Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-08
Ira the Molding Room
 By CHARLES NEWTON HOOD

iron, were rolling slowly back and forth through the great molding room.
 It was three o'clock in the after noon, and the largest s'heat" of the day was being taken off. The pie ture was a weird one. The day out. sido was dark and gloomy, and within the big building there seemed to be premature twilight.
 Clouds of steam rose from the damp sand, and here and there a brilliant glow showed where the melted iron was squirting from the cupola CT being. poured from the Iadle into the lnolds in the sand. Groups of half-naked men hurried about, working with tremendous en- ergy.
 The new chairman of the board ot directors, who had never witnessed such a scene, followed the general manageriinto the molding room rath- CT timidly.
 Its hard work, you sec" remarked the general manager, "and rather re- sponsibIe work, too. Besides, it's mighty dangerous sometimes, and don't know but what the men are justified in asking for their increase of pay"
 The chairman did not reply at once: being apparently a trif1e nervous His little son, who was with him, clung tightly to his hand. The eyes of the boy were wide with wonder, but he seemed more fascinated than frightened.
 The chairman patted the lad on the head to reassure him.
 'sThey are never satisfied, I sup pose" he said, drawing himself up and pulling his coat together in way that important men have. "When we were losing money until our stock was down almost to where we would have had to pay people to take it, and we ran at a loss simply to keep our men together, they didn't com. plain; but now that there is bare chance of decent dividend, they want to share it with us." .
 The general manager shook his head. ..They don't look into the mat ter strictly on the investment basis, l fear" he said.
 '"The trouble is," asserted the chair man, elevating his voice a little that it might reach the ears of the gen. eral manager above the din Of the shop, "the rank and file of them are little better than horses, and," he went on, pleased with his comparison, f'some horses know would be ashamed of a good many of them."
 rf F,,,, good many years,' remarked the general manager, dryly.
 "Of course I said the rank and file, interposed the chairman, hasti ly. "There are exceptions in all classes as well as cases. Now, right on our board of directors there are men that good, steady-going don key would be ashamed of,"s and the chairman laughed in a highly self. satisfied way at the tactful manner in which he had set himself right.
 The general manager smiled grim ly, but made no response, and pres enuly he suggested passing on to in- spect the new brass foundry.
 The little son, however. had become fascinated by the glowing metal, and he whispered that he wanted to stay lcnger. 1T don't like to leave you alone,' answered the chairman; ''you might get in the way"
 ''Wants to stay, does he?" said the general manager. ''Well, he can, ii you are willing. I'll put him in charge of one of the men, and we can come through here on the way back. He will enjoy seeing them pour the big castings"
 He beckoned to one of the men, a stalwart, curly-haired young fellow George" he said, sthe little fellow wants to see the big ones poured. Take care of him until we come back" -
 "All right, sir.' The workman held out his hand, and the boy promptly went to him.
 My stars!'' calculated the chair man. He's usually afraid of stran- gers
 ''He knows a good horse when he sees one,'' remarked the general man ager. as he stalked along ahead.
 "Oh, now, say" protested the chairman, that was only my ntJIe joke!"
 "And this was only mine," returned the manager, smiling, as the big iron doors closed behind them.
 George Smith, Big George Smith,, they called him, 10 distinguish him from Little George Smith, 7 who was n pattern maker, took the boy by the hand and led him over to 2 safe place by the stone wall of the building.
 If you will stand right there," he said, "you will be safe, and you can see everything"
 The little fellow was fascinated by the scene. There was row of holes which the big 1adle filed, quite near him, and as one after another was poured, he watched the process close ly. There were three more, and the last one was quite close-not over 1S feet away.
 Twice more the crane came with it's T., q s<sJ |.