第15章
"Hereisaview——thisisthefirstofmyownattempts——oftheapartmentofoneoftheunderservants。Itiscomfortableandspacious,andsolidlyfurnished。"
"SoIperceive。"
"Thesearethestables。Aretheynothandsome？"
"Palatial。Quitepalatial。"
"Thereiseveryluxurythatahorsecoulddesire,includingplentyofvaletstowaitonhim。Youarenotingthefigures,I
hope。Thereisthecostofthebuildingandtheexpenditureperhorseperannum。"
"Isee。"
"Hereistheexteriorofahouse。Whatdoyouthinkofit？"
"Itisratherpicturesqueinitsdilapidation。"
"Picturesque！Wouldyouliketoliveinit？"
"No,"saidErskine。"Idon"tseeanythingverypicturesqueaboutit。Whatinducedyoutophotographsuchawretchedoldrookery？"
"Hereisaviewofthebestroominit。Photographygivesyouafairideaofthebrokenflooringandpatchedwindows,butyoumustimaginethedirtandtheodoroftheplace。Someofthestainsareweatherstains,otherscamefromsmokeandfilth。Thelandlordofthehouseholdsitfromapeerandletsitoutintenements。ThreefamiliesoccupiedthatroomwhenIphotographedit。YouwillseebythefiguresinthecornerthatitismoreprofitabletothelandlordthananaveragehouseinMayfair。Hereisthecellar,lettoafamilyforoneandsixpenceaweek,andconsideredabargain。Thesunnevershinesthere,ofcourse。I
tookitbyartificiallight。Youmayaddtotherentthecostofenoughbadbeertomakethetenantinsensibletothefilthoftheplace。Beeristhechloroformthatenablesthelaborertoendurethesevereoperationofliving;thatiswhywecanalwaysassureoneanotheroverourwinethattherascal"smiseryisduetohishabitofdrinking。Wearedownonhimforit,because,ifhecouldbearhislifewithoutbeer,weshouldsavehisbeer—money——gethimforlowerwages。Inshort,weshouldbericherandhesoberer。Hereistheyard;thearrangementsareindescribable。Sevenoftheinhabitantsofthathousehadworkedforyearsinmyfather"smill。Thatis,theyhadcreatedaconsiderablepartofthevastsumsofmoneyfordrawingyourattentiontowhichyouweredisgustedwithmejustnow。"
"Notatall,"saidSirCharlesfaintly。
"Youcanseehowtheirconditioncontrastswiththatofmyfather"shorses。ThesevenmentowhomIhavealluded,withthreehundredothers,werethrowndestituteuponthestreetsbythis。"
（Hereheturnedoveraleafanddisplayedaphotographofanelaboratemachine。）"Itenabledmyfathertodispensewiththeirservices,andtoreplacethembyahandfulofwomenandchildren。
Hehadboughtthepatentofthemachineforfiftypoundsfromtheinventor,whowasalmostruinedbytheexpensesofhisingenuity,andwouldhavesacrificedanythingforahandfulofreadymoney。
Hereisaportraitofmyfatherinhismasonicinsignia。Hebelievedthatfreemasonsgenerallygetonintheworld,andasthemainobjectofhislifewastogeton,hejoinedthem,andwantedmetodothesame。ButIobjecttopretendedsecretsocietiesandhocuspocus,andwouldnot。Youseewhathewas——aportly,pushing,egotisticaltradesman。Markthesuccessfulman,themerchantprincewithargosiesoneverysea,theemployerofthousandsofhands,themunificentcontributortopubliccharities,thechurchwarden,thememberofparliament,andthegenerouspatronofhisrelativeshisself—approbationstrugglingwiththeinstinctivesenseofbasenessinthemoney—hunter,theignorantandgreedyfilcherofthelaborofothers,thesellerofhisownmindandmanhoodforluxuriesanddelicaciesthathewastoolowlivedtoenjoy,andforthesocietyofpeoplewhomadehimfeelhisinferiorityateveryturn。"
"Andthemantowhomyouoweeverythingyoupossess,"saidErskineboldly。
