FOREWORD。
ITCANNOTBESAIDTHATTHEEverhardManuscriptisanimportanthistoricaldocument。Tothehistorianitbristleswitherrors—noterrorsoffact,buterrorsofinterpretation。LookingbackacrossthesevencenturiesthathavelapsedsinceAvisEverhardcompletedhermanuscript,events,andthebearingsofevents,thatwereconfusedandveiledtoher,arecleartous。Shelackedperspective。Shewastooclosetotheeventsshewritesabout。Nay,shewasmergedintheeventsshehasdescribed。
Nevertheless,asapersonaldocument,theEverhardManuscriptisofinestimablevalue。Buthereagainentererrorofperspective,andvitiationduetothebiasoflove。Yetwesmile,indeed,andforgiveAvisEverhardfortheheroiclinesuponwhichshemodelledherhusband。Weknowto—daythathewasnotsocolossal,andthatheloomedamongtheeventsofhistimeslesslargelythantheManuscriptwouldleadustobelieve。
WeknowthatErnestEverhardwasanexceptionallystrongman,butnotsoexceptionalashiswifethoughthimtobe。Hewas,afterall,butoneofalargenumberofheroeswho,throughouttheworld,devotedtheirlivestotheRevolution;thoughitmustbeconcededthathedidunusualwork,especiallyinhiselaborationandinterpretationofworking—classphilosophy。\'Proletarianscience\'and\'proletarianphilosophy\'werehisphrasesforit,andthereinheshowstheprovincialismofhismind—adefect,however,thatwasduetothetimesandthatnoneinthatdaycouldescape。
ButtoreturntotheManuscript。Especiallyvaluableisitincommunicatingtousthefeelofthoseterribletimes。Nowheredowefindmorevividlyportrayedthepsychologyofthepersonsthatlivedinthatturbulentperiodembracedbetweentheyears1912and1932—
theirmistakesandignorance,theirdoubtsandfearsandmisapprehensions,theirethicaldelusions,theirviolentpassions,theirinconceivablesordidnessandselfishness。Thesearethethingsthataresohardforusofthisenlightenedagetounderstand。Historytellsusthatthesethingswere,andbiologyandpsychologytelluswhytheywere;buthistoryandbiologyandpsychologydonotmakethesethingsalive。Weacceptthemasfacts,butweareleftwithoutsympatheticcomprehensionofthem。
Thissympathycomestous,however,asweperusetheEverhardManuscript。Weenterintothemindsoftheactorsinthatlong—agoworld—drama,andforthetimebeingtheirmentalprocessesareourmentalprocesses。NotalonedoweunderstandAvisEverhard\'sloveforherhero—husband,butwefeel,ashefelt,inthosefirstdays,thevagueandterribleloomoftheOligarchy。TheIronHeel（wellnamed）wefeeldescendinguponandcrushingmankind。
Andinpassingwenotethatthathistoricphrase,theIronHeel,originatedinErnestEverhard\'smind。This,wemaysay,istheonemootquestionthatthisnew—founddocumentclearsup。Previoustothis,theearliest—knownuseofthephraseoccurredinthepamphlet,\'YeSlaves,\'writtenbyGeorgeMilfordandpublishedinDecember,1912。ThisGeorgeMilfordwasanobscureagitatoraboutwhomnothingisknown,savetheoneadditionalbitofinformationgainedfromtheManuscript,whichmentionsthathewasshotintheChicagoCommune。
EvidentlyhehadheardErnestEverhardmakeuseofthephraseinsomepublicspeech,mostprobablywhenhewasrunningforCongressinthefallof1912。FromtheManuscriptwelearnthatEverhardusedthephraseataprivatedinnerinthespringof1912。Thisis,withoutdiscussion,theearliest—knownoccasiononwhichtheOligarchywassodesignated。
TheriseoftheOligarchywillalwaysremainacauseofsecretwondertothehistorianandthephilosopher。Othergreathistoricaleventshavetheirplaceinsocialevolution。Theywereinevitable。
