to what he called his mind, that this doctrine is an insult to the
Founder of Christianity.

`Yes,' said Crass, agreeing with Slyme, `an' thers plenty of 'em wot's
too lazy to work when they can get it. Some of the b--s who go about
pleading poverty 'ave never done a fair day's work in all their bloody
lives. Then thers all this new-fangled machinery,' continued Crass.
`That's wot's ruinin' everything. Even in our trade ther's them
machines for trimmin' wallpaper, an' now they've brought out a
paintin' machine. Ther's a pump an' a 'ose pipe, an' they reckon two
men can do as much with this 'ere machine as twenty could without it.'

`Another thing is women,' said Harlow, `there's thousands of 'em
nowadays doin' work wot oughter be done by men.'

`In my opinion ther's too much of this 'ere eddication, nowadays,'
remarked old Linden. `Wot the 'ell's the good of eddication to the
likes of us?'

`None whatever,' said Crass, `it just puts foolish idears into
people's 'eds and makes 'em too lazy to work.'

Barrington, who took no part in the conversation, still sat silently
smoking. Owen was listening to this pitiable farrago with feelings of
contempt and wonder. Were they all hopelessly stupid? Had their
intelligence never developed beyond the childhood stage? Or was he
mad himself?

`Early marriages is another thing,' said Slyme: `no man oughtn't to be
allowed to get married unless he's in a position to keep a family.'