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There’s an interesting introduction into the world of this Lithuanian community of Chicago. The main scene being the marriage of 16-year-old, blue-eyed Ona, running into tears often, …with Jurgis, a much older man.

Special attention has been given to the description of the characters dancing or just chatting over the table; but center-stage remains the trio-band (moving, sometimes, over the room!): Tamoszius, the 5-feet leader, the violin player, supported by another violin, of a Slovak man, and a third fat man who plays the bass part on a cello. The band tunes make the minds and hearts of those attending to recall Lithuania.

Alina is the beauty of the evening, but she’s too proud. She’s countered by Jadvyga: beautiful, yet humble.

There’s plenty of Lithuanian language in the air…and in the songs…and waltzing. Jokubas contribution to the “party� is his “poetical imagination�. Antanas, the precociously “old� man, has got difficulties starting his solemn speech due to lungs problems gotten in his job, now in America.

The author, from the very beginning, points to the work aspects of these people. Take a few cases: Tamoszius works in the “killing beds�; Marija, the very first character of the book, works in a “canning factory� . …and Mikolas is a beef boner; a “trade� which may imply “blood poisoning�.



The book had an impact on the denunciation of (bad) work conditions and the promulgation of appropriate laws to correct these situations in America, in the beginning of the 20th century.