Chapter 40

APUBLICDISSENSION—AFINALAPPEAL

Therewasnoafter–theatrelark,however,sofarasCarriewasconcerned.Shemadeherwayhomeward,thinkingaboutherabsence.Hurstwoodwasasleep,butrouseduptolookasshepassedthroughtoherownbed.

「Isthatyou.」hesaid.

「Yes,」sheanswered.

Thenextmorningatbreakfastshefeltlikeapologizing.

「Icouldn』tgethomelastevening,」shesaid.

「Ah,Carrie,」heanswered,「what』stheusesayingthat.Idon』tcare.Youneedn』ttellmethat,though.」

「Icouldn』t,」saidCarrie,hercolorrising.Then,seeingthathelookedasifhesaid「Iknow,」sheexclaimed:「Oh,allright.Idon』tcare.」

Fromnowon,herindifferencetotheflatwasevengreater.Thereseemednocommongroundonwhichtheycouldtalktooneanother.Sheletherselfbeaskedforexpenses.Itbecamesowithhimthathehatedtodoit.Hepreferredstandingoffthebutcherandbaker.HeranupagrocerybillofsixteendollarswithOeslogge,layinginasupplyofstaplearticles,sothattheywouldnothavetobuyanyofthosethingsforsometimetocome.Thenhechangedhisgrocery.Itwasthesamewiththebutcherandseveralothers.Carrieneverheardanythingofthisdirectlyfromhim.Heaskedforsuchashecouldexpect,driftingfartherandfartherintoasituationwhichcouldhavebutoneending.

Inthisfashion,Septemberwentby.

「Isn』tMr.Drakegoingtoopenhishotel.」Carrieaskedseveraltimes.

「Yes.Hewon』tdoitbeforeOctober,though,now.」

Carriebecamedisgusted.「Suchaman,」shesaidtoherselffrequently.Moreandmoreshevisited.Sheputmostofhersparemoneyinclothes,which,afterall,wasnotanastonishingamount.Atlasttheoperashewaswithannounceditsdeparturewithinfourweeks.「LasttwoweeksoftheGreatComicOperasuccess—The—,」etc.,wasuponallbillboardsandinthenewspapers,beforesheacted.

「I』mnotgoingoutontheroad,」saidMissOsborne.

Carriewentwithhertoapplytoanothermanager.

「Everhadanyexperience.」wasoneofhisquestions.

「I』mwiththecompanyattheCasinonow.」

「Oh,youare.」hesaid.

Theendofthiswasanotherengagementattwentyperweek.

Carriewasdelighted.Shebegantofeelthatshehadaplaceintheworld.Peoplerecognizedability.

Sochangedwasherstatethatthehomeatmospherebecameintolerable.Itwasallpovertyandtroublethere,orseemedtobe,becauseitwasaloadtobear.Itbecameaplacetokeepawayfrom.Stillshesleptthere,anddidafairamountofwork,keepingitinorder.ItwasasittingplaceforHurstwood.Hesatandrocked,rockedandread,envelopedinthegloomofhisownfate.Octoberwentby,andNovember.Itwasthedeadofwinteralmostbeforeheknewit,andtherehesat.

Carriewasdoingbetter,thatheknew.Herclotheswereimprovednow,evenfine.Hesawhercomingandgoing,sometimespicturingtohimselfherrise.Littleeatinghadthinnedhimsomewhat.Hehadnoappetite.Hisclothes,too,wereapoorman』sclothes.Talkabout

gettingsomethinghadbecomeeventoothreadbareandridiculousforhim.Sohefoldedhishandsandwaited—forwhat,hecouldnotanticipate.

Atlast,however,troublesbecametoothick.Thehoundingofcreditors,theindifferenceofCarrie,thesilenceoftheflat,andpresenceofwinter,alljoinedtoproduceaclimax.ItwaseffectedbythearrivalofOeslogge,personally,whenCarriewasthere.

「Icallaboutmybill,」saidMr.Oeslogge.

Carriewasonlyfaintlysurprised.

「Howmuchisit.」sheasked.

「Sixteendollars,」hereplied.

「Oh,thatmuch.」saidCarrie.「Isthisright.」sheasked,turningtoHurstwood.

「Yes,」hesaid.

