For the first time since the place had begun its manufacturing career, Thessaly was idle. The Minster furnaces had been closed for more than two weeks; the mills of the Thessaly Manufacturing Company, for nearly that length of time. Half the bread-winners in the town were out of work and saw no prospect8 of present employment.
Usage is most of all advantageous9 in adversity; These artisans of Thessaly lacked experience in enforced idleness and the trick of making bricks without straw. Employment, regular and well requited11, had become so much a matter of course that its sudden cessation now bewildered and angered them. Each day brought to their minds its fresh train of calamitous12 consequences. Children needed shoes; the flour-barrel was nearly empty; to lay in a pig for the winter might now be impossible. The question of rent quarter loomed13 black and menacing like a thunder-cloud on the horizon; and there were those with mortgages on their little homes, who already saw this cloud streaked14 with the lightning of impending15 tempest. Anxious housewives began to retrench16 at the grocer’s and butcher’s; but the saloons and tobacco shops had almost doubled their average of receipts.
Even on ordinary holidays the American workman, bitten as he is with the eager habitude of labor17, more often than not some time during the day finds himself close to the place where at other times he is employed. There his thoughts are: thither18 his steps all unconsciously bend themselves. So now, in this melancholy19, indefinite holiday which November had brought to Thessaly, the idlers instinctively20 hung about the deserted21 works. The tall, smokeless chimneys, the locked gates, the grimy windows—through which the huge dark forms of the motionless machines showed dimly, like the fossils of extinct monsters in a museum—the dreary22 stretches of cinder23 heaps and blackened waste which surrounded the silent buildings—all these had a cruel kind of fascination24 for the dispossessed toilers.
They came each day and stood lazily about in groups: they smoked in taciturnity, told sardonic25 stories, or discussed their grievance26, each according to his mood; but they kept their eyes on the furnaces and mills whence wages came no more and where all was still. There was something in it akin10 in pathos27 to the visits a mother pays to the graveyard28 where her child lies hidden from sight under the grass and the flowers. It was the tomb of their daily avocation29 that these men came to look at.
But, as time went on, there grew to be less and less of the pathetic in what these men thought and said. The sense of having been wronged swelled30 within them until there was room for nothing but wrath31. In a general way they understood that a trust had done this thing to them. But that was too vague and far-off an object for specific cursing. The Minster women were nearer home, and it was quite clear that they were the beneficiaries of the trust’s action. There were various stories told about the vast sum which these greedy women had been paid by the trust for shutting down their furnaces and stopping the output of iron ore from their fields, and as days succeeded one another this sum steadily32 magnified itself.
The Thessaly Manufacturing Company, which concerned a much larger number of workmen, stood on a somewhat different footing. Mechanics who knew men who were friendly with Schuyler Tenney learned in a roundabout fashion that he really had been forced into closing the mills by the action of the Minster women. When you came to think of it, this seemed very plausible33. Then the understanding sifted34 about among the men that the Minsters were, in reality, the chief owners of the Manufacturing Company, and that Tenney was only a business manager and minor35 partner, who had been overruled by these heartless women. All this did not make friends for Tenney. The lounging workmen on the street comers eyed him scowlingly when he went by, but their active hatred36 passed him over and concentrated itself upon the widow and daughters of Stephen Minster. On occasion now, when fresh rumors37 of the coming of French Canadian workmen were in the air, very sinister38 things were muttered about these women.
Before the lockout had been two days old, one of the State officers of a labor association had visited Thessaly, had addressed a hastily convened39 meeting of the ejected workmen, and had promised liberal assistance from the central organization. He had gone away again, but two or three subordinate officials of the body had appeared in town and were still there. They professed40 to be preparing detailed41 information upon which their chiefs could act intelligently. They had money in their pockets, and displayed a quite metropolitan42 freedom about spending it over the various bars. Some of the more conservative workmen thought these emissaries put in altogether too much time at these bars, but they were evidently popular with the great bulk of the men. They had a large fund of encouraging reminiscence about the way bloated capitalists had been beaten and humbled43 and brought down to their knees elsewhere in the country, and they were evidently quite confident that the workers would win this fight, too. Just how it was to be won no one mentioned, but when the financial aid began to come in it would be time to talk about that. And when the French Canadians came, too, it would be time—The rest of this familiar sentence was always left unspoken, but lowering brows and significant nods told how it should be finished.
