English
Inhiscapacityasdelicatessenvender,JokubasSzedvilashadmanyacquaintances.
AmongthesewasoneofthespecialpolicemenemployedbyDurham,whosedutyitfrequentlywastopickoutmenforemployment.
Jokubashadnevertriedit,butheexpressedacertaintythathecouldgetsomeofhisfriendsajobthroughthisman.
Itwasagreed,afterconsultation,thatheshouldmaketheeffortwitholdAntanasandwithJonas.
Jurgiswasconfidentofhisabilitytogetworkforhimself,unassistedbyanyone.
Aswehavesaidbefore,hewasnotmistakeninthis.
HehadgonetoBrown’sandstoodtherenotmorethanhalfanhourbeforeoneofthebossesnoticedhisformtoweringabovetherest,andsignaledtohim.
Thecolloquywhichfollowedwasbriefandtothepoint:
“SpeakEnglish?”
“No;Lit-uanian.”(Jurgishadstudiedthiswordcarefully.)
“Job?”
“Je.”(Anod.)
“Workedherebefore?”
“No‘stand.”
(Signalsandgesticulationsonthepartoftheboss.VigorousshakesoftheheadbyJurgis.)
“Shovelguts?”
“No‘stand.”(Moreshakesofthehead.)
“Zarnos.Pagaiksztis.Szluofa!”(Imitativemotions.)
“Je.”
“Seedoor.Durys?”(Pointing.)
“Je.”
“To-morrow,seveno’clock.Understand?Rytoj!Prieszpietys!Septyni!”
“Dekui,tamistai!”(Thankyou,sir.)Andthatwasall.
Jurgisturnedaway,andtheninasuddenrushthefullrealizationofhistriumphsweptoverhim,andhegaveayellandajump,andstartedoffonarun.Hehadajob!Hehadajob!
Andhewentallthewayhomeasifuponwings,andburstintothehouselikeacyclone,totherageofthenumerouslodgerswhohadjustturnedinfortheirdailysleep.
MeantimeJokubashadbeentoseehisfriendthepoliceman,andreceivedencouragement,soitwasahappyparty.
Therebeingnomoretobedonethatday,theshopwasleftunderthecareofLucija,andherhusbandsalliedforthtoshowhisfriendsthesightsofPackingtown.
Jokubasdidthiswiththeairofacountrygentlemanescortingapartyofvisitorsoverhisestate;hewasanold-timeresident,andallthesewondershadgrownupunderhiseyes,andhehadapersonalprideinthem.
Thepackersmightowntheland,butheclaimedthelandscape,andtherewasnoonetosaynaytothis.
Theypasseddownthebusystreetthatledtotheyards.
Itwasstillearlymorning,andeverythingwasatitshightideofactivity.
Asteadystreamofemployeeswaspouringthroughthegate—employeesofthehighersort,atthishour,clerksandstenographersandsuch.
Forthewomentherewerewaitingbigtwo-horsewagons,whichsetoffatagallopasfastastheywerefilled.
Inthedistancetherewasheardagainthelowingofthecattle,asoundasofafar-offoceancalling.
Theyfollowedit,thistime,aseageraschildreninsightofacircusmenagerie—which,indeed,thesceneagooddealresembled.
Theycrossedtherailroadtracks,andthenoneachsideofthestreetwerethepensfullofcattle;theywouldhavestoppedtolook,butJokubashurriedthemon,towheretherewasastairwayandaraisedgallery,fromwhicheverythingcouldbeseen.
Heretheystood,staring,breathlesswithwonder.
Thereisoverasquaremileofspaceintheyards,andmorethanhalfofitisoccupiedbycattlepens;northandsouthasfarastheeyecanreachtherestretchesaseaofpens.
Andtheywereallfilled—somanycattlenoonehadeverdreamedexistedintheworld.
Redcattle,black,white,andyellowcattle;oldcattleandyoungcattle;greatbellowingbullsandlittlecalvesnotanhourborn;meek-eyedmilchcowsandfierce,long-hornedTexassteers.
