How the Prince Saw America
They began work at seven-thirty, and at ten minutes past eight everyhammer stopped. In the Senate Chamber and in the House, on thestairways and in the corridors, in every office from the Governor'sto the custodian's they laid down their implements and rose to theirfeet. A long whistle had sounded through the building. There wasmagic in its note."What's the matter with you fellows?" asked the attorney-general,swinging around in his chair."Strike," declared one of the men, with becoming brevity."Strike of what?""Carpet-Tackers' Union Number One," replied the man, kindlygathering up a few tacks."Never heard of it.""Organised last night," said the carpet-tacker, putting on his coat."Well I'll--" he paused expressively, then inquired: "What's yourgame?""Well, you see, boss, this executive council that runs theState-house has refused our demands.""What are your demands?""Double pay.""Double pay! Now how do you figure it out that you ought to havedouble pay?""Rush work. You see we were under oath, or pretty near that, to getevery carpet in the State-house down by four o'clock this afternoon.Now you know yourself that rush work is hard on the nerves. Did youever get rush work done at a laundry and not pay more for it? We wasanxious as anybody to get the Capitol in shape for the big show thisafternoon. But there's reason in all things.""Yes," agreed his auditor, "there is."The man looked at him a little doubtfully. "Our president--weelected Johnny McGuire president last night--went to the Governorthis morning with our demands."The Governor's fellow official smiled--he knew the Governor prettywell. "And he turned you down?"The striker nodded. "But there's an election next fall; maybe theturning down will be turned around.""Maybe so--you never can tell. I don't know just what powerCarpet-Tackers' Union Number One will wield, but the Governor'spretty solid, you know, with Labour as a whole."That was true, and went home. The striker rubbed his footuncertainly across the floor, and took courage from its splinters."Well, there's one thing sure. When Prince Ludwig and his train-loadof big guns show up at four o'clock this afternoon they'll find barefloors, and pretty bum bare floors, on deck at this place."The attorney-general rubbed his own foot across the splintered,miserable boards. "They are pretty bum," he reflected. "I wonder,"he added, as the man was half-way out of the door, "what PrinceLudwig will think of the American working-man when he arrives thisafternoon?""Just about as much," retorted the not-to-be-downed carpet-tacker,"as he does about American generosity. And he may think a fewthings," he added weightily, "about American independence.""Oh, he's sure to do that," agreed the attorney-general.He joined the crowd in the corridor. They were swarming out from allthe offices, all talking of the one thing. "It was a straight caseof hold-up," declared the Governor's secretary. "They supposed theyhad us on the hip. They were getting extra money as it was, but yousee they just figured it out we'd pay anything rather than havethese wretched floors for the reception this afternoon. They thoughtthe Governor would argue the question, and then give in, or, at anyrate, compromise. They never intended for one minute that the Princeshould find bare floors here. And I rather think," he concluded,"that they feel a little done up about it themselves.""What's the situation?" asked a stranger within the gates."It's like this," a newspaper reporter told him; "about a month agothere was a fire here and the walls and carpets were pretty wellknocked out with smoke and water. The carpets were mean old thingsanyway, so they voted new ones. And I want to tell you"--he swelledwith pride--"that the new ones are beauties. The place'll look greatwhen we get 'em down. Well, you know Prince Ludwig and his crowdcross the State on their way to the coast, and of course they wereinvited to stop. Last week Billy Patton--he's running the wholeshow--declined the invitation on account of lack of time, and thenyesterday comes a telegram saying the Prince himself insisted onstopping. You know he's keen about Indian dope--and we've got Indiantraditions to burn. So Mr. Bill Patton had to make over his scheduleto please the Prince, and of course we were all pretty tickled aboutit, for more reasons than one. The telegram didn't come until fiveo'clock yesterday afternoon, but you know what a hummer the Governoris when he gets a start. He made up his mind this building should beput in shape within twenty-four hours. They engaged a whole lot offellows to work on the carpets to-day. Then what did they do but gettogether last night--well, you know the rest. Pretty bum-looking oldshack just now, isn't it?" and the reporter looked around ruefully.It was approaching the hour for the legislature to convene, and themembers who were beginning to saunter in swelled the crowd--and theindignation--in the rotunda.The Governor, meanwhile, had been trying to get other men, butCarpet-Tackers' Union Number One had looked well to that. Thebiggest furniture dealer in the city was afraid of the plumbers."Pipes burst last night," he said, "and they may not do a thing forus if we get mixed up in this. Sorry--but I can't let my customersget pneumonia."Another furniture man was afraid of the teamsters. For one reason oranother no one was disposed to respond to the Macedonian cry, andwhen the Governor at last gave it up and walked out into the rotundahe was about as disturbed as he permitted himself to get. "It's theidea of lying down," he said. "I'd do anything--anything!