Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/464

 Free Labor

(Hebrew prophet, B.C. 515)

He that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

Plutus

(Greek comedy writer and satirist; B.C. 450-380. There is probably not a Socialist in the world who has not been asked the question: "Who will do the dirty work?" It is interesting to see this difficulty set forth in a comedy which was staged in Athens in the year 408 B.C. Chremylus and Blepsidemus, two citizens, have taken in charge Plutus, the god of wealth, who is blind. They have undertaken to cure him of his blindness; but an old hag by the name of Poverty appears, and offers to convince them that their success would mean a calamity to the human race)

Of a system where folly, absurdity, madness, ay, raving downright is disclosed; Since, how many a knave we see revel in wealth—the rich heap of his ill-gotten store— And how many a good man, by fortune unblest, with thee begging bread at the door! (Turns to Poverty.) I say, then, there is but one thing to be done, and if we succeed, what a prize Will we bring to mankind! That thing it will be—to give Plutus the use of his eyes.
 * —As matters now stand (who will dare contradict it?) the life of us men is compos'd