第1章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Utopia of Usurers and other Essays",免费读到尾

  ASongofSwordsUtopiaofUsurersI。ArtandAdvertisementII。LettersandtheNewLaureatesIII。UnbusinesslikeBusinessIV。TheWaronHolidaysV。TheChurchoftheServileStateVI。ScienceandtheEugenistsVII。TheEvolutionofthePrisonVIII。TheLashforLabourIX。TheMaskofSocialismTheEscapeTheNewRaidTheNewNameAWorkman\'sHistoryofEnglandTheFrenchRevolutionandtheIrishLiberalism:ASampleTheFatigueofFleetStreetTheAmnestyforAggressionRevivetheCourtJesterTheArtofMissingthePointTheServileStateAgainTheEmpireoftheIgnorantTheSymbolismofKruppTheTowerofBebelARealDancerTheDregsofPuritanismTheTyrannyofBadJournalismThePoetryoftheRevolutionASONGOFSWORDS

  \"AdroveofcattlecameintoavillagecalledSwords;

  andwasstoppedbytherioters。\"——DailyPaper。

  IntheplacecalledSwordsontheIrishroadItistoldforanewrenownHowweheldthehornsofthecattle,andhowWewillholdthehornsofthedevilsnowErethelordofhellwiththehornonhisbrowIscrownedinDublintown。

  LightintheEastandlightintheWest,Andlightonthecruellords,Onthesoulsthatsuddenlyallmenknew,Andthegreenflagflewandtheredflagflew,Andmanyawheeloftheworldstopped,too,WhenthecattlewerestoppedatSwords。

  BetheysinnersorlessthansaintsThatsmiteinthestreetforrage,Weknowwheretheshameshinesbright;weknowYouthattheysmiteat,youtheirfoe,Lordsofthelawlesswageandlow,Thisisyourlawfulwage。

  YoupinchedachildtoatorturepriceThatyoudarednotnameinwords;

  SoblackajestwasthesilverbitThatyourownspeechshookfortheshameofit,AndthecowardwasplainasacowtheyhitWhenthecattlehavestrayedatSwords。

  ThewheelofthetorrentofwiveswentroundTobreakmen\'sbrotherhood;

  YougavethegoodIrishbloodtogreaseTheclubsofyourcountry\'senemies;

  yousawthebravemanbeattotheknees:

  Andyousawthatitwasgood。

  Theropeoftherichislongandlong——

  Thelongestofhangmen\'scords;

  Butthekingsandcrowdsareholdingtheirbreath,Inagiantshadowo\'erallbeneathWhereGodstandsholdingthescalesofDeathBetweenthecattleandSwords。

  HaplythelordsthathireandlendThelowestofallmen\'slords,Whoselltheirkindlikekineatafair,Willfindnoheadoftheircattlethere;

  Butfacesofmenwherecattlewere:

  Facesofmen——andSwords。

  UTOPIAOFUSURERS

  I。ArtandAdvertisementIpropose,subjecttothepatienceofthereader,todevotetwoorthreearticlestoprophecy。Likeallhealthy-mindedprophets,sacredandprofane,IcanonlyprophesywhenIaminarageandthinkthingslookuglyforeverybody。Andlikeallhealthy-mindedprophets,Iprophesyinthehopethatmyprophecymaynotcometrue。Forthepredictionmadebythetruesoothsayerislikethewarninggivenbyagooddoctor。Andthedoctorhasreallytriumphedwhenthepatienthecondemnedtodeathhasrevivedtolife。Thethreatisjustifiedattheverymomentwhenitisfalsified。NowIhavesaidagainandagainandIshallcontinuetosayagainandagainonallthemostinappropriateoccasionsthatwemusthitCapitalism,andhitithard,fortheplainanddefinitereasonthatitisgrowingstronger。Mostoftheexcuseswhichservethecapitalistsasmasksare,ofcourse,theexcusesofhypocrites。Theyliewhentheyclaimphilanthropy;theynomorefeelanyparticularloveofmenthanAlbufeltanaffectionforChinamen。Theyliewhentheysaytheyhavereachedtheirpositionthroughtheirownorganisingability。Theygenerallyhavetopaymentoorganisethemine,exactlyastheypaymentogodownit。Theyoftenlieaboutthepresentwealth,astheygenerallylieabouttheirpastpoverty。Butwhentheysaythattheyaregoinginfora\"constructivesocialpolicy,\"theydonotlie。Theyreallyaregoinginforaconstructivesocialpolicy。Andwemustgoinforanequallydestructivesocialpolicy;anddestroy,whileitisstillhalf-constructed,theaccursedthingwhichtheyconstruct。

  TheExampleoftheArtsNowIproposetotake,oneafteranother,certainaspectsanddepartmentsofmodernlife,anddescribewhatIthinktheywillbelikeinthisparadiseofplutocrats,thisUtopiaofgoldandbrassinwhichthegreatstoryofEnglandseemssolikelytoend。IproposetosaywhatIthinkournewmasters,themeremillionaires,willdowithcertainhumaninterestsandinstitutions,suchasart,science,jurisprudence,orreligion——unlesswestrikesoonenoughtopreventthem。AndforthesakeofargumentIwilltakeinthisarticletheexampleofthearts。

  Mostpeoplehaveseenapicturecalled\"Bubbles,\"whichisusedfortheadvertisementofacelebratedsoap,asmallcakeofwhichisintroducedintothepictorialdesign。AndanybodywithaninstinctfordesignthecaricaturistoftheDailyHerald,forinstance,willguessthatitwasnotoriginallyapartofthedesign。Hewillseethatthecakeofsoapdestroysthepictureasapicture;asmuchasifthecakeofsoaphadbeenusedtoScruboffthepaint。Smallasitis,itbreaksandconfusesthewholebalanceofobjectsinthecomposition。IoffernojudgmenthereuponMillais\'sactioninthematter;infact,Idonotknowwhatitwas。