「Well,Ineverheardanythingaboutit.」

Shelookedasifshethoughthehadbeencontractingsomeneedlessexpense.

「Well,wehaditallright,」heanswered.Thenhewenttothedoor.「Ican』tpayyouanythingonthatto-day,」hesaid,mildly.

「Well,whencanyou.」saidthegrocer.

「NotbeforeSaturday,anyhow,」saidHurstwood.

「Huh!」returnedthegrocer.「Thisisfine.Imusthavethat.Ineedthemoney.」

Carriewasstandingfartherbackintheroom,hearingitall.Shewasgreatlydistressed.Itwassobadandcommonplace.Hurstwoodwasannoyedalso.

「Well,」hesaid,「there』snousetalkingaboutitnow.Ifyou』llcomeinSaturday,I』llpayyousomethingonit.」

Thegrocerymanwentaway.

「Howarewegoingtopayit.」askedCarrie,astonishedbythebill.「Ican』tdoit.」

「Well,youdon』thaveto,」hesaid.「Hecan』tgetwhathecan』tget.He』llhavetowait.」

「Idon』tseehowweranupsuchabillasthat,」saidCarrie.

「Well,weateit,」saidHurstwood.

「It』sfunny,」shereplied,stilldoubting.

「What』stheuseofyourstandingthereandtalkinglikethat,now.」heasked.「DoyouthinkI』vehaditalone.YoutalkasifI』dtakensomething.」

「Well,it』stoomuch,anyhow,」saidCarrie.「Ioughtn』ttobemadetopayforit.I』vegotmorethanIcanpayfornow.」

「Allright,」repliedHurstwood,sittingdowninsilence.Hewassickofthegrindofthisthing.

Carriewentoutandtherehesat,determiningtodosomething.TherehadbeenappearinginthepapersaboutthistimerumorsandnoticesofanapproachingstrikeonthetrolleylinesinBrooklyn.Therewasgeneraldissatisfactionastothehoursoflaborrequiredandthewagespaid.Asusual—andforsomeinexplicablereason—themenchosethewinterfortheforcingofthehandoftheiremployersandthesettlementoftheirdifficulties.

Hurstwoodhadbeenreadingofthisthing,andwonderingconcerningthehugetie-upwhichwouldfollow.AdayortwobeforethistroublewithCarrie,itcame.Onacoldafternoon,wheneverythingwasgrayanditthreatenedtosnow,thepapersannouncedthatthemenhadbeencalledoutonallthelines.Beingsoutterlyidle,andhismindfilledwiththenumerouspredictionswhichhadbeenmadeconcerningthescarcityoflaborthiswinterandthepanickystateofthefinancialmarket,Hurstwoodreadthiswithinterest.Henotedtheclaimsofthestrikingmotormenandconductors,whosaidthattheyhadbeenwonttoreceivetwodollarsadayintimespast,butthatforayearormore「trippers」hadbeenintroduced,whichcutdowntheirchanceoflivelihoodone-half,andincreasedtheirhoursofservitudefromtentotwelve,andevenfourteen.These「trippers」weremenputonduringthebusyandrushhours,totakeacaroutforonetrip.Thecompensationpaidforsuchatripwasonlytwenty-fivecents.Whentherushorbusyhourswereover,theywerelaidoff.Worstofall,nomanmightknowwhenhewasgoingtogetacar.Hemustcometothebarnsinthemorningandwaitaroundinfairandfoulweatheruntilsuchtimeashewasneeded.Twotripswereanaveragerewardforsomuchwaiting—alittleoverthreehours』workforfiftycents.Theworkofwaitingwasnotcounted.

Themencomplainedthatthissystemwasextending,andthatthetimewasnotfaroffwhenbutafewoutof7,000employeeswouldhaveregulartwo-dollar-a-dayworkatall.Theydemandedthatthesystembeabolished,andthattenhoursbeconsideredaday』swork,barringunavoidabledelays,with$2.25pay.Theydemandedimmediateacceptanceoftheseterms,whichthevarioustrolleycompaniesrefused.

Hurstwoodatfirstsympathizedwiththedemandsofthesemen-indeed,itisaquestionwhetherhedidnotalwayssympathizewiththemtotheend,beliehimashisactionsmight.Readingnearlyallthenews,hewasattractedfirstbythescare-headswithwhichthetroublewasnotedinthe「World.」Hereaditfully—thenamesofthesevencompaniesinvolved,thenumberofmen.

