The Washington times., 1911-05-03

| SlHilHS' ne NeTulCt was UNANIMOUS
And yet l had a physique like an OK
and there wasn't a gray hair in my head
| | came out of the last of those offices
| with my fists clenched
In the meanwhile I had used up my
advance salary and was, for the first
time in my life. running into debt
Having always paid my bills weekly
l had no credit whatever. Even al
the end of the third week ! knew that
the groceryman and butcher were be.
ginning to tidget. The neighbors had
by this time learned of my plight and
were ,sossiping. And yet, in the rnids,
hours with my wife | had ever known.
she sent me away every morning
with fresh hope and greeted me al
night with checrfuness that was
Ike wine. And she did this without
any SOW OF false optimism. She was
present POSITION, but she exhibited a
confidence in me that did not admit
OF doubt or fear. There was something
almost awesomely beautiful about
standing by her side and facing the ap-
preaching storm. She used to place her
small hands upon my back anu exclaim:
why Billy. there's work for should
ers like these"
II made me feel like a giant.
So another month passed sub
SNi lbSu tO an .elnplON 0leIlI bureau, Dul
the only offer received was to act as a
sort of bounCer in barroom / sup
pose my height and weight and repu-
tation for sobIfety recommended me
.there. There was s. a week in II, and
as far as ! alone was concerned l
would have taken ii. That sum would
at least buy bread. and. though 1t may
sound incredible. the problem of get
ting enough to eat was fast becoming
acute. The provision men became daily
more suspicious. We cut down on every
thing. but | knew IL was only ques-
tion of time when they would refuse to
extend our credit for the little we had
to have. All around me my neighbors
went their cheerful ways and waited
for me to work 1t out. But whenever
! thought OF the harroom job and the
money # would bring / could see them
shake their heads.
1t was hell. 1t was the deepest of
all deep hellS-the middle-Class he'll.
There was nothing theatrical about it
no fireworks or red lights. 1t was plain.
dull, Sodden. Here was my position
Work in my own class | couldn't get;
work as a young man ! was too old to
get; work as just plain physical labor
these same middle-Class neighbors re-
fused TO allow me TO undertake. l
couldn't black my neighbor's boots with
out social oStraCism. though Pasquale,
who kept the stand in the United Wooden
building, once Confided to me that he
cleared some s25 a week | couldn't NOV
my nCighbor's front lawns or deliver
milk at their doors, though there was
food in ii. That was honest work
clean work: but if l attempted II. would
they play golf with me? Personally, |
didn't care. | would have taken a job
that day. But there were the wife and
boy. They were held in ransom. It's all
very well to talk about scorning the
conventions. to philosophize about the
dignity of honest work. to quote "a
mans a man for all that" but asso-
Ciates of their own kind mean to a
woman and a growing boy more than
they do TO a man. At least | thought
so at that time. When / saw my wife
surrounded by Well-bred Well-dressed
women, they seemed TO me an essential
part of her life. What else did living
mean for her? When my boy brought
home with him other boys of his age
and kind-thOuEh to me they did not
represent the highest type-I felt under
obligations TO retain those friends for
him. j had begot him into this set. 1t
would allow them to point the finger at
him.
I felt yearning for some primeval
employment. | hungered to join the
army or to go to sea. But here again
were the wife and boy. I felt like GO
ing into the Northwest and pre-empting
a homestead. That was a saner idea,
but il took capital. and l didn't have
enough. | was tied hand and foot. 1t
was like one of those Nightmares where.
in the face of danger, YOU are suddenly
struck dumb and immovabe.
was beginning to look wild-eyed.
Ruth and l We're living on bread, with
out butter. and canned soup. / sneaked
in town with a few books and sold them
for enough 10 keep the boy supplied
with meat. My shoes we're worn out at
the bottom, and my clothes were get
ting decidedly seedy. The men with
whom I was in the habit of riding to
town in the morning gave me as wide
guess they were afraid my hard luck
was catching. God pity them. many of
them were dangerously near the rim of
this same hell themselves.
luctantly, but with her usual courage.
and said: i
Billy, the grocery man didn't bring
our order last night" 1t was like
But the worst of the middle class hell is
that there is nothing TO fight back at.
There you are. couldn't say anything.
There was 20 answer. My eyes must
have looked queer, for Ruth came
nearer and whispered:
Don't go in town today, Billy
I had on my hat and had gathered up
two or three more volumes in my green
bag. l looked at the trim little house
that had been my home for so long.
The rent would be due next month. I
looked at theh other trim little houses
around me. Was it actually possible
that a man could starve in such a COM
II seemed like a satanic joke.
Why, every year this country was abb
sorbing immigrants by the thousand.
They did not go hungry. They waxed
fat and prosperous. There vas Pas
1uale. the bootblack, who was earning
nearly as much as ! ever did.
We were standing on the porch.
took Ruth in my arms and kissed her.
She drew back with a modest protest
that the neighbors might see. The word
'neighbors" goaded me. | shook my
a passion that had slowly been gather
ing strength.
Damn the neighbors" cried.
Ruth was startled. I don't often
swear.
Have they been talking about you?'
she asked suddenly. her mouth harden
ing.
Il don't know. don't care. But
they hold YOU in ransom like bloody
Moroccan pirates"
How DO they, Billy"
They won't let me work without
taking it out of you and the boy
Her head dropped for a second at
mention of the boy, but it was soon
lifted.
Lets get away from them.' she
gasped. Lets go where there are no
neighbors."
Would you?" I asked.
I'D go TO the ends of the earth with
you. Billy" she answered quietly.
How plucky she was, l couldn't help
but smile as I answered, more to my
self:
I'VE haven't even the carfare to 60
to the ends of the earth. Ruth: It