in the month of January, 1904, when the country was on
the verge of "hard times," and the newspapers were re~
porting the shutting down of factories every day -- it was
estimated that a million and a half men were thrown
out of work before the spring. So all the hiding-places
of the city were crowded, and before that station-house
door men fought and tore each other like savage beasts.
When at last the place was jammed and they shut the
doors, half the crowd was still outside; and Jurgis, with
his helpless arm, was among them. There was no choice
then but to go to a lodging-house and spend another dime.
It really broke his heart to do this, at half-past twelve
o'clock, after he had wasted the night at the meeting
and on the street. He would be turned out of the lodg~
ing-house promptly at seven -- they had the shelves which
served as bunks so contrived that they could be dropped,
and any man who was slow about obeying orders could be
tumbled to the floor.

This was one day, and the cold spell lasted for fourteen
of them. At the end of six days every cent of Jurgis's
money was gone; and then he went out on the streets
to beg for his life.

He would begin as soon as the business of the city was
moving. He would sally forth from a saloon, and, after
making sure there was no policeman in sight, would ap~
proach every likely-looking person who passed him, telling
his woeful story and pleading for a nickel or a dime. Then
when he got one, he would dart round the corner and re~
turn to his base to get warm; and his victim, seeing him
do this, would go away, vowing that he would never give
a cent to a beggar again. The victim never paused to
ask where else Jurgis could have gone under the circum~
stances -- where he, the victim, would have gone. At
the saloon Jurgis could not only get more food and better
food than he could buy in any restaurant for the same
money, but a drink in the bargain to warm him up. Also
he could find a comfortable seat by a fire, and could chat
with a companion until he was as warm as toast. At the
saloon, too, he felt at home. Part of the saloon-keeper's

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