The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899, August 26, 1898, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    THE AMERICAN,
THE WANDERING JEW.
t It M M II I i '.m tsi o
i.K i. J" I A t; 1 1. '1 "I hut H'i,r
1.1 It t HM Ii . if "Ml it din i I. it ..I ' ,
"lYll tttiU1, M Atfllt '!, IH I the Inthll
vf On-.iiiM; t'nl, i.i tilt , " f. w.iiM c"
vtl the tVniin.'lt Dwelling htii w ith Im I falh
IT, lit t Ir.lhtf, tT im', bi'i.llle h WI-he.o
have that ph ionic Willi Joll Indnt, It h quit
light Ouit ti. wlm t in talk well, should .In
tin' hoimi if the Ii.'Ht lii the new oinn , She
)ih been waiting fur ymi hii hour, and with mii-Ii
i in t i 1 1 ' "
"Pray evnie nil', iHHiloinnmrllo," cii.l Agrl
coin, gaily; " in thinking of ihe plftiii i of seeing
you, I forgot tho hour, Th.il i mr only ex
cuse." "(Hi, niolhci!" said ihe young girl, in 11 tone
of itiiht reproach, nml becoming red an a chcn y,
j why tli.l you say Ouit?"
j "I it true, yes or no? I do not blame you fir
j it; on the contrary, (io with M. Agricola, child,
I and he w ill tell you, heller than I can, what nil
j the wotkmcu of llif factory owe lo M. Hardy."
" M, Agricola," said Angela, tying the ribbons
' of her pretty cup, " w hat a iity that your good
; little aloli'. sister is not with in,"
I " Mother Hunch? yes, you are righl, iinnle.
I moiselle; hut that is only a pleasure put oil', and
Iho visit she paid lit yesterday w ill not ho the
j last."
I laving einhraceil her mother, the girl took
i Agricol i's a' nml they went out together,
" Dear me, . Agi icola! " mid Augilu;"if you
Ikiicw how nuuh I was surprised on cnleriiif; this
,; no house, after being accustomed to Bee no much
"sery amount tho poor workmen in our country,
. ainciin which I too have had my share, whilst
' here everybody seems happy ami contented. It
is really like fairy-land; I think I am in a dream,
: lllljl U'l.l.ll I .lib llltf ll.i.ll.i.l II... .1 V ft I., II. tt .lit ill
' hii 'i 'n ii i n in j iii'iiiii i ill" ty'iiii!fi,"i ii
thcs wonders, she tells me, ' M. Agricola will ex-
plain it all to you.'"
fi " Do you know why I am ho happy to under
l take th it delightful task, mademoiselle? " hu i I
Agricola, with an accent at once grave mid lend-
or. "Nothing could ho more in season,"
;. " Why o, M, Agricola? " " Because, to show
I you this house, to make you ucquuinled with all
I tho resources of our association, is to he aide to
j Buy to you: 'Here, tho workman, euro of Iho
future, is not like ho many of his poor brothers,
? obliged to rcnouneo the sweetet want of the
1 il. .l. i ..r ..I .. .!.. . .. e
i iiriu i. inu ill-pun in cuootniig a companion ior
life in tho fear of uniting misery to misery.'''
Angela cast down her eyes, and blushed.
" Here tho workmun may safely yield to the
hope of knowing the sweet joys of a family, Biire
of not having his heart torn hcroufter by the
sight of tho horrible privations of thoe who uro
dear to him; here, thanks lo order and industry,
and tho wise employment of the lrcngth of all,
S men, women anl children live happy and con-
3. . ....
tented. In a word, to explain all this to you,
mademoiselle," added Agricola, smiling with a
till more lender air, "is to prove, that lo re we
can do nothing moro reasonable than love, noth.
ing wiser than marry."
M M. Agricola," answered Angela, in a slightly
agitated voice, and blushing utill more as nhe
spoke, "s.ipposij wo were to begin our walk."
'"Directly, mademoiselle," replied tho smith,
pleased at the trouble he h id excited in that in
jgenuous soul. "Hut, come; we are near the d mi.
lory of the little girls. The chirping birds have
Hong Icf'. their nests. Let us go there."
j "Willingly, M. Agricola."
