“It’s a well-known fact,” said several others.
“Come to think of it,” continued Crass as he drew the Obscurer cutting from his waistcoat pocket, “I’ve got a little thing ’ere that I’ve been goin’ to read to yer. It’s out of the Obscurer. I’d forgotten all about it.”
Remarking that the print was too small for his own eyes, he passed the slip of paper to Harlow, who read aloud as follows:
PROVE YOUR PRINCIPLES: OR, LOOK AT BOTH SIDES
“I wish I could open your eyes to the true misery of our condition: injustice, tyranny and oppression!” said a discontented hack to a weary-looking cob as they stood side by side in unhired cabs.
“I’d rather have them opened to something pleasant, thank you,” replied the cob.
“I am sorry for you. If you could enter into the noble aspirations—” the hack began.
“Talk plain. What would you have?” said the cob, interrupting him.
“What would I have? Why, equality, and share and share alike all over the world,” said the hack.
“You mean that?” said the cob. “Of course I do. What right have those sleek, pampered hunters and racers to their warm stables and high feed, their grooms and jockeys? It is really heart-sickening to think of it,” replied the hack.