hold out a welcome to workingmen; and there was always
a warm stove, and a chair near it, and some friends to laugh
and talk with. There was only one condition attached, --
you must drink. If you went in not intending to drink,
you would be put out in no time, and if you were slow
about going, like as not you would get your head split
open with a beer-bottle in the bargain. But all of the
men understood the convention and drank; they believed
that by it they were getting something for nothing -- for
they did not need to take more than one drink, and upon the
strength of it they might fill themselves up with a good hot
dinner. This did not always work out in practice, how~
ever, for there was pretty sure to be a friend who would
treat you, and then you would have to treat him. Then
someone else would come in -- and, anyhow, a few drinks
were good for a man who worked hard. As he went back
he did not shiver so, he had more courage for his task;
the deadly brutalizing monotony of it did not afflict him
so, -- he had ideas while he worked, and took a more cheer~
ful view of his circumstances. On the way home, however,
the shivering was apt to come on him again; and so he
would have to stop once or twice to warm up against the
cruel cold. As there were hot things to eat in this saloon
too, he might get home late to his supper, or he might not
get home at all. And then his wife might set out to look
for him, and she too would feel the cold; and perhaps she
would have some of the children with her -- and so a
whole family would drift into drinking, as the current of
a river drifts down-stream. As if to complete the chain,
the packers all paid their men in checks, refusing all re~
quests to pay in coin; and where in Packingtown could a
man go to have his check cashed but to a saloon, where
he could pay for the favor by spending a part of the
money?

From all of these things Jurgis was saved because of
Ona. He never would take but the one drink at noon~
time; and so he got the reputation of being a surly
fellow, and was not quite welcome at the saloons, and had
to drift about from one to another. Then at night he

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v?