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diff --git a/44074-8.txt b/44074-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 463101e..0000000 --- a/44074-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8019 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Meccania, by Owen Gregory - -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: Meccania - The Super-State - -Author: Owen Gregory - -Release Date: October 30, 2013 [EBook #44074] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MECCANIA *** - - - - -Produced by eagkw, Greg Bergquist and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - - - MECCANIA - THE SUPER-STATE - - - - - MECCANIA - THE SUPER-STATE - - BY - OWEN GREGORY - - METHUEN & CO. LTD. - 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. - LONDON - - - - - _First Published in 1918_ - - - - - INSCRIBED - - TO - - W. H. S. - - IN TOKEN OF TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS' - FRIENDSHIP - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - INTRODUCTION: A FEW WORDS ABOUT MR. - MING AND HIS JOURNAL ix - - CHAP. - I. I BECOME A FOREIGN OBSERVER 1 - - II. BRIDGETOWN, TOUR No. 1 17 - - III. INTRODUCTION TO MECCO 53 - - IV. PROFESSOR PROSER-TOADY'S LECTURE 82 - - V. CULTURE IN MECCO 97 - - VI. MORE CULTURE IN MECCO 122 - - VII. A MECCANIAN APOSTLE 139 - - VIII. THE MECHOW FESTIVAL 163 - - IX. MECCANISATION 177 - - X. CONVERSATIONS 193 - - XI. AN ACADEMIC DISCUSSION 240 - - XII. THE LATEST INSTITUTION 260 - - XIII. NEVER AGAIN 289 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - -A FEW WORDS ABOUT MR. MING AND HIS JOURNAL - - -As this book is little more than a transcript of a document originally -written in the form of a journal by a man who, until about a year ago, -was an entire stranger to me, and as the document itself contains not -a few statements which make large demands upon the credulity of the -average reader, it seems necessary to offer some explanation regarding -both the journal and its author, Mr. Ming--or, to give him his full -name, Ming Yuen-hwuy. - -If I were able to go bail for Mr. Ming and assure the British Public -that he was an entirely credible and impartial witness, the book might -have stood on the same foundation as other volumes of 'revelations' -concerning a country with which Englishmen are still insufficiently -acquainted. But I cannot go bail for Mr. Ming. The chief source of -my knowledge of him is the journal itself. It has even been suggested -to me that Mr. Ming did not write the journal, but must have stolen -it from some European, probably an Englishman. On this point I shall -have something to say presently. Perhaps the best solution of these -difficulties will be to say what I know of the origin of the book. - -Mr. Ming was introduced to me, by a friend whose name it is unnecessary -to give, in November or December 1917. My friend said he remembered -meeting him in London as far back as 1909. Since then, however, Mr. -Ming had not only lived in London and travelled throughout England, -but had also spent about two years in France and Italy, and had -visited America. What his previous career had been I do not know, -nor did my friend know. He appeared always to have plenty of money, -and we surmised that he might have been attached in some way to the -Chinese Legation; but he never gave the least hint about any such -connection. What I do know is that he had a remarkable knowledge of -our language, and a remarkable familiarity with our laws, customs -and political institutions. He professed a great admiration for our -British Constitutions, a circumstance which may account for some of the -political views to which he gives expression in his journal. - -A day or two after he had been introduced to me I invited him to dinner -and on this occasion we found much to talk about--chiefly European -politics. At length, after we had finished a bottle of wine and a -liqueur or two, he remarked that of all the countries he had visited in -Western Europe he had been most impressed by Meccania. (He pronounced -the word '_Mek-kah´-nia_.') - -My knowledge of Geography is not complete, I admit, but I thought -I knew all the countries of Western Europe (the war has helped -wonderfully to fill up certain gaps). I replied that I had never heard -of such a country. - -"Probably not," he answered. "But it exists. And the proof of it is -that I spent some five months there in 1970, and kept a journal of my -experiences." - -"You mean 1870," I said. - -"No, 1970," he replied. - -I hardly knew whether he were experimenting upon my sense of humour, or -had got confused between Chinese and European chronology; or whether -the liqueur had gone to his head. Possibly--and here I became a little -nervous--he was a little 'abnormal.' "Anyhow," he said, "one of my -chief objects in seeking an interview with you was to consult you about -publishing this journal." - -We were dining in my chambers and he begged permission to fetch his -hand-bag from the anteroom. He returned with a bulky manuscript. I -wondered if he were hard up and wanted to draw me into some sort of -bargain, but I reflected that he seemed to be a much wealthier man -than I. He said he was convinced that his journal was an important -contribution to political literature, and would be found of interest -not only in Great Britain but in France and America as well. It would -be a good thing also if the Meccanians themselves could read it. -Unfortunately there was no chance of that, he said, because nothing was -read in Meccania except by permission of the Government. He went on to -explain that the journal had been kept partly in English, partly in -Chinese and partly in Meccanian; but that he had since written a rough -translation of the whole in English. His knowledge of English, though -sufficient for most practical purposes, was not such as to satisfy -the literary critics; and that was one of the reasons why he sought -my assistance. The upshot was that I promised to read the manuscript, -which I did in a few hours next day. - -I found that it purported to be the journal of a visit or tour, made -in 1970, to a country he called Meccania. I had little difficulty in -penetrating the fiction. (It was obvious what country was meant.) As -to the date, 1970, I soon came to the conclusion that this was another -literary device, to enable him to describe with greater freedom what -he considered to be the probable, or as he would be inclined to say, -the inevitable development of the tendencies he had observed in that -country. Whilst some parts of the description were clear, and even -vivid, many things were left in obscurity. For instance, the extent -and the limits of the country were quite vague. Only two cities were -described in any detail. Little was said about domestic life, little -about religion, little about women and children. - -When I questioned him subsequently on these points, he said that the -obstacles to obtaining full information had proved insuperable: he -had not been at liberty to travel about when and where he pleased, -nor to get into close contact with the common people. The journal -itself if carefully read, he said, gave a sufficient answer on these -points, and he had preferred to give a faithful account of what had -actually happened to him, and of the conversations he had had with -representative Meccanians, leaving the evidence to speak for itself. If -he had said little about Education the little that he had said would be -found most illuminating, by the aid of insight and imagination. If he -had said little about military matters, that was because it would have -been positively dangerous to be suspected of spying. - -I then questioned him about his references to Luniland, which occur on -the very first page of the journal and are scattered throughout the -book. Did he mean to indicate England by this term? If so, it was not -exactly flattering. - -Mr. Ming said he intended no offence. The references _were_ perhaps -a little obscure. The simple fact was that some years ago he had, -for his own amusement, written a harmless satire upon some of our -national characteristics. He had then hit upon the phrase Luniland and -Lunilanders, and he could not get it out of his head. It was just an -instance of his whimsicality. - -"But why Luniland?" I asked. - -"Why not?" he said. "You do such funny things without seeing that they -are funny." - -"Such as what?" I asked. - -"Well, to take a few things that have happened recently in connection -with your great war. You are intensely proud of all your soldiers, -and rightly. Yet you seem to pay the citizens who stay at home about -three times as much as the soldiers who go out to fight; and I have -been told, although this seems more difficult to believe, that you pay -the men who volunteered from the very first less than those whom you -subsequently had to compel to serve in your armies." - -"I am afraid these things you allege are true," I replied, "but they do -not seem funny to us." - -"No, probably not," he said. "Each nation has its own sense of humour!" - -"Have you noticed anything else of the same kind?" I asked. - -"Oh, a great many things," he said, "but I just gave you a sample of -what first occurred to me. I did hear of some men being excused from -serving in the army because they were engaged in carving gravestones." - -"For the soldiers, I suppose?" - -"Oh no," he replied, "there is no time to carve gravestones for the -soldiers; for people who die in their beds at home. Yet you do not -profess to be worshippers of the dead." - -"Do not misunderstand me," he added. "You are a wonderful people, and -it is perhaps because you are Lunilanders that I cannot help liking -you. We are Lunilanders ourselves if only we knew it. If you were to -come to my country you would find many things just as funny as those I -have observed here. Perhaps when you have more time and the opportunity -is favourable you may like to read my book of observations on -Luniland, but Meccania is a more important subject." - -After a careful reading of Mr. Ming's account of Meccania I was -inclined to agree with him. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that -the dangers to be apprehended from Meccania, or Meccanianism, are far -more real and imminent than the dangers from what he would call our -Lunilandishness, and for that reason I have done my best to bring -before the British Public his account of Meccania, although I hope at -some future time to produce, perhaps for a smaller circle of readers, -his notes on Luniland and the Lunilanders. - -Lastly, a word about the suggestion that the journal cannot be the -work of a Chinaman. It is implied that the sentiments professed by Mr. -Ming, his interests and his way of looking at things, are those of an -Englishman. What does this really amount to? Mr. Ming does not like the -Meccanians. Certainly _we_ should not like the Meccanians. Therefore -Mr. Ming is an Englishman. Mr. Ming does not like interferences -with his personal habits: he has some belief in the political value -of individual liberty. An Englishman resents interference and is -also credited with a passion for Liberty. Therefore Mr. Ming must -be an Englishman. Now I would suggest that, so far from Mr. Ming's -sentiments being evidence against him, they really substantiate his -character as a Chinaman and remove all suspicion of his having stolen -the document from some Englishman, or some other European. In the first -place, he submits calmly to indignities that a typical Englishman -would fiercely resent. In the second place, he records things with a -detachment that few Englishmen would be capable of, and resigns himself -to the customs of the country in the manner of a mere spectator. In the -third place, he betrays a philosophical interest, which is again very -different from the behaviour of most of our countrymen. He records at -great length conversations which we perhaps find tedious, because he -thinks the ideas of the Meccanians even more significant than their -customs. An Englishman's journal, in the same circumstances, would be -certain to contain angry diatribes against the Meccanians, whereas -Mr. Ming writes with singular restraint, even when he is describing -features of Meccanian life which we should consider revolting. - -Possibly the style in which the book is presented, the turns of -expression and the colloquialisms, give the journal an English -appearance; but for these features the editor is responsible, as it was -Mr. Ming's wish that the book should not suffer from the most common -defects of a mere translation. - - - - - NOTE ON PERSONAL NAMES - - The names which occur in the narrative are exactly as given by Mr. - Ming in his journal, but it would appear that he has taken some - liberties with the language in attempting to give an approximate - English equivalent for the original meaning. The translation of - personal names and place-names is notoriously difficult as many - names are either corrupt or obscure. - - - - -MECCANIA - -THE SUPER-STATE - - - - -CHAPTER I - -I BECOME A FOREIGN OBSERVER - - -I had already spent several years in various parts of Western Europe, -staying for long periods in Francaria, Romania and Luniland, before I -made up my mind to pay a visit to Meccania. Before coming to Europe -I had read a great deal about Western civilisation generally and had -conceived a great admiration for many of its features. My experiences -during my travels had, on the whole, strengthened my feelings of -admiration; although even an Oriental may be allowed to criticise -some of the characteristics of Western nations. In Romania I had -been delighted with the never-ending spectacle of history displayed -in every part of the country. The whole land was like an infinite -museum; but it was not in Romania that the living forces of the present -were to be found. In Francaria, on the other hand, the people were -more interesting than the country, charming as that country was in -many ways. One perceived that the people were highly civilised; they -displayed a combination of intellectual and moral refinement, an -appreciation of the material and sensuous enjoyment of life as well as -a traditional standard of conduct and manners, while at the same time -they were keenly alive to the most modern political ideas, and were -perpetually discussing new phases of all those problems which must -constantly emerge wherever political liberty is held as an article of -popular faith. - -But it was in Luniland that I felt most at home. Just what it was that -kept me constantly pleased and interested it would take long to tell, -and I must reserve my observations on Luniland for another occasion. It -will be sufficient to say here that I was not so much impressed with -the wealth of ideas current in society in Luniland--Francaria was more -prolific in ideas, and in Francaria intellectual discussion was more -brilliant--as with the stability of certain political principles which, -as it seems to me at any rate, are destined to prevail ultimately -throughout the world. - -For many reasons I thoroughly enjoyed the three or four years which, -with short intervals of absence, I had spent there. I had made many -acquaintances and even a considerable number of friends. In fact, I -had stayed so long, contrary to my original intention, that there was -little time left for carrying out the project of visiting Meccania, and -I was in some doubt whether I should not have to return home without -seeing that remarkable country. For I had already received one or two -pressing reminders from my family that they were expecting my return. -Before leaving home, however, I had promised some of my political -friends, who were interested in the subject of Meccanian culture, that -I would not return without investigating the social and political -life of Meccania. They had, in fact, written several times to remind -me of my promise, and I had put them off by explaining that, whilst -travelling in the rest of Europe was a simple and easy matter, I could -not enter Meccania without elaborate preparation. - -When I began to talk to some of my friends in Luniland of my idea -of investigating Meccanian culture on the spot, I received the most -conflicting advice. Some said, "Don't go on any account. You will be -arrested as a spy, and probably shot!" Others said Meccania was ahead -of Luniland in every respect, and that I should certainly see something -worth remembering if I went there. Others, again, said that if I did -go, I should be looked upon with suspicion on my return. In fact, I -gathered that most of my friends would never open their doors to me -again. Finally, I took counsel with Mr. Yorke, a gentleman occupying an -important position in Lunopolis, a man of wide culture and sober views, -whom it was a great privilege to count among my friends. - -He discussed the matter very frankly with me. I remember it was a -cold evening early in March, and we sat by the fire in his study -after an excellent dinner. "We Lunilanders," he said, "do not like -the Meccanians, and few of us ever visit Meccania. We prefer to have -nothing to do with that country, and if you followed the advice which -nine out of ten of my countrymen would give you, you would not go near -Meccania. But you have come to Europe partly, at all events, to study -our civilisation, and not simply to amuse yourself; and although there -is little intercourse between the Meccanians and the rest of us, if -you want to know Europe you cannot afford to neglect Meccania. If I -may advise you, I should say, Go there by all means. See as much as -you can with your own eyes. But try to see the country as a whole. -Don't be content to see just what interests you, or amuses you, or -what excites your admiration. If you do that, you will be like certain -cranks from this country who come back and tell us there is no poverty -in Meccania, there are no strikes, there is no disorder, no ignorance, -no preventible disease. You at any rate are not a simpleton to be taken -in by any sort of hocus-pocus. But the Meccanians are very clever, and -they manage to impose on many people who are not so wideawake as you -are. How much you will be allowed to see I don't know. It is a good -many years since I was there, but, if things are managed as I am told -they are now, you will not see all you want by any means. In fact, -in one sense, you would learn far more from books--you read Meccanian -easily already, I know--than from an actual visit. But unless you go -there you will not feel satisfied that what you read is true, and you -will not have the same sense of reality. - -"The great thing is to look at the country as a whole--I don't mean -geographically, but spiritually. There is always a tendency for -foolish people to take this idea from one country and that institution -from another. Enthusiastic reformers are ready to shut their eyes to -everything else if only they can get support for their particular fads. -If you find after a real study of Meccanian life that you would like to -turn your own country into a second edition of Meccania, I shall say, -like old Dogberry, that you are not the man I took you for." - -He impressed upon me the importance of a thorough knowledge of the -language, but I was able to satisfy him on that score; for I had learnt -to read easily before coming to Europe, and had already undertaken -a long course of colloquial Meccanian under a good teacher during a -visit to Francaria. Besides, I rather prided myself on my aptitude for -languages, and considered myself well equipped. So I packed up all the -miscellaneous goods I had collected, and stored them in Lunopolis, -reserving only a couple of trunks filled with the usual necessaries for -a mere tourist. - -I had my passport from our own Government. I procured another from the -Luniland Foreign Office. I obtained, further, the necessary permission -from the Meccanian Government, and, choosing the shortest route, -arrived at the outer frontier on March 28th. As most people know, -Meccania has a double frontier on the Western side. A belt of country -twenty miles wide is preserved as neutral territory, a veritable -No Man's Land. This is a relic from the Great War. It is entirely -uninhabited and uncultivated. Not a single line of railway crosses -it, and only five roads, which are merely rough tracks, lead across -it from various points to the five frontier towns on the inner side. -These are the only gates into Meccania on the West. The small town on -the outer frontier in Francaria, through which I was to pass, is called -Graves. Here my first delay occurred. Intercourse with Meccania is so -limited that although the official conveyance goes only once a week, -I found no more than a dozen persons collected there in readiness for -the journey across No Man's Land. I was about to take my place in the -conveyance provided to carry us to Bridgetown on the inner frontier, -when it was discovered that I had no ticket authorising me to make this -journey. I produced my passports and the letter giving me permission -to travel in Meccania, but the official who took charge of foreigners -pointed to a printed instruction on the back of the letter informing -me that a ticket would be forwarded by a later post. No explanations -or expostulations were of any use. Until I had that ticket I could not -enter Meccania. The conveyance went only once a week. There was nothing -for it therefore but to stay at some hotel in Graves, or return to -Lunopolis in search of my missing ticket. I put up at a small hotel in -Graves and telegraphed to my last address for my letters. These arrived -two days later, and among them was my precious ticket. - -The week I spent in Graves forms no part of my Meccanian tour, so I -will say nothing about it except that it gave me an opportunity of -seeing the extraordinary sight of No Man's Land. It stretched like -a belt of desert as far as one could see. Rough grass grew here and -there, but no other vegetation. Every year, in the warm weather, the -grass was fired, and other means were taken also to ensure that the -weeds should not injure the vegetation on the cultivated side, which by -contrast looked like a garden. At intervals of every twenty yards or -so an iron pole was erected with wire between. Otherwise there was no -obstacle; but no unauthorised person, so I was told, ever crossed the -line. - -At the end of the week a few more travellers arrived and were met -by the conveyance from Bridgetown. It was something like a large -prison van, but quite comfortable inside except for the fact that the -passengers could not see outside. My fellow-passengers were evidently -strangers to one another. One or two, I thought, were Meccanians -returning home, but as there was little conversation and the journey -lasted not more than an hour, I was able to learn nothing about any of -them. When the car stopped--it was a sort of large motor-omnibus--the -door was opened by a porter in a dark blue uniform, and I found myself -in the large courtyard of the Bridgetown Police Office. What became -of my fellow-passengers I have no idea, but I was conducted to a -waiting-room, where another subordinate official in a grey uniform -took my papers, and about ten minutes after led me into a small office -adjoining, where a man in a green uniform sat at a desk surrounded by -neat little bundles of papers of various colours. He was a rather stout -man of middle age, with bushy iron-grey hair and whiskers, yet rather -bald in front. With his light grey eyes slightly protruding, he looked -at me for a few seconds and said, "Mr. Ming?" - -I said, "I am Mr. Ming." - -"I am Inspector of Foreigners Stiff," he said very distinctly, "and -whilst you are in Bridgetown you will be responsible to me for your -good conduct. By what title are you authorised to be addressed?" - -"I am plain Mr. Ming, or Citizen Ming," I replied. - -"But you have some other title, doubtless," he said. "What office do -you hold in your own country?" - -"Well," I replied, "I am what we call a National Councillor. I am also -the President of the Literary Society of my own province, and I have -been once the Mayor of my native town." - -"Then you had better be addressed as National Councillor Ming, or as -Literary President Ming, or Mayor Ming," he answered promptly. "Choose -which you prefer, and write down the title on the third line of this -form." - -I wrote down, with a smile, "National Councillor Ming." - -"National Councillor Ming," he said, as I handed the form back to him, -"before we have any further conversation, you will please pass into the -next room and undergo your medical examination." - -I passed into the next room, where I found a man, also in a green -uniform, but with different facings from those worn by Inspector of -Foreigners Stiff. "National Councillor Ming," he said, "allow me to -make my necessary medical examination." I wondered how he had got my -name so pat. Then I remembered that immediately before passing me into -the next room, Inspector Stiff had put a card into a pneumatic tube -by the side of his desk. The doctor led me out of his office into a -small bedroom, next to which stood a bathroom fitted with various -apparatus. After undressing in the bedroom, I was ordered to step into -the bathroom, where first of all I was carefully measured in at least a -score of places: head, ears, arms, hands, legs, feet, chest, etc. etc. -Thumb-prints and foot-prints were taken; I was weighed; my chest was -sounded; my organs were investigated with various curious instruments; -a record of my speaking voice was taken, for which purpose I had to -pronounce several long sentences in Meccanian and in my own language. A -lock of my hair was cut off, and finally I was photographed in several -different positions. I was then ordered to bathe, at first in water, -afterwards in a fluid which was evidently some sort of disinfectant. -At the end of about an hour and a half the doctor pronounced me to be -"disease-free," and asked me to dress myself in some garments specially -used on these occasions. The garments were made either of paper, or -of some substance like paper, and were intended to be destroyed after -use. I was now in the bedroom. The doctor had disappeared, but a sort -of orderly in a grey uniform knocked at the door and brought in a tray -with some food and coffee. He announced that Inspector of Foreigners -Stiff would be ready to see me again in fifteen minutes. I was very -glad of the food, the first I had eaten since my arrival, and at the -end of the fifteen minutes I was again led into Mr. Stiff's room, still -wearing my paper suit. - -"Now," said he, "you will remain in your room until morning, when -your own clothes will be restored to you after having been thoroughly -disinfected. You can have supper supplied to you in your room, and -as you will have a few hours to spare I should advise you to make -yourself acquainted with the contents of these documents. You will find -they contain all the instructions you require for the first few days." - -I retired to my room feeling rather fatigued by the various experiences -I had already gone through, but for want of something more interesting -I began to study my 'Instructions.' The first document was a closely -printed circular of eight foolscap pages containing numerous extracts -from the Law relating to the Conduct of Foreign Observers. By the time -I had waded through this I thought I had done enough for one day, and -as the orderly came in with preparations for some supper I asked him -if I might see the daily paper. He did not seem to understand what I -meant. After some further explanation he said, "We have no daily paper -in Bridgetown: we have only the weekly local gazette." - -"But you have some kind of newspaper which circulates in Bridgetown," -I said. "Perhaps it is published in some other large town, perhaps in -Mecco?" I suggested. (Mecco is the capital of Meccania.) - -"We have no general newspaper published daily," he replied. - -I thought he had misunderstood me, so I begged him to bring me the -local Gazette. He said he would try to get me a copy. Presently, -while I was eating my supper, another official, dressed in a bright -chocolate-coloured uniform with green facings, made his appearance. He -explained that Inspector Stiff had gone home--it was then about seven -o'clock or later--and that he was left in charge of the office. I had -asked for a newspaper. For what purpose did I require a newspaper? - -"Oh," I said, "just to see the current news." - -"News what about?" he asked. - -"About anything," I replied. "One likes to see the newspaper to see -what is going on." - -"But no one wants anything except for some purpose," he replied, "and -you have not explained the purpose for which you require a newspaper. -Also, there are no general newspapers. There are the various gazettes -issued by the different departments of Government, and there are a few -local gazettes dealing with purely municipal matters. But until you -have entered upon your authorised tour of observation, I should have no -authority to supply you with any of these." - -What a fuss about such a trifle, I thought, and wished I had never -troubled him. I apologised for making the request, whereupon he said, -"If you wish for something to read after supper there is a case of -books in the office, from which, no doubt, I can supply your needs." - -I thanked him, and presently went to see the books. There was a work -on the _Law in Relation to Foreign Observers_, in three volumes; a -_History of the Development of Town Planning_, in five volumes; a -treatise on _Sewage_, in two volumes; a series of Reports on the -various Municipal Departments of Bridgetown; an _Encyclopædia of -Building_; and a few other works equally interesting. I took away a -volume, hardly noticing what it was, intending to use it only as a -means of inducing sleep, which it did most effectively. - -I was awakened about half-past six next morning by the orderly in the -grey uniform entering the bedroom to announce that my bath would be -ready in five minutes, and that it was against the rules to be late. I -promptly went into the bathroom and found the bath half filled with a -thin, greeny-yellowish fluid which smelt like a strong disinfectant. -The orderly explained that all foreigners were obliged to be -disinfected in this way. - -"But," I said, "I was disinfected only yesterday." - -"The bath yesterday," he explained, "was to ensure that you brought no -disease into the country." - -"And what is this for?" I asked. - -"This is to prevent you from contracting any new disease through the -change in climate," he answered. - -I remarked that the authorities were very solicitous of the welfare of -foreigners, to which he replied: - -"Ah, we must look after ourselves; a sick man is a source of -infection." - -I was told to remain in the bath forty-five minutes. I found I had no -choice, for, once in, I had no power to get out. - -At the end of the forty-five minutes the orderly came and lifted me -out, turned on a shower bath, and said, "Breakfast in ten minutes." -My own clothes had been returned to me. I dressed quickly, ate my -breakfast, which was the usual light continental early breakfast of -rolls and coffee, and was preparing to leave the Police Office when the -orderly informed me that Inspector of Foreigners Stiff was ready to see -me. - -"National Councillor Ming," he began, as soon as I entered his room, "I -find you have with you letters of introduction to several persons in -Meccania." (So my private papers had been closely scrutinised during -the process of disinfection.) "You will, of course, not present these -until you have received permission from the proper authority. In no -case can this be given until a period of three months has elapsed. -Now after completing these forms, in accordance with the Instructions -I handed you yesterday, you will be authorised to begin your tour of -observation in Bridgetown." Here he handed me four forms. "You must -first decide whether you mean to stay a week, or a month, or longer; -for that will naturally determine the programme of your tour of -observation. You cannot in any case leave without giving three clear -days' notice and completing your arrangements as to the place you are -proceeding to." - -"Oh," I said in some surprise, "I had no idea that would be necessary. -I thought I would just look round, perhaps for a day or two, then go -on to one of your other important cities and make my way by degrees to -Mecco." - -"Then you cannot have read the Instruction Form No. 4, or you would -know that is quite impossible. If you intend to stay a month, please -fill up this blue form." - -"I think, perhaps, it would be better to say a week," I replied; "then -if I want to stay longer I suppose I could do so?" - -"If you had read the Instructions you would have seen that the plan of -a tour of a week is on quite a different scale from that of a tour of a -fortnight or a month. You must decide now which you will take." - -I stuck to the week, and we filled up the necessary forms for Tour -No. 1. - -"Your conductor will be Sub-Conductor of Foreign Observers Sheep," he -said next. - -"My conductor?" I exclaimed. "Is it necessary to have a conductor?" - -"You are not still in Luniland," he replied testily, "and I must -again remind you that if you had read the extracts from the Law with -reference to Foreign Observers you would not have asked the question. -Sub-Conductor Sheep will be here in five minutes," he said, evidently -anxious to get rid of me, "and as soon as you have discharged this -bill of expenses he will take you to the Hotel for Foreign Observers, -and you will begin your tour." Here he handed me a sort of invoice -containing the following items:-- - -To food, 5s.; to bed, one night, 4s.; to medical examination, 10s.; to -temporary garments, 2s.; to service, 2s.--total, 23s. - -There was certainly nothing exorbitant about the charges; all the same, -I grudged the 10s. for the medical examination. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -BRIDGETOWN, TOUR No. 1 - - -Sub-conductor of Foreign Observers Sheep came in as I was paying the -bill. He was a well-set-up man about fifty, and had the appearance of -an old Non-Com. He looked quiet and rather stolid. I never saw him -smile during the whole week I was with him, but he was not offensive in -his manner. Like Inspector Stiff he wore a green uniform, but one with -fewer facings and with chocolate-coloured buttons. Before we started -to walk across to the hotel he asked if I had got my pocket-diary. I -fished out a small notebook, such as I had used in Luniland for marking -engagements. - -"That is of no use for the purpose," he informed me. "You must have one -like this"; and he showed me a book about six inches by four inches, -with four pages for each day. - -"Oh!" I said, "I shall never need all that; besides, it is spaced for a -month only." - -In a perfectly matter-of-fact voice he said calmly, "Every person in -Meccania uses a pocket-diary like this. You will find it indispensable -in order that you may make your entries correctly in your weekly diary -for the Time Department." - -"The what department?" I asked, rather puzzled. - -"The Time Department: but never mind; I will explain all that in its -proper place. We will get a pocket-diary as we go along." - -We walked to the hotel, and on the way Sheep slipped into an office of -some kind and handed me a pocket-diary of the regulation type. As we -entered the hotel, which was a very small affair,--evidently the number -of foreigners in Bridgetown at any one time could not be more than a -dozen if they were all lodged here,--he popped his head into a sort -of box-office near the door and said in a loud voice, "Nine o'clock. -National Councillor Ming." A girl in the box-office echoed the words -whilst making an entry on a large sheet, and handed him a buff-coloured -sheet of cardboard, divided or ruled into small squares. This he -presented to me, telling me to note down on it the exact time when I -entered and left the hotel, and to get it initialed every other day by -the girl clerk in the box-office. If the times did not tally with her -record I was to consult the manager of the hotel. - -"The first thing to do is to report yourself to the manager of the -hotel," said Sheep when he had taken me to my room, where I found my -baggage, which I had not seen since I left Graves. - -The manager was a rather fussy little man, also in a green uniform -like Sheep's but with different facings. He did not seem specially -pleased to see me. All he said was, "I hope you will not give so much -trouble as the last of your fellow-countrymen we had here. If you will -study the regulations you will save yourself and me much inconvenience. -Meals are at eight, one, and six, and at no other times. And remember -that conversation with other Foreign Observers is prohibited until you -have received the Certificate of Approval." - -Conductor Sheep had rung up for a motor-car, and as we waited a few -minutes for its arrival he said, "As you will have seen from the -printed programme of Tour No. 1, we shall first make a geographical -survey of the town, then we shall visit the public buildings, taking -note of their architectural features, and beginning first with those -under local control, following on with those under the joint control -of the Central and Local Government, and concluding with those solely -under the control of the Central Government. And of the first category -we shall see those first which have to do with the bodily needs, and -of these we shall take first those connected with food, then with -clothing, then with housing; for that is the only logical order. -Everything has been carefully prescribed by the Department of Culture -and the Department of Sociology, and the same plan is followed by all -Foreign Observers, whatever city they may be visiting." - -We went first to a look-out tower which stood on a hill about a mile -outside the town. Here we had a view of the surrounding country. The -town lay in a bend of the river. It was not exactly picturesque, but -the large number of new public buildings near the centre, the broad -streets lined with villas, each surrounded by a garden in the large -residential quarter on the western side, and even the orderly streets -of houses and flats on the more thickly populated eastern side, -produced altogether a fine effect. The country round was magnificent. -Low wooded hills rose on three sides, backed by higher hills in the -distance. Sheep talked almost learnedly about the geology of the -district and the historical reasons for the situation of Bridgetown. -Then he pointed out that the plan of the town was like a wheel. In -the centre were the public buildings and squares. The main streets -radiated like spokes, and between these came the residential quarters -of the seven social classes; those of the first three on the west side, -those of the fourth to the north and south, those of the fifth, sixth -and seventh, to the east. On the east side also lay the factories, -workshops and warehouses. The shops were arranged in a sort of ring -running through the middle of each of the residential quarters. - -"The seven social classes?" I asked. I had heard in a vague way of the -existence of this arrangement, but had little idea what it meant. - -"Yes," answered Sheep, as if he were reading from a guide-book, "the -first consists of the highest aristocracy, military and civil; the -second, of the military and naval officers, all of noble birth; the -third, of the highest mercantile class with an income of £5000 a year -and the officials of the first grade in the Imperial civil service; the -fourth, of the officials of the civil service of lower grades and the -bulk of the professional classes; the fifth, of the skilled artisan -class; the sixth, of the semi-skilled; and the seventh, of the menial -industrial groups." - -I asked him to go over it again whilst I took a note for future -reference. - -The rest of the morning passed in listening to Sheep's elaborate -descriptions of the drainage and sewage systems, the water supply, -the power and light and heat supply, the tramway system, the parcels -system, the postal delivery system, the milk delivery system, all from -the geographical point of view. After lunch we spent some time in going -all over the town on the tramways. This completed the geographical -survey. - -At six o'clock I was deposited in the hotel just in time for dinner. -Presently I prepared to go out to some place of amusement; but on -attempting to leave the hotel I was stopped by the porter, who told me -I could not leave the hotel unless accompanied by my conductor. - -So I spent the evening in writing up my journal. During the day I -had noticed that everywhere all the men were dressed in a sort of -uniform, and that the colours of these uniforms corresponded to the -rank or class of the wearers. Perhaps I ought to have mentioned this -circumstance earlier, for certainly it was one of the first things -I noticed when I began to go into the streets. The colours of the -uniforms are very striking and even crude. They supply the only -touch of the picturesque in Bridgetown, for, judging by my first -day's impressions of the town, I should imagine that the authorities -responsible for rebuilding it have swept away every vestige of the -tiny mediæval city which once existed on this spot and have replaced -it by a perfectly uniform piece of Meccanian town-planning. In such a -setting these uniforms strike one at first as out of place, but perhaps -I have not yet grasped their purpose or significance. The colour of the -uniforms of the members of the First Class is white; that of the Second -Class, red or scarlet; of the Third, yellow; of the Fourth, green; of -the Fifth, chocolate; of the Sixth, grey; of the Seventh, dark blue. -But so far I have seen no white uniforms, and only a few scarlet. I -saw several yellow uniforms to-day, but the most common were the green -uniforms of the Fourth Class and the chocolate uniforms of the Fifth -Class, to which the skilled artisans belong. Greys and dark blues were -also fairly numerous; but what surprised me most of all was the small -number of people to be seen in the streets. I must ask Sheep for the -explanation of this. - -Promptly at nine o'clock next morning Sub-Conductor of Foreign -Observers Sheep made his appearance at the hotel, and we began our tour -of the public buildings. He took me first to the 'Import-Food-Hall,' -which stood alongside the railway on the outskirts of the town near -the industrial quarter. It was a great warehouse through which all -the food brought into the town has to pass before it is allowed to be -sold in the markets and shops. (The sole exception is milk, which is -distributed by municipal servants.) The building was very extensive -and several stories high. The two ends were open for the passage of -railway wagons. The architecture was not without a certain coarse -dignity. The arches were decorated in Romanesque style, and the whole -front facing the street was covered with rude sculptures in high relief -of scenes connected with the production of food. The interior walls -were covered with frescoes depicting similar scenes. Conductor Sheep -grew almost enthusiastic over this exhibition of Meccanian Art. All -these decorations, he said, had been executed by the students of the -Bridgetown Art School. I was not altogether surprised to hear this; -there was something so very naïve and obvious about the whole idea. - -We next saw the municipal slaughter-houses, which were almost -adjoining. Inspector Sheep informed me how many minutes it took to -kill and prepare for the meat market a given number of cattle, sheep or -pigs. He dilated on the perfection of the machinery for every process, -and assured me that not a single drop of blood was wasted. The amount -of every particular kind of animal food required for each week in the -year was ascertained by the Sociological Department, and consequently -there was no difficulty in regulating the supply. The perfection of -the methods of preserving meat also effected some economy. Conductor -Sheep assured me that the Meccanian slaughter-houses had become the -models for all the civilised world, and that a former Director of the -Bridgetown slaughter-houses had been lent to a foreign Government to -organise the system of technical instruction for butchers. - -The five markets were in five different parts of the city. They served -to distribute perishable foods only, which were not allowed to be -sold in the ordinary shops. All women in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh -Classes were obliged to do their marketing in person. Each person was -obliged to deal solely with one dealer for a year at a time, and to -attend at the market at a particular hour, so that there should be no -congestion and no waste of time on the part of the dealers. This, I -suppose, explains the wonderful orderliness of these markets. There was -no gossiping or chaffering. Whether the people enjoy this arrangement -is a matter upon which Sheep did not enlighten me. He said it had been -calculated by the Time Department that an economy of 50 per cent had -been effected in the time spent upon the daily purchase of food since -the introduction of the modern market system. - -Foods that are not perishable are sold in the shops, and as regards -certain articles there is the same system of choosing each year the -shop at which one buys a particular article, whilst as regards others -trade is free. The housewife must buy her bread always from the same -baker; but things like mustard, spices, coffee or preserved food may be -bought at any shop. - -The sale of drink is regulated in a different way. The three lowest -classes are not allowed to keep drink in their houses; but as the -favourite national drink is a mild kind of beer which can be got in -any restaurant, there is no apparent hardship in this regulation. The -way in which excess is checked is very curious. The weekly budgets -of every family, in all classes below the fourth, are checked by the -authorities--by which department I do not know--and if the amount -spent on drink exceeds a certain sum per head, a fine is inflicted and -the offender warned. If the offence is persisted in, the offender is -forbidden to buy any drink for a specified period. One might suppose -that such regulations could easily be evaded; so they could in most -countries, but not in Meccania. Everything is so perfectly scrutinised -that no evasion seems possible--at any rate as far as the three lowest -classes are concerned. - -"This scrutiny of family budgets," I remarked, "is it not resented and -even evaded?" - -"I do not think it is resented," answered Sheep, "but it certainly -cannot be evaded. Why should it be resented? The facts are only known -to the officials, and in any case they would be required by the -Sociological Department. How else could it obtain the necessary data -for its researches? Every woman is taught how to keep her household -accounts in the proper manner, and she sends in her account book at -the end of each quarter. That is necessary for many reasons. No," he -concluded, as if the idea had not occurred to him before, "I have never -heard of any complaints. Only those would wish to complain who desired -to evade some salutary regulation; consequently there is no reason why, -out of regard for them, we should interfere with a practice that has so -many advantages." - -"What are the advantages?" I asked, for so far I had seen no advantage -except the possibility of checking expenditure upon drink. - -"The use of these accurate family budgets and household accounts to the -Sociological Department is simply indispensable. To the Department of -Trade and Industry also they are very valuable. In fact, you may take -it that all our Meccanian institutions are so arranged that they serve -several purposes and fit in with the whole Meccanian scheme of life." - -Incidentally, in connection with the family expenditure on food, he -mentioned model dietaries. I was curious to know what these were. He -explained that there were three recognised kinds of dietaries. First, -the Food Department prescribed model dietaries for families of the -three lowest classes in normal health. Secondly, when each person was -medically examined--and this happened at least once a year--the medical -officer might prescribe a dietary for the individual; and lastly, if a -person were positively ill, it would be the duty of the medical officer -in charge of the case to prescribe a dietary. I was going to ask some -further questions about the Medical