STATUE. So he's a rabid radical!
PILLORY. Yes, that's it, and he has no party politics back of him.
You had the wagonmaker, the shoemaker, the chiropodist and the
burgomaster with you, therefore you succeeded.
STATUE. He'd better be careful! Every stone which he removes from
my work the people will hurl at him, and woe be unto him if he
touches my memory!
PILLORY. Let us hope that he unmasks you, you old fraud! Do you
recall how you happened to become one of the great ones after your
death? First, at the funeral, the parson embroidered your virtues--
for twenty marks; the contractor, who had grown rich on your
streets, delivered a eulogy; the chiropodist, who acquired practice
through your beautiful street stones, had a medallion struck of
you; then the wagonmaker, who made money patching up wagons, named
a vehicle after you; and last, the shoemaker held a memorial fest
in your honor. Then it was done! Your son-in-law, the burgomaster,
sent out a subscription blank for a statue no one dared refuse, and
now you stand there.
STATUE. Yes, I do, and it grieves you. To-day the Schulze Society
will come with wreaths and will sing the memorial song ordered by
my son-in-law. I daresay having to stand and listen to it will make
you writhe.
PILLORY. I can't dispute that, but in the end we shall see if I'm
not a true dreamer!
STATUE. Hold your tongue! for here comes the Society.
PILLORY. I shall have to hold my sides for laughter--three persons
constitute the whole Society! Last year they were six.
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