Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-01-05

fifty people to make a coat Each does
one seam; It beats the old hand sweatshop
to death; look how they comet" The coats
were tumbling right up the table. one
row on the right side, one on the left.
Each worker grabbed 1t and showed It
under his machine. Whir-r-rl Then on.
Every man was always showing or grab
bling and so rushing his neighbor.
Old lsaac's brows began moving up and
down. Thousands In a day." he said.
But the men-their faces are old and
tired, though they are only boys. Why
do not older men work.
Speed SpeedP' snapped Jake. Boys
for speed. Old men are no goodP He
felt Isaac's hand tighten on his arm and
looked up. His eyes grew kind--for Jake
had a good heart. "Old men like you
can work over there" he said pointing to
a dark corner where nine old men in three
groups were pressing coats with hot irons.
But Isaac still looked hopefully at the
table. There Is an old man." he said.
Jake followed the pointing finger to
the foot Of the table-the last place on
the left-hand side. Yes, at the easiest
work." he said. Just one seam on a
pocket, and even then he is too slow; he
must soon be discharged he stops too
much. Look at himi He is stopping
nowl' Jake hurried down.
The slow old man never saw him, but
stared at Isaac. Then he pushed his wet
hair back; his hollow face flushed red;
his eyes grew bright. Suddenly Isaac
cried out and ran down the room, while
the other man sprang up. They Rugged
each other, talking SO low that no one
could hear. though the workers all stopped
and listened hard. Only once they heard
Isaac Sob "Abram, Abram," till his voice
broke. Then Jake helped the two old men
to a corner by an open window, came back
wiping his eyes. but saw his men loafing,
and shouted, Vel, vell7 Wy not?"
Abram cried when he saw Yetta. for
his own girl had taken consumption from
bim. They talked an hour; from him
they learned the dark side; the nine men
out Of ten; the men who are not quick
nor shrewd like Jake-slaves all to the
machine. At last Abraham went, shaking,
back to work. and old Isaac came to Jake
at the table.
His face had changes. II was wild,
his brows bent down, his eyes flashed
even the dropping lid was up.
THE machine has not made men freel"
His voice was husky. but so bitter that
several men stopped work quickly and
looked up. Most men are worse of than
before"
WELL" cried Jake, ''how can help?
was quick, / worked, saved. bought
machines The machines work for me,
not for all The machines belong to me-"
And the men belong to the mao hinesl"
old Isaac suddenly cried in a loud voice.
Well" cried Jake, 'how can help?
l myself belong to a machine-the big
store. bid against other contractors;
! must bid low or get no work; too many
men like me have gone into the business;
we bid each other to death"
But old Isaac was too wild to listen.
The men belong TO the machines!" Now
he was shouting and saying. 1T is
wrong Wrong! The shuttle moves it.
self! The time has come! All men are
free-freel And their-children-Yetta
-" He fell suddenly. "Yetta!' On the
floor his old face grew slowly quiet
And two hours later. when Isaac was
dead, old Abram led Yetta to his tene-
ment. She spoke not a word. Her eyes
we're quite dry. Only now and then she
shivered slightly.-IErnest Poole in The
Outlook.