They repeated that there had `always been rich and poor in the world and there always would be, so there was an end of it'.But the majority were bitterly hostile; not to Owen, but to Socialism.For the man himself most of them had a certain amount of liking, especially the ordinary hands because it was known that he was not a `master's man' and that he had declined to `take charge' of jobs which Misery had offered to him.But to Socialism they were savagely and malignantly opposed.Some of those who had shown some symptoms of Socialism during the past winter when they were starving had now quite recovered and were stout defenders of the Present System.
Barrington was still working for the firm and continued to maintain his manner of reserve, seldom speaking unless addressed but all the same, for several reasons, it began to be rumoured that he shared Owen's views.He always paid for the pamphlets that Owen gave him, and on one occasion, when Owen bought a thousand leaflets to give away, Barrington contributed a shilling towards the half-crown that Owen paid for them.But he never took any part in the arguments that sometimes raged during the dinner-hour or at breakfast-time.
It was a good thing for Owen that he had his enthusiasm for `the cause' to occupy his mind.Socialism was to him what drink was to some of the others - the thing that enable them to forget and tolerate the conditions under which they were forced to exist.Some of them were so muddled with beer, and others so besotted with admiration of their Liberal and Tory masters, that they were oblivious of the misery of their own lives, and in a similar way, Owen was so much occupied in trying to rouse them from their lethargy and so engrossed in trying to think out new arguments to convince them of the possibility of bringing about an improvement in their condition that he had no time to dwell upon his own poverty; the money that he spent on leaflets and pamphlets to give away might have been better spent on food and clothing for himself, because most of those to whom he gave them were by no means grateful; but he never thought of that; and after all, nearly everyone spends money on some hobby or other.Some people deny themselves the necessaries or comforts of life in order that they may be able to help to fatten a publican.Others deny themselves in order to enable a lazy parson to live in idleness and luxury; and others spend much time and money that they really need for themselves in buying Socialist literature to give away to people who don't want to know about Socialism.
One Sunday morning towards the end of July, a band of about twenty-five men and women on bicycles invaded the town.Two of them -who rode a few yards in front of the others, had affixed to the handlebars of each of their machines a slender, upright standard from the top of one of which fluttered a small flag of crimson silk with `International Brotherhood and Peace' in gold letters.The other standard was similar in size and colour, but with a different legend:
`One for all and All for one.'
As they rode along they gave leaflets to the people in the streets, and whenever they came to a place where there were many people they dismounted and walked about, giving their leaflets to whoever would accept them.They made several long halts during their progress along the Grand Parade, where there was a considerable crowd, and then they rode over the hill to Windley, which they reached a little before opening time.There were little crowds waiting outside the several public houses and a number of people passing through the streets on their way home from Church and Chapel.The strangers distributed leaflets to all those who would take them, and they went through a lot of the side streets, putting leaflets under the doors and in the letter-boxes.When they had exhausted their stock they remounted and rode back the way they came.
Meantime the news of their arrival had spread, and as they returned through the town they were greeted with jeers and booing.Presently someone threw a stone, and as there happened to be plenty of stones just there several others followed suit and began running after the retreating cyclists, throwing stones, hooting and cursing.
The leaflet which had given rise to all this fury read as follows:
WHAT IS SOCIALISM?
At present the workers, with hand and brain produce continually food, clothing and all useful and beautiful things in great abundance.
BUT THEY LABOUR IN VAIN - for they are mostly poor and often in want.They find it a hard struggle to live.Their women and children suffer, and their old age is branded with pauperism.
Socialism is a plan by which poverty will be abolished, and everyone enabled to live in plenty and comfort, with leisure and opportunity for ampler life.
If you wish to hear more of this plan, come to the field at the Cross Roads on the hill at Windley, on Tuesday evening next at 8P.M.and LOOK OUT FOR THE SOCIALIST VAN
The cyclists rode away amid showers of stones without sustaining much damage.One had his hand cut and another, who happened to look round, was struck on the forehead, but these were the only casualties.
On the following Tuesday evening, long before the appointed time, there was a large crowd assembled at the cross roads or the hill at Windley, waiting for the appearance of the van, and they were evidently prepared to give the Socialists a warm reception.There was only one policeman in uniform there but there were several in plain clothes amongst the crowd.
Crass, Dick Wantley, the Semi-drunk, Sawkins, Bill Bates and several other frequenters of the Cricketers were amongst the crowd, and there were also a sprinkling of tradespeople, including the Old Dear and Mr Smallman, the grocer, and a few ladies and gentlemen - wealthy visitors - but the bulk of the crowd were working men, labourers, mechanics and boys.