  Theimportantpointformeatthemomentisthatthepicturewasnotpaintedforthesoap,butthesoapaddedtothepicture。AndthespiritofthecorruptingchangewhichhasseparatedusfromthatVictorianepochcanbebestseeninthis:thattheVictorianatmosphere,withallitsfaults,didnotpermitsuchastyleofpatronagetopassasamatterofcourse。MichaelAngelomayhavebeenproudtohavehelpedanemperororapope;though,indeed,Ithinkhewasprouderthantheywereonhisownaccount。IdonotbelieveSirJohnMillaiswasproudofhavinghelpedasoap-boiler。Idonotsayhethoughtitwrong;buthewasnotproudofit。

  Andthatmarkspreciselythechangefromhistimetoourown。Ourmerchantshavereallyadoptedthestyleofmerchantprinces。TheyhavebegunopenlytodominatethecivilisationoftheState,astheemperorsandpopesopenlydominatedinItaly。InMillais\'stime,broadlyspeaking,artwassupposedtomeangoodart;advertisementwassupposedtomeaninferiorart。Theheadofablackman,paintedtoadvertisesomebody\'sblacking,couldbearoughsymbol,likeaninnsign。Theblackmanhadonlytobeblackenough。Anartistexhibitingthepictureofanegrowasexpectedtoknowthatablackmanisnotsoblackasheispainted。Hewasexpectedtorenderathousandtintsofgreyandbrownandviolet:forthereisnosuchthingasablackmanjustasthereisnosuchthingasawhiteman。Afairlyclearlineseparatedadvertisementfromart。

  TheFirstEffectIshouldsaythefirsteffectofthetriumphofthecapitalistifweallowhimtotriumphwillbethatthatlineofdemarcationwillentirelydisappear。Therewillbenoartthatmightnotjustaswellbeadvertisement。Idonotnecessarilymeanthattherewillbenogoodart;

  muchofitmightbe,muchofitalreadyis,verygoodart。Youmayputit,ifyouplease,intheformthattherehasbeenavastimprovementinadvertisements。CertainlytherewouldbenothingsurprisingiftheheadofanegroadvertisingSomebody\'sBlackingnowadays`werefinishedwithascarefulandsubtlecoloursasoneoftheoldandsuperstitiouspainterswouldhavewastedonthenegrokingwhobroughtgiftstoChrist。Buttheimprovementofadvertisementsisthedegradationofartists。Itistheirdegradationforthisclearandvitalreason:thattheartistwillwork,notonlytopleasetherich,butonlytoincreasetheirriches;whichisaconsiderablesteplower。Afterall,itwasasahumanbeingthatapopetookpleasureinacartoonofRaphaeloraprincetookpleasureinastatuetteofCellini。Theprincepaidforthestatuette;buthedidnotexpectthestatuettetopayhim。ItismyimpressionthatnocakeofsoapcanbefoundanywhereinthecartoonswhichthePopeorderedofRaphael。

  Andnoonewhoknowsthesmall-mindedcynicismofourplutocracy,itssecrecy,itsgamblingspirit,itscontemptofconscience,candoubtthattheartist-advertiserwilloftenbeassistingenterprisesoverwhichhewillhavenomoralcontrol,andofwhichhecouldfeelnomoralapproval。

  Hewillbeworkingtospreadquackmedicines,queerinvestments;andwillworkforMarconiinsteadofMedici。Andtothisbaseingenuityhewillhavetobendtheproudestandpurestofthevirtuesoftheintellect,thepowertoattracthisbrethren,andthenobledutyofpraise。ForthatpicturebyMillaisisaveryallegoricalpicture。Itisalmostaprophecyofwhatusesareawaitingthebeautyofthechildunborn。Thepraisewillbeofakindthatmaycorrectlybecalledsoap;andtheenterprisesofakindthatmaytrulybedescribedasBubbles。

  II。LettersandtheNewLaureatesInthesearticlesIonlytaketwoorthreeexamplesofthefirstandfundamentalfactofourtime。Imeanthefactthatthecapitalistsofourcommunityarebecomingquiteopenlythekingsofit。Inmylastandfirstarticle,ItookthecaseofArtandadvertisement。IpointedoutthatArtmustbegrowingworse——merelybecauseadvertisementisgrowingbetter。InthosedaysMillaiscondescendedtoPears\'soap,InthesedaysIreallythinkitwouldbePearswhocondescendedtoMillais。ButhereI

  turntoanartIknowmoreabout,thatofjournalism。Onlyinmyeasetheartvergesonartlessness。

  ThegreatdifficultywiththeEnglishliesintheabsenceofsomethingonemaycalldemocraticimagination。Wefinditeasytorealiseanindividual,butveryhardtorealisethatthegreatmassesconsistofindividuals。

  Oursystemhasbeenaristocratic:inthespecialsenseoftherebeingonlyafewactorsonthestage。Andthebacksceneiskeptquitedark,thoughitisreallyathrongoffaces。HomeRuletendedtobenotsomuchtheIrishastheGrandOldMan。TheBoerWartendednottobesomuchSouthAfricaassimply\"Joe。\"Anditistheamusingbutdistressingfactthateveryclassofpoliticalleadership,asitcomestothefrontinitsturn,catchestheraysofthisisolatinglime-light;andbecomesasmallaristocracy。CertainlynoonehasthearistocraticcomplaintsobadlyastheLabourParty。AttherecentCongress,therealdifferencebetweenLarkinandtheEnglishLabourleaderswasnotsomuchinanythingrightorwronginwhathesaid,asinsomethingelementalandevenmysticalinthewayhesuggestedamob。Butitmustbeplain,eventothosewhoagreewiththemoreofficialpolicy,thatforMr。HavelockWilsontheprincipalquestionwasMr。HavelockWilson;andthatMr。SextonwasmainlyconsideringthedignityandfinefeelingsofMr。Sexton。Youmaysaytheywereassensitiveasaristocrats,orassulkyasbabies;thepointisthatthefeelingwaspersonal。ButLarkin,likeDanton,notonlytalksliketenthousandmentalking,buthealsohassomeofthecarelessnessofthecolossusofArcis;\"Quemonnomsoitfletri,quelaFrancesoitlibre。\"

