The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-09-12
The Children

At Naples the tramway workers had
struck; there was long row of empty
cars in the Riviera Chiaia, while on
the Piazza di Triomfo crowd Ut
bled. 1t was a noisy, boisterous
crowd of Neapolitans, as lively and
mobile as quicksilver.
Higher than their heads, behind the
garden fence. the glistenng Jet of a
fountain hung In the air like sword
The tramway workers were surround
ed by larger crowd who wanted to
go by tram car to the various parts of
the town. All these. clerks, artisans.
petty traders, seamstresses, denounced
the strikers in loud and angry tone.
The strikers looked gloomy, and
pressed against each other. hardly re-
spending to the angry shouts of the
crowd. They climbed upon the rail-
ings and cast restless chances into the
streets over the head 'of the people
The strikers resembled a pack of
wolves surrounded by dogs. 1t was
=
wearing the same uniform. were bound
together by a firm resolve not to give
in; and this Infatuated the crowd still
more. There were, however, philoso-
piers in its midst who, while smoking
away at their pipes. tried to pacify
the more violent opponents OF the
strike
''Eh, Signor. What is to be done IL
there is not enough money to buy
mocaroni for the children"
Wrangling. jeers, reproaches annd
admonition were suddenly cut short;
a new current swept the crowd as II
reconciling 1t; the strikers looked
gloomier still, and pressed closer to-
gether. Voices in the crowd called
out:
"Soldiers,"
With light, dancing step from the
Santa Lucia Quay came little gray sol
ediers, stamping their feet regularly
and mechanically swinging their left
arms. They seemed TO be made Of
tin, and as frail as factory-made toys
The crowd drew back from the cars,
the soldiers. like gray beads, became
scattered alongside the cars; the
strikers remained on the platforms.
The man in the silk hat and some
others who surrounded him swung
their arms wildly and shouted:
THE last time Ultima
Volta! D you hear?"
The officer twisted his mustache.
his head dropping. A man waved his
silk hat and ran up to him. saying
something in a hoarse voice The Of
ficer looked at him askance, standing
erect, and gave the word of command
An loud tone.
The soldiers In twos and threes be-
gan to jump on the platforms OF tho
cars. At the same time the drivers
and conductors were pushed on.
+ This seemed to amuse the onlook-
srs. who broke out into laughter and
whistling, which. however. only lasted
! for . moment.
People drew back from the cars.
.heir faces wearing . longer and Older
oppression and their eyes wide open
with astonishment. They all pressed
forward toward tho front of the car.
Within . yard or two Of the wheels
= gray-haired driver with tho face OF
\ soldier could bs seen. his cap on.
lying on the rails. He lay on bis
back, his long mustache shooting up
ward An adroit youth, with the move
ments of monkey laid himself down
by his side; a number OF others fol-
lowed their example.
The man In the silk hat cried out
something, the officer looked at him
and shrugged his shoulders. He must
replace the tramway drivers by SOL
diers, but he has no orders to wrestle
with the strikers.
Then the owner of the silk hat, sur
rounded by people willing to please.
rushed toward the fusiliers. The lat
ter set on. approached those lying on
the rails and attempted to lift them.
A struggle ensued. All the dusty
crowd of spectators made lurch and.
bowling, rushed to the rails. The man
in the Panama hat pulled 1t on his
head, threw 1t up in the air, and was
the first to lie down by the side OF
striker; he patted him on the back,
and shouted something approvingly
right in his face.
After him some gay, noisy people
who had just come upon the scene
began to throw themselves down upon
the rails. They lay down laughing.
making faces at each other and shout
Ing something at the officer who.
waving his gloves above the head OF
the man In the silk hat, was telling
him something. shaking his hand
some head.
Others threw themselves down upon
the rails. Women deposited their
baskets and bundles. boys lay down
laughing. doubling themselves up IKE
dogs irving to keep warm, r0lllng