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75TH YEAR. CHRISTIANSTED V.I.U.S. A, WEDNESDAY ist DECEMBER 1920. NT (P YA AWMYyE L. C/UULL S\NULYS / / /<‘ \'S @)\\ 'Q f\ TN (:6 " No. 278. : THE ST. CROIX AVIS . 18 printed and published daily (Sundays and Holidays excepted) by G. Johansen at the Avis Office. TIWRMS---50 cents monthly in advance. 2 cents per single copy. e s e kntered as second-clazs matter Maj, 26th 1917 at the Post Office at Christian- sted, St. Croix,.V. L of the U. S. A.. un- der the Act of March 3. 1879. Contribution Lo this paper will be glad- ly received when the same deals with mat- ters of general interest, and is accompa- nied with the author’s mame, as a quar- antee of good faith. The editor cannot be responsible for the views of his correspon- dents nor does he necessarily endorsethem. JENKINS, BOLSHEVIST There was a man named Jenkins who had a home, a job, seven sons and a grouch, He was a good provider. In “his home he was boss His wife ecock- ed the dishes he preferred, chose her clothing to win his approval and asked - his advice concerning everything. She did not question his authority. His sons accepted his word as the law and stirred their feet to a lively pace when he called. Jenkins had a-grouch because the fore- man !n the plant vwhere he worked wore a white collar and spent most of his time’ " at a desk, and yet received a wage larger than his own; and because the man who owned the plant rode in a limousine and carried a walking stick. When the whistle hlew for quitting time Jenkins wecuid join a group of his fellows on the street corner and talk about the rights of the workers. The more he talked and the more he listened the strenger became his conviction that he was oppressed, and he learnad to pro- nounce the word ‘‘capitalist’’so that it hssed like a serpent. When he went nome at night and sat dowvn to supper he entertained his wife and his sens by lecturing to them con- cerning the new day that would bring “the under dog to the top. His wife and his sons listened open-mouthed, for they considered him a great man. “The day of liberty is at hand,”” he declared. ‘'The greedy capitalists have ~ kept us in line with the whip of pov- ~ erty, but we shall not long be poor. _ We shall rise and in our might take for ourselves the tools and machines and buiidings, and we shall seize the raw g material and the means of transporta- tion, and thereafter ‘'we shall have the whole profit of our labor. Unfair rules have given our besses power to take: now we shall bave power to take what we desire—and Iw2 have the power who shall deny us the vight ? ““We shall abolished law. What is law but the will of the people? Well we are the people.. Kach will bea law to nmself, choosing his own course, per- mitiing his own soul to.develop without hindrance or restraint. There will be no scheming to get wealth, for the world will belong to all, There will be no anxious thoughts for the morrow, for there will be assurance of plenty to- morrow. ‘“No mau will be a slave and none will labor except when he so desires. We .all shall pe brothers ¢:nd one man’s authority shall be equal to that of an- other.”’ The youngest Jenkins boy, age ten, dared a question. ‘“‘Daddy,’”’he asked, ‘‘are you sure that is the right way? I it is wouldn’t it be 2 good idea™for us to learn it now while we are young?’’ .~ "“Yes, I’m sure,”’ replied Jenkins. We have groped in darkness, but we are near the light. I would be oproud to have my sons learn this great doctrine while it is yet new.”’ When Jenkins came home the following evening he saw a red flag tacked to his front porch. For some reason he did pot attempt to analyze he felt a touch of shame and glanced furtively up and down the street to see if the flag had attracted attention. Then his face set into hard lines and he said to himself: "‘What matter7 Someone must be the pioneer. 'The boys have caught the spi-_ rit. - I am glad. : The living room did not appear as neat as usual, and as he passed through the dining room he noticed that the dinner dishes were yet unwashed. He found his wife in the kitchen, smiling to herself and humming as she went -about the preparation ofsupper. ‘““What’s the matter?”’ he asked. ‘‘Been down town all day?’’ ‘““Nothing wrong’’ she replied. We ha e turned ' Bolshevik, an: I didn’t feel in a humor for work thjs after- noop. [ finished that ‘book Mrs. Stal- lings loaned we.”” - s - Jenkins started to speak but thought better of it .and went into the bath- room to wash up. As he came out he, noticed that the wood box was empty {gd called ’his' ey - son Will. ‘‘Billy,”” he said, ‘‘get your mother some wcad, and while you are about it bring in enough to get breakfast.’’ The boy grinned and shook his head. “*Like fun [ will,”’he replied. *'We are all Bolshevik here. None of us are slaves and nne has just as mueh authori- ty as another. ‘‘l have no desire to bring in wood.’’ . Jenkins turned to his wife. ‘‘lwant to know——"" he demanded hotly, and then his eyes fell on the teapot and he stopped short. ‘What’s the big idea?’’ he asked. ‘“You know I detest tea. If we are out of coffee send one of the boys for some.”’ 'We are not out,”” she replied. '‘But I really prefer tea. Making it instead of coffee is my little way of letting my soul develop without hindrance. If you pre- .%fer coffee you may make it.”’ Jenkins glared and strode out of the kitchen. Supper was a very unsatisfactory meal. The boys were in high spirits and talked incessantly of the new day and its free- dom. “‘After supper,’”’ declared Bob, aged fourteen, ''l am going downtown and wander round until bedtime. I’ve always wanted to '’ You’ll stay inside this heuse,’’ growied Jenkins, ‘‘and study your lessons. I'm going to make something of you boys, and 1 can’t do it if you loaf on the streets. The idea!l”’ “That’s nonsense, dad,”’ the boy pro- tested ‘‘There’s lots of jobs a fellow can handle if he has’'nt pgot a bit of education, and if the workers' are to own everything what’s the ‘use of wasting time trying to learn some- thing? 1f I study like as not I’ll grow up to be a lawyer or a manufacturer or some kind of capitalist and then you would be ashamed of me.”’ Jenkins got to his feet. He started to speak, but his glance was caught by a sparkle oflight that came from the neck- tie worn by his oldest son. . ‘‘Ralph’’, he asked coldly, ‘'where did you get that diamond ?’’ . ‘'‘Jewelry store,”” answered Ralph. - “‘l’vewarned you boys against the fol- ly of buying on the installment plan,”’ Jenkins growled. ‘‘'ln the morning you will take that silly thing back and get the money you paid,’”’ : ' I didn’t buy it, dad,’”’ the boy expiain- = ed:" *“Itook it’.," - - ““You what? 2 - , (Continued om 4th Eye. )