  ADanceofDegradationItisneedlesstosaythatthisrespectingofpersonshasledalltheotherpartiesadanceofdegradation。WeruinSouthAfricabecauseitwouldbeaslightonLordGladstonetosaveSouthAfrica。Wehaveabadarmy,becauseitwouldbeasnubtoLordHaldanetohaveagoodarmy。AndnoToryisallowedtosay\"Marconi\"forfearMr。Georgeshouldsay\"Kynoch。\"

  Butthiscuriouspersonalelement,withitsappallinglackofpatriotism,hasappearedinanewandcuriousforminanotherdepartmentoflife;thedepartmentofliterature,especiallyperiodicalliterature。

  AndtheformittakesisthenextexampleIshallgiveofthewayinwhichthecapitalistsarenowappearing,moreandmoreopenly,asthemastersandprincesofthecommunity。

  IwilltakeaVictorianinstancetomarkthechange;asIdidinthecaseoftheadvertisementof\"Bubbles。\"Itwassaidinmychildhood,bythemoreapoplecticandelderlysortofTory,thatW。E。GladstonewasonlyaFreeTraderbecausehehadapartnershipinGilbey\'sforeignwines。Thiswas,nodoubt,nonsense;butithadadimsymbolic,ormainlyprophetic,truthinit。Itwastrue,tosomeextenteventhen,andithasbeenincreasinglytruesince,thatthestatesmanwasoftenanallyofthesalesman;andrepresentednotonlyanationofshopkeepers,butoneparticularshop。ButinGladstone\'stime,evenifthiswastrue,itwasneverthewholetruth;andnoonewouldhaveendureditbeingtheadmittedtruth。Thepoliticianwasnotsolelyaneloquentandpersuasivebagmantravellingforcertainbusinessmen;hewasboundtomixevenhiscorruptionwithsomeintelligibleidealsandrulesofpolicy。Andtheproofofitisthis:thatatleastitwasthestatesmanwhobulkedlargeinthepubliceye;andhisfinancialbackerwasentirelyinthebackground。

  Oldgentlemenmightchokeovertheirport,withthemoralcertaintythatthePrimeMinisterhadsharesinawinemerchant\'s。ButtheoldgentlemanwouldhavediedonthespotifthewinemerchanthadreallybeenmadeasimportantasthePrimeMinister。IfithadbeenSirWalterGilbeywhomDisraelidenounced,orPunchcaricatured;ifSirWalterGilbey\'sfavouritecollarswiththedesignofwhichIamunacquaintedhadgrownaslargeasthewingsofanarchangel;ifSirWalterGilbeyhadbeencreditedwithsuccessfullyeliminatingtheBritishOakwithhislittlehatchet;if,neartheTempleandtheCourtsofJustice,oursightwasstruckbyamajesticstatueofawinemerchant;oriftheearnestConservativeladywhothrewagingerbread-nutatthePremierhaddirectedittowardsthewinemerchantinstead,theshocktoVictorianEnglandwouldhavebeenverygreatindeed。

  HaloesforEmployersNowsomethingverylikethatishappening;themerewealthyemployerisbeginningtohavenotonlythepowerbutsomeoftheglory。Ihaveseeninseveralmagazineslately,andmagazinesofahighclass,theappearanceofanewkindofarticle。Literarymenarebeingemployedtopraiseabigbusinessmanpersonally,asmenusedtopraiseaking。Theynotonlyfindpoliticalreasonsforthecommercialschemes——thattheyhavedoneforsometimepast——theyalsofindmoraldefencesforthecommercialschemers。

  Theydescribethecapitalist\'sbrainofsteelandheartofgoldinawaythatEnglishmenhithertohavebeenatleastinthehabitofreservingforromanticfigureslikeGaribaldiorGordon。InoneexcellentmagazineMr。

  T。P。O\'Connor,who,whenhelikes,canwriteonletterslikeamanofletters,hassomepurplepagesofpraiseofSirJosephLyons——themanwhorunsthoseteashopplaces。HeincidentallybroughtinadelightfulpassageaboutthebeautifulsoulspossessedbysomepeoplecalledSalmonandGluckstein。IthinkIlikebestthepassagewherehesaidthatLyons\'scharmingsocialacaccomplishmentsincludedatalentfor\"imitatingaJew。\"Thearticleisaccompaniedwithalargeandsomewhatleeringportraitofthatshopkeeper,whichmakestheparlour-trickinquestionparticularlyastonishing。Anotherliteraryman,whocertainlyoughttoknowbetter,wroteinanotherpaperapieceofhero-worshipaboutMr。

  Selfridge。Nodoubtthefashionwillspread,andtheartofwords,aspolishedandpointedbyRuskinorMeredith,willbeperfectedyetfurthertoexplorethelabyrinthineheartofHarrod;orcomparethesimplestoicismofMarshallwiththesaintlycharmofSnelgrove。

  Anymancanbepraised——andrightlypraised。Ifheonlystandsontwolegshedoessomethingacowcannotdo。Ifarichmancanmanagetostandontwolegsforareasonabletime,itiscalledself-control。Ifhehasonlyoneleg,itiscalledwithsometruthself-sacrifice。IcouldsaysomethingniceandtrueabouteverymanIhaveevermet。Therefore,I

  donotdoubtIcouldfindsomethingniceaboutLyonsorSelfridgeifI

  searchedforit。ButIshallnot。Thenearestpostmanorcab-manwillprovidemewithjustthesamebrainofsteelandheartofgoldastheseunluckyluckymen。ButIdoresentthewholeageofpatronagebeingrevivedundersuchabsurdpatrons;andallpoetsbecomingcourtpoets,underkingsthathavetakennooath,norledusintoanybattle。