"Ipossessverylittle。Everythingheleftme,exceptafewpictures,Ispentlongago,andeventhatwasmadebyhisslavesandnotbyhim。MywealthcomesdaybydayfreshfromthelaborofthewretcheswholiveinthedensIhavejustshownyou,orofafewaristocratsoflaborwhoarewithintenshillingsaweekofbeingworseoff。However,thereissomeexcuseformyfather。
Once,atanelectionriot,Igotintoafreefight。Iamapeacefulman,butasIhadeithertofightorbeknockeddownandtrampledupon,IexchangedblowswithmenwhowereperhapsaspeacefullydisposedasI。Myfather,launchedintoafreecompetition（freeinthesensethatthefightisfree:thatis,lawless）——myfatherhadtochoosebetweenbeingaslavehimselfandenslavingothers。Hechosethelatter,andashewasapplaudedandmademuchofforsucceeding,whodareblamehim？
NotI。Besides,hedidsomethingtodestroytheanarchythatenabledhimtoplundersocietywithimpunity。Hefurnishedme,itsenemy,withthepowerfulweaponofalargefortune。Thusoursystemoforganizingindustrysometimeshatchestheeggsfromwhichitsdestroyersbreak。DoesLadyBrandonwearmuchlace？"
"I——No;thatis——HowthedeucedOIknow,Trefusis？Whatanextraordinaryquestion！"
"Thisisaphotographofalaceschool。Itwasafilthyroom,twelvefeetsquare。Itwaspavedwithbrick,andthechildrenwerenotallowedtoweartheirboots,lestthelaceshouldgetmuddy。However,asthereweretwentyofthemworkingthereforfifteenhoursaday——allgirls——theydidnotsuffermuchfromcold。Theywereprettytightlypacked——maybestill,foraughtI
know。Theybroughtthreeorfourshillingsaweeksometimestotheirfondparents;andtheywereveryquick—fingeredlittlecreatures,andstuckintenselytotheirwork,astheoverseeralwayshitthemwhentheylookedupor——"
"Trefusis,"saidSirCharles,turningawayfromthetable,"Ibegyourpardon,butIhavenoappetiteforhorrors。Youreallymustnotaskmetogothroughyourcollection。Itisnodoubtveryinteresting,butIcan"tstandit。Haveyounothingpleasanttoentertainmewith？"
"Pooh！youaresqueamish。However,asyouareanovice,letusputofftherestuntilyouareseasoned。Thepicturesarenotallhorrible。Eachbookreferstoadifferentcountry。ThatonecontainsillustrationsofmoderncivilizationinGermany,forinstance。ThatoneisFrance;that,BritishIndia。HereyouhavetheUnitedStatesofAmerica,homeofliberty,theatreofmanhoodsuffrage,kinglessandlordlesslandofProtection,Republicanism,andtherealizedRadicalProgramme,wherealltheblackchattelslaveswereturnedintowage—slaves（likemyfather"swhitefellows）atacostof800,000livesandwealthincalculable。YouandIarepaupersincomparisonwiththegreatcapitalistsofthatcountry,wherethelaborersfightforboneswiththeChinamen,likedogs。Someofthesegreatmenpresentedmewithphotographsoftheiryachtsandpalaces,notanticipatingtheusetowhichIwouldputthem。Herearesomeportraitsthatwillnotharrowyourfeelings。Thisismymother,awomanofgoodfamily,everyinchalady。HereisaLancashirelass,thedaughterofacommonpitman。Shehasexactlythesamephysicalcharacteristicsasmywell—bornmother——thesamesmallhead,delicatefeatures,andsoforth;theymightbesisters。Thisvillainous—lookingpairmightbetwinbrothers,exceptthatthereisatraceofgoodhumorabouttheonetotheright。Thegood—humoredoneisabargeeontheLyvernCanal。TheotherisoneoftheseniornoblemenoftheBritishPeerage。TheyillustratethefactthatNature,evenwhenpervertedbygenerationsoffaminefever,ignoresthedistinctionswesetupbetweenmen。Thisgroupofmenandwomen,alltolerablyintelligentandthoughtfullooking,areso—calledenemiesofsociety——Nihilists,Anarchists,Communards,membersoftheInternational,andsoon。Theseotherpoordevils,worried,stiff,strumous,awkward,vapid,andrathercoarse,withhereandthereapassablyprettywoman,areEuropeankings,queens,grand—dukes,andthelike。Hereareship—captains,criminals,poets,menofscience,peers,peasants,politicaleconomists,andrepresentativesofdozensofdegrees。Theobjectofthecollectionistoillustratethenaturalinequalityofman,andthefailureofourartificialinequalitytocorrespondwithit。"
