"They are as useful in real life as they are in Bookland. What is it
consoles the tradesman when the actor, earning eighty pounds a week,
cannot pay his debts? Why, reading in the theatrical newspapers gushing
accounts of the dear fellow's invariable generosity to the poor. What is
it stills the small but irritating voice of conscience when we have
successfully accomplished some extra big feat of swindling? Why, the
noble resolve to give ten per cent of the net profits to the poor.
"What does a man do when he finds himself growing old, and feels that it
is time for him to think seriously about securing his position in the
next world? Why, he becomes suddenly good to the poor. If the poor were
not there for him to be good to, what could he do? He would be unable to
reform at all. It's a great comfort to think that the poor will always
be with us. They are the ladder by which we climb into heaven."
There was silence for a few moments, while MacShaughnassy puffed away
vigorously, and almost savagely, at his pipe, and then Brown said: "I can
tell you rather a quaint incident, bearing very aptly on the subject. A
cousin of mine was a land-agent in a small country town, and among the
houses on his list was a fine old mansion that had remained vacant for
many years.
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