Tribune Excerpts
The following article appeared in the February 2008 Edition of the Macedonian Tribune
DETSI of 09
By Mitch Pedroff
The elders of the Macedonian community in St. Louis assumed the responsibility of providing an orientation to the neighborhood and most importantly assisting new arrivals in locating jobs. Many of the newly arrived immigrants, including father, were taken to a factory where railroad boxcars were built. They were to be employed as day laborers, essentially meaning, as father said, no work, no pay for the day. The detsi (boys) were assigned various workstations within the factory.
Konomladi, a mountain village, was
not electrified in 1909; yet, father read and
knew about the electric light a relatively
new invention. If the experience on The
Holiday was unpleasant, the loudness
and smell of the factory was depressing.
The detsi were in for a surprise at the
factory. To their amazement, electricity
powered machines, belts, pulleys, flywheels
and chains. The sprawling nature of the
factory with its loud noise and moving
trucks, machines, belts and boxcars was
incomprehensible to them. The only work
experience these lads had was goat tending,
sheep-herding, minor construction and
gardening non-skilled work. Now they
had been thrust into a large manufacturing
facility.
 Mitch Pedroff |
Father and two of his friends were assigned to a work area where boxcars rolled on tracks into a large room the largest room father could have imagined. He observed that the cars had large stenciled letters, Santa Fe, on the sides. He soon learned that these cars were built for the Santa Fe Railroad Company. One can assume from the preceding description that this large room was near the finishing stage of the manufacturing process. The first day of work was memorable. They stood for a long time observing the workers, not knowing their job responsibilities. Eventually, a worker approached and spoke to them in a language they did not understand. Through hand gestures and body - language each lad was directed to a work area. |
Initially, the detsi learned their tasks by trial and error and tried to make sense of the verbal commands they did not understand. Co-workers were amused with their incompetence. They were good-hearted, tolerant men, yet they were somewhat suspicious about their newly assigned workers. At the first break, one of the men approached the detsi and inquired about their ethnic background. After a brief discussion, father learned they were working with Etalyansee (Italians).
Later in life father said, I came to America to be an American, but to survive I had to learn some Italian first. These Macedonian boys were very fortunate indeed to have been assigned to this Italian work force, as shall presently be told.
The lads were paid nine cents an hour for a ten-hour workday, or $4.50 per week. Being in debt, father was enthused about his pay, as low as it was. He could count on his pay, week after week. In the selo (village), one could work one day and get paid and work four days without pay. The money or gold was not available. To father, this job was temporary; golemma paaree (big money), as father called it, was on the line.
The differences in language posed a barrier to communication; the Etalyansee remained aloof and dealt with the detsi in a very impersonal manner. During breaks and lunchtime, the lads isolated themselves from their co-workers. They found comfort being alone and talked about their misery, failures and disappointments.
As the boys ate lunch one day, father observed a co-worker eating garlic with his meal and said, die me luc, mola, (give me garlic, please) pointing at his mouth and then pointing at the garlic. The worker returned a blank stare and father repeated his request, emphasizing luc.
Now seeming to understand, the Etalyano held up a clove and father nodded. A clove of garlic was flipped to him. On the next day, the begging continued with another clove tossed to him; the begging Macedonian continued in his ways in succeeding days.
When the lads were having lunch a few days later, they saw four Etalyansee walking directly at them. Their fists were clinched and father thought, Oh, oh, they are going to beat us.
The Etalyansee now stood directly above the lads; they stuck out their fists, opened them and in the palms of their hands were cloves of garlic. They laughingly chanted, luc, luc, luc. The detsi sprung to their feet and laughingly accepted their gifts. The social barrier was dented. The boys had arrived. In time, the work atmosphere improved and working with the Etayiansee was more pleasurable, as father noted, just because of garlic.
