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London, Jack, 1876-1916

"Revolution, and Other Essays"

And women are
less afraid of guns than men. Likewise, we conquer the earth in
hazard and battle by the virtues of our mothers. We are a race of
land-robbers and sea-robbers, we Anglo-Saxons, and small wonder, when
we suckle at the breasts of a breed of women such as maraud my poppy
field.
Still the pillage went on. Sirens and gun-flourishings were without
avail. The city folk were great of heart and undismayed, and I noted
the habit of "repeating" was becoming general. What booted it how
often they were driven forth if each time they were permitted to
carry away their ill-gotten plunder? When one has turned the same
person away twice and thrice an emotion arises somewhat akin to
homicide. And when one has once become conscious of this sanguinary
feeling his whole destiny seems to grip hold of him and drag him into
the abyss. More than once I found myself unconsciously pulling the
rifle into position to get a sight on the miserable trespassers. In
my sleep I slew them in manifold ways and threw their carcasses into
the reservoir.


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