"Itseemstomeasortofinfernalcollectionfortheupsettingofpeople"sideas,"saidErskine。"Yououghttolabelit"A
PortfolioofParadoxes。""
"Inarationalstateofsocietytheywouldbeparadoxes;butnowthetimegivesthemproof——likeHamlet"sparadox。Itis,however,acollectionoffacts;andIwillgivenofancifulnametoit。
Youdislikefigures,don"tyou？"
"UnlesstheyarebyPhidias,yes。"
"Hereareafew,notbyPhidias。ThisisthebalancesheetofanattemptImadesomeyearsagotocarryouttheideaofanInternationalAssociationofLaborers——commonlyknownasTHE
International——orunionofallworkmenthroughouttheworldindefenceoftheinterestsoflabor。Youseetheresult。
Expenditure,fourthousandfivehundredpounds。Subscriptionsreceivedfromworking—men,twenty—twopoundssevenandtenpencehalfpenny。TheBritishworkmenshowedtheirsenseofmyeffortstoemancipatethembyaccusingmeofmakingagoodthingoutoftheAssociationformyownpocket,andbymobbingandstoningmetwice。Inowhelpthemonlywhentheyshowsomedispositiontohelpthemselves。Ioccupymyselfpartlyinworkingoutaschemeforthereorganizationofindustry,andpartlyinattackingmyownclass,womenandall,asIamattackingyou。"
"Thereislittleuseinattackingus,Ifear,"saidSirCharles。
"Greatuse,"saidTrefusisconfidently。"YouhaveaverydifferentopinionofourboastedcivilizationnowfromthatwhichyouheldwhenIbrokeyourwalldownandinvitedthoseLandNationalizationzealotstomarchacrossyourpleasureground。Youhaveseeninmyalbumsomethingyouhadnotseenanhourago,andyouareconsequentlynotquitethesamemanyouwereanhourago。
Mypicturesstickinthemindlongerthanyourscratchyetchings,ortheleadenthingsinwhichyoufancyyouseetenderharmoniesingray。Erskine"snextdramamaybeaboutliberty,butitsPatriotMartyrswillhavesomethingbettertodothanspoutbalderdashagainstfigure—headkingswhoinalltheirlivesneversecretlyplottedasmuchdastardlymeanness,greed,cruelty,andtyrannyasisopenlyvotedforinLondonbyeveryhalf—yearlymeetingofdividend—consumingverminwhosemiserablewage—slavesdrudgesixteenhoursoutofthetwenty—four。"
"Whatisgoingtobetheendofitall？"saidSirCharles,alittledazed。
"SocialismorSmash。Socialismiftheracehasatlastevolvedthefacultyofcoordinatingthefunctionsofasocietytoocrowdedandcomplextobeworkedanylongerontheoldhaphazardprivate—propertysystem。Unlesswereorganizeoursocietysocialistically——humanlyamostarduousandmagnificententerprise,economicallyamostsimpleandsoundone——FreeTradebyitselfwillruinEngland,andIwilltellyouexactlyhow。