Thesoundofthemherewasasofallthebarnyardsoftheuniverse;andasforcountingthem—itwouldhavetakenalldaysimplytocountthepens.
Hereandthereranlongalleys,blockedatintervalsbygates;andJokubastoldthemthatthenumberofthesegateswastwenty-fivethousand.
Jokubashadrecentlybeenreadinganewspaperarticlewhichwasfullofstatisticssuchasthat,andhewasveryproudasherepeatedthemandmadehisguestscryoutwithwonder.
Jurgistoohadalittleofthissenseofpride.
Hadhenotjustgottenajob,andbecomeasharerinallthisactivity,acoginthismarvelousmachine?
Hereandthereaboutthealleysgallopedmenuponhorseback,booted,andcarryinglongwhips;theywereverybusy,callingtoeachother,andtothosewhoweredrivingthecattle.
Theyweredroversandstockraisers,whohadcomefromfarstates,andbrokersandcommissionmerchants,andbuyersforallthebigpackinghouses.
Hereandtheretheywouldstoptoinspectabunchofcattle,andtherewouldbeaparley,briefandbusinesslike.
Thebuyerwouldnodordrophiswhip,andthatwouldmeanabargain;andhewouldnoteitinhislittlebook,alongwithhundredsofothershehadmadethatmorning.
ThenJokubaspointedouttheplacewherethecattleweredriventobeweighed,uponagreatscalethatwouldweighahundredthousandpoundsatonceandrecorditautomatically.
Itwasneartotheeastentrancethattheystood,andallalongthiseastsideoftheyardsrantherailroadtracks,intowhichthecarswererun,loadedwithcattle.
Allnightlongthishadbeengoingon,andnowthepenswerefull;bytonighttheywouldallbeempty,andthesamethingwouldbedoneagain.
“Andwhatwillbecomeofallthesecreatures?”criedTetaElzbieta.
“Bytonight,”Jokubasanswered,“theywillallbekilledandcutup;andoverthereontheothersideofthepackinghousesaremorerailroadtracks,wherethecarscometotakethemaway.”
Thereweretwohundredandfiftymilesoftrackwithintheyards,theirguidewentontotellthem.
Theybroughtabouttenthousandheadofcattleeveryday,andasmanyhogs,andhalfasmanysheep—whichmeantsomeeightortenmillionlivecreaturesturnedintofoodeveryyear.
Onestoodandwatched,andlittlebylittlecaughtthedriftofthetide,asitsetinthedirectionofthepackinghouses.
Thereweregroupsofcattlebeingdriventothechutes,whichwereroadwaysaboutfifteenfeetwide,raisedhighabovethepens.
Inthesechutesthestreamofanimalswascontinuous;itwasquiteuncannytowatchthem,pressingontotheirfate,allunsuspiciousaveryriverofdeath.
Ourfriendswerenotpoetical,andthesightsuggestedtothemnometaphorsofhumandestiny;theythoughtonlyofthewonderfulefficiencyofitall.
Thechutesintowhichthehogswentclimbedhighup—totheverytopofthedistantbuildings;andJokubasexplainedthatthehogswentupbythepoweroftheirownlegs,andthentheirweightcarriedthembackthroughalltheprocessesnecessarytomakethemintopork.
“Theydon’twasteanythinghere,”saidtheguide,andthenhelaughedandaddedawitticism,whichhewaspleasedthathisunsophisticatedfriendsshouldtaketobehisown:“Theyuseeverythingaboutthehogexceptthesqueal.”
InfrontofBrown’sGeneralOfficebuildingtheregrowsatinyplotofgrass,andthis,youmaylearn,istheonlybitofgreenthinginPackingtown;likewisethisjestaboutthehogandhissqueal,thestockintradeofalltheguides,istheonegleamofhumorthatyouwillfindthere.
Aftertheyhadseenenoughofthepens,thepartywentupthestreet,tothemassofbuildingswhichoccupythecenteroftheyards.
Thesebuildings,madeofbrickandstainedwithinnumerablelayersofPackingtownsmoke,werepaintedalloverwithadvertisingsigns,fromwhichthevisitorrealizedsuddenlythathehadcometothehomeofmanyofthetormentsofhislife.
