Scrooge as a Hairless Cat?
We Need some Redemption (and a bath)...
Scrooge walking alone |
Don't.
Join me as we move into the season of Thanksgiving and Good Cheer. Let's find the spirit of goodwill and peace with one of the greatest works of fiction you've probably never read. Like me, you've seen countless movies and stage plays, but never had a reason to read the original. Well, you're in for a treat. I'll be posting the entire novella in approximately 800 word chunks. If you take a few minutes each weekday between November 7 and December 23, you can read the whole glorious thing (and enjoy some wonderful, original illustrations by yours-truly). And what's more fun? The characters will all be drawn as cats. Yes, that's right... cats. The part of Scrooge will be played by a skinny, hairless cat (see image below)
In the following excerpt, in which two men have come to call upon Scrooge to solicit a donation for the poor, you'll see why the story is relevant today... maybe even more than ever. Scrooge sounds like some of our modern politicians, pundits, and provocateurs:
Scrooge as a hairless cat |
From A Christmas Carol:
'At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,' said the gentleman, taking up a pen, `it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.'`Are there no prisons?' asked Scrooge.
`Plenty of prisons,' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
`And the Union workhouses?' demanded Scrooge. `Are they still in operation?'
`They are. Still,' returned the gentleman, `I wish I could say they were not.'
`The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigor, then?' said Scrooge.
`Both very busy, sir.'
`Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,' said Scrooge. `I'm very glad to hear it.'
`Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,' returned the gentleman, `a few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink. and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?'
`Nothing!' Scrooge replied.
`You wish to be anonymous?'
`I wish to be left alone,' said Scrooge. `Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.'
`Many can't go there; and many would rather die.'
`If they would rather die,' said Scrooge, `they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides -- excuse me -- I don't know that.'
***
Look for my serialization of A Christmas Carol starting on November 7 at www.ScribbleFire.com/news
#Scrooge #Dickens #Christmas #Humbug #Election2016
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