the dwelling place of ligh-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


young　Caldwell　coming　in　from　the　outer　office；　holding　a　card　in　his　hand
which　he　gave　to　Ditmar；　who　sat　staring　at　it。

〃Siddons？〃　he　said。　　〃Who's　Siddons？〃

Janet；　who　had　risen；　spoke　up。

〃Why；　he's　been　making　the　Hampton　‘survey。'　　You　wrote　him　you'd　see　him
don't　you　remember；　Mr。　Ditmar？〃

〃Don't　go！〃　exclaimed　Ditmar。　　〃You　can't　tell　what　those　confounded　reformers
will　accuse　you　of　if　you　don't　have　a　witness。〃

Janet　sat　down　again。　　The　sharpness　of　Ditmar's　tone　was　an　exhilarating
reminder　of　the　fact　that；　in　dealing　with　strangers；　he　had　come　more　or　less
to　rely　on　her　instinctive　judgment；　while　the　implied　appeal　of　his　manner　on
such　occasions　emphasized　the　pleasurable　sense　of　his　dependence；　of　her　own
usefulness。　　Besides；　she　had　been　curious　about　the　‘survey'　at　the　time　it
was　first　mentioned；　she　wished　to　hear　Ditmar's　views　concerning　it。　　Mr。
Siddons　proved　to　be　a　small　and　sallow　young　man　with　a　pointed　nose　and
bright；　bulbous　brown　eyes　like　a　chipmunk's。　　Indeed；　he　reminded　one　of　a
chipmunk。　　As　he　whisked　himself　in　and　seized　Ditmar's　hand　he　gave　a　confused
impression　of　polite　self…effacement　as　well　as　of　dignity　and　self…assertion；
he　had　the　air　of　one　who　expects　opposition；　and　though　by　no　means　desiring
it；　is　prepared　to　deal　with　it。　　Janet　smiled。　　She　had　a　sudden　impulse　to
drop　the　heavy　book　that　lay　on　the　corner　of　the　desk　to　see　if　he　would　jump。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Ditmar？〃　he　said。　　〃I've　been　hoping　to　have　this
pleasure。〃

〃My　secretary；　Miss　Bumpus；〃　said　Ditmar。

Mr。　Siddons　quivered　and　bowed。　　Ditmar；　sinking　ponderously　into　his　chair；
seemed　suddenly；　ironically　amused；　grinning　at　Janet　as　he　opened　a　drawer　of
his　desk　and　offered　the　visitor　a　cigar。

〃Thanks；　I　don't　smoke；〃　said　Mr。　Siddons。

Ditmar　lit　one　for　himself。

〃Now；　what　can　I　do　for　you？〃　he　asked。

〃Well；　as　I　wrote　you　in　my　letter；　I　was　engaged　to　make　as　thorough　an
examination　as　possible　of　the　living　conditions　and　housing　of　the　operatives
in　the　city　of　Hampton。　　I'm　sure　you'd　be　interested　in　hearing　something　of
the　situation　we　found。〃

〃I　suppose　you've　been　through　our　mills；〃　said　Ditmar。

〃No；　the　fact　is〃

〃You　ought　to　go　through。　　I　think　it　might　interest　you；〃　Ditmar　put　a　slight
emphasis　on　the　pronoun。　　〃We　rather　pride　ourselves　on　making　things
comfortable　and　healthy　for　our　people。〃

〃I've　no　doubt　of　itin　fact；　I've　been　so　informed。　　It's　because　of　your
concern　for　the　welfare　of　your　workers　in　the　mills　that　I　ventured　to　come
and　talk　to　you　of　how　most　of　them　live　when　they're　at　home；〃　replied
Siddons；　as　Janet　thought；　rather　neatly。　　〃Perhaps；　though　living　in　Hampton；
you　don't　quite　realize　what　the　conditions　are。　　I　know　a　man　who　has　lived　in
Boston　ten　years　and　who　hasn't　ever　seen　the　Bunker　Hill　monument。〃

〃The　Bunker　Hill　monument's　a　public　affair；〃　retorted　Ditmar；　〃anybody　can　go
there　who　has　enough　curiosity　and　interest。　　But　I　don't　see　how　you　can
expect　me　to　follow　these　people　home　and　make　them　clean　up　their　garbage　and
wash　their　babies。　　I　shouldn't　want　anybody　to　interfere　with　my　private
affairs。〃

