Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell (read novel full TXT) 📖

to get thirty-two

and sixpence altogether, making a grand total of seventeen pounds.

 

As for the expenses, the dinner was two and six a head, and there was

forty-five of them there, so that came to five pounds twelve and six.

Then there was the hire of the brakes, also two and six a head, five

pound twelve and six, which left a surplus of five pound fifteen to be

shared out (applause), which came to three shillings each for the

thirty-seven men, and one and fourpence for each of the boys. (Loud

and prolonged cheers.)

 

Crass, Slyme and Bundy now walked round the tables distributing the

share-out, which was very welcome to everybody, especially those who

had spent nearly all their money during the journey from Mugsborough,

and when this ceremony was completed, Philpot moved a hearty vote of

thanks to the committee for the manner in which they had carried out

their duties, which was agreed to with acclamation. Then they made a

collection for the waiters, and the three waitresses, which amounted

to eleven shillings, for which the host returned thanks on behalf of

the recipients, who were all smiles.

 

Then Mr Rushton requested the landlord to serve drinks and cigars all

round. Some had cigarettes and the teetotallers had lemonade or

ginger beer. Those who did not smoke themselves took the cigar all

the same and gave it to someone else who did. When all were supplied

there suddenly arose loud cries of `Order!’ and it was seen that

Hunter was upon his feet.

 

As soon as silence was obtained, Misery said that he believed that

everyone there present would agree with him, when he said that they

should not let the occasion pass without drinking the ‘ealth of their

esteemed and respected employer, Mr Rushton. (Hear, hear.) Some of

them had worked for Mr Rushton on and off for many years, and as far

as THEY was concerned it was not necessary for him (Hunter) to say

much in praise of Mr Rushton. (Hear, hear.) They knew Mr Rushton as

well as he did himself and to know him was to esteem him. (Cheers.)

As for the new hands, although they did not know Mr Rushton as well as

the old hands did, he felt sure that they would agree that as no one

could wish for a better master. (Loud applause.) He had much

pleasure in asking them to drink Mr Rushton’s health. Everyone rose.

 

`Musical honours, chaps,’ shouted Crass, waving his glass and leading

off the singing which was immediately joined in with great enthusiasm

by most of the men, the Semidrunk conducting the music with a table

knife:

 

For he’s a jolly good fellow,

For he’s a jolly good fellow,

For he’s a jolly good fel-ell-O,

And so say all of us,

So ‘ip, ‘ip, ‘ip, ‘ooray!

So ‘ip, ‘ip, ‘ip, ‘ooray!

 

For he’s a jolly good fellow,

For ‘e’s a jolly good fellow

For ‘e’s a jolly good fel-ell-O,

And so say all of us.

 

`Now three cheers!’ shouted Crass, leading off.

 

Hip, hip, hip, hooray!

Hip, hip, hip, hooray!

Hip, hip, hip, hooray!

 

Everyone present drank Rushton’s health, or at any rate went through

the motions of doing so, but during the roar of cheering and singing

that preceded it several of the men stood with expressions of contempt

or uneasiness upon their faces, silently watching the enthusiasts or

looking at the ceiling or on the floor.

 

`I will say this much,’ remarked the Semidrunk as they all resumed

their seats - he had had several drinks during dinner, besides those

he had taken on the journey - I will say this much, although I did

have a little misunderstanding with Mr Hunter when I was workin’ at

the Royal Caff, I must admit that this is the best firm that’s ever

worked under me.’

 

This statement caused a shout of laughter, which, however, died away

as Mr Rushton rose to acknowledge the toast to his health. He said

that he had now been in business for nearly sixteen years and this was -

he believed - the eleventh outing he had had the pleasure of

attending. During all that time the business had steadily progressed

and had increased in volume from year to year, and he hoped and

believed that the progress made in the past would be continued in the

future. (Hear, hear.) Of course, he realized that the success of the

business depended very largely upon the men as well as upon himself;

he did his best in trying to get work for them, and it was necessary -

if the business was to go on and prosper - that they should also do

their best to get the work done when he had secured it for them.

(Hear, hear.) The masters could not do without the men, and the men

could not live without the masters. (Hear, hear.) It was a matter of

division of labour: the men worked with their hands and the masters

worked with their brains, and one was no use without the other. He

hoped the good feeling which had hitherto existed between himself and

his workmen would always continue, and he thanked them for the way in

which they had responded to the toast of his health.

 

Loud cheers greeted the conclusion of this speech, and then Crass

stood up and said that he begged to propose the health of Mr ‘Unter.

(Hear, hear.) He wasn’t going to make a long speech as he wasn’t much

of a speaker. (Cries of `You’re all right,’ `Go on,’ etc.) But he

felt sure as they would all hagree with him when be said that - next

to Mr Rushton - there wasn’t no one the men had more respect and

liking for than Mr ‘Unter. (Cheers.) A few weeks ago when Mr ‘Unter

was laid up, many of them began to be afraid as they was going to lose

‘im. He was sure that all the ‘ands was glad to ‘ave this

hoppertunity of congratulating him on his recovery (Hear, hear) and of

wishing him the best of ‘ealth in the future and hoping as he would be

spared to come to a good many more Beanos.

 

Loud applause greeted the conclusion of Crass’s remarks, and once more

the meeting burst into song:

 

For he’s a jolly good fellow

For he’s a jolly good fellow.

For he’s a jolly good fellow,

And so say all of us.

So ‘ip, ‘ip, ‘ip, ‘ooray!

So ‘ip, ‘ip, ‘ip, ‘ooray!

 

When they had done cheering, Nimrod rose. His voice trembled a little

as he thanked them for their kindness, and said that he hoped he

deserved their goodwill. He could only say that as he was sure as he

always tried to be fair and considerate to everyone. (Cheers.) He

would now request the landlord to replenish their glasses. (Hear,

hear.)

 

As soon as the drinks were served, Nimrod again rose and said he

wished to propose the healths of their visitors who had so kindly

contributed to their expenses - Mr Lettum, Mr Didlum, Mr Toonarf and

Mr Grinder. (Cheers.) They were very pleased and proud to see them

there (Hear, hear), and he was sure the men would agree with him when

he said that Messrs Lettum, Didlum, Toonarf and Grinder were jolly

good fellows.

 

To judge from the manner in which they sang the chorus and cheered, it

was quite evident that most of the hands did agree. When they left

off, Grinder rose to reply on behalf of those included in the toast.

He said that it gave them much pleasure to be there and take part in

such pleasant proceedings and they were glad to think that they had

been able to help to bring it about. It was very gratifying to see

the good feeling that existed between Mr Rushton and his workmen,

which was as it should be, because masters and men was really fellow

workers - the masters did the brain work, the men the ‘and work. They

was both workers, and their interests was the same. He liked to see

men doing their best for their master and knowing that their master

was doing his best for them, that he was not only a master, but a

friend. That was what he (Grinder) liked to see - master and men

pulling together - doing their best, and realizing that their

interests was identical. (Cheers.) If only all masters and men would

do this they would find that everything would go on all right, there

would be more work and less poverty. Let the men do their best for

their masters, and the masters do their best for their men, and they

would find that that was the true solution of the social problem, and

not the silly nonsense that was talked by people what went about with

red flags. (Cheers and laughter.) Most of those fellows were chaps

who was too lazy to work for their livin’. (Hear, hear.) They could

take it from him that, if ever the Socialists got the upper hand there

would just be a few of the hartful dodgers who would get all the

cream, and there would be nothing left but ‘ard work for the rest.

(Hear. hear.) That’s wot hall those hagitators was after: they wanted

them (his hearers) to work and keep ‘em in idleness. (Hear, hear.)

On behalf of Mr Didlum, Mr Toonarf, Mr Lettum and himself, he thanked

them for their good wishes, and hoped to be with them on a sim’ler

occasion in the future.

 

Loud cheers greeted the termination of his speech, but it was obvious

from some of the men’s faces that they resented Grinder’s remarks.

These men ridiculed Socialism and regularly voted for the continuance

of capitalism, and yet they were disgusted and angry with Grinder!

There was also a small number of Socialists - not more than half a

dozen altogether - who did not join in the applause. These men were

all sitting at the end of the long table presided over by Payne. None

of them had joined in the applause that greeted the speeches, and so

far neither had they made any protest. Some of them turned very red

as they listened to the concluding sentences of Grinder’s oration, and

others laughed, but none of them said anything. They knew before they

came that there was sure to be a lot of ‘Jolly good fellow’ business

and speechmaking, and they had agreed together beforehand to take no

part one way or the other, and to refrain from openly dissenting from

anything that might be said, but they had not anticipated anything

quite so strong as this.

 

When Grinder sat down some of those who had applauded him began to

jeer at the Socialists.

 

`What have you got to say to that?’ they shouted. `That’s up against

yer!’

 

`They ain’t got nothing to say now.’

 

`Why don’t some of you get up and make a speech?’

 

This last appeared to be a very good idea to those Liberals and Tories

who had not liked Grinder’s observations, so they all began to shout

`Owen!’ `Owen!’ `Come on ‘ere. Get up and make a speech!’ `Be a man!’

and so on. Several of those who had been loudest in applauding

Grinder also joined in the demand that Owen should make a speech,

because they were certain that Grinder and the other gentlemen would

be able to dispose of all his arguments; but Owen and the other

Socialists made no response except to laugh, so presently Crass tied a

white handkerchief on a cane walking-stick that belonged to Mr Didlum,

and stuck it in the vase of flowers that stood on the end of the table

where the Socialist