English
EarlyinthefallJurgissetoutforChicagoagain.
Allthejoywentoutoftrampingassoonasamancouldnotkeepwarminthehay;and,likemanythousandsofothers,hedeludedhimselfwiththehopethatbycomingearlyhecouldavoidtherush.
Hebroughtfifteendollarswithhim,hiddenawayinoneofhisshoes,asumwhichhadbeensavedfromthesaloon-keepers,notsomuchbyhisconscience,asbythefearwhichfilledhimatthethoughtofbeingoutofworkinthecityinthewintertime.
Hetraveledupontherailroadwithseveralothermen,hidinginfreightcarsatnight,andliabletobethrownoffatanytime,regardlessofthespeedofthetrain.
Whenhereachedthecityhelefttherest,forhehadmoneyandtheydidnot,andhemeanttosavehimselfinthisfight.
Hewouldbringtoitalltheskillthatpracticehadbroughthim,andhewouldstand,whoeverfell.
Onfairnightshewouldsleepintheparkoronatruckoranemptybarrelorbox,andwhenitwasrainyorcoldhewouldstowhimselfuponashelfinaten-centlodginghouse,orpaythreecentsfortheprivilegesofa“squatter”inatenementhallway.
Hewouldeatatfreelunches,fivecentsameal,andneveracentmore—sohemightkeepalivefortwomonthsandmore,andinthattimehewouldsurelyfindajob.
Hewouldhavetobidfarewelltohissummercleanliness,ofcourse,forhewouldcomeoutofthefirstnight’slodgingwithhisclothesalivewithvermin.
Therewasnoplaceinthecitywherehecouldwashevenhisface,unlesshewentdowntothelakefront—andthereitwouldsoonbeallice.
Firsthewenttothesteelmillandtheharvesterworks,andfoundthathisplacestherehadbeenfilledlongago.
Hewascarefultokeepawayfromthestockyards—hewasasinglemannow,hetoldhimself,andhemeanttostayone,tohavehiswagesforhisownwhenhegotajob.
Hebeganthelong,wearyroundoffactoriesandwarehouses,trampingallday,fromoneendofthecitytotheother,findingeverywherefromtentoahundredmenaheadofhim.
Hewatchedthenewspapers,too—butnolongerwashetobetakeninbysmooth-spokenagents.
Hehadbeentoldofallthosetrickswhile“ontheroad.”
Intheenditwasthroughanewspaperthathegotajob,afternearlyamonthofseeking.
Itwasacallforahundredlaborers,andthoughhethoughtitwasa“fake,”hewentbecausetheplacewasnearby.
Hefoundalineofmenablocklong,butasawagonchancedtocomeoutofanalleyandbreaktheline,hesawhischanceandsprangtoseizeaplace.
Menthreatenedhimandtriedtothrowhimout,buthecursedandmadeadisturbancetoattractapoliceman,uponwhichtheysubsided,knowingthatifthelatterinterfereditwouldbeto“fire”themall.
AnhourortwolaterheenteredaroomandconfrontedabigIrishmanbehindadesk.
“EverworkedinChicagobefore?”themaninquired;andwhetheritwasagoodangelthatputitintoJurgis’smind,oranintuitionofhissharpenedwits,hewasmovedtoanswer,“No,sir.”
“Wheredoyoucomefrom?”
“KansasCity,sir.”
“Anyreferences?”
“No,sir.I’mjustanunskilledman.I’vegotgoodarms.”
“Iwantmenforhardwork—it’sallunderground,diggingtunnelsfortelephones.Maybeitwon’tsuityou.”
“I’mwilling,sir—anythingforme.What’sthepay?”
“Fifteencentsanhour.”
“I’mwilling,sir.”
“Allright;gobackthereandgiveyourname.”
Sowithinhalfanhourhewasatwork,farunderneaththestreetsofthecity.
Thetunnelwasapeculiaronefortelephonewires;itwasabouteightfeethigh,andwithalevelfloornearlyaswide.
Ithadinnumerablebranches—aperfectspiderwebbeneaththecity;Jurgiswalkedoverhalfamilewithhisgangtotheplacewheretheyweretowork.