The young tmith and Angela soon entered a
f m titit Will a ilnMit ttitfif roai in 1 A t ii cr if it 41 cut r-t. It
Pj'Ul lOHfl MO( MHPM J I VOV 1 1 1 l 1 1 j MIUV HI II IIIBV'I (UC
; board ing scho. 1. The little iron bedsteads were
uirrange d in symmetrical order; at each end were
the beds of the two mothers of families, w ho took
the superintendence by turns.
"Dear me! how well it is arranged, M. Agricola;
j and how neat and cleun! Who is it that takes
such good care of it? "
j "The children themselves; we have no servants
j here. There is an extraordinary emulation be
j tween these urchins as to who shall make her
' nea mosi neaiiy, ana it amuses mem ijuuc us
much as making a bed for their dolls. Little
; girls, you know, delight in playing at keeping
house. Well, they play at it in good earnest, and
tho bouse is admirably kept in conscfpjenee."
"Oh! I understand. They turn to account
j their natural taste for all bucIi kinds of amuse
ment."
"That is the whole secret. You will ece them
everywhere usefully occupied, and delighted at
(tiA inihnrli.ua nt It. a om nlnv mania ri vpii tl.pm "
" Oh, M. Agricola! " said Angela, timidly, "only
compare these fine dormitories, so warm and
! healthy, with the horrible icy garrets, where
1 1..; hrn l. tj o I 1! ! i! ! l' " I
oif . hif i hi i ill. ! I I tic i lib
,lii.t l w.ik-... n't Jttiilit ti .tit i i-itiy ' '
" A. I lo lM inn b io i '!. It l rvi ti , '
" I V I Viol t nt 1 1 . in, I inh ii.ii'l M
limit 1 1 t ti.l . ttioth in. 'ii in b in(
"'I a'li i' infc I i tl'iiili t i-.i. t id' tc iih' ' "
Hi I A il U "ill itll Hiilf. ' tl h l"l. I'll l .i
Hill. It. t hill pt I bsp ill Will III In M lot
"Why so, M, Acnn.l.t" " I It It iMi'ltfl
I u lily in t hf h iii I I n it mi It h a belter and imoe
Ki iierou brail llutl M llntdy; be the guml f.r
Its ow ii iike. ti ml w it limit lhliiktit t f In p t'oiml
liitent. And Jet, Millie. Angela, vtt If he the
iiml celtipli tin I avail! boi of im it, be would Mill
tin. I II gleiitly In bis a-httiitne In be as cninforl
iible us w e nie,"
"Is it pKntible, M. Agnciila Volt lell me mi,
and I believe it; but if good can mi easily be done,
if there is even an advantage in doing it, why is
il lint more commonly attempted V " "Ah!
inademoi-elle, it requires three gifts very rarely
met with in the same person know ledge, power
and will."
"Alas! yes. Those who hae the knowledge,
have not the power."
"And those who haa- the power, have neither
the knowledge nor the will."
" Hut how -tines M. Hardy (iud any advantage
ill the good he does for VoU."
"I will expl. tin that presently, iiiadeiiniiiclhi."
"dli! what a nice, nweet Miiell of fruit!" t-aid
Angela, suddenly. "Our coinni m fruit store
is close at hand. I wager we thall lind there
sonic of the little birds from the dormitory not
occupied in picking mid stealing, but hard at
wink."
"Cpeuing the door, Agricola led Angela into a
large room, furnished with shelves, on which the
winter-fruits were arranged in order. A number
of children, from seven to eight yeais old, neatly
and warmly clad, and glowing w th health, ex
erted themselves cheerfully, under the superin
tendence of u woman, in M-parting nml soiling
the spoilt fruit.
"You see," said Agricola, wherever it is possi
b!e, we make use of the chihlieii. These occupa
tions are umtHemenls for them, answering to the
need of 'movement and activity natural to their
age; and, in this way, we can employ the grown
girls and the women lo much better advantage,"
" True, M, Agricola; how well it is arranged."