  III。UnbusinesslikeBusinessThefairytaleswewerealltaughtdidnot,likethehistorywewerealltaught,consistentirelyoflies。Partsofthetaleof\"PussinBoots\"or\"JackandtheBeanstalk\"maystriketherealisticeyeasalittleunlikelyandoutofthecommonway,sotospeak;buttheycontainsomeverysolidandverypracticaltruths。Forinstance,itmaybenotedthatbothin\"PussinBoots\"and\"JackandtheBeanstalk\"ifIrememberaright,theogrewasnotonlyanogrebutalsoamagician。Anditwillgenerallybefoundthatinallsuchpopularnarratives,theking,ifheisawickedking,isgenerallyalsoawizard。Nowthereisaveryvitalhumantruthenshrinedinthis。Badgovernment,likegoodgovernment,isaspiritualthing。Eventhetyrantneverrulesbyforcealone;butmostlybyfairytales。Andsoitiswiththemoderntyrant,thegreatemployer。Thesightofamillionaireisseldom,intheordinarysense,anenchantingsight:nevertheless,heisinhiswayanenchanter。Astheysayinthegushingarticlesabouthiminthemagazines,heisafascinatingpersonality。Soisasnake。Atleastheisfascinatingtorabbits;andsoisthemillionairetotherabbit-wittedsortofpeoplethatladiesandgentlemenhaveallowedthemselvestobecome。Hedoes,inamanner,castaspell,suchasthatwhichimprisonedprincesandprincessesundertheshapesoffalconsorstags。Hehastrulyturnedmenintosheep,asCirceturnedthemintoswine。

  Now,thechiefofthefairytales,bywhichhegainsthisgloryandglamour,isacertainhazyassociationhehasmanagedtocreatebetweentheideaofbignessandtheideaofpracticality。Numbersoftherabbit-wittedladiesandgentlemendoreallythink,inspiteofthemselvesandtheirexperience,thatsolongasashophashundredsofdifferentdoorsandagreatmanyhotandunhealthyundergrounddepartmentstheymustbehot;thisisveryimportant,andmorepeoplethanwouldbeneededforaman-of-war,orcrowdedcathedral,tosay:\"Thisway,madam,\"and\"Thenextarticle,sir,\"itfollowsthatthegoodsaregood。Inshort,theyholdthatthebigbusinessesarebusinesslike。Theyarenot。Anyhousekeeperinatruthfulmood,thatistosay,anyhousekeeperinabadtemper,willtellyouthattheyarenot。Buthousekeepers,too,arehuman,andthereforeinconsistentandcomplex;andtheydonotalwayssticktotruthandbadtemper。Theyarealsoaffectedbythisqueeridolatryoftheenormousandelaborate;andcannothelpfeelingthatanythingsocomplicatedmustgolikeclockwork。Butcomplexityisnoguaranteeofaccuracy——inclockworkorinanythingelse。Aclockcanbeaswrongasthehumanhead;andaclockcanstop,assuddenlyasthehumanheart。

  Butthisstrangepoetryofplutocracyprevailsoverpeopleagainsttheirverysenses。YouwritetooneofthegreatLondonstoresoremporia,asking,letussay,foranumbrella。Amonthortwoafterwardsyoureceiveaveryelaboratelyconstructedparcel,containingabrokenparasol。

  Youareverypleased。Youaregratifiedtoreflectonwhatavastnumberofassistantsandemployeeshadcombinedtobreakthatparasol。

  Youluxuriateinthememoryofallthoselongroomsanddepartmentsandwonderinwhichofthemtheparasolthatyouneverorderedwasbroken。OryouwantatoyelephantforyourchildonChristmasDay;aschildren,likeallniceandhealthypeople,areveryritualistic。SomeweekorsoafterTwelfthNight,letussay,youhavethepleasureofremovingthreelayersofpasteboards,fivelayersofbrownpaper,andfifteenlayersoftissuepaperanddiscoveringthefragmentsofanartificialcrocodile。Yousmileinanexpansivespirit。Youfeelthatyoursoulhasbeenbroadenedbythevisionofincompetenceconductedonsolargeascale。YouadmireallthemorethecolossalandOmnipresentBrainoftheOrganiserofIndustry,whoamidallhismultitudinouscaresdidnotdisdaintorememberhisdutyofsmashingeventhesmallesttoyofthesmallestchild。Or,supposingyouhaveaskedhimtosendyousometworollsofcocoa-nutmatting:andsupposingafteradueintervalforreflectionhedulydeliverstoyouthefiverollsofwirenetting。Youtakepleasureintheconsiderationofamystery:whichcoarsemindsmighthavecalledamistake。Itconsolesyoutoknowhowbigthebusinessis:andwhatanenormousnumberofpeoplewereneededtomakesuchamistake。

  Thatistheromancethathasbeentoldaboutthebigshops;intheliteratureandartwhichtheyhavebought,andwhichasIsaidinmyrecentarticleswillsoonbequiteindistinguishablefromtheirordinaryadvertisements。Theliteratureiscommercial;anditisonlyfairtosaythatthecommerceisoftenreallyliterary。Itisnoromance,butonlyrubbish。

  Thebigcommercialconcernsofto-dayarequiteexceptionallyincompetent。

  Theywillbeevenmoreincompetentwhentheyareomnipotent。Indeed,thatis,andalwayshasbeen,thewholepointofamonopoly;theoldandsoundargumentagainstamonopoly。Itisonlybecauseitisincompetentthatithastobeomnipotent。Whenonelargeshopoccupiesthewholeofonesideofastreetorsometimesbothsides,itdoessoinorderthatmenmaybeunabletogetwhattheywant;andmaybeforcedtobuywhattheydon\'twant。ThattherapidlyapproachingkingdomoftheCapitalistswillruinartandletters,Ihavealreadysaid。Isayherethatintheonlysensethatcanbecalledhuman,itwillruintrade,too。

