Chapter 4

           Iwentawayhastily,downacross-street,andatthefirstcornerIsawanothertragedy. Twomenoftheworkingclasshadcaughtamanandawomanwithtwochildren,andwererobbingthem. Iknewthemanbysight,thoughIhadneverbeenintroducedtohim. HewasapoetwhoseversesIhadlongadmired. YetIdidnotgotohishelp,foratthemomentIcameuponthescenetherewasapistolshot,andIsawhimsinkingtotheground. Thewomanscreamed,andshewasfelledwithafist-blowbyoneofthebrutes. Icriedoutthreateningly,whereupontheydischargedtheirpistolsatmeandIranawayaroundthecorner. HereIwasblockedbyanadvancingconflagration. Thebuildingsonbothsideswereburning,andthestreetwasfilledwithsmokeandflame. Fromsomewhereinthatmurkcameawoman’svoicecallingshrillyforhelp. ButIdidnotgotoher. Aman’sheartturnedtoironamidsuchscenes,andoneheardalltoomanyappealsforhelp. 

           “Returningtothecorner,Ifoundthetworobbersweregone. Thepoetandhiswifelaydeadonthepavement. Itwasashockingsight. Thetwochildrenhadvanished—whitherIcouldnottell. AndIknew,now,whyitwasthatthefleeingpersonsIencounteredslippedalongsofurtivelyandwithsuchwhitefaces. Inthemidstofourcivilization,downinourslumsandlabor-ghettos,wehadbredaraceofbarbarians,ofsavages;andnow,inthetimeofourcalamity,theyturneduponuslikethewildbeaststheywereanddestroyedus. Andtheydestroyedthemselvesaswell. 

           “Theyinflamedthemselveswithstrongdrinkandcommittedathousandatrocities,quarrelingandkillingoneanotherinthegeneralmadness.