Theircomingcouldhavebeenpredictedwiththesamecertitudethatastronomersto—daypredicttheoutcomeofthemovementsofstars。
Withouttheseothergreathistoricalevents,socialevolutioncouldnothaveproceeded。Primitivecommunism,chattelslavery,serfslavery,andwageslaverywerenecessarystepping—stonesintheevolutionofsociety。ButitwereridiculoustoassertthattheIronHeelwasanecessarystepping—stone。Rather,to—day,isitadjudgedastepaside,orastepbackward,tothesocialtyranniesthatmadetheearlyworldahell,butthatwereasnecessaryastheIronHeelwasunnecessary。
BlackasFeudalismwas,yetthecomingofitwasinevitable。WhatelsethanFeudalismcouldhavefolloweduponthebreakdownofthatgreatcentralizedgovernmentalmachineknownastheRomanEmpire？
Notso,however,withtheIronHeel。Intheorderlyprocedureofsocialevolutiontherewasnoplaceforit。Itwasnotnecessary,anditwasnotinevitable。Itmustalwaysremainthegreatcuriosityofhistory—awhim,afantasy,anapparition,athingunexpectedandundreamed;anditshouldserveasawarningtothoserashpoliticaltheoristsofto—daywhospeakwithcertitudeofsocialprocesses。
Capitalismwasadjudgedbythesociologistsofthetimetobetheculminationofbourgeoisrule,theripenedfruitofthebourgeoisrevolution。Andweofto—daycanbutapplaudthatjudgment。
FollowinguponCapitalism,itwasheld,evenbysuchintellectualandantagonisticgiantsasHerbertSpencer,thatSocialismwouldcome。
Outofthedecayofself—seekingcapitalism,itwasheld,wouldarisethatfloweroftheages,theBrotherhoodofMan。Insteadofwhich,appallingaliketouswholookbackandtothosethatlivedatthetime,capitalism,rotten—ripe,sentforththatmonstrousoffshoot,theOligarchy。
ToolatedidthesocialistmovementoftheearlytwentiethcenturydivinethecomingoftheOligarchy。Evenasitwasdivined,theOligarchywasthere—afactestablishedinblood,astupendousandawfulreality。Noreventhen,astheEverhardManuscriptwellshows,wasanypermanenceattributedtotheIronHeel。Itsoverthrowwasamatterofafewshortyears,wasthejudgmentoftherevolutionists。
Itistrue,theyrealizedthatthePeasantRevoltwasunplanned,andthattheFirstRevoltwaspremature;buttheylittlerealizedthattheSecondRevolt,plannedandmature,wasdoomedtoequalfutilityandmoreterriblepunishment。
ItisapparentthatAvisEverhardcompletedtheManuscriptduringthelastdaysofpreparationfortheSecondRevolt;hencethefactthatthereisnomentionofthedisastrousoutcomeoftheSecondRevolt。ItisquiteclearthatsheintendedtheManuscriptforimmediatepublication,assoonastheIronHeelwasoverthrown,sothatherhusband,sorecentlydead,shouldreceivefullcreditforallthathehadventuredandaccomplished。ThencamethefrightfulcrushingoftheSecondRevolt,anditisprobablethatinthemomentofdanger,ereshefledorwascapturedbytheMercenaries,shehidtheManuscriptinthehollowoakatWakeRobinLodge。
OfAvisEverhardthereisnofurtherrecord。UndoubtedlyshewasexecutedbytheMercenaries;and,asiswellknown,norecordofsuchexecutionswaskeptbytheIronHeel。Butlittledidsherealize,eventhen,asshehidtheManuscriptandpreparedtoflee,howterriblehadbeenthebreakdownoftheSecondRevolt。LittledidsherealizethatthetortuousanddistortedevolutionofthenextthreecenturieswouldcompelaThirdRevoltandaFourthRevolt,andmanyRevolts,alldrownedinseasofblood,eretheworld—movementoflaborshouldcomeintoitsown。AndlittledidshedreamthatforsevenlongcenturiesthetributeofherlovetoErnestEverhardwouldreposeundisturbedintheheartoftheancientoakofWakeRobinLodge。
