ApersonwhohadsuchataskbeforehimwouldnotneedtolookveryfarinPackingtown—hehadonlytowalkuptheavenueandreadthesigns,orgetintoastreetcar,toobtainfullinformationastoprettymucheverythingahumancreaturecouldneed.
Itwasquitetouching,thezealofpeopletoseethathishealthandhappinesswereprovidedfor.Didthepersonwishtosmoke?
Therewasalittlediscourseaboutcigars,showinghimexactlywhytheThomasJeffersonFive-centPerfectowastheonlycigarworthyofthename.
Herewasaremedyforthesmokinghabit,twenty-fivedosesforaquarter,andacureabsolutelyguaranteedintendoses.
Ininnumerablewayssuchasthis,thetravelerfoundthatsomebodyhadbeenbusiedtomakesmoothhispathsthroughtheworld,andtolethimknowwhathadbeendoneforhim.
InPackingtowntheadvertisementshadastylealloftheirown,adaptedtothepeculiarpopulation.Onewouldbetenderlysolicitous.“Isyourwifepale?”itwouldinquire.
Anotherwouldbejocularintone,slappingyouontheback,sotospeak.“Don’tbeachump!”itwouldexclaim.“GoandgettheGoliathBunionCure.”“Getamoveonyou!”wouldchimeinanother.
Itshowedtwoveryprettylittlebirdsbuildingthemselvesahome;andMarijahadaskedanacquaintancetoreadittoher,andtoldthemthatitrelatedtothefurnishingofahouse.
“Featheryournest,”itran—andwentontosaythatitcouldfurnishallthenecessaryfeathersforafour-roomnestfortheludicrouslysmallsumofseventy-fivedollars.
Theparticularlyimportantthingaboutthisofferwasthatonlyasmallpartofthemoneyneedbehadatonce—therestonemightpayafewdollarseverymonth.
Ourfriendshadtohavesomefurniture,therewasnogettingawayfromthat;buttheirlittlefundofmoneyhadsunksolowthattheycouldhardlygettosleepatnight,andsotheyfledtothisastheirdeliverance.
TherewasmoreagonyandanotherpaperforElzbietatosign,andthenonenightwhenJurgiscamehome,hewastoldthebreathlesstidingsthatthefurniturehadarrivedandwassafelystowedinthehouse:aparlorsetoffourpieces,abedroomsetofthreepieces,adiningroomtableandfourchairs,atoiletsetwithbeautifulpinkrosespaintedalloverit,anassortmentofcrockery,alsowithpinkroses—andsoon.
Oneoftheplatesinthesethadbeenfoundbrokenwhentheyunpackedit,andOnawasgoingtothestorethefirstthinginthemorningtomakethemchangeit;alsotheyhadpromisedthreesaucepans,andtherehadonlytwocome,anddidJurgisthinkthattheyweretryingtocheatthem?
Thenextdaytheywenttothehouse;andwhenthemencamefromworktheyateafewhurriedmouthfulsatAniele’s,andthensettoworkatthetaskofcarryingtheirbelongingstotheirnewhome.
Thedistancewasinrealityovertwomiles,butJurgismadetwotripsthatnight,eachtimewithahugepileofmattressesandbeddingonhishead,withbundlesofclothingandbagsandthingstiedupinside.
AnywhereelseinChicagohewouldhavestoodagoodchanceofbeingarrested;butthepolicemeninPackingtownwereapparentlyusedtotheseinformalmovings,andcontentedthemselveswithacursoryexaminationnowandthen.
Itwasquitewonderfultoseehowfinethehouselooked,withallthethingsinit,evenbythedimlightofalamp:itwasreallyhome,andalmostasexcitingastheplacardhaddescribedit.
Onawasfairlydancing,andsheandCousinMarijatookJurgisbythearmandescortedhimfromroomtoroom,sittingineachchairbyturns,andtheninsistingthatheshoulddothesame.
Onechairsqueakedwithhisgreatweight,andtheyscreamedwithfright,andwokethebabyandbroughteverybodyrunning.
Altogetheritwasagreatday;andtiredastheywere,JurgisandOnasatuplate,contentedsimplytoholdeachotherandgazeinraptureabouttheroom.
