Читать книгу Pictures of the Socialistic Future (freely adapted from Bebel) онлайн

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My wife’s wishes have so far been acceded to that her services as attendant at one of the Children’s Homes are accepted. But, unfortunately, she is not appointed to the one where our youngest born will be. They say that, as a matter of principle, mothers can only receive appointments as nurses and attendants to such homes where their own children are not inmates. By this means it is intended to prevent any preference being shown to one’s own children, and any jealousies which other mothers might feel. This certainly sounds very fair, but Paula cannot fail to feel the hardships of it. This is always the way with women, and they are so inclined to put their private wishes before State reasons.

Agnes is no longer to be a milliner, but has got an appointment as a seamstress. There will be no great demand for fine head-gear, or gew-gaws of any kind now. From all I hear the new scheme of supply aims solely at the production of all articles en masse. Hence it follows, as a matter of course, that there will be but a very limited demand for skilled labour, taste, and what more or less approaches to art in trade. But it is all the same to Agnes, and she says she doesn’t care what they do with her so long as she can’t share her lot with Franz. They forget, as I told them, that even Providence itself could not serve all alike to their full content. “Then they should have left each one to look after himself,” interrupted Franz; “we could never have been so badly off under the old system.”