ANTHONYMEREDITH
Ardis,November27,419B。O。M。
CHAPTERONE。
MyEagle。
THESOFTSUMMERWINDstirstheredwoods,andWild—Waterripplessweetcadencesoveritsmossystones。Therearebutterfliesinthesunshine,andfromeverywherearisesthedrowsyhumofbees。Itissoquietandpeaceful,andIsithere,andponder,andamrestless。Itisthequietthatmakesmerestless。Itseemsunreal。Alltheworldisquiet,butitisthequietbeforethestorm。Istrainmyears,andallmysenses,forsomebetrayalofthatimpendingstorm。Oh,thatitmaynotbepremature！Thatitmaynotbepremature！*
*TheSecondRevoltwaslargelytheworkofErnestEverhard,thoughhecooperated,ofcourse,withtheEuropeanleaders。ThecaptureandsecretexecutionofEverhardwasthegreateventofthespringof1932A。D。Yetsothoroughlyhadhepreparedfortherevolt,thathisfellow—conspiratorswereable,withlittleconfusionordelay,tocarryouthisplans。ItwasafterEverhard\'sexecutionthathiswifewenttoWakeRobinLodge,asmallbungalowintheSonomaHillsofCalifornia。
SmallwonderthatIamrestless。Ithink,andthink,andIcannotceasefromthinking。IhavebeeninthethickoflifesolongthatI
amoppressedbythepeaceandquiet,andIcannotforbearfromdwellinguponthatmadmaelstromofdeathanddestructionsosoontoburstforth。Inmyearsarethecriesofthestricken;andIcansee,asIhaveseeninthepast,*allthemarringandmanglingofthesweet,beautifulflesh,andthesoulstornwithviolencefromproudbodiesandhurledtoGod。Thusdowepoorhumansattainourends,strivingthroughcarnageanddestructiontobringlastingpeaceandhappinessupontheearth。
*WithoutdoubtsheherereferstotheChicagoCommune。
AndthenIamlonely。WhenIdonotthinkofwhatistocome,I
thinkofwhathasbeenandisnomore—myEagle,beatingwithtirelesswingsthevoid,soaringtowardwhatwaseverhissun,theflamingidealofhumanfreedom。Icannotsitidlybyandwaitthegreateventthatishismaking,thoughheisnotheretosee。Hedevotedalltheyearsofhismanhoodtoit,andforithegavehislife。Itishishandiwork。Hemadeit。*
*WithallrespecttoAvisEverhard,itmustbepointedoutthatEverhardwasbutoneofmanyableleaderswhoplannedtheSecondRevolt。Andweto—day,lookingbackacrossthecenturies,cansafelysaythatevenhadhelived,theSecondRevoltwouldnothavebeenlesscalamitousinitsoutcomethanitwas。
Andsoitis,inthisanxioustimeofwaiting,thatIshallwriteofmyhusband。ThereismuchlightthatIaloneofallpersonslivingcanthrowuponhischaracter,andsonobleacharactercannotbeblazonedforthtoobrightly。Hiswasagreatsoul,and,whenmylovegrowsunselfish,mychiefestregretisthatheisnotheretowitnessto—morrow\'sdawn。Wecannotfail。Hehasbuilttoostoutlyandtoosurelyforthat。WoetotheIronHeel！Soonshallitbethrustbackfromoffprostratehumanity。Whenthewordgoesforth,thelaborhostsofalltheworldshallrise。Therehasbeennothinglikeitinthehistoryoftheworld。Thesolidarityoflaborisassured,andforthefirsttimewilltherebeaninternationalrevolutionwideastheworldiswide。*
*TheSecondRevoltwastrulyinternational。Itwasacolossalplan—
toocolossaltobewroughtbythegeniusofonemanalone。Labor,inalltheoligarchiesoftheworld,waspreparedtoriseatthesignal。Germany,Italy,France,andallAustralasiawerelaborcountries—socialiststates。Theywerereadytolendaidtotherevolution。Gallantlytheydid;anditwasforthisreason,whentheSecondRevoltwascrushed,thatthey,too,werecrushedbytheunitedoligarchiesoftheworld,theirsocialistgovernmentsbeingreplacedbyoligarchicalgovernments。
