'I see all that; but, dear Master, what will your new order do for such
people? Will it make those who will not work industrious?'
'It will give every producer the fruits of his own labour: it will teach
a trade to every man, and find men work. And those who cannot work, it
will kill, or lock up until they die. They shall have no children.
Perhaps it will kill them all. It might be better. We will have no human
failures in our midst. That street is full of lessons, all calling
aloud for the destruction of Property.'
Then the other Voice spoke: 'The presence of the human failure is a
lesson always before us--a warning and a lesson to rich and poor alike.
As he is, so all may be. None are so rich but they may be brought to
poverty: none so poor but they may be poorer. So far from hiding away
the wreckage, it is always in our sight. It prowls about the streets: we
can never escape it. And it fills all hearts with terror: it spurs all
men to industry and invention and perseverance. The human failure
inspires a never-ending hymn in praise of Property.'
Elsie's guide stopped to greet a woman whom he knew. She had the usual
baby on her arm. She was a sad-faced woman, with some refinement in her
looks: she was wretchedly dressed, thin, pale, and dejected.
'The same story?'
'Yes, sir. It's always the same,' she sighed hopelessly. 'But he would
work if he could get anything to do. Nobody will employ a man who's had
a misfortune. It's hard--because such a thing may happen to anybody.
It's like measles, my husband says. He can't get drunk because there's
no money. That's my only comfort.'
He gave her some money, and she passed on her way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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