  IwillnotletChristmasgoby,evenwhenwritingforarevolutionarypapernecessarilyappealingtomanywithnoneofmyreligioussympathies,withoutappealingtothosesympathies。IknewamanwhosenttoagreatrichshopforafigureforagroupofBethlehem。Itarrivedbroken。I

  thinkthatisexactlyallthatbusinessmenhavenowthesensetodo。

  IV。TheWaronHolidaysThegeneralproposition,notalwayseasytodefineexhaustively,thatthereignofthecapitalistwillbethereignofthecad——thatis,oftheunlickedtypethatisneitherthecitizennorthegentleman——canbeexcellentlystudiedinitsattitudetowardsholidays。ThespecialemblematicEmployerofto-day,especiallytheModelEmployerwhoistheworstsorthasinhisstarvedandevilheartasincerehatredofholidays。

  Idonotmeanthathenecessarilywantsallhisworkmentoworkuntiltheydrop;thatonlyoccurswhenhehappenstobestupidaswellaswicked。

  Idonotmeantosaythatheisnecessarilyunwillingtograntwhathewouldcall\"decenthoursoflabour。\"Hemaytreatmenlikedirt;butifyouwanttomakemoney,evenoutofdirt,youmustletitliefallowbysomerotationofrest。Hemaytreatmenasdogs,butunlessheisalunatichewillforcertainperiodsletsleepingdogslie。

  Buthumaneandreasonablehoursforlabourhavenothingwhatevertodowiththeideaofholidays。Itisnotevenaquestionoftenhoursdayandeight-hoursday;itisnotaquestionofcuttingdownleisuretothespacenecessaryforfood,sleepandexercise。Ifthemodernemployercametotheconclusion,forsomereasonorother,thathecouldgetmostoutofhismenbyworkingthemhardforonlytwohoursaday,hiswholementalattitudewouldstillbeforeignandhostiletoholidays。Forhiswholementalattitudeisthatthepassivetimeandtheactivetimearealikeusefulforhimandhisbusiness。Allis,indeed,gristthatcomestohismill,includingthemillers。Hisslavesstillservehiminunconsciousness,asdogsstillhuntinslumber。Hisgristisgroundnotonlybythesoundingwheelsofiron,butbythesoundlesswheelofbloodandbrain。Hissacksarestillfillingsilentlywhenthedoorsareshutonthestreetsandthesoundofthegrindingislow。

  TheGreatHolidayNowaholidayhasnoconnectionwithusingamaneitherbybeatingorfeedinghim。Whenyougiveamanaholidayyougivehimbackhisbodyandsoul。Itisquitepossibleyoumaybedoinghimaninjurythoughheseldomthinksso,butthatdoesnotaffectthequestionforthosetowhomaholidayisholy。Immortalityisthegreatholiday;andaholiday,liketheimmortalityintheoldtheologies,isadouble-edgedprivilege。Butwhereveritisgenuineitissimplytherestorationandcompletionoftheman。Ifpeopleeverlookedattheprintedwordundertheireye,theword\"recreation\"wouldbeliketheword\"resurrection,\"theblastofatrumpet。

  Aman,beingmerelyuseful,isnecessarilyincomplete,especiallyifhebeamodernmanandmeansbybeingusefulbeing\"utilitarian。\"Amangoingintoamodernclubgivesuphishat;amangoingintoamodernfactorygivesuphishead。Hethengoesinandworksloyallyfortheoldfirmtobuildupthegreatfabricofcommercewhichcanbedonewithoutahead,butwhenhehasdoneworkhegoestothecloak-room,likethemanattheclub,andgetshisheadbackagain;thatisthegermoftheholiday。Itmaybeurgedthattheclubmanwholeaveshishatoftengoesawaywithanotherhat;andperhapsitmaybethesamewiththefactoryhandwhohaslefthishead。Ahandthathaslostitsheadmayaffectthefastidiousasamixedmetaphor;but,Godpardonusall,whatanunmixedtruth!Wecouldalmostprovethewholeeasefromthehabitofcallinghumanbeingsmerely\"hands\"whiletheyareworking;asifthehandwerehorriblycutoff,likethehandthathasoffended;asif,whilethesinnerenteredheavenmaimed,hisunhappyhandstilllabouredlayinguprichesforthelordsofhell。

  Buttoreturntothemanwhomwefoundwaitingforhisheadinthecloak-room。Itmaybeurged,wesay,thathemighttakethewronghead,likethewronghat;butherethesimilarityceases。Forithasbeenobservedbybenevolentonlookersatlife\'sdramathatthehattakenawaybymistakeisfrequentlybetterthantherealhat;whereastheheadtakenawayafterthehoursoftoiliscertainlyworse:stainedwiththecobwebsanddustofthisdustbinofallthecenturies。

  TheSupremeAdventureAllthewordsdedicatedtoplacesofeatinganddrinkingarepureandpoeticwords。Eventheword\"hotel\"isthewordhospital。AndSt。Julien,whoseclaretIdrankthisChristmas,wasthepatronsaintofinnkeepers,becauseasfarasIcanmakeouthewashospitabletolepers。NowIdonotsaythattheordinaryhotel-keeperinPiccadillyortheAvenuedel\'Operawouldembracealeper,slaphimontheback,andaskhimtoorderwhatheliked;butIdosaythathospitalityishistradevirtue。AndI

  doalsosayitiswelltokeepbeforeoureyesthesupremeadventureofavirtue。Ifyouarebrave,thinkofthemanwhowasbraverthanyou。Ifyouarekind,thinkofthemanwhowaskinderthanyou。

  Thatiswhatwasmeantbyhavingapatronsaint。Thatisthelinkbetweenthepoorsaintwhoreceivedbodilylepersandthegreathotelproprietorwhoasarulereceivesspirituallepers。Butawordyetweakerthan\"hotel\"illustratesthesamepoint——theword\"restaurant。\"Thereagainyouhavetheadmissionthatthereisadefinitebuildingorstatueto\"restore\";thatineffaceableimageofmanthatsomecalltheimageofGod。

  Andthatistheholiday;itistherestaurantorrestoringthingthat,byablastofmagic,turnsamanintohimself。

