Part 32 (2/2)

'Oh, I see. I thought we'd very soon begin supposin'.'

'The two black squares,' continued Owen, 'represent the people who live in the country. The small square represents a few thousand people.

The large square stands for the remainder--about forty millions--that is, the majority.'

'We ain't sich b.l.o.o.d.y fools as to think that the largest number is the minority,' interrupted Cra.s.s.

'The greater number of the people represented by the large black square work for their living: and in return for their labour they receive money: some more, some less than others.'

'You don't think they'd be sich b.l.o.o.d.y fools as to work for nothing, do you?' said Newman.

'I suppose you think they ought all to get the same wages!' cried Harlow. 'Do you think it's right that a scavenger should get as much as a painter?'

'I'm not speaking about that at all,' replied Owen. 'I'm trying to show you what I think is one of the causes of poverty.'

'Shut up, can't you, Harlow,' remonstrated Philpot, who began to feel interested. 'We can't all talk at once.'

'I know we can't,' replied Harlow in an aggrieved tone: 'but 'e takes sich a 'ell of a time to say wot 'e's got to say. n.o.body else can't get a word in edgeways.'

'In order that these people may live,' continued Owen, pointing to the large black square, 'it is first necessary that they shall have a PLACE to live in--'

'Well! I should never a thought it!' exclaimed the man on the pail, pretending to be much impressed. The others laughed, and two or three of them went out of the room, contemptuously remarking to each other in an audible undertone as they went:

'b.l.o.o.d.y rot!'

'Wonder wot the b.l.o.o.d.y 'ell 'e thinks 'e is? A sort of schoolmaster?'

Owen's nervousness increased as he continued:

'Now, they can't live in the air or in the sea. These people are land animals, therefore they must live on the land.'

'Wot do yer mean by animals?' demanded Slyme.

'A human bean ain't a animal!' said Cra.s.s indignantly.

'Yes, we are!' cried Harlow. 'Go into any chemist's shop you like and ask the bloke, and 'e'll tell you--'

'Oh, blow that!' interrupted Philpot. 'Let's 'ear wot Owen's sayin'.'

'They must live on the land: and that's the beginning of the trouble; because--under the present system--the majority of the people have really no right to be in the country at all! Under the present system the country belongs to a few--those who are here represented by this small black square. If it would pay them to do so, and if they felt so disposed, these few people have a perfect right--under the present system--to order everyone else to clear out!

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