus youth, dressed like his father. in plain,
rough, comfortable clothing, carrying his
tin bucket and the stamp OF prosperous
frugality;" the girl that looks as if she
might belong to the same family; the
spruce young man who will change his
clothes when he gets to the shop and who
is going to about three dances a week; the
aging, misunderstanding woman, who is
quickly passed by the sweet sixteen with
her merry laugh and red hood; small boys
and girls, strong men of all ages, every
type of character, and each creating an inn
preston and awakening varied sentiment
in the mind of the observer. A reflection
naturally follows on the vast amount of
production and upbulding accomplished
each day by the toling masses of the city
and the inherent power and dignity of
labor.
~
81 think" said al intelligent working
man the other day, that our public library
is open to little criticism as to it's provis-
for no ,t., of+ In Iob
ing classes. There are several thousand
volumes of well-selected books and not
more than dozen at most that are at all of
a technical nature. Every artisan should be
able to find there practical assistance in his
trade, books which would carry him be-
You'd the ideas gained in the shop, give him
p deeper insight into the principles and
possibilities of his trade, and stimulate an
ambition to excel as skilled laborer We
want carefully-selected list of books on
mechanics and all other trades. The work
ing class are its heaviest patrons. and
should be encouraged to use it and should
find there the books it most needs" In
quiry at the library revealed the fact that
there We're frequent calls for such works,
and that the recent additions are largely
scientific and practical, though not in the
line mentioned.
~
1t would be we'll if the optimistic or
brighter side of the workingman's situation
were Oftener studied and portrayed. The
lights that f1eck the shadows of his social
condition are certainly increasing, the dawn
Of his wider amelioration is at hand, his
political power and social influence is rap
idly growing, and grand possibilities are
among the things that are. Don't wholly
swallow up present blessings in the hunger
for others.
~
Several hundred workingmen will prac-
tically be out of employment during the
coming winter. The reflection follows that
much might be done by mutual and philan-
thropic effort to provide needed and fitting
intellectual benefits and social entertain
ment. We have no Cooper institute, but
we can but wish, at least, that disposition
and circumstance might conspire to provide
a substitute in societies. lectures, classes
and other like instrumentalities, and thus
coin from fortunes frowns.
~
The recent appearances before the labor
organizations OF St. Paul and Minneapolis
of DR.. Dana and Secretary Hart are note
worthy events. and such addresses by men
of brains and discretion cannot be too often
repeated. The labor interests are rapidly
coming to the front as important factors in
public affairs, and the hand of fellowship
should be extended to every agency inter-
ested in the cause of the laborer.
THE TIIEKEEPER.