London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
ADVANCE THE WORKING MAN.
The result of my peregrinations in the East has convinced me, that thanks to the march of education or from some other equally excellent cause, the working | |
217 | man at the end of the Century is far more good-natured and far more easily pleased than his predecessors. He does not like to be patronised, and delights in taking part in the proceedings of the evening. On one occasion a not very wise chairman, with a military title, was inclined to be dictatorial. |
shouted one of the audience. | |
And this seemed to me the universal sentiment. I do not believe that the modern working man is in the least ungrateful, but he reads the newspapers nowadays, and with their assistance | |
He thoroughly appreciates the efforts of those who show him the way how to enjoy himself in a rational manner, but I fancy that he has already a suspicion that, if needs be, he can get on without the kindly-meant assistance. In the words of the remonstrator who pulled up the dragooning chairman, Before we are far advanced in the new century I fancy the working man will be seen progressing alone, and if matters do not mend in what Jeames de la Plushe used to call the it is not improbable in the years to come that the East will visit the West, instead of waiting to be visited. | |