Part 14 (1/2)
CHAPTER XIV
PIERRE AS A TEACHER
It appalled Pierre to see how much of the little fortune received fro America The money which had seemed such a fabulous sum in Bellerivre evaporated in the new land like the dew before the sun Madame Bretton was too independent to consent to live with her brother's faer than was absolutely necessary, and therefore the renting and furnishi+ng of a simple apartment became unavoidable After this expenditure but a sreedmust be left in case of illness or disaster In consequence the only way left towas for all three of thereat silk mills, where so reat mortification to Pierre Not that he was asha people Every one in the world, at least those ere useful, worked in one way or another His huht himself able to be the breadwinner for bothbut an unskilled laborer, whose services for the present coht realling It was bad enough to have Marie enter the e, beconant to Madaht of it Theyin America was a far different problereen valley of Bellerivre And after all they were but doing whatWhy should it be any less dignified for her to labor in a ht not be for long When Marie and Pierre learned and becah so that she could retire and stay within doors like a lady of fortune, keeping the ho in some of the very silk she had helped to make Thus with affectionate banter Pierre's objections were quieted if not overcoh the influence of Mr Gautier, Madame Bretton's brother, as a superintendent in one of the larger ood positions were found for the entire fae to pass the Child Labor Laws of the State, an inorance Many children who applied for places, he learned, were constantly being turned away because they were too young; and because much of the work forirls
A the toilers in the vast manufactory almost every country was represented There wereafter the of French and Poles Itsome of their own countrymen
But what a different place Paterson was from the fertile valley they had left behind thereat blackened factories--a city in the wheels, which one came to hear almost in one's sleep And there were the hoether into which humanity was herded Even the blue of the sky was dimmed by a veil of heavy se to be cheerful under such conditions; or what hed in secret for that far-away land where they had been born? But therebackward Resolutely they crushed the hoan to learn all they could of this strange new country which in future was to be their home
Paterson, their Uncle Adolph explained, had becoreatest silk centre of the United States, because it was so near New York, the city where most of the raw silk from European ports was received
”But I do not understand why the factories are not built in New York itself,” reh and land is too expensive to afford the necessary area for such great oods which can be made in little space are manufactured in New York; in fact, the headquarters for As, and tassels is there To have an ideal location factories e city which will assure the selling of goods, their shi+pment, and the chance to secure plenty of labor for the mills Moreover, they must be built where, as I said, land is comparatively low priced and plentiful, and the taxes moderate Such a combination is not easy to find It explains why so many cities have in the study to follow out Here in New Jersey, for exa establishoods”
”What do you oods?”
”The term applies to dress materials and the silks that are sold in the shops by the yard,” answered his uncle
”Pennsylvania, too, is a large silk- community,” went on Mr
Gautier, ”because fuel is cheap in that State; and because, since so many of the Polish, Irish, and German reat nu boys in their faives to co districts and put up silk mills not only the land for their factories, but also sites for the hoht so many silk mills into Pennsylvania Quantities of ribbons and broad silks are reat throwing and spinning centre”
”Tellabout the other States,” demanded Pierre, his eyes wide open with interest
”Well, there is Connecticut--that is a large silk- district About two-thirds of the machine twist is oods--silks, velvets, plushes At South Manchester some of the finest and most artistic American silks are made
Massachusetts stands at the front in the -silks, which require finely equipped plants and much heavy s are made there, too”
Mr Gautier paused a moment
”Then there is Rhode Island,” he continued ”That is a silk h it does not turn out anywhere near so much material as do the others that I havespot in A down at his nephew ”There is no end of chance for a bright boy to rise in these mills But you must be quick and work hard
You seeo to it, es soon”
In spite of his French ancestry Monsieur Gautier had caught the Alanced up into his face
”I shall do my best for my mother's sake, if for no other,” he replied
”Well, you'll certainly have your chance to work here,” laughed his uncle ”There is variety enough to please you, too We have throwingand weaving plant; another plant for dyeing goods in the piece; and a big printing and finishi+ng plant If you do not find soh all these it will be your own fault Of course women have the monopoly of certain parts of the work; but there is plenty left to go 'round, so do not worry”