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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32658-h.zip b/32658-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf602d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/32658-h.zip diff --git a/32658-h/32658-h.htm b/32658-h/32658-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5adf931 --- /dev/null +++ b/32658-h/32658-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1332 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Standardized Man, by Stephen Bartholomew + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; background-color: #FFFFFF; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + + +.tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + +.img1 {border:solid 1px; } + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.p1 { margin-left: 40%; } + +.caption {font-weight: bold; font-size:smaller;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft1 { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; + margin-top: 0.2em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + + +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Standardized Man, by Stephen Bartholomew + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Standardized Man + +Author: Stephen Bartholomew + +Release Date: June 2, 2010 [EBook #32658] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STANDARDIZED MAN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from IF Worlds of Science Fiction +February 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence +that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/cover.jpg" width="425" height="580" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> + + + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The dilemma of "The Man in the White Suit" was but a minor +irritation compared to Charles and his "all-weather" suit!</i></p></div> +<p> </p> + +<h1>The Standardized Man</h1> + +<h2>By Stephen Bartholomew</h2> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/t1.png" alt="T" width="45" height="50" /></div> +<p>he turbocar swiped an +embankment at ninety miles +an hour; the result was, of course, +inevitable. It was a magnificent +crash, and the driver was thrown +clear at the end of it for a distance +of 50 feet.</p> + +<p>Charles looked at the body and +got his bright idea.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/t1.png" alt="T" width="45" height="50" /></div> +<p>he trouble had started a couple +of weeks before, when Edwin, +Charles' laboratory co-ordinator, +had called him into his office just +before Charles was due to leave +for home. It was a distinct breach +of etiquette to cause a worker to +arrive home at any time besides his +accustomed hour, so Charles knew +whatever Edwin wanted must be +important. He sat down opposite +the Co-ordinator and assumed a +politely questioning look.</p> + +<p>"Charles, you know I wouldn't +call you here at this hour if it wasn't +important," Edwin said, pursing +his lips.</p> + +<p>"Of course not, sir," Charles replied, +waiting.</p> + +<p>"The fact of the matter is, we +are in dire straits." Edwin stared +at the other ominously. "As you +well know, the Textile Industry, +like every other business firm in +the world, has functioned entirely +without economic troubles of any +sort for the past fifty years."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course, sir...."</p> + +<p>"And you are also well aware +of what would be the results of any +financial deviation in any of these +firms, particularly in a major industry +such as our own."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, sir. Ours is a delicately +balanced economic system. +Any slight change in the economic +status of one firm would...."</p> + +<p>"Exactly!" Edwin leaned across +the desk and glared at him. "I have +just come from a Board of Directors +meeting. And it was made +known to us that during the past +three weeks our margin of profit +has fallen off by three tenths of a +per cent!"</p> + +<p>Charles' face turned pasty white. +He swallowed and took a deep +breath.</p> + +<p>"Will that information be made +public, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Naturally not! But we aren't +sure just how long we can keep it +a secret! The fact of the matter +is, the IBM says that our profit +margin will continue to spiral +downward at a gradually increasing +rate unless some drastic change +occurs in our production set-up!"</p> + +<p>Edwin leaned back and clasped +his hands, composing himself. "The +precise reasons for the existence of +the situation are quite obscure. +However, the IBM has informed us +that the problem can be remedied +if we make a particular change +in our production system, and it +has informed us as to the nature of +that change."</p> + +<p>He stood up and placed a finger +on a capacitance switch. A panel +in the Wall slid back to reveal six +sales charts. There were two each +marked <i>Winter</i>, <i>Summer</i> and +<i>Spring-Fall</i>. Three were designated +<i>marlons</i>, and three <i>marilyns</i>. Each +of them showed a red line rising +steeply on the left, levelling out to +a perfectly straight bar all the way +across, then dipping sharply again.</p> + +<p>"Look here," Edwin said. "These +are the sales charts for our six +suits. As you know, we make three +different types for marlons, and +three for marilyns. Hot-weather, +cold-weather, and medium-weather. +Each suit is designed to +last a carefully calculated length +of time, and each consumer need +only buy three suits a year. They +are exactly alike except for slight +size differences, and because of +elastic fabrics these differences are +held to a minimum. With this system +the Textile Industry attained +the ultimate in Standardization, +the ultimate in efficiency."