“The labor unions,” was the reply, “do now, to some extent. The shoe manufacturers of Lynn have not dared to introduce a certain lasting machine recently invented, because the lasters’ union has declared against it, and yet it is claimed that that machine will revolutionize the shoe business. You see that shows the strength of the unions, and what they can do if they get started. Oh, there are bloody times ahead for us. I believe one of your Western governors said lately: ‘The high buildings and grand palaces of our big cities will be spattered with the lungs and livers of humanity before this thing is adjusted.’ He was called a crank, but he was not far amiss.” “I am inclined to think,” said Mr. Smith, “that you take a too serious view of matters. Your brother tells me the glass factory in your town was permanently closed by a trust. Is that possible? I never heard of such an outrage. I should think the managers of the trusts would be in danger of their lives.” “Now you are coming to it. See! it makes a revolutionist out of you to even hear of such a thing,” said Benjamin; “yet you don’t see revolution coming. Suppose you knew nothing but one trade, and you found the factory in which you had worked all your life permanently closed by a trust, and it was impossible to ever again work at your trade. When you become an actor in such an affair it is worse than a picture in your imagination. If you were placed in that position you would see what is coming.” “But has it really been permanently closed by the trust?” he again asked. “Closed! Why, certainly, and it is nothing new. Hundreds of factories have been permanently shut down by trusts, in order to decrease production, raise prices and throw thousands of laborers out of work.” “Well,” said Mr. Smith, “I guess you are right, but what is it going to be, and what are they going to do?” “O, I don’t know. They will at least have revenge. It may be we’ll have anarchy, and the fulfillment of the bloody scenes painted in that wonderful book, ‘Caesar’s Column.’ Have you read it? It is fearful. Enough to curdle a man’s blood.” At this point Glen, who was still looking over his uncle’s scrap-book, said: “I believe Uncle John is getting to be quite a Socialist, judging from these clippings. Let me read some of them. They are mostly from the metropolitan dailies”: “WANT IN THE CITIES. “A few days ago we quoted from an editorial in the New York Tribune to show that there never before was such great distress in the chief city in the country as at present, and that the victims were not merely laboring men, unable to find employment, but professional people and small merchants as well. The Times-Herald editorially testifies that want is as general and intense in Chicago as in New York. It says: