made by work. A man might work very hard and yet be
wasting his time if he were not producing something necessary or useful.

'Why are there so many shops and stores and emporiums? Do you imagine
they exist for the purpose of giving those who build them, or work in
them, a chance to earn a living? Nothing of the sort. They are carried
on, and exorbitant prices are charged for the articles they sell, to
enable the proprietors to amass fortunes, and to pay extortionate rents
to the landlords. That is why the wages and salaries of nearly all
those who do the work created by these businesses are cut down to the
lowest possible point.'

'We knows all about that,' said Crass, 'but you can't get away from it
that all these things makes Work; and that's what we wants--Plenty of
Work.'

Cries of ''Ear, 'ear,' and expressions of dissent from the views
expressed by the lecturer resounded through the room, nearly everyone
speaking at the same time. After a while, when the row had in some
measure subsided, Owen resumed:

'Nature has not provided ready-made all the things necessary for the
life and happiness of mankind. In order to obtain these things we have
to Work. The only rational labour is that which is directed to the
creation of those things. Any kind of work which does not help us to
attain this object is a ridiculous, idiotic, criminal, imbecile, waste
of time.

'That is what the great army of people represented by division number
three are doing at present: they are all very busy--working very
hard--but to all useful intents and purposes they are doing Nothing.'

'Well, all right,' said Harlow. ''Ave it yer own way, but there's no
need to keep on repeating the same thing over an' over again.'

'The next division,' resumed Owen, 'stands for those who are engaged in
really useful work--the production of the benefits of civilization--the
necessaries, refinements and comforts of life.'

1 2 3 4
+------------+-------------+-------------+------------+------------+
| Tramps | Exploiters | All those | All those | |
| Beggars | of Labour | engaged in | engaged in | |
| Society | Thieves | unnecessary | necessary | U |
| People | Swindlers | work | work--the | N |
| Aristoc- | Pickpockets | | production | E |
| racy | Burglars | | of the