</p> + +<p>Charles rubbed his chin thoughtfully. +"Has the IBM suggested +any alternative to our system, any +possible change?"</p> + +<p>Edwin sat down again, folded his +arms on the desk, and scowled. +"That's where you come in! The +IBM informs us that there is only +one possible way to stabilize our +economy, to raise our profit margin +to its former level—and that is by +further standardization!"</p> + +<p>Charles raised his eyebrows. +"You mean a sexless wardrobe, sir? +That's been tried...."</p> + +<p>"No, that's <i>not</i> what I mean!" +Edwin snapped. "What I mean is +an <i>all-weather suit</i>!"</p> + +<p>Charles swallowed audibly at +that and said nothing.</p> + +<p>"You can see the advantages, of +course," Edwin explained. "We'd +need only to manufacture two types +of suit, marlon and marilyn. Since +we'd never have to adjust our factories, +we could drop a lot of unnecessary +technicians, and with the +further standardization, manufacturing +would be faster and cheaper—a +<i>lot</i> cheaper. The consumer +would only purchase one suit a +year, but we could make up for +that by raising the prices somewhat."</p> + +<p>Charles finally got a word in. +"But, <i>sir</i>! An all-weather suit? +How can we design a suit that will +be equally comfortable in the middle +of a Florida heat-wave or a +New England snowstorm?"</p> + +<p>"How? <i>How?</i>" Edwin's voice +raised and his finger pointed. +"<i>You're</i> the research chemist, +Charles! You're supposed to tell +<i>me</i> how!"</p> + +<p>"Sir? I...."</p> + +<p>"Listen!" Edwin poked the other +in the chest. "I assume you know +what will happen to Society if the +Textile Industry becomes economically +unstable?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes sir, but...."</p> + +<p>"Then I assume you realize that +the Board of Directors will stop at +nothing to preserve the status quo! +And since you happen to be our +chief industrial chemist, the entire +problem lands in your lap! Now, we +want to know how to make an all-weather +suit, and we want to know +<i>fast</i>. Therefore, Charles, you're going +to tell us how to do it! Understand?"</p> + +<p>Charles nodded unhappily. "Yes +sir, I understand."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/c3.png" alt="C" width="42" height="50" /></div> +<p>harles went to work the +next day after informing his +wife that she could expect him to +begin keeping rather irregular +hours at the laboratory. The idea of +any kind of irregularity was enough +to worry any wife, and Ingrid was +the naturally suspicious type. +She was always nagging and had, +upon occasion, even gone so far as +to insinuate that Charles had individualist +tendencies.</p> + +<p>So he knew that she would, embarrassingly, +call Edwin to check +up on him, but he didn't really +care.</p> + +<p>The real problem was the all-weather +suit.</p> + +<p>Charles put his small corps of +assistants on the project, investigating +several lines of thought at once. +Every day, someone would drop +around for a while to check on his +progress, and he had no delusions +about what would happen if he +failed. The entire economic stability +of his society depended on his +coming up with an all-weather suit, +and he began to have trouble sleeping +nights.</p> + +<p>Eventually, he found what looked +like a workable solution.</p> + +<p>He called Edwin to tell him +about it, and Edwin came down to +the lab to see for himself.</p> + +<p>"Is <i>this</i> it?" he asked, picking up +what looked like a burlap handkerchief.</p> + +<p>Charles cleared his throat. "Well, +that's the first sample, sir. Of +course, it's possible to obtain a +finer weave once we find out a few +things about it, and when it's +bleached...."</p> + +<p>Edwin nodded impatiently. "Yes, +yes. Well, what's so special about +it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it's made of a radically +new type of fiber, sir...."</p> + +<p>"How's it new?"</p> + +<p>"I can show you more technical +data on it, sir, but basically the +difference between this and conventional +types of fiber is that this +is thermostatic."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean, thermostatic?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, basically, the diameter +of the fiber is inversely proportional +with the temperature. When the +temperature rises, the fiber contracts, +and when the temperature +drops, it expands. So in cold weather, +you have a fine, tight weave +with good insulation, and in warm +weather you have a loose weave +with ventilation...."</p> + +<p>Edwin nodded and dropped the +fabric on a lab bench. "Sounds +good."</p> + +<p>"Well sir, we have to make a +few more tests on it, and it'll have +to be field tested before we can decide +if it's safe to use in garments...."</p> + +<p>Edwin tapped him on the shoulder. +"Test it, Charlie."</p> + +<p>"Sir?"</p> + +<p>Edwin frowned. "We don't have +as much time as you think. We +need that suit of yours <i>fast</i>. We +can't afford to waste any more +time puttering around the laboratory. +You have the fellows downstairs +make up some of this stuff +into a Standard suit, and I want +you to put it on yourself. What I +mean is, <i>today</i>!"</p> + +<p>Charles' jaw dropped. "Today! +But...."</p> + +<p>"No buts! Wear it a couple of +days, and if you say it checks out, +we go into production immediately."</p> + +<p>So Charles went home that +night in a new suit and a worried +frown.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/t4.png" alt="T" width="44" height="50" /></div> +<p>hings were smooth for +about two days. Charles continued +to wear the suit and Edwin +insisted on his making the preliminary +preparations for the mass-production +of thermostatic fabric. +Charles was kept busy working out +specifications.