The Ball and the Cross by G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton
page 243 of 309 (78%)
page 243 of 309 (78%)
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slums. His celebrated maxim has been quite adopted. I mean the
three celebrated sentences: 'No man should be unemployed. Employ the employables. Destroy the unemployables.'" There was a silence, and then Turnbull said in a rather strained voice: "And do I understand that this good work is going on under here?" "Going on splendidly," replied his companion in the heartiest voice. "You see, these people were much too tired and weak even to join the social war. They were a definite hindrance to it." "And so you are simply burning them out?" "It _does_ seem absurdly simple," said the man, with a beaming smile, "when one thinks of all the worry and talk about helping a hopeless slave population, when the future obviously was only crying to be rid of them. There are happy babes unborn ready to burst the doors when these drivellers are swept away." "Will you permit me to say," said Turnbull, after reflection, "that I don't like all this?" "And will you permit me to say," said the other, with a snap, "that I don't like Mr. Evan MacIan?" Somewhat to the speaker's surprise this did not inflame the sensitive sceptic; he had the air of thinking thoroughly, and then he said: "No, I don't think it's my friend MacIan that taught me that. I think I should always have said that I don't |
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