"And if you saw what services the urchins in
the kitchen render! Directed by one or two
women, I hey do the work of t ight or ten ser
vants." " In fact, said Angela, smiling, "at
their age, we like so much to play at ctoking
dinner. They must be delighted."
"And, in the same way, tinder pretext of play
ing at gardening, they weed the ground, gather
the fruit and vegetables, water tho flowers, roll
the paths, and so on. Inn word, this artny of
infant-workers, who generally remain till ten or
twelve years of age without being of any service,
are here very useful, Kxcept three hours of
school, which is quite suflicient for them, from
the age of six or seven their recreations are
turned to good account, and the dear little creat-.
tiref, by Ihe tsiiving of full-grown arms which
they effect, actually gain more than they cost;
and then, mademoiselle, do you not think there
is Bomethiug in the piesence of childhood thus
mixed up with every labor something mild,
pure, utmost sacred, which has its influence on
our w ords and actions, and imposes a s il utary
reserve? The coarsest man will respect the
presence of children."
"The more one reflects, the mote one sees that
,.i i ' .1 i . .i . i .
evervtiiing lie re is realty designed mr ino nup li
nes) of all!" said Angela, in admiration,
"It has not been done without trouble. It was
necessary to conquer prejudicies, and break
through customs. Hut see, Mdlle, Angela! here
we are at the kitchen," added tho smith, muling;
"is it not as imposing us that of u barrack or
a public school?"
Indeed, the culinary department (if tho Com
mon Dwelling-house was immense. All its uten
sils wcro bright and clean; and thanks to tho
marvelous and economical inventions of modern
science (which are always beyond the reach of
the poorer classes, to whom they uro most neces
sary, because they can only be practised mi a
large scale), not only the lire on tho hearth, and
in the stoves, was fed with half tho quantity of
fuel that would have been consumed by each
family individually, but tho excess of tho caloric
sufficed, with the uid of well-constructed tubes, to
spread a mild und equal warmth through ull
purls of the bouse. And here also children, un
der the direction of two women, rendered numer
ous services. Nothing could be more comic thun
the serious manner in which they performed
their culinary functions; il was the same with
tho assistance they gave the bakehouse, where, nt
an extraordinary saving in the price (for they
bought flour wholesale), they made an excellent
I, ; i I im l , . ,,(. . I . I j Hf !,t i l
t ,. pt, t, i ! ; i . t i .1 I. tin i it I I.!. t
eHt ti - t 'Mirtt 'J ini.tif ' b 'trlt I ;
iit i t--t 4 III l
l.tl, DlMir lUtlmul," (tll Allm!) 1
l'itl',1 , t H . Oh Kirttli'lt th.tl fc'MVIjV I. I.
Itnip'tin g Ihe !' rti.'tili.Mi ( e ft l p i ,
oi 0. ..f ttHiiis. bf' Wt'hlnc hcwuly Iff'
OiH hi I' H H lib pin t tl I t t f, lu'ltt .. (Ml I ril.
Ill ' '
W bit 1 1 I t n l iiOliit M linr j;i i It'll I I m. II I i.,i ,
nf tin .i.t iittlmtUt kilt. I " g.md dilV, DilUO'
l.tM!.l A i t-lliiit l' til lob , I d- lot pits;
lb. ll,i Oo'bl t.f Ibn kit, hen I only web it I"'
ht aduiittd bv lbi Voting bolt , h' i .1 l.ew - -
I Hill I Hlili.t,t Ul
" Adniiie, my hid, ptay H'lmin antl nbnvt nil
like li"tu e, how 'guild Ibene brut nie, and Imw
well they wink'" Ho saying, th matron pointrd
with the lung ladle, whiih served her it a scep
tre, lo some liftceii children of both sexen, seated
round a lable, antl tleeply iibsoibe.l in the exer
cise of their functions, which consisted in peeling
potatoes and picking beibs.
" We are, I see, to have a downright H' lia.
.ar's least, Dame Heilnmd?" saitl Agricola,
laughing,
" I'aith ! a feast like we have always, my lad.
