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The¡¡Ragged¡¡Trousered¡¡Philanthropists

by¡¡Robert¡¡Tressell





Preface


In¡¡writing¡¡this¡¡book¡¡my¡¡intention¡¡was¡¡to¡¡present£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡an¡¡interesting¡¡story£»¡¡a¡¡faithful¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡working¡­class¡¡life¡¡¡­¡¡more¡¡especially¡¡of¡¡those¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Building¡¡trades¡¡¡­¡¡in¡¡a¡¡small¡¡town¡¡in¡¡the¡¡south¡¡of¡¡England¡£

I¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡describe¡¡the¡¡relations¡¡existing¡¡between¡¡the¡¡workmen¡¡and¡¡their¡¡employers£»¡¡the¡¡attitude¡¡and¡¡feelings¡¡of¡¡these¡¡two¡¡classes¡¡towards¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡their¡¡circumstances¡¡when¡¡at¡¡work¡¡and¡¡when¡¡out¡¡of¡¡employment£»¡¡their¡¡pleasures£»¡¡their¡¡intellectual¡¡outlook£»¡¡their¡¡religious¡¡and¡¡political¡¡opinions¡¡and¡¡ideals¡£

The¡¡action¡¡of¡¡the¡¡story¡¡covers¡¡a¡¡period¡¡of¡¡only¡¡a¡¡little¡¡over¡¡twelve¡¡months£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that¡¡the¡¡picture¡¡might¡¡be¡¡complete¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡describe¡¡how¡¡the¡¡workers¡¡are¡¡circumstanced¡¡at¡¡all¡¡periods¡¡of¡¡their¡¡lives£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cradle¡¡to¡¡the¡¡grave¡£¡¡¡¡Therefore¡¡the¡¡characters¡¡include¡¡women¡¡and¡¡children£»¡¡a¡¡young¡¡boy¡¡¡­¡¡the¡¡apprentice¡¡¡­¡¡some¡¡improvers£»¡¡journeymen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡prime¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡worn¡­out¡¡old¡¡men¡£

I¡¡designed¡¡to¡¡show¡¡the¡¡conditions¡¡relating¡¡from¡¡poverty¡¡and¡¡unemployment£º¡¡to¡¡expose¡¡the¡¡futility¡¡of¡¡the¡¡measures¡¡taken¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡them¡¡and¡¡to¡¡indicate¡¡what¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡only¡¡real¡¡remedy£»¡¡namely¡¡¡­¡¡Socialism¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡what¡¡Socialists¡¡understand¡¡by¡¡the¡¡word¡¡¡®poverty'£º¡¡to¡¡define¡¡the¡¡Socialist¡¡theory¡¡of¡¡the¡¡causes¡¡of¡¡poverty£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡how¡¡Socialists¡¡propose¡¡to¡¡abolish¡¡poverty¡£

It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡objected¡¡that£»¡¡considering¡¡the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡books¡¡dealing¡¡with¡¡these¡¡subjects¡¡already¡¡existing£»¡¡such¡¡a¡¡work¡¡as¡¡this¡¡was¡¡uncalled¡¡for¡£¡¡The¡¡answer¡¡is¡¡that¡¡not¡¡only¡¡are¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡people¡¡opposed¡¡to¡¡Socialism£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡very¡¡brief¡¡conversation¡¡with¡¡an¡¡average¡¡anti¡­socialist¡¡is¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡show¡¡that¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡Socialism¡¡means¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡same¡¡is¡¡true¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡anti¡­socialist¡¡writers¡¡and¡¡the¡¡¡®great¡¡statesmen'¡¡who¡¡make¡¡anti¡­socialist¡¡speeches£º¡¡unless¡¡we¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡they¡¡are¡¡deliberate¡¡liars¡¡and¡¡imposters£»¡¡who¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡their¡¡own¡¡interests¡¡labour¡¡to¡¡mislead¡¡other¡¡people£»¡¡we¡¡must¡¡conclude¡¡that¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not¡¡understand¡¡Socialism¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡other¡¡possible¡¡explanation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡extraordinary¡¡things¡¡they¡¡write¡¡and¡¡say¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡thing¡¡they¡¡cry¡¡out¡¡against¡¡is¡¡not¡¡Socialism¡¡but¡¡a¡¡phantom¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡imagining¡£

Another¡¡answer¡¡is¡¡that¡¡¡®The¡¡Philanthropists'¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡treatise¡¡or¡¡essay£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡novel¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡main¡¡object¡¡was¡¡to¡¡write¡¡a¡¡readable¡¡story¡¡full¡¡of¡¡human¡¡interest¡¡and¡¡based¡¡on¡¡the¡¡happenings¡¡of¡¡everyday¡¡life£»¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡Socialism¡¡being¡¡treated¡¡incidentally¡£

This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡task¡¡I¡¡set¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡what¡¡extent¡¡I¡¡have¡¡succeeded¡¡is¡¡for¡¡others¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡but¡¡whatever¡¡their¡¡verdict£»¡¡the¡¡work¡¡possesses¡¡at¡¡least¡¡one¡¡merit¡¡¡­¡¡that¡¡of¡¡being¡¡true¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡invented¡¡nothing¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡no¡¡scenes¡¡or¡¡incidents¡¡in¡¡the¡¡story¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡either¡¡witnessed¡¡myself¡¡or¡¡had¡¡conclusive¡¡evidence¡¡of¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡dared¡¡I¡¡let¡¡the¡¡characters¡¡express¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡language¡¡and¡¡consequently¡¡some¡¡passages¡¡may¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡objectionable¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡¡­¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡true¡¡¡­¡¡the¡¡book¡¡is¡¡not¡¡without¡¡its¡¡humorous¡¡side¡£

The¡¡scenes¡¡and¡¡characters¡¡are¡¡typical¡¡of¡¡every¡¡town¡¡in¡¡the¡¡South¡¡of¡¡England¡¡and¡¡they¡¡will¡¡be¡¡readily¡¡recognized¡¡by¡¡those¡¡concerned¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡book¡¡is¡¡published¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡will¡¡appeal¡¡to¡¡a¡¡very¡¡large¡¡number¡¡of¡¡readers¡£¡¡¡¡Because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡true¡¡it¡¡will¡¡probably¡¡be¡¡denounced¡¡as¡¡a¡¡libel¡¡on¡¡the¡¡working¡¡classes¡¡and¡¡their¡¡employers£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡religious¡­professing¡¡section¡¡of¡¡the¡¡community¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡acknowledged¡¡as¡¡true¡¡by¡¡most¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡surroundings¡¡it¡¡describes£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡evident¡¡that¡¡no¡¡attack¡¡is¡¡made¡¡upon¡¡sincere¡¡religion¡£






Chapter¡¡1£º

An¡¡Imperial¡¡Banquet¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡Philosophical¡¡Discussion¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Mysterious¡¡Stranger¡£¡¡¡¡Britons¡¡Never¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡Slaves


The¡¡house¡¡was¡¡named¡¡¡®The¡¡Cave'¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡large¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡three¡­storied¡¡building¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡about¡¡an¡¡acre¡¡of¡¡ground£»¡¡and¡¡situated¡¡about¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Mugsborough¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡stood¡¡back¡¡nearly¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡from¡¡the¡¡main¡¡road¡¡and¡¡was¡¡reached¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡a¡¡by¡­road¡¡or¡¡lane£»¡¡on¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡a¡¡hedge¡¡formed¡¡of¡¡hawthorn¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡blackberry¡¡bushes¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡house¡¡had¡¡been¡¡unoccupied¡¡for¡¡many¡¡years¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡now¡¡being¡¡altered¡¡and¡¡renovated¡¡for¡¡its¡¡new¡¡owner¡¡by¡¡the¡¡firm¡¡of¡¡Rushton¡¡&¡¡Co¡££»¡¡Builders¡¡and¡¡Decorators¡£

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As¡¡each¡¡man¡¡came¡¡in¡¡he¡¡filled¡¡his¡¡cup£»¡¡jam¡­jar¡¡or¡¡condensed¡¡milk¡¡tin¡¡with¡¡tea¡¡from¡¡the¡¡steaming¡¡pail£»¡¡before¡¡sitting¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡brought¡¡their¡¡food¡¡in¡¡little¡¡wicker¡¡baskets¡¡which¡¡they¡¡held¡¡on¡¡their¡¡laps¡¡or¡¡placed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡beside¡¡them¡£

At¡¡first¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡attempt¡¡at¡¡conversation¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡was¡¡heard¡¡but¡¡the¡¡sounds¡¡of¡¡eating¡¡and¡¡drinking¡¡and¡¡the¡¡drizzling¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bloater¡¡which¡¡Easton£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡painters£»¡¡was¡¡toasting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pointed¡¡stick¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fire¡£

