the ragged trousered philanthropists-第54章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　been　rather　unsuccessful。'

‘Not　a　bit　of　it；　mate；'　cried　Crass；　sarcastically。　　‘We　all　agrees　with　it。'

‘'Ear；　'ear；'　shouted　Easton。　　‘If　a　bloke　was　to　come　in　'ere　now　and　orfer　to　give　me　a　quid　…　I'd　refuse　it！'

‘So　would　I；'　said　Philpot。

‘Well；　whether　you　agree　or　not；　the　fact　remains。　　A　man　might　possess　so　much　money　that；　in　England；　he　would　be　comparatively　rich；　and　yet　if　he　went　to　some　country　where　the　cost　of　living　is　very　high　he　would　find　himself　in　a　condition　of　poverty。　　Or　one　might　conceivably　be　in　a　place　where　the　necessaries　of　life　could　not　be　bought　for　money　at　all。　　Therefore　it　is　more　conducive　to　an　intelligent　understanding　of　the　subject　if　we　say　that　to　be　rich　consists　not　necessarily　in　having　much　money；　but　in　being　able　to　enjoy　an　abundance　of　the　things　that　are　made　by　work；　and　that　poverty　consists　not　merely　in　being　without　money；　but　in　being　short　of　the　necessaries　and　comforts　of　life　…　or　in　other　words　in　being　short　of　the　Benefits　of　Civilization；　the　things　that　are　all；　without　exception；　produced　by　work。　　Whether　you　agree　or　not　with　anything　else　that　I　say；　you　will　all　admit　that　that　is　our　condition　at　the　present　time。　　We　do　not　enjoy　a　full　share　of　the　benefits　of　civilization　…　we　are　all　in　a　state　of　more　or　less　abject　poverty。'

‘Question！'　cried　Crass；　and　there　were　loud　murmurs　of　indignant　dissent　from　several　quarters　as　Owen　proceeded：

‘How　does　it　happen　that　we　are　so　short　of　the　things　that　are　made　by　work？'

‘The　reason　why　we're　short　of　the　things　that's　made　by　work；'　interrupted　Crass；　mimicking　Owen's　manner；　‘is　that　we　ain't　got　the　bloody　money　to　buy　'em。'

‘Yes；'　said　the　man　on　the　pail；　‘and　as　I　said　before；　if　all　the　money　in　the　country　was　shared　out　equal　today　according　to　Owen's　ideas　…　in　six　months'　time　it　would　be　all　back　again　in　the　same　'ands　as　it　is　now；　and　what　are　you　goin'　to　do　then？'

‘Share　again；　of　course。'

This　answer　came　derisively　from　several　places　at　the　same　instant；　and　then　they　all　began　speaking　at　once；　vying　with　each　other　in　ridiculing　the　foolishness　of　‘them　there　Socialists'；　whom　they　called　‘The　Sharers　Out'。

Barrington　was　almost　the　only　one　who　took　no　part　in　the　conversation。　　He　was　seated　in　his　customary　place　and；　as　usual；　silently　smoking；　apparently　oblivious　to　his　surroundings。

‘I　never　said　anything　about　〃sharing　out　all　the　money〃；'　said　Owen　during　a　lull　in　the　storm；　‘and　I　don't　know　of　any　Socialist　who　advocates　anything　of　the　kind。　　Can　any　of　you　tell　me　the　name　of　someone　who　proposes　to　do　so？'

No　one　answered；　as　Owen　repeated　his　inquiry；　this　time　addressing　himself　directly　to　Crass；　who　had　been　one　of　the　loudest　in　denouncing　and　ridiculing　the　‘Sharers　Out'。　　Thus　cornered；　Crass　…　who　knew　absolutely　nothing　about　the　subject　…　for　a　few　moments　looked　rather　foolish。　　Then　he　began　to　talk　in　a　very　loud　voice：

‘Why；　it's　a　well…known　fact。　　Everybody　knows　that's　what　they　wants。　But　they　take　bloody　good　care　they　don't　act　up　to　it　theirselves；　though。　　Look　at　them　there　Labour　members　of　Parliament　…　a　lot　of　brs　what's　too　bloody　lazy　to　work　for　their　livin'！　　What　the　bloody　'ell　was　they　before　they　got　there？　　Only　workin'　men；　the　same　as　you　and　me！　　But　they've　got　the　gift　o'　the　gab　and　…'

‘Yes；　we　know　all　about　that；'　said　Owen；　‘but　what　I'm　asking　you　is　to　tell　us　who　advocates　taking　all　the　money　in　the　country　and　sharing　it　out　equally？'

‘And　I　say　that　everybody　knows　that's　what　they're　after！'　shouted　Crass。　　‘And　you　know　it　as　well　as　I　do。　　A　fine　thing！'　he　added　indignantly。　　‘Accordin'　to　that　idear；　a　bloody　scavenger　or　a　farm　labourer　ought　to　get　as　much　wages　as　you　or　me！'

