davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03
ORPHANS OF MINERS NJ
WHO DIED BECAUSE PRECAUTIONS WERE NOT
TAKEN 70 MAKE THEIR, WORK SAFE

laws dealing with the tremendous strides
that have been made by the workers in
their humane efforts to conserve human
life. maintain public health, provide for
sensible and practical means comfort.
happiness and prosperity for the well
fare of the general public
When reference is made TO the general
public" or general welfare" it. must be
conceded that in the final analys sis this
must mean those toilers of hand and
brain engaged in the production and dis
tribution of whatever contributes to their
material advancement and conServeS
their health, their safety, their life, and
adds to their producing power, com
tributes to the safety and prosperity of
the nation and upon which the future of
our republic depends.
The farther the American people ad-
vance in this direction in the future the
more surely will they observe true eco
nomic principles-that is 10 say, the con-
servation of human resources and human
energy of the toilers means the ultimate
safety and we'll being of the nation; and
while 1t is only too true and pity tbs
tits true" that the greatest form of waste
from which our people suffer at this time
is the terrific waste of human energy
slaughter of the workers, whose bodies
are MANNED, or whose lives are unneces-
sarly destroyed in some industries and
in transportation. is generally caused
by long hours, ignorance, incompetence,
haste or greed.
Still, while it is true that these grave
charges are daily substantiated, yet. il
it had not been for the constant V1g1-
lance and heroic persistence of the work
ers in providing remedies for such aw-
full possibilities, every trade and occu-
patton would be equally subject to as
frequent casualties as now occur In the
mills and blast furnaces of the iron
the workers has been slow to develop,
as we'll as in those coal fields where
the mine workers are still subjected to
serflike conditions by agencies of preda-
tory wealth.
II Is, therefore, perfectly appropriate to
draw attention to such a comparison be-
fore enumerating the legal measures of
and safety already established
in the several states.
1t is also well to repeat that the work
ers will not relax their vigilance or their,
efforts until adequate provisions are made
to properly conserve life and health in all
vocations.
The first subject covered is naturally
the Conservation of time" or The
eight-hour day" Without time to recu-
perate, observe. study. reflect. the work
ers are rendered hopelessly unable to act
either in their own behalf or in co-opera-
ton with others for the public good.
Four illustrations are enough. Observe
the communities where the steel trust
the sugar trust, the cordage trust and
the rubber trust are dominant, and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

days commands that such visitors
afoot' may sleep in a long, low building
behind the state carriages. There are al
ways three or four; and the children
have the right to bring them the soup
each evening: it teaches them to be kind
to the poor. All they do is to accom-
pany the man with the soup pot and
look gracious. To this charity there is
without his or her papers" showing who.
where from, past life, everything, in
brief notes
One summer twilight the children of
the Trianon strolled by the hamlet. As
they walked around the carp pond "a
sad lady stood there looking toward
them as if she would speak
Its a tourist" said Jeanette. Lets
run"
1T may be a tramp lady" said little
I4aure She has no hat" And because
she looked so desolate and poor, the
children went to her confidently.
A tramp lady? Yes, she has been
seen So
During the last hours OF Marie An
toinette on earth she looked more like
tramp lady than a queen. Only the faith
and courage of a great heart renamed
Passing in the cart, she was sketched by
the painter David from a second-Story
window where he stood All the windows
were packed with jeering or weeping Pa
risians. and this sketch, terrible in its
fidelity, without clarifying idealism, shows
Marie Antoinette In rough mob cap
and dsheveled gown. indistinguish-
able from the commonest woman of the
people.
A tramp lady? Beautiful young queen
in white leghorn hat and flmy summer
toilet? Or queen no longer young, sad,
dignified, pensively strolling?
All three appearances might be possible
either to a plain ghost or to a universe
itself alive. which receives and holds all
the thoughts and sense impressions OF
men. Here would surely be the spot to
participate in an image evoked in the
mind of Marie Antoinette at this or that
date which, of course, would picture the
Trianon and her person as she had known
them.
There is high metaphysical problem
here which men like Sir Oliver Lodge
say that a new physics must some day
take cognizance Of Let it suffice for the
moment to say that none of II is impossi-
BILE or ridiculous
Old Jehan Collot, third gardener on the
retired list, ninety-fve years old. came
hurrying to the children. The twilight had
melted into blackness. a mournful wind
walled through the forest.
She's looking for her little boy and
girl" explained Baby Laure, with conf
dence. Jeanette, three years older, stood
pale and troubled.
"Who?" said Jehan. roughly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