So completely did this great paralytic44 stroke to industry monopolize45 attention, that events in the village, not immediately connected with it, passed almost unnoticed. Nobody gave a second thought, for example, to the dissolution of the law firm of Tracy & Boyce, much less dreamed of linking it in any way with the grand industrial drama which engaged public interest.
Horace, at the same time, took rooms at the new brick hotel, the Central, which had been built near the railroad depot46, and opened an office of his own a block or two lower down Main Street than the one he had vacated. This did not attract any special comment, and when, on the evening of the 16th of November, a meeting of the Thessaly Citizens’ Club was convened, fully47 half those who attended learned there for the first time that the two young lawyers had separated.
The club at last had secured a building for itself—or rather the refusal of one—and this meeting was called to decide upon ratifying48 the purchase. It was held in a large upper room of the building under discussion, which had been the gymnasium of a German Turn Verein, and still had stowed away in its comers some of the apparatus49 that the athletes had used.
When Horace, as president, called the gathering50 to order, there were some forty men present, representing very fairly the business and professional classes of the village. Schuyler Tenney was there as one of the newer members; and Reuben Tracy, with John Fairchild, Dr. Lester, Father Chance, and others of the founders51, sat near one another farther back in the hall.
The president, with ready facility, laid before the meeting the business at hand. The building they were in could be purchased, or rented on a reasonably extended lease. It seemed to the committee better to take it than to think of erecting52 one for themselves—at least for the present. So much money would be needed: so much for furniture, so much for repairs, etc.; so much for heating and lighting53, so much for service, and so on—a very compact and lucid54 statement, indeed.
A half hour was passed in more or less inconclusive discussion before Reuben Tracy rose to his feet and began to speak. The story that he and Boyce were no longer friends had gone the round of the room, and some men turned their chairs to give him the closer attention with eye and ear. Before long all were listening with deep interest to every word.
Reuben started by saying that there was something even more important than the question of the new building, and that was the question of what the club itself meant. In its inception55, the idea of creating machinery56 for municipal improvement had been foremost. Certainly he and those associated with him in projecting the original meeting had taken that view of their work. That meeting had contented57 itself with an indefinite expression of good intentions, but still had not dissented58 from the idea that the club was to mean something and to do something. Now it became necessary, before final steps were taken, to ask what that something was to be. So far as he gathered, much thought had been given as to the probable receipts and expenditure59, as to where the card-room, the billiard-room, the lunch-room, and so forth60 should be located, and as to the adoption61 of all modern facilities for making themselves comfortable in their new club-house. But about the original objects of the club he had not heard a syllable62. To him this attitude was profoundly unsatisfactory. At the present moment, the village was laboring63 under a heavy load of trouble and anxiety. Nearly if not quite a thousand families were painfully affected64 by the abrupt65 stoppage of the two largest works in the section. If actual want was not already experienced, at least the vivid threat of it hung over their poorer neighbors all about them. This fact, it seemed to him, must appeal to them all much more than any conceivable suggestion about furnishing a place in which they might sit about at their ease in leisure hours. He put it to the citizens before him, that their way was made exceptionally clear for them by this calamity66 which had overtaken their village. If the club meant anything, it must mean an organization to help these poor people who were suddenly, through no fault of their own, deprived of incomes and employment. That was something vital, pressing, urgent; easy-chairs and billiard-tables could wait, but the unemployed67 artisans of Thessaly and their families could not.
This in substance was what Reuben said; and when he had finished there succeeded a curious instant of dead silence, and then a loud confusion of comment. Half a dozen men were on their feet now, among them both Tenney and John Fairchild.
The hardware merchant spoke first, and what he said was not so prudent68 as those who knew him best might have expected. The novel excitement of speaking in public got into his head, and he not only used language like a more illiterate69 man than he really was, but he attacked Tracy personally for striving to foment70 trouble between capital and labor, and thereby71 created an unfavorable impression upon the minds of his listeners.