Strangeryet,thetunnelwaslightedbyelectricity,anduponitwaslaidadouble-tracked,narrow-gaugerailroad!
ButJurgiswasnottheretoaskquestions,andhedidnotgivethematterathought.
Itwasnearlyayearafterwardthathefinallylearnedthemeaningofthiswholeaffair.
TheCityCouncilhadpassedaquietandinnocentlittlebillallowingacompanytoconstructtelephoneconduitsunderthecitystreets;anduponthestrengthofthis,agreatcorporationhadproceededtotunnelallChicagowithasystemofrailwayfreight-subways.
Inthecitytherewasacombinationofemployers,representinghundredsofmillionsofcapital,andformedforthepurposeofcrushingthelaborunions.
Thechiefunionwhichtroubleditwastheteamsters’;andwhenthesefreighttunnelswerecompleted,connectingallthebigfactoriesandstoreswiththerailroaddepots,theywouldhavetheteamsters’unionbythethroat.
NowandthentherewererumorsandmurmursintheBoardofAldermen,andoncetherewasacommitteetoinvestigate—buteachtimeanothersmallfortunewaspaidover,andtherumorsdiedaway;untilatlastthecitywokeupwithastarttofindtheworkcompleted.
Therewasatremendousscandal,ofcourse;itwasfoundthatthecityrecordshadbeenfalsifiedandothercrimescommitted,andsomeofChicago’sbigcapitalistsgotintojail—figurativelyspeaking.
Thealdermendeclaredthattheyhadhadnoideaofitall,inspiteofthefactthatthemainentrancetotheworkhadbeenintherearofthesaloonofoneofthem.
ItwasinanewlyopenedcutthatJurgisworked,andsoheknewthathehadanall-winterjob.
Hewassorejoicedthathetreatedhimselftoaspreethatnight,andwiththebalanceofhismoneyhehiredhimselfaplaceinatenementroom,wherehesleptuponabighomemadestrawmattressalongwithfourotherworkingmen.
Thiswasonedollaraweek,andforfourmorehegothisfoodinaboardinghousenearhiswork.
Thiswouldleavehimfourdollarsextraeachweek,anunthinkablesumforhim.
Attheoutsethehadtopayforhisdiggingtools,andalsotobuyapairofheavyboots,sincehisshoeswerefallingtopieces,andaflannelshirt,sincetheonehehadwornallsummerwasinshreds.
Hespentaweekmeditatingwhetherornotheshouldalsobuyanovercoat.
TherewasonebelongingtoaHebrewcollarbuttonpeddler,whohaddiedintheroomnexttohim,andwhichthelandladywasholdingforherrent;intheend,however,Jurgisdecidedtodowithoutit,ashewastobeundergroundbydayandinbedatnight.
Thiswasanunfortunatedecision,however,foritdrovehimmorequicklythaneverintothesaloons.
FromnowonJurgisworkedfromseveno’clockuntilhalf-pastfive,withhalfanhourfordinner;whichmeantthatheneversawthesunlightonweekdays.
Intheeveningstherewasnoplaceforhimtogoexceptabarroom;noplacewheretherewaslightandwarmth,wherehecouldhearalittlemusicorsitwithacompanionandtalk.
Hehadnownohometogoto;hehadnoaffectionleftinhislife—onlythepitifulmockeryofitinthecamaraderieofvice.
OnSundaysthechurcheswereopen—butwherewasthereachurchinwhichanill-smellingworkingman,withvermincrawlinguponhisneck,couldsitwithoutseeingpeopleedgeawayandlookannoyed?
Hehad,ofcourse,hiscornerinaclosethoughunheatedroom,withawindowopeninguponablankwalltwofeetaway;andalsohehadthebarestreets,withthewintergalessweepingthroughthem;besidesthishehadonlythesaloons—and,ofcourse,hehadtodrinktostayinthem.
Ifhedranknowandthenhewasfreetomakehimselfathome,togamblewithdiceorapackofgreasycards,toplayatadingypooltableformoney,ortolookatabeer-stainedpink“sportingpaper,”withpicturesofmurderersandhalf-nakedwomen.
