Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/744

 "A hundred words," the city Ed. replied, "will be enough."

"A story," the reporter said, "about a crimson dame Just landed from the steamer, wearing slippers that are red. She used to be the Dearest Friend of Emperor Wotsis-*name—" "Three columns and a layout!" cried the eager city Ed.

The Babble Machines

(From "When the Sleeper Wakes")

(One of the writer's earlier romances, telling of a man who sleeps for two hundred years and wakens to find himself hailed as Master of the World—through the operation of a bequest of money which has been accumulating through that time. The power of this wealth is being wielded in his name by a cynical and unscrupulous oligarchy which has reduced the populace to a uniformed slave-caste, seething with futile revolt. The following portrays the newspapers of that new world of Capitalism triumphant)

Beyond this place they came into a closed hall, and Graham discovered the cause of the noise that had perplexed him. His attention was arrested by a violent, loud hoot, followed by a vast leathery voice. He stopped and, looking up, beheld a foolish trumpet face. This was the General Intelligence Machine. For a space it seemed to be gathering breath, and a regular throbbing from its cylindrical body was audible. Then it trumpeted "Galloop, Galloop," and broke out again.

"Paris is now pacified. All resistance is over. Galloop!