quotes_dec12_2004.htm

‘…What’s the use o’ them advantages to you ? Man the Oppressor comes along, an’ sees you’re likely an’ good-lookin’, an’ grinds you to the face o’ the earth. What for ? For his own pleasure: for his own convenience ! Young an’ old, black an’ bay, white an’ grey, there’s no distinctions made between us. We’re ground together under the remorseless teeth o’ the engines of oppression !’…

This is from “A Walking Delegate” in The Day’s Work.

A group of horses are chatting together in a Vermont hill pasture. One of them, a wall-eyed idle ugly yellow horse, is – like an industrial rabble-rouser – trying to stir up the other horses against Men. But the others are not impressed.

…he behaved himself very politely, and ate bread dipped in salt, and was petted all round the table, moving gingerly; and they drank his health, because he had done more to win the cup than any man or horse on the ground.

This is from “The Maltese Cat”, in The Day’s Work. The Upper India Free for All Polo Cup has been won by a native Pioneer Regiment, nicknamed ‘The Skidars’, against much more expensive opposition. The hero of the hour has been the pony of the Skidars’ captain, Lutyens, ‘The Maltese Cat’, a past-master in Playing the Game.

‘…You misunderstand me as usual, love. Work’s the essence of life; but to expend precious un-returning vitality and real labour against imaginary danger, that is heart-breakingly absurd ! If I can only teach a – a little toleration – a little ordinary kindness…’

This is from “The Mother Hive” in Actions and Reactions. The safety of the hive depends on hard work and discipline among all the worker bees, and loyalty to firm principles. The Wax-Moth – masquerading a a friend – is trying to subvert them with soft words and infiltrate her corrupt brood. In the end all has to be destroyed so that the sound bees can start building anew.