「They』refoolishtostrikeinthissortofweather,」hethoughttohimself.「Let『emwiniftheycan,though.」

Thenextdaytherewasevenalargernoticeofit.「BrooklynitesWalk,」saidthe「World.」「KnightsofLaborTieuptheTrolleyLinesAcrosstheBridge.」「AboutSevenThousandMenOut.」

Hurstwoodreadthis,formulatingtohimselfhisownideaofwhatwouldbetheoutcome.Hewasagreatbelieverinthestrengthofcorporations.

「Theycan』twin,」hesaid,concerningthemen.「Theyhaven』tanymoney.Thepolicewillprotectthecompanies.They』vegotto.Thepublichastohaveitscars.」

Hedidn』tsympathizewiththecorporations,but

strengthwaswiththem.Sowaspropertyandpublicutility.

「Thosefellowscan』twin,」hethought.

Amongotherthings,henoticedacircularissuedbyoneofthecompanies,whichread:

ATLANTICAVENUERAILROAD

SPECIALNOTICE

Themotormenandconductorsandotheremployeesofthiscompanyhavingabruptlyleftitsservice,anopportunityisnowgiventoallloyalmenwhohavestruckagainsttheirwilltobereinstated,providingtheywillmaketheirapplicationsbytwelveo』clocknoononWednesday,January16th.Suchmenwillbegivenemployment(withguaranteedprotection)intheorderinwhichsuchapplicationsarereceived,andrunsandpositionsassignedthemaccordingly.Otherwise,theywillbeconsidereddischarged,andeveryvacancywillbefilledbyanewmanassoonashisservicescanbesecured.

(Signed)BenjaminNorton,President

Healsonotedamongthewantads.onewhichread:

WANTED.—50skilledmotormen,accustomedtoWestinghousesystem,torunU.S.mailcarsonly,intheCityofBrooklyn;protectionguaranteed.

Henotedparticularlyineachthe「protectionguaranteed.」Itsignifiedtohimtheunassailablepowerofthecompanies.

「They』vegotthemilitiaontheirside,」hethought.「Thereisn』tanythingthosemencando.」

Whilethiswasstillinhismind,theincidentwithOesloggeandCarrieoccurred.Therehadbeenagooddealtoirritatehim,butthisseemedmuchtheworst.Neverbeforehadsheaccusedhimofstealing—orverynearthat.Shedoubtedthenaturalnessofsolargeabill.Andhehadworkedsohardtomakeexpensesseemlight.Hehadbeen「doing」butcherandbakerinordernottocallonher.Hehadeatenverylittle—almostnothing.

「Damnitall!」hesaid.「Icangetsomething.I』mnotdownyet.」

Hethoughtthathereallymustdosomethingnow.Itwastoocheaptositaroundaftersuchaninsinuationasthis.Why,afteralittle,hewouldbestandinganything.

Hegotupandlookedoutthewindowintothechillystreet.Itcamegraduallyintohismind,ashestoodthere,togotoBrooklyn.

「Whynot.」hismindsaid.「Anyonecangetworkoverthere.You』llgettwoaday.」

「Howaboutaccidents.」saidavoice.「Youmightgethurt.」

「Oh,therewon』tbemuchofthat,」heanswered.「They』vecalledoutthepolice.Anyonewhowantstorunacarwillbeprotectedallright.」

「Youdon』tknowhowtorunacar,」rejoinedthevoice.

「Iwon』tapplyasamotorman,」heanswered.「Icanringupfaresallright.」

「They』llwantmotormen,mostly.」

「They』lltakeanybody;thatIknow.」

Forseveralhourshearguedproandconwiththismentalcounselor,feelingnoneedtoactatonceinamattersosureofprofit.

Inthemorningheputonhisbestclothes,whichwerepoorenough,andbeganstirringabout,puttingsomebreadandmeatintoapageofanewspaper.Carriewatchedhim,interestedinthisnewmove.

「Whereareyougoing.」sheasked.

「OvertoBrooklyn,」heanswered.Then,seeingherstillinquisitive,headded:「IthinkIcangetonoverthere.」

「Onthetrolleylines.」saidCarrie,astonished.

