The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists [158]
studying the diagrams Owen had drawn on the wall; and nearly all the others were making the same mental efforts - they were trying to think of something to say in defence of those who robbed them of the fruits of their toil.
`I don't see no bloody sense in always runnin' down the rich,' said Harlow at last. `There's always been rich and poor in the world and there always will be.'
`Of course,' said Slyme. `It says in the Bible that the poor shall always be with us.'
`What the bloody 'ell kind of system do you think we ought to 'ave?' demanded Crass. `If everything's wrong, 'ow's it goin' to be altered?'
At this, everybody brightened up again, and exchanged looks of satisfaction and relief. Of course! It wasn't necessary to think about these things at all! Nothing could ever be altered: it had always been more or less the same, and it always would be.
`It seems to me that you all HOPE it is impossible to alter it,' said Owen. `Without trying to find out whether it could be done, you persuade yourselves that it is impossible, and then, instead of being sorry, you're glad!'
Some of them laughed in a silly, half-ashamed way.
`How do YOU reckon it could be altered?' said Harlow.
`The way to alter it is, first to enlighten the people as to the real cause of their sufferings, and then -'
`Well,' interrupted Crass, with a self-satisfied chuckle, `it'll take a better bloody man than you to enlighten ME!'
`I don't want to be henlightened into Darkness!' said Slyme piously.
`But what sort of System do you propose, then?' repeated Harlow.
`After you've got 'em all enlightened - if you don't believe in sharing out all the money equal, how ARE you goin' to alter it?'
`I don't know 'ow 'e's goin' to alter it,' sneered Crass, looking at his watch and standing up, `but I do know what the time is - two minits past one!'
`The next lecture,' said Philpot, addressing the meeting as they all prepared to return to work, `the next lecture will be postponded till tomorrer at the usual time, when it will be my painful dooty to call upon Mr Owen to give 'is well-known and most hobnoxious address entitled "Work and how to avoid it." Hall them as wants to be henlightened kindly attend.'
`Or hall them as don't get the sack tonight,' remarked Easton grimly.
Chapter 26
The Slaughter
During the afternoon, Rushton and Sweater visited the house, the latter having an appointment to meet there a gardener to whom be wished to give instructions concerning the laying out of the grounds, which had been torn up for the purpose of putting in the new drains. Sweater had already arranged with the head gardener of the public park to steal some of the best plants from that place and have them sent up to `The Cave'. These plants had been arriving in small lots for about a week. They must have been brought there either in the evening after the men left off or very early in the morning before they came. The two gentlemen remained at the house for about half an hour and as they went away the mournful sound of the Town Hall bell - which was always tolled to summon meetings of the Council - was heard in the distance, and the hands remarked to each other that another robbery was about to be perpetrated.
Hunter did not come to the job again that day: he had been sent by Rushton to price some work for which the firm was going to tender an estimate. There was only one person who felt any regret at his absence, and that was Mrs White - Bert's mother, who had been working at `The Cave' for several days, scrubbing the floors. As a rule, Hunter paid her wages every night, and on this occasion she happened to need the money even more than usual. As leaving off time drew near, she mentioned the matter to Crass, who advised her to call at the office on her way home and ask the young lady clerk for the money. As Hunter did not appear, she followed the foreman's advice.
When she reached the shop Rushton was just coming out. She explained to him what she wanted and he instructed Mr Budd to tell Miss Wade to
`I don't see no bloody sense in always runnin' down the rich,' said Harlow at last. `There's always been rich and poor in the world and there always will be.'
`Of course,' said Slyme. `It says in the Bible that the poor shall always be with us.'
`What the bloody 'ell kind of system do you think we ought to 'ave?' demanded Crass. `If everything's wrong, 'ow's it goin' to be altered?'
At this, everybody brightened up again, and exchanged looks of satisfaction and relief. Of course! It wasn't necessary to think about these things at all! Nothing could ever be altered: it had always been more or less the same, and it always would be.
`It seems to me that you all HOPE it is impossible to alter it,' said Owen. `Without trying to find out whether it could be done, you persuade yourselves that it is impossible, and then, instead of being sorry, you're glad!'
Some of them laughed in a silly, half-ashamed way.
`How do YOU reckon it could be altered?' said Harlow.
`The way to alter it is, first to enlighten the people as to the real cause of their sufferings, and then -'
`Well,' interrupted Crass, with a self-satisfied chuckle, `it'll take a better bloody man than you to enlighten ME!'
`I don't want to be henlightened into Darkness!' said Slyme piously.
`But what sort of System do you propose, then?' repeated Harlow.
`After you've got 'em all enlightened - if you don't believe in sharing out all the money equal, how ARE you goin' to alter it?'
`I don't know 'ow 'e's goin' to alter it,' sneered Crass, looking at his watch and standing up, `but I do know what the time is - two minits past one!'
`The next lecture,' said Philpot, addressing the meeting as they all prepared to return to work, `the next lecture will be postponded till tomorrer at the usual time, when it will be my painful dooty to call upon Mr Owen to give 'is well-known and most hobnoxious address entitled "Work and how to avoid it." Hall them as wants to be henlightened kindly attend.'
`Or hall them as don't get the sack tonight,' remarked Easton grimly.
Chapter 26
The Slaughter
During the afternoon, Rushton and Sweater visited the house, the latter having an appointment to meet there a gardener to whom be wished to give instructions concerning the laying out of the grounds, which had been torn up for the purpose of putting in the new drains. Sweater had already arranged with the head gardener of the public park to steal some of the best plants from that place and have them sent up to `The Cave'. These plants had been arriving in small lots for about a week. They must have been brought there either in the evening after the men left off or very early in the morning before they came. The two gentlemen remained at the house for about half an hour and as they went away the mournful sound of the Town Hall bell - which was always tolled to summon meetings of the Council - was heard in the distance, and the hands remarked to each other that another robbery was about to be perpetrated.
Hunter did not come to the job again that day: he had been sent by Rushton to price some work for which the firm was going to tender an estimate. There was only one person who felt any regret at his absence, and that was Mrs White - Bert's mother, who had been working at `The Cave' for several days, scrubbing the floors. As a rule, Hunter paid her wages every night, and on this occasion she happened to need the money even more than usual. As leaving off time drew near, she mentioned the matter to Crass, who advised her to call at the office on her way home and ask the young lady clerk for the money. As Hunter did not appear, she followed the foreman's advice.
When she reached the shop Rushton was just coming out. She explained to him what she wanted and he instructed Mr Budd to tell Miss Wade to