The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
of pounds per annum—is a small tricoloured one with a staff surmounted by an eagle.
"The Duke of Blankmind also presents the State with a little coloured silk flag every year in return for being allowed to retain possession of that part of England which was presented—in addition to his salary—to one of His Grace's very remote ancestors, for his services at the battle of Commissariat—in the Netherlands."
'The Duke of Southward is another instance,' continued Owen 'he "owns" miles of the country we speak of as "ours." Much of his part consists of confiscated monastery lands which were stolen from the owners by King Henry VIII and presented to the ancestors of the present Duke. Whether it was right or wrong that these parts of our country should ever have been given to those people is a question we need not trouble ourselves about now. But, the present holders are certainly not deserving people. They do not even take the trouble to pretend that they are. They have done nothing and they do nothing to justify their possession of these "estates," as they call them. And in my opinion no man who is in his right mind can really think it's just that these people should be allowed to prey upon their fellow-men as they are doing now, or that it is right that their children should be allowed to continue to prey upon our children for ever. Just think of the absurdity of it!' continued Owen, pointing to the two squares. 'All those people allowing themselves to be overworked and bullied and starved and robbed by this little crowd here!'
Observing signs of a renewal of the storm of protest, Owen hurriedly concluded:
'Whether it's right or wrong, you can't deny that the fact that this small minority possesses nearly all the land of the country is one of the principal causes of the poverty of the majority.'
'Well, that seems true enough,' said Easton, slowly; 'the rent's the biggest item a workin' man's got to pay. When you're out of work and you can't afford other things you goes without 'em, but the rent 'as to be paid whether you're workin' or not.'
'Yes, that's true enough,' said Harlow impatiently, 'but you gets value for yer money. You can't expect to get a 'ouse for nothing.'
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