Itwasherethattheymadethoseproductswiththewondersofwhichtheypesteredhimso—byplacardsthatdefacedthelandscapewhenhetraveled,andbystaringadvertisementsinthenewspapersandmagazines—bysillylittlejinglesthathecouldnotgetoutofhismind,andgaudypicturesthatlurkedforhimaroundeverystreetcorner.
HerewaswheretheymadeBrown’sImperialHamsandBacon,Brown’sDressedBeef,Brown’sExcelsiorSausages!
HerewastheheadquartersofDurham’sPureLeafLard,ofDurham’sBreakfastBacon,Durham’sCannedBeef,PottedHam,DeviledChicken,PeerlessFertilizer!
EnteringoneoftheDurhambuildings,theyfoundanumberofothervisitorswaiting;andbeforelongtherecameaguide,toescortthemthroughtheplace.
Theymakeagreatfeatureofshowingstrangersthroughthepackingplants,foritisagoodadvertisement.
ButPonasJokubaswhisperedmaliciouslythatthevisitorsdidnotseeanymorethanthepackerswantedthemto.
Theyclimbedalongseriesofstairwaysoutsideofthebuilding,tothetopofitsfiveorsixstories.
Herewasthechute,withitsriverofhogs,allpatientlytoilingupward;therewasaplaceforthemtoresttocooloff,andthenthroughanotherpassagewaytheywentintoaroomfromwhichthereisnoreturningforhogs.
Itwasalong,narrowroom,withagalleryalongitforvisitors.
Attheheadtherewasagreatironwheel,abouttwentyfeetincircumference,withringshereandtherealongitsedge.
Uponbothsidesofthiswheeltherewasanarrowspace,intowhichcamethehogsattheendoftheirjourney;inthemidstofthemstoodagreatburlyNegro,bare-armedandbare-chested.
Hewasrestingforthemoment,forthewheelhadstoppedwhilemenwerecleaningup.
Inaminuteortwo,however,itbeganslowlytorevolve,andthenthemenuponeachsideofitsprangtowork.
Theyhadchainswhichtheyfastenedaboutthelegofthenearesthog,andtheotherendofthechaintheyhookedintooneoftheringsuponthewheel.
So,asthewheelturned,ahogwassuddenlyjerkedoffhisfeetandbornealoft.
Atthesameinstantthecarwasassailedbyamostterrifyingshriek;thevisitorsstartedinalarm,thewomenturnedpaleandshrankback.
Theshriekwasfollowedbyanother,louderandyetmoreagonizing—foroncestarteduponthatjourney,thehognevercameback;atthetopofthewheelhewasshuntedoffuponatrolley,andwentsailingdowntheroom.
Andmeantimeanotherwasswungup,andthenanother,andanother,untiltherewasadoublelineofthem,eachdanglingbyafootandkickinginfrenzy—andsquealing.
Theuproarwasappalling,periloustotheeardrums;onefearedtherewastoomuchsoundfortheroomtohold—thatthewallsmustgivewayortheceilingcrack.
Therewerehighsquealsandlowsqueals,grunts,andwailsofagony;therewouldcomeamomentarylull,andthenafreshoutburst,louderthanever,surginguptoadeafeningclimax.
Itwastoomuchforsomeofthevisitors—themenwouldlookateachother,laughingnervously,andthewomenwouldstandwithhandsclenched,andthebloodrushingtotheirfaces,andthetearsstartingintheireyes.
Meantime,heedlessofallthesethings,themenuponthefloorweregoingabouttheirwork.
Neithersquealsofhogsnortearsofvisitorsmadeanydifferencetothem;onebyonetheyhookedupthehogs,andonebyonewithaswiftstroketheyslittheirthroats.
Therewasalonglineofhogs,withsquealsandlifebloodebbingawaytogether;untilatlasteachstartedagain,andvanishedwithasplashintoahugevatofboilingwater.
Itwasallsoverybusinesslikethatonewatcheditfascinated.
Itwasporkmakingbymachinery,porkmakingbyappliedmathematics.
Andyetsomehowthemostmatter-of-factpersoncouldnothelpthinkingofthehogs;theyweresoinnocent,theycamesoverytrustingly;andtheyweresoveryhumanintheirprotests—andsoperfectlywithintheirrights!
Theyhaddonenothingtodeserveit;anditwasaddinginsulttoinjury,asthethingwasdonehere,swingingthemupinthiscold-blooded,impersonalway,withoutapretenseofapology,withoutthehomageofatear.
Nowandthenavisitorwept,tobesure;butthisslaughteringmachineranon,visitorsornovisitors.
Itwaslikesomehorriblecrimecommittedinadungeon,allunseenandunheeded,buriedoutofsightandofmemory.
Onecouldnotstandandwatchverylongwithoutbecomingphilosophical,withoutbeginningtodealinsymbolsandsimiles,andtohearthehogsquealoftheuniverse.
Wasitpermittedtobelievethattherewasnowhereupontheearth,orabovetheearth,aheavenforhogs,wheretheywererequitedforallthissuffering?
Eachoneofthesehogswasaseparatecreature.
Somewerewhitehogs,somewereblack;somewerebrown,somewerespotted;somewereold,someyoung;somewerelongandlean,someweremonstrous.
Andeachofthemhadanindividualityofhisown,awillofhisown,ahopeandaheart’sdesire;eachwasfullofself-confidence,ofself-importance,andasenseofdignity.
Andtrustingandstronginfaithhehadgoneabouthisbusiness,thewhileablackshadowhungoverhimandahorridFatewaitedinhispathway.
Nowsuddenlyithadswoopeduponhim,andhadseizedhimbytheleg.
Relentless,remorseless,itwas;allhisprotests,hisscreams,werenothingtoit—itdiditscruelwillwithhim,asifhiswishes,hisfeelings,hadsimplynoexistenceatall;itcuthisthroatandwatchedhimgaspouthislife.
Andnowwasonetobelievethattherewasnowhereagodofhogs,towhomthishogpersonalitywasprecious,towhomthesehogsquealsandagonieshadameaning?
Whowouldtakethishogintohisarmsandcomforthim,rewardhimforhisworkwelldone,andshowhimthemeaningofhissacrifice?
Perhapssomeglimpseofallthiswasinthethoughtsofourhumble-mindedJurgis,asheturnedtogoonwiththerestoftheparty,andmuttered:“Dieve—butI’mgladI’mnotahog!”
Thecarcasshogwasscoopedoutofthevatbymachinery,andthenitfelltothesecondfloor,passingonthewaythroughawonderfulmachinewithnumerousscrapers,whichadjustedthemselvestothesizeandshapeoftheanimal,andsentitoutattheotherendwithnearlyallofitsbristlesremoved.
Itwasthenagainstrungupbymachinery,andsentuponanothertrolleyride;thistimepassingbetweentwolinesofmen,whosatuponaraisedplatform,eachdoingacertainsinglethingtothecarcassasitcametohim.
Onescrapedtheoutsideofaleg;anotherscrapedtheinsideofthesameleg.
Onewithaswiftstrokecutthethroat;anotherwithtwoswiftstrokesseveredthehead,whichfelltothefloorandvanishedthroughahole.
Anothermadeaslitdownthebody;asecondopenedthebodywider;athirdwithasawcutthebreastbone;afourthloosenedtheentrails;afifthpulledthemout—andtheyalsoslidthroughaholeinthefloor.
Therewerementoscrapeeachsideandmentoscrapetheback;therewerementocleanthecarcassinside,totrimitandwashit.
Lookingdownthisroom,onesaw,creepingslowly,alineofdanglinghogsahundredyardsinlength;andforeveryyardtherewasaman,workingasifademonwereafterhim.
Attheendofthishog’sprogresseveryinchofthecarcasshadbeengoneoverseveraltimes;andthenitwasrolledintothechillingroom,whereitstayedfortwenty-fourhours,andwhereastrangermightlosehimselfinaforestoffreezinghogs.
Beforethecarcasswasadmittedhere,however,ithadtopassagovernmentinspector,whosatinthedoorwayandfeltoftheglandsintheneckfortuberculosis.
