登陆注册
5383800000001

第1章

In writing this book my intention was to present, in the form of an interesting story, a faithful picture of working-class life - more especially of those engaged in the Building trades - in a small town in the south of England.

I wished to describe the relations existing between the workmen and their employers, the attitude and feelings of these two classes towards each other; their circumstances when at work and when out of employment; their pleasures, their intellectual outlook, their religious and political opinions and ideals.

The action of the story covers a period of only a little over twelve months, but in order that the picture might be complete it was necessary to describe how the workers are circumstanced at all periods of their lives, from the cradle to the grave.Therefore the characters include women and children, a young boy - the apprentice -some improvers, journeymen in the prime of life, and worn-out old men.

I designed to show the conditions relating from poverty and unemployment: to expose the futility of the measures taken to deal with them and to indicate what I believe to be the only real remedy, namely - Socialism.I intended to explain what Socialists understand by the word `poverty': to define the Socialist theory of the causes of poverty, and to explain how Socialists propose to abolish poverty.

It may be objected that, considering the number of books dealing with these subjects already existing, such a work as this was uncalled for.

The answer is that not only are the majority of people opposed to Socialism, but a very brief conversation with an average anti-socialist is sufficient to show that he does not know what Socialism means.The same is true of all the anti-socialist writers and the `great statesmen' who make anti-socialist speeches: unless we believe that they are deliberate liars and imposters, who to serve their own interests labour to mislead other people, we must conclude that they do not understand Socialism.There is no other possible explanation of the extraordinary things they write and say.The thing they cry out against is not Socialism but a phantom of their own imagining.

Another answer is that `The Philanthropists' is not a treatise or essay, but a novel.My main object was to write a readable story full of human interest and based on the happenings of everyday life, the subject of Socialism being treated incidentally.

This was the task I set myself.To what extent I have succeeded is for others to say; but whatever their verdict, the work possesses at least one merit - that of being true.I have invented nothing.There are no scenes or incidents in the story that I have not either witnessed myself or had conclusive evidence of.As far as I dared Ilet the characters express themselves in their own sort of language and consequently some passages may be considered objectionable.At the same time I believe that - because it is true - the book is not without its humorous side.

The scenes and characters are typical of every town in the South of England and they will be readily recognized by those concerned.If the book is published I think it will appeal to a very large number of readers.Because it is true it will probably be denounced as a libel on the working classes and their employers, and upon the religious-professing section of the community.But I believe it will be acknowledged as true by most of those who are compelled to spend their lives amid the surroundings it describes, and it will be evident that no attack is made upon sincere religion.

同类推荐
  • 龙川别志

    龙川别志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 持世经

    持世经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三消论

    三消论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 扬州屠城亲历

    扬州屠城亲历

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 风俗通义

    风俗通义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我是你最后的孤岛

    我是你最后的孤岛

    安桉在一次始料未及的胃病发作中偶遇了从天而降,施予援手的宁树,但当时已经痛晕过去的她完全不知对方是谁。不想几日后在选修课上,那个宁树竟摇身一变成了她的临时代课老师。在宁树强势又温柔地攻占心扉之下,安桉终于陷进了不可思议地爱情中。却又在某一刻猝不及防地得知了当年父母之死。瞬间,安桉从云端坠入了地狱,就连沉睡在心底的噩梦也在张牙舞爪地步步逼近……
  • 军事智慧与谋略(世界军事之旅)

    军事智慧与谋略(世界军事之旅)

    青少年具有强烈的求知欲和探索欲,他们不仅对飞速发展的科学技术有着浓厚的兴趣,也对军事科学充满了强烈的好奇。真实地展现人类军事活动,也许我们无法成为一场军事变革的参与者和见证者,但我们可以把军事百科作为模拟战场。本丛书从不同角度阐述军事的相关知识。
  • 这就是我的篮球

    这就是我的篮球

    蝴蝶的翅膀可以带来龙卷风,田野的双手也必定能撼动整个篮球世界。他们一路曲折,但他们无坚不摧。这是我们大家的篮球。
  • 关于我变成妹妹这件事

    关于我变成妹妹这件事

    什么!我居然跟妹妹换了个身份!我变成了妹妹!而且我还要用妹妹的身份来进行妹妹的生活!——原书名《当兄妹灵魂互换后》全订vip书友群:725285479进群请先私聊群主给予全订截图与粉丝值截图哦
  • 烦了怒了你就吼秦腔

    烦了怒了你就吼秦腔

    门小范失联两个小时后,全金书接到县教育局局长林世泰的电话,林世泰在电话里说,门小范被双规了。县职教中心的工作暂时由你主持。你要积极努力,争取在考核时能当上一把手。你工作中有什么重大事情要上报教育局。不要私自拿主意。全金书愣住了,说,门校长干得好好的,一向以清正廉洁在社会上享有盛誉,怎么会一下子被双规了?是不是纪检部门把人抓错了?林世泰笑说,这事能错吗?全金书又说,门小范犯什么罪?林世泰说,受贿。全金书说,不可能。我与门小范干了好几年,从未发现他有这方面的毛病。林世泰笑说,贪官难道还在脸孔上写着自己是贪官?你呀,看人太单纯了。
  • 总裁,引你入局

    总裁,引你入局

    她做的最叛逆的事,刚满18岁,嫁给了比她大十二岁的他,强占了让所有人都骄傲的帝国总裁。父亲指责她,哥哥弟弟都恨她,继母气得差点露出真面目,她以为终于给了那些人最致命的一击,以为终于引他入了局!却没想到,她被他残忍地拖入了另外一个局!再归来,她要让所有人好看!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 快穿:宿主是个小红娘

    快穿:宿主是个小红娘

    论师父陪做任务,怎样才能攻略美男,在线等,急。凰挽歌本来还以为师父是禁欲高冷系美男,结果师父一不小心成为死皮赖脸夫管严,自己也是‘一不小心’成为自己的师娘。“师父,我是不是一个合格的快穿任务者?”“我觉得你适合做你的师娘。”
  • 仙房

    仙房

    第一至宝造化神壤落到齐风手里,竟然没有变成洞天福地,因为这家伙当时正在被雷劈。一座神奇的房屋,帮助被断言无法筑基的齐风以坚毅心智走向修仙大道,纵横仙魔万族!
  • 天乩

    天乩

    命运告诉我平庸无奇,我却要打脸上苍,冥冥之中自有的天意,都会在我这里重新书写。我叫姜尘,从药花村出来的那个!
  • 被玩坏的大宋

    被玩坏的大宋

    强汉,盛唐,富宋,暴元,刚明,奴清。大宋富饶是后世公认的!可谁又知道,大宋的奇葩,这是一个被皇帝,被文官自己玩坏的国家。看主角怎么加入玩坏大宋这场游戏!小说尽量尊重史实,但是会有适度的演义,不喜勿喷!