  Thiscompleteandreconstructedmanisthenightmareofthemoderncapitalist。HiswholeschemewouldcrackacrosslikeamirrorofShallot,ifonceaplainmanwerereadyforhistwoplainduties——readytoliveandreadytodie。Andthathorrorofholidayswhichmarksthemoderncapitalistisverylargelyahorrorofthevisionofawholehumanbeing:

  somethingthatisnota\"hand\"ora\"headforfigutes。\"Butanawfulcreaturewhohasmethimselfinthewilderness。Theemployerswillgivetimetoeat,timetosleep;theyareinterrorofatimetothink。

  Toanyonewhoknowsanyhistoryitiswhollyneedlesstosaythatholidayshavebeendestroyed。AsMr。Belloc,whoknowsmuchmorehistorythanyouorI,recentlypointedoutinthe\"PallMallMagazine,\"Shakespeare\'stitleof\"TwelfthNight:orWhatYouWill\"simplymeantthatawintercarnivalforeverybodywentonwildlytillthetwelfthnightafterChristmas。Thoseofmyreaderswhoworkformodernofficesorfactoriesmightasktheiremployersfortwelvedays\'holidaysafterChristmas。Andtheymightletmeknowthereply。

  V。THECHURCHOFTHESERVILESTATE

  IconfessIcannotseewhymereblasphemybyitselfshouldbeanexcusefortyrannyandtreason;orhowthemereisolatedfactofamannotbelievinginGodshouldbeareasonformybelievinginHim。

  ButtheratherspinsterishflutteramongsomeoftheoldFreethinkershasputonetinyrippleoftruthinit;andthataffectstheideawhichIwishtoemphasiseeventomonotonyinthesepages。Imeantheideathatthenewcommunitywhichthecapitalistsarenowconstructingwillbeaverycompleteandabsolutecommunity;andonewhichwilltoleratenothingreallyindependentofitself。Now,itistruethatanypositivecreed,trueorfalse,wouldtendtobeindependentofitself。ItmightbeRomanCatholicismorMahomedanismorMaterialism;but,ifstronglyheld,itwouldbeathorninthesideoftheServileState。TheMoslemthinksallmenimmortal:theMaterialistthinksallmenmortal。ButtheMoslemdoesnotthinktherichSinbadwillliveforever;butthepoorSinbadwilldieonhisdeathbed。TheMaterialistdoesnotthinkthatMr。Haeckelwillgotoheaven,whileallthepeasantswillgotopot,liketheirchickens。

  Ineveryseriousdoctrineofthedestinyofmen,thereissometraceofthedoctrineoftheequalityofmen。Butthecapitalistreallydependsonsomereligionofinequality。Thecapitalistmustsomehowdistinguishhimselffromhumankind;hemustbeobviouslyaboveit——orhewouldbeobviouslybelowit。Takeeventheleastattractiveandpopularsideofthelargerreligionsto-day;takethemerevetoesimposedbyIslamonAtheismorCatholicism。TheMoslemvetouponintoxicantscutsacrossallclasses。ButitisabsolutelynecessaryforthecapitalistwhopresidesataLicensingCommittee,andalsoatalargedinner,itisabsolutelynecessaryforhim,tomakeadistinctionbetweenginandchampagne。TheAtheistvetouponallmiraclescutsacrossallclasses。ButitisabsolutelynecessaryforthecapitalisttomakeadistinctionbetweenhiswifewhoisanaristocratandconsultscrystalgazersandstargazersintheWestEnd,andvulgarmiraclesclaimedbygipsiesortravellingshowmen。TheCatholicvetouponusury,asdefinedindogmaticcouncils,cutsacrossallclasses。Butitisabsolutelynecessarytothecapitalisttodistinguishmoredelicatelybetweentwokindsofusury;thekindhefindsusefulandthekindhedoesnotfinduseful。ThereligionoftheServileStatemusthavenodogmasordefinitions。Itcannotaffordtohaveanydefinitions。Fordefinitionsareverydreadfulthings:theydothetwothingsthatmostmen,especiallycomfortablemen,cannotendure。

  Theyfight;andtheyfightfair。

  Everyreligion,apartfromopendevilworship,mustappealtoavirtueorthepretenceofavirtue。Butavirtue,generallyspeaking,doessomegoodtoeverybody。Itisthereforenecessarytodistinguishamongthepeopleitwasmeanttobenefitthosewhomitdoesbenefit。Modernbroad-mindednessbenefitstherich;andbenefitsnobodyelse。Itwasmeanttobenefittherich;andmeanttobenefitnobodyelse。Andifyouthinkthisunwarranted,Iwillputbeforeyouoneplainquestion。Therearesomepleasuresofthepoorthatmayalsomeanprofitsfortherich:

  thereareotherpleasuresofthepoorwhichcannotmeanprofitsfortherich?Watchthisonecontrast,andyouwillwatchthewholecreationofacarefulslavery。

  InthelastresortthetwothingscalledBeerandSoapendonlyinafroth。

  Theyarebothbelowthehighnoticeofarealreligion。Butthereisjustthisdifference:thatthesoapmakesthefactorymoresatisfactory,whilethebeeronlymakestheworkmanmoresatisfied。WaitandseeiftheSoapdoesnotincreaseandtheBeerdecrease。WaitandseewhetherthereligionoftheServileStateisnotineverycasewhatIsay:theencouragementofsmallvirtuessupportingcapitalism,thediscouragementofthehugevirtuesthatdefyit。Manygreatreligions,PaganandChristian,haveinsistedonwine。Onlyone,Ithink,hasinsistedonSoap。

  YouwillfinditintheNewTestamentattributedtothePharisees。

  VI。SCIENCEANDTHEEUGENISTS

  Thekeyfactinthenewdevelopmentofplutocracyisthatitwilluseitsownblunderasanexcuseforfurthercrimes。Everywheretheverycompletenessoftheimpoverishmentwillbemadeareasonfortheenslavement;thoughthemenwhoimpoverishedwerethesamewhoenslaved。

