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Tous las autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenyant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la darnidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. crofiche ling "CON- 'END"). Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon !e cas: la symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". ilmed at ) large to be a filmed ner, left to ames as jstrate the Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent 6tre filmds d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document eat trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd. il est film6 d partir de Tangle 8up6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imagas nicesaalre. Les diagrammes suivants lllustrent P«i mdthooo. 1 2 3 4 5 6 I[P rtk .,v.<<(,t-\^-:"^ff^ - ' JUg. ' J '' [Price] ii Til Mfif 11 fA-lIB," ISAAC BROOME PATERSON, N. J.: J. A. CRAIG,' PRINTER AND PUBLISHER, 1890- [35 CTS.] ■ UMIiJlU l l i ^T^ W "The brother. Splendor and Woe, BY ISAAC BROOME. ^r t-C^ PATKRSON, N. J.: J. A. CRAIG, PRINTER & PUBLISHER. 189CA --O It I* -1 ^ ^ y f\ ^ CoPyRIOHTKD 1890, By ISAAC BROOME. m I "Let us raise a srtandarj to which the wise and honest can repair." Geok(jf Washington. PREFACE. Some v'ork in sculpture that I had to do for the Paris Exposition of 1889 brought me back to New York City after an absence of twelve years, affording me an opportunity to observe what social changes had occurred in the metropolis during that intei val. The silent pres) invited the natural supposition that the la- bor reform movement inaugurated at the time Henry George's ' j,: "Progress and Poverty" made its ap- pearance, was completely dead. Imagine my surprise at finding the largest audiences in New York City at ' tending "the American public School ?,nd anti-Poverty crusade" under the leadership of the excommunicated priest McGlynn, who in a competitive vote for the most popular citizen, received nearly 1 56,000. I found al- so that the Socialists were holding well organized meetings all over the city. Labor societies were studying economic questions. The Single Taxists were active and abundant. The Philosophical An- archists had large, successful gatherings under the leadership of Hugh 0. Pentecost, who had left the pulpit for that purpo ;e. The Nationalist movement thrr^ugh the philosophy presented in Bellamy's story of "Looking Backward," had rapidly sprung into great lif?. spreading like wildfire over the United States. While numberless lectures and debates by advanced thinkers on economic subjects were listened to by VI PREFACE. anxious, inquiring throngs of people. President Cleve- land had been downed by the private corporations of the country on account of his message to the 50th Congress warning the people of the danger of trusts. And his successor had been elefled by a powerful cap- italistic combination to represent end care for their special interests in grasping all the material wealtli of the United States. In England a gigantic, business paralysing strike had succeeded under the sudden emergence of SociaLstir power and the leadership of John Burns. The "Times" conspiracy to destroy Par- nell and the Liberal movement in Ireland had met with disasterous failure, causing breaks in the Tory ranks. The downfall of Bismarkian tyranny was wit- nessed in Germany, caused oy a powerful increase of State Socialists votes at the elections. In one short and memorable year Ballot reform was inaugurated and established. The press everywhere had abandon- ed its open ho.stility to economic ideas and movements, and even the most con.servative magazines were made interesting by the astonishing introdu6lion of econom- ic articles, for which an universal and eager demand seemed to suddenly spring up among the reading public. In addition to all this the Centennial celebration of Washington's inaugural took place in New York City with unusual pomp and ceremony ; an account of which is given by the spirit of Edward Pureheart in the second century after. To all of which we will in- troduce the reader through the kindness of the unfor- tunate Comus, whose raillery against absurdities brought him so many calamities. dent Cleve- Dorations of 3 the 50th sr of trusts, iwerful cap- re for their al wealUi of ic, business the sudden eadcrship of iestroy Par- d had met n the Tory ny was wit- 1 increase of n one short inaugurated ad abandon- movements, s were made I of econom- jer demand iding public, elebration of / York City account of Purcheart in 1 we will in- of the unfor- absurdities 'THE BROTHER." CHAPTER I. COMUS' ARRIVAL. THE NEW ZEALAND COLONY. Sounds of merriment were heard proceeding from a group of people who were enjoying the summer evening oh the sloping bank of a broad river. The twilight had ended and was but faintly visible on the western horizon. Night had fairly settled in and the group had provided for the darkness by some strange instru- ment, which they placed on the grass lawn, that illu- minated the place Hke an electric light. Evidently they were preparing to retire to avoid the evtning dews and were having some mirth-provo'ang pleas- antry among themselves before their departure to a mansion that stood on a terraced rise of the slope near by. Suddenly a noise in the air like the whirr of a sky rocket wa& heard and the group was startled by seC" iag the figure of a man come tumbling through the air and rolling over and over on the grass near where they stood. A stream of sparks cf red fire was in the sky in the direction from whence he came that as sud- denly retreated, disappearing from view leaving a dis- 2 "THE BROTHER." "Agreeable sulphurous odor behind. The man who tumbled on the grass as though h6 ^ad been shot out of a cannon, appeared to be urthurt and sat up at once ; looking around to see where he Vas, the light on the lawn and the group of people seemed to surprise and amus. him, for immediately he began to laugh. This conduct dispelled the fear of the group at the singular introduction of this strang- er from the skies, who continued laughing violently as he said, at the way the Devil was fooled ; old 'Cloots' thought to banish him to the desolate island where New York formerly stood, but here were people, lawns, houses, and a good place to live in. If the old Devil had only chased him a little farhter and had not been so blinded by anger he would have found people hefe and pretty soon an old time New York lawyer would have beren commissioned to get hifn some customers ; and again he commenced laughing heartily. "Have you many people herei*" he inquired, when he had regained his breath. "Yes, a great many," the group replied. "Well, well, well ; you must be all angels, f'br the Devil doesn't know it, ha! ha! ha! None of your folks ever get down to see his drawing room, ha! ha! ha!" "Are you crazy that you carry on in this way.'" ask- ed one of the gentlemen of the group. / "No. I am not crazy ; far from it. I am perfectly conscious and quite sane, I assure you." "Who are you then.'" "Who am I! My name is Comus." ' "Where did you come from.'" as thougVi h(i J to bti urthurt see where he , oiip of people r immediately elled the fear of this strang- hing violently d;old 'Cloots' island where people, lawns, the old Devil 1 had not been id people hefe : lawyer would me customers ; rtily. inquired, when ed. angels, f^r the e of your folks I, ha! ha! ha!" / this way?"ask- / I am perfectly ii "THE BROTHER. "I came from Hell. Did you not see the .streak of fire the old Devil left behind when he landed me on the barren island, as he thought? Why, I can smell the sulphur yet. He always smells strongly of sulphur when he is mad, ha! ha! ha!" ••You take us for children, or superstitious savag<^s," replied a gentleman in the group. "Oh, no, I think ngthi' i of the kind. You can be- lieve what you please about my statements, but I as- sure you that was the Devil that you saw in the air ; and he chased me here because I kept up such fun in Hell that the people did not half feel their torture. Old 'Cloots' finally got mad about it and drove me out with his fork, and so I am here." "How did you get^to Hell.?" asked the gentleman. "Why, I thought every one knew that. Don't you know that Jupiter drove me out of Heaven for making fun of Venus.' And I had no place to go except to Hell, so I thought to make the best of it, which I did. Oh! wc had a jolly time ; but the old Devil would not have fun down there, so the meanest place he thought to chase me to was the ground where New York used to be. The New Yorkers are nearly all down there ; and Washington and Jefferson told the folks on the planet Jupiter that they had invoked the Spirit of de- struction and wined out the few savage descendents of the New York lawyers, leaving only an old vault ' standing that contained some books left by a man call- ed "The Brother" a hundred years before." Getting up on his feet, Comus inquired if they knew anything of the vault, and if it had ever been found, •5 r •ttiE BKOTHER." Stating that he knew where to look for it ; that he had seen New York in Nineteenth century times and knew all the people who were in Hell, and could locate it at once, if it still existed. The people in the group informed him that it had been found and it^ contents were all preserved, and that he could have the pleasure of inspecting the records in the museum if he wished. "You are a singular visitor sir, and come to us from a strange country that we would like to know more about should you be inclined to grant us the favor ; and we will extend to you our hospitality if you desire, requesting only that you play us no tricks for we have read of your character as represented in the mytholo- gies. A god who has lived with Jupiter may hardly need the hospitality of mortals, still we know of no other way than to treat you like one of ourselves." "Thanks," replied Comus. "The gods krow no higher virtue than a true and generous hospitality ; and no greater vice than its abuse. I may be expell- ed from Heaven and Hell for my excessive mirth, but I am still a God and know the value of, and how to respect, the attributes that exalt both god and man. You, friends, may have no fear of Comus. If you can bear my unfortunate vice of mimicry, in all other re- spe<5ls, you will find me not wanting." "Your sentiments are in accoto with our own, ' humor is not considered with us a vice, and we heart- ily bid you welcome. Will you walk within.'" The interior of the house was cheerfilly lighted and a number of friends, who had gathered for even- : for it ; that :eiitury times :1I, and could m that it had reserved, and nspecting the ime to us from know more us the favor ; if you desire, :s for we have the mythoio- may hardly 2 know of no jurselves." jods krow no I hospitality ; lay be expell- ive mirth, but f, and how to god and man. i. If you can all other re- th our own, md we heart- thin?" ■fully lighted ■ed for even- "THE BROTHER." ing amusement, took great interest in the peculiar stranger, who did not suffer from embarrassment on account of his appearance, or from being the object of so much attraction in a company of charming people who were as unreserved as childr|ii, and as frank in their inquiries and expressions of wonder. The young man who extended to Comus the invi- tation to partake of their hospitality, now seen in the brilliantly illuminated f.partment, presented a face and brow of extraordina- y intelleftual beauty, coupled wite a phisique quite as remarkable for its manly pro- portions and vigor, that resembled strongly the Bel- videre Apollo. He had remained observant and thoughtful during the introdudlion of Comus, but as soon as the first flush of conversation relaxed, the op- portunity was embraced to inquire of Comus what he knew about "the Brother" who had left the strange records of Nineteenth century times in the vault ; stat- ing that he was exceedingly desirous to study the character of the man who had, amidst such antagon- istic surroundings and under such adverse circum- stances, been able to eliminate the true basis on which society could only properly exist ; and confer so great a ble-ssing upon the present civilization, by transmit- ting his sublime reasoning on the causes that had de- stroyed every effort of man to reach the civilized state, with such labor and skill that, but for him, the useful knowledge of that wonderful period, would have been entirely lost, leaving society to redevelop itself again, in the same manner as all other previous civil- izations, with the same defe<5ls and with the same dis- 'i v ■ >l pJiiBiffijiirni 6 ' TilE^ROTHER." *' ^j . u astrous results. ' . "I can give you th« most minute information re- specting "The Brother," replied Comus, but it is first necessary to inspect his histories and records. To make the matter clt^r much would require to be said about the state of society of those times, and of the peculiar characters that were developed out of th^ir conditions. If you will kindly permit me I would like to introduce the subject by inquiring how you came here, for I understood that the only human beings now existing on the earth were the idle savages who inhab- it the tropics, living by the chase." . ^ "With pleasure, sir. Helena, will you bring me from the library grand-father's history of 'The Voy- age from New Zealand.?' "Here, sir, is a work written by one of the voyagers who settled on ancient New York, who arrived jast ten years after some violent natural catastrophe happened on this island; the time we could judge from the growth of plants upon its surface. The indications of such an upheaval, or inundation, which ever it was, did notde» ter our ancestors from locating here, because they had left a more dangerous country and were willing to take any risk on account of the beautiful bay and the noble waters emptying into it., "This history explains the disasters that had hap- pened to the various countries of Europe, Asia, Amer- ica, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. How the gigantic operations of commerce and production were concentrated in the hands of a few persons, in the several countries, who controlled all the wealth mMMMymj formation re- but it is first records. To re to be said , and of the out of th^ir 2 I would like )W you came n beings now :s who inhab- t ■ * ou bring me 'The Voy- the voyagers rived jilst ten )he happened m the growth ns of such an s, did not de- ause they had re willing to bay and the at had hap- Asia, Amer- aland. How i production / persons, in the wealth "THE BROTrtKR," artti .i\jsorbcd al^ the earnings of the people, until a savage resistance was developed among the suffering people, who finally came to starve for food; that brought on insurrection in every country, against which the monopolists and their paid adherents struggled until all wealth was destroyed. The few remaining people who survived were of the meanest sort and were ob- liged to subsist as savages. "In the interior of New Zealand was a fertile valley, somewhat inaccessible by mountains where our fore- fathers dwelt in a quiet, primitive, agricultural com- munity. None were mure wealthy than the rest, all were on a piano of social equality. Their distance from the great centres of trade obliged them to pro- duce for themselves, such implements and manufac- tures as they needed. Monopoly had not developed with them at the time of the crisis throughout the great commercial nations consequently they, by their isolated geographical position and simple life, escaped the catastrophe that blotted out civilization from the en- tire face of the earth. For when the crash came in one of the great countries it broke out rapidly in all the rest ; every locality becoming a centre of insurrec- tion, so that concentration of force to crush it was impossible. "With the obliteration of the postal service, the news papers and shipping, our fore-fathers lost trace of what had occurred in the great nations, and when no means of communication revived, they naturally came to the conclusion that the rest of the world had shared the same fate as New Zealand. ■01 ■ V. nti_ 8 "THE BROTHER." "Their colony grew somewhat, so that they were enabled to establish communication with the coast, where they planted a good strong colony, with the re- sult of finally constructing some small sea-worthy vessels, rigging them with their own manufactured ropes and canvass. The occasion of this was because volcanic eruptions were increasing throughout the is- land, convincing them that the time was near when necessity would oblige them to vacate their beautiful and productive valley, where they lived in peace and happiness, and seek some other part of the world free from volcanic dangers. "At last they decided to start fourteen of their best vessels on a voyage of discovery, with the intention of seeking a home in North America, providing the condition of that country would perniit it. The hon- est and affectionate people seperated from their loved ones to practically go to an unknown world. Of course they had their old maps, geographies, and books con- taining information of the world as it existed in their fathers' time, so that there was much to guide them as to coasts, ocean currents, trade winds, and the various climates. They also were acquainted with astronomy and had the mariners compass. With these advanta- ges they made their way southward rounding the African cape, for they had correflly supposed that the Suez canal might be' destroyed and impassable. "It was not without hardship and great danger that they managed to keep together, meeting at different jjoints of the coast, when they Ic^t each other or be- came scattered, while making their way northward to t they were I the coast, with the re- sea- worthy lanufacturcd was because ;hout the is- near when eir beautiful 1 peace and e world free of their best he intention oviding the The hon- I their loved Ofcourse I books con- ted in their uide them as \ the various \\ astronomy ;se advanta- >unding the >sed that the sable. danger that at differertt >ther Of be- lorthward to 'THE BROtHER the Azore islands, for along the coast were found many dangerous white savages, who were extremely cun- ning and cruel murderers. Superior discipline among the navigators, enabled them to protect themselves during the entire route. "From the Azore islands they succeeded in gaining the South American coast, where they found only sav- ages, but in the tropics they were not so dangerous. "The voyage northward was made by the West Indies along the Florida, Carolina, and Virginian coasts, with but one dangerous storm off cape Hatteras, from which they escaped with comparatively little damage, enter- ing at last the Bay of New York which was found un- inhabited, except by wild beasts." "What would the New York politicians say to this story, could I only get back and tell it It? would be a fine supplement to the old fourth of July orations, and the spread-eagle buncombe that set the American idiots to yelling and the fire crackers popping. Oh! those were funny times!" And Comus chuckled down in his throat till it was some time before the young man could continue his story. "Well, our fore-fathers commenced to care for their ships so as to keep them in good order for their crews to return and bring the rest of their friends to the new home which they had selefted here. As soon as this v/as done, the colonists began to ere6l houses and prepare the ground for crops, to provide for the future. It was early spring and they managed to plant and harvest enough food on Long Island to secure them for the next year, as well as to provision their I I ; ■■m:mmmsv.mim^s gBtegggKa£52ys^i?gagaegaf2ma*iasss,iaaa W^ w liiiiHnMiiifii^^ 1^. 10 'THE Brother." crews for the return voyage, which was now made di- rectly to the Azores. The next year moia of the col- onists came, and at the end of five years thtr entire- New Zealand community was transferred to America, with the aid of a few additional vessels which they constructed." , . "Brave fellows!" said Comus. "Have you ever heard of Columbus and MaKoUan* and the hardy men who first discovered America.'" "Oh yes, we have preserved our histories and know all the ancient world and their doings. "One of the first things that happened on the Island was the discovery of 'the Brother's' vault and the re- markable histories, together with the description of the scientific machines and the drawings of them. Be- side the vault was a small tomb to the memory of •Oony Mcguire, a victim of society,' which excited great furiosity, but we could never unravel the mys- tery. Do you know anything of that.'" "Yes ; I will tell you of it some time." "The records of the vault so agitated the minds of our fore-fathers that they held a council to put in practice, for their future government, the advice of 'the Brother.' And this unknown man is the founder of our civilization, whose wonders you will bee for your- self, under which we have lived happily, without strife or contention, ever since. And we .^re only too happy now to be able to learn more particularly of his indi- viduality, so that we may not worship him ; but honor ourselves by honoring his memory. "The great inventions of the f'incteenth century be- low made di- I a of the col- s tht; entire to America, which they nd MaR«.'llani America?" ries and know on the Inland t and the re- description of \ of them. Be- B memory of vhich excited ivel the mys- thc minds of cil to put in the advice of is the founder ill see for your- , without strife mly too happy ly of his indi- im ; but honor ith century be- 7 "THR IROTHER. li jjan to be studied by our young men and soon, by the bid of 'the Brother's' carefully prepared records, we were able to produce the machines, one after another, until finally all were accomplished and our people, through the study and practice, under more favor&ale social conditions than the Nineteenth century people had, far surpassed the inventions of that day, comple- ting many useful things that they only vaguely dream- ed of. Simply becau.se the people of our times were free from the individual strain of providing for their livelihood, and were not obliged to barter their ideas and inventions to the greedy, cheating monopolists of that day, " "Ah! those poor devils of inventors died one after another from starvation. There was a show of justice in the courts but the poor fellows had not the money to defend themselves, from the rapacious rich robbers who took their inventions and used them defiantly. When the poor devils raised a little money and appli- ed to the courts for justice, the rich men postponed the trial and fought it for years, until the inventors were exhausted and gave up the contest, or died broken hearted, when the robbers went on happily, became rich and honored, indeed, almost worshipped. It was hard on the poor inventors; but grand for rich robbers. The poor fellows of that day used to have a superstition with which they comforted themselves, which was to the effect, 'that those who acquired wealth by injustice, would come to an evil end.' You could not believe what a satisfaction they took out of tb;s notion, ani how persistent they were in this be- •( J ,1 •■J jm^sm^&^^ ■»«l«>lillil 12 "THE BROTHER. Hef, even with the /acts of the permanent success of the greatest scoundrels in all ages before their eyes. It was one of the fumy things of those times. •'The courts of justice! ha! ha! ha! Why, to obtain ju«tice, you had t(; have plenty of money for the court expenses and the lawyers. Justice was not protectiv-e to the weak and helpless ; it had to be paid for. No very rich criminal could be punished, even for murder. You need not stare ; it is a fact. The political robbers managed to appoint, or elect, the prosecuting attorney who would humbug the people and kill the case some- how, so that the robbers could not be brought to jus- tice or punished. When the corrupt governors appoint- ed he judge, or when the judges were elected by the degraded and uneducated sc.^m, is it not natural that the judges would be such as must decide for the interests of their masters, who were the robbers and the scum.' When things became so bad that injustice was openly and defiantly done and all governmental virtue was lost, a few reformers arose who partially or wholly denounced the corruptions, but they were laughed to scorn or killed, generally after legal form, the wretches whom they tried to save assisting and enjoying the murder of these good fellows. Ha! ha! ha! Oh! the Nineteenth century people were dandies in the waj'^ of jjustice." "Your statements," said Helena "agree with those of our great master.'the Brother', excepting that his account is sad and serious, entirely without the amuse- ment you seem to enjoy from the misfortunes of those wretched people. I ttiink should you read the history ^^ lent success of ore their eyes. times. Why, to obtain ey for the court 5 not protective : paid fof. No ven for murder, olttical robbers cuting attorney the case somt- brought to jus- ernors appoint- e elected by the ot natural that decido for the le robbers and id that injustice I governmental ivho partially or >ut they were fter legal form, e assisting and ows. Ha! ha! e were dandies jree with those epting that his bout the amuse- Drtunes of those read the history 'f'TKE BROTHER." IS of the crushed toilers that tears would take the place of laughter." " My dear lady, pardon me if I appear unappreci- ative of the misfortunes of the toilers. When I think of what fools they were to suffer misery and death at the hands of a few men, who took all the land, capital and productions from the land and their labor ; when they could have corrected it ail in five minutes and lived ^s happily, as you say you now do, and with the same comfort. Pardon me. Have you any poor people among you.'" ' "No sir ; not one. All have the same comfort that you see here." "Well, I was goiag to say, that these peor fools were the authors and supporters of their own misfort- unes through their ignorance and superstitions. Why, there were more absurdities than miseries, although there were enough to destroy them all, the miseries perishing with them. But ihe absurdities still live and to me they are the important part of their whole existence." "I doubt if I' shall be able to agree with your reasoning." "Never mind; let that go. I see that I shall, through my inclination to laugh at folly, soon be in trouble here too. if I do not restrain myself." "Do not misconstrue our frankness," replied Kolena. "We are free from Nineteenth century conversational vices. The truth as we see and feel it is always spoken ; no one would give or accept offense. Truth is above and beyond personal opinion. Truth is a w wmmm 14 •THE BROTHER. deity. Personal opinion may be a vice". ''Your sentiments are unusual for humanity. Per- sonal opinion was the only virtue I ever knew any of them to claim, for it they would contend and fight un- til they killed one another. They lived .d died by it. It was constitutional with all the old stock of men that I knew, to deny any statement as soon ay pre- sented. No matter what it was, even a mathematical calculation, 'That's not so,' was the first word. 'I don't believe it.' 'You must be a fool, a crank, or a jack-ass.' That is all the reasoning I ever heard in nineteenth century times, and that settled it." And Comus fell into a fit of laughing that brought smiles to the countenances of all the ladies and gentlemen present. "Mr Comus, would you like vo retire?" "No Miss, I never become fatigued like mortals. Do not permit ;ne to delay your hour of rest, for I shall fully amuse myself by walking abou^ the neighborhood . You may lock up the house if you wis!.'." "We never lock the house. The door may be closed for fear of storm ; but the house is always open for who- ever chooses to ente*-." "Have you no fear of thieves and murderers.'" "Oh no," said Helena, laughing, "that antiquated disease is entirely obliterated »vith us. it departed with its cause, with the death of monopoly which also expired, never to be resuscitated, I hope." "How then do your lawyers and police live.''" "We hav^ no necessity for such things. We have read of their cruel doings in 'the Brother's' histories imanity. Per- • knew any of i and fight un- i -d died by i stock of men soon ai4 pre- , mathematical first word. *I a crank, or a ever heard in tied it." And brmight smiles md gentlemen ?" .„.jt;- i.... -I jMdii ,iagS«fej«MH;>.M^:i -.-^difcaPAK:-.. amm ^t^^^ fj;,.,\ t8 "THE BROTHER. monotony of colonade. Open areas were frequent at the intersections of avenues, where cultivated plants piofuaely bloomed on bordered walks around the base of lovely sparkling fountains, sculptured and orna- mented witb wondrous skill. Circles of giant shade trees encompassed these areas, beneath which were numerous fancifully carved seats and couches for resting. Vistas in every direction revealed mon- umental termini that loomed in solemn grandeur chano-ing from deep shadow to softened light as the drifti. g clouds of the moonlit sky revealed or hid them from view. At length he reached a large central square decorated by a grand mausoleum of an indescribably delicate effect. Section after section of its members rose above each other, forming porches of doubled and tripled columns supporting elliptic spans, diminishing in lighter forms above, terminating in a circular bel- videre of artistic architecture. An inscription on the lower entablature read: "The tribute of a happy people to the memory of 'The Brother.'" Comus ex- amined this structure attentively observing the elabor- ately carved and sculptured surfaces as well as the moonlight permitted. Then ascending by an easy winding stair, he reached the belvidere where a pan- orama presented itself to his wondering eyes, which eclipsed in the extent and magnitude of its outlines, his astonishment at the beauty of its details witnessed on the broad avenues and parks, The city lay before him like a tracery of ornament. Its rigid geometric lines intercepted at sh rt distances ere frequent at tivated plants round the base red and orna- )f giant shade :neath which i and couches revealed mon- emn grandeur d light as the svealed or hid :entral square I indescribably f its members of doubled and ns, diminishing I circular bel- cription on the e of a happy '" Comus ex- ,ring the elabor- as well as the ig by an easy where a pan- g eyes, which of its outlines, ;tails witnessed •y of ornament, sh rt distances "THE BROTHER by the rosette like centres, furnished with rich works of art relieved with natural beauty. On each side of the city lay long stretches of ornamental gardens bor^ dered by the river, the dim light faintly revealing a fretted outline of ' elicate boat house like structures extending for miles in the distance. A number of Ships lay anchored in the river, without masts, sails, smoke stack or other visible propelling power. Comus thoughtfully gazed upon the scene, viewing each part again and again, often looking towards the moon that now was nearing the western horizon, until the eastern sky gave evidence by its faint light that morning was near. Soon came a few calls from the feathered inhabitants of the trees near by, answered more and more rapidly by their mates, breaking into musical notes as the joy increased with the brighteri- ing light, until the effulgent burst of the e^od of day from the midst of his bed of crimson and gold vapors, brought forth from myriads of flute like throats the inspiring hymn of morning. The inhabitants began to appear exercising them- selves in the fr shened atmosphere upon the broad avenues or in the parks. Handsome youths and pretty maidens amused themselves in a variety of ways. Pleasant faces, sweet cheerful voices, and merry laughter, were seen and heard everywhere. Surely these people were happy! Comus' strange appear- ance and red cloak attracted attention, and soon he was the centre of a number of young people, whom he delighted with his mimicry and wit, which rose to such heighth, that for sport a group of pretty girls 20 "THE BROTHER. joined hands and danced round him singing some play rhymt;, in response to which Comus gave an imitation of their feminine movements, and a pirouette that as- tonished the group, provoking laughter. A few jests at parting, and Comus returned in the direction of his landing from the sky on the previous evening, to meet his friends according to promise. They received him pleasantly, anxiously inquiring of his experience during the storm, and how he passed the night in his perambulations. They in turn were plied with innumerable questions in regard to the city as partly seen by Comus. Of the plan, its construction the dwellings, mode of life, how it came to be jo per- fectly built and of its industries. The more Comus asked the more he seemed puzzled and bewildered. Each statement drew from him a multitude of questions which Helena said, should properly be answered in detail by his visiting the various places of interest and witnessing their improvements. His curiosity led him to accept an invitation to join the party at breakfast, and a short walk brought them to a central hall where many citizens of all ages were assembled to partake of the morning repast. The waiters wei ^^ of their own class who yielded their places after serving those who breakfasted one after another and retired. Comus assisted in serving the tables when it came his friends turn. Tying his cloak under his left dirm, he displayed such alacrity in his move- ments coupled with many obsequious flourishes of the nineteenth century waiter, and occasional sly hints for a tip, that these good natured pteople passed through ^sSfw^siea^^^ ging some play ve an imitation ouette that as- '. A few jests direction of his vening, to meet ously inquiring I how he passed yr in turn were jard to the city its construction e to be jO per- e more Comus .nd bewildered, ade of questions e answered in ( of interest and vitation to join < brought them fall ages were g repast. The ded their places le after another kfing tlie tables his cloak under ' in his move- lounshes of the ional sly hints passed through the various phases of surprise, smiles, and hearty laughter. Wherever Comus went he became the centre of amusement, which these unrestrained good people seemed to enjoy, for there was not a frown on any fa'^e, and even the aged seemed to take pleasure in merriment. Evidently the bright intellectual young Apollo was deeply in love with Helena, and his attachment thor- oughly reciprocated. No attempt was made between these two lovers to disguise their afTection ; nor did it seem to attract attention. Shameful blushes arising from passionate thoughts of uncultivated minds had no place here. Loving looks and sweet smiles were open and frank. The tender passion exhibited Itself with an honest, unreserved dignity, admirable as well as pleasurable to their friends. Here no parent feared an alliance. All the com- munity was good, sound, and honorable. No barriers presented themselves to affection, and in freedom it found its natural expression. "It will he necessary Comus, for me to accompany you to the office of our General," said Agro, "so that you may be assigned to a place among our citizens and be properly provided for. Our custom requires all those who witnessed your arrival to be present and make their statements as to this strange event. After that duty is performed, we will extend to you the courtesies becoming civilized people, and present you the opportunity to obtain what pleasure or interest you may be able to draw from an examination of our life and mariners." \miWS'^^''':'^'y^mmBfismmmsmim8mss^m^smiismssss^s^^^ 33 "THE BROTHER." "Thanks, Agro. To conform to your social regu- ktions will not only be my duty but also my pleasure." "Will you walk or fly?" "Fly!" "You are unacquainted with our modes of loconro- tlon. They are developments of vague efforts of Nineteenth century times, which have been worked out in quite simple form by our scientists. Indeed it is surprising to students why they were not developed in former times, uut I suppose that was due to the hard struggle the poor scientists had to exist, or maybe to their discouragement by the monopolists against whom they had no security." "Yes that is sadly true. 'The brother' has doubt- less made you acquainted with that heartless age. I am exceedingly anxious to see what records have been left by him and will prefer to walk in this de- lightful atmosphere, should it be agreeable to the company and not a fatiguing distance for them. I shall hope to try your wings in flying at another time." "The distance is short and we all prefer to walk," said Helena. "You will thus obtain a better view of the city than by moonlight." "The view by moonlight was enchanting from the belvidere of 'The Brother's' mausoleum. No work of man, in any age, has ever given me so much pleasure. I have seen many civilizations grow «i,id decline, famous cities that cost the blood and treasure of nations and centuries of effort, but none that presented such com- pleteness, with the iippression of its perfect adaptation to the wants and comfort of humanity. \Vas it a plan 'A "THE BROTHER. 23 social rcgu- my pleasure." OS of locoiro- guc efforts of been worked :s. Indeed it not developed s due to the xist, or maybe >olists against er' has doubt- rtless age. I records have k in this de- jeable to the for them. I mother time." jfer to walk," better view of ting from the No work of luch pleasure, ecline, famous f nations and ed such com- ?ct adaptation \Vas it a plan that developed as you went on with improvements, or did you lay it out at first.^" "The first houses," replied Agro "were built of logs as temporary shelter for our forefathers. The plan of the permanent city was in The Brother's' records; in tho book called 'Sugges- tions.' Great quantities of cut stone were found, the remains of former buildings that were used for the first structures which are plainer than thos^ you see here, I will show you the first buildings erL-ted. •«o that you may Judge the progressive steps our people have made in architecture." " How did your forefather ( find time to undertake such vast works?" '■Easily enough. When they adopted 'The Broth- er's' plan of society, it was soon discovered that they could not consume the entire product and were oblig- ed to shorten the hours of labor, often stopping some of the departments for many months, until the goods would be used py the people. Nearly all the depart- ments would, as a nritter of course, stop their work to assist at planting and harvest times ; so they turned these intervals into building and improving for great- er comfort and enjoyment. It must be remembered that our people had ample time to contrive and con- struct any machines to facilitate their operations, this again multiplying their power to work with ease and rapidity. Culture went on so rapidly in the arts of taste that even the first buildings are quite handsome- ly embellished. All the constiuctive work being of the best quality, no pains being spared to make it perfect. Indeed, all you see here has been only work i .J ■Mi 24 TlIK UKOrilKR. of pleasure. None have suffered from over- wot k or fatigue. In no period have the hours of enjoyment been encroached upon, for t, eir principle v/a», Vom the first, that nothinjj was dcsrable which destroyed the health and pleasure of the people. So you see, Comus, our beautiful city did not cost either the blood or treasure of nations, or even centuries to biild. Rather it ma)' be called the result of our recreation. In former times the greatest works of architectural skill, were the temples of su|)crstition contributed by the devotees to low grades of religious rites and cer- emonies ; now the greatest buildings, more num<.'rous and superior in taste, arise from the ethics c*" justice equality, and common humanity." Comus was thoughtful for a few moments. Then turning to Agro he said: -'This recalls to my mind the horrors of all the civil a'ions ever witjussed on earth, from the ch. itel slaves who built the Egyptian temples and pyramids, to the more degraried wage slaves who fdled the factories and sweating shops of former America. The crude agriculturists, railroad and river men, the street and sewer builders ; all industries carried on by individual effort, or by combinations for individual profit and interest, every man in the com- petit've struggle, becoming a robber of his fellow man, by '^h'.ating, falsifying, and adulteration. Honesty ccri'. not possibly exist. Civilization could not ad- vance because of individual interest. Inventions to assist production only brought fiercer competition of the toilers against the machines, which they called 'The Iron scab ;' making the daily strain so great that over- wot k or of enjoyment pic v/as, Torn lich destroyed So you see, thcr the blood urics to biild, ur recreation. architectural rontributc'J by rites and cer- ore numerous lies c' justice inents. Then to my mind witnt'ssed on the '.rigyptian igraded wage tinp, shops of >, rail road and ; ail industries Tibinations for in the corn- is fellow man, an. Ifonesty ould not ad- Inventions to ompctition of 1 they called so great that "THK UKOTllER." as the toilers often dropj)cd dead from over work. The balance stiffened up with rigid muscles, contracted disease, and when no unge. able to stand with the young and strong, were thrown aside, expelled from their homes by landlords and perished with their fam- ilies from want of food, clothing, and shelter." "Your statements agree with those left in 'The Brother's' vault " "Words could not describe the horrors of that age," replied Comus. "Our students of history will be glad of this infor- mation. Your knowledge of those times will greatly assist the study of antiquity ; providing we may be able to persuade them that we saw you chased from the sky by the Devil." "Ha, ha. When I think of the old boy, I must laugh at the way I annoyed him, ha ! ha ! ha ! he ! he! he!" and Comus began to chuckle, again forgetting in his merriment, all the sad horrors which he had just related of the Nineteenth century toilers. " Agro, how do you run this government ? Have you a system of taxes }" "No sir." "No taxes!" • -No." " No tariffs, custom houses, whiskey and vobacco tr xes >" "No sir." "Not even a land tax ?" "No." " Well, that beats me ! How do you collect money 4 j^asmummm, 26 "THK BROTHER. to Day the expenses of the government?" " We have no exp<:nses." "Don't you pay your officials?" "No sir; they need no pay" " Need no pay! How do they live?" "The same as the rest of us." " Don't you pay anybody?" "No." "All go to the public pile, do they?" "Yes sir." "Well, what do you do with those who are lazy, or that won't contribute their share of work?' "We have no such people. No one would stoop to such disgraceful conduct." •' Are you all angels.'" "Oh, no; we are only simple human beings." "Simple human beings, and no taxation ! "Why, my dear Comus, taxes are the evidences of sav- age life. The old histories tell us how they originated by robbing the merchants of toll for passing into or through territory of the savage chiefs. This system was only continued later in what were called civilized governments. Taxation had to. exist under the older civilizations, because they paid the services of officials with money ; because they maintained navies and armies to fight ; and because they paid the producers what was called wages, with money. Whoever got hold of the money could own all. both production and producers. We have no money, and each citi- zen owns all society has." "Does no one take the hog's bite?" It?" ivho are lazy, or >rk?' ; would stijop to n beings." taxation ! evidences of sav- ey originated by passing into or 1. This system : called civilized under the older rvices of officials led navies and id the producers Whoever got )oth production and each citi- "No sir, no one could. He could not be big enough hog to even bite off his share." "Well, when you want to travel, how do you buy your tickets.'" "We need none. Travel is free. We go where we wish." "Do you have enough to satisfy everyone without quarrelling.'" "Yes sir. And are put to our wits end to invent luxuries and elegant improvements to use up our sur- plus labor products." • ^ "And you say that you are not angels."'" "It is all very simple if you will just examine it and see for yourself" "This is the office of our General. His reception will take place in a few minutes." The General v.'as a remarkably young man, not over thirty years of age, of a clean cut, intellectual type, who had been advanced to this high position on ac- count of his superiority in executive skill. He listened to the account of the art'val ot Comus without evi- dence of surprise, giving his orders in formal manner, deliberately and clearly, assigning Comus to one of the departments. This was no sooner uttered than an assistant put n telephone to his enr and stated tc the General that his order had been received by the captain of the department, and the gentleman would be provided for when presented. The party was then dismissed. On leaving Comus remarked to his friends that the General was not so much interested in his sudden in- S^.l^ I, .^^mmm 28 THE BROTHER." troduction as they were. . "Oh yes," replied Agro,"but it is the hour of bus- iness and nothing in the infernal regions would move him at this nioment. When he is relea,sed from duty you will find him as interested as any of us." "I have been wondering all morning why your horses and wagons do not appear; the streets seem so strangely quiet that I miss the din, noise and bustle of city life." "Were cities formerly so noisy.'" "Why certainly; rarely could you he ;r y^ •» dgh- bor speak on the streets and in many places it was almost as difficult in the houses. The roar of the streets commenced early in the morning with the sav- age whoops and yells of the milkmen, accompanied by bells and horns, to this was added the rush. and rattle of the elevated cars on the crude iron frame work over head and past the windows of the dwellings. Then the din of the street cars, omnibuses, hucksters' wagons, trucks and drays; organ grinders, street bands; and news boys. At night until a late hour, the same racket went on, then the iron carts thundered over the stones collecting garbage till morning. "I see that you have no digging up of the str<"iii^^ I j^u^Ma.. i^i»£actetJ im ,jA.-t »-•»,' .»*'!{»ii»t^*', #\»j; 32 Tin: BROTHER. attention being only occasionally required by the firing of his kiln, so that the visitors were fortunate in the time selected for the introduction. Comus started at the sight of this man. Kcramicos also gave signs ofi surprise. " You have a marked Egypto-Hellenic type of face and figure," remarked Comus. " Do you think so.'" carelessly replied Keramicos. Comus avoided a reply by expressing his admira- tion of th^ high attainments the ceramic art had reached in this civilization. "Yes, none has approached it, even in the best eflforts of the scientific age to which 'The-Brother ' be- longed. Systems of working have been changed and better methods of producing the body of the material, the vitreous fluxes and colors. Of these former ages had no conception ; nor could they possibly be achiev- ed by their individual secret ways of working. The result you see here, is the result of co-operation in effort; every discovery, thought suggested, or accidei t is discussed in our conventions, where we regu'.ar'.y consult together, and are reported in our cerar lie literature ; so that nothing escapes without being an- alysed thoroughly. Our only desire, under this social system, is the glory of our civilization ; our only em- ulation is the strife to contribute the best for our art. Under such conditions and impulses it is not surprising that we have achieved such glorious results." A spacious adjoining hall, furnished with skylights into which the visitors were invited, presented to the wondering eyes of Comus, a luxurious feast of design lired by the ere fortunate Kcramicos : type of face Ceramicos. his admira- mic art had in the best •Brother ' be- changed and the material, former ages ly be achiev- >rking. The -operation in i, or accidei t we regular'.y our cerar lie )ut being xn- ier this social lur only em- ; for our art. >ot surprising Uts." ith skylights ented to the ast of design "THE BROTHER.' 33 and coloring such as could not possibly be anticipated. These were entirely paintings of large panels for in- terior architectural embellishment. Many were of gigantic size. The designs were mostly of single figures or groups ; a few were of delicious ornament enlivened by cherubs, birds and flowers. Two co- lossal panels, painted in gray and rose, upon a light water green ground, stood immediately in front of the entrance, representing "Truth and Justice." The com- positions and color effect were broad and simple giving an inexplicable charm that riveted the attention, and filled the observers with a sense of pleasure. The crowning glory of these works was a set of four panels, each forty feet long and ten feet in height, intended as a mural decoration for the principal public palace of the city, containing innumerable figures tastefully grouped, posed and painted in full palette of color. Art here had given herself full play in all her resources. Imagination with ample wings, had taken her loftiest flights of fancy. Beautiful thought had given her sweetest s niles, that spoke to the soul of the observer in charming design, tasteful form and glowing color, surpassing nature's choicest efforts, pre- senting a scene of enchantment that ravished the mind with delight. The subject of this ma.ster work was " The Spirit of 'The Brother.'" It typified the goodness of the sublime founder of their civilization, as represented by the happiness of the people. Each panel portrayed its ■«oecial subject ; intellectual, scientific, industrial and physical happiness, rendered with all the beauty the \,smi&^^m,^ikM^: m 34 THE BROTHER. i.ntrammelled imagination of this blissful u^^e, could give, assisted by the perfections of skill that far more than satisfied ihe critical tastes of a divinely cultured people. In silence, Comus viewed this marvelous work of man. The deep breathing of the chest and the sparkle of the eye, showed the pleasure of the excited mind within. Keramicos and his friends quietly observed his movements, as he passed around from panel to panel, enjoying the lovely ideals in every part, fre- quently moving clo.ser to inspect the workmanship that evidently satisfied his thoughts. At length he turned to Keramicos and uttered the single word "incredible." Then falling into a reverie he stood as though revolving in his mind, the memo- ries brought up by the delicious excitement the as- tounding wealth of art before him produced. The friends respectfully remained silent, also im- pressed by the solemnity of his appearance ; at last the merriment began to twinkle in his eyes, the smile played round his mouth and a low chuckle commenced that ended in laughter. The company and the artist were aKtcnishcd, for the transition was beyond their comprehension. When he recovered his breath he said : "I was recalling the works in ceramics that I had seen in- different ages, and before my mind arose some of the idiotic trash that formerly received prize medals at the exhibitions. I can see yet the airs of the conceited potters, bragging about their secrets," and Comus laughed and chuckled at the ridiculousness of his recollections. '.j;6^;ifa'Mj^j?i jiSft'teTKK* *■ isful age, could I that far more I'inely cultured clous work of ind the sparkle excited mind ietly observed from panel to ery part, fre- workmanship nd uttered the ; into a reverie id, the memo- tement the as- uced. lent, also im- irance ; at last :yes, the smile le commenced istcnished, for ension. When ; recalling the different ages, e idiotic trash he exhibitions. :ters, bragging and chuckled "THE BROTHKK. 35 "You say, 'that you had seen it> other ages,' I do not understand you." "You have not heard of Comus' strange introduc- tion to us last evening, nor of the singular country he came from," said Helena. "Comus is the individual whom Jupiter bani.nhed and he informs us that he had been enjoying the company of some of his nineteenth century acquaintances, in the infernal regions, until his merriment at their expense, became too great for his Satanic majesty, who gave him a somewhat violent dismissal. lassure you, Keramicos, he came tumbling among us from a streak of red sparks in the air, or else we are all demented and cannot believe our eye- sight. It is certain that he does not belong to our country, wherever he came from. Indeed, it was amuring, but we felt serious over it too." It was now Keramicos turn to become thoughtful- He looked at Comus as though he would penetrate his inmost soul. " Whatever you may be, or wherever you came from, we welcome you to the joy of our happy human existence," said he. "Thanks," replied Comus. "It is worth ages of suffering to, at last, realize that man is fulfilling in- telligently his destiny. From the crude state of past ages, I should think, from what I have seen here in your perfect city, that his evolution had reached its highest point. "We cannot say what are his possibilities," replied" Keramicos. Irf «>^ o- JV^ J't^^T'T IpmOT M CHAPTER III. THE WORKSHOPS. KERAMICOS' LOVE AND .SECRET. After regretfully leaving Keramicos and his lovely art treasures, that portrayed so cntrancingly his own sweet soul in the skillful pictures of imzorin.ation by which he made visible "The Spirit of The Brother, " in artistic forms and color representing happy humanity, they entered a domed structure and descending a stair- way, passed into a huge car that nearly filled the clean, smooth subway. The car was elliptical in form ; the lower part devoted to passengers : an upper chamber Cuiicained some ethereal gas to render it buoyant, so that it floated in the air, guided by projecting wheels that touched the flanges on the sides of the subway, preventing rolling motion. The shell, as well as the machinery, was extremely light, being composed of Aluminum. The seats were of light wood ; and the interior was lined with a delicate silk-like fabric ; brill- iant lights, like the electric, illuminated the interior and subway. A slight whirring sound was ^eard as the car flew on its way at the speed of a biro, resting at the pretty underground stations to let off, or take , on, passengers. The stopping of the car from its rap- lND skcret. iDd his lovely ingly his own nscrination by e Brother," in jpy humanity, jnding a stair- lied the clean, il in form ; the )per chamber it buoyant, so ecting wheels the subway, as well as the composed of /ood ; and the e fabric ; brill - :d the interior was Seard as biro, resting :t off, or take from its rap- 'THl BHOTIfKR. 