gine," said he.

"Well, I'd like to be called an Introducer. My friend, Mr. Blacksmith,
let me introduce you to my friend, Mr. Plutocrat. I could almost swear
that you were brothers, so near alike are you! You'll find each other
wonderfully interesting once you get over the awkwardness of the
introduction. And Mr. White Man, let me present you particularly to my
good friend, Mr. Negro. You will see if you sit down to it that this
colour of the face is only skin deep."

"It's a good name!" said Mr. Vedder, laughing.

"It's a wonderful name," said I, "and it's about the biggest and finest
work in the world--to know human beings just as they are, and to
make them acquainted with one another just as they are. Why, it's the
foundation of all the democracy there is, or ever will be. Sometimes I
think that friendliness is the only achievement of life worth while--and
unfriendliness the only tragedy."

I have since felt ashamed of myself when I thought how I lectured my
unprotected host that day at luncheon; but it seemed to boil out of me
irresistibly. The experiences of the past two days had stirred me to the
very depths, and it seemed to me I must explain to somebody how it all
impressed me--and to whom better than to my good friend Vedder?

As we were leaving the table an idea flashed across my mind which
seemed, at first, so wonderful that it quite turned me dizzy.

"See here, Mr. Vedder," I exclaimed, "let me follow my occupation
practically. I know Bill Hahn and I know you. Let me introduce you.
If you could only get together, if you could only understand what
good fellows you both are, it might go far toward solving these
difficulties."

I had some trouble persuading him, but finally he consented, said he
wanted to leave no stone unturned, and that he would meet Bill Hahn and
some of the other leaders, if proper arrangements could be made.

I left him, therefore, in excitement, feeling that I was at the point of
playing a part in a very great event. "Once get these men together," I
thought, "and they MUST come to an understanding."

So I rushed out to the mill district, saying to myself over and over (I
have smiled about it since!): "We'll settle this strike: we'll settle
this strike: we'll settle this strike." After some searching I found
my friend Bill in the little room over a saloon that served as strike
headquarters. A dozen or more of the leaders were there, faintly
distinguishable through clouds of toba