I lerc is our bill of fare for toilitv , , good vge
table soup, loast beef with pot .(ins, salad, fruit,
cheese; and for extras, it being .Sunday, some
currant tarts made by Mother Denis at the bake
house, where the oven is heat inn now."
"What ymi tell me, Dame Hcrtraud, gives me
a fur. out appetite, " mid Agricola, gaily. "One
soon knows when il is your turn in the kilchin,"
added he, w ith n flattering air '(let along,
do!" said the female Soyer on service, mcirilv.
" What astonishes me so much, M. Agricola,"
said Angela, us they continued their walk, "is
the e iiiipafisou of the iiisulliciciit, unwholesome
food of the workmen in our countiy, with that
which is provided here."
"And yet we do not. spend more than twenty
live sous a day, for much beltci food than we
should get for three frillies in Paris. "
"Hut really it is hard to believe, M, Agricola,
How is it possible?"
" It is thanks to Ihe magic wand of M. Hardy.
I will explain it all presently."
"Oh! how impatient I am to see M, Hardy!"
"Vou w ill soon no him perhaps today ; for he
is expicted every moment. Hut here is the re
fectory, which you do not yet know, as your fam
ily, like many others, prefer dining at home. See
what a line room, looking out on the garden, just
opposite the fountain ! "
It was indeed u Vast hall, built in the form of
a gallery, with ten windows opening on the gar
den. Tables, covered with shilling oil-cloth,
were ranged along the walls, mi that, in winter,
this apartment served in the evening, after work,
us a place of meeting for those who (referred to
pass an hour together, instead of remaining alone
or with their families. Then, in this large hall,
well warmed and brilliantly lighted with gas,
some read, some played cards, some talked, and
some occupied themselves with easy work.
"That is not all," Biiid Agricola to the young
girl; " I urn sure you will like (his apartment still
better when I tell you, that on Thursdays and
Sundays wo make a ball-room of it, and on Tues
days and Saturdays a concert-room,"
"Really!"
" Yes," continued the smith proudly, " we have
iiiiiong-t us musicians, quite capable of tempting
us to dance, Moreover, twice it week, nearly all
of us sing in chorus men, women and children.
Unfortunately, (his week, some disputes that have
arisen in the factory have prevented our con
certs." "So many voices! that must be superb,"
" It is very line, I assure you, M. Hardy has
always encouraged this amusement amongst us,
which has, he says and he is right so power
ful an effect on the mind ami the manners. One
winter, he sent for two pupils of tho celebrated
Wilhelm, and since then, our school has made
great progress, I assure you, Mdlle. Angela, that,
without flattering ourselves, there is something
truly exciting in tho sound of two hundred
voices, singing in chorus some hymn to Labor
or Freedom. You shall hear it, and you will, l
think, acknowledge that there is something groat
and elevating in the heart of man, in this frater
nal harmony of voices, blending in one grave,
sonorous, imposing sound."
" Oh! I believe it. Hut whut happiness to in
habit here. It is a life of joy; for lubor mixed
with recreation, becomes itself a pleasure."
"Alas! here, us everywhere, there are tears and
sorrows," replied Agricola, sadly. "Do you see
that isolated building, in a very exposed situa
tion?" "Yes; whut is it?" "That is our hospital
for the sick. Happily, thanks to our healthy
mode of life, it is not often full; an annual sub
scription enables us to have a good doctor.
Moreover, a mutual benefit society is arranged in
such a manner amongst us, that any one of us,
i! I l .f tl ttr, i. i t r t Oi ; f . f
H.-IlM bt 4tl ill b!0.
" H t !) ,t !l . t I' i I lh.it , M.