「Yes,」herejoined.

「Aren』tyouafraid.」sheasked.

「Whatof.」heanswered.「Thepoliceareprotectingthem.」

「Thepapersaidfourmenwerehurtyesterday.」

「Yes,」hereturned;「butyoucan』tgobywhatthepaperssay.They』llrunthecarsallright.」

Helookedratherdeterminednow,inadesolatesortofway,andCarriefeltverysorry.SomethingoftheoldHurstwoodwashere-theleastshadowofwhatwasonceshrewdandpleasantstrength.Outside,itwascloudyandblowingafewflakesofsnow.

「Whatadaytogooverthere,」thoughtCarrie.

Nowheleftbeforeshedid,whichwasaremarkablething,andtrampedeastwardtoFourteenthStreetandSixthAvenue,wherehetookthecar.HehadreadthatscoresofapplicantswereapplyingattheofficeoftheBrooklynCityRailroadbuildingandwerebeingreceived.Hemadehiswaytherebyhorse-carandferry—adark,silentman—totheofficesinquestion.Itwasalongway,fornocarswererunning,andthedaywascold;buthetrudgedalonggrimly.OnceinBrooklyn,hecouldclearlyseeandfeelthatastrikewason.Peopleshoweditintheirmanner.Alongtheroutesofcertaintracksnotacarwasrunning.Aboutcertaincornersandnearbysaloonssmallgroupsofmenwerelounging.Severalspringwagonspassedhim,equippedwithplainwoodenchairs,andlabeled「Flatbush」or「ProspectPark.Fare,TenCents.」Henoticedcoldandevengloomyfaces.Laborwashavingitslittlewar.

Whenhecameneartheofficeinquestion,hesawafewmenstandingabout,andsomepolicemen.Onthefarcornerswereothermen—whomhetooktobestrikers—watching.Allthehousesweresmallandwooden,thestreetspoorlypaved.AfterNewYork,Brooklynlookedactuallypoorandhard-up.

Hemadehiswayintotheheartofthesmallgroup,

eyedbypolicemenandthemenalreadythere.Oneoftheofficersaddressedhim.

「Whatareyoulookingfor.」

「IwanttoseeifIcangetaplace.」

「Theofficesareupthosesteps,」saidthebluecoat.Hisfacewasaveryneutralthingtocontemplate.Inhisheartofhearts,hesympathizedwiththestrikersandhatedthis「scab.」Inhisheartofhearts,also,hefeltthedignityanduseofthepoliceforce,whichcommandedorder.Ofitstruesocialsignificance,heneveroncedreamed.Hiswasnotthemindforthat.Thetwofeelingsblendedinhim—neutralizedoneanotherandhim.Hewouldhavefoughtforthismanasdeterminedlyasforhimself,andyetonlysofarascommanded.Striphimofhisuniform,andhewouldhavesoonpickedhisside.

Hurstwoodascendedadustyflightofstepsandenteredasmall,dust-coloredoffice,inwhichwerearailing,alongdesk,andseveralclerks.

「Well,sir.」saidamiddle-agedman,lookingupathimfromthelongdesk.

「Doyouwanttohireanymen.」inquiredHurstwood.

「Whatareyou—amotorman.」

「No;I』mnotanything,」saidHurstwood.

Hewasnotatallabashedbyhisposition.Heknewthesepeopleneededmen.Ifonedidn』ttakehim,anotherwould.Thismancouldtakehimorleavehim,justashechose.

「Well,wepreferexperiencedmen,ofcourse,」saidtheman.Hepaused,whileHurstwoodsmiledindifferently.Thenheadded:「Still,Iguessyoucanlearn.Whatisyourname.」

「Wheeler,」saidHurstwood.

Themanwroteanorderonasmallcard.「Takethattoourbarns,」hesaid,「andgiveittotheforeman.He』llshowyouwhattodo.」

Hurstwoodwentdownandout.Hewalkedstraight

awayinthedirectionindicated,whilethepolicemenlookedafter.

「There』sanotherwantstotryit,」saidOfficerKielytoOfficerMacey.

「Ihavemymindhe』llgethisfill,」returnedthelatter,quietly.Theyhadbeeninstrikesbefore.