SUNBEAM COLUMN

Grey River Argus, 23 April 1925, Page 8

SUNBEAM COLUMN

GOOD THOUGHTS TO ALL THE WORLD. I must thank my South Beach Sunbeams who gave mo such a beautiful bun-'.h of flowers to-day. I. often fed all forgotten when along comes some one and I feel that after all I am really not so out in the cold a‘s I though I was. I thank you, dear ones, for tho powers arc s o lovely and bring gladness’ always, and like good thoughts, they arc always welcome. I will finish my talk on money, which I hope all of you have roan. “A boy (John) was glveti a sleigh by his father. John did what the capitalist doos: he used it to mriv profit. Two boys were ;;i en free tides in exchange f.,r pushing :;. c sleigh up the hill. It held six. From the rest the owner collected various articles as ‘fare,’ such as halfpennies, tops, sweet meats, tame rabbits, etc. John’s own rides wore obtained free of any outlay of labour. Riding was good, but a climax arrived when John ha-1 collected all the wealth from the little community. What the sequel was we shall iscc presently. Let v.s take a peep, now nt a small village. The people in it followed many vocations. There wore blacksmiths, bakers shoemakers, milkmen, and so on. The fields, snops, factories, all belonged to one man, a capijpli(st) amdl the 7 copig worked for him. What did they get each week in return for their labour?—Wages! And what did the rogues do with their wages when they received I horn? —Spent them. Upon what, should you say? On bread and butter, clothes, hoots, furniture and the necessities of life. They brought back the things that they and the other workers produce day by day in the factories. And when they had spent their money (wages) at the shops, to whom did this money return? Who owned tho slaves? —The capitalist. Thus tho capitalist was able Io keep the people at their tasks all the year round by these same pieces of metal. Wonderful metal indeed! Tho boy grew rich because ho owned t he sleigh. The capitalist grow rich because ho owned the fields, faetori's, shops and houses. Now let us look at another village, concerning which a quaintly fanciful story is told. It is a f< romanc(’” story, but it will serve to make clear the true and false meaning and ■'’nine of money. Tho workers, ns in iho last village, wore poorly paid, so that it was necessary -for them to work veiy long and hard to earn sifffia’cnt. to live upon. One day, so the story runs, it rained sovereigns: the streets were O', erf lowing with them. What do you suppose Iho people did ? Collected ns many of tho golden coins as they could —you may be sure. Everybody had suddenly grown rich. It was a terrible state of things. “I’m not going to work any more,-’ said everybody. When tho squire sent for his breakfast roll, the baker’s wife informed him that her husband had given up work. When the village lawyer\ horse cast a shoo, tho good gentleman learned that the blacksmith, who had non become wealthy, had no longer reason to labour at the forge. When tho farmer sent orders for his men to hop the turnips, he discovered they had retired from business for the same reason, a~d when tho factory bell rang, no one arrived. Here was a pretty k'-th* of fi.sK Unfortunately, everyone began to starve. No one was working, therefore nothing was being produced. Too much money it seemed was as bad as too little. At length the people met to gether: they invited tho factory owner, the lawyer and the squire. II Someone must work.” they said, “things are getting serious.” The ques tion was, 'who should do it? “We cannot ho expected to work.’’ said tho capitalist folk. “we am ruch.” “So are wo.” replied the workers, and it was tho truth as far as monev riches go. “Since we are all rich, wo must all work and all share in the duct of our joint labours,” said the people. “Tf yon want to sell the factories. we will bnv them, but of what use is the money to you. or to us.’ Good thoughts to all. 1 will finish this chat next week, as it is just a little too long for this week. AUNT FLORA. Ahaura. Dear Aunt Flora.— May I become one of your littu 1 nieces? My ago is ten years and .1 like reading the Sunbeam letters, ‘o let me know if T can join. Good luck to you all. Adieu. Sunbeam Coral. You are welcome, Coral. T am so pleased you came because we need as many new ones us will come along. Our old ones seem In have grown tired altogether. A.F. Rcwanui. Dear Aunt Flora and Sunbeams. — Greetings and good thoughts to all. We never had many letters in this week either.. Auntie. T wonder whom all our Sunbeams have got to Auntie? If they do not write wo will soon have have no column at all. I wonder when school will start again, Auntie. Wc have had a. long holiday, f must close now, with love io all the world. Sunbeam Vuy. I wonder Vuy if you are glad now that school has started again. I know a lot of boys here who tell me they i

are sorry. They would like to have holidays always, and I think they are right. But we must learn, s<» therefore we must go to school. A.F. Many kind thanks for article -m “■Some Evils on School Life.” I will try to get it. published, because I be lieve it good. If ever you find any article or poem that you fancy, children or that the workers could enjoy. I am always grateful for them, as I am often very busy and find little leisure for reading magazines or books that I like. T wish you would write to our page. All our old writers are having a holiday just now. Many thanks to those who did write. 11 makes me think that I have not spoken | in vain. A.F.