Page:Samuel F. Batchelder - Bits of Harvard History (1924).pdf/327

 The erection of even these simple structures was not unattended with danger, especially if the time-honored accompaniment of all “raisings” was present—New England rum. Stevens (who, by the way, was quartered in one of the Harvard buildings) records on October 26th “jest at Nigt Raising won of the Baruks one for us belonging to our Chamber fel of the frame & hurt him selfe very bad.”

It is an odd parallel to the latest industrial developments in modern warfare to find that even in the days of our patriotic forefathers “the man behind the man behind the gun” fully appreciated the importance as well as the difficulties and dangers of his job. On December 10th a fit of economy seized the paymaster, and the carpenters’ wages were cut down to eightpence a day, or a pound a month. No recent strike in shipyard or munition factory ever materialized more quickly: “the men al Left of Worke” and “was all deesmist.’’ Next day the authorities realized their error, and a conference was held. Little by little they increased their offers until they promised that “if we would go to work we should