Thisgovernmentinspectordidnothavethemannerofamanwhowasworkedtodeath;hewasapparentlynothauntedbyafearthatthehogmightgetbyhimbeforehehadfinishedhistesting.
Ifyouwereasociableperson,hewasquitewillingtoenterintoconversationwithyou,andtoexplaintoyouthedeadlynatureoftheptomaineswhicharefoundintubercularpork;andwhilehewastalkingwithyouyoucouldhardlybesoungratefulastonoticethatadozencarcasseswerepassinghimuntouched.
Thisinspectorworeablueuniform,withbrassbuttons,andhegaveanatmosphereofauthoritytothescene,and,asitwere,putthestampofofficialapprovaluponthethingswhichweredoneinDurham’s.
Jurgiswentdownthelinewiththerestofthevisitors,staringopenmouthed,lostinwonder.
HehaddressedhogshimselfintheforestofLithuania;buthehadneverexpectedtolivetoseeonehogdressedbyseveralhundredmen.
Itwaslikeawonderfulpoemtohim,andhetookitallinguilelessly—eventotheconspicuoussignsdemandingimmaculatecleanlinessoftheemployees.
JurgiswasvexedwhenthecynicalJokubastranslatedthesesignswithsarcasticcomments,offeringtotakethemtothesecretroomswherethespoiledmeatswenttobedoctored.
Thepartydescendedtothenextfloor,wherethevariouswastematerialsweretreated.
Herecametheentrails,tobescrapedandwashedcleanforsausagecasings;menandwomenworkedhereinthemidstofasickeningstench,whichcausedthevisitorstohastenby,gasping.
Toanotherroomcameallthescrapstobe“tanked,”whichmeantboilingandpumpingoffthegreasetomakesoapandlard;belowtheytookouttherefuse,andthis,too,wasaregioninwhichthevisitorsdidnotlinger.
Instillotherplacesmenwereengagedincuttingupthecarcassesthathadbeenthroughthechillingrooms.
Firsttherewerethe“splitters,”themostexpertworkmenintheplant,whoearnedashighasfiftycentsanhour,anddidnotathingalldayexceptchophogsdownthemiddle.
Thentherewere“cleavermen,”greatgiantswithmusclesofiron;eachhadtwomentoattendhim—toslidethehalfcarcassinfrontofhimonthetable,andholditwhilehechoppedit,andthenturneachpiecesothathemightchopitoncemore.
Hiscleaverhadabladeabouttwofeetlong,andhenevermadebutonecut;hemadeitsoneatly,too,thathisimplementdidnotsmitethroughanddullitself—therewasjustenoughforceforaperfectcut,andnomore.
Sothroughvariousyawningholesthereslippedtothefloorbelow—tooneroomhams,toanotherforequarters,toanothersidesofpork.
Onemightgodowntothisfloorandseethepicklingrooms,wherethehamswereputintovats,andthegreatsmokerooms,withtheirairtightirondoors.
Inotherroomstheypreparedsaltpork—therewerewholecellarsfullofit,builtupingreattowerstotheceiling.
Inyetotherroomstheywereputtingupmeatsinboxesandbarrels,andwrappinghamsandbaconinoiledpaper,sealingandlabelingandsewingthem.
Fromthedoorsoftheseroomswentmenwithloadedtrucks,totheplatformwherefreightcarswerewaitingtobefilled;andonewentoutthereandrealizedwithastartthathehadcomeatlasttothegroundfloorofthisenormousbuilding.
Thenthepartywentacrossthestreettowheretheydidthekillingofbeef—whereeveryhourtheyturnedfourorfivehundredcattleintomeat.
Unliketheplacetheyhadleft,allthisworkwasdoneononefloor;andinsteadoftherebeingonelineofcarcasseswhichmovedtotheworkmen,therewerefifteenortwentylines,andthemenmovedfromonetoanotherofthese.
Thismadeasceneofintenseactivity,apictureofhumanpowerwonderfultowatch.
Itwasallinonegreatroom,likeacircusamphitheater,withagalleryforvisitorsrunningoverthecenter.
