The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-09-03
BY w. L. FRENCH.

BY w. L. FRENCH.
"well, no, I don't mind telling you
how I happen to be out here running
train." said the passenger conductor
to an old friend who he had just. met,
running a train on an Eastern road in
days gone by.
"Come into the smoking room
There is no one there and we have
quite stretch now without a stop,
and I'll tell you d little of my history
since I last saw you,'' said the conduc-
tor.
When they were comfortably seated
he commenced: >"You will remember I
was running out Of Chicago when the
holocaust of "a took place and I got
singed in the fire the same as d lot of
other moths did. Well, after the shout
ing and the resoluting and the smoke
of the affray and the burning cars had
cleared up was out ct a job, along
with thousands of other fellows, and
like most Of them I had a decided
emptiness in my pockets that was liza
BILE to reach MY stomach later on, II
did not get d hustle ON myself AND re-
plenish my resources.
There was no work to be secured
about or in Chicago, and least Of all
for a man who had been actively en-
gagged in the strike; and I learned that
as far as a job Of railroading was con-
cerned it was no better out over the
country, and it looked to me as though
the doors Of my chosen occupation
-
Searching for Work.
Work I must have, and I finally
started out through Illinois to see what
could fine In the way Of employment.
l was fortunate in having no family
dependent on me at that time, and in
being young and strong, SO that
could try any thing I found to do that
would furnish me bread and butter
until grass came again.
"All across Illinois I wandered, rid
ing or walking as occasion offered,
and striking Everybody that looked at
all friendly, for work. I tried to hire
out for everything from a dishwasher
at a restaurant to cashier in bank,
but no one seemed to recognize my in
herent ability, and still I travelled on.
The fact Is, times were only justly
tolerable all over this great United
States, and If a fellow had work to do
for which he needed assistance, there
were about sixty-seven neighbors and
relatives writing for the job, so that
a poor wanderer stood but little chance
Of getting work at all.
Il finally skated across the Missis-
sippi River at Clinton, Iowa, and-I was
like De Soto after he crossed it, I
didn't see what good it would do me-
but in his case. as in mine, it didn't
matter which side Of the river We were
on. I struck off on foot, following a.
trunk line of railroad, for somehow
didn't feel we'll out of sight Of track
But the farmers there, as in Illinois,
were not very much in need of hired
help. The third night in the State of
that ran under the railroad track for
a waterway in rainy times, but at that
time it was perfectly dry. may as
well state that just about that time
was doing a good deal of sleeping in
the open air supposedly, Of course, for
my health. It was quite dark when I
decided to camp at this particular
place and as the nights were some
times cool with a light frost falling at
that season of the year, which the pipe
would shield off from me, I selected it
for that reason. I had eaten a cold
lunch as I walked along, so that my
preparations for rest were brief and
easily made. I could see lights shin
ing from a comfortable looking farm
house just across the highway that ran
parallel to the railroad track, but
had no idea that it would be pleasant
home for me for several months and,
with sigh, settled down on my hard
bed to get what rest I might be able
to obtain. It was no pleasant condi-
ton for one accustomed to some of the
comforts of life and willing to work
for them again, but I determined to
make the best of my hard circumstan-
ces and finally fell asleep. CUES I
might have been just a little mite
hungry when I laid down to sleep, for
I was dreaming about hot cakes and
coffee when I was awakened BY a
fierce growing at the end of the pipe
by which I had entered and, raising
up as much as my confined quarters
would permit, saw the ugliest kind Of
bull dog that I. ever beheld glaring
and growing savagely at me, and my
sudden movement on beholding him
only stirred him to fiercer demonstra-
tons.
Struggle With Bull Dog.
IT was in no position to attempt to
drive away the enemy by force, so
thought it best to try persuasion
Here, good doggie,' + said. I am
friend of all good dogs, and you ought
to be good to make up for your ugly
looks. Your name must be Jack, so
let us be friends and whistled softly
to him. He stopped growing at that
and cooked up his ears and looked at
me a little more pleasantly and, think
ing had ma de an impression in my
Ff1Y ~fr f01 %~r LII -