Theyweregoingtobemarriedassoonastheycouldgeteverythingsettled,andalittlesparemoneyputby;andthiswastobetheirhome—thatlittleroomyonderwouldbetheirs!
Theyhadnomoneytospendforthepleasureofspending,buttherewereafewabsolutelynecessarythings,andthebuyingofthesewasaperpetualadventureforOna.
Itmustalwaysbedoneatnight,sothatJurgiscouldgoalong;andevenifitwereonlyapeppercruet,orhalfadozenglassesfortencents,thatwasenoughforanexpedition.
OnSaturdaynighttheycamehomewithagreatbasketfulofthings,andspreadthemoutonthetable,whileeveryonestoodround,andthechildrenclimbeduponthechairs,orhowledtobelifteduptosee.
Thereweresugarandsaltandteaandcrackers,andacanoflardandamilkpail,andascrubbingbrush,andapairofshoesforthesecondoldestboy,andacanofoil,andatackhammer,andapoundofnails.
Theselastweretobedrivenintothewallsofthekitchenandthebedrooms,tohangthingson;andtherewasafamilydiscussionastotheplacewhereeachonewastobedriven.
ThenJurgiswouldtrytohammer,andhithisfingersbecausethehammerwastoosmall,andgetmadbecauseOnahadrefusedtolethimpayfifteencentsmoreandgetabiggerhammer;andOnawouldbeinvitedtotryitherself,andhurtherthumb,andcryout,whichnecessitatedthethumb’sbeingkissedbyJurgis.
Hemeanttotakeonesideoutofthesetomorrow,andputshelvesinthem,andmakethemintobureausandplacestokeepthingsforthebedrooms.
Theyhad,ofcourse,puttheirdiningtableinthekitchen,andthediningroomwasusedasthebedroomofTetaElzbietaandfiveofherchildren.
Onaandhercousindraggedamattressintotheparlorandsleptatnight,andthethreemenandtheoldestboysleptintheotherroom,havingnothingbuttheverylevelfloortorestonforthepresent.
Evenso,however,theysleptsoundly—itwasnecessaryforTetaElzbietatopoundmorethanonceontheataquarterpastfiveeverymorning.
Shewouldhavereadyagreatpotfullofsteamingblackcoffee,andoatmealandbreadandsmokedsausages;andthenshewouldfixthemtheirdinnerpailswithmorethickslicesofbreadwithlardbetweenthem—theycouldnotaffordbutter—andsomeonionsandapieceofcheese,andsotheywouldtrampawaytowork.
Thiswasthefirsttimeinhislifethathehadeverreallyworked,itseemedtoJurgis;itwasthefirsttimethathehadeverhadanythingtodowhichtookallhehadinhim.
Jurgishadstoodwiththerestupinthegalleryandwatchedthemenonthekillingbeds,marvelingattheirspeedandpowerasiftheyhadbeenwonderfulmachines;itsomehowneveroccurredtoonetothinkoftheflesh-and-bloodsideofit—thatis,notuntilheactuallygotdownintothepitandtookoffhiscoat.
Thepacetheysethere,itwasonethatcalledforeveryfacultyofaman—fromtheinstantthefirststeerfelltillthesoundingofthenoonwhistle,andagainfromhalf-pasttwelvetillheavenonlyknewwhathourinthelateafternoonorevening,therewasneveroneinstant’srestforaman,forhishandorhiseyeorhisbrain.
Jurgissawhowtheymanagedit;therewereportionsoftheworkwhichdeterminedthepaceoftherest,andforthesetheyhadpickedmenwhomtheypaidhighwages,andwhomtheychangedfrequently.
Youmighteasilypickoutthesepacemakers,fortheyworkedundertheeyeofthebosses,andtheyworkedlikemenpossessed.
Thiswascalled“speedingupthegang,”andifanymancouldnotkeepupwiththepace,therewerehundredsoutsidebeggingtotry.
Itwasnotthepleasantestworkonecouldthinkof,butitwasnecessarywork;andwhatmorehadamantherighttoaskthanachancetodosomethinguseful,andtogetgoodpayfordoingit?