Itwasforsuchpleasuresasthesethathespenthismoney;andsuchwashislifeduringthesixweeksandahalfthathetoiledforthemerchantsofChicago,toenablethemtobreakthegripoftheirteamsters’union.
Inaworkthuscarriedout,notmuchthoughtwasgiventothewelfareofthelaborers.
Onanaverage,thetunnelingcostalifeadayandseveralmanglings;itwasseldom,however,thatmorethanadozenortwomenheardofanyoneaccident.
Theworkwasalldonebythenewboringmachinery,withaslittleblastingaspossible;buttherewouldbefallingrocksandcrushedsupports,andprematureexplosions—andinadditionallthedangersofrailroading.
Soitwasthatonenight,asJurgiswasonhiswayoutwithhisgang,anengineandaloadedcardashedroundoneoftheinnumerableright-anglebranchesandstruckhimupontheshoulder,hurlinghimagainsttheconcretewallandknockinghimsenseless.
Whenheopenedhiseyesagainitwastotheclangingofthebellofanambulance.
Hewaslyinginit,coveredbyablanket,anditwasthreadingitswayslowlythroughtheholiday-shoppingcrowds.
Theytookhimtothecountyhospital,whereayoungsurgeonsethisarm;thenhewaswashedandlaiduponabedinawardwithascoreortwomoreofmaimedandmangledmen.
JurgisspenthisChristmasinthishospital,anditwasthepleasantestChristmashehadhadinAmerica.
Everyyeartherewerescandalsandinvestigationsinthisinstitution,thenewspaperschargingthatdoctorswereallowedtotryfantasticexperimentsuponthepatients;butJurgisknewnothingofthis—hisonlycomplaintwasthattheyusedtofeedhimupontinnedmeat,whichnomanwhohadeverworkedinPackingtownwouldfeedtohisdog.
Jurgishadoftenwonderedjustwhoatethecannedcornedbeefand“roastbeef”ofthestockyards;nowhebegantounderstand—thatitwaswhatyoumightcall“graftmeat,”putuptobesoldtopublicofficialsandcontractors,andeatenbysoldiersandsailors,prisonersandinmatesofinstitutions,“shantymen”andgangsofrailroadlaborers.
Jurgiswasreadytoleavethehospitalattheendoftwoweeks.
Thisdidnotmeanthathisarmwasstrongandthathewasabletogobacktowork,butsimplythathecouldgetalongwithoutfurtherattention,andthathisplacewasneededforsomeoneworseoffthanhe.
Thathewasutterlyhelpless,andhadnomeansofkeepinghimselfaliveinthemeantime,wassomethingwhichdidnotconcernthehospitalauthorities,noranyoneelseinthecity.
Asitchanced,hehadbeenhurtonaMonday,andhadjustpaidforhislastweek’sboardandhisroomrent,andspentnearlyallthebalanceofhisSaturday’spay.
Hehadlessthanseventy-fivecentsinhispockets,andadollarandahalfduehimfortheday’sworkhehaddonebeforehewashurt.
Hemightpossiblyhavesuedthecompany,andgotsomedamagesforhisinjuries,buthedidnotknowthis,anditwasnotthecompany’sbusinesstotellhim.
Hewentandgothispayandhistools,whichheleftinapawnshopforfiftycents.
Thenhewenttohislandlady,whohadrentedhisplaceandhadnootherforhim;andthentohisboardinghousekeeper,wholookedhimoverandquestionedhim.
Ashemustcertainlybehelplessforacoupleofmonths,andhadboardedthereonlysixweeks,shedecidedveryquicklythatitwouldnotbeworththerisktokeephimontrust.
SoJurgiswentoutintothestreets,inamostdreadfulplight.
Itwasbitterlycold,andaheavysnowwasfalling,beatingintohisface.
Hehadnoovercoat,andnoplacetogo,andtwodollarsandsixty-fivecentsinhispocket,withthecertaintythathecouldnotearnanothercentformonths.
Thesnowmeantnochancetohimnow;hemustwalkalongandseeothersshoveling,vigorousandactive—andhewithhisleftarmboundtohisside!
