Upon Prof. Blanchard's recommendation I watched the Patrick Stewart version of "A Christmas Carol" last night. It is indeed a fine version. I was struck by one particular scene that is straight from the book. It involves one of my favorite Christmas Carol moments. You might recall towards the beginning of the story two men ask Scrooge to contribute to a charitable organization. He turns them down with disdain. Can the poor not go to prisons or work houses? One of the man answers that some would rather die then go there. Scrooge says, "If they are going to die then they'd better do it, and decrease the surplus population." Later on, the Ghost of Christmas Present throws these words back in Scrooge's face:
"Spirit," said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before,"tell me if Tiny Tim will live."
"I see a vacant seat," replied the Ghost, "in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die."
"No, no," said Scrooge. "Oh, no, kind Spirit. Say he will be spared."
"If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race," returned the Ghost, "will find him here. What then? If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.
"Man," said the Ghost, "if man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered What the surplus is, and Where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child. Oh God! To hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust."
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