Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-12
TIN TIE Is TEkZRR. "

1t was a subject worthy Of Dore. There
was a duh Changing OF iron, hesharp, clear,
high sound of tinkling glass, the sound OF
many voices blended together. A stranger
looking on would have thought the work
men and the lads who jostling assisted
them could not avoid running against each
other as they crossed and recrossed each
others path Men and boys carried molten
metal on the end of long holloH rods
men swung cherry-red globes until they
became pear-shaped boys caught fainter
cherry-red lamp chimneys and enormous
shades from the skilled glass blowers, and,
Fastening aside, twirled the glowing glass
in the glory hol s" that illuminated the
sceneand perfected chiaro-oscura that would
have delighted an artist. Shadows Of bows
elongated to fantastic proportions assumed
grotesque shapes. Deep shadows beyond
filled with moving figures; workmen stand
ing out in bold reief-alternate lights and
shades producing Q weird, uncanny effect
upon the beholder. The faces OF the work
men fronting the great furnace, and Of the
men and boys around the glory holes,
reflected the lurid glare shot out from the
furnaces.
As the eye became accustomed to the
scene, what at first seemed chaos slowly
resolved itself into system. These bows
carrying molten glass on the long blow
pipes are regular in their irregular move
ments; the workman who takes the blow
pipe from the hand Of the gatherer"
never by any chance fails to be prepared
for the freshly gathered metal. He Slows
in the pipe the some length Of time before
he passes the newl y-mGde lamp chimney
or shade to The Lad VINO thrusts il into the
"glory hole" to give it the degree Of heat
required 10 complete the article fashioned
so swiftly and dexterously. The boys who
" crimp" the chimneys, and tenders or
" carryiug-in" boys who bear away the
newly made articles 10 be tempered in the
Tiers or oyens-all work together as evenly
as the ccgs in q great wheel.
But now, with a chorus Of cries that re-
calls Babel, pliers, toLgs, carrying forks and
blow pipes are cast aside. The day turn is
"oif;" in five minutes the factory win be
deserted, a little later the places of these
noisy workers will be occupied by the
night turn in SmoIlet's glass factory, whose
great, fiery eyes glow day and night emit
ting dull CLEAN only on Sundays.
As the workers grasp their dinner pals
and coats and hats, they hail each other
mind each other Of appointments The
volumne of life that has been active direct
ing mechanical forces, removed from the
grooves fdaily toll is now seeking-pours
into q social channel 1t is apt 10 be rough
in its unchecked flow, but there is a genu-
ineness and heartiuess about it that COM
pensates for the absence Of courtesy which
distinguishes refined intercourse from the
rugged. unaffected manners Of the shop.
Hi there, Benz a young glassblower
made movement to intercept the swift
passage of q snart-looking clerk. " What's
this about gas2'
What have you heard 2" said the clerk,
Guiding the glassblower's grasp.
Come now. You can't play that on Us.
Is it true what the papers say2'
" Is It in the papers p
You know they say smollet is going to
"Then you'd best ask Smollet about it"
The clerk disappeared with a laugh as q
little knot gathered around the workman
who accOsted him. An avalanche Of CUES
tons poured upon the glassblower. The
knot swelled in size until half the day force
was gathered around EPh Murtland. Eph
Suddenly compressed his lips, then said
AZ don't know nothin' about it, boys.
Ben keeps his mouth shut. l shouldn't
wonder if it were true. I'm ready for most
any sort of surprise these days. Go TO
Smollet. Ask the prop"
Eph was shouldering his way thrO ugh
the crowd with g0od-natured grin, when
q hand grasped his coat tail. Turning
Eph looked down upon little fellow who
might have been Il or Il, but his size was
that of boy of Il.
"If Mr.. Smollett puts gas in viii we get
raise, Eph the gas is 80 much cheaper
than coal"
Eph paused, looked around, gave those
nearest him q meaning look, and, pointing
to the boy at his side, said, in tones Of
measured sarcasm
There's innocence for your Advance
us2 Why, Tim, you'll be q gray-haired
'gaffer,' gettin' maybe S. q day. before you
ever see q prop pay more wages on &C
count of cheap material. It's mostly the
other way-the cheaper the material Is, the
more reason to reduce wages. If you wait
until We are helped by gas, you'll not have
q tooth left. tell you what. Tim. You'd
best look out for another job. The new
improvements will knock the bottom from
under the teasers.' Cos why7 When
there's no coal used, there won't be any
use for 'em"
The crowd dispersed with laugh. Tim
Bennett, known 10 al the workers in
SmoIlett's as Tim the teaser," was silent
The mere intimation that his services could
be dispensed with stunned him. He avoided
his companions on his way home. He
wanted to be alone-to think. His head
did not feel Just right. He had been think
ing all day; when his head was not dizzy.
His mother was an invalid. She was his
mother in theory; his mother in fact was
a maiden aunt whose faculties were sharp
ened by the friction of hard, daily expert
ence. Upon her shoulders and Tins de-
golyed the burden Of supporting the in