〃But　when　you　get　to　a　point　where　private　affairs　become　a　public　menace？〃
Siddons　objected。　　〃Mr。　Ditmar；　I've　seen　block　after　block　of　tenements　ready
to　crumble。　　There　are　no　provisions　for　foundations；　thickness　of　walls；　size
of　timbers　and　columns；　and　if　these　houses　had　been　deliberately　erected　to
make　a　bonfire　they　couldn't　have　answered　the　purpose　better。　　If　it　were　not
for　the　danger　to　life　and　the　pity　of　making　thousands　of　families　homeless；　a
conflagration　would　be　a　blessing；　although　I　believe　the　entire　north　or　south
side　of　the　city　would　go　under　certain　conditions。　　The　best　thing　you　could
do　would　be　to　burn　whole　rows　of　these　tenements；　they　are　ideal　breeding
grounds　for　disease。　　In　the　older　sections　of　the　city　you've　got　hundreds　of
rear　houses　here；　houses　moved　back　on　the　lots；　in　some　extreme　cases　with
only　four…foot　courts　littered　with　refuse；houses　without　light；　without
ventilation；　and　many　of　the　rooms　where　these　people　are　cooking　and　eating
and　sleeping　are　so　damp　and　foul　they're　not　fit　to　put　dogs　in。　　You've　got
some　blocks　with　a　density　of　over　five　hundred　to　the　acre；　and　your　average
density　is　considerably　over　a　hundred。〃

〃Are　things　any　worse　than　in　any　other　manufacturing　city？〃　asked　Ditmar。

〃That　isn't　the　point；〃　said　Siddons。　　〃The　point　is　that　they're　bad；　they're
dangerous；　they're　inhuman。　　If　you　could　go　into　these　tenements　as　I　have
done　and　see　the　way　some　of　these　people　live；　it　would　make　you　sick　the
Poles　and　Lithuanians　and　Italians　especially。　　You　wouldn't　treat　cattle　that
way。　　In　some　households　of　five　rooms；　including　the　kitchen；　I　found　as　many
as　fourteen；　fifteen；　and　once　seventeen　people　living。　　You've　got　an　alarming
infant　death…rate。〃

〃Isn't　it　because　these　people　want　to　live　that　way？〃　Ditmar　inquired。　　〃They
actually　like　it；　they　wouldn't　be　happy　in　anything　but　a　pig…stythey　had
'em　in　Europe。　　And　what　do　you　expect　us　to　do？　　Buy　land　and　build　flats　for
them？　　Inside　of　a　month　they'd　have　all　the　woodwork　stripped　off　for
kindling；　the　drainage　stopped　up；　the　bathtubs　filled　with　ashes。　　I　know；
because　it's　been　tried。〃

Tilted　back　in　his　chair；　he　blew　a　cloud　of　smoke　toward　the　ceiling；　and　his
eyes　sought　Janet's。　　She　avoided　them；　resenting　a　little　the　assumption　of
approval　she　read　in　them。　　Her　mind；　sensitive　to　new　ideas；　had　been　keenly
stimulated　as　she　listened　to　Siddons；　who　began　patiently　to　dwell　once　more
on　the　ill　effect　of　the　conditions　he　had　discovered　on　the　welfare　of　the
entire　community。　　She　had　never　thought　of　this。　　She　was　surprised　that
Ditmar　should　seem　to　belittle　it。　　Siddons　was　a　new　type　in　her　experience。
She　could　understand　and　to　a　certain　extent　maliciously　enjoy　Ditmar's　growing
exasperation　with　him；　he　had　a　formal；　precise　manner　of　talking；　as　though　he
spent　most　of　his　time　presenting　cases　in　committees：　and　in　warding　off
Ditmar's　objections　he　was　forever　indulging　in　such　maddening　phrases　as；
〃Before　we　come　to　that；　let　me　say　a　word　just　here。〃　　Ditmar　hated　words。
His　outbursts；　his　efforts　to　stop　the　flow　of　them　were　not　unlike　the　futile
charges　of　a　large　and　powerful　animal　harassed　by　a　smaller　and　more　agile
one。　　With　nimble　politeness；　with　an　exasperating　air　of　deference　to　Ditmar's
opinions；　Mr。　Siddons　gave　ground；　only　to　return　to　the　charge；　yet；　despite　a
manner　and　method　which；　when　contrasted　to　Ditmar's；　verged　on　the　ludicrous；
Mr。　Siddons　had　a　force　and　fire　of　his　own；　nervous；　almost　fanatical：　when　he
dwelt　on　the　misery　he　had　seen；　and　his　voice　trembled　from　the　intensity　of
his　feeling；　Janet　began　to　be　moved。　　It　was　odd；　considering　the　struggle　for
existence　of　her　own　family；　that　these　foreigners　had　remained　outside　the
range　of　her　sympathy。

〃I　guess　you'll　find；〃　Ditmar　had　interrupted　peremptorily；　〃I　guess　you'll
find；　if　you　look　up　the　savings　banks　statistics；　these　people　have　got
millions　tucked　away。　　And　they　send　a　lot　of　it　to　the　other　side；　they　go
back　themselves；　and　though　they　live　like　cattle；　they　manage　to　buy　land。
Ask　the　real　estate　men。　　Why；　I　could　show　you　a　dozen　who　worked　in　the　mills
a　few　years　ago　and　are　capitalists　to…day。〃

