W. J. MCCAIN, Representing Local Union No. 10.

front pew; I often see his name in the paper as a contributor. The rector of his church visits him often in a social way, I read of it in the papers.' As Jones finished, I began to wonder if Grindem was really a Christian, if his early experiences had taught him a lesson or was he like so many others-including myself-simply a whited sepulchre, 'having eyes and yet seeing not.' While thus I cogitated Jone's suddenly said, 'There he is now, come along I will introduce . don't mind his ways.' We approached the office and Grindem. Instinctively I felt an abhorrence of the man. He was stocky built, a bay window stomach indicating the gourmand, his complexion was highly-colored-Scotch whiskey or port wine tinge his eye cold and beady; he was dressed in the pink of fashion, his jewelry being profuse and conspicuous. Jones introduced me to Grindem as an aspirant for a collectorship. He looked at me in cold disdain and with a snappy, Don't need anybody,' walked away from me. His abrupt manner, snappy voice and indifference stunned me, I felt my temper rising, but I determined to drink the cup to the dregs, to discover just the life mv fellowmen must endure. I looked after him. He was standing near a glass case filled with watches, jewelry, etc. I again approached him and I told him I was a stranger in the city, that I had but a few dollars in my pocket, that I had not even money enough to secure a boarding house, that I must get something to do or starve. Never shall I forget the action, the heartlessness of that parvenue, that icicle, that church

hypocrite. He had come over from Europe as ballast in a steamer, he knew the horrors of the man out of work and homeless. Aye! he knew it and took advantage of it! His whiskey-colored face glistened under the electric lights-they were burning for the day was dark-his fishy eyes glittered with greed, the splendid diamond on his wide expanse of shirt bosom twinkled, the large ruby in the heavy, gold ring on his pudgy hand stared me in the face. He lifted the fat cigar from his lips; he flipped the ashes from the weed and as the cigar smoke mingled with the odor of his last drink, he said, 'Well, you can go to work as a sollcitor-drummer-salesman-collector, at eight dollars per week, if you wish to take it.' For an instant I hesitated, a thousand thoughts flew through my brain. How I longed to throw off the mask and tell that Shylock, that grasping oppressor of the poor, what I thought of him. But I swallowed my pride, my anger, my horror of that hypocrite, for was I not Hiram Peters, the homeless man looking for work? Was I not under promise to see myself and class 'as in a looking glass'? And I was seeing them with a vengeance! answered simply, 'Well, I have to take it.' Even that never touched his money-sodden soul, he simply said, 'Report to Mr. Jones in the morning.' The next morning I took up my task as solicitor and collector for an installment house. Do you wonder now that you read at times of clerks, collectors, etc., being dishonest? They are not half as dishonest as the grasping, heartless employers who force them into dishonesty.

FRANK MCKINNEY,

And so I

Whose excellent work was largely responsible for the success of the General Membership Card.

rich he began to talk of 'protecting the working class' and that in the campaign of 1896, he entered the camp of the 'better born.' He was one of the 'Palmer & Buckner' sound money men, talked loudly of 'honest money,' denounced Bryan as a 'dangerous man' and characterized all men who questioned things as they are, as socialists, anarchists or at least as dangerous men."

The Rev. Dr. Peters again resumed his walk up and down the room, finally he stopped saying, "Dinsmore, I have, as have my friends, seen myself and class 'as in a looking glass.' I am heart sick of the ignorance or hypocrisy of the so-called leaders of society, including myself."

[To be continued next month]

"During that week as a collector I saw the dark side of life; I saw the life of the million in that 'other world' of which we know absolutely nothing; and yet the men, women and children of that world are our peers by the law of God and nature, and I am convinced that if the men in that lower world had no more regard for the laws of God, of Nature, aye, of the land, than have the so-called 'upper class,' the lives of you and I, our wives and our children, would hang by frail threads. I studied my fellowmen, the 'other fellows' and I learned to know that

'Each man is a world-to other worlds half known

And turns on a tiny axis of his own;
His full life orbit is a pathway dim
To brother planets that revolve with him.'