SoJurgisthought,andsohespoke,inhisbold,freeway;verymuchtohissurprise,hefoundthatithadatendencytogethimintotrouble.
Itseemedstrange,itwaseventerrible,whenyoucametofindouttheuniversalityofthesentiment;butitwascertainlythefact—theyhatedtheirwork.
Theyhatedthebossesandtheyhatedtheowners;theyhatedthewholeplace,thewholeneighborhood—eventhewholecity,withanall-inclusivehatred,bitterandfierce.
WhenJurgiswouldaskthemwhattheymeant,theywouldbegintogetsuspicious,andcontentthemselveswithsaying,“Nevermind,youstayhereandseeforyourself.”
Hehadhadnoexperiencewithunions,andhehadtohaveitexplainedtohimthatthemenwerebandedtogetherforthepurposeoffightingfortheirrights.
Jurgisaskedthemwhattheymeantbytheirrights,aquestioninwhichhewasquitesincere,forhehadnotanyideaofanyrightsthathehad,excepttherighttohuntforajob,anddoashewastoldwhenhegotit.
Generally,however,thisharmlessquestionwouldonlymakehisfellowworkingmenlosetheirtempersandcallhimafool.
Therewasadelegateofthebutcher-helpers’unionwhocametoseeJurgistoenrollhim;andwhenJurgisfoundthatthismeantthathewouldhavetopartwithsomeofhismoney,hefrozeupdirectly,andthedelegate,whowasanIrishmanandonlyknewafewwordsofLithuanian,losthistemperandbegantothreatenhim.
IntheendJurgisgotintoafinerage,andmadeitsufficientlyplainthatitwouldtakemorethanoneIrishmantoscarehimintoaunion.
Littlebylittlehegatheredthatthemainthingthemenwantedwastoputastoptothehabitof“speeding-up”;theyweretryingtheirbesttoforcealesseningofthepace,forthereweresome,theysaid,whocouldnotkeepupwithit,whomitwaskilling.
ButJurgishadnosympathywithsuchideasasthis—hecoulddotheworkhimself,andsocouldtherestofthem,hedeclared,iftheyweregoodforanything.
Jurgishadnotstudiedthebooks,andhewouldnothaveknownhowtopronounce“laissezfaire”;buthehadbeenroundtheworldenoughtoknowthatamanhastoshiftforhimselfinit,andthatifhegetstheworstofit,thereisnobodytolistentohimholler.
YettherehavebeenknowntobephilosophersandplainmenwhosworebyMalthusinthebooks,andwould,nevertheless,subscribetoarelieffundintimeofafamine.
ItwasthesamewithJurgis,whoconsignedtheunfittodestruction,whilegoingaboutalldaysickatheartbecauseofhispooroldfather,whowaswanderingsomewhereintheyardsbeggingforachancetoearnhisbread.
OldAntanashadbeenaworkereversincehewasachild;hehadrunawayfromhomewhenhewastwelve,becausehisfatherbeathimfortryingtolearntoread.
Andhewasafaithfulman,too;hewasamanyoumightleavealoneforamonth,ifonlyyouhadmadehimunderstandwhatyouwantedhimtodointhemeantime.
Hehadhishome,asithappened,andsomeonewhowouldcareforhimithenevergotajob;buthissoncouldnothelpthinking,supposethishadnotbeenthecase.
AntanasRudkushadbeenintoeverybuildinginPackingtownbythistime,andintonearlyeveryroom;hehadstoodmorningsamongthecrowdofapplicantstilltheverypolicemenhadcometoknowhisfaceandtotellhimtogohomeandgiveitup.
Hehadbeenlikewisetoallthestoresandsaloonsforamileabout,beggingforsomelittlethingtodo;andeverywheretheyhadorderedhimout,sometimeswithcurses,andnotonceevenstoppingtoaskhimaquestion.
Foroneeveningtheoldmancamehomeinagreatstateofexcitement,withthetalethathehadbeenapproachedbyamaninoneofthecorridorsofthepickleroomsofDurham’s,andaskedwhathewouldpaytogetajob.
Hehadnotknownwhattomakeofthisatfirst;butthemanhadgoneonwithmatter-of-factfranknesstosaythathecouldgethimajob,providedthathewerewillingtopayone-thirdofhiswagesforit.Washeaboss?