¡®I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡much¡¡of¡¡this¡¡bloody¡¡tea£»'¡¡suddenly¡¡remarked¡¡Sawkins£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡labourers¡£

¡®Well¡¡it¡¡oughter¡¡be¡¡all¡¡right£»'¡¡retorted¡¡Bert£»¡¡¡®it's¡¡been¡¡bilin'¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡'arf¡¡past¡¡eleven¡£'

Bert¡¡White¡¡was¡¡a¡¡frail¡­looking£»¡¡weedy£»¡¡pale¡­faced¡¡boy£»¡¡fifteen¡¡years¡¡of¡¡age¡¡and¡¡about¡¡four¡¡feet¡¡nine¡¡inches¡¡in¡¡height¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡trousers¡¡were¡¡part¡¡of¡¡a¡¡suit¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡once¡¡worn¡¡for¡¡best£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡so¡¡long¡¡ago¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡become¡¡too¡¡small¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡fitting¡¡rather¡¡lightly¡¡and¡¡scarcely¡¡reaching¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡his¡¡patched¡¡and¡¡broken¡¡hob¡­nailed¡¡boots¡£¡¡The¡¡knees¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bottoms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡legs¡¡of¡¡his¡¡trousers¡¡had¡¡been¡¡patched¡¡with¡¡square¡¡pieces¡¡of¡¡cloth£»¡¡several¡¡shades¡¡darker¡¡than¡¡the¡¡original¡¡fabric£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡patches¡¡were¡¡now¡¡all¡¡in¡¡rags¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡coat¡¡was¡¡several¡¡sizes¡¡too¡¡large¡¡for¡¡him¡¡and¡¡hung¡¡about¡¡him¡¡like¡¡a¡¡dirty¡¡ragged¡¡sack¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pitiable¡¡spectacle¡¡of¡¡neglect¡¡and¡¡wretchedness¡¡as¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡there¡¡on¡¡an¡¡upturned¡¡pail£»¡¡eating¡¡his¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡cheese¡¡with¡¡fingers¡¡that£»¡¡like¡¡his¡¡clothing£»¡¡were¡¡grimed¡¡with¡¡paint¡¡and¡¡dirt¡£

¡®Well¡¡then£»¡¡you¡¡can't¡¡have¡¡put¡¡enough¡¡tea¡¡in£»¡¡or¡¡else¡¡you've¡¡bin¡¡usin'¡¡up¡¡wot¡¡was¡¡left¡¡yesterday£»'¡¡continued¡¡Sawkins¡£

¡®Why¡¡the¡¡bloody¡¡'ell¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡alone£¿'¡¡said¡¡Harlow£»¡¡another¡¡painter¡£¡¡¡¡¡®If¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡like¡¡the¡¡tea¡¡you¡¡needn't¡¡drink¡¡it¡£¡¡For¡¡my¡¡part£»¡¡I'm¡¡sick¡¡of¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡you¡¡about¡¡it¡¡every¡¡damn¡¡day¡£'

¡®It's¡¡all¡¡very¡¡well¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡say¡¡I¡¡needn't¡¡drink¡¡it£»'¡¡answered¡¡Sawkins£»¡¡¡®but¡¡I've¡¡paid¡¡my¡¡share¡¡an'¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡a¡¡right¡¡to¡¡express¡¡an¡¡opinion¡£¡¡¡¡It's¡¡my¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡'arf¡¡the¡¡money¡¡we¡¡gives¡¡'him¡¡is¡¡spent¡¡on¡¡penny¡¡'orribles£º¡¡'e's¡¡always¡¡got¡¡one¡¡in¡¡'is¡¡hand£»¡¡an'¡¡to¡¡make¡¡wot¡¡tea¡¡'e¡¡does¡¡buy¡¡last£»¡¡'e¡¡collects¡¡all¡¡the¡¡slops¡¡wot's¡¡left¡¡and¡¡biles¡¡it¡¡up¡¡day¡¡after¡¡day¡£'

¡®No£»¡¡I¡¡don't£¡'¡¡said¡¡Bert£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡verge¡¡of¡¡tears¡£¡¡¡¡¡®It's¡¡not¡¡me¡¡wot¡¡buys¡¡the¡¡things¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡gives¡¡the¡¡money¡¡I¡¡gets¡¡to¡¡Crass£»¡¡and¡¡'e¡¡buys¡¡them¡¡'imself£»¡¡so¡¡there£¡'