Whenmyfathermadehisfortunewehadthestartofallothernationsintheorganizationofourindustryandinouraccesstoironandcoal。Othernationsboughtourproductsforlessthantheymusthavespenttoraisethemathome,andyetforsomuchmorethantheycostus,thatprofitsrolledinAtlanticwavesuponourcapitalists。Whentheworkers,bytheirtrades—unions,demandedashareoftheluckintheformofadvancedwages,itpaidbettertogivethemthelittletheydaredtoaskthantostopgold—gatheringtofightandcrushthem。Butnowourcustomershavesetupintheirowncountriesimprovedcopiesofourindustrialorganization,andhavediscoveredplaceswhereironandcoalareevenhandierthantheyarebythistimeinEngland。Theyproduceforthemselves,orbuyelsewhere,whattheyformerlyboughtfromus。Ourprofitsarevanishing,ourmachineryisstandingidle,ourworkmenarelockedout。Itpaysnowtostopthemillsandfightandcrushtheunionswhenthemenstrike,nolongerforanadvance,butagainstareduction。Nowthattheseunionsarebeaten,helpless,anddriftingtobankruptcyastheproportionofunemployedmenintheirranksbecomesgreater,theyarebeingpettedandmademuchofbyourclass;aninfalliblesignthattheyaremakingnofurtherprogressintheirdutyofdestroyingus。Thesmallcapitalistsareleftstrandedbytheebb;thebigoneswillfollowthetideacrossthewater,andrebuildtheirfactorieswheresteampower,waterpower,laborpower,andtransportarenowcheaperthaninEngland,wheretheyusedtobecheapest。Theworkerswillemigrateinpursuitofthefactory,buttheywillmultiplyfasterthantheyemigrate,andbetoldthattheirownexorbitantdemandforwagesisdrivingcapitalabroad,andmustcontinuetodosowhilstthereisaChinamanoraHindoounemployedtounderbidthem。AstheBritishfactoriesareshutup,theywillbereplacedbyvillas;themanufacturingdistrictswillbecomefashionableresortsforcapitalistslivingontheinterestofforeigninvestments;thefarmsandsheeprunswillbeclearedfordeerforests。Allproductsthatcaninthenatureofthingsbemanufacturedelsewherethanwheretheyareconsumedwillbeimportedinpaymentofdeer—forestrentsfromforeignsportsmen,orofdividendsduetoshareholdersresidentinEngland,butholdingsharesincompaniesabroad,andtheseimportswillnotbepaidforbyexports,becauserentandinterestarenotpaidforatall——afactwhichtheFreeTradersdonotyetsee,oratanyratedonotmention,althoughitisthekeytothewholemysteryoftheiropponents。ThecryforProtectionwillbecomewild,butnoonewilldareresorttoademonstrablyabsurdmeasurethatmustraisepricesbeforeitraiseswages,andthathaseverywherefailedtobenefittheworker。Therewillbenoemploymentforanyoneexceptindoingthingsthatmustbedoneonthespot,suchasunpackinganddistributingtheimports,ministeringtotheproprietorsasdomesticservants,orbyacting,preaching,paving,lighting,housebuilding,andtherest;andsomeofthese,asthecapitalistcomestoregardostentationasvulgar,andtoenjoyasimplerlife,willemployfewerandfewerpeople。Avastproletariat,beginningwithanucleusofthoseformerlyemployedinexporttrades,withtheirmultiplyingprogeny,willbeoutofemploymentpermanently。Theywilldemandaccesstothelandandmachinerytoproduceforthemselves。Theywillberefused。Theywillbreakafewwindowsandbedispersedwithawarningtotheirleaders。Theywillburnafewhousesandmurderapolicemanortwo,andthenanexamplewillbemadeofthewarned。Theywillrevolt,andbeshotdownwithmachine—guns——emigrated——exterminatedanyhowandeveryhow;fortheproprietaryclasseshavenoideaofanyothermeansofdealingwiththefullclaimsoflabor。Youyourself,thoughyouwouldgivefiftypoundstoJansenius"semigrationfundreadilyenough,wouldcallforthepolice,themilitary,andtheRiotAct,ifthepeoplecametoBrandonBeechesandbadeyouturnoutandworkforyourlivingwiththerest。Well,thesuperfluousproletariatdestroyed,therewillremainapopulationofcapitalistslivingongratuitousimportsandservedbyadisaffectedretinue。Onedaythegratuitousimportswillstopinconsequenceoftheoccurrenceabroadofrevolutionandrepudiation,fallintherateofinterest,purchaseofindustriesbygovernmentsforlumpsums,notreinvestable,orwhatnot。Ourcapitalistcommunityisthenthrownontheremainsofthelastdividend,whichitconsumeslongbeforeitcanrehabilitateitsextinctmachineryofproductioninordertosupportitselfwithitsownhands。Horses,dogs,cats,rats,blackberries,mushrooms,andcannibalismonlypostpone——"
