The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists [82]
public 'ouses.'
Harlow made no comment on this question. He had at one time belonged to the Union and he was rather ashamed of having fallen away from it.
`Wot good 'as the Society ever done 'ere?' said Easton. `None that I ever 'eard of.'
`It might be able to do some good if most of us belonged to it; but after all, that's another matter. Whether we could help ourselves or not, the fact remains that we don't. But you must admit that this competition of the employers is one of the causes of unemployment and poverty, because it's not only in our line - exactly the same thing happens in every other trade and industry. Competing employers are the upper and nether millstones which grind the workers between them.'
`I suppose you think there oughtn't to be no employers at all?' sneered Crass. `Or p'raps you think the masters ought to do all the bloody work theirselves, and give us the money?'
`I don't see 'ow its goin' to be altered,' remarked Harlow. `There MUST be masters, and SOMEONE 'as to take charge of the work and do the thinkin'.'
`Whether it can be altered or not,' said Owen, `Landlordism and Competing Employers are two of the causes of poverty. But of course they're only a small part of the system which produces luxury, refinement and culture for a few, and condemns the majority to a lifelong struggle with adversity, and many thousands to degradation, hunger and rags. This is the system you all uphold and defend, although you don't mind admitting that it has made the world into a hell.'
Crass slowly drew the Obscurer cutting from his waistcoat pocket, but after a moment's thought he replaced it, deciding to defer its production till a more suitable occasion.
`But you 'aven't told us yet 'ow you makes out that money causes poverty,' cried Harlow, winking at the others. `That's what I'M anxious to 'ear about!'
`So am I,' remarked the man behind the moat. `I was just wondering whether I 'adn't better tell ole Misery that I don't want no wages this week.'
`I think I'll tell 'im on Saterday to keep MY money and get 'imself a few drinks with it,' said Philpot. `It might cheer 'im up a bit and make 'im a little more sociable and friendly like.'
`Money IS the principal cause of poverty,' said Owen.
`'Ow do yer make it out?' cried Sawkins.
But their curiosity had to remain unsatisfied for the time being because Crass announced that it was `just on it'.
Chapter 16
True Freedom
About three o'clock that afternoon, Rushton suddenly appeared and began walking silently about the house, and listening outside the doors of rooms where the hands were working. He did not succeed in catching anyone idling or smoking or talking. The nearest approach to what the men called `a capture' that he made was, as he stood outside the door of one of the upper rooms in which Philpot and Harlow were working, he heard them singing one of Sankey's hymns - `Work! for the night is coming'. He listened to two verses and several repetitions of the chorus. Being a `Christian', he could scarcely object to this, especially as by peeping through the partly open door he could see that they were suiting the action to the word. When he went into the room they glanced around to see who it was, and stopped singing. Rushton did not speak, but stood in the middle of the floor, silently watching them as they worked, for about a quarter of an hour. Then, without having uttered a syllable, he turned and went out.
They heard him softly descend the stairs, and Harlow, turning to Philpot said in a hoarse whisper:
`What do you think of the b--r, standing there watchin' us like that, as if we was a couple of bloody convicts? If it wasn't that I've got someone else beside myself to think of, I would 'ave sloshed the bloody sod in the mouth with this pound brush!'
`Yes; it does make yer feel like that, mate,' replied Philpot, `but of course we mustn't give way to it.'
`Several times,' continued Harlow, who was livid with anger, `I was on the point of turnin' round and sayin' to 'im, "What the
Harlow made no comment on this question. He had at one time belonged to the Union and he was rather ashamed of having fallen away from it.
`Wot good 'as the Society ever done 'ere?' said Easton. `None that I ever 'eard of.'
`It might be able to do some good if most of us belonged to it; but after all, that's another matter. Whether we could help ourselves or not, the fact remains that we don't. But you must admit that this competition of the employers is one of the causes of unemployment and poverty, because it's not only in our line - exactly the same thing happens in every other trade and industry. Competing employers are the upper and nether millstones which grind the workers between them.'
`I suppose you think there oughtn't to be no employers at all?' sneered Crass. `Or p'raps you think the masters ought to do all the bloody work theirselves, and give us the money?'
`I don't see 'ow its goin' to be altered,' remarked Harlow. `There MUST be masters, and SOMEONE 'as to take charge of the work and do the thinkin'.'
`Whether it can be altered or not,' said Owen, `Landlordism and Competing Employers are two of the causes of poverty. But of course they're only a small part of the system which produces luxury, refinement and culture for a few, and condemns the majority to a lifelong struggle with adversity, and many thousands to degradation, hunger and rags. This is the system you all uphold and defend, although you don't mind admitting that it has made the world into a hell.'
Crass slowly drew the Obscurer cutting from his waistcoat pocket, but after a moment's thought he replaced it, deciding to defer its production till a more suitable occasion.
`But you 'aven't told us yet 'ow you makes out that money causes poverty,' cried Harlow, winking at the others. `That's what I'M anxious to 'ear about!'
`So am I,' remarked the man behind the moat. `I was just wondering whether I 'adn't better tell ole Misery that I don't want no wages this week.'
`I think I'll tell 'im on Saterday to keep MY money and get 'imself a few drinks with it,' said Philpot. `It might cheer 'im up a bit and make 'im a little more sociable and friendly like.'
`Money IS the principal cause of poverty,' said Owen.
`'Ow do yer make it out?' cried Sawkins.
But their curiosity had to remain unsatisfied for the time being because Crass announced that it was `just on it'.
Chapter 16
True Freedom
About three o'clock that afternoon, Rushton suddenly appeared and began walking silently about the house, and listening outside the doors of rooms where the hands were working. He did not succeed in catching anyone idling or smoking or talking. The nearest approach to what the men called `a capture' that he made was, as he stood outside the door of one of the upper rooms in which Philpot and Harlow were working, he heard them singing one of Sankey's hymns - `Work! for the night is coming'. He listened to two verses and several repetitions of the chorus. Being a `Christian', he could scarcely object to this, especially as by peeping through the partly open door he could see that they were suiting the action to the word. When he went into the room they glanced around to see who it was, and stopped singing. Rushton did not speak, but stood in the middle of the floor, silently watching them as they worked, for about a quarter of an hour. Then, without having uttered a syllable, he turned and went out.
They heard him softly descend the stairs, and Harlow, turning to Philpot said in a hoarse whisper:
`What do you think of the b--r, standing there watchin' us like that, as if we was a couple of bloody convicts? If it wasn't that I've got someone else beside myself to think of, I would 'ave sloshed the bloody sod in the mouth with this pound brush!'
`Yes; it does make yer feel like that, mate,' replied Philpot, `but of course we mustn't give way to it.'
`Several times,' continued Harlow, who was livid with anger, `I was on the point of turnin' round and sayin' to 'im, "What the