--if Icould only think what to do."A popular young member of the House overheard the remark. "ByGeorge, Governor," he burst forth, after a minute's deepstudy--"say--by Jove, I say, let's do it ourselves!"They all laughed, but the Governor's laugh stopped suddenly, and helooked hard at the young man."Why not?" the young legislator went on. "It's a big job, but thereare a lot of us. We've all put down carpets at home; what are weafraid to tackle it here for?"Again the others laughed, but the Governor did not. "Say, Weston,"he said, "I'd give a lot--I tell you I'd give a lot--if we justcould!""Leave it to me!"--and he was lost in the crowd.The Governor's eyes followed him. He had always liked Harry Weston.He was the very sort to inspire people to do things. The Governorsmiled knowingly as he noted the men Weston was approaching, and hisdifferent manner with the various ones. And then he had mounted afew steps of the stairway, and was standing there facing the crowd."Now look here," he began, after silence had been obtained, "thisisn't a very formal meeting, but it's a mighty important one. It's aclear case of Carpet-Tackers' Union against the State. What I wantto know is--Is the State going to lie down?"There were loud cries of "No!"--"Well, I should say not!""Well, then, see here. The Governor's tried for other men and can'tget them. Now the next thing I want to know is--What's the matterwith us?"They didn't get it for a minute, and then everybody laughed."It's no joke! You've all put down carpets at home; what's the useof pretending you don't know how to do it? Oh yes--I know, biggerbuilding, and all that, but there are more of us, and the principleof carpet-tacking is the same, big building or little one. Now myscheme is this--Every fellow his own carpet-tacker! The Governor'soffice puts down the Governor's carpet; the Secretary's office putsdown the Secretary's carpet; the Senate puts down the Senatecarpet--and we'll look after our little patch in the House!""But you've got more fellows than anybody else," cried a member ofthe Senate."Right you are, and we'll have an over-flow meeting in the corridorsand stairways. The House, as usual, stands ready to do herpart,"--that brought a laugh for the Senators, and from them."Now get it out of your heads this is a joke. The carpets are here;the building is full of able-bodied men; the Prince is coming atfour--by his own request, and the proposition is just this: Are wegoing to receive him in a barn or in a palace? Let's hear whatSenator Arnold thinks about it."That was a good way of getting away from the idea of its being ajoke. Senator Arnold was past seventy. Slowly he extended his rightarm and tested his muscle. "Not very much," he said, "but enough todrive a tack or two." That brought applause and they drew closertogether, and the atmosphere warmed perceptibly. "I've fought forthe State in more ways than one,"--Senator Arnold was adistinguished veteran of the Civil War--"and if I can serve her nowby tacking down carpets, then it's tacking down carpets I'm ready togo at. Just count on me for what little I'm worth."Someone started the cry for the Governor. "Prince Ludwig is beingentertained all over the country in the most lavish manner," hebegan, with his characteristic directness in stating a situation."By his own request he is to visit our Capitol this afternoon. Imust say that I, for one, want to be in shape for him. I don't liketo tell him that we had a labour complication and couldn't get thecarpets down. Speaking for myself, it is a great pleasure to informyou that the carpet in the Governor's office will be in proper shapeby four o'clock this afternoon."That settled it. Finally Harry Weston made himself heardsufficiently to suggest that when the House and Senate met at nineo'clock motions to adjourn be entertained. "And as to the rest ofyou fellows," he cried, "I don't see what's to hinder your gettingbusy right now!"There were Republicans and there were Democrats; there were friendsand there were enemies; there were good, bad and--no, there were noindifferent. An unprecedented harmony of thought, a millennium-likeunity of action was born out of that sturdy cry--Every man his owncarpet-tacker! The Secretary of State always claimed that he drovethe first tack, but during the remainder of his life theSuperintendent of Public Instruction also contended hotly for thathonour. The rivalry as to who would do the best job, and get it donemost quickly, became intense. Early in the day Harry Weston made therounds of the building and announced a fine of one-hundred dollarsfor every wrinkle. There were