roundings. they sought the Little Trianon
by way of a plan in their guide book.
Passing a large pond, they turned to the
right, perceived an editice which they
supposed to be the Grand Trianon, and
continued From this moment their adj
ventures began.
Chatting of things and friends at home
we followed the path, but the presence of
certain constructions on the edge of the
path forced US to turn to the right" SAYS
Miss Morrison Two men stood in the
middle of three diverging paths, and We
asked them our way. They seemed to be
imposing functionaries. wearing long
gray-green mantles, with little tricorne
hats. In reply they told US to go straight
ahead. We continued rapidly, chatting
again, but from that instant an extraor-
binary depression came over me.
1T became painful when we arrived at
a path at right angles. Before us was
wood In which rose a light, round garden
kiosk, and near II a man in a long mantle
and broad-brimmed hat was seated: but |
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

us. but when l turned there was nobody.
AT that momen another man seemed
to come out of a stone wall at the Juno
ton of the roads. He was evidently a
gentleman. A dark mantle covered him
IKE shawl thrown over one shoulder,
and he cried: Ladies, ladies. you must
saying things we could not understand |
distinguished only the word house
Looking back from the direction he indi-
Gated. We saw that he had disappeared.
I'm silence We passed over little rus
tic bridge across a tiny ravine, quite near
us the waters Of a little cascade fell on
a green lawn. where ferns grew among
stones. Beyond. we followed a narrow
prairie bordered by rows Of trees, which
prevented US seeing the house until we
were close. and beside it, In the grass, a
lady was seated, reading.
She lifted her head to look at us. Her
face was no longer young, and though
not unpleasing, did not attract me. She
wore large white hat a head of thick
blond hair, pulled around the forehead.
Her Eight summer gown was covered over
the shoulders by curious fichu. l sup
posed her TO be a foreign tourist, but the
singularity of her dress astonished me-
though | had for long time been under
the impression of living as in dream"
The two English ladies finally got to the
Little Trianon. which they visited in COM
pany with a lower middle-class Partisan
wedding party. Afterward they went back
in an open cab to the Hotel Reservoirs
and returned to Paris and England
Only three months later did Miss Nor
rison learn from Miss Lamont that she
had not seen the lady. On the other hand
she remembered distinctly to have seen,
in the doorway of one of the little
houses" a woman handing jug of milk
to little girl.
Immediately they decided to write out
separately. an exact statement of the
least details of their afternoon, and it
is these details which excite French his
torians; "details of the utmost historical
value" says de Wyzewa, because. OBJ
viously. the Little Trianon which these
two English ladies saw that afternoon
was not at all the Trianon of today. 1t
was that of the last years of the reign
of Louis XVI. and 1t Is probable that
they saw 1t as 1T was on the 9Th of Oc-
tober, 1889 when the people Of Paris
went out in a mob to Versailles to bring
back 1.-THE baker. the bakers wife and
the little cook-boy'
All fits in with historical truth-the
kiosk, the rustic bridge. the wood, the
cascade. the livery of the 'functionaries,"
the man with the large cloak and broad
brimmed hat-all resemble perfectly what
must have been seen there in 1889. The
seated lady was Marie Antoinette, who
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

measure to Congress and pressing II 70
a successful passage.
The next in Importance are safety ap-
pliance laws. enacted by the Congress
for the purpose of conserving life on the
interstate railroads of the United States.
Every one of these laws is monument to
the everlasting credit OF organized labor.
This compilation OF life-saving and life
preserving legislation enacted by the
state legislatures and the United States
Congress at the hehest of the organiZa-
tions of labor is far from being COM
plete record, but IL is sufficient at this
time 10 enthuse the workers and to con-
vince the most skeptical as to the great
good which has been accomplished for all
labor-unorganzed as well as organized
and particularly for that part Of society
sometimes defined as the general public,
who have been safeguarded while travel
ing railroads. while resting in hotels.
amused in theaters, or when coming In
contact with those who might disseminate
disease propagated in workshops or fac
tories that would remain insanitary and
dangerous il ii had not been for the vigi.
lance. fidelity and foresight OF the or
ganized workers.
This monumental task has been accom-
plished with the limited funds that the
workers could spare from their earnings.
and the limited time that they had at
their disposal after their days work was
finished. 1t has been done very largely
by local effort in the states, frequently
without knowledge OF what had been at
tempted or accomplished in other states.
Because OF this the several laws are not
uniform in scope or drastic enough in
penalties, consequently they are not a.
effective they otherwise should be.
but these defects will be remedied as
each state Federation OF Labor selects
permanent legislative committees who
can devote their time to make a special
study of legislation dealing with con.
servation of life and health, and espe.
cially as such permanent state legislative
committees will work in harmony and con-
American Federation OF Labor. in order
that the legislation enacted in the future
may conform with that which Is procured
from the federal Congress.
So we feel cheered on this Labor day.
We even feel like laying aside the hard.
ness that is acquired in the course Of
many battles against big odds and allow
ing the sentimental side of our natures
to show themselves. We feel like talking
of our women and children. and the bat
tie organized labor is waging to make
them comfortable at their work and
healthy in their homes. We want to cite
the human suffering that the organized
workers have been able to abolish, and
to pledge ourselves anew TO a continued
battle to bring decent working hours and
conditions into those dark places OF the
nation that are still its most crying dis
grace. And, withal, we are sanguine OF
a day that is coming when all working
people may perform their tasks with the
satisfaction that happier life Is possible
TO them. The progress has been such
that there is occasion for hopefulness.
Copyright. 1911, by W. A. Du Puy.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