37 Id flight was easy and without jar. In a few minutes Comus and his friends emerged from a station and en- tered the immense, continuous buildings, where the in- dustrial operations were carried on. Hlock after block of these works ran the entire length of the city, fronted on both sides by parked spaces handsomely planted with trees, giving cool, fresh air to the workers in the factories. On one side of the park was the fretted line of boat houses, seen from the belvidcre of "The Brother's" mausoleum, by moonlight. Comus and his friends passtid from building to building, viewing the various occupations that were carried on in these busy hives of industry, cnchant- ingly described and explained by Helena who, in pre: sncc of the industrial arts suddenly developed a soul absorbing interest that revealed itself in eloquent language, bordering on the sublime. Systenri, order, perfection of skill, intelligence, health and happiness, were visible everywhere. For a moment a cloud came over the brow of Comus as memory brought the re- collections of former times. Before his mental vision arose the ghastly forms, whose sunken eyes, pallid, consumptive faces, crooked and emaciated bodies, flitted in multitudes down the long list of ages. Myriads massacred by excessive toil, insuflficitnt clothing, nour- ishment and shelter; by the savage vices that spring from want, ending in murder or scuicide. Before his vision flitted the stOny indifference of the non-working class, with their still worse luxurious vices and crimes, living and revelling in splendor, on the soul and body- destroying toil of their fellows. The idle portion of i PWP^iiiliifi if" 38 THK HKOTHEK.' l»V. /Society, traniimitting to posterity the intctviificd vices of meannesH and luxurious disease. The overtaxed toilers transmitting the consumptive tendencies that spring from poor nourishment and excessive strain. From imperfect mothers of both classes, crime or want was the only inheritance of innocent babes. But this happy day with alUts cheerful surroundings was not the time for gloomy thoughts, and by a power- ful effort, Comus shook off the ghastly vision, assisted gready by the sweet music of Helena's voice, who, during his change of countenance, redoubled her ef- forts in his entertainment ; picturing to him, again and again, tho pleasures and delights of the indus- trial army in which all were included, at ' the wonders of skill, that brought ever increasing ' cal and in- tellectual development. The records o. ...e Brother" had suggested, that when the entire population was engaged industrially, feeling a common security, the meanness and crimes arising from competition and greed, would disappear by the influence of associaiion, and the way would be opened for man's proper de- velopment. " With us," said Helena, "this has been fully realized." Emerging from the work shops in the industrial section, a short walk, brought the company to the historical museum, where Comus was a.stonished to find many of the barbarous statues and carvings that formerly ornamented the City and Park of New York. Many busts found beneath the ruins of private dwell- ings, were named and labelled according to his di- rections, the historians kept constantly in a roar of tcivsificd vices 'he overtaxed ^ndencics that cessive strain, ses, crime or :nt babes. I surroundlnji^s nd by a powcr- /iaion, assisted s voice, who, aublcd her cf- him, again of the indus- ' the wonders cal and in- ...e Hrother" Kipulation was i security, the m petition and of association, I's proper dt- this has been the industrial iipany to the astonished to carvings that of New York, private dwell- ing to -his di- f in a roar of "THK llROTIir.k laughter at the endless stories of the originals, who figured in their day as politicians, boodlera, commer- cial sharpers, and peddlers of superstition. One of the most amusing incidents of this visit, was developed from the historian's inquiry, in regard to the statues and monuments the Nineteenth century people built to their famous mechanics, scientists and scholars. The humor of this question was entirely too much for Comus, who electrified the company by his laughter. When he had sufficiently recovered himself to speak, the historian was informed, that such things were never for a moment thought of, in those days. Statues and monuments were only erected to mo.iey dealers, politicians, priests, and fighters. Helena and Agro were amply repaid for the morn- itig efforts to entertain Comus, by the amusement furnished at the museum, that sent them home with aching sides. Scarcely had Comus returned when a message was received from the museum, asking a further interview during the evening, to which Comus assented with pleasure. When the historian arrived he informed Comus, that he wished to obtain an in- timate account of the actual state of society of the Ninct enth century, at the time of "The Brother's" life, so as to .study the causes that led to the sudden descent from so active a social condition, to the sav- age state. Comus looked uncertain as to his reply ; finally requesting the historian to remain and rest himself until his return. He sallied once more out into the night thoughtfully wandering he knew not whith- er. Stopping at length to view the effect of moon- "THE BROTHER. light and shadow, that fell in weird tracery upon the lawn of a small park, he recognised by a sparkling vase surmounting the pedestal against which he was leaning, that he was in the vicinity of Keramicos' studio. Opening the door he entered and turned into the large apa: tment, where he had seen the ceramic paint- ings of " The Spirit of 'The Brother,'" and the panels of "Truth and Justice." A reddish light reflected from the kiln in the rear, filled the apartment, ren- dering the paintings partially visible. Keramicos was at the kiln watching the fires, but not alone. A beau- tiful woman stood in front of him, with both hands resting upon his shoulders and looking imploringly into his face, said ; "Come, rest a while upon the gar- den lawn; the fragrance of the honey suckle and the sound of falling waters, will refresh thy feverish brow; surely such long and anxious watching of the fires has overstrained thy nerves : come, rest a while upon this spot and I will sing to you, the song you taught me, of old Nikosthenes of ancient days." The night is balmy, and pale Cynthia rides smoothly through the clear air, throwing her mellow light in enchanting tracery of vine and branch upon the flowery earth. A heavenly voice began to warble in pure, tones, and Comus, transfixed, stood a listener to the ancient song: When eiirth was young, iin'i infant art, 'Neath leafy bower, a mubing lay, Upon the happy scene out spread. Where all of life, was bright and gay. The fragrant bloom, of meadows sweet. s»4^i»,;tea!CSSMMtiiSiaa ■'sasstfiKs^KiiaiifSi racery upon the by a sparkling t which he was y of Keramicos' turned into the le ceramic paint- ' and the panels light reflected ipartment, ren- Keramicos was ; alone. A beau- fjth both hands ing imploringly le upon the gar- suckle and the y feverish brow ; tig of the fires :st a while upon ong you taught ys." The night thly through the in enchanting lowery earth, pure, tones, and be ancient song: t art, ^ I, dg»y. iweet. "THE BROTHER. 4' Full odored «ll. t^e balmjr tit- And merry, laughing, miktden'8 feet, Were trip'd with graceful, movftments there. The mellow UndaoapM. cooling light. In atmosphorio hues so fine, The pulse made quiok^r, with delight, And aense was ravished, v/ith the soene. Sweet music m»t.. by loving swain. Krom reedy pipes, with passion blown. His soul outbreathing. with the strain. Oave joyous life unto its tune. >'Oti t beauty, life," t/or infant oried, **Thy movements graceful, and so free. So transient, fiseting. soon are sped. ' Like water forms, upon the sea. "Thou shalt not die, this baauty rare, ril mortals teach, to keep and eiore. These fleeting joys, forever fair, 3hall lost wil^ man, for evermore. •'With earth I'll fortn. these flowing linea, On vase and cup, from potter's wheel, Lifa, grace, and beauty, of ri\ times, In clay and Rtone. shall speak and live." Your sweet voice, dear Sappho, repays me for all the trials and fatigue that ! hav^* endured. The »en> timent of the song, carries tne back in imagination to the great masters of the ancient ceramic world, whose labors and skill have made possible, the high achieve- ments of art, under thcs happy social srtate; achieve- ments impossible in warlike times, or during the age of gold worship. Here wa have, av la::*, realized the dreams of art. Here the world glows for us in beauty oi form and color created out of her own breast The 6 ■'»,Ti 42 "THE BROTHER." beauty of nature only, so intensely admired in former times, was monstrous without her husband art. Now everywhere, industry has embellished the landscape with structures, gardens, walks artd ornaments, de- corated with nature's own pigments beautified by fire. Life in former ages existing on coarse food, in unsightly dwellings, pursuing happiness in brutalising ways, was truly homble." vim« & "Come! come! Keramicos, yoti are fatigued and your mind is drifting to sad reflections. You must banish them and think of the love I bear you." " Yes, tis true dear Sapoho, you recall me to my better self Adieu my love, the Pleiades are rising and speak to you the hour of rest. Sweet be thy slumbers! By dawn I shall have finished the burning of the kiln. Great care i» required with the delicate colors upon the vases; I wish them as perfect as pos- sible for the exhibition at the convention of arti ts. There, I must "explain the secret of producing them, for they represent all my Ibest experience." "Adieu, my noble Keramicos. One kiss before we part. I shall rest with anxiety for your toil, through the weary night, as the stars pursue their tedious way towards the west ; and wish that strength will lift the leaden wings of sleep from your watching eyes. Until the morning Kght, adieu." "The air seems Hght and the fire burns brightly; Let me look at the interior of the kiln. Ah! that is an even melloW heat. I am confident the care ! have bestowed will bring the results I wish. The tones of red running from deep maroon through all shades to •ed in former id art. Now lie landscape tiaments, de- tified by fire. , in unsightly ilising ways, fatigued and You must ' you." me to my 8 are rising weet be thy 1 the burning the delicate irfect as pos- in of artits. lucing them, iss before we toil, through • tedious way 1 will lift the f eyes. Until rns brightly; Ah! that is e care ! have The tones of ill shades to THE BROTHER. 43 delicate rose, will be the greatest range of the chro- matic scale I have yet shown. And the large vases with the harmonies of delicate rose and light, blue green, relieved with yellows, browns and black, in groups of flowing ornament over their graceful sides will be the greatest eflfort of all the ages of ceramic art. What a joy will be at the cultured feast of the people ! Truly, life is worth living in this age, where all are happy ! No longer are the works of artists shut up in the private collections of rich men, where the starved, filthy hordes of slaves, or worse, wage earners, could never see them. Alas ! how I grieved, regretting that Trismegetus had imparted to me thci secret of life, on the banks of the Nile ! How many ages were men lovers of injustice ! How many ages did they bend their necks to a slavery of their own selfish kind, whom they called honorable and noble ! Then, too, their superstitions absorbed the last rem- nant of their subsistence. What scenes of human horror have those bright planets, .<;' ning with such splendor to night, witnessed, as from age to age, the hordes of men toiled on, until passion stirred from want and hopeless misery, incited the wholesale slaughter of nations, which, satiated with blood, sub- sided again to servile toil and social crime, to be succeeded by renewed slaughter of their brothers ! I wonder why my thoughts run back over those dread- ful ages, tonight! It is surely fs-tigue from the long stretch of study! Two days' rest in the company of the charming Sappho, the only woman I ever truly loved, will restore my jaded spirits ; then the kiln can aimffiMaiMiiiiiifilMI BIS 44 'THE BROTHER." be opened and the work taken to the exhibition. Anxiety has doubtless banished from her eyes the balmy sleep. With dream-like gaze into the darkness of night, her thoughts are where the monotonous roar of the kiln strangely contrasts the music of natnre's life of the night." Comus refrained from disturbing Keramicos in his musings aloud; remaining unobserved in the shadow of the room containing the art treasures. Suddenly, Keramicos started, exclaiming: "Ah! how agitated I feel ! What is that, Spirit of Ceramic, art thou come!" "I am come, Keramicos, for thou needest my as- sistance. Change the drafts in thy kiln at once ! A rapid current in the upper air will work thee ill. There, noble youth, that will do ! Now, let the outer air sweeten the upper fire ! See, the gases are color- ing. Now draw your test: of glaze and color, quickly ! well done ! Put the glowing *piece upon this shard ! by the fire's light I see it is nicely flown. There now, see the rose tints will be developed by the time you draw your fires. Ah i the blistering heat ! Take care, do not be rash ! There, now rest! The oxygen will doits work well at this temperature, and your choicest gems of workmanship are safe. That is well. I have been near you, but must watch others who need my invisible guidance. A word before I go." "Awful Spirit, I attend thy bidding!" " Listen, Keramicos ; thy destiny is achieved ; thy work 13 accomplished. After this generation thy youth will not be renewed. Thou shalt now lead a happy human life. For thy devotion, toil and sorrow, ....,«^ a'yj^i}»«g]ii»A'!Miigpi> "THE BROTHEK. 45 e exhibition, ler eyes the the darkness lotonous roar c of natnre's imicos in his 1 the shadow . Suddenly, how agitated t thou come!" :dest my as- at once ! A ork thee ill. let the outer ies are color- )lor, quickly! •n this shard ! There now, the time you ! Take care, g^en will doits hoicest gems I have been j my invisible :hieved ; thy neration thy now lead a 1 and sorrow, through the ages, your human life shall be *a happy one. The lovely Sappho shall be thy wife ; thou shalt have a son like thyself w..> will succeed thee, and fo.- whom I shall care. His work will be famous, and bring great joy to the world. Thou shalt see it before feeble age sets in, and thine eyes shall close in peace. Give thyself entirely to the happiness of Sappho, using thine art only for pleasure. The instructions to the artists at the convention, will complete thy principal labors in the ceramic art. Farewell! Farewell! Farewell !" " He is gone ! Vanished into air ! Great spirit and guide, farewell !" Keramicos .sat down, covering his face with both hands, as though in grief, when Comus approached, with kindly greeting. " I have been an unintentional witness of the scene just passed," said Comus. " You know my secret, then > "Yes," said Comus. "I know all. I knew you, Keramicos, when we first met. Your secret is safe with me, if you wish it so. But I have other business with you now. The historian is at Agro's house a- waiting my return. " He wishes an account of the state of society m Nineteenth century times, preceding its destruction. Will you advise me how to present it to him ?" "Call up the spirit of Edward Pureheart." w CHAPTER IV THE SPIRIT OF EDWARD PUREHEART AND HIS ACCOUNT OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. When Cotnus returned to Agro's house, he found the historian lying on a couch, reading the printed edition of the records of "The Brother." It was near niidnight. An anxious inquiring look at Comus, spoke the thoughts agitating his mind. Remaining sil-nt for a time, he asked the historian if he understood astrology. "Oh, ye.s," he replied, "I have a special love for the science, for I was born while the planet Venus was in the mid-heaven and am considered a clear reader of the scheme of the heavens. The works of Cladius Ptolomey, as well as those of Ramsey and grand old Zadkiel, have furnished me the means of reading far back \n the ages, and of constructing a comparative history of mankind, v ,h the precession of the equinoxes and the change o> the constellations. It would afford me great pleasure to have you look over my work, and see how I have shown the charac- ter of the different times, and the nature of the wor- ship of mankind, together with the change of mythology as the sun occupied the different signs durmg its re- THE BROTHER. 47 T AND HIS ENTURY. use, he found g the printed " It was near Conmus, spoke d the historian jecial love for planet Venus dered a clear The works of Ramsey and the means of constructing a ;he precession constellations, ave you look vn the charac- 5 of the wor- e of mythology dunng its re- trogradation. I have largely shown the connection between the Sun in Taurus and the worship of the Bull and Venus who rules that sign, together with all the mysteries of hor rites and cererrtonies. This taken in connection with the fixed stars then In Taurus, easily explains all the philosophy, poetry and beauty of the worshipin that remote period. The next thous- and years during the passage of the Sun through Aries give the result, seen in history, of the symbol of the Ram in religious rites, and the nurtial nature of m?nkind, during that period. This finally found; its symbol in the Lamb of peace, as the Sun approached the latter part of that sign ; when upon entering Pisces during the dark ages, mankind gave itself up to sop- erstltion, taking as its guide the fisherman. The Sun retrograding into the scientific sign Aquarius, brought forward the age of science, with its rapid development and powerful forces that, taken in connectten with the defects ot unequal social conditions among mankind, increased so greatly, the wealth of the class who got control of these forces, and so correspondingly great, the poverty of the masses, that the natural result was the crash that swept away civHization altogether. And so I have run back into the ages in a speculative manner, beyond the period of history, and again for- ward into the World's probable destiny. This study has expanded my views of mankind, its relation to this earth and environment of the heavens, more than any of the sciences we have developed." "Where did you find the works of the master Astrol- ogers.'" inquired Comus. .r • !'^i^^-*'W>'"'"Art'-5!ioj« ■< ■'>i-:'A-:.-.»l^-=;ii-'->'"i^ 48 "THE BROTHER." "Our fathers brought them from New Zv aland. A skilled reader of the heavens guided the expedition and the establishment of the colony. I have in the museum many of his writings. His figures of the heavens and calculations, I have gone over and veri- fied as wonderfully exact. They are interesting and useful in showing the influences of the times immedi- ately preceding the period when our fathers lost trace of the world's doings. But I am occupying too much time in this explanation." "It is quite appropriate and fortunate," replied Comua. "This study by enlarging your views of the arena of nature^ will assist your appreciation of what I am about to propose to you, in order that you may have a direct answer to your wish ; to know the nature of the times preceding the destruction of civilization in the Nineteenth century. Are you afraid of spirits .'" "I cannot say." " Arc you willing to undergo th« test?" An affirmative reply followed a somewhat deliber- ative silence. Placing a table in f^-ont of the historian well pro- vided with writing materials, Comus turned out the light, leaving the room intensely dark. It was not without feelings akin to fear that the historian main- tained the commanded silence, while Comus performed a terrorizing incantation scene, in the surrounding darkness. Strange swishing sounds, accompanied with knocks and raps on the walls and furniture, brought an uncontrollable tremor to his knees. The noises continued giowing more confused and intense, still .js««ste»teg?*i-*4%* K3uE)S<«s_nr' w ■'< '?;i»;«a-': Zv aland. A le expedition have in the gures of the ver and ver«- teresting and mes immedt- rs lost trace of ig too much late," replied r views of the iation of what :hat you may low the nature ctviH2,attoh in i of spirits ?" what deliber- an well pro- irned out the It was not storian main- [)us performed : surrounding mpanied with ture, brought The noises intense, ^till "THK HUOTIIKR. 49 Comus maintained his performances without speaking. The objects in the room flying about, frequently touch- ing the historian, some sliding with spasmodic motion over his body, face and hands, while with shoulders drawn up and gasping for breath he shook with terror. For a moment the noise ceased, when a suddl-n rattle of raps was heard. "Is this the spirit of Edward Pureheart.'" demanded Comus. A .single rap answered, "yes." The wish of the hi.storian was announced and an account requested of social conditions during the period the spirit dwelt in the flesh. /\ pause ensued. Again the afRrmative rap was heard. A faint blue halo of light began to form in front of the table, in the centre of which was a dark object. The halo gradually grew stronger revealing a hand- some man of about fifty five, with grey hair, and a face of remarkable intelligence. He was in a sitting attitude, his head leaning upon his hand, and with eyes cast downward, in a thoughtful manner. A never failing pen moved into the hand of the historian, which began to fly noiselessly over the paper before him, with lightning rapidity. Not a sound was uttered, and the deep breathing of the terror inspired historian gradually subsided to mdWer- ate regularity. ■ The account Legan as follows : "On the night before ' the Centennial of Washington's inaugural at New York in 1889, I was standing on the battery, gazing out oh the world famous bay. Heavy clouds were drifting 7 m^ ^mmm^m ^m^ ^ "Mi DWARl) to the north-east, the wind havinjj changed, relieving lis from the discomfort of several days pouring rain. Some mist and fog still hung over the water, obscur- in^j a distinct view of the ocean racers, as they came and went, l.iden with labor's treasures to anc! from strange lands far away. The police, revenue, ferry and river boats; the busy tugs, pilots, and sailing ves- sels with their dancinp ipnal lights, flitted here and there, and like the movements of human life upon the sea of action, came out or faded into the rising mist. "The light houses at the narrows were not visible. Uedloe's island and the base of the monster Statue of Liberty were obscured, but the shoulders, head, raised arm and the huge electric light, stood far up in the sky; liberty, like the ^^-Hi«it*.',H-^^i '.'it -..-r^'Ai? St confines of didtely transr :s, Australian i, Arctic and d their stories igine of civil- at the reveille n can be in- as he quietly ar. The pal- iiarvels of con- fully designed taste to these ;red a host of ents of Htera- iminerce, law matter sent in prepare it for orts, commer- market, cotton s, bonds and tocks, foreign departure and ce, meetings, idends, adver- se and yacht ,vy, book no- sionals, quack iranspcttation, every guise, laped into p»«- sentable form for the public, with each returning sun. One of the heavy clouds still drifting in the sky, broke over the city, driving us for shelter into a cellar-way, into which a group of news boys had darted before ua where they huddled together to avoid the splash and drift of the rain sent into the passage, wetting the boys nearest the door. The danger of the storm for the moment, putting aside their little squabbles, and fraternizing them into common brotherhood, wherein the great heart of human sympathy was strongly shown by the rough scolding of the smaller, and weak- er boys, into securer places. A demand for a tune, for which the boys said they were hungry, was made, and from the midst of this wretched storm-driven lot of prospective .presidents, statesmen, scientists, poets, artists, and moralists, came the sweet sounds of a mouth organ, and 'IrJome, Sweet Home.' poured forth its tender sentiment, with many variations, born of the quick perceptions of the homeless street arabs ; Y^n- ations that would have attracted a Wagner by the elaboration of their movements. At the finish the air was repeated and slowed down into a full drav/n and prolonged chord. '•'That's nice,' said a pale faced little fellow. "Then followed 'The Mocking Bird,' Irish Jig.s, and 'Yankee Doodle.' The rain overhead ceased and at once there was a scramble for the free air and the papers. " The press rooms, which were free to visitors at that hour, brought surprise to the calm and stolid faces of my Continental companions, v/ho silently viewed these marvels of human skill and ingenuity. Not only ;fi ^•'f^\ i rE---.:»~'i^*fe.-iv=^r' pr- 56 "THK UROTIIEiJ." the complex machhiery, amazed them, but the im- mense journals, printed, folded, stitched, and placed on the table, with such rapidity that the eye could not follow their operations. Intently both watched the wondrous product of the strong presses, that, with the assistance of a few men, condensed the labor of thousands; the rythmic click of the machinery as- sisting to fix their attention, as the forms played like a power loom shuttle, under the rollers and cylinders. Statue-like, the pressmen stood above, feeding the sheets with unerring rapidity hour after hour without moving. No noise, bustle, or confusion was seen here. In its stead, was quiet, method and a precision, born of skillful training. '"What would Franklin think of this.'' said the younger man. "'Wonderful!' replied the elder. "Turning to me the tall Washington-like man said: 'The newspaper must have become universal, judging from the immense quantities produced here ! "'Yes,' I replied, 'this is but a fraction of them. In every city and town in the United States, the same thing is going on, in a greater, or less degree. There is no spot on this continent that it does not reach, even to the farthest Hudson bay post in the frozen north, or the desolate region.? of Alaska. "I began to have a feeling that these men were not of this world. Their manners, questions, and language were strange. Singularly enough there was no uneasy feeling about their presence, and the effect upon me was that of perfect calm and rest, whether I was under i;.VW!.%^-%--ife*'--- aj(ioa^jinamoMi "THE nROTMKK. 57 m, but the im- ed, and placed on ; eye could not >th watched the es, that, with the ed the labor of : machinery as- Drms played like ;rs and cylinders. >ve, feeding the ter hour without m was seen here. I precision, born f this?' said the on-like man said: iniversal, judging d here ! tionofthem. In jtates, the same ;s degree. There js not reach, even lei frozen north, ese men were not ms, and language re was no uneasy '. efiTect upon me ether I was under the influence of some species of enchantment, or not, I could not tell: my feelings and thoughts were assim- ilated with theirs, and the spirit of conversation pro- ceeded naturally and comfortably, as though I was speaking to familiars. "'The newspaper has become so necessary an insti- tution to the modern American, that he eagerly looks for it in the morning before he is half dressed. Every- where, in the hotels, in the streets, and in the offices, he is seen absorbed in the morning news. The view on the ferry boats in the morning, consists only of a massive row of newspapers beneath which are exten- ded a forest of legs, and from above rises a cloud of tobacco smoke. Each individual purchases his pe- culiar paper, preferred as it inclines toward the bias of his reason, or his prejudices, which are carefully ar- ranged by their owners so as to be on opposite sides of some subject of public interest; principally politics, free trade or restricted trade. Some manage to ob- tain a large circulation by keeping between these rjid- icul points, to suit a large mass of conservatives, who have no def:' ite ideas, or are too weak to advance any. Occasionally .» newspaper is used by influential men to advance, by artful mean their policies or wishes, for their ovv s ;idvantage by influencing\,r dividing public opinion; p; icularly in the way of obtaining positions, by which tl ■ may be able to p.vss laws that will en- able them, oi >thers in what is called their ring, to plunder the p ,olic. It must howei^er be credited to many of these great dailies, that cheir aim is to be strictly newspapers ; pretty fairly giving all sides of 8 BESBBSScn^ mar? "THE BROTHF.R. public questions, and publishing for general use, the views of distinguished persons. The eagerness of the American nnind for the mass of information given in the papers, is doubtless a principal cause for his peculiar reticence. His society is in the newspaper, and when through with it, he has nothing to say. All his spare time having been used in reading news, the balance must be devoted to his necessary business. Hence, comparatively speaking, he never speaks at all, and loses the advantages of conversation, or the exchange of ideas. This want of intercourse practically -amounts to isolation. Persistent reading of his special paper insensibly drifts him under the control of the ideas ad- vanced, or advocated by it; ending finally in his be- coming very decided in his views upon a given subject. His neighbor is influenced similarly on the opposite side and becomes ea ually decided. Should conver- sation ensue upon any point, both are met with such strong and disagreeable opposition, that an avoidance of Jill discussion has become with us universal, leaving each individual alone, without the aid or attrition of his neighbor's mind, with all the chances to become the victim of designing men, whose science of plunder, is to divide and conquer. Nothing is easier than to control men's minds in this way, either in matters of government, commerce, labor, or religion. And the public, who in this isolated condition that makes every man suspicious and fearful of V.'.j neighbor, believing themselves free and independent, are handled and played with like toys, for the use and merriment of the cunning and un.scrupulous. It becomes with me a "THR nUOTMKR. 59 sral use, the crness of the 1 given in the his peculiar cr, and when All his spare the balance >s. Hence, 1 at all, and he exchange lUy -amounts pecial paper the ideas ad- y in his be- jiven subject, the opposite uld conver- t with such an avoidance Tsal, leaving attrition of s to become e of plunder, sier than to I matters of I. And the makes every 3r, believing \andled and lerriment of es with me a question, whether the American mind is not narrowed by the influence of newspaper opinions and the isolation of its social condition, caused by being thus prejudiced by them. The mere matter of being informed of the- news does not necessarily favor a broad cast of thought. For.it is not unusual to find men who can tell almost all the news in a clever way, that are extremely big- oted and narrow on questions of religion, or politics.' •"You take a gloomy view of the influence of news- paper opinion ,' said the tall man. ' The newspaper as the distributor to the public of wise opinions upon matters of government, or society, becomes thus a great aid to civilization.' "'Yes', •! replied. 'It was so once, undoubtedly, and is largely so y^t. The tendency is to goodness ; otherwise it would long since have lost public respect. But there is another thing to consider. When a news- paper is owned or controlled by heavy operators on change, or the stock market, by railroad kings, mon- opolists, or politicians; who artfully enact laws in their interest, it is not to be expected that the paper under their influence would not be used to advance their interest, and it is generally believed to be so.' "'Have these invested interests and speculations become greater than the public interest.' ' . " I was forced to smile at this. Replying that it was evident that he was not familiar with 'practical politics' of the present day. - '"Have private interests become so dominant, that any great damage or suffering has deen brought to the people.'' • "ipiiiiS^.;; 6o 'THE BROTHER. 1*1 " • Most assurediy, sir. It is the dominant crime of the day. To such an mtense degree has this vice be- , come, that moralists are crying out against it every- where. The Jabor world is reduced to the last extremity. Discontent is rife. The land is full of homeless tramps out of work, and an uneasy feeling pervades all society. Economists have carefully studied the question of private interests sapping the life of the public. Some have proposed remedies; others radical cures. And they arc working, writing and speaking like missionaries, in both Europe and America, promulgating their doctrines. As yet no settled idea of the proper cure prevails among the people, who are bewildered. But should it once be generally understood, a change would be quickly effected. " ' What remedies are proposed for the difficulty.' ' "'That,' I replied, receiving the most profound at- tention, at present, is the removal of all taxation from the products of industry, and placing it on land values. Another, that is powerful in Europe, and is gaining greatly here, is, the nationalization of not only the land, but of all the forces of production and distribution I" Does not the land belong in usufruct to the living.?' asked the younger man. '"No sir; it is owned by dead men, who lived cen- turies ago, who by legal means control its use so as to prevent the living using it' "'Strange,' said he, 'that progress has not been made. You are really working backward.' " ' Where arc the effects of this sad state of society "■"■"•«Sr "THE BROTHER. 6i lant crime of this vice be- ist it every- to the last nd is full of easy feeling ive carefully sapping the ledies; others writing and Europe and As yet no among the it once be be quickly fficulty?' profound at- ixation from land values. is gaining ot only the distribution ruct to the lived cen- :s use so as s not been 1.' e of society to be seen.'' inquired the tall man. "'Everywhere,' I replied. 'Look around you, under the shadow of the hulls of justice, under the shadow of these palaces devoted to the spread of thought and intelligence, and you can see it d?y and night, through summer's heat and winter's ice! See these wretches grinding out music on the cold streets; these beggars and tramps eternally passing ! See these pale-faced boys in rags, whose home is the street tnd whose bed is the cellar door I These children who should be at school, or at play, hardly ever see a bed b;it are here all night long. Between three and four in the morn- ing they gather for the papers ; at that hour when the luxurious are enjoying balmy sleep on perfumed beds, the scene of activity here at the offices is a marvel. An army of horses of great speed, fly with tons of newspapers in all directions to railroad depots, where special trains await them, to fly again with lightning speed to all parts of the land with their burden, where at every station eager men wait for the bundles that arc thrown to them in passing. An arnr.y of boys, women, girls, cripples, and even the blind who are led around, purchase for the street sale or loral trade ; and all is excitement and activity. It is a wonderful scene that hundreds of thousands in this very city know not the existence of, so widely are the interests of society seperated. These poor boys support themselves. In bad weather, if fortunate, they can secure a bed in a ten or fifteen-cent lodging house, or, if short of money, they go to the two-cent coffee house where they have the blessed privilege to sleep on a bench.' 62 "THE BROTHER. li: R! , I pointed across the street to the rear of the national post office, as an illustration of the indifference of society to these noble boys and the condition of these outcasts who are hunted from the streets, their only home. Even this refuge of the newsboys was not se- cure. Attempts to give expression to the pleasure of young life, by the amusement of pitching and catching ball upon the open area devoid of passengers or vehicles except those of the giant post office — whose never ceasing industry in distributing the enclosures of trade and thought, to the vast multitudes of men in every quarter of the globe, which were unloading, or receiving, the mail bags to be shipped by the various routes of railroad or ocean steamer ; while some of the strong, fine, percheron horses were quietly eating their midnight meal — and which offered no interference to the amusement of these little, homeless street arabs as they whiled away the hours of the weary night or kept the damp and chill from their aching bones by such warmth as might be evolved from their poorly nour- ished bodies ; or made up for the defect of scanty clothing, hatless heads, or shoeless feet, of these builders and supporters of the great modern engine of civilization. Ever alert for the approach of the police- man, or the cop, as they call him, the ball produced from a dirty, ragged pocket was rapidly but quietly tossed and caught. Skillful twists and curves given it, similar to those of the professional ball players. The catchers displayed equal skill. First a high ball, then low, a miss, a fly, or a grounder, picked up in an instant, by the quick nervous fielders. The passes of the ball *'THK BkOtllKK. 63 f the national dirtcrence of ition of these , their only * was not se- e pleasure of and catching assengers or )f?ice — whose e enclosures ies of men in nioading, or ' the various e some of the ^^ eating their terference to ;reet arabs as night or kept >es by such (oorly nour- ct of scanty :et, of these irn engine of )f the police- ill produced f but quietly rves given it, layers. The gh ball, then in an instant, lis of the ball were few, for the boys in the open area were soon dis- covered by the cop, whose hasty approach caused them to scatter like a flock of partridges. Kvery nook and corner, every cellar- way in the neighborhood, was known to them, to which they darted for security. We undertook to pass across the small public park in front of the City Hall, halting a moment to look at a beautiful fountain of polished granite. The .seats for the accommodation of the public had been removed so as to prevent their occupation at night by the tramps and homeless news boys, and no resting place was visible, The admirable cement walks and the well kept lawns were perfect. Little did we dream that we were trespassers, until, roughly as well as peremptorily, ordered off in a fine, rich, Irish brogue by a splendid look;-.:^ policeman, the waive of whose iron-wood club indicated that no discussion of a freeman's rights were just then admissible and that compliance was the easiest way out of the diflficulty. " ' Our elected servants are our governors,' I remarked. 'Tbeideaofgovernment has become the idea of owner- ship of the public and the public's property, to which the elected are exclusively entitled. The police can have only contempt for the general public. They are in a position to know the nature and character of all the various phases of social life in the city and soon lose all respect for the citizens, when they realize the fact that the merchants are mostly shams, the idlers are living on their wits, the .supposed respectable are dealers in lottery tickets, or gamblers and confidence men ; three fourths of the women in hotels ar.d board- 64 "THE BROTHER. ing houses are irregular in their morals ; the entire mass, with the exception of the few laborers, are sharpers, speculators, thieves and tramps. This de- lectable social state is not likely to inspire rcsjioct. Hence the in.stinctivc desire on the part of the police to club the rotten mass, and to increase the size of their clubs for its better performance ; until, at present, a blow from one of these massive bludgeons is certain death. The public have become accustomed to this savage treatment; long since having ceased '>, enter- tain any other idea of government than the right to brutally club the citizens. A citizen informed me that a policeman b '^ the right to enter any house and club your father a mother, your wife or children, oi your- self. Who would stop him ? no one could do anything with the police. If you complained, the case would be dismissed and the policeman would club you all the more on the first opportunity. To enter a house a warrant was superfluous: if the police had to pro- iire a warrant for every house-hold they wanted to club, a thousand clerks could not write them fast enough to supply the police of New York city.' " Many stories I told of the life and habits of the news boys, the women an.l twirls, and the blind, who were led around selling the daily papers. What the boys made, and how they often, on bad days, were left with a number of unsold papers on their hands. That this alone amounted annually to an immense, but generally distributed, loss to them, and a boastful gain to the giant dailies. •' By this time the streets were dry and our walk led ■,l-i!Viii^■ V', .-. '?■: 66 "THB HkOTIIKK. the interest of those on the piivcmcnt we judged that something unusual as foing on. The idea occurred to me that it was a Joss house, and after considering u moment, I thought that we would take the risk and go up the stair-way and see what it was. We started at a rapid pace, knowing that if anything was to be seen it must be quickly; no sooner had the Chinese on the street observed our movements, than a 'hi yi' signal went up to the windows. This I did not like, but pushed on faster. Arriving at the top of the stair- way we glanced quickly through the half glass door and found that it was a Chinese eating house of the coarsest description. At one of the tables near the front windows sat two white girls, of perhaps sixteen and eighteen years, of the most degraded type, who were having great amusement with a room full of the Chinese. Some of the Chine.se from the street began to come up after us, and we turned (juickly to go down, to avoid any difficulty, wuich appeared imminent. On the stairs we met a policeman, who was showing a couple of gentlemen the sights of the neighborhood, and feeling ourselves safe, we returned, taking a lon- ger look through the door, not presuming to follow the polic.°man and his friends inside, where they looked wonderfully out of place. This conservative dilution of our national manhood was interesting in the study of its degradation. For they represent a nation that is the enemy of all revolution; whose sole ambition and logical dream is to change not; a terrible multi- tude incredibly economical and frightfully prodigal of labor, who fly from their own cracking, rotting empire ' '-'-^-imgmeimmismttmmsuwsmimmMsmi,' "THK nROTHKK. 67 i^e judged that '. Idea occurred r considering e the risk and IS. Wc started g was to be the Chinese on lan a 'hi yi* did not like, )p of the stair- ilf glass door house of the bles near the rhaps sixteen ;d type, who om full of the ; street began ly to go down, imminent. On as showing a neighborhood, taking a lon- ing to follow re they looked 'ative dilution g in the study a nation that sole ambition errible multi- ly prodigal of rotting empire to our shores where they often meet from their labor competitors, a brutal and odious resistance. Refine- ment to these celestials consists in the decrepit vices of conservatism, chimeric invention and infinite ugli- ness. Ages <-f subjection to their leeching mandarins and ruler'i, vvho have protected them from outside in- novation, has reduced them to the infinitude of economic meanness, and rendered them constitutionally unfit for the advanced phases of intellectual life. Hut here they are filling the position of the model to which the Anglo-American mind is rapidly approaching. "We continued along this street and turned sever- al corners observing the low places of human degra- dation on every side. I knew that it was no place for respectable people; but, although there were many dangerous looking characters, and many intox- icated men lying on the pavements and in door-ways, we passed undisturbed, with the exception of a severe blow upon my right arm by the closed fist of a stal- wart, drunken woman, as she passed by us. Obser- vation was always directed to me ; the two strangers, dressed so unusually, were unnoticed, as much as though they were invisible. "The saints and martyrs of christian faith and hope were even here at this late hour, penetrating the dark world of human woe, with a heroism that, although more obscure, was no less greater than that of a Ma- gellan or a Stanley. In the interior of one of these dens of iniquity, I recognised an old friend who had spent most of his life as a missionary among the In- dians. Whole tribes had been raised by his sole efforts :. k ~>«;-«'>*1w*!*''' y^:;^ ;^ w^ ^v^r I . n h; ■M' "THE BROTHER. m m :% t'iV""'-: when We could hear the cases investigated and get an idea of the nature of their crities. ' You wiil see every kind of people brought in here, men and women of all grades; boys, girls, and even quite young children; tramps, thieves, fighters, and dead beats. In fact we get every kind, from a banker to the tramp. You can see them any morning if you want to. Sometimes a great number, and at other times, not so many, but we always get plenty of them.' We thanked this unusually obliging officer and bade hin good night. Walking around ;.he block to view the massive walls of the prison, which were rendered mere dismal and gloomy by the heavy granite colonnade of Egyptian architec- ture that associated in the mind the gloomy, solemn splendors of ancieni Egypt, who.se ruins of temples erected to the gods of heat and life, where thousands of years v. "cnessed the wondrous development of learn- ing in their shades, and under the influence of their m.Tvellou. cult, had left us the strongest Mnes on history's pages of the records of civilized life. Her noble architecture that has so long defied the ravages of time, here lends its solemn charm to the adorn- nr;ent of a temple for the besotted criminals of the model Republic of all times, whose cult arises from the adoration of the modern god of selfishness and greed; whose temple is a prison for his votaries, and the victims of his fatal rites and v/orship. "Quiet reigned at this late hour among the poor Jews in that awful section of the city called Jerusalem, a wi etched parody on the sublime city and ancient people who gave us cur Holy Bible: a people whose &as«SsiS&«»*9iv ■*■>*.'* ' 1 "j'SBiiii^iw f:miif**mrffam^mi>miMiim>it-' ■ "THE BROTHER. 71 :ed aiid get an will see every i women of ung children; In fact we mp. You can Sometimes a many, but we this unusually iit. Walking walls of the 1 and gloomy tian architec- •omy, solemn i of temples re thousands nent of learn - ;nce of their est Uncs on :d life. Her d the r-ivages the adorn- linals of the arises from fishness and votaries, and tig the poor ;d Jerusalem, and ancient eople whose high intellectual type contended with the low ideal of idolatrous worship, and who emancipated themselves and the world from its thraldom, planting in its stead the one true and only God of justice and mercy. A people with whom the ideal humanity of Christ found its birth, nurture and development, A people who have proved the only substantial barrier to the cor- ruptions that have covered with selfish crime and filth the beautiful teachings of the Jew of Bethlehem, who spoke as never man spoke ; who left us his divine bles- sing in the sweet words, ' Love one another,' and 'Whatsoever ye would that men will do unto you, do ye also^unto them.' Alas! the poor Jew, here in this foul spot on God's footstooK no longer represents the sublime character of bis tenacious race, but is sunk into the last depths of degradation, despair and death, by the idolatry of the one and only god now wor- shipped in all the earth that has supplanted his ideal ; that has sunk Abraham, Moses and Christ into the night of oblivion. This one and only god of greed, has made him the victim of the sweater, who fattens on his blood, life and soul also. His Semitic tenacity, his virtuous patience, his endurance, his hope, and his love for Rachel and her children, give him a power and a courage to live under this grievous burden, greater than the courage to die. As he toils, from early morn far into the weary night, in close packed rooms, in fetid atmospheres, for the few pence of the sweater, and the wretched food which he shares with his loved daughters of Israel and their chosen offspring, his fertile imagination furnishes him a manna of life. 72 "THE RROTHER. as it wanders afar to the former scenes that illustrate the glories of his race, and the hopeful promise that sustained his fathers in their slavish captivity, when the daughters of Israel hung their harps on the will- ows and sat down by the waters of Babylon and wept. "In the Italian quarter where the scenes were noisi- est, the stench from the street? and garbage was sick- ening, but my companions did not seem to mind it at all. At last the people seemed to dwindle away, be- coming fewer and f^wer. The orgies and dance houses ceased; humanity seemed revelled out ^nd the wretches of men, women, and children, all sank into a besotted and feverish sleep, where life pulsated laboriously in rank polluted atmospheres; where death claimed his nightly percentages of i iU'e, the horrors of ex- istence mercifully termihated by nis charitable stop- page of the heart beat and ceasing of consciousness to t'^esc ended lives, festered out in an environment of yr^jness and crime," ^^Siiifesfes^feiA: *Ss^^«i»riors of ex- citable stop- sciousness to /ironment of CHAPTER V. CHURCHES AND CHARITIES. "The night was spent. Aurora's rosy tints heralded the opening day. Crimson and gold filled the east as the rising sun kissed the tender clouds and moist earth. Dew drops sparkled joyously on palpitating petals of blooming flowers, that modestly turned their open bells to receive the blush of morn. Awakening song birds chirruping a few neighborly calls, broke forth in one mighty chorus of joy as the full, warm, golden beams, shot across mountain, meadow, grove and field, and the song of Osiris went up from all tli earth. Alas ! the heavy eyelids, aching brains, and weary limbs cf the besotted sleepers, were as oblivious to the pageant of Apollo's return, as the bloodless lips and pallid brows of those upon whom eternal night had fallen. The throb of solemn church bells tolling three times three to the morning air, slartled some of the sleepers, who a.rter rubbing their swollen eyes, and dressing their aching temples, sped with hurried steps towards the temples of worship. Brilliant altar lights and jewels, dazzled the eye. Richly colored paintings of sweet motherhood, whose downcast and modest eyes lO -'•^gs?'«t**^*' ■H^iitiiiii' j^^imimmsm^^mmmimsitk^A .3.1... '^i'<'f^'i^'*^^¥S^rMf ■^xm"-' ~ T- "W f4 "THE BROTHER," affectionately gazed upon the innocent babe in whom the undeveloped germ of sublime virtue, or i;rimc, was yet obscured. A crowd of dimpled cherubs and sweet faced, winged angels, adoringly looked upon thi.« hu- man joy, and with delicate fingers tinkling golden harps, sang in heavenly chorus, the glad tidings 'That another child is born.' Opposite was the picture of the developed man, whose face upturned in the agony of despair and with writhing body, bleeding hands, feet aod side, hung upon a wooden cross. A bloody sun was sinking in the horizon. Fierce lightning dart- ing from a tempestuous sky, played through the air and I'-ound his head. A gleam of pale light cut out in fine relief, the divine features that throbbed with mental agony. And from the parted lips was heard the cry of ' Father forgive them, they know not What they do.' The solemn .sounds of the Gregorian chant arose from the Altar front, and the wretches bowed their heads with the awful impression of the scene. Amidst all the surroundings of crime, of filth and dis- ♦-ase; amidst all compulsory sinking of manhood and womanhood, in the unequal struggle for existence, on the site of street stones and squalid lodgings for a little garbage, alcohoJ. and some filthy rags, there was the remnant of an inner life, of the divine man and conscience;." All idea fjf a supernatural presence was for the mo- ment forgotten by the historian in his amazcr»ent at the wonderful account of the Nineteenth century that flowed from Ws rap**ily flying per. to the paper before mpir The sui* le-kike fotm of Edward Tureheart never i«s;aifc«a»^'' ^S*«.ptt^ ?^ft;^"-; .' ■^-^*«^¥<^r^^l(f«H;>j*r5^fWW'*»?«^ -■ "THE BROTHER. 75 abe in whom or crime, was bs and sweet ipon thi^ hu- cling golden tidings 'That e picture of in the agony ;ding hands, i. A bloody ^fhtningdart- ugh the air light cut out robbed with s was heard )w not what gorian chant :ches bowed r the scene, filth and dis- lanhood and sxistencc, on gings for a g:s, there was le man and » for the mo- lazeiiient at century that paper before eheart never moved, but his face alone assumed a deeper expression of pain as the story of the past was recorded. The reluctant pause, before he consented to the recital of '"'^'^ese savage horrors was thus explained. With in- credible speed the story went on. "As we left the church a group of young men emerged from a saloon where they had passed a jolly night, spending all their week's earnings over the bar. The proprietor and his family were just entering the side door on their return from early mass, with hearts and consciences lightened by the strict performance of religious duties. On the steps of the University of New York, where professor Morse invented his mode of instantaneous communication of thought by the electric telegraph, sat a poor homeless woman of about middle age, clad in tatters, resting herself be- tween the times that hunger ci-»«pelled b«r to seek food, or a place to crawl under aad sleep But even here with this poor, unfortunate victim of society the progress of the age was visible. The great engint: of civilization, the press, had brought to this barren life its blessings. Art,, too, had added its charm to instruct the eye and the mind ; and the benefits of primary ed- ucation in the free public schools, one of the crown- ing glories. of social life, had also assisted to bring to this poor wretch the bliss of literary enjoyment, by which man can lommunicatc with man from distant climes, or transmit the beauteous thought from age to age. Here, with all these social advantages, the homeless beggnr-woman enjoyed the delights of n sheet of illuHttations, that although a piece of cast off ^*''f^^-^.'#r^'^ MBMaWf«V*(fcyWii|i9«iM»- V FiS««*>f»--'^ 7^ "THE BROTHER." i\ .' waste of our high civilization, gave to this impoverish- ed being the luxurious idea of the lovely costumes made for her more fortunate sisters by the famous Worth of Paris. "A group of bright, active boys, some of whom had aspired to the dignity of a- paper collar, a cigar- ette and a straw hat, were collecting together to take advantage of a cheap excursion on the various steam bodts to Coney Island, where they would des- ecrate the puritan Sabbath by a plunge in the cool, refreshing waves of old Neptune's dominion, and es- cape the deadly microbe of the tenement for onehcp- pyday ; enjoy the music and dance on the boats, that floated their myrfads of gay flags and defied the pious opposition of the wealthy Sabbatarians, who at this hour had scarcely left their downy, lact covered beds, or were sipping their coffee and burnt brandy, or read- ing their Sunday paper, while enjoying, in the refresh- ing odors of their conservatories, the delicious Hav- ana cigar, before the hour of dressing for the pious observances of the holy Sabbath day. " A vast theatre of seats occupied the entire side of Washington park. The buildings opposite were gaily decorated with bunting and tho.i.sands of flags hung from roof to basemt^n*, Intermingled with national emblems and portraits of the first and last Presidents of the Republic, Passing through a triumphal arch were many people answering the call to religious Hcr- vice. From the numerous bells and c himes mellow tones filled the serene air, as they rang out from campaniles of elegant stone churches whose architerf ':•;;, t'i, s impoverish - jstumes made mous Worth me of whom liar, a cigar- together to m the various y would des- in the cool, ion, and es- t for one hcp- le boats, that fied the pious who at this covered beds, indy, or read- n the refresh - L^Hcious Hav- for the pious entire side of itc were gaily jf flags hung A'ith national St Presidents itimphal arch religious sef- limes mellon? ng out from ose architer^ '■'■■< ■ KJ^-i "TIIK BKOTIIER. n ural members rose in graceful lines, high over the Mosaic floors luxuriously carpeted, and furnished pews, embroidered .-.ilk velvet kneeling cushions and prayer books bound in fretted gold and silver. Ele- gantly attired men, women and children, walked slowly through the passages and up the aisles, filing into the pews with quiet dignity ; many kneeling and bowing their heads in prayer. Faint tones from or- gan pipes began to fill the auditorium, gradually swelling and dying, awakening with their studied vi- brations, exalted thoughts and emotions. The sounds gradually increased in power and volume, filling the vast arv^a, vibrating the base, roof and arches ; their mJghty burst of tone joined by a chorus of voices in a grand hymn to Almighty God. Sweet voices of women blending in perfect chord, followed the swell of sound, infusing into the soul ideas of heavenly beauty. These were joined by manly baritone and bass, through a pssionate and di consolate appeal, which finally ceased, the cadence carried away by the fainter and fainter, dying tones of the organ. In fine cultured voice rose the in iHon The holy man announcing, ' The earth is tl 1 , and the fwUne.Hs thereof.' Chant followed prayer and prayet followed ciiant, leaving a happy and restful impression on the spirit. Again the holy man with sweet upturned face preached the beatitudes of the Nazarene : 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall be called the children of God.' Eloquently portraying the beauties and applications of the Savior's teachings, he described the sad life of the nan of many sorrows and acquainted with .'N"'il HBOHM mmm ^'! 