The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-04-09
In the Bread Line.

| S~~ ~- tke& wv iiiCh WCLC
conversing togetheri II an Napparantly
new and probably thn|porary friend
ship. "Yes," answer e the other, ats
the coolest day of winter" The
first spoke in thel accent Of an
Englishman, the 9th was American.
Neither wore an obvrcoat. 'qt was
beastly cold in that ar last night, "
said the Englishmah Did you sleep
any," "Not bit, Under why we
didn't have any heA I don't want
to go down there night" "Where
did you Sleep" | ked. "Down at
the Union Depot, th es couple of
empty Pullmans. THB've had steam
heat in them except st night" "Any
Blankets" ] inquirt "Only few,
both cars were full up but it was
J too cold to Sleep"
"But at that, it \ Vas better than
I had it the other might =" said the
Englishman. II slept under lumber
pile and got soaked till the water
ran out of my clothes. Had to let
them dry on me and caught "a bad
cold" He was peaked and i'll look
ing.
With the exchange Of these con-
fidences, we began general con-
versation while the rear seats filled
with the later comers. The American
: was taciturn, perhaps because he
Y had no adventures to relate. But !
! learned a bit of the recent history of
i the Englishman. He had come to
t New York from Australia last sum-
a mer and in. the fall had "paid his
S way" to New Orleans, coming north
n as his funds declined and unemploy-
n ment spread over the country. u
d had money up to two weeks ago,
}, he said. "Would have yet, if I had
f worked my passage instead Of pay"
e ing out money. And then, thot
i! was going to stay in New York, SC
bought an overcpat last fall"
r wondered where his overcoat was
r. now, he was not wearing it. Doubt
ID less the pawn shop held it.
m We observed late arrivals
l. wondered what were the wages o.
ID the "bouncer" whom we agreed hat
at risen from the depths Of sin" tt
* his present exalted position. Quite {
e, commotion was created when little
Sc wiry, grey bearded old man walked
t. briskly to the very front, shook tn
~ snow from his shoulders, greeted th'
"bouncer" familiarly and took a seat
d. Evidently he was among the regula
On patrons. "What earthly chance ha
ne an aid man like that" indignantly
n, inquired the Englishman. eve hav
nd it a bit better in Australia. Owe
ne there he would be pensioned instea
al of subsisting on charity. But Q
at course" he added, as if to not wis
ell to give an erroneous impression Q
IN that country, 1--WE have the capitals
H. system just the same" "This ur
rel employment situation is gettin
90 fierce" spoke the American. If
air doesn't stop there's going to be
we revolution in this country. The peopl
lite won't stand it."
- - "They fed twice a day up till La
=" w week." he continued. "Now they fee
:. - only once. Wonder where they get I'll
price," "Oh, they would rather keep
alive an charity than to give US
in chance to earn our own living. Loc
ng. at the Easter windows up tow
my Filled with finery sheer vast
ing while you can't buy a pair Of sho
nee at price you can pay" replied Il
ing man from Australia. "All the
the charitable institutions have the NOR
of support Of the government" he a
les. ded.
ing Several, observed had succum
at to the warmth and comfort of Il
,ir- place and fallen asleep, in what w
.ty, undoubtedly the first moments
I've. real comfort they had enjoyed
one many hours. The day before, East
in Sunday, had been showery one
u.s. the morning. giving way to
ese interminable and heavy rain all afts
pom noon and night, until the baromet
sss, fell lower and turned the rain
ked snow. These men had spent Sund
ces in seeking shelter and food, wandt
his ing from place to place. half cloth'
can many almost shoeless, soaked wi
sful wet and bitten with cold. And no
hall with the warmth Of the shelf
nature relaxed its vigil and slu
per- bered.
tion "a new preacher today" spoke
any voice. Two young chaps in tn
ices early twenties, walked down the Il
are one mounting the platform while
ver- other seated himself at the org
,nce In a studied attitude Of fellowsl
side the youngster opened the servi
ally exhoring everyone to sing heart
in He dwelt upon the matter Of sing
as tho It were the chief end Of m
ting citing how. 1--WE young fellows Sc
me. ON the long hikes when we wera