The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-09-25
By pauline scHuLMAN.

felt as If she owed a debt to society
she would remain thruout the winter.
Doris looked at her with her large
blne eyes and asked: what do you
mean by owing something to society +?
l cannot understand the word, debt
especially, in connection with that
other abstraction, Society"
Celia; Did you notice little while
ago how was stung by a bee? Do
you know why? Because interfered
with its labor. 1t was busy with a
cherry which was trying to pick.
So it stung me in self-defense. A lit
tie insect without brains, yet it knows
how to protect itself when its work Of
obtaining food is interfered with.
do human beings understand how
to defend and protect themselves?
No, because they are submissive
slaves They let few individuals not
only take their food away from them,
but also the food Of their little chill
dren- They build houses, and weave
cloth for others, and in return they
get but very little, hardly enough to
exist or keep soul and body together"
Celia was bit out of breath. She
mOpped her brow, famed herself with
her apron, cast a fleeting glance at
the uneven horizon, set herself down
on the grassy turf, and renewed her
charge at Doris. Another incident
let me mention, perhaps then you will
better understand the nature of my
debt to society"
1.-THE other day brought food from
the village. walked for it, as you
know, five miles. placed the food in
a box which served also as food pam
try. But the next day found the
food gone and the dishes broken. A
COW stood hooking at me with indigna-
ton, as if to say: 4 had to do 1t.
was hungry. They exploit me, s9ueez-
ing the last drop of milk from my
body, But they do not give me enough
to eat Well, l helped myself. AS to
your dishes they were in my way, so
l broke them
you see, then, that helpless crea-
lures without much brain, unable to
handle tools Of production, neverthe-
less know how to help themselves.
But- man, the master of the earth, is
constantly starving, and when he OBJ
tains few crumbs left from the large
loayes Of bread that he is baking, he
feels happy, very happy. indeed"
Doris: what has all this to do with
your socaled debt?"
Celia: did you see the vineyard
nearby this cherry orchard7 And how
the grapes are prunedl Do you know
why they prune grapes? Because all
superfluous twigs and branches must
be Topped OF or else the strength of
the grapes VIII be reduced. This is
sufficient evidence that In order to
have plant or tree grow properly
great deal Of attention must be given
to II, and especially to its parasites.
ITO the human plant no one pays
any attention. The human plants are
neglected altogether. They become
more and more uncouth, they form
bad habits from their days of infancy
which finally develop into second ma
ture.
"And there" said Celia, "on the cul-
tural field and with human plants /
find my opportunity to pay my debt
to society"
Doris seemed 20 be bored by Celia's
talk, and was gazing into the distance.
Her thoughts most of the time were
concentrated upon one thing only, how
to reach the matrimonial harbor Of
safety where she would feel secure.
Doris: why did You come here,
into the field Of real. not human
plants?"
Celia: why did come heref oh,
had to. II is already twelve years
that | am responding 10 the tick OF