7« "THK BROTIIKR." T grief. Finally dwelling upon the happiness of their worldly condition and the necessity of charity towards the poor. The holy man rose to a great height of el- oquence in his peroration on charity ; and pronouncing a benediction on all his hearers, he dismissed the con- gregation, the sounds of the grand organ dying away as they left. •' The scene at the exit was a study. Stiff dignified men and matrons filed out, with a loftiness and state- liness painful to the observer. Young men, each carrying a heavy cane, and soft, sweet maidens, walk- ed away with each other modestly and pleasantly. A contented expression rested upon every countenance, as though duty had been performed and conscience satisfied. Sublime music, grand and elegant surround- ings, the beauties of virtue and the pleasing prospect of further duty to the requirements of charity, calmly rested the spirit as they went to their elegant homes, to dine, to sleep, and to prepare for the social enjoy- ments of the evening. "To avoid the crowd of people coming from the lec- tures of the Ethical Society and the Anti-poverty meet- ings, we turned the corner sauntering up one street and down another, observing here and there evidences of the good spirit of man, in the signs placed on some of the buildings : St. Mary's Lodging House, for Respect- able, Young, Homeless Women, out of Work,' ' Char- ity Eating and Soup House,' 'Children Cared for While their Mothers are at Work,' 'Board of Foreign Missions' ' New York Diet Kitchen for the Sick Poor,' ' Midnight Refuge for Homeless Girls,' and others that brought me "TUF. KKOIHKR. 79 ncss of their arity towards height of el- pronouncing ssed the con- 1 dying away Stiff dignified !ss and statc- f men, each lidens, walk- leasantly. A countenance, d conscience int surround- ling prospect irity, calmly gant homes, iocial enjoy- from the lec- (overty meet- ne street and evidences of d on some of for Respect- 'ork,' ' Char- ed for While :ign Missioiis" r,' 'Midnight t brought me many interrogations from my strange acquaintances. "Do the ■ wealthy people contribute freel' to cha- rity?" asked the tall Washington-like man. •"Yes sir. The private charitable institutions of this city exceed jK-rhaps anything in the world and are supported liberally by the wealthy class, many >fwhom devote their time and sacrifice their comfort to it, from a . eligious sense of duty. Their labors in this direct- ion are worthy of the highest praise. One hundred and thirty thousand dollars per annum is the expense of the out door division of one notable institution, oc- cupying an entire block, devoted to thecare of found- lings. The basket to receive them hangs out all night and is supplied with over one thousand babies per annum. This is a large per cent of the population for one establishment. How many for the other insti- tutions, God inly know-s. One merchant, a Mr Crit- tcndon, has devoted his life to reforming the unfortunate poor of the slums, which we saw la^ night. Throvigh his efforts, assisted by many others equally wortl- , , the Florence Missions have been established. They have assisted many tramps and street girls to resist the de- grading influences that surround them, but from which ^ ^ V m o ^ %, ^. '^^ '1^><^ O"^ %^ '% 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ft? 11 pt II v4S w ■BHW .:» CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / \•^ \ CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. icroreproductions / ('.istitut Canadian de micrcreproduc'cions historiques '^^'•:im>^ ngnn imMimtiillUUiilimSm 80 "THE BROTHER." '"Are they gaining on this condition of poverty and degradation?' he asked. >> ,; ;- ' " ' How can they.'' I reph'ed. ' More of the laborers are being sunk every day into poverty, and more of the small merchants and trades people are following them on the downward road. These latter become clerks, managers, and foremen, to the wealthier con- cerns. But most of them are crowded into the labor market; forcing out the inferior, or, older workmen, salesmen and saleswomen, by working cheaper, or by superior knowledge of the business management. I have looked everywhere through the factories and stores to find wh:it becomes of the grey haired work- men or work-women ; but only the young and cheap are to be seen in the ranks of industry. What becomes of the grey haired laborer I cannot imagine. There are a few quite old men seen here and there, but the strong, grey haired, men and women, laborers of mid- dle age, or a little past it, art no where to be seen in the busy hives of industry. Among the great army of tramps, there are many and, if you will remember, the most wretched and besotted people y ju saw last night lying around the streets, were intelligent looking men that I suspect to be of this class." ■5*ds1Swi*,ittASfe;v;fcw4.- ifc^i- .;te*v&*ji-i?- of poverty and f the laborers and more of are following atter become wealthier con- nto the labor ler workmen, ^cheaper, or management, factories and haired work- ig and cheap iVhat becomes igine. There here, but the borers of mid- to be seen in great army of emember, the saw last night t looking men ^i.f)..»f ^ " . •«> « J-MWS^PifvT^ii^mrkr^ »-is^i.<«ijiii8Mr'Ms^^ f .< I It CHAPTER VIA: -"",^C'M« '^'--i- SUNDAY IN CENTRAL PARK. ^?I;'.;^vi'k^-|1'; ?■■■'*''■ '1^3 "A circle of humanity surrounded the basin of a handsome fountain in Central Park, watching the spray and splash of water jets, playing ^'"om around the feet of bronz;e cherub."., dolphins, and lilies, as it sparkled and fell in liquid pearls with Iridescence of a thousand hues, the warm sunlight dancing upon its bubbling sur- face, which glinted with the sheen of numberless gold fish, joyously sporting in the clear, sweet water of the monster basin. Little children watched the glitter of these pretty ornaments and clapped their hands in childish glee, as they darted for the crumbs of bread thrown them. On the lawn were seated a number of worn looking women. Their babies lying on the grass kicking up their little legs and chuckling over the toys with which the watchful mothers provided them. The monotony of life in their close apartments in the city, was here relieved, while airing their offspring in the pure, balmy atr. The moving groups of life were ever passing through the high balustrades and disappearing down the steps, where the winged, bronze angel and fountain of cherubs, relieved themselves again.st the 1 1 i J,' t U-i 82 "THK BROTHEU.' background of the foliage-covered hills and the blue waters of the lake, dotted with swans and pleasure doats, that flitted here and there in graceful motion upon its mirror-like bosom. On its shores, through the winbimg paths, the groups of people reappeared diminished by drstance, the lost details of the mass made up by the pleasant color of their costumes, that were still brilliant against the atmospheric toned green of the spring foliage. "The vistas and openings that revealed the flitting groups of |)eople seeking novelty of scene, or exerci.se, were further enlivened by the dashing of the fine, mounted police and their elegant horses; by the chil- drens' swings and merry-go-rounds; by the strangers to see the inaugural fete of tomorrow, and the lively costumes of the soldiers who were to participate in the military parade. Around on every side flowering plants and trees displayed then pink and white blos- soms, that blended with the light purple lanrel, in mass, against the lawns and groves, where red cos- tumes were dotted here and there on the green. At the roots of the full blown Rhododendrons and wild roses, the refined embellishments of the chaste, ten- der, cold and purple Iris, rising from its bed of stiff, harsh flags, that were kissed by the delicate bloom of the frail Spirea, were abundant. The Casino was filled with f>eople who sought its thick shelter of vines as a protection from the afternoon sun. Around its stone basement were living decorations of the swing- ing legs of hundreds of boys listening to the band that delighted the people with classic music and pop- "THE BROTIIKK.'* 83 and the blue and pleasure aceful motion >res, through ie reappeared of the mass ostumes, that ic toned green ed the flitting e, or exercise, of the fine, 5; by the chil- the strangers and the lively participate in side flowering id white blos- ple lanrel, in here red cos- le green. At ons and wild : chaste, ten- 5 bed of stiff, jlicatc bloom ; Casino was helter of vines Around its of the swing- to the band lusic and pop- ular airs from its handsomely decorated pavilion. Be- low the moving mass of beings marched quietly and orderly up and down the Mall, and on the side pas- sages, were pretty groups of lisping children enjoy- ing the ride in toy carriages drawn by goats ; while from the shady bushes a fearless bunny looked out upon their innocent mirth and enjoyment. Along the drive sped the bicycle athletes, exilirated by the rapidity of their rapid flight along the perfect roads, darting by the droves and " droves of carriages con- taining their burdens of wealth and splendor, who were enjoying the balmy air and the charming, changing scenes on the vvinding drives. Beautiful young maidens, stately, white-haired d^mes, in gold spectacles; silken-haired dogs; fat, money-making men, lollinf on soft cushions shielding their eyes ft om the glare of the sun with rich fans inlaid with gold ornaments and jewels. Young bloods on bob- tailed horses, passed and repassed; and the pride of life enjoyed its blossoming time on the dustless drives of the Metropolitan Park, amid the enchantments of lake, hill and grove. " The music from the pavilion lent its ravishing strains to this enchanting scene and perfect day. de- lighting Jie moving crowd on the Mall, side aisles, and Casino. The sparkling, sweet compositions of Donozetti seemed to predominate in the programme of the day, and the star spangled banner that embellished the stands and hung in festoons from the trees over- head was not forgotten. " Stone vases and hanging flowers decorated the 84 •'THF HKOTIIF.R." walks, and Beethovt-n in bronze looked with stern in- trospective gaze upon the scene; his sweet soul sym- bolized by a statue of the Muse striking the lyre and gazing upward into his listening, dreaming face, that was turned toward a long vtsta through an avenue of trees, sprinkled along its base with moving life and color, shaded into subdued tones by the dark green arch of the branches overhead, and terminated by a ground of light greenish gray on distant foliage, illu- minated by sun-light, against which the Hard of Avon mounted on a pedestal, stood aione, thougtful, sublime. "The people of the slum? were not here, for it re- quires ten cents to ride on the cars or elevated rail- roads. Their single working suit orf clothes would not add to the elegance of the scene ; a fact of which they are conscious. The gilded contrast of the drive to their condition is painful to them, and with their slight- ly more fortunate brothers and sisters who possess a cheap, clean, extra Sunday suit, they decline to mix, preferring to sit on their garbage boxes in the purlieus of the tenement and enjoy the decomposed matter of the gutter, as the poisonous exhalations arise from grease or stale beer. Besides the clean portion of the community seen here do not want the rudeness, rags, or vermin, of the slums, and would leave the Park should its pleasant shades be invaded by the mighty army of the impoverished and degraded. "On the drive at the end of the high balustrade, a low, open carriage and handsome team of bays halt- ed. On the box sat a splendid looking driver in liv- ery and boots, who held the lines in his left hand, r.^S^'^'*^ with stern in- eet soul sym- the lyre and ing face, that an avenue of iving life and : dark green ninated by a It foliage, illu- Hard of Avon ijtful, sublime, ere, for it rc- elevated rall- ies would not of which they the drive to ;h their slight- 'ho possess a cline to mix, in the purlieus sed matter of IS arise from portion of the jdeness, rags, ive the Park y the mighty balustrade, a of bays halt- driver in liv- is left hand. ^•|5r? "THK HROTIIF.R. 85 palm upward •, body erect, legs parallel, the butt of his whip standing out at an oblique angle, held by the right hand on a line with the •Ibow. This is the conventional style for a driver: and this one, who re- mained for perhaps twenty minutes, where he halted, never moved head, neck or muscle, but sat as though carved in stone. The carriage was occupied by a man of about fifty years of age, with hard, rigid Wall Street features, and black beard well mixed with grey. He sat almost motionless listening to the music; but on his hard, stony face and masked expressionless eyes, no trace of emotion or pleasurable enjoyment could be seen. His gloved hand hang loosely over the leather-cushioned side, which at length he waived to the statue- )ikc driver, who turned the heads of his graceful, spirited bays and drove rapidly away, as the band was playing: 'My Country, 'tis of Thee I Sing.' "The moving crowd in front, rear and sides of the music pavilion, were an orderly, tame, pale, better class of industrial people, who were here in their best clothes. Not one person of the wealthy class was vis- ible among them; these confining themselves strictly to the carriages on the drives, or entertaining them- selves elsewhere. My Washington-like companion remarked that but very few were over thirty years of age, and inquired if the elder portion of the people did not enjoy the Park and the music. "I replied that I could not answer that question ; that this was the visible standard of human life, always and everywhere ; that I had often puzzled over this question which forced itself upon my observation, but M s^m*s»*^'^'-'^''' L * "THK HROTIIKk." as yet. I could not unravel the mystery, "/hether the period of human life had under our modern system shortened its averafje. I was well aware that one half of the community or of the world, is out of sight, on beds of sickness, disease and death, and that it is the vigorous and strong side that presents itself always to the view ; that this side again is divided into a mass of struggling miserables, and a few of the luxurious class ; so that from my own observations I was gradually be- ing driven to the conclusion, that only the young and active survived awhile the awful pressure of our social state. But this young dispirited looking mass of people moved up and down the Mall, in the order prescribed by the police authorities, who lined each side at reg- ular distances, the grey and gold of their uniforms prettily mingling with the various colors of the cos- tumes of the people, as the sun light here and there broke through the calm and spacious arch of thick foliage overhead, throwing its rays across the shadows of the crowd, cutting into long lines of light, the even surface of the extensive and well kept lawns, remind- ing us of some of the pictures of the Royal gardens of P'rance, in her times of greatest luxury, under the reign of Louis XIV. " The shadows in the dense foliage grew deeper and the dark tree trunks relieved themselves faintly against the evening mists that began to rise in their depths. The mass of the people gradually lost its brilliant color as the parting life and light of nature regretfully look- ed back, throwing his slanting beams upon a retreating world. The bloom of nature lost its tone. Still the .■#«f!ni=*- ■■m "THE BKOTHKK." •7 n'hether the jdern system ,' that one half : of sight, on that it is the tself always to into a mass of xurious class ; gradually be- he young and e of our social nass of people jer prescribed :h side at reg- heir uniforms ars of the cos- re and there irch of thick ;s the shadows ight, the even awns, remind- ya\ gardens of ry, under the ew dee per and faintly against their depths. ! brilliant color gretfully look- on a retreating >ne. Still the wealth rxolled on the drive and as we passed away with the moving mass the breeze wafted to our ears Ine fading sounds of the band piaying: 'The Flag That Made Us Free.'" ' CHAPTER VII. SACRED COKOERTS. POLITICS. \ " A moderation of the atmospheric temperature as the God of day sunk in the western horizon, rendered the promenade in the city unusually inviting. The freshened streets after some days of rain were assisted by the extra efforts of the authorities to make every- thing attractive along the route of the procession that was to display military and civic pomp during the fol- lowing three days. Crowds filled the streets compo- sed of strangers from everywhere. Military coptumes were abundant, and the anticipation of the fete seemed to infuse life into the conversation of the passers-by. At lervgth darkness settled upon the city and the el- ectric lights began to gleam out from all quarters. Quietness was only disturbed by thetrampon the pave- ments and the periodic rush of the elevated and street cars. At the great halls and theatres, sacred con- certs were announced, and choice compositions of the Masters were artistically rendered to appreciative, but generally unorthodox audiences. In the commoner portions of the city sacred concerts of a lower grade ■■;'ii^0ssf^«"^^^^ '^ i.lV l r.CT'.fr/ - mmmHift 88 "THE BROTHER. were uiven and th«: song an«l banjo with character sketch- es, amused the coarser tastes of the unblessed poor. "Mr* Norton s|)oke at the Nationalist Club on her- Iditary crirrc proceeding from the false and dependent condition of mothers under our social system, illustra- ting with her vast experience among the criminal class- '^s, and advocating the economic virtue of the National care of Woman as the foundation of society. At an- otlcr hall the Nun of Kenmarc was exposing the crimes of the Priest.s against th chastity of the Nuns. The great hall of Cooper Union echoed with the elo- quence of the excommunicated priest, Mc Glynn, who thundered for free public schools and he Declaration of Independence. The Socialists celebrated the Sab- bath evening by discussing Karl Marx and his great work on capital. The Anarchists were proclaiming the virtues of individual freedom And the Single Taxists offered the economic philosophy of removing the taxes from industry. Everywhere society was alive with agitation. A restless state seemed to pervade the air. Dissatisfaction with public atTairs appeared to be universal. The impression left upon the mind was tl at humanity was in a ferment because of the ever present contrasts of splendor and woe suggesting so- cial, volcanic dangers that annoyed the spirit. "Opening a side door in a quiet front and proceed- ing along a psssage, then turning to the right, we found ourselves in a large and well lighted hall, full of men and womer in a din of conversation ; while the forbidden Sunday beer flowed in abundance propor- tionate to the prohibition. On a high stage a band of .«" ■v^n ,-.v5 "TIIK HKOTIIKK. 89 r.ictcrskctch- l)lt.'S8ed poor, (.'lubon hcr- lul dcpondt-nt stem, il lustra - riminal class- )fthc National :iety. At an- exposin^' the y of the Nuns, with the elo- Ic Glynn, who le Declaration ated the Sab- and his great p proclaiminj; id the Single ' of removing ciety was alive :o pervade the ppeared to be le mind was of the ever uggesting su- spirit. and proceed - he right, we ;ed hall, full of n ; while the ance propor- age a band of faded and juded bcautie.s attired in cheap costumes of showy color, performed finely on instrumenU varied with songs in cultured, but somewhat forceful style, rendered necessary, perhaps, by the din and noise of the audience, which was enjoying its weekly release from the eternal prison of toil. .i.^:}r^- ''iv> ••!►'■■.'.( U''' "At a table sat a group of men earnestly discussing economic ({uestions, with which they seemed extra- ordinarily familiar, and upon which there appeared to be divergence of views. Some talked dogmatically and excitedly, while others were remarkably cool and col- lected, and reasoned with a system of logic that com- jH)rtcd strangely with their apparent conditions and surroundings. The boldness and clearness of state- ment, coupled with an astonishing familiarity with the most profound economic writers and thinkers of all lands and times, could not but arrest attention. Quo- tations from history, statistics, comrfLf'ce, political government in all its forms, seemed as common to them a? the multiplication table to a school boy; though their arguments were greatly characterized by strong epithets to one another, yet there seemed ..o to be no more ofTense than an occasional sti rdy objection. Adam Smith, Ricardo, McCullough, John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, Godwin, Patrick Dove, Henry George, Karl Marx, Groenlund and Edward Bellamy. Th? French economic writers; such as Quesnay, Tur- got, Mirabeau, Condorcet, Dujxtnt, and the German pr.^fessional Socialists, and the Individualists, or An- archists, were quoted freely. The communism of early Christianity, was given with a profusion that amazed 12 ."■'.--;;■" ■t I ! r- I, 90 THE BROTHER."' US The main point of discussion seemed to be in ref- erence to various propositiona for the destruction of social disparity and the abolition of involuntary pov- erty. Some taking the side of the George theory, as advocated in the land value tax, for the destruction of rent ; considering that its achievement would destroy the power of monopoly to absorb production, and open suflficient natural opportunities for labor to correct the present, unsatisfactory state of things. Others stoutly contended with much learned authority that an entire change should be made. To the commonality, or nationalization of land, should be added, the common- ality, or nationalization of railroads, telegraphs, tele- phones, coal mines, oil wells, electric power and light, gas works, dwellings, am' everything else should go to the workers who produce them; and that no one should hold exclusive owner.«hip of anything conducive to the public benefit. These latter reasoners claimed that with the capital created by the workers in the hands of a few persons, the iaborers could not reap a just reward and that they would be no better off with free access to the land than without it. One of them presenting the proposition in regard to the land that sustains humanity and the powers that enable pro- duction ; 'that if it requires two things to produce a thing, it is useless to argue which is the most import- ant, land and machinery, or land and labor, or earth and the forces of production.' These arguments were again contested by the land value taxists, who claimed that monopoly could not exist with public access to the primary factor, land ; bringing forward many reasons to a«fe^* ,«6»4 4 «w®a*«-- emed to be in ref- hc destruction of involuntary pov- jeorge theory, as the destruction of nt would destroy duction, and open bor to correct the 's. Others stoutly rity that an entire commonality, or Jed. the common- telegraphs, tele- c power and light, g else should go and that no one lything conducive reasoners claimed workers in the coulcJ not reap a no better off with it. One of them I to the land that :hat enable pro- gs to produce a the most import- id labor, or earth e arguments were cists, who claimed ublic access to the d many reasons to '■■ a'.'%#w»»-'iwyg ^?i )yM !wgs^, yggiy» "THE BROTHER. 91 sustain their view; such as, the impossibility of over population, and the impossibility cf over production. "This discussion bev.ame quite interesting to me, not only on account of the unexpected discovery of learning among these people, for I imagined such knowledge was confined to professors of political econ- omy, and access to such information could only be had , in costly libraries. My knowledge of these subjects, while not profound, was fair, as a general student. On the later views of the new economists, I had been somewhat careful to inform myself, but was as yet in doubt as to the solid value of their conclusions, "A denial of some point brought from the pocket cf one of these men, a worn and dirty copy of Pro- gress and Poverty, to ' ich the chapter, page, and even the lines of successive arguments, were turned with the precission of a scientist. From the pocket of another carae Marx's treatise on Capital, with fim- ilar results. 1 had never seen such a display of eco- nomic knowledge before'and least of all expected it from such a crushed lot of toilers as were before me. All seened of one accor-i in regard to present social evils ; all seemed opposed to Individualism, and in tolerable ha-mony; but the pc'nt of partial, or radi- cal reform was evidently the ro k on which they split. " At -another table sat a numler of men discussing the way that each had voted at the last election. One said that he had voted four different tickets ; the Democratic, Republican, Prohibitionist and Socialist. '"Why did you vote for a prohibitionist on youf ticket.?' asked oiie of his companions. ' You do not 11 'i0> "THE BROTHER." believe in prohibition !' •"I know I don't. But I want it to succeed for all that.' J. "'Why?' " ' Because, I think it one of the quickest ways to bring public attention, either to the question of the land value tax, or, the nationalization of all the forces of production.' s ; ■ "'How will prohibition bring that about.'' " ' It will bring it about by cutting off the revenue of the government. Then we will have it like the city of Hutchinson, Kansas, where, to laise the rev- enue, they resorted to licensing everyone in business, even the cab men, which brought on a fine rumpus, and forced them to consider the taxing of land values. That brought them to see the cat. !t will bring them also to the want of revenue ; like Pittsburg, where the saloons are reduced to ninety-three, and the rev- enue, this year, two hundred and .sixty-eight thousand dollars. This is driving the'm to tax personal prop- erty higher and the kicking is going on delightfully. Their attention, too, has been brought to the land, and lord Shenley, who owns a large part of the city and a larger part unimproved, over which the city is growing fast, for which he pays no ta>; worth speak- ing of, will soon be obliged to pay tax according to the value of his property; that will curtail somewhat the stream of cash that flows to his noble pocket in England, and help to support the city and communi- ty that makes him rich. As soon as the people find out how easily and fairly a land value tax can be col- I mmm ns icceed for all cest ways to estion of the all the forces )Ut?' the revenue ^e it like the aise the rev- e in business, fine rumpus, f land values. II bring them sburg, where and the rev- Ight thousand rsonal prop- delightfully, to the land, rt of the city ch the city is vorth speak- according to ail somewhat )Ie pocket in id communi- : people find X can be col- 'THE BROTHER. 93 lected, the question will be settled and land monopo- ly's doom will be sealed. The rest of social adjust- ments will settle themselves: and prohibition will have been the means of bringing it about. That is why I voted the Prohibition ticket.' "'Well, now give us your reasons for voting the Republican ticket.' "'I voted the Republican ticket on the principle that John Stuart Mill states in his economic work, •that a palliative, or partial reforrr., is worse than none at all ;' as only perpetuating the disease by nursing it with palliatives, instead of going at its root and making a radical cure. For this reasoti I prefer the di.sease and will sustain it, so as to either kill the national patient, or see it work to such a horrible state, that terror will bring an attack on the root of the disease. That is why I voted the Republican ticket, in spite of the outcry against monopolies and trusts, protective tariffs, high prices, paralyzed labor and poor wages. If you will look at the li.st of the factories that have shut down, and the great numb jr of laborers thrown out of employment since election time, extending to late spring, when every one is usu- ally employed, you will find that I did right, and the addition to the army of desperate men, women and children, will soon bring a radical cure for monopoly. Look here!' said he, pulling from his pocket a pretty thick note book written neatly in tabulated form. Here is a list of mining companies, rail roads, mills, factories and shops, gathered from reliable newspapers. Trade Union and Knights of Labor reports. There is no W^i rfii-Vti: '.*:•:> IS.-. m:'- t* w m-^-- '%- ^;lt> . '.«.■ J. "THK BROTHER. mistake about these, for I have taken pains to be sure they are correct. This list commences on March 4th 1889, on the very day the President took his seat, and I intend to keep it up for the next four years: On March 4th. 5,000 Lehigh coal miners thrown out ; Brook's Iron Co., wages reduced 7 to 12 per cent. ; Reading Coal Co., time reduced to four days a week ; Mahoning and Shenango Valley Furnaces, reduced 10 per cent; Reading Iron Works, failed, 2,500 men thrown out ; Oregon Navigation and Rail Way Co., reduction, 10 per cent. — strike; Bakers' strike in Chi- cago; C. M. & St. Paul R. R., employes reduced 33 percent; Brooklyn Rubber Co., reduction, lopercent.; C. St. Paul & Kansas City. R. R., yard employes re- duced one half ; Miners at Scranton, average wages $10 per month, families starving ; Militia Co. ordered to put down strike at Braidwood, Illinois; 5,000 men on strike at Pittsburgh Pa.' "' Hold on!' said one of the men, 'you are not going to reav' the whole list, are you? It will take until morning.' % »¥; , "'Yes, the plot is thickening. I have them here by the hundreds of thousands and the little concerns that I cannot get amount to as many more. You all know what a strike and riot we have just come through here, when the men failed. Those who swarmed into New York from every quarter and took their places at the risk of tneir lives were perhaps worse off. and might as well be killed as die of starvation. So the faster the disease develops the better. That is why I voted the monopoly ticket' / -Mf/^f^jtm^-ta^,^,.^,^ ' ,1.^.7, •• THK HROTHKR. 95 ins to be sure Jii March 4tli ok his seat. four years: thrown out ; 12 per cent. ; ays a week ; COS, reduced :,500 men 1 Way Co., trike in Chi- reduced 33 , I o per cent.; mployes re- rage wages Co, ordered- ; 5,000 men ire not going 1 take until :hem here by oncerns that '^ou all know tirough here, id into New laces at the and might the faster why I voted "One young man explained the reason why most pf his friends did not vote the Labor ticket ; claiming that the light vote was no evidence at the polls of the strength or weakness of the movement. He said there were forty-one of his companions that loafed during the evening in a shoemaker's shop, whose names were all registered on the wall, that through his influence, by discussing Henry George's book Progress and Pov- trty. during work hours and at all other times, he had created in their minds a desire to read the book, which he always lent them, having a few copies for that pur- pose ; with the invariable result of Iheir becoming converts to the land value tax doctrine. They in turn became ardent advocates of the single tax and the ex- emption from tax of all the products of industry, and would vote for that party if there was any chance of the party winning an election. But as the party had not sufficient numbers, the people of the United States not having had time to become informed on the single tax theory of taxation, their votes were drifted into the two great political parties to support their immediate friends. In the block where they all lived, there were fifty-three of their acquaintances who had situations under the Municipal, or, the National government, and when election time came around, their bread and but- ter depended on the success of their party, and ifthey were thrown out of a situation it would go hard with them and their families ?s work was almost impos- sible to get. So the boys did not throw away their votes, but gave them to Jim, and Bill, and Tom. An- other stated that he had asked ope of the politicians >■ ; <:'°', 1 . j_2 THE BROTHER.' :^: o/his ward to get him a position, or oflficc in some of the public places, that he had been out of a job for three months and his family was suffering. The pol- itician took his name, residence and number, in a little book, and then asked how much of a pull (meaning how many votes he could control) he had in the ward, so that he could send in his name to headquarters, and if his influence as a ward heeler was greater than any other applicant, he would certainly get tlie position. He further said, that all over the city anl throughout the State, this was the way the political machine was worked, so as to create as many dependents on pol- itical offices in every district, as possible, and to have each dependent with the strongest pull of votes. "My two companions looked at each other in amaze- ment and then at me for some moments. The tall Washington-like man asking me if that was true. I replied, that I regretted to say, there was much that was worse. •"What could be worse.'' he asked. '■"'Well sir, if you will reflect a moment on the chr.r- acter of the kind of men, that such conditions would eventually bring to the head of political government, you may easily imagine the result of their ac'minij- tration of government, and for what special purpose it would be administered. And I am quite sure the logical conclusion in your mind would be, that such characters would not be greatly concerned about the public interest; such I am ashamed to say is actually the case.' "' Have you had any exposures, or distinguished :e in some of jf a job for ig. The pol- ber, in a little nil (meaning d in the ward, [quarters, and Iter than any the position. J throughout machine was ents on pol- , and to have )f votes, ler in amaze- its. The tall was true . I IS much that : on the char- litions would government, cir admin jp- cial purpose lite sure the e, that such ed about the y is actually distinguished i«Mbim^-» ■.■5^»*eg^ »*^»*i«H;^»"•wn|^f ■ 'THE BROTHER. 97 conduct of this kind among your officials .!*' he asked. " 'Why sir, I cannot imagine where you have been living, if you are not aware of the fact that the Dom- inion of Canada derives a vast portion of its wealth from the stream of officials that escape from this city year after year with vast sums of the peoples' money, who are safe to enjoy their wealth there ; stealing on a gigantic scale not being a crime that comes under the extradition tieaty. This is not all. Speculation has become a species of insanity, frjm which no one in all the Republic is free. And another stream of bank officials, and those who are entrusted with bonds and securities of the people for investment, which they use in the most risky and desperate speculative way, or which, by some manner, they manage to appropriate for their own benefit, leaving their depositors ruined. These too escape, and add their ill-gotten gains to the wealth and luxury of the Dominion, to be follo^ved by others continually from all over the land. Many go to Europe and remain there. The feeling of insecur- ity in the public mind resulting from all this, keeps the entire nation in a s^cite of continual nervousness, -driving investments more and more into real estate; rents becoming the safest investment. •"Then rent becomes the factor that absorbs production,' said the Jeiiferson-like stranger. "'I am not prepared to admit that,' I replied. '"AH production comes from the land,' he remarked. '" Yes sir, primarily' " Well then ; whether a city stands on it, or a field of corn, rent draws its sustenance from both the city 13 i 98 •THE BROTHER.' and the corn, by ownership of the land. Does it not?' •"But suppose the user owns the land too, would not his rent go to himself?* •"Is that the case?' he replied. '"Well, not exactly. If we look at the increase of mortgages and Sheriffs' sales, in thecitiesand country all over the Union, it appears that the users are becoming less and less the owners, and more and more renters.' '• ' Well then.' replied he, ' is not rent the factor that absorbs production?' ••I stood reflecting a moment upon this statement, which for the first time, had ever met my serious con- sideration. When I looked up my companions had disappeared, and by some mysterious influence I found myself standing in my own parlor." By this time the historian had. become so absorbed in the marvelous story of the past, that, for the mo- ment, he forgotthe solemn nature of the spirit presence of Edward Pureheart, and as the last sentence was finished he exclaimed-: " Marvelous ! " The lightaround the spirit flickered and the mouth of the historian was instantly covered by the hand of Comus. A moment- ary pause and the writing went on as rapidly as before. m Does it not ? ' d too, would he increase of esand country the users arc lore and more the factor that lis statement, »y serious con- npanions had luence I found e so absorbed ;, for the mo- spirit presence sentence was lelightaround : historian was A moment- lidly as before. ;«* CHAPTER VIII. THE NAVAL PARADE, LAWYERS* CLUB AND MEETING OF "THE BROTHER." " Before my usual time of rising in the morning, I awoke and hastily dressed myself. No sooner had I made my toilet than I found myself with my compan- ions, standing in front of the President's car, when he arrived at Elizabeth. New Jersey. I was not even bewildered by the knowledge of the fact, that I was twenty miles from my residence, transported in an instant. "The citizens were out early, and prepared to give the President a reception, having exerted themselves to imitate, according to their own ideas, the style and manner of the heroes of '76 when they received the Father of our Country on this spot one hundred years ago. The little boys had evidently made the most earnest efforts. Fresh from school and burning with patriotic ferver evolved from their study of the glorious deeds of the brave officers and men, who fol- lowed the great leader through such hardships, the recital of which was sufficient to thrill their young hearts. Here Nature gave full expression to herself without restraint. There was a sense of equality in 100 'THE BROTHER. m i ^^' these little niinds and hearts for the moment, that made humanity as reflected in this miniature rei^iment sublime. For, were they not all sons of the heroes of the Revolution, or, at least, American citizens, free and independent? — each the proprietor of rights gain- ed for them by tl e great heart and tireless arm of their common father, Washington, on many a bloody field ! " Be happy young hearts ! Fortunately the whole week is before you, and the joy of the event will make you forget during that interval the pang that awaits some of you on the next Sabbath morn, when a part of your ranks will pass you by as they go to worship attired in purpk- and fine linen ! The pride and hate of social inequality will dispel the soulful joy you now feel in your imitation blue and buck-skin and cocked hats! Be thankful, brave little hearts, that there is yet some symbol of unity left for man! And in the absence of the great central thought of love to all, be momentarily equal in sublime adora- tion of the great hero who battled for man's hope, 'Unity, Equality and Fraternaty.' "In addition to these noble little representatives of the battle worn and scarred veterans \*ho, a century ago, welcomed their companion in arms on his way to the inauguration, the sturdy farmers of continental times, who toiled through the heat and storm, through mud, snow and ice, on many a weary march ; who shed their blood at Monmouth and Trenton, fighting under their brave Captain for 'Liberty, or Death,' were here also represented by their descendants, carrying upon nomcnt, that ure re^'iment he heroes of citizens, free f rights yain- eless arm of ;iny a bloody ly the whole e event will e pang that morn, when IS they go to The pride the soulful nd buck-skin little hearts, left for man! 1 thought of •lime adora- man's hope, ;sentatives of o, a century on his way to continental 3rm, through :h ; who shed ^[hting under h,' were here rrying upon lOI "THE BROTHER. their shoulders the implements of husbandry. For the moment these too were filled with enthusiasm, which found vent in loud huzzas as they marched past and welcomed the successor of the great Washington. A fraternal spirit was visible on every face as they looked into each others' eyes with a frankness born only of pure and noble thought. Alas ! in a few months more these degenerate sons will stand around the election polls for sale to the highest bidder, purchased whole- sale as were the proletarians of ancient Rome, when the offices of that mighty empire were sold to gratify the pride, or avarice, of her wealthy monopolists. "The citizens were numerous, and the procession not only interesting b\it imposing. Wherever the President moved we by some mysterious iulluence were ever present, and the eyes of my companions seemed riv- eteJ upon his countenance as though they were look- ing down into his inmost soul and analyzing the thoughts of his heart. The President looked anxious and pale, and I was impressed with the idea, that these mysterious men, by some means, had an influence upon him. " An immense arch stood out in delicate relief against the eastern sky. The morning sun from the midst of rich gold and crimson clouds, sent slanting beams to faintly tint the mass of delicate white that composed the structure. For the entire surface from ba.se to apex was thickly covered with little children whose sweet faces, arms and flower baskets, consti- tuted the entire decoration of this loyely arch. As the President passed under it a shower of flowers, •V J i |4i5 ^^^m '■■«»--, % I03 "THF, BROTHER. •* thrown by hundreds of tiny, dimpled hands, filled the carriage and covered the road and walks below, giv- ing to the morning air a delicious perfume. " At the breakfast, on »he boat that took him to the vessel, at the reception, on the vessel and during the entire Naval Parade on the bay to New York, on the B?ttery and at the reception of the Lawyers' Club at the Equitable Building. I and my companions were never more than one hundred feet from the President, But how it happened I cannot tell. On the water, vessels, or the land, it was the same. We did not walk; nor was I con.scious of any motion, but we were always there, near him. My mysterious com- panions scrutinized every official and every counte- nance with a penetrating, searching look that I shall never forget; not one of whom seemed conscious of our presence, which to me was still more strange. "There was a stiffness and coldness about the re- ception and introduction of the various committees and officials with the President that did not wear off and was only relieved when the officers got away by themselves to where the genial wine and frn grant Havana stimulated the spirit, and warmed the chill produced by the formalities incident to the occasion. "The elegance of the scene at the Lawyers' Club beggars description. When it is stated that the viands on the table alone cost nearly five thousand dollars, some idea can be formed of the luxury of the interior. The table wf-.i banked with roses, amid which electric lights in pink silk coverings shone v/ith fairy splendor. A great Century Palm, hung with rare Orchids, ro.se ■^*''T 1|iM^^«"'i> W^' :>■•*': "TIIU nROTIIKK," »03 '-V ids, filled the 8 below, glv- ne. took him to el and during Jew York, on '^awyers' Club ipanions were the President. )t\ the water. We did not tion, but we sterious corn- very counte- k that I shall conscious of e strange, jbout the re- s committees not wear off I got away by and frngrant led the chill the occasion, iwyers' Club hat the viands sand dollars, >f the interior, which electric airy splendor. Drchids, rose above the centre of the table and about its base choice flowers massed in broad and harmonious color ravished the sen.scs by their perfume. Opulence feebly conveys the idea of the splendor of the interior decorations which were said to exceed in beauty any other in the c^nmiry. The appetites of the guests appeared to be satisfied with the sense of richness, for they partooV sparingly of tlic delicious viands that invitingly lay upon the table imbedded in the mass of choice flowers. Luxury had exiiausted herself in this supreme effort to display her charms at what was really one man's table, and that man the chosen citizen of the Republic to the highest post of honor— Prsident of the few million- aires and the vast myriads of tramps; President of a nations industry, of her monopolized mines, railroads and telegraphs, of her commerce, of tne giant saloon interest, and President of the wretched sot, street girl and homeloss arab ; President of the hopelessly mort- gaged farmer, whose bitter, agonizing wail ascendf. to that heaven which in former days gave to his industry her only unqualified approving smile. In the vast sea of humanity in the street below attracted to this fete* as the moth to the candle, surging and pressing upon the line of noble horses of the mounted police, who with difficulty maintained an open passage for the exit, when the feast of Lawyers should be ended, there were many who lacked food, and would gladly have taken the crumbs that fell from Dives' table. But an impassable barrier existed, and when freed from the compact mass of human beings that now surrounded them, they would seek the slop barrels at the back -v^^ ^■:>#»^i;^ 104 'THE BHOTHER. alleys of the palaces, and luxuriate on the waste of a civilization that gives a superabundanct to a favored fe'v. The joy and splendor of the suberb feast of the Lawyers' Club, which unfortunately could not be eaten because of the cloyed appe ites of the guests^ was heightefked by the sweet chimes from old Trinity's fretted tower, filling all the air with the grand old hymn : 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creature here below,' To which the fed, and hungry, crowd below doubt- less responded with thankful hearts; happy, thrice happy, in the thought that the President and Lawyers of the Nation were for two happy, happy hours enjoy- ing so regal .-i feast. "I could not reply to an interrogation of my tall companion, why the President should give the honor of the first visit to, and be first entertained by, the Lawyers' Club. I was obliged to simply reply, that I uid not know, nor could I find a reason. Thev were private parties, and the State of New Vork find the Governors of many States were ignored for the time, while the President of the United States, the successor of Washington, first paid his respects to the Lawyers' Club. I could only suggest, that it might be, because both house.e of Congress and the Executive branch of Government were entirely composed of lawyers; and that it might be said that this was a government of lawyers. But this suggestion was far from satisfactory to my companions, as it was to myself And this I found to bfc the first point upon which I could give no explanation to these strangers. Their faces expressed ♦•- 4 ., , -p !ii^assijiS£«aa£i^K« '^r'-ji^-y^jKvu&SiiSJ^..' . , ^«jr#fl»ip?«?! "THE UROTHKR. I05 on the waste of a net to a favored uberb feast of the :ould not be eaten the guests, was om old Trinity's i grand old hymn: ssings flow, below,' ivd below doubt - Is; happy, thrice ient and Lawyers ippy hours enjoy- ati/>n of my tall d give the honor irtained by, the nply reply, that I ion. They were ^ V^ork and the ■ed for the time, tes, the successor 5 to the Lawyers' night be, because jcutive branch of of lawyers; and government of from satisfactory jlf And this I 1 I could give no r faces expressed wonder and astonishment more than interest as they looked over the different persons present. And I was kept replying to many questions in regard to the various parties, who they were, what were they dis- tinguished for, and why. In replying to these questions I was struck by the fact, that not one of all I sawthere had been distinguished for ability as a great legislator, or were there any distinguished as scholars, moralists, or advanced thinkers. Every one, to the last man upon whom I was interrogated, was engaged as a corporation counsel or a politician. This fact brought me the most awkward and puzzling questions from both my companions. Indeed the anxiety to know why the Pre.sident of the United States, on such an auspicious occasion, was first the gtiest of the corpor- ation lawyers, and my inability to answer, was to both them and me quite painful. " In the street parade I pointed out ex -President Cleveland who had been rejecteJ for a second term of office. "'Why was he rejected.?' my companions asked. "'Well, he was in favc- of retaining all the non- elective officials, whatever political party they favored, providing they were efficient, and could stand the test of a rigid Civil Service examination; believing that this method would secure to the people good adminis- tration, and by the security of tenure to an official position, bring to the Civil Service the best talent exist- ing among the people. The party workers who wish to obtain offices, not being capabk:, or rather trained to undergo the severe test of a Civil Service examin- 14 I 1 w 106 ••THE BROTHER." 'if ation that would debar them from office, naturally object to it as a barrier to them, and consequently were either opposed to, or half-hearted on the re- election of the President. Another serious obstacle to the re-election of the President, was the point .equest he made in his message to the Fiftieth Con- gress, for the National Legislature to take steps to restrain the great combinations of capital that had obtained control of the industries and markets, by which they could force from the genera) public, not only a monopoly price, but ako prevent, by high pro- tective tariff's, the foreign imports that would to some eiitent hold the market to an anti-monopoly price. " As I finished the last sentence a man standing beside me who had overheard our conversation in regard to civil service reform, remarked that we had fully reached the condition described by Jefferson when he said that "it saps the constitutional and salutary functions of the President, and introduces a principle of intrigue and corruption which will soon leaveu the mass, not only of Senators, but of citizens. It is more baneful than the attempt which failed in the beginning of the Government, to make a'A officers irremovable but with the consent of the Senate. This places every four years ail appointments under their power, and even bbli{Tes them to act on every one nomination. It wiii keep in constant excitement all the hungry cormorants for office; render them, as well as those in place, syco- phants to thefr Senators; engage these in eternal in- trigue to turn out one ^ad put in another, in cabals to swap work ; and make of them, what all executive direct- i \» "'I HE BROTHER. 107 fice, naturally consequently d on the re- ous obstacle to s the point Fiftieth Con- take steps to }ital that had I markets, by i) public, not it, by high pro- ivould to some lopoly price, man standing anversation in i that we had Jefferson when and salutary es a principle 3on leaveu the ens. It is more the beginning s irremovable is places every ower, and even nation. It wili jry cormorants in place, syco- in eternal in- er, in cabals to cecutive direct- ories become, mere sinks of corruption and faction." '"That is true; word for word,' remarked my Jeffer- son-like companion. ' ' Again,' continued the stranger addressing us, * the Senate Committee of Calhoun, Benton and Webster I in 1835 declared that — '.'Faithful performance of duty ^ no longer insures a renewal of appointment. The con- sequence is inevitable; a feeling of dependence on the executive on the part of tho incumbent, increasing as his term lapproaches its end, with a great increase in the number of those who desire Lis place, followed by an active competition between the occupant and those who seek his place, followed by all those acts of compli- ance and subserviency by which power is conciliated, and, of course, with a corresponding increase of the number of those influenced by the executive will." " ' What is the practice now.' ' asked my tall companion. '"The practice is, to an alarming extent, to reward the working and contributing politicians with offices, and the elected officials being forced to evade, often by most shameful means, the civil service test as a qualifi^ afion for office. Hence, as Mr Jefferson proph- e3ied long ago: "The ezecutive directories have be- come mere sinks of corruption and faction.' '*^ "The man who quoted so familiarly and glibly, I recognized as one of the men I had seen discussing at the Sacred Concert Saloon on the previous evening. My enquiries in regard to himself developed the fact that he had recognized me; having also observed me viewing the slums on Saturday night, and had taken the trouble to watch that no harm came to me in that io8 "THE BROTHER. iii II dangerous neighborhood. '•This information, which I verified by some inter- rogations, began to multiply the mysteries by which 1 was surr">unded, for the man's appearance indicated that he led a toilsoime life for indifferent reward. His clothing was of the commonest kind but a closer scru- tiny of his face showed intelligence and an unflinching look that was not the result of effrontery, but rather of an independent spirit. His remarkable quotations from history made me feel inferior in point of knowl- edge, adding to the astonishment I experienced on Sunday night when listening to his explanation as to why he voted the monopoly ticket. A request for the pleasure of his further acquaintance brought from him, with some reluctance, his name and address; although he stated that he could be found £,nywhere, this was given as a headquarters of meeting, from which his whereabouts could be somewhat definitely obtained. Giving him my card he wrote on the back: '"The Brother,' Regan's Saloon, Bowery, New York City." "'Is this name sufficient to find you.'' " 'Oh yes. Every one vvill know who vou mean when you ask for 'The Brother.' You will have no trouble about that when you want to find me.' •"My companions regarded 'The Brother' vith great rnestness. The character of his remarks and the man's singular address evidently interested them. To me it was only part of the strangeness of my late experiences developed out of my moody ramble to the Battery where I was nursing my sadness over the obstacles to my marriage with Victoria, and studying m» f,^^^:p^m3^^^mW- ■"-^e.f^ ..