〃I　don't　doubt　it；　Mr。　Ditmar；〃　Siddons　gracefully　conceded。　　〃But　what　does　it
prove？　　Merely　the　cruelty　of　an　economic　system　based　on　ruthless　competition。
The　great　majority　who　are　unable　to　survive　the　test　pay　the　price。　　And　the
community　also　pays　the　price；　the　state　and　nation　pay　it。　　And　we　have　this
misery　on　our　consciences。　　I've　no　doubt　you　could　show　me　some　who　have　grown
rich；　but　if　you　would　let　me　I　could　take　you　to　families　in　desperate　want；
living　in　rooms　too　dark　to　read　in　at　midday　in　clear　weather；　where　the
husband　doesn't　get　more　than　seven　dollars　a　week　when　the　mills　are　running
full　time；　where　the　woman　has　to　look　out　for　the　children　and　work　for　the
lodgers；　and　even　with　lodgers　they　get　into　debt；　and　the　woman　has　to　go　into
the　mills　to　earn　money　for　winter　clothing。　　I've　seen　enough　instances　of
this　kind　to　offset　the　savings　bank　argument。　　And　even　then；　when　you　have　a
family　where　the　wife　and　older　children　work；　where　the　babies　are　put　out　to
board；　where　there　are　three　and　four　lodgers　in　a　room；　why　do　you　suppose
they　live　that　way？　　Isn't　it　in　the　hope　of　freeing　themselves　ultimately　from
these　very　conditions？　　And　aren't　these　conditions　a　disgrace　to　Hampton　and
America？〃

〃Well；　what　am　I　to　do　about　it？〃　Ditmar　demanded。

〃I　see　that　these　operatives　have　comfortable　and　healthful　surroundings　in　the
mill；　I've　spent　money　to　put　in　the　latest　appliances。　　That's　more　than　a
good　many　mills　I　could　mention　attempt。〃

〃You　are　a　person　of　influence；　Mr。　Ditmar；　you　have　more　influence　than　any
man　in　Hampton。　　You　can　bring　pressure　to　bear　on　the　city　council　to　enforce
and　improve　the　building　ordinances；　you　can　organize　a　campaign　of　public
opinion　against　certain　property　owners。〃

〃Yes；〃　retorted　Ditmar；　〃and　what　then？　　You　raise　the　rents；　and　you　won't　get
anybody　to　live　in　the　houses。　　They'll　move　out　to　settlements　like　Glendale
full　of　dirt　and　vermin　and　disease　and　live　as　they're　accustomed　to。　　What
you　reformers　are　actually　driving　at　is　that　we　should　raise　wagesisn't　it？
If　we　raised　wages　they'd　live　like　rats　anyway。　　I　give　you　credit　for
sincerity；　Mr。　Siddons；　but　I　don't　want　you　to　think　I'm　not　as　much
interested　in　the　welfare　of　these　people　as　you　and　the　men　behind　you。　　The
trouble　is；　you　only　see　one　side　of　this　question。　　When　you're　in　my
position；　you're　up　against　hard　facts。　　We　can't　pay　a　dubber　or　a　drawing
tender　any　more　than　he's　worth；　whether　he　has　a　wife　or　children　in　the　mills
or　whether　he　hasn't。　　We're　in　competition　with　other　mills；　we're　in
competition　with　the　South。　　We　can't　regulate　the　cost　of　living。　　We　do　our
best　to　make　things　right　in　the　mills；　and　that's　all　we　can　do。　　We　can't
afford　to　be　sentimental　about　life。　　Competition's　got　to　be　the　rule；　the
world's　made　that　way。　　Some　are　efficient　and　some　aren't。　　Good　God；　any　man
who's　had　anything　to　do　with　hiring　labour　and　running　a　plant　has　that
drummed　into　him　hard。　　You　talk　about　ordinances；　lawsthere　are　enough　laws
and　ordinances　in　this　city　and　in　this　state　right　now。　　If　we　have　any　more
the　mills　will　have　to　shut　down；　and　these　people　will　starveall　of　'em。〃
Ditmar's　chair　came　down　on　its　four　legs；　and　he　flung　his　cigar　away。　　〃Send
me　a　copy　of　your　survey　when　it's　published。　　I'll　look　it　over。〃

〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　the　nerve　of　a　man　like　that？〃　　Ditmar　exploded；
when　Mr。　Siddons　had　bowed　himself　out。　　〃Comes　in　here　to　advise　me　that　it's
my　business　to　look　out　for　the　whole　city　of　Hampton。　　I'd　like　to　see　him　up
against　this　low…class　European　labour　trying　to　run　a　mill　with　them。　　They're
here　one　day　and　there　the　next；　they　don't　know　what