Yousee,Iamfullofwhatisimpending。Ihaveliveditdayandnightutterlyandforsolongthatitiseverpresentinmymind。
Forthatmatter,Icannotthinkofmyhusbandwithoutthinkingofit。Hewasthesoulofit,andhowcanIpossiblyseparatethetwointhought？
AsIhavesaid,thereismuchlightthatIalonecanthrowuponhischaracter。Itiswellknownthathetoiledhardforlibertyandsufferedsore。Howhardhetoiledandhowgreatlyhesuffered,I
wellknow;forIhavebeenwithhimduringthesetwentyanxiousyearsandIknowhispatience,hisuntiringeffort,hisinfinitedevotiontotheCauseforwhich,onlytwomonthsgone,helaiddownhislife。
IshalltrytowritesimplyandtotellherehowErnestEverhardenteredmylife—howIfirstmethim,howhegrewuntilIbecameapartofhim,andthetremendouschangeshewroughtinmylife。InthiswaymayyoulookathimthroughmyeyesandlearnhimasIlearnedhim—inallsavethethingstoosecretandsweetformetotell。
ItwasinFebruary,1912,thatIfirstmethim,when,asaguestofmyfather\'s*atdinner,hecametoourhouseinBerkeley。I
cannotsaythatmyveryfirstimpressionofhimwasfavorable。Hewasoneofmanyatdinner,andinthedrawing—roomwherewegatheredandwaitedforalltoarrive,hemadearatherincongruousappearance。
Itwas\'preacher\'snight,\'asmyfatherprivatelycalledit,andErnestwascertainlyoutofplaceinthemidstofthechurchmen。
*JohnCunningham,AvisEverhard\'sfather,wasaprofessorattheStateUniversityatBerkeley,California。Hischosenfieldwasphysics,andinadditionhedidmuchoriginalresearchandwasgreatlydistinguishedasascientist。Hischiefcontributiontosciencewashisstudiesoftheelectronandhismonumentalworkonthe\'IdentificationofMatterandEnergy,\'whereinheestablished,beyondcavilandforalltime,thattheultimateunitofmatterandtheultimateunitofforcewereidentical。Thisideahadbeenearlieradvanced,butnotdemonstrated,bySirOliverLodgeandotherstudentsinthenewfieldofradio—activity。
Inthefirstplace,hisclothesdidnotfithim。Heworeaready—madesuitofdarkcloththatwasilladjustedtohisbody。Infact,noready—madesuitofclothesevercouldfithisbody。Andonthisnight,asalways,theclothbulgedwithhismuscles,whilethecoatbetweentheshoulders,whatoftheheavyshoulder—development,wasamazeofwrinkles。Hisneckwastheneckofaprize—fighter,*
thickandstrong。Sothiswasthesocialphilosopherandex—horseshoermyfatherhaddiscovered,wasmythought。Andhecertainlylookeditwiththosebulgingmusclesandthatbull—throat。ImmediatelyI
classifiedhim—asortofprodigy,Ithought,aBlindTom*（2）oftheworkingclass。
*Inthatdayitwasthecustomofmentocompeteforpursesofmoney。Theyfoughtwiththeirhands。Whenonewasbeatenintoinsensibilityorkilled,thesurvivortookthemoney。
*（2）ThisobscurereferenceappliestoablindnegromusicianwhotooktheworldbystorminthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcenturyoftheChristianEra。
Andthen,whenheshookhandswithme！Hishandshakewasfirmandstrong,buthelookedatmeboldlywithhisblackeyes—tooboldly,Ithought。Yousee,Iwasacreatureofenvironment,andatthattimehadstrongclassinstincts。Suchboldnessonthepartofamanofmyownclasswouldhavebeenalmostunforgivable。IknowthatI
couldnotavoiddroppingmyeyes,andIwasquiterelievedwhenI