(U "'t t-n h t.On f (.) tif 0 b-t
i Ii l ! !. h !iimi, wilh tr Uil id,
' I and b I no I oiuUr .n Ifi i iht ,w .
iti Li. i , I ii 1 1 bt i ..a, v .mi r 0, sUI.lt , mi If
b'fl no I Motl ir t r Ihf ! t b t f lh f n .
t"tV In I i
"lltlt M AfcMlitiU i'l "l I'll In lb Ml it I
of U Ihe w mi.l, i "
" In It II in I it ul w, V i n brt!l uo b'l Hid It at!,
to. It moi.i lie '
riifoituimtely, Angeln's curi.ily t fur a
w bile tlis ppoiiilcd. The gill m uw Itanding
with Agiiettbi rloe to Ihe iron gate, which shv;l
in ihe garden fimii ihe broad avenue that separ
ated the factory from ihe ('mummi Dwelling
houe Suddenly, the Aind brought from the
distance Ihe sound of trumpets ami military
music; then was heard the gallop of two horse,
approaching rapidly, antl soon after a general
oflicer made his appearance, mounted on a line
black charger, with a long flowing tail und crim
son housings; he wore cavalry boots and white
breeches, after the fashion of the empire; his un
iform glittered with gold embroidery, the red
l ili! on of the Legion of Honor was passed over
bis light cpauh-t, with its four silver stars, and
his hat had a broad gold border, and w as crow ned
with a white pi nie, the distinctive sign reserved
for flic marshals of France. No warricr could
I ave had a more martial and chivalrous air, or
have sat more proudly on his war-horse. At tho
moment Marshal Simon (for it was he) arrived
opposite the phn e wlote Angela und Agricobi
were standing, he drew up his horse suddenly,
sprung lightly to the ground, und threw the
gulden reins to u .servant in livery, who followed
also on horseback.
"Where shall I wuit for your grace?" asked
jrroom. "At the end of the uvenue," said
the marshal.
And, unc v ring his head respectfully, ho
advanced hastily with his hat in his hand, to
meet a person whom Angela und Agricola had
not previously perceived. This person soon up
pcared nt a turn of the avenue; he was an old
man. with an energetic, intelligent countenance.
He wore a very neat blouse, and a cloth cap over
bis long, white hair. With his hands in his
pockets, he was quietly smoking un old meer
schaum pipe.
"(inod n oriiing, father," said the marshal, re
Spcctfully, us he all'ectionutcly embraced the old
workman, who, having tenderly returned tho
pressure, said to him: "Put on your hut, my
boy. Hut how gay we ure ! " added he, with a
ssnilo,
" I have just been to a review, father, close by;
and I took the opportunity to cull on you ui
soon us possible."
" But shsll I then not see my grund-duiighterH
today, us I do every Sunday?"
"They ure coming in a carriage, father and
Diigobert accompanies them."
" But what is tho matter? you appear full of
thought."
"Indeed, father," said the marshal, with a
simewhut agitated air, "I have serious thing lo
talk about."
"(Jomo in, then," said tho old man, with some
anxiety, Tho marshal and his father disappeared
ut tho turn of the avenue.
Angela hud been struck with uiuu.eiuent at
seeing this brilliant Oetiornl, who was entitled
"your grace," salute an old workman in a blousa
as hii father; and, looking at Agricola with a
confused'uir, sho said to him: " What, M. Agri
cola! this (dd workman "
"Is the father of Marshal Duke do Ligny the
friend yes, I may say the friend," added Agri
cola, with emotion, "of my fat her, who for twenty
years served under him in war."
"To be placed so high, and yet be so respect
ful und tender to his father!" said Angela. "Tho
murshtil must have a very noble heart; but why
does ho let his father remain a workman?"
"Because Fulher Simon will not quit his trade
and the factory for anything in the world. Ho
was born a workman, and ho will die a workman,
though ho is the father of a duke und marshal of
France."
CIIAPTFU LI.
TIIK KKCIIKT.
When tho very natural astonishment which
the arrival of Marshal Simon had caused in An
gela hud passed uwuy, Agricola said to her with
a smile: " I do not wish to take advantage of
this circumstance, Millie, Angela, to spare you tho
uccount of tho secret, by which ull the wonders
of our Common Dwelling-house ure brought to
puss."
"Oh! I should not have lot you forget your
promise, M. Agricola," answered Angela, "what
you have already told me interests ine too much
for that,"