The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-09
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 a crowd Of
drivers and conductors had assem-
bled. 1t was a noisy. boisterous
crowd Of Neapolitans. as lively and
mobile as quicksilver.
Higher than their heads. behind the
garden fence. the glistening Jet Of q
fountain hung in the air like sword.
The tramway workers were surround
ed by larger crowd who wanted to
60 by tram car to the various parts Of
the town. All these. clerks. artisans,
petty traders. seamstresses, denounced
the strikers in q 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 glances into the
streets over the head Of the people.
The strikers resembled a pack of
wolves surrounded by dogs. It was
clear to everybody that these people.
wearing the same uniform. were bound
together by Arm 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 10 to be done II
there ID not enough money to buy
mocaroni for the children?"
Wrangling. jeers. reproaches annd
admonition were suddenly cut short:
. new current swept the crowd - Il
reconciling II: tho 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 col.
diers. stamping their feet regularly.
and mechanically swinging their left
arms. They seemed to be made Of
tin. and - frail - factory-made toys.
The crowd drew back from the cara.
the soldiers. like gray beads, became
scattered alongside the cars: tho
strikers remained on the platforms.
The man In the silk hat and some
others who surrounded him swung
their arms wildly and shouted:
1.-The last time Ultima
Volta! D you heart"
The oficer twisted his mustache.
his head dropping. A man waved his
silk hat and ran up to him, saying
something In q hoarse voice. The OF.
ficer looked at him askance. standing
erect, and gave the word Of command
In loud tone.
The soldiers in twos and threes BE-
gan to jump on the platforms OF the
cars. At the same time the drivers
and conductors were pushed OF.
This seemed to amuse the onlook.
ers, who broke out into laughter and
whistling, which, however, only listed
for q moment.
People drew back from the cars.
their faces wearing longer and older
expression and their eyes wide open
with establishment They all pressed
forward toward the front Of the car.
Within a yard or two Of the wheels
q gray-haired driver with the face Of
q soldier could be seen. his cap OF,
lying on the rails. He lay on his
back. his long mustache shooting up
ward. An adroit youth. with the move
ments Of . monkey. laid himself down
BY his side: . number Of others fol-
lowed their example.
The man In the silk hat cried out
something. the oflicer 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 It on HE
hesd. 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,