4 Eat, Drink, and Be Buried by Kate Kingsbury

Author:Kate Kingsbury [Kingsbury, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 042514352X
Published: 2013-01-07T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

11

“There are times, Baxter,” Cecily said, “when I really do wonder what this world is coming to.” She leaned back in her chair at the head of the library table and gazed upon the portrait of her late husband. “James would turn in his grave if he could see half of what is happening in Badgers End these days.”

“He would indeed, madam.” Baxter stood with his back to the door, hands clasped behind him in his usual posture. “In my opinion it is this constant scramble toward modernization that is the cause of the problems. Newfangled machines are being invented every day to do the work that men and women have done for centuries. I have heard that in America some of the better hotels now have a machine that can wash dishes. They even have a machine that can suck the dust from carpets into a bag. Quite amazing when you think about it.”

Cecily smiled. “Oh, what I would give to own machines like that. Think how much easier life in this hotel would be if one didn’t have to worry about beating the carpets or washing the dishes.”

Baxter gave her one of his impassive looks. “Consider, if you will, what would happen to those people you employ to take care of such duties.”

“Well, it’s true, we wouldn’t need quite so many people, but that would save us money, would it not?”

His eyes glinted at her. “Does the acquisition of wealth mean more to you than people?”

His remarks were beginning to pain her. Frowning, she said a trifle sharply, “Of course not, Baxter, you know better than that. I merely meant …” What had she meant?

“Precisely, madam. As is only natural, you would wish to take advantage of the benefits of modern machines. Otherwise why go to all the trouble of inventing them? Am I correct?”

She stared at him in frustration. Knowing him as well as she did, she knew he was leading up to something. Baxter always did take forever to come to the point. She had an uncomfortable feeling that this time his opinion would be a criticism of her values.

“I really don’t see what is wrong with that,” she protested. “After all, we must move with the times. Surely it isn’t a crime to enjoy improvements in one’s lifestyle?”

“I agree. As long as it isn’t at the expense of others.”

“Sometimes we cannot control the circumstances of others.”

“Also agreed. All I am suggesting is that as more and more of these machines take the place of workers, there will be fewer jobs for the labor force. People will lose their livelihood and be forced to turn to other means in order to survive. Some of them will almost certainly turn to crime.”

Cecily sighed. “You paint a dismal picture of the future, Baxter. I hope you are wrong in your estimation. There has to be some benefit derived from all the miserable suffering man has endured over the ages in order to better his living conditions.”

“There will always be people who take advantage of their strength over the weak.

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