Labor unions -- United States -- Drama; Social classes -- United States -- Drama; Strikes and lockouts -- Drama
I suppose.
Captain, will you get my overcoat?
(_Haskell, who with the Chauffeur has been looking through the
glasses, goes into the mill-yard. A number of militiamen who have
been hanging around the gate gather about Anderson and they are
soon having a good time together_)
EGERTON.
What do they care for Country or for Art,
Or any of the higher things of life?
'Give us this day our daily trade.' We live,
We manufacturers, to fill their tills.
CHADBOURNE.
They're sowing dragons' teeth and they don't know it.
EGERTON.
You'll see them to-morrow when I start the mill;
They'll tip their hats when I pass through the streets.
And you could comb the town: they never heard of
Any petition to the Governor,
Nor any contributions, not a one.
They're all staunch friends of mine, and always have been.
'Why, Colonel Egerton, he built this town,
Our leading citizen.' I'll get them though.
CHADBOURNE.
If you could shut down for a season, say.
EGERTON.
That's just what I've been wanting to do, Chadbourne.
Unfortunately, just now we're in a place
Where we can't do as we would like to do;
Or rather Jergens is.
CHADBOURNE.
He told me.
EGERTON.
Yes,
He's got to meet his margins.
CHADBOURNE.
It's too bad.
(_The militiamen laugh out at some story Anderson is telling them_)
EGERTON.
So I can't strike them without striking him.
CHADBOURNE.
I hope you'll find the mine.
A MILITIAMAN.
(_Appearing at the gate_)
'Phone, General.
EGERTON.
I'll show them though that J. D. don't forget.
CHADBOURNE.
Pardon me.
(_He starts for the mill-yard. With a wave of his hand he orders
the militiamen back through the gate_)
HARVEY ANDERSON.
(_Aloud, as they draw away_)
And we charging up that Hill
As if we didn't know what canned beef was,
We, when we'd had slow elk[*] out on the plains.
[*] _Stolen cattle_
(_Egerton goes rear to the Chauffeur and himself adjusts the
glasses to his eyes_)
A MILITIAMAN.
(_As they pass through the gate_)
Stay and have one with us.
HARVEY ANDERSON.
After business hours.
EGERTON.
Where did you leave off?
HARVEY ANDERSON.
Where the big rock hangs
On the south slope up yonder.
(_Dicey, King, and Masters come from the mill-yard, followed by
Jergens. Dicey is dividing money with his companions_)
DICEY.
Thank you, boss.
JERGENS.
Then call me up.
DICEY.
I will.
HARVEY ANDERSON.
It ain't there now.
(_The three men go out around the corner right. Jergens joins
Egerton and the Chauffeur. Harvey Anderson watches them in
silence_)
HARVEY ANDERSON.
And that's another reason I came down
To hear those cannon boom and see those flags.
You'll have a band play too?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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