y his
side.

An absolute, disconcerting silence reigned. His embarrassment and
nervousness increased. He knew that they were unwilling to hear or
talk or think about such subjects as the cause of poverty at all. They
preferred to make fun of and ridicule them. He knew they would refuse
to try to see the meaning of what he wished to say if it were at all
difficult or obscure. How was he to put it to them so that they would
HAVE to understand it whether they wished to or not. It was almost
impossible.

It would be easy enough to convince them if they would only take a
LITTLE trouble and try to understand, but he knew that they certainly
would not 'worry' themselves about such a subject as this; it was not
as if it were some really important matter, such as a smutty story, a
game of hooks and rings or shove-ha'penny, something concerning
football or cricket, horse-racing or the doings of some Royal personage
or aristocrat.

The problem of the cause of poverty was only something that concerned
their own and their children's future welfare. Such an unimportant
matter, being undeserving of any earnest attention, must be put before
them so clearly and plainly that they would be compelled to understand
it at a glance; and it was almost impossible to do it.

Observing his hesitation, some of the men began to snigger. ''E seems
to 'ave got 'isself into a bit of a fog,' remarked Crass in a loud
whisper to Slyme, who laughed.

The sound roused Owen, who resumed:

'All these people help to consume the things produced by labour. We
will now divide them into separate classes. Those who help to produce;
those who do nothing, those who do harm, and those who are engaged in
unnecessary work.'

'And,' sneered Crass, 'those who are engaged in unnecessary talk.'

'First we will separate those who not only do nothing, but do not even
pretend to be of any use; people who would consider themselves
disgraced if they by any chance did any useful work. This class
includes tramps, beggars, the "Aristocracy", "Society" people, great
landowners, and generally all those possessed of hereditary wealth.'

As he spoke he drew a vertical line across one end of the oblong.

+------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
| Tramps | |
| Beggars | |
| Society |