*t. a^ipifa^jag £; £| 8 ; :&i ) asp^ipj . "THE BRQT'ww.R. 109 jy some inter- ries b/ which mce indicated reward. His t a closer scru- an unflinching ', but rather of lie quotations )int of knowl- rperienced on )lanation as to request for the jghtfrom hjm, ress; althpugh lere, this was >m which his tely obtained. back: '"The ' York City." ou mean when ive no trouble by what means I could overcome her father's mercen- ary objections. "The bunting and flag decorations of the City Hall, on the palaces of the New York dailies, the Post-office and the surrounding buildings, rendered the vast en- closure, filled with people, cheerful and attractive; sti»nulating the spirits of the jammed and tired-out throng to hilarity and good natured efforts to relieve their uncomfortable position. The school girls who welcomed the successor of Washington by scattering flowers, the formalities of the Officials, Military and Police, in their various manoeuvres, and the passing of the crowd of citizens in front of the President, were all interesting and full of incidents that the busy news- paper reporters were writing down for publication on the morrow. " Agam my mysterious companions disappear'-d as if by magic, and a tiresome day closed that had occu- pied me since daylight, extending from Elizabeth over the bay to New York, including the Naval pageant, the landing, the feast of the Lawyers' Club, the street scenes, the reception at the City Hall, and the meet- ing of 'The Brother.'" Brother' vith s remarks and terested them. ;ss of my late ramble to the less over the , and studying iiMWn itWiMiiiiTr-H W«»dR^MttW«>.'' CHAPTER IX. THE BALL OF THE CENTURY, ST. PAUL'S SUB- TREASURY AND THE MILITARY PARADE. " Once more . day was breaking. The revolving globe was slowly bringing us to the hours when the god of day would view one of the great gatherings of humanity upon its surface. But this thought had no concern for me. The future history of the coming day was absorbed in the bewilderment ofthe events of the •Ball of the Century* of the past night, ii: which I with my mysterious companions had witnessed every part. I lay awake and feverish, the astonished brain nervousl)- refusing rest. Memory producing one pic- ture after another of the supreme effort of wealth, splendor, ambition and weakness. Pictures that fol- lowed not each other in regular order of succession as they occurred, but came with a vividness of reality, to fade, be supplanted by another, and then to return again as vividly as before. I sought relief from my active thoughts, desiring sleep. Slowly counting to bring regularity of pulsation, forgetting the numbers before reaching one hundred, commencing again, all without avail; and finally abandoned myself to the whirl of the brain as it brought up one photograph iJW.C^'ISS i "THE BROTHER. Ill ul's sub- VRADE. rhe revolving ITS when the gatherings of >ught had no le coming day ; events of the , in which I ;nessed every snished brain cing one pic- )rt of wealth, ures that fol- succession as s of reality, to en to return ief from my ' counting to the numbers ig again, all jyself to the photograph after another of the splendors of the mighty ball. ^ What height Imperial Rome may have reached in her grandest efforts at luxury, could easily be imag- ined, after the sights and scenes I had witnessed on this night of nights i«tst passed. Rome at her best never equalled the richness and profusion of silks, lace, ind jewels presented here. No evidence has come down to us from the brilliant past of such skillful workmanship and quality of material. Illuminated by myriads of electric lights, unrivalled, beautiful women shone richly massed in thousands, dazzling in a splen- dor of rare jewels, sparkling with white, ruby and yellow light as they lay upon snowy breasts and flashed from beds of tender lace, or the shimmering lustres of gorgeoi 1 silks. The immense dome and halls luxuri- antly hung with banners aqd emblems, evergreens and flowers, in such profusion that the glowing tropics must have yielded their abundance to augment ihis lovely scene. Vistas of decoration in red, white and green, animated by crowds of elegant human life filled the eye in every direction. The general impres- sion was a mass of gorgeousness, from which came and went many pictures on the rapid kaleidoscope of life, color and spectacular effect, that transpired during the evening. Fiom this general mass vividly came inci- dents and scenes to my mental vision, as though I was again witnessing them; even the expression on the faces of the guests were clearly remembered. The push and struggle at the cloak rooin where a multi- t -de of hats, cloaks and wraps, were by the eager throng, rudely reached over each others' heads to the iia "THK BROTIIKR." active attendants, who thickly stood shoulder to shoul- der receiving them and giving checks; while carefully coiffured heads and silken trains were trampled or damaged, bringing to fair faces the frown of mortifica- tion and changing the sweetness of their smiles to looks of bitter resentment. In the bowers of greenery and flowers into which the lobbies were transformed, the effects of the ordeal of the cloak room gradually wore off. The cheerful effect upon their minds in the profusion of color produced by floral richness relieved by evergreen, soon brought forgctfulness of the strug- gle to reach the master scene of joy and pleasure. " Returning again and again to my vision was the view through a mass of beautiful heads, graceful necks arms and shoulders, in delicate shades approaching whiteness, relieved by rich brown and black hair; priceless diamonds, rubies and sa^fphires, blazed pro- fusely in this wall of beauty immediately in front of us, as the President and Notables from every part of the land entered below through the files of artillerymen, who, with uplifted swords, saluted the distinguished guests. At a signal the bands thundered into the great space the soul stirring ' Hail Columbia's Happy Land' while a living mass of beauty and splendor leaned over the decorated boxes and royal velvet draped galleries, to see the President as he ascended to the elevated throne from which he viewed the crush of thousands, who made dancing impossible. "Again and again recurred to my feverish brain the pallid and unearthly faces of my two companions as they viewed this paradise of luxury. In silence they 'THE BROTH«R. '3 ulder to shoul- ivhile carefully trampled or n of mortifica- eir smiles to rs of greenery transformed, jm gradually r minds in the hness relieved s of the strug- i pleasure, sion was the 2^raceful necks approaching 1 black hair; }, blazed pro- r in front of us, y part of the artillerymen, distinguished ;red into the mbia's Happy and splendor royal velvet he ascended wed the crush iible. jrish brain the impanions as silence they stood, immovable, fixed, with a majesty that inspired me with feelings of awe, rmirring the joy I otherwise would have experienced from perhaps the greatest effort of worldly splendor of all the ages. My compan- ions never spoke. Not a que«tion in regard to the distingui.shed nc cables was asked. Even raptas I was in the immensity and splendor of the Ball, I could not but observe this peculiarity and the painful silence with which they witnessed this unparalelled event and the actors in it. /it length the tall man slowly turned his head and gazed steadily upon me for a moment with a calm dignity and look of parental tenderness. I was struck with his strong resemblance to Stuart's portrait of Washington. His sublime expression threw me into a contemplative reverie from which I awoke to find my- self mysteriously transported to the interior of the supper room. " Rivalling in beauty the dome and halls of the Operahou.se, an "nchanting interior of wonderful extent decorated with evergreens, flags, and flowers, formed a refreshing enclosure down the centre of which reached a table shaped like a Grecian border fifteen hundred feet long; tmbellished with sculptured silver, cut glass, e>c juisite ceramics and flowers, smilax twined around the dishes, and three hundred men in full dress stood in waiting. Viands loaded the table, reminding me of the feast at the Lawyers' Club in the morning, but on a .scale of greater magnitude. A bar one thousand feet in length occupied another part covered with innumer- able glasses. From the rear arose thousands ofcham- pagne bottles stacked on blocks of cool and sparkling 15 ..rSSer-"-'' '$m^^-. "THE BROTHER." ice, their glittering, gilded tops resembling the -live bloom on fhe border of some monster flower bed. In front of these .stood one hundred and fifty waiters who awaited the opening of the feast. In a few moments the Master Steward gave the order: 'Let them come.' The several dooru flew open and the dense mass of human beings came in like a great tidal wave of the sea. The front of the bar was in.stantly packed several deep and the champagne cork.s flew with a roar like musketry. The first citizens of the land, the repre- sentatives of wealth and refinement, struggled to reach the foaming beverage with the desperation of ship- wrecked mariners. "The splendor of the guests who surrounded the table could not be described. Here were represented the dignity of station, wealth and beauty, to the heart's content; each vieing to outshine the other in richness of attire and jewels, and all strung to the highest pitch to display their charms or wit. At the table sat the successor of the immortal Washington in the midst of a select few who were confined to the limits of the thirteen original states. The feast went on, as did the musketry-rattle of the champagne corks at the bar till a late hour. The police commissioner who stood like my companions calmly viewing the scene suggested a plan of ending the revelry, by cutting the wires of the electric light and throwing the room in fiarkness. from which he was persuaded by the managers who hoped to successfully close the wild .scene in some peaceful way or other. At length my Jefferson-like companion remarked that 'there were some of the , '! "THK BROTIIKR. 115 iling the -live lower bed. In ty waiters who few moments et them come.' lense mass of 1 wave of the packed several :h a roar like d, the repre- ggled to reach ration of ship- jrrounded the ;re represented r, to the heart's ler in riciiness e highest pitch table sat the in the midst of limits of the t on, as did the s at the bar till who stood like .'ne suggested \ the wires of n in darkness, nanagers who cene in some Jefferson-Iikc some of the ' guests who were not drunk.' And immediately I found myself lying on my bed in this feverish whirl of mental activity incapable of sleep. " Sleep n>ust have overtaken me some time after daylight, and nuw I was awake refreshed and as bright as ever. The excitement of the brain was gone, so that I sang and whistled while dressing myself— possi- bly because I found upon my table a sweet letter from Victoria that sent the blood bouncing through my heart with exhilirating speed. "The Military parade must have assembled by this time and prepared.to march. Partaking of coffee and some oatmeal, I lighted a cigar and sauntered ort in the direction of the procession. A poor woman with a wan face, accompanied by two children, asked assist- ance, stating modestly that she was greatly in need; an unnecessary remark for the evidence was strikingly visible. A pang went through my heart as I hastily gave her some change to tide over present hunger, while I walked on still thinking of the sublime luxury of the 'Hall of the Century.' The wonder of thatscene began to occupy my mind and render me oblivious to the crowd of people hastening in the direction of the route of procession. Awaking from my reverie I found myself with my mysterious companions, and standing within the Church of St. Paul in full view of the Presi- dent and his officials, who were here assembled to repeat the service which Washington attended on this spot and in the same pew one hundred years ag .. "The aspect of this ancient Church was quite changed with the profuse decorations of the interior in v^!tf---> m ■Sf ■,1 ■ A- ii6 'TUK i»R()tiii:k," %4L. . National colors. Still the solemnity of the place was most profound. Here were men of faith and no faith, men who regard a church a» fit only fo women and sentimentalists, but whatever divergence of views ex- isted among the audience in regards religious ideas, one universal, awfully impressive .sentiment pervaded every breast at this moment, proceeding from the fact that the Father o( our Country once sat and knelt with serious, anxious heart on this spot and hallowed it. "The first part of the service was over. Attentively sat the President listening to the plain and forcible remarks of the good Pastor's sarmon. Like some great sculptured mountain-rock filling, by its gigantic 3i!!c. .he mind with awe, my tall Washington-like com- panion had, since the ceremonies began, 'been standing with bowed head and thoughtful expre-ssion, viewing such phantoms or memories as fli \tcd before his mentU vision in a panoram > whose pictures were evidently as serious, grand and solemn as himself "A vast assemblage composed of the distingui.^hed of the land sat in death-like silence as the eloquent Preacher's words rang out in old St. Paul's. His theme was 'The Kingly virtue of Wa.shington' which he up- held, with a glowing tribute, as a sublime model for us to imitate. H'> spoke of the dilution of our National manhood by th. onstant importation of the lowest orders of peoj..!- ;rom abroad, the steadily deteriorating process, against wkose dangers thinkers have warned us as a beggarly prostitution of the noblest gift ever conferred upon a people. Who shall respect a people who do not respect their own blood, and how shall a ■«««■-■ ••THF. BHOTHJ'H.' 117 the place waN h and no faith, women and e of views ex- •elijfiouH ideas, nent pervaded i from the fact and knelt with hallowed it. r. Attentively and forcible Like some by its fjigantic ^ton-like com- heen standin^j aion, viewing :d before his pictures were as himself. distinguished the eloquent I's. His theme which he up- ne model for four National tf the lowest deteriorating i have warned lest gift ever pect a people d how shall a National spirit arise out of low bred associations and coarse grained temperaments imported from every clime.> He spoke of the ideas that rule the hour; that they must be merchantable ideas, of the swagger of American speech and manners, of the growth of we;»lth, the prevalence of luxury, the massing of large material forces, whose existence arc a standing menace to the freedom and integrity of the individual; of the Washingtonian dignity and jeflersonian simplicity. In thern th.it bear ruit there should be a character so fine, high and pure, that as men came within the circle of its influence, tiiey involuntarily pay homage to that which is the one pre-eminent distinction; the royalty of virtue. "As the good Pastor grew earnest and eloquent, and reproachful, over the merchantable ideas that rule the hour, my tall companion slowly raised his head from the long profound reverie, and directed his eyes to the President and his cabinet officials, whom he viewed with the most searching look 1 ever saw in a human being. His gaze was steady and continued and never relaxed until the reading of Whittier's sublime poem at the sub-Tresury building, to which we had been transferred by the same mysterious influ- ence that had brought me to St. Paul's " Here we were standing on the site where the im- mortal Washington took the oath of c^>wM^ ' l.''\i I- "THK HROTirER. \i ' ■Si|: rip; f,u v?^:How felt the land in every part, ■ i -vf ,ij , ijiTho strong throb of u Nation's heart, M,U- * V . A^ ?'*" groat leader gave with reverent awe, Ilis plod(;e to Union, Liberty and Law. ;-«if. '!•' "<•'«■,{■■ ' Thank ood the people's choice was just, The one man equal to his trust, Wise beyond love and without weakness good. Calm in the strength of flawless rectitude. Lol where with patient toil he nursed, ' And trained the now set plant at first, ')' The widening branches of a stately tree, i- Stretch from the sunris*'. to the sunset sea. 1** * ': ' {> ^'■' i- f'One people now all doubt l)eyond, '^''vl*/;^ ':/V His name shall be our am .. ' . , ■ %. , '; 't f- • j!- ^^ '*'* "U'" hands to heaven, and here and now, ' Taki: on our lips the old centennial vow. The j-eading of the poem closed and cheer after cheer went up from the vast sea of human beings who densely packed the street. This mighty ovation how- ever, was not for the great thought of the poem, or for the studious care with which the trained and world wide celebrated poet composed the verses in the retreat of his quiet home in New England, from which his aesthetically dressed thoughts have been sent out over the earth to refine the heart of man and be a heritage to his better self forever. Oh no; the mighty ovation was not for the poet or his poem! The citi- zens of a century of freedom sent forth this mighty shout for the wealthy Lawyer, who figured so prom- inently at the feast at the Lawyers' Club on the previous day, and who first received the distinguished attention of the successor of Washington, who now micsB re'jKw^^-gjB'B "TlIK BROTHER. 119 pt, Diit awe. Law. jn^jt, ' ikness goniK ititufle. led, rst. r tree, uset sea. ere and now, vow. i cheer after cheer man beings who jhty ovation how- ofthe poem, or trained and world he verses irt the gland, from which lave been sent out if man and be a )h no; the mighty poem! The citi- Drth this mighty figured so prom- ers' Club on the I the distinguished ngton, who now sits on the sacred spot before us. The same mob would have ignored the Lawyer and cheered twice as strong if the Pugilist, Sullivan, had immediately gotten up to give a sparring exhibition. The wealthy Law- yer was here as orator of the day and certainly gave a cleverly condensed historical account of the promises that ied to the formation of the Union of States, and the difficulties attending them. He spoke of Jeffer- son's great wisdom; how he caught and crystallized the spirit of free in.stitutions, and of his abiding faith in the people; of his passionate love of lib( -ty and his jealousy of authority. He spoke of Hamilton being the incar- nation of the constitution, and Jefferson the inspiration of independence; and the success to all by the confi- dence in Washington. He spoke of the confusion and disorganized condition of the Continental States; the sufferings of the laborers, and of trade, under their separate and individual struggle to maintain themselves previous to the formation of *he Federal Union; of the perfect results of the Convention of 1787 at Philadelphia, quoting Gladstoi e's opinion of its merits: 'The American Constitution is the most won- derful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' He spoke of the crisis at the convention; how the courage of its members weakened, and the danger of failure, of Washington's words at the critical moment: ' Let u.s raise a standard to whi<:h the wise and honest can repair.' He spoke of the adoption of the principle of the government of the people; how it brought safety and liberty: 'We the people of the United States, in order to form a lab "TIIK BROTHKR." ^ more perfect union, establish justice, insure don>estic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, psomote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain this consti- tution'. He spoke of the bloody reality of the French revolution, the nightmare of the civilized world; how the tyranny of centuries culminated in frightful repri- sals and reckless revenges. We stand to day upon the dividing line between the first and second century of constitutional government. There are no clouds over head, no convulsions under our feet. We rever 'ft' return thanks to Almighty God for the past, and wjth confident and hopeful promise march upon sure ground toward the future. He spoke of the great granaries and exhaustless reservoirs of National wealth, of the infant industries that give remunerative emplova,ent to the people, of the industrial annual outpiv of our Nation amounting in value to seven thousand millions of dollars; that we owned one half of the Railroads, and one quarter of the Telegraph lines of the world; that this realism of material prosperity, surpassing the wildest creations of the romancers who have aston- ished and delighted mankind, would be full of danger for the present, and menace for the future, if the virtue, intelligence and independence of the people, were not equal to tha wise regulation of its uses, and the stern prevention of its abuses. He spoke of the wonders of steam and electricity: how they have affected com- merce and th': governments of the world, of the changes of European dynasties. But to-day the American people after all the dazzling developments %'"' nsure doirestic fense, piomote ssings of liberty tin this consti- r of the French ed world; how frightful repri- o day upon the ond century of lo clouds over- We revei f'ft' past, and with on sure ground reat granaries wealth, of the i emplovajent outpiv of our usand millions the Railroads, of the world; surpassing the o have aston- : full of danger 8, if the virtue, ople, were not and the stern the wonders of affected com- world, of the It to-day the developments "THK BROTHER. 121 of the century, are stUl happily living under the gov- ernment of Wa.^hington. Both monarchial and repub- lican governments are seeking safety In the repression and suppression o^ opposition and criticism. The volcanic forces of democratic aspiration and socialistic revolt, are rapidly increasing and threateJk peace and security. , But for as no army exhausts our resources, or consumes our youth, our navy must needs increase in order that the protecting fla.^ may follow the ex- panding commerce, which is to compete in all the markets of the world. With this inspiring past and splendid present the people of these United States, heirs of a hundred years, marvel^'u-Iy rirh in all which adds to the glory and greatness of a nation, with an abiding trust in the stability and elasticity of their constitution; and an abiding faith in themselves, hail the coming century with hope and joy. After the wild cheer ng by the people had ceased — who having been worked into frantic enthusiasm by the words of the speaker, so cleverly and artfully delivered with telling effect — I was addressee! by ' The Brother' whom I had before observed standing in a well selected and Tavorablc spot close to the speakers. •"What do you think of that jumble of a wealthy 'jyfv«r's paradise when one third of the industrial "I jS. is in enforced idleness, a fact suppressed by the United States census conspiracy.' Ninety five per cent, of the Nation mortgaged, bankrupt, pauperized, and driven to crime in all its forms !' "This was spoken loud enough to attract attention, and was overheard by the President who looked at i6 jj^ij.t3*— I tlP "THE BROTHER." ?" n to i ii 'The Brother' with an inquiring, anxious look. "'Speak lower,' I said. n -^ i< "'I knew a bankrupt merchant, not long ago, one of your principal men, who is now a desperate tramp; no hope for him to get a living without begging or stealing. If it was not for me he would have blown the President, Cabinet, Supreme Court Judges, Gov- ernors, Politicians, and the rich Orator, all into atoms to-day. What kind of an answer would that have been to the oration — ' with no clouds over our heads, no convulsions under our feet.'' My companions heard this conversation and shook their heads sadly. I could imagine that they were thinking of the slums, of the street girls, of the churches, of the press, of the news-boys, the concert saloon, of the splendors of the i.awyers' Club and Ball of the cen- tury, of the many sights and conversations we had during our acquaintance, as well as the pungent remarks of the hojv man at St. Paul's, but an hour be- fore in reference to political corruption, monopoly, and the dangers that menace the peace of society. "'These people seem to know as little of their sur- roundings as they do of the real facts ofhfstory,' said my Jefferson-like companion. If the condition of the people all over the country is, as you .say, similar to what we see h^re in the metropolis, I cannot imagine how an intelligent man like this orator does not know it, nor, can I imagine how he can state that there are 'no clouds overhead, no convulsions under our feet;' nor, why so many people are in want and driven to crime and death, when the output of the granaries and other wealth amounts to seven thousand millions.' .:iflt:p$v "TlfK HKOTHER. 127 the principal ;en questioned iry affairs, of tion ; the style accoutrements ies, tents, and as questioned ammunition, 'tifications; all ral way much )ld man, yet, rs, and I sus- Brother' who >e in a good oing on. My Test in talking p during the I passing. I which was al- the National, down in the ind and social atters close at le people, that families of the 'The Brother' brought out o became so ;rly indifferent ly interesting persons standing next tothem, who also became more attracted by the conversation than the procession. "At this I was greatly pleased for 'The Brother' seemed to be so thoroughly at home on political and social questions, quoting authorities on these subjects, that the stranger was better entertained by him than he could possibly have been by me. My natural inclination being averse to war, I was entirely unfitted to admire the National display of armed men, the soul stirring martial music, the thunder of artillery, and the glitter of the endless sea of bayonets, which I could only regard as cruel instruments for killing our brothers. In the wild pleasure exhibited by the peo- ple for soldiery, there was to me but the evidence of the savage nature that has lapped over into the more advanced civili?«;d state, from which no tribe of men has yet eman< ipated themselves. In war I could only see a means of utilizing this savage nature that yet exists in us to achieve what some call the highest aim of civilization; namely, the power of one man to make some other man work to support him in idleness, or to administer to his inordinate greed, and to take all the product of his labor, except what will keep him altre so that he can do more work. So far as I can glean from history, the boasted wars for principle, have been generally only jealousy and fear of one people, that another people would get a share of the wealth which they wished to reserve exclusively for themselves, and to which they were no better entitled. Resistance to invasion, or, revolution against tyrants or robbers, must of course be excepted. The entire population of ,;|i % I Si 128 'THf: BROTHER. I'm the Globe could subsist luxuriously on almost any small part of It lying in the temperate zones; but these chieftains will force upon you the argument trfiat we must hav« war, it inspirits the people, and makes heror.j; it has always existed, and those who do not want "var are only sentimentalists and dreamers. Well that may be so, nevertheless I know of no logical reason in all the pages of history that proves it; but I do know that the wise and good of all ages dis- approve of it, and these very men who make the argu- ment in favor of war themselves inconsistently go and worship at the shrine of him who taught peace on earth and good will towards men.' "The shades of night began to clo.se, and dissolve the mighty crowd that gradually melted away, dis- tributing itself in the great city; soon to re-assemblc at the display of fireworks that was to entertain the public during the evening. When night had settled fairly in and the dark blackish blue vault of a moon- less night had formed a proper background, the pyro- technic serpents, cascades, and flower pots, were .shot into the sky in myriads, forming a jewelled canopy of falling stars of red, blue, yellow, white, and green, that floated awhile far up in the air burning with that brilliancy only fire can give to color, changing, burst- ing and fading away, to be succeeded by others pre- senting the same enchanting phenomena, until all the air danced with the weird life and beauty of fire. I .^.- I almost any »nes; but these lent bhat we , and makes who do not earners. Well jf no logical roves it; but all ages dis- laketheargu- tently go and lit 'peace on and dissolve ■i away, dis- re-assemblc entertain the t had settled It of a moon- jnd, the pyro- ots, were shot led canopy of , and green, ling with that mging, burst- y others pre- ;na, until all •eauty of fire. CHAPTER X. THE INAUGURATION BANQUET. The base of all the virtues, as Sancho Panza cal!<« the stomach, appears to be the inspiring origin of the most distinguished affairs of earth. Whatever be the interests, or glories of men, we find both upon state and private occasions the filling of this pouch with delicacies either precedes or succeeds every intel- lectual operatic.! of man Sancho's reasoning appears to gather its great force from its natural base ; and if we view the eager interest that even the dryest in- tellectual individual attaches to this operation on state occasions, we are reminded that the filling of this pouch inspires both the material and spiritual thought of man. No great affair is complete without the notables who figure in it gather around the slaugh- tered and cooked carcasses of cattle, swine, birds, fish and reptiles, which are made into liquid extracts, or, prepared to stimulate hunger by acid, salt and spice. These slaughtered carcasses are placed upon pieces of baked earth or metal that are invitingly embellish- ed with colored ornaments, or sculptures ; they are surrounded by flowers of the field, placed upon white fabrics, and instruments provided to divide the car- 17 !:! I «S^: 'THK HKOTIIKR. casses and lift the pieces to the aparturc that leads to the stomach without soiling the hands. Sitting stiff- ly these notables perform certain formalities of wait- ing a while as though there were no hurry to partake of that of which they are sure ; often invoicing spirit- ual aid that always includes the request to make it fit for our bodies and we will be thankful. After these ceremonies the body is leaned forward so as to pre- sent the aparture to the stomach in the be.st position for the instrument;-, to convey the divided pieces to It, which are then washed down into the paunch with stimulating solutions of tea, coffee, grapes, or of grain until it can contain no more, when further ceremo- nies of an intellectual nature are in order. '* **»*^- "On the night after the great military pagean' ^ of these operations was performed on the floor Metropolitan Opera House, by the President of the United States of America and the distinguished men and women, who were the guests of the Nation on the occasion of the centennial inauguration of Wash- ington, as the first president of the Country. So im- bedded in the nature of the general public is the natural desire towards this filling of the paunch, which Sancho claims is the base of all the virtues, that thousands who were unable to participate procured for a considerable sum admission to the dress circle and galleries to see the line of notables lean forward and fill these apartures that led to Sancho's fountain of all that is sublime in man. "The carcasses were divided, masticated and stored away in the many paunches, and the virtuous base '*^i^~ "THK BROTHKR. 131 c that leads to Sitting stifT- ities of wait- irry to partake yoking spirit- t to make it fit After these so as to pre- best position ided pieces to le paunch with pes, or of grain rther ceremo- ler. y pagean' • he floor esidcnt of the iguished men be Nation on ition of Wash- ntry. So im- pubhc is the paunch, which virtues, that pate procured e dress circle s lean forward cho's fountain ted and stored ; virtuous ba^e thoroughly established, as was evident in the change of proceedings which immediately began to take on an intellectual character; many sentiments being formally announced of a high ort'er; such as the hos- pitable address of welcome, 'George Washington, The l'e()|)le of the United States, The States, The Ketleral Constitution, The House of Representatives, The Senate, The Presidency, The Judiciary, The Army and Navy, Our Schools and Colleges, and Our Literature. These noble subjects were given one after another while the owners of the well supplied and well fortified stomachs each held in their hand a glass containing some one of the liquid extracts of the grape or grain which they also poured ato the a^iarture that led to this base of virtue; whi .1 seem- ed to enable their intellectual powers to act with greater vigor, and even gave its influence to the spir- ituality of the imagination so that thought frequently soared from fact and logic into the regions of fancy. "'Who is that man who f.o eloquently and beauti- fully gives the address of welcome?' asked my tall companion. " ' That is the Governor of the state of New York.' "'He must be a pure and lofty character. No one could utter such noble thoughts and sentiments un- less he Has animated by the purest virtue,' he replied. "1 asked myself if this chance acquaintance of mine belonged to earth or heaven, so strangely did this remark sound in my nineteenth century ears. " 'Solomon says "that it is hard to read the secret thoughts of the heart." I replied. •k'! ■M^- 138 'Tim BROTHER. ***Your remark would lead to the inference that this speaker's words did not represent his heart.' "'Well sir, I can only say that the universal opin- ion of this man od impres- ts and en- r the doors t had previ- 3 wherever : from the iltitudes of P fled the ngers who •rtaii nents numberless e stimulat- :raordinary gural that "e to come, e more in- «' I teresting as a civic fete than any we had witnessed; because it would be the work of the people themselves and not of officials of the State or Nation, exhibiting more of the characteristics of industrial life. My com- p^.nions replied, that they would net witness it, hav- ing been interested principally in the character and work of the Executive and Legislative branches of Government; the joyous efforts of the people on such an occasion, would not represent the blessings de- rived from happy and just government; they had al- ready seen the character of the press of the country, the character of the officials and the methods by which they were chosen for their high offices; they had seen the absolute rule and influence of monopoly and money; the awful wretchedness of the laborers who produce all; they had sesn the crimes and vices born of poverty; and the heartlessness and emptiness of even the pious, and would see no more. "The younger man, who resembled Jefiprson so strongly, threw his arms about my neck and leaning his head upon my breast, sobbed and trembled from head to foot with emotion. I had often tried to con- ceive the mental agony of the Savior of the World during his awful night in the garden of Gethsemene, but until the mental sufferings of this divine looking • old man, who hung like a wrecked spirit upon my unworthy neck, could I form the slightest idea of what mental agony was: physical suffering, accident and death, had often been witnessed, but they pale into nothingness before the sufferings of the intelligent soul. The tall, Washington-like man took me by I ■!* <( T- |> ^ ll i ' I'fTf iii - -" if f ^ 1140 "THE BROTHER." 1', !:■•' lf% ' the right hand of fellowship and said: 'I thank you, young man, tor the ■. pirit of kindness you have shown us. I appreciate the generous thoughts you have to- wards humanity; and marvel at the liberty of your social ideas in an age when the souls of men arc so deadened to virtue that the idols of wickedness have become the deities whom they fiercely adore. Fare- well I I bless your generous spirit. Do what you can in your day to break the power of monopoly to de- stroy this race of men, and should you perish in your work, your full reward will be in your heart and con- science; and your spirit will come to the arms of the glorious martyrs of all times, with whom we are per- mitted to dwell. I am the spirit of George Washing- ton; with my beloved brother, Thomas Jefferson, I have been permitted to visit earth again at the end of the century, to witness the glories we anticipated from the results of our toil, and to see the fulfillment of the l^ope for which martyrs died on bloody fields with huzzas for liberty gurgling with the death rattle in their throats. Alas! my young friend, our hopes have not been realized. The canker worm of all this social destruction, we could not eradicate in our day; it came to us from ancient days. It was imbedded in the laws upon which civilizations have ever been based, and it has eaten the heart of every empire es- tablished by man — it is the private monopoly of pro- duction. This power was too much for the commune of the early Christians, who, when blotted out, had their creed of love and justice changed to a base sim- ilar to what you now call '• practical politics." My B I thank you, have shown you have to- erty of your men are so ednesa have iore. F'are- rhat you can ipoly to de- [irish in your art and con- arms of th<: we are per- je Washing- Jefferson, I at the end of anticipated B fulfillment loody fields death rattle I, our hopes m of all this : in our day; imbedded in : ever been ' empire es- poly of pro- le commune :ed out, had a base sim- itics." My "THE BROTHKR. 14» dear younjj man, never lose sight of the central prin- ciple, that the private monopoly of things belonging to, or produced by, all, is the rause of the social hor- rors which we have witnessed at this Centennial of my Inaugural! Blessyoulfarewelllfarewell!' Andthey both dissolved before my eyes, leaving where they stood a sentence in letters of blue, chaste light, from which radiated rays like those of the fixed stars, that read: •Ail men are entitled to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.' These lasted but a moment, when they, too, dissolved before my eyes, leaving me alone in a world where every human being is alone, and as isolated as Robinson Crusoe in his solitude, but with less chance to exist. Solitude may have its poetic charms, but Hi awful weight to me, at that moment, was almos t unsupportable. Farewell ! farewell ! fare- well ! revorbrated through my depressed soul, until fatigue and sleep, the sweet sister of Death, mercifully threw over my spirit her heavy mantle of oblivion." i CHAPTER XL THE CIVIC PARADE. The rapid panorama of events of a past age thus made visible to the wondering eyes of the historian, was evidently producing up'-^n him a degree of mental excitement that ordinarily would be considered dan- gerous in the extreme. The muscles of his face were rigidly set; his eyes were fixed and the pupils dilated; :T?^!57f*i 142 •THE BROTHER. &! . the veins in his Torehead were swolen; and his temples throbbed with a feverishly excited pulse. The strange power that brought this retrospective view of a dead past so visibly to the present, also guided his flying pen as it uncontrollably dashed over the endless sheets of paper with the history he so greatly desired. The story of the fete of the people went on as follows: "The morning that had opened sultry with the Sun shining through a misty, or hazy, Septe ber-like at- mosphere, inconveniently heating the paraders on their way to the line of the parade, now began to thicken in the sky, forming a veil that protected the crowded mass of humanity from the direct, burning rays, as though an approving smile from Heaven had ordered this beneficience to the peoples hundred year holiday. •"The floats are coming! the floats are coming! rang out from thousands of throats — their gigantic size and gilded splendors making them visible from afar. Thousands of faces were turned towards them as their decorated tops moving with human life in all the gaiety of costume evolved excitement from the novelty of the occasion. Expectancy was intensified by the delay of several hours beyond the time an- nounced. The various civic societies had been corn- ing into the city from New Jersey, Long Island and those parts of the state adjacent to the City of Ni w York, since early morning. The patriots who were to march and display their zeal and love for the blessings of free government, on this gala day, after a century of progress, or decay, whichever way it may J his temples The .strange cw of a dead 3ed his flying,' jndlcss sheets esired. The s follows; with the Sun ber-like at- paraders on >w began to protected the rcct, burning Heaven had lies hundred are coming ! heir gigantic visible from owards them an life in all nt from the 13 intensified ;he time an- d been corn- f Island and City of Ni w s who were love for the !a day, after ir way it may •«T1IE BROTHER. 143 be viewed, or both, which may be more logical, were not of the chieftain class of political, military, or re- ligious life. For them the shrine where Washington knelt was surrounded with no pious sermon, no caus- tic words from holy men upbraided them for their corruptions, nor held up the grim spectre of the ten- dencies of their evil practices. The model of the 'Royalty of Virtue,' was pictured nrft in eloquent words; all was left to the «imple iiearts and unsoph- isticated consciences of these bent and crooked toilers of the wage system, as they came in from the ferries and the rail roads, dressed in their best, but mostly unartistically cut clothing, embellished by brilliant, highly protected, cotton, silk and gum ribbons; and carrying flags and banners of their different societies embellished by pictures of some natriot, or holy saint, of our own or other lands, over whose heads floated the stars and stripes of the thirteen original colonies that gained from their British king and master, the right to tax themselves as high as they please, even into the paralysis of trade and the bursting of the Nation's Treasury vaults. No wealthy representative of the lawyer alement pronounced his studied oration reciting the history of the people, or what achieve- ments had sprung from their brain and muscle, and disinterested souls ! Nor what intellectual schemes lia^l been planned and worked out in all ages for their utilization, as wealth producing factors, for their so- called heaven-selected care-takers and pocketers of their toil ! No feast illuminated by the wizard, Edis- on's magic light, beautified by cut glass colored with 1?r si ' .;,)ji s ii||i j!r- "m: ••TIIK BROTHKR. ''■V,: / :' 1 -,.:' t &: i the rose tintH of gold and the yellows of uranium, daz- zled their eyes, as the enchanting illuminationH fell upon choice viands imbedded in flowers, rendered more beauteous by the artificial splendor! The verses of no poet of the people were read to listening throngs and throbbing hearts! Even the President was late upon the scene ! The fatigue caused by the choice adulations of Washington's virtue and devo- tion to the 'people's cause,' on the previous evening ■ at the Metropolitan House banquet, where Sancjio Panza's base of virtue was so well fortified, and the intellectual emanations of glowing thought and im- agination sent forth by the historic, retrospective trumpet of the departing genius of the century just ended, and by the joyous blast of young life and hope of the century just born, had rendered these celebri- ties unable, or disinclined, to undergo the pageant of the common people, who were not shimmering in diamonds, or influential in station: with whom person- al contact was unnecess.i y until the opening of the play of prejudice, up-^n their ignorance, wants and 'superstitions, would . .gin with the judicious shower of gold at the next election, when the franchises of free and independent men, would be exercised for the nominee for office who had paid the highest price to the political ring for the honor of representing his beloved people; whose joys and rude pleasures would bore and fatigue his over feasted body that was un- able to undergo the ennui of the grand stand for one more day. "Cheer after cheer was heard .long the line as the I uranium, dai:- mintitionH fell fts, rendered -ndor! The d to listening the President caused by the ue and devo- iouH evening 'here Sanc^o fied, and the lught and im- retrospcctive century just life and hope hose cclebri- he pageant of himmering in whom person- >ening of the s, wants and licious shower franchises of exercised for highest price )resenting his jasures would that was un- stand for (»ne he line as the •'THE BROTIIRR. I4S procession came on headed by thousands of brave boys from the schools and colleges who marched with a precision and steadiness that eclipsed the train- ed soldiers of the military pageant of the previous day. One of the astonished military chieftains remarked to the President: 'Give me three months' drill with these boys and I would fight any army in the world,' Ye», he would fight the boys; their hearts would be anima- ted with martial fury, and they would go forth in myriads to kill their brothers, and be killed, for the glory of their chieftain, to whom the grateful parents would raise an imperishable monument to commemo- rate his gloric us achievements, at which other boys could be stimulated and marched to death and mar- tial glory for other chieftains' fame, as generation after generation of boys came on forever. "The drill ! the drill ! What inspiriting animation is in the drill ? It was Macedon's power ! It leveled Greece ! Mighty Rome went down before its weight! Persia, Egypt, Babylonia and Palmyra perished under its influence ! And the earth where once fair cities stood, whose polished marble temples and palaces glittered in the sunlight, within whose walls flourish- ed the arts of peace, now exhibits only a few stones to mark the ^pot, where the hiss of the serpent and the roar of wild beasts have supplanted the hum of industry and the musical sound of human joy; and what was once the paradise of man's intellectual achievement, is now sunk into oblivion by the glori- ous, inspiriting drill ! It is the substitute for social organiiiation. The soldier represents organized society. 19 / K-^f^'^V ' . 'THE BROTHER. His power is irresistable. Millions of men can be supported, and al! the expensive paraphernalia of war maintained, by the few laborers of a nation. The organization of the army is State Socialism carried out on a pian to successfully kill. Were its social organisation used to cultivate the arts of peace and to increase production, light labor to the soldier would create an abundance that would bring ease and com- fort to the mais who now supports him to murder ; and should all contribute lightly to production, thcsj joyous carnivals could be multiplied to infinity and happy hearts beat in every bosom and joyous smiles beam from every face. -n "The soldier is losing his utility as a means of sup- port to the nower of autocrats: there is a growing suspicion as to whether he will fight or not. In all Che great aristocracies of Europe there is a feeling that the seeds of ideas hostile to aristocracy are sprout- ing and growing in their ranks. It is called Nihilism in Russia, and Socialism in Germany, France, Eng- land and Italy. The so'dier begins to view intelligent- ly that his life has some value beyond its creation Tor the purpos*:' of killing his brother across the bord- er for the hollow glory of insane kings. The power of association and discussion is fa.st weakening the power of his control by superstition or patriotism. Every effort is being made without avail to stamp out this independent, slave-*elaxing tendency. Its advo- cates are exiled to Siberia and to America, put to death by prison torture and confinement; their influ- ence and subsistence destroyed by infernal arts of ■~':^$^b;^ 148 "THE BROTHER. ti 1, m I'': K. brown stjidy that occupied you for seme ininutes must have been more interesting than the procession. Are you thinking of your Continentiil friends.' or, are you in love .' ' *"I m in love,' I replied. 'But at that moment I was r t thinking either of love or my acquaintances, but ot '•.hose lovely boys who marched so beautifully, wondering if the drill would lead them to die on gory fields of ambition.' '"Yes, that is sad. ' To-day you must dismiss sad thoughts, for you know you have had enough of them for the last few days and nights. You see, the peo- ple are happy to-day; it is their fete. There is little or no committee of the select four hundred picked elite, of New York, in this affair; but the honest peo- ple get on wonderfully by themselves, all willing to be happy and obey any orders given them. This is a day of a hundred years to enjoy and make the most of. It is always pleasant to see the people in a free state, without restraint, enjoying themselves; and you will find when night closes there will be fewercutheads from police clubs than on any day of the three. Do you see the girls on that float.'' I knew every one of them. They work in a tobacco factory for a sweater.' "'What do you mean by a sweater.'' "'A sweacer is a man who works hands either on contract work, or on his own account; who' employs the young, and poor, and needy, who cannot help themselves and are obliged to work for what they C'sn get, glad enough to obtain employment that will ensure them a bite of the coarsest food to keep them '•THE BROTHER. 149 me minutes ; procession. :nds? or, are t moment I qudintances, beautifully, die on gory dismiss sad ugh of them :e, the peo- lere is little ired picked honest peo- willing tobe This is a :e the most le in a free /es; and you /ercutheads three. Do ivery one of r a sweater.' Is either on ho' employs :annot help ■ what they snt that will ) keep them alive. Where competition is close, he makes his profit out of the sweat of these poor people, by the difference in wages, and the amount of work he can get out of them. These girls are young and fine specimens of physical beauty; you could not match them among the four hundred. That brunette look- ing this way with the green and gold tights on, is the finest figure I ever saw; she would^make a fine model for a -sculptor. Her aged father was badly crippled some years ago in a tunnel; out of fourteen workmen he was the only one saved, and this beautiful girl has worked cheerfully for him ever since. The other fam- ilies of the men who were killed, went all to pieces; some of the children are around vet, the woman most- ly died, after depending on charity for a while, or went to the Island as paupers. The engineers were to blame for the accident, but it made no difference except the loss of work to the company; and several lives have been lost since by the same causes. " ' Hello ! ' Brother,' cried some of the girls from the next flc it, kissing their hands to hin in fun. They were evidently happy and unconsciously free from any idea of rudeness . their actions. The lives of these girls did not acquire their edom from nature but rather from ll classic precincts of the tenement and sweating shop. Being devoid of rules of propri- ety they gave expre on to their feelings without re- straint. It was, inde d, amusing to see ♦:hese crude beauties in the costum s of court ladies, delesses, an- gels and nymphs, with their uncultured movements, impulsive speech and actions. The representations .|f;R!?^^5sr IP... 'c 150 ••THE BROTHER." M if. on the floats did not suffer from these defects; there was natural grace and a certain ease, arising from perfect indifference to the gaze of the multitude of spectators, that did not abash them at all, although they were handsome and lovely to view. "The remarkable grace exhibited in the bachana- lian festal processions of the ancients, which artists have transmitted to us, was developed from the na- tional character of their athletic games, and the cus- tomary and frequent repetition of these events kept them in training to suit a public taste that their so- cial life had fastidiously developed. With us the daily struggle for existence, in our age of scientific progress, has been unfavorable to even the recogni- tion of graceful movement. In the stiff proprieties of the Fifth Avenue promenade it is no less observable than in the natural, rude impulses of these wild chil- dren of nature. The awkward movements so peculiar to our careless age, from which even the artists of the stage are seldom free, were visible here, accented somewhat by the muscles trained to active work in shops and factories. Still there was much to admire, and one should not be captious with untutored soci- ety, devoid of favorable surroundings, happily reward- ed when they can look upon a loaf of bread, a bit of chee.ee, a piece of meat, or, salt fish, with poor coffee, for a meal; with freedom from sickness, or death, and prospect of work ahead, however poorly ^«id, when their wealthy sisters have the same universal defect of elbow awkwardness, even in the drawing room. ••The young men were not behind in physical per- Fects; there rising from multitude of 1, although ic bachana- bich artists om the na- nd the cus- :vents kept at their so- /ith us the Df scientific he recogni- ■oprieties of observable e wild chil- so peculiar irtists of the e, accented e work in 1 to admire, tored soci- »ily reward- d, a bit of poor coffee, death, and j«id, when rsal defect g room, lysical per- "THE BROTHER. iSi fection, aiid made great merriment for the by-stand- er^ in some of the amusing characters which they represented. Others were imprisoned, for the time being, in stiff costumes, of heroes and patriots of many lands; of Washington's, Jefferson's, Franklin's, Courtiers', and dignitaries', which admitted of no amusement. The industrial scenes of mechanical op- erations of all kinds exhibited the paraders more at home than in the stiff habiliments of the last century; for here the box coats, long, embroidered vests, frills, laces and wigs, were discarded for the working cos- tume; rolled up sleeves, brawny arms and the famil- iar tools, which were wielded with skill born of long practice. Many of these were highly interesting, as allegory was blended with practical industry in the fanciful creations of the gigantic floats, whose iofty tops frequently suffered from the telegraph wires that hung across the line of march. '*' Here come the kilts!' cried the crowd. And, sure enough the Caledonian club came along with their tartan plaids, bare knees and Highland dress. Bag pipes lent their wild, savage strains to the vari- ety of scenes that were ever passing our eyes. "The banner of Switzerland, the oldest Republic, preceeded a float containing a bevy of beautiful girls in charming costumes, representing tht: years of inde- pendence, who flung a shower of rose bouquets at the President as they passed. Merry laughter arose from their midst, and the yodel of the Swiss vales beauti- fully echoed over the park to enchanted ears of the wearied bat delighted crowd. Bravely the bands n^ "THE BROTHER." n played inspiriting^ popular airs as they unceasingly followed clubs, societies, and floats. Hail Columbia, The Star Spangled Banner, and America, were blended with Wacht am Rhine, Yankee Doodle, Marching through Georgia, and Patrick's Da^ in the Morning. Knights of Temperance followed the Apotheosis of Bacchus and the Brewer^ float. The Jamestown col- onists, contrasted the Piano Makers.' The Kinder- garten, contrasted the Russian tea caravan. The German refugees, contrasted Symphonic Music. And the Log Cabin, the Shrine of Flora. From Ranch to Kitchen, offset Washington's farewell. The Carnival, contrasted The landing of the Emigrants. Wagners Opera, The Ships of the Puritans. Natural Science, contrasted the catholic societies Arion, Washing- ton crossing the Deleware; and fairytales, the House Smiths. The Tammany Society of politicians offset the tragic music; and baking and brewing, the Swab- ian Harvest Home. The Provision dealers contrast- ed the Firemen; and the joys of Kriss Krimble, the Brooklyn Bridge. In all this medley of fancy, myr- iads of strange costumes, jests, and merriment, the people found pleasant entertainment, marked by good humor, and honest enjoyment. The pale look- ing President at last inquired when the pageant would end; half an hour more the proprieties of his station compelled his remaining. At last the stragglers came and the President's carriage rapidly passed away as the rush of the people for the restaurants and cars, closed the extraordinary three days festivi- ties of a century of American presidents; and ushured "THE BROTHER. »53 inceasingly i Columbia, ere blended Marching : Morning. )otheosis of :stown col- le Kinder- van. The [usic. And n Ranch to c Carnival, Wagners il Science, Washing- the House ians offset the Swab- 's contrast- rimble, the mcy, myr- riment, the narked by pale look- eant would his station stragglers ily passed restaurants ays festivi- nd ushured in the newly born, whose history, fraught with weal or woe, will be recoro^J after this generation of men, who so proudly celebrated the event, shall long be for^'otten in the activities of other times." CHAPTER Xn. BOWERY SCENES, THOMPSON STREET AND THE FLORENCE MISSION. "The mental state that succeeded the strange ex- perience of the last few days was such, that I felt as though removed from fellowship with mon. What I had seen and the character of thought it engendered brought a change in my view of society; had made me feel that my life was an idiotic chapter of folly and error, and I regarded myself and society simply with feelings of horror. The strange beings who had made my acquaintance on the lonely batteary, whert, in the stillness of night, I had sought the sympathet- ic sadness of the dark, turbulent waters of the b?>.y, whose friendly surge and splash, and sighs, were con- sonant with my love disappointed spirit, the two most sublimely intellectual patriots developed from all the times of the ages, who stood as monumental pillars, so grandly above all other intellectual monuments, that, in the vast historic panorama of the great, they were alone in their lofty solitude, had brought me the horrors of knowledge and left me mentally wrecked. 20 ^-liiiiiiifflitffiy-.. i$4 "THE BROTHER." II fir %. ^!f Imagination forced upon me the picture ci the great of the world, and the sufferings of their noble minds in the sorrow brought to their souls by the knowledge of wisdom. Men who lived lives of pain because the intellectual light made more clear the folly and misery of their kind, high and low; follies that would, and did kill the wise and good who tried to help mankind to better life. I thought of Solomon writing in his study as he sat in full view of the splendors of the Temple and Palaces of his magnificent reign, the eloquent and profound words that have survived even their foun- dations: 'Much learning maketh the heart sad,' <0f all thy gettings get wisdom,' all else is vanity and vexation of spirit.' I thought of the wisest philosopher of Greece, forced by the howling mob to drink the poisonous hemlock and end his beautiful life because his noble thoughts were too strong for them. I thought of the wise men of the dark ages, done to death at the stake and poisoned, to satisfy the fury of pious hypocrites; and, of the Savior of the World stabbed to ensure his death upon the bloody cross. I thought of helpless innocence hounded into poverty, vice and misery, by the wicked, and indifferent of society, and the awful, yawning gulf that awaits us all as we hurry around its cycles to the vortex. I felt as though my brain would burst in the unsympathetic solitude where- in I had been left by the sad farewell of the god-like Washington and Jafferson; and my spirit finally found relief in heart breaking sobs and tears. " Company I must have, and naturally I sought the sweet woman to whom I had pledged my troth. "THE BROTHKk. 