Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 49: Line 89 (883)

 The crowd—Lew had been expecting only a handful of malcontents—was numerous, after a while in fact spilling into the street.

* * * * * * * * * *

Pynchon gives us the reality of the situation and Lew's expectation of it which are, of course, at odds with each other. Because Lew, who mentioned he's checked out on the subject of—I don't know—politics or social justice or anarchy or labor movements, has really only been hearing the propaganda fed to him by Nate and his coworkers. The message he's been getting is that most people are happy with current working conditions and the only people making trouble are people who want to make trouble. Anarchy is a perfect buzzword because it means they have no agenda, they have no ideals, they have no concern for the lives of everyday people. They just want to destroy things for destruction's sake. And if this is an anarchy meeting, why would there be anybody here except a few dangerous loonies with dynamite strapped to their chest?

But the crowd spilling into the streets is evidence that something isn't right. There's a major undercurrent of discontent that the powerful and the elites choose to hide from those citizens who are relatively comfortable. They only hear about the violence and then choose to be against anybody who would use violence to change an oppressive system. They think, "I'm doing okay. So why couldn't these poor people make the same decisions I made? They must have chosen to not be doing okay." The people who choose peace over justice are the biggest impediment to justice. Nothing, at all, has changed.

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 49: Line 88 (882)

 Up on the stage now was a lectern flanked by a pair of gas lamps with Welsbach mantles, at which stood a tall individual in workmen's overalls, identified presently as the traveling Anarchist preacher the Reverend Moss Gatlin.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Welsbach mantles"
Prior to the invention of the gas mantle, lamps were lit with open flames which were not the most efficient means to light an area. A gas mantle is that cloth mesh which covers the flame in something like a Coleman lantern. It's basically fabric infused with metals, soft before use but becomes brittle after the first use. The metals become incandescent while the mesh covering keeps the flame low.
    The point being that a gas mantle both controls and amplifies light in a simple, safe, and effective way. It's a stepping stone between fire and electricity as light sources. And its inventor, Carl Auer von Welsbach, created several other lighting innovations, such as the metal-filament light bulb and the lighting flint, still used in cigarette lighters today. Seeing as how light and man's use of technology to control (and often destroy) his environment are pertinent themes to the book, I thought dropping the name "Welsbach" was important.

"in workmen's overalls"
The Reverend obviously wants to come across as just one of the common Joes in the work force.

"traveling Anarchist preacher"
I wouldn't mind having this job description.

"Reverend Moss Gatlin"
The "Reverend" adds an air of moral authority to his title. "Moss" represents how his words and ideas will grow on you. "Gatlin" is reminiscent of "Gatling" which probably means his words come rapid fire and are dangerous. I'm certain his beliefs will be quite scary to the status quo. His words are weapons to be used for battle. This isn't going to be a peaceful sermon, I suppose.

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 49: Line 87 (881)

 At first Lew took it for a church—something about the echoes, the smell—though in fact, on weekends anyway, it was a small variety theater.

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"the smell"
Here's Pynchon writing about the smells of a church in Gravity's Rainbow:

"The old church smells of spilled wine, American sweat, and recently burned cordite, but these are raw newer intrusions that haven't done away with the prevailing Catholic odor—incense, wax, centuries of mild bleating from the lips of the flock."

"took it for a church" "in fact . . . it was a small variety theater"
What is a church except a place to perform acts of faith in front of your neighbors to convince them that you're a holy and righteous person? What is a theater but a place to worship and venerate the human condition? Both contain at least one actor performing for an audience. Both require a strong willingness to suspend disbelief to work (yes, I'm saying that "faith" is a synonym for "suspension of disbelief"). Both are also a place of strong convictions and grand ideas being communicated to the masses. Both perfect places to educate workers on what their rights should be within a capitalist system that purports to believe everybody is free and equal.

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 49: Line 84-86 (878-880)

 "Anarchy never sleeps, son. They're meeting right down the El line a couple-three stops, and you might want to take a look in. Even get educated, maybe."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Anarchy"
We all remember this is just the capitalist synonym for "unionizing."

"the El line"
Being from the West Coast, there was an awful lot of aging before I learned Chicago's "El" train was an elevated train and not the "L" train. I also didn't know much about Judaism!

"might want to take a look in. Even get educated"
So Nate wants Lew to infiltrate a Union meeting (possibly where they might be planning some anarchy! You've got to get the capitalists' attention somehow!). The "even get educated" bit seems like some good foreshadowing. Nate wants Lew to learn how terrible these anarchists are. But Lew will probably become "educated" on exactly what's going on and how little "anarchy" is actually taking place. These people are blowing up cops with meaning and purpose! It isn't just a bunch of nihilistic fun!

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 49: Line 83 (877)

 "Thought I might grab some sleep."

* * * * * * * * * *

Lew must have the night off. Perhaps, after the ruckus at the bar, it's Max's turn to keep an eye on Franz (although that night, it had also been Max's turn but Max lost him). I suppose Lew's watch is only during the day while Franz is out and about in official capacity (which is why Max now owes Lew a favor for pulling Franz from the bar). And, if I were forced to look at things from Nate's perspective, Nate is paying Lew enough money to eat steak at Kinsley's. So maybe he should get as much work out of him as possible.

Anyway, this is why you always try to get out of the office without running into your boss. Especially on Friday.

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 49: Line 82 (876)

 "Old F.F.'ll be out of town in just a couple more days, Lew, but meantime here's somethin for you tonight."

* * * * * * * * * *

Not only is Nate a generally terrible person, he's also a lousy boss. His formatting of this request is completely backwards! There is no "meantime" if Franz Ferdinand is not yet "out of town." Nate makes it sound like Lew doesn't have anything to do until Franz leaves so, until then, here's another folder with another job in it.

Is it just me? He's taking advantage of Lew here, right? Doubling up his workload? Am I reading that correctly or is my projection of having to work for Barb at Academic Books still showing after twenty years?! "You've got three bookcases of books to check in but in the meantime, here's four more to do today."

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 49: Line 81 (875)

 Lew was just headed out to Kinsley's for a late steak when Nate called him into the office, reaching to fetch down a new folder.

* * * * * * * * * *

Kinsley's restaurant in 1885.

The photograph of the exterior of Kinsley's was, um, "found" here. Jan Whitaker has a brief biography of H.M. Kinsley at this link. Kinsley, hired to help with setting up restaurants at the Fair, hosted a lavish inaugural dinner for the Fair in which the Vice President and many other major political figures were in attendance. And while that's interesting, and ties in to the timeline of this book, I think the most interesting bit that ties in with the themes of the book are his attitude toward race at the time. Jan Whitaker writes, "Kinsley took positions on the issues of race and tipping that were at odds with many restaurateurs of his time. He declared in 1880s he was always willing to serve Afro-American customers, thought black waiters were among the finest, and found tipping a reasonable system of remuneration that encouraged good service." I like this guy. And I imagine Pynchon did too which is why he drops his name in this sentence.

The fact that Lew can afford a steak at Kinsley's means he's making really good money with White City Investigations. I suppose that's always going to be the case when you're working for The Man to keep poor people poor and unsafe working conditions unsafe.

"reaching to fetch down a new folder."
Where does Nate keep his folders?! I guess in his combination sideboard, bookcase, and filing cabinet. It's probably huge. To store all the liquor bottles.