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.