Alongonesideoftheroomrananarrowgallery,afewfeetfromthefloor;intowhichgallerythecattleweredrivenbymenwithgoadswhichgavethemelectricshocks.
Oncecrowdedinhere,thecreatureswereprisoned,eachinaseparatepen,bygatesthatshut,leavingthemnoroomtoturnaround;andwhiletheystoodbellowingandplunging,overthetopofthepenthereleanedoneofthe“knockers,”armedwithasledgehammer,andwatchingforachancetodealablow.
Theroomechoedwiththethudsinquicksuccession,andthestampingandkickingofthesteers.
Theinstanttheanimalhadfallen,the“knocker”passedontoanother;whileasecondmanraisedalever,andthesideofthepenwasraised,andtheanimal,stillkickingandstruggling,slidouttothe“killingbed.”
Hereamanputshacklesaboutoneleg,andpressedanotherlever,andthebodywasjerkedupintotheair.
Therewerefifteenortwentysuchpens,anditwasamatterofonlyacoupleofminutestoknockfifteenortwentycattleandrollthemout.
Thenoncemorethegateswereopened,andanotherlotrushedin;andsooutofeachpenthererolledasteadystreamofcarcasses,whichthemenuponthekillingbedshadtogetoutoftheway.
Themannerinwhichtheydidthiswassomethingtobeseenandneverforgotten.
Theyworkedwithfuriousintensity,literallyupontherun—atapacewithwhichthereisnothingtobecomparedexceptafootballgame.
Itwasallhighlyspecializedlabor,eachmanhavinghistasktodo;generallythiswouldconsistofonlytwoorthreespecificcuts,andhewouldpassdownthelineoffifteenortwentycarcasses,makingthesecutsuponeach.
Firsttherecamethe“butcher,”tobleedthem;thismeantoneswiftstroke,soswiftthatyoucouldnotseeit—onlytheflashoftheknife;andbeforeyoucouldrealizeit,themanhaddartedontothenextline,andastreamofbrightredwaspouringoutuponthefloor.
Thisfloorwashalfaninchdeepwithblood,inspiteofthebesteffortsofmenwhokeptshovelingitthroughholes;itmusthavemadethefloorslippery,butnoonecouldhaveguessedthisbywatchingthemenatwork.
Thecarcasshungforafewminutestobleed;therewasnotimelost,however,fortherewereseveralhangingineachline,andonewasalwaysready.
Itwasletdowntotheground,andtherecamethe“headsman,”whosetaskitwastoseverthehead,withtwoorthreeswiftstrokes.
Thencamethe“floorsman,”tomakethefirstcutintheskin;andthenanothertofinishrippingtheskindownthecenter;andthenhalfadozenmoreinswiftsuccession,tofinishtheskinning.
Aftertheywerethrough,thecarcasswasagainswungup;andwhileamanwithastickexaminedtheskin,tomakesurethatithadnotbeencut,andanotherrolledittipandtumbleditthroughoneoftheinevitableholesinthefloor,thebeefproceededonitsjourney.
Therewerementocutit,andmentosplitit,andmentogutitandscrapeitcleaninside.
Thereweresomewithhosewhichthrewjetsofboilingwateruponit,andotherswhoremovedthefeetandaddedthefinaltouches.
Intheend,aswiththehogs,thefinishedbeefwasrunintothechillingroom,tohangitsappointedtime.
Thevisitorsweretakenthereandshownthem,allneatlyhunginrows,labeledconspicuouslywiththetagsofthegovernmentinspectors—andsome,whichhadbeenkilledbyaspecialprocess,markedwiththesignofthekosherrabbi,certifyingthatitwasfitforsaletotheorthodox.
Andthenthevisitorsweretakentotheotherpartsofthebuilding,toseewhatbecameofeachparticleofthewastematerialthathadvanishedthroughthefloor;andtothepicklingrooms,andthesaltingrooms,thecanningrooms,andthepackingrooms,wherechoicemeatwaspreparedforshippinginrefrigeratorcars,destinedtobeeateninallthefourcornersofcivilization.
