The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-19
Among, the, many unheard-of


genealogy. Owing to the absence OF |
the genealogical fad, the origin and |
ancestry Of the Kid we're shrouded in |
densest Obscurity." Had 1t not been
for the racial mosaic In his features,
the accident of his birth would have
passed entirely without comment.
But the compost etrect of the forma-
ton, angle, and coloring OF his face
was such that. no one could see it
without feeling desire to know all
about it, '.~
Questions like ''Ot what national
ity are your ''Where were you
born7' who was your father?"
became 80 frequent and monotinous
that tho Kid fled at the approach OF
persons unknown to him.
They OF the ghborhood-China-
town and it's immediate vicinity
were divided into two factions con-
corning the Kids classification. One
half thought 1t evident that the Kid
was negro and white, while the other
half was just so certain that tie was
Chinese and white. The factions
never got into heated controversies
about this difference OF opinion.
They were content to 'let it go at
that" and never lost any sleep over
it,"
The Kids existence was so matter
of-fact that he was the last to be
bothered by the shadow OF the bar
sinister. His days were so taken up
with the striving after the attainable
that he had no time for Improbable
speculation. To balance his life we'll
III o;~ fnnQ
OF the locality was not against work,
but liked it best in small doses while
viciousness was preferred to out-and-
out criminality, So the Kid wanted
to strike a fair medium between hav-
ing to work and having to steal for
a living.
To accomplish his purpose, the
Kid had to overcome many obstacles
But the most severe handicap was
that he had to fight and starve en-
tirely alone. His racial legacy was
answerable for this.
Children are gregarious. The Kid,
too, before he understood, had tried
to join the playing children on the
smooth asphalt pavement In Mott
street. His debut counted few min
utes. The horde Of boys and child
rem Immediately formed itself into a
charging mob, and, crying "Chink!
chink!" In vindictlve derison, drove
the Kid away. And they were not
all white children. Many Chinese
tots, In many-colored costumes, were
on the side OF caste-defense. Youth
full discretion had drawn rigid lines.
They of the .rainbow-hued garments
were pure Chinese" while he OF the
mosaic features was mongre1, and
therefore ''Chink."
( Not imbued with revolutionary
tendencies, the Kid accepted >condi-
lions as they were and lived alone. A
few of the women in Pell street en-
ployed him tor occasional. errands
and the Kid, with a certain degree o1
E|ssafety;a co1ld III gur III on at5l asst q foll
4 znfghts 81 week inIs bed and 81 mildly
F fluctuating btil*of fare; ~ r." - =,
His rapidly growing stoicism help
ed him to look at the situation with
out much dissatisfaction. He fell
that, as far as eating and sleeping
was concerned, The had no kick com
ing His pleasures were confined
to watching the playing children IL
Mott street from a very, very safe
distance-and envying them.
One day he appeared followed b!
a dog. In the opinion OF those wh<
! deigned to notice the pair they were
we'll Matched; the dog, too, showed
: the bar S lister. Knowing the pc
! culiar spirit OF the neighborhood, tn
Kid did not think it wise to ningl
too freely among the people with hi
new find. The power-ohuse in Ba
yard street, with. deep doorways an
corners affording some seclusion
was, therefore, chosen as futur
'hang-Out.' =.
To see a tandem Of stray wait an
stray dog is no unusual sight in tina
bailiwick. But the Kid, apparentl
the most uncompanionable of boys
invited attention.
spoke to him about 1t.
Where did you get the dog, Kid
What dog?" A strangely puzzle
expression was forced to take tn
place OF self-COnsc1Ousness.
\ pointed at the mongrel, sunntn
! itself on the curb.
Him? He don't belong to MT
! He's only NUT
Passing the power-house that nigh
4 ! uOL1Ccu tuc 1AANH 1AU IAO OOe9 AN<
ding together in sheltered conce
| A few mumbled words made me hal
! and, leaning against the railing,
could observe without being observe
Fragmentary phases came to me
the staccato speech OF sreet-Arabfa
you're me dog, amt your" 1.-THE
I amt going to swipe you, because yc
! amt much, but you're all right ,
! that, and. anyway. I couldn't hay
{ nothing better nohow." You ar
! me is friends, amt we?" All tn
! was accompanied by boyish hugs ar
canine kisses.
/ My interest did not abate, and
- few dayslater l again asked the x
\ how he and the dog were maki1
I out"
Il Amt told you he amt me dog
he answered, angrily. Hes only
NUT
But you are always .together.'
0 We'll, what can l do it. he kee