</p> + +<p>Then there were two factors +that brought about a drastic change +in his life.</p> + +<p>One was that he was worried. +Charles wasn't exactly sure what +he was worried about, but at the +back of his mind there was something +in the complicated molecular +structure of the new fiber that +bothered him.</p> + +<p>The other factor was that Ingrid +was still nagging him. Perhaps if +Charles had been able to tell her +what he was working on she would +have understood why he was worried. +But he didn't tell her, and she +didn't understand.</p> + +<p>One day after Charles had come +home and eaten, she started an +argument with him about something +or other, and in the most +heated part of the battle she had +hurled at him the supreme insult.</p> + +<p>"Charles," she said, "I think you +<i>look</i> different!"</p> + +<p>Coupled with the strain that +Charles was under, that had been +enough to make him stare at Ingrid +for a moment, wheel and stalk +out of the apartment.</p> + +<p>After all, to say that one's face +was even subtly different—even if +it really was—was an unforgivable +insult.</p> + +<p>Charles went out for a long, solitary +evening walk and ended up at +one of those places that features +six varieties of beer, a continuous +floor show and a loud band. Charles +was not quite aware of entering, +but once inside, watching the +bump-and-grinders who wore nothing +but their name tags, he found it +difficult to leave.</p> + +<p>The room was just ventilated +enough to prevent suffocation, but +it was purposely kept hot and +stuffy in the hope that this would +induce thirst on the part of the +customers.</p> + +<p>When he thought about it later +he decided it was undoubtedly the +humidity that had caused the catastrophe, +but when it happened +he hadn't the foggiest notion what +was going on.</p> + +<p>All he knew was that he had +signalled a waitress for a third +beer, she had come threading her +way between the postage-stamp +tables, he had looked up to give +his order, she had looked down +impersonally, and then there was a +scream.</p> + +<p>It took a moment to realize that +the waitress was screaming at him, +and by that time there were shouts +from the surrounding tables as well, +and men and women alike were +stumbling all over themselves to +get away from Charles.</p> + +<p>In no time at all, there was a +first-rate riot in progress, then the +lights went out, and Charles had +brains enough to fight his way to +an exit and slip into the dark alley +outside.</p> + +<p>And then Charles inspected himself +and realized the horrible truth.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/t4.png" alt="T" width="44" height="50" /></div> +<p>he key concept to Charles' society +was expressed in the word +<i>Standardization</i>. Standardization +had had its beginning in the early +Industrial Revolution, when men +first discovered that it was far more +efficient to make a thousand pieces +of furniture if you made them all +exactly alike.</p> + +<p>And since efficiency means economic +predictability, and since predictability +means stability, Standardization +quickly became the +watchword in the world's new industrial +economy.</p> + +<p>So, in time, virtually every product +manufactured was standardized. +From the smallest bolts and +screws in a wristwatch, through +automobile license plates, to clothing +styles; everything manufactured +was strictly standard equipment.</p> + +<p>Of course, the only unpredictable +factor in this structure was the +human element, therefore the logical +answer was a standardized +consumer.</p> + +<p>The trend had started, undoubtedly, +in Hollywood. The Art of +Cinematography had not existed +long before becoming the Motion +Picture Industry. And, naturally, +an industry must be efficient.</p> + +<p>The Hollywood tycoons had decided +that the best way to reduce +the margin of risk on any new +movie star was to create an arbitrary +criterion, and to require the +potential star to measure up to that +standard.</p> + +<p>Charles was absently aware that +the female standard of beauty had +been exemplified by a woman +named Marilyn, and that the masculine +standard had been represented +in someone named Marlon.</p> + +<p>So, gradually, all of the new female +stars that were selected by +Hollywood resembled Marilyn as +much as possible, and male leads +were selected to look like Marlon. +If anyone had a nose that wasn't +quite right, or large ears, a little +plastic surgery quickly remedied +the problem, and if a female starlet +happened to have brown hair, peroxide +was always handy.</p> + +<p>And in time, it became increasingly +difficult to tell one movie star +from another.</p> + +<p>Then the standard, idealized +faces and their standards, idealized +personal mannerisms became socially +fashionable, and with modern +cosmetics and readily available +plastic surgery, the fashionable +men and women in society began to +imitate the ideal.</p> + +<p>It became not only fashionable to +wear the Standard face, but indecent +<i>not</i> to do so. Social conformity +was encouraged as much as +possible, and the end result was the +closest thing to a Standardized, predictable +consumer as there ever +could be.</p> + +<p>This might have produced difficult +problems, because with all +women and all men wearing identical +clothing and identical faces, it +might have become impossible to +tell one person from another, which +was not desirable even in a Standardized +world.</p> + +<p>Along with the Standard face +had come name tags by which a +person might individualize himself +to the minimum necessary degree.</p> + +<p>These name tags were worn +about the neck on a colorful plastic +band, with the tag itself, a white +plastic card, on the right side of the +neck. On the tag, in gold lettering, +was the person's name, address, +and Social Security number.</p> + +<p>And—they were worn <i>all</i> the +time.</p> + +<p>The name tag was the only +means by which a person might +be identified. Without it, anyone +might impersonate anyone else he +pleased. So, of course, it became +obscene to appear in public without +one.</p> + +<p>And Charles, standing in the +alley, looked down at himself and +realized the horrible truth.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/h6.png" alt="H" width="45" height="48" /></div> +<p>e found himself running +through back streets, sidling around +corners, and darting into doorways.</p> + +<p>After an hour or two, he realized +that he was no longer within the +City Limits.</p> + +<p>Charles took a good look around +him and discovered he was standing +on a minor highway just outside +of town. There were no cars or +people in sight, and he dropped +off the road into some bushes to +get his wind and think.</p> + +<p>He had <i>known</i> there was something +wrong with the molecular +structure of the suit he was wearing, +but Edwin wouldn't listen.</p> + +<p>It had undoubtedly been the +humidity. The chemical process +had no doubt been going on since +he'd first donned the suit, but it +had been the heat in that beer +joint that had accelerated the +action enough to finish the job. +Human perspiration acting on the +new fiber in the collar of his suit +produced some obscure chemical +reaction which had a corrosive +effect on the plastic band and plastic +card of his name tag.</p> + +<p>He had to get home, somehow, +and tell Edwin to hold up production +on the new thermostatic suit. +Perhaps the flaw in it could be +eliminated in a short time. If it +couldn't....</p> + +<p>He considered. The world Dollar +Standard had been absolutely +stable for more years than he knew +about. What would happen if it +suddenly became unstable? A fluctuation +of even a fraction of a cent +would cause widespread panic; it +would jolt the Public's faith in its +infallible economic system. And the +panic would cause further deviation +in the Dollar's purchasing +power, and—more panic.</p> + +<p>He wiped his brow. If the situation +in the Textile Industry was as +critical as Edwin said it was, then +Edwin and his superiors weren't +going to be at all happy when +Charles told them about the suit—and +Charles was going to be +the fall guy.</p> + +<p>But of course he had to get back +and tell them. Because Edwin was +all set to start production on the +all-weather suit immediately, and +if he actually went through with +that and got a few million of them +onto consumer's backs, the result +would be not panic, but disaster.</p> + +<p>And Charles' present problem +was how to get home without being +arrested.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i7.png" alt="I" width="29" height="50" /></div> +<p>t was then that one individual +got an extremely tough break, +and Charles got his first lucky one.</p> + +<p>A turbocar came barreling down +the highway and, without warning +struck an embankment. The driver +was thrown fifty feet from the +wreckage.</p> + +<p>Under different circumstances, +he would never have considered +doing what he did then. The penalty +for wearing another person's +name tag was severe. But Charles +was under an extreme emotional +strain; and without even thinking, +he bent over the limp grey form of +the other marlon and removed his +tag.</p> + +<p>He straightened, then, clutching +the plastic band and looking around +at the smoking wreck. Already, he +could hear a siren somewhere in +the night.</p> + +<p>He slipped the name tag over his +head and struck out through the +bushes toward the city.</p> + +<p>His plan was simple; he had +another name tag in his apartment +for emergency purposes, and if +Ingrid was in bed he'd have no +trouble getting it, destroying the +one he was wearing now, and +putting on his other suit.</p> + +<p>Briefly, he wondered what the +police would think of finding a +body near a smashed car with no +name tag. They'd probably decide +it was the same person that had +caused the disturbance at the night +club earlier in the evening.</p> + +<p>Charles realized that the lettering +on the car had indicated it was +a public, coin-operated vehicle, so +the authorities would have no +means of identifying the body.</p> + +<p>After awhile it occurred to him +that if he should go into hiding +someplace, the body might easily +be identified as his own, and he +wouldn't have to worry about what +Edwin and the other bosses would +do to him. It probably wouldn't be +noticed that the torn and blood-spattered +clothes on the corpse were +not thermostatic. But he shook his +head resolutely. Even if he were +crazy enough to try it, the body +would be reported missing by somebody +or other, so that would never +do.</p> + +<p>Eventually, Charles reached a +main thoroughfare in the city and +hailed a cab. He climbed in the +back, told the driver briefly to take +him home, and then slumped down +in the seat and brooded.</p> + +<p>He stared out the window, watching +the buildings go by, and the +emotional reaction of the evening +began to set in. Morbidly, Charles +wondered what they'd do to him if +he kept his mouth shut and let the +Industry put the suit into production, +and waited for the millions of +ID tags to begin to drop off.</p> + +<p>The prospect was so frightening +that his apprehension over what +would happen if it was discovered +he was wearing somebody else's +tag almost disappeared.</p> + +<p>Finally, the cab rolled to a +stop. Charles got out and dropped +some coins into the hand protruding +from the front seat, and, head +low, he turned and entered the +apartment house.</p> + +<p>He trudged dismally up the +stairs, thinking about his wife. He +wondered what would happen if +she were awake and waiting for +him. If she saw that he had on +somebody else's name tag.</p> + +<p>The door was unlocked.</p> + +<p>And the light was on.</p> + +<p>He wondered if he could duck +into the bedroom without being +seen, and then someone leaped at +him and he knew it was too late.</p> + +<p>"Oh, James dear!" she cried, +throwing her arms around Charles' +neck. "When you walked out of +here, I thought you'd never come +back to me!"</p> + +<p>Charles looked at the marilyn's +name tag with slow horror and +realized that in his preoccupation, +out of sheer force of habit, he had +simply said to the cab driver, "Take +me home," and the driver had +looked at the address on his tag and +complied. The apartment building +so much resembled Charles' own +that he hadn't known the difference, +and he hadn't bothered to +look at the number on the door.</p> + +<p>When Charles walked in, this +Marilyn, Stasia her name was, had +looked at his name tag and thought +he was her James. She didn't have +the slightest idea of who he really +was.</p> + +<p>Then Charles closed his eyes, +swallowed, and knew something +else.</p> + +<p>It really didn't make the least +bit of difference <i>who</i> he was. And +of course, the solution to all his +troubles was obvious.</p> + +<p>With a sigh, Charles leaned over +Stasia and kissed her.</p> + + +<p class="p1">——<b>THE END</b>——</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Standardized Man, by Stephen Bartholomew + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STANDARDIZED MAN *** + +***** This file should be named 32658-h.htm or 32658-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/6/5/32658/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Standardized Man + +Author: Stephen Bartholomew + +Release Date: June 2, 2010 [EBook #32658] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STANDARDIZED MAN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from IF Worlds of Science Fiction + February 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence + that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + + + + + + _The dilemma of "The Man in the White Suit" was but a minor + irritation compared to Charles and his "all-weather" suit!_ + + + THE STANDARDIZED MAN + + BY STEPHEN BARTHOLOMEW + + + + +The turbocar swiped an embankment at ninety miles an hour; the result +was, of course, inevitable. It was a magnificent crash, and the driver +was thrown clear at the end of it for a distance of 50 feet. + +Charles looked at the body and got his bright idea. + + * * * * * + +The trouble had started a couple of weeks before, when Edwin, Charles' +laboratory co-ordinator, had called him into his office just before +Charles was due to leave for home. It was a distinct breach of +etiquette to cause a worker to arrive home at any time besides his +accustomed hour, so Charles knew whatever Edwin wanted must be +important. He sat down opposite the Co-ordinator and assumed a +politely questioning look. + +"Charles, you know I wouldn't call you here at this hour if it wasn't +important," Edwin said, pursing his lips. + +"Of course not, sir," Charles replied, waiting. + +"The fact of the matter is, we are in dire straits." Edwin stared at +the other ominously. "As you well know, the Textile Industry, like +every other business firm in the world, has functioned entirely +without economic troubles of any sort for the past fifty years." + +"Well, of course, sir...." + +"And you are also well aware of what would be the results of any +financial deviation in any of these firms, particularly in a major +industry such as our own." + +"Certainly, sir. Ours is a delicately balanced economic system. Any +slight change in the economic status of one firm would...." + +"Exactly!" Edwin leaned across the desk and glared at him. "I have +just come from a Board of Directors meeting. And it was made known to +us that during the past three weeks our margin of profit has fallen +off by three tenths of a per cent!" + +Charles' face turned pasty white. He swallowed and took a deep breath. + +"Will that information be made public, sir?" + +"Naturally not! But we aren't sure just how long we can keep it a +secret! The fact of the matter is, the IBM says that our profit margin +will continue to spiral downward at a gradually increasing rate unless +some drastic change occurs in our production set-up!" + +Edwin leaned back and clasped his hands, composing himself. "The +precise reasons for the existence of the situation are quite obscure. +However, the IBM has informed us that the problem can be remedied if +we make a particular change in our production system, and it has +informed us as to the nature of that change." + +He stood up and placed a finger on a capacitance switch. A panel in +the Wall slid back to reveal six sales charts. There were two each +marked _Winter_, _Summer_ and _Spring-Fall_. Three were designated +_marlons_, and three _marilyns_. Each of them showed a red line rising +steeply on the left, levelling out to a perfectly straight bar all the +way across, then dipping sharply again. + +"Look here," Edwin said. "These are the sales charts for our six +suits. As you know, we make three different types for marlons, and +three for marilyns. Hot-weather, cold-weather, and medium-weather. +Each suit is designed to last a carefully calculated length of time, +and each consumer need only buy three suits a year. They are exactly +alike except for slight size differences, and because of elastic +fabrics these differences are held to a minimum. With this system the +Textile Industry attained the ultimate in Standardization, the +ultimate in efficiency." + +Charles rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Has the IBM suggested any +alternative to our system, any possible change?" + +Edwin sat down again, folded his arms