CAPITAL AND LABOR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3377, 21 December 1871, Page 3

CAPITAL AND LABOR.

The following jeu de esprit appears in the London " Times " of the 19th October : —

Sin, — Quashee and Sambo were two negroes who, in a small fertile island of the West Indies, were able to raise their subsistence from the soil without any more complicated system of agriculture than the mere scratching of the earth with a stick. The former, however, being of a somewhat industrious and ingenious turn, contrived a sort of rude spade, by the help of which he discovered that with an equal amount of labor he was able to turn up twice as much ground as his less enterprising brother, and consequently to obtain twice the quantity of yams or sweet potatoes that he had done before. But, finding that the crop thus obtained was more than he wanted to support himself, or, in fact, could manage to get through, the first thought which occurred to him was to work only a part of the time he had hitherto done, and to take the differ ence out in sleep. This, however, proved as little satisfactory as eating to excess, and the success of his first attempt at "a machine " suggested to to the primitive " capitalist " the idea of amusing himself by the manufacture of a second spade. It was naturally something of an improvement on the first, and Quashee was so delighted with his growing skill that a third and fourth followed, each a handier and more workmanlike performance than its predecessor. Just at this time Sambo, who had viewed with much envy the expeditious and effective work performed by the aid of the first spade, stopped on passing by and gazed in silent admiration on the newly- finished tools that lay on the ground. A bright idea flashed through his mind. If he could only persuade Quashee to lend him one of his spare spades what a deal of toil he might save himself! But it also occurred to him that this was a case in which some reciprocity would certainly be looked for, and what had he to offer in return ? At last his thoughts shaped themselves in words. "J say Quashee," he cried, " you are a clever fellow to turn out those wonderful contrivances. But it's a sad pity you haven't a double stock of arms and hands, like our cousin the two headed Nightingale ; for, now, what can you do with all those three that you have finished since you made your own ? Suppose you just lend 'em to me and my two brothers." "Well, so I will, Sambo," replied Quashee, " but I must have something for the loan. Look here ; you and your two brothers between you now raise IS bushels of yams. If I lend you these spades, you will be able to raise six-and-thirty without working an hour more. (Jo me, then, out of every six-and-thirty you must give me a dozen." Sambo clapped hands at once on the bargain, and the spades were brought into use. The Sambo family got four yams for every three they had been able to obtain before the employment of Quashee's " capital ;" and Quashee obtained a very handsome return for the use of that " capital" by the Sambos. So pleased wos he with the result that he determined for the future to give up even spade agriculture and devote himself to " machine making." Practice increased his skill in this. He turned out handier spades and at a quicker rate, and Sambo's relations and friends were delighted to hire them of him as soon as they were made, on the same terms.

So things went on for some time to the satisfaction of all parlies concerned. But at last Quashee's stock of yams had accumulated to such a point as to become a positive nuisance. He could not manage to consume the tenth part of them in his own family. Fortunately, a vessel happened to touch at the island in want of fresh vegetables, and Quashee was enabled to dispose of his store in exchange for a number of such useful and ornamental articles as struck his fancy. He did not fail, in the first place, to provide himself with a knife, a hatchet, and a saw ; but then marital and parental instincts led him to think of what would please his squaw and his children. Alas ! here was a source of trouble which he had not dreamt of. With the aid of the iron tools the manufacture of spades went on faster than ever, and the stock of yams accumulated at the liko rate. Other ships found their way to the little island, and Quashee's imports multiplied. And now a spirit of envy took

possession of the little community, owing in great part to the malicious suggestions of two or three old rogues of medicine-men, who lived by trading on the prejudices of the islanders. "See," they said, " the luxury in which this capitalist wallows — all of it procured by the labor, of your hands. You raised the yams which purchased the top-boots in which he and his sons strut about ; it was the sweat of your brows that bought the peacocks' feathers which those vain hussies, his wife and daughters, stick through their noses, and the lard which drips in such profusion from their chignons. It is a well known fact that every daughter he has wiU bring her husband a whole cask of tallow and go to his wigwam decked oul in a necklace of large glass beads! "

The result of the discontent engendered by these arguments seems noi yet fully ascertained. Some think that the Sambo clan will in a fit of sullen discontent abstain for the future from making use of Quashee's spades, and return to their primitive mode of cultivation by means of a crooked branch of a tree. Others fear that an onslaught will be made upon Quashee's store, and that his spades will be divided among the cultivators. But as this could only be done once, and by it the return to the primitive practice would only be deferred for a short timo — Quashee being the only spade manufacturer in the island — there seems some hope that reflection will teach the malcontents how, at any rate in the early stages of advancement, capital and labor are not natural enemies, but, on the contrary, the best of friends to each other. — I am, &0., A. H. I.