The silver star., 1899-01-26
STORY OF A STRIKE.

In q well-furnished ONCE in the
city Of Boodleopolis sat the president
Of q prominent horse car railroad. His
brow was overcast with many troubles.
His telephone was constantly pouring
in unintelligible messages from all
quarters. His Office boy had started
two hours before for the next block.
and being largely of the opinion that
the ONCE should seek the ONCE boy and
not the office boy the office, his return
was as uncertain as result Of base
ball match. His cashier had Just
eloped with a considerable sum Of
money intrusted to him to pay a bet
which the president had lost to prom
inent city official, and three hundred
and seventy-nine answers to an ad-
vertiscment for successor to the de-
parted one were strewn over the pres
ident's desk. They were all unsatis-
factory. Many Of the applicants
wanted as much as eight dollars a
week; some of them did not know
more than seven languages, and could
not speak all Of these fiuently; some
were ignorant Of stenography. type
writing and telegraph operating. all of
which were sine qui non; and even OF
those who could write shorthand many
could only write $50 words per min
ute: and Of the few who met the re-
q'iirements as to efficiency, some were
Sunday school superintendents.
Turning aside from these appiica-
tions, the presidents eye rested apon
a statement of receipts and disburse-
ments for week past, and he saw
with sorrow that even on very wet
lays the receipts were not equal to the
counsel fees. He sighed wearily. and
was just about to afilx his signature to
number of bonds which he knew
nothing about. although he supposed
they were all right, when the door
opened and driver Of Boodleopolis
Horse Car Railroad company stood
before him. Having ascertained that
the man was only using the twenty
minutes allowed by the company to
eat dinner Tin case he felt like indulg-
ing In such extravagance), he gracious
ly consented to hear his story. 1t was
\ touching one. told frankly and SIM
ply. The driver loved the old mans
daughter. Frequently did she ride on
his car and drop a counterfeit nickel
In the box. and. as he himself was de-
voting all the energy Of brilliant in
tellect to the same object Of getting
ahead Of soulless corporation, bond
Of sympathy sprang up between them.
Two souls with but single thought.
Two hearts that beat as one."
He was not as wealthy as she. but,
noble girl. she cared not. She would
marry him II her father would but
consent. Would he consent? A dol
lar and . half day was. as the old
man had stated in many q public doc
umsnt. q magnificent salary. Any
body ought to be satisfied with It. EN-
lnsot statisticians had proved that q
family Of eleven OF less could easily
Hive ON - q week. Then deduct nine
dollars . month for rent ION the top
leor Of . seven-story nat. occupied
pnly BY six families on . floor, and
forming . secluded retreat for the
beautiful bride Of TOLD. and 80 for
beer: there would still remain q heavy
surplus. which. accumulating at COM
pound interest for Q sufficient time,
would be enough to wipe out the ma
.ional debt. Would the old man con-
sentf
Silence gives consent. but not when.
~ In the present case. II 10 accompa-
aied BY hurting an ink bottle at the
head Of the party who has last spok-
IN. The driver lodged the missile.
vowed vengeance and left the room,
Ten days later the employees Of the
Boodleopolis horse car railroad struck.
they demanded one dollar and seven
ty-flve cents day and 4 reduction Of
The hours Of labor from seventeen To
fourteen. The directors replied that
they considered dollar and half an
sxtravagant sum for days work, and
could not possibly pay any more; and.
with regard to the demand for shorter
hours. they had alrsaAy conceded the
msn seven hours out Of the twenty
tour. and thought Il quite suf,cisnt,
but candidly confessed that their chief
sbjsction 70 allowing more leisure time
was that It would b spent In beer
,aloons. II the men would spend their
leisure time In excursions through the
sity - passengers ON the Boodleopolis
horss car railroad there would not b.
70 much objection. but the bssr 60
loon obstacle could not bs overcome.
Two days aftsrwsrd they agreed to
pay one dollar and sixty cents Per day
nor fifteen hours' work, and the cars
vtartsd, every one with . new broom.
4 week later. instisatsd by the re-
ssnssful driver. they struck again TO
shtain the discharge Of two men who
ia not belong to the union. The
gtsuggje was very obstinate. but (this
Ras In Doodleopolis) the men were dis
lhafgsd. Dlated by this Victory. they
soon altsswasd struck again. Their
demands wers-Arst. that the fare bell
lAeuld b abolished. and that any one
Who. WITH Tie sxistsnes Of The bell
kAsiAg hin IN the fAcs. should eontsad