按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Philosewers； as we walked on the trim garden terrace before dinner；
among the early leaves and blossoms； two peacocks； apparently in very
tight new boots； occasionally crossing the gravel at a distance。 The sun；
shining through the old house…windows； now and then flashed out some
brilliant piece of colour from bright hangings within； or upon the old oak
panelling； similarly； Friar Bacon； as we paced to and fro； revealed little
glimpses of his good work。
〃It is not much；〃 said he。 〃It is no wonderful thing。 There used to
be a great deal of drunkenness here； and I wanted to make it better if I
could。 The people are very ignorant； and have been much neglected； and
I wanted to make THAT better； if I could。 My utmost object was； to help
4
… Page 5…
Contributions to All The Year Round
them to a little self…government and a little homely pleasure。 I only show
the way to better things； and advise them。 I never act for them； I never
interfere； above all； I never patronise。〃
I had said to Philosewers as we came along Nor'…West that patronage
was one of the curses of England； I appeared to rise in the estimation of
Philosewers when thus confirmed。
〃And so；〃 said Friar Bacon； 〃I established my Allotment…club； and my
pig…clubs； and those little Concerts by the ladies of my own family； of
which we have the last of the season this evening。 They are a great
success； for the people here are amazingly fond of music。 But there is
the early dinner…bell； and I have no need to talk of my endeavours when
you will soon see them in their working dress〃。
Dinner done； behold the Friar； Philosewers； and myself the Dreary one；
walking； at six o'clock； across the fields； to the 〃Club… house。〃
As we swung open the last field…gate and entered the Allotment…
grounds； many members were already on their way to the Club； which
stands in the midst of the allotments。 Who could help thinking of the
wonderful contrast between these club…men and the club…men of St。
James's Street； or Pall Mall； in London！ Look at yonder prematurely old
man； doubled up with work； and leaning on a rude stick more crooked
than himself； slowly trudging to the club…house； in a shapeless hat like an
Italian harlequin's； or an old brown… paper bag； leathern leggings； and dull
green smock…frock； looking as though duck…weed had accumulated on it
the result of its stagnant lifeor as if it were a vegetable production；
originally meant to blow into something better； but stopped somehow。
Compare him with Old Cousin Feenix； ambling along St。 James's Street；
got up in the style of a couple of generations ago； and with a head of hair；
a complexion； and a set of teeth； profoundly impossible to be believed in
by the widest stretch of human credulity。 Can they both be men and
brothers？ Verily they are。 And although Cousin Feenix has lived so fast
that he will die at Baden…Baden； and although this club…man in the frock
has lived； ever since he came to man's estate； on nine shillings a week； and
is sure to die in the Union if he die in bed； yet he brought as much into the
world as Cousin Feenix； and will take as much outmore； for more of him
5
… Page 6…
Contributions to All The Year Round
is real。
A pretty； simple building； the club…house； with a rustic colonnade
outside； under which the members can sit on wet evenings； looking at the
patches of ground they cultivate for themselves； within； a well… ventilated
room； large and lofty； cheerful pavement of coloured tiles； a bar for
serving out the beer； good supply of forms and chairs； and a brave big
chimney…corner； where the fire burns cheerfully。 Adjoining this room；
another：
〃Built for a reading…room；〃 said Friar Bacon； 〃but not much used
yet。〃
The dreary sage； looking in through the window； perceiving a fixed
reading…desk within； and inquiring its use：
〃I have Service there；〃 said Friar Bacon。 〃They never went anywhere
to hear prayers； and of course it would be hopeless to help them to be
happier and better； if they had no religious feeling at all。〃
〃The whole place is very pretty。〃 Thus the sage。
〃I am glad you think so。 I built it for the holders of the Allotment…
grounds； and gave it them： only requiring them to manage it by a
committee of their own appointing； and never to get drunk there。 They
never have got drunk there。〃
〃Yet they have their beer freely？〃
〃O yes。 As much as they choose to buy。 The club gets its beer
direct from the brewer； by the barrel。 So they get it good； at once much
cheaper； and much better； than at the public…house。 The members take it
in turns to be steward； and serve out the beer： if a man should decline to
serve when his turn came； he would pay a fine of twopence。 The steward
lasts； as long as the barrel lasts。 When there is a new barrel； there is a new
steward。〃
〃What a noble fire is roaring up that chimney！〃
〃Yes； a capital fire。 Every member pays a halfpenny a week。〃
〃Every member must be the holder of an Allotment…garden？〃
〃Yes； for which he pays five shillings a year。 The Allotments you see
about us； occupy some sixteen or eighteen acres； and each garden is as
large as experience shows one man to be able to manage。 You see how
6
… Page 7…
Contributions to All The Year Round
admirably they are tilled； and how much they get off them。 They are
always working in them in their spare hours； and when a man wants a mug
of beer； instead of going off to the village and the public…house； he puts
down his spade or his hoe； comes to the club… house and gets it； and goes
back to his work。 When he has done work； he likes to have his beer at
the club； still； and to sit and look at his little crops as they thrive。〃
〃They seem to manage the cl