Hecouldnothopetotidehimselfoverbyoddjobsofloadingtrucks;hecouldnotevensellnewspapersorcarrysatchels,becausehewasnowatthemercyofanyrival.
Wordscouldnotpainttheterrorthatcameoverhimasherealizedallthis.
Hewaslikeawoundedanimalintheforest;hewasforcedtocompetewithhisenemiesuponunequalterms.
Therewouldbenoconsiderationforhimbecauseofhisweakness—itwasnoone’sbusinesstohelphiminsuchdistress,tomakethefighttheleastbiteasierforhim.
Evenifhetooktobegging,hewouldbeatadisadvantage,forreasonswhichhewastodiscoveringoodtime.
Inthebeginninghecouldnotthinkofanythingexceptgettingoutoftheawfulcold.
Hewentintooneofthesaloonshehadbeenwonttofrequentandboughtadrink,andthenstoodbythefireshiveringandwaitingtobeorderedout.
Accordingtoanunwrittenlaw,thebuyingadrinkincludedtheprivilegeofloafingforjustsolong;thenonehadtobuyanotherdrinkormoveon.
ThatJurgiswasanoldcustomerentitledhimtoasomewhatlongerstop;butthenhehadbeenawaytwoweeks,andwasevidently“onthebum.”
Hemightpleadandtellhis“hardluckstory,”butthatwouldnothelphimmuch;asaloon-keeperwhowastobemovedbysuchmeanswouldsoonhavehisplacejammedtothedoorswith“hoboes”onadaylikethis.
SoJurgiswentoutintoanotherplace,andpaidanothernickel.
Hewassohungrythistimethathecouldnotresistthehotbeefstew,anindulgencewhichcutshorthisstaybyaconsiderabletime.
Whenhewasagaintoldtomoveon,hemadehiswaytoa“tough”placeinthe“Levee”district,wherenowandthenhehadgonewithacertainrat-eyedBohemianworkingmanofhisacquaintance,seekingawoman.
ItwasJurgis’svainhopethatheretheproprietorwouldlethimremainasa“sitter.”
Inlow-classplaces,inthedeadofwinter,saloon-keeperswouldoftenallowoneortwoforlorn-lookingbumswhocameincoveredwithsnoworsoakedwithraintositbythefireandlookmiserabletoattractcustom.
Aworkingmanwouldcomein,feelingcheerfulafterhisday’sworkwasover,anditwouldtroublehimtohavetotakehisglasswithsuchasightunderhisnose;andsohewouldcallout:“Hello,Bub,what’sthematter?
Youlookasifyou’dbeenupagainstit!”
Andthentheotherwouldbegintopouroutsometaleofmisery,andthemanwouldsay,“Comehaveaglass,andmaybethat’llbraceyouup.”
Andsotheywoulddrinktogether,andifthetrampwassufficientlywretched-looking,orgoodenoughatthe“gab,”theymighthavetwo;andiftheyweretodiscoverthattheywerefromthesamecountry,orhadlivedinthesamecityorworkedatthesametrade,theymightsitdownatatableandspendanhourortwointalk—andbeforetheygotthroughthesaloon-keeperwouldhavetakeninadollar.
Allofthismightseemdiabolical,butthesaloon-keeperwasinnowisetoblameforit.
Hewasinthesameplightasthemanufacturerwhohastoadulterateandmisrepresenthisproduct.
Ifhedoesnot,someoneelsewill;andthesaloon-keeper,unlessheisalsoanalderman,isapttobeindebttothebigbrewers,andonthevergeofbeingsoldout.
Themarketfor“sitters”wasgluttedthatafternoon,however,andtherewasnoplaceforJurgis.
Inallhehadtospendsixnickelsinkeepingashelteroverhimthatfrightfulday,andthenitwasjustdark,andthestationhouseswouldnotopenuntilmidnight!
Atthelastplace,however,therewasabartenderwhoknewhimandlikedhim,andlethimdozeatoneofthetablesuntilthebosscameback;andalso,ashewasgoingout,themangavehimatip—onthenextblocktherewasareligiousrevivalofsomesort,withpreachingandsinging,andhundredsofhoboeswouldgotherefortheshelterandwarmth.