"I will not sicken you with a description of the hovels I was forced to enter, of the dreary existence, misnamed life, that thousands are forced to endure, of lives that are simply one continuous effort to obtain permission to work. Sufficient to say, neither you nor I would permit our horse or dog to live as do our brethren of the submerged million. I marvel at the patience of the people. One of the collectors of Grindem & Co., with whom I struck up an acquaintance, told me that Grindem was for many years a democrat, but that as he grew

THE HOUSEWIFE'S COMPLAINT. The Wall Street Journal admits that in "The Housewife's Complaint" the Republican leaders are confronted with a serious problem. The Journal declares that the housewife complains:

"Haven't prices advanced shamefully since Roosevelt became president, so that I positively can't make both ends meet on my allowance?" The Journal says:

*

"That's the political economy of the average housewife. You may smile at it. You may, with infinite patience, try to explain that there is no connection between Roosevelt and prices except, perhaps, so far as the tariff is concerned and congress is chiefly responsible for that; that the increased cost of living is due to gold production and prosperity * This makes no impression upon her; she simply points to last month's bills for household supplies, and to her empty pocket book; while the political economist opens his records of statistics and figures out that from July 1, 1901, to July 1, 1906, the prices of commodities, entering into the immediate cost of living have increased sixteen per cent. This is a kind of fact that it is hard to explain away and it is responsible for much of the discontent that exists today. It is a vital factor in the political situation and in the business situation and the question is: What are we going to do about it?"

Although the Journal consumes considerable space in the effort to solve the problem, it clearly shows that it has not even the faintest idea as to an adequate answer to: "What are we going to do about it?"-The Commoner.

there are very few bridgemen's wives but will sooner or later, learn to adapt themselves to any and all circumstances which fate happens to bring about) be contented with same, and if after the day's toil is done, you can greet that dirty face safe and unharmed, thank your Creator that he has been spared to you another day. Generally speaking, you will find in the Floater the all-around, practical bridgemen.

Are wives supported? It is to be hoped the view taken of the question by the "housein keeper" would indeed be a definite answer, the majority of cases at least.

We, in the truest sense as wives and mothers, do not feel that we are pensioners upon our husband's bounty.

Wishing continued success to the Bridgemen's Magazine, I am,

THE SUNNY SOUTH.

Editor Bridgemen's Magazine:

What a nice place this "cozy corner" is, and if I am not intruding too much I would like to take up a small portion of it.

I wish to say a few words of praise for the brave bridgemen, as I have only seen one letter from the dear old "Sugar State" in the Cozy Coner.

It seems to me as though some of the wives are complaining about their husbands stopping at the bar-room. Perhaps you have a reason for so doing; but let me tell you, the bridgemen are not the only men who drink.

Cincinnati, Ohio, is represented by a fine looking crew. Would like to ask the bridgeman that was to leave Kansas City in May for New Orleans, if he has reached his destination yet? I hope you have.

Mona and Helpmate, your letters are certainly interesting. I do enjoy reading them; also the letters from the locals.

Wishing success to the union and the Magazine, I remain,

A BRIDGEMAN'S SISTER.
Chicago, Ill.

Editor Bridgemen's Magazine:

I am a floater's wife and I am proud of it. If there is a book, I long and wait patiently for, it is the Bridgemen's Magazine.

How much is a man's labor really worth? Similar remarks have been heard many, many times, when the Ironworker asks for 60 cents an hour. How would you determine the value of the men's work, when you consider the danger they are in all the time?

What class of men perform for the public more valuable service, than those who risk their lives to build the sky-scrapers? A man who can scrape a brick, swing a piece of iron and drive a rivet, is worth a good deal to San Francisco just at the present time.

Hoping to see this in the cozy corner, I remain a firm believer in unionism.

I certainly sympathize with the floaters' wives. They seem to have a very hard time, but life is what you make it, so why complain? It hurts the poor fellow's feelings and gives him the "blues" to come home and find a frown instead of a smile. Now don't you think it would be best to look on the sunny side of things?

Wishing success to the union, I am,

A BRIDGEMAN'S SISTER.
Coscob, Conn.

Editor Bridgemen's Magazine:

I am sending you, under separate cover, a picture of the bridgemen and the work going on, on the power house of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, now being erected at Coscob, Conn. The work is being done by the Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Co. The work is progressing rapidly, and the boys are getting in good time. They are making plenty of money, and all look happy, as their pictures will show.

I hope this letter will reach you in time for the September magazine. I wish more of the ladies would write for the "Cozy Corner." It looks good to me to see the ladies join hands with the men to help the unions along. Wishing the magazine success, I am,