The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-12

silver applldnCos anu L IldO seen LnaL
he performed the act with his right
hand only. Who was he? One Of the
'tagitators?" =. In any case I de-
cided that if I could not there and
then make a sketch of him I would
commit him to the care of my ''visu-
al memory" I should not forget him.
At this point of my thoughts typ
ical German working man mounted
the platform. From his manner and
his rounded shoulders, not to mention
that his hands (although apparently
recently washed) betrayed what look
ed like inkstains. I judged him to be
either a compositor or a cobbler. A
cobbler, I, later on, learned he was.
need not weary the reader with
details of his speech. He was evil
IDENTIFY not in fear of punishment for
jese-majeste. ''The rights of the work.
ingman;'' 1.-The hardships of the Poor"
and ''the omnipotence Of the Rich"
formed the basis of his peroration- |
The Emperor, he denounced as a |
''robber-duke,'' who sucked the life
blood out of his people in order to |
support hundred private palaces, a |
large and worthless family, and a |
vast retnue of parasites. The speak |
er made no reference to war, except |
to say-FWhy this colossal standing |
army; why this ever-growing fleet, |
except that it is to keep our wages |
down fifty per cent? To hell with |
German militarism!'' he concluded as |
he jumped from the platform and
took a seat in the front row. Ample
applause greeted the efforts of the
silver-tongued cobbler; but, as I have
indicated, the applause was Of the re-
pressed variety. I glanced at my
neighbor in the bold trimmed glasses.
He was smiling under his ample
moustache. Nor did it seem to me
an appreciative smile. He did not
| applaud.
| The next speaker, an old man with
a flowing white beard, Kissed out his
speech, the most memorable sentences
of which were: Wealthy Germans
are pigs-pigs say L? Why a pig is a
useful animal. Even his excrement
is of value.
It will grow roses, and your fine
ladies' gloves are finished with 1t
. What are we, comrades? will tell
you; we workers are the salt of the
earth. But what do the wealthy think
of Recommendation, slaves! We are
that the Schloss and the Tfergarten
may glut themselves upon the fat Of
the land, and spew upon us. They
hate US; God in heaven! how they
hate us; but the time is coming when
we shall hate them with such hate
that there will be none of them left
The German workman, as will be
easily inferred, is not addicted to po-
lite language. There was much that
the last speaker calculated which is
not fit to print here. But I had to
grin and bear it." An English lady,
I fear would have signified her dis
approval by departure.
Another man now stepped on to
the platform. At once I recognized
that he was the person who had sur
prised me by asking the whereabouts
of my husband" But he was to sur
prise some more:
Comrades he said, ''I do not wish
to address the meeting tonight A
family bereavement has greatly upset
me. My wife died this morning, and
I am therefore greatly Inconvenience
as to the management of my shop.
She was my all-in-all- as regards bust
. ness affairs. AS a book-keeper she
was unparalleled and she leaves me
with six young children. You will SYM
pathize with me, I know" (Murmurs
of heartfelt conmiseration)-"
widower with six young children, al
though he be possessed of a lucrative
business, has a difficulty in finding
a fresh wife. You understand me,
comrades, and will forgive me not
addressing you on this present and
A fresh wife 1 must have-and at
once; or what is to become of my busi-
ness and my six children?" again
= murmurs of heartfelt sympathy.
Now, the reader who is unacquaint-
ed with the native German trades
mar ain a small way of business Is
| likely to be incredulous that a man.
l yes, of any nationality, could be so
= callous as to conjoin his just dead
wife with her successor; but your
Y EngIishman who has studied the Ger
Y man home will not question my re-
= capitation of a positive fact. It is
! the truth.
My surprise had to come.
= Comrades continued the speaker,
) 'I have no time to. talk to you tonight,
S but there is a gracious lady here, no
= less than Frau Wilfert of Munich, one
t who has done so much for our cause.
d She will, I am sure, fill the void
: (applause)-by addressing the meet
t ing. May 1 ask your pardon, gracious
t lady, to come upon the platform %
a The fat was fairly in the fire now.
= If accepted the speakers invitation
a whatever should I say? If did not
|. what excuse could I give? I relied
v uDon a sore throat
d I rose from my seat. Comrades -
= I said in a husky voice (assumed of
d course), SCI have come all the way
e from Munich to address you, but IN
e fortunately on the train I caught a
severe cold. It is impossible for me
: to speak tonight, but as I am staying
s in Berlin for two or three weeks ]
= hope at your next meeting to make
/ amends, which statement elected
e more murmurs of heartfelt SYM
II pathy.
With psychic and physical sigh of
: relief I sat down. Accidentally I
: glanced at my neighbor in the gold
e trimmed glasses. He was looking at
l. meas it seemed-in a curious sort OF
l. way. Then he smiled. There was
n something in his smile that made me
is smile also. 1t is a physiological fact
" that woman yields a smile much
l. more readily, to man than a wo-