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 | M | |
| Great | Bishops | benefits | P | |
| Landowners | Financiers | of | L | |
| All those | Capitalists | civiliz- | O | |
| possessed | Share- | ation | Y | |
| of | holders | E | ||
| hereditary | Ministers | D | ||
| wealth | of religion |
“Hooray!” shouted Philpot, leading off a cheer which was taken up enthusiastically by the crowd, “Hooray! This is where WE comes in,” he added, nodding his head and winking his goggle eyes at the meeting.
“I wish to call the chairman to horder,” said the man on the pail.
When Owen had finished writing in the list of occupations several members of the audience rose to point out that those engaged in the production of beer had been omitted. Owen rectified this serious oversight and proceeded:
“As most of the people in number four are out of work at least one quarter of their time, we must reduce the size of this division by one fourth—so. The grey part represents the unemployed.”