  Itisasifahighwaymannotonlytookawayagentleman\'shorseandallhismoney,butthenhandedhimovertothepolicefortrampingwithoutvisiblemeansofsubsistence。Andthemostmonstrousfeatureinthisenormousmeannessmaybenotedintheplutocraticappealtoscience,or,rather,tothepseudo-sciencethattheycallEugenics。

  TheEugenistsgettheearofthehumanebutratherhazycliquesbysayingthatthepresent\"conditions\"underwhichpeopleworkandbreedarebadfortherace;butthemodernmindwillnotgenerallystretchbeyondonestepofreasoning,andtheconsequencewhichappearstofollowontheconsiderationofthese\"conditions\"isbynomeanswhatwouldoriginallyhavebeenexpected。Ifsomebodysays:\"Aricketycradlemaymeanaricketybaby,\"thenaturaldeduction,onewouldthink,wouldbetogivethepeopleagoodcradle,orgivethemmoneyenoughtobuyone。Butthatmeanshigherwagesandgreaterequalisationofwealth;andtheplutocraticscientist,withaslightlytroubledexpression,turnshiseyesandpince-nezinanotherdirection。Reducedtobrutaltermsoftruth,hisdifficultyisthisandsimplythis:Morefood,leisure,andmoneyfortheworkmanwouldmeanabetterworkman,betterevenfromthepointofviewofanyoneforwhomheworked。Butmorefood,leisure,andmoneywouldalsomeanamoreindependentworkman。Ahousewithadecentfireandafullpantrywouldbeabetterhousetomakeachairormendaclockin,evenfromthecustomer\'spointofview,thanahovelwithaleakyroofandacoldhearth。Butahousewithadecentfireandafullpantrywouldalsobeabetterhouseinwhichtorefusetomakeachairormendaclock——amuchbetterhousetodonothingin——anddoingnothingissometimesoneofthehighestofthedutiesofman。Allbutthehard-heartedmustbetornwithpityforthispatheticdilemmaoftherichman,whohastokeepthepoormanjuststoutenoughtodotheworkandjustthinenoughtohavetodoit。Ashestoodgazingattheleakyroofandthericketycradleinapensivemanner,thereonedaycameintohismindanewandcuriousidea——oneofthemoststrange,simple,andhorribleideasthathaveeverrisenfromthedeeppitoforiginalsin。

  Theroofcouldnotbemended,or,atleast,itcouldnotbemendedmuch,withoutupsettingthecapitalistbalance,or,rather,disproportioninsociety;foramanwitharoofisamanwithahouse,andtothatextenthishouseishiscastle。Thecradlecouldnotbemadetorockeasier,or,atleast,notmucheasier,withoutstrengtheningthehandsofthepoorhousehold,forthehandthatrocksthecradlerulestheworld——tothatextent。Butitoccurredtothecapitalistthattherewasonesortoffurnitureinthehousethatcouldbealtered。Thehusbandandwifecouldbealtered。Birthcostsnothing,exceptinpainandvalourandsuchold-fashionedthings;andthemerchantneedpaynomoreformatingastrongminertoahealthyfishwifethanhepayswhentheminermateshimselfwithalessrobustfemalewhomhehasthesentimentalitytoprefer。

  Thusitmightbepossible,bykeepingoncertainbroadlinesofheredity,tohavesomephysicalimprovementwithoutanymoral,political,orsocialimprovement。Itmightbepossibletokeepasupplyofstrongandhealthyslaveswithoutcoddlingthemwithdecentconditions。Asthemill-ownersusethewindandthewatertodrivetheirmills,theywouldusethisnaturalforceassomethingevencheaper;andturntheirwheelsbydivertingfromitschannelthebloodofamaninhisyouth。ThatiswhatEugenicsmeans;andthatisallthatitmeans。

  Ofthemoralstateofthosewhothinkofsuchthingsitdoesnotbecomeustospeak。Thepracticalquestionisrathertheintellectualone:ofwhethertheircalculationsarewellfounded,andwhetherthemenofsciencecanorwillguaranteethemanysuchphysicalcertainties。

  Fortunately,itbecomesclearereverydaythattheyare,scientificallyspeaking,buildingontheshiftingsand。Thetheoryofbreedingslavesbreaksdownthroughwhatademocratcallstheequalityofmen,butwhichevenanoligarchistwillfindhimselfforcedtocallthesimilarityofmen。

  Thatis,thatthoughitisnottruethatallmenarenormal,itisoverwhelminglycertainthatmostmenarenormal。AllthecommonEugenicargumentsaredrawnfromextremecases,which,evenifhumanhonourandlaughterallowedoftheirbeingeliminated,wouldnotbytheireliminationgreatlyaffectthemass。Fortherest,thereremainstheenormousweaknessinEugenics,thatifordinarymen\'sjudgmentorlibertyistobediscountedinrelationtoheredity,thejudgmentofthejudgesmustbediscountedinrelationtotheirheredity。TheEugenicprofessormayormaynotsucceedinchoosingababy\'sparents;itisquitecertainthathecannotsucceedinchoosinghisownparents。Allhisthoughts,includinghisEugenicthoughts,are,bytheveryprincipleofthosethoughts,flowingfromadoubtfulortaintedsource。Inshort,weshouldneedaperfectlyWiseMantodothethingatall。AndifhewereaWiseManhewouldnotdoit。

  VII。THEEVOLUTIONOFTHEPRISON

  Ihaveneverunderstoodwhyitisthatthosewhotalkmostaboutevolution,andtalkitintheveryageoffashionableevolutionism,donotseetheonewayinwhichevolutionreallydoesapplytoourmoderndifficulty。

