The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-01

Industries and the conveyances Of the
metropolis were brought to standstill.
Now. the most singular thing about
this strike was its remarkably order
~ character. There were no indigna-
ton meetings. no denunciations of
capital" no breaches of the peace, no
mobs: but in place of these accompani-
ments of the old-fashioned struggle
there was simple stagnation. Labor
as such, effaced itself 1t announced
the new doctrine that It's natural an
tithesis was not capital but idleness.
II would enforce its just demands, not
by warfare or capital. but by stopping
work. Society might try how it liked
being made up entirely of leisure
classes.
And society did not like 1t. Matters
were, indeed. bad when the Harlem
patcrfamilias had to walk to his Wall
street office, but when it came to send
ing the whole household scurrying
about after milk, and meat, and ice
nay. when he himself mad to play chari-
otecr to the coal cart-things were
clearly getting serious.
The city of New York confronted a
great public benefactor. But the man
to deal with it was at hand. And the
evening of the fourth day after the
general stoppage began found him
calmly smoking cigarette upon one of
the benches in Bryant square.
II tell you. Smith," remarked this
man of destiny to his companion, who
was la2ily staring up at the stars,
there is only one way out of this trou
BILE. Something has got to happen in
this town which will interest everybody
SO tremendously must just grip
everybody's attention SO closely-that
when It happens this strike business
will be suddenly forgotten"
The person addressed yawned care
lessly. In fact, he did not seem par
ticularly impressed by the idea sug-
gested to him, for his answer was irrel-
evant.
Say, julius, what are you striking
for, anyhow"
Me? I'm not"
Cant You get anything to do?"
Perhaps so-don't know"
How did you get out of work?"
city editor bounced me-
what for?'
Sent me to interview the Corean am
bassadors. Couldn't speak Conean, so
got man to come along, who said he
could interpret. Brought back two col
umns of first-class matter. Next day,
the ambassadors sent a note to the
managing editor that they would be
along to dinner at 6; and before he had
half got it through his head, down they
came to the office in two four-horse
stages, all rigged up in rainbow clothes.
Said had invited them; and when they
found there wasn't any meal, there was
row. and diplomatic representations
in Washington, and the deuce to pay.
left"
You might have practised then what
you preach now," laughed Smith, land
given them something else to think
about, so thar the dinner would be for
gotten,'
Couldn't think of anything"
"Well--it isn't so easy, of course. Still
might have helped you. There's my
balloon. You might have astonished
them with it somehow. l dare say"
What sort of baloon?"
Big one. Kind you go up in
what on earth are you doing with
it?"
Sleeping on it-after having loaned
q man $40 on 1t and foreclosed the
mortgage. Come along, I'm going
home"
Smith stretched himself, got upon his
feet and walked on. The man called
julius sat thinking. Finally he rose,
and both men strolled leisurely across
the inclosure.
where did you get it, Smith," said
julius, finally.
what Oh. the balloon! That's
quite a story. There was an old chap