passedhimonandturnedtogreetBishopMorehouse—afavoriteofmine,asweetandseriousmanofmiddleage,Christ—likeinappearanceandgoodness,andascholaraswell。
ButthisboldnessthatItooktobepresumptionwasavitalclewtothenatureofErnestEverhard。Hewassimple,direct,afraidofnothing,andherefusedtowastetimeonconventionalmannerisms。\'Youpleasedme,\'heexplainedlongafterward;\'andwhyshouldInotfillmyeyeswiththatwhichpleasesme？\'Ihavesaidthathewasafraidofnothing。Hewasanaturalaristocrat—andthisinspiteofthefactthathewasinthecampofthenon—aristocrats。Hewasasuperman,ablondbeastsuchasNietzsche*hasdescribed,andinadditionhewasaflamewithdemocracy。
*FriederichNietzsche,themadphilosopherofthenineteenthcenturyoftheChristianEra,whocaughtwildglimpsesoftruth,butwho,beforehewasdone,reasonedhimselfaroundthegreatcircleofhumanthoughtandoffintomadness。
Intheinterestofmeetingtheotherguests,andwhatofmyunfavorableimpression,Iforgotallabouttheworking—classphilosopher,thoughonceortwiceattableInoticedhim—especiallythetwinkleinhiseyeashelistenedtothetalkfirstofoneministerandthenofanother。Hehashumor,Ithought,andIalmostforgavehimhisclothes。Butthetimewentby,andthedinnerwentby,andheneveropenedhismouthtospeak,whiletheministerstalkedinterminablyabouttheworkingclassanditsrelationtothechurch,andwhatthechurchhaddoneandwasdoingforit。InoticedthatmyfatherwasannoyedbecauseErnestdidnottalk。Oncefathertookadvantageofalullandaskedhimtosaysomething;butErnestshruggedhisshouldersandwithan\'Ihavenothingtosay\'wentoneatingsaltedalmonds。
Butfatherwasnottobedenied。Afterawhilehesaid:
\'Wehavewithusamemberoftheworkingclass。Iamsurethathecanpresentthingsfromanewpointofviewthatwillbeinterestingandrefreshing。IrefertoMr。Everhard。\'
Theothersbetrayedawell—manneredinterest,andurgedErnestforastatementofhisviews。Theirattitudetowardhimwassobroadlytolerantandkindlythatitwasreallypatronizing。AndIsawthatErnestnoteditandwasamused。Helookedslowlyabouthim,andI
sawtheglintoflaughterinhiseyes。
\'Iamnotversedinthecourtesiesofecclesiasticalcontroversy,\'
hebegan,andthenhesitatedwithmodestyandindecision。
\'Goon,\'theyurged,andDr。Hammerfieldsaid:\'Wedonotmindthetruththatisinanyman。Ifitissincere,\'heamended。
\'Thenyouseparatesincerityfromtruth？\'Ernestlaughedquickly。
Dr。Hammerfieldgasped,andmanagedtoanswer,\'Thebestofusmaybemistaken,youngman,thebestofus。\'
Ernest\'smannerchangedontheinstant。Hebecameanotherman。
\'Allright,then,\'heanswered;\'andletmebeginbysayingthatyouareallmistaken。Youknownothing,andworsethannothing,abouttheworkingclass。Yoursociologyisasviciousandworthlessasisyourmethodofthinking。\'
Itwasnotsomuchwhathesaidashowhesaidit。Irousedatthefirstsoundofhisvoice。Itwasasboldashiseyes。Itwasaclarion—callthatthrilledme。Andthewholetablewasaroused,shakenalivefrommonotonyanddrowsiness。
\'Whatissodreadfullyviciousandworthlessinourmethodofthinking,youngman？\'Dr。Hammerfielddemanded,andalreadytherewassomethingunpleasantinhisvoiceandmannerofutterance。
\'Youaremetaphysicians。Youcanproveanythingbymetaphysics;
andhavingdoneso,everymetaphysiciancanproveeveryothermetaphysicianwrong—tohisownsatisfaction。Youareanarchistsintherealmofthought。Andyouaremadcosmos—makers。Eachofyoudwellsinacosmosofhisownmaking,createdoutofhisownfanciesanddesires。Youdonotknowtherealworldinwhichyoulive,andyourthinkinghasnoplaceintherealworldexceptinsofarasitisphenomenaofmentalaberration。
