The Workers: An Experiment in Reality. The West

** "The Workers: An Experiment in Reality" by Walter A. Wyckoff is a social commentary from the late 1800's, that examines the tough times of jobless people in cities within America, shedding light on their serious hunt for any form of employment against the context of a quickly growing industrial world. The story follows Tom Clark and the writer, as they face the difficult truths of living on the margins of society searching for work and a way to live. Beginning in Chicago, the writer paints a picture of the scary truth felt by people who lack work. With Tom Clark, he tells of dealing with hunger, cold, and sadness within the busy labor market, where their initial hope for jobs turns into sleeping in a station-house after a fruitless day. They experience friendship made from their same struggles and consider questions regarding communities that make people feel useless within the massive city. As they wait to escape their awful conditions, the story sets an emotional tone showing the deep ideas of dignity, hope, and attempts to survive against all odds. **