Jurgiswentstraightway,andsawasignhungout,sayingthatthedoorwouldopenatseven-thirty;thenhewalked,orhalfran,ablock,andhidawhileinadoorwayandthenranagain,andsoonuntilthehour.
Attheendhewasallbutfrozen,andfoughthiswayinwiththerestofthethrong(attheriskofhavinghisarmbrokenagain),andgotclosetothebigstove.
Byeighto’clocktheplacewassocrowdedthatthespeakersoughttohavebeenflattered;theaisleswerefilledhalfwayup,andatthedoormenwerepackedtightenoughtowalkupon.
Therewerethreeelderlygentlemeninblackupontheplatform,andayoungladywhoplayedthepianoinfront.
Firsttheysangahymn,andthenoneofthethree,atall,smooth-shavenman,verythin,andwearingblackspectacles,begananaddress.
Jurgisheardsmatteringsofit,forthereasonthatterrorkepthimawake—heknewthathesnoredabominably,andtohavebeenputoutjustthenwouldhavebeenlikeasentenceofdeathtohim.
Theevangelistwaspreaching“sinandredemption,”theinfinitegraceofGodandHispardonforhumanfrailty.
Hewasverymuchinearnest,andhemeantwell,butJurgis,ashelistened,foundhissoulfilledwithhatred.
Whatdidheknowaboutsinandsuffering—withhissmooth,blackcoatandhisneatlystarchedcollar,hisbodywarm,andhisbellyfull,andmoneyinhispocket—andlecturingmenwhowerestrugglingfortheirlives,menatthedeathgrapplewiththedemonpowersofhungerandcold!
—This,ofcourse,wasunfair;butJurgisfeltthatthesemenwereoutoftouchwiththelifetheydiscussed,thattheywereunfittedtosolveitsproblems;nay,theythemselveswerepartoftheproblem—theywerepartoftheorderestablishedthatwascrushingmendownandbeatingthem!
Theywereofthetriumphantandinsolentpossessors;theyhadahall,andafire,andfoodandclothingandmoney,andsotheymightpreachtohungrymen,andthehungrymenmustbehumbleandlisten!
Theyweretryingtosavetheirsouls—andwhobutafoolcouldfailtoseethatallthatwasthematterwiththeirsoulswasthattheyhadnotbeenabletogetadecentexistencefortheirbodies?
Ateleventhemeetingclosed,andthedesolateaudiencefiledoutintothesnow,mutteringcursesuponthefewtraitorswhohadgotrepentanceandgoneupontheplatform.
Itwasyetanhourbeforethestationhousewouldopen,andJurgishadnoovercoat—andwasweakfromalongillness.Duringthathourhenearlyperished.
Hewasobligedtorunhardtokeephisbloodmovingatall—andthenhecamebacktothestationhouseandfoundacrowdblockingthestreetbeforethedoor!
ThiswasinthemonthofJanuary,1904,whenthecountrywasonthevergeof“hardtimes,”andthenewspaperswerereportingtheshuttingdownoffactorieseveryday—itwasestimatedthatamillionandahalfmenwerethrownoutofworkbeforethespring.
Soallthehidingplacesofthecitywerecrowded,andbeforethatstationhousedoormenfoughtandtoreeachotherlikesavagebeasts.
Whenatlasttheplacewasjammedandtheyshutthedoors,halfthecrowdwasstilloutside;andJurgis,withhishelplessarm,wasamongthem.
Therewasnochoicethenbuttogotoalodginghouseandspendanotherdime.
Itreallybrokehishearttodothis,athalf-pasttwelveo’clock,afterhehadwastedthenightatthemeetingandonthestreet.
Hewouldbeturnedoutofthelodginghousepromptlyatseventheyhadtheshelveswhichservedasbunkssocontrivedthattheycouldbedropped,andanymanwhowasslowaboutobeyingorderscouldbetumbledtothefloor.
Thiswasoneday,andthecoldspelllastedforfourteenofthem.AttheendofsixdayseverycentofJurgis’moneywasgone;andthenhewentoutonthestreetstobegforhislife.
