The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-17
His Idea. Are Changed.
Trom the Chicago News.)

A south side janitor, recent arrival or
hospitable American shores. has had his
ideas of Liberty and equality" sadly shat
tered. In the old country the tyranny Of
caste had kept this individual ground
down in the lowest stratum In the struc-
ture of society and before he accumulated
enough wealth to bring him to this land
as a steerage passenger he yearned for
the free air of which he had heard SO
often and longed for the time when he
would be the equal" OF every man.
Once here the lover of freedom began
to put in practice the theories as 10
equality he had been revolving in his
mind for half a lifetime. To him all per-
sons were alike. men and women included.
To him the fine distinctions between
liberty and license were as invisible as
the equator. Difficulty in securing en-
ployment somewhat tanned his new spirit
, and, after having been battered about
from city to city and learning an inkling
Of the language. he found himself in Chi
cago and succeeded in securing a position
which had been rejected by a dozen Ameri-
cans. both on account of wages and the
unpleasant conditions in the particular fat
building where janitOr was needed.
With his wages of $40 month began
a season Of prosperity and the old theories
of liberty and equality, which had so long
lain dormant under adversely, began to
reassert themselves. The first evidence of
II was when he asked sl.25 from tenant
for beating rugs, work which consumed en-
hour and quarter of his time. When
the tenant mildly protested as she paid
the excessive fee she was CURLY informed
that II her husband earned 81 an hour the
janitor was entitled to the same wages,
this being a free country where all men
are equal. The woman is still wondering
where the janitor got the idea that her
husband had such a tremendous income
inasmuch as he had always given her to
understand that his wages amounted to
exactly s75 month"; or about 80 cents an
hour.
A second time the ianitor informed an
other tenant that he did not propose to
get up at o'clock any more to coal the
hot water heater.
None of you people get up at s." de-
clared the freedman. land you amt any
better than me, SO l amt going to, do 1t
any more"
The third time got the janitor into
trouble. With his absence of distinction
b, tween sexes as to matters Of courtesy,
he calmly called sweet tempered little
matron liar" merely because she said
she had not put paddock on a gas metre
when the janitor thought she had done
so. The little woman told her husband,
a college man. who forthwith kicked in
the. locked door Of the janitor's apart
ment in the basement and proceeded 10
execute physical vengeance by a scien-
tific fistic tattoo on the janitor's counte-
nance.
Here was the janitor's chance Now he
would show the insolent tenant that the
janitor was as good man as the tenant
in a free country. He would have the
tenant arrested and sent to prison for a
term OF months or years He consulted
an attorney. who told him that such ex-
hibitions OF freedom would cost him $40
per exhibit. SO he reluctantly took two s.
bills from his jeans and gave them to his
lawyer as a retainer. The latter then took
his client to the police station and had him
swear out warrants charging disorderly
conduct and assault. The warrants were
served late that evening upon the tenant,
who, by telephoning to several of his
managed to find one at home who
would go on his bail bond, and next morn
ing the hearing came on.
Testimony was heard first from the COM
witness. who informed the court
that the defendant had hit him because he
the plaintiff had called the defendants
wife liar.
Called that little woman liar?" shout
ed the court. pointing at the demure wife
Of the coliege-bred defendant
Yes answered the janitor. somewhat
staggered, and then added: And she is
me. too"
For once the police magistrate lost his
emper 'Why-why-why.'' he stam- |
nered, hardly able to frame his ideas. |
You brute, If had been the husband of |
hat woman wouldn't stop at mauling |
FOUR face; I'd cave 1t in with Ny foot You ]
get out Of here, you rascal. or course, the /
,ases are dismissed
And it took all the persuasive powers of |
he defendant to prevent two brawny po- i
icemen from kicking the woeful and be-
yildered plaintiff down the stairs.
This liberty business makes me SICK"
vas the only comment the janitor had to
make.