155 i the great oble minds knowledge 3ecause the and misery uld, and did nankind to in his study le Temple loquentand their foun- t sad,' drink the life because I. I thought o death at ry of pious Id stabbed I thought y, vice and ociety, and as we hurry though my :ude where- Ite god-like nally found r I sought my troth. . men, street girls, and depressed, married men, who were airing, or purchasing a few necessary articles, with their scantily clothed and hopeless looking wives. An unusual number of drunken soldiers « m- bellished the Bowery accompanied by street girls who shrewdly endeavored to obtain from them what money was left of their pay, or bounty, before leav- ing to make the acquaintane of the aborigine, or the buffalo, upon the vast plains of the Mississippi or the Missouri. The numerous electric lights rendered the Bowery brilliant and the general effect was en- chanting; sham diamonds of great size and brilliancy flashed in the shop windows purchasable for a trifle; the various fake shows 'le wonderful leather man, the headless woman, wa.v tigures, and the exhibition of beauty, which latter consisted of three small mon- keys called by the names of princesses, to which the passer was attracted by flaming pictures, and a Dutch street band playing from behind a screen ptiinted with wonderful scenes of fairyland. To make up for the paucity of the exhibit a private room was in the rear, where greenhorns were introduced to a profess- or with a high sounding title, who manipulated their bumps with many extravagant words ending with a pompous demand for, 'One dollar, sir !' met with a quarrel and an offer to settle for fifty cents. At the door a greenhorn, who stood gaping at the advertised wonders, was being relieved of his watch by an ex- pert; the proprietor sliook his head at the thief but dared not speak, for this gentleman was one of. a dangerous gang. So confident was the thief in the 'THE BROTHER. »57 men, who ry articles, iss looking oldiers » m- street k'^Is them what »efore leav- origine, or ssissippi or :s rendered ct was en- i brilliancy bra trifle; ather man, exhibition imall mon- which the tid a Dutch en ptiinted ake up for ^as in the » a profess- lated their ling with a net with a . At the advertised )y an ex- e thief but one of, a hief in the case and success of this operation that he did not discover that by a more skillful l-.ief his own watch was abstracted at the same moment "A group of men were standing in front of a res- taurant; these were part of the gang tailed Whyos, whose numbers and boldness make them dreaded throughout the city. Their peculiar virtues consist of ability to obtain food, drink, and lodging without paying for it. One of these had entered this restaurant where he regaled himself with the best the lardtr afforded, enjoyed the attention of the waiter, picked his teeth pompously, and throwing down bis check to the clerk requested him to 'hang that up.' The clerk, a rather small man, happened to be a pugilist, vault- ing over the counter, he closed the door and proceeded to get his moneys worth out of the Whyo by giving him a thrashing that the bold ruffian, unable to re- sist, finally begged for mercy, when the door was opened and the Whyo was sent reeling into his own crowd, who, intimidated by their chief's defeat, did not attempt to raid the house. "The vast concourse of human beings rolls on like the wave losing its form and disappearing beforeyour eyes; lik>e the sea of humanity, it is the same water before you, levelling, changing, followed by another roll of a newly formed wave which yon carefully but vainly watch to see whither it is spent, and before it has gone, another mighty wave is upon your vision following to the same eternal sea. Here and there unsubmerged fragments of the wreck of human lives are seen for a moment as they rapidly pass, to be ^ fl •mm, iiiMiiiyiW i y'|t »«- "THE BROTtlKR." I*- J^ V^ f \ V f ■ 1 , .i' followed by others who, by some str;i nge accidents survive awhile upon the surface, like the air bubble in the midst of a howling tempest. \ hich the rapid thought can single out for a moment. One a hatless, tattered, young woman, is passing, her straggling, unkempt, rich brown hair survives as the only orna- ment to frame the haggard features once highly and intellectually beautiful. The large, open, well formed eyes, gaze forth with a vacant stare. Beauty's attrac- tion has brought the revels thick and fast, soon fasten- ing the serpent fang of alcoholic thirst. She stops and vacantly gazes awhile upon a candy stand, then passes on without purchasing and disappears on the passing wave. "The Pawnbrokers were thick in this neighborhood and business was brisk; the characters who passed in and out were various, and the variety of goods receiv- ed in these magazines of curiosity, was as strange as the characters who deposited tl.cT. Poor women pledging a flat iron, or a pair of worn shoes, to ob- tain a small sum to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Crooks and pick-pockets leaving, unredeemed, a watch or jewel, surreptitiously borrowed frcm seme other more wealthy rogue, whose operations are on change, banking, or merchandising. Many were well dressed, borrowing- to relieve temporary embar- rassment; others pledging the last possession for the last morsel of food betwe'jn them and death, that, in few hours or days, will bring, in some pestilential hovel, or in the dark river that flows with rippling sound b/ the sides of the grand navy of commerce. 1* , t '^* "THE BROTHEK. "59 ngc accidents he air bubble lich the rapid One a hatless, »er straggling, be only orna- ice highly and ;n, well formed eauty's attrac- st, soon fasten- t. She stops dy stand, then ppears on the i neighborhood who passed in f goods receiv- i as strange as Poor women I shoes, to ob- [js of hunger, inredecmed, a ^ed frcm seme ations are on Many were porary embar- jession for the death, that, in ne pestilential with rippling of commerce, or washes the ends of the docki, the sleep that knows no awakening. In the window were displayed for sale a number of medals; the inscriptions upon these gave the names and date of many distinguished per- sons; on the reverse wer? mottoes in latin indicative of some sublime virtue or deed of heroism. Some were struck in honor of the prowess of the pugilist; others for some scientific, or scholarly, achievement; others for honors achieved in the salon, for artistic skill, or on the rostrum, for oratory; some to poets, for their masterpieces of thought; some for heroism at the cannon's mouth, or the sacrifice of their lives in their country's defense; some were for moral and religious distinction; the Catholic Knight and the Mason who had achieved the thirty-third degree, all for sale as unredeemed pledges. Advertising here under the brilliant electric light, the submergence of all dis- tinctions, whether of moral, heroic, scientific, or artistic virtue in the great vortex of want, to which these intellectually endowed virtuosi were as completely subject by the unequal struggle, as the meanest wretch who grovelled for a few pence amongst the fetid gar- bage and waste of civilization. Culture, honor, virtue, all, all overshadowed by the power of individual wealth, leaving to society the delightful treasure, the survival of the meanest. "It was with pleasure I hailed the arrival of 'The Brother' for gloomy reflections were taking possession of me, and I well knew that one who begins to grieve over the horrors of the Nineteenth Century, was a lost man. Hardened to the horrors, which he clearly :■ 'i ■-■.ia^^;«fe(**wj^^e*)fiw*Ws^^»^^ VB i6o "THE liROTHER. ¥ ^ 1 '*, '. saw with the eye of the mind, in their true hght, his influence upon me was beneficial, enabling me to suppress to some degree my emotions; for, as he said, his he^^rt was dead, and he coldly looked on society Sis one gigantic scene of hypocrisy and injustice; its victims sharing in their misery only the logical out come of legalized crime and plunder. "The words of the preacher at St. Paul's Churvjh on the morning of the centennial of the inaugural of Washington, that so pointedly touched the core of our social disease and gave such offence to ihe mag- nates who keenly appropriated his words to them- selves, kept rising in the mind as we walked through the purlieus of Thompson street and the surrounding district. Thousands ot men, women end children, lined the sidewalks, sat upon the steps, or stood around the groggeries, alley -ways and cellars; dirt, squalor, wretchedness, rudeness, oaths and vileness, were only to be seen and heard. The population of the neigh- borhood at this evening hour was in the street, and presented itself in good shape for study. Here could be seen without difficulty, what the good man meant when he told the President and the wealthy Monopo- lists and Politicians of the 'adulteration of our National Manhood,' for here was the adulteration almost in its last savage stage: Americans, Irish, Italians, Hun- garians, Poles, Negroes and the scrapings of the world, all mixed in one repulsive mass, without thought of race, color, distinction, or even the vaguest con- ception of decency. The shock to my senses was intense, and forced the reflection of the utter degra- ^^;^^.- v^-s- ?:4*^i:; "THE BROTHER. i6i rue hght, his ibling me to "or, as he said, :d on society injustice; its logical out il's Church on inaugural of the core of ; to the mag- •ds to them- ilked through e surrounding ?nd children, " stood around dirt, squalor, ess, were only of the neigh- e street, and Here could i man meant Ithy Monopo- f our National I almost in its :aHans, Hun- pings of the thout thought vaguest con- y senses was utter degra- V dation that man reaches when he declines from the civilized state; a degradation far beyond that of the savage, and impossible of regeneration; for the de- graded civilized never rise again. The absolute sav- age presents a nature upon which a new civilization can be built, and such is always the case. First, hia superstitions developed into soove form of morality, then the chieftainship, with the monop^'v right of land and property, which is the canker worm that eats again the heart of each new civilization as it rises. Upon this festering mixture of 'adulterated national manhood,' no impression for good can ever be made inder present conditions. One has only to view the mi^ss to see the hopelessness of the efforts of the brave missionaries, to have forced upon him the conclusion that not all the missionaries in the world assisted by all the good and pious men and women, could make the faintest impression upon this degrad- ed mass of civilized man, without his conditions were radically changed. The keener sufferings of the re- spectable people, in their struggle to avoid the slums and the repulsive associations of this jumble of races, in a maggoty mass, on the decaying carcass of mod- ern civilization, is still more dreadful and pitiable than the ignorantly contented human animals5 that are growing in our cities as fast as the locusts of Egypt, or the Colorado beetle; and that will crush the civilization of the North by the weight of their •'multitudes, as the increasing millions of degraded ne- groes, will blot out the South: and over the sacred soil dedicated to the hope of man by the free gov- ernment of Wa.shington and Jefferson, in which man's 21 i -^i^ ^ '-''if'-,''--- 162 "THE BROTHER." '!!.= W'^ • ■■■■ ':J«;, my 1 ^ >i". ■1 v.'T' better nature was to find Its highest expansion. A low mass of beings will fester a while in beastliness, murder and superstition, then yield their place to the savage and wild beast. "It is needless to come to this sickening sight of degraded humanity to seek the evidence of the de- cline of civilization; the mere reflection that the mon- opolist and the politician, are willing to add even this tlass to the pimp, the brothel keeper, the gambler, the saloon keeper, the newspcper, the tramp and the tough, the labor ^^itator and the ecc'.esiast, to sus- tain their control of power, is :^ufficient without furth- er searcli. When honorable position is maintained by the supposed greatest only by the support of the Meanest, no further commei ;\ry is needed on the quality of a civilized state that has reached its last stage of decline. "Turning again towards the Bowery, we stopped a few moments on th^. apposite side of the street to view one of the v/omen's lodging houses. Poor women, they mi- st pay five cents more than men, al- though they eain less, and have no free drink of wood spirit whiskey poison, in the morning, as a prize for their patronage. v\''ithout the necessary fifteen cents they must stay on the street and survive as best they can. I was surprised to see how respectable and well mannered the inmates were. A number of young women from sixteen years upward, were sitting a- round the restaurant tables conversing with one an- other. The door was open to the street and the place was in full view of the not overly elegant pub- ^ 6 •i • 'THE BROTHER. 163 jansTon. A beastliness, place to the ig sight of ; of the de- at the mon- dd even this le gambler, mp and the ast, to sus- fhont furth- maintained )port of the :ded on the led its last ve stopped a le street to jses. Poor an men, al- ink of wood a prize for fifteen cents as best they ictable and er of young : sitting a-.- th one an- et and the egant pub- lic of tbr neighborhood. At the upper windows coui J be seen a number of women of thirty years of age and upward, who had evidently returned from their daily employment, and were resting in this only 'Home, Sweet Home,' they had on earth until the day returned and the hour for toil arrived. . "After having viewed' the horrible niass further down the street, the sight of these neat, well man- nered women in their chec

, r.ear the constellation of lijiiSiM !l'««ti 'THE BROTHCR. 165 eats spoke l1 by being tions of the benevolent ese angels :ing assist- Almighty :ennptations lich it was expression .'ho appear- lispoke the the result fe, and the themselves i save a few e and per- i became ws and suf- hetic tears rfforttocon- 1 been spent of doomed n air which s baimy; a y over the scomfort to ane of her I and Tupi- and love, Hteilation of the Pleiades, the approaching moon about to embrace them both; the twins, the Crab and the royal Lion, were ascending, and Aldebaran, Castor and Pollux, added their lustre to the heavenly scene, viewing in their daily round the insane contentions, struggles and entombment of all the races and generations of men; the movements of armies in the work of destruc- tion; the rise and fall of empires, and the far greater power of evil and destruction; the power of greed that, over the entire face of the smiling earth, sinks, age after age, the generations of men, into misery and death. Oh ! in your bright orbs do such crimes appear! or, are we on earth the only existences fated to misery? When shall the desert bloom as the rose and war of man upon man be known no more? When shall the reign of the divine Master come, and man live in one common brotherhood from which shall be eliminated the love of gold, the accursed root of all evil? CHAPTER XIII. A FIFTH AVENUE PAKTY, A TENEMENT FIRE AND OONEY MAGUIRE. "The night grew on apace as we wandered first up oni. street then down another. From elegant resi- dences gleamed brilliant lights illuminating, in front of them, the mounted trappings of the noble steeds in 3 i: ' i'8'imj).!!iii. '* .e > ''aiii>i» i ' a«i 11; 166 "TiiE BROTHER." whose veins coursed the finest strains of Arabian blood; their grooms closely watching as they champ- ed their foaming bits. Liveried footmen expensively attired in boots and tights, were active in attendance upon the arriving guests. Within all vva.s joy and pleasure; strains of sweet music performed by skillful artists floated out upon the balmy air; in the refined embrace of the waltz whirled famous beauties blazing with jewels that sparkled on fair breasts, arms and necks, amid the sheen of an Indo-European, multi- colored silks; lovely faces with languid, dreamy eyes, partted, ruby l;;;s and sn- wy teeth, spoke the exquis- ite pleasure of iiie scene: odors of rare flowers were wafted on the air by their graceful motions; rare paint- ings of famed artists decorated the rich walls; art bronzes of great value, and choice ceramics, relieved the profusion of splendor everywhere visible. Through an arch hung with flowers the festal board was seen and here again all was loveliness. Rare china of graceful form and decoration from Sevres, royal Wor- cester, Berlin and Limoges, covered with viands pre- pared by artistic cooks; baccarat cut glass and rare wines of lucious flavor, cooling fruits from the tropics invitingly arranged on comports, enamelled in green, brown, gold and b ;c, relieved with flowers trimmed low upon showy linnen invited the appetites of the guests to the perfection of luxury. Softdivansartistically embellished wit* old gold and rcne ble#(ded in a con- fu.sion of ornament, rested the stately dames and el- ders, who converged 9mtmly md gracefully, in cult- ured language-, upon c^tewad! themes. The life of "THE BROTHER. 167 of Arabian ;hey champ- expensively attendance vas joy and i by skillful 1 the refined ities blazing , arms and ean, rhulti- reamy eyes, the exquis- lowers were ; rare paint- walls; art ics, relieved le. Through rd was seen ire china of royal Wor- viands pre- s and rare the tropics ed in green, irs trimmed ites of the s artistically ed in a con- ies and el- ly, in cult- The life of ' the halls was a picture worthy cf reproduction by a Fortune, or a Madrazzo. Carefully studied and elab- orately executed architecture delighted the eye by its well conceived and arranged species, the propor- tions of its parts, the color, effect and design, of its members and ornaments. Decorative bronzes group- ed the easy stair-way and landings. Windows of artistic glass blended their harmonies of color, their irregular surfaces sparkling like dew drops on flowers as they reflected the dazzling electric light, or, the transmitted moonlight from a cloudless sky that fail- ed to rival the artificial splendor within. Lovers el- egantly posed upon the stairs; the blush and smile played upon fair faces as tender words were lowly spoken, or whispered, into willing ears. In the un- conscionable moment of happiness, natural grace dis- played her perfection in the free moveme«;C of figure, arms and head; facial expression freed by ti*e j^ <^ h. ;)py hearts rivalled the choicest dreams of ai'tis^ thought. The strain and crush of life was not visible here; even the stony features of the brokers and kings of change relaxed to human form and expression as the corpse of the soul was galvanized into a little life by the splendor and happiness of the enchanting scene. " Descending the easy flight of carved steps that led to the wide avenue, the sUange effect of the moon- light attracted us to the lovely panorama of the dark blue vault of the heavens overhead, whose breadth and vastness, studded -vith worlds, doubtless peopled with myriads of other existences, carried out the smm 168 '•THE BROTHER." 1; «'' Si" if- r f .1 4 i' I • < mind to bright and beautiful Nature, who speaks to all her children with one voice and greets them with an universal smile. On the broad, smooth pavement were a number of professionals whose artistic em- ployment consisted in giving evening exercise to that large and favored portion of society, the aristo- cratic canine, that was led by silver chains, or, em- bossed leathern straps attached to engraved or jew- eled collars. These favorites of fortune trotted the polished streets, and sniffed around the balustrades that protected the palaces from too near approach of the vulgar. The toy pug with saucy, belligerent face, the picturesque and snappy akye terrier whose long, carefully brushed silken hair rivalled the tresses of children, the pretty, long-eared spaniel, who for cen- turies has enjoyed the luxuries of wealth, and the in- telligent St. Bernard who, in the soft caresses of the various Omphalis, has lost the virtues and heroi.'m of hi» Alpine brothers and retains only his personal beauty. These darlings on return to their palatial homes would have their dainty feet washed with per- fumed soap, dried on soft, white linnen towels, and put to slumber sweetly upon downy beds embellished with lace and covered with choice fabricH ornament- ed with embroidery deftly workf) by fair hands. A tall, respectable, but seedy looking, man approached one of these interesting professionals and asked ff>f assistance. From the conversation that ensued it was evideiit that they were acquainted. Want of work and bread for the dear ones had brought him, ^ at that late hour, to watch for his friend who, through Mill iiiiMiiia mm "THE BROTHER. 169 > speaks to them with \\ pavement irtistic em- exercise to the aristo- ns, or, em- ed or jew- trotted the balustrades pproach of gerent face, vhose long, tresses of 'ho for cen- and the in- esses of the nid heroism lis personal eir palatial :d with per- owels, and ;mbellished ornament- hands. A approached I asked (tif I ppsued it Want of ought him, ho, through the care of the aristocratic canines and a warm place in Bridget's heart, had obtained the fortunate position of occasional close proximity to the choice crumbs that fell from the tables oftheir wealthy owners. "The fire alarm was sounded, and instantly the splendidly trained horses at furious speed came rush- ing by, plunging and leaping with the heavy fire machines from which the sparks flew like a stream of shooting stars. Another and another passed; then whirled the hook and ladder round the street corner; the rattle of the wheels and the clang of the alarm gongs changing the stillness of the night to the din of rush and terror. Away they sped, the skilled drivers lifting the plunging horses with the reins at cdcb successive leap. The alarm increased; in other streets we could hear the rush and clash of the mailed hoofs, and rattle of the wheels. Evidently there was a general alarm and serious W( rk was before the heroes of the fire department, whose brave hearts and strong arms would require their noblest efforts that night to sav ' ;»ge, beauty, helple.«is innocence, or property, from the devouring elements. poUo .'livg the sounds, a few blocks brought us to the exciting sceac. ThedvveUings in the neighborhood had emptied their multitudes into the streets. A panic had seized upon all, for a row of densely populated tenements were ablaze; the wild flames leaped joyously from room to room and from house to house, as though it greedily luxuriated ill the fiendish work of destruction. The .ictive fire- men were asBiating the aged and helpless sicjc, or the bewildered women and children, to the fire escapes, J2 M ISBi laiiliwr 170 THE BROTHER." m ■ I ♦ . If r * 1 - or to avoid the leaping tongues of fire that threatened to engulph both saviour and saved every moment. The wonderful ladders were shot into the air, section after section, reaching windows where the surround- ing fires had entrapped the unfortunate inmates, who were lowered in canvas;, bags with the speed of light- ning by the firemen whose tirelees energies wer« bent to the utmost to avail themselves of the few moments left before the flames should engulpl the whole block and swallow the helpless victims. A handsome young woman sped from floor to floor by the fire escapes, every moment or two dragging some helpless child or aged person to these dangerous but only avenues of safety; cheer after cheer went up from the crowd below as her marvelous efibrts were attended with success. Against all remonstrations she refused to descend, until a last search in the suffocating smoke satisfied her that none were left within reach; with the agility of a at she descended the fire escape when the roof fell in, the flying cinders burning her beautiful hair, naked arms and shoulders, as she fainting fell into the heroic arms of "The Brother." Sympathetic arm.s bore her to a place of safety through crowds of desolated people, whose admiration for this sublime heroism obliterated, for the moment, their woes and found expression in choking sighs and tears, as her sweet form and pallid face illuminated by the awful flame;',, was carried by them. Rough hands spread with tender care a bed upon the floor of a neighbor tenement, where her aged mother, saved from the de- vouring element a moment before, had also been * pi*jrei»JWj*s*>-«- ;'tH'SK«««'- - wm msi ••THE BROTHER. 171 it threatened ry moment. e air, section le surrouncl- nmate.s, who seed of light- ies were bent Few moments whole block isome young ire escapes, jles.s child or ' avenues of 1 the crowd tended with : refused to iting smoke ich; with the scape when her beautiful fainting fell Sympathetic h crowds of :his sublime r woes and ;ars, as her / the aw ful mds spread a neighbor from the de- 1 also been taken as a place of safety, who, believing that her only support on earth vasdeud, bewailed her child with piteous moans. For a moment the strong men stood viewing the despair uf this blasted, aged wreck as she bowed her palsied head over the appart utly lifeless body anu stroked with bony, withered hands, the fair face and silken trt sseB of the sweet beauty who once nursed her breasts, and babbled with dimpled mouth the holy name of mother. The men turned away as though called to thoir duty slyly wiping from weather bronzed cheeks, unwilling tears. "The destruction of the fire was complete. The poor furniture and clothing toilsomely gathered by these people were gone; many without a garment were covered with the spare fags of svmpathetic neigh- bors, and sheltered in their a Iready overcrowded rooms and hallways. What t ey were to do on the morrow was not yet a question, for all were absorbed in the griefof the present. The ambulances had carried awiiy all the burnt and wounded that could be found. In some of the tenements where the people lived, cooked their food and slept in the same room with their dead and newly born, a few persons in both these states of ertrance to and departure from the turmoil and strife of existence, found their tombs in cremated bodies that mercifully saved to the living the expense of burial. Without tht firemen vainly fought the flames and people wildly ran from place to place seeking those who never more would share their sorrows. The horrors of the tenement with its ever present spectre of cholera and death, or the blissful happiness y^i ^***irt?J4^^-t-."---*;«WWtM«-'*Fr? .' - VBIV mm Ai !MAGE EVAI TEST TARGE 1.0 I.I 1^ us 1.25 1 l> ^ 6" Photographic Sciences Corporation L..- - . ■ K F .ii.i a WB I MMW '' ! '• IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ij.o 4S -^/ 1.0 I.I 1.25 1 I' 1.4 IIS 90 1.6 holographic Sciences ]orporation A^ \ #^ c\ \ «c w. *^ - vv^^ a •v ''i^ a3 WeST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 i»"^i""»*" CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. Canadian Institute for Historical Micrereproductions / 1 \ MM CMH CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. /licrereproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques 1981 ..i na|a iMMHaMMIHMaiHiK t;2 'T«E BROTHER.' 1'. i « c - "i. ■!f of the Avenue splendors where balmy odors invited the weary revellers to downy repose, no longer troubled thena. In the last sleep all are equal. Luxury or rags, feast or famine, joy or misery, culture or ignorance, pride or modesty, ambition, power, greed,^ selfishness and cruelty, all find their level in the last eternal sleep. No social disparity afflicts this final state; here the forces of production belong not to the privileged few. The land, that belongs in usufruct to all the children of men, yields here no rent to the monopolist. Gold cannot recall the fleeted spirit, hypocrisy or flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of death. The fire was at last controlled. In a group nearby angry words were passed between the oflUcers of the private institution of the insurance companies, called the fire patrol, and some of the tenants of the destroyed houses. The prominent actor in the scene was 'The Brother,' who had cuntWngly instructed the tenants to reply to the questions of the fire patrol that they were insured; by this artful means goods had been blanketted and saved that had no insurance, much to the gratification of the owners and to the chagrin of the insurance men who had exerted them- selves for no benefit to their companies, in answer to their upbraldings ' The Brother' artfully replied, that he certainly was insured; the furniture dealer from whom he had bought his things on installment charg- ing also insurance, and the other tenants were in the same position. This sophistry did not satisfy the fire patrol who abandoned the discussion with the angry jeers of the bystanders and tenants. WMHM^ 'THE BROTHER. m jdors invited 2, no longer qual. Luxury y, culture or •ower, greedy tl in the last :ts this final njj not to the in usufruct to rent to the leeted spirit, cold ear of In a group n the officers e companies, :nants of the • in the scene nstructed the re patrol that goods had o insurance. and to the xerted thcm- in answer iilly replied, e dealer from Iment charg- were in the atisfy the fire h the angry "This principle of protection of private property by private effort in insurance, could be carried out by the public in ?;ll matters that concern life and provision. In learning, industrial education, and social justice, by which the blankets could be thrown to protect from the. flames of despair the bodies and souls of men. From 'The Brother' I learned the history and sad condition of many of the neighbors. Mills and factories having shut down since the election of the protectionist President, work was scarce and some were homeless and beggared; others had been out of work suffering for a long time before this additional affliction. Some were ill with fevers or rheumatism. One woman in child bed had been lost; aged left without support, and helpless children without parents; all hopeless, helpless, dependent on their single- handed individual efforts in the struggle against the impenetrable barriers of a monopolized world, where no spot exists that they could freely occupy, where no opportunity was open by which they could h 5pe to profit. To bend their backs under a weary load, when such boon can be occasionally sent by heaveij, is their only chance to gain the pittance that will bring the coarse, adulterated food, or afford the hovel, or poor clothing that shelters them from the winters blast. "The heroic beauty had revived and was affection- ately stroking the whi^e hair of her aged mother, cares;iing and consoling the almost wre ;ked mind with happy prospects of future comfort, which, to- gether with the joy of her restored daughter, gradually fassft^aiGi^tUBNi.vlK^-"' "■ ^. ii l|"»l i WJ I ii|,l.ilJ l l![iJ l fJ ll ]l|i l ..l) l 74 "THE BROTHER. soothed the old mother into quiet sleep. Oony, as she was called, 'the beauty,' had figured as the Goddess of Liberty in the centennial civic parade, and was one of the distinguished, hired persons who per- sonified the numerous symbols and attributes of States, Heroes, Nymphs; Washington's Jefferson's Franklin's, and the glorious Fathers of the Republic, on the numberless floats in the gay procession, and who.se name, pedigree and social standing, sti-diously avoided, did not appear in the glowing accounts of the splendid pageant published in the daily papers on the following day. These were not included with the pomp of military celebrities, or the select four hundred whose manners oo shocked society at the Iiigh priced ball and supper. Oh no, Ooney had re- ceived her small pay for pe onifying the highest glory of her country, purchasing on her way to the now obliterated home some comforts for her aged mother, and then obliged, for tomorrow's provision, to secretly take to the streets for the cash of the rake to supply her mother's nee 1, the only means, scarci- ty of poorly paid work and her sex's disadvantage, offered her." Ccwnus had quietly moved to the side of the histo- rian who began to give signs of breaking down under the choking emotions excited in him by the almost photographic character of the sad pictures of social life in the Nineteenth century, that flew from under his uncontrollable pen. Blinding tears streamed down his face which Comus wiped away with the skirt of his red cloak. The sighs, labored breathing "THE BROTHER. 175 Oony, as ured as the : parade, and ns who pcr- tes of States, 's Franklin's, alic, on the and whose stL'diously accounts of laily papers icluded with select four ciety at the )ney had re~ the highest way to the •r her aged s provision, h of the rake eans, scarci- isadvantage, f the histo- down under the almost •es of social from under rs streamed ly with the :d breathing and slight groans, occasionally escaping from the breast of the historian, seemed somewhat to disturb the calmness of the spirit of Edward Pureheart so that it changed position burying its face in both hands. The encircling halo of sacred light flickered as though troubled by sound, but by the powerful effort of Co- mus' psychic fr.-oe, it gradually assumed a clear, steady flame, and the story went on as follows: iti'i rr^'il CHAPTER XIV. ,'i';s,,7A;--»i4,*': FIFTH AVENUE SWELLS, A SALOON KEEPER S DAUGHTER, SALOONS AND PROHIBITION. "StanJing on Fifth Avenue observing the elegant promenaders who, in the late afternoon, were taking their constitutional walk, and instituting mental com- parisons between these favorites of the blind goddess of Fortune, and their brothers and sisters whom that fickle deity had so indifferently passed by, I observed an artist friend and his wife, whom I had not seen for years. approachir>g me and gesticulating in earn- est conversation. Evidently some misfortune had happened that caused them so much concern. I learn- ed that they had visited the city for the sole purpose of viewing the progress of American art after all these years, and having found themselves in the presence of an exhibition of wooly landscapes, vague, impressionist pictures; bad imitations of bad French -4)|M . ',■'>' 176 "THE BROTHER. color, goddesses and nyrnphs painted from models of common, badly drawn, ugly women, posed like animals, and the entire art devoid of art idea, it made them both angry. The prize exhibit of art, they claimed, was an insult to the public. Warm express- ions of old friendship could not relieve their indigna- tion, and I saw them still excitedly gesticulating as they were lost to view in the elegantly attired crowd of afternoon promcnaders. Poor, innocent, old friends, little do you dream of the cause of art decline! It only shares the fate of industry and the flower can- not bloom without the root and stem. "Driving recklessly through the crowd of fine, or- derly equipages on the Avenue sat two strong, tough looking men on a huckster wagon, evidently return- ing from the day's peddling of vegetables in the poor- er districts of the city. A messenger boy was sitting undisturbed at the back, having jumped a ride to save his weary iegs from the long hours of walking and running, along the stony and treeless streets, with the telegrams of society, or business engagements. The moving mass of promenaders composed of ex- tremely dressed women and weak swells, who could scarcely stand up were it not for the choice nourish- ment, baths and luxuries, at their command; many with the dude stoop carrying their canes by the mid- dle which they swung with a peculiar twist of the wrist, similar to the movements requ'lred in using a violin bow; some leading toy dogs, pugs, blood- hounds, or St. Bernards, the keep of which would af- ford a revenue to support the redeemed drunkards "THE HkO'lIIER. 17; from moc'els , posed like idea, it made of art, they irm express- lieir indigna- iticulating as ttired crowd t, old friends, decline! It flower can- d of fine, or- trong, tough :ntly return- s in the poor- y was sitting a ride to save walking and streets, with ngagements. osed of ex- I, who could oice nourish- mand; many by the mid- twist of the I in using a pugs, blood- !ch would af- d drunkards and girls of the Florence Mission, had furnished great amusement to these two strong toughs and start :d them laughing violently. For tht; moment they for- got the feeling of social disparity that made them de- spise these howling swells, the absurdity of the scene throwing them into the greatest merriment and en- dangering by theis reckless driving the fine polish on the wheels of the elegant carriages. A tall, lank, long backed, young woman, with a stride as though she were used i-o wading through grass, passed along in the throng of promenaders; her dress was of gob- elin blue trimmed with old rose color; the trimming of old rose was sharply V shaped to the small of her waist; an immense black laced hat, profusely adorn- ed with flowers, decorated the hard, coarse features of this daughter of a wealthy saloon keeper, in one of the most vicious districts of the city. Her elegant attire, made by the best artist modists of Fifth Avenue, seemed ill assorted to the uncultured being whom it adorned; still her standard, as measured by dollars, was superior to many who promenaded with her in the great swim of Fifth Avenue: d pleasure to which the growing wealthy, throughout the great Republic, aspire as the sum of happiness to be achieved, irtferi- or only to a residenc« in close proximity to a million- aire Stewart, or Vanderbilt, with a coat of arms on the carriage, liveried servants in tan colored leggings, snow white knee breeches, gilt buttons, cocked hat and coats of livery green; costly fur robes and carri- age furniture, all made in Loi>don or Paris by the various makers to their Royal Highnesses, and by 23 w mmtmm !78 'THE BROTHER." what is called foreign pai^per labor. The dollars of our lady promenader, or rather, her father's dollars, were many and gave a power and pride that over- shadowed the aeedy condition of those who chose the phantom of knowledge or aesthetic taste. Scholars vainly, scornfully smile with down cast eyes as they pass her by. Shallow envy chatters and laughs with malignant hate, but all give way to the mighty pow- er of mammon, however coarse. These dollars were carefully gathered, in small amounts, from the five cent glass of beer of the poor man as well as from the wines and cigars of the prodgical spendthrift; for in the gilded saloon, fitted up in tasteful luxury with California, polished Redwood, silver trimmings, tap- estries, beautiful pictures of nymphs and Venuses, polished marble and luxurious chairs, the poor man out of work can go to escape for an hour or two the filth and squalor of his wretched tenement, the sight of his crushed and fading wife into whose true eyes he once looked and hoped for a better life in his stronger manhood, with his loved ones' companion- ship stimulating him to greater and nobler effort in that battle of life where he was taught that the way of success was fully open to the humblest. Here he finds the poor man's lyceum where he is heartily wel- comed by the landlord; where he can read the papers or receive from the ticker the news of the ball games, prize fights, the races, the arrival of ships, accounts of strikes, or the escape of boodlers to Canada, and have all the advantages of wealth in the news of the moment, that b/the genius of Morse and Vail assist- "THE BROTHER. 179 le dollars of ler's dollars, ! that over- ; who chose iste. Scholars eyes as they 1 laughs with mighty pow- dollars were Tom the five veil as from endthrift; for 1 luxury with imings, tap- nd Venuses, e poor man r or two the :nt, the sight se true eyes r life in his companion- ler effort in hat the way it. Here he heartily wel- id the papers e ball games, ps, accounts Canada, and news of the i Vail assist- ed by the Baconian alphabet has given the speed of lightning to man's thoughts. Here he may meet friends who are seeking a job for him, which joyful news once obtained strengthens hi^ credit with the golden father of the Fifth Avenue promenader in gobelin blue and old rose, to the amount of fifty cents to treat his true hearted friends to beer, as some ex- pression of his heart, for their kindness in searching the boon to toil, even for a poor reward, that will maintain, while his streng'th lasts, his loved wife and offspring in their nest of filth and disease, somewhere a little above the death line. " Not alone is the vast institution of the saloon con- fined to the relief of the poor man in offering him luxurious surroundings, the advantage of the daily papers, or a place to meet Mike, who brings him the glad tidings of a job; but, in the wealthy precincts of Wall street where the income of the bar and other emoluments proceeding from accommodations to the giant gamblers of that interesting neighborhood, where the fierceness of the struggle for gold reduces the average of financial life to about ten years, the saloon affords an important medium of exchange, where bargains and deals can be made and checks exchanged by the saloon keeper to an extent that will run his revenue into the hundreds of thousands. Ofwhat importance is the cost of fine wines, or choice cigars, quail on toast, delicacies from the hot house, or the tropics, to his patrons, in their immense spec- ulations on the food of the world and the staples of Industry, in the sale and barter of the highways of / ,1 ■4""ii i "i'i' i 180 'THE BROTHBR. if- n < ,fl 1' f$ H i 1 If commerce, or the manipulation of laws* and enact- ments, or the total purchase of all governmental ac- tion for their private benefit? But, to the saloon keeper, it is of great importance and rapidly swells his coffers; it is further the discount and interest pro- ceeding from this gambling ; rena, from the profit of the players, enabling him also to become one of the giants in the fierce competition to appropriate the developed wealth proceeding from the vast pro- ductive power of an age in which the producer ob- tains sufficient 1 nly to maintain him wretchedly for a few years to reproduce his kind, to produce more wealth and to perish at a shorter and shorter period as each generation becomes more and more enfee- bled and degraded. ' ir- .n - pifn.".- ,. . "The appalling increajie of drunkenness has of late years brought a large portion of society, who still maintain themselves in a position of comfort and re- spectability wherin this vice is not required to bring forgetfulnoss to their social condition, to consider what steps can be taken necessary to ameliorate, or abolish, this species of crime. Individual effort on the part of pure hearted and noble minded men and women, who have sacrificed every comfort of their own to this holy duty, persistently and thoroughly, has been made, with comparatively small results; so small, indeed, that this method has come to be con- sidered inadequate to accomplish the desired object, and that some legal steps are necessary to suppress it. Hence a movement of considerable power exists, at present, in every community for the prohibition ^r^.'^ 'THE BROTHER. m • and cnact- nimental ac- the saloon pidly swells interest prn- the profit of ome one of appropriate ie vast prS" roducer ob- etchedly for oduce more orter period more enfee- ss has of late y, who still ifort and re- 'ed to bring to consider leliorate, or al effort on ed men and fort of their thoroughly, 1 results; so i to be con- sired object, to suppress )Ower exists, prohibition of intoxicating drink. In several districts, and en- tire states, this legal plan has been fairly tried, witn the result, according to the statements of leading ad- vocates of the movement, that: 'It must be confessed that, wherever it has been tried, it has failed to pre- vent drunkenness.' It appears further that drunken- ness has alarmingly increased under restriction, and where before a man would drink but a glass of beer or whiskey, at a bar, when restricted he purchased it wholesale and kept it by him for more frequent use than before, with far worse results as regards the cul- tivatidn of the alcoholic habit. An addition to the evil of the use of alcoholic liquors to the point of drunkenness, is th^t of the forced introductk>n of wood spirit into the market by placing high duties on alcohol for revenue, or tariff purposes. Wood spirit will cut gums or other substar.'-es in the same man- ner as alcohol, and can replace it for use in the arts; it costs more to manufacture, but having' a liynt duty, it replaces alcohol which, having a higher duty, costs more per gallon. Wood spirit is injuiious to the health of workmen, causing disease about the hair and eyebrows compelling them frequently to abandon their work, for a time, until they recover; it has also been introduced as a beverage on account of its cheapness through the high duties on alcohol, and is preferred by coarse drunkards on account of its high- er drunk producing power. One of the most import- ant dealers in spirits in the United States informed me, that train loads of whiskey are distributed to the Southern plantation stores, that contain not one drop inii 'ifciiiwiWif WipfWiyiiifi^Sf" .>3i!«^f^3^- *W^ •'THE BROTHER." il. i' t I.- i:' of alcohol from rye or corn; and that they are deadly poison. The same holds good with the liquors sold to the masses in all our largo cities. Any style of spirituous liquor is formed from wood spirit and pass- ed over the bar to the ignorant and unsuspecting, or indifferent purchaser. "In all foods or drinks furnisheJ to the public there is practically no protection against the science of adulteration and misrepresentatio;;. Laws seem to be enacted only by which individuals or combinations of individuals can be protected in robbing the unpro- tected, who stupidly and blindly elevate and worship those to whom they give these privileges. So suc- cessful is this meti.od to attain wealth by legal rob- bery, that the entire intellect of the . .intry has devoted itself to pushing to the front rank of * practi- cal politics' for this purpose, and science finds its chief employment m the arts of adulteration. In the meantime, the condition ofth^ industrial class has become distressingly bad from the legal monopoly of every conceivable article in use, by parties who have worked themselves into a position where they can control its make, or production, and charge the mon- opoly prico, which i^ all that .:an be forced froj \ a needy public; with production controlled and limited by trusts, workmen's wag.s reduced and their com- binations for protecting themselves broken by the wholesale importation of alien labor from the impov- erished populations of aristocratic Europe. And so the social crime of one man plundering many by le- gal means in coal, food, shelter and every other nec- .ww«if»s»9i;-;Saytafe;«i«&i«i*^^ "^*f' 'S^- "THE BROTHER. 183 ^ are deadly liquors sold ny style of rit and pass- ispecting, or public there ; science of Lws seem to ombinations \ the unpro- and worship s. So suc- legal rob- . ^ntry has : of ' practi- ce finds its on. In the 1 class has tionopoly of :s who have c they can fe the mon- :ed fro: I, a and limited their cou- :en by the the impov- :. And so lany by le- ' other nec- essary of life, together with the supplanting of home labor by cheap aliens in every industrial department, goes on, there is no avenue of escape for our outcast workers to ciist but steal, or, in the abandonment of despair, seek the wood spirit poison which, if not at- tainable, can be substituted by the far greater evil of opium or chloral to deaden the few remaining days between his god given life and the monopolists' pit of death. The same law holds with more helpless women for whom a living death, for a short time while youth and beauty last, is far worse than the dark river. "Wha*^ would society think if I were to describe the true coJidition of the foul nests of humanity abund- antly existing ie its midst, among the degraded poor, removed only from their eyes by a wall of bricks and raortar, or by a few steps into a side street } Ah ! no, these things cans, ^t be told ; the press, the pulpit, decent society, tne municipal and national govern- ments, would all prove hostile to its recital. It will never do to display to the world our cancerous, social sores. Such an exhibition of the results of social dis- parity, resulting from poverty and the defects of our favoritfj institutions, would prove to the world that a Democracy is no cure for the evils of society; and that chattel slavery, aristocratic, or ecclesiastical systems, exhibit no worse conditions, and perhaps better. "Evidently some canker worm is at Wie root of so- cie*->' which no form of government yet devised by man has been able to eradicate Is there no cure for this disease .' The confusion 01 statesmen, divines, 1 84 'THE BROTHEK. ill M i I If 1 m » philosophers and scientists, over this puzzling ques- tion, led even to the universal embrace of the illogi- cal and now exploded theory of the Rev. Malthus, that poverty and misery were sent us by Almighty God to develop patience and gratitude. Any argu- ment seems welcome to these horrified thinkers that shifts social crimes upon the Creator, to whom we owe our existence; or that will stultify or soothe con- science with the opiate, that this state of things is a necessity, for which God only is accountable, and fs without cure. This is the question that must be im- mediately settled. It admits of no delay. Society is a corpse: the coroner has given his verdict of 'death according to the facts.' The autopsy is held and in its vitals the root of the disease has been established. Remedies have been suggested to cure this fatal mal- ady: Henry George has given one; Marx andGroen- lund have given another; and Edward Bellamy an- other. The American people, and, indeed, the peo- ple of every race, tongue and clime, must gather as a court to try the case and decide which or what is the sanitary regulation for this universal plague, that sinks into insignificance all other plagues aflecting humanity. "An eminent mechanical engineer with whom I had been scquainted for many years, had joined 'The Brother' and myself in our midnight walk. He halted in fiont of a j/enny restaurant, at No. 41, Bowery, to read the sign that, in gilt letters, announced the price at which food could be purchased. It ran as foUowst izzitng ques- of the illogi- Lev. Malthus, by Almiglity Any argu- thinkers that ;o whom we r soothe con- of things is a table, and fs must be im- f. Society is diet of 'death held and in 1 established, his fatal mal- X and Groen- Bellamy an- ed, the peo- ist gather as \ or what is ! plague, that ues aflecting 'ith whom I d joined 'The ik. He halted t, Bowery, to ced the price It ran as "THE BROTHER." I&5 4000 PEOPLE EAT HERE DAILY. BOSTON BAKERY AND LUNCH ROOM, 41 BOWERY. Open all night. BILL OF FARE. BAKED ON THE PREMISES. Rolls, each ic Tea biscuits, each IC Buns, each »c Corn Muflfins, each 2C Graham Muflfins, each 2d Crullers, earh IC Coffee twists, each 2C Lunch cakes, each 2C Vanilla cakes, each 2C Apple tarts, each 2C Mince tarts, each ic Cream pufifs, each 3c Chocolate eclaires, each 3C All pies, per cut 4c Metropolitan cakes 3C SPECIALTIES. Pure creamery coffee 3C Tea 3c Pure milk, per glass 3c Bowl of milk 4c Corned beef sandwich 3c Ham sap<:iwich 3C "The front was open to the street and the patrons, waiters and viands, were perfectly visible. The inte- rior was nicely fitted up with California red wood in 24 1 .I?« f tS6 'THE BROTHER." the latest style, taste and good workmanship, with automatic fans to cool the guest* while at their repast. Capital had here been confidently invested, and science had lent its glories in electric communication that economized time and labor. White, cheerful splendor from numerous incandescent lights, added to the penny restaurant the regal magnificence of the palace, and extended the bounties of civilization to embelli.sh the feast of the impoverished citizen, who, a moment before, had on the street begged a nickel from some good Samaritan, or had pawned some fortunately ob- tained article from one of the long established shops of the distinguished and reliable firm of Simpson & Co. Within busy waiters moved rapidly among the crowded tables supplying the appetites of its patrons with the various luxuries the establishment offered to give them in exchange for their wealth, to which an extra flavor was added by that most important ingre- dient necessary in every department of life, the cheer- ful smile and happy face of the proprietor. Many of the guests were strong and healthy, a fact that con- tradicted the views of m^ny who maintain the idea that man can only exist and survive successfully un- der conditions that give the choice cuts of food and its scientific preparation together with cultured sur- roundings, choicely located habitations, free from the malarial microbe, with the gentle stimulus of fine wines, and the restoring qualities of the Turkish bath. Here were strapping, strong men, both of the com- pulsory idle and the occupied class, and others who had abandoned ideas embracing the demoralized life anship, with t their repast. d, and science lication that ;rful splendor dded to the of the palace, toembelli?^ o, a moment I from some rtunately ob- Hshed shops f Simpson & ' among the )f its patrons ;nt offered to to which an ortant ingre- e, the cheer- r. Many of act thatcon- lin the idea essfuUy of food :ultured free from the iulus of fine ^urklsh bath, of the corn- others who loralized life un- and sur- "THE BROTHER. i«7 of the confirmed tramp. Not in the penny restaurant after the midnight hour, because of revelry and dis- sipation, for the prodigal's patronage is here obtain- ed only after his power for prodigality has coased; but because the civilized industries of the metropolis demand his services during the hours of night, or be- cause the hour of rest in a doorway, or the cheap lodging houses, is unregrctfully postponed as long as possible. The establishment frankly displayed its quotations of the market to all the world without re- serve. No attempt had yet been made in this indus- try to form an inner Stock Exchange ring, or to establish private lines for secret communication, so as to prevent the independent bucket shops from competing. The philanthropic blessing of these cheap restaurant commodities to the public, could be claimed irom a motive the opposite of that so ably put forth by the Standard Oil Co., who, by obliter- ating every individual producer has not only given to society a better and cheaper oil, but has also lim- ited the ability of society to purchase its perfect pro- duet. So ^ still cheaper if not a better oil will be the future necessity of this world-controlling, philan- thropic Company, in order to meet the purchasing abilities of that portion of consumers who still pre- cariously maintain themselves outside of the penny restaurant, or the cheap lodging house. "The motive here was individual investment of capital in a smaller and ever growing smaller kind of merchandising, to meet the smaller and ever grow- ing smaller power of purchasers. Our Chinese neigh- !'*'*■ aMM'flWMMtW 188 'THE BROTHER. ^1' ■11 bors in the adjoining street, with all their infinite division of small cash dealings, are here eclipsed and outdone in the race towards littleness. The scientific power of the Anglo-American mind obliterates the infinite economy of the Mongol intellect. Further up the street a more elegant establishment, with ar- tistic tile floors and all the refined embellishments of the modern saloon, offers to the cheaply clad dude nourishment for his body at the same prices. Bu^ not to offend his sensibilities in regard to the empti- ness of his purse, or wound the loftiness of his secret aspirations to impress society with the idea that his financial position is on a basis that will command the respect of the universal worshippers of the golden calf, the sign which publishes the prices of the luxur- ies at the other penny restaurant is here kindly suppressed. "This penny restaurant pays $i8oo rent per an- num; the creamery pays $2300. It takes 230,000 cents to first make the rent that goes to the landlord; then comes the expenses and profit of the owner: and, you see, capital is invested freely here. Now, can you imagine how many people live at the penny restau- rant? It is easy to calculate, and none aspire to the luxury of a ten cent purchase; still they live and pros- per on the Iramp, the beggar, the down trodden and the outcast. Who can say that the avenues to suc- cess are closed to enterprise ? " The frequent occurrence of adverse circumstances upon numbers of the great class of society that are obliged to live so near the death line, often termi- '■"sA^^'jmmm^iitiK'Sa^. •THE BROTHER. 