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Others deny themselves in order to enable a lazy parson to live in idleness and luxury； and others spend much time and money that they really need for themselves in buying Socialist literature to give away to people who don't want to know about Socialism。
One Sunday morning towards the end of July； a band of about twenty…five men and women on bicycles invaded the town。 Two of them … who rode a few yards in front of the others； had affixed to the handlebars of each of their machines a slender； upright standard from the top of one of which fluttered a small flag of crimson silk with ‘International Brotherhood and Peace' in gold letters。 The other standard was similar in size and colour； but with a different legend： ‘One for all and All for one。'
As they rode along they gave leaflets to the people in the streets； and whenever they came to a place where there were many people they dismounted and walked about； giving their leaflets to whoever would accept them。 They made several long halts during their progress along the Grand Parade； where there was a considerable crowd； and then they rode over the hill to Windley； which they reached a little before opening time。 There were little crowds waiting outside the several public houses and a number of people passing through the streets on their way home from Church and Chapel。 The strangers distributed leaflets to all those who would take them； and they went through a lot of the side streets； putting leaflets under the doors and in the letter…boxes。 When they had exhausted their stock they remounted and rode back the way they came。
Meantime the news of their arrival had spread； and as they returned through the town they were greeted with jeers and booing。 Presently someone threw a stone； and as there happened to be plenty of stones just there several others followed suit and began running after the retreating cyclists； throwing stones； hooting and cursing。
The leaflet which had given rise to all this fury read as follows：
WHAT IS SOCIALISM？
At present the workers； with hand and brain produce continually food； clothing and all useful and beautiful things in great abundance。
BUT THEY LABOUR IN VAIN … for they are mostly poor and often in want。 They find it a hard struggle to live。 Their women and children suffer； and their old age is branded with pauperism。
Socialism is a plan by which poverty will be abolished； and everyone enabled to live in plenty and comfort； with leisure and opportunity for ampler life。
If you wish to hear more of this plan； come to the field at the Cross Roads on the hill at Windley； on Tuesday evening next at 8 P。M。 and
LOOK OUT FOR THE SOCIALIST VAN
The cyclists rode away amid showers of stones without sustaining much damage。 One had his hand cut and another； who happened to look round； was struck on the forehead； but these were the only casualties。
On the following Tuesday evening； long before the appointed time； there was a large crowd assembled at the cross roads or the hill at Windley； waiting for the appearance of the van； and they were evidently prepared to give the Socialists a warm reception。 There was only one policeman in uniform there but there were several in plain clothes amongst the crowd。
Crass； Dick Wantley； the Semi…drunk； Sawkins； Bill Bates and several other frequenters of the Cricketers were amongst the crowd； and there were also a sprinkling of tradespeople； including the Old Dear and Mr Smallman； the grocer； and a few ladies and gentlemen … wealthy visitors … but the bulk of the crowd were working men； labourers； mechanics and boys。
As it was quite evident that the crowd meant mischief … many of them had their pockets filled with stones and were armed with sticks … several of the Socialists were in favour of going to meet the van to endeavour to persuade those in charge from coming； and with that object they withdrew from the crowd； which was already regarding them with menacing looks； and went down the road in the direction from which the van was expected to come。 They had not gone very far； however； before the people； divining what they were going to do； began to follow them and while they were hesitating what course to pursue； the Socialist van； escorted by five or six men on bicycles； appeared round the corner at the bottom of the hill。
As soon as the crowd saw it； they gave an exultant cheer； or； rather； yell； and began running down the hilt to meet it； and in a few minutes it was surrounded by a howling mob。 The van was drawn by two horses； there was a door and a small platform at the back and over this was a sign with white letters on a red ground： ‘Socialism； the only hope of the Workers。'
The driver pulled up； and another man on the platform at the rear attempted to address the crowd； but his voice was inaudible in the din of howls； catcalls； hooting and obscene curses。 After about an hour of this； as the crowd began pushing against the van and trying to overturn it； the terrified horses commenced to get restive and uncontrollable； and the man on the box attempted to drive up the hill。 This seemed to still further infuriate the horde of savages who surrounded the van。 Numbers of them clutched the wheels and turned them the reverse way； screaming that it must go back to where it came from； several of them accordingly seized the horses' heads and； amid cheers； turned them round。
The man on the platform was still trying to make himself heard； but without success。 The strangers who had come with the van and the little group of local Socialists； who had forced their way through the crowd and gathered together close to the platform in front of the would…be speaker； only increased the din by their shouts of appeal to the crowd to ‘give the man a fair chance'。 This little bodyguard closed round the van as it began to move slowly downhill； but they were not sufficiently numerous to protect it from the crowd； which； not being satisfied with the rate at which the van was proceeding； began to shout to each other to ‘Run it away！' ‘Take the brake off！' and several savage rushes were made with the intention of putting these suggestions into execution。
Some of the defenders were hampered with their bicycles； but they resisted as well as they were able； and succeeded in keeping the crowd off until the foot of the hill was reached； and then someone threw the first stone； which by a strange chance happened to strike one of the cyclists whose head was already bandaged … it was the same man who had been hit on the Sunday。 This stone was soon followed by others； and the man on the platform was the next to be struck。 He got it right on the mouth； and as he put up his handkerchief to staunch the blood another struck him on the forehead just above the temple； and he dropped forward on his face on to the platform as if he had been shot。
As the speed of the vehicle increased； a regular hail of stones fell upon the roof and against the sides of the van and whizzed past the retreating cyclists； while the crowd followed close behind； cheering； shrieking out volleys of obscene curses； and howling like wolves。
‘We'll give the brs Socialism！' shouted Crass； who was literally foaming at the mouth。
‘We'll teach 'em to come 'ere trying to undermined our bloody morality；' howled Dick Wantley as he hurled a lump of granite that he had torn up from the macadamized road at one of the cyclists。
They ran on after the van until it was out of range； and then they bethought themselves of the local Socialists； but they were nowhere to be seen； they had prudently withdrawn as soon as the van had got fairly under way； and the victory being complete； the upholders of the present system returned to the piece of waste ground on the top of the hill； where a gentleman in a silk hat and frockcoat stood up on a little hillock and made a speech。 He said nothing about the Distress Committee or the Soup Kitchen or the children who went to school without proper clothes or food； and made no reference to what was to be done next winter； when nearly everybody would be out of work。 These were matters he and they were evidently not at all interested in。 But he said a good deal about the Glorious Empire！ and the Flag！ and the Royal Family。 The things he said were received with rapturous applause； and at the conclusion of his address； the crowd sang the National Anthem with great enthusiasm and dispersed； congratulating themselves that they had shown to the best of their ability what Mugsborough thought of Socialism and the general opinion of the crowd was that they would hear nothing more from the Socialist van。
But in this they were mistaken； for the very next Sunday evening a crowd of Socialists suddenly materialized at the Cross Roads。 Some of them had come by train； others had walked from different places and some had cycled。
A crowd gathered and the Socialists held a meeting； two speeches being delivered before the crowd recovered from their surprise at the temerity of these other Britishers who apparently had not sense enough to understand that they had been finally defeated and obliterated last Tuesday evening：