on the desk, and scowled. +"That's where you come in! The IBM informs us that there is only one +possible way to stabilize our economy, to raise our profit margin to +its former level--and that is by further standardization!" + +Charles raised his eyebrows. "You mean a sexless wardrobe, sir? That's +been tried...." + +"No, that's _not_ what I mean!" Edwin snapped. "What I mean is an +_all-weather suit_!" + +Charles swallowed audibly at that and said nothing. + +"You can see the advantages, of course," Edwin explained. "We'd need +only to manufacture two types of suit, marlon and marilyn. Since we'd +never have to adjust our factories, we could drop a lot of unnecessary +technicians, and with the further standardization, manufacturing would +be faster and cheaper--a _lot_ cheaper. The consumer would only +purchase one suit a year, but we could make up for that by raising the +prices somewhat." + +Charles finally got a word in. "But, _sir_! An all-weather suit? How +can we design a suit that will be equally comfortable in the middle of +a Florida heat-wave or a New England snowstorm?" + +"How? _How?_" Edwin's voice raised and his finger pointed. "_You're_ +the research chemist, Charles! You're supposed to tell _me_ how!" + +"Sir? I...." + +"Listen!" Edwin poked the other in the chest. "I assume you know what +will happen to Society if the Textile Industry becomes economically +unstable?" + +"Well, yes sir, but...." + +"Then I assume you realize that the Board of Directors will stop at +nothing to preserve the status quo! And since you happen to be our +chief industrial chemist, the entire problem lands in your lap! Now, +we want to know how to make an all-weather suit, and we want to know +_fast_. Therefore, Charles, you're going to tell us how to do it! +Understand?" + +Charles nodded unhappily. "Yes sir, I understand." + + * * * * * + +Charles went to work the next day after informing his wife that she +could expect him to begin keeping rather irregular hours at the +laboratory. The idea of any kind of irregularity was enough to worry +any wife, and Ingrid was the naturally suspicious type. She was always +nagging and had, upon occasion, even gone so far as to insinuate that +Charles had individualist tendencies. + +So he knew that she would, embarrassingly, call Edwin to check up on +him, but he didn't really care. + +The real problem was the all-weather suit. + +Charles put his small corps of assistants on the project, +investigating several lines of thought at once. Every day, someone +would drop around for a while to check on his progress, and he had no +delusions about what would happen if he failed. The entire economic +stability of his society depended on his coming up with an all-weather +suit, and he began to have trouble sleeping nights. + +Eventually, he found what looked like a workable solution. + +He called Edwin to tell him about it, and Edwin came down to the lab +to see for himself. + +"Is _this_ it?" he asked, picking up what looked like a burlap +handkerchief. + +Charles cleared his throat. "Well, that's the first sample, sir. Of +course, it's possible to obtain a finer weave once we find out a few +things about it, and when it's bleached...." + +Edwin nodded impatiently. "Yes, yes. Well, what's so special about +it?" + +"Well, it's made of a radically new type of fiber, sir...." + +"How's it new?" + +"I can show you more technical data on it, sir, but basically the +difference between this and conventional types of fiber is that this +is thermostatic." + +"How do you mean, thermostatic?" + +"Well, sir, basically, the diameter of the fiber is inversely +proportional with the temperature. When the temperature rises, the +fiber contracts, and when the temperature drops, it expands. So in +cold weather, you have a fine, tight weave with good insulation, and +in warm weather you have a loose weave with ventilation...." + +Edwin nodded and dropped the fabric on a lab bench. "Sounds good." + +"Well sir, we have to make a few more tests on it, and it'll have to +be field tested before we can decide if it's safe to use in +garments...." + +Edwin tapped him on the shoulder. "Test it, Charlie." + +"Sir?" + +Edwin frowned. "We don't have as much time as you think. We need that +suit of yours _fast_. We can't afford to waste any more time puttering +around the laboratory. You have the fellows downstairs make up some of +this stuff into a Standard suit, and I want you to put it on yourself. +What I mean is, _today_!" + +Charles' jaw dropped. "Today! But...." + +"No buts! Wear it a couple of days, and if you say it checks out, we +go into production immediately." + +So Charles went home that night in a new suit and a worried frown. + + * * * * * + +Things were smooth for about two days. Charles continued to wear the +suit and Edwin insisted on his making the preliminary preparations for +the mass-production of thermostatic fabric. Charles was kept busy +working out specifications. + +Then there were two factors that brought about a drastic change in his +life. + +One was that he was worried. Charles wasn't exactly sure what he was +worried about, but at the back of his mind there was something in the +complicated molecular structure of the new fiber that bothered him. + +The other factor was that Ingrid was still nagging him. Perhaps if +Charles had been able to tell her what he was working on she would +have understood why he was worried. But he didn't tell her, and she +didn't understand. + +One day after Charles had come home and eaten, she started an argument +with him about something or other, and in the most heated part of the +battle she had hurled at him the supreme insult. + +"Charles," she said, "I think you _look_ different!" + +Coupled with the strain that Charles was under, that had been enough +to make