‘We　can　talk　about　that　some　other　time。　　What　I　want　to　know　at　present　is　…　what　authority　have　you　for　saying　that　Socialists　believe　in　sharing　out　all　the　money　equally　amongst　all　the　people？'

‘Well；　that's　what　I've　always　understood　they　believed　in　doing；'　said　Crass　rather　lamely。

‘It's　a　well…known　fact；'　said　several　others。

‘Come　to　think　of　it；'　continued　Crass　as　he　drew　the　Obscurer　cutting　from　his　waistcoat　pocket；　‘I've　got　a　little　thing　'ere　that　I've　been　goin'　to　read　to　yer。　　It's　out　of　the　Obscurer。　　I'd　forgotten　all　about　it。'

Remarking　that　the　print　was　too　small　for　his　own　eyes；　he　passed　the　slip　of　paper　to　Harlow；　who　read　aloud　as　follows：

　　　　PROVE　YOUR　PRINCIPLES：　OR；　LOOK　AT　BOTH　SIDES

　　　　‘I　wish　I　could　open　your　eyes　to　the　true　misery　of　our　　　　　condition：　injustice；　tyranny　and　oppression！'　said　a　discontented　　　　　hack　to　a　weary…looking　cob　as　they　stood　side　by　side　in　unhired　　　　　cabs。

　　　　‘I'd　rather　have　them　opened　to　something　pleasant；　thank　you；'　　　　　replied　the　cob。

　　　　‘I　am　sorry　for　you。　　If　you　could　enter　into　the　noble　　　　　aspirations　…'　the　hack　began。

　　　　‘Talk　plain。　　What　would　you　have？'　said　the　cob；　interrupting　　　　　him。

　　　　‘What　would　I　have？　　Why；　equality；　and　share　and　share　alike　all　　　　　over　the　world；'　said　the　hack。

　　　　‘You　MEAN　that？'　said　the　cob。

　　　　‘Of　course　I　do。　What　right　have　those　sleek；　pampered　hunters　and　　　　　racers　to　their　warm　stables　and　high　feed；　their　grooms　and　　　　　jockeys？　　It　is　really　heart…sickening　to　think　of　it；'　replied　　　　　the　hack。

　　　　‘I　don't　know　but　you　may　be　right；'　said　the　cob；　‘and　to　show　　　　　I'm　in　earnest；　as　no　doubt　you　are；　let　me　have　half　the　good　　　　　beans　you　have　in　your　bag；　and　you　shall　have　half　the　musty　oats　　　　　and　chaff　I　have　in　mine。　　There's　nothing　like　proving　one's　　　　　principles。'　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Original　Parables。　　By　Mrs　Prosier。

‘There　you　are！'　cried　several　voices。

‘What　does　that　mean？'　cried　Crass；　triumphantly。　　‘Why　don't　you　go　and　share　your　wages　with　the　chaps　what's　out　of　work？'

‘What　does　it　mean？'　replied　Owen　contemptuously。　　‘It　means　that　if　the　Editor　of　the　Obscurer　put　that　in　his　paper　as　an　argument　against　Socialism；　either　he　is　of　feeble　intellect　himself　or　else　he　thinks　that　the　majority　of　his　readers　are。　　That　isn't　an　argument　against　Socialism　…　it's　an　argument　against　the　hypocrites　who　pretend　to　be　Christians　…　the　people　who　profess　to　〃Love　their　neighbours　as　themselves〃　…　who　pretend　to　believe　in　Universal　Brotherhood；　and　that　they　do　not　love　the　world　or　the　things　of　the　world　and　say　that　they　are　merely　〃Pilgrims　on　their　way　to　a　better　land〃。　　As　for　why　I　don't　do　it　…　why　should　I？　　I　don't　pretend　to　be　a　Christian。　　But　you're　all　〃Christians〃　…　why　don't　you　do　it？'

‘We're　not　talkin'　about　religion；'　exclaimed　Crass；　impatiently。

‘Then　what　are　you　talking　about？　　I　never　said　anything　about　〃Sharing　Out〃　or　〃Bearing　one　another's　burdens〃。　　I　don't　profess　to　〃Give　to　everyone　who　asks　of　me〃　or　to　〃Give　my　cloak　to　the　man　who　take　away　my　coat〃。　　I　have　read　that　Christ　taught　that　His　followers　must　do　all　these　things；　but　as　I　do　not　pretend　to　be　one　of　His　followers　I　don't　do　them。　　But　you　believe　in　Christianity：　why　don't　you　do　the　things　that　He　said？'

As　nobody　seemed　to　know　the　answer　to　this　question；　the　lecturer　proceeded：

‘In　this　matter　the　difference　between　so…called　〃Christians〃　and　Socialists　is　this：　Christ　taught　the　Fatherhood　of　God　and　the　Brotherhood　of　Men。　　Those　who　today　pretend　to　be　Christ's　followers　hypocritically　profess　to　carry　out　those　teachings　now。　　But　they　don't　。　They　have　arranged　〃The　Battle　of　Life〃　system　instead！

