`Let us begin at the beginning,' continued Owen, taking no notice of these interruptions. `First of all, what do you mean by Poverty?'
`Why, if you've got no money, of course,' said Crass impatiently.
The others laughed disdainfully. It seemed to them such a foolish question.
`Well, that's true enough as far as it goes,' returned Owen, `that is, as things are arranged in the world at present. But money itself is not wealth: it's of no use whatever.'
At this there was another outburst of jeering laughter.
`Supposing for example that you and Harlow were shipwrecked on a desolate island, and YOU had saved nothing from the wreck but a bag containing a thousand sovereigns, and he had a tin of biscuits and a bottle of water.'
`Make it beer!' cried Harlow appealingly.
`Who would be the richer man, you or Harlow?'
`But then you see we ain't shipwrecked on no dissolute island at all,' sneered Crass. `That's the worst of your arguments. You can't never get very far without supposing some bloody ridclus thing or other. Never mind about supposing things wot ain't true; let's 'ave facts and common sense.'
`'Ear, 'ear,' said old Linden. `That's wot we want - a little common sense.'
`What do YOU mean by poverty, then?' asked Easton.
`What I call poverty is when people are not able to secure for themselves all the benefits of civilization; the necessaries, comforts, pleasures and refinements of life, leisure, books, theatres, pictures, music, holidays, travel, good and beautiful homes, good clothes, good and pleasant food.'
Everybody laughed. It was so ridiculous. The idea of the likes of THEM wanting or having such things! Any doubts that any of them had entertained as to Owen's sanity disappeared. The man was as mad as a March hare.