Department, when Sheep reminded me -that we had still several other municipal departments to visit before -we came to the Medical Department, and that we must not depart from the -programme of our tour. - -The Department for the Inspection and Regulation of Clothing came next. -I was rather surprised that this should be a municipal institution, -seeing that the regulations were uniform for the whole country. - -Sheep explained that it was just because the regulations were so -perfectly uniform that the function of administering them could be -entrusted to the municipality. The department was quite a small -affair. Only about ten inspectors were required for Bridgetown. Their -duties were to see that no person wore any uniform to which he was -not entitled, and that on ceremonial occasions full-dress uniform was -worn. It was quite easy to ensure that a uniform of the right colour -was worn, but in addition to that the various grades of each class -were indicated by the various facings, stripes, buttons and badges, as -were also the different occupations within each class and grade. The -penalties for wearing unauthorised decorations were very heavy, and -infringements were very rare, as detection was almost certain. - -"I should have thought that the whole clothing trade would be in the -hands of the Government," I remarked. - -"That is not part of our system," replied Sheep. "The production of all -the kinds of cloth for all the uniforms is so standardised that there -would be no advantage in the State taking over the mere manufacture. -Each person chooses his tailor from a small panel. Naturally the -members of the higher classes have the best tailors. In fact, a tailor -of the first grade would not be allowed to make suits for the three -lowest classes; it would be a waste of talent." - -"And what about the women's clothing?" I inquired. "They do not wear -uniforms. Is their dress regulated in any way?" - -"Only in two ways," answered Sheep. "Every woman must wear, on the -front upper part of each of her outdoor dresses, a piece of cloth of -the regulation pattern and colour, to indicate the class to which she -belongs. Also the expenditure on dress is limited according to the -social class." - -When we came to the offices of the Department of Health, Sheep said I -had made a grave error of judgment in choosing Tour No. 1--the tour for -a single week only--as there was enough to occupy us for a week in the -Department of Health alone. It included the Sanitation Section, the -Medical Inspection Section, the Medical Dispensing Section, the Medical -Attendance Section, the Hospital Section, the section of the Special -Medical Board, the Marriages and Births Section, the Post-Mortem -Section, and the Buildings Section. - -After this I was not surprised to hear that over a thousand persons were -employed in the Health Department, in addition to the workmen--chiefly -of the Sixth and Seventh Classes--who did the actual menial work of -keeping the sewage system in order and keeping the streets clean. I -might write a whole chapter on the Health Department, but it will -perhaps suffice if I mention the most singular features. - -Inspectors visit every house twice a year to see that each house and -flat is kept in a sanitary condition. Each person is medically examined -once a year--this is in addition to the system of medical inspection in -schools--and whatever treatment is prescribed he must submit to. - -"What happens," I asked, "if a person declines to submit to treatment?" - -"He would be taken before the Special Medical Board," answered Sheep. - -"And what is that?" I asked. - -"We shall come to that presently," said Sheep reprovingly. He went on -to explain that the Dispensing Section treated all persons of the three -lowest classes who did not require to go into a hospital. The doctors -were municipal officials and there was no choice of doctor. - -"Why do you not allow choice of doctor?" I asked. - -"That would interfere with the proper classification of the diseases," -he answered. "As soon as a complaint is diagnosed, it is handed over -to the appropriate doctor for treatment. The same applies to the -Medical Attendance Section; but persons in the three lowest classes -are not generally attended in their homes, they are brought into -the hospitals. The chief work of the Medical Attendance Section is -in connection with births; consequently we employ a number of women -doctor-nurses in this Section. Now we come to the Special Medical -Board. It is a sort of Higher General Staff. It collates the results -of the work of all the other medical sections, and is responsible for -the annual report. It receives the instructions of the Central Medical -Department of Meccania, and sees that these are carried out. It directs -special investigations in all abnormal cases. In the case of so-called -incurable diseases it pronounces its decree as to whether the case is -incurable, and in that event it authorises the death of the patient." - -"Authorises the death of the patient?" I said. "Without the patient's -consent?" - -"The patient can hardly be the best judge," said Sheep. - -"What about the relatives then?" I asked. - -"The relatives have no voice in the matter," said Sheep. - -"That sounds very drastic," I remarked; "and what about the sort of -case you mentioned a little while ago?" - -"The case _you_ mentioned?" said Sheep. "I do not remember any such -cases, but if one occurred it would be dealt with under Section 143 of -the Medical Regulations, which prescribes that in case of persistent -disregard of the instructions of the authorised medical officer, with -the consent of the Special Medical Board, the person guilty of such -refusal is to be removed to an asylum for mental abnormality." - -"A lunatic asylum!" - -"We do not call them lunatic asylums. The term is obsolete; it does not -accord with our system of classification." - -Sheep next dealt with the Marriages and Births Section. This is in some -ways the most remarkable of all. It appears that a licence to marry is -issued to all persons in normal health, the Department prescribing the -number of children to be born within each period of five years. Persons -classified as abnormal are specially dealt with, and on this subject -Sheep referred me to the Report of the Central Medical Department, -which I could obtain in the Great Meccanian Library at Mecco. The -Post-Mortem Section carried out an examination in all cases of interest -to the Health Department before cremation. - -I asked what the Buildings Section was. It seems to be a sort of link -between the Architectural Department and the Health Department, and -supervises the building regulations from the hygienic point of view. - -The next day Conductor Sheep called punctually at nine o'clock to -continue the tour of observation. We had come to the end of one -section, as marked out in the mind of the 'Authority,' and were now to -begin another, namely, the institutions controlled partly by the City -and partly by the State. I suspect that the control by the City is a -good deal of a fiction, for the State has power to take over any of the -functions that are not performed to its satisfaction. - -We began with the Police. The office of the Central Police Station -was in the building where I had first been inspected, examined and -instructed, on my arrival. It was a large building for a town of the -size of Bridgetown, and seemed full of officials, police officers and -clerks. Yet I had noticed very few police officers in the streets. I -remarked upon this to my guide. I said, "In the country I have just -come from they have a great many police officers in the streets of the -large towns, but very few other officials connected with the police -service. Here, apparently, you have few police officers in the streets, -but a great many other officials connected with the police service. Can -you explain that?" - -"Yes," he said; "I have heard something of the kind before, and -although I have never been abroad to other countries, the books in -our libraries describe the police systems so fully that I think I can -answer your question. The police in Luniland--so I am informed--do -little else besides keeping order in the streets and following up -criminals." - -"Exactly," I remarked. "What else should they do?" - -"Here," said Sheep, "these are the least of their functions. We -employ fewer police in keeping order in the streets, and in detecting -criminals, than any country in the world. Crime and disorder are almost -unknown in Meccania. Our people are so well brought up that they -have little desire to commit crime. Those who do show any propensity -in that direction are deported to criminal colonies and give very -little trouble afterwards. Besides, there is, after all, very little -opportunity to commit crime, as you would soon discover if you -attempted to do so." - -"I can well believe that," I said. "But what, then, do your police find -to do?" - -"Speaking generally, their function is to see that the regulations -devised for the good of the State are properly carried out." - -"And those regulations are rather numerous, I suppose?" - -"Undoubtedly. As they affect every department of life, there are many -occasions upon which the assistance of the police is necessary in order -that people shall not make mistakes," said Sheep. - -"But," I said, "I thought that the officials of each department of -State attended to so many things that there would be little left -for the police. For instance," I added, "the inspectors of food and -clothing, of buildings, of public health, of education, and so forth." - -"Yes, yes," answered Conductor Sheep; "but suppose some matter arises -which may belong to several departments; the citizen needs guidance. -Quite apart from that, the police watch over the life of the people -from the point of view of the general public interest. They collect -information from all the other departments. Suppose a man neglects his -attendance at the theatre: the amusement authority must report the case -to the police. Similarly with all the other departments. Suppose, for -instance, a man were to try to make an unauthorised journey, or to -remain absent from work without a medical certificate, or to exceed -his proper expenditure and get into debt, or try to pass himself off -as a member of a higher class: in such cases it is the police who -take cognisance of the offence. Then there is the annual report and -certificate of conduct with respect to every citizen. How could this be -filled up without exact information? All this involves a great deal of -work." - -"Indeed it must," I replied. - -"You see, then, that our police are not idle," said Sheep triumphantly. - -"Indeed I do," I replied. - -After this enlightening explanation the offices of the Police -Department no longer presented a mystery to me. I looked with awe at -the hundreds of volumes of police reports in the official library of -the Bridgetown police office, and wondered what the Central Police -Office Library would be like; for I was told it contained a copy of -every police report of every district in the country, as well as those -for the great capital Mecco. - -When we came to the Department of Education, which was one of the -institutions managed by the State and the Municipality, Conductor Sheep -regretted once more that I had chosen Tour No. 1. We could only spare -half a day at most for this important department. Here, again, I can -only note a few of the unusual features of the system, as explained -to me by my encyclopædic conductor. We saw no schools except on the -outside, but I noticed the children going to and from school. They -all marched in step, in twos or fours, like little soldiers. They did -not race about the streets or play games. Wherever they started from -they fell into step with their comrades and carried their satchels -like knapsacks. The State Inspectors, it seems, decide what is to be -taught, and how it is to be taught: the local officers carry out their -instructions and classify the children. In the office of the Department -there is a sort of museum of school apparatus in connection with the -stores section. The books are all prescribed by the Central Department, -and no others may be used. The children of the Sixth and Seventh -Classes attend common schools in order to get the benefit of better -classification. There are no schools in Bridgetown for the members -of the First and Second Classes. They go elsewhere, but the other -classes have separate schools. The children of the Sixth and Seventh -Classes stay at school until they are twelve; but their instruction is -largely of a practical and manual kind. Those of the Fifth Class remain -until fifteen, and are trained to be skilled workmen. After fifteen -they receive instruction in science in connection with their several -occupations. - -Closely connected with the system of education, for the three lowest -classes, is the Juvenile Bureau of Industry. This is controlled by -the Department of Industry and Commerce. No young person in Meccania -can take up any employment without a certificate granted by this -Department. The officials of the Juvenile Bureau, after consultation -with the officials of the Education Department, decide what occupation -boys and girls may enter, and no employer is allowed to engage a boy or -girl except through the medium of the Bureau. - -"What about the inclinations of the boys and girls, and the desires of -their parents?" I remarked to Sheep. - -"The inclinations of the boys?" said Sheep, more puzzled than -surprised. "In what way does that affect the question?" - -"A boy might like to be a cabinet-maker rather than a metal worker, or -a mason rather than a clerk," I said. - -"But such a question as that will have been determined while the boy is -at school." - -"Then when does he get the chance of choosing an occupation?" - -"It will depend upon his abilities for different kinds of work. And he -can hardly be the judge of that himself," added Sheep. - -"Where do the parents come in, then?" I asked. - -"The parents will naturally encourage the boy to do his best at school. -And after all, does it matter much whether a boy is a mason or a -carpenter? In any case, the number of carpenters will be decided each -year, and even each quarter, by the Department of Industry. It is not -as if it would alter his class, either; he will be in the same class -unless he is very exceptional and passes the State Examination for -promotion." - -I saw it would be useless to suggest any other ideas to Sub-Conductor -Sheep, who seemed constitutionally unable to understand any objections -to the official point of view. I could hardly hope to learn much about -education in a single afternoon. All we saw was the mere machinery from -the outside, and not even a great deal of that. I gathered that there -was a most minute classification, with all sorts of subdivisions, of -the children according to their capacities and future occupations. -There were sufficient local inspectors to provide one for each -large school, and their chief business was to conduct psychological -experiments and apply all sorts of tests of intelligence in order to -introduce improved methods of instruction. The inspectors themselves -were all specialists. One was an expert on mental fatigue, another -devoted himself to classifying the teachers according to their aptitude -for teaching particular subjects, another specialised in organising -profitable recreative employments for different grades of children; -another superintended all juvenile amusements. Sheep showed me the -exterior of a large psychological laboratory attached to the Technical -College. Bridgetown was too small to have a University of its own, -but it had two large 'Secondary' Schools for pupils in the Third and -Fourth Classes, and an enormous technical school for the boys of the -Fifth Class. It was fitted up like a series of workshops for all sorts -of trades, with class-rooms and laboratories attached. Sheep asserted -that it was through these schools that the Meccanian artisans had -become by far the most efficient workmen in the whole world. I had not -time to ask many questions about the provision for games or physical -training, but from something Sheep said I inferred that whilst games -had been reduced to a minimum the experts had devised a system of -physical training which satisfied all Meccanian requirements. - -Sheep strongly advised me to study Meccanian education in Mecco if I -ever got there. All true Meccanians recognised, he said, that the whole -national greatness of Meccania rested on their system of education. No -doubt statesmen had done much, but the ground had been prepared by the -schoolmasters, and the statesmen themselves had been brought up in the -Meccanian system of education. He himself, he confided, was the son of -a Meccanian village schoolmaster. - -Why then, I asked, begging his pardon if the question were indiscreet, -did he wear the chocolate button which indicated that he had once been -a member of the Fifth Class? - -"When the sevenfold classification was introduced," he answered, -"village schoolmasters who were not graduates were in the Fifth -Class, and I was in the Fifth Class until I was thirty and gained my -promotion in the Police Department." - - * * * * * - -Tour No. 1 made no provision for studying the lighter side of life -in Bridgetown. Sheep said that practically all forms of amusement -were controlled by a section of the Department of Culture, but that -the Organising Inspectors of Private Leisure were appointed locally, -subject to the approval of the Central Department. - -"Organising Inspectors of Private Leisure!" I exclaimed. "What an -extraordinary institution!" - -"In what way extraordinary?" said Sheep. - -"I am sure they do not exist in any other country," I replied. - -"Perhaps not," replied Sheep; "but, then, our culture is not modelled -on that of any other country. Possibly other countries will discover -the use of such officials when they have developed a better system of -education." - -"But what is their function?" I asked. - -"Any person who has more than an hour a day unaccounted for, after -doing his day's work, and fulfilling all his other duties, is required -to submit a scheme every half-year, showing what cultural pursuit he -proposes to follow. The inspectors will assist him with expert advice -and will see that he carries out his programme." - -"Is there nothing left unregulated in this country?" I asked in as -innocent a tone as I could command. - -"That is a very interesting question," replied Sheep. "If you will -consult the _Forty-eighth Annual Report of the Ministry of Culture_ -you will find an interesting diagram, or map, showing the whole field -of Meccanian life and the stages in its organisation. One by one all -the spheres of life have been gradually organised. If you examine the -diagram showing the present state of Meccania, and compare it with -similar maps for other countries, you will perceive how very much more -advanced our culture is than that of any other country." - -"And what regions still remain for the Department of Culture to -conquer?" - -"An investigation is going on at the present time into the interesting -question of individual taste," he answered. "It is being conducted by -the Æsthetic Section of the Department, but they have not yet reported." - -Where everything is so completely regulated it is not surprising to -find that poverty, as understood in many countries, no longer exists; -but I was not quite clear how it was provided against. Once more Sheep -was ready with a complete explanation. - -"Our laws," he said, "do not permit anyone to remain idle, and the -regulation of the expenditure of the lower classes secures them -against improvidence. Besides, as they contribute to insurance funds, -they receive a pension in old age, and allowances during sickness or -disablement. Poverty is therefore impossible." - -"Apparently, then," I remarked, "if the labouring classes will -surrender their liberty to the State they can be relieved of all danger -of poverty." - -"I do not understand what you mean by surrendering their liberty," -replied Sheep. - -"In many other countries," I said, "people desire to please themselves -what they will work at, and indeed whether they will work at all. They -like to have the liberty of striking, for instance, against wages or -other conditions that do not satisfy them, and I have heard people in -such countries declare that they would rather preserve their freedom in -such things than be secured even against poverty." - -"It is no part of my business to discuss such questions," replied -Sheep, "but I have never heard such a question even discussed in -Meccania. The foundation of Meccanian law is that the private -individual has no rights against the State." - - * * * * * - -It was towards the end of the week that I mentioned to Conductor -Sheep that I had had great difficulty in procuring a copy of the -local newspaper published in Bridgetown; in fact, I had not managed -to get a sight of it. Sheep explained that Tour No. 1 did not allow -time for the study of local social life in such detail as to provide -a place for such a thing, but he was good enough to procure me a -sight of the _Bridgetown Weekly Gazette_. It was well printed on -good paper, but it was more like an official municipal record than a -newspaper. It contained brief reports of municipal committee meetings, -announcements as to forthcoming examinations, lists of persons who -had passed various examinations; and statistics of births, deaths -and marriages. The figures for the births were given in an unusual -form. There were fifty first-born boys, forty-five first-born girls; -forty-seven second-born boys, forty-eight second-born girls; and so on -down to three fourteenth-born boys and seven fourteenth-born girls. -There were statistics of accidents, with brief details. There was a -list of small fines inflicted for various infringements of regulations, -and announcements of forthcoming legal cases. The only advertisements -were a few concerning sales of property and household goods. It was -altogether the driest document calling itself a newspaper I had ever -seen. I tried to draw Sheep on the subject of newspapers in general, -but he seemed rather annoyed. - -"I procured this _Gazette_," he said, "as a concession to your -curiosity, although it forms no part of our programme, and now you wish -to go into a subject which is totally unconnected with our tour. The -question is of historical interest only, and if you stay in Meccania -long enough to study the historical development of our Culture, -you will study the history of the Press in its proper place and -connection. I will, however, add for your present information that the -Central Government issues a complete series of Gazettes, which serve -the same purpose for the country as a whole as the _Bridgetown Weekly -Gazette_ for his locality." - -With that the subject was closed for the present. - - * * * * * - -Although I had now been here nearly a whole week, I had not yet had -an opportunity of strolling round to see anything that might catch -my fancy. Everything had been done according to the programme. -Nevertheless, I had noticed a few things in the course of my daily -tours which Conductor Sheep did not think worthy of comment. I got very -tired of his guide-book style of explanation. Bridgetown was hardly -worth the painful and systematic study which he compelled me to give to -it, and I decided to go straight on to the capital in a few days. - -I saw no drunken people--the regulations do not permit drunkenness. -I saw no loose women in the streets. On this subject I can get no -information from Sheep, but I suspect there is something to learn. -There were no advertisement hoardings. I must confess I rather missed -them; they may be ugly, but they are often interesting. The shops were -very dull. Nothing was displayed in the windows to tempt people to buy, -and there were no people about the streets shopping in a casual way. -People must know what they want, and go to the shops which specialise -in the particular article. There were large stores; but even these were -so divided into departments that there was little fun in shopping. -Indiscriminate and casual shopping is distinctly discouraged by the -State. Advertising is restricted to trade journals, except for a little -in the miserable local gazettes. Only those forms of production which -the State considers necessary are allowed to expand indefinitely; -all the others are regulated. Consequently there are none of the -incitements to expenditure which exist in most modern countries. I have -never been a great shopper, but I could not have believed how much -duller life was without the attractions of the shop windows and the -stores, if I had not been here. For instance, I found that I had very -foolishly come without a pair of bedroom slippers, so I wanted to buy -a pair. I looked round naturally for a shop where I should see such -things displayed in the window, but I had to go to the slipper section -of the boot department of a store, choose from an illustrated catalogue -the quality I wanted, and take whatever they had. - -I thought I should have seen book-shops displaying all the most recent -books and publications. In other countries I found it possible to pick -up a great deal of information by noticing the kind of literature -exposed for sale. Booksellers' shops have always an attraction for -me. To my amazement the book-sellers' shops have disappeared from -Meccania, yet I know from my own reading they used to be quite a -feature in the life of the old Meccania. The censorship of the printing -trade has apparently revolutionised the book-selling business. At any -rate, the only place in which I could get to see books in Bridgetown -was at a sort of office in the Technical College. It seems that the -Publications Department of the Ministry of Culture--I think that is the -right name--has in every town a public room, fitted up like a small -library, in which all the current books published are exhibited for six -months at a time. This is really a very useful institution in itself, -but the books exhibited were not on sale, so all the pleasurable -excitement of a book-_shop_ was wanting. To _buy_ books one must order -them through an authorised book-agent, who has a sort of monopoly. I -wondered why such an extraordinary arrangement should have been made, -but when I got the explanation from Sheep it was quite consistent with -the general scheme of things here. - -I asked him whether the Government discouraged the public from reading. -He said, "Not at all. Our people are great readers; they do not need -any incitements to read. They consult the lists of new books and come -to the book-room to see any book in which they are interested. Then -they decide whether to buy it or to borrow it from the public library." - -"But why do you not permit people to open book-shops?" - -"It would be a sheer waste," replied Sheep. "One book-agent can -supply all the books required in Bridgetown without keeping a stock -of thousands of books that would never be wanted or not wanted for -years. Apply the same principle to other towns and you will see that by -keeping only one central stock we effect a great economy." - -I pointed out that in other countries the publishers kept the stock and -supplied booksellers with what they wanted, allowing them to keep a few -copies for the immediate sales; and that consequently this was almost -as economical an arrangement. - -"But," said Sheep, "we have no publishers in your sense of the word. -When a book is written it cannot be printed without the sanction of the -Government censors, who decide how many copies in the first instance -are to be issued. The publishers are really printers who arrange the -form and style of the book, but undertake no responsibility such as -publishers in other countries undertake." - -"Then the Government are really the publishers?" I suggested. - -"Well," answered Sheep, "the Government _are_ the publishers of most -books. That is to say, the number of Government publications exceeds -the number of private publications, but as regards the latter the -publishers or printers assume the financial responsibility for the -sales but are insured by the Government against loss, so long as they -comply with the conditions imposed by the Publishing Department." - -But I have digressed too far. My interest in book-shops must be my -excuse. Not only were there no casual shoppers, but I saw no one -sauntering about the streets. Everybody seemed to have an object in -view. There were no children playing. The children were either marching -in step to or from school, or they were performing some kind of -organised game--if it could be called a game--under the supervision of -a teacher or guardian. The workmen going to their work, or returning, -also marched in step like soldiers. The women going to market went at -the appointed time and took their place in a little queue if there were -more than three or four in front of them. At the theatre there was no -crowd outside; every one had his numbered seat and went to it at the -minute. Each man's ticket has printed on it the day of his attendance, -the number of the seat and the exact time at which he must be present. - -There are no such things here as football matches or other sports -witnessed by crowds. The men attend military drill once a week, some -on Sundays and some on Saturdays. This is in addition to their annual -periods of drill. The only custom which survives from old times, -resembling the customs of other countries, is that of sitting in the -evening in gardens attached to restaurants. Here the people listen to -bands of music whilst they drink a thin kind of liquor and smoke cigars. - -The sense of orderliness is almost oppressive. Every hour of the day -has been mapped out for me, except when I have been writing my journal -in the evening. The day before yesterday we began to visit the State -institutions. The chief of these is the Post Office, but the most -remarkable is the Time Department. The Post Office is very much like -any other post office, except that it has a Censor's Department. All -letters are actually read by the clerks in the Censor's Department. -Sheep gave me a curious explanation in justification of this -extraordinary institution. Put briefly, his case was this. The State -could not, with due regard to the interests of the community, allow -_all_ letters to go uncensored. All sorts of mischief might be hatched. -If the State censors any letters it cannot logically stop short of -censoring all. As to the labour involved, this pays for itself. For -the public, knowing that its letters are liable to be read, does not -indulge in unnecessary letter-writing. Thus time is saved, which can be -devoted to more useful purposes. The statistics compiled by the Time -Department have completely proved that the labour of the fifty clerks -employed in censoring the letters effects a saving of more than four -times the amount of time which would otherwise be spent by the public -in useless letter-writing. - -This Time Department is the most extraordinary institution of all I -have seen so far. Every person over ten years of age is required to -fill in a diary-form each week showing the time spent daily on every -separate operation. The diary form is a stout double sheet of foolscap -providing four pages altogether. The first page is stamped with the -name, address, and other particulars of the 'diarist.' The two open -pages are ruled into 336 small oblong spaces, one for each half-hour of -the week. In these spaces brief entries are made, such as 'breakfast,' -'tram-journey,' 'conversation,' 'sleeping,' etc. This part of the -diary thus gives a chronological account of each day in successive -half-hours. On the back page is printed a long list of about 150 -categories in three columns. I noticed such headings as these:--Sleep, -dressing, meals (subdivided), travelling (conveyance specified), -employment (specified under many heads), study (specified), reading, -letter-writing, interviews with officials, attendance at theatre, -concert, church, museum, etc., conversation (subdivided into family, -friends, others), other amusements (specified), public ceremonies, -drill, etc. Against each of these headings the total number of minutes -spent during the week is recorded. - -The information derived from these diaries is scrutinised and worked -up into elaborate reports and statistics for the benefit of the -Sociological Department, the Police Department, the Department of -Trade and Industry, and so forth. I hope to learn more of this most -remarkable feature of Meccanian life when I reach the capital, where -the Central Time Department carries on its work. - -I have good reason to remember the Time Department, for on Sunday -morning after breakfast I was sent for by the official who manages -the Hotel for Foreign Observers. He told me rather curtly that he had -just received a telephone message from the local office of the Time -Department inquiring whether I had sent in my diary, as it had not -been received. I told him I knew nothing about such a thing. He said, -"Nonsense. You have had the usual instructions given to all foreigners. -Look among your papers." I did look, and there, sure enough, was a -sheet of instructions and three blank forms. He said, "You had better -fill it up at once." So I went to the writing-room and began. But I -could not remember what had happened at all clearly enough to fill the -half of it in. At the end of an hour the hotel manager came to ask what -I was doing all this time. I explained my difficulty. He asked if I had -not kept a pocket-diary: it was indispensable. I suddenly remembered -the pocket-diary Sheep had procured for me; but I had forgotten to -make use of it. What a fool I was! We spent the next hour doctoring up -the diary and then sent it in. He told me I should have to pay a fine -of ten shillings for the delay. I did not mind that, but the next day -I received a visit from an official from the Time Department, who -came with Conductor Sheep to point out that there were many errors in -the diary. The times for a number of items did not tally with those -in Conductor Sheep's diary, although we had been together the whole -week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. I should have to make out a fresh -diary with the assistance of Conductor Sheep, and pay a fine of £1. -The charge of falsifying my diary would not be made, in view of my -colossal ignorance; the charge would be reduced to that of negligence -to verify particulars. Conductor Sheep was rather disagreeable about -the affair, as it might be considered to reflect on him. I certainly -thought he might have taken the trouble to instruct me more fully upon -such a momentous business. However, as I was on the point of leaving -Bridgetown for Mecco, I was not much disturbed by his ill-humour. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -INTRODUCTION TO MECCO - - -It is a week since I arrived in Mecco, and for the first time I have -leisure to write up my journal. The life of a Foreign Observer is very -strenuous, for the Meccanian method of seeing everything according -to programme and timetable is very fatiguing. Already I feel that -a holiday will be welcome at the end of my tour. In the whole of -this vast city of Mecco there is nothing casual, nothing incidental, -nothing unprovided for. Although I am only a spectator, I feel like -a little cog in the huge complicated machine. The machine seems to -absorb everything; the individual counts for nothing. That is perhaps -the reason why it seems impossible to get into contact with any human -being other than the officials who instruct me and conduct me every -moment of my time. I begin to wonder whether the individual Meccanian -really exists, or whether his personality is merged in the official -personality which is all that is visible to me. - -To resume the record of my experiences. Before I left Bridgetown, -Sub-Conductor Sheep repeated his opinion that in choosing Tour No. 1, -which allowed only a week for the study of an important town, I had -revealed my incapacity as a Foreign Observer. He evidently put me down -in one of the pigeon-holes of his mind as a mere tourist--a creature -almost extinct in Meccania. The day before my departure I paid the -bill for his services, which were reckoned at the modest rate of 16s. -a day. My hotel bill was also discharged, and I proceeded to my final -interview with the Police Authorities. I had to submit to another -disinfecting bath, but apart from this the medical examination was a -formality. - -At the Police Office, Inspector of Foreigners Stiff was very sarcastic -at my expense. "So you think there is nothing more to be learnt in -Bridgetown," he remarked. "It is not more than ten days since you left -Luniland, and you think yourself qualified to proceed to the very -centre of our national Culture. Evidently your stay in Luniland has not -improved whatever powers of appreciation you may have possessed; but -that is what one would expect from that country of amateurs, charlatans -and cranks. You have seen nothing of our Museum, our Art Collections, -our Libraries: you are not interested in such things. How, then, do you -suppose you will be able to appreciate what you will find in Mecco? We -do our best to assist all Foreign Observers, but it is rather a waste -of time to provide an experienced and qualified Conductor for persons -who are so clever that they only require a week to learn all there -is to know in a whole city. However," he added, "the law with respect -to Foreign Observers does not forbid you to proceed to Mecco. You -have your medical certificate, I suppose, to show that you are still -disease-free?" I produced it. "Have you notified the Railway Authority -of your intention to travel to Mecco?" I had not done so. - -"Turn to paragraph 44 of your Instructions and you will see that a -day's notice must be given," he said brusquely. "You will have to stay -another night in the hotel and travel to-morrow. Good morning." - -Sheep accompanied me to the booking-office at the station, where I -filled up a form of application. When this was presented to the clerk -in charge, a fussy little old man in a chocolate-coloured uniform, he -turned to Sheep in great excitement and whispered something which I did -not hear. Then he turned indignantly to me and said, "But you are not -an Ambassador, nor even a Government Agent." - -"No," I said; "I am merely National Councillor Ming." - -"So I see," he answered testily, "but why do you wish to travel First -Class?" (I had filled in the word "First" in the space for "Class.") -"Are you not aware," he said, "that only foreigners who are Ambassadors -are ever permitted to travel First Class? You will travel Third Class -in the compartment for Foreign Observers." - -Next morning I went to the station in good time. An attendant from the -hotel brought my bags over and handed them to one of the porters. I -did not see them again until I found them in the hotel at Mecco. I was -handed over to an official at the station. This person looked at my -travel-permit and informed me curtly that I had arrived too early. I -said, "Oh, that does not matter. I can look about the station until the -train starts." - -"That is not permitted," he said. "You will go to the waiting-room--that -is what a waiting-room is for. Your train will come in a quarter of an -hour before it is due to leave, and you will then take your seat, -Coach Third Class, Compartment IV., Seat No. 12." - -So I was taken to the waiting-room. Apparently I did not miss much of -interest, for the station was one of the quietest and dullest I have -ever seen. There is very little traffic across the frontier, so that -Bridgetown station is a sort of dead-end. Only three passenger trains a -day go direct to Mecco, and these are by no means crowded. I have since -learnt that the restrictions on travelling in all parts of Meccania are -part of the general policy designed to keep down unnecessary forms of -expenditure to a minimum. - -The train was due to leave at ten o'clock. At a quarter before ten -exactly, as I looked through the window screen I saw it gliding along -the platform into the bay. A bell rang, and my porter came to take me -to my place. As I stepped across the platform I saw about a hundred -people preparing to get into the train. Where they had been up to this -moment I do not know. There was no bustle. Each person took his place -as if he had been taking his seat in a concert-room. There was no -examination of tickets. Every one had booked his seat the day before, -and every seat was numbered. The train was made up of five passenger -coaches, a post-office van, a baggage wagon, two wagons for perishable -goods and a special coach for soldiers (privates). One of the passenger -coaches painted red bore a large Roman II., indicating that it was a -Second Class coach, another painted yellow was marked III., two others -painted green were marked IV., and another painted chocolate was marked -V. There was no First Class coach on this train, as there were no -persons of the First Class travelling by it. Neither, apparently, were -there any Sixth or Seventh Class passengers. Every one travelling wore -a sort of uniform overcoat of the same colour as that of the coach in -which he travelled. It was only later that I was able to recognise -readily and without confusion the colours appropriate to the seven -social classes, but I did notice that the Fifth Class wore chocolate, -the Fourth green, the Third yellow and the Second red or scarlet. - -I was taken to a compartment temporarily set apart for foreigners in -the Third Class coach. There was still ten minutes before the train -started, so I looked out of the window and saw the porters and minor -officials storing the luggage, putting in the mails, and so forth. The -perishable goods had already been loaded, in a siding I suppose. No one -was permitted on the platform except the railway servants, so that the -station looked almost deserted. Presently the stationmaster, dressed in -a green uniform with chocolate facings and a bit of gold braid on his -cap, came on the platform and looked at his watch. Then, exactly as the -big bell of the station clock began to strike ten, he waved a signal -and the train glided out. - -In a few minutes we were going at 100 miles an hour, and in less than -a quarter of an hour the speed increased to 150. The track was smooth, -but I began to feel dizzy when I looked out of the window. There was -little to be seen, for every now and then we passed between embankments -that shut out the view. I pulled down the blinds, turned on the light -and tried to read. In a short time I had almost forgotten the immense -speed at which we were travelling. - -I had previously learnt that if I went to Mecco by the express I -should see nothing of the country, and had consequently proposed to -travel by a stopping train, perhaps breaking my journey a few times. -But when I mentioned this to Sheep he said it would be impossible. I -could not stop at any place to make a stay of less than three days, -and each of the places I stopped at would have to be notified. I must -either go direct to Mecco, or to some other city. So here I was, almost -flying to Mecco. After about an hour, one of the guards came in to -see that everything was in order. He wore a chocolate uniform, with a -number of stripes and other symbols to indicate his particular grade, -occupation and years of service. After stamping my ticket he grinned -good-humouredly for a Meccanian, and said, "So you are going to see the -wonders of our wonderful Mecco. Lucky man! There is nothing like it -anywhere in the world." - -"Indeed," I said, "you have travelled abroad a good deal, then?" - -"Oh no. I have never been out of Meccania, thank God!" - -"What makes you think there is nothing like it, then, in any other -country?" I asked. - -"Oh, the wide streets, the buildings, the gardens, the monuments, the -uniforms, the music, everything--it is c-o-l-o-s-s-a-l! When you have -seen the great monument, the statue of Prince Mechow! There is nothing -like it anywhere. You will see! And you must not miss the Memorial -Museum of Prince Mechow! I tell you it is a privilege to live in Mecco. -But I must not gossip," he said, as if half ashamed; "I have many -duties," and off he went. Towards the end of the journey, which lasted -a little over two hours, he looked in again and said, "You must not -leave Mecco until you have seen the great festival on Prince Mechow's -birthday." I promised to remember it. - -As we drew near to Mecco the train slackened speed, and I could see, -but only for a minute or two, a great city spread over a wide plain. -There were domes and towers, steeples and pinnacles, huge masses of -masonry suggesting great public buildings, then miles of houses and -gardens and in the far distance warehouses and factories, but no smoke. -We plunged into a tunnel and then emerged suddenly into a blaze of -light. The train glided along the platform, and as I stepped out I -could not help looking round in admiration at the truly magnificent -arches and lofty dome of the great Central Station of Mecco. The roof -seemed to be made of some wonderful prismatic glass that radiated light -everywhere. The ground was covered with immense tiles in coloured -patterns, all as clean as if they had been washed and scrubbed that -very hour. Not a speck of dirt or smoke was to be seen. Although -hundreds of people were in the station, there was no bustle. No one -sauntered about; every one seemed to go just where he had business. -There was no scrambling for luggage or for cabs. No one was allowed to -take luggage with him unless it could be carried in one hand; the rest -was all registered and sent to its destination by the railway servants. -Only persons of the third or a higher class were allowed to use -motor-cabs, and these were all ordered beforehand. The impression of -orderliness was almost uncanny. As I reached the end of the platform I -was touched on the shoulder by a man in the green uniform of the Fourth -Class, decorated with several stripes and badges. "You are National -Councillor Ming," he said, "and I am Conductor of Foreign Observers -Prigge." - -He seemed to be in very good spirits, but this made him rather -offensive than amiable. He treated me as if I were a sort of prisoner, -or at any rate as if I were a very juvenile pupil. He said that as my -bags had gone to the Hotel for Foreign Observers we need not go there -first, but could proceed straight to the Police Office. This was not -far from the station and was a large building, almost like a fortress -in front. Viewed from the other side, as I afterwards saw, it was more -like a set of offices with large windows. - -First of all I was taken to the police doctor, who spent nearly two -hours upon a minute medical examination of me. The object of this -could not have been to make sure that I was "disease-free," for I -had been seen the day before by the police doctor at Bridgetown. It -could not have been for the purpose of identification, seeing that the -authorities had obtained all the finger-prints and everything else -they required, on my first arrival. I could only conclude that it was -for the purpose of scientific research. I judged from the remarks -made by Doctor Pincher in the course of his investigations that he -was an expert anthropologist. He took samples of my hair, not only -from my head, but from various parts of my body. He took a sample of -my blood, and of the perspiration from several different glands. He -even removed a small particle of skin, without any pain. He tested -my eyesight, hearing and smell, my muscular powers, and all sorts of -reactions to various stimuli. He informed me that I should require a -pair of spectacles. I said I did not think it was worth while, as I -had never yet experienced any discomfort. He replied that that made no -difference, and proceeded to write out a prescription which he told me -to take to a certain office, where, in a few days, I should be supplied -with the necessary glasses. He then took a cast of my mouth and of my -ears, and measured me in twenty different places. Finally he gave me a -drink of what appeared to be water, but which made me unconscious for -several minutes. What he did during those few minutes I do not know, -and he did not deign to inform me. As I left him he smiled--I suppose -he thought he was being amiable--and said, "We do not have the pleasure -of seeing a Chinaman here every day." - -I was then taken to the office of Chief Inspector of Foreigners Pryer. -He looked at me, asked a few trivial questions, and handed me over to a -subordinate, Lower Inspector of Foreigners Bulley. This gentleman sat -at a desk, and after noting the time and my name on a sort of tablet, -took out a yellow form, foolscap size, upon which he proceeded to make -notes of my answers to his questions. He put me through a catechism -as to what I had seen in Bridgetown. Which of the local institutions -had I visited, which of the national, which of the local and national? -What had I learnt of the industrial and social economy of Bridgetown? -What had I learnt of the cultural institutions? Had I made notes of my -daily tours, and could I produce them? (Luckily all my notes were in a -language that Inspector Bulley could not read.) - -He then proceeded to discuss plans for my tours of observation in -Mecco. In the first place, how long did I propose to stay? I did not -know. What did the length of my stay depend upon? I said it would -largely depend upon my ability to stand the strain of it. - -I thought this would perhaps annoy him, but on the contrary it pleased -him immensely. "Good!" he said. "You are here to study the institutions -of Mecco, and you will stay as long as you have the strength to carry -out your task." - -That was not what I meant, but I let it pass. - -"I think you had better select the preliminary six months' tour of -observation," he said. "After that, you can begin the study of any -special branch for which you are qualified, and for which you have -an inclination; possibly industry, possibly art, possibly sociology, -possibly education. We can decide that at the end of your preliminary -period. You will have for your guide, for the first few weeks, Lower -Conductor Prigge. As, however, he has just been promoted to a higher -rank in the police service, he will not be available after the first -few weeks, but I will arrange for a suitable successor." - -He then presented me with several documents. "This," he said, handing -me a thick notebook of some two hundred pages, "is the preliminary -diary in which you make your notes in whatever form you like. There -are four pages for each day. This is the formal diary for the Time -Department, to be carefully entered up each week and posted before -Sunday morning. These are the sheets of Instructions specially drawn -up for Foreign Observers in Mecco; you will notice they are all marked -'Tour No. 4,' and numbered consecutively. And this," handing me a thin -metal plate about half the size of a postcard, "is your identification -ticket." - -It was now the middle of the afternoon. I had had no luncheon, so when -Prigge came to take me off to the hotel, I proposed that we should -have some tea. He demurred a little, as he did not drink tea, but he -consented to have some coffee and a cigar in the smoke-room if I would -drink my tea there. So we went on talking over our tea and coffee, and -this is a specimen of the conversation:-- - -"You will understand," said Prigge, "that everything depends upon -your own energy and intelligence. If you apply yourself thoroughly -to the work before you, you will learn more in a fortnight under -my guidance than in a whole year in Luniland. I have had a long -experience in conducting foreigners. Most of them have no idea how to -observe, especially those who come from Luniland. They want to roam -about without any system or method at all. They want to see an Art -Gallery one day, and a manufactory the next; or even on the same day. -Then they want to see a natural history museum on the same day as an -archæological museum; they will fly from pottery to pictures, and from -geology to botany. Why, I was taking one of them through our great -museum illustrative of the stages of culture, which is arranged in -twenty successive centuries, and when we had reached the sixteenth he -actually wanted to turn back to look at something in the twelfth!" - -"I think it will be a good thing," I said, "if I ask you questions as -we go along, about matters that strike me. With all your knowledge you -will be able to tell me many things outside the regular routine." - -"Your proposal implies," he replied, "that I shall not give you -the appropriate information in proper order. If you will follow my -directions you will learn more than by any amount of aimless and -desultory questioning. I have studied the principles of Pedagogy as -applied to conducting Foreign Observers, and I shall accommodate the -presentation of new matter to the existing content of your mind, in so -far as your mind has any definite content. You will not be precluded -from asking questions, but whether I shall answer them will depend upon -their relevance to the subject in hand." - -Before we parted he gave me some general instructions. "For the first -week," he said, "you will not be permitted to converse with other -foreigners staying in the hotel. Tonight you will be free to attend -to your private affairs and prepare for tomorrow. We shall begin by a -survey of the general geography of the city, and in the evening you -will have permission to attend one of the lectures specially given -to Foreign Observers by Professor Proser-Toady on Prince Mechow, the -re-Founder of the Meccanian State. Professor Proser-Toady is the -Professor of Historical Culture in Mecco, and this course of lectures -is given periodically, so that foreigners may have no excuse for being -ignorant of the true history of the rise and development of Meccanian -culture." - -So I spent the evening in writing letters, looking up my 'Instructions,' -and filling up my diary. For this day, interviews with officials -accounted for at least five hours. Next morning at nine o'clock -Conductor Prigge turned up, looking more perky than ever. He had all -the airs of a professor, a police officer, and a drill sergeant rolled -into one. "Our first business will be to study the map," he said. "To -that we will give one and a half hours. After that we will ascend the -look-out tower in the Meteorological Department and take a view of -the city in the concrete. In the afternoon we will go by tram-car in -three concentric circles, and in the evening you will attend Professor -Proser-Toady's lecture." - -We began with the maps. I remembered something of the maps of the old -city from my geographical studies at home, and I remarked on the great -changes, for hardly a vestige of the old city seemed to remain. - -Prigge appeared rather pleased. "That is an instance of the superiority -of our culture," he remarked. "All the other capitals of Europe," he -said, "still preserve the plan of the mediæval city, in the central -parts at least. And the central parts are the most important. The -authorities profess to have preserved them because of their historical -interest. In reality it is because they do not know how to remodel -them. Against human stupidity the very gods fight in vain, but to -intelligence all things are possible. Any dolt can plan a new city, -but we are the only people in Europe who know how to remodel our old -cities. Now you will notice," he went on, "that we have preserved the -old royal palace and several other important buildings. They do not -interfere with the general plan. The large central ring, over a square -mile in extent, is occupied by Government buildings; and although there -is a larger number than in all the European capitals put together, -they are not crowded. The square of Prince Mechow, where the great -statue stands, is the largest in Europe. The ring outside that is -occupied by Cultural Institutions, Museums, Art Galleries, Libraries, -the University, the Zoological Gardens, the Botanical Gardens, and so -forth. Next comes a very much larger ring, occupied almost entirely by -the residential quarters of the six social classes. (In Mecco itself -there are no members of the Seventh Class.) The whole presents a -superficial resemblance to a great wheel." - -"Where, then, is the manufacturing quarter and the business quarter?" - -"Now where would you expect?" he asked, as if to show off his own -cunning. - -"I saw a number of factories in the distance," I said. - -"Yes," he answered, "the manufacturing quarter lies outside the ring -and forms a sort of town by itself." - -"And the business quarter? That must be centrally placed," I said. - -"Not necessarily. If you draw a line from the centre of Mecco to the -industrial quarter you will find the commercial quarter occupying -a long rectangle between the second ring and the outer edge of the -exterior circle. The commercial quarter thus cuts the residential ring -on one side. The residential quarters of the Sixth and Fifth Classes -lie on each side of the commercial quarter and are therefore nearest to -the industrial quarter. - -[Illustration] - -"You will observe," he continued, "that we have no Seventh Class in -Mecco itself. We are an Imperial city, and even the servants of the -well-to-do belong to the Sixth Class. It is the greatest privilege of -a Meccanian citizen to live in Mecco, and all the citizens of Mecco -are, so to speak, selected. None but loyal upholders of the national -and imperial ideal are allowed the privilege of living here. It would -not be right. There again, it is our superior national culture that -has enabled us to realise such a plan. What Government in Europe could -drive out of its capital all citizens who did not actively support the -State?" - -"It is indeed a wonderful thing," I said. "But what becomes of such -disloyal citizens when they are, shall I say, expelled or exiled?" - -"Ah! You must not believe that _we_ have had to indulge in any policy -of expulsion. You will not find any disloyal element anywhere in -Meccania. A few individuals you might find, but most of them are in -lunatic asylums." - -"But surely," I said, "I have read in the histories of Meccania, that -formerly there were large numbers of people, among the working classes -chiefly, who were, well, rather revolutionary in their ideas, and whom -I should not have expected to see becoming loyal to such a State as the -Meccania of to-day." - -He smiled a very superior smile. "Really," he said, "the ignorance of -our country which foreigners betray is extraordinary. Disloyalty to -the State is found in every country _except_ Meccania. We have got rid -of it long ago by the simple process of Education. If we find an odd -individual who displays disloyal sentiments we regard him as a lunatic -and treat him accordingly." - -"How?" I asked. - -"We put him in a lunatic asylum." - -"And your lunatic asylums? Have you enough for the purpose?" I ventured -to ask. - -Conductor Prigge luckily did not see the point. "In most cases," he -said, "the threat is sufficient. We require very few lunatic asylums, -just as we require few prisons. But we are wandering from the subject," -he remarked; and he drew out a map of the residential quarters, -coloured in white, red, yellow, green, chocolate and grey, the colours -of the classes, omitting the Seventh. - -I noticed that the parts coloured white, red and yellow covered about -half the circle. I was going to put some questions to Prigge as to the -relative numbers of the classes, when he said, "I do not think you -have yet grasped our sevenfold classification of the citizenship of -Meccania." - -"Somewhat imperfectly, I am afraid," I replied. - -"Then you have not grasped it," he said. "You cannot be said to grasp -it if you are not perfectly clear about it. I will explain. Attend! -Begin with the lowest. That is the logical order. The Seventh Class -consists of persons of the lowest order of intelligence who cannot -profit by the ordinary instruction in the schools beyond a very -moderate degree. They are not very numerous. From the age of ten they -are taught to do simple work of a purely mechanical kind, and when -strong enough are set to do the most menial work which requires little -intelligence. A few other persons, who have failed in life through -their own fault, are relegated to this class as a punishment. - -"The Sixth Class corresponds to the unskilled labouring class of most -foreign countries. They are recruited from the children who at twelve -years of age show only average ability. They are then trained to do -either simple manual work, or to act as servants in families below the -Second Class. - -"The Fifth is the largest class; it is larger than the Sixth and -Seventh together. We require a very large number of skilled artisans -and clerks in a subordinate capacity. Consequently, we train all who -are capable of profiting by a combination of theoretical and practical -instruction until the age of fifteen, and even for some years after -that, in industrial schools, where they study the practical aspects of -mathematics and science. Consequently, they are by far the most skilled -artisan class in the world. We have no trouble in inducing them to -apply themselves to study, for any member of the Fifth Class who failed -to profit by the system of instruction provided for him would soon find -himself in the Sixth Class, which enjoys much less in the shape of -privileges and material well-being than the Fifth. - -"The Fourth Class includes most of the bourgeoisie, the bulk of the -officials and clergy, as well as the small group of professional people -who are not officials. In detail it comprises tradesmen, managers of -businesses and foremen in responsible positions. All these are in the -Industrial and Commercial world. Then come all Civil servants below -the first grade, all non-commissioned officers in the Army and Navy, -all the Clergy below the rank of Bishops. The professional people I -referred to are a few who have not been absorbed in the official class. -We have no journalists in Meccania, no doctors who are not in the State -service, and no lawyers who are not officials." - -"Then who _are_ these professional people?" I interrupted. - -"They are merely a handful of people, mostly possessed of small private -means, who write books that are never published, or cultivate art, or -music, or science. They are not good enough to be taken into the State -service, and they are gradually disappearing altogether. - -"The Third Class," he resumed, "corresponds partly to the Higher -Bourgeoisie of other countries, but it also includes several -more important elements. It comprises the richer merchants and -manufacturers, who must possess an income of at least £5000 a year; the -first class of Civil servants, the Higher Clergy, those University -Professors who have held their posts for ten years and are approved -by the Ministry of Culture, landed proprietors who are District -Councillors and Magistrates, and all Fund-holders with an income of -£10,000 a year. - -"The Second Class is the military class. It includes all officers, who -must be of noble birth. A few of the highest Civil servants are in this -class, but they must have previously served as officers in the Army or -Navy. - -"The First Class is partly military and partly civil; but, except -members of royal or ducal families, all in the First Class have -previously passed through the Second. Ambassadors are in the First -Class, but they have all served for a period as officers in the Army. -Even the head of a department of State is not admitted to the First -Class unless he has previously been in the Second Class. - -"Lastly, the relative numbers of the various classes are as follows: -out of a total population of 100,000,000 only about 10,000 are in the -First Class; 4,000,000 are in the Second; 6,000,000 are in the Third; -20,000,000 are in the Fourth; 40,000,000 are in the Fifth; 20,000,000 -are in the Sixth; and the rest, nearly 10,000,000, in the Seventh Class. - -"All women take the rank of their fathers or their husbands, whichever -is the higher; children take the rank of their parents until their -sixteenth year. Is that clear?" - -"Quite clear," I replied, "except in one particular." - -"What is that?" - -"I take it that some, at any rate, pass from one class to another. By -what means, for example, does a person who starts life, let us say in -the Fourth Class, obtain admission to the Third?" - -"We must take some particular category." - -"A business man, a small manufacturer who is highly successful, perhaps -makes some valuable discovery which enriches him. How does he obtain -admission to the Third Class?" - -"He must have an income of at least £5000 a year, and he must have -performed some service to the State," answered Prigge promptly. - -"And a Civil servant?" - -"If he is promoted to the first grade he also is admitted to the Third -Class, but this does not frequently happen." - -"Then, on the whole, the children of those in each class respectively -remain in the class in which they are born?" - -"That is so as a rule. The percentage has been worked out carefully by -the statistical branch of the Sociological Department. About 4 per cent -of the Seventh Class enter the Sixth, about 5 per cent of the Sixth -enter the Fifth, about 3 per cent of the Fifth enter the Fourth, about -8 per cent of the Fourth enter the Third. No one, strictly speaking, -enters the Second from the Third, but as many of the men of the Second -Class marry women in the Third Class, which is the rich class, the sons -may enter the Second Class, if they are suitable as officers in the -Army. Also, a number of the women of the Second Class marry men in the -Third Class, and their sons also may enter the Army." - -"It is a wonderful system," I ventured to observe. - -"It is simplicity itself," said Prigge, "yet no other nation has had -the intelligence to discover it, nor even to copy it. As a matter of -fact, it is the only logical and scientific classification of society; -it puts everybody in his proper place." - - * * * * * - -After this conversation, or rather this discourse, we walked out to -ascend the look-out tower; but on the way we had to cross the great -square of Prince Mechow, and there, for the first time, I saw the great -monument about which I had heard so much. I had expected something -extraordinary, but I was not prepared for the actual thing. It was -as high as a church steeple. At the base was a huge shapeless mass -of basalt. Above this rose a square granite block, twenty feet high, -covered with high-relief sculptures representing in allegorical form -the reconstruction of the Meccanian Super-State. At the four corners -were four figures representing Arms, Intellect, Culture and Power. -Above this again towered a great pedestal a hundred feet high and -forty feet in diameter. On the top stood the colossal statue of Prince -Mechow, a gigantic portrait-figure of a man in the uniform of the -First Class, his breast covered with decorations, a sword in one hand -and a mace or some symbolical weapon in the other. The impression of -brute force which it conveyed was terrific. Every person in the square, -as he came within sight of it, took off his hat; those in military -dress saluted it, and pronounced the words, "Long live Meccania and God -bless Prince Mechow!" - -My first feeling on seeing it was one of intense disgust at the -barbarity of the thing, and I was just going to make some satirical -remark when I caught sight of Prigge's face. It wore an expression -of absolute ecstasy, and the look of fierce disdain with which he -said "Uncover!" was startling. He added something which sounded like -"Mongolian monkey," but in the excitement of the moment I was not quite -sure what he said. - -I tried to pacify him by saying, in as innocent a tone as I could -assume, "It is indeed the most remarkable statue I have ever seen." - -"It is the most perfect embodiment of Meccanian Culture: no other -country could produce such a work," he replied solemnly. - -"I am inclined to agree," I said. "Who was the artist who conceived and -executed a monument of such wonderful proportions?" - -"The artist? What other nation could produce a man who united such -gifts with such a true Meccanian spirit? He desired that his name -should never be spoken. When the work was completed after ten years, -he gave up his life, and begged to be allowed to be buried underneath -the rock with all the tools that had been used in the execution of the -statue. His dying request was respected. His name is never uttered, -but every child in Meccania knows it, and every citizen in Meccania -comes once every ten years to salute the statue of Prince Mechow and do -honour to the hero-artist who lies buried beneath." - -"I shall never forget the story," I said, and we walked on to the -look-out tower. On the way, I noticed that every person in the street -saluted every other person of higher rank than himself. I have since -learnt that there are six different forms of salute, one for each class -above the Seventh, and that it is a point of strict etiquette to give -the right salute. A salute appropriate to the Fourth Class given to -a member of the Third is an insult, and the wrong salute given to a -member of the Second (military) Class may cost the offender his life. - -We ascended the look-out tower. The sight was magnificent. From where -we stood the details of the architecture could not be seen, nor even -the style of the buildings. But the general impression produced by such -a vast assemblage of massive edifices was one of grandeur and power, -while the bright sunlight and the absence of smoke and dirt gave the -whole city the appearance of having suddenly sprung up in a night, like -Aladdin's palace. - -To the west, in a great semicircle, the quarters of the first three -classes presented a spectacle such as I have not seen in any capital. -Every house was a mansion or a villa surrounded by a pleasant garden. -Here and there one saw large stretches of beautiful park. To the east -the houses were clustered more thickly together, but even on this side -there was an air of orderliness and comfort, although certainly not of -luxury, which contrasted favourably with the populous districts of the -towns I had seen in other countries. About five miles away we could -see distinctly, with the aid of the glasses, the manufactories and -workshops and warehouses of the industrial town that served the needs -of the whole capital. - -Conductor Prigge seemed duly satisfied with the impression made on me. -"Here," he said, "you are at the centre of the civilisation of the -modern world. Here are three million thoroughly efficient Meccanians, -every one in his proper place, every one fulfilling his appointed duty. -Think of the disorder, the squalor, the conflict of aims, the absence -of ideals, represented by a city like Lunopolis, or Prisa, and look on -this picture!" - -We descended and returned to the hotel. - -After luncheon we proceeded with our tour of the tramway system. By -this means I got a good view of the exterior appearance of the houses -of the various classes. It confirmed the impression I had gained -from the look-out tower, except in one respect. The houses of the -well-to-do looked as if they had all been designed by the same school -of architects, and except that they differed in size they might have -been turned out by machinery. The houses of the rest of the population -were 'standardised' to an even greater degree. The dwellings of the -Sixth Class are really blocks of small flats of a standard size; those -of the Fifth Class are similar, except that the rooms are a little -larger and there are more of them. One curious fact came to light in -the course of Conductor Prigge's explanation of the housing system. -It seems that the Births Department determines the number of children -each family is expected to have within a given period of years, and -the houses are distributed accordingly. Thus a family in the Fifth -Class which is due to have, let us say, four children within the next -seven years, is assigned a flat of five rooms. Then, if the same family -is due to have two more children within the next five years, they -move into a house with seven rooms. Persons in the first grade of the -Fifth Class are allowed to take a flat with more rooms on payment of a -special rate or tax. - -Apparently there is very little choice of houses. As all the houses of -a certain grade are practically alike, if a tenant wishes to move to -another street he has to furnish valid reasons; and it is not easy to -furnish reasons satisfactory to the authorities. Besides, the number of -houses or flats is very closely proportioned to the number of tenants, -and there are never many vacant houses. The members of the Third and -higher classes own their own houses, and can therefore change their -residences by purchasing or exchanging. By special privilege members -of the Fourth Class can obtain permission to buy their houses, but as -these are mostly flats they are usually rented from the municipality. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -PROFESSOR PROSER-TOADY'S LECTURE - - -Following Conductor Prigge's instructions, I presented myself at -six o'clock in the evening at the entrance to the Great University -of Mecco. It was the first time I had been out without my 'keeper,' -but as everybody else was dressed in the Meccanian costume, whilst -I was wearing the clothes I had been accustomed to wear in Luniland -and Francaria, there was little risk of my going astray. A porter -darted out of a box in the entrance hall and directed me to Room 415, -where the Professor of Historical Culture was to deliver his monthly -four-hour lecture to Foreign Observers. I found about a dozen Foreign -Observers of various nationalities waiting in the small lecture-room, -and presently a few more arrived. Some were Scandinavians, some South -Americans; a few, I thought, were Turks; several were from some part -of India. At 6.10 precisely the Professor came in. He wore a brilliant -yellow uniform of the Third Class, with green facings and buttons and -a number of little ribbons indicating, I suppose, various services -rendered to the cause of Meccanian Culture. Apart from his dress he -resembled the caricatures of Meccanian professors in our comic prints. -His head was bald on the top and at the front, but at the sides great -tufts of white hair protruded. His grey beard was of ample proportions. -His coarse wizened face and staring eyes, covered by a pair of huge -spectacles, gave him the appearance of a Jack-in-the-box as he sat -behind a high reading-desk. His voice was tough and leathery. At the -end of three hours it sounded as fresh and as harsh as in the opening -sentences. I cannot reproduce the whole lecture; if I did it would -almost fill a book by itself. I can only hope to give a rough idea of -it by paraphrasing some of the most salient passages. - -He began by saying that to accommodate himself to the culture of his -foreign auditors he would endeavour to present his subject in the -simplest possible form, which was the narrative, and would sketch -the biography of the great re-founder of the Meccanian State, the -true architect of the First Super-State in the world, the greatest -political creative genius that had ever stepped upon the World Stage, -Prince Mechow. We had all seen his memorial statue, a unique monument -to a unique individual, and no doubt it had made an impression -upon our imagination; but it was impossible for any work of art -however great--and here he paid a tribute to the hero-artist who -built the monument--to convey more than a symbolical suggestion of -the all-embracing magnificence of Prince Mechow's truly Meccanian -personality. For that we must look around at the Super-State itself. - -Prince Mechow, he said, was historically the culminating figure of -the national development of Meccania. Compared with many countries -in Europe, Meccania could not boast a long history. Some historians -sought a false glory for Meccania by tracing its greatness back to the -so-called Roman Empire of the Middle Ages, but true Meccanian history -went back only a few hundred years. In fact, it was not until the -eighteenth century that the Meccanian State in the proper sense of the -word began, and only in the nineteenth century did it take its place -among the powers of the modern world. In the nineteenth century the -Meccanian State was saved by the genius and will of one great man, the -worthy predecessor of Prince Mechow, his great-uncle Prince BLUDIRON. -From a scientific or philosophical point of view it was difficult -to say whether Prince Bludiron had not contributed as much to the -greatness of Meccania as Prince Mechow; for it was he, undoubtedly, who -laid the foundations upon which the final structure rested. The work -of Prince Bludiron was very different from, but also similar in spirit -to, the work of Prince Mechow. His task had been to rescue the young -and inexperienced State from the perils and distractions of the false -ideals of Liberty and Democracy, to secure the power of the State over -all sections and classes, to create the proud and confident Meccanian -spirit and to set the nation on the right path. - -The task of Prince Mechow was to erect the Super-State on the -foundations laid by Prince Bludiron; in other words, to organise the -energies of the whole nation to one supreme end, to train and direct -the powers of every individual so as to produce one mind and one will. - -Turning to the work of Prince Bludiron, the Professor said that when -he began his work Meccania was distracted by false and conflicting -ideals, of foreign origin. Revolution was in the air. People were ready -to drive out their lawful rulers. Popular government was demanded. -Parliaments were being set up. It was the saddest page in Meccanian -history. Had these anarchic forces triumphed, Meccania would have sunk -to the level of other nations, and the Super-State would never have -arisen. It was the greatest testimony to the intellectual genius and -moral power of Prince Bludiron that, after forty years of strenuous -work, the whole outlook for Meccania was completely changed. The false -ideal of individual liberty was dead and buried. Popular government -was a discredited superstition. The military aristocracy were secure -in their rightful position. The efficiency of the Government was -demonstrated in every direction, and not least on the field of battle. -Wars had been won with a rapidity unprecedented in any age. - -Prince Bludiron's success was so complete that it was almost impossible -for us now to realise how great his difficulties had been. So strong -were the forces of Democracy that even he had to temporise and set up a -Parliament. He even granted manhood suffrage. - -Dr. Proser-Toady then explained how Prince Bludiron outwitted the -disloyal elements among the people by securing the reality of power -to the organised centralised State, whilst leaving the semblance of -control to the representative bodies. He quoted a Foreign Observer, at -the end of Prince Bludiron's career, who declared that the institutions -set up by him enabled the State to wield the maximum of power with -the minimum of opposition. Strangely enough, said the Professor, the -very movement that threatened to undo all his work was in reality -of the greatest service. He referred to the movement of Meccanian -Socialism or Social Democracy which owed its peculiar character to a -certain demagogue named Spotts. The career and influence of Spotts -was for a time almost as remarkable as Prince Bludiron's. Spotts -persuaded his followers that the economic tendencies of modern life -must inevitably create the Socialist State. The people need only -wait until these tendencies had worked themselves out and then seize -the power of the State, which would drop into their hands like ripe -fruit. He saw in the existing State nothing but organised Capitalism. -Consequently he encouraged his followers to take no part in the actual -Government, but to maintain themselves in permanent opposition until -the inevitable revolution came about, when they were to assume the -whole control. Spottsian Socialism became the universal doctrine of the -Meccanian proletariat of those days. They talked about the economic -interpretation of history, about economic forces, about economic -revolutions, mixed with vague notions of Liberty and Equality. But in -reality they cared not a straw for Liberty; what they sought was Power. -Yet by standing in permanent opposition to every other element in the -State they played into Prince Bludiron's hands. Whilst they waited for -the inevitable revolution, he had accustomed the people to prosperity; -and had raised the prestige of the State at home and abroad. He had -gained the support of all the strongest elements in society, had -trained an efficient bureaucracy and an efficient military aristocracy. -And yet at his death the followers of Spotts went on waiting for the -economic revolution! - -The Professor then dealt briefly with what he said was the most -difficult period for a Meccanian historian, the period between the -death of Prince Bludiron and the rise of the still greater statesman, -Prince Mechow. In that interval no great leader arose, but a number -of foolish statesmen who fancied they were cast in the mould of the -great Bludiron. At that time Meccania had commercial relations with -the whole world, and was rapidly penetrating every country with its -peculiar culture. Its army and navy were growing in strength, and the -temper of the people was becoming restless and aggressive. They lacked -the controlling hand of Prince Bludiron. They were carried away by -dreams of sudden world-conquest. Foolish statesmen allowed the country -to be plunged into war with half the world at once. The Meccanians -performed wonders, but they could not perform miracles, and in the end -the country was reduced to great straits. Provinces were torn away. -Its accumulations of wealth were exhausted; its manhood was decimated. -The situation was terrible, yet it was this tremendous ordeal that -indirectly created the most favourable conditions for the work of -Prince Mechow. - -During the war the Government had been compelled to take over, more and -more, the control of every department of life. Under the pressure of -war the last vestiges of the obsolete doctrines of Individualism had -disappeared. Now that the war was over, the necessity for increasing -all the means of wealth-production placed a new power in the hands of -the State. It was in these years of what was called 'Reconstruction' -that Prince Mechow came to the front. Every one was depressed. The -most conflicting views were expressed. Some people lamented that the -whole work of Prince Bludiron had been destroyed. Others said it had -been all a mistake, and that the nation ought to have followed the -example of the rest of Europe. Some advocated hare-brained schemes of -'Internationalism,' as they called it. - -Prince Mechow was one of the few who kept a clear head. He saw exactly -where the blunder had been made. Meccania had ventured upon projects of -world-conquest before completing the internal work of perfecting the -Super-State on the foundations laid down by Prince Bludiron. He saw -that we must go back exactly to the point where Prince Bludiron left -off. But the first step was the most difficult. Prince Mechow was quite -a young man, not more than thirty, and was only an Under-Secretary. -He had one advantage in that he was a grand-nephew of Prince Bludiron -and had the ear of the Emperor, who very soon made him Minister of the -Interior, a post created to relieve the Chief Minister. - -Professor Proser-Toady said we should obtain the clearest conception -of Prince Mechow's views and the best key to his policy in a volume of -correspondence with his cousin General Count Block. Count Block, like -many of his military colleagues, was alarmed at the general confusion. -He declared there was nothing for it but to sweep away all popular -representative institutions, restrict education to the upper classes -and fall back upon the direct rule of the military. Prince Mechow -pointed out that such a policy would fail utterly: it would bring -about the very revolution it sought to avoid. Efficiency could never -be created by the military alone. Industrial efficiency was absolutely -necessary to military power. He agreed in the main with Count Block's -objects, but declared that his means were clumsy and inadequate. -The work of Prince Bludiron must be continued by the creation of a -Super-State. The _term_ had already been coined, but the _thing_ did -not yet exist. - -It is in Prince Mechow's clear conception of the Super-State that we -see his intellectual genius, but it is in the steps he took to bring -it into being that we realise his kinship with his famous predecessor, -Prince Bludiron. Prince Bludiron had had to live from hand to mouth -relying upon his statesman's instinct. Prince Mechow, even before he -became Chief Minister, foresaw every detail of the structure he was -determined to erect. - -The State, he said, has hitherto done only what is forced upon it by -necessity. It has never attempted to utilise the whole energies of the -Nation. The Super-State will only come into being by uniting in itself -the will, the knowledge, the wisdom, and the multifarious energies, -of the whole people. The State has been merely the strongest organ of -society: the Super-State must be the only organ, uniting all others in -itself. - -How was such a conception to be realised concretely? In explaining his -plans he found ample illustration in the circumstances of the recent -Great War. The State had not only controlled everything essential to -the conduct of the war; it had not only regulated the manufacture of -all supplies, including food and clothing for the whole nation, but had -undertaken a thousand activities never previously dreamt of, except by -the Socialists. - -He proposed to capture the whole armoury of the Socialists by gradually -seizing everything for the State itself. The motto of the Super-State -must be Efficiency. But to be efficient the State must absorb all the -persons who represented efficiency. The whole conception of Bureaucracy -must be revolutionised by being carried to its logical conclusion. -The efficiency of a business firm depends upon the efficiency of the -persons composing it. The efficiency of the Super-State will depend -upon the efficiency of the new Bureaucracy and the Military Class. -There was no instance in history of an efficient Government being -overthrown by any popular forces. - -A century of industrial development had transformed the material world, -whilst in the meantime the organisation of the State had almost stood -still. The Super-State must borrow from the Socialists the conception -of an all-embracing power and activity, and from the Industrial world -the machinery for the execution of its will. The most efficient and -successful business firms were those which got every ounce of work -out of every member of the firm. The Super-State must not be less -resourceful. - -Now as to the methods, said the Professor. How was the State to absorb -into its service all the energies of the nation, without at the same -time becoming a Social Democracy? Already the Social Democrats, as in -Prince Bludiron's time, were proclaiming that the Capitalist State was -working out for them the Social Revolution predicted by Spotts; and as -in Prince Bludiron's days so under Prince Mechow they went on waiting -for the Social Revolution. They are waiting still. In the meantime -Prince Mechow got into the saddle and began his practical reforms. He -was a man of the most extraordinary energy and versatility. He was not -content to begin with Education and wait for a generation. He attacked -a dozen different problems at the same time: Education, Industry, -Commerce, Railways, Finance, the Press, the Stage, the Professions, -the Church--every side of national life received his attention; but -the prime instrument through which he worked was the Bureaucracy. He -laid it down as an axiom that the machinery of the State must work so -smoothly that the people should be unaware of its operations. - -There have been instances in history, he wrote in one of his letters, -in which a Government has been overturned in a single day. How? By a -perfectly planned _coup d'état_. What can be accomplished on a single -occasion can be done as a part of the regular working of the State -Machinery. Our Super-State must be capable of a _coup d'état_ every -day. Those of his friends who did not see the necessity for his reforms -he silenced by showing them that if they did not capture the State the -Social Democracy would do so. - -During the first ten years of his regime he worked wonders. He renewed -the State control of all the large industries. He took into the service -of the State all the most capable business men and manufacturers, all -the best scientists and engineers as well as the best administrators. -The Censorship of the Press was continued and extended to every form -of literature. He bought up all the big newspapers and drove all the -little ones into bankruptcy. When every clever journalist was engaged -on the State newspapers and all advertisements were controlled, -there was not much room for an 'opposition' Press. The Schools and -Universities were already well under control, but he revised the whole -system. He made every teacher and every professor a direct servant of -the State. Every textbook was revised. He paid particular attention -to history, philosophy and literature. The new generation were thus -educated in an atmosphere calculated to cultivate the true Meccanian -spirit. Inspectors, organisers and directors of Education infused new -energy into the system and trained the whole population to co-operate -with the Super-State. - -As to the proletariat, he saw to it that there was no unemployment. -Production went up by leaps and bounds, wages were increased, but there -was no waste. Goods that could not be disposed of immediately were -stored, but methods of control and regulation were introduced to direct -industry into the right channels. Whilst he controlled the wage-earners -he at the same time controlled the employers. All surplus wages and -profits were invested in the State funds. - -Of course there was opposition to these reforms. The Military Class -were slow to understand his methods, so he established periodical -military councils, took them into his confidence and eventually won -them over completely. As for the Social Democrats, he did not scruple -to employ against them the same methods they would have employed -against him. He made use of secret agents to preach the doctrine that -by his methods the way would be prepared for the social revolution. -When at length he inaugurated the system of the seven social classes -the Social Democrats professed to see in this a means of stimulating -class consciousness; but after a few years they discovered that no -class was willing to surrender its privileges. The Fifth Class, which -includes the most skilled artisans in Europe, began to see that no -revolution would improve their position, whilst it might lower them to -the level of the Sixth or Seventh Class. The boasted solidarity of the -proletariat proved to be an illusion, like most of Spotts's ideas. - -When he reformed the railway system he made travelling free. But of -course if travelling were to be free, restrictions must be imposed. -Similarly in regard to housing. He applied all the technical knowledge -in the country to the problem. Standardised houses and other devices -made it possible to rebuild any portions of our cities and to transfer -population from one region to another with the greatest ease. On the -other hand, restrictions were necessary. You cannot have free trade in -houses and at the same time guarantee a house to every family. - -I have condensed Dr. Proser-Toady's lecture, which lasted several -hours, into such short compass that it gives very little idea, I am -afraid, of the complete revolution worked out by Prince Mechow's -reforms. For instance, he showed how the whole character of politics -had been transformed, how the questions that agitated Meccania sixty -years ago had entirely disappeared; how the Press no longer existed, -because its functions had been absorbed by other agencies; how the -Parliament, which I was surprised to hear still existed, was now -organised to correspond with the seven social classes; how the State -was so wealthy that control over taxation was no longer necessary. - -He ended with a remarkable passage about the seven social classes and -the national Meccanian uniforms. - -"Many Foreign Observers," he said, "in times past, have made merry -over our sevenfold classification and our national costumes. What -have other nations to put in their place? They too have these classes, -for they are natural and inevitable. They have their nobles, their -soldiers, their officials and professional men, their bourgeoisie, -their artisans, their labourers and their degraded 'submerged tenth.' -But they are afraid to call them by their proper names, afraid to -recognise them. They have no uniforms, no dignified and pleasing -costumes; but you never mistake one class for another. You never -mistake the labourer for the wealthy bourgeois or the popinjay -aristocrat. Nowhere else, they say, would people consent to wear the -servile badge of their caste. We Meccanians are proud of our seven -national colours. So far from being a degradation, the historical -origin of the costumes proves that it is a privilege to wear them. -The seven uniforms were once the ceremonial dress of the seven guilds -established by Prince Mechow. When permission was granted for all the -members of the classes to wear the ceremonial dress it was the occasion -of national rejoicings everywhere. The national costumes are part of -the Ritual of the Super-State." - - * * * * * - -Long-winded as some parts of the lecture were, I must confess it was -most illuminating, and to me, as a student of politics and sociology, -exceedingly interesting. I begin to understand now what the Meccanian -Super-State really is. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -CULTURE IN MECCO - - -During the first few weeks of my tour in Mecco--Tour No. 4--Conductor -Prigge kept my nose well to the grindstone. At times he made me feel -like a small schoolboy, at times like a prisoner in charge of a warder. -It would be tedious to detail all the incidents of my daily rounds, or -to describe everything in the exact order in which it was presented to -my view. So I propose to set down, as they remain in my mind, the most -interesting or remarkable features of this truly remarkable city. One -circumstance, however, annoys and almost distresses me. I cannot get -into contact with any individual living people. I see everything as a -spectacle from the outside. - -As I go about, the impression of orderliness, cleanliness, and even -magnificence of a kind, is such as I have seldom felt in any part of -the world. At times the whole city gives one the same sort of feeling -that one experiences in going through a gigantic hospital, where -everything is spotless and nothing is out of its place. I am even -getting used to the coloured uniforms of the seven classes. In the -central parts of the city green and yellow predominate; for the number -of people belonging to the official class is enormous. Even apart from -their actual number they are the most conspicuous, because the lower -classes are at work in their factories and business houses, and are -consequently seldom seen except when returning home in the evening. -Occasionally I notice a few white uniforms (of the very select First -Class) and occasionally, too, a crowd of officers in their brilliant -scarlet uniforms. At the other end of the scale, the most common colour -visible is the grey, worn by the numerous servants in the well-to-do -quarters. The few servants who wear chocolate are mostly the lackeys of -the very rich, and the upper servants in the large hotels. - -On the day after Dr. Proser-Toady's lecture, Conductor Prigge was more -than usually "pedagogic." I wanted to look about the streets and ask -questions about many things that occurred to me at the moment, but -he insisted upon pouring out detailed information about the drainage -system, the postal areas, the parcels' delivery areas, the telephone -system, the market system, and so forth. What did interest me, however, -was the organisation known as the Time Department, of which I had -already seen something at Bridgetown. - -There is, as I have said, an enormous number of public buildings in -Mecco, but nobody can miss the gigantic office of the Time Department. -It towers up, about seven stories high, over the surrounding -buildings, and above it rises a great clock that can be seen for -miles. In this central department alone, ten thousand people are -employed--that is, of course, in addition to all those employed in the -local offices of the Time Department in various parts of the country. - -Conductor Prigge was tremendously proud of the Time Department. -"Other nations," he said, "have never thought of establishing such an -institution for themselves. They have not even had the intelligence to -imitate ours. We Meccanians were the first to discover both time and -space: our philosophers were the first to understand time and space: we -have been the first Government to organise time and space. We can tell -you," he went on, "the exact amount of time occupied by any person, -or any group of persons, in doing anything. We know exactly how much -time is devoted to eating and drinking, as well as the time required -to produce a picture, or a piece of sculpture, or a poem, or a musical -composition; or how long it takes to learn any language, or any subject -of study." - -"But," I said, "what about the time spent by all the clerks and -officials employed all over the country, as well as here, in the Time -Department itself; isn't it rather extravagant? What is the object of -it all?" - -"Do you think," he replied, "that we should keep up such an institution -if it had not proved to be useful in the highest degree? Foreigners -have such childish ideas of organisation," he continued. "This was one -of the most brilliant inventions of Prince Mechow, but it has taken -thirty years to bring it to its present state of perfection. It pays -for itself over and over again, in the mere economy it effects; and it -has other far-reaching effects on the whole social and economic life of -the nation. In the first place, in the matter of material production, -in every trade and occupation it enables us to speed-up scientifically. -An increase of 1½ per cent in the productiveness of the four main -industries alone would more than pay all the expenses of the Time -Department. We have increased productiveness all round by at least 20 -per cent since the introduction of the Time Department; and although -not all of this increase is due to the Time Department, we may safely -reckon 5 per cent. We have done away with all the dawdlers in art, -all the incompetent painters and novelists and poets. In connection -with the Post Office we have been able to diminish the amount of time -spent in writing useless letters by 50 per cent. Why, without the -Time Department the Department for the Direction of Leisure would be -helpless. In Education, how should we know the right proportion of time -to be devoted to the various subjects, the right amount to recreation -or amusement? And apart from economy, the aid given to the researches -of the Sociological Department is simply invaluable. The efficiency of -the Police Department is due in great measure to the Time Department." - -"But," I inquired innocently, "is there no feeling of resentment on the -part of the public at the somewhat inquisitorial methods of the Time -Department?" - -"Resentment!" he said, almost angrily. "Why should there be resentment?" - -"At having to give an account of all that one does even in one's -leisure time?" - -"But when everybody knows that we save millions a year by it, and -when the State has decided that it is for the public benefit, and -the obligation is imposed upon everybody; why should anyone raise -objections?" - -"Still," I said, remembering my unfortunate experience, "you find it -necessary to inflict fines in order to ensure compliance with the -regulations about filling up the weekly diaries." - -"Naturally. But perhaps you overlook the educative effect of having to -keep the diary. The proper keeping of the diary is almost an education -in itself." My conductor said this with such an air of finality that I -thought it was not worth while to pursue the question further. - -I was much amused by a conversation I had a few days ago on another -subject. It was about five o'clock and I was feeling rather tired, so -I proposed that we should have a meal in a restaurant, and then go to -some place of amusement in the evening. - -"You may return to the hotel if you are indisposed," said Prigge, "and -rest there during the evening; or you may have a meal in a restaurant -and resume your tour. But until we have completed at least the first -week's tour of observation, you cannot possibly be permitted to visit -any place of amusement, as you call it. Besides, such places as you -probably have in mind, do not exist in Mecco. I have seen, in other -countries, what are termed music halls, where a lot of so-called actors -were making fools of themselves." - -"Perhaps," I ventured to say, "you did not look at the performance from -the right point of view." - -"I see! You mean that I should have regarded these childish performances -as illustrating the stage of mental culture of the people. From that -point of view your 'music halls' may be of some interest, just as the -drama of foreign countries is of interest; but it is so very primitive." - -"Primitive? In what way primitive?" I asked. - -"Primitive by comparison with our highly developed drama. For example, -all the foreign dramas I have seen are written in the narrative form, -or rather, I should say, the drama is still in the chronological stage. -We have left that behind." - -"Indeed," I said, "I am afraid I can hardly conceive of drama in any -other form." - -"Exactly. _You_ cannot understand. But our Meccanian culture is -not exactly designed for the intelligence of foreigners. If you are -specially interested in the subject of the drama--it is not one of -my specialities, although of course I am not ignorant of the drama, -no Meccanian is--I will introduce you to my friend in the Department -of Public Amusement, which is a branch of the Ministry of Education -and Culture. He will probably enable you in the shortest period of -time--and that is always a consideration, although most foreigners are -often quite oblivious of the time aspect of such matters--to understand -the Meccanian drama, in so far as it is possible for a foreigner to -understand it." - -I thanked him, and he made a note in his pocket-book to remind him of -his promise. "Perhaps you can tell me," I said, "how your people do -amuse themselves, apart from going to the theatre; for they cannot go -to the theatre every evening." - -"I notice that, like all foreigners, you are more interested in -amusement than in the serious aspects of life. You will receive full -information at the proper time if you will avail yourself of my offer -to take you to my friend Dr. Dodderer, the Sub-Controller of Public -Amusements (Section B); but I do not mind giving you a few facts such -as are common knowledge among all Meccanians." - -"Well," I said, "take your commercial travellers, who must spend a good -deal of time in towns away from home. What do they do in the evenings?" - -"If you were to go to the Great Meccanian Library," he replied, "and -consult the Reports of the Sociological Department for the last twenty -years, you would be able to see exactly how all these persons have -spent their time. But you would perhaps be surprised to find that the -number of persons travelling about and staying away from home is very -small. When you have studied our industrial and commercial system you -will see that we require comparatively few commercial travellers. As -to the way they spend their time, you must understand that in every -town there are guilds of all the professions. Consequently, as every -commercial traveller naturally wishes to improve his knowledge, he -frequents the guild house, where he meets with other members of his -profession and discusses matters of interest. If he comes from Mecco -he will be welcomed, as the provincial members will be only too glad -to learn anything from one who comes from the very centre of Meccanian -culture. Also, he may wish to visit the local museums, or other -cultural institutions. If not, he will attend either an outdoor or an -indoor concert." - -"The commercial travellers of Meccania must be quite unlike the -commercial travellers of all other countries if they spend their -leisure in the way you have described," I remarked. "You spoke of -concerts," I continued. "I suppose music is still the most popular form -of amusement in Meccania?" - -"Neither the drama nor music are, strictly speaking, mere amusements," -answered Conductor Prigge. "They may be so regarded in other countries, -but not in Meccania." - -"Then what are they?" I asked. - -"They form part of our general scheme of culture," replied Prigge. "As -you probably know, attendance at the theatre once a week is compulsory -for all persons over eighteen. Those below eighteen attend the juvenile -theatre as part of their school course in literature." - -"Attendance compulsory?" I said. "But if Meccanians are so advanced in -the cultivation of the drama, why should it be necessary to enforce -attendance?" - -"Perhaps it is not really necessary, but I doubt whether our scheme of -dramatic culture could be carried out without strict regulation. For -instance, there are some plays more popular than others. People would -want to see these plays in great numbers and there would not be room -for them; whilst the less popular plays would not be well attended." - -"Just so," I said, "that is what one would naturally expect; and where -is the harm?" - -"Our scheme provides a succession of plays throughout the year, all -designed as part of our culture, and if people were at liberty to pick -and choose what they would see, and what they would not see, we should -have no guarantee that they would have gone through the course." - -"Would that matter," I asked, "so long as they were amused?" - -"May I repeat that the Meccanian drama is something more than -amusement," he replied testily. "You will learn more of this subject -from Dr. Dodderer. We need not pursue it further." - -"Then may I ask whether attendance at concerts is compulsory also?" - -"It is not compulsory, but it is strictly regulated as regards the -different grades of music," he answered. - -"I should like to know how you regulate attendance at concerts," I -said; "I have never heard of it elsewhere." - -"I dare say not," said Prigge. "Other countries are still in a very -backward state as regards musical culture. In the first place, all -persons below eighteen have to pass an examination in some branch -of practical or theoretical music, unless they are defective in the -musical sense. Then, before any adult is admitted to the first, second -or third grades of concerts, he has to pass an examination in musical -appreciation. That is to say, only those are admitted to concerts -of the first class who hold a first-class certificate in musical -appreciation, and so on with the other grades. Otherwise we should have -people whose musical knowledge is very moderate listening to the best -music by the best performers. By means of our system we can provide -exactly the right standard of music at all public concerts. At the -beginning of each season the programmes of all the concerts of the -first three grades are issued. Each person enters his name for a course -of concerts according to the grade of musical culture attained by him. -He is informed how many concerts he may attend in the season; he then -chooses which concerts he will attend, and after that there is no -difficulty." - -"No," said I, "I should think there would be no difficulty after such -careful preparation. Then the open-air concerts in the beer gardens," I -said; "where do they come in?" - -"Those are not regulated in the same way. We can tell from the Time -Department whether any person is spending too much time at these -performances, and any person who neglects to pass his examination in -musical appreciation before the age of thirty is forbidden to attend -such concerts--if they can be called concerts--more than once a week." - -"And is it possible to carry out such a regulation?" I asked. - -"You have not studied our Time Department to much purpose if you ask -such a question," answered Prigge. - -"I suppose, then," I said, "as I have no certificate I shall not be -permitted to hear any of your best music?" - -"Foreigners who are Doctors of Music of any University," replied -Prigge, "are admitted by special leave of the Ministry of Culture -to attend a specified number of concerts even of the first grade, -and others can attend a few concerts of the third grade, likewise by -special permission of the Ministry of Culture." - -I think it was on the same day that Prigge said to me, "I notice you -are not wearing your spectacles." - -"I have never worn spectacles," I said. - -"But you were ordered to wear spectacles by Dr. Pincher." - -"He did prescribe them," I said, "but I have not troubled to get them, -as I do not really require them." - -Conductor Prigge looked positively aghast. "You must go at once," he -said; "you have the address. You had better pretend that there has been -some delay--but no, your diary will show that you have not been to the -optician. You will certainly be fined in accordance with Regulation 127 -of the Instructions to Foreign Observers." - -I went accordingly, and in a few days I had the spectacles. I suppose -this incident caused me to notice that nearly all Meccanians wear -spectacles or eyeglasses. Some wear two pairs at once, and I have seen -even three pairs worn. I felt thankful nothing wrong with my teeth had -been discovered. - -A day or two later I was taken by Prigge to see Dr. Dodderer. What I -learnt from him was even more remarkable than what my conductor had -told me, so I will not apologise for giving a fairly full account of -my interview. - -We were due at ten o'clock, and a whole hour had been reserved for me. -As we entered his room he noted the exact time on his tablet and said, -"The object of your visit is to learn something of the Meccanian drama, -as part of the system of culture, and the relation of amusement to our -system of culture. Very good; if you will be seated I will do my best -to enlighten you." - -He was a dried-up little man, with bright black eyes and a narrow but -lofty forehead. I thanked him and prepared to listen. I knew he would -think me disrespectful if I did not make use of my notebook, so I -prepared to make copious notes. - -When he saw I was ready, he sat with his eyes shut and his hands -clasped together in front of him, and proceeded to pour forth a long -discourse. He began by saying that all the higher animals showed some -disposition towards play; and that, in particular, the human animal -was pre-eminently distinguished in this respect. Some anthropologists -had argued that the persistence of the play-instinct was a proof -of the essential usefulness of play, in developing both muscular -and intellectual power. He himself did not adopt this view, or, at -any rate, only in a modified form. He held that play was one of the -most wasteful methods of nature, and that if the competition between -the various races and subdivisions of the human species had been -perfect, the race that could reduce play to an absolute minimum, -confined perhaps to the first three years of life, would--_ceteris -paribus_--succeed in winning the foremost place. Play was certainly -the least profitable form of mental activity, and one of the problems -of education was the gradual elimination of play from the scheme of -national culture. It was unfortunately true that even the best system -of education had to make concessions to this instinct of play, and it -would take many generations before it could be reduced to a minimum. -But the experiments of the Meccanian psychologists had demonstrated -that the amount necessary, both in the case of children and in the case -of adults, had been grossly exaggerated in the past, and was still -grossly exaggerated by other nations. These experiments would have -been impossible without the assistance of the Time Department, and the -absence of a Time Department in other countries probably accounted for -the little progress they had made in this direction. - -"For example," he continued, "other nations have almost entirely -neglected the value of cultural toys. They have been content, even -where they have given any thought at all to the subject, to devise toys -which gave a little more opportunity for ingenuity, but their object -has been mainly to amuse; they have had no clear conception of the -ultimate purpose of toys in a complete cultural scheme. Now we have a -carefully thought-out scheme, and although it does not come under my -department, but under Section A1, it affords a good illustration of the -basis of our system. All our toys are classified in fifteen stages. We -began with only five stages, but the number has gradually increased, -for the system necessarily becomes more complex as it becomes more -perfect. Stage I. is represented by simple objects which a baby can -grasp and recognise before the age of eighteen months. Stage II. is -represented by balls and cubes and objects of that order. Stage III. -by dolls and images. Stage IV. by objects which can be grouped so -as to afford a basis for the teaching of number. Stage V. by simple -mechanical toys and simple tools. Stage VI. by constructive blocks of -various kinds...." - -Here, I am afraid, I became confused, but I remember that Stage XIII. -was represented by toys which formed an introduction to chemistry, -and that the toys of Stage XIV. could only be worked by boys whose -mathematical knowledge was far in advance of what I should have thought -possible. He explained that visits were paid by the domestic Inspectors -of Child-Life to see that the parents made proper use of the system -of cultural toys. There had been great difficulty at first, but the -parents were now properly instructed; and in a short time there would -be no need to instruct them, as they would have grown up in familiarity -with the system. - -"Other experiments equally valuable have been conducted in order to -discover what forms of amusement are most profitable from the cultural -point of view; these include experiments designed to improve production. - -"For example, in our schools for the children of the Seventh Class, -we find we have to allow a considerable time for non-intellectual -pursuits. It would be sheer waste to allow all this time to be given -to mere amusement. Children who cannot give more than three hours a -day to study, can be very usefully employed in making simple articles. -We have a number of simple machines which can be worked by quite small -children. You would be surprised to learn, perhaps, that goods worth -a million are exported annually which are all the product of the -semi-recreative work of these children. On the other hand, any boys -of the _Second_ Class who cannot profitably be kept at intellectual -pursuits for more than a few hours a day, are trained to be active and -bold and self-reliant in preparation for their military career. - -"The same principle applies not only to children at school but to -people of all ages. For example, we discovered, through our Time -Department again, that thousands of men were wasting precious hours -upon games such as chess. We have introduced mathematical exercises -of an interesting kind as a substitute, with most beneficial results. -Others were addicted to aimless walks and rambles in the country. -We began by offering prizes for botanical, entomological and other -specimens, and for essays upon scientific subjects. We have, in fact, -almost eliminated aimless amusement from the life of our common -people. In the Fifth Class, which is a highly intelligent class, -we encourage the pursuit of science by promoting those who pass -certain examinations, which include a thesis, to the first grade of -their class, and in a few cases we are able to promote exceptionally -promising young men to the Fourth Class." - -"In what way does this bear upon the drama?" I said in a pause in Dr. -Dodderer's discourse. - -"I have been trying to show you the basis of our system of public -amusement. With us, amusement is never an end in itself. We find a -certain crude kind of interest in the drama, or shall I say in the -theatre, in almost all peoples, and some of the greatest poets have -utilised that interest in order to reach the minds of their hearers. -The greatest poets are those who have conceded least to the mere -instinct for amusement. We have followed the same principle. But we -could not carry out this scheme of dramatic culture without first -getting control over the theatre. Prince Mechow, with his usual -insight, saw that it was useless to control and direct the Press, if -he did not at the same time control and direct the Theatre. First of -all he made the censorship a reality. Then he took all the most popular -playwrights into the State service. Then he was able to weed out those -who were incapable of entering into his purpose. Gradually all the -theatres became cultural institutions of the State. All this took time, -of course. Even now there are a few popular theatres where only the -lower kinds of dramatic varieties are performed. Attendance at these is -not compulsory." - -"I do not yet understand," I said, "why it should be necessary to make -attendance compulsory when the drama is so popular." - -"For the majority of the people," replied Dr. Dodderer, "compulsion is -quite unnecessary; but it is just those who are most in need of the -culture that can be given through the medium of the drama who would be -lax in their attendance. The whole subject has been investigated," he -continued, "by the aid of the Time Department, and we are satisfied -that we get the best results through our present system." - -"Since your playwrights became Civil servants has there been no decline -in the quality of your dramatic productions?" I asked. - -"On the contrary," replied Dr. Dodderer. "Our modern plays are on a -much higher level. There are several reasons for this. In the first -place, in the old days the uninstructed public were hardly fit judges -of dramatic or literary excellence. They often preferred plays of -little cultural value. Consequently, the men who could write really -good plays often found it impossible to get them produced. Our Board -of Dramatic Criticism is now able to decide the merits of all plays, -and the dramatists are quite independent of the caprice of the public. -Also, we can carry specialisation to a point undreamt of in former -times." - -"Specialisation?" I said; "that is quite a new idea to me." - -"Naturally, there are writers who have plenty of ingenuity in -devising plots, but who are lacking in literary style; others who -write excellent Meccanian, both prose and verse, but who are weak -in the dramatic instinct. It is, in fact, very seldom that a modern -Meccanian drama is the sole work of any single author. Moreover, the -drama as developed by us lends itself particularly to specialisation. -For example, most of our classical plays are presented in four -phases. The simplest phase comes first. The subject is presented in -chronological-dramatic form, somewhat resembling the dramas of other -days and other countries. Next comes the analytical phase, and after -that the synthetic. The last phase or act is a complete philosophical -symposium in which the whole subject is presented in its highest and -most abstract form." - -"When you speak of the subject of a play, what do you mean exactly?" I -asked. - -"The old plays had often no real subject; they had titles, it is -true, but these titles were mere names of persons, or mere names -of places or incidents. What, for instance, can you make of a title -such as _Julius Cæsar_? or _The Emperor of the East_? or _Catherine_? -or _The Tyrant of Genoa_? or _The Crime of Boniface_? If you are -acquainted with the development of the drama, you will know that -about ninety years ago a great advance was made by means of what -was then called 'The Problem Play.' Some of these plays had a real -subject. We have gone much further, of course. Take the subjects of -some of our best-known plays: _Efficiency_, _Inefficiency_, _National -Self-Consciousness_. These are all by our Chief Dramatic-Composer -Grubber. His latest play, _Uric Acid_, is in my opinion even better -than these." - -"_Uric Acid_!" I exclaimed; "what an extraordinary subject!" - -"It is one of a series of medical plays," explained Dr. Dodderer, -quite undisturbed. "The subject lends itself splendidly to the -methods of Meccanian Art. The part played by uric acid in the life -of the individual, the family, the State, treated physiologically, -pathologically, sociologically, ethically and philosophically, is -almost infinite in its possibilities, and Grubber has made the most of -them." - -"And do the public enjoy these medical plays?" - -"You appear to be obsessed, if I may say so," replied Dr. Dodderer, -"with the idea of enjoyment. You must bear in mind our standpoint, -which I have already explained. But certainly the public take great -interest in the medical plays. Sub-Dramatist Smellie wrote a series, -_Phthisis_, _Nephritis_ and _Meningitis_, which are almost equal to -Grubber's _Uric Acid_, but he fails a little in the higher aspects -of the subject, and consequently his fourth acts fall short of the -highest philosophical perfection. I remember reading the proofs of -his first play, _Gall Stones_. It was excellent until he came to the -philosophical phase. It reminded me of an older play produced in the -transition period, some fifty years ago, called _The Blind and the -Deaf_. It had a considerable vogue for several years, but you see from -its title that the conception was not fully developed." - -"These medical plays," I said, "are not the most typical productions of -the dramatic genius of modern Meccania, I suppose?" - -"In some ways they are," replied Dr. Dodderer. "That is to say, they -are almost peculiar to our country. But one of our younger playwrights -has developed the subject of economics in a way almost equally unique. -His _Significance of Food_, and his _Insurance_, and _Distribution_, -are a mere introduction to his masterpiece, _Value_. A very slight -work on _Inaccuracy_, which was almost a farce, first attracted -the attention of the Board of Criticism. They refused to produce -_Inaccuracy_ in its original form, and he embodied it in a more mature -work, _Production_, which was the first of his genuine economic plays." - -"I suppose, then, you have historical or at least political plays?" - -"Historical plays are mostly performed in the juvenile theatres," he -said. "I have very little to do with them. They fall under Section -A, and, as you know, I am the Sub-Controller of Section B," replied -Dodderer. "But," he continued, "we have a certain number of more -advanced historical plays for adults. For instance, _The Evolution of -Society_, with its sequel, _The Triumph of Meccania_, are excellent -historical plays. Political plays have become almost obsolete, but -there are still a few produced occasionally. _The Principle of -Monarchy_ is still quite a classic in its way, and _The Futility of -Democracy_ is one of the most brilliant pieces of Meccanian satire. -_Obedience_ is another classic." - -"It seems to me a very remarkable fact that your Sixth and Seventh -Classes should be able to appreciate such plays as those you have been -describing," I said, "especially in parts of the country which cannot -be so far advanced as the capital." - -"I do not say that they appreciate the drama in the same degree as the -more educated classes; but you must remember they have gone through -a long course of training. You perhaps now appreciate our wisdom in -making attendance compulsory. Without regularity in attendance we could -not arrange for a proper sequence of plays. Also, I must admit that on -the days when the Sixth and Seventh Classes are due to attend, we put -on the less advanced plays as a rule." - -"What happens," I asked, "to the old plays which were written, say, a -hundred years ago; are they never performed?" - -"Oh dear, yes," replied Dr. Dodderer; "the performance of such plays -forms a regular part of the literature course at all our Universities -and Colleges. We also utilise quite a number of them in the courses of -plays for the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Classes; but the form in which -they are written is so simple and childish, such a contrast to the ripe -perfection of the fully developed Meccanian drama." - -"It must be a difficult matter," I remarked, "to arrange for -progressive courses of plays for so many people as you have in Mecco." - -"On the contrary, the larger the city the easier it is. Members of the -Third Class and, of course, of higher classes, are considered capable -of appreciating all kinds of plays. Class Four consists of four grades, -and the two higher grades, all the members of which are over thirty, -are likewise eligible to attend any plays. We have a very simple plan -of classifying all the others. At the age of eighteen they are all at -liberty to attend plays which are classed as Stage I.; then after six -months any one is at liberty to apply for a certificate entitling him -to attend plays in Stage II. After another year they can obtain a -certificate for Stage III.; and so on. We seldom refuse an application, -and in fact we rather encourage our people to advance, otherwise many -people would be content to remain in Stage II., or Stage III., all -their lives. Then, at the beginning of each season, we know how many -to provide for in each class, and at each stage; and the greater the -number of theatres the easier it is to arrange the plays accordingly." - -"What about the actors?" I asked. "In most countries the leading -actors are very much sought after, and can make large fortunes. I -should imagine your system does not allow of that kind of career for a -successful actor." - -"All our actors," replied Dr. Dodderer, "are trained in the Imperial -Meccanian Dramatic College. The lower grades belong to the Fifth Class, -the higher grades to the Fourth. The technique of acting has been -brought to such perfection that the 'star' as he used to be called, -has entirely disappeared. There is no room for him in our system. The -'star' was a mere product of popular enthusiasm." - -"How do you judge, then, of the popularity of any particular actor?" - -"We take no account of it at all," replied Dr. Dodderer. "Our expert -Board of Dramatic Criticism determines the standing of each actor. -We have, of course, expert psychologists, who are able to test the -particular psychological effect both of each phase of the play and of -the impression made by individual actors. Their experiments are of -great value both to our dramatic managers and to the writers of plays." - -At this point Dr. Dodderer announced that the hour he had reserved for -me was at an end. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -MORE CULTURE IN MECCO - - -I returned to Conductor Prigge and my daily grind. But as most of -this first period was spent in visiting systematically a number of -institutions similar to those I had seen in Bridgetown, but on a larger -scale, it is hardly necessary to describe them here. For instance, -the arrangements for receiving and distributing food are on the same -principle: the markets are managed in the same way. The general system -of shopping is the same, except that, as the city is much larger, there -is very much more 'shopping by post.' As the shops are not permitted -to display anything in shop windows, nor to advertise except in the -trade gazettes and catalogues, there is not much incentive to spend -time in desultory shopping. The great Stores are more like warehouses -than shops. I had gathered from my conversations with Sheep that the -State seemed to place obstacles in the way of personal expenditure, and -yet at the same time production was encouraged. Sheep's explanations -had not seemed to me entirely satisfactory, so I decided to question -Prigge on this interesting point. As his services were charged for at -double the rate of Sheep's, I thought I ought to get more complete -information from him. So one day I said to him, "How is it that in -Meccania, as far as I can judge, you have brought production to such -a pitch of perfection--I mean as regards the enormous quantities -manufactured--whilst at the same time you seem to restrict expenditure -or consumption in so many ways?" - -Prigge tilted back his head and put on his professorial air. - -"Such a question would be better dealt with when you come to make a -definite study of our National Economy, but as it is really quite an -elementary question--a commonplace of all our textbooks--I do not -mind explaining it briefly now. Your first error is in supposing that -the State encourages production indiscriminately. We produce what we -require and no more, but we are able to measure our requirements better -than other nations. In other countries people are allowed to buy a lot -of things they do not require; this causes unnecessary production, of -course. Unregulated consumption gives rise to unregulated production." - -I still felt puzzled as to what became of the wealth produced by the -wonderfully efficient system of wholesale production, for, as far as I -could tell, the people seemed less luxurious in their habits than those -of countries far less advanced in machine production. But I felt I -should be getting on dangerous ground, and forbore. - -The commercial quarter, in which we spent a whole day, was remarkably -small for so large a city, especially considering that the city is not -commercially self-contained. But I learnt that Mecco is not really -the commercial centre of Meccania. The merchants are little more than -the agents for the distribution of goods. The quantities are largely -fixed by the Department of Industry and Commerce, consequently there -is not much room for enterprise, except in effecting economies in -distribution, in bargaining with the Government as to the kinds of -goods to be produced, and in discussing with manufacturers matters -of detail as to patterns and styles. For example, the Schools of Art -produce every year designs for cloth for women's dress. The merchants -select from these the patterns to be manufactured. There is little -excitement in a merchant's career. Most of the clerks seem to be -occupied in the preparation and revision of catalogues, which are the -substitute for advertisements. No new article can be produced until -it has been approved by the Improvements Section of the Department of -Industry and Commerce. - -All this side of the life of Mecco was very tame and stereotyped. -Prigge discoursed at length on the merits of the Post Office and all -its works, but the only remarkable thing I noticed about it, besides -the censorship of letters, and the enormous number of people employed, -was the ingenious arrangement whereby a conversation carried on in any -part of Meccania could be overheard at the Central Office. - -The absence of life and bustle in the streets was as striking as in -Bridgetown. Most of the people in the Government offices belonged to -the Fourth Class, and as these all lived in the two quarters running -north and south of the central ring, they could reach their offices -in a very short time. The midday meal was taken in a canteen within -the office. The few inferior employees, messengers, porters, cleaners, -etc., who belonged to the Fifth or Sixth Class, lived almost as near. -The higher Civil servants of the Third Class, who of course were less -numerous, did not make a crowd in the street. The green uniforms -of the Fourth Class were the most conspicuous object everywhere. -The industrial classes, living as they do on the side nearest the -industrial town, are transported by an ingenious system of trams and -underground and overhead railways, so that in half an hour they can -all get from their homes to their work, where they remain all day. All -goods arriving from the industrial town for distribution to the Stores -are carried by a regular service of motor-vans. The distribution of -goods to houses is so systematised as to require comparatively few -vehicles. For instance, certain kinds of goods can be delivered only -once a month for each household, others only once a week. Consequently -one sees a perfectly regular stream of traffic, which is never very -dense and never congested. All this might have been very interesting -to a student of municipal socialism and mechanical organisation, but -my chief interests lay in other directions, and it was not until we -came to the cultural institutions that I found things so remarkable, -at any rate from my own point of view, that I shall make no apology -for describing them with some fullness here, even at the risk of being -tedious to those who think more of locomotion than of liberty, or who -regard the Post Office as the highest symbol of civilisation. - -I had looked forward with some curiosity to my first visit to a -Meccanian Art Gallery, for, as I had not been into any private houses, -and as there are no shop windows, I had seen hardly any signs of -Meccanian Art Culture, except in Architecture. The decorative work in -the public buildings did not impress me favourably. It was Patriotic -Art, executed by the students of the Imperial Meccanian Academy. - -Prigge announced that, as he had been promoted to a higher grade in the -Police Service, he would no longer be available to conduct me. By way -of consoling me for the deprivation he said that in any case I should -have to be handed over to various specialist conductors, as I had -almost completed the general part of my tour and had reached the stage -when I should have to begin the study of definite branches of Meccanian -culture. He had consequently arranged for me to spend the first three -days in the Great Meccanian Gallery under the guidance of Specialist -Art Section Sub-Conductor Musch. - -Sub-Conductor Musch met me at the appointed time at the hotel. He -was a very different type from Prigge. He was much less of the -drill-sergeant; in fact he looked rather 'decadent,' if a Meccanian -can be decadent. He spoke in a soft voice, which was quite a contrast -to the leathery voices of most officials I had encountered previously. -He began by saying that before we actually began our inspection of the -pictures there were certain preliminaries. - -The Great Meccanian Gallery, he said, was the temple of all that was -sacred in the æsthetic world. I must be properly prepared for it, -so that I could concentrate my attention upon what I saw and not be -distracted by having to ask questions about extraneous matters. If I -would pay careful attention he would describe the general arrangements. - -"The Great Meccanian Gallery," he said, "is one of the four galleries -in Mecco; the other three are subsidiary. The first gallery is devoted -to the old historical collections that existed before the time of -Prince Mechow, and contains only foreign pictures. The second gallery -contains Meccanian pictures of a date previous to the foundation of the -Great Meccanian Gallery by Prince Mechow. The fourth gallery contains -foreign pictures contemporary with those in the Great Meccanian -Gallery. And now we come to the Great Meccanian Gallery itself. - -"Every picture in that gallery is an expression of the Meccanian -spirit; otherwise it is not admitted. Its technique must also satisfy -the Board of Art of the Department of Culture. Consequently, as -soon as you enter you are in the atmosphere of pure Meccanian Art. -Previous to the creation of this gallery, the influence of Art was -rather de-nationalising. The æsthetic sense was cultivated in total -ignorance of the possibility of marrying it to the Meccanian spirit. -The Meccanian spirit is the active, creative male; the æsthetic sense -is receptive, conceptive, essentially female. Of the two, Meccanian Art -is born." - -He went on in this style for several minutes until I thought I had -better get something more definite from him for my 'guidance.' So I -said, "How does one tell whether a picture is an expression of the -Meccanian spirit?" - -"To the true Meccanian, all things truly Meccanian are sacred, and -by the inward cultivation of the sense of reverence for what is most -characteristically Meccanian he arrives at a certainty which is -incommunicable to others." - -"But suppose opinion is divided. Suppose, for example, one man says, -here is a picture which is full of the Meccanian spirit, and another -man says the contrary." - -Musch smiled in a sad, superior way, by which I saw that after all, in -spite of his 'decadence,' he was a true Meccanian. "You are evidently -not well acquainted with either Meccanian history or philosophy," -he said. "Even our early philosophers taught that the Meccanian -spirit must embody itself in institutions or it would evaporate. The -Imperial Meccanian Academy is the visible embodiment of the highest -manifestation of the Meccanian æsthetic spirit. All Meccanian artists -are trained under the influence of the Academy. Its judgment, as -expressed by the Central Board, is infallible. None of its decisions -has ever been reversed. I do not think you realise how completely the -influence of the Academy has moulded the Meccanian appreciation of Art -during the last generation," he went on in his slow, soft speech. "You -have heard something from my friend Dr. Dodderer of the care taken by -our all-beneficent Super-State in the cultivation of the appreciation -of the Drama, and you have probably heard something too of our musical -culture. Other forms of Art are equally sacred, since they are all -Meccanian. Every person in the Fourth and higher classes goes through a -course of art appreciation, which extends over several years. No person -is admitted beyond the fifth stage of the Great Meccanian Gallery -unless he has passed the advanced test. Attendance at the gallery -is compulsory, once a fortnight, for all persons of the Fourth and -Third Classes between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five. The Fifth -Class are not admitted to rooms beyond Stage III., except by special -permission on four days in the year. For them we have a few local -galleries, as we have for the Sixth Class also, containing pictures -which are soundly Meccanian in spirit but which do not come up to the -standard of the Great Gallery." - -Presently we proceeded to the gallery containing the old historical -collection. Musch said that we should see what we wanted of this -in an hour, in fact it was rather a formality to visit it, but the -Regulations for Foreign Observers made it necessary that I should see -this first. It turned out to be really a fine collection, such as I had -seen in many others parts of Europe; but I almost gasped at the strange -freak which had inspired the curators in arranging the pictures. They -were arranged strictly according to subject. All the "Nativities" were -together in one room, all the "Madonnas" together in another, all the -"Adam and Eves" together, all the "Deluges," all the "Susannas," all -the "Prodigal Sons," all the "Venuses," all the "Bacchuses"; whatever -the subject, every picture relating to that subject was placed together -as if the gallery were a collection of butterflies. - -Musch took no interest in this collection. It was all dead, he said, -obsolete, pre-Meccanian, untouched by the spirit. When we came to the -second gallery containing the older Meccanian pictures he showed more -interest. Some painted three centuries ago I thought very fine, but -Musch said they were lacking in self-consciousness. The Meccanian -spirit was overlaid by false foreign culture. Only when we came to -some weird and powerful but almost revolting pictures, dating from the -beginning of the century, did he grow enthusiastic. These, he said, -were the genuine precursors and pioneers of Meccanian Art. - -It was afternoon when we entered the first section or stage of the -Great Meccanian Gallery. This was the first stage for young persons, -and was divided into a section containing 'elementary-general' -pictures, and another containing historical pictures. The general -pictures were mostly scenes of places of interest in various parts of -Meccania, or national customs and public ceremonies. The technique -was distinctly good. The historical pictures mostly represented wars -against foreign enemies. I noticed that the Meccanians were represented -as heroes, and their enemies as brutalised hordes of semi-lunatics. -Others represented Meccanians discovering all the arts of peace and -war. I spent a dreary day and more, working painfully through Stages -I., II. and III., up to XIX., until, on the third day, we came to the -most advanced specimens. These reminded me of Dr. Dodderer's account of -the Meccanian drama. There was a number of allegorical subjects--"The -Birth of the Meccanian Spirit," "The Victory of Time over Space," "The -Festival of Chemistry," "The Nuptials of Science and Force," "The -Conquests of Culture." Others were more mystical--"War the Servant of -Culture," "The Deity instructing Monarchy," "The Eternal Principle of -Meccanian Monarchy," "The Wisdom of the Super-State," "The Unity of the -Seven Classes." - -Some of these were immense canvases forty feet long, full of life-size -figures drawn with microscopic exactness. The artists had certainly -managed to catch and even accentuate the Meccanian features of every -face. I felt the Meccanian atmosphere, but I still could not understand -why such careful cultivation should have been required to produce this -extraordinary collection. I would gladly have given the whole gallery -for a few masterpieces from the old collection. - -I could not imagine that any effect produced on the mind even of -patriotic Meccanians could be worth all the trouble spent upon either -the creation of the gallery itself or the organisation of artistic -culture that centred round it. I was therefore curious to see what sort -of effect the sight of the pictures had upon other visitors. In one -of the lower rooms I had seen some groups of schoolgirls accompanied -by a teacher. They all had their notebooks, and were taking down -notes in shorthand. Musch explained enthusiastically that these girls -would spend a whole afternoon on half a dozen pictures, and that by -the time they were twenty years of age they would have studied every -picture up to Stage XIX. in the gallery. What I overheard from the -teacher's lecture was something like this: "Now let us analyse the -colour scheme. By the aid of the colour divider you perceive at once -the proportions in which the colours are distributed. Now notice that -red, which occupies only 7 per cent of the canvas, is more conspicuous -than green, which occupies more than 25 per cent." I did not catch -the next passage, but presently I heard: "All the pictures by the -same artist have the same distribution of colour. Consequently it -would be possible to determine by an analysis of the colour scheme the -authenticity of any picture by this artist. Next notice the method of -the brush strokes. Under the microscope" (here the microscope came into -play) "you will see the characteristic quality of the brush stroke. -It has been already ascertained that in this picture there are 5232 -down-strokes of an average length of 3 millimetres, 1079 strokes from -right to left of an average length of 1½ millimetre, only 490 from left -to right, and 72 upward strokes. The same proportion of strokes has -been discovered in several other pictures by the same artist, according -to the size of the picture. This picture was painted in exactly 125 -hours. The quantity of paint used must have been almost exactly -three-quarters of a litre, so you can make a calculation to ascertain -the number of brush strokes to the litre." - -In another gallery I noticed some superior young men of the Fourth -Class in their green uniforms, discussing the merits of a popular -artist. One of them was saying, "And I maintain that his morality -is pre-Meccanian; he lacks super-masculinity." In another room a -few stolid citizens of middle age were slowly making a pilgrimage. -I wondered why they did not move faster and get it over, until I -discovered there was a rule that, at each visit, non-students were -not allowed to spend less than half an hour in one room, or more than -three-quarters of an hour. This regulation did not apply to me so long -as I was under the charge of Musch, who had access to the whole gallery. - -I found Musch a less desirable acquaintance than Prigge. I suspected -him of being addicted to drugs, and wondered how far his enthusiasm -for the Meccanian spirit was an official pose; for, after completing -my visit to the Great Gallery, I was asking him whether all artists -were employed by the State, and whether there were not other types of -pictures produced, besides those represented in the Great Gallery, when -he began to tell me of another phase of art. - -"All artists," he said, "who in the seventh year of their training are -accepted by the Academy are employed permanently by the State; the -others are found other employment according to their capacity, but are -not permitted to produce pictures." - -"I suppose," I said, "the artists who are taken into the service of the -State are controlled in some way. What happens, for instance, if they -turn out to be idlers?" - -"They are certainly controlled. The Board selects the subjects for the -year, for each artist, according to his capacity. Of course he may -suggest subjects too, but until they are approved he is not allowed -to proceed. He must also submit a plan or sketch of his proposed -treatment." - -"And is a painter not allowed even in his own leisure to paint subjects -of his own choice?" - -"Ah, there you touch upon an interesting subject," replied Musch, with -something like a leer. "The Board are naturally desirous of preserving -the Meccanian spirit in all its purity, but the effort to rise to the -sublime heights of emotion which that demands, produces a reaction, and -many of our artists find an outlet for this, so that beside the pure -stream of Meccanian Art there flows, as it were, another stream." - -"In other words," I suggested, "they carry on an illicit production -of works of a lower ethical quality, which can only be disposed of by -being sold to the rich." - -"Your intuition is remarkable," he replied. - -"Not in the least," I said. "One only requires a little knowledge of -human nature to see what must happen. But how does this practice escape -the attention of the Super-State?" I said. - -"There are many patrons of Art among the higher official class," -replied Musch significantly. - -This was the first time I had learnt from any person that the State had -any chinks in its armour. - -"Perhaps you can tell me," I said, "something which has puzzled me ever -since I came here, and that is--Why your Super-State occupies itself -so meticulously with such things as Music, and the Drama, and Art. -Such interests seem rather foreign to the main purpose for which, as I -understand it, the great statesmen who have made Meccania what it is, -designed it." - -"I have often wondered the same thing myself," replied Musch. "I can -only say that if all this side of life were left unregulated, the life -of the State would be incomplete. Sooner or later the consciousness of -the State must embrace all things." - -I said no more, and this was the last I saw of poor Musch, for next day -he was ill, and I was taken by another Sub-Conductor, whose name was -Grovel, to see the Mechow Memorial Museum. Almost everything in Mecco -is a sort of memorial or reminder of Prince Mechow. Mechow Street, -Mechow Square, the Mechow Monument, Mechow Park, the Mechow Palace, -Mechow Hotels meet one at every turn. There are even Mechow whiskers, -of a pattern seldom seen outside Meccania, but immensely popular among -middle-aged officials of the Third and Fourth Classes. Curiously -enough, I learnt that the higher officials rather resent the wearing of -this style of whisker by subordinate officials, but as it is a sort of -symbol of loyalty it is not considered proper to repress it. - -The Museum is near the square and is the largest biographical museum in -existence. It contains a model of the house Prince Mechow was born in, -with all his clothes and toys, all the schoolbooks he used, and models -of all the rooms he lived in, including his bedrooms. One room contains -all the letters he wrote, all the letters written to him, all the -minutes he wrote as a Civil servant, the very pens he used, the office -furniture, etc. etc. The library contains not only the books he read, -and the few he wrote, but an enormous number of books and pamphlets -written about him personally and about all his work. - -Besides his printed speeches, which run into many volumes, there are -phonographic records of them, which are 'performed' daily in a special -hall, to youths and girls from the High Schools. - -One large room contains models of all the towns in Meccania, as they -were before his reforms and as they are now. Another room is devoted -to the great Monument. It contains the original plans and models, as -well as a model of all the copies erected in various towns. Adjoining -this room is a large collection of photographs of Prince Mechow, -casts of his face and waxwork models of him as he appeared on several -great historical occasions. One case in the library struck me as very -characteristic. It was a series of volumes in folio, sumptuously -bound. The first was entitled _Prince Mechow as Statesman_; and there -were at least thirty others with such titles as Prince Mechow as -Subject, Prince Mechow as Conservative, Prince Mechow as Reformer, -Prince Mechow as Student, Prince Mechow as Author, Prince Mechow as -Orator, Prince Mechow as Philosopher, Prince Mechow as Husband and -Father, Prince Mechow as Agriculturist, Prince Mechow's Taste in Art, -Prince Mechow's Taste in Music, Prince Mechow's Taste in Literature, -Prince Mechow's Taste in Nature, Prince Mechow's Loyalty, Prince -Mechow's Generosity, Prince Mechow's Pets, Prince Mechow's Religion. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -A MECCANIAN APOSTLE - - -It was a week or two after my visit to the Mechow Museum that I made -the acquaintance of one of the Foreign Observers who was staying at -the hotel. A day or two before, I had been sent for by the Hotel -Manager, and had been presented with a small certificate authorising -me to take my meals in the common dining-room, and to converse with -other foreigners whose names I was instructed to enter in my diary. I -had previously noticed a certain gentleman from Luniland whose face -seemed familiar to me. On this particular evening he came across to my -table and introduced himself as Mr. Johnson, a friend of Mr. Yorke, in -whose house I had stayed and where he had met me. We soon fell into -conversation, and when dinner was over we retired for a long chat to a -corner of the smoke-room. It appeared that he had been in Mecco over -a year, and had travelled also in various parts of the country. In -fact, this was his second visit, he said, his first having been made -a few years before. He was a man of about forty-five, tall and slim, -with a rather large bony nose and a grave but kindly expression. His -manner was quiet and dignified, and at first he spoke with a certain -obvious restraint; but afterwards he became more genial and was rather -humorous, after the manner of many of his countrymen. - -"I should rather like to ask what you think of this country, but it -would hardly be fair, because the chances are that every word we say -here is overheard. I always suspect they have one of those beastly -contrivances fixed in the walls, to enable the manager or somebody -representing the Authorities to listen to everything that goes on. I -don't much mind if they turn me out of their precious country, but I -wouldn't like to get you into trouble. Anyhow, I believe if we were to -begin talking in my language, which I remember you speak very well, we -should presently have somebody round reminding us that it is against -the rules." - -"Yet you have spent quite a long time in the country apparently," I -remarked. "I have really been wondering whether to stay here much -longer, and perhaps you could give me some tips if I decide to stay." - -"Well," he replied, "it's just a matter of taste whether you like the -country. I shouldn't be able to stand it but for one thing." - -"And what is that?" I asked. - -"It enables me to thank God every hour that I am not a Meccanian." - -"Yes," I said, "there's something in that. I myself object to some of -the inconveniences that these numerous regulations about everything -entail, but they are nothing, I suppose, compared with what it would -feel like if one expected to spend one's life here." - -"It's just possible they really like it. But what sort of 'tips' were -you thinking of? Perhaps I know the ropes a little better than you, if -you have been here only a month or two." - -"Well, there are two things I would like to know," I replied. "I am -rather tired of being 'conducted' about everywhere. That's the first. -And I want to get to know individual people as I did in Luniland. Here, -so far, I have met only officials, always on duty. It seems impossible -to get into contact with real live people. Until lately, as you know, -I was forbidden to talk to the people staying in the hotel; but now -that I have got over that difficulty, although, no doubt, I can pick up -a certain amount of information from my fellow Foreign Observers and -enjoy their conversation, I am no nearer getting to know the Meccanian -private citizens themselves." - -"And do you particularly want to know them?" asked Mr. Johnson. - -"One naturally wants to know what the people of any country are like, -and unless one has some fairly intimate intercourse of a social kind -with people of different ranks and types, one might almost as well -stay at home and read the matter up in books," I replied. - -"I see. You are a genuine Foreign Observer. Well, to tell the truth, -so am I," he said more confidentially. "I am not here because I -like it. I detest the whole lot of them. I came here for the first -time five or six years ago. I had heard a lot about the country and -its wonderful organisation. Organisation! Blessed word! I had also -heard some rather tall stories, and thought the accounts had been -exaggerated. I came with an open mind. I rather prided myself on being -an impartial observer. I was prepared to allow a lot for the natural -differences of taste between one nation and another. At first I was -so keenly interested that I didn't mind the little restrictions, but -when the novelty had worn off, and I began to realise what it all -meant, I determined to make a more thorough study of the country than -I had at first thought would be worth while. So I am here now studying -Meccanian education. Now the only way, so far as I know, of getting rid -of your everlasting 'conductors' is to get permission to study some -special subject. I went through just the same experience. I was what -they call merely a 'general' observer. The Authorities don't exactly -like the 'general' observer. They can't find it in their hearts to -let him alone. As they regulate their own people they must keep as -close a watch on the foreigner. As he doesn't fit into their system, -they have to invent a system for him. It is troublesome to them, and -not very pleasant for the foreigner; but Meccanian principles make it -necessary. However, if you can satisfy them that you are a _bona fide_ -student of some special subject--it doesn't matter what it is, you may -choose anything from the parasites in the intestines of a beetle to -the philosophy of the Absolute--they will treat you quite decently, -according to their lights." - -"How do you account for this difference?" I asked. - -"They are immensely flattered by the notion that if you come here to -study anything, it must be because their knowledge is so superior to -what can be found elsewhere. However, if you want to get rid of the -daily worry of a 'conductor,' that is what you must do. But you must be -a specialist of some sort, or they won't admit you to the privilege." - -"But there is no special subject I want to study," I said. "I am just -a 'general' observer, and if I undertake to study a special subject I -shall miss seeing what I most want to see." - -"That is a difficulty. Perhaps you had better go on as you have been -doing, and when you have had enough of that, go in for some political -institutions; they have got you registered as a National Councillor, so -you can pretend to study the working of the Constitution or some such -thing." - -"That's rather a good idea," I said; "but, judging from what I have -seen, I should doubt whether they will let me see what I want to see." - -"Why, what do you want to see?" - -"Just what I cannot get from an inspection of the machinery of the -State--the effect of the laws and customs on the actual life of the -people." - -"Ah, that you will have to get by the aid of your imagination." - -"But," I suggested, "is it not possible to get permission to live in -some family, or with several different families in different classes in -succession?" - -"Oh yes," replied Johnson, "quite possible, if you are prepared to go -through all the necessary formalities; but I doubt whether you will get -much by it. You see, each family is a sort of replica, in miniature, -of the State. They will have to report to the Police once a week upon -all your doings. Every word you say will be listened to. They will be -studying you, just as you will be studying them. I have tried it. There -_is_ no natural intercourse in this country. Try it if you like, but I -am sure you will come to my opinion in the end. - -"Don't forget to enter the time of this conversation in your diary," -Mr. Johnson said as we parted. "If you make a mistake, or if I make a -mistake, we shall have an interview with an inspector from the Time -Department, and the hotel manager will worry us to death about it." - -The next day I resumed my tour of observation with a new 'conductor' -whose name was Lickrod. He was almost affectionate in his greeting when -we met at the Police Office, and we had not been long together before -I recognised that he was a different type from Prigge, or Sheep, or -any of the others I had met. He was to take me to see the Industrial -town, and he was full of enthusiasm for everything we were to see. As -we went along in the tram he explained rather effusively that it was -a great pleasure to him to meet foreigners. He had a mission in life, -just as Meccania had a mission among all the nations. He was a loyal -Meccanian--in fact, he yielded to no man in his loyalty to the State; -but for that very reason he ventured to criticise one defect in the -policy of the Government. I began to wonder what that could be. - -"I have travelled abroad," he said, "and I have seen with my own eyes -the benighted condition of so many millions of my fellow-creatures. I -come home, and I see everywhere around me order, knowledge, prosperity, -cleanliness--no dirt, no poverty, no disorder, no strikes, no -disturbance, no ignorance, no disease that can be prevented--Culture -everywhere. It makes me almost weep to think of the state of the -world outside. We have not done all that we might have done to carry -our Culture abroad. We have kept it too much to ourselves. In my -humble way, as a Conductor of Foreigners, I take every opportunity I -can of spreading a knowledge of our Culture. But instead of a few -score, or at most a few hundred, foreigners every year, we ought to -have thousands here. Then they would become missionaries in their -own countries. I always impress upon them that they must begin with -the reform of education in their countries; and I would advise you, -before you return, to make a thorough study of our system of education. -Without that you cannot hope to succeed." - -"But," I suggested, "if other countries followed your example would -they not become as strong as you? Perhaps your Government looks at it -from that point of view." - -"There are, on this question," he observed sagely, "two opposite -opinions. One is that it is better to keep our Culture to ourselves; -the other is that we ought to teach other nations, so that ultimately -all the earth can become one great and glorious Meccania." - -By this time we had arrived at the entrance to the Industrial town. -Conductor Lickrod broke off to note the time of our arrival, and to -lead me into the office of the Governor or Controller of what, for -convenience, I may call Worktown. Indeed the Industrial quarter is -known by a similar term in Mecco. This Controller is responsible -for the preservation of order; but as there is no difficulty about -discipline in the ordinary sense of the word, his functions are rather -to promote a high standard of Meccanian conduct among the workers -of all ages and grades. In this work he is assisted by scores of -Sub-Controllers of Industrial Training, as they are called. - -The organisation of the Controller's Department was explained before -we proceeded to any of the works. There was a large room filled with -thousands of little dossiers in shelves, and card-index cases to -correspond. The particulars of the character and career of every worker -in the town could be ascertained at a moment's notice. All the workers -were either in the Fifth or Sixth Class, but they were divided into -more than a dozen subgrades, and the card-index showed by the colour -which of the many grades any particular person had attained. - -I asked how the workmen were engaged. - -"The industrial career of a workman," said Lickrod enthusiastically, -"begins, if I may so express myself, with the dawn of his industrial -intelligence. In our schools--and here you perceive one of the -perfections of our educational system--our teachers are trained to -detect the signs of the innate capacity of each child, and to classify -it appropriately. In 79½ per cent of cases, as you will see from the -last report of the Industrial Training Section of the Department of -Industry and Commerce, the careers of boys are determined before the -age of thirteen. The rest is merely a question of training. By a proper -classification we are able to adjust the supply of each different kind -of capacity to the requirements of our industry. We avoid all the -waste and uncertainty which one sees in countries where even the least -competent workmen are allowed to choose their employment. We guarantee -employment to everybody, and on the other hand we preserve the right to -say what the employment shall be." - -"Does that mean," I asked, "that a workman can never change his -employment?" - -"In some of the more backward parts of the country it is sometimes -necessary for workmen to change their employment; but here, in Mecco, -we should think we had managed our business very badly if that were -necessary." - -"But without its being necessary, a man might wish to change. I have -heard of many cases, in Luniland and Transatlantica, of a clever and -enterprising man having risen to eminence, after an experience in half -a dozen different occupations. Here, I understand, that is impossible." - -"Ah," replied Lickrod, "I see you have not grasped the scientific basis -of our system. You say such and such a person rose to eminence, shall -we say as a lawyer, after having been, let us say, a printer or even a -house-painter. If there had been a sufficient supply of good lawyers -it is probable that he would not have succeeded in becoming an eminent -lawyer. Now, _we_ know our requirements as regards lawyers, just as -we know our requirements as to engineers. We have also the means of -judging the capacity of our young people, and we place them in the -sphere in which they can be of most service." - -I thought I could see holes in this theory, but all I said was, "So you -think of the problem from the point of view of the good of the State, -regardless of the wishes of the individual." - -"Certainly of the good of the State; but you mistake the true meaning -of the wishes of the individual. The apparent wish of the individual -may be to follow some other course than that which the State, with its -fuller knowledge and deeper wisdom, directs; but the real inward wish -of all Meccanians is to serve the interests of Meccania. That is the -outcome of our system of education. We must talk about that some other -time, but just now I want you to see that our system produces such -wonderful fruits that it never enters the head of any Meccanian workman -to question its wisdom." - -We entered a gigantic engineering works, full of thousands of machine -tools. Everything appeared as clean and orderly as in the experimental -room of an engineering college. Some of the workmen wore grey-coloured -overalls, showing that they belonged to the Sixth Class, but most of -them wore the chocolate uniform of the men of the Fifth Class. These -were evidently performing highly skilled work. Even the moulding shops -were clean and tidy, and the employment of machinery for doing work -that elsewhere I had been accustomed to see done by hand astonished -me. The workmen looked like soldiers and behaved like automatons. -Conversation went on, but I was informed by Lickrod, again in a tone -of pride, that only conversation relative to the work in hand was -permitted. Here and there I saw a man in a green uniform, applying some -mysterious instrument to one of the workmen. I asked Lickrod what this -meant. - -"That is one of our industrial psychologists, testing the -psycho-physiological effects of certain operations. By this means we -can tell not only when a workman is over-fatigued, but also if he is -under-fatigued. It is all part of our science of production." - -"What happens if a man is under-fatigued persistently?" I asked. - -"He will have to perform fatigue duty after the usual hours, just as he -would in the army," he answered. - -"And do they not object to this?" - -"Who?" - -"The workmen." - -"Why should they? The man who is guilty of under-fatigue knows that -he is justly punished. The others regard the offence as one against -themselves. It is part of our industrial training. But we have indeed -very few cases of under-fatigue in Mecco. You know, perhaps, that all -our citizens are, so to speak, selected. Anyone who does not appreciate -his privileges can be removed to other cities or towns, and there are -thousands of loyal Meccanians only too eager to come to live in Mecco." - -One of the most remarkable industries I saw carried on was the -House-building Industry. The plans for houses of every kind, except -those for the Third and higher classes, are stereotyped. That is to -say, there are some forty or fifty different plans, all worked out to -the minutest detail. Suppose ten houses are wanted in any particular -quarter, the Building Department decides the type of house, the order -is given for ten houses, Type No. 27 let us say. This goes to the firm -which specialises in Type No. 27. There are no architect's fees, and -the expenses of superintending the work are almost _nil_. - -I asked Conductor Lickrod why it was that, when the whole industry of -house-building had been reduced to a matter of routine, the State did -not itself carry on the work, but employed private firms. - -"That question," he said, "touches one of the fundamental principles of -our Meccanian policy. If you study our National Economy you will learn -all you require about it, but for the moment I may say that the control -of the State over Industry is complete, yet we have not extinguished -the capitalist. We do not desire to do so, for many reasons. The Third -Class, which includes all the large capitalists, and the Fourth Class, -which includes the smaller capitalists, furnish a most important -element in the National Economy. Their enterprise in business and -manufacture is truly astonishing." - -"But what motive have they for displaying enterprise?" I asked. - -"What motive? Why, every motive. Their livelihood depends upon the -profits made; their promotion to a higher grade in their own class, -and in the case of those in the Fourth Class their promotion to the -ranks of the Third Class, also depends upon their skill and enterprise. -But most of all, the Meccanian spirit, which has been inculcated by -our system of education, inspires them with the desire to excel the -business men of all other nations for the sake of Meccanian Culture." - -Certainly the organisation of industry was marvellous, and the -production of everything must be enormous. We spent three days going -through factory after factory. There was the same marvellous order and -cleanliness and perfect discipline, wherever one turned. On leaving -the works the men all marched in step, as if on parade. Inside, they -saluted their 'officers,' but the salute was of a special kind--the -hand was raised to the shoulder only, so as to avoid a sweeping motion -which might have brought it in contact with some object. One of the -triumphs of organisation, to which Lickrod called my attention, was the -arrangement whereby the workmen reached their work at the proper time, -got their midday meal, and reached home in the evening without any -congestion. Each separate workshop had its appointed time for beginning -work; some began as early as 6, others at 6.15, the last to begin were -a few that had a comparatively short day, starting at 7.30. The midday -meal began at 11.30, and was taken by relays until about 1.30. All the -women employed in the canteens were the wives and daughters of workmen, -who spent the rest of their time in household work at home. - -At the end of the third day, as I was taking coffee with Conductor -Lickrod, I took advantage of his communicativeness, which was rather -a contrast to the brusqueness of Prigge, to get some light on several -matters that had so far puzzled me. - -"Your industrial system," I remarked, "as a productive machine, appears -to me to be quite marvellous." - -Lickrod beamed. "I knew you would think so," he said. "We have a word -in our language which, so far as I am aware, has no exact equivalent -in other languages, because their culture does not include the thing. -It means 'the adaptation of the means to the end.' Our industrial -system exemplifies the virtue connoted by that expression; but our -whole industrial system itself is only a means perfectly adapted to its -end. We have no 'Industrial Problem' in the old sense of that word. Of -course we are always effecting improvements in detail." - -"But I have been wondering how it is," I said, "that with all this -marvellous efficiency in production, your workmen in the Fifth and -Sixth, and I suppose in the Seventh Class also, appear to work as long -as those in other countries; they do not appear to be richer and they -seem to have fewer opportunities of rising in the social scale." - -"I have heard the same question put by other Foreign Observers," -replied Lickrod, "and I am glad you have come to me for information -on the subject. A complete answer involves a correct understanding -of our whole Culture. To begin with, the supreme good of the State -can only be determined by the State itself. The wishes or opinions of -the private individual are of no account. Now, the State knows what -its requirements are, and determines the amounts and kinds of work -necessary to meet these requirements. By means of our Sociological -Department, our Industrial Department, our Time Department, and the -various sections of our Department of Culture, we know perfectly how to -adjust our industries to the end determined by the State. Every class -and grade therefore is required to contribute towards the supreme good -of the State according to its ability." - -"I quite understand," I interrupted, "the point of view you are -expounding; but what I am wondering is why, with all this efficient -machinery of production, everybody in the country is not in the -enjoyment either of wealth or of leisure." - -"I am afraid it is not easy for a foreigner, without longer experience, -to appreciate the different value we attach to things such as wealth -and leisure, and other things too. Suppose, purely for the sake of -argument, that our working class worked only five hours a day instead -of nine or ten: what would they do with their leisure?" - -"I suppose they would enjoy themselves," I replied; "and seeing that -they have had the benefit of a good education, I take it that they -would know how to enjoy themselves in a decent manner. Besides, your -regulations would be able to prevent any excesses or disorders." - -"And you think they would be better employed in enjoying themselves -than in serving the State as they do now?" asked Lickrod. - -"Who is to judge whether they would be better employed?" I answered. - -"That is just the question," said Lickrod, "and it is there that our -Culture is so much in advance of other nations. Private enjoyment is -not the supreme end of the State." - -"But surely," I said, "you do not go on producing wealth simply for -the sake of keeping your working classes employed ten hours instead of -five? What becomes of the wealth?" - -"As I said before, we produce just the wealth we require." - -"Then I confess I am baffled," I said. "Possibly a great deal is -required for your army and navy and other public services. You have, -you must acknowledge, a very large number of people employed as -officials of all kinds. As these are not producing material goods, -perhaps the surplus wealth is drained away into these channels?" - -"All that is included in my statement, that we produce what we -require," answered Lickrod. - -"Can you give me any idea," I asked, with some hesitation, fearing I -was getting on delicate ground, "how much of the industrial product -is required for military and naval purposes? I don't suppose you can, -because I am aware that your Government does not publish its military -estimates; and even if it did, it would not be possible to tell how -much of the labour of the working classes is absorbed in that way. But -whilst I do not ask for any information that it is not usual to give, I -suggest to you that when I see the extraordinary productivity of your -economic machine, coupled with the comparative simplicity of the mode -of life pursued by the bulk of your population, I am bound to infer -one of two things: either a vast amount must be absorbed by some rich -class, or it must be in some way absorbed by the State itself." - -"I think your reasoning is perfectly sound," replied Lickrod. "I could -not tell you what proportion of the wealth product is absorbed by the -army if I wished; for I do not know, and nobody in Meccania knows, -except the Supreme Authority. The Finance Department knows only in -terms of money what is spent upon the various services. But without -knowing either exact amounts or proportions, I have no hesitation in -saying that a very great deal of the wealth product does go in these -directions. But that is part of our Meccanian ideal. The army is the -nation, is it not? Every workman you have seen is a soldier; and he is -a soldier just as much when he is in the factory as when he is in the -camp or the barracks. He spends five years of his life between twenty -and thirty in the camp, and he spends from one to two months of every -year afterwards in keeping up his training. Then of course there is the -equipment of both army and navy, which of course is always developing. -Your idea is, I suppose, that if we devoted less to such objects as -these, the people of the working classes, or even the whole body of -people, would have more to spend upon pleasure, or could enjoy more -leisure." - -"Yes," I said, "in most other countries every penny spent upon either -military purposes or upon State officials, beyond what is strictly -necessary, is grudged. The people scrutinise very keenly all public -expenditure. They prefer to spend what they regard as their own money -in their own way. It seems to me therefore, that either your people do -not look at the matter in the same way, or if they do, that the State -has discovered a very effective way of overcoming their objections." - -"What you say," replied Lickrod, "only brings out more and more -the difference between our Culture and that of other nations. This -sense of antagonism between the interests of the individual and the -interests of the State, which has hindered and apparently still hinders -the development of other countries, has been almost entirely eradicated -among the Meccanians." - -"What!" I said, "do you mean that a Meccanian pays his taxes -cheerfully?" - -"What taxes?" asked Lickrod blandly. - -"I do not know in what form your taxes are paid," I said, "but they -must be paid in some way, and I suspect that even in Meccania, if they -were left to voluntary subscription, the Exchequer would not be quite -so full." - -"Now that is a very curious instance of what I am tempted to call -the political stupidity of other nations. Instead of removing all -circumstances that provoke a consciousness of difference between the -individual and the State, they seem to call the attention of the -private citizen, as they call him, to these differences. They first -allow a man to regard property as entirely his own, and then discuss -with him how much he shall contribute, and finally make him pay in hard -cash." - -"And how do you manage to get over the difficulty?" I said. - -"All Meccanians are taught from their youth--even from early -childhood--that all they have they owe to the beneficent protection -of the State. The State is their Father and their Mother. No one -questions its benevolence or its wisdom or its power. Consequently all -this haggling about how much shall be paid this year or that year is -avoided. The State is the direct paymaster of nearly half the nation. -Hence it can deduct what is due without any sense of loss. Through our -Banking system the collection of the rest is quite easy. The private -employers deduct from the wages of their employees, and are charged the -exact amount through the Banks. No one feels it." - -"But does your Parliament exercise no control over taxation?" I asked -in some surprise. - -"Our Parliament is in such complete accord with the Government that it -would not dream of disturbing the system of taxation, which has worked -so well for over thirty years," replied Lickrod. - -"Have they the power to do so?" I asked. - -"They have the power to ask questions, certainly," he replied; "but the -taxes are fixed for periods of seven years. That is to say, the direct -taxes falling upon each separate class are fixed every seven years in -each case; so that the taxes for the First Class come up for revision -one year, those for the Second Class the next year, and so on. The -Constitution does not allow Parliament to increase the amount asked for -by the Government, and as the vote is taken not individually but by -classes, it is hardly to the interest of any of the classes to try to -reduce the amount assessed upon any one class. Besides, the Government -derives a considerable proportion of its income from its own property -in the shape of mines, railways, forests, farms, and so forth. When we -hear foreigners speak of Parliamentary Opposition we hardly know what -the term means. It is entirely foreign to the Meccanian spirit." - -"You speak of the Government," I remarked, "but I have not yet -discovered what the Government is." - -"I am afraid I must refer you to our manuals of Constitutional Law," -replied Lickrod. - -"Oh, I know in a general way the outline of your Constitution," I said, -"but in every country there is a real working Constitution, which -differs from the formal Constitution. For instance, Constitutions -usually contain nothing about political parties, yet the policy and -traditions of these parties are the most important factors. The merely -legal powers of a monarch, for instance, may in practice lapse, or may -be so rarely exercised as not to matter. Now in Meccania one sees a -powerful Government at work everywhere--that is, one sees the machinery -of Government, but the driving force and the controlling force seem -hidden." - -"You may find the answer to your question if you make a study of our -political institutions. At present I am afraid your curiosity seems -directed towards matters that to us have only a sort of historical -interest. It would never occur to any Meccanian to ask who controls the -Government. His conception of the State is so entirely different that -the question seems almost unmeaning." - -"I have recently spent a long time in Luniland," I remarked at this -point, "and I am afraid a Lunilander would say that if such a question -has become unmeaning to a Meccanian, the Meccanians must have lost the -political sense." - -"And we should say that we have solved the problem of politics. We -should say," he went on, "that the Lunilanders have no Government. A -Government that can be changed every few years, a Government that has -to ask the consent of what they call the taxpayers for every penny -it is to spend, a Government that must expose all its business to -an ignorant mob, a Government that must pass and carry out any law -demanded by a mere majority--we do not call that a Government." - -"They regard liberty as more important than Government," I replied, -with a smile. - -"They are still enslaved by the superstitions of the eighteenth and -nineteenth centuries," he replied solemnly. "No nation will make real -progress until it learns how to embody its physical, intellectual -and spiritual forces in an all-embracing State. Our State may be -imperfect--I know it is--but we are in the right way; and developed -as it may be in another century it will completely answer all human -requirements." - -"Developed?" I said, almost betraying my amusement, for I wondered -what further developments the Super-State was capable of. "In what -directions do you anticipate development?" - -"There is still an immense fund of religious sentiment that is -squandered upon unworthy objects: this may be--I feel sure it will -be--directed into a nobler channel. Our ritual, too, in no way -corresponds to the sublimity of the Idea of the Super-State. The ritual -of the Catholic Church--which is after all but a section of the whole -State--is still superior, from the sensuous and the artistic point of -view, to our State ritual. Our reverence for the State is too cold, too -inarticulate. I have sometimes thought that the Emperor might found an -order of priests or monks who would cultivate an inward devotion that -would inevitably give birth to a real religion of the State." - -"You are a true missionary," I said; "in fact, I think you are entitled -to be considered a Meccanian Apostle. I have learnt a great deal from -our intercourse, and just as you have suggested that the Government -might bring more foreigners to see the wonders of your Meccanian -Culture, I would suggest that they should send you and others like -yourself into other countries to enlighten them as to the real mission -of Meccania." - -He was pleased to accept this testimony from an innocent and -well-disposed Foreign Observer, and said that I could best show my -appreciation by inducing more of my fellow-countrymen to come and study -the wonders of Meccanian Culture. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -THE MECHOW FESTIVAL - - -I told Mr. Johnson of this conversation when next we met, and he seemed -immensely amused by it. "You will have a chance of seeing a bit of -Meccanian ritual to-morrow," he said. - -"You mean this Prince Mechow Festival," I replied. "What is it like? I -suppose you have seen it before?" - -"Haven't you noticed the whole town is crowded with visitors?" he said. -"But I won't take the edge off by telling you anything about it. You -shall see it for yourself without prejudice." - -I was aroused about five o'clock next morning by a tremendous booming -of guns. It lasted for half an hour, and sounded like a bombardment. -Then, for the next half-hour, all the bells in Mecco began ringing. -By this time I was dressed and out on the veranda of the hotel. I had -tried to go outside the hotel, but was reminded by the porter that we -were instructed to remain indoors until we were taken to a building in -the great square to watch the proceedings. At a few minutes after six -we were conveyed in a motor-car to one of the hotels in the square, -and provided with seats at the windows. There were only about twenty -Foreign Observers in Mecco altogether, and as most of them were not -very desirable acquaintances I sought the company of Mr. Johnson. - -The streets were rapidly filling with people, the great majority being -dressed in grey and chocolate uniforms, with a fair sprinkling of -green. There were also quite a number of dark blue uniforms. As there -is no Seventh Class in Mecco, I pointed this out to Johnson, who said -that all the people in the streets were from the provinces. - -"You will see the citizens of Mecco presently," he said. - -"Where have they lodged all these people?" I asked, for I knew the -hotels would not hold them. - -"Oh, every person is billeted upon somebody of his own class as far as -possible. Some of them have relatives here." - -At seven o'clock, about fifty bands of music struck up, in different -parts of the great central circle. They all played the same tunes and -kept wonderful time. As soon as they struck up, Johnson said, "That -means the processions have started." - -We waited about a quarter of an hour. The square itself was quite clear -of people, but a few sentries in brilliant uniforms stood guarding the -entrances from the four streets that led into it. The great statue -towered above everything. Presently, headed by a band, the first of -the processions, composed of members of the Sixth Class, in their best -grey uniforms with all their badges and stripes, reached the square. -Six men, at the head, carried a great banner, and were followed by -another six, carrying an enormous wreath, which they deposited at the -foot of the statue. Then, as the procession moved on across the square, -six abreast, the two outside files left the procession, and separating, -one to the right the other to the left, filled up the back of the whole -square four deep. How many men there were altogether of the Sixth -Class I have no idea, but they took half an hour to file past. Then -followed another still bigger procession of the Fifth Class. These -performed a similar ceremony, and proceeded to fill up the square ten -deep. After them came the Fourth Class, in their green uniforms. This -procession was much more brilliant in appearance than even the Fifth -Class in its bright chocolate uniform. There were apparently ten grades -of the Fourth Class, including as it does nearly all the professional -men, as well as officials and business men. Some of the men in the -first two grades had their breasts almost covered with badges and -decorations. Last came a much smaller procession of the Third Class. -The yellow against the background of green and chocolate and grey, as -they filed into the square, filling the inner part about four deep, -made a brilliant colour effect. There were no women in the processions, -but the buildings in the square were full of the wives and daughters -of the men of the upper classes, who watched the proceedings from the -open windows and balconies. The bands went on playing all the time the -processions were moving in and filling up the square. It must have -been half-past nine when the music suddenly stopped. There was silence -for five minutes. Then suddenly the guns burst forth again, and for a -quarter of an hour the noise was deafening. Then the bells rang for -half an hour, but after the guns they sounded like a mere tinkling. At -half-past ten, after a short silence, a subdued kind of murmur went -through the crowd, and we saw advancing from the Imperial Church, -which stands back from one side of the square, a new procession, this -time in military uniforms. They seemed to be arranged in companies of -about fifty, and there must have been a hundred companies. They were -all on foot, as it would have been very inconvenient to have cavalry -in the crowded square. They filled up the central space. Immediately -after came a group of about fifty generals, all belonging to the Army -Council. They were followed by the members of the Imperial Council, -all dressed in Generals' uniforms. Then came the Emperor himself, -followed by the Prime Minister and some of the chief officials of the -State. I could not see the face of the Emperor from where I stood. He -was dressed in the most gorgeous sort of uniform I have ever seen, and -as he appeared, at a given signal (which I did _not_ see), a great -shout went up from all the people present, "Hail the Emperor! Hail -the Emperor! Hail the Emperor!" Then everybody knelt on one knee for -about half a minute, whilst he uttered some kind of blessing which I -could not hear. The bands then struck up the National Hymn, after which -there was complete silence for a minute or two. Suddenly a loud voice -was heard. It must have been produced by a kind of megaphone, but it -was perfectly clear. We were listening to the Emperor's formal speech -on the occasion. I have not the exact words, but as near as I can -reproduce it the speech was something like this: - -"We meet for the sixteenth time since the death of the illustrious -Prince Mechow, to commemorate his never-to-be-forgotten services and -to thank God for the blessings which, through the divinely appointed -instrumentality of that noble Statesman, he has so abundantly bestowed -upon this his most beloved country.... - -"Superior to all other nations and races in our God-given endowments, -we had not achieved those triumphs of culture of which our noble race -and nation was capable, until by God's grace my father's Minister, -Prince Mechow, showed my people of all ranks and classes how to direct -their efforts, through discipline and knowledge and devotion, to the -strengthening and glorifying of our divinely founded State.... - -"To-day we again show our gratitude to God for having raised up, in the -direct succession of great servants of the State, one who knew how to -serve his Emperor and his God, and thus to defeat the evil intentions -of all the host of envious and malignant enemies--enemies to God as -well as to our nation--by whom we are surrounded.... - -"Let those enemies beware how they set God at defiance by thwarting -the divine mission he has entrusted to us. He has set our glorious -and invincible State in the midst of all the nations, but in their -blindness and ignorance they have scorned our mission.... If, whilst -all other nations are striving within themselves, class against class -and man against man and rulers against ruled, in our nation and among -my people there is but one will, one purpose, one mind, we owe it, -under God, more to Prince Mechow than to any other.... This monument, -which to-day we decorate with the wreaths of memory, is but a symbol -of that monument which exists in the shape of the whole nation, whose -forces he organised and whose purposes he directed to one end, the -strength and unity of the State. Hail to Prince Mechow! Hail! Hail! -Hail!" - -The whole crowd burst out in shouts of "Hail to Prince Mechow! Hail!" -Then came renewed shouts of "Hail the Emperor! Hail!" After he had -bowed a dozen times or so, those near him prepared to form the -procession back towards the Imperial Church, and for the next two -hours the processions filed out to the sound of music. It grew very -tiresome, and I was getting hungry, so we got permission to return to -our hotel for a meal. Until now everybody had fasted, but the rest of -the day was given up to a sort of carnival. Banquets were arranged to -take place in every part of the city, and the whole population prepared -to enjoy itself. At these banquets it is the custom to make patriotic -speeches, which are faithfully reported. The man who is adjudged to -have made the best patriotic speech is awarded a special decoration -called the Prince Mechow Prize. - -As the streets were liable to be crowded with strangers, it was not -thought fit to allow us to wander about; but I learnt from Johnson that -as the day goes on, and a large quantity of beer is drunk, the streets -become filled with a boisterous crowd, which is a most unusual sight in -Mecco. - -Two things seemed to me rather odd about this festival: why was it that -the Emperor allowed such adulation to be paid to a former subject; and -why was the commemoration of Prince Mechow, who had done so much to -introduce the strictest discipline, the one occasion when licence was -allowed? I put these questions to Mr. Johnson as we sat talking in the -smoke-room, where we could faintly hear the murmur of the crowd in the -streets in the distance. - -"It is just as well you did not ask these questions of any of your -Meccanian conductors," replied Johnson. "The real reason is one which -I don't believe any Meccanian would avow. This Mechow Festival is -a genuine expression of national character. They used to 'enthuse' -about Bludiron in almost the same way, some eighty years ago. I have -heard my father tell of some of the scenes he saw here. They have a -childish belief in national heroes. Then, the upper classes have a very -special reason for encouraging this cult of Mechowism. They realise how -completely he did their work for them and made their power secure, and -it suits them to cultivate the superstition that there is something -sacred about everything he established. Perhaps you know that the -Military Class are the real power behind the Throne here. They let the -Emperor play his part on the stage in public, but he takes good care -not to do anything to offend them; and this worship of Mechow is a sort -of symbol of their power. The real effect of Mechow's reforms was not -to make the Emperor himself supreme, but to make the Military Caste -all-powerful. They take care, therefore, to make this festival popular. -I don't suppose the Emperor altogether enjoys the part he has to play -on an occasion like to-day." - -"What you say about the Military is rather interesting," I replied, -"for only a day or two ago I was trying to get Lickrod to tell me what -the Government really is. I couldn't make out whether he knew or not, -but he certainly didn't enlighten me much." - -"Of course it's the Military Class," said Johnson, with a laugh. "I -thought everybody knew that. It's a very open secret." - -"I have heard that theory put forward," I said, "but I can't quite make -it square with the facts." - -"Why not?" asked Johnson. - -"Well, if the Military are the supreme power, why should they have such -an elaborate Bureaucracy and make such a parade of culture in every -direction?" I said. - -"Ah," replied Johnson, "you must remember we are living in the -twentieth century; in fact, you must remember all that this wonderful -rascal of a Mechow taught his countrymen. The clumsy methods of the -Military Autocracy of a barbarous age would not be of the slightest use -in our times. Human society in modern times, even under an Autocracy, -is tremendously complex. An elaborate Bureaucracy is a necessary part -of the machine. Suppose, for instance, that you were an autocrat, and -you wanted to be able to wield the whole force of the nation over which -you ruled, how could you give effect to your will unless the whole -nation were organised with that end in view? Suppose you had absolute -power, as far as the law could give it you, and suppose you wanted a -powerful army; you would want also the best equipment. How would you -get it unless your industries were already organised and under control? -There is no doubt at all that the nation that can control and mobilise -all its resources for whatever purposes it happens to require them, has -a great advantage, from the military standpoint, over other nations not -so organised." - -"But," I said, "they organise all sorts of things that have nothing -to do with military efficiency. Look at the theatres, and at Art, and -Music: their organisation of these is carried to an absurd point." - -"That is quite true, but did you ever know any big organisation that -did just exactly what it ought to do, and stopped short of the things -it ought not to do? Once set up a Bureaucracy and it will inevitably -extend its functions. People are dirty, so the bureaucrat says, let -us make them wash. Then, he says, let us make them keep their houses -clean. Then, he says, let us make them keep their clothes tidy. He -doesn't like the way they walk, so he makes them march in step. You can -see that there was a tremendous advantage in having a well-instructed -middle class and a well-instructed working class. To secure this, a -powerful department to organise and enforce education was necessary. -Once the Bureaucracy was created there was hardly any limit to its -functions. Besides, and this seems to me rather important, the more -widely extended are the functions of the Bureaucracy, the more -effectually is its main purpose disguised. The people are accustomed to -being directed and 'organised.' They imagine, in a vague sort of way, -that it is all for their good. Another little turn of the screw is not -felt. If the State tells me what to eat, why shouldn't it tell me what -to wear, and what to read, and what to think? - -"There is another reason why it 'organises' all this culture. In every -nation some kind of intellectual life goes on. It must be either free -or controlled. If it is let alone, the force of ideas is such that, -in the long run, they will shape the political structure. The State, -if it means to preserve itself as an Autocracy, must get control over -the intellectual life of the nation. In ancient times it succeeded for -a time. In the Middle Ages the Church tried the same thing. In modern -times most States have _not_ made the attempt, but this State _has_ -made the attempt. It has done no more than Plato would have done. It -has done it rather differently perhaps, but it has followed the same -idea." - -"They would feel rather flattered, don't you think," I said, "if you -told them they were carrying out Plato's principles?" - -"Perhaps they would, but that only means they have learnt nothing from -twenty centuries of political experience." - -"On the contrary, it looks as if they have learnt a good deal," I said. - -"They have learnt how to make a nation of slaves and tyrants." - -"And yet they don't seem to mind being slaves, if they are slaves." - -"I wonder," replied Johnson. "A hundred years in the life of a nation -is not a long time. Human nature is a strange thing. They kiss the rod -so affectionately that I don't mind how long _they_ remain in bondage: -all I care about is that they should not make slaves of the rest of us." - -"Do you think there is any danger?" I asked. - -"I do indeed," replied Johnson. "A great danger." - -"Why, how could it be brought about?" I said. - -"In all sorts of ways. Liberty is the most precarious possession of the -human race. Very few nations have possessed it for long together." - -"But surely," I said, "Meccania is so unpopular, to put it mildly, with -almost all other nations, that her influence can hardly be dangerous." - -"Oh, but it is," insisted Johnson. "The danger takes several forms. -Meccania is tremendously strong as a military power. She knows it, -and other nations know it. Suppose a great war took place, and she -were successful; she would bring other nations under her power, as -she has done in the past. These would soon be compelled to adopt -her institutions. Then, in self-defence, other nations would feel -themselves compelled to resort to the same means as have proved -successful in her case, to make themselves strong too. To a certain -degree that has already taken place. Lots of our military people now -are always agitating to introduce what they call reforms, to place us -on a level with Meccania. Then all sorts of cranks come over here: -Sanitary Reformers, Eugenists, Town Planners, Educationists, Physical -Culturists, Temperance Reformers, Scientific Industrialists, and -so forth. Each of them finds some idea he wants to push. There are -people who think that if they could only cure unemployment they would -bring in the millennium, and they are willing to reconstruct society -for the sole purpose of doing away with unemployment. And so we get -disconnected bits of Bureaucracy set up, first for this and then for -that. By and by some one will come along who will try to co-ordinate -the whole thing." - -I had evidently set Mr. Johnson on to a train of thought that excited -him, for he usually took things very calmly. After a short pause -he went on: "And yet I don't think the greatest danger comes from -these would-be bureaucrats of ours. With us the bureaucrat only -gets his chance when we have played the fool so badly that somebody -has got to step in and set things right. For instance, we had what -we called magistrates at one time. They were supposed to be the -prominent citizens with common sense and initiative; but they became -so incompetent, and the authorities chose them so foolishly, that -they lost the public confidence; so we had to replace them partly by -officials and partly by paid judges. Then look at our manufacturers; -they hadn't the sense to apply a reasonable proportion of their profits -to developing their business on scientific lines, so the State had to -step in and compel them to. They hadn't the sense, either, to encourage -their workpeople to become educated, nor even to pay them any more -than they could help. Consequently the State had to step in again. No, -what I am most afraid of is our disinclination to set things right -ourselves. We can't let mothers go on murdering their babies, we can't -let food dealers poison the public, we can't let seducers of children -traffic in obscenity; and as the public is apathetic about all these -things the bureaucrat steps in and adds another Department to the -fabric. What I am afraid of chiefly is that we shall get into a bad -mess that will place us at the mercy either of the Meccanians over here -or of our own Meccanians at home." - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -MECCANISATION - - -When I came to reflect that night upon the experience of the last few -days, I was much impressed by three things which somehow seemed to -hang together. There was first my conversation with Lickrod. If all -Meccanians, or even a majority, took the same view of the State that -he did, there could be no limit to the functions of the State. He -seemed to claim for it all the moral authority of the Mediæval Church, -and although in other countries theories are put forward for academic -discussion without having much influence upon practical politics, in -Meccania the powers that be are able to carry out their ideas without -the obstruction which necessarily arises in countries where public -opinion is more spontaneous. He had evaded the question as to the -control of the Government, and had maintained that such a question -had no meaning in a country where the people were not conscious of -any difference between the State and themselves. Then there was this -Mechow Festival. Now, it was either a sincere manifestation of a -national admiration of Prince Mechow, and an approval of his work in -creating a Super-State with unlimited powers, or it was a proof that -the ruling class, whatever that was, could manipulate the whole life -of the nation as it pleased. Lastly, there was the idea that Johnson -had thrown out. He was quite confident of the accuracy of his own view -that the Military Class was the power behind everything, and that the -whole elaborate bureaucratic organisation of society had for its motive -and driving force the desire and the will to make Meccania a perfect -instrument of militarism. - -Up to this time I had been partly amused and partly annoyed by what -I had seen and heard and experienced. I was amused by the meticulous -regulation and organisation of all the petty details of life, by the -pedantic precision of all the officials I had met, and by the utter -absence of a sense of humour in the mentality of the Meccanian people. -I had been annoyed by the meddlesome interference with my private -habits, but I tried to disregard this, because, as an experienced -traveller, I had sufficient experience to tell me that in every country -one has to accommodate oneself to the customs and prejudices of the -community. But most of all, I felt baffled by my failure to find out -anything about the real life and thought and feeling of the people. - -I determined that I would make a more serious attempt to get behind -the screen which all this officialism set up between the people and a -well-intentioned Foreign Observer like myself or Mr. Johnson. I would -find out whether the screen was erected only between the foreigner and -the people, or whether the people themselves were so 'organised' that, -even for them, intercourse was made difficult. I promised myself that -Lickrod, with his genuine enthusiasm for every feature of Meccanian -culture, would be much more likely to enlighten me than any person I -had come in contact with before. We had still some days to spend in -completing our general survey of industry in Mecco. As President of -an important Literary Society, I expressed a desire to see how the -whole business of literary production was conducted in Meccania, for I -understood that several features in the system were quite unlike what -could be found anywhere else in the world. Conductor Lickrod was almost -eager to gratify my curiosity--at any rate up to a certain point. - -"The printing industry," said he in answer to my questions, "is a -perfect example of the effect of Prince Mechow's reforms. It would be -impossible in any other country to do what we do, even if they employed -three times the number of men. In other countries the waste of labour, -not only manual labour but brain labour and business enterprise, is -ridiculous. Look at the amount of advertising, the number of rival -newspapers and magazines, the number of rival publishers of all sorts. -It is a perfect chaos. Now we have no advertising, as advertising is -understood abroad. Every commodity can be classified, whether it be a -hair restorer or a mansion for sale. Our system of commerce gets rid -of advertising miscellaneous commodities. The wholesale merchants have -their regular catalogues issued to the trade, and the same system is -extended to retail trade. For example, if you want to buy an article -of clothing, apart from your regular uniform, you consult a directory -of the retail dealers. Then you consult a catalogue of any particular -firm at the bureau for retail trade, where you will find a catalogue -of every shop in the town you happen to be in. There are no hoardings -covered with posters tempting people, out of mere curiosity, to buy -things they don't want. Now look at a typical newspaper in any foreign -country. Half of it is covered with advertisements of concerts, -theatrical performances, other amusements, sales, situations vacant and -wanted, clothing, patent medicines, books--every imaginable thing. With -us that is all unnecessary. The bureaux of employment do away with all -advertisements for employment--but in any case we should require few of -these, because our system of employment is so much better organised. -As to concerts and theatres, everybody knows, through the official -gazettes, what amusements are available for months in advance." - -"You have not only got rid of the advertisements," I remarked, "but -even of the newspapers themselves, I understand. I have certainly seen -none except the local gazettes." - -"Exactly; I was coming to that," he continued. "Look at the enormous -waste of effort that goes to the production of forty or fifty big -newspapers. What is the use of them? Every item of information can -be classified. It may be a crime, an accident, an event in foreign -politics, a new law, a trial, a new discovery in some branch of science -or industry, and so on. Now look at all the ingenuity displayed in -getting hold of some sort of account of these things at the earliest -moment, in order to gratify the mere curiosity of crowds of ignorant -people. Then look at the special articles, all or nearly all produced -in haste, and the so-called leading articles, all designed to -influence the mind of the public by giving some particular colour or -interpretation to the alleged facts. Our official gazettes give the -public all they require to know. The _Law Gazette_, issued each week, -gives information about all the breaches of the law committed, all -the important processes before the Law Courts, all the changes in the -Law. All the 'articles' which are necessary to throw light upon legal -matters are written by real experts. As you know, the journalist is -extinct in Meccania. The Industrial Gazettes--one for each of the main -branches of industry, with a general Industrial Gazette for matters -affecting industry generally, contain everything required in a much -more complete form than can be given in a daily newspaper. So you -see that, applying the same principle to the various aspects of our -public life, we are able to substitute one well-organised publication, -dealing completely with all matters and issued with all the authority -of the State, for the miscellaneous jumble of scraps which are called -newspapers in other countries. - -"Then look at the number of magazines; they represent a stage of -culture which we have left entirely behind. We have our Literary -Gazettes to keep the public informed about all the recent publications. -We have our Quarterly Records for every department of knowledge. If -you want the latest contributions to history or archæology, philology, -ethnology, or anthropology, you know where to go for them. Everything -is done by experts, and we do not go to the trouble of printing -anything by anyone else on such subjects." - -"Then you have no popular magazines such as would interest people who -are not strictly students, but who take an interest in things?" I asked. - -"No. As I said a moment ago, we have left that stage of culture behind. -We provide a good education for all those who, we think, are able -to utilise it for the good of the State. After that, every one is -encouraged to pursue that branch of knowledge which will be most useful -to him in his calling. In a certain sense every man is a specialist. We -do not encourage people to dabble in things they only half understand." - -"But is there not also a need," I said, "for what I may call general -knowledge on the part of the public? For instance, suppose a new law -is to be introduced which is to affect people's lives, _everybody_ is -concerned, whether he is a specialist or not. Or suppose some question -of public morals, or some question of political interest arises, you -surely want the public to discuss such things. How, indeed, can your -authorities keep in touch with the public mind unless there is some -medium by which the general public can express itself?" - -"What you say," answered Lickrod, "only serves to demonstrate the -truth of what I am trying to convey to you, namely, that our Culture -is so differently conceived that you foreigners cannot understand our -attitude. You use the expression 'public opinion.' Our psychologists -will tell you exactly how that public opinion is formed. They made -a careful study of it before we decided to replace it by something -better. It was one of the superstitions of the nineteenth century, -which has not only lingered on but has become a serious hinderance -to the development of scientific government in all countries except -Meccania. They actually allow their fiscal policy to be determined by -'public opinion.' Fiscal policy is entirely a matter for the State, -and the only persons qualified to advise the State are the experts. -You speak of public morals, but the business of guiding the morals -of the nation is the highest function of the State itself. Now the -organs through which every nation or State functions are determined and -developed by the national consciousness: this consciousness expresses -itself just as legitimately through experts as through an uninstructed -public opinion." - -"So you would be prepared to say, then," I said, "that your people -fully acquiesce in the suppression or abolition of one of the -institutions which most foreigners consider almost the last safeguard -of liberty? I mean, of course, the daily press." - -"The present generation of Meccanians, that is, the young people, say -between twenty and thirty, have never known the Press. The older men -were, I confess, bitterly opposed for some years, or at least a section -of them were; but if anyone proposed to revive the Press nowadays he -would be regarded as one would be who wished to revive steam-trams, or -wigs, or general elections." - -"But suppose some people were mad enough to want to publish a -newspaper, could they not do so?" I asked. - -"Well, there is no positive law against it, but it would be impossible, -all the same." - -"Why?" - -"The expense would be very great, for one thing. There would be no -advertisements, remember. They would not be allowed to publish news -before it had been submitted to the censor, or before it was given to -the public through the official gazettes...." - -"You need say no more," I said. "I quite see it would be impossible. -The censorship extends to all printed matter, I gather?" - -"Certainly," he replied. "The State would be guilty of a grave neglect -of its function as guardian of the Meccanian spirit if it permitted any -scribbler who wished to seduce the minds of the people to mislead them." - -"But," I could not help replying, "I thought that your people were on -the whole so well educated that there would be less danger of their -being misled in Meccania than in any country. Also I have been informed -that all the best writers are already in the employ of the State; -and, further, that the people generally are so completely at one in -sentiment with the spirit and policy of the State that there could be -no real danger from the free expression of opinion." - -Conductor Lickrod smiled. It was a benevolent, almost a pitying smile. - -"I perceive," he said, "that some of the most commonplace axioms of our -policy seem like abstruse doctrines to people whose culture is less -advanced. But I think I can make all this clear. Your argument is that -our people are well instructed, our writers--the best of them--are -employed by the State, and our common loyalty to the Meccanian ideal -is so firmly established that even a free Press, or at least the free -expression of opinion in books, would give rise to no danger. Now -do you not see that it is only by means of our system--so wisely -conceived by the greatest statesman who ever lived--that we _have_ this -instructed public, that we _have_ all the best writers in the service -of the State, that we _possess_ this common allegiance to the Meccanian -spirit? When we have achieved what no other nation has achieved, should -we not be fools to introduce an entirely contrary principle, and for -the sake of what? In order to provide an opportunity for the few -people who are not loyal to Meccania to attack the very State whose -children they are. For, examine what it is you propose. No one who is -a loyal Meccanian finds the least fault with our present system. It -has the enormous advantage over all the systems of other countries -that, without any waste, it provides the most authentic information -about every conceivable subject, it gives the public the benefit of the -services of such a body of experts as no other country possesses. And -the people who would write such books as _you_ are thinking of; who -would support them? They are already fully employed in some manner, and -in the manner considered by the State to be the most useful. I assure -you this is a purely academic discussion, for no one would dream of -putting into practice such a proposal." - -"There must be something in the mentality of the Meccanians very -different from that of other nations, and that is all the more -surprising because, at least according to the ethnologists, they are -not racially different from several of the surrounding nations." - -"That is quite true, with some slight reservations. We are not a pure -race by any means. We have racial elements within our nation which are -indeed distinct from those of the surrounding nations, and they have -perhaps contributed to the final result much more than in proportion -to their actual numbers. What you call Latin culture has never done -more than furnish us with the material for such elements of our culture -as we wished to utilise. You see it has hardly affected our language. -No, the Meccanian culture of to-day is the result of education and -scientific statesmanship." - -"Excuse my putting the question so bluntly," I said, "but it seems -to me that the principles you have put forward would justify even a -revival of an institution known in mediæval times, and even later, as -the Inquisition. I suppose there is no institution corresponding to -that in Meccania?" - -"It is quite unnecessary. And that is one powerful argument in favour -of our system of controlling the Press. That control, together with -our other institutions of which it forms part--our whole polity -is a perfect harmony--makes an 'Inquisition,' as you call it, an -anachronism." - -"But," I said, "I was told by one of your own people of something that -seems to a mere outsider to resemble an incipient Inquisition." - -"Indeed," he said, "and what is that?" - -"Well, I gathered that in certain cases the Special Medical Board -uses its discretionary power to incarcerate persons whose opinions or -convictions make it impossible for them to embrace what I may call the -Meccanian ideals of life." - -I felt I was treading on delicate ground, but as Prigge on a previous -occasion had openly approved of putting people into lunatic asylums if -they did not accept the Authority of the Super-State I felt justified -in sounding Lickrod on the point. To my surprise he betrayed no -embarrassment. - -"You are probably not aware," he said, "of the remarkable strides that -have been made by our medical scientists in Meccania during the last -fifty years. The pathological side of psychology has received great -attention, with the consequence that our specialists are able to detect -mental disease in cases where it would not be suspected by less skilled -doctors. I believe I am right in saying that our experts detected the -disease now widely recognised as _Znednettlapseiwz_ (Chronic tendency -to Dissent) long before it was known in other countries that such -a characteristic was in any way connected with brain disease. The -microbe has been fully described in the twenty-seventh volume of the -_Report of the Special Medical Board_. The first clue to the existence -of this disease was discovered during the great war, or perhaps a -little later. A number of people persisted in putting forward views -concerning the origin of the war, which were totally at variance with -the official, and even the Imperial, explanatory statements made for -the enlightenment of the public. At the time, it was regarded as just -mental perversity. But what led to the discovery was that, after ten, -and even fifteen years in some cases, notwithstanding every natural -inducement to desist from such perversity, these people deliberately -and persistently maintained the objectivity of their hallucinations. -Experiments were made; they were under close observation for some -years, and at length Doctor Sikofantis-Sangwin produced his theory and -confidently predicted that the bacillus would be found in a few years. -From that time the path was clear. The disease was most rife some forty -years ago, soon after the beginning of Prince Mechow's premiership; but -since then it has almost disappeared. You see it is not hereditary, -and the normal conditions of Meccanian life are very unfavourable to -its development. But coming back to your point, although no doubt this -is what has given rise to the calumny that the Special Medical Board -uses its powers as an Inquisition, there is not a vestige of truth in -the charge. Each case--and the cases are becoming very rare indeed--is -investigated on strictly psycho-physiological lines. The patients in -all cases are isolated, and placed under observation for some months -before any pronouncement is made." - -"Your explanation is as usual most illuminating," I replied, "and the -patience with which you deal with my questions emboldens me to put to -you some further difficulties that have been puzzling me." - -"Proceed," replied Lickrod encouragingly. - -"Well now," I said, "your whole national culture is so elaborately -perfect, from the standpoint of its basic principles, that it is -certainly well worth studying by any student of sociology or politics -or economics; yet we foreigners find ourselves hampered at many points -whenever we wish to get into contact with certain kinds of facts. For -instance, we may wish to find out what are the ideas, the current -thoughts and feelings, of the various groups, and even individuals, who -make up society. We cannot go and live with people and converse freely -with them. I have not been able to understand why your Government takes -such precautions to keep secret, as it were, facts which in any other -country are as open as the day." - -"That is not at all difficult to answer by anyone who really -understands the principles of our Culture, and I am surprised that -none of the conductors who have instructed you have explained it--that -is, if you have asked them," he answered. "You have been hampered, -you say. Yes, but you have been assisted too. You have been shown -things in a way that would be impossible in most other countries -within such a short time. Our Government has paid great attention to -the instruction of foreigners. Instead of leaving them to gather -all sorts of erroneous impressions, it provides them with authentic -information. If, on the other hand, there are things which it does not -wish foreigners to know, it takes care, and quite rightly, that they -shall not obtain the information by any illicit means. For instance, -if you were foolish enough to attempt to obtain information about our -military affairs, you would find yourself against a blank wall; and, if -I may say so, you might hurt your head against the wall. But then there -are matters which, without being secret, cannot well be investigated -by the individual inquirer. Take such a thing as the current thought -of any particular class or group. Only a trained and well-equipped -social-psychologist is capable of making such an inquiry. The liability -to error is tremendous. All the books written by travellers reveal -this. We do not wish to be exploited by casual and irresponsible -travellers. We provide opportunities, under proper conditions, for -expert investigators; but very few are willing to comply with the -conditions. Besides, our Culture, like all the finest products of the -human intellect, is a very delicate thing. When we have carefully -educated our people in the Meccanian spirit we are not prepared to -expose them to the insidious influences of irresponsible busybodies. -Every Meccanian is valuable in our eyes, and just as we protect him -from infection in the shape of physical disease, so we protect him from -the more insidious but not less injurious influence of foreign ideas. -You will find plenty of philosophical justification for that policy in -the writings of Plato and Aristotle--two philosophers who are studied -in all the foreign universities but whose systems of thought are -utterly misunderstood except in Meccania." - - - - -CHAPTER X - -CONVERSATIONS - - -It must have been more than a week after my long talk with Conductor -Lickrod that I was sitting one evening in the hotel with Mr. Johnson -and a certain Francarian gentleman to whom he had introduced me, when -the latter made a suggestion that has since proved very useful to me. -Mr. Villele the Francarian is a short and rather stout man of middle -age, with a pair of merry black eyes, a swarthy complexion, and dark -hair beginning to turn grey. He professes to find Meccania and the -Meccanians amusing, but I suspect from the nature of his sarcasms that -he entertains a deep hatred of them. We were talking of my journal when -he said, "And what is the use of it?" - -"Well," I said, "I do not flatter myself that I can produce a great -literary work, but the facts I have been able to place on record are so -interesting in themselves that I believe my countrymen would welcome a -plain straightforward account of my visit to this most extraordinary -country." - -"I have heard," he said, "that the Chinese have very good verbal -memories. Have you committed your record to memory in its entirety?" - -"Why should I?" I replied; "it is to save my memory that I am taking -the trouble of making such full notes, even of such things as -conversations." - -"And how do you propose to get your journal out of the country?" - -"I propose to take it with me when I return," I said. - -At this he turned to Johnson and laughed, but immediately apologised -for his apparent rudeness. - -"And what about the Censor?" he asked. - -"Surely," I replied, "these people take such precautions not to let us -foreigners see anything they do not want us to see, that they cannot -object to a faithful record being made of what they do permit us to -see!" - -"Then you have not even read Regulation 79 of the Law concerning -Foreign Observers." - -"What is that?" I asked. - -"Simply that foreigners are not allowed to take out of the country -anything they have not been permitted to bring in, except with the -consent of the Chief Inspector of Foreign Observers." - -"And you think they will object?" - -"I have not the slightest doubt." - -"But it is written partly in Chinese; they would have to translate it." - -"All the more reason for detaining it. If you ever get it again, it -will be in a few years, after it has been translated for the benefit -of the Sociological Section of the Ministry of Culture." - -"What do you advise me to do, then?" I asked. - -"Have you any friends at the Chinese Embassy?" he asked. - -"I have no personal friends. At least I have not troubled to inquire. -I have had no business at the Embassy; there seemed no reason why I -should trouble them." - -"There is a fellow-countryman of yours here in Mecco who is _persona -grata_ with the Authorities," said Villele, "but he is rather a dark -horse." - -"A dark horse?" I said. - -"He is a sort of convert to Meccanianism. He has written books in -appreciation of Meccanian principles, Meccanian ideals, Meccanian -institutions, and so forth. They are eagerly read by the Meccanians. -They even use them in their colleges. I have read them, and they seem -to me very clever indeed. I translated them for the benefit of my -countrymen, and I am not exactly an admirer of things Meccanian." - -I must have looked rather puzzled, for Mr. Johnson came to my rescue. - -"Mr. Villele means," he said, "that these books have a double meaning. -I have read one of them. Under cover of the most exuberant flattery -he gives such an impression of the cold-blooded devilishness of the -system, that some of us suspect his real purpose to be that of exposing -the whole business." - -"He knows more of Meccania than anyone who is not a high official," -said Villele; "and if you want to pursue your investigations any -further, and incidentally get your manuscript conveyed out of the -country, I should advise you to seek an interview with him." - -"Will that be possible," I asked, "without arousing suspicion?" - -"Oh, quite easily," answered Villele. "_He_ is above suspicion, if you -are not," he added, smiling. "He holds a weekly _salon_ for foreigners, -and you can easily get permission to attend. After that I leave it to -you, and him." - -That evening we went on talking a long time. Mr. Villele related some -remarkable things, but I was not sure whether he was merely making fun -of the Meccanians. - -"You have not seen much of the Meccanian women?" he remarked. - -"No," I said; "I have had no opportunity." - -"They are quite as wonderful as the men," he said. "You never heard, -for instance, of the great Emancipation Act, Regulation 19 of the -Marital Law?" - -"No," I replied; "what is it?" - -"No Meccanian woman is obliged to submit to the embraces of her lawful -husband." - -"But how did the men ever consent to such a law?" I asked; "for in this -country it is the men who make the laws." - -"It is rather a queer story," he replied. "It is quite a long time ago, -forty years or more, since a movement arose among the women, influenced -no doubt by the women's movement in Europe, which had for its object, -or one of its objects, greater freedom from the domestic tyranny of -the Meccanian husband. Some of them, of course, thought that the way -to secure everything they wanted was to get the right to vote for the -National Council; but the wiser among them saw that the vote was merely -a bad joke. Anybody could have the vote, because it was worth nothing; -seeing that the powers of the representatives were being reduced to -nothing. All the same, this women's movement, such as it was, was the -nearest approach to a revolutionary movement that the Meccanians have -ever shown themselves capable of. Once more our dear old Prince Mechow -came to the rescue. He was a real genius." - -"But I thought you did not admire the Mechow reforms?" I interrupted. - -"I do not; but I recognise a genius when I see him. Believe me, Prince -Mechow was the first Meccanian to understand his countrymen. He knew -exactly what they wanted, what they would stand, what they could do, -what they could be made to believe. He was absorbed in his early -reforms when this women's movement broke out, and some people were -afraid of it. He attacked the problem in his characteristic fashion. -He knew the women didn't want political power; he knew also that there -was not the slightest danger of them getting it; but he saw immense -possibilities in having the women as his allies in certain of his -reforms, especially his Eugenic reforms. He hit upon a really brilliant -idea. I don't suppose you can guess what it was?" - -"How can I?" I said. "All this is quite new to me." - -"Well, if you had read Meccanian literature, or even the writings -of the old travellers in Meccania--your predecessors as Foreign -Observers--you would know that the Meccanian women are the most -primitive in Europe. They have one ideal as regards men. They have a -superstitious admiration for physical strength. If a Meccanian woman -were really free to choose her mate, in ninety-nine cases out of a -hundred she would choose the strongest man. They have always been like -that. Probably many primitive peoples have had that characteristic, but -the Meccanians have preserved that trait longest. You think I am joking -or spinning a theory?" - -"I was thinking that as they have had the same marriage laws as the -rest of Europe for many centuries, the fact, if it is a fact, cannot be -of much practical importance," I said. - -"The fact itself is vouched for by dozens of writers among the -Meccanians. They pride themselves on having preserved these primitive -characteristics; they glory in never having been influenced by Latin -culture. The marriage laws you speak of have been adopted by the -men, in self-defence, so to speak. In very early times the Meccanian -marriage laws were essentially the same as they have been for two -thousand years, and the penalties on the women for infractions of the -marriage laws were more severe in practice than in any other country. -Notice the facts: breaches of the 'moral code' before marriage are -regarded very lightly: illegitimacy in Meccania, as is proved by -statistics, was more prevalent than in most countries; but the men -took care that breaches after marriage should be severely dealt with. -I told you it was a long story, and I have not yet come to the point. -For twenty or thirty years before Prince Mechow got into the saddle -all the young hot-headed Meccanian patriots got Eugenics on the brain, -but none of them knew how to put their ideas into practice. Mechow -himself was a Eugenist of the most brutal type. He believed that if he -could once utilise this primitive instinct of the Meccanian women, he -could do something much more effective than eliminating certain feeble -types, which was all that the Eugenist theorists had so far aimed at. -He proposed to give every woman the right to choose, within limits, -the father of her children. He knew that all the Meccanian women were -obsessed with a frantic admiration for the Military Class--in the old -days it was the ambition of every woman to marry an officer, and that -was why the officers who were not well-to-do never had any difficulty -in getting a rich _partie_. Well, he actually made a law to the effect -that any woman could claim a sort of exemption from the marital rights -of her husband, upon the recommendation of an authorised medical man." - -"But why on earth did the men consent to such a law?" I asked once more. - -"That was easily done. You had only to invoke the Meccanian spirit, -devotion to the supreme interests of the State, the opinion of the -experts and all the rest of it. The opposition was stifled. The three -highest classes were all for it; the women supported it, and although -they had no political power they made opposition impossible." - -"And what effect has this law had? I am afraid I do not see how it -would effect the purpose Prince Mechow had in view," I said. - -"The consequences have been enormous. I do not mean that the law by -itself effected much, but taken as part of a system it solved the whole -problem from Mechow's point of view." - -"But how?" I asked, somewhat puzzled. - -"You understand, I suppose, the system of medical inspection and -medical supervision and medical treatment?" - -"To a certain extent," I replied. - -"Well, you realise perhaps that, in the hands of a patriotic medical -staff, the system can be so worked that every woman who is 'approved' -can be provided with a 'eugenic' mate from an approved panel, drawn -chiefly from the Military Class, eh?" - -"Is this one of Mr. Villele's jokes at the expense of the Meccanians?" -I asked Mr. Johnson. - -"He is telling the story in his own way," answered Johnson, "but in -substance it is quite true." - -"But it sounds incredible," I said. "What do the husbands say to it?" - -"Oh, the business is done very quietly. A woman is ordered a 'cure' by -the 'medical authority,' and she goes away for a little time. The men -on the panel are kept in training, like pugilists used to be. As for -the husbands--did you ever attend any lectures in the Universities on -Meccanian ethics? Of course you have not been in the country very long. -Jealousy is regarded as an obsolete virtue, or vice, whichever you -like. Besides, you must not imagine the custom affects large numbers. -Probably not more than 10 per cent of the women, chiefly in the Fifth -and Sixth, and to some extent in the Fourth, Class, are affected." - -"But I should have thought that social caste would be an insuperable -obstacle," I said. - -"Surely not! When did you hear that women were chosen for such purposes -from any particular class? It is not a question of marriage." - -"There is one circumstance," interposed Mr. Johnson, "that has some -bearing on this subject. Domestic life in Meccania for generations -past has been based on quite a different ideal from that prevalent -in other parts of Europe. A Meccanian in the old days used to choose -a wife very much as he would choose a horse. She was thought of as -the mother of children; in fact, the Meccanian sociologists used to -maintain that this was one of the marks of their superiority over other -European nations. Conjugal affection was recognised only as a sort of -by-product of marriage. Of course they always pretended to cultivate a -kind of Romanticism because they wrote a lot of verse about the spring, -and moonlight and kisses and love-longing, but their Romanticism never -went beyond that. As the object of Meccanian sentiment, one person -would do just as well as another." - -"Our friend seems very much surprised at many things he finds in -Meccania," remarked Mr. Villele, "and my own countrymen, and more -especially my own countrywomen, only half believe the accounts they -read about this country, simply because they think human nature is the -same everywhere; but then they are ignorant of history. Civilisations -just as extraordinary have existed in ancient times, created through -the influence of a few dominant ideas. The Meccanians are a primitive -people with a mechanical culture. They have never been civilised, -because they have no conception of an individual soul. Consequently -they find it easy to devote themselves to a common purpose." - -The conversation went on for a long time. It was a warm summer evening -and we were sitting in the garden at the back of the hotel, otherwise -we should have been rather more guarded in our remarks. As we parted, -Mr. Villele repeated his advice to seek an interview with Mr. Kwang, -as he called him. (His name was Sz-ma-Kwang, but for convenience I -shall allude to him as Mr. Kwang.) A day or two later, I contrived to -get an interview with him, and although Conductor Lickrod was present -I soon discovered that Mr. Kwang and I were members of the same secret -society. He promised that I should see him again before long, and that -he would be happy to assist me in any way he could. He told Lickrod -that he had been doing his best, for the last five years, to induce -the Chinese Government to send more 'observers' to Meccania; but his -enthusiasm for Meccania had perhaps defeated its own object, as it -caused him to be mistrusted. His writings on Meccania were well known, -and it was thought that he was trying to proselytise. He spoke most -flatteringly of me to Lickrod, and said that, in view of the influence -I should have in my own country, it was well worth while giving me -every facility to see all I wished. He would guarantee that, under his -tutelage, I should soon learn to appreciate things from the right point -of view. - -Two days after this, I received a message to call on the Chief -Inspector of Foreigners. He received me most politely, and almost -apologised for not having had time to see me before. He had only just -learnt that I was a friend of the excellent Mr. Kwang. He said I should -be permitted to visit Mr. Kwang whenever I chose, and that I was now -at liberty to make use of the letters of introduction I had brought -with me to several persons in Meccania. It would not be necessary for -me to be accompanied by a 'conductor' every day. He would transfer me -to Class B, Stage II. Class B meant Foreign Observers staying not less -than six months; and Stage II. meant that they were permitted to submit -a plan each week showing how they proposed to spend the following -week; so that on the days which were occupied to the satisfaction of -the Inspector of Foreign Observers for the district, the services of a -'conductor' could be dispensed with. - -I did not know whether to avail myself of my new-found liberty or not. -For when I came to talk the matter over with the only person at hand, -Conductor Lickrod, I found that it was not very easy to prepare a plan -that would be accepted by the Authorities, unless I were prepared to -pursue some definite line of research. When I talked of taking a few -walks in the poorer quarters, calling in for a few lectures in the -University, hearing some concerts, and seeing some plays and other -amusements, looking round the museums,--a programme innocent enough -in all conscience,--Lickrod said no Inspector would sanction such -a miscellaneous time-table for an observer in Stage II. I was not -qualified to attend concerts; I had not yet received permission to -visit the theatre. Unless I were pursuing some particular study, I -could only visit the museums in company with a conductor. As for a -stroll through the poorer quarters, he failed to see the object of -that. On the whole, I decided to stick to Lickrod for another week at -any rate. I asked if I might see something of Education in Mecco. He -said certainly, if I desired to make a study of Meccanian Pedagogics -for a period of not less than four months. Otherwise it would not -be possible to enter any of the educational institutions. I could -get permission to read in the Great Library, if I would specify the -subject, or subjects, and show that I was qualified to pursue them. In -that way I could read up Meccanian Education. If I were not willing -to do this, he advised me to talk to Mr. Johnson, who was a keen and -capable student of Meccanian Pedagogics. - -I suggested investigating Meccanian political institutions, but similar -difficulties arose there. I could only study Meccanian politics if I -were registered as a specialist, and for that I should have to obtain -permission from the Department for Foreign Affairs as well as from the -Chief Inspector of Foreign Observers. He remarked, however, that in -his opinion there was little to study beyond what could be got from -books. The political system of Meccania was really simplicity itself -when once the fundamental principles had been grasped. I replied that -in most countries it took a foreigner rather a long time to understand -the views and policy of the many different groups and sections in the -representative assemblies. Each of them usually had their organisations -and their special point of view. He replied that in Meccania the State -itself was the only political organisation. - -"But," I said, "when your members of the National Council meet, do they -not fall into groups according to their views upon policy?" - -"They are grouped according to classes, of course," he answered. "Each -of the seven classes has the same number of representatives, and -there is no doubt a tendency for the representatives of each class -to consider things somewhat from the point of view of the interests -of their class. But the members have no meetings, except in the full -assembly and in the committees. Such group-meetings form no part -of the Constitution. We do not do things by halves. When the State -decided to have nothing to do with party government, it decided also -not to have anything to do with group government. There is no room -for such trifling in Meccania. So you see there is nothing for you to -investigate in this direction." - -"The classes themselves, then? Is there no body of opinion, no -collective political tradition or sentiment cultivated by the various -classes?" - -"You might find something there," said Lickrod, musing a little. "But -except in the shape of books I do not know how you would get at it." - -"But all books are censored, are they not?" I said. - -"Certainly, but how does that affect the question?" - -"Books would hardly give me a truthful idea of all the currents of -thought." - -"But surely you cannot suppose that the State would assist you in -trying to discover things which, by its deliberate action, it had -already thought it desirable to suppress?" he answered. "Besides," he -added, "such things belong rather to the pathology of politics. By the -way, you would find some useful matter in Doctor Squelcher's great work -on Political Pathology." - -"That is a new term to me," I said. - -"Doctor Squelcher's researches have proved invaluable to the Special -Medical Board in connection with the disease _Znednettlapseiwz_ -(Chronic tendency to Dissent) which you also had not heard of." - -In view of this conversation my attempt to investigate Meccanian -politics did not seem likely to meet with much success. - -Before seeing Mr. Kwang again, I received an invitation to dine with a -certain Industrial Director Blobber, one of the persons to whom I had -a letter of introduction. He lived in a very pleasant villa in the -Third Quarter, and as it was the first time I had had an opportunity -of seeing the interior of any private _ménage_, I was naturally rather -curious to observe everything in the house. The door was opened by -a servant in a livery of grey. The hall was spotlessly clean, and -decorated in yellow tones, to indicate the class to which my host -belonged. I was shown into what I took to be a drawing-room, the -prevailing tone of which was also yellow. The first thing that struck -me was the peculiar construction of the easy chairs in the room. They -were all fitted with mechanical contrivances which enabled them to -be adjusted in any position. At first I thought they were invalids' -chairs, but they were all alike. The other furniture suggested the -latest phases of Meccanian decorative Art, but it would be tedious -to describe it in detail. The frieze was decorated with a curious -geometrical design executed in the seven colours. There were silk -hangings which at first I took to be Chinese, but which I soon saw -were imitations. The carpet had the Imperial arms woven in the centre. -It seems it is one of the privileges of officials of the Third Class -to have the Imperial arms as a decoration on certain articles of -furniture; only members of the Second and First Classes may have their -own arms. The mantelpiece was large and clumsy. A bust of the reigning -Emperor stood on one side and one of Prince Mechow on the other. - -Mr. Blobber joined me in a few minutes. He was dressed in a lounge suit -of bright yellow with green buttons. (The buttons indicated that he had -been promoted from the Fourth Class.) He was polite, in a condescending -sort of way, and spoke to me as if I had been a child. He was a foot -taller than I am, and decidedly portly in build. He had a red face, a -rather lumpy nose and a large bald forehead. He wore spectacles and was -decorated with the 'Mechow' beard, which he not only stroked but combed -in my presence. - -After the first formal greetings, he said, "So you have come all the -way from the other side of the world to see our wonderful country. You -had all the countries in the world to choose from, and you had the good -sense to come to Meccania. You decided well, and I hope you have been -profiting by your stay." - -"Yes," I said; "I have seen a great many things to admire already." - -"For example?" he said. - -"The wonderful roof of your Great Central Station," I said. - -"Ah, yes unique, is it not? We have, of course, the finest railway -stations in the world, and the finest railway system too. But that is -only part of our industrial organisation." - -"You have indeed a wonderful industrial system," I said, "and no -industrial problem." - -"No industrial problem?" he replied. "We have a great many. We do not -produce half enough. Of course, compared with other countries, it may -seem that we are doing very well, but we are not satisfied." - -"I meant rather that you have no disturbances, no strikes, no Trade -Unionism or anything of that sort." - -"Of course, you cannot help thinking of what you have seen in other -countries. No, we have no time for nonsense of that kind. But I take -no interest in that sort of thing. I have enough to do with my work. -The chief Director of the Imperial Porcelain Factory is a busy man, I -assure you." - -At this moment Madame Blobber came in and I was introduced to her. She -was a great contrast to her husband in many ways. She was tall and -rather thin--at any rate for a Meccanian--and would have been graceful -but for a certain stiffness and coldness in her manner and bearing. She -had a pale face with cold blue eyes. Her mouth was rather large, and -her lips thin and flexible. While her husband's voice was leathery, -like that of most Meccanians, hers was thin and penetrating, but not -loud. We crossed into the dining-room. A butler in a chocolate-coloured -livery saw that all was in order, and left the room. Waiting was -unnecessary. The first dishes were on the table, where they were kept -hot by electricity, and others on the sideboard were afterwards handed -by a woman servant in a grey uniform. - -It was a rather silent meal. Mr. Blobber was much occupied with his -food, which he evidently enjoyed, and at a later stage he relapsed -into a sleepy condition. Madame Blobber then took the lead in the -conversation. She was evidently a very well-read woman, especially in -all matters relating to Art. I suspected she had no children and had -made herself a blue-stocking. She talked like a professor, and with -all the dogmatism of one. She said the Chinese had never had any true -knowledge of colour. They had merely hit upon some colours which were -pleasing to a crude taste. The Meccanians in fifty years had absorbed -all the knowledge the Chinese had ever possessed, and much more besides. - -I ventured to say that there were still some secrets of artistic -production in porcelain that foreigners had not discovered. She -laughed at the idea. The 'secrets,' she said, were the very things the -Meccanian experts had rejected as of no value. I might as well say that -the Chinese political constitution was a secret because the Meccanians -had not adopted it. When I suggested that scientific knowledge was not -a complete equipment for Art, and would not necessarily increase the -artistic powers of a nation, she said this was a mere superstition. Art -was not a mystery. Every work of art admitted of being analysed; the -laws of its production were ascertainable; and it could be reproduced -or modified in every conceivable way. - -I asked if the same were true of music. I had heard, I said, that -for nearly a hundred years even the Meccanians had produced no great -musician. - -"Another superstition," she declared. "The great musicians, as they -were called, were merely the pioneers of music. Their works were much -overrated in foreign countries. We have proved by analysis," she said, -"that they were merely groping for their effects. _We_ know what they -wanted to effect, and we have discovered how to get those effects. -Musical psychology was an unknown science a hundred years ago. Why, the -old composers had simply no means of testing the psychological effects -of their works by experiment." - -"I am afraid I am very ignorant of musical science," I said. "In fact, -I did not even know there was such a thing as a science of music." - -"What did you think music was?" she almost snapped. - -"Simply one of the Arts," I said. - -"There can be no art in the proper sense without a science." - -"But I thought you Europeans considered that in Sculpture, for example, -the Ancients had never been surpassed; and yet they had no science of -sculpture." - -"Their science was probably lost: but _we_ have recovered the -true science. The basis of all sculpture is accurate measurement. -Whatever has bulk, whatever occupies space, can be measured, if your -instruments are fine enough. Our instruments _are_ fine enough. We can -reproduce any statue ever made by any artist." - -"But that is only copying," I said. "How do you create?" - -"The process is a little more elaborate, but the principles are exactly -the same. Even the classical sculptors had models, had they not? Well, -our sculptors also use models; they pose them in thousands of different -positions until they have the attitude they want; they have instruments -to enable them to fix them in position, and the rest is merely accurate -measurement." - -"I should never have imagined that sculpture had been carried to such a -point," I remarked. "Is there much of it in Meccania?" - -"Not a great deal of the finer work. Accurate measurement is a slow and -costly business even with our improved instruments." - -"Tell me," I said,--"you see I am very ignorant of Art as understood in -Meccania,--has Literature been pursued by the same scientific methods?" - -"It depends upon what you mean by Literature," replied Madame Blobber. - -"Broadly speaking," I said, "I mean the art of expressing ideas in -language that satisfies one's sense of beauty." - -"All our professional writers go through a period of training in the -particular department they cultivate. For example, our writers of -history are very carefully trained, writers of scientific treatises -also." - -"But what of your novelists and poets?" I asked. - -"We do not specially encourage the writing of novels. All stories are -merely variations of a few themes: all the stories worth writing have -been written long ago. We print a certain number of the old novels, -and we employ a few specialists to 'vamp' up new stories from the old -materials, chiefly for the benefit of the lower classes. We Meccanians -never really took to novel-writing, except under foreign influence, and -that passed away long ago. The theme of almost all novels is domestic -life and individual passion: they treat of phases of thought and -feeling that our Culture tends more and more to make obsolete. We have -developed the Drama much more; in fact, the drama takes the place of -the novel with us." - -"I have heard something of your Drama from Dr. Dodderer," I said. - -"Indeed! Then you understand the fourfold treatment. That in itself -would explain why we have discarded the novel. We still keep up the -philosophical parable, which is a sort of link between the novel and -our modern drama." - -"I am afraid I should find it difficult to appreciate some of your -plays," I said; "_Uric Acid_, for instance." - -"That is only because our mental environment is in advance of the rest -of Europe. Physical science, including of course medical science, is -part of our mental furniture: we have assimilated whole masses of ideas -that are still unfamiliar to other peoples. Naturally our drama finds -its material in the affairs that interest us." - -"And Poetry?" I said. "Is Poetry still cultivated?" - -"Naturally! Most of our dramas are in poetry: our language lends -itself admirably; it is almost as easy to write poetry as prose in our -language." - -"But is there no lyrical poetry?" - -"Certainly; we utilise it as one of the means of cultivating the -Meccanian spirit, especially among the young. No poetry is published -unless it contributes to the uplifting of the Meccanian spirit." - -At this point Director Blobber woke up and proposed that we should -retire to his study for a glass of spirits and a cigar. Madame Blobber -left us, and for the next half-hour I did my best to keep Mr. Blobber -awake. But it was evident he wanted to go to bed, and by half-past nine -I left the house, without any desire to see either of my hosts again. - -Two days later I received another invitation, this time to dine with -an Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. I had not -presented any letters of introduction to him. I could therefore only -suspect that this invitation was in some way due to Mr. Kwang. I went, -of course; but I could hardly help wondering what was in store for me. -Under-Secretary Count Krafft belonged to one of the great families and -wore the uniform of the Second Class, with a badge to indicate that he -was now in the Civil Service, although of course he had served as an -officer in the army. His wife was apparently dining elsewhere, for I -saw no sign of her, and we dined _tête-à-tête_ in a small apartment in -his large mansion in the Second Quarter. He was much more a man of the -world than the others I had met, and in his manners resembled the men -of good family whom I had met in Luniland. After a short preliminary -talk, about nothing in particular, he said he was sorry that he had not -learnt of my presence in Mecco when I first arrived, particularly as I -was a friend of Mr. Kwang. - -"The applications from foreigners for permission to travel in -Meccania," he said, by way of apology, "are not very numerous, and -they are always referred to me for my signature. Yours reached us -from Luniland, and was regarded as that of a mere globe-trotter. It -is a pity you did not give the name of your friend, Mr. Kwang, as a -reference. We think very highly of Mr. Kwang, and I should be pleased -to give special facilities to any of his friends. I don't suppose you -have been neglected," he added; "our officials have instructions to pay -attention to the comfort of all Foreign Observers, and I am sure we do -more for them than any Government I am acquainted with." - -We were by this time about half-way through dinner, and under its -influence I ventured upon a mild joke. - -"You do everything for them," I said, "except leave them alone." - -He took this in good part. - -"You have been in Luniland," he remarked, "where every one does what he -pleases. When you have spent as long a time here you will appreciate -the wisdom of our arrangements. No doubt it seems a little irksome at -first, and perhaps rather dull, especially as you have seen only the -mere routine aspects of the life of the lower and middle classes--I -use the old-fashioned terms, you see. But how else would you arrange -matters? We cannot invite all foreign visitors, indiscriminately, to -take part in our higher social life, and it would not be fair to our -own citizens to allow foreigners a greater liberty than we allow to -ourselves." - -"So you put us in a strait-jacket," I said, laughing, "because you have -to put your whole nation in a strait-jacket." - -"Our whole nation in a strait-jacket," he replied, with a smile. "So -that is how it strikes you, is it?" - -"Well, isn't it so?" I said. "Your children are sorted out while they -are at school, their play is turned into useful employment, their -careers are decided for them; hardly any of them rise out of their -original class. Then everybody is under the eye of the Time Department, -everybody is inspected and looked after from the cradle to the grave. -It is almost impossible to commit a real crime or to set up any -independent institution. There is, you must admit, a certain want of -freedom in your arrangements." - -"But of what people are you speaking?" said Count Krafft. "You seem to -have confined your attention to the lower classes. For them, in all -countries, something of a strait-jacket is needed surely. Certainly it -is for ours. We know our own people. When they are properly drilled and -led they do wonders, but left to themselves they have always relapsed -into laziness and barbarism, or else have burst out into anarchy and -revolutionary fury." - -"But what scope does your system allow for their energies?" I asked. -"Every aspect of life seems confined by your meticulous regulations." - -"That is an illusion," he replied. "You see, we are a highly -intellectual people and it is quite natural for us to formulate -regulations. Modern life is necessarily complex, and the chief -difference between us and other nations is that we recognise the -complexity and organise our activities accordingly. We are simply -in advance of other nations, that is all. Take a simple thing like -Railways. We organised our Railway system to suit our national -purposes instead of leaving them to commercial enterprise. Take the -Education of the people. The State took charge of it fifty years before -other nations recognised its vital importance. Take the question of -Public Health; even those States which prate about individual liberty -have had to follow in our wake and organise the medical service. -Besides, it is only by organising the activities of the lower classes -that the State can maintain its supremacy." - -"I see," I replied, "the strait-jacket is for the lower classes. I -thought it was a garment worn by everybody." - -"The expression was yours," he said, with an indulgent smile. "We -certainly do not regard it as a strait-jacket." - -"That is perhaps because the ruling classes do not wear it," I replied. - -"We do not recognise any classes as ruling classes," he said suavely. -"It is an obsolete expression." - -"But I thought you liked to recognise facts and call things by their -proper names," I replied. - -"Certainly we do," he answered. "But which are the ruling classes? The -Super-State is the supreme and only ruler in Meccania." - -"Even in a Super-State," I said, "I should have thought, from what you -have said, that some groups of persons really wielded the power of the -State." - -"Under the crude organisation of most foreign States that is quite -possible," answered Count Krafft; "but the essence of the Super-State -is that, in it, power cannot be exercised without authority, and only -these persons are authorised through whom the Super-State chooses to -express its will. It places everybody in such a position as enables -him to render the greatest service to the State that he is capable of -rendering. Consequently no fault can be found, by any class or section, -with the power exercised by any other class or section; because they -are merely the instruments of the State itself." - -"That sounds a very comfortable doctrine for those who happen to wield -the power," I said. "It leaves no room for any 'opposition.'" - -"The Super-State would not be the Super-State if it contained within it -any opposition," he replied. "You ought to read the speech of Prince -Mechow on the Super-State as the final expression of the Meccanian -spirit," he went on. "Foreigners are apt to confuse the Super-State -with an Autocracy. It is essentially different. In an autocracy of the -crude, old-fashioned type, an exterior power is visible, and your talk -of ruling classes would be appropriate there. In the Super-State all -the functions are so organised that the whole body politic acts as one -man. We educate the will of the component units in such a way that all -conflicting impulses are eradicated. After all, that was the ideal of -the Catholic Church. Prince Mechow applied the same principle when he -reformed our Educational system. A good Meccanian would no more seek to -violate the obligations laid upon him by the Super-State than a good -Catholic would seek to commit deadly sin." - -"Then there is no room for a Free Press in the Super-State," I remarked. - -He saw my point and replied, "A 'Free Press,' as you call it, would -be an anachronism. What necessity is there for it? Its function -has disappeared. It only existed during a brief historical phase -in the earlier development of the modern State. Our great Prince -Bludiron was the first to perceive its inconsistency with the line -of true development. Prince Mechow absorbed all the functions of the -independent professions, and among them those of the journalists, who -were always an element of weakness in the State." - -"But what, then, is the object of this complete Unity which, as far as -I can make out, the Super-State seems always to be aiming at?" I asked. - -"The object?" he replied, almost bored by my pertinacity. "Unity is the -law of all organic life. We are simply more advanced in our development -than other States, that is all." - -"Then it is not true that all this super-organisation is for the -purpose of fostering national power?" I said. - -"That is the old argument of the weak against the strong, the poor -against the rich, the ignorant against the educated. Every healthy -person is a strong person; the rich man is stronger than the poor man; -the educated man is stronger than the ignorant. The modern State, even -among our neighbours, is infinitely 'stronger' than the incoherent -political organisms of earlier times. It cannot help itself. Its -resources are enormously greater. How can the Super-State help being -strong? No State deliberately seeks to weaken itself, or deprive itself -of its natural force." Then, as if tired of the discussion into which -our conversation had led us, he said, "But these are all matters about -which you will learn much more from my friend the Professor of State -Science. I am afraid I have been dishing up one of his old lectures. -You will find this liqueur quite palatable." - -We then drifted on to more trivial topics. He said I had spent too -long among the petty officials, grubbing about with my Tour No. 4. I -ought to see something of better society. Unfortunately it was the dead -season just then, and I might have to wait a little time, but there -were still some dinners at the University. Some of the professors never -went out of Mecco and would be glad to entertain me. - -We parted on very good terms. His manner had been friendly, and if he -had done little besides expound Meccanian principles he had at any rate -not been dictatorial. I wondered whether he really believed in his -own plausible theories or whether he had been simply instructing the -Foreign Observer. - -When I saw Mr. Kwang a day or two afterwards--this time alone--he -greeted me cordially and said, "So things are improving?" - -"They promise to do so," I said, "but so far, all that has happened -has been a very tedious visit to Director Blobber and an academic -discussion with Count Krafft." - -"So you don't appreciate the honour of dining with an Under-Secretary -of the Super-State?" he said. "You have stayed too long in Luniland." - -"I am promised the privilege of seeing something of the best Meccanian -Society, but what I was more anxious to see was the worst Meccanian -Society." - -"They will take care you don't," he answered, laughing. - -"But why? In any other country one can associate with peasants or -vagabonds or artisans or tradesmen or business men." - -"You ought to know by this time--I am sure it has been explained to you -over and over again. You would gather false impressions, and you might -contaminate the delicate fruits of Meccanian Culture." - -"That is the theory I have heard _ad nauseam_. But there is nothing in -it." - -"Why not?" - -"Because by keeping us apart they arouse the suspicions of both." - -"Oh no, they may arouse _your_ suspicions, but the Meccanian knows -that what the State prescribes for him must be for his good. This is -the only country where theories are carried into practice. It is a -Super-State." - -"And you admire it? You have become a proselyte," I said jokingly. - -"Have you read my books yet?" he asked. - -"I saw one for the first time this week," I said. - -"Well?" - -"I recognise it as a masterpiece." - -He bowed and smiled. "From the President of the Kiang-su Literary -Society that is high praise indeed." - -"I am undecided whether to remain here longer," I said, "or to return -home, perhaps calling for a rest and a change to see my friends in -Lunopolis. I should like your advice." - -"Of course that depends upon circumstances. I do not yet understand -your difficulty or the circumstances." - -"Well," I said, "I came here prepared to stay perhaps a year, if I -liked the country, with the intention of obtaining general impressions, -and some definite information on matters in which I am interested; but -every Meccanian I have met is either a Government agent or a bore." - -"What, even Madame Blobber?" he interposed, smiling. - -"Even Madame Blobber," I said. "I am getting tired of it. I try all -sorts of means to gratify my perfectly innocent curiosity, and am -baffled every time. Now I am promised a sight of high Society, but I -expect they will show me what they want me to see and nothing they -don't want me to see." - -"Why should they show you what they don't want you to see?" he laughed. - -"I don't know how you stand it," I said. - -"I have had the virtue of patience," he said, "and patience has been -rewarded. I, too, am going home before long. I have got what I want." - -He made the signal that bound me to absolute secrecy, and told me what -his plans were. When I said that he ran a risk of being victimised -he shook his head. "I am not afraid," he said. "By the time I reach -home, every Meccanian agent in China will have been quietly deported. -And they will not come back again. We are not a Super-State, but our -country is not Idiotica." - -"And in the meantime," I said, "suppose I stay here another month or -so, what do you advise me to do?" - -"Oh, just amuse yourself as well as you can," he said. - -"Amuse myself! In Meccania?" - -"Yes; it is not worth while trying now to do anything else. You will -find out nothing new--nothing that I have not already found out. It -takes ten years to penetrate beneath the surface here, even with my -methods," he said. "But I have got what I want." - -"And how am I to amuse myself?" - -"Accept all the invitations you get, keep your ears open and use your -own considerable powers of reflection. By way of relief, come and talk -to me whenever you want." - -I followed Sz-ma-Kwang's advice: I gave up all thought of investigating -either Meccanian Politics, or 'social problems,' or anything of the -kind. I thought I should probably get better information at second -hand from Mr. Kwang than I could get at first hand for myself, in the -short time that I was prepared to stay, and I am satisfied now that I -decided rightly.... I saw Lickrod almost daily, and went with him to a -number of places, museums, the great library, industrial exhibitions, -manufactories and so forth. We spent a day or two looking at examples -of Meccanian architecture, which was more interesting from the -engineering point of view than from the artistic. I began to receive -invitations to several houses, chiefly of high officials in the Civil -Service and one or two members of the higher bourgeoisie. - -In the meantime I had some interesting conversation with my friends, -Mr. Johnson and Mr. Villele, as we sat in the garden after dinner. I -had never yet asked Mr. Johnson why he was pursuing what I could not -help thinking was the distasteful study of Meccanian Pedagogics, but -as Lickrod had recommended me to talk to Mr. Johnson about Meccanian -education the question came up naturally. I put it to him quite frankly. - -"You are what I should describe as an Anti-Meccanian by temperament," -I said, "and it seems very odd that you should be studying Meccanian -Pedagogics of all things in the world." - -"It is because I am an Anti-Meccanian, as you put it, that I am -doing so," he replied. "You see in Luniland we never do things -thoroughly--thank God!--and we have no pedagogical system. But every -now and then a sort of movement arises in favour of some reform or -other. For a long time Meccanian education was out of court; people -would hear of nothing that savoured of Meccania, good or bad. Then -there was a revival of interest, and societies were started to promote -what they called Education on a scientific basis--by which they meant, -not the study of science, but Meccanian education. As Professor of -Education in one of our smaller Universities I was obliged to take some -line or other, and the more I studied Meccanian Education from books, -the less I liked it. So I came to equip myself with a better knowledge -of the whole thing than the cranks who have taken it up." - -"I suppose you find some things worth copying," I suggested, "in a -field so wide, especially seeing that they have applied psychological -science to methods of study?" - -"Oh yes, there are certain pedagogical tricks and dodges that are -decidedly clever. In fact, if the human race were a race of clever -insects, the Meccanian system of education would be almost perfect. -The pupils store up knowledge as bees store honey, and they learn to -perform their functions, as members of an organisation, with wonderful -accuracy. I cannot help thinking sometimes that Meccania is a society -of clever insects." - -"Exactly," struck in Mr. Villele. "There are the soldier ants, and the -slave ants, and the official ants, and the egg-producing ants. We ought -to call Meccania the Super-Insect-State, eh?" - -"Yes; the land of the Super-Insects," said Johnson. "No person in -Meccania, certainly no child, is ever looked upon as an 'end in -itself'; he is simply one of a community of ants." - -"Of course," I said, "to be quite fair, we cannot consider anybody -strictly as an end in himself, even in Luniland." - -"Theoretically that is so," replied Johnson, "but in practice it -makes all the difference in the world whether you regard a man as an -individual soul, or as a cell in an organism or a wheel in a machine." - -"Why do you Lunilanders and Francarians, if I may ask such a large -question, allow yourselves to be influenced at all by what is done in -Meccania? There is so little intercourse between the countries that it -hardly seems worth while having any at all," I said. - -"Because in both countries there are still many people who regard -the Meccanians not as Super-Insects, but as human beings," answered -Johnson. "And there is always, too, the ultimate possibility of -conflict. If they were on another planet it would not matter, providing -they could invent no means of communicating with us. In itself -Meccanian education is of little interest, except, of course, as -education in the insect world might be interesting, or perhaps as a -branch of pedagogical pathology or psychological pathology." - -"In effect," interrupted Mr. Villele, "it all comes back to what Mr. -Johnson was saying a few nights ago, that the key to the whole polity -of Meccania is military power. Meccanian education is merely a means to -that end, just as the Time Department, and every other institution--and -the absence of certain other institutions like the Press, for -example--is. The Super-State is the grand instrument of Militarism." - -"Is it not possible," I said, "that the real key to the Super-State is -the desire of the ruling classes to keep themselves in power?" - -"But the two things go together," answered Villele. "The Meccanian -maxim is that 'The State must be strong within in order to be strong -without.'" - -"And is not that true doctrine?" I said, wondering how they would -answer the argument. - -"To a certain extent," answered Johnson cautiously. "But where are -their enemies? Why should they want all this 'Super-Strength'?" - -"They say they are surrounded by unfriendly nations," I replied. - -"So they are," answered Villele, "but they have done their best to -make them unfriendly. If you knock a man down, and trample on him, and -rob him into the bargain, you can hardly expect him to be a friendly -neighbour next day." - -"We started by talking about education," I remarked, "but we have very -soon got into a discussion about Militarism--somehow we seem to get to -that no matter what point we start from." - -"And with very good reason," said Villele. "There used to be a saying -that all roads lead to Rome. In Meccania all roads lead to Militarism. -You who are not faced by the problem it presents may regard it as an -obsession, but a man who refuses to admit the plainest evidence is also -the victim of an obsession." - -"And you think the evidence is unmistakable?" I said. - -"For what purpose does the Meccanian Parliament--if it can be called -a Parliament--surrender its control over taxation? For what purpose -does the Government conceal its expenditure upon army and navy? For -what purpose does it destroy the freedom of the Press, and freedom of -speech? For what purpose does the Government keep every person under -supervision? For what purpose does it control all production?" - -"I cannot answer these questions," I said; "but what evidence is there -that the Meccanian system of education is designed as part of the -scheme of Militarism?" - -"The evidence is abundant," answered Johnson, "but it is not so plain -as to be unmistakable. If you see one of our elaborate pieces of -modern machinery, a printing-machine or a spinning-machine, you will -find that it contains a thousand separate contrivances, and unless -you are an expert you will not be able to perceive that every part -is absolutely necessary to the performance of the simple function of -printing or spinning. Yet that is the fact. It is just the same with -the Meccanian educational machine. Its chief purpose, according to -the Meccanian theory, is to enable the citizen--or, as Villele and -I might say, the Super-Insect--to perform his functions as a member -of the Super-Insect community. But the chief end of the Super-Insect -State is Power. The Meccanians say so themselves. Anyhow, we can easily -see for ourselves that their system of education fits in exactly with -Militarism. It makes men efficient for the purposes required of them -by the Super-State; it makes them not only docile and obedient, but -actively devoted to the interests, not of themselves individually, but -of what they are taught to regard as something more important, namely, -the Super-State; it fosters the superstition which makes possible such -an incredible custom as Villele has told you of; it keeps them ignorant -of all other ideals of civilisation." - -"All that may be true," I replied. "It may very well be that the -system of education does favour Militarism, but it may not have been -deliberately designed to that end. It has been put to me," I added, -"that all this elaborate organisation, including education, is part of -the inevitable tendency of things in the modern world, and that the -Meccanians are only doing a little in advance of other people what they -will all do sooner or later." - -"That won't do at all," interposed Villele. "They cannot have it both -ways. What becomes of the genius of Prince Mechow if it is all an -inevitable tendency? They tell us other nations are not clever enough, -or not far-seeing enough, or not strong-willed enough, to produce -such a system. These reforms had to be introduced in the teeth of -opposition. Other nations have not adopted them and will not adopt -them except under the pressure of fear. It is Militarism alone that is -strong enough to impose such a system." - -"But," said I, "I find it difficult to believe that any civilisation, -even Meccanian, can be really the result of the domination of a single -idea. Not even the communities of the ancient world were so simple in -their principles." - -"That fact tells in favour of our contention," answered Villele. - -"How so?" I said. - -"Why, you admit the natural tendency of all civilised peoples towards -diversity of aims. The more highly developed, the more diversified. If, -therefore, you find a people becoming less diversified, subordinating -all individual wills to the will of the State, you must suspect some -extraordinary force. You would not deny the fact that individual -liberty has been suppressed?" - -"No," I said, "I do not deny that." - -"But you think the Super-State has such an interest in the tender plant -of the individual souls of its children, their moral and spiritual and -physical life, that it is merely a meticulous grandmother trying to -prepare them all for a better world, eh?" - -I laughed. - -"No, that won't do. Only two things are strong enough to suppress the -spirit of liberty: one is superstition calling itself religion; the -other is Militarism." - -"If it were less well done," resumed Johnson, "it would be easier -to detect. But it is diabolically well done. Who but the Meccanians -would think it worth while to control the whole teaching of history -for the sake of cultivating Militarism? In most countries anybody -may write history, although very few people read it. Here only the -official historians may write: only the books prescribed by the State -may be read. And all the people while they are at school and college -must read it. In this way they create a powerful tradition. One need -not laugh at the idea of State historians. They have done their work -too well for that. Their falsification of history is not a clumsy -affair of inventing fairy tales. It is scientific falsification. -They utilise every fact that can tell against, or discredit, other -nations, and every fact about their own people which can raise their -national self-esteem. The method is not new, for you may say that all -historians are biased. But in other countries the bias of one historian -is counterbalanced by the bias of others. The _method_ is not new but -the _system_ is. As an example, take their treatment of a well-known -Luniland statesman of the beginning of the last century--and this -is a fairly harmless instance. He was undoubtedly a single-minded, -public-spirited man, a patriot who was also a good European, for he did -as much as any one man to save Europe from a military tyranny. But he -shared many of the current ideas of his age and lived according to its -customs. In _Meccanian_ history all we are told of him is that he drank -heavily, gambled, persecuted ignorant and misguided labourers, bribed -the people's representatives, enriched capitalists and landlords by his -fiscal system, and displayed his ignorance of finance by inventing a -fallacious Sinking Fund that any schoolboy could see through." - -"Mr. Johnson is putting the case much too mildly," interposed -Villele. "There are in the 'reports' issued by the Government on all -sorts of matters, but particularly with regard to foreign affairs, -falsifications of fact of the most barefaced character. Now the -writers of the school and college histories quote very extensively -from these official reports, implying always that the statements are -true. Further than this, you know, but not perhaps as well as we do, -that in countries where speech is free and the Press is free there -are any number of libellous writers who vilify their opponents in a -shameless fashion. In Luniland in particular, if my friend will pardon -my saying so, there are enthusiasts for some particular cause who have -no sense whatever of proportion. For instance, to hear some of the -so-called Temperance advocates you would imagine that the Lunilanders -were a nation of drunkards, wife-beaters, seducers, abandoned wretches -of every kind. To listen to their Socialist fanatics you would -imagine that every working man was a down-trodden slave. To listen to -their anti-vivisectionists you would imagine that the whole medical -profession spent its leisure in the sport of torturing animals. To -listen to some of the priests you would think the whole nation was sunk -in vice. To listen to the anti-priests you would think the priests -were a tribe of grasping hypocrites, and so on and so on. Now you will -find Meccanian histories, and works on the social and political life of -foreign nations, full of quotations from such writers." - -"As I said at the outset," remarked Johnson, "this may seem a little -thing in itself, but it is symptomatic and characteristic. Look at an -entirely different aspect of the system. The whole teaching profession -is honeycombed with sycophancy. Every teacher is a spy upon every -other. Every one tries to show his zeal, and gain some promotion, by -a display of the Meccanian spirit. As you know, there are no private -schools. There is not a single independent teacher in the whole -country. It is in the Universities even more than in the schools that -sycophancy runs riot." - -"That may be perfectly true," I said, "but would you not get this -disease of sycophancy wherever you have a bureaucracy, quite apart from -Militarism? Suppose there were no army at all, but suppose that the -State were the sole employer and controller of every person and thing, -you might still have all the petty tyranny and sycophancy that you -describe." - -"But there is a difference," said Johnson. "Under a mere bureaucracy -it is still possible for the large groups of workers to combine, and -very effectually, to safeguard their interests; especially if at the -same time there is a real parliamentary system. Indeed, many years ago -one of the strongest arguments brought forward in Luniland against any -large extension of State employment was that the employees, through -their trade combinations, would be able to exert political pressure, -and rather exploit the State than be exploited by it. No, I maintain -that a military autocracy without a bureaucracy may be brutal and -tyrannical, in a spasmodic sort of way; but it is loose-jointed and -clumsy: a bureaucracy apart from a military control of the State may be -meddlesome and irritating; but it is only when you get the two combined -that the people are bound hand and foot. Anyhow, I cannot conceive of -the whole teaching profession, including the highest as well as the -lowest branches, being so completely enslaved as it is here, without -there being a driving power at the back of the bureaucratic machine, -such as only Militarism can supply in our times--for religion is out of -the question." - -"Well, now, is there any other sort of evidence," I said, "that the -educational system is inspired by Militarism? So far the case is 'not -proven.'" - -"The cultivation of 'the Meccanian spirit,' which is one of the prime -aims of all the teaching, points at any rate in the same direction." - -"But the Meccanian spirit is only another name for patriotism, is it -not?" I said. - -"Your scepticism," remarked Villele, "would almost make one suppose -you were becoming a convert to Meccanianism." - -"Not at all," I said. "I have tried to get firsthand information on -these matters and I have failed. Here I am, listening to you who are -avowedly, if I may say so in your presence, anti-Meccanians." They both -nodded assent. "Would it not be foolish of me to accept your views -without at any rate sifting the evidence as fully as I am able? It has -this advantage, I shall be much more likely to become convinced of the -correctness of your opinions if I find that you meet the hypothetical -objections I raise than if I merely listen to your views." - -"The Meccanian spirit is another name for patriotism," said Johnson; -"but it is Meccanian patriotism. Patriotism is not a substitute for -Ethics in the rest of Europe, nor was it in Meccania two centuries ago. -Absolute obedience to the State is definitely inculcated here. No form -of resistance is possible. Resistance is never dreamt of; the Meccanian -spirit implies active co-operation with the Super-State, not passive -obedience only but reverence and devotion. And remember that the -Super-State when you probe under the surface _is the Second Class, the -Military Caste_." - -"But do not all States inculcate obedience to themselves?" I said. - -"No," replied Johnson bluntly. "They may inculcate obedience to -the laws for the time being; it is only Churches claiming Divine -inspiration that arrogate to themselves infallibility, and demand -unconditional obedience. In the rest of Europe the State is one of the -organs--a most necessary and important organ--of the community: here, -the State or the Super-State is the Divinity in which society lives and -moves and has its being. It is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent." - -"Admitting all you say about the deliberate policy of the Super-State," -I answered, "is it not strange that a hundred millions of people -submit themselves to it, and that even outside Meccania there are many -advocates of Meccanian principles?" - -"Tyrannies have flourished in the world in every age," replied Johnson, -"because there is something even worse than Tyranny. To escape a plague -a man will take refuge in a prison. Anarchy, such as that which broke -out in Idiotica some fifty years ago, was a godsend to the rulers -of Meccania. They persuaded the public that there was a choice only -between the Super-State and Anarchy or Bolshevism as it was then -called. We know that is false. Liberty may be attacked by an open -enemy or by a secret and loathsome disease; but that is no reason for -surrendering either to the one or the other." - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -AN ACADEMIC DISCUSSION - - -It was some days after this conversation with my friends at the hotel -that I was present at a dinner-party given by the President of Mecco -University. There were about thirty guests, so that at table a general -conversation was almost impossible; I could hear only what was said -by those close to me. I was seated between a member of the diplomatic -corps and a general. General Wolf, a benevolent-looking old gentleman -with a large, coarse face and a double chin, seemed rather disappointed -that I could not discuss with him the Higher Mathematics. He deplored -the neglect of Mathematics in Meccania. He admitted that unless a -person had a mathematical brain it was useless to attempt to make -him a mathematician; but he said the Eugenics section of the Health -Department was not sufficiently alive to the importance of improving -the mathematical stock. He railed very bitterly against a member of the -Eugenics Board who had tried to get authority to improve the supply -of artists. Happily the Board had turned down his proposals. Count -Hardflogg, who wore the Mechow whisker and an eyeglass, and frowned -fiercely at everything one said to him, was full of a recent report by -the experts in the Industrial Psychology section of the Department of -Industry and Commerce. It seems they had recommended a shortening of -hours for the members of the Sixth and Fifth Classes in a number of -provincial towns, to bring them more on a level with the same class of -workers in Mecco itself. He said it was the thin end of the wedge; that -they ought not to have reported until experiments had been made with -a different diet: he blamed the Eugenics Section, too, for not being -able to produce a tougher strain of workers. Reduction of working hours -should not be resorted to, he maintained, until every other expedient -had been tried: it was so very difficult to increase them afterwards. -Besides, in the Strenuous Month, it had been proved over and over again -that the men could easily stand a longer working day without physical -injury. - -"And what is the Strenuous Month?" I asked. - -"Oh, of course," he said, "you have not studied our industrial system -as a factor of military organisation. There is a very good account of -it in Mr. Kwang's _Triumphs of Meccanian Culture_. Briefly it is this. -Every year, but not always in the same month, the signal is given for -the Strenuous Month to begin. The workmen then work at top speed, and -for as many hours a day as the Industrial Psychologists determine, for -thirty days consecutively. It is excellent training, and incidentally -has a very good effect on the output for the other months of the year. -The men are so glad when it is over that, unconsciously, they work -better for the rest of the year." - -"But I should have thought they would be so fatigued that you would -lose as much as you gain, or more perhaps," I said. - -"Oh no," he answered; "they are allowed one day's complete rest, which -they must spend in bed; their diet is arranged, both during the time -and for a month after. They must go to bed for two