Put Yourself in His Place.

A STORY OF THE TRADES-UNIONS.

Charles Reade.

Characters:

Mr. G. Well, Mr. Little, now, between ourselves, don’t you think it rather hard that the poor workman should have to hang and race the master’s grindstone for nothing?

Mr. L. Why, they share the loss between them. The stone costs the master three pounds, and hanging it only costs the workman four or five shillings. Where’s the grievance?

Mr. G. Hanging and racing a stone shortens the grinder’s life; fills his lungs with grit. Is the workman to give Life and Labor for a forenoon, and is Capital to contribute nothing? Is that your view of Life, Labor, and Capital, young man?

Mr. L. That is smart; but a rule of trade is a rule till it is altered by consent of the parties that made it. Now, right or wrong, it is the rule of trade here that the small grinders find their own stones and pay for power. Cheetham is smarting under your rules, and you can’t expect him to go against any rule that saves him a shilling.

Mr. G. What does this grinder—Cheetham—think?

Mr. L. You might as well ask what the grindstone thinks.

Mr. G. Well, what does the grinder say, then?

Mr. L. Says he’d rather run the old stone out than lose a forenoon.

Mr. G. Well, sir, it is his business.

Mr. L. It may be a man’s business to hang himself; but it is the bystanders’ to hinder him.

Mr. G. You mistake me. I mean that the grinder is the only man who knows whether a stone is safe.

Mr. L. But this grinder does not pretend his stone is safe; all he says is, safe or not, he’ll run it. So now the question is, will you pay four shillings yourself for this blockhead’s loss of time in hanging and racing a new stone? Your Union can find money. Why grudge it when there’s life to be saved, perhaps, and ten times cheaper than you pay for blood?

Mr. G. Young man, did you come here to insult us with these worn-out slanders?

Mr. L. No; but I came to see whether you secretaries, who can find pounds to assassinate men and blow up women and children with gunpowder, can find shillings to secure the life of one of your own members.

Mr. G. Well, sir, the application is without precedent, and I must decline it; but this I beg to do as courteously as the application has been made uncourteously.

Mr. L. Oh, it is easy to be polite when you’ve got no heart.

Mr. G. You are the first ever brought that charge against me. Now, have you nothing to say to us on your own account?

Mr. L. Not a word!

Mr. G. But suppose I could suggest a way by which you could carry on your trade here and offend nobody?

Mr. L. I should decline to hear it. You and I are at war on that. You have done your worst, and I shall do my best to make you all smart for it, the moment I get a chance.

Mr. G. So be it, then!