Greece to roman road

"If you don't mind, you can come and dine together." Although judging from the man's shabby clothes, he was a cash-strapped man, Banning still invited him.

When the man heard this, his eyes shifted uneasily between Emma and Constantine. It was Emma who made the decision for him: "Dad, eat."

The young hands pulled Dad's sleeves towards the dining table.

Driven by the hunger that kept coming like waves in his belly, the man sat down awkwardly.

Constantine nodded to the waiter.

"Constantine, this gentleman is Schmidt, and this is Banning, they are both my friends," Constantine said, pointing to the two of them.

The man sitting at the table said "My name is Lloyd and this is my daughter Emma."

Lloyd said looking at the girl held tightly in his arms.

"Are you going to immigrate to the United States?" Constantine asked.

Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to travel across the ocean with such a young child.

"Yes, I used to work in a steel factory. My wife Anne passed away from illness a month ago. The medical expenses wiped out my savings. After inviting a priest to see Anne off, we were already destitute and lost our job in the factory. "

Speaking of this, Lloyd showed a sad look on his face.

While he was talking, the waiter brought another lunch.

The man looked at the food in front of him, swallowed his throat, and said with a dejected face, "I have no money to pay the bill."

"It's okay, just enjoy it," Constantine pushed the tray towards Lloyd, "What are your plans when you get to America?"

When Lloyd heard Constantine's words, he wolfed down his food, obviously starving.

Hearing Constantine's question, he picked up the spoon and took a sip of borscht, then put the bread in his mouth down his throat.

"A few days ago, I met the American ambassador to the UK and was speaking in public. I heard from him that American steel companies need a large number of workers, especially experienced workers, with good wages and loans to buy ships. Tickets, as long as you sign a contract for a few years.”

These Americans really know how to eat ready-made food.

The United States sat back and received thousands of skilled workers from Europe without the need for education or training.

Since the end of the Civil War, the United States has raised tariffs on industrial products several times. Domestic factories have sprung up like mushrooms after a spring rain. The entire country is rapidly industrializing and the economy is developing rapidly, requiring a large number of workers everywhere.

And the United States set its sights on those workers in Europe.

In order to recruit skilled workers, some European companies organized groups to recruit in Europe and even paid travel expenses.

The United States became independent in the 18th century and became the world's largest economic power at the end of the 19th century. It only took more than 100 years.

The speed of development is jaw-dropping.

Since 1881, there has been another wave of immigration to the United States. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Europeans cross the ocean and come to the United States.

It can be said that the Americans were able to achieve a counterattack at the end of the 19th century and surpass the United Kingdom to become the world's largest economic power. The role of European immigrants cannot be underestimated.

It seems that Lloyd is also a member of the immigrant army.

"Then how could you...?"

"I, the only two pounds I had, lost it at the gambling table, so," said Lloyd hesitantly.

Emma, ​​who was held in Lloyd's arms, held a handkerchief in her right hand, raised it high, and wiped the corners of Lloyd's mouth.

"Thankfully the steel company issued the ship ticket, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to reach the United States."

"Yes, I will definitely work hard when I get to the United States. I heard that there are more opportunities in the United States. There are no superior aristocrats there. As long as you work hard, you can get rich."

"Also, as long as you have American citizenship, the United States has a homestead law that grants immigrants free land. As long as you cultivate a piece of land for a few years, you can get the land you cultivated." When talking about the land, Lloyd was extremely excited and beamed with joy. .

European areas are densely populated and the land is basically owned by the nobility.

In the 19th century (1800-1900), European countries had just abolished the serfdom system, which meant that not long ago, there were still a large number of serfs in Europe.

From the perspective of productivity development or human progress, the first industrial revolution is the most important page in human history, and its pioneering significance cannot be overemphasized.

The Industrial Revolution directly opened the door for mankind to use science and technology to replace manpower in production. Since then, productivity has developed rapidly.

But for those farmers and workers who experienced this important moment for humanity firsthand, they may not be so happy.

Because the rapid development of the industrial revolution was accompanied by the blood and tears of farmers and workers.

You can understand this just by looking at the child laborers who never see the light of day in coal mines. They spend all day working in the mines in disgrace just for a bite of bread.

They are under pressure that they should not bear at their age.

Although people in later generations will emphasize its importance with praise every time they mention the Industrial Revolution, for the farmers and workers who personally experienced this historical moment and endured the brutal oppression of the workers by the capitalists, they would rather survive. agricultural era.

Compared with being busy every moment every day like a clockwork, the peaceful and tranquil pastoral scenery after the busy farming season is more attractive to them.

The land of America has a strong attraction for the European poor.

No matter what, this trip to the United States must gain the support of this increasingly powerful country. Whether it is Banning or Constantine, after hearing Lloyd's words, their thoughts were surprisingly the same.

The cruise ship drifted in the Atlantic Ocean for about 10 days. Finally, the service staff on the ship informed the passengers that it was about to arrive in New York, USA.

On the morning of October 22, the cruise ship sailed to the mouth of the Hudson River in New York. In the morning light, the Statue of Liberty standing tall on the island was clearly reflected in the eyes of the cruise crew.

I saw the goddess wearing a Greek-style robe (she seemed to be a Greek), holding a torch symbolizing freedom in her right hand, and holding a Declaration of Independence in her left hand. Under her feet were the shackles and shackles, symbolizing freedom from the oppression and ravage of tyranny.

The goddess welcomes every immigrant from tyrannical Europe into the arms of free America. This is the first American scenery that Europeans from afar see.

Passengers flocked to the ship's side, waving their hats toward the Statue of Liberty and shouting excitedly.

For those immigrants on the cruise ship, they should indeed cheer, because they no longer have an absolute monarch to rule them (most countries in Europe at this time were still ruled by monarchs, such as Britain).

The next people to rule them are the American capitalists.

Pier in New York Harbor.

Emma, ​​who was held on Lloyd's shoulders, waved her hands vigorously and said goodbye to Constantine in the distance until she could no longer see him.

"dad"

"What?"

"Will we see them again?"

"Yes, as long as we live well, there will always be a chance to meet again."

"Here you go, Dad." Emma took out two gold coins from her skirt pocket and handed them to Lloyd.

"Where did this come from?", Lloyd asked in surprise.

"Brother gave it to me," Emma said.

······

Just as Lloyd and his daughter came to the United States to find their own new life, Constantine will also seek his own opportunities.