These men, grown old in the employ of this seemingly solid establishment, suddenly found themselves confronted anew with the problem of earning a livelihood.
Nearly all of them had passed into that enfeebled state that comes with years of unvarying routine.

Each seemed to realize the almost utter hopelessness of obtaining new employment, and several of them were weeping silently.
Even Britz was moved by this pitiful picture of despairing old age.

The mute suffering of these men was a hundredfold more distressing than the wild, helpless clamoring of the horde of enraged creditors.

A person born and bred to poverty soon grows insensible to deprivation; for when one is accustomed to little, a little less doesn't matter.

But these men had occupied comfortable homes all their lives.