\'DoyouknowwhatIwasremindedofasIsatattableandlistenedtoyoutalkandtalk？YouremindedmeforalltheworldofthescholasticsoftheMiddleAgeswhogravelyandlearnedlydebatedtheabsorbingquestionofhowmanyangelscoulddanceonthepointofaneedle。Why,mydearsirs,youareasremotefromtheintellectuallifeofthetwentiethcenturyasanIndianmedicine—manmakingincantationintheprimevalforesttenthousandyearsago。\'
AsErnesttalkedheseemedinafinepassion;hisfaceglowed,hiseyessnappedandflashed,andhischinandjawwereeloquentwithaggressiveness。Butitwasonlyawayhehad。Italwaysarousedpeople。Hissmashing,sledge—hammermannerofattackinvariablymadethemforgetthemselves。Andtheywereforgettingthemselvesnow。
BishopMorehousewasleaningforwardandlisteningintently。
ExasperationandangerwereflushingthefaceofDr。Hammerfield。
Andotherswereexasperated,too,andsomeweresmilinginanamusedandsuperiorway。Asformyself,Ifounditmostenjoyable。I
glancedatfather,andIwasafraidhewasgoingtogiggleattheeffectofthishumanbombshellhehadbeenguiltyoflaunchingamongstus。
\'Yourtermsarerathervague,\'Dr。Hammerfieldinterrupted。\'Justpreciselywhatdoyoumeanwhenyoucallusmetaphysicians？\'
\'Icallyoumetaphysiciansbecauseyoureasonmetaphysically,\'
Ernestwenton。\'Yourmethodofreasoningistheoppositetothatofscience。Thereisnovaliditytoyourconclusions。Youcanproveeverythingandnothing,andnotwoofyoucanagreeuponanything。
Eachofyougoesintohisownconsciousnesstoexplainhimselfandtheuniverse。Aswellmayyouliftyourselvesbyyourownbootstrapsastoexplainconsciousnessbyconsciousness。\'
\'Idonotunderstand,\'BishopMorehousesaid。\'Itseemstomethatallthingsofthemindaremetaphysical。Thatmostexactandconvincingofallsciences,mathematics,issheerlymetaphysical。Eachandeverythought—processofthescientificreasonerismetaphysical。Surelyyouwillagreewithme？\'
\'Asyousay,youdonotunderstand,\'Ernestreplied。\'Themetaphysicianreasonsdeductivelyoutofhisownsubjectivity。Thescientistreasonsinductivelyfromthefactsofexperience。Themetaphysicianreasonsfromtheorytofacts,thescientistreasonsfromfactstotheory。Themetaphysicianexplainstheuniversebyhimself,thescientistexplainshimselfbytheuniverse。\'
\'ThankGodwearenotscientists,\'Dr。Hammerfieldmurmuredcomplacently。
\'Whatareyouthen？\'Ernestdemanded。
\'Philosophers。\'
\'Thereyougo,\'Ernestlaughed。\'Youhavelefttherealandsolidearthandareupintheairwithawordforaflyingmachine。Praycomedowntoearthandtellmepreciselywhatyoudomeanbyphilosophy。\'
\'Philosophyis—\'（Dr。Hammerfieldpausedandclearedhisthroat）
\'somethingthatcannotbedefinedcomprehensivelyexcepttosuchmindsandtemperamentsasarephilosophical。Thenarrowscientistwithhisnoseinatest—tubecannotunderstandphilosophy。\'
Ernestignoredthethrust。Itwasalwayshiswaytoturnthepointbackuponanopponent,andhediditnow,withabeamingbrotherlinessoffaceandutterance。
\'ThenyouwillundoubtedlyunderstandthedefinitionIshallnowmakeofphilosophy。ButbeforeImakeit,Ishallchallengeyoutopointouterrorinitortoremainasilentmetaphysician。