pounded fingers and there were brokenbacks, but slowly, steadily and good-naturedly the State-housecarpet was going down. It was a good deal bigger job than they hadanticipated, but that only added zest to the undertaking. The newsof how the State officials were employing themselves had spreadthroughout the city, and guards were stationed at every door to keepout people whose presence would work more harm than good. Allassistance from women was courteously refused. "This is solemnbusiness," said the Governor, in response to a telephone from someof the fair sex, "and the introduction of the feminine element mightthrow about it a social atmosphere which would result in loss oftime. And then some of the boys might feel called upon to put ontheir collars and coats."Stretch--stretch--stretch, and tack--tack--tack, all morning long itwent on, for the State-house was large--oh, very large. There shouldhave been a Boswell there to get the good things, for the novelty ofthe situation inspired wit even in minds where wit had never glowedbefore. Choice bits which at other times would fairly have gone onofficial record were now passed almost unnoticed, so great was thesurfeit. Instead of men going out to lunch, lunch came in to them.Bridget Haggerty, who by reason of her long connection with theboarding-house across the street was a sort of unofficial officialof the State, came over and made the coffee and sandwiches, all thewhile calling down blessings on the head of every mother's son ofthem, and announcing in loud, firm tones that while all five of herboys belonged to the union she'd be after tellin' them what shethought of this day's work!It was a United States Senator who did the awful trick, and, to befair, the Senator did not think of it as an awful trick at all. Hecame over there in the middle of the morning to see the Governor,and in a few hurried words--it was no day for conversation--was toldwhat was going on. It was while standing out in the corridorwatching the perspiring dignitaries that the idea of his duty cameto him, and one reason he was sure he was right was the way in whichit came to him in the light of a duty. Here was America in undressuniform! Here was--not a thing arranged for show, but absolutely thething itself! Prince Ludwig had come with a sincere desire to seeAmerica. Every one knew that he was not seeing it at all. He wouldgo back with memories of bands and flags and people all dressed upstanding before him making polite speeches. But would he carry backone small whiff of the spirit of the country? Again Senator Brunerlooked about him. The Speaker of the House was just beginning layingthe stair carpet; a judge of the Supreme Court was contending hotlyfor a better hammer. "It's an insult to expect any decent man todrive tacks with a hammer like this," he was saying. Here weremen--real, live men, men with individuality, spirit. When the Princehad come so far, wasn't it too bad that he should not see anythingbut uniforms and cut glass and dress suits and other externals andnon-essentials? Senator Bruner was a kind man; he was a good fellow;he was hospitable--patriotic. He decided now in favour of thePrince.He had to hurry about it, for it was almost twelve then. One of thevice-presidents of the road lived there, and he was taken intoconfidence, and proved an able and eager ally. They located thespecial train bearing the Prince and ordered it stopped at the nextstation. The stop was made that Senator Patton might receive a longtelegram from Senator Bruner. "I figure it like this," the Senatortold the vice-president. "They get to Boden at a quarter of one andwere going to stop there an hour. Then they were going to stop alittle while at Creyville. I've told Patton the situation, and thatif he wants to do the right thing by the prince he'll cut out thosestops and rush right through here. That will bring him in--well,they could make it at a quarter of two. I've told him I'd square itwith Boden and Creyville. Oh, he'll do it all right."And even as he said so came the reply from Patton: "Too good tomiss. Will rush through. Arrive before two. Have carriage at WaterStreet.""That's great!" cried the Senator. "Trust Billy Patton for fallingin with a good thing. And he's right about missing the stationcrowd. Patton can always go you one better," he admitted,grinningly.They had luncheon together, and they were a good deal more likesophomores in college than like a United States Senator and a bigrailroad man. "You don't think there's any danger of their gettingthrough too soon?" McVeigh kept asking, anxiously."Not a bit," the Senator assured him. "They can't possibly make itbefore three. We'll come in just in time for the final skirmish.It's going to be a jolly rush at the last."They laid their plans with skill worthy of their training. The Statelibrary building was across from the Capitol, and they wereconnected by tunnel. "I never saw before," said the Senator, "whatthat tunnel was for, but I see now what a great thing it is. We'llget him in at the west door of the library--we can drive right up toit, you know, and then we walk