The Colfax chronicle., 1890-11-15
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
UNDER THE WHEEL


UNDER THE WHEEL
Hsn,iin Cariand's New fIay-rhs Singh
/ Tax Idea In the Drama.
TcoNrrNuED FROM LAST lssUE-J
Berg-Aha! Vat say you now7 Is !
n0dt dime doc protest? Our wages 10 70
duced dwice already in four years-tt
rendt haff been raist four dimes How
1t is hell. is it nodt? Vat you do?
Edwards-(without looking up)-l
don't know.
Berg (darkly, looking at Alice)-l
know vat do. 1 magke protest 20
shall pc heardt 1t is nodt do be borr
wit. giff In my name tonight (He
starts toward the door.
Alice tstopping him)-Don't do that
Keep away from those Anarchists, Mr..
Berg. They will hurt you. They don'i
belong here. Such meetings are wrong
In free country
Berg. iturning) Free? Free do pay
rendt in. I fly from dc tyrandts ofe my
native landt, / reach free landt! BAH
am only slave under anodder name,
dat is all. De mardch of feudalism is
here even. say there is no free blace
left. Let dem tage care, shall fight.
am q Volt ad bay. If / fall now, !
trag someding wit me. (He starts to
go)
Alice (stopping him)-Don't 60 with
those men. You're not yourself tonight
Stay with your mother.
Berg (moved by her words and hand
on his arm)--For your sake, viii stay.
am nodt veil. It is true.
Alice (recoiling)-No, no; not for my
sake, but for your mothers sake.
Berg-For you hatf ask me Istay. (He
turns to the figure at the door, You
hear, I go nodt oud. (Figure at ths
door goes.) wish to dalk NIT you'll
haff-
(Alice stands speaking in low voice
to Borg. At last he nods.) promise
ant l will gone again soon? (Exit.)
Alice (turning to her father)-Can't
something be done-can't you strike?
Edwards (spiritlessly)-No, we can't
strike--at least it wouldn't do any
good.
Alice-Why not?
Edwards-What can men do strikfn'
with families as / have needin' every
dollar they en- earn2 Rents due an no
money t. pay it with. don't know
which way t. turn.
Mrs. E.-Don't give up, Jason. Well
git along some way. We can move into
. cheaper tenement
Edwards (indignantly)-I don't want
y to do that, Jennie. You're low
enough; rve been hopin' T. move into q
better one.
Alice (resolutely)-In give up my
course at the conservatory and go to
teaching. I'll do my part
Edwards-It wouldn't save us, M girl,
for next year the rents would be higher
an wages lower. Itain't the present that
scares me, it's the future! / could pull
through for year or two If 'twant for
the turrible uncertainty of the future.
If should be laid up f'r month-pm
gettin' old an liable t. bel dom know
what we'd all do. John jest about makes
a livin' for his family-he can't help us.
Linnie must go e school an Alice ought
to go on with her music
Alice (irmly) No, father, I'll give up
the conservatory. I'll find something
to do; I'll be a help.
Linnie--So'll /.
Edwards Quitting his arms around
re help to me now, Allie;
nothin' cheered me more all day long
han the thought o. your havin' good
time with your musical friends.
(Alice has thoughtful look on her
ACE. She is thinking of Reeves, and his
question and her answer.)
Mrs. e. with . sigh)-What's the
world comm to. Jason, when hard work.
n people can't make decent livin'?
Edwards On the same gloomy tone)-i
don't know, Jennie. / tell We I've
lone pile O. thinkin' lately. I've
ooked at the whole matter fore and aft |
md they hain't no other way to it It's |
plain case o. rents goin' up an wages |
'oing down. Ten men f'r every Job
ne gettin' old "a long pause.
Mrs. Edward (hesitatingly) = We
ouldnst 60 back to Derry an go to farm
n agin, could we? They say they's
eserted farms there that can be
ought"
Edwards lbitterlyl Why are they de-
erted? Bcause people couldn't make a
lvin' of 'em. Can we do any better? If
was young man-if you was young
nd the girls didn't need schoolin',
hey'd be jest one way out-the way out
r 80 many b'fore us-I mean go West
n get free land and start agin.
Alice Feeling her way)-Why don't
on go West now? Well go with you.
m sorry we're not boys, we'd be Of more
Sc. with growing conviction.) OF
Ourse that's the way out! Why didn't
@ think of that before, mother? Every
ody is happy and successful that goes
the refuge for all like us.
cts go this very summerl Maybe IL,
In find place to teach music out there.
Edwards trising and going to his coat)
Wal, now you've said s. much, Allie,
II own up I've been thinkin' a good
al of 1t f'r some time. I've jest about
A. =