This illustration by Walter Crane appeared in the book ‘Pages for Young Socialists’, 1913 by F.J. Gould. It accompanied the first chapter of the book, entitled ‘The Beating Heart’, which describes a scene in a book by Sir Frederick Travers, where the author watched a procession of poorly paid men carrying wood up a narrow path in Simla, India: “The men wanted a few pence to buy food for themselves and their families. From sunrise to sunset they walked, one by one, fifty in a line; hour by hour as beasts might plod and tramp; hour after hour, hoping the day might end and the light of the stars bring rest.” The term ‘coolie’ was used by the British to describe indentured labourers, usually from South Asia, South East Asia or China. It is now regarded as a pejorative term. Gould goes on to argue that work is a human right, and should be enjoyable, useful and workers should receive just pay.