Philosophyismerelythewidestscienceofall。Itsreasoningmethodisthesameasthatofanyparticularscienceandofallparticularsciences。Andbythatsamemethodofreasoning,theinductivemethod,philosophyfusesallparticularsciencesintoonegreatscience。AsSpencersays,thedataofanyparticularsciencearepartiallyunifiedknowledge。Philosophyunifiestheknowledgethatiscontributedbyallthesciences。Philosophyisthescienceofscience,themasterscience,ifyouplease。Howdoyoulikemydefinition？\'
\'Verycreditable,verycreditable,\'Dr。Hammerfieldmutteredlamely。
ButErnestwasmerciless。
\'Remember,\'hewarned,\'mydefinitionisfataltometaphysics。Ifyoudonotnowpointoutaflawinmydefinition,youaredisqualifiedlateronfromadvancingmetaphysicalarguments。Youmustgothroughlifeseekingthatflawandremainingmetaphysicallysilentuntilyouhavefoundit。\'
Ernestwaited。Thesilencewaspainful。Dr。Hammerfieldwaspained。Hewasalsopuzzled。Ernest\'ssledge—hammerattackdisconcertedhim。Hewasnotusedtothesimpleanddirectmethodofcontroversy。Helookedappealinglyaroundthetable,butnooneansweredforhim。Icaughtfathergrinningintohisnapkin。
\'Thereisanotherwayofdisqualifyingthemetaphysicians,\'Ernestsaid,whenhehadrenderedDr。Hammerfield\'sdiscomfiturecomplete。
\'Judgethembytheirworks。Whathavetheydoneformankindbeyondthespinningofairyfanciesandthemistakingoftheirownshadowsforgods？Theyhaveaddedtothegayetyofmankind,Igrant;butwhattangiblegoodhavetheywroughtformankind？Theyphilosophized,ifyouwillpardonmymisuseoftheword,abouttheheartastheseatoftheemotions,whilethescientistswereformulatingthecirculationoftheblood。TheydeclaimedaboutfamineandpestilenceasbeingscourgesofGod,whilethescientistswerebuildinggranariesanddrainingcities。Theybuildedgodsintheirownshapesandoutoftheirowndesires,whilethescientistswerebuildingroadsandbridges。Theyweredescribingtheearthasthecentreoftheuniverse,whilethescientistswerediscoveringAmericaandprobingspaceforthestarsandthelawsofthestars。Inshort,themetaphysicianshavedonenothing,absolutelynothing,formankind。Stepbystep,beforetheadvanceofscience,theyhavebeendrivenback。Asfastastheascertainedfactsofsciencehaveoverthrowntheirsubjectiveexplanationsofthings,theyhavemadenewsubjectiveexplanationsofthings,includingexplanationsofthelatestascertainedfacts。Andthis,Idoubtnot,theywillgoondoingtotheendoftime。
Gentlemen,ametaphysicianisamedicineman。ThedifferencebetweenyouandtheEskimowhomakesafur—cladblubber—eatinggodismerelyadifferenceofseveralthousandyearsofascertainedfacts。Thatisall。\'
\'YetthethoughtofAristotleruledEuropefortwelvecenturies,\'
Dr。Ballingfordannouncedpompously。\'AndAristotlewasametaphysician。\'
Dr。Ballingfordglancedaroundthetableandwasrewardedbynodsandsmilesofapproval。
\'Yourillustrationismostunfortunate,\'Ernestreplied。\'Yourefertoaverydarkperiodinhumanhistory。Infact,wecallthatperiodtheDarkAges。Aperiodwhereinsciencewasrapedbythemetaphysicians,whereinphysicsbecameasearchforthePhilosopher\'sStone,whereinchemistrybecamealchemy,andastronomybecameastrology。SorrythedominationofAristotle\'sthought！\'
Dr。Ballingfordlookedpained,thenhebrightenedupandsaid:
\'Grantedthishorriblepictureyouhavedrawn,yetyoumustconfessthatmetaphysicswasinherentlypotentinsofarasitdrewhumanityoutofthisdarkperiodandonintotheilluminationofthesucceedingcenturies。\'
\'Metaphysicshadnothingtodowithit,\'Ernestretorted。