‘The　Socialist　…　very　much　against　his　will　…　finds　himself　in　the　midst　of　this　horrible　battle；　and　he　appeals　to　the　other　combatants　to　cease　from　fighting　and　to　establish　a　system　of　Brotherly　Love　and　Mutual　Helpfulness；　but　he　does　not　hypocritically　pretend　to　practise　brotherly　love　towards　those　who　will　not　agree　to　his　appeal；　and　who　compel　him　to　fight　with　them　for　his　very　life。　　He　knows　that　in　this　battle　he　must　either　fight　or　go　under。　　Therefore；　in　self…defiance；　he　fights；　but　all　the　time　he　continues　his　appeal　for　the　cessation　of　the　slaughter。　　He　pleads　for　the　changing　system。　He　advocates　Co…operation　instead　of　Competition：　but　how　can　he　co…operate　with　people　who　insist　on　competing　with　him？　　No　individual　can　practise　co…operation　by　himself！　　Socialism　can　only　be　practised　by　the　Community　…　that　is　the　meaning　of　the　word。　　At　present；　the　other　members　of　the　community　…　the　〃Christians〃　…　deride　and　oppose　the　Socialist's　appeal。

‘It　is　these　pretended　Christians　who　do　not　practise　what　they　preach；　because；　all　the　time　they　are　singing　their　songs　of　Brotherhood　and　Love；　they　are　fighting　with　each　other；　and　strangling　each　other　and　trampling　each　other　underfoot　in　their　horrible　〃Battle　of　Life〃！

‘No　Socialist　suggests　〃Sharing　out〃　money　or　anything　else　in　the　manner　you　say。　　And　another　thing：　if　you　only　had　a　little　more　sense　you　might　be　able　to　perceive　that　this　stock　〃argument〃　of　yours　is　really　an　argument　against　the　present　system；　inasmuch　as　it　proves　that　Money　is　in　itself　of　no　use　whatever。　　Supposing　all　the　money　was　shared　out　equally；　and　suppose　there　was　enough　of　it　for　everyone　to　have　ten　thousand　pounds；　and　suppose　they　then　all　thought　they　were　rich　and　none　of　them　would　work。　　What　would　they　live　on？　　Their　money？　　Could　they　eat　it　or　drink　it　or　wear　it？　　It　wouldn't　take　them　very　long　to　find　out　that　this　wonderful　money　…　which　under　the　present　system　is　the　most　powerful　thing　in　existence　…　is　really　of　no　more　use　than　so　much　dirt。　　They　would　speedily　perish；　not　from　lack　of　money；　but　from　lack　of　wealth　…　that　is；　from　lack　of　things　that　are　made　by　work。　　And　further；　it　is　quite　true　that　if　all　the　money　were　distributed　equally　amongst　all　the　people　tomorrow；　it　would　all　be　up　in　heaps　again　in　a　very　short　time。　　But　that　only　proves　that　while　the　present　Money　System　remains；　it　will　be　impossible　to　do　away　with　poverty；　for　heaps　in　some　places　mean　little　or　nothing　in　other　places。　　Therefore　while　the　money　system　lasts　we　are　bound　to　have　poverty　and　all　the　evils　it　brings　in　its　train。'

‘Oh；　of　course　everybody's　an　idjit　except　you；'　sneered　Crass；　who　was　beginning　to　feel　rather　fogged。

‘I　rise　to　a　pint　of　order；'　said　Easton。

‘And　I　rise　to　order　a　pint；'　cried　Philpot。

‘Order　what　the　bloody　'ell　you　like；'　remarked　Harlow；　‘so　long　as　I　'aven't　got　to　pay　for　it。'

‘Mine's　a　pint　of　porter；'　observed　the　man　on　the　pail。

‘The　pint　is；'　proceeded　Easton；　‘when　does　the　lecturer　intend　to　explain　to　us　what　is　the　real　cause　of　poverty。'

‘'Ear；　'ear；'　cried　Harlow。　　‘That's　what　I　want　to　know；　too。'

‘And　what　I　should　like　to　know　is；　who　is　supposed　to　be　givin'　this　'ere　lecture？'　inquired　the　man　on　the　pail。

‘Why；　Owen；　of　course；'　replied　Harlow。

‘Well；　why　don't　you　try　to　keep　quiet　for　a　few　minutes　and　let　'im　get　on　with　it？'

‘The　next　Br　wot　interrupts；'　cried　Philpot；　rolling　up　his　shirt…sleeves　and　glaring　threateningly　round　upon　the　meeting。　　‘The　next　br　wot　interrupts　goes　out　through　the　bloody　winder！'

At　this；　everybody　pretended　to　be　very　frightened；　and　edged　away　a