To which Samuel answered, “The preaching has
to be by deeds.”
And so he took his departure; and Professor Stewart
turned back to his work-table, upon which lay the
bulky manuscript of his monumental work, which was
entitled: “Methods of Relief; A Theory and
a Programme.” Some pages lay before him;
the top one was headed: “Chapter LXIII—Unemployment
and Social Responsibility.” And Professor
Stewart sat before this title, and stared, and stared.
Samuel meantime was walking down the broad macadam
avenue debating his problem. The first glow of
excitement was over, and he was finding difficulties.
The theory still held; but in the carrying out of it
there were complications.
For one thing, it would be so hard to spread this
doctrine. For if one tried to teach it by words,
he seemed a hypocrite, as the professor had said;
and on the other hand, if one simply practiced it,
who would ever know? Suppose, for instance, that
he starved to death during the next few days?
That would be only one person removed, and apparently
there were millions of the superfluous.
The truth was that Samuel, in discussing the theory,
had applied it only to himself. But now he pictured
himself going home to tell Mrs. Stedman that she must
give up her futile effort, and take herself and her
three children out of the way of the progress of the
race. And he realized that he could never do
it—he was not equal to the task. Doubtless,
it was because he was one of the unfit. It would
need some one who did not know them, some one who
could approach the matter from the purely scientific
standpoint.
Then there was another difficulty graver yet.
Did not this doctrine really point to suicide?
Would it not be the simplest solution of his problem
if he were to climb down to the river, and tie a stone
about his neck, and jump in? Samuel wished that
he had thought to ask the professor about this.
For the idea frightened him; he had a distinct impression
of having been taught that it was a dreadful sin to
take one’s own life.
The trouble seemed to lie in the dull and unromantic
nature of the life about him. If only there had
been some way to die nobly and heroically for the
good of others. If only there was a war, for
instance, and a call for men to perish on the ramparts!
Or a terrible pestilence, so that one could be a nurse!
But there was nothing at all but this low starving
to death—and while other people lived in
plenty. Samuel thought of the chance of finding
some work which involved grave peril to life or limb;
but apparently even the danger posts were filled.
The world did not need him, either in life or death!
So there was nothing for it but the starving.
Having eaten nothing that day, Samuel was ready to
begin at once; he tightened his belt and set his teeth
for the grapple with the gaunt wolf of hunger.
