| Title | The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists |
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| Page | 391 |
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| Chapter | -- |
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| Text |
rolled horribly as he glared silently at the circle and the two squares. `By far the greatest part of the land,' said Owen when the row had ceased, `is held by people who have absolutely no moral right to it. Possession of much of it was obtained by means of murder and theft perpetrated by the ancestors of the present holders. In other cases, when some king or prince wanted to get rid of a mistress of whom he had grown weary, he presented a tract of our country to some `nobleman' on condition that he would marry the female. Vast estates were also bestowed upon the remote ancestors of the present holders in return for real or alleged services. Listen to this,' he continued as he took a small newspaper cutting from his pocket-book. Crass looked at the piece of paper dolefully. It reminded him of the one he had in his own pocket, which he was beginning to fear that he would not have an opportunity of producing today after all. |
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