The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest / The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

by Unknown

“Mr. Dooley” on Prosperity

(See pages [683], [692], [698], [706], [709])

Yes, Prosperity has come hollerin’ an’ screamin’. To read th’ papers, it seems to be a kind iv a vagrancy law. No wan can loaf anny more. Th’ end iv vacation has gone f’r manny a happy lad that has spint six months ridin’ through th’ counthry, dodgin’ wurruk, or loafin’ under his own vine or hat-three. Prosperity grabs ivry man be th’ neck, an’ sets him shovellin’ slag or coke or runnin’ up an’ down a ladder with a hod iv mortar. It won’t let th’ wurruld rest.... It goes around like a polisman givin’ th’ hot fut to happy people that are snoozin’ in th’ sun. ‘Get up,’ says Prosperity. ‘Get up, an’ hustle over to th’ rollin’ mills: there’s a man over there wants ye to carry a ton iv coal on ye’er back.’ ‘But I don’t want to wurruk,’ says th’ lad. ‘I’m very comfortable th’ way I am.’ ‘It makes no difference,’ says Prosperity. ‘Ye’ve got to do ye’er lick. Wurruk, f’r th’ night is comin’. Get out, an’ hustle. Wurruk, or ye can’t be unhappy; an’, if th’ wurruld isn’t unhappy, they’se no such a thing as Prosperity.“