e lashed him with a horsewhip at a public meeting and
denounced him as a renegade. Nor did time bring about a reconciliation.

* * * * *

Emma, Alexander Berkman, and a youthful artist were living together in
congenial intimacy. They worked at their menial tasks during the day and
devoted their evenings to agitation. Because the progress of anarchism
in this country was too slow for them, the news of increased
revolutionary activity in Russia filled them with a romantic nostalgia
for their native land. They decided to engage in some business until
they should have saved enough money for the journey back. In the spring
of 1892 chance brought them to Worcester, Massachusetts, where they were
soon operating a successful lunchroom.

The bloody consequences of the lockout at the Homestead plant of The
Carnegie Steel Company inflamed the minds of these youthful idealists.
The plan to return to Russia was abandoned with little regret. They
agreed it was their duty to go to the aid of the brutally maltreated
workers. Berkman insisted that their great moment was at hand, that they
must give up the lunchroom and leave at once for the scene of the
fighting. "Being internationalists," he argued, "it mattered not to us
where the blow was struck by the workers; we must be with them. We must
bring them our great message and help them see that it was not only for
the moment that they must strike, but for all time, for a free life, for
anarchism. Russia had many heroic men and women, but who was there in
America? Yes, we must go to Homestead, tonight!" Taking with them the
day's receipts and their personal belongings, they left immediately for
New York. Berkman, eager to emulate the Russian nihilists who were then
fighting hangings with assassinations, determined to make Frick, the
dictatorial general manager, pay with his life for the death of those
who had worked for him. Unable to perfect a bomb, he decided to use a
pistol. Emma wanted to accompany him to Pittsburgh, but remained behind
for the lack of railroad fare. A few days later the resolute youth of
twenty-one made his way into Frick's office, discharged three bullets
into his body, and stabbed him several times before being overpowered
and beaten into unconsciousness.

Prior to the attempt on his life Frick had been severely criticized for
harsh and arbitrary treatment of his employees. His determination to
break their union and his reckless u