The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-02-03
HIGGINS CONVERT.
He Puts What He Is Taught Into
Practical Operation.

Hiram Higgins was n very good fell
low and he quite acceptalIy filed the
office of clerk in dingy den in the
city. He was a great ,heorlst. was
Hiram. and although he was model
clerk and very deferential to old Skin
ner. the head of the firm. he did not
think that this world was az all we'll
managed. He was Socialist and one of
the chief Spokesman at their meetings.
He even spoke ut the outdoor gather
ings on the London streets on Sundays
and his one object in life was the max
ing of converts to his theories. He
sometimes held animated discussions
.on Socialism in the thiri-class COM
partments in which he came and went
to his place of daily drudgery. when he
could find listeners.
One evening on his way home he got
into the usual argument and quite de-
molished all that WAS brought up
against his theory. He thought the
wealth of this country should he divided
up. Why should any man come to the
Office in the city at ton and leave at
four and have El0. 900 year. while he
worked hard a. his desk from nine to
six for only 81 a week? He had old
Skinner in his mind. although he men,
toned no names On one listener only
did he seem to make any impression.
H. was evidently one of the unem.
ployed who was in hard luck. His
clothing was ragged and bad, and it
was quite plain that he WAS ready for
the great divide whenever Mr.. Higgins
or any one else could bring i: along
He interrupted Higgins talk with such
remarks as Ear. ear" ..Bloomin'
right We are" Never spoke a truer
word than that" ''Sarve en- bloomin'
we'll" "R'ght. say l." etc. etc.
One by one Higgins auditors got ont
at their different stations. until Hig-
gins and his convert were left alone.
I'm VERY much ob:ig'd to We. l
am" he remarked. fur the way We
laid into them blokes. get off at the
next stop. I'd like to hear the end o
that argy ment l wonM. Perhaps We
wouldn't came with pore man to his
diggins and have a cup o bitter? l
like to ear you talk. do"
Well" said Hiram. much flattcred.
81 wouldn't mind pint of bitter with
n friend Although We have only
known each other half Al hour. vet l
think we may call each other friends.
AL the world should he friends
Right yc are, ma mate. and ere
We are"
They got out and walked together
in the direction the convert indicated.
Higgins gave himself entirely mp to his
guidance. while he himself talked UNI
-ceasingly and found his travelling COM
pnnion a good listener.
land srn't &c ashamed TO be seen
a walking along the streets with seedy
bloke like me, mate? An You o nice
dressed gentleman"
I'm no gentleman. my friend" said
Higgins, land ! an proud to be seen
with You. / work hard for what get,
-aRd little enough it is can tell you
Too bloomin' little. says l.. replied
the convert; '.but think on a pore bloke
like me, 90 carn't find no work to do"
''It's hard" sighed Hiram. very
hard"
but it does me good. 1t does. to ear
a gent like You argify."
I'm glad to hear you say that 1
Ike to meet inquiring minds. And. by
the way, I'm going to speak at the
open air meeting next Sunday in Ham
mersmith. / would Like 70 have you
come"
I'm come. likes open air meet
incs, does
The two had wslked along through
- maze of disreputsble lanes and mar
row streets until they were near the
river. Here they turned into mo
thoroughfare' and from that into
court and then up dark stairway.
mind yer feet" said the convert. as
he led the way, ''this ere blooming
stairs bad, it is"
They entered small dark room near
the top and Higgins could see that the
,one dusky window looked over the
river.
..rll strike a slim-" said the convert.
and he lit bit of spluttering candle
that showed dimly one broken backed
chair and rough table. on which stood
IN empty beer mug and the remains of
some bread and cheese on . cracked
plate.
..Sit down there" said the convert.
And Higgins sat down. The convert
put the candle down on the table and
zlared across at his guest
Now" he began. ''talkin's youy lay
an workin's mine. What you're a