An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

who arose as they approached. “This is Miss Todd,” began

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Whiggam. “She’s been in charge for about ten days now in

the absence of Mrs. Angier. And what I want you to do now,

Miss Todd, is to explain to Mr. Griffiths here just as quickly

and clearly as you can what it is you do here. And then later

in the day when he comes up here, I want you to help him

to keep track of things until he sees just what is wanted and

can do it himself. You’ll do that, won’t you?”

“Why, certainly, Mr. Whiggam. I’ll be only too glad to,”

complied Miss Todd, and at once she began to take down

the books of records and to show Clyde how the entry and

discharge records were kept—also later how the stamping

was done—how the basket girls took the descending

bundles from the chutes and distributed them evenly

according to the needs of the stamper and how later, as

fast as they were stamped, other basket girls carried them

to the stitchers outside. And Clyde, very much interested,

felt that he could do it, only among so many women on a

floor like this he felt very strange. There were so very, very

many women—hundreds of them—stretching far and away

between white walls and white columns to the eastern end

of the building. And tall windows that reached from floor to

ceiling let in a veritable flood of light. These girls were not

all pretty. He saw them out of the tail of his eye as first Miss

Todd and later Whiggam, and even Liggett, volunteered to

impress points on him.

“The important thing,” explained Whiggam after a time, “is

to see that there is no mistake as to the number of

thousands of dozens of collars that come down here and

are stamped, and also that there’s no delay in stamping

them and getting them out to the stitchers. Also that the

records of these girls’ work is kept accurately so that there

won’t be any mistakes as to their time.”

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At last Clyde saw what was required of him and the

conditions under which he was about to work and said so.

He was very nervous but quickly decided that if this girl

could do the work, he could. And because Liggett and

Whiggam, interested by his relationship to Gilbert,

appeared very friendly and persisted in delaying here,

saying that there was nothing he could not manage they

were sure, he returned after a time with Whiggam to Gilbert

who, on seeing him enter, at once observed: “Well, what’s

the answer? Yes or no. Do you think you can do it or do you

think you can’t?”

“Well, I know that I can do it,” replied Clyde with a great

deal of courage for him, yet with the private feeling that he

might not make good unless fortune favored him some

even now. There were so many things to be taken into

consideration—the favor of those above as well as about

him—and would they always favor him?

“Very good, then. Just be seated for a moment,” went on

Gilbert. “I want to talk to you some more in connection with

that work up there. It looks easy to you, does it?”

“No, I can’t say that it looks exactly easy,” replied Clyde,

strained and a little pale, for because of his inexperience he

felt the thing to be a great opportunity—one that would

require all his skill and courage to maintain. “Just the same

I think I can do it. In fact I know I can and I’d like to try.”

“Well, now, that sounds a little better,” replied Gilbert crisply

and more graciously. “And now I want to tell you something

more about it. I don’t suppose you ever thought there was a

floor with that many women on it, did you?”

“No, sir, I didn’t,” replied Clyde. “I knew they were

somewhere in the building, but I didn’t know just where.”

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“Exactly,” went on Gilbert. “This plant is practically operated

by women from cellar to roof. In the manufacturing

department, I venture to say there are ten women to every

man. On that account every one in whom we entrust any

responsibility around here must be known to us as to their

moral and religious character. If you weren’t related to us,

and if we didn’t feel that because of that we knew a little

something about you, we wouldn’t think of putting you up

there or anywhere in this factory over anybody until we did

know. But don’t think because you’re related to us that we

won’t hold you strictly to account for everything that goes on

up there and for your conduct. We will, and all the more so

because you are related to us. You understand that, do

you? And why—the meaning of the Griffiths name here?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Clyde.

“Very well, then,” went on Gilbert. “Before we place any one

here in any position of authority, we have to be absolutely

sure that they’re going to behave themselves as gentlemen

always—that the women who are working here are going to

receive civil treatment always. If a young man, or an old

one for that matter, comes in here at any time and imagines

that because there are women here he’s going to be

allowed to play about and neglect his work and flirt or cut

up, that fellow is doomed to a short stay here. The men and

women who work for us have got to feel that they are

employees first, last and all the time—and they have to

carry that attitude out into the street with them. And unless

they do it, and we hear anything about it, that man or

woman is done for so far as we are concerned. We don’t

want ’em and we won’t have ’em. And once we’re through

with ’em, we’re through with ’em.”

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He paused and stared at Clyde as much as to say: “Now I

hope I have made myself clear. Also that we will never

have any trouble in so far as you are concerned.”

And Clyde replied: “Yes, I understand. I think that’s right. In

fact I know that’s the way it has to be.”

“And ought to be,” added Gilbert.

“And ought to be,” echoed Clyde.

At the same time he was wondering whether it was really

true as Gilbert said. Had he not heard the mill girls already

spoken about in a slighting way? Yet consciously at the

moment he did not connect himself in thought with any of

these girls upstairs. His present mood was that, because of

his abnormal interest in girls, it would be better if he had

nothing to do with them at all, never spoke to any of them,

kept a very distant and cold attitude, such as Gilbert was

holding toward him. It must be so, at least if he wished to

keep his place here. And he was now determined to keep it

and to conduct himself always as his cousin wished.

“Well, now, then,” went on Gilbert as if to supplement

Clyde’s thoughts in this respect, “what I want to know of you

is, if I trouble to put you in that department, even

temporarily, can I trust you to keep a level head on your

shoulders and go about your work conscientiously and not

have your head turned or disturbed by the fact that you’re

working among a lot of women and girls?”

“Yes, sir, I know you can,” replied Clyde very much

impressed by his cousin’s succinct demand, although, after

Rita, a little dubious.

“If I can’t, now is the time to say so,” persisted Gilbert. “By

blood you’re a member of this family. And to our help here,

and especially in a position of this kind, you represent us.

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We can’t have anything come up in connection with you at

any time around here that won’t be just right. So I want you

to be on your guard and watch your step from now on. Not

the least thing must occur in connection with you that any

one can comment on unfavorably. You understand, do

you?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Clyde most solemnly. “I understand that.

I’ll conduct myself properly or I’ll get out.” And he was

thinking seriously at the moment that he could and would.

The large number of girls and women upstairs seemed very

remote and of no consequence just then.

“Very good. Now, I’ll tell you what else I want you to do. I

want you to knock off for the day and go home and sleep

on this and think it over well. Then come back in the

morning and go to work up there, if you still feel the same.

Your salary from now on will be twenty-five dollars, and I