The Bread-winners: A Social Study

A genteel morning unfolds in the spacious, richly appointed home of a prosperous businessman, Arthur Farnham, whose refined surroundings and polished manners epitomize the confidence of America’s rising middle class at the turn of the century. Through his eyes we glimpse the bustling streets of Buffland, a thriving lakeside city whose bustling factories and elegant avenues reveal a society in the midst of rapid change.

Beyond the polished veneer, the narrative turns its focus to the ordinary men and women whose labor sustains the city’s wealth. By observing their homes, workplaces, and daily struggles, the story paints a vivid social portrait of the “bread‑winners” who toil in factories, shops, and homes, illuminating the stark contrasts between comfort and hardship. Listeners will be drawn into a thoughtful exploration of ambition, community, and the evolving American dream, all rendered with the keen observational eye of a contemporary social study.