Thefriend,whowasnamedTamosziusKuszleika,wasasharplittlemanwhofoldedhidesonthekillingbeds,andhelistenedtowhatJurgishadtosaywithoutseemingatallsurprised.
AfterJurgishadbeenthereawhilehewouldknowthattheplantsweresimplyhoneycombedwithrottennessofthatsort—thebossesgraftedoffthemen,andtheygraftedoffeachother;andsomedaythesuperintendentwouldfindoutabouttheboss,andthenhewouldgraftofftheboss.
HerewasDurham’s,forinstance,ownedbyamanwhowastryingtomakeasmuchmoneyoutofitashecould,anddidnotcareintheleasthowhedidit;andunderneathhim,rangedinranksandgradeslikeanarmy,weremanagersandsuperintendentsandforemen,eachonedrivingthemannextbelowhimandtryingtosqueezeoutofhimasmuchworkaspossible.
Andallthemenofthesamerankwerepittedagainsteachother;theaccountsofeachwerekeptseparately,andeverymanlivedinterroroflosinghisjob,ifanothermadeabetterrecordthanhe.
Sofromtoptobottomtheplacewassimplyaseethingcaldronofjealousiesandhatreds;therewasnoloyaltyordecencyanywhereaboutit,therewasnoplaceinitwhereamancountedforanythingagainstadollar.
ItmusthavebeenoldDurhaminthebeginning;itwasaheritagewhichtheself-mademerchanthadlefttohisson,alongwithhismillions.
Jurgiswouldfindoutthesethingsforhimself,ifhestayedtherelongenough;itwasthemenwhohadtodoallthedirtyjobs,andsotherewasnodeceivingthem;andtheycaughtthespiritoftheplace,anddidlikealltherest.
Jurgishadcomethere,andthoughthewasgoingtomakehimselfuseful,andriseandbecomeaskilledman;buthewouldsoonfindouthiserror—fornobodyroseinPackingtownbydoinggoodwork.
ThatmanwhohadbeensenttoJurgis’fatherbytheboss,hewouldrise;themanwhotoldtalesandspieduponhisfellowswouldrise;butthemanwhomindedhisownbusinessanddidhiswork—why,theywould“speedhimup”tilltheyhadwornhimout,andthentheywouldthrowhimintothegutter.
Hewasamanwhospentallhistimefiddling;andhewouldgotopartiesatnightandnotgethometillsunrise,andsoofcoursehedidnotfeellikework.
Sothenextdayhewentandfoundthemanwhohadspokentohim,andpromisedtobringhimathirdofallheearned;andthatsamedayhewasputtoworkinDurham’scellars.
Itwasa“pickleroom,”wheretherewasneveradryspottostandupon,andsohehadtotakenearlythewholeofhisfirstweek’searningstobuyhimapairofheavy-soledboots.
NowAntanasRudkuswasthemeekestmanthatGodeverputonearth;andsoJurgisfounditastrikingconfirmationofwhatthemenallsaid,thathisfatherhadbeenatworkonlytwodaysbeforehecamehomeasbitterasanyofthem,andcursingDurham’swithallthepowerofhissoul.
Fortheyhadsethimtocleaningoutthetraps;andthefamilysatroundandlistenedinwonderwhilehetoldthemwhatthatmeant.
Itseemedthathewasworkingintheroomwherethemenpreparedthebeefforcanning,andthebeefhadlaininvatsfullofchemicals,andmenwithgreatforksspeareditoutanddumpeditintotrucks,tobetakentothecookingroom.
Whentheyhadspearedoutalltheycouldreach,theyemptiedthevatonthefloor,andthenwithshovelsscrapedupthebalanceanddumpeditintothetruck.
Thisfloorwasfilthy,yettheysetAntanaswithhismopsloppingthe“pickle”intoaholethatconnectedwithasink,whereitwascaughtandusedoveragainforever;andifthatwerenotenough,therewasatrapinthepipe,whereallthescrapsofmeatandoddsandendsofrefusewerecaught,andeveryfewdaysitwastheoldman’stasktocleantheseout,andshoveltheircontentsintooneofthetruckswiththerestofthemeat!
