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began to grow restless。 There was pushing and shoving forward； and a
mild hubbub of voices。 Nothing rough； however； nor violent； merely the
restlessness of weary and hungry men。 At this juncture forth came the
adjutant。 I did not like him。 His eyes were not good。 There was
nothing of the lowly Galilean about him； but a great deal of the centurion
who said： 〃For I am a man in authority； having soldiers under me； and I
say to this man； Go； and he goeth； and to another； Come； and he cometh；
and to my servant； Do this； and he doeth it。〃
Well； he looked at us in just that way； and those nearest to him quailed。
Then he lifted his voice。
〃Stop this 'ere； now； or I'll turn you the other wy an' march you out； an'
you'll get no breakfast。〃
I cannot convey by printed speech the insufferable way in which he
said this。 He seemed to me to revel in that he was a man in authority；
able to say to half a thousand ragged wretches； 〃you may eat or go hungry；
as I elect。〃
To deny us our breakfast after standing for hours！ It was an awful
threat； and the pitiful； abject silence which instantly fell attested its
awfulness。 And it was a cowardly threat。 We could not strike back； for
we were starving； and it is the way of the world that when one man feeds
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another he is that man's master。 But the centurionI mean the adjutant
was not satisfied。 In the dead silence he raised his voice again； and
repeated the threat； and amplified it。
At last we were permitted to enter the feasting hall； where we found
the 〃ticket men〃 washed but unfed。 All told； there must have been nearly
seven hundred of us who sat downnot to meat or bread； but to speech；
song； and prayer。 From all of which I am convinced that Tantalus suffers
in many guises this side of the infernal regions。 The adjutant made the
prayer； but I did not take note of it； being too engrossed with the massed
picture of misery before me。 But the speech ran something like this：
〃You will feast in Paradise。 No matter how you starve and suffer here；
you will feast in Paradise； that is； if you will follow the directions。〃 And
so forth and so forth。 A clever bit of propaganda； I took it； but rendered
of no avail for two reasons。 First； the men who received it were
unimaginative and materialistic； unaware of the existence of any Unseen；
and too inured to hell on earth to be frightened by hell to come。 And
second； weary and exhausted from the night's sleeplessness and hardship；
suffering from the long wait upon their feet； and faint from hunger； they
were yearning； not for salvation； but for grub。 The 〃soul…snatchers〃 （as
these men call all religious propagandists）； should study the physiological
basis of psychology a little； if they wish to make their efforts more
effective。
All in good time； about eleven o'clock； breakfast arrived。 It arrived；
not on plates； but in paper parcels。 I did not have all I wanted； and I am
sure that no man there had all he wanted； or half of what he wanted or
needed。 I gave part of my bread to the tramp royal who was waiting for
Buffalo Bill； and he was as ravenous at the end as he was in the beginning。
This is the breakfast： two slices of bread； one small piece of bread with
raisins in it and called 〃cake；〃 a wafer of cheese； and a mug of 〃water
bewitched。〃 Numbers of the men had been waiting since five o'clock for it；
while all of us had waited at least four hours； and in addition； we had been
herded like swine； packed like sardines； and treated like curs； and been
preached at； and sung to； and prayed for。 Nor was that all。
No sooner was breakfast over （and it was over almost as quickly as it
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takes to tell）； than the tired heads began to nod and droop； and in five
minutes half of us were sound asleep。 There were no signs of our being
dismissed； while there were unmistakable signs of preparation for a
meeting。 I looked at a small clock hanging on the wall。 It indicated
twenty…five minutes to twelve。 Heigh…ho； thought I； time is flying； and I
have yet to look for work。
〃I want to go；〃 I said to a couple of waking men near me。
〃Got ter sty fer the service；〃 was the answer。
〃Do you want to stay？〃 I asked。
They shook their heads。
〃Then let us go and tell them we want to get out；〃 I continued。 〃Come
on。〃
But the poor creatures were aghast。 So I left them to their fate； and
went up to the nearest Salvation Army man。
〃I want to go；〃 I said。 〃I came here for breakfast in order that I might
be in shape to look for work。 I didn't think it would take so long to get
breakfast。 I think I have a chance for work in Stepney； and the sooner I
start； the better chance I'll have of getting it。〃
He was really a good fellow； though he was startled by my request。
〃Wy；〃 he said； 〃we're goin' to 'old services； and you'd better sty。〃
〃But that will spoil my chances for work；〃 I urged。 〃And work is the
most important thing for me just now。〃
As he was only a private； he referred me to the adjutant； and to the
adjutant I repeated my reasons for wishing to go； and politely requested
that he let me go。
〃But it cawn't be done；〃 he said； waxing virtuously indignant at such
ingratitude。 〃The idea！〃 he snorted。 〃The idea！〃
〃Do you mean to say that I can't get out of here？〃 I demanded。 〃That
you will keep me here against my will？〃
〃Yes；〃 he snorted。
I do not know what might have happened； for I was waxing indignant
myself； but the 〃congregation〃 had 〃piped〃 the situation； and he drew me
over to a corner of the room； and then into another room。 Here he again
demanded my reasons for wishing to go。
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〃I want to go；〃 I said； 〃because I wish to look for work over in Stepney；
and every hour lessens my chance of finding work。 It is now twenty…five
minute