  Thereis,ofcourse,anelementofevolutionismintheuniverse;andI

  knownoreligionorphilosophythateverentirelyignoredit。Evolution,popularlyspeaking,isthatwhichhappenstounconsciousthings。Theygrowunconsciously;orfadeunconsciously;orrather,somepartsofthemgrowandsomepartsofthemfade;andatanygivenmomentthereisalmostalwayssomepresenceofthcfadingthing,andsomeincompletenessinthegrowingone。Thus,ifIwenttosleepforahundredyears,liketheSleepingBeautyIwishIcould,Ishouldgrowabeard——unliketheSleepingBeauty。AndjustasIshouldgrowhairifIwereasleep,I

  shouldgrowgrassifIweredead。ThosewhosereligionitwasthatGodwasasleepwereperpetuallyimpressedandaffectedbythefactthathehadalongbeard。Andthosewhosephilosophyitisthattheuniverseisdeadfromthebeginningbeingthegraveofnobodyinparticularthinkthatisthewaythatgrasscangrow。Inanycase,thesedevelopmentsonlyoccurwithdeadordreamingthings。WhathappenswheneveryoneisasleepiscalledEvolution。WhathappenswheneveryoneisawakeiscalledRevolution。

  Therewasonceanhonestman,whosenameIneverknew,butwhosefaceI

  canalmostseeitisframedinVictorianwhiskersandfixedinaVictorianneck-cloth,whowasbalancingtheachievementsofFranceandEnglandincivilisationandsocialefficiencies。AndwhenhecametothereligiousaspecthesaidthatthereweremorestoneandbrickchurchesusedinFrance;but,ontheotherhand,therearemoresectsinEngland。

  WhethersuchalivelydisintegrationisaproofofvitalityinanyvaluablesenseIhavealwaysdoubted。Thesunmaybreedmaggotsinadeaddog;butitisessentialforsuchaliberationoflifethatthedogshouldbeunconsciousortosaytheleastofitabsent-minded。Broadlyspeaking,youmaycallthethingcorruption,ifyouhappentolikedogs。

  Youmaycallitevolution,ifyouhappentolikemaggots。Ineithercase,itiswhathappenstothingsifyouleavethemalone。

  TheEvolutionists\'ErrorNow,themodernEvolutionistshavemadenorealuseoftheideaofevolution,especiallyinthematterofsocialprediction。Theyalwaysfallintowhatisfromtheirlogicalpointofviewtheerrorofsupposingthatevolutionknowswhatitisdoing。TheypredicttheStateofthefutureasafruitroundedandpolished。ButthewholepointofevolutiontheonlypointthereisinitisthatnoStatewilleverberoundedandpolished,becauseitwillalwayscontainsomeorgansthatoutlivedtheiruse,andsomethathavenotyetfullyfoundtheirs。Ifwewishtoprophesywhatwillhappen,wemustimaginethingsnowmoderategrownenormous;thingsnowlocalgrownuniversal;thingsnowpromisinggrowntriumphant;primrosesbiggerthansunflowers,andsparrowsstalkingaboutlikeflamingoes。

  Inotherwords,wemustaskwhatmoderninstitutionhasafuturebeforeit?Whatmodeminstitutionmayhaveswollentosixtimesitspresentsizeinthesocialheatandgrowthofthefuture?IdonotthinktheGardenCitywillgrow:butofthatImayspeakinmynextandlastarticleofthisseries。IdonotthinkeventheordinaryElementarySchool,withitscompulsoryeducation,willgrow。Toomanyunletteredpeoplehatetheteacherforteaching;andtoomanyletteredpeoplehatetheteacherfornotteaching。TheGardenCitywillnotbearmuchblossom;theyoungideawillnotshoot,unlessitshootstheteacher。Buttheonefloweringtreeontheestate,theonenaturalexpansionwhichIthinkwillexpand,istheinstitutionwecallthePrison。

  PrisonsforAllIfthecapitalistsareallowedtoerecttheirconstructivecapitalistcommunity,IspeakquiteseriouslywhenIsaythatIthinkPrisonwillbecomeanalmostuniversalexperience。Itwillnotnecessarilybeacruelorshamefulexperience:onthesepointsIconcedecertainlyforthepresentpurposeofdebateitmaybeavastlyimprovedexperience。Theconditionsintheprison,verypossibly,willbemademorehumane。Buttheprisonwillbemademorehumaneonlyinordertocontainmoreofhumanity。Ithinklittleofthejudgmentandsenseofhumourofanymanwhocanhavewatchedrecentpolicetrialswithoutrealisingthatitisnolongeraquestionofwhetherthelawhasbeenbrokenbyacrime;but,now,solelyaquestionofwhetherthesituationcouldbemendedbyanimprisonment。ItwassowithTomMann;itwassowithLarkin;itwassowiththepooratheistwhowaskeptingaolforsayingsomethinghehadbeenacquittedofsaying:itissoinsuchcasesdaybyday。Wenolongerlockamanupfordoingsomething;welockhimupinthehopeofhisdoingnothing。Giventhisprinciple,itisevidentlypossibletomakethemereconditionsofpunishmentmoremoderate,or——moreprobablymoresecret。

  TheremayreallybemoremercyinthePrison,onconditionthatthereislessjusticeintheCourt。Ishouldnotbesurprisedif,beforewearedonewithallthis,amanwasallowedtosmokeinprison,oncondition,ofcourse,thathehadbeenputinprisonforsmoking。

  Nowthatistheprocesswhich,intheabsenceofdemocraticprotest,willcertainlyproceed,willincreaseandmultiplyandreplenishtheearthandsubdueit。Prisonmayevenloseitsdisgraceforalittletime:itwillbedifficulttomakeitdisgracefulwhenmenlikeLarkincanbeimprisonedfornoreasonatall,justashiscelebratedancestorwashangedfornoreasonatall。Butcapitalistsociety,whichnaturallydoesnotknowthemeaningofhonour,cannotknowthemeaningofdisgrace:anditwillstillgoonimprisoningfornoreasonatall。Orratherforthatrathersimplereasonthatmakesacatspringoraratrunaway。

点击下载App,搜索"Utopia of Usurers and other Essays",免费读到尾