Marijawasworkingforoneoftheindependentpackers,andwasquitebesideherselfandoutrageouswithtriumphoverthesumsofmoneyshewasmakingasapainterofcans.
Butonedayshewalkedhomewithapale-facedlittlewomanwhoworkedoppositetoher,JadvygaMarcinkusbyname,andJadvygatoldherhowshe,Marija,hadchancedtogetherjob.
MaryDenniswashername,andalongtimeagoshehadbeenseduced,andhadalittleboy;hewasacripple,andanepileptic,butstillhewasallthatshehadintheworldtolove,andtheyhadlivedinalittleroomalonesomewherebackofHalstedStreet,wheretheIrishwere.
Maryhadhadconsumption,andalldaylongyoumighthearhercoughingassheworked;oflateshehadbeengoingalltopieces,andwhenMarijacame,the“forelady”hadsuddenlydecidedtoturnheroff.
ThefactthatMaryhadbeentheresolonghadnotmadeanydifferencetoher—itwasdoubtfulifsheevenknewthat,forboththeforeladyandthesuperintendentwerenewpeople,havingonlybeentheretwoorthreeyearsthemselves.
Thetruckswereallofiron,andheavy,andtheyputaboutthreescorehamsoneachofthem,aloadofmorethanaquarterofaton.
Ontheunevenflooritwasataskforamantostartoneofthesetrucks,unlesshewasagiant;andwhenitwasoncestartedhenaturallytriedhisbesttokeepitgoing.
Therewasalwaysthebossprowlingabout,andiftherewasasecond’sdelayhewouldfalltocursing;LithuaniansandSlovaksandsuch,whocouldnotunderstandwhatwassaidtothem,thebosseswerewonttokickabouttheplacelikesomanydogs.
Thereforethesetruckswentforthemostpartontherun;andthepredecessorofJonashadbeenjammedagainstthewallbyoneandcrushedinahorribleandnamelessmanner.
Onecuriousthinghehadnoticed,theveryfirstday,inhisprofessionofshovelerofguts;whichwasthesharptrickofthefloorbosseswhenevertherechancedtocomea“slunk”calf.
Anymanwhoknowsanythingaboutbutcheringknowsthatthefleshofacowthatisabouttocalve,orhasjustcalved,isnotfitforfood.
Agoodmanyofthesecameeverydaytothepackinghouses—and,ofcourse,iftheyhadchosen,itwouldhavebeenaneasymatterforthepackerstokeepthemtilltheywerefitforfood.
Butforthesavingoftimeandfodder,itwasthelawthatcowsofthatsortcamealongwiththeothers,andwhoevernoticeditwouldtelltheboss,andthebosswouldstartupaconversationwiththegovernmentinspector,andthetwowouldstrollaway.
Soinatricethecarcassofthecowwouldbecleanedout,andentrailswouldhavevanished;itwasJurgis’tasktoslidethemintothetrap,calvesandall,andonthefloorbelowtheytookoutthese“slunk”calves,andbutcheredthemformeat,andusedeventheskinsofthem.
Onedayamanslippedandhurthisleg;andthatafternoon,whenthelastofthecattlehadbeendisposedof,andthemenwereleaving,Jurgiswasorderedtoremainanddosomespecialworkwhichthisinjuredmanhadusuallydone.
Itwaslate,almostdark,andthegovernmentinspectorshadallgone,andtherewereonlyadozenortwoofmenonthefloor.
Thatdaytheyhadkilledaboutfourthousandcattle,andthesecattlehadcomeinfreighttrainsfromfarstates,andsomeofthemhadgothurt.
Thereweresomewithbrokenlegs,andsomewithgoredsides;thereweresomethathaddied,fromwhatcausenoonecouldsay;andtheywerealltobedisposedof,hereindarknessandsilence.
“Downers,”themencalledthem;andthepackinghousehadaspecialelevatoruponwhichtheywereraisedtothekillingbeds,wherethegangproceededtohandlethem,withanairofbusinesslikenonchalancewhichsaidplainerthananywordsthatitwasamatterofeverydayroutine.
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