189 their infinite eclipsed and rhe scientific •literates the :t. Further :nt, with ar- Hishments of ly clad dude prices. Bu»- the empti- of his secret idea that his :ominand the the golden of the luxur- hcre kindly rent per an- 230,000 cents ndlord; then ner: and, you ow, can you enny restau- aspire to the live and pros- trodden and nues to suc- ircumstances ety that arc often termi- nates their struggles for existence by death from many other causes than suicide. And the authorities whose painful duty it is to look after these matters become by practice wonderfully expert in recogniz- ing where the unfortunates belong. One young man whose body was found on the sidewalk, illustrates this expcrtness sufikiently well. The police had summoned the coroner who, upon arriving, demand- ed if they had searched his clothes to firtd any means of identifying the body. Upon receiving from the police thi assurance that no means of identification h»d been found, he asked what kind of collar the de- ceased had on. The reply was: 'A paper collar, sir.' •"Urnph! He is a Jersey man. Take his collar off.' The policemen proceeded to divest the dead man of his paper collar and remarked to the coroner that the collar had been turned. '•'Oh! 'replied the coroner, 'the collar has been turned, eh.> Then he is a New Yorker.' •"Observe this man coming towa»*ds us,' said 'The Brother." ' He is one of the characters of the city.' "We turned, and saw a tall man with intelligent, regular features and a heavy military moustache. On his head was a wide rimmed, soft felt hat, and he was in his shirt sleeves. He was introduced to us as the 'General.' It was at once evident from his ease of manner and good language that his education had not been received in this neighborhood; and so it * proved, for we soon discovered that he once occupied a high place in social life and had been wealthy. On his intelligent brow was a sabre wound received 'IF M«pl lit 190 •THE BROTHER." in battle in defense of his country. He haJ never lost his honor, his humanity, nor moral re!>pectability- His manhood was intact, but still he was an outcast from society and ignored by well-to-do acquaint- ances of former days, not bacause of personal taint, but for being subject to the ncver-to-be-pardoned crime of losing his money. This expulsion from the garden of paradise of his former life, did not drive this brave man to commit the customary suicide, either by the slow process of alcohol, or the rapid one, the bullet. The rules of civilized life regarding the moneyless outcast, were accepted by him »s cor- rect and proper — at least, he was not disposed to be- come a reformer pf any of them that, to him, might be objectionable, and simply accepted his punishment without a murmer, stepping out before the expelling angel with the flaming sword, and going into the land of Nod, where dwell the great dollarless mass of the human race apart from the wealthy few. "The 'General ' had risen to be the manager of one of the b«tter sort of cheap lodging houses, which, at the request of ' The Brother,' he kindly showed us, taking us from floor to floor exhibiting the arrange- ments and the sleepers. Entering a narrow, obscure hall, we ascended to the second story occupied by those who could aflbrd to pay the muniflcient sum of fifteen cents. These accommodations consisted of stalls about five by ten feet, with a cotton curtain in front for the rare few who cared for privacy. Each stall was furnished with a cot bed formed of unpaint- ed, iron gas pipe, containing a mattress, two sheets \ ■ ''*«rafc«^«««^«S*(^S^f9i^BiHt^^ ' 'THE BROTHER. *."i'''^'«.- 191 ; haJ never :!spectability. s an outcast lo acquaint- rsonal taint, be-pardoned ion from the d not drive lary suicide, r the rapid ife regarding ' him as cor- iposed to be- him, might I punishment le expelling >ing into the larless mass y few. nager of one 9, which, at showed us, the arrange- row, obscur:! occupied by :ient sum of consisted of n curtain in acy. Each' I of unpaint- two sheets and a comfortable, and in the corner a very small clodet to hang the clothing. Three floors of a large warehouse, with plain brick, unplastered walls, white- washed, were divided off in this way, the larger por- ti' 1 of which was used for beds formed in the same way only placed one above the other to economize .space. These are called double deckers and cost ten cents per night. Many of the sleepers entirely divest- ed themselvesof their clothing, glad of the relief from the heated, saturated and stale covering worn every day in the year, and constituting the only encum- brance in the shape of wealth they possessed. Un- like the man with a wife and family, and a few articles of furniture, they could not be dispossessed; for, if turned into the street, nothing prevented them from walking off into the world wherever fancy or necessity took them, being without ties of affection of any kind that build eithe»- the family or the state. "If it be true, as Confucius states, that ' upon the family is built the state,' then, with us, there will soon come a time when there will be no state. For daily the family is disappearing; a few weeks out of employment being sufficient to send the poor house- hold goods to the pawnbroker, or set them on the street for non-payment of rent; to make of the hus- band a tramp, the wife and children paupers support- ed by the rest of society, who enact rules to prevent them, even in prison, from producing anything; and send the boys to the streets as homeless gamin and his daughters to worse than the grave. - " Home, Sweet Home ! The music of that sweet ; I ■1 •': w 193 'THE BROTHER. I ii ' ' Ir ¥ w mn sentence found no response In the hearts of the army inhabiting this homeless place. None here could say: 'Be It ever so humble, there's no place like home.' To few was there recollection of tender associations; In their memories sweet, sympathetic voiced mothers, affectionate fathers, loving brothers and sisters, or innocent children, found no place: the charm of civil- ized life, developed from physical comfoit, ethical culture, literature, art and society, was to them a desert waste. Recollection brought only the tene- ment, the slum, the saloon, the brothel, the daily struggle for bread and the contempt of all who were more fortunate. "In this hollow mockery of a home, a settled sad- ness prevailed, as though the blight had settled on every hope of joy. No father, mother, sister or off- spring, were here, around whom the ivy of affection could grow and flourish. Not even the news boys' mouth organ, with which they shorten the weary hours of night, was heard in this homeless desert, to compensate for the sublime music of Beethoven, Wagner, or Verdi, which ravishes the senses of their wealthy brothers. Not a picture hung on the walls to call out the mind to the ideal beauty of life; even the agonizing cry of the god man from the cross, that would have been con.sonant with a possible human emotion left within their breasts, did not exist here. Only the white-washed, brick walls, the gas pipe beds and d rty bed clothes, shelter from the storm and the sad company of their kind, presented to them a piti- ful substitute for the emotional thrill of joy embodied THK HKOTHER." •93 I of the army re could say: like home.' a8sociationf;n--i'tfiV'V^'*'^.«'->'' ■ " As we left the good General, who hatf come into ♦In »n article on "Crime's Breeding Places" in the current number of the North American Keriew, Inepector Byrnes says: " It is undeniable that the lodging houmes u( the city have a power- ful tendency to produce, foster and increase crime. Instead of being places where respectable people reduced in oircum8tani'eiorar- ily short of money can secure a clean bed for a small amount of money, they have oometo be largely frequented by thieves or other criniinals of the lowest class, who lodge "n these resorts regularly and here i (n- aort together and lay their plans for crimes of one sort or another." The Inspector goes on to show that nine out of ten of the boys who run away from home and get into cheap lodging houses become thieves, If, indeed, they do not sooner or later beocme murderers. 1 he In- spector suggests as a remedy the enactment of stringent laws by the legislature for the government of lodging bouses. So great has the evil grown that the police admit that they are un- ^^(k.' ■--!:j«a*v1?>.. '■■ ^b^.'. .f.^,^u-gi»^,^ day to go to te, we have ere they can the papers, have even a ; to. Every- ml of a man aid: ' I don t who is out proprietor, I fr;;u( ulently the interest fficiiils who so intellect- II .with such of the (ice tnd illiterate d come into current number 8: J have a power- Instead of being leportemporar- dount of money, other criniinals y and here r('n- t or another." of the boys who become thiwves, irers. 1 he In- nt laws by the flt th?7 are un< n^^tt^'V- ••THK HkOTHKR. •95 our class (a» 'The Brother' termed it) and who had borne his lot with such fortitude, contributing what he could of his stock of human kindneis towards his submerged fellows. 'The Brother ' remarked, -What is the significi nee of all this? Have you wver seri- ously thought what it signifies? Does it not signify that the men who are without the encumbrance of wife or family, can sleep in the lodging house and eat at the penny restaurant and in the constant pressure of wages to the death line, survive the man of family and home, who cannot possibly compete with them ? Here is a pamphlet of the Florence Mission that states that in New York 6o,oco girls are homeless and on the streets. Is that not the result of the de- struction of the family? and you may add to that a proportionate number of fathers, mothers ?.nd small children, and see what proportion the select four hundred bear to the great mass of unfortunates. The landlords,' continued -The Brother,' 'live on the Ave- nue in splendor. These wretched properties, you see here in the Chinese and Italian quarter, I can assure you. pay better than the finest in the city; for they are divided up into small rooms, each occupant pay- in.^' a tjoo 1 rent. The buildings have no value worth speaking of. but the site on which they stand forces these people to crowd and herd together like sheip in a pen. You can see here that even banks flourish in the Italian quarter. These aliens who work for 8oc able to cope with it without legislaticn mving them special power in that direction. There are now in the city 840 lodging houses of the class referred to. and during the year 1888 there were furnished 4,669. 660 aheap lodgings in these places. ,|.i 196 "THE BROTHER." per day and have supplanted our married and single laborers, save, even then, something, which goes into these banks and forms an amount for money chang- ers to use profitably; because these aliens herd to- gether, sleep in their clothes and eat staie. mouldy bread, sent in bags from all over the country by the car load, which I have seen eaten in holes by the car rats, which however makes no difference to these people who, as" bishop Potter told the Pres- ident and cabinet the other day, 'diluted our nation- al manhood,' and whom Henry George in Progress and Poverty calls 'European garbage dumped on American soil," " In a handsomely fitted saloon, well filled with men, we stood in front of the bar. 'The Brother' was quietly hailed by the bar tender as -Brother,' a title by which this fraternity recognizea friends or pals. Although his intimacy existed with these develop- ments of the hard side of humanity since seven years of age, at which time he had shaken oft" the paternal and maternal care, if such ever existed, a connection of which all trace had been lost in the wastes and sol- itudes of the mighty, struggling throng of men; yet most of these intimates never knew his real name, or cared to know, 'Brother' being the only necessary pass word between them, symbolizing the fraternity and confidence betv/een friends who were known and trusty. So firm is this bond that no power car, break it, and so close are the relations of their social state, that punishment and even death is borne with r, forti- tude and heroism, in the protection of each other from ■ •'^iummi-.iiimsmm- ■ d and single lich goes into loney chang- lens herd to- taie. mouldy jntry by the es by the car ice to these J the Pres- our nationr in Progress dumped on 1 filled with ~he Brother' 'Brother,' a iends or pals. ;se develop- seven years the paternal a connection stcs and sol- ofmen; yet eal name, or ly necessary tie fraternity e known and er car, breaic social state, with r, forti- h other from "THE BROTHER. 197 the interfeMnce of their so regarded enemie^> the wealthy class, or. the legal authorities, fully equal to the Spartans who composed the imm -rtal band of Leonidas, at the pass of Thermopolae. In this cluss, representing to society, as they do, the odious side of human life, it is evident, that the holy spirit of truth, honor and manhood, exists, even though it finds a disagreeable and unfortunate expression in the defense of each other's crime. From their standpoint it pre- sents an admirable spirit of heroism, being, from their low state, the only conception of the ideal. "If we wish to look for souls entirely dead to the nobler feelings that naturally animate the human breast, in which the icy chill of Arctic wastes has frozen the pulse of goodness to unrestorable rigidity and blighted the last hope of the germ of human sympathy to ever sprout and blossom in the warm sun of noble thoughts and deeds, it is certainly not here for evidences arise on every hand of rough af- fection that the ultimate of misery has failed to erad- icate from human breasts. The army of homeless men, women and children, in this great metropolis, who rise from fetid lairs with evejy returning sun or storm and know not from whence in this world of superabundance is to come their breakfast, still show a sp<-\rk of human sympathy in mutual assistance and protection. Souls entirely dead must be sought else- where. For it is not in the poverty stricken and for- ced-to-be criminal class that virtue is eliminated, but rather its more attractive features hidden by degrada- tion. While viewing the actors in this legally for- 1 93 "THE BROTHER." I. 11 §' • rl!- bid-ie:'. Sunday night environment, who naakcand un- make their governors according as their privileges are enlarged or restricted; supremely rulers of the rulers who have driven the would-be monopolists of weaLii to divide the spoils of society, called the cor- ruption fund, with the supreme rulers at election times, and at all other times permit the full enjoyment of the pleasures and pains of their sociaJ f.tate, I could not resist the reflection on what history would say of the tendencies of the closing years of the Nineteenth Century. "Several young women, whose splatchy faces show- ed the strife of the ravages of alcohol with the vita! forces within, entered with male companions and passed to rear enclosures where they refreshed them- selves with stimulants, then passed out again to their only parlor, the reeking streets. At a rear table sat a policeman, wi'';h two blue stripes on his left arm, amusing himself by throwing dice; another poliie- man entered and received trom the bar tender a large glass of whiskey which. I observed, he Wid not pay for. The legal restrictions of the police when on duty, were evidently hero a dead letter. "Human passions, or human injustice, were no*^ the only oubjects of interest in this study; the wizard power of invention, which has so multiplied produc- tive forces in this marvelous age, was also present here, A machine, that would, in former ages, have brought its inventor to the stake, as one inspired by His Satanic Majesty, following che spirit of its human maker in th; desire for gold, stood awaiting an invi- "THE BROTHER." 199 OMkc and un- eir p.*ivileges rulers of the onopolists of illeJ the cor- s at election "ull enjoyment ocia.' f.tate, I history would years of the y faces show- vith the vita! ipanions and freshed them- again to their rear table sat his left arm, other polke- tender a large e f'id not pay ice when on ;, were no* the i; the wizard plied produc- also present ler ages, have : inspired by t of its human liting an invi- tation, by the deposit of a nickel in its spacious pocket, to speak to you with mathematical precision upon a given theme. Amazing mechanical skill, In scientif- ic calculation and superior workmanship, the result of a life of training, added its charm to the contem- plation of its mysteries as it glittered and sparkled, under Edison's electric light, in its silver mounted, glass case. A gilded spiral column, surmounted by a silver ball, rose and danced like a sylph for a mo- ment to the tinkling music of a pathetic, negro song, and as the last strains died upon the ear, a click of the machine beneath threw out a small card stating the date and year of this incident, with the further information tha;: my weight was 178 pounds, and a request to preserve this advertisement of the saloon for future reference. The pool tables in the rear %vere the central attraction for the entertainment of a quiet group of homeless, young men and boys who amused themselves and enjoyed each others company until the midnight closing of the saloon, when they betook themselves to the ten or fifteen cent lodging houses, or to the benches ofthetwocent coffee hobse untilthe light and life of nature's morning brought the daily struggle from meal to meal, the evening comfjrt of the saloon, the lodging house or coffee shop at night; and so on. till society reaps her golden harvest in the prematurely grey haired sot whose home is the gut- ter, and whose couch is the cold stones of a doorway; where feverish rest of their aching bones and throb- bing temples, is only undisturbed by the patrol of the night becau.se the vorkhcuse, jail, hospitals, public 200 'THE BROTHER. " and private institutions of every kind, overflow with multitudes of wrecked, hopeless and helpless citizens of the Republic. No public amusements of the arena, combats with wild beasts, gladiators and christians, amuse these crushed slaves; no public palaces with thermal baths, chariot races nor Olympic games. It is true, we have a little harping on the miseries of life in our churches, tiresome to the ear, and are pointed to the blissful state to come; but this retains the mind ever on the misfortunes and struggles of life and is less relief than the forgetful moment when the heart is stimulated to riches in the flowing bowl. No eL'- gant Cataline cries to the depressed mob: 'Dance pleufans, dance! Why are you so sad.' Largess, scatter largess! Drink! be happy, largess!' The in- stitution of the saloon, as a place of meeting, has be- come so thoroughly imbedded in our modern social life, and so vast in its u.ses and attractions, that its annihilation is simply an impossibility. Whatever form it may be brought to take under the im;>roved conditions advocated by the new economists, there is the absolute certainty that, under present condi- tions, it is one of the greatest sources of wealth, which, like food, clothing, fuel and shelter, is controlled ty powerful monopolists who produce the beer and liquor consumed in them and furnish the capital for their el- egant improvements. The Real Estate Record and Guide furnishes weekly an account of the mortg-'ges by which the saloonkeeper becomes simply th:* agent or medium through which the millions flow into the brewer's, distiller's, or merchant's coffers. Its vast •THE BROTHER. 20 1 tverflow with Ipless citizens i of the arena, id christians, palaces with c games. It niseries of life d are pointed ains the mind of life and is len the heart wl. No eL'- mob: 'Dance d.' Largess, ess!' The ir- eting, has be- nodern social ions, that its Whatever the im;>roved omists, there resent concJi- vealth, which, :ontro)led by )eerand liquor al for their el- : Record and he mortg-'ges ply th:* agent flow into the rs. Its vast trade furnishes civilized government, one of its most powerful sources of revenue, the means for designing men to obtain position and power for unpatriotic mo- tives. Remote antiquity gives evidence that the pub- lic gathering place has always been where cheerful wine, music and the dance girls, gladdened the hours of conversation or barter. In Greece, it was claimed that the educated found their most interesting society in tie public houses, and among the women whose free lives sharpened their intellects by association with men. With thenr the saloon played an important part; claimed, indeed, by some philosophers, to have been the only institution, by which man has been kept from isolation. However that may be, whaicver the vices, or imperfections, of the modern saloon, it is evident that it is an institution that can only be torn i!p with the roots of society As many saloons can be counted as of other establishments which furnish the necessaries of life, and infinitely handsomer in style. The proprietors become acquainted with every neighbor, know the nature of their thoughts, their business and private affairs, as they are from time to time discussed over the glass of beer or spirits. He becomes the man of confidence for the neighborhood and thus the means of working and influencing the ward politically in whatever interest may be his inter- est. His decision places the President in power, and the judge upon the sacred seat of the blind and im- partial goddess of Justice. It can open the prison doors to the wealthy criminals, or divide the treasure pf the people among the intellectual schemers and 26 '■^^liKSi^SiiK^ I- !)■ 202 "THE BROTHER." tti'y' U : I't rogues. Possibly the tendency of competition, com- bination and concentration, in all forms of business operations, may, as it undoubtedly will, soon reach the saloon. The distributed expense economized, and their present elegance, will give place ',0 fa greater luxury, multiplied attractions and conveniences. Such an evolution wo'..id increase the contrast with the wretched tenement, gradually driving men, women and children, to enjoy the millionaire saloons and gardens with their profusion of music, paintings and statues. Under such open public conditions, it is probablo that, if society survives at all, manners would improve. The changed conditions caused by- concentration, is the hope of the Socialist, who fondly dreams of the abolition c ' all misery and wickedness, by the people taking and using every useful institu- tion for themselves. "As my friend, 'The Brother,' exchanged civilities with his friends in front of the bar, inquiring for some of the brotherhood, the oft repeated invitation to' take another with me ' was avoided, as I stood alone look- ing at the numerous portraits of the leadiiig politi- cians, pugilists, horse races, boat scullers, pretty women, fighting dogs and the mysterious machine; while my thoughts on society pumped the blood into my busy brain till the pressure was painful. At the door, I was introduced to the pugilist proprietor, who informed 'The Brother' that, at his order to the au- thorities, Barney was to go on the police force in the morning; an announcement that brought to my mind the distinguishing characteristic of our exalted sys- "THE BROTHER. 203 etition, com- of business soon reach lomized, and fa greater onvenJences. ontrast with Iriving men, naire saloons ic, paintings :onditions, it all, manners ns caused by t, who fondly 1 wickedness, iseful institu- ged civilities ing for some ation to' take i alone look- idiiig politi- lUers, pretty us machine; e blood into ful. At the jprietor, who r to the au- force in the t to my mind jxalted sys- tem of government, the club; the club, the sword or the bayonet, in the hands of the most ignorant and brutal of society, whose only idea of government is the splitting of heads and murder. "An aged German, whose only comfort was a dirty pipe which he held in his teeth, exposed the naked stump left from an amputated hand to excite sympa- thy to induce the purchase of a few pencils. A tough hustled away this objectionable and yielding object from the saloon door, rudely informing him that he did not want to buy either his pencils or his hand. Another begging tramp was scolded as a big, lazy banana who would not work if he had it. His only reply was to show him the job and see if he would not. And so the stream kept coming and going with- out end, continually furnishing new food for reflection on t^f" horrors of man's condition and the injustice of the monopoly by a few of all production and the forces of production for the gratification only of an insane greed, that sends humanity to despair and death, eats outof the monopolist's heart every trace of human feeling and virtue, bringing to him and his posterity the curse that has followed every pursuit of the mind except that of wisdom and goodness. "The merchants desecrated this holy Sabbath evening, on the corners and along the pavements, by their stands, where salt clams, lobster, vinegar pickles, hot sausages, rolls, coffee and cigars, were disposed of to correct the influence of excessive beer on their stomachs. The fruit merchant was, of course, ever at his post; indeed, he never goes to bed, but I'K^asa fmmmmmmKmmmm 204 "THE BROTHER." I sits watching his wares through the season», relieved by someone for a few hours of sleep in the day. Al- though it was well into the *wee sma hours' of the morning, business was brisk with these merchants, whose only fear of absorbtion by monopoly consisted in the small competition amongst themselves for the few dimes that would supply them stock and bring the treasure of a cot in the lodging house. •'Some conversation with a 'brother' who was stand- ing at a lamp post, evidently on picket duty for the game of poker that was quietly going on within, sep- arated only from public view by the layers of glaring show bills of the play called, 'After Dark,' that rend- ered the scene, embellished by Tom lying drunk in a corner, as apparently dark from without as Halloway Kirk at the moment when Tarn O'Shanter spoke the fatal word. " ' My friend,' I said, 'you could wield a great pow- er over these men for their control under a great ris- ing or upheaval of society, if you chose.' "'No,' said he, 'I would not speak a word, they could goon and revenge themselves for the injustice society has done them and their ancestors. I use my abilities only to instruct even the lowest in the cause of social injustice, and never lose an opportunity to breed in their minds discontent. It is the same when I can get hold of an intellectual man who will expose it. And by thus spreading discontentment, I will finally revenge myself on society for the injustice I have suffered from childhood.' "Worn out by fatigue, sickened by the stench of asons, relieved the day. AI- hours' of the se merchants, ipoly consisted iselves for the >ck and bring ise. A'ho was stand- It duty for the )n within, sep- yers of glaring irk,' that rend- 'ing drunk in a at as Halloway Iter spoke the d a great pow- Jer a great ris- e." c a word, they ar the injustice tors. I use my :st in the cause opportunity to the same when 'ho will expose ntment, I will the injustice I the stench of 'THE BROTHER. 20S the Chinese quarter and other choice cholera gardens that lie within the shadow of the halls of Justice and the sublime palaces of the New York dailies, we sep- arated for the night. I wandered to the more elegant part of the city, passing the palatial saloons and pri- vate retreats where, at that late hour, the sleepy coachmen and elegant equipages awaited the wealthy sinners, who, heavily veiled, slipped quickly into the closed vehicles and were driven rapidly away." The pen of the historian paused for a moment but the spirit of Edward Pureheart did not move. In a short time the pen began to move again slowly and wrote: "Have you had enough.'" "No," replied the historian aloud. "It is horrible, but go on." The halo of light flickered again and went out altogether. Stygian darkness succeeded the faint light that made the writing on the paper visible. Comus laid his hand upon the historian's head, remaining motionless. A period of silence ensued. A faint light began to appear that gradually increased in intensity, reveal- ing the spirit figure standing erect with arms folded in an impressive, commanding attitude. In a short time the pen began to move, the first words imperatively commanding absolute silence. Then the recital continued as follows. .*"•**■■ i- 4«C.» CHAPTER XV. MENDICANTS AND ADULTERATIONS. "The morning was fresh and beautiful. Its enchant- ment was heightened by the pleasure of a walk with Victoria and her mother whom I accompanied on an errand of mercy to the burnt tenement district. The sadness of the sequel to that tragedy among the poor people, powerful as it was upon the emotions, was more than compensated by the joy I felt in the com- pany of the charming and noble woman who had en- tire possession of my heart. She had naturally taken to observing the incidents of social life and reas-^ning upon its defects, so that our thoughts were running in the same groove upon this subject, my attention often being called to points within the sphere only of woman's keen observation. We passed along the street viewing the rich displays of elegant goods en- tirely devoted to luxury, and the endless, giddy throng of people engaged in purchasing or promen- ading. A number of toilers were excavating the street, laying the cables and electric wires, that were, by the mighty genius and skill of Edison, to give the city light in the darkness of night, and to conduct •^iiSimUtmmmm^iMfiii^rsm^nimaism ■ ,mf»*' 'ist.' ONS. Its enchant- r a walk with panied on an Jistrict. The long the poor motions, was t in the com- who had en- iturally taken ,nd reas-^ning vere running my attention phere only of d along the nt goods en- dless, giddy ', or promen- cavating the es, that were, n, to give the to conduct •THK, BKOTHER. 207 Intelligence at the speed of lightning, instantly in- forming the distant of the demand and supply in trade, the result of the races, the fluctuations of the stock market, the engagements of the courtezan and reports of sermons. A poor blind man was singing on the street, accompanying himself with an accordeon, ex- erting his best effort to please the paescrs-by, with a voice that, judging from its quality, might once have been listeneu to in rapture by worshippers of the vo- cal art. Two giddy, young girls were passing by; unsympathetic training of their virgin lives to scenes of misery and want, had rendered the upturned, sight- less eyeballs of the poor singer for pennies, a matter of great amusement to them, bringing happy smiles and laughter to their pretty faces, as they imitated and mimicked, with their sweet voices, the i;ong of the mendicant. "We stopped in front of a group of fatigued, sooty artisans, who wer» working at a portable forge, weld- ing the rivets of the iron cases containing the under- ground wires of the monopolized electric light, tele- graph and telephone. Their strong muscles and hardened features contrasted strangely with the soft bodies, weak gait and insipid expression, of the lux- urious army of idlers who passed in an endless stream always going on and on, apparently without object, without motive, disappearing from view one after an- other forgotten in a moment, while others followed, pressing listlessly on to be ever and ever succeeded by endless streams, passing, no one knows whither. "A gilded statue of John of Bologna's divine master- ,>~-<«VM m-kMmrmm'i^mfi'i^i ISmtMff^'^^,:::, m» ►••THK BROTHER." .1 ■». li piece of art. The flying mercury, newly lighted upon a 'heaven rising hill/ reached out towards us on the sidewalk, but not with the winged and serpentine ca- duceus, the wand of the god of commerce and lying. This was replaced by a bottle of quack medicine, or some mixture, to preserve the exquisites from wrinkles and decay, or relieve the pains of dyspepsia produced by inaction. After musing a while upon the mutabil- ity of things, and to what base uses we may come at last, we began to observe again the goods in the grand bazaars and to more closely inspect their qual- ities. It was evident that the vice of adulteration had entered into every species of luxurious merchandise. Silks were cottoned and gunned; woolens were atten- uated with artfully manipulated shoddy; ewelry was plated and filled, and genuine diamontis made of strass. Large sheets of plate glass gave polish and attractive lustre to the goods, enhancing their ap- pearance. These unperceived plates, like the song of the siren, lured the purchasers to part with their gold for the ever increasing adulterations caused by com- petition. But these glassy mediums were of them- selves grand efforts of skill, produced by the poorly paid labor in the coal, lead and salt mines, and the '4K>da works, i.i the vast glass works of France, Ger- many, Belgium, England and the Un'ted Statts, where crowds of men and boys sweat over the in- tensely heated furnaces, and blow, spin, press and cast the vitreous flux into every species of utilitarian or luxurious articles; their diseased faces, and eyes in- flamed and ulcerated by the constant radiation of k 1 i: y lighted upon rdf us on the serpentine ca- erce and lying, k medicine, or s from wrinkles cpsia produced an the mutabil- may come at goods in the pect their qual- ultcration had merchandise, ens were attcn- i\ ewelry was onc!s made of ive polish and :ing their ap- like the song of with their gold aused by com- vere of them ■ by the poorly lines, and the " France, Ger- Unittd Stalt.s, over the in- )in, press and s of utilitarian s, and eyes in- t radiation of ■',-1 •THK HROTHER. 309 heated glass, present a painful aspect, as they work at the furnaces gathering ihc glais on their rods to be blown, or pressed into cheap articles for the poor, or spin the luxurious vases for the table or parlor of the rich, embellished with eng'-^.ved ornaments of . - tistic groups of athletic Greeks — who have transm«t ted thair pliysical and mental qualities as models to our enfeebled age; who have left their art and litera- ture to an unappreciative world of speculative nabob» and self-degraded industrial slaves. Bad laws, cunning- ly established, little by little, as the people become ac- customed to them, for the bcr.^f', ol the wealthy rob- ber class, by able men who aspire to riches, are not alone the cause of deterioration in the quality of goods. The deceptions practiced upon the public are rather the result of a desperate competition aris- ing from the necessity to force goods upon a people whose purchasing power is ever becoming less, as wealth is absorbed and concentrated in the hands of a few. The manufacturer or merchant is not re- sponsible for this awful vice; it is the result of defec tive institutions among men. Competition and industry may be considered as two criminals sen- tenced and chained together until both are dead. It is evident that one criminal, competition, it. already dead, and that the vain struggles to galvanize it into life, are hopeless. The still living criminal, industry, is already poisoned by the decay and rottenness of its brother's corpse and must also soon yield the bpat of its feeble pulse to the same cold embrace." 27 »■■« I I, ft I: illli CHAPTER XVI. ,.-4 A BROADWAY, OONEY AND MY HEIGHBOR'S DAUGHTER. ?; "•The Brother' and I had not met for some da s or rather nig:hts, for it was usually when darkness, or when the lesser light of nature ruled the night, that each others society was mostly sought. "We met this night at Union Square. When 'The Brother' arrived, I was observing a poorly dressed woman, wan and pale, who appeared to be sadly worsted in the struggle to maintain a presentable ap- pearance. She seemed tired and hungry. The brill- iant electric light of Broadway fell upon her upturned face cutting into strong relief the serious lines, which were almost as solemn as death in tneir expression. Looking in the direction of her steadfast gaze, I ob- served an enchanting effect of light and illuminated shadow upon the bronze group of Charity surrounded by her children, as she stood high amongst the trans- parent green of the branches overhead, tenderly smil- ing upon the helpless, innocent babe in her arms. Here was the emblem of human consideration for one another 'n all the beauty of artificial light per- petuated in imperishable bronze, at which the defeat- hbor's r some da s len darkness, ;d the night, ight. When 'The )orly dressed to be sadly esentable ap- y. The brill- her upturned s lines, which r expression. St gaze, I ob- i illuminated ty surrounded gst the trans- [enderly smil- in her arms, iideration for al light per- ch the defeat- -mwi^^ 'THE MOTHER. 2II ed in the struggle to exist could comfort themselves w'th a look, while hunger knawed their vitals and the sense of social injustice rankled in their breasts. "The catch-penny weighing machines, that had lately obstructed the public walks in the Square, had for some reason or other h^.en removed. Feeling tired we looked for a seat, but most of them were set back on the lawns, having been freshly painted; 'The Brother' apologized for the park officials by saying that they had not time during the winter to paint the seats, when no one wanted to sit on them, so they were obliged to take the fine summer weather for this purpose. On one of the occupied seats a poor, home- less, grey haired man had fallen asleep, sitting up- right with his head leaning on his hand. The vigilant park policeman caught sight of this not very objec- tionable looking object and tapping him sharply on the knee with his club ordered him off. As he moved sadly away, my friend remarked. 'There goes a brother, moved on for the crime of being asleep. Poor men! where will they go.? If they sit on the steps, or take the doorways to sleep or rest on, they wil' be ordered off or, perhaps, arrested. They can escapeonlybybeingeternally on the move. Generally, they aie undisturbed around the docks, where a few moments of forgetful slumber can often be had with their myriads of companions, the water rats. The sa- loon is the only place on earth left for these poor men; but they cannot benefit from its inviting luxur- ies if they have no money, without some generous person happens to contribute- a nickel, with which 212 "THE BROTHER." P'-odigal sum they can hold shelter for a short time.' We walked around to the fountain for a drink; the usual spectacle of a cup was present, but no water. Several men were there discussin', the New York drinking fountain question. From them 1 learned that th€re was scarcely a drinking fountain in the city where vater could be had except at the Battery and Central Park. Either the cups are gone or there is no water. 'The Brother' assured me that the saloon keepr^rs remove the cups, or damage the water-flow i;> ^r • ay, 3o as to force passengers to g^o into their places and purchase beer or soda; that this, to- gether with the indifference of our political m&uhmv. officials, leaves the entire population of the metropolis practically without a drink of water on the streets. "Our walk Led us past the regal saloon of one of the political factors of the city, who had spent lour years in the Auburn Penitentiary for the murcer vl Jim Fiske, 'The Brother' refused an invitaticn to step inside and view the wealthy loungers and curi- osity seekers who frequent this famous model of what the saloon may become in its highest ideal of splen- dor; theworlc'' f^amous paintings ofsat>rs and floating nymphs, of 1 ;t^??t,'; beauties whose exposed charms ravished tl ? .n ; s« ".iv their loveliness, had no longer charm for himv ""' elegant crowd that moved along the sidewalk towards the theatres and places of amusement, were illuminated by the brilliant incan- descent lights that shone from among the rich goods in the windows of the bazaars. Many attracted by the jewels and rich wares, stopped a moment to look "THK BROTHER. 213 a short time.' r a drink; the ut no water, e New York em 1 learned :ainin the city : Battery and e or there is lat the saloon le water-flow s to g^o into that this, to- tical mat.hinc uhe metropolis 1 the streets, lon of one of id spent lour lie murcer vl invitatic n lo jers and curi- [nodel of what leal of spien- rs and floating aosed charms lad no longer ; moved along nd places of illiant incan- he rich goods attracted by oment to look at them or purchase. The flower girls w«re busy selling choice boquets for the coat lapel, or the bos- oms of fair ones. A short distance ahead I observed the graceful figure of Ooney, the heroine of the tene- ment fire, which the eagle eye of 'The Brother' de- tected before me. A fine looking gentleman passed, cautiously touching her dress, whom she followed down the next side street and was lost to view, "'Do you know who that is,' said 'The Brother.' '•' No,' I replied. •"Give me your honor,' said he. "■I extended my hand and he whiskered in my ear. '•'Impossible!' I exclaimed. '"I sv/ear it!' he replied. t' I looked at him aghast. "Several minutes elapsed as we walked on in silence. .Suddenly raising his head, which had been bow-d in thought, and fixing on me his dark, searching eyes that wore no pleasant expression at that moment, he said: 'Ooney's mother is dead, but she doesn't know it, and I would not tell her. We thought she had chang-d for the better; Ooney had secured her a new bed. paying for it in installments. It was put up in the corner of a kitchen, opposite the burnt tenements, where the neighbors were kind to her, but the old woman stretched out about an hour ago. Poor Ooney will take it hard and I fear the worst, for her crimes are only for her mother s sake.' "A lump rose in 'The Brother's' throat that almost choked his last utterance, greatly to my surprise; f(^r I could scarcely .suspect fhis stony victim c' society 214 'THE BROTHEK." If i' hi possessed of emotion. He turned his head towards the opposite side of the street, as though something attracted his attention; his chest labored heavily and his whole frame trembled as with clenched teeth he endeavored to control himself. '"I am a moral man,' said he, 'when you consider the temptations wiih which I have been surrounded from infancy. It is a wonder to myself that I am not a deep dyed, heartless villain. I realize the fact that there is no benefit in sin to myself and I do not prac- tice it. Although I am conscious of it in my friends, I am at a possible something higher; hence my incli- nation to study. I care not for death; it is more cour- ageous to live than to die. A few drops won a piec^ of sugar and all would be at rest I know how to make all poisons and destructive thing.«;, but 1 live merely out of curiosity, for I know that this state of society cannot last more than ten years and I want to see how it will turn out.' "Wishing to divert his mind from sad reflections, I informed him that I had concluded to join the Nation- alist Colony, then forming, to settle on the Pacific slope; and that I intended to go with the first who went as pioneers, happy in the thought of escaping from the horrors of the metropolis that was fast giv- ing my mind a misanthropic tendency. And pressed him warmly to join us, believing that he, too, would benefit by the change of scene and circumstances. '"No, thanks,' he replied. 'I will not go; here I was born, here I have been bred, a gamin in the gutters since seven years of age, without a home. 'THE BROTHER. 215 head towards Lagh something -ed heavily and ched teeth he I you consider en surrounded f that I am not ze the fact that i I do notprac- in my friends, lence my incli- t is more cour- ts mot) a piec? know how to ngs, but I live t this state of s and I want to id reflections, I oin the Nation- Dn the Pacific the first who ht of escaping t was fast giv- . And pressed he, too, would cumstances. not go; here I gamin in the thout a home. without a friend. This is my home; I will not leave it. It is rny right to remain as much as the million- aire, and I will not go. If I cannot survive with the strongest, perhaps I can with the weakest. I owe society nothing but revenge for my blighted life; for I know I am mentally, morally and physically supe- rior to the privileged who, by this accursed system, can work me and my class to the death line, who are one and all responsible for even poor Ooney's crimes and the victims of the tenements. I desire no violence, but will stay here eternally devoting my life to breed discontent, and if society cannot be reformed and jus- tice done, I am willing to go down with it in a carni- val of blood.' "As he spoke, his whole soul was roused witli aw- ful earnestness. Demosthenes would have envied his eloquence. I was truly impressed with the force of his statement. This then is the tnought and feeling of the down-trodden masses; and I suppose, 'to this complexion must it come at last.' '"See here,' suddenly said 'The Brother,' drawing me to a show case containing photographs of beauti- ful women, and pointing to one perfect model of phys ical beauty, whose ba/e arms and bust, riv!»'!:.ig in grandeur the Venus de Milo, were delicately massed with the rich white silks that composed her tasteful, evening dress; 'Do you see that lady.' That is one of the new arrivals at Madam Black's, at the Park.' I looked into the fine features of a face of remarkable expression, that, once seen, could never be forgotten. My heart gave a leap — it was my neighbor's daughter. ^jssaMffi '^S^' ft 3l6 "THE BROTHER." The memory of her innocent childhood and girlhood as she played so merrily, a favorite with us all; her development into womanhood, which we watched with so much pleasure; the happy evenings spent mth us at our country home, when music and dance lent their joyful influence to the social hours \*ith kind neighbors. Alas I the procuress had in due time heard of the favorite of our neighborhood, and with serpent arts had enticed her away from the sim- ple home, where horny handed toil had guarded her tender age and happy, happy childhood, to the g.'it- tering palace of splendid vice. Celia was now in a delirious but brief whirl of intoxicating bliss. "I recalled the aged father, whose partner in life had, dying, left him this, his youngest treasure, his bowed head, in silent, unutterable, inconsolable gnef at the loss of his daughter; a grief kind neigh- bors viewed with awe, not daring to offer consolation that would be vain. I recalled the shame of her sis- ters, who, av Mding society, devoted themselves only to the blighted fat) ;r who soon would be at peace. With weaitly bloods, amid luxurious surroundings, folly and tl e revels went on with sweet Celia, to end as they all end, in the lower ^nd lower brothel, in drunkenness and the outcast's grave at the docks. '•" And so it goes on,' said 'The Brother,' 'from high to low, from Park Place to the slums, where girls oftwelve and fourteen are sold at from five to ten dollars apiece.' "'impossible ! ' I exclaim.^d. "'I can .swear it,' said he. And if you will go with 1 and girlhood h us all; her , we watched venings spent sic and dance al hours \vith s had in due hborhood, and from the sim- 1 guarded her d, to the g.'it- was now in a i: bliss. partner in life gest treasure, , inconsolable f kind neigh- fer consolation me of her sis- smselves only be at peace. surroundings, t Celia, to end er brothel, in the docks. Irother,' 'from as, where girls n five to ten )u will go with THE BROTHER. 217 me, I will prove it by the parties themselves.' " ' Who are the parties who commit such awful crimes .'' I asked. '" Who are they ! who are they ! ' he replied, 'I'll tell you who thty are, mostly — men who are out of work; that's who they are!' "This awful fact was subsequently added to my view of the glories of christian civilization, whose cities decorated with graceful, fretted spires pointing heaven-ward to the hope of virtue, and joyful chimes ring out the glad tidings of 'peace on earth and good will towards men." CHAPTER XVII. NOTE.S IN PASSING. "The wtirld of society had not yet risen; although the birds had given their morning concert, ceased feeding their young and were resting until noon. The needy world, however, was wide awake, and the seats in the small, but handsomely shaded, park, were filled by men, boys and girls, eagerly scanning the 'wants' /n the morning papers, for a possible job; while a crowd was reading the advertisements charitably posted on the bulletin board, by the Young Men's Christian Association, for those unable to purchase a nev'spaper. On the sidewalk, a bare-headed whistler of alien race accompanied himself with a harp. Far- 28 .i,'^*"*' 2l8 "THE, BROTHER." fr' ther down, a German street band was playing, for a few pennies, the waltzes and airs of the F"ather-land. In a basement door-way, a handsome, well dressed, respectable looking, young man, apparently about thirty years of age, who, thinking himself free from observation, hastily picked some pieces of bread out of a slop barrel, which he concealed beneath his coat and rapidly walked away. Well-to-do people passed by the numberless mendicants with a look of uncon- cern, having necessarily become indifferent to the ever present cry of suffering humanity, which they cannot help, honestly lifting their hearts in thankful- ness to Almighty God for his goodness in not making them as one of these unfortunates. And so goes the morning world. The high priest passes the unfortu- nate by with lofty mien, considering him a sinner. The Levite considers him a foo^ for being unfortunate. But the Samaritan regards him as a man, and as such requires his sympathy. Here is the christian ideal. "At the corner of the street a number of men. women and children, awaited the opening of the Charity Hospital. Inflamed and ulcerated eyes pro- claimed the curse of transmitted disease, visited upon the children of men to the third and fourth genera- tion. The fame of the scientists within became great- er and greater as their skill was more profoundly displayed in manipulating the complexities of diseases that multiplied to infinity by the still greater com- plexities of the social state of these victims. "Visible through an open window opposite was one of those human beings who only follow a happy des- ii •i'tf, ■,; ,. 'THE BROTHER. 219 playing, for a Father-land, well dressed, arently about self free from of bread out neath his coat people passed )ok of uncon- fferent to the , which they s in thankful- in not making id so goes the s the unfortu- lim a sinner. g unfortunate, n, and as such istian ideal, iber of men, ening of the :ed eyes pro- . visited upon urth genera- >ecame great- e profoundly ies of diseases greater com- ims. osite was one a happy des- tiny, whose wealth, moth or rust, cannot corrupt, or jobbers, speculators and monopolists, break through and steal; one of those whose f)aths are;^^ paths of peace, whose life is worthy and memory blessed. Within a large room, surrounded with instruments for micro- scopic, or chemical, study, appliances for dividing, analysing and recombining the elements, that were symbolized by letters and numbers, covering the en- tire walls, stood the professor addressing the youth upon whom civilization builds its only hope. A divine light shone from his quick eyes and nervous face as he explained and illustrated the wonders of Carbon and Oxygen to the enchanted boys, who breathed quickly as they became more and more rapt in the splendors of science, which obliterated for the mo- ment every other thouj;ht and made every tumultuous passion cease. Faster ;i nd faster spoke the inspired professor, as deeper and eeper he delved into the marvels of his theme ! Faster and faster beat the young hearts as new worlds of life and thought and beauty, were opened to their vision ! Unconsciously the professor labored, carried away into the empyrean realms of nature to nature's god, wiping occasionally the beads of perspiration that the excited and heated brain caused to stand upon his brow! On, on, imag- ination sped until, with wings of Ught it almost light- ed itself from the earth of scientific fact and fled into the region of the ideal ! The pnv.g sounded, startling all from their enchantment, and the boys marched thoughtfully to another room to hear the AUadin story of a scientifiic worker in the bleak regions of Arctic ice. ■f*tm 220 'THE BROTHER. 1* "In front of a hotel a boy of fourteen sat upon an Ice cream wagon; his wondering, upturned face re- garding the splendor of the weU fed, elegantly attired, luxurious guests, as they appeared at the doors and windows smoking expensive Havanas, or chatting pleasantly with beautiful women dressed in morning wrappers of fine linnen and lace. His poor, but re- spectable, clothing covered a body delicately formed and his attitude indicated the fatigue of the night's work preparing in the cold basement of a gigantic establishment the frozen cream that was to relieve the fever of over-feeding, idleness, or dissipation, from the soft throats and stomachs of the favorites of fortune. Long he looked upon this world of elegance to which he could never hoi^e to aspire, till, at last, becoming conscious of the cold, indifferent gaze of the guests, wiio regarded him as only a speck upon their vision, a necessary object created to hold the reins of the fine team of greys that brought the morn- ing luxuries to their favored bodies. He dropped his intelligent eyes and turned his refined, sad face away relieving his embarrassment at the inferiority of his position, by a pretense of fixing the cover of one ot the ice cream freezers, "Upon reaching the docks I stood for a time watch- ing the myriads of boys, in every direction, who ap- peared to lead an aimless life. Groups were formed here a'*d there playing cards in the wagons or behind casks; some were pitching pennies, others were fight- ing; all were using the coarsest manners and the vilest language to one another. A mighty dangerous class .SGSiS"-'-'- Mi .♦'**«,«■*.„,,,>,.,. 'THE BROTHER. aat if) sat upon an jrncd face re- egantly attired, the doors and IS, Qt chatting sed in morning poor, but re- licatcly formed of the night's of a gigantic vas to relieve or dissipation, the favorites of rid of elegance e, till, at last, fcrent gaze of a speck upon ;d to hold the ught the morn- Hie dropped his sad face away feriority of his over of one of r a time watch- :tion, who ap- s were formed gons or behind lers were fight- s and the vilest langerous class of citizens was here growing up for the Republic. They were of a class whom the priests forbid to go to the public schools. Many who were swimming around the docks had on their necks the little bag suspended by a string — a superstitious charm blessed by the priests and supposed to protect the faithful off-spring from the attacks of evil spirits. As the boys dived off the boats into the water, I observed them invariably make the sign of the cross upon their breasts; so, if any accident happened by which death might ensue, they would enter the next world with a spiritual charm about them, that would modify their punishment and increase their happiness. "Sympathetic thinkers on the subject of social in- justice can only be found among people who have not felt, or, are not familiar with, misery. In their breasts may be found the element of pity. Hunger, want of clothing and squalid surroundings, are appalling to them. Under dire calamity they display greater hero- ism and go to greater extremes to" advocate and de- fend justice, and punish injustice. But they naturally look ujX'n the sunken wretch with feelings other than pity. They despise him for lack of manhood, for the want of effort to elevate him.'ielf from his position. They reason thus: 'In the mutability of things, I may meet with reverses. To the fearful uncertainty of business or investments, in which the brightest and ablest are daily ruined, may be added war, famine, accident, and loss of health. Many unforseen circum- stances may happen to destroy my fortune and my chancesof remaining at the top of society, or anywhere rfimm 222 "THK HROTHKR. I. If \\\ ^-:■ iif i; near it. And it is possible that I may fall so low that not even a hovel would afford nic shelter from the winter's blast, hunger might even force me to ask alms at the hands of another, or seek the charity of a soup house. But then, I would not remain long in that position. I have intelligence, education, ability and pride, and would find some way to free myself from poverty. I could not herd with such low people, nor would I any longer than I could turn myself and get out of it. My friends on Fifth Avenue, at the club, my banker and acquaintances on change, I would have to shun, because I know that when a man has no money he loses caste, and when he becomes ab- sc'''tely wrecked he is passed unnoticed; I would I out of the way until I got up again, then I could 1 ..or society without having been damaged.' "Alas ! mv friend, little do you dream that ail your advantages in the way of intelligence, refinement and laudable purpose, would be against you, rendering you less able to hol'd your own in that low stave (from which you could never rise) than the sharp gamin whom you regard with such contempt! "At the end of the street I met 'The Brother;' he glared at me awhile with a wild stare, his haggard features and bloodshot eyes told of some awful strug- gle within his breast; his fierce look terrified me. To my civilities he did not reply, and the thought flashed upon me that his reason had fled. 