Hewouldbeginassoonasthebusinessofthecitywasmoving.
Hewouldsallyforthfromasaloon,and,aftermakingsuretherewasnopolicemaninsight,wouldapproacheverylikely-lookingpersonwhopassedhim,tellinghiswoefulstoryandpleadingforanickeloradime.
Thenwhenhegotone,hewoulddartroundthecornerandreturntohisbasetogetwarm;andhisvictim,seeinghimdothis,wouldgoaway,vowingthathewouldnevergiveacenttoabeggaragain.
ThevictimneverpausedtoaskwhereelseJurgiscouldhavegoneunderthecircumstances—wherehe,thevictim,wouldhavegone.
AtthesaloonJurgiscouldnotonlygetmorefoodandbetterfoodthanhecouldbuyinanyrestaurantforthesamemoney,butadrinkinthebargaintowarmhimup.
Alsohecouldfindacomfortableseatbyafire,andcouldchatwithacompanionuntilhewasaswarmastoast.Atthesaloon,too,hefeltathome.
Partofthesaloon-keeper’sbusinesswastoofferahomeandrefreshmentstobeggarsinexchangefortheproceedsoftheirforagings;andwasthereanyoneelseinthewholecitywhowoulddothis—wouldthevictimhavedoneithimself?
PoorJurgismighthavebeenexpectedtomakeasuccessfulbeggar.
Hewasjustoutofthehospital,anddesperatelysick-looking,andwithahelplessarm;alsohehadnoovercoat,andshiveredpitifully.
But,alas,itwasagainthecaseofthehonestmerchant,whofindsthatthegenuineandunadulteratedarticleisdriventothewallbytheartisticcounterfeit.
Jurgis,asabeggar,wassimplyablunderingamateurincompetitionwithorganizedandscientificprofessionalism.
Hewasjustoutofthehospital—butthestorywaswornthreadbare,andhowcouldheproveit?
Hehadhisarminasling—anditwasadevicearegularbeggar’slittleboywouldhavescorned.
Hewaspaleandshivering—buttheyweremadeupwithcosmetics,andhadstudiedtheartofchatteringtheirteeth.
Astohisbeingwithoutanovercoat,amongthemyouwouldmeetmenyoucouldswearhadonnothingbutaraggedlinendusterandapairofcottontrousers—socleverlyhadtheyconcealedtheseveralsuitsofall-woolunderwearbeneath.
Manyoftheseprofessionalmendicantshadcomfortablehomes,andfamilies,andthousandsofdollarsinthebank;someofthemhadretiredupontheirearnings,andgoneintothebusinessoffittingoutanddoctoringothers,orworkingchildrenatthetrade.
Thereweresomewhohadboththeirarmsboundtightlytotheirsides,andpaddedstumpsintheirsleeves,andasickchildhiredtocarryacupforthem.
Thereweresomewhohadnolegs,andpushedthemselvesuponawheeledplatform—somewhohadbeenfavoredwithblindness,andwereledbyprettylittledogs.
Somelessfortunatehadmutilatedthemselvesorburnedthemselves,orhadbroughthorriblesoresuponthemselveswithchemicals;youmightsuddenlyencounteruponthestreetamanholdingouttoyouafingerrottinganddiscoloredwithgangrene—oronewithlividscarletwoundshalfescapedfromtheirfilthybandages.
Thesedesperateoneswerethedregsofthecity’scesspools,wretcheswhohidatnightintherain-soakedcellarsofoldramshackletenements,in“stale-beerdives”andopiumjoints,withabandonedwomeninthelaststagesoftheharlot’sprogress—womenwhohadbeenkeptbyChinamenandturnedawayatlasttodie.
Everydaythepolicenetwoulddraghundredsofthemoffthestreets,andinthedetentionhospitalyoumightseethem,herdedtogetherinaminiatureinferno,withhideous,beastlyfaces,bloatedandleprouswithdisease,laughing,shouting,screaminginallstagesofdrunkenness,barkinglikedogs,gibberinglikeapes,ravingandtearingthemselvesindelirium.
Share this article to
FINISH