hours extra every -night for the following month. The effect is most beneficial. They like -it too, on the whole, for they get paid for all the extra product--that -is to say, it is added to their pension fund." - -"But I thought the pension fund was so calculated," I said, "that it -tallies exactly with what is required for the support of each man from -the time he ceases to be able to work." - -"Certainly," he replied. "After fifty-five most of our men work an -hour a day less every two years, with variations according to their -capacity, as tested by the medical examinations." - -"Then how do they benefit," I asked, "by the product of the strenuous -month, if it is only added to their pension and not paid at the time?" - -"If it is added to the pension fund," he replied, "it is obvious that -they must benefit." - -I did not pursue the matter further. He asked me if I had been to the -Annual Medical Exhibition. I said I had not heard of it, and did not -suppose I should receive permission to see it, as I was not altogether -well qualified to understand it. He said it was most interesting. He -was not a medical man himself, of course; but as an officer in the army -he had had to get some acquaintance with physiology. - -"The medical menagerie gets more interesting every year," he said. - -"The medical menagerie!" I exclaimed. "Whatever is that?" - -"It is a wonderful collection of animals, not only domestic but wild -animals too, upon which experiments have been carried out. There are -goats with sheep's legs. There are cows with horses' hearts, and dogs -with only hind-legs, and pigs without livers--oh, all sorts of things. -The funniest is a pig with a tiger's skin." - -"And what is the object of it all?" I said. - -"Oh, just a regular part of medical research. The most valuable -experiments are those with bacilli, of course; but only the experts can -understand these, as a rule." - -"But it is not safe to infer that the results of experiments on animals -will be applicable to human beings," I said. - -"Of course not, without further verification; but the Special Medical -Board have ample powers to carry out research." - -"What, upon human beings?" I exclaimed. - -"People do not always know when they are being experimented upon," he -remarked significantly. "Besides, if a man is already suffering from an -incurable disease, what does it matter? Of course, we use anæsthetics, -wherever possible at least; that goes without saying." - -After dinner we drank wine for a little time, seated in little groups -after the manner of a custom in some of the colleges in Luniland. -Here, instead of being placed with the two gentlemen who had been my -neighbours at table, I was one of a group of four, the others being two -professors and a high official in the Sociological Department. One of -the professors was Secret Councillor Sikofantis-Sauer, an Economist; -the other was Church Councillor Muhgubb-Slimey, a Theologian. We -talked of indifferent matters for some time until the High Official -left us, when the idea occurred to me to try whether the Economist -would enlighten me upon the subject of the ultimate destination of the -phenomenal production of the Meccanian economic organisation. - -I remarked that I had never seen in any country so few signs of -discontent as in Meccania, and I asked if this was due to the great -wealth that must necessarily be produced by the efficiency of the -methods of production. Professor Sikofantis-Sauer, the Economist, said -that my question betrayed that I was not acquainted with the Meccanian -System of Ethics. I wondered why the Professor of Economics should -begin talking of Ethics. He went on, "Social discontent was never -really due to lack of wealth. Properly speaking, it has no relation -to material wealth at all. This has been proved up to the hilt--if it -needed any proof--by our researches in Economic and Social History. -In a nutshell the proof is this. What was called poverty in the early -nineteenth century would have been considered affluence in, let us -say, the fifth or even the tenth century. The whole idea of wealth is -subjective. Now anyone knows that, where wealth is allowed to become -the main objective of the social activities of the people, the desire -for individual wealth is insatiable. The notion that you can ever -reach a state of contentment, by increasing the wealth of the people, -is one of the greatest fallacies that even the economists of Luniland -ever entertained--and that is saying a good deal. Consequently, if we -have succeeded in eradicating discontent, it has not been by pursuing -the mirage of a popular El Dorado. No, you must replace the insane -desire for the gratification of individual indulgence by a conception -of a truer kind of well-being. If the individual once grasps the fact -that in himself, and by himself, he is little better than an arboreal -ape, and that all he possesses, all he can possess, is the gift of the -State--which gives him nourishment, language, ideas, knowledge; which -trains him to use his powers, such as they are--he will assume an -entirely different attitude. Our system of education, far more than -our system of production, is responsible for the eradication of social -and of every other kind of discontent." - -"Then I suppose," I said, "the lower classes, as we sometimes call them -abroad--your Fifth and Sixth and Seventh Classes, for example--never -inquire whether they receive what they consider a fair share of the -national product?" - -Professor Sauer laughed aloud. "Pardon me," he said, "but you remind me -of a story I used to hear when I was a boy, of a man who had slept in -some cave or den for fifty years, or was it a century, and woke up to -find a different world. Such a question belongs to the buried fossils -of economic theory. Who can say what is a fair share? You might as well -ask whether one musical composition is more just than another." - -"Well, perhaps you can tell me this," I said. "Considering the -superiority of your methods of production, I should have expected -to find a much higher standard of individual wealth, or comfort, or -leisure--you know what I mean--among not only the lower classes, but -all classes. I cannot help wondering what becomes of all the surplus." - -"We have all enough for our needs," he said, "and the requirements of -the State are of far more importance than the gratification of the -tastes of individuals." - -"May I put in a word?" said Professor Slimey the Theologian. "In the -modern world, the productive powers of man have outstripped his other -powers. It is one of the mysteries of the ways of Providence. The -discipline of labour is necessary for the development of the soul, but -the devil has sought to seduce mankind by teaching him how to produce -more than is good for him, in the hope that he will become corrupted by -luxury. In other countries that corruption has already taken place. The -strenuous life is the only life consistent with moral health. Under the -Divine guidance our ruling classes--I am old-fashioned enough to use -that expression, for in the eyes of God there are no First or Second -Classes--have preserved the sense of duty; they are a discipline unto -themselves. God's blessings have been multiplied unto them, and they -have not forgotten the Divine injunctions. We cannot expect that the -masses of mankind can discipline themselves, and for them the only -safety lies in well-regulated and well-directed labour. There can be no -greater curse for a people than idleness and luxury. Fortunately, we -have been able to preserve them from the evil effects of superabundant -wealth." - -"I have sometimes wondered," I said, "whether the requirements of the -State in regard to what is called National Defence were so great as to -account for the surplus product." - -"Undoubtedly the demands of the army are very considerable," replied -Sauer. "You must remember that we have to protect ourselves against -the whole world, so to speak." - -"But no estimate has been made, I suppose, of what is required for such -things?" I said. - -"That is a matter of high policy," replied Sauer. "It would be -impossible to estimate for it as a separate item in National -expenditure. There again you betray your Lunilandish conceptions -of National finance. No doubt they keep up this practice still in -Luniland, but such a notion belongs to a bygone age. The State must be -able to mobilise all its resources; that is the only logical policy, if -you mean to conduct the affairs of the nation successfully, not only in -time of war but in time of peace. Your asking how much National wealth -is devoted to Defence is like asking a man how much of his dinner is -devoted to sustaining his religion." - -"But is it not important to be able to form some approximate idea, from -the economic point of view?" I said. "For, in one sense, it represents -so much waste." - -"So much waste?" exclaimed Professor Slimey indignantly; "to what -nobler purpose could the energies of the people be directed than to the -defence of their Emperor, their God and their Fatherland?" - -"I did not mean that it might not be necessary," I replied, "but it is -like a man who has to build a dyke against floods. It may be necessary, -but if he could be sure that the floods would not come, he could -devote his energies to something more profitable." - -Professor Slimey shook his head solemnly. "No, no," he said, "that -is another of the fallacies current among foreign peoples. We should -sink to their level if our people had not ever before them the duty -of serving God by upholding the power of Meccania, his chosen nation. -Indeed, I often think what a dispensation of Providence it is that it -involves so much labour. Imagine the state of the common people if they -could maintain themselves by the aid of a few hours' work a day!" - -"Would there not be so much more scope for the spread of your Culture?" -I said. "In fact, I had been given to understand that your Culture -had reached such a high level that you could easily dispense with the -discipline of long hours of labour." - -"Our Culture," he replied, speaking with authority, "is not an -individual culture at all. It must be understood as a unity. It -includes this very discipline of which you seem to think so lightly. It -includes the discipline of all classes. The monks of the Middle Ages -knew that idleness would undermine even their ideal of life, for they -knew that life is a discipline. Our National Culture is the nearest -approach to the Christian ideal that any nation has ever put into -practice." - -"I cannot, of course, speak with confidence upon such a question," -I replied, "but I thought the Christian ideal was the development -of the individual soul, whereas the Meccanian ideal--I speak under -correction--implies the elimination of the individual soul: everything -must be sacrificed to the realisation of the glory of the Super-State." - -"The Super-State," answered Slimey, "is itself the Great Soul of -Meccania; it includes all the individual souls. What you call the -sacrifice of the individual soul is no real sacrifice; it is merely a -losing oneself to find oneself in the larger soul of Meccania. And just -as the individual soul may inflict suffering on itself for the sake -of higher self-realisation, so the Super-Soul of Meccania may inflict -suffering on the individual souls within itself for the sake of the -higher self-realisation. The soul of Meccania is as wonderful in the -spiritual world as the material manifestation of Meccania is in the -material world." - -"I am sure you are right," I said, "although it never struck me in that -light before. The soul of Meccania is the most wonderful phenomenon in -the history of the world." - -"No," replied Professor Slimey, with his solemn air, "it is not -phenomenon: it is the thing in itself." Here he paused to drink a -liqueur. Then he went on, "It is purely spiritual. It has existed -from eternity and has become clothed and manifest through the outward -and inward development of the Super-State. You foreigners see only -the outward forms, which are merely symbols. It is the Super-Soul -of Meccania that is destined to absorb the world of spirit, as the -Super-State is destined to conquer the material world." - -Professor Sikofantis-Sauer gazed with his fishy eyes, as if he had -heard all this before. "Some day," I said, "I should like to hear -more of the Super-Soul, but while I have the privilege of talking to -both of you I should like to learn some things which probably only a -Professor of Economics can tell me. You, as Meccanians, will pardon -me, I know, for seeking to acquire knowledge." They nodded assent. "I -know something of the economic ideas of other nations in Europe," I -said, "but your conditions are so different that I am quite at sea with -regard to the economic doctrines of Meccania. What Economic Laws are -there within the Super-State?" - -"A very profound question," answered Sauer, "and yet the answer -is simple. What you have studied in other countries is merely the -economics of free exchange, as carried on among peoples of a low -culture. Our Economics have hardly anything in common. Some of the laws -of large-scale production are similar, but beyond that, our science -rests upon other principles. Our science is based upon Meccanian -Ethics. The laws of demand have quite a different meaning with us. The -State determines the whole character and volume of demand, and entirely -upon ethical grounds." - -"And distribution too, I suppose?" - -"Naturally. That is implied in the regulation of demand. The State -determines what each class may spend, and in so doing determines both -demand and distribution." - -"But I was under the impression that the well-to-do--the Third and -higher classes generally--had much more latitude than the lower classes -in these respects," I said. - -"Quite so. That again is part of our national ethical system. Just -as our Economics are National Economics, so our Ethics are National -Ethics. The higher functions discharged by the higher classes demand -a higher degree and quality of consumption. You will find some most -interesting researches upon this subject in the reports of the -Sociological Department. Dr. Greasey's monograph on the _Sociological -Function of the Third Class_ is also a masterpiece in its way." - -"And the Second Class?" I said. "They will require still more latitude?" - -"The Second Class, like the First," replied Sauer, "stands outside -and above the purely Economic aspect of Society. Their function -is to determine what the National-Social Structure shall be. Our -business as economists is to provide ways and means. No doubt they are -unconsciously guided, or shall I say inspired, by the workings of the -Meccanian spirit, of which they are the highest depositaries; and all -the organs of the State are at their service, to give effect to their -interpretation of the will of the Super-State." - -"You do not find any tendency on their part, I suppose, to make large -demands for themselves in the shape of what we non-Meccanians persist -in calling 'wealth'?" I said. - -"Such a question," answered Sauer, "does not admit of any answer, -because it involves a conception of wealth which we have entirely -discarded. The Second Class--and with them, of course, I include -the First Class, for they are indivisible in their functions and -spirit--exists for the Super-State. Whatever they consume is consumed -in the discharge of the highest duties of the State. Whatever is -required by them is simply part of the necessary expenditure of the -State. But although no limit is set--and who would presume to set any -limit?--it is remarkable how little of this expenditure assumes the -form of personal consumption. For the sake of the dignity of the State, -their life must be conducted--collectively--on a magnificent scale. -But, as you know, a dignitary like the Pope may live in the finest -palace in Europe and yet be a man of simple tastes and habits; so -our noble class--and no nobler class has ever existed--may represent -the glory of the Super-State and yet be the embodiment of the purest -virtues." - -"I would go further," said Professor Slimey at this point. "Our noble -Second Class--and of course I associate the First Class with them, for -in reality they are all one--are the true Protectors of the State: -they are the guardians of us all. Have you not noticed throughout -all history that, after a successful war, the people are ready to -bestow all manner of honours and benefits upon those who have saved -their country? Well, I say those who have given us all the glory and -honour, ay, and the spoils of victory too, without going to war, are as -deserving of the rewards as if they had come back from a long campaign. -We cannot honour them too much. Besides, it is good for the people to -feel that there is a class upon whom they can bestow the natural warmth -of their affection and their admiration. The desire to bow down in -reverent admiration, the desire to do honour to the worthiest of our -race, is a God-given impulse, and should be encouraged, not checked. -Our people feel this. We do not bargain with them as to what share -they shall have: we do not lay aside a tenth, or some such absurd -proportion: we say, take our wealth, take whatever we can give, it is -all yours, you are the fathers of the State, you are our saviours." - -"And you think this spirit prevails throughout Meccania?" I said. - -"I am perfectly sure of it," replied Slimey. "All our greatest artists -offer their works freely to the members of the Second Class; all the -most gifted scientists compete for places in the colleges for the -training of the Military; the services of our best writers are at -their disposal: we withhold nothing from them." - -"Then it is true, I gather, that the custom I have heard of, by which -wives and daughters of other classes, if they are thought worthy by -the Eugenics Board, are--shall I say--dedicated to the service of the -Second Class, arouses no feeling of indignation?" - -"Indignation!" exclaimed the Professor of Theology. "It is a duty and a -privilege." - -"But is it not contrary to the principles of the Christian religion? -I confess I speak with some hesitation, as I do not belong to the -Christian communion; but I have been told by some of the strictest -of the Christian sects in other countries that such a practice is a -violation of the Christian code." - -Professor Slimey refreshed himself, and I could see another long -speech was coming. "That is a sample of the uncharitable criticism -which is constantly being aimed at us, by those who cloak their envy -and spite under the name of Christian doctrine. Yet they are utterly -inconsistent with themselves. They admit the Doctrine of Development, -yet they deny its application, except to suit their own purposes. Take -Usury, for example. Christian doctrine, as expounded by the Fathers, -regarded usury as sinful. Yet usury is practised in all so-called -Christian countries without protest. Why? Because their system of -Economics cannot work without it. I might give other illustrations, -but that will suffice. Now Ethics must undergo development if there -is to be progress in morals. The supreme well-being of the State -gives the key to all progress in Ethics. If the custom you refer to -were due to private concupiscence, we--and I speak for all Meccanian -theologians--would be the first to denounce it. The sin of adultery is -a spiritual sin, and exists only where carnal desire is the motive. -Every theologian knows that the same physical act may be performed -in conformity with the behests of the Mosaic law, or in direct -disobedience of it. The one is a sacred duty, the other is sin. It is -like the alleged obligation to speak the truth upon all occasions. -There is no such obligation. We must look to the end in view. Where the -supreme needs of the State demand concealment or even deception, the -private ethical impulse to speak the truth to an enemy is superseded -by the greater obligation to the State. The virtue of Chastity is not -violated; it is raised, if I may say so, to its transcendent degree, -by an act of sacrifice which implies the surrender of merely private -virtue to the interests of the State; for you must remember that the -State as developed by the Meccanian spirit is the highest embodiment of -the will of God upon earth." - -"We seem to have been carried rather a long way from Meccanian -Economics," I remarked, turning to Professor Sauer by way of apology -for having carried on the conversation for so long with Professor -Slimey. - -"Not at all," he answered. "Meccanian Ethics and Meccanian Economics -cannot be separated." - -"It must make the science of Economics much more difficult in one -sense; but, on the other hand, what a relief it must be to have got rid -of all those old troublesome theories of value!" I observed. - -"We have not got rid of theories of value," answered Sauer; "they too -have only been developed. The basis of our theory of value is to be -found in Meccanian Ethics." - -"In other words," I said, laughing, "the value of a pair of boots in -Meccania is determined by the theologians!" - -"How do you mean?" asked Sauer. - -"I mean that the remuneration of an artisan in the Fifth Class will -purchase so many pairs of boots; and the remuneration of the artisan is -determined by what the State thinks good for him; and what the State -thinks good for him is determined by Meccanian Ethics; and I suppose -the theologians determine the system of Meccanian Ethics." - -At that point our conversation was interrupted by an announcement that -the toast of the evening would be drunk. This was the signal for the -party to break up. We drank to the success of the Meccanian Empire and -the confounding of all its enemies, and I went home to the hotel to -find a message from Kwang asking me to see him the following day. I -spent the morning as usual with Lickrod, who was initiating me into -the method of using the catalogues in the Great Library of Mecco. It -was indeed a marvel of 'librarianship.' There was a bibliography upon -every conceivable subject. There was a complete catalogue of every -book according to author, and another according to subject. There was -a complete catalogue of the books issued in each separate year for the -last twenty-five years. There were courses of study with brief notes -upon all the books. Lickrod was in his element. As we came away, about -lunch-time, I said to him, "Suppose I want to take back with me, when I -leave the country, a dozen books to read for pure pleasure, what would -you recommend me to take?" - -"Upon what subject?" he asked. - -"Upon anything, no matter what. What I am thinking of are books which -are just works of art in themselves, pieces of pure literature either -in poetry or prose." - -"A book must be about something," he said; "it must fall into some -category or other." - -"Is there no imaginative literature?" I asked. - -"Oh, certainly, we have scores of treatises on the imagination." - -"But I mean books that are the work of the imagination." - -"I see. You want them for your children, perhaps: they would be found -in the juvenile departments; fables and parables, and that sort of -thing." - -"No, I mean books without any serious purpose, but for grown-up people. -I seem to remember such works in the old Meccanian literature." - -"How very odd," answered Lickrod, "that you should express a wish to -see works of that kind." - -"Why?" I asked, in some surprise. - -"Because we find works of that kind in great demand in the asylums for -the mentally afflicted. You see, we treat the inmates as humanely as -possible, and our pathologists tell us that they cannot read the books -by modern authors. We have to let them read for a few hours a day, and -they beg, really rather piteously, for the old books. It is always -old books they ask for. I suppose in a way they are cases of a kind -of arrested development. At any rate, they have not been able to keep -pace with the developments of our ideas. Doctor Barm reported only last -year that the only books that seem to have a soothing effect on these -patients are those written, oh, two hundred years ago, and of the very -kind you probably have in mind." - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE LATEST INSTITUTION - - -I went to see Kwang in the afternoon, and found him in a state -of suppressed excitement--at least I could not help having that -impression. After a little time, when I had given him some brief -account of my experience at the dinner-party, he said, "I told you the -other day that I had some thoughts of returning home. I shall be off in -a fortnight." - -"This is rather sudden," I said; "have you received bad news from home?" - -"No," he said; "I told you I had practically completed my work. The -fact is, that things are beginning to develop rather fast here. I see -signs of preparation for a 'forward move.'" - -"Oh!" I said. "Not another war?" - -"Not necessarily," he replied. "Light your cigar and I will tell you -all you need know." I did so and waited. - -"The next war," he said, "will be a chemical war." - -"A chemical war? What on earth is that?" I said. - -"They have been experimenting for thirty years and more, and they think -they have discovered what they want. It may take them several years to -perfect their arrangements; it will certainly take them a year or two, -and may take six or seven. But one never knows. I suppose you never -heard of the three days' war, did you?" - -"No," I replied; "what was it?" - -"The State of Lugrabia, with which the Meccanians are in permanent -alliance, refused to ratify a new treaty that seemed unfavourable -to them in some respects, and feeling ran so high that there was -some talk in Lugrabia of putting an end to the alliance. Without any -declaration of war the Meccanian Government dispatched a small fleet -of air-vessels, planted about a dozen chemical 'Distributors,' as they -are euphemistically called, and warned the Lugrabian State that, unless -their terms were complied with, the twelve chief cities would be wiped -out. The war was over in three days. And to this day the outside world -has never heard of the event." - -"How can it have been kept secret?" I said. - -"Ask rather how could it leak out," replied Kwang. - -"Anyhow," he went on, "they think they have got something that will -enable them to defeat any combination. There is no question in dispute -with any foreign power. The political 'horizon' is perfectly clear. -But it is time for me to go home." - -"Do you think this idea of theirs is really dangerous?" I asked. - -"Undoubtedly." - -"But can it not be counteracted in any way?" - -"If it can't it will be a bad look out for the rest of us," he said. - -"But do you see any means of meeting it?" - -"There is, if I can get the Governments to act. But they are at a -tremendous disadvantage." - -"Why?" I said. - -"Because everything they do will be proclaimed from the housetops. -However, what I wanted to do immediately was to arrange with you about -leaving the country. Of course you will stay as long as you like, but I -should advise you not to stay too long. I shall not announce that I am -going away permanently, and I shall leave nearly all my things here to -avoid suspicion; but within three months they will know that I am not -likely to come back, and then they may want to look _you_ up if you are -still here." - -"I shall go as soon as you think it is advisable for me to go," I -said. "The only thing I wanted to make sure of was the thing you have -apparently found out. Once or twice since I came I have felt sceptical -about the Machiavellian designs attributed to the Meccanian Government -by all these neighbours. Naturally they see a robber in every bush. I -have sometimes been inclined to think the Meccanians like organising -just for the love of it, but you are satisfied that there is more in it -than that." - -"My dear child," said Kwang, "there are some people who can't see a -stone wall till they knock their heads against it, and who can't tell -that a mad bull is dangerous till he tosses them in the air; and from -what I learn you are almost as bad," he said, laughing. "You have -been here, how long? Four or five months at any rate. Well, you have -a very unsuspicious mind. But I am going to give you an interesting -experience. I am going to take you to see a friend of mine who has -been a prisoner in an asylum for the mentally afflicted for the last -fifteen years. I enjoy the privilege of talking to him alone, and I -have permission to take you. I won't stop to explain how I obtained the -privilege, but it has been very useful." - -In another quarter of an hour we were rolling along in Kwang's -motor-car to a place about forty miles outside Mecco. The roads were -as smooth as glass and the car made no noise, so we could converse -without raising our voices. Kwang observed that if I wished to stay in -Meccania there was only one way of getting behind the screen, and that -was to become a convert. The rôle of a convert, however, was becoming -more difficult to play. He had lately begun to suspect that he was -being watched, or at any rate that one or two people at the Foreign -Office were jealous of his privileges. Some years ago, the Head of -the Foreign Office had given him practically the free run of the -country, and had utilised him as a sort of missionary of Meccania. His -books on the _Triumphs of Meccanian Culture_ and on _Meccania's World -Mission_ had been given the widest possible publicity, both in Meccania -and abroad. He still enjoyed all his privileges, for Count Krafft -was a powerful friend at the Foreign Office. Consequently the Police -Department had orders not to interfere with him, and he had free passes -for almost everything. But another Under-Secretary had lately begun to -question the wisdom of his colleague, not openly but secretly, and was -trying to get hold of evidence. - -"They lie so wonderfully and so systematically themselves," said -Kwang, "that they naturally suspect everybody else of lying too. But -this suspicion very often defeats its own object. Still, they can't -expect to have a monopoly of lying. I have seen official pamphlets for -circulation in the departments, on the methods of testing the _bona -fides_ of foreigners; and elaborate rules for finding out whether -foreign Governments are trying to deceive them." - -"And you have satisfied all their tests?" I said. - -"Absolutely," replied Kwang, with a smile; "but I am not yet out of the -country, and I don't propose to risk it much longer, or I may not be -able to get out. However," he added, "there is not the slightest risk -in taking you to visit the Asylum for _Znednettlapseiwz_. I have made -a special study of these asylums, of which there are only about half a -dozen in the whole country. I got permission some years ago. I had been -discussing with Count Krafft the difficulty of dealing with a certain -class of persons, to be found in every modern State, who act as a focus -for all opposition. They cling obstinately to certain ethical and -political doctrines quite out of harmony with those of the Super-State, -and profess to regard Bureaucracy and Militarism as inconsistent -with liberty. He told me a good deal about the methods employed, and -suggested that I should visit one of these asylums. I did so and asked -permission to make a study of a few individual cases. Eventually I -wrote a monograph on the case of the very man we are going to see, and -although it was never published Count Krafft was much pleased with -it. The man we shall see, Mr. Stillman, represents a type that has -almost entirely disappeared from Meccania. He has had a remarkable -history. At one time, for two or three years, he was the chief -political opponent of the great Prince Mechow. He belongs to an older -generation altogether, a generation older than his contemporaries, if -you understand what I mean. Nearly all his contemporaries are 'Good -Meccanians,' but there are still the remnants of the opposition left. -When Stillman was a boy there were left alive only a handful of men -who had stood up to Prince Bludiron. Most of these former opponents -had emigrated, some to Transatlantica, some to Luniland and elsewhere. -The rest ultimately died out. Stillman attempted to create a new -opposition, but it was a hopeless task. If you want to understand the -political history of Meccania you cannot do better than get him to talk -to you if he is in the mood." - -We approached the asylum, which stood upon a lonely moorland, far away -from any village. The gates were guarded by a single sentinel. As we -walked along the path, after leaving our car in a yard near the lodge, -we passed little groups of men working upon patches of garden. They -looked up eagerly as we passed, and then turned back to their tasks. I -noticed they were dressed in ordinary black clothes. It struck me at -once, because I had become so used to seeing everybody in the familiar -colours of one of the classes. On my mentioning this to Kwang, he said, -"That is perfectly in accordance with the Meccanian system. These men -now belong to no class; they are shut off from the rest of the world, -and their only chance of returning to it is for them to renounce, -formally and absolutely, all the errors of which they have been guilty." - -"And do many of them 'recant'?" I asked. - -"Very few. Most of them do not want to return to the ordinary life of -Meccania, but occasionally the desire to be with some member of their -family proves too strong for them. They are nearly all old people here -now. None of the younger generation are attacked by the disease, and -the authorities hope"--he smiled sardonically--"that in a few years the -disease will have disappeared entirely." - -We first went to call upon Hospital-Governor Canting. He was in -his office, which was comfortably furnished in very characteristic -Meccanian taste. The chairs were all adjustable, and covered with 'Art' -tapestry. The large table had huge legs like swollen pillars--they -were really made of thin cast-iron. There were the usual large -portraits of the Emperor and Empress, and busts of Prince Mechow and -Prince Bludiron. There was the usual large bookcase, full of volumes -of reports bound in leather-substitute, and stamped with the arms of -Meccania. Governor Canting wore the green uniform of the Fourth Class, -with various silver facings and buttons, and a collar of the special -kind worn by all the clergy of the Meccanian Church. He was writing at -his table when we were shown in. He greeted Kwang almost effusively and -bowed to me, with the usual Meccanian attitudes, as I was introduced. - -"So you have brought your friend to see our system of treatment," -he said, smiling. "It is very unusual for us to receive visits at -all,"--here he turned to me,--"but Mr. Kwang is quite a privileged -person in Meccania. If only there were more people like Mr. Kwang we -should not be so much misunderstood, and the victims of so much envy, -malice and uncharitableness. Still, it is a sad experience for you." - -"Do many of the patients suffer acutely?" I asked, hardly knowing what -was the right cue. - -"Oh, I did not mean that. No, no, _they_ don't suffer much. But it is -sad to think that men who might have been worthy citizens, some of -them as writers, some as teachers, some even as doctors--men who might -have served the State in a hundred ways--are wasting their talents and -hindering the spread of our Culture." - -"It must be a terrible affliction," I said. "Do they not sometimes feel -it themselves in their moments of clearness of mind?" - -He looked at me, a little in doubt as to my meaning, but my face must -have reassured him. "The strange thing about this disease," he said, -"is that the patients suffer no pain directly from it; and you must -remember that in practically all cases--just as in alcoholism--it is -self-induced. There may be some little hereditary tendency, but the -disease itself is certainly not inherited, and can be counteracted -in its early stages by prophylactic treatment, as we have now fully -demonstrated. As I say, it is self-induced, and it is therefore very -difficult, even for a Christian minister who realises his duties to the -State as well as to the Church, always to feel charitably towards these -patients. We cannot shut our eyes to the fact of moral responsibility, -and when I think of the obstinacy of these men I am tempted to lose -patience. And their conceit! To presume that they--a few hundreds of -them at most--know better than all the wise and loyal statesmen of -Meccania, better than all the experts, better than all the millions of -loyal citizens. But it is when I see what a poor miserable handful of -men they are after all that I can find in my heart to pity them." - -"And how is my special case?" asked Kwang, when he could get a word in. - -"Just the same," said Canting--"just the same. You will find him -perhaps a little weaker. I will not go with you. You seem to succeed -best with him by yourself; and no doubt you have instructed your friend -as to the peculiar nature of his malady." - -"Yes," said Kwang; "my friend has read my little monograph, and he -thought the case so remarkable that with the consent and approval of -Dr. Narrowman I brought him to see Patient Stillman in the flesh. I -shall get him to talk a little." - -"Good," replied Canting; "but you will never cure him. You were quite -right in what you once said--Prevention is the only cure. If we had -developed our prophylactic system earlier it might have saved him, but -he is too old now." - -After some preliminary formalities we were taken by one of the warders, -who was evidently acquainted with Kwang through his many previous -visits, to a room at the end of a long corridor, where we found Mr. -Stillman, who greeted us cordially but with old-fashioned dignity. -His manner struck me as being very different from that of the modern -Meccanians. Clearly he belonged to another generation. The room, which -was about twenty feet by ten, was a bed-sitting-room, furnished with -one of those contrivances which becomes a bed by night and a false -cupboard by day. There was an easy chair with the usual mechanical -adjustments, a table, two bedroom chairs, a small sideboard and -cupboard, a few other articles of necessity and a shelf of books. -There were no bolts or bars or chains--the room suggested a hospital -rather than a prison. Mr. Stillman was a fine old man, and, although -growing feeble in body, was still vigorous in mind. When seated he held -his head erect, and looked us frankly in the face, but with a wistful -expression. He had evidently been a good-looking man, but his face -bore traces of long suffering. Except that he did not pace about his -cell, he reminded me of a caged lion. One of the orderlies brought in a -tray of tea for the three of us. Mr. Stillman said what a pleasure it -was to see a human being now and then, and, turning to me, explained -that, except to Mr. Kwang and the officials and the doctors, he had -not spoken to anyone for five years. "Until five years ago," he said, -"I was able to do a little work in the gardens, and could converse -with my fellow-prisoners--patients, I mean--but only about our work, -and in the presence of a warder. Still, that was some relief. Indeed, -it was a great relief, for every one of the patients is a kind of -brother--otherwise he would not be here. There are only a few hundreds -of us left--perhaps a couple of thousands altogether--I don't know. We -have about two hundred here, and this is one of the largest hospitals, -or prisons, in the country--so at least I was told." - -"But why is conversation not permitted?" I said. "To be deprived of -conversation must surely aggravate any tendency to mental instability." - -"The theory is that communication with our fellow-patients would hinder -our recovery," he replied, with a significant smile. - -"But what are you supposed to be suffering from?" I said. - -"A mental disease known only to the Government of Meccania," he -answered. "You must have heard of it. Mr. Kwang knows all about it. -The real name for it is 'heresy,' but they call it _Znednettlapseiwz_. -I suffer very badly from it and am incurable--at least I hope so," he -added bitterly. - -At this point Kwang announced that he wished to visit another patient, -and that he would leave us together so that I might have a long talk -undisturbed. It was evident that he occupied a privileged position, or -he would never have been able to have such access to these patients. -When he had left the room I did my best to get Mr. Stillman to talk, -but I hardly knew how to induce him to tell me his story. I said, "I -suppose you are not treated badly, apart from this prohibition about -conversing with your fellow-sufferers?" - -"We are fed with the exact amount of food we require," he replied; "we -are clothed--and thank God we do not wear any of the seven uniforms; -and we are decently warm, except sometimes in winter when, I suppose, -something goes wrong with the apparatus." - -"What?" I said. "Can any apparatus go wrong in Meccania?" - -"Well," he said, "perhaps the fact is that I want to be warmer than the -experts think is necessary. Yes; that is probably the explanation." - -"And for the rest," I said. "Have you no occupation? How do you spend -the time?" - -"In trying to preserve the last remains of my sanity," he answered. - -"And by what means?" I asked gently. - -"Chiefly by prayer and meditation," he replied after a short pause. - -He used the old-fashioned expressions which I had not heard from the -lips of any Meccanian before. "But it is difficult," he went on, "to -keep one's faith, cut off from one's fellow-believers." - -"But they allow you to attend religious services surely?" I said. - -"The Meccanian State Church keeps a chaplain here, and holds a service -every day which is attended by all the officials and a few of the -patients; but you have heard the maxim _Cujus regio ejus religio_, -have you not?" I nodded. "It has acquired a new significance during the -last fifty years. I have not attended any of the services since they -ceased to be compulsory about ten years ago." - -"That sounds very remarkable," I said. - -"What does?" - -"It is the first time I have heard of anything _ceasing_ to be -compulsory in Meccania," I said. - -"The fact was that they discovered it had a very bad effect upon the -disease. My chief relief now is reading, which is permitted for three -hours a day." - -"And you are allowed to choose your own books?" - -"As a concession to our mental infirmity," he said, "we have been -granted the privilege of reading some of the old authors. It came about -in this way. Dr. Weakling, who is in charge of this hospital, is the -son of one of my oldest friends--a man who spent several years in this -place as a patient. He came in about the same time as I did, but his -health gave way and he 'recanted,' or, as they say, he 'recovered.' -But while he was here he begged to have a few of the old books to save -him from going mad. The authorities refused to let him have any books -except those specially provided, and I believe it was this that made -him give way. Anyhow he used his influence with his son afterwards, -for his son had become one of the leading medical specialists, to -obtain for the older patients at any rate a number of the books of -the old literature which nobody else wanted to read. He only got -the concession through on the ground that it was a psychological -experiment. He has had to write a report on the experiment every year -since its introduction. That is our greatest positive privilege, but we -have a few negative privileges." - -"What do you mean exactly?" I said. - -"We have no compulsory attendances; we have no forms to fill up; we are -not required to keep a diary; we are not required to read the _Monthly -Gazette of Instructions_, nor play any part in State ceremonies. -Indeed, if I could talk to my friends who are here I should have little -to complain of on the score of personal comfort." - -"Then why do you speak of the difficulty of preserving your sanity?" I -said, rather thoughtlessly, I am afraid. - -"Why do you think I am here at all?" he replied, for the first time -speaking fiercely. "I could have my liberty to-day if I chose, could -I not?" Then he went on, not angrily but more bitterly, "Did I say I -could have my liberty? No; that is not true. I could go out of here -tomorrow, but I should not be at liberty. I stay here, because here I -am only a prisoner--outside I should be a slave. How long have you been -in Meccania did you say?" - -"About five months," I said. - -"And you are free to go back to your own country?" - -"Certainly," I said--"at least, I hope so." - -"Then go as soon as you can. This is no fit place for human beings. -It is a community of slaves, who do not even know they are slaves -because they have never tasted liberty, ruled over by a caste of -super-criminals who have turned crime into a science." - -"I have not heard the ruling classes called criminals before," I said. -"I am not sure that I understand what you mean." - -"Then you must have been woefully taken in by all this hocus-pocus of -law and constitution and patriotism. The whole place is one gigantic -prison, and either the people themselves are criminals, or those who -put them there must be. There is such a thing as legalised crime. Crime -is not merely the breaking of a statute. Murder and rape are crimes, -statute or no statute." - -"But what are the crimes these rulers of Meccania have committed?" I -said. - -"In all civilised countries," he replied passionately, "if you steal -from a man, if you violate his wife or his daughters, if you kidnap -his children, you are a criminal and outlawed from all decent society. -These rulers of ours have done worse than that. They have robbed us of -everything; we have nothing of our own. They feed us, clothe us, house -us--oh no, there is no poverty--every beast of burden in the country is -provided with stall and fodder--ay, and harness too; they measure us, -weigh us, doctor us, instruct us, drill us, breed from us, experiment -on us, protect us, pension us and bury us. Nay, that is not the end; -they dissect us and analyse us and use our carcasses for the benefit -of Science and the Super-State. I called them a nation. They are not -a nation; they are an 'organism.' You have been here five months, -you say. You have seen a lot of spectacles, no doubt. You have seen -buildings, institutions, organisations, systems, machinery for this and -machinery for that, but you have not seen a single human being--unless -you have visited our prisons and asylums. You have not been allowed to -talk to anybody except 'authorised persons.' You have been instructed -by officials. You have read books selected by the Super-State, and -written by the Super-State. You have seen plays selected by the -Super-State, and heard music selected by the Super-State, and seen -pictures selected by the Super-State, and no doubt heard sermons -preached by the Super-State." - -"Your friend tells me other nations are still free. What drives me -to the verge of madness is to think that we, who once were free, are -enslaved by bonds of our own making. Can you wonder, after what you -have seen--a whole nation consenting to be slaves if only they may make -other nations slaves too--that I ask myself sometimes whether this is -a real lunatic asylum; whether I am here because I have these terrible -hallucinations; whether all that I think has happened this last fifty -years is just a figment of my brain, and that really, if I could only -see it, the world is just as it used to be when I was a boy?" - -Presently he became calmer and began to tell me something of his life -story. - -"Until I was about twelve," he said, "I lived with my parents in one -of the old-fashioned parts of Meccania. My father was a well-to-do -merchant who had travelled a good deal. He was something of a scholar -too, and took interest in art and archæology, and as I, who was his -youngest son, gave signs of similar tastes, he took me abroad with -him several times. This made a break in my schooling, and although -I probably learnt more from these travels, especially as I had the -companionship of my father, it was not easy to fit me into the regular -system again. So my father decided to send me to some relatives who had -settled in Luniland, and a few years after, when I was ready to go to -the University of Bridgeford, he and my mother came to live for a few -years in Luniland." - -"Up to that time I had taken no interest in politics, but I can -distinctly recall now