The Upper and the Nether Millstones
ridicule and a sense of his inability to put his thoughts into plain language. He began to wish that he had not undertaken this task. At last, with an effort, he began to speak in a halting, nervous way:
'This circle—or rather, the space inside the circle—is supposed to represent England.'
'Well, I never knowed it was round before,' jeered Crass. 'I've heerd as the world is round'
'I never said it was the shape—I said it was supposed to represent England.'
'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 bloody fools as to think that the largest number is the minority,' interrupted Crass.
'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 bloody 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. Nobody else can't get a word in hedgeways.'
'In order that these people may live,' continued Owen, pointing to the large black square, 'it is first of all 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,
'Bloody rot!'
'Wonder wot the bloody 'ell 'e thinks 'e is? A sort of schoolmaster?'
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