Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-09-06
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
UNDER THE WHEEL.
Uan,lin Garlnnds Now Play-Tho Single
Tax Idea In the Drama.
[coNTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE.

nodt dime doc protest? Our wages Is re-
duced dwice already in four years-te
rendt haff been raist four dimes. How?
1t is hell, is it nodt? Vat you do?
Edwards-(without looking up)-I
don't know.
Berg (darkly, looking at Alice)-I
know vat do. / magke protest so
shall pc heardt. 1t is nodt do be born
wit. gift in my name tonight. (He
starts toward the door.)
Alice (stopping him)-Don't do that
Keep away from those Anarchists, Mr..
Berg. They will hurt you. They don't
belong here. Such meetings are wrong
in free country
Berg (turning)-Free? Free do pay
rendt in. 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, l shall fight.
/ am volt ad bay. If / fall now, l
trag someding wit me. (He starts to
go)
Alice (stopping him) go 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, / will stay.
am nodt veil. 1t is true.
Alice (recoiling)-No, no; not for my
sake, but for your mothers sake.
Berg-For you half ask me Istay. (He
turns to the figure at the door, You
hear, go nodt oud. (tigure at the
door goes.) 1 wish to dall1 nit you-I
| half
(Alice stands speaking in low voice
to Berg. At last he nods.) Ipromise-
ant 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 strillin
with families as 1 have needin' every
dollar they en- earn? Rents due an no
money t. pay it with. l don't know
which way t turn.
Mrs. E.-Don't give up Jason. Well
git along some way. We can move into
a cheaper tenement
Edwards Qndignantly)-I don't want
v to do that, Jennie. You're low
enough; rve been hopin' t move into a
better one.
Alice (resolutely)-rll 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
! I,n 7 rNt,1l
through for year or two if 'twant for
the turrible uncertainty of the future.
If I should be laid up FIR month-Im
gettin' old an liable t. bel don know
what we'd all do. John jest about makes
livin' for his family-he can't help us.
Linnie must go t school an Alice ought
to go on with her music
Alice (firmly)-No, father. I'll give up
the conservatory. I'll find something
to do; I'll be help
Linnie-Soll l.
Edwards quitting his arms around
them) You're help to me now, Allie;
nothin' cheered me more all day long
than the thought O. your havin' good
time with your musical friends
(Alice has thoughtful look on her
face. She is thinking of Reeves, and his
question and her answer.)
Mrs. f. with sigh)-What's the
world comm to, Jason, when hard work.
in people can't make decent livin'?
Edwards lin the same gloomy tone)-
I don't know, Jennie. l tell ye I've
done pile O. thinlain' lately. I've
looked at the whole matter fore and aft,
and they hain't no other way to it. It's
plain case O. rents goin' up an wages
going down. Ten men FIR every job
me gettin' old "a long pause.
Mrs. Edward (hesitatingly) = We
couldn't go back to Derry an go to farm
in agin, could we? They say they's
deserted farms there that can be
bought"
Edwards bitterly Why are they de
serted? Because people couldn't make c
livin' off 'em. Can we do any better? l.
/ was young man-if you was young
and the girls didn't need schoolin'
they'd be jest one way out-the way ou
FIR so many b'fore us-I mean go Wes
an get free land and start agin.
Alice Feeling her way)-Why dom
you go West now? Well go with you
I'm sorry we're not boys, we'd be of more
use with growing conviction.) o
course that's the way out! Why didn'
we think of that before, mother? Every
body is happy and successful that goe'
west-it's the refuge for all like us
Let's go this very summer! Maybe
can find a place to teach music out there
Edwards (rising and going to his coat
Wal, now you've said s. much, Allie
I'll own up I've been thinkin' gooC
'eal of it FIR some time. I've jest abou
wore these maps out lookin' at 'em. (H
spreads some railway maps out on thu
table, and they all look at them. Ill
grows enthusiastlc,)
Edwards (pointing) here's Bos
ton, an there's Chicago, an you follo7
that black line away out there an that
Boomtown an free land. Dye hear
| mother? Free land! The place we'r
all dreamin' about!
Linnie-What d you mean by fre
land, poppa?