'Come with me,' he said hoarsely, taking me by the arm and leading me into an open door-way. 'Look there! see what society has done!' A beautiful figure lay before me, '■■f-'^immi^immsmm^iaimgmiM'i ■o,lJ«Hfm i24 '^THE BROTHER." J^'^' m u'% i. 1;^ '0' ■n4- #■■:. 1 Today we can sit upon a finely fitted ferry boat, with steam heal and electric light, and enjoy the newspaper while we cross the river, for three cents. For five cents we can go to Harlem by the elevated railroad, with the same luxurious comfort, and return in half an hour. In six days, instead of six months, we can ride in a palace car to San Francisco for seventy-five dol- lars. We can buy a gallon of oil from the Standard trust for seven cenj,;j. Wu cannot go back to the old individualism of effort. Trusts and combinations are evidences of high civilized life, whatever may be the attendant increase of poverty and misery that accom- panies their development. Go on with the trust until the entire nation is its own trust, and more luxuries, better qualities; greater advantages, and greater re- ductions, will result. The entire buying community can put all their money into one trust, in which they only will be the stockholders, and share the dividends in economy of production and distribution. As it is now, several millionaires make the goods and take all the profit and unearned increment arising from ac- cidental qualities; such as scarcity, or advantage, of market, either natural or artificial. But it is better to have several millionaires than to have the scattered and expensive old fashioned way of Tom, Dick and Harry making the goods in awkward and incomplete shops and factories. The trust only needs to be car- ried out to its legitimate conclusion, and the nation make its own goods, and take its own profit and the unearned increment of values. •"Now brothers, what does this disaster of Johns- fir 1 '•*> on a broader presents. For ;'s fishing pond the water, — is for the ex- om are non- ilcdon of water sery and dis- ong the work- r weakness of of discontent 1 that this dam 3 a reason, that 5. who are cry- ;arded as crazy !y said so years while saying rded as noth- id, there is no the killing of (?) aple peilshed. raphed to all her, and more, is city alone. dam bursts in e the only vic- pt away.' or. 'THE BROTHER. 227 will the millionaires themselves go down, crushed to death in the mighty flood.'" "He ceased speaking, and from the dense crowd of men a murmer went up. thoughtful and deep, and deadly in its tone. 'The Brother' saw me standing in front and came towards me, wiping the perspiration from his face, wishing to get out in the open air, where, on the street, the eternal sea of sad people, was ever moving on in ceaseless agitation, seeking daily bread." CHAPTER XVni. WHAT IS A REPUBLIC' AND "THE BROTHER'S" LETTER. 'One night, about 10 o'clock, 'The Brother' and several acquaintances entered their headquarters, at the Bowery saloon, and seated themselves at a table , in the rear. They had been at the rooms of the Na- tional Debating Society at Cooper Union, where the subject under debate was; 'What is a Republic.'' From their o^inversation I judged that a great variety of opinions had been expressed on the subject, which had been debated for several nights. Some of these opinions were given from the uncultivated ravings of natural instinct, as though thaignorant debaters were guessing at the subject; others were the result of gen- eral reading of the various authors who had treated i3$ "THE BROTHER." 11:^ % M 'yAL ■i- it' • •- thc subject; fiom Plato to Sir John Moore, and so on down to our day: others were given as deductions from these as to a possible Republic. The group "f men who accompanied 'The Brother,' were evidently not satisfied with the arguments given, which had left the poor Republic as far from being explaiiiv.d as ever, and the minds of the debaters more puzzled and confused than before; although each one imagined, at the start, that it was a subject easy of explanation. that anyone who did not know what a Republic was, must have some defect in his intellect. However, after all the hammering and disputing, and confident statements, that were no sooner uttered than knock- ed to pieces, counter statements shared no better fate. The final debate closed with a lot of dissatisfied men, a part of whom were here to air their chagrin to one another, over a frienlly glass of beer and a cigar. One of them said : " 'That was a cute old fellow who advocated the monopoly doctrine and was so strongly in favor of trusts. Who is he.'' "'I don't know much about him. He used to be a slave owner in the South before the war; I suppo.ie it is in him yet. Wage slavery is cheaper than chattel slavery, with no responsibilities, as this old fellow knows. He is a bright one, and a twist«r. It is hard to pin him down to the base of an argumerit; he will slip from under you somehow.' "And so the conversation ran, with remarks on the arguments and personalities of the various debaters who had tried to ventilate the apparently very simple matter of ' What is a Rep.ubHc .' ' iSI K'3«W«»«,VS!a»sr«i(ft.SnVn(s ^iifiSdWAjlf SSm THE UROTHEK. 229 '., and so on deductions he group ^f re evidently hich had left xplaiiiv-d as puzzled and magined, at explanation, epublic was, However, id confident han knock- better /ate. :tisfied men, grin to one nd a cigar. ocated the in favor of ised to be a 1 suppose it :han chattel old fellow *. It is hard :rtt; he will arks on the IS debaters very simple "'The Brother' had bu little to say. It was evi- dent that he had taken part in the debate and had purposely be^^n arguing fallaciously in order to drift the subject into a tangle and force the debaters into positions that would so damage their premises as to make them come to conclusions f^r different than the object they had in view; for he was a master in the art of logic, and could put the cleverest to their met- tle when necessary. He had been listening and smoking quietly when some question was asked hinrj- about the subject of debate. He looked up and said: '"The whole defect in this question that so bewild- ered everyone who attempted to debate it, is the rot- tenness of its premises. But not one saw it. The Republic, as they u.-«.derstand it, is based on ideas de- veloped from what is and has been; a. state of Ifberty in which freedom has never existed in speech or in thought.- This idea of a Republic is based on indi- vidual freedom, which, of course, is illogical; for no such thing could exist with man any more than it can in other parts of nature, or in the whole of it: and any attempt at individual freedom inaugurates con- tention and strife with the environment of things, on which man, or any part of nature, is dependent. The worlds in space are not free from the natural laws of gravitation and repulsion. Thelifeontheplanetis sub- ject to atmospheric influcncesandtheearthon which it lives. Man is called free, but, is he not governed by the necessities of his existence and his environment, whether social or otherwise^* And is it not a fact that his greatest freedom arise* from the co-opera- 230 'THE BROTHER. tion and help of others. In the isolated savage state, would he not be the veriest slave to his natural wants and the dangers to which he would be subject .' Then, is not his greatest protection and benefit derived from the most complete social interdependence of his fel- lows.' And does not the nearest approach he makes to independence, remove him further and further from social advantages and bring him ne&rcr and nearer the savage beast, that works uu the independent plan and is only social when his passions force him to be so."* The idea of a Republic, as it exists in the minds of men, is a fallacy; and its development into fact would be as disastrous to man as the system by which men live off the labor of others. There is no such thing as a Republic, as it is commonly understood; nor can there be. Man is simply a social being, and his social development, carried to its highest ideal, is his perfect Republic. The only idea of a true Repub- lic is, 'That which is equally good for ail." The pen of the historian *paused, then drawing a long, straight line, it commenced to slowly write the following: " This is the last interview I ever had with 'The Brother.' I can only give you additionally the conversation Victoria and I had over Lis letter receiv- ed three years later. If you wish me to go on, do not speak, but raise your left hand." The historian anx- ious to obtain all the knowledge possible of the found- er of their civilization, raised his left hand, and instantly the pen began to fly over the paper before him, and the story continued: — "'My dear, you are late for breakfast, kept you?' What has hi savage state, latural wants bject? Then, derived from e of his fel- ch he makes further from and nearer pendent plan i him to be in the minds nt into fact em by which is no such understood; il being, and hest ideal, is true Repub- 11." n drawing a \y write the ver had with itionally the letter receiv- [o on, do not storian anx- of the found- hand, and aper before What has •'THE HROTHEk. 23! '•Victoria: — 'I felt somewhat feverish this morning. The wine I drank after the opera last night, I think, did not benefit me any; besides, we smoked too much and chatted too late about the new Prima Donna. So I went to the baths for exercise, and now I feel as spry as a lark.' '"We must go at once to the hotel; the electric has called for second breakfast. I have some mail for you from New York, but do not open it now for I am hun- gry. I, too, have been exercising, on the gallerie* and beat Miss Jones in a foot race twice around the block." "'You are quite an athlete and will be head of the gymnasium yet, if you are not careful. I will just glance at this letter to see who it is from.' '•'Please don't till after breakfast; we must go! " • All right; come, we will go to the hotel.' '"What do you think Victoria, I have a letter from 'The Brother," at last. My attempts to .force some communication from him have been crowned with success, and here is a good long letter from the noble fellow.' '"I hope 'The Brother' is a happpier man than when we left New York. I feared from your descrip- tion of him, at the time of Ooney's suicide, that he might do something violent.' "'Yes. It was difficult to imagine the outcome of that sad human history, of which I saw but a small part in her heroism at the tenement fire, the streets, her aged mother's death and the scene at the morgue. Victoria, will you read his letter while I smoke a cigar? {^fW^P* iii • THK BROTHER. New York, June ?i, 1893. Mr. Edward Pureheart, Box 27,384, City of Peace, Oregon. My dear Sir : — Your friend here hunted me up at considerable trouble to himself and gave me your letter, which I was much pleased to receive, and to hear ofyour happiness and prosperity. It isexceedingly pleasant to hear that you have named the little boy, Jim, after me. The happiness of the fe^jling that any heart snould beat in sympathy for me, outside of my robbed and plundered class, is certainly very great. It is taught us that man forgets himself and his poor friends when prosperity aiid comfort set in; and forgets God also. Under our system here that has been the case, ever since Ihe Bible was written; it works exactly that way. But the system of the city and county of Peace seems to work just the other way; people have a full chance to not only love God and man to the fullest extent, but, also, to love the world and everything else that we are constituted to enjoy. Of course, I get a good deal of news of the workings ofyour co-operative society from mission- aries and agitators in our midst; but all the leading papers keep as quiet as mice about it. The influence of that experiment has undoubtedly made the giant monopolies and their sole official agents at Washing- ton, uneasy for the future, and they will work the public to the utmost as long as their power lasts. What amuses me is to see the hellish eagerness to get everything turned into money, which a change to Nationalism would render utterly worthless; unless they propose to skip to slavery countries and enjoy their boodle with the rotten aristocracy. The Presidential election is coming on fast. Here, ■*!S®;^i;'ii'"- ii "THK BROTHER. 233 21, 1892. inted me up ive me your ive, and to exceedingly e little boy, ng that any itside of my very great, self and his set in; and re that has written; it I of the city t the ot'.icr \y love God to love the nstituted to news of the >m mission- the leading he influence : the giant it Washing- 1 work the )ower lasts, 'agerness to a change to less; unless and enjoy fast. Here, of course, ballot reform has been killed by Gov. Hill and the corrupt gang, for whom there would not be a ghost of a chance if we had it. Bu<^ I know that the leading politicians on both sides have joined their in- terests secretly, and in the next election will reign supreme. The entire saloon interest is solid with the brewers, and, to hold them, the railroads and every other combine, dependent on legislation, are compell- ed to fall in together for common protection. The sufferings of the people are even greater than when you left; more small merchants and mechanics have gone under; drunkenness and stealing are on the in- crease and the Prohibitionists are numetous; the po- lice force has been strengthened and given more power: weak women and helpless children come in for their share, as you saw at the Centennial Inaug- ural. Even with the example of your Peace Commu- nity, that has removed all cause fbr greed and misery, the same social crimes go on here, in a worse degree than before. The sea of discontent is rolling high. The cargo is being thrown overboard, in the shape of charities, to save the vessel. But the storm is increas- ing and soon the waves will lash in fury over the wreck and lifeless bodies of those on board. With us the strangler is not only at the pocket, but at the life, and humanity gasps for existence. In the last deadly struggle of the masses, may we not ex- pect an awful scene ! Happily, the stranglers are concentrating their numbers. In fancied security they stand upon the brink of a precipice; a moment, the slightest accident, may bring the spark *hat will set the Ci Mshed world ablaze. In this seething, social mass are men and women of high abilities, with intel- lects quickened by the struggle for life and hearts hardened by injustice; scientists who, without the slightest harm to themselves, could sweep the noble harbor and docks of the metropolis of the entire navy 30 ^a §$■> tiim 234 "THE BROTH KR," of commerce and war, level forts, produce a water famine and leave this festcrin . hypocritical, social state a mass of ashes and rotting human beings, at the cost of a few cents. Where, in such not-far-from- tmpossible uprising, would be the lives, the fortunes and the luxuries, of the privileged classes — the Four Hundred ? — '"What a dreadful letter! It is enough to give one the blues!' "'Yes, Victoria; it is horrible because we ere re- moved from these influences and surroundings. Can you not recjjl your happy days, when you actually grew to womanhood without even an idea that >ucfi horrors existed all around you.' and I, a man, with greater opportunities, was but little better informed." •"Poor 'Brother!' What a sublime martyr he makes of himself for his fellow wretches, whom he will not abandon to their awful fate! How insignifi- cant the worthless dole of alms from the wealthy churches appears in comparison with his labors! How does he support himself.'' •"Well, Victoria, I have had an insight into his life without his knowledge, and I assure you, he is just like the fifty thousand men, women and children who rise every morning in New York without an idea where breakfast is to come from. Sometimes they manage to get food during the day, frequently one meal and often none. I have known them to be with- out food for three or four days; it is then they arc driven to the slop barrels in the wealthier portions of the city. The waste of the hotels is ail bought up, mixed together and made into hash and Washington tir' '^"*!:.^*'.*VS'>*r^ ■; 'THK BROTHER. 235 ucc a water itical, social in beings, at not-far-from- the fortunes es — the Four ugh to give wc ere re- idihgs. Can you actually :a that >ucR i man, with •r informed." ; martyr he s, whom he 3W insigniB- the wealthy labors! How it into his life Li, he is just :hildren who out an idea letimes they quently one 1 to be with- en they aic :r portions of bought up, Washington pie, and sold on the stands and eating houses of the slums. ' '"Dreadful! And yet good people still believe in the doctrine of Malthus, that God makes this poverty, crime and disease necessary to remove the surplus population from the earth.' •"Well, Victoria, we, like the Pharisee, must thank God that we are not as other men are. Let us hear what else the noble ' Brother' has to say.' '"Well, here it is: It is very difficult for me to realize, situated as I am in this large city, whose advantages as one of the centres of the world's inhabitants, with its unequalled bay and giant railways penetrating to every fertile valley of this continent, how you, in an enclosed, in- terior district, with only a medium sized river, can enjoy the possibilities of human existence; freedom from peddlars and beggars, bonds and mortgages, and not a rich or poor person among you; and have such complete comforts, all produced from the bare earth in so short a time. But I suppose it arises from no waste and all production going into the public pile. Your city must be a curiosity, built as it is in connected angles, witn the sun and air reaching every appartment. The arrangement, on the plan you sent me, makes clear how you walk frorti one end of the city to the other through the covered centre of the dwellings to work, hotels, amusements and to the stores, without inconvenience from the weather or passing vehicles. The porches or. the road-side with their open gardens must be very pleasant from which to watch the drive on the quiet, dustless, asphalt streets. The company of the neighbors as you prom- enade and chat with each other «"n the continuous porches must also be very agreeable. f ■ ■^i.'.----Kr''**a'ss*'SvS'*"5^;^;jj^ f- : 1^ ;:*3['! ii- ■l::l^ ill' ■i I- 336 'THE HROTHER. " Here in New York rich and poor live in what are really boxes, fenced off from one another in the meanest way; their only exit is to the hard, stony, badly paved street, where the noise and rattle pre- vents conversation: and everyone is exposed to the rain, wind, snow and ice. One thing pu/.zled me for a long time — how you managed to shorten the distances for vehicles on the streets without going around long corners and losing time; but, by the arches leading through at each angle, I see that force is economized in the highest degree. I cannot fully appreciate the delights of your art galleries, fine conceits, theatres and operas, be- cause my education has not been favorable to a high- er study of these refinementi Although, in the midst of this festering mass, I know an aged, submerged artist, once a man of recognized ability, who lives in a dirty garret, and from whom I have learned to draw characteristic subjects; bv+ the ideal art in paint- ing, sculpture, poetry and music, is really a dead letter to me. When you speak of the way agricultural products are economized and the happy state of the farmers, I cannot help contrasting it with the waste here. Our farmers serui their produce to the commission merch- ants who charge 10 per cent, and sell at a monopoly price. If the market is full they hold the produce for a high price until the stuff rots, and then it goes over the docks into the river. They are in a position to say what price they choose to the farmer, who is at thi? disadvantage of distance and the railroads, and must accept a false price minus the discount; and so he eets nothing. The farmers have taken to raising rr». Ik lately and get only 3c a qt. from the dealers. It is certainly wise in your colony to take secret measures to procure large quantities of arms and" am- unition, and to have your athletes well trained to the QS,-i, •'THE BROTHER. »37 in what are >ther in the hard, stony, I rattle pre- losed to the e — how you hicies on the s and losing jgh at each the highest ights of your operas, be- ile to a high- in the midst submerged ivho lives in ! learned to I art in paint- ally a dead ral products the farmers, te here. Our ssion merch- a monopoly : produce for it goes over . position to , who is at lilroads, and >unt; and so en to raising the dealers, take secret •ms and* am- ained to the drill; your suspicions in my opinion are well founded. Such a menace to what St. John clearly saw in his vision, "the great beast of property," cannot be per- mitted to live. The millionaires arc really the dan- gerous class of society. They are the Individualists> and will stop at nothing to dynamite any portion of society that will prevent their absorbtion and control of all other men and the fruits of their labor. I shall watch closely all movements of the concentrated Stock Exchange. Trade balances are getting closer and closer every year, and the brokers, money deal- ers and traders, must turn more and more on the home market. They can get at you by changing the National and State laws easily enough; but I hope we will be able to spread the Nationalist movement fast enough by private effort to make that impossible. There is much that I might add to this letter but it is already too long for you to read. I suppose it would be polite for me to say that I regret the misfor- tune of your wife's father, who was caught short last week in Wall street and made a bad failure, from which he will never recover. But I must be true to my own sense of justice and say that I am not sorry. He comes into our class also and will make a violent reformer, who will want to kill some poor, unfortu- nate, rich man; just as though the rich were to blame for the system. All must come to me and be sub- merged in my sphere I The high officials, the bankev, inventor, scientist, artist, philosopher, poet, innocence, beauty, the railroad king, minister, heroes of war; all must come to the inevitable slum of poverty. Social disparity is King and absolute. I, like the grave, welcome them all and begin to breed the demon of discontent in their breasts. Of course, it is too late for them, for other powerful money kings step into their abandoned places; but it is all I have to work on. The army is growing faster and faster and soon 'lit' §0Si 238 "THE BROTHER. ■;■; I 'it 1 m a-r will include all but the goWen few. Please let me hear from you occasionally, and if you will send your Nationalist paper to my address at Regan's Saloon I will be obliged. Enclosed find tin type of my not over hand.-iome self, and a Centen- nial medal for little Jim. Your friend, "The Brother." P, S. — Here is an extract from a letter by Senator Ingalls. It was published the year after you left New York, and shows you the brazen, public acknowledge- menc of open political crime by even honorable, or rather, honored Senators: "With the possible exception of the two terms of Washington there has not been an absolutely fair, free and impartial expression of the deliberate will of the people in any Presidential election since the founda- tion of the Government. I doubt if there ever will be. Patronage will allure the ambitious, force will coerce , the timid, demagogicm will gull the credulou:=. fraud will rob the weak, money will buy the mercenary. The purification of politic -i is an irredescent dream. Government is force. Politics is a battle for suprem- acy. Parties are the armies. The decalogue and the golden rule have no place in a political campaign. The object is succes. To defeat the antagonist and expel the party in power is the purpose. The repub- licans and democrats are as irreconcilably opposed to each other as were Grant and Lee in the Wilderness. They use ballots instead of guns, but the struggle is an unrelenting ind desperate one, and the result sought for the same. In war it is lawful to deceive the adversary, to hire Hessians, to purchase mercenaries, to mutil?te, to kill, to destroy. The commander who lost a battle through the activity of his moral nature would be the derision and jest of history. This cant about corruption in politics is extremely fatiguing." wi. ''*»i«i?ftttff«!;*»Saa-S^.^i^S-i*S>ii*iS&: "THE BROTHER. 239 n few. nally, and if my address nclosed find id a Centen- trother." by Senator you left New cknowledge- onorable, or vo terms of tely fair, free e will of the the founda- ever will be. : will coerce . dulou'!. fraud mercenary, icent dream. for suprem- 5^ue and the 1 campaign, agonist and The repub- >' opposed to Wilderness. struggle is i the result ) deceive the mercenaries, mander who I oral nature '. This cant fatiguing." '"What a painfully interesting letter! Is it true that food is allowed to rot, thrown over the docks and the farmers cheated in this way.'' "'Yes, Victoria; 'The Brotherj' sh me this once when we went to the markets at o"*'-: kin the morning and watched the workings of tkij" system till after lo o'clock. The scene of activity there and the characters engaged in it, was a study. We saw how good food was rendered unfi for use, b.id diseased meat artfully pushed off on to purchasers. We saw the Italian garbage gatherers, the trampsand a thou- sand horrors that the public has no conception of. I saw one cause why the farmer is gro\7ing poorer and poorer every day; swamped with mortgages and par- alysed beyond recovery; and wis.hesto fly to the cities fancying to escape the doom that awaits them. It ^s useless to consider the farmer in the regeneration of society; his intellect is beyond reach; he alone pre- sents the type of the perfect pagar. This class has declined in the march of intelligence. The hard strug- gle to maintain themselves against the social disease that has absorbed their vitals, to which they contri- bute more than any other class to nourish and feed the virus, hr>s obliterated the last vestige of the noble sentiments, of all honor and dignity, they once pos- sessed. The farm hands gsiher around the polls and stand for .sale with an idtutic efTrontery worse than the wretches in the cities; and the proprietors demand the price of their vote, and often requini a team to be sent to bring them to the polls; the expense willingly furnished out of the corruption fund by the sharpers i^: f^ wirtw— ■^M W " * " ' '! "" 240 'THE BROTHER. HA ! I! who run the elections in league with the monopolist robbers. It is not from the purchasable agricultural or city class of voters that any hope can be expected in the reformation of society; these will never accom- plish it, but rather retard and give the greatest trouble and danger in any change that may, by force of cir- cumstances, be compelled. It is rather from the class who still maintain themselves respectably and feel the insecurity of their position. For no man is secure in his fortune, or sure that his so carefully trained and educated son, will not become a homeless tramp, or that his sweet and tender daughter may not compul- sorily become the companion of the vilest, and be rapidly hurried along with the giant crowd on the highway of crime and suicide. It is from those merchants and manufacturers who are wiped out by competition with their more wealthy brothers; from scholars and professors of learning; from the few grand clergymen who have displayed a splen- did heroism in throwing off the shackles of orthodox dogma and superstition; from the reading, thinking part of the great industrial army grou 1 to pieces by competition and combinations of monopolists; uti those who are found in ethical so' eties, anti-poverty societies and the gatherings of those vho are discuss- ing the new economy of rent for the mmunity, and the larger theme, the absorbtion of at he forces of production by the nation. The pressui on all below the grade of the millionaire is rapidly closing up the ranks of this, the intellect of the world; and already they stand in mighty array armed with all the forces "THE BROTHER. 241 5 monopolist agricultural I be expected never accom- eatest trouble force of cir- rom the class r and feel the n is secure in trained and ess tramp, or not compul- lest, and be owd on the from those /iped out by y brothers; rning; from ayed a splen- of orthodox ig, thinking to pieces by >olists; i >'.n anti- poverty 1 are discuss- munity, and le forces of on all below 3sing up the and already ill the forces of the nineteenth century against the two great crimes of society; the forced vices and crimes of the impov- erishv^d and hopeless and the greater crime of mon- opoly and millionairism. — Farewell." : . , The pen flew from the historian's hand, a sudden flash and all was dark. A feeling of dizziness came over the senses of the anxious inquirer of the secrets of "The Brother,' who swooned in the arms of Comus. CHAPTER XIX. FETE AT PEACE CITY AND THE PLAY OF HYPOCRITES. Endless crowds of people had filled the streets all day engaf:ed in the pageant. The great halls had echoed to refined music and oratory; the senses were soothed with poetic thought and rythm. Athletic sports had awakened excitement in the young and old; and the immense salon emblazoned with the works of artistic skill was the scene of admiring thousands. Abo^/e all loomed in gigantic proportions and splendor Keramicos' enchanting works of The Spirit of "The Brother ' and the collossal panels of Truth and Justice. The honors had been conferred upon this sublime artist, and the day ended with his marriage tp the beautiful Sappho whose face beamed with the perfection of happiness. Joy seemed to sit on every heart as the charming day closed cloudless, in 3« Wi 24« "THE BROTHER. -H i A. twilight of pure, even tinted sky- Comus, silent and alone, walked the streets after the populace had retired within musing on the mighty event, which his active brain continually contrasted with pictures of the past, where he could find no par- allel with this happy state. His recollections of form- er times brought only painful contrasts. He was sud- denly startled at the sound of his name — the histori- v.n was calling him from a window of the museum. Entering, he was warmly welcomed by the scholar, whose prostration after the wonderful revelations by the spirit of Edward Pureheartand Comus' occupation in the fetes of the last few days had prevented them n eeting. Naturally the conversation turned upon the subject of nineteenth century times and the scenes in which "The Brother" lived, and had portrayed in. his records. The spirit of Edward Pureheart had thrown light upon the causes leading to the establish- ment of Peace colony, an account of which "The Brbther" had given in one of his histories in the vault, stating that it was taken from their newspaper as an account of their fete. Comus' anxious inquiries in regard to that colony were answered by the historian reading the following from "The Brother's" book : Peace Colony, Oregon, May 21, 1892. For the first time in the history of man there was what could be truly said a fete of tlie people in which there was no social distinction, except that arising from emulation of each other's virtue. Independence arising from interdependence rested on every spirit. The bitter spirit of exclusiveness, fear, jealousy and greed, were practically eliminated from the citizens, :inted sky- streets after >n the mighty y contrasted i find no par- lions of form- He was sud- -the histori- the museum, the schoiar, evelations by is' occupation ivented them turned upon nd the scenes portrayed in. jreheart had the establish- which "The s in the vault, spaper as an inquiries in the historian rV'book: y 21, 1892. n there was )ple in which that arising ndependence every spirit, jealousy and the citizens. *THE BROTHER. 243 who, only three short years before, had emerged from the savage state of individualism; who, only three short years before, had left the perlieus of splendor and woe to raise the Washingtonian standard '• to which the wise and honest can repair." Here was the fact, the absolute fact; no carping hypocrite, or bigot, sophistical twister of truth, or selfish intellect, could gainsay the factJaefore us. A look into the restful, joyous eyes of all was sufficient to speak the bliss of an anti-poverty social system; even the hard features of the elders, that had been set in disagree- FRTE AT PEACE CITY, able lines by a life struggle between the upper and lower millstone of monopoly and poverty, now, under the happy influence of the abolition of want and the joy of peace, relaxed into expressions that tended towards the primitive form in which God had made man after his own image, and were pleasant to view. "It is our own. It is our own," was written on every face and animated every heart. No king, no emperor, no tyrants, no ecclesiastical bigotry, no monopoly, greed, misery, poverty, no social disease, no tramp, no drunkenness, no prisons or lawyers; all f, '^1 \'*:':'1%i^fiyf:^:W^'. 244 "THE BROTHER." 11. it:" were nch; every man, woman and child owned the city and the wealth of the country. None begged for their share; nor used the abundance that came to each. The mighty surplus brought greater comfort, greater elegance, better libraries, greater arts, better morals and purer religion. Here they were a happy, happy people. They came from all parts by the steam and electric roads, where kind hearts welcom- ed them to the feast of joy, that was the offspring of their material and spiritual abundance. They came in carriages, on horses, on foot, filling the shaded porches and comfortable seats along the line of the procession. The various divisions of the industrial army formed at points right and left of the line and wheeled into their places with perfect order and pre- cision. The children formed at the nearest points and headed the procession: the little darlings came on with a swing like soldiers, first the seven year old girls, then the boys dressed in silk tights and waists that displayed the form and their graceful motions. They wore no caps; their hair was cut close, which gave a neat appearance to the head, neck and shoulders. Next to these, the youths were graded, according to age, up to the fully grown, the costume changing from the children's tights gradually into the silken trousers of the ancient Persians, with the addi- tion of a very broad, embroidered Mexican strip, that hung from the waist to the ankles of the young ladies giving somewhat the general appearance of a skirt. The costumes of the men athletes were pretty tight to the form, with a jacket and short skirt that kept the general appearance of the human form, similar to the ancient Greek military costume. The platoons were massed in color so that one part of the mass would relieve the other by harmony of contrast; thus avoiding confusion of effect, and maintaining the whole procession in a simple, broad If. "THE BROTHER. 245 \ owned the Jone begged that came to ater comfort, ;r arts, better 'ere a happy, 3arts by the arts welcon.'- offspring of They came the shaded : line of the he industrial ;he line and ier and pre- sarest points arlings came ven year old i and waists :ful motions, close, which d, neck and ere graded, the costume jally into the ith the addi- an strip, that young ladies e of a skirt, retty tight to lat kept the imilar to the so that one by harmony ' effect, and mple, broad effect of color, that charmed the eye by its judicious combination and great simplicity, as each wave of color came on blending indistinctly in the moving mass. It would be impossible to particularize the beauty and charm of individuals in this procession, whether of the young, the youths, the young men and women, or the older liien and matrons. The beauty and charm of individual appearance, like the beauty and charm of individual life, was absorbed in the mass of effect of color, beauty and happiness, to which_ each contributed a noble part; every movement was like the rythmic beat of human life, every face shone with the peace and joy born of comfort, health and the spirit of justice to one another. The song of the children grew fainter and fainter, as distance carried the sounds from thousands of litthe throats towards the central amusement park, and the cadence of the new national hymn, "We are the J'eople," was lost to the ear as the clatter of thousands of hoofs came by proudly prancing and chafing under the restraining reins of graceful riders, who were plainly masters of their steeds. The female athletes were not a whit inferior to the men in the equestrian display; the line and angle of their bodies gave them the samt direct power in the saddle: their costume, which was similar to the young women athletes on ^oot, enabled them to sit on their horses like the men and the broad Mexican strip, on the outside, looked like trousers combined with a divided skirt of folded silk*. The rein hand was held upward so as to give more ease and power in management, the whip hand hung gracefully down back of the thigh; the head and neck were kept firmly on a line with the body and the feet hung loosely without stirrups. In this posi- tion the riders, men and women, in all the beauty of their costumes, rose and fell with the motion of the horses as though one with the steeds they rode. I*,- (*«■ !*?' 246 "THE BROTHER. ffe t: § The performing horses were massed in the rear of the cavalcade, and were inspirited by one another as well as by their riders and kept up a variety of plung- ing, pawing, stepping, pacing and waltzing, that was not only exciting but lively in the extreme. The human mind has a strange combination of tastes to satisfy, in which the humorous and grotesque ap- pear to be indispensable. The perfections of classic beauty, the animation of graceful life, the intellectual splendors, for some reason, naturally require a count- erbalance of what is known as fun and humor, which, in this glorious pageant, rivalling the most elegant efforts of ancient Greece, was not wanting; for the clowns were not confined to the boys and young men, the girls also added many comicalities to the outskirts of the pageant as it passed, that gave the delight of amusement to the classic beauty of the civic parade. It was a pitiful sight, but not without an intense de- gree of absurdity, to see the ccniical sport these funny young people made of a poor tramp who had stood alone on the line of the procession looking as though he had escaped from another world. This off- spring of the monopoly civilization had crept across the'lines of a new era, in which our young people had lived long enough to see the absurdity of ^is exist- ence, and the poor, cheeky tramp, during that happy day in Peace City, was obliged to bear thd burden of amusing ridicule, for the sins of the savage civiliza- tion of which he is the chief ornament and product. Amon^the many amusements that followed the civic procession and festivities of yesterday, we must not omit to mention Edward Pureheart's play of" The Hypocrites" at the Central Theatre, which lacked not for talent or sufficient support. For there was no anxiety on the part of the manager about his rent, salaries and expenses. These all belonged to the people, were performed by the people, for the benefit "THE BROTHER. 247 the rear of another as ty of plung- g, that was e. tion of tastes otesque ap- ns of classic intellectual lire a count- jmor, which, lost elegant ing; for the young men, the outskirts e delight of ivic parade. intense de- sport these ip who had looking as d. This off- :rept across ', people had )f ^ts exist- 1 that happy i burden of ige civiliza- i product, allowed the y, we must >lay of" The h lacked not 2re was no Jt his rent, iged to the r the benefit of the people, who pocketed their own profits in pleasure and enjoyment. Only in a community such as this, where hypocrasy is no longer a requirement of civilized life, could such intense appreciation be formed of the subject of the play. To the next gen- eration of Peace Community there would perhaps not be the same degree of sadness mixed in the fun of the play; because ail the present inhabitants of the Com- munity were born and bred in hypocrisy, and their emancipation from it was not free from painful recol- lections of the thralldom of its slavery. The author has certainly equalled, if not surpassed, the great Moliere in keen perception of the absurdi- ties of this species of vice. It must be admitted, how- ever, that Moliere wrote under greater difficulties and for audiences of hypocrites incapable of appreciating the refinements in Purehearts play. A thorough, marked and deliberate scoundrel, like "Tartuffe," only could reach them. Here the fortunate author enjoyed an audience that recognized themselves in the characters of the play, as they represented some place or other of the old social state. The customary, old hackneyed treatment of the hypocrite, by taking some unfortunate teacher of piety for a character, was substituted by the treatment of all characters so as to show hypocrisy in every shade of social life, as well as the necessity for its existence under the monopoly system of society. Pureheart has so managed the situation and the language of his characters as to bring out some marked peculiarity in each, to show it effectively. We had the respectable lady whose attempt to im- press her acquaintances with the idea that she was more wealthy, witty and accomplished than she act- ually was. Even her husband was deceived and hum- bugged, as he, in turn, deceived the partner, of his bosom by a thousand arts arising from his conceited : world, or to hold your place when you get there." Mr. Moneygetter, Mrs. Moneygetter and their daughter, Mis.s Moneygetter, weic all operating the public, friends, lovers and soci«ty with the sole object of getting money. Kvcry movement, every thought, every expression, was in this direction. Re- ligious duty WiS practiced public!) to secun public confidence in their purity of character, by which they, in some way or other, could get at their friends' purses by the dignified father selling them stocks, or becom- ing custodian of th ir securities. Love had in it no other motive than the possession of money. Art and literature were cultivated as an ornament to divert at- 3- ft i 350 •TIIK BROTHER. (it. i V tention from the mercenary object of inonev-jjetting, and to gloss over the hollowness of their lives. The upper thought of the Moncygetter family was not art- fully concealed in their tastes; for elegance of attire, rich interiors and sensuous inclination was visible in all their paintings and artistic decorations The artists finding their only means of subsistence in producing elaborate luxuries, to gratify the spirit of an age in which comfort is only attainable by successful money getting, every thought, feeling and action must by force contribute to it. For this reason alone has the ideal gone out of art, sorrowfully departing to the shades of inferno where her pain of punishment arises from the sorrows of regret that her votaries are forced to purchase bread by the prostitution of art to suit the insensible soul of the money-getter. To fully appreciate the remarkable merits of this play it is necessary to witness its performance by the fine talent developed so recently in Peace County. The production of this drama gives evidence that the • decay into which the dramatic art had fallen during the Nineteenth Century is attributable only to the ab- sorbtion of every worthy quality in man by the vices of moneyg-etting; and that the art immediately re- vives under proper influences where money- getting no longer exists, and the mind acquires again its nat- ural condition by the relaxation of the nerves from the strain of a desperate, competitive, social life. It is unnecessary to mention the fact of the redevel- opment of man's better nature under our social state, in this land of peace; allusion to self-evident condi- tions is superfluous. The only interest attaching to even an observation that had reference to our free- dom from the horrors of the great world around us. would come from the recollection of the social horrors in which this generation was born and nurtured, and from which by the efforts of good men who gathered ,V!I ''A ;1 ■'■i 1 "■'/!■:.■.. v^ .■;'V¥<*;>"'"''| ■r.y;',«".4^;*£i": -71'; ijif* 1 'THK BROTHKR. 25' (V-getting, res. The as not art- of attire, visible in rhe artists producing an age in sful money I must by c has the ig to the lent arises are forced irt to suit ts of" this nee by the e County. :e that the en during to the ab- the vices liately re- ;y- getting lin its nat- rves from 1 life. le redevel- ocial state, ent condi- :aching to our free- around us, :ial horrors tured, and > gathered the wisdom of the good of all times and by its analy- sis found the cause of social disease and a remedy, by which the few thousands of inhabitants of Peace County are the first of all the earth to emancipate themselves; horrors which have been so instructively and amusingly represented by the young author in this m;isterpiece. We have avoided mentioning that side oT the play which exhibits the degraded victims of the successful money-getting few and their worshipping friends. The sickening records of this side of life 've know too well and can only excuse its presence in the play be- cause it represents the awful results to society in money-getting communities. It may be said that the production of this play in our day, is a fortunate cir- cumstance; for no future generation of this Communi- ty, under our changed conditions, can possibly pro- duce from history a drama in which the characters could be so truthfully drawn c these living, breath- ing, morally destitute beings, who. one and all, come under the general title: "The Hypocrites." "Ha, ha, ha! "laughed Comus. "Ha, ha, ha J The arts f)f deception ! Very good; ha, ha, ha ! I can tell you some more of these arts, ha, ha. ha ! in addition to the rottenness of their social system. The moral, religious, artistic, literary, political, industrial and commercial prostition in their happy land of the free to rob as much as you could. The merchant, god of thieving and lying, as Mercury was called, had, with his gold, purchased the virtue of science to teach the art ot selling — the art of selling, mind you; not the art of buying, but the art of selling — to enable the merchant to be a successful seller. The art was based !-■■■• 1^ "THE BROTHER." on, How to read character. Now, when the buyer came in, the seller proceeded to read his character ■■ from certain rules of physiognomy to seeifhewa.s hard ind close, and to sell him accordingly; if he was a good, open, honest, frank sort of a man, or a trusting female, easily deceived, the seller, by reading his or her character, could judge how much more he could charge above the price he sold to the close, stingy buyer; and thus cheat to that extent; get rich off these stolen profits, live in splendor, be honored as a smart, successful business man, and perhaps become the head of the nation. From top to bottom they were a nation of peddlars. It did not matter whether they peddled railroads, stocks or bonds, promissary notes, grain, stocks, piety, science, or in the arts of adulter- -ation, the greatest of all the industrial arts, they were only peddlars, cheating, lying and robbing each other. The whol? of society was a lie, every action and thought was pretense and falsehood; and under their system it could be no other way. I could not look in the face of any man, woman, or child, but I saw in every movement to some degree the rotten- ness of the social carcass. Oh ! it was sickening! Bellamy's word 'insane' oniy expressed it; and Pure- heart has .struck it rich in 'The Play of the Hypo- crites.' — Insane hypocrites ! " -.iM^ti^-^^l - -• V.-*i^*- the buyer i character le was hard f he was a r a trusting ing his or ; he could lose, stingy ch off these as a smart, ecome the they were hether they sary notes, of adulter- 1, they were bbin'g each :very action and under [ could not hild, but I the rotten- sickening ! :; and Pure- the Hypo- CHaPTER XX. THE PRIESTS. "Men may differ in tastes and likings, but their in- tellects cannot differ in judgement except through superstition or error. As science advances diversity of opinion die.s away and unity of knowledge takes place." — Patrick Edward Dove. "Now Comus, if you are not tired of my importu- nate inquiries, I would like to refer you to a chapter by 'The Brother,' in his seventh book, in reference to the Priests." "My dear sir, I ? ;r. never tired and will gladly listen to anything you have to say about the records of the vault, for I am not only pleased with the effect they have had on your age and civilization, but also with your interest in obtaining a knowledge of the past." "Thanks Contus. Here is the chapter, I will |ead it; One of the great causes of the decline of civiliza- tion was the Priests. Indeed, I may say that in all civilizations the Priests have been one of the greatest obstacles to its advancement; and have been jointly with the monopolists the two curses that have blight- ed every hope for the liberation of the body and sou! of man. these two, parties absorbed all the product of the working part of the population. 254 •THE BROTHER." 1*,:^- i^* .>'•" t ■!--*'->-*i. The process of the mrnopoUsts in getting possess- ion of the land on 'hich the people lived, and of all the means of production; such as, the capital in ma- chines and appliances for trade and the natural in- crease cr improven.ent in the things the people pro- duced, was assisted by the Priests, who taught obedience to the oppressed. This was accomplished by commencing with the very young child and train- ing Its mind to l^e'ieve in superstitions, so that when it became an adult and able to produce, the superstitions fastened on its mind rendered ea.sy the process of tak- ing away from it all that it produced, leaving only enough to support life in the most brutal and degraded form until the whole mass of the people became coarse and low, farther and farther removed from the intel- lectual standard, showing in their faces ihe original type of the brute monkey and n-any of the lower ani- mals. It may seem strange, indeed, almost impossi- ble, to a future race of people that such things could be. borne explanation of the way these things were done may have an influence in rendering such crimes against humanity comprehensible. It must be said in the first place, that the profession of the Priests. I. e., the ground-work of their teachings, was highly commendrblc. Those to whom I particularly refer who assisted so powerfully to destroy this race of men and their civilization, were organized into a fra- ternity to teach the words of Chrjsc. a Jew who livod two thousand years before our time whose teachings were so noble and just to all. that they were called Ood-hke. His bottom principle in the humanitarian pnilosophy he taught, was: "Love to all." And the guide to his practice was: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.". This teaching com- mended itself to every mind, because of its antithesis to cruelty and injustice, which every being naturally feels— the avoidance of harm to ourselves being the ^,*fc'-,'^:i ;5-.,-'r'.^7-."=--'!*?*"i'.^" '■ -'h ^\-^'^i^hii'yis,^'^v^-''/^fv^^^ iM :J^ J. IP i4JU-.JJ,J tting possess- d, and of all pital in ma- ; natural in- ' people pro- who taught accomplished Id and train- } that when it ; superstitions rocess of tak- leaving only md degraded ecame coarse m the intel- ihe original rie lower ani- nost impossi- things could, e things were J such crimes lust be said, r the Priests, >, was highly cularly refer. this race of sd into a fra- :w who lived ise teachings were called humanitarian 1." And the >thers as you eaching corn- its antithesis ing naturally ves being the •THE BROTHER. 255 first natural imprecsion of happiness and good; doing as you would be done by suggested the idea that no one who practiced this philosophy would take that which belonged to another, or which by right was his. This philosophy was very beautiful and attractive to the people, commending itself to both the intelligent and the ignorant; so that it was hard to combat the corruptions into which it had fallen, having so great a hold on the minds of the people who were trained in it. Nothing the human mind could conceive w >uld have been so effective to enslave the people, Fo.- this exalted teaching of Christ was made the means of es- tablishing the most degraded superstitions to enchain the minds of men generation after generation for two thousand years; first getting control of the ignorant So that the monopolists could rob them, the Priests sharing in the plunder; and then to even get control of the monopolists themselves through their families and dependents, by infinite arts, of which they were master, and which they handled with the greatest pre- cision without mercy, through their compact and sworn organization which extended over all the world having its centre in a city called Rome, situated in Italy, one of the peninsulas on the south of Europe. In this gieat organization of Priests, so widely ex- tended, there were many minor organizations or fra- ternities, called by different names but all subject to one control. The most skillful, cunning and danger- ous, was one called the Jesuits, a fraternity the mem- bers of which trained themselves to the greatest possible self-abnegation, which they exemplified by performing the most abasing acts of humil'ty toward each other. Individually, they considered themselves nothing, their identity being absorbed in the common purpose of their order; so that they would under the absolute mandates of their General go to any part of the world, however dangerous, and execute any '■SS. m iS^ 'THE BROTHER." V- e^' orders given them, even to the sacrifice of their own or the lives of others, should it suit their purposes for the achievement of the object they had in view, viz.: ' to obtain control of th« education and the minds of the people ov«r the whole earth, and to obtain all the wealth of the world by influencing the minds of the rich people or their descendants to give or bequeath them their riches, always under the pretense of con- tributing it to holy purposes. This society chased the wealthy famirics age after age with such deadly purpose and secrecy that they were enabled to add mai.y of the great fortunes of the monopolists to the eternal fleeeings of the poor, which also were obtaineii by the same unerring skill through the control of the people by keeping them in benighted ignorance. Their principal newspaper, the "Civita CatholicH," published in Rome, openly pro- claimed that "the people did not need knowledge and enlightenment; All they needed in this life was 'bread and the Catechism.'" The Catechism was a book contaming the rules of their dogma or creed. This fraternity of the Jesuits became feared and hated by the monopolists of Europe, the nobles or titled persons who controlled the land and the gov- ernment. For these nobles continually felt the power and encroachment of this priestly order upon them. So that the Jesuits were banished from .=5everal coun- tries, coming to America as a refuge which offered a grand field for their operations. Of course they only became more secret in the countries from which they were banished, concealing themselves under the guise of citizens and working their way into the ofifices of the governments, into the schools, colleges and uni- versities, whereth-v cunningly directed the studies, education, and worked privately through others of the order to control the minds of the youth and women with the object of regaining their power and ':i^ MIMifBif^^ "THE BROTHER." 