the ragged trousered philanthropists-第124章
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e its evil qualities here would be waste of time。 The same can be said of nearly all the cheap temperance drinks； they are unnecessary and harmful and cost money； and； like beer； are drunk only for pleasure。
What right has anyone to say to working men that when their work is done they should not find pleasure in drinking a glass or two of beer together in a tavern or anywhere else？ Let those who would presume to condemn them carry their argument to its logical conclusion and condemn pleasure of every kind。 Let them persuade the working classes to lead still simpler lives； to drink water instead of such unwholesome things as tea； coffee； beer； lemonade and all the other harmful and unnecessary stuff。 They would then be able to live ever so much more cheaply； and as wages are always and everywhere regulated by the cost of living； they would be able to work for lower pay。
These people are fond of quoting the figures of the ‘Nation's Drink Bill；' as if all this money were spent by the working classes！ But if the amount of money spent in drink by the ‘aristocracy'； the clergy and the middle classes were deducted from the ‘Nation's Drink Bill'； it would be seen that the amount spent per head by the working classes is not so alarming after all； and would probably not be much larger than the amount spent on drink by those who consume tea and coffee and all the other unwholesome and unnecessary ‘temperance' drinks。
The fact that some of Rushton's men spent about two shillings a week on drink while they were in employment was not the cause of their poverty。 If they had never spent a farthing for drink； and if their wretched wages had been increased fifty percent； they would still have been in a condition of the most abject and miserable poverty； for nearly all the benefits and privileges of civilization； nearly everything that makes life worth living； would still have been beyond their reach。
It is inevitable； so long as men have to live and work under such heartbreaking； uninteresting conditions as at present that a certain proportion of them will seek forgetfulness and momentary happiness in the tavern； and the only remedy for this evil is to remove the cause； and while that is in process； there is something else that can be done and that is； instead of allowing filthy drinking dens； presided over by persons whose interest it is to encourage men to drink more bad beer than is good for them or than they can afford； … to have civilized institutions run by the State or the municipalities for use and not merely for profit。 Decent pleasure houses； where no drunkenness or filthiness would be tolerated … where one could buy real beer or coffee or tea or any other refreshments； where men could repair when their day's work was over and spend an hour or two in rational intercourse with their fellows or listen to music and singing。 Taverns to which they could take their wives and children without fear of defilement； for a place that is not fit for the presence of a woman or a child is not fit to exist at all。
Owen； being a teetotaller； did not spend any of his money on drink； but he spent a lot on what he called ‘The Cause'。 Every week he bought some penny or twopenny pamphlets or some leaflets about Socialism； which he lent or gave to his mates； and in this way and by means of much talk he succeeded in converting a few to his party。 Philpot； Harlow and a few others used to listen with interest； and some of them even paid for the pamphlets they obtained from Owen； and after reading them themselves； passed them on to others； and also occasionally ‘got up' arguments on their own accounts。 Others were simply indifferent； or treated the subject as a kind of joke； ridiculing the suggestion that it was possible to abolish poverty。 They repeated that there had ‘always been rich and poor in the world and there always would be； so there was an end of it'。 But the majority were bitterly hostile； not to Owen； but to Socialism。 For the man himself most of them had a certain amount of liking； especially the ordinary hands because it was known that he was not a ‘master's man' and that he had declined to ‘take charge' of jobs which Misery had offered to him。 But to Socialism they were savagely and malignantly opposed。 Some of those who had shown some symptoms of Socialism during the past winter when they were starving had now quite recovered and were stout defenders of the Present System。
Barrington was still working for the firm and continued to maintain his manner of reserve； seldom speaking unless addressed but all the same； for several reasons； it began to be rumoured that he shared Owen's views。 He always paid for the pamphlets that Owen gave him； and on one occasion； when Owen bought a thousand leaflets to give away； Barrington contributed a shilling towards the half…crown that Owen paid for them。 But he never took any part in the arguments that sometimes raged during the dinner…hour or at breakfast…time。
It was a good thing for Owen that he had his enthusiasm for ‘the cause' to occupy his mind。 Socialism was to him what drink was to some of the others … the thing that enable them to forget and tolerate the conditions under which they were forced to exist。 Some of them were so muddled with beer； and others so besotted with admiration of their Liberal and Tory masters； that they were oblivious of the misery of their own lives； and in a similar way； Owen was so much occupied in trying to rouse them from their lethargy and so engrossed in trying to think out new arguments to convince them of the possibility of bringing about an improvement in their condition that he had no time to dwell upon his own poverty； the money that he spent on leaflets and pamphlets to give away might have been better spent on food and clothing for himself； because most of those to whom he gave them were by no means grateful； but he never thought of that； and after all； nearly everyone spends money on some hobby or other。 Some people deny themselves the necessaries or comforts of life in order that they may be able to help to fatten a publican。 Others deny themselves in order to enable a lazy parson to live in idleness and luxury； and others spend much time and money that they really need for themselves in buying Socialist literature to give away to people who don't want to know about Socialism。
One Sunday morning towards the end of July； a band of about twenty…five men and women on bicycles invaded the town。 Two of them … who rode a few yards in front of the others； had affixed to the handlebars of each of their machines a slender； upright standard from the top of one of which fluttered a small flag of crimson silk with ‘International Brotherhood and Peace' in gold letters。 The other standard was similar in size and colour； but with a different legend： ‘One for all and All for one。'
As they rode along they gave leaflets to the people in the streets； and whenever they came to a place where there were many people they dismounted and walked about； giving their leaflets to whoever would accept them。 They made several long halts during their progress along the Grand Parade； where there was a considerable crowd； and then they rode over the hill to Windley； which they reached a little before opening time。 There were little crowds waiting outside the several public houses and a number of people passing through the streets on their way home from Church and Chapel。 The strangers distributed leaflets to all those who would take them； and they went through a lot of the side streets； putting leaflets under the doors and in the letter…boxes。 When they had exhausted their stock they remounted and rode back the way they came。
Meantime the news of their arrival had spread； and as they returned through the town they were greeted with jeers and booing。 Presently someone threw a stone； and as there happened to be plenty of stones just there several others followed suit and began running after the retreating cyclists； throwing stones； hooting and cursing。
The leaflet which had given rise to all this fury read as follows：
WHAT IS SOCIALISM？
At present the workers； with hand and brain produce continually food； c