him through the tunnel. That's astone floor"--the Senator was chuckling with every sentence--"so Iguess they won't be carpeting it. There's a little stairway runningup from the tunnel---and say, we must telephone over and arrangeabout those keys. There'll be a good deal of climbing, but thePrince is a good fellow, and won't mind. It wouldn't be safe to trythe elevator, for Harry Weston would be in it taking somebody abundle of tacks. The third floor is nothing but store rooms; we'llnot be disturbed up there, and we can look right down the rotundaand see the whole show. Of course we'll be discovered in time; someone is sure to look up and see us, but we'll fix it so they won'tsee us before we've had our fun, and it strikes me, McVeigh, thatfor two old fellows like you and me we've put the thing through inpretty neat shape."It was a very small and unpretentious party which stepped from thespecial at Water Street a little before two. The Prince was wearinga long coat and an automobile cap and did not suggest anything atall formidable or unusual. "You've saved the country," SenatorPatton whispered in an aside. "He was getting bored. Never saw afellow jolly up so in my life. Guess he was just spoiling for somefun. Said it would be really worth while to see somebody who wasn'tlooking for him."Senator Bruner beamed. "That's just the point. He's caught my ideaexactly."It went without a hitch. "I feel," said the Prince, as they werehurrying him through the tunnel, "that I am a little boy who has runaway from school. Only I have a terrible fear that at any minutesome band may begin to play, and somebody may think of making aspeech."They gave this son of a royal house a seat on a dry-goods box, soplaced that he could command a good view, and yet be fairly secure.The final skirmish was on in earnest. Two State Senators--coatless,tieless, collarless, their faces dirty, their hair rumpled, werefinishing the stair carpet. The chairman of the appropriationscommittee in the House was doing the stretching in a stilluncarpeted bit of the corridor, and a member who had recentlydenounced the appropriations committee as a disgrace to the Statewas presiding at the hammer. They were doing most exquisitelyharmonious team work. A railroad and anti-railroad member who foughtevery time they came within speaking distance of one another werenow in an earnest and very chummy conference relative to a largewrinkle which had just been discovered on the first landing. Manymen were standing around holding their backs, and many others weredeeply absorbed in nursing their fingers. The doors of the officeswere all open, and there was a general hauling in of furniture andhanging of pictures. Clumsy but well-meaning fingers were doingtheir best with "finishing touches." The Prince grew so excitedabout it all that they had to keep urging him not to take too manychances of being seen."And I'll tell you," Senator Bruner was saying, "it isn't onlybecause I knew it would be funny that I wanted you to see it;but--well, you see America isn't the real America when she has onher best clothes and is trying to show off. You haven't seen anybodywho hasn't prepared for your coming, and that means you haven't seenthem as they are at all. Now here we are. This is us! You see thatfellow hanging a picture down there? He's president of the FirstNational Bank. Came over a little while ago, got next to thesituation, and stayed to help. And--say, this is good! Notice thatred-headed fellow just getting up from his knees? Well, he'spresident of the teamsters' union--figured so big in a strike herelast year. I call that pretty rich! He's the fellow they are all soafraid of, but I guess he liked the idea of the boys doing itthemselves, and just sneaked in and helped.--There's the Governor.He's a fine fellow. He wouldn't be held up by anybody--not even toget ready for a Prince, but he's worked like a Trojan all day tomake things come his way. Yes sir--this is the sure-enough thing.Here you have the boys off dress parade. Not that we run away fromour dignity every day, but--see what I mean?""I see," replied the Prince, and he looked as though he really did."You know--say, dodge there! Move back! No--too late. The Governor'scaught us. Look at him!"The Governor's eyes had turned upward, and he had seen. He put hishands on his back--he couldn't look up without doing that--and gavea long, steady stare. First, Senator Bruner waved; then SenatorPatton waved; then Mr. McVeigh waved; and then the Prince waved.Other people were beginning to look up. "They're all on," laughedPatton, "let's go down."At first they were disposed to think it pretty shabby treatment. "Weworked all day to get in shape," grumbled Harry Weston, "and thenyou go ring the curtain up on us before it's time for our show tobegin."But the Prince made them feel right about it. He had such a goodtime that they were forced to concede the move had been a success.And he said to the Governor as he was leaving: "I see that the onlyway to see America is to see it when America is not seeing you."
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