257 ; of their own r purposes for in view, viz.: the minds of obtain all the minds of the : or bequeath :tense of con- ies age after recy that they t fortunes of of the pobr, tnerring skill L'ping them in ewapaper, the openly pro- no wledge and fe was 'bread was a book reed. e feared and he nobles or -nd the gov- felt the power upon them, several coun- lich offered a rse they only m which they nder the guise the offices of :ges and uni- d the studies, ugh others of u* youth and ;ir power and vvcalth. One of the strongest methods used was to secretly obtain knowledge of the private affairs of those rnost hostile to them, and by the use of their great wealth and secret arts managed to cripple and destroy their enemy's fortune or reputation, sparing no means however wicked (and against the teachings of Christ, whom they held aloft with such pomp as their tnodel) to ruin their victim, using him as an ex- ample of terror to the rest of their enemies and the people of the awful fate to be expected by anyone, however strong and great, who oppo.sed their projects. This was easily managed by them, for a part of their supeistition was that their devotees must come regu- larly and confess their siris into the Priest's ear, who. by their superior training and skill, could draw from the ignorant men and weak wovner? such facts as they needed to work the ruin of those whose power or wealth they coveted and secure it for themselves. With the rapid rise of the monopoU.sts in the United States came the banished Jesuits in great numbers. They established themselves in this fair land and set inJusfriously to work in their new home, where the professed liberty of the country gave them unre- strictei frj;ilom to practice their art upon the people. They selected the richest valleys and most pros- perous populations for thd establishment of schools and colleges for the training of the young men and boys. ■ In addition to these were Orders of holy wom- en which had peculiar rites and ceremonies. These presented themselves always with modest mein and down cast eyes, wearing plain habits, with a cross suspended to their waisf. by a cord. The most beau^ tiful- and attractive of these women were put forward aS' principals in the educational work of schools for young ladies, to whom they ta-^iit French, poetry, needle work, painting, the drama, religious senti- ment; and to admire holy objects — fetiches; such as, 33 2<8 'THE aROTMEft.' £- holy water, crucifixes, relics of Saints, bone-, splinters of crosses, and old rags of martyrs. These schools were systeois or plans of bpw not to educate; to give only early draining of the mind to supestition to se- cure them in a meek, obedient state, so that the Priests could roD them through life as well as their offspring after them So great was the fear of enlightenment intcrfermg with this work of the Priests on these young minds that they adopted what was called a Calender, which gave the names of all books written by wise and good men that in any way tended to throw the light of intelligence on the doings of the Priests or their plundering Order. These books the devotees were forbidden to read. And wherever they could. the publication of them was prevented or the text altered, particularly in historical accounts that were unfavorable to them or recorded their wickedness. . A notable American Priest, one McGlynn, who ad- - vocated the public school system in preference to the Priest school system, was dreadfully persecuted. Every effort was made to destroy him. The excommunica- tion and curse of t e head pontiff at Rome was put upon him to influence the faithful, ignorant followers of this Church against this noble, independent man. The nations under priestcraft have always been the most backw.ird in intelligfnce and social improve- ments. Science and learning with them have sicken- ed and died. Where priestly influence has had its greatest opportunit> and development, as it had in Europe from the Third to the Eighteenth centuries, the people have sunk to the level of brutes; « iiile the governmg class, priests and nobles, exhibited in their plans and schemes to hold these degraded wretches in subjection, the most heartless vices of unqualified meanness. Millionairism requires the marshalling of the mul- titude of villains, whom it creates into a licentious ; .■•■.|--v^v ■■'„ V,'' \v'-':-l:^W •'■'-':>• •■>. i K^^eSjf Vfe^Mn&i-, ^^vvjijji; I^JHflBHIK .y JH I Ijl] ij i m j i jm- l lj .,, 11 1., ic^, splinters esc schools ite; to give tion to se- Lt the Priests ir offspring lightenment ;s on these as called a oks written Jed to throw the Priests the devotees they could. or the text I that were kedness. ■ nn, who ad- rence to the :uted. Every communica- ne was put nt followers dent man. lys been the al improve- have sicken- has had its ,s it had in ;h centuries, ?s; Hl\ile the lited in their ed wretches f unqualified of the mul- a licentious .'W'lf^'?-'! '■'1 'THK BROTHER. 259 army, for its support It requires the Pinkerton spy system for protection; the control of legislatures and the making of laws. It requires the martyrdom of the snjall element who would reform society to maintain its security, and in their persecution to death it meets the resistance of dynamite, that closes up the ranks of millionaires, and results in the obliteration of the last vestige of human reform by the howling, depend- ent mob. It brings struggles for supremacy among themselves; increase of vicious natures of their off- spring by corrupt mothers, with an increasing velocity towards the savage state. This is but a repetition of the history of the brutalizing effect of the appalling despotisms that have been developed by the debasing superstitions of ecclesiasticism: one. the control of the masses through ignorance and MujHMstitlim so as to rob them; the other, the vontrol of thr niasses through monopoK despotism for ibe same purpose. The methods are somewhat diflTpn'iit but the effects ar« the same. Both find their only security in debas- ing and corrupting humanity and end in the oblitera- tton of civilized life. So successful have the Priests and adherents been in preventing this seething, vile mass of superstitious beings from being penetrated by the brilliant splen- dors of science, developed' in our era. by obstructing education in every way that does not support their dogmas, or that would detract the attention of the superstitious slaves from the mystir chains of their thralldom, that we have now reached the closing years of a century of invention and scientific discovery that has enabled man to speak by telegraph around the earth in a few minutes and to encircle by railroad and steamboat its vast oceans and continents m seventy-four days; and still whole nations and parts of nations exist in the same ignorance and degrada- tion they possessed during the dark ages of Priestly i6o 'THE HKOTHER," rule. It is from these sections of the earth that the brutahzed slaves are sent in myriads to compete with American workmen, as the people are callf.-d who work. It is this degraded and priest-ridden horde . whose entrance into the country is secretly assisted by the a^rents of the monopolists and their subservi- ent officials at Washington and the sea ports. It is these superstitious wretches of alien race and langu- age who are marshalled in vast armies with the south- ern negroes and the demoralized tramps of the north. ,: at this unhappy moment while I am writing these records for the Vault, that are under the monopoly chiefs and the priests, who control them through ^ their superstitions, rapidly obliterating every vestige , i pf the sublime work of the nineteenth century scientists. • Note -The author has seen these aliens in their native countries living in a manner unfit for descrip- tion in these pages, where they had the benefit, or misfortune rather, of priestly control and education for many centuries. In the fields old ;,k,i and women were harnessed together dragging heavy harrow uvt-r the ground that were unfit for a horse. The product of this degi-ading labor was all absorbed by the nobles and the priests. In the city of Rome under Pope Fii- f ^' 5- were almost impassible for human acts being performed publicly without shann while the fat Priests, the sole governors, roiled by in their equipages clad in purple, scarlet and lace, preceded by cavalry with drawn sabres to clear the way for these well fed and wined holy men bv frequently cutting down some of the degraded r.'.bble. At this p(Tif)d the French army, which yas station- ed in Rome to protect^ the Pope from the growing discontent of the oeople. in order ta care for the health of tUeii Miijulers, forced some sanitary rejyula ',,'-<•■• (w-T^i.-s'W;; rw^rfj^ • • x'y^f^' ■ r '■'''■* ';■ ',, ' ■■'■ ■ J:r^-. '. r;v:.i%,-\*. ,\-'-: •;''''>; ' -^ ■•.'*''•'■- ^ :.:irs'; ^- .'^-'■^K-.: .'*:- ''< ',»? •-' ■ .•,-..:.^^ \-y^:.. ■^i:'-vHiV •.'■■' -irf,. ..-t-^F;, ;, •^!.*',S':;v-',;yii*^-.s;y>t;;:A. ■ !i,.i;4?sJl,^ '•■•;- ':V. i-->.' ^k ■«a i p i j i i mr^rmm* iB^.i5 Wftss^vu 1- ly fc-'" ■r.frr )%v.4rcis the self,-" of the vs. and child- stition ! ha, vay. CHAPTER XXI. . ; KERAMICQS* STORY OF THK DESTRUCTION. LXPULSIOV t)F COMUS. * " Oh ! Keramicos. here comen Comus ! " Sappho flew to meet him with such graceful motion and aban- donment of joy in her expression that she looked like a fi{{ure cut from one of Keramicos' pictures. " Where have you been so long? I have not seen your merry face since > ou kissed me at my wed/^ing. I began to think that you had left us altogether." "No, no, my lovely fair one; it would have been in- trusion your honeymoon to annoy you by my pres- ence. Keramicos would surely have been jealous to allow me a moment c( your company. So, for >our happiness. I have suffered the martyrdom of absence from you both." " You are both kind and cruel. Comus. But we will yield to the joy of your generous visit. And now be seated aiJ tell how you have been amusing yourself during the interval. " *• There is no language known to me by which I could describe the pleasure and satisfaction I feel in all I .see in this charming city and country; each new development fills me with wonder, leaving nothing to , # f . \4 I M IMAGE EVALUi TEST TARGET ( !.0 I.I ^ IIIIM ^ m ^ m ^ tig 1.25 1.4 ^ 6" — cry (^ >• y^^^ o^. Photographic Sciences Corporation L ' ^nf i i ftm H— *B>''«—>»- /lAGE EVALUATION EST TARGET (MT-3) !.0 I.I 1.25 12.2 2.0 1.8 1.4 111.6 «/< #^■ f/j y. \ ciences rporation .^ 23 WEST MAiN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 r^ ffifiy^wi ' .s,- —WSK CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / !nst wrm^mi^ MH te CiHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. roreproductions / institut camdien de microreproductions historiquas 1t64 "THE BROTHER." t : ■'v.f.;>!*. " ,'.' be desired. The more I learn of the founder of your '^J:-f-->y. civilization and the records of his wonderful Vault, the .':!"^''i'''"«= from New , , ^ ., Zealand. To confess to you. I was one of the parties • ^ present, condemned in the absence of all civilization o hve w,th the savages, escaping the catastrophe by taking refuge in the miraculously saved Vault." " Can you not write an account of the destruction ? - ••Yes. I could." replied Kcramicos. ..but I would rather not have it known that it came from me until after my death." "Should I father the account and deceive the his- torian, will you write it.'" "In that case, I will." The friends separated. In a few days Comus re- turned and received the following story of the destruction. Account of the Destruction. By Keramicos. We have already reached the perils that are en- gendered by sudden wealth: -a jeunesse doree'' and a universal appetite for excitement and for sensual enjoyments, with a dark background where the mass of th'^^M'^L '•"T.^"' °^ ^^'•«''^^'" '- — ^ their ThaTe of the gold that lies on the tables of the game market In a calm review of history, have we not reason to ask ourselves, what of this second century.' Shall our ch.ldren-s children see another centennial com- memoration of Washington and the Constitution.' I think every thoughtful man must pronounce such a consummation improbable in the extreme. Bishop A. C. Coxe. Every civiliaation that has been overwhelmed by ^.- tte ■ftfVsS^'sjiSiJf*;! •r- 'TKF, BROTMBR. 36; i to be told er, just ten from New the parties civilization strophe by lUlt." struction?" t I would me until e the his- Comus re- 3ry of the micos. It are en- loree" and or sensual ; the mass- heir share me market, reason to ry? Shall mial com- :itution? I nee such a oxe. helmed by barbarians has really perished from internal decay. Progress and Poverty, P. 348. What has destroyed all previous civilizations has been the con iitions produced by the growth of civil- ization itself. — Ibid, P. 349. From a point of heavily wooded land two men looked out upon a broad and beautiful bay into which led large rivers. The shores in view were covered by dense, rich foliage that extended back in the country and over the hills as far,as the eye could reach. Here and there, were worn spots where the marks of fires were seen, around which were shells, fish bones and the remains of ,vild animals, indicating the habits of savage life. The surface of the bay was enlivened by a great number of savage looking men who were eag- erly engaged in fishing, and the waters gave evidence of the presence of many of the larger species of mar- ine animals that darted and cut the surface with their sharp' and powerful fins. Above, the air was alive with myriads of gulls and fishing birds of every de- scription, that circled a'oft in graceful lines, or skim- med the surface of the waves, or darted beneath the waters for unsuspecting prey. The morning sky was filled with light grayish, broken clouds, to which the late spring sun gave a complete edging of silver that delicately relieved against the light blue, and faintly shadowed here and there the waters of the broad bay. A small island lay ;o the right, on which were ruins of a monster granite pedestal that recorded the exist- ence of a former civilization, and the dense woods around were musical with sweet voiced song birds. Evidently the scene was new to these observers, for they looked with strange wonderment around the shores, upon the bay, towards the hills and woods be- yond, as though trying to trace the lines that had once been familiar to them; and the life of nature so 268 •THE BROTHER." 4 - r^' >' ' abundantly rich on land, sea, and in the air. was not to them without its joy and pleasure Suddenly, they were stjrrounded by a strong band of men, armed with spears and bow-guns, who darted from the thick bushes with savage yells and wielding their arms in a threatening manner; but of whom the two men, who seemed strangers to the place, display- ed no sense of fear; for their adversaries, who threat- aned them with spears uplifted to strike, remained in the striking attitude, without moving for a long time ■■:Hv. and it was apparent that they had become paralyzed by some mysterious power possessed by the two strangers, which not only astonished the savages but struck them with fear; so that they begged in jyood plain English for mercy and promised to desit:t Vom their aggressive conduct if they were freed from this magic spell. At length the two strangers addressed the war-like band in their own language inquiring for their head man or chief, to which they sullenly replied that, their chief was at his fortress farther in the forest, and that the strangers would be escorted to him; an arrangen.'enl to which they readily assented and authoratively bade the band of men to walk in front and proceed to their chief. At a short" distance they emerged from the dense woods of at least fifty years growth and entered a part of the country where the trees were arranged in squares, with straight passages between covered with short, poor grass and weeds. The passages seemed to be of great length, for the eye could not distinguish their termination in the small perspective between the square blocks of heavy tree growth. These avenues, so like streets cut out from primitive nature, were in- tersected by similar ones with open vistas that reveal- ed the moving, glittering waters of the bay. The sight was unusual. Wild nature with avenues so reg- ular as to suggest a city in the perfection of its plan r. was not ;rong band who darted id wielding r whom the ce, display- vho threat- Rmained in long time ■paralyzed ly the two lavages but d in good desih:t 'Tom ^ from this 5 addressed iquiring for ;nly replied her in the escorted to y assented to walk in. the dense entered a rranged in ivered with ■es seemed distinguish )etween the se avenues, •e, were in- that reveal- bay. The lues so reg- of its plan ^•,3!rT'^'??53Kt'&7?S;, "THE BROTHER. 269 and to puzzle the mind in its speculation as to the habits and customs of these savage looking men, who were attired in hairless garments, similar to buckskin and whose accoutrements indicated no knowledge of the arts of civilization whatever. An old man, one of this band of savages, with a more kindly face than the rest, lagged to the rear and indicated by his Jooks that he would be communica- tive, which the strange *s recognized and took advan- tage of by making inquiries about their chief and the character of the country. It was developed that the chief who lived in this region was one of the most powerful in all the country around; his authority ex- tending far up in the directiv n they were going and to the shores that lay on either side of his territory. No information could be had of ships ever coming to the coast; nor could the old man be made to under- stand that a large canoe or boat could be made to go out on the great waves. The absence of ships puz- zled the two strangers greatly and they discussed be- tween themselves many reasons for it without coming to a satisfactory conclusion. The band of men. like savages generally, were not talkative; they walked or marched with tolerable reg- ularity along the straight road betweeu the trees which was pretty well worn into paths, as though very frequently used; many spots cut by the rivulets formed by heavy rains revealed stony roads or streets paved in square blocks, covered by soil not over six or eight inches thick, that explained the strange ap- pearance of the place by its once having been an ex- tensive city. The winds had drifted the dust over its streets, and upon the site of the blocks of houses the forest had rooted and grown, burying under leaves and decayed wood every trj^ce of the handywork of the race that dnce existed here. , The band halted in front of a triangular place I . VfO •THK BROTHER." it - '< V where two avenues diverged that seemed like a huge mound upon which forest trees w re growing The front had been cleared away and was protected by a stockade, which extended over the mound, forming above a strong, difficultly assailable fortress This evidently was the home of the chief, who. being noti- fied by one of his guards, came out. with a curious expression on his cruel grey eye. to see what kind of strange men had been presented to him. whose pow- er was greater than his band of bravest men He stood at the entrance of the stockade without speak- ing a massive, brutal looking man not very tall but^ built heavily about the che-^t. arms and shoul- ders, with light hair, sun burnt complexion, square, heavy jaws, strongly arched forehead, short, thick wed formed nose, and cold. . piercing, greyish blue eyes. He carried in his hand a long hard wood club and a heavy h nee spiked with iron sharp and bright 1 he two strangers did not move or speak, apparently awaiting the irst salutation from this savage chief 1 he band also stood looking at both their chief and the strangers impressed by the singularity of the event and the uncertainty of the result of the inter- view with the men who had awed and controlled their wild natures go successfully. At length silence was broken by the chief demanding -.vhat they wanted, to which the taller of the strangers replied that they wanted only friendly intercourse and intended no harm, informing him also that they lixcd far away irom his dominions, and had no other interest than to view his beautiful country and ir.ake some inquiries about the city that had once existed here. The chief viewed them suspiciously, although thty were unarm- ed, and told them that he could not understand why men should want to interest themselves in things thai wereof no benefit; that he believed they were spie« frdm some other tribe which he did not know, their -X3iifl#i<^ ^-""IfWfllB"" ■Lc 'THK BROTHER. V ike a huge ing. The cted by a d, forming ess. This being noti- a curious hat kind of hose pow- men. He lout speak- ery tall but>- nd shoul- n, square, ort, thick eyish blue wood club nd bright, apparently fage chief. chief and ity of the the inter- olled their ilence was A'anted. to that they tended no far away est than to e inquiries The chief jre unarm- stand why things thai were spies now, their clothing and appearance being different to any people he had ever seen alive; but he knew that such men must exist .somewhere, for there were men cut out of stone, and in metal, that looked just like them lying around in the forest in different places, with the same sort of clothes, that led him to believe that such a race of people lived far down the waters where the great waves wash the beach. The erroneousness of the impression as to their being spies, or having any intention'or desire to injure him in any way, was in- sisted on by the two strangers, who claimed his hos- pitality as two unaimed men seeking only his friend- ship and such information as he could gi\'c, the purpose of which they would explain to him if he ' would give them the opportunity, at length satisfied him sufficiently to ask them o enter his fortress. The two men were greatly surprised upon descend- ing a number of steps and entered an immense hall, 'the roof of which was supported by columns, and lighted by a glass pavement placed over part of the roof, admitting a considerable volume of light to the centre of the hall, that seemed to be mostly occupied by the chief Seating themselves on square cut stones ranged around the interior, the two strangers began to inform the chief further of the object of their visit to which bc' listened attentively, then remaining thoughtful for some moments, he raised his head and ordered one of the strong, coarse women who was standing near to go and bring an old man to him. In a short tune the friendly looking old savage, who had accompanied the band, appeared, when the two strangers were ordered to explain what they wanted to know. The old man informed the chief that he thought the curious things in the Vault near by would, perhaps, be what they wanted, and asked if he would conduct them to the place. The chief gave his assent and ordered a iqtiad of his men to go and protect the 4 i ,^:-^»^-i.-i-^-'^h>... ---A-' I' ■■,.- I.' -- 37* "ThK bkOTHEH." old mah and the two strangers from harm A ahnrt distance westerly brought them to the facade of stone building containing the inscription. "Astor Library." A sloping base of earth and debris lay around the structure, the entire top of which was covered by a mound of earth that formed a perfect roof over a vault-like basement, in which wert* the ren.ains of pieces of sculpture, mostly busts of learned men of various countries and times in the world's history. The old man led the way through the debris to a well cemented vault in the rear that was dry and in good condition. The top was made of stone, cut in many round openings filled with thick glass well ce- mented, that admitted the light and the suns rays, which acco-mted for the phenomena of dryness of the vault and its perfect preservation. A large flat slab of stone that formed the door had been pried rway and broken, so the interior was exposed. Around the walls wire a number of small box-like cases form- ed of a dry hardcemc' that looked as though it were mixed with paper fib.t or some similar imperishable substance. The boxe? or cases had ali been opened by prying away the small slabs, of the same material that had closed the openings. All the cases were fill- ed with books (except two) composed of some mate- rial like paper, but thick and stiff as though it had been made for the purpose of rendering it imperish- al^e. The printing had been done with a pen and ink that had sunk into the material, becoming part of it, and was clear and legible on the pages of the books, although soiled considerably by the savages. These books were all carefully arranged histories of actual times when they were written, and gave clear accounts of the state of affairs in the country at that period, together with the names of those who were prominent in them; and, also, accounts of the causes that led to the events of the times, that ran back into ^■^'^^^F^I^^lJ^'^^-Fi^rf'^- ^'^^'%r:^:n a^ "TUF, hKOTHKR 273 A uhort 1e of stone r Library." iround the :red by a of over a rcfKains of ed men of 's history, lebris to a dry and in )ne, cut in s well cc- sun's rays, ness of the e flat slab iried rway I. Around rases forni- igh it were 1 perishable :n opened e material :s were fiU- ome mate- Ligh it had : imperish- a pen and ing part of jes of the e savages, [listories of gave clear itry at that who were r the causes 1 back into the history of the world for many centuries, showing that the author was not only acquainted with the his- tories anh records of the various civilizations that had existed, but also with the sciences, arts and occult studies, that distinj,uished the profoundly Itarncd of all ages. Inquiries of the old man developed no trace of how these records came there; nor any traditions that would give a clue to their origin or of the people who once existed there. The tew feeble and indistinct statt^mcnts that he did give only showed now soon all traces of a civilization were lost and forgotten in the active struggle of man for existence in the savage state, that necessarily rendered him indifferent to the intellectual interests of civilized life. The t>vo ca.ies in the centre opposite the entrai^ce were filled with black plates, exactly like stereotype plates, but nearly an inch in thickness. The letters were sunken, and had evidently been cast from type in this black material, which was of a carbonace'^UJ nature and as little liable to decay as charcoal. These plate's were paged and numbered, and couUl be read ^ like Uie leaves of a book, a trouble thai was unneces- s.iry. for in each case there was a copy of a book that b;!(i been printeil from the type, on the same ^ihd of paper as the histories in the other cases and appar- ently with the same imperishable ink. I'he book was not large and had evidently been prepared to give a key and explanation for the exist- ence of the histories in the vault and the reason why tlicy were put there. The two strangers had found the key. to the myst- ery of the ruined city, and eagerly proceeded to read it, before more particularly examining the histories of the other casts. The shorter of the two men took the book and began to read aloud, while the tall man stood listening with his eyes cast upon the ground. 35 ■ w> i'.r im 274 ••THE BROTHER. il- The old savage sat upon the broken slab, and the guard stood around the entrance of the vault or re- clined upon the ground, giving curious attention to the account without speaking a word till it was ended. Th2 book open«;d with an account of the reason for building the vault, which had been done with great diflficuity in troubled times, when men were agitated by matters in which learning played no part. The work of the book, the plates and the vault, was done by an aged scientific scholar assisted by a man named Astor who had great quantities of money secreted, which, in that day, could not be used in trade, or be n;ade known for fear it would be taken away by rob- bers or plundering chiefs who ruled the country. The money had been cunningly used by *■! e old scientist, who pretended to be a beggar and out of his mind so that his object escaped detection by his fellows; thus enab'--^ him to leave a record of the times, in the .nope that some other race of men would benefit by it, and so organize their social life as to escape the horrors of the bad system that had brought uy >n the people of his times a carnival ol horror and death. An account was also given of how the cement and paper and ink, were made, so as to render them im- perishable. Another .set of plates was secreted close by which diligent search would discov^er should the set in the vault be lost. This book was thie general account, and referred frequently to the other books for greater detail concerning the various mat- ters affecting society, and the marvelous arts and sciences, of th It time. Men had obtained by study and experiment control of some of the most powerful forces of nature and used them to travel from place to place at great speed, and to carry immense quantities of the things they produced thou^'aiids of miles at a trifling expense. They had taken most valuable things out of the bowels of the earth which were sent 'VMK BROTHER. i75 >, and the ault or re- ittention to was ended. reason for with great e agitated part. The , was done Tian named Y secreted, ade, or be ay by rob- untry. The Id scientist, is mind so Hows; thus. :he times, )u!d benefit escape the lit ujT >x\ the i death, cement and ;r them im- s secreted iv^er should ok was thie ;o the other irioiis mat- is arts and d by study St powerful :)m place to e quantities miles at a st valuable h were sent all over tht country for the use of the inhabitants. They had arrangements for conveying what they wanted to say around the earth in less time than it took to say it; and even the sound cf the voice could be transmitted to great distances. They could rend- er the night as bright as day; and could go up into the air to great heights and down to the bottom of the waters by the aid of machines. They could with art- ificiai eyes, which they had made, view the distant worlds in space and count their movemeuts. They could foretell the weather and the seasons, and make the sun draw pictures of places and things that could be reproduci-d to infinity and sent to everyone to show how these things looked without going to see therti. They had machines by which they could run rdpidly over the great waves of ti:c great .seas and carry thousands of tons. They liad made strange powders with which rocks could be rent, or the great- est works of nature or man. shattered to pieces. In- deed, the wonderful inventions these people had for their use, were too pnany to be described here; but were all inentioned in the histories in the vault, and the way each was made, and copies given of the dif- ferent machines and instrumer.:s with which they were done. After giving a long account to which, the savages listened with brpathless attention, the author began to describe the rea.son why all these thmgs were de- stroyed, by a greedy passion that existed in man himself, a peculiar passion, that haunted every man, woman and child, and kept them in so restless a state that all the benefits they had from such useful machines and appliances, could not be enjoyed; nor did these advantages seem to them of any benefit for good, but rather had the tendency to make this pas- sion stronger and strc >ger. So the more th« passion was gratified the more fierce and absorbing it became; I ''. V '" 376 VHE BROTHER." avv m until the pcop'e no longer ha ' any pcpce, biit became Its victims; the strongest and most cunning took from the rest by artful means, and by force, until they got everything in the world into their possession, and held It with sucn fierce grasp, that the larger part of the people had nothing left; when they, in turn; be- gan to strive, with the desperation of despair, to live by any sacrifice; they sold their virtue, and honor', and goodness, and turned to vices worse than wild beasts to assist them to live. » This wonderful age in material prosperity had been so interesting that the old scholar, who wrote the records of it, said it surpassed all others of which they had any record, and their records extended back many thousands of years; besides having search- ed the earth, and rocks, and sea, for traces of other people, who had lived and founded many civilizations but none had the perfections of the one of which he left the singular record in the vault in this savaee place. ^ The universal speculative idea had. at this time, taken possession of the people through the advantage given by ownership of money to those who had achieved this species of monopoly, which was com- monly called success, had a disastrous effect on the progress of* the industrial arts, rapidly producing their^ decline. It came to be generally believed that "^ laborious training, for any special industrial pursuits, was unnecessary; labor being the occupation of the wage slaves, tainted with meniality and degra- dation. The indispensable familiarity that comes from an intimate relation with handicraft and mechan- ical sciences only to be gained in the work-shop, was distasteful because of the toil involved. The associ- ation with the wage slaves, whose poverty prevented personal and intellectual polish, naturally drove the 'THE BROTHER. m but became \ took from 1 they got. jssion, and jer part of in turn; be- »air, to live, and honor, ; than wild :y had been wrote the 5 of which s extended ing search - ces of other rivilizations which he this savage this time, ; advantage : who had I was coni- fect on the producing y believed 1 industrial occupation and degra- that comes nd mechan- k-shop, was ['he associ- preventcd / drove the possessors of money to take the most agreeable steps to the increase or maintainance of their wealth. So, , by fixing the laws to their advantage, or by putting large sums of money (which they falsely called capi- tal) into an industry, so as tc overpower and prevent smaller capitalists, or, even skillful workmen, with their advantages of experience and knowledge, from outstripping them, or by simply educating their sons in colleges and universities, in the scientific theories of the arts, in order to give the' supposed equivalent knowledge, to compensate for the disagreeable work- shop experience, they finally fully controlled all the skilled industries, operating them according to their imperfect training with a deteriorating effect on the development and progress of skill, and the art be- came subject to a monopoly scramble among those who had the most money; their subjects, the wage slaves, loosing all their craft by want of encourage- ment, the proprietors becoming indifferent to all ex- cept gr^ed and luxury. The unfortunate industries that had so beautifully developed under the efforts of trained and enthusiastic worknen soon shared .the fate of politiral government, fell into decay and were finally lost altogether. 1 h'« few people who got all, did not take it by force at first, but by the aid of a class of nien who spent their lives in studying the arts of cunning; men who formed a distinct class apart from, the rest of the people and cultivated the art of honied speech tp play upon the prejudices, failings, goodness, or weak- ness, of the people, who were busy with other things, and thus get their confidence so as to deceive and plunder them. These cunning men. in order to bet- ter carry on the schemes of bewildering the people, would get up great questions which they would argue up and down the land against each other until they i7* 5, ■ f \ 'THE BKOThER. JiA. r4- '1>'^ got the people interested and often fighting with one another. One of these arguments may be mentioned here that was artfully put forward, namely, that *' Competition was the law of wages." And while the excitement was on. the rich men who hired the laborers would enact laws to steal the property or freedom of the people; and as soon as that excite- ment was over, another was brought forward for thi'* purpose, till finally all was absorbed by the few men who became enor lously rich, and had control of all the mighty forces of this wonderful age. Even the earth on which the people stood and from which thev had to live, came into the possession of these few rich men;andall hadto pay them the entire part of their produce, in various ways, for the privilege ol" living on the earth. The people were docile and quiet for a long time, suffering even for clothing and food, but the process had been so cunningly planned and executed, little by little, that they became used to It; and the robbery of all the people of the nation was complete, with only here and there a few serious outbreaks. The teachers of morals and religion were also worked into assisting the rich to keep the people quiet by promises of silver, and gold, and diamond ci jwns, and harps, and wings, and happiness, after they had died in this world, where all misery would be left behind. But, if they rebelled and attempted to take their own from the few whom they felt treated them unjustly, they would,, after they died in this world, be punished by. fire and torture, and excruciat- ing torrtients, that would last forever. By these and many other artful means, the cunning men of silver speech managed to plunder the people for a period of forty years, which was the time these wonderful machines and inventions attained their greatest use and wealth producing power. At the end of this period, the few men who had ff with one mentioned mely, that And while ' hired the roperty, or :hat excite- ard for this e few men )ntroI of all Even the which they r these few ire part of privilege ol" docile and athing and f]y planned ecame used the nation few serious ligion were the people d diamond infess, after tery would attempted felt treated led in this I excruciat- these and ;n of silver a period of wonderful reatest use i who had 'tMe brother. 279 become so rich by the aid of the cunning men and the strength of their own powerful abilities, which were applied solcy to obtaining riches, began to grow old and feeble, and one by one paid the debt of nature, to which all men must at last succumb. They left a number of descendents behind them who inher- ited their wealth, but not their abilities; for even the bright minded children had been rendered effeminate by the great luxuries which wealth had brought, and were unable to cope with the desperate people, or grasp the changed conditions their fathers had brought about, which made it difficult, almost impossible for the children of this vast wealth, to maintain them- selves securely. It was then that the l^unning men of silver .speech, whose philosophy was to "get there," as they called it, began to rise to the top; for they had already become wealthy by the share that fell to them for their services to the rich men. and the awful passion for more had come to grow in their breasts to fearful proportions, absorbing every other desire. They began to wreck the weak offspring of the de- parted rich men, which was soon done, and by the same cunning arts which they practiced on the people, obtained possession of all the wealth the rich men had. By thi&^time the great mass of the people had" be- come so desperate from being reduced to such: straits to exist that the cunning men of silve;- speech rapidly lost'^their power to influence their minds. The relig- ious teachers also failed to influence the people, for an entire generation had grown up in such misery and degradation that ail sense of the moral or'Jreligious if'ea was obliterated in _ their minds; so the religious men could no longer promise riches nor misery after death with any effect. The people only scoffed at them, and sometimes killed them for being parties with those who oppressed them. The cunning men, to make themselves secure, got ^T 280 •'THE BROTHER.' f .' together all the worst men they could find; men out of whom every particle of human sympathy had been stamped by the hard struggle for existence. These men were formed into bands to protect the cunning men of silver speech; they were well fed. their pas- sions gratified, and the greatest liberties given them to abuse the people, which they used with unlimited freedom. Increasing dissatisfaction cau.sed the bands to be increased to armies, when the cunning men of the silver speech family began fighting one another, each striving to gratify the growing passion in their breasts to get all chat belonged to each other as well as what belonged to the people. When blood was once iipilled among themselves there was no possi- bility of restraining the hardened criminals whom they had brought into their employ; and they fought terrible battles all over the land, that eclipsed the wholesale slaughter of the people, who had revolted many times against the cunning men of silver speech to obtain bread for their families. Myriads of rough people of alien race and language had been brought into the land to work for smaller and smaller pay for the rich, cunning men; and these too became a part of their armies to quiet the people by killing them; and to fight for the possession of the wealth of each other; until, at last, the shedding of blood became the universal occupation of the land. In one half of the country the Negro race multi- plied rapidly and soon rose to many millions. This ignorant and dependent race suffered greatly by the disorganization of industry and naturally fell under the leadership of chiefs of their own race, who in turn were bribed or hired to join the armies of the lawyer chiefs in the wars upon one another, carrying great masses of the negroes with them. The power of the negro leaders became very great under the favoritism and luxury of the lawyer chiefs, their insolence in- 1 ^ THK aROTIIER. 281 id; men out y had been ice. These he cunninfj their pas- i^iven them 1 unlimited i the bands ling men of le another, on in their her as well blood was s no possi- nais whom they fought clipsed the id revolted Iver speech id language for smaller ; and these the people ssion of the shedding of the land. race multi- ions. This tly by the ' fell under who in turn the lawyer Tying great lower of the e favoritism solence in- creasing with t'lis discovery, untill, at last, they de- manded the wives and daughters of the lawyer chiefs, which they were obliged t") give them to avoid deser- tion, or insurrection again.>*t their rule; their inordi- nate demands at length caused the murder of many of the lawyer chiefs and the plunder of their vast wealth with which the negroes held high carnival for awhile, and then began to murder one another; famine finish- ing the bloody crimes that swept all over the unhappy Republic by the death of the remainder by starvation The great machines were broken or decayed and not replaced; and in a few years there were only the chiefs left who were the descendants of the cunning men of silver speech. West of the Rocky Mountains a large portion of the best and most intelligent people had collected into a community and built themselves a beautiful city, around which they had made fine farms, that were cultivated with the best arts known to man, that in a few years brought happiness and prosperity; where all lived in comfort and enjoyed the benefit of the great machines and perfections of this wonderful age. This community increased and prospered to an extent that had never before been known, and naturally their great wealth and beautifully improved country and city e.xcited the greedy passion of the lawyer chiefs, who had possessed themselves of all the country ex- cept this garden spot on the Pacific slope. Many at- tempts were made by the lawyer chiefs to capture their city and country which were defended with a bravery unknown in the history of the world. The wondcful poweders were used by both sides in the at- tack and defense of Peace County. They were drop- ped from baloons upon each other, so that many thousands of men were killed and the surface of the country destroyed and rendered unfit for cultivation. 36 1 .jillts-i..' VJJiJSS.-t 284 "THE BROTHKR. |;r But, at last, by a powerful combination among the chiefs the Community was attacked on all sides and overpowered; men, women and children, put to the sword, and their lovely city of peace sacked by tb -■ howling cut-throats of the chiefs' armies, and left a black heap of smouldering r ,ns. Their General, Edward Pureheart, who defended the city with such bravery and skill, and had so often baffled the invad- ers, was captured and reserved to be put to death in presence of the chiefs' armies by slow torture, amid the taunts and jeers of the most abandoned set of wretches that ever lived and breathed beneath the stars of heaven. One of the descendants of a rich man, whose great grandfather had built the Public Library, in the rear of which this vault stands, disguised himself and es- caped observation by remaining with me in poverty. A great amount of gold had been concealed when the troubles began, out of which I managed little by little to build the vault and leave these records. The bal- ance of the gold lies buried ten feet deep from 'the level of the base of this vault, fifty feet from the north- east angle; the angle being twenty degrees from the pole of the North Star. I am now an old man and the work of the histories is completed; they have been safely placed in the vault which is sufficiently conc:ealed; but after some years the weather will expose the top, so that it may be discovered by some people who may come after us, whom I trust will take a lesson from our misfortunes to establish a better and safer civilization. Should such be the case, I will not have lived in vain; and it is the only hope now left, for we have already fallen into a blood thirsty, savage state and the mighty splendors of the nineteenth century have passed away. "The Brother." New York City. " PHF HROI HFR 281 among the sides and put to the Led by th : and left a r General, with such the invad- to death in ture, amid ned set of )eneath the /hose {jreat in the rear self and es- in poverty, d when the tie by little The bal- p from 'the I the north- s from the he histories iced in the after some that it may me after us, misfortunes n. Should vain; and it eady fallen the mighty ive passed other." Sealed on the anniversary of Washington's Inaugu- ral. April 29th, in the year. 191 2. The two strangers looked at each other in amaze- ment. "This, then." said the tall man. "is the fate of the noble young man who so kindly conducted us through the city of New York this day one hundred years af^ro. This. then, is the result of the horrible st.ite o. '.lumanity wethen witnessed; and the power of monopoly that absorbed all (-irtue in their luxurious splendors, where all was a master scene of hypocrisy, drunkenness and meanness. In this savage wild whih h Hi transplanted that flourishing city, we find the record of the times carefully prepared and left for future ages by a man of the common people, who so interested us at the [)lace of the Inaugural and on the (lav of the military parade. Alas! my brother, Jeffer- son, the forebodings I then felt sent a pang through my soul greater than all the sorrows and sufferings I had throu'.^h the dreary wars for independence; great- er th: In this sacred shrine is the den of the descendant of the mighty men whose master passion was greed. And the progress of the centuries witnesses only the survival of the meanest. Washington and Jefferson turned their gaze toward the setting sun slowly sinking in a bed of crimson and purple clouds, that stretched far around the hori- zon, carrying on their edges crispy threads of gold that grew fainter and lost their color in the grey of the distance. Above, the clear vault shaded from emerald to the deep blue of the mid-heaven, and the rich, joyous sunset that enchanted the eyes of highly civilized man, here shown in the same degree of splen- dor for the dull, leaden eye of the savage. When the Sun. had dropped into the horizon and gave its parting smile to the darkening world, the two sublime mortals who had ceased to live in the memories of men. stretched their arms aloft as if invoking some spirit, and from the lips of Washington was heard an agon- 'THE RROTIIRR. >t5 the comintf ;e» the two thers' arms, Iders in un- he opening e the space ief, Depew monument per, whose ircJs of the f the crush- e only hall 1 of man in girls, and : arts and ;r Cooper ? red shrine men whose jress of the meanest, aze toward of crimson id the hori- is of gold he grey of aded from en, and the B of highly ee of splen- When the ; its parting me mortals ;s of men, ome spirit, i an agon- izing cry to the spirit of Destruction, which was no sooner utterec" than darkening, tempestuous clouds began to gathe. overhead accompanied by rumblings in the sky and in tne earth. The two men slowly rose in the air, keeping their arms uplifted, and float- ed awav in the direction of the palisades; the terrified savages falling on their faces and groaning with fear. To the rapi.ily increasing rumblinj^ and gathering storm overhcail, was added fitful gushes of wind, that became more frequent and fiercer, until the howling temprst swept all before it. Fierce lightning played in the air and crash after crash of thunder came m rapid succession and increasing intensity. The sav- age chief looked up from the front of his stockade, then retreated trembling with terror inspired by the war of the elements Great waves rose and fell in the !>ay and along the rivers sweeping the shores of timber and rocks. The earth heaved and moved, throwing down the remains of the ruins, and a mighty roar underneath opened a fearful chasm the whole length of the island, into which rushed the boiling waters of the bay, sw,..ping in one mighty surge the life, growth, earth and stones before it; then retreating, carried all that a few moments be- fore had beautified the surface of the land, covermg the bay with an ocean of timber and left the island a desolate waste of rocks and chasms. The monu- mental granite towers of the Brooklyn Bridge, erect- ed by the genius of Roebling. that loomed in solemn grandeur against the evening sky a few moments before, were gone. The granite pedestal of the mon- ster statu; of Liberty enlightening the Nations, tot- tered and fell with the heaving earth,- and Bedloe's Island, on which it stood, sank to rise no more. Manhattan Island presented a scene of desolation that sadlv contrasted the blocks of verdure intersect- ■ « ■ry tM •'THF. BRornrR ' eil with grasHy streets. " riie Brother's" Vault atone remained together with a small toinb that 'tootl be- iiide it, on which was the inscription: "Sacred to the memory of a victim of social injustice, Ooney Mc(iuire " The spirit of Destruction sparing the work of that sublime mortal who, in the slums, or, in the • 'alks of science, had only the good of humanity at heart The place that but an hour before lot)'.ed so fresh and beautiful, under the warm light of the setting sun, the charm heightcnetl by the evening song of myriatls (H birds, was a desert waste. The waters of the bay that danced so merrily with toucher, of golden light in its shallows, was black, seething and turbulent, with the scum of mud. leaves an J timber, covering it as far as the eye could reach, and the work of destruc- tion was complete. The sky now broke a little to the west, revealing the two sublime founders of the former civilization in the air encircled by a baml of radiant light; over their heads the bright star of Jupi- ter shone clearly from a region of pure calm and se- rene air. Its rays seemed to come and go, as though beckoning them to a home free from ihe I riit ^^^ of the planet earth that had always been the abn.le of the ropacious life of the solar system. The city tha<^ had witnessed the regal feast of the Lawyers Club, th' banquet of the successor of Wardungton. the radiant splendors of the Ball of the Century, the mighty spec- tacle of the Naval, Military aud Civic parades, and the glowing tribute to virtue by the millionaire rot>- bers of the people; the stones of whose streets had been pressed by Washington and Jefferson, as well as by the aching bones of the tramp; that had been the cheerless home of the gamin and the street girls; the streets that had been a gold mine for political boodlers for half a century; the streets that were bor- dered by the saloons, the wealthy gambling dens, the ten cent lodging houses, the offices of money kings, ^ ault ulone "tood bf- ri (I to the McCiuiic " rk of that ■alks of leart I'lic fresh ami \\i suii, the myriads oi' f the bay- it-n U^ht in ulcnt, with trinj^ it as \ (lestruc - a little to clers of the 1 band of lar of Jiipj- m and se- as thoii^li ri( r^ cf tile >n,le of the y tlja» had Cluh. th- ie ra'"' that flourished around its beauti- ful bay. was obliterated forever. EXPULSION OF COMUS — CONCLUSION. , Two weeks later an important meeting was held by the (ieneral and officers of the City. The sudden dedth of a number of citizens occasii-ned this event. Comus had been for some time training the young people ibr a vr.riety theatrical exhibition representing various classes of the people of nineteenth century times. Under his supeiior management the young folks hat! succeeded in rendering with wonderful accu- racy both the costumes and "haraciCiS of that inter- esting age; acquiring even the nvmners and speech of merchants, politicians, swells and loafers. The ex- hibition naturally attracted public .^.ttention, and the great hall was filled in every part. The play opened with the squabble of the ecclesiasts, who contended furiously over their various creeds with the spirit of demons, and was followed by the class who di.stribut- el the products of the community, called the merch- ants, or, shop keepers, who lived off the profits of goods. The modes of adulteration, misrepresentation 3 1i 288 "THE BROTKER." and cheating/together with the ignorance of the buy- ers, we.e so cleverly treated that the absurd system caused violent laughter in the audience, as each new feature grew more and more amusing. F'inally, young and old lost entire control of themselves, resulting not only in the stoppage of tht play bi-.t in the death of several of the audience from laughing. This un- looked for tragic ending of the comedy placed Comus in a sad position with the General and officers whose duty was t'> care for the welfare of the people. Hence the meeting to consult over the disaster. No one regretted the affair more deeply than Comus. Fully realizing his position, he was prepared for al- most any condemnation. So, when the orders cam'? that he must leave the city and country, it was as mild a punishment as he could reasonably expect. The curse of his unfortunate mimicry had fallen on him again. With a reluctance he had never felt be- fore in quitting either the presence of gods, devils, or^ men. he departed without even taking farewell of the sublime artist, Keramicos, to go he knew not whither: heaven, hell and earth had banished him; some planet or star must be found for the scene of new exploits, but all iti the regret of the moment was unconsidered. Relieved bythe faintlight of a few clouds thatwere blackening as the waning moon receded farther be- low the horizon, the dark figure of a man wrapped in a long cloak was seen for a moment as he stood gaz- ing towards the sky; the vision was quickly obliterat- ed by the deepening gloom of night that only was left to bid an earthly farewell to the unfortunate mimic, Comus. ! THE END. 'IJ vtt f the buy- rd system each new ly, young resulting the death This lin- ed Comus ers whose le. Hence an Comus. ed for al- ders came it was as y expect, fallen on er felt be- devils, or. veil of the >t whither: me planet exploits, onsidered. that were rther be- rapped in tood gaz- obliterat- only was iifortunate Nineteenth Century Advertiiementt. THE LIFE LINK. THE OLD JERRY McAULEY WATER STEET MISSICN. 316 Water St.. under the great Bridge. Come every night at 7:30. Testimonies of re- deemed men. Splendid singing. Piano and organ. DRUNKARDS ESPECIALLY WELCOMED. JesuS says you cannot be too bad for him. NOTICE— A free supper at St. Bartholomew's Mission every Friday night; also at Jerry McAuley's Mission every Saturday night. FRONTIER HOUSE, Established. 1867. ' 67 James Street. LODGINGS for men only. Per night, loc and 15c; per week. 60c and 90c. Latest improvements! and best accommodations! OPEN ALL NIGP r—called at any hour. HOME COM- FORTS TO WORI xgmen! »®*Our 1 5c. lodgers are entitled to one drink of whiskey every morning, FREE OF CHARGE. a. :'^*:-;#iiai'i 'rii^dr''''- '''•^■^'^-^■^'^^^'•'^-^■'-^■^■«--^ii*i«<^^.^--^--'-''''' - ■-' :^^t .-^^;T,i-B" w;)iV m in ^/* ;« : »i«? ,i«n*« i W B ,

i 149. «t 14. 44 "woman" read women. ti 150. 14 4. 44 "although" read altogether. '• 164, tl 2, a "brightly" read briefly. 1 1 167, 4 4 4. It "species" read spaces. It 167. 44 it>, 44 "unconscionable" read unconscious. *i 178. 44 4. II "chose" read chase. a 186, 11 12, 44 "from" read m. <( 208, 14 2, II "rising" read kissing. 41 214, 44 12, 41 "an»" aim. (t 218, •' 15. II "morning" read moving. II 219, t % 26. 44 "lighted" read lifted. i« 247^ 44 22, £4 "place" read phase. n 261, «« 6, 4 4 "America" read Ancona. II 270, 41 8, 44 "on" read in. «i 280, 41 !0, 44 "family" read finally. ii 284, 44 3«. »l "shown" read shone.