The little man and other satires Author:John Galsworthy Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE DEAD MAN In the spring of the year 1950 a lawyer and his friend were sitting over their wine and walnuts. The lawyer said: "In turning over my father's pa... more »pers the other day, I came across this cutting from a newspaper. It is dated December, 19—. Rather a singular document. If you like I'll read it to you." "Do," said the friend. The lawyer began to read: 'Some sensation was caused in a London police court yesterday by a poorly dressed but respectable-looking man who applied to the magistrate for advice. We give the conversation verbatim: "Your Worship, may I ask you a question?" "If it is one that I can answer." "It's just this: Am I alive?" "Go away!" "Your Worship, I am perfectly serious. It's a matter of vital importance to me to know; I am a chain-maker." "Are you sane?" "Your Worship, I am quite sane." "Then what do you mean by coming here and asking me a question like that ? " "Your Worship, I am out of work." "What has that to do with it?" "Your Worship, it's like this. I've been out of work, through no fault of my own, for two months. Your Worship has heard, no doubt, that there are hundreds of thousands of us chaps." "Well, go on!" "Your Worship, I don't belong to a union; as you know, there's no union to my trade." "Yes, yes." "Your Worship, I came to the end of my resources three weeks ago. I've done my best to get work, but I've not been successful." "Have you applied to the distress committee of your district?" "I have, your Worship; but they are full- up." "Have you been to the parish authorities?" "Yes, your Worship; and to the parson." "Haven't you any relations or friends to help you?" "Half of them, your Worship, are in my condition, and I've exhausted the others." "You've ?" "E...« less