At¡¡this¡¡revelation£»¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡furtively¡¡exchanged¡¡significant¡¡glances£»¡¡and¡¡Crass£»¡¡the¡¡foreman£»¡¡became¡¡very¡¡red¡£

¡®You'd¡¡better¡¡keep¡¡your¡¡bloody¡¡thruppence¡¡and¡¡make¡¡your¡¡own¡¡tea¡¡after¡¡this¡¡week£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡addressing¡¡Sawkins£»¡¡¡®and¡¡then¡¡p'raps¡¡we'll¡¡'ave¡¡a¡¡little¡¡peace¡¡at¡¡meal¡­times¡£'

¡®An'¡¡you¡¡needn't¡¡ask¡¡me¡¡to¡¡cook¡¡no¡¡bloaters¡¡or¡¡bacon¡¡for¡¡you¡¡no¡¡more£»'¡¡added¡¡Bert£»¡¡tearfully£»¡¡¡®cos¡¡I¡¡won't¡¡do¡¡it¡£'

Sawkins¡¡was¡¡not¡¡popular¡¡with¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡others¡£¡¡¡¡When£»¡¡about¡¡twelve¡¡months¡¡previously£»¡¡he¡¡first¡¡came¡¡to¡¡work¡¡for¡¡Rushton¡¡&¡¡Co¡££»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡labourer£»¡¡but¡¡since¡¡then¡¡he¡¡had¡¡¡®picked¡¡up'¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trade£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡armed¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡a¡¡putty¡­knife¡¡and¡¡put¡¡on¡¡a¡¡white¡¡jacket£»¡¡regarded¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡a¡¡fully¡¡qualified¡¡painter¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡others¡¡did¡¡not¡¡perhaps¡¡object¡¡to¡¡him¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡better¡¡his¡¡condition£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡wages¡¡¡­¡¡fivepence¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡¡­¡¡were¡¡twopence¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡less¡¡than¡¡the¡¡standard¡¡rate£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡result¡¡was¡¡that¡¡in¡¡slack¡¡times¡¡often¡¡a¡¡better¡¡workman¡¡was¡¡¡®stood¡¡off'¡¡when¡¡Sawkins¡¡was¡¡kept¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡Moreover£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡generally¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sneak¡¡who¡¡carried¡¡tales¡¡to¡¡the¡¡foreman¡¡and¡¡the¡¡¡®Bloke'¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡new¡¡hand¡¡who¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡on¡¡was¡¡usually¡¡warned¡¡by¡¡his¡¡new¡¡mates¡¡¡®not¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the¡¡br¡¡Sawkins¡¡see¡¡anything¡£'

The¡¡unpleasant¡¡silence¡¡which¡¡now¡¡ensued¡¡was¡¡at¡¡length¡¡broken¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men£»¡¡who¡¡told¡¡a¡¡dirty¡¡story£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡laughter¡¡and¡¡applause¡¡that¡¡followed£»¡¡the¡¡incident¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tea¡¡was¡¡forgotten¡£

¡®How¡¡did¡¡you¡¡get¡¡on¡¡yesterday£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Crass£»¡¡addressing¡¡Bundy£»¡¡the¡¡plasterer£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡intently¡¡studying¡¡the¡¡sporting¡¡columns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Daily¡¡Obscurer¡£

¡®No¡¡luck£»'¡¡replied¡¡Bundy£»¡¡gloomily¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡bob¡¡each¡¡way¡¡on¡¡Stockwell£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡race£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡scratched¡¡before¡¡the¡¡start¡£'

This¡¡gave¡¡rise¡¡to¡¡a¡¡conversation¡¡between¡¡Crass£»¡¡Bundy£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡or¡¡two¡¡others¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡chances¡¡of¡¡different¡¡horses¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morrow's¡¡races¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Friday£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡one¡¡had¡¡much¡¡money£»¡¡so¡¡at¡¡the¡¡suggestion¡¡of¡¡Bundy£»¡¡a¡¡Syndicate¡¡was¡¡formed£»¡¡each¡¡member¡¡contributing¡¡threepence¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡backing¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡certainty¡¡given¡¡by¡¡the¡¡renowned¡¡Captain¡¡Kiddem¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Obscurer¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡did¡¡not¡¡join¡¡the¡¡

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