"Ha！ha！ha！"shoutedSirCharles。"Onmyhonor,Ithoughtyouwereseriousatfirst,Trefusis。Come,confess,oldchap;it"sallafadofyours。Ihalfsuspectedyouofbeingabitofacrank。"AndhewinkedatErskine。
"WhatIhavedescribedtoyouistheinevitableoutcomeofourpresentFreeTradepolicywithoutSocialism。ThetheoryofFreeTradeisonlyapplicabletosystemsofexchange,nottosystemsofspoliation。Oursystemisoneofspoliation,andifwedon"tabandonit,wemusteitherreturntoProtectionorgotosmashbytheroadIhavejustmapped。Now,soonerthanlettheProtectioniststriumph,theCobdenClubitselfwouldblowthegaffandpointouttotheworkersthatProtectiononlymeanscompellingtheproprietorsofEnglandtoemployslavesresidentinEnglandandthereforepresumably——thoughbynomeansnecessarily——Englishmen。ThiswouldopentheeyesofthenationatlasttothefactthatEnglandisnottheirproperty。Onceletthemunderstandthatandtheywouldsoonmakeitso。WhenEnglandismadethepropertyofitsinhabitantscollectively,Englandbecomessocialistic。Artificialinequalitywillvanishthenbeforerealfreedomofcontract;freedomofcompetition,orunhamperedemulation,willkeepusmovingahead;andFreeTradewillfulfilitspromisesatlast。"
"Andtheidlersandloafers,"saidErskine。"Whatofthem？"
"YouandI,infact,"saidTrefusis,"dieofstarvation,I
suppose,unlesswechoosetowork,orunlesstheygiveusalittleout—doorreliefinconsiderationofourbadbringing—up。"
"Doyoumeanthattheywillplunderus？"saidSirCharles。
"Imeanthattheywillmakeusstopplunderingthem。Iftheyhesitatetostripusnaked,ortocutourthroatsifweofferthemthesmallestresistance,theywillshowusmoremercythanweevershowedthem。ConsiderwhatwehavedonetogetourrentsinIrelandandScotland,andourdividendsinEgypt,ifyouhavealreadyforgottenmyphotographsandtheirlessoninouratrocitiesathome。Why,man,wemurderthegreatmassofthesetoilerswithoverworkandhardship;theiraveragelifetimeisnothalfaslongasours。Humannatureisthesameinthemasinus。
Ifweresistthem,andsucceedinrestoringorder,aswecallit,wewillpunishthemmercilesslyfortheirinsubordination,aswedidinParisin1871,where,by—the—bye,wetaughtthemthefollyofgivingtheirenemiesquarter。Iftheybeatus,weshallcatchit,andserveusright。Farbetterturnhonestatonceandavertbloodshed。Eh,Erskine？"
Erskinewasconsideringwhatreplyheshouldmake,whenTrefusisdisconcertedhimbyringingabell。Presentlytheelderlywomanappeared,pushingbeforeheranoblongtablemountedonwheels,likeabarrow。
"Thankyou,"saidTrefusis,anddismissedher。"Hereissomegoodwine,somegoodwater,somegoodfruit,andsomegoodbread。I
knowthatyouclingtowineastoagoodfamiliarcreature。Asforme,Imakenodistinctionbetweenitandothervegetablepoisons。Iabstainfromthemall。Waterforserenity,wineforexcitement。I,havingboilingspringsofexcitementwithinmyself,amneveratalossforit,andhaveonlytoseekserenity。However,"（herehedrewacork）,"agenerousgobletofthiswillmakeyoufeellikegodsforhalfanhouratleast。
ShallwedrinktoyourconversiontoSocialism？"
SirCharlesshookhishead。
"Come,Mr。DonovanBrown,thegreatartist,isaSocialist,andwhyshouldnotyoubeone？"
"DonovanBrown！"exclaimedSirCharleswithinterest。"Isitpossible？Doyouknowhimpersonally？"
"Hereareseverallettersfromhim。Youmayreadthem;themereautographofsuchamanisinteresting。"
SirCharlestookthelettersandreadthemearnestly,Erskinereadingoverhisshoulder。
"Imostcordiallyagreewitheverythinghesayshere,"saidSirCharles。"Itisquitetrue,quitetrue。"
"Ofcourseyouagreewithus。DonovanBrown"seminenceasanartisthasgainedmeonerecruit,andyoursasabaronetwillgainmesomemore。"
"But——"
"Butwhat？"saidTrefusis,deftlyopeningoneofthealbumsataphotographofaloathsomeroom。
"Youareagainstthat,areyounot？DonovanBrownisagainstit,andIamagainstit。Youmaydisagreewithusineverythingelse,butthereyouareatonewithus。Isitnotso？"
"Butthatmaybetheresultofdrunkenness,improvidence,or——"
"Myfather"sincomewasfiftytimesasgreatasthatofDonovanBrown。DoyoubelievethatDonovanBrownisfiftytimesasdrunkenandimprovidentasmyfatherwas？"
"Certainlynot。Idonotdenythatthereismuchinwhatyouurge。Still,youaskmetotakearatherimportantstep。"
"Notabitofit。Idon"taskyoutosubscribeto,join,orinanywaypledgeyourselftoanysocietyorconspiracywhatsoever。
IonlywantyournameforprivatementiontocowardswhothinkSocialismright,butwillnotsaysobecausetheydonotthinkitrespectable。Theywillnotbeashamedoftheirconvictionswhentheylearnthatabaronetsharesthem。Socialismoffersyousomethingalready,yousee;agooduseforyourhithertouselesstitle。"
SirCharlescoloredalittle,consciousthattheexampleofhisfavoritepainterhadinfluencedhimmorethanhisownconvictionortheargumentsofTrefusis。
"Whatdoyouthink,Chester？"hesaid。"Willyoujoin？"
"Erskineisalreadycommittedtothecauseoflibertybyhispublishedwritings,"saidTrefusis。"Threeofthepamphletsonthatshelfcontainquotationsfrom"ThePatriotMartyrs。""
Erskineblushed,flatteredbybeingquoted;anattentionthathadbeenshownhimonlyoncebefore,andthenbyareviewerwiththeobjectofprovingthatthePatriotMartyrswereslovenlyintheirgrammar。
"Come！"saidTrefusis。"ShallIwritetoDonovanBrownthathislettershavegainedthecordialassentandsympathyofSirCharlesBrandon？"
"Certainly,certainly。Thatis,ifmyunknownnamewouldbeoftheleastinteresttohim。"
"Good,"saidTrefusis,fillinghisglasswithwater。"Erskine,letusdrinktoourbrotherSocialDemocrat。"
Erskinelaughedloudly,butnotheartily。"Whatanassyouare,Brandon！"hesaid。"You,withalargelandedestate,andbagsofgoldinvestedinrailways,callingyourselfaSocialDemocrat！
Areyougoingtoselloutanddistribute——tosellallthatthouhastandgivetothepoor？"
"Notapenny,"repliedTrefusisforhimpromptly。"AmancannotbeaChristianinthiscountry。Ihavetrieditandfounditimpossiblebothinlawandinfact。Iamacapitalistandalandholder。Ihaverailwayshares,miningshares,buildingshares,bankshares,andstockofmostkinds;andagreattroubletheyaretome。Butthesesharesdonotrepresentwealthactuallyinexistence;theyareamortgageonthelaborofunborngenerationsoflaborers,whomustworktokeepmeandmineinidlenessandluxury。IfIsoldthem,wouldthemortgagebecancelledandtheunborngenerationsreleasedfromitsthrall？
No。Itwouldonlypassintothehandsofsomeothercapitalist,andtheworkingclasswouldbenobetteroffformyself—sacrifice。SirCharlescannotobeythecommandofChrist;I
defyhimtodoit。Lethimgivehislandforapublicpark;onlythericherclasseswillhaveleisuretoenjoyit。Plantitattheverydoorsofthepoor,sothattheymayatlastbreatheitsair,anditwillraisethevalueoftheneighboringhousesanddrivethepooraway。Lethimendowaschoolforthepoor,likeEtonorChrist"sHospital,andtherichwilltakeitfortheirownchildrenastheydointhetwoinstancesIhavenamed。SirCharlesdoesnotwanttoministertopoverty,buttoabolishit。
Nomatterhowmuchyougivetothepoor,everythingexceptabaresubsistencewagewillbetakenfromthemagainbyforce。AlltalkofpracticingChristianity,orevenbarejustice,isatpresentmerewasteofwords。Howcanyoujustlyrewardthelaborerwhenyoucannotascertainthevalueofwhathemakes,owingtotheprevalentcustomofstealingit？Iknowthisbyexperience。I
wantedtopayajustpriceformywife"stomb,butIcouldnotfindoutitsvalue,andnevershall。Theprincipleonwhichwefarmoutournationalindustrytoprivatemarauders,whorecompensethemselvesbyblack—mail,socorruptsandparalyzesusthatwecannotbehonestevenwhenwewantto。Andthereasonwebearitsocalmlyisthatveryfewofusreallywantto。"
"Imuststudythisquestionofvalue,"saidSirCharlesdubiously,refillinghisgoblet。"Canyourecommendmeagoodbookonthesubject？"
"Anygoodtreatiseonpoliticaleconomywilldo,"saidTrefusis。
"IneconomicsallroadsleadtoSocialism,althoughinninecasesoutoften,sofar,theeconomistdoesn"trecognizehisdestination,andincursthemaledictionpronouncedbyJeremiahonthosewhojustifythewickedforreward。Iwilllookyououtabookortwo。AndifyouwillcallonDonovanBrownthenexttimeyouareinLondon,hewillbedelighted,Iknow。Hemeetswithveryfewwhoarecapableofsympathizingwithhimfrombothhispointsofview——socialandartistic。"
SirCharlesbrightenedonbeingremindedofDonovanBrown。"I
shallesteemanintroductiontohimagreathonor,"hesaid。"I
hadnoideathathewasafriendofyours。"
"IwasaverypracticalyoungSocialistwhenIfirstmethim,"
saidTrefusis。"WhenBrownwasanunknownandwretchedlypoorman,mymother,atthepetitionofafriendofhis,charitablyboughtoneofhispicturesforthirtypounds,whichhewasverygladtoget。Yearsafterwards,whenmymotherwasdead,andBrownfamous,Iwasofferedeighthundredpoundsforthispicture,whichwas,by—the—bye,averybadoneinmyopinion。Now,aftermakingtheusualunjustallowanceforinterestonthirtypoundsfortwelveyearsorsothathadelapsed,thesaleofthepicturewouldhavebroughtmeinaprofitofoversevenhundredandfiftypounds,anunearnedincrementtowhichIhadnorighteousclaim。
Mysolicitor,towhomImentionedthematter,wasofopinionthatImightjustifiablypocketthesevenhundredandfiftypoundsasrewardformymother"sbenevolenceinbuyingapresumablyworthlesspicturefromanobscurepainter。ButhefailedtoconvincemethatIoughttobepaidformymother"svirtues,thoughweagreedthatneitherInormymotherhadreceivedanyreturnintheshapeofpleasureincontemplatingthework,whichhaddeterioratedconsiderablybythefadingofthecolorssinceitspurchase。AtlastIwenttoBrown"sstudiowiththepicture,andtoldhimthatitwasworthnothingtome,asIthoughtitaparticularlybadone,andthathemighthaveitbackagainforfifteenpounds,halfthefirstprice。HeatoncetoldmethatI
couldgetfromanydealermoreforitthanhecouldaffordtogiveme;buthetoldmetoothatIhadnorighttomakeaprofitoutofhiswork,andthathewouldgivemetheoriginalpriceofthirtypounds。Itookit,andthensenthimthemanwhohadofferedmetheeighthundred。TomydiscomfitureBrownrefusedtosellitonanyterms,becauseheconsidereditunworthyofhisreputation。Themanbiduptofifteenhundred,butBrownheldout;andIfoundthatinsteadofputtingsevenhundredandseventypoundsintohispocketIhadtakenthirtyoutofit。I
accordinglyofferedtoreturnthethirtypieces。Brown,takingtheofferasaninsult,declinedallfurthercommunicationwithme。Itheninsistedonthematterbeingsubmittedtoarbitration,anddemandedfifteenhundredpoundsasthefullexchangevalueofthepicture。Allthearbitratorsagreedthatthiswasmonstrous,whereuponIcontendedthatiftheydeniedmyrighttothevalueinexchange,theymustadmitmyrighttothevalueinuse。TheyassentedtothisafterputtingofftheirdecisionforafortnightinordertoreadAdamSmithanddiscoverwhatonearthImeantbymyvaluesinuseandexchange。Inowshowedthatthepicturehadnovalueinusetome,asIdislikedit,andthatthereforeIwasentitledtonothing,andthatBrownmusttakebackthethirtypounds。Theyweregladtoconcedethisalsotome,astheywereallartistfriendsofBrown,andwishedhimnottolosemoneybythetransaction,thoughtheyofcourseprivatelythoughtthatthepicturewas,asIdescribedit,abadone。AfterthatBrownandI
becameverygoodfriends。Hetoleratedmyadvances,atfirstlestitshouldseemthathewasannoyedbymydisparagementofhiswork。Subsequentlyhefellintomyviewsmuchasyouhavedone。"
"Thatisveryinteresting,"saidSirCharles。"Whatanoblething——refusingfifteenhundredpounds！Hecouldillaffordit,probably。"
"Heroic——accordingtonineteenthcenturynotionsofheroism。
Voluntarilytothrowawayachanceofmakingmoney！thatistheneplusultraofmartyrdom。Brown"swifewasextremelyangrywithhimfordoingit。"
"Itisaninterestingstory——ormightbemadeso,"saidErskine。
"Butyoumakemyheadspinwithyourconfoundedexchangevaluesandstuff。Everythingisaquestionoffigureswithyou。"
"Thatcomesofmynotbeingapoet,"saidTrefusis。"ButweSocialistsneedtostudytheromanticsideofourmovementtointerestwomeninit。Ifyouwanttomakeacausegrow,instructeverywomanyoumeetinit。Sheisorwillonedaybeawife,andwillcontradictherhusbandwithscrapsofyourarguments。A
squabblewillfollow。Thesonwilllisten,andwillbesetthinkingifhebecapableofthought。Andsothemindofthepeoplegetsleavened。Ihaveconvertedmanyyoungwomen。MostofthemknownomoreoftheeconomictheoryofSocialismthantheyknowofChaldee;buttheynolongerfearorcondemnitsname。Oh,Iassureyouthatmuchcanbedoneinthatwaybymenwhoarenotafraidofwomen,andwhoarenotintoogreatahurrytoseetheharvesttheyhavesownfor。"
"Takecare。Someofyourladyproselytesmaygetthebetterofyousomeday。ThefuturehusbandtobecontradictedmaybeSidneyTrefusis。Ha！ha！ha！"SirCharleshademptiedasecondlargegobletofwine,andwasalittleflushedandboisterous。
"No,"saidTrefusis,"Ihavehadenoughoflovemyself,andamnotlikelytoinspireit。Womendonotcareformentowhom,asErskinesays,everythingisaquestionoffigures。Iusedtoflirtwithwomen;nowIlecturethem,andabhoraman—flirtworsethanIdoawomanone。Somemorewine？Oh,youmustnotwastetheremainderofthisbottle。"
"Ithinkwehadbettergo,Brandon,"saidErskine,hismistrustofTrefusisgrowing。"Wepromisedtobebackbeforetwo。"
"Soyoushall,"saidTrefusis。"Itisnotyetaquarterpastone。
By—the—bye,IhavenotshownyouDonovanBrown"spetinstrumentfortheregenerationofsociety。Hereitis。Amonsterpetitionprayingthattheholdingbackfromthelaborerofanyportionofthenetvalueproducedbyhislaborbedeclaredafelony。Thatisall。"
ErskinenudgedSirCharles,whosaidhastily,"Thankyou,butI
hadrathernotsignanything。"