him stare at Ingrid for a moment, wheel and stalk out of the +apartment. + +After all, to say that one's face was even subtly different--even if +it really was--was an unforgivable insult. + +Charles went out for a long, solitary evening walk and ended up at one +of those places that features six varieties of beer, a continuous +floor show and a loud band. Charles was not quite aware of entering, +but once inside, watching the bump-and-grinders who wore nothing but +their name tags, he found it difficult to leave. + +The room was just ventilated enough to prevent suffocation, but it was +purposely kept hot and stuffy in the hope that this would induce +thirst on the part of the customers. + +When he thought about it later he decided it was undoubtedly the +humidity that had caused the catastrophe, but when it happened he +hadn't the foggiest notion what was going on. + +All he knew was that he had signalled a waitress for a third beer, she +had come threading her way between the postage-stamp tables, he had +looked up to give his order, she had looked down impersonally, and +then there was a scream. + +It took a moment to realize that the waitress was screaming at him, +and by that time there were shouts from the surrounding tables as +well, and men and women alike were stumbling all over themselves to +get away from Charles. + +In no time at all, there was a first-rate riot in progress, then the +lights went out, and Charles had brains enough to fight his way to an +exit and slip into the dark alley outside. + +And then Charles inspected himself and realized the horrible truth. + + * * * * * + +The key concept to Charles' society was expressed in the word +_Standardization_. Standardization had had its beginning in the early +Industrial Revolution, when men first discovered that it was far more +efficient to make a thousand pieces of furniture if you made them all +exactly alike. + +And since efficiency means economic predictability, and since +predictability means stability, Standardization quickly became the +watchword in the world's new industrial economy. + +So, in time, virtually every product manufactured was standardized. +From the smallest bolts and screws in a wristwatch, through automobile +license plates, to clothing styles; everything manufactured was +strictly standard equipment. + +Of course, the only unpredictable factor in this structure was the +human element, therefore the logical answer was a standardized +consumer. + +The trend had started, undoubtedly, in Hollywood. The Art of +Cinematography had not existed long before becoming the Motion Picture +Industry. And, naturally, an industry must be efficient. + +The Hollywood tycoons had decided that the best way to reduce the +margin of risk on any new movie star was to create an arbitrary +criterion, and to require the potential star to measure up to that +standard. + +Charles was absently aware that the female standard of beauty had been +exemplified by a woman named Marilyn, and that the masculine standard +had been represented in someone named Marlon. + +So, gradually, all of the new female stars that were selected by +Hollywood resembled Marilyn as much as possible, and male leads were +selected to look like Marlon. If anyone had a nose that wasn't quite +right, or large ears, a little plastic surgery quickly remedied the +problem, and if a female starlet happened to have brown hair, peroxide +was always handy. + +And in time, it became increasingly difficult to tell one movie star +from another. + +Then the standard, idealized faces and their standards, idealized +personal mannerisms became socially fashionable, and with modern +cosmetics and readily available plastic surgery, the fashionable men +and women in society began to imitate the ideal. + +It became not only fashionable to wear the Standard face, but indecent +_not_ to do so. Social conformity was encouraged as much as possible, +and the end result was the closest thing to a Standardized, +predictable consumer as there ever could be. + +This might have produced difficult problems, because with all women +and all men wearing identical clothing and identical faces, it might +have become impossible to tell one person from another, which was not +desirable even in a Standardized world. + +Along with the Standard face had come name tags by which a person +might individualize himself to the minimum necessary degree. + +These name tags were worn about the neck on a colorful plastic band, +with the tag itself, a white plastic card, on the right side of the +neck. On the tag, in gold lettering, was the person's name, address, +and Social Security number. + +And--they were worn _all_ the time. + +The name tag was the only means by which a person might be identified. +Without it, anyone might impersonate anyone else he pleased. So, of +course, it became obscene to appear in public without one. + +And Charles, standing in the alley, looked down at himself and +realized the horrible truth. + + * * * * * + +He found himself running through back streets, sidling around corners, +and darting into doorways. + +After an hour or two, he realized that he was no longer within the +City Limits. + +Charles took a good look around him and discovered he was standing on +a minor highway just outside of town. There were no cars or people in +sight, and he dropped off the road into some bushes to get his wind +and think. + +He had _known_ there was something wrong with the molecular structure +of the suit he was wearing, but Edwin wouldn't listen. + +It had undoubtedly been the humidity. The chemical process had no +doubt been going on since he'd first donned the suit, but it had been +the heat in that beer joint that had accelerated the action enough to +finish the job. Human perspiration acting on the new fiber in the +collar of his suit produced some obscure chemical reaction which had a +corrosive effect on the plastic band and plastic card of his name tag. + +He had to get home, somehow, and tell Edwin to hold up production on +the new thermostatic suit. Perhaps the flaw in it could be eliminated +in a short time. If it couldn't.... + +He considered. The world Dollar Standard had been absolutely stable +for more years than he knew about. What would happen if it suddenly +became unstable? A fluctuation of even a fraction of a cent would +cause widespread panic; it would jolt the Public's faith in its +infallible economic system. And the panic would cause further +deviation in the Dollar's purchasing power, and--more panic. + +He wiped his brow. If the situation in the Textile Industry was as +critical as Edwin said it was, then Edwin and his superiors weren't +going to be at all happy when Charles told them about the suit--and +Charles was going to be the fall guy. + +But of course he had to get back and tell them. Because Edwin was all +set to start production on the all-weather suit immediately, and if he +actually went through with that and got a few million of them onto +consumer's backs, the result would be not panic, but disaster. + +And Charles' present problem was how to get home without being +arrested. + + * * * * * + +It was then that one individual got an extremely tough break, and +Charles got his first lucky one. + +A turbocar came barreling down the highway and, without warning struck +an embankment. The driver was thrown fifty feet from the wreckage. + +Under different circumstances, he would never have considered doing +what he did then. The penalty for wearing another person's name tag +was severe. But Charles was under an extreme emotional strain; and +without even thinking, he bent over the limp grey form of the other +marlon and removed his tag. + +He straightened, then, clutching the plastic band and looking around +at the smoking wreck. Already, he could hear a siren somewhere in the +night. + +He slipped the name tag over his head and struck out through the +bushes toward the city. + +His plan was simple; he had another name tag in his apartment for +emergency purposes, and if Ingrid was in bed he'd have no trouble +getting it, destroying the one he was wearing now, and putting on his +other suit. + +Briefly, he wondered what the police would think of finding a body +near a smashed car with no name tag. They'd probably decide it was the +same person that had caused the disturbance at the night club earlier +in the evening. + +Charles realized that the lettering on the car had indicated it was a +public, coin-operated vehicle, so the authorities would have no means +of identifying the body. + +After awhile it occurred to him that if he should go into hiding +someplace, the body might easily be identified as his own, and he +wouldn't have to worry about what Edwin and the other bosses would do +to him. It probably wouldn't be noticed that the torn and +blood-spattered clothes on the corpse were not thermostatic. But he +shook his head resolutely. Even if he were crazy enough to try it, the +body would be reported missing by somebody or other, so that would +never do. + +Eventually, Charles reached a main thoroughfare in the city and hailed +a cab. He climbed in the back, told the driver briefly to take him +home, and then slumped down in the seat and brooded. + +He stared out the window, watching the buildings go by, and the +emotional reaction of the evening began to set in. Morbidly, Charles +wondered what they'd do to him if he kept his mouth shut and let the +Industry put the suit into production, and waited for the millions of +ID tags to begin to drop off. + +The prospect was so frightening that his apprehension over what would +happen if it was discovered he was wearing somebody else's tag almost +disappeared. + +Finally, the cab rolled to a stop. Charles got out and dropped some +coins into the hand protruding from the front seat, and, head low, he +turned and entered the apartment house. + +He trudged dismally up the stairs, thinking about his wife. He +wondered what would happen if she were awake and waiting for him. If +she saw that he had on somebody else's name tag. + +The door was unlocked. + +And the light was on. + +He wondered if he could duck into the bedroom without being seen, and +then someone leaped at him and he knew it was too late. + +"Oh, James dear!" she cried, throwing her arms around Charles' neck. +"When you walked out of here, I thought you'd never come back to me!" + +Charles looked at the marilyn's name tag with slow horror and realized +that in his preoccupation, out of sheer force of habit, he had simply +said to the cab driver, "Take me home," and the driver had looked at +the address on his tag and complied. The apartment building so much +resembled Charles' own that he hadn't known the difference, and he +hadn't bothered to look at the number on the door. + +When Charles walked in, this Marilyn, Stasia her name was, had looked +at his name tag and thought he was her James. She didn't have the +slightest idea of who he really was. + +Then Charles closed his eyes, swallowed, and knew something else. + +It really didn't make the least bit of difference _who_ he was. And of +course, the solution to all his troubles was obvious. + +With a sigh, Charles leaned over Stasia and kissed her. + + + END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Standardized Man, by Stephen Bartholomew + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STANDARDIZED MAN *** + +***** This file should be named 32658.txt or 32658.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/6/5/32658/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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