The chronicle=news., 1912-10-29
PEWTER BULLETS
By Edna Ferber

ter 10 make bullets. when III. wo-
men OF u country begin TO do that
look OUT
LIS an awe-inspIring process to
watch-,his melting OF the pewter.
10 the bare little shop on the street
floor o. an office building just a
block or so off Stat. street. You
know the place by the nag that
hangs outside. The flag gives IL the
looks o: recruiting office. That's
what II is-a recruiting office. II
there were sign outside Il might
read something lik. this:
Men and women wanted between
the age OF one and 100 to join the
United States Army of Progressives.
Hard work. No pay. Inquire within"
The recruiting officers within arc
found to be: one Bona Eide Countess
looking wonderfully boyish and trim
and uncoun,csslikc In n severe black
suit and unirimmed hat: one Brand
New Bride with fluffy feather
thing about her throat: one Busl-
nesslikc Young Woman In Brown.
they are there to answer questions.
dispense Progressive literature. sell
Progressive certificates and stamps.
and adorn all oomcrs with Moose
pin or button. Day after day. week
after week. they have pledged their
time and energy until the elections
In November. And there are plenty
OF plcaaanter. more frivolous ras-
it!mes for Bona Ffde Countesses. and
Prand New Brides. and Dusincsslikc
Young Women in Brown TO do than
to Sit all day long In a dark. stuffy.
bar. little downtown store room.
melting down pewter for bullets.
The mcr.st accident sent me there.
4 conversation overheard--no.
Ishsmeiessly and openly listened to
In fashionable tea room. When
you want TO know whats going to
be worn next week. you go to that
tea room. They're wearing II there
this week. At the next table sat
frivolous looking litls blonde per
son in blue serge and one Of those
sneaky looking little hats they're
wearing. With her was 4 plump. ma
tfonly. eycElassed woman. They were
drinking countless cups of tea. eat
ing squares OF delicious looking but
tered toast and talkinS-wha' do you
think? by all the laws OF custom.
superstition and femininity they
should have been discussing the SUI
periority OF the plated skirt over the
panier. Hut no. They were talking
politics. Aggressive. Progressive poll
tics. They were talking OF wonder
full system they had helped perfect
that day--a system whereby women
were to be given a chance to help In
the cause of Progress!vism.
I leaned over.
Where IL this place."
The little blonde in the skittish
hat showed no surprise or displea-
sure AT being addressed by an un-
known. That is new bond OF sis
terhood that common interes, is
weaving for women. She told me.
And you'll know /, by the flag
that hangs outside
1t was wonderful thing to watch
the men and women who came into
that recruiting office. There came
first cocky little messenger boy. In
his hand was message marked
i"Rush''
Say, gimme one of them buttons.
will you?" He pinned 1t ON his coat
stopped outside the door to survey
the window. remembered his rush
message. and trotted Off.
A man hobbled in. He walked
with the wooden. uncertain gait Of
one whose spine is wrong. There was
about him the look of the man-out-
of-a-job.
I'm cornice worker" he ex-
claimed. apoligizing for his very cX-
istence. II got hurt year ago. My
back. I'll get a job as soon as my feet
get to acting right. I'll buy one OF
them certificates az soon as get
the Job, but here's a nickle. It's all |
GOT"
He showed his nickel over the
counter to the. Bona Eide Countess.
She took 1t. wide-eyed. He shuffled
out.
here entered blond young man
elean.cut, virile, red-cheeked. "Doi-
lar certificate" he said. briskly.
Moose pin? Thanks. How does that
look on a gray suit?"
Two women followed. Well dress
ed. they were. intelligent looking.
; OF the type that might be OF the Of
flee or the home. It was hard to tell.
The next man lined up at the pine
table rather sheepishly. He took a
letter from his pocket. I'm n Wilson
man. But I got a letter today from n
girl I know. She's working for the
American Express company in Paris.
She sent dollar for a certificate.
and she wants me to send 1t to her. !"
They came in ones and twos. Dap
per young office clerks. gray-haired
men. An ice-man clumped in, tongs
i in hand, to leave a quarter and get