self, and the meeting gathered itself together and pro~
ceeded to discuss the election of a recording secretary.

Jurgis too had an adventure the first time he attended
a union meeting, but it was not of his own seeking.
Jurgis had gone with the desire to get into an inconspic~
uous corner and see what was done; but this attitude of
silent and open-eyed attention had marked him out for a
victim. Tommy Finnegan was a little Irish man, with
big staring eyes and a wild aspect, a "hoister" by trade,
and badly cracked. Somewhere back in the far-distant
past Tommy Finnegan had had a strange experience, and
the burden of it rested upon him. All the balance of his
life he had done nothing but try to make it understood.
When he talked he caught his victim by the buttonhole,
and his face kept coming closer and closer -- which was
trying, because his teeth were so bad. Jurgis did not
mind that, only he was frightened. The method of opera~
tion of the higher intelligences was Tom Finnegan's theme,
and he desired to find out if Jurgis had ever considered
that the representation of things in their present similar~
ity might be altogether unintelligible upon a more elevated
plane. There were assuredly wonderful mysteries about
the developing of these things; and then, becoming con~
fidential, Mr. Finnegan proceeded to tell of some discov~
eries of his own. "If ye have iver had onything to do
wid shperrits," said he, and looked inquiringly at Jurgis,
who kept shaking his head. "Niver mind, niver mind,"
continued the other, "but their influences may be oper~
atin' upon ye; it's shure as I'm tellin' ye, it's them that
has the reference to the immejit surroundin's that has the
most of power. It was vouchsafed to me in me youthful
days to be acquainted with shperrits" -- and so Tommy
Finnegan went on, expounding a system of philosophy,
while the perspiration came out on Jurgis's forehead, so
great was his agitation and embarrassment. In the end
one of the men, seeing his plight, came over and rescued
him; but it was some time before he was able to find any
one to explain things to him, and meanwhile his fear lest
the strange little Irish man should get him cornered again

[[106]]

p105 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p106w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p107

v?