Editor Fairchild had ready a motion that the building be taken on a lease, but that a special committee be appointed by the meeting to devise means for using it to assist the men of Thessaly now out of employment, and that until the present labor crisis was over, all questions of furnishing a club-house proper be laid on the table. He spoke vigorously in support of this measure, and when he had finished there was a significant round of applause.
Horace rose when order had been restored, and speaking with some hesitation72, said that he would put the motion, and that if it were carried he would appoint such a committee, but——
“I said ‘to be appointed by the meeting’!” called out John Fairchild, sharply.
The president did not finish his sentence, but sat down again, and Tenney pushed forward and whispered in his ear. Two or three others gathered sympathetically about, and then still others joined the group formed about the president, and discussed eagerly in undertones this new situation.
“I must decline to put the motion. It does not arise out of the report. It is out of order,” answered Horace at last, as a result of this faction73 conference.
“Then I will put it myself,” cried Fairchild, rising. “But I beg first to move that you leave the chair!” Horace looked with angered uncertainty74 down upon the men who remained seated about Fairchild. They were as thirty to his ten, or thereabouts. He could not stand up against this majority. For a moment he had a fleeting75 notion of trying to conciliate it, and steer76 a middle course, but Tenney’s presence had made that impossible. He laid down his gavel, and, gathering up his hat and coat, stepped off the platform to the floor.
“There is no need of moving that,” he said. “I’ll go without it. So far as I am concerned, the meeting is over, and the club doesn’t exist.”
He led the way out, followed by Tenney, Jones the match-manufacturer, the Rev77. Dr. Turner, and five or six others. One or two gentlemen rose as if to join the procession, and then thinking better of it sat down again.
By general suggestion, John Fairchild took the chair thus vacated, but beyond approving the outlines of his plan, and appointing a committee with Tracy at its head to see what could be done to carry it out, the meeting found very little to do. It was agreed that this committee should also consider the question of funds, and should call a meeting when it was ready to report, which should be at the earliest possible date.
Then the meeting broke up, and its members dispersed78, not without well-founded apprehensions79 that they had heard the last of the Thessaly Citizens’ Club.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
friendliness
|
|
| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
anticipatory
|
|
| adj.预想的，预期的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
manifestations
|
|
| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
advent
|
|
| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
advantageous
|
|
| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
akin
|
|
| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
requited
|
|
| v.报答( requite的过去式和过去分词 )；酬谢；回报；报复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
calamitous
|
|
| adj.灾难的，悲惨的；多灾多难；惨重 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
loomed
|
|
| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
streaked
|
|
| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
retrench
|
|
| v.节省，削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
instinctively
|
|
| adv.本能地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
cinder
|
|
| n.余烬，矿渣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
fascination
|
|
| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
sardonic
|
|
| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
grievance
|
|
| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
pathos
|
|
| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
graveyard
|
|
| n.坟场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
avocation
|
|
| n.副业，业余爱好 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
swelled
|
|
| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
plausible
|
|
| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
sifted
|
|
| v.筛( sift的过去式和过去分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
rumors
|
|
| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
convened
|
|
| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
professed
|
|
| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
detailed
|
|
| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
metropolitan
|
|
| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
humbled
|
|
| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
paralytic
|
|
| adj. 瘫痪的 n. 瘫痪病人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
monopolize
|
|
| v.垄断，独占，专营 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
depot
|
|
| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
ratifying
|
|
| v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
apparatus
|
|
| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
founders
|
|
| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
erecting
|
|
| v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
lucid
|
|
| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
inception
|
|
| n.开端，开始，取得学位 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
dissented
|
|
| 不同意，持异议( dissent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
expenditure
|
|
| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
adoption
|
|
| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
syllable
|
|
| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
laboring
|
|
| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
abrupt
|
|
| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
calamity
|
|
| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
unemployed
|
|
| adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
illiterate
|
|
| adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
foment
|
|
| v.煽动，助长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
faction
|
|
| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
uncertainty
|
|
| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
fleeting
|
|
| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
steer
|
|
| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
rev
|
|
| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
dispersed
|
|
| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
apprehensions
|
|
| 疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |