The San Francisco call., 1904-07-03

Good afternoon, Mr. Fetter." The
boss" bowed obsequiously, but the
visitor did not respond by even so
much as nod Of his head.
How many dozen shirts do you
make a day, Levando?" asked Mr.. Fet-
ter superciliously his glance not upon
the one he addressed. but wandering
about the room, Scrutinizing every
thing and everybody in the small shop.
Mr. Levando answered humbly. Then
he added: you buy most of them, and
the rest l sell to another house"
You Russians want the earth with
the fence around it." Mr.. Fetter said
harshly. When one gives you one
hair you want the whole beard-hey
Pullack?" (The German Jews and
their American extraction call any CO.
religionist Pullack who was not fortu-
nate enough TO have been born in Ger
many)
L gave you the first $40 to buy ma
teriaI," he continued. "and pledged my
credit for your machinery and tools,
and rented you these rooms for $22,
which are worth S25 at least. with the
clear understanding that you must not
sell your goods to any one else. found
out the other day that you sell goods to
another firm at the same prices you do
to me-" He spoke cruelty and moved
his fierce black eyes right and left.
But judge for yourself, sir" said
Mr.. Levando in classification. I'VE
made no agreement to this effect and
how could l possibly make decent
living for my family by depending
solely upon you? And your prices are
so low"
why, your boys make about IS
week, you told me, and your work is
worth about the same Isn't that
enough for a LIVELIHOOD" Mr.. Fetter
asked this with an air of astonishment,
as he might wonder at the income of
the Rothschilds not being enough for
family's support Did you make more
in Russia or Poland, wherever the devil
you came from?"
"Oh, in Russia" sighed Mr.. Levando,
as if that word wounded him-"in Rus
sia l had my own houses, and did not
have TO pay $22 for five small rooms.
You Pullacks become actually wild
when you come over to this country.
No wonder the Car is driving you peo-
pie out. You wish to grab everything
everything. Have you ever lived in
house in the country where you came
from with such big windows as this
hey? Here you want nice carpets and
nice stoves and perhaps a piano, too.
All your people are lot of schnorrers
(beggars), one as bad as the other"
We all kept our faces down and our
except Daniel, who had been cutting
thickly folded pad of linen. He now
laid down his long cutters knife and
moved about restlessly, his face glow
ing with intense agitation.
How much do you make a week?"
Mr.. Fetter asked Of our prima donna,
who blushed and looked up at the
boss" He gave her wink. which
she evidently interpreted higher
price, but as half a dollar was big
sum to her. she answered: six dollars
and a half"
You Pullackl Schnorrerr Mr.. Fet-
ter shouted Indignantly, as if he would
play philanthropist. You only pay
Sc so to such a big grown girl, and you
wish to become a millionaire and have
a piano in your house-hey?"
But how can 1 pay more when the
prices I get for my goods are so low?
Raise the prices on my shirts and I1l
raise wages" Mr.. Levando's face grew
red with subdued anger.
"a discount of four per cent will be
my terms for your goods henceforth.
Who will buy of you shabby Pullack,
and who will understand your broken
English and jabbering German?"
/ noticed that Daniels face burned
and that he quivered in every limb.
But how can I live? The prices are
low enough as they are" the poor
sweater" said imploringly.
We'll" said Mr.. Fetter in a slow,
staccatc like tone, ''if you don't agree
I'll bundle you out with your cock
reaches, take away the machines, and
put in some other lousy Pull"
You dirty scoundrel! Get out Of
here! and quick!" Daniel shouted,
jumping up, with his cutters knife
flashing in his trembling hand like a
sword. He looked fierce, almost wild
like a young Italian bandit.
Daniel" cried his father in conster-
nation.
Mr.. Fetter stepped toward the door
in alarm. Keep that dog off" he or
dered with sneer.
'Get out, or" shrieked the raging
youth.
'Tn teach you lesson" Mr. Fetter
said f1ercely between his teeth and
rushed out.
Perfect quiet reigned in the shop. No
one uttered a word. Mr.. Levando re-
manned standing, speechless, in the
middle of the room, his skull-cap push
ed back, exposing his high and broad
forehead, on which wrinkles appeared
and disappeared, and his shrewd, al
mond- shaped grayish-blue eyes filled
with tears. His eldest son, being of a
very peaceful nature looked a little an
cry with his younger brother for his
rashness, but there was at the same
time some satisfaction in his eyes. Fan
ME, our prima donna, stole admiring
glances through the corners of her eyes
at Daniel, and all Of us regarded him
with a new respect in which there was
a little of fear. He sat down in his
chair and leaned his head on his bare
arm, the knife still clenched in his
hand, and his tears flowed profusely
upon the table Uttered with pieces of
linen and muslin.