Afterwardtheywentoutside,wanderingaboutamongthemazesofbuildingsinwhichwasdonetheworkauxiliarytothisgreatindustry.
TherewasscarcelyathingneededinthebusinessthatDurhamandCompanydidnotmakeforthemselves.
Therewasagreatsteampowerplantandanelectricityplant.
Therewasabarrelfactory,andaboiler-repairshop.
Therewasabuildingtowhichthegreasewaspiped,andmadeintosoapandlard;andthentherewasafactoryformakinglardcans,andanotherformakingsoapboxes.
Therewasabuildinginwhichthebristleswerecleanedanddried,forthemakingofhaircushionsandsuchthings;therewasabuildingwheretheskinsweredriedandtanned,therewasanotherwhereheadsandfeetweremadeintoglue,andanotherwherebonesweremadeintofertilizer.
NotiniestparticleoforganicmatterwaswastedinDurham’s.
Outofthehornsofthecattletheymadecombs,buttons,hairpins,andimitationivory;outoftheshinbonesandotherbigbonestheycutknifeandtoothbrushhandles,andmouthpiecesforpipes;outofthehoofstheycuthairpinsandbuttons,beforetheymadetherestintoglue.
Fromsuchthingsasfeet,knuckles,hideclippings,andsinewscamesuchstrangeandunlikelyproductsasgelatin,isinglass,andphosphorus,boneblack,shoeblacking,andboneoil.
Theyhadcurled-hairworksforthecattletails,anda“woolpullery”forthesheepskins;theymadepepsinfromthestomachsofthepigs,andalbumenfromtheblood,andviolinstringsfromtheill-smellingentrails.
Whentherewasnothingelsetobedonewithathing,theyfirstputitintoatankandgotoutofitallthetallowandgrease,andthentheymadeitintofertilizer.
Alltheseindustriesweregatheredintobuildingsnearby,connectedbygalleriesandrailroadswiththemainestablishment;anditwasestimatedthattheyhadhandlednearlyaquarterofabillionofanimalssincethefoundingoftheplantbytheelderDurhamagenerationandmoreago.
Ifyoucountedwithittheotherbigplants—andtheywerenowreallyallone—itwas,soJokubasinformedthem,thegreatestaggregationoflaborandcapitalevergatheredinoneplace.
Itemployedthirtythousandmen;itsuppporteddirectlytwohundredandfiftythousandpeopleinitsneighborhood,andindirectlyitsupportedhalfamillion.
Itsentitsproductstoeverycountryinthecivilizedworld,anditfurnishedthefoodfornolessthanthirtymillionpeople!
Toallofthesethingsourfriendswouldlistenopenmouthed—itseemedtothemimpossibleofbeliefthatanythingsostupendouscouldhavebeendevisedbymortalman.
ThatwaswhytoJurgisitseemedalmostprofanitytospeakabouttheplaceasdidJokubas,skeptically;itwasathingastremendousastheuniverse—thelawsandwaysofitsworkingnomorethantheuniversetobequestionedorunderstood.
Allthatameremancoulddo,itseemedtoJurgis,wastotakeathinglikethisashefoundit,anddoashewastold;tobegivenaplaceinitandashareinitswonderfulactivitieswasablessingtobegratefulfor,asonewasgratefulforthesunshineandtherain.
Jurgiswasevengladthathehadnotseentheplacebeforemeetingwithhistriumph,forhefeltthatthesizeofitwouldhaveoverwhelmedhim.
Butnowhehadbeenadmitted—hewasapartofitall!
Hehadthefeelingthatthiswholehugeestablishmenthadtakenhimunderitsprotection,andhadbecomeresponsibleforhiswelfare.
Soguilelesswashe,andignorantofthenatureofbusiness,thathedidnotevenrealizethathehadbecomeanemployeeofBrown’s,andthatBrownandDurhamweresupposedbyalltheworldtobedeadlyrivals—wereevenrequiredtobedeadlyrivalsbythelawoftheland,andorderedtotrytoruineachotherunderpenaltyoffineandimprisonment!
Share this article to
FINISH