where greed is all powerful where the
workers grind out a miserable existence
twelve hours per day. and in many cases
seven days per week, never less than
seventy-two hours frequently eighty-four
hours per week. In such places race sui
eide runs rampant. sickness, vice. disease,
drunkenness and deaths by violence are
the rule rather than the exception.
Boarding house shacas, corner saloons
and squalor abound: homes, schools and
libraries are conspicuously rare or alb
sent.
Human life is held cheapest in Penn
sylvania. where the long and the many
work days are prevalent Butler loses 374
out of every 10o,UU of it's people by vio-
lent deaths in industry: Pittston. $50;
Mckees Rocks and McKeesport, 800;
Shenandoah, 20: Pottsville, 276. and the
large city, Pittsburg, with it's diversified
population, revels in violent death rate
of 191 per 100000 people. according to the
mortality statistics of the United States
census bureau in 1908.
The average age of these deaths by
accident is thirty-three and a half years
This fearful drain occurs among men
doing the work of the world before they
have reached the prime Of life or the
maximum Of efficiency.
The unrea sonably long work day that
saps vitality and vigilance from the
workers is the principal cause Of this
needless slaughter of human beings strug-
Cling for an existence.
labor conditions is that 1t reveals the
significant fact that in most Of those
states where any one particular political
party has been dominant for a long pc
Rod of years there has been no law
enacted providing for an Eight hour day
ON public works., as for instance, in
Alabama. Arkansas Connecticut. F1ori-
da. Georgia. Illinois. Iowa, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maine Michigan, Mississippi,
Missouri. New Hampshire. New Jersey.
North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode
island. South Carolina, South Dakota,
tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia
So much for the eight-hour day. We
next come to the proposition of conserv-
ing life and health by means Of factory
regulation and factory inspection. Much
has been done in many states along these
lines. and this accomplishment is due to
organized labor. Much is yet to be done.
and organized labor intends that the
work shall be finished
Laws regulating guards for a cleaning
OF machinery were adopted by Massa-
chusetts In 1882, in New Jersey in 1884
This was almost the beginning AS man
uractur1ng has developed in the other
states some protective provisions have
been adopted The present status Of
their provisions is as follows:
1Wenty-four states require factories to
be SO ventilated that sufficient amount
of air space shall be provided for each
operative
Thirty-three states require fire escapes
on factories and public buildings
TWenty-four states require guards on
dangerous machinery.
Twenty-seven states insist upon sani-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

have been seeking to weave and holding
1t up for inspection. Such a time is
now at hand. AS the head of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. 1 would like
to show our best wares. And so 1 am
disposed to point to the work that has
been done that has lessened the woe the
suffering. the sorrow Of the working
man and his family. I am constrained
to point to accomplishments that have
saved the man that tolls from death.
that have prevented his being MANNED,
that have made health and comfort
more nearly possible for him and his
family.
The grandest achievement and the
greatest glory of the American labor
movement IS it's laudable effort to pre-
vent human misery. 1t has mattered
not whether such suffering was caused
by accident. disease, greed or poverty
the men of labor have been equal to the
occasion by devising practical remedies
for industrial. social and political evils.
Cnkindly critics when piqued. or at
loss for an argument to support their
contentious, have at times thoushtlessly
charged trade unionists as being
Thoroughly materialistic" in possessing
no ideals or sentiments" and Influenced
by no great "soul-moving forces
Such expressions can only. come from
those who are not informed, or such as
are burdened with prejudice. In order
that those who run may read and I'M
derstand, few facts are herewith I'M
FOLDED. SO that cynics. critics. opponents
and friends may obtain glimpse in a
condensed form of what these same
trade unionists have accomplished-be-
cause of great soul-moving force
burning within them.
This partial record is presented in no
captious spirit, neither is it intended
to convey the impression that what is
here recorded is complete summary
of accomplishments. Neither must the
idea be accepted that what has been
done is regarded as perfect or salts
factorfly acceptable for all time; neither
are the organizations of labor imbued
with the slightest inclination to relax
activities in behalf of higher and bet
ter social service.
In view of the fact that the great bus
ting work-a-day world is not acauainte ed
with the progress that has been made,
and because of the further fact that it
has not the time to search through vol
umes of statutory law. it is deemed ad-
visable to present this condensed and
concise compilation of state and federal
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

have been appointed to deal with this all
important life-cOnserving measure.
Life conserving is the true title, because
if it becomes too expensive to the en-
ployers to MAIN and kill employees in in
dustry, more and better safety devices
and systems will be speedily adopted to
prevent the massacres rather than cure
the patients or pay money for injuries
Through the instrumentality of the or
ganized workers an automobile compen-
sation act was passed by the Congress,
May 30. 1908, taking effect August l, 1908.
granting TO certain employees of the
United States. engaged in hazardous oc
equations the right to receive from it
compensation for injuries sustained in the
course of their employment, and June
%. 1910. Congress passed a joint resolu-
ton providing for the appointment Of
commission to investigate the subject
matter of employers liability and COM
pensation to Workmen for injuries sus-
tanned during employment, with instruc-
tions to this commission to report to Con-
gress through the President. December.
1911
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03
NATIONAL HONE OF The Ar1ER1cAN LIBERATION
~ Or LABOR. In WASHN6TON~0

effective legislation must be enacted by
the states-legislation that is uniform
and uniformly good: effective legislation
that will forever abolish the defense
known as "fellow-servant'' rule. con
tributory negligence. assumption of
risk" and waving OF rights
Though the highest court in the state
Of New York has declared it's compensa-
ton law unconstitutional, efforts are be-
ing made to draft an act or an amend
ment to the constitution OF that state
which shall make compensation possible.
On the other hand, the highest court of
Massachusetts has affirmed the consti-
tutionality of the compensation act re-
Gently passed by the legislature of tina,
state.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

delicious world-famed spot and the char
acter and number of those who have
seen the phenomena, kings and statesmen
foreign tourists poor gardeners children.
the daughter of an American millionaire,
respectable townsmen and tough Paris
Apaches.
Also the surrounding phenomena are
unique. All Versailles knows what hap
pens when the queen walks. The park
around the Little Trianon itself in
strange way becomes a ghost.
In other words. the historic pleasure
ground melts back to its unfamiliar look
of certain dates between 177 and 17S9.
Fountain tenders children who know
every path and alley lose themselves.
Old inha bitants of Versailles town
stroll in the shade and suddenly discover
plain everyday life to have vanished.
while they wander in a dreamy world
that frightens while II charms them.
In 1869 most Frenchmen laughed at
these portents. Those who listened and
believed went to the war with Prussia
discouraged in advance.
To-day Paris is stirred By the mystery
Of the Trianon chiefly because two Eng
lish ladies wrote down infinitely what
they saw and printed it in a book.
Communicated to Theodore de Wyzewa
by Andrew Lang, who knows the ladies,
hundred dreamlike details are for the
first time proved TO conform to the Tri-
anon of October =, 1859, ''all the more
marvellous because unexpected and unso-
licited in two unspecialized English la
dies. How could they imagine obscure
historic facts. like a cart obstructing one
OF the paths-cart which actually did
stand there during the whole reign of
Louis XVI and passed vaguely for hav-
ing diverted the pastoral soul of the I'M
fortunate monarch?
Otherwise many an old Versailles fam
lily has its story extraordinary as
what happened to Misses Morrison and
Lamont on that August afternoon when
ignorant of French history and their sur
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

ABOR DAY is the
one occasion given
over to the men
who do the work
that makes the
world go around.
When that day
comes each year
the leaders Of or
ganized labor feel
like pulling to-
gether the threads
of the fabric they
n~I h0yIs~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

way out of perfectly familiar spot
until, exhausted, at daybreak. they sud
denly found themselves in the Boulevard
ST Antoine, where they made a Decline
for the railway to Paris.
So it was with the young American
girl of one of our richtst and most
famous families. Strolling in the full
sunlight of the hamlet or Little Trianon.
she saw the familiar landscape suddenly
change to something like. yet utterly diff
ferent and met a beautiful, melancholy
lady. in a charming Louis XVI hat of
spreading leghorn, who spoke to her
strangely. as If reading the American
girls most secret heart at what happen
ed to be the sentimental crisis of her life,
The rich girl followed the gentle counsel
to her lasting happiness: but the ex-
traordinary thing was the abrupt dis
appearance of the beautiful. pensive lady
before the girls very eyes, and the
changing back Of the uncanny land
scape to its everyday look.
This adventure. perfectly credited in
certain New York circles, became the
basis of a supposed piece of fiction in
one OF the recent acknowledgements
as fiction as the only means of telling it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

HE gentle ghost of
Marie Anto'nette
a gain walks in the
forest of Versailles.
We must be close
TO a great national
French Uilanp,,.
This is different
from any other
ghost story in the
world. from the ro-
mantle personality
OF the ghost. the