If the shocker had even one ounce of Irish blood in his heat-withered veins, he was doubly wretched over the never-ending possibilities of grabbing a snake at the same time he seized a bundle of grain. The ounce of Irish snakephobia showed up at times in those who spoke with a Teutonic accent, like the middle-aged shocker, who enthusiastically shovel-passed a bundle and explained the record heave thus: “It used to make mine heart go pitty-pat to hug the girls—but,” exploding a couple of words beginning with Y and C, “to hug a tamn snake! ! ! ! ”

There were, of course, those observers who argued that since in some industries 50 or 60 per cent of those employed were scientific, technical, and administrative staff, the employer would soon include them in his speedup plans.

He was not an expert but he was brutally honest by saying he couldn’t help the customer find a solution.

He bought a year-old car.