ly things they
feel any real interest in are beer, football, betting and--of
course--one other subject. Their highest ambition is to be allowed to
Work. And they desire nothing better for their children!

'They have never had an independent thought in their lives. These are
the people whom you hope to inspire with lofty ideals! You might just
as well try to make a gold brooch out of a lump of dung! Try to reason
with them, to uplift them, to teach them the way to higher things.
Devote your whole life and intelligence to the work of trying to get
better conditions for them, and you will find that they themselves are
the enemy you will have to fight against. They'll hate you, and, if
they get the chance, they'll tear you to pieces. But if you're a
sensible man you'll use whatever talents and intelligence you possess
for your own benefit. Don't think about Socialism or any other "ism".
Concentrate your mind on getting money--it doesn't matter how you get
it, but--get it. If you can't get it honestly, get it dishonestly, but
get it! it is the only thing that counts. Do as I do--rob them!
exploit them! and then they'll have some respect for you.'

'There's something in what you say,' replied Barrington, after a long
pause, 'but it's not all. Circumstances make us what we are; and
anyhow, the children are worth fighting for.'

'You may think so now,' said the other, 'but you'll come to see it my
way some day. As for the children--if their parents are satisfied to
let them grow up to be half-starved drudges for other people, I don't
see why you or I need trouble about it. If you like to listen to
reason,' he continued after a pause, 'I can put you on to something
that will be worth more to you than all your Socialism.'

'What do you mean?'

'Look here: you're a Socialist; well, I'm a Socialist too: that is, I
have sense enough to believe that Socialism is practical and inevitable
and right; it will come when the majority of the people are
sufficiently enlightened to demand it, but that enlightenment will
never be brought about by reasoning or arguing with them, for these
people are simply not intellectually capable of abstract
reasoning--they can't grasp theories. You know what the late Lord
Salisbury said about them when somebody proposed to give them some free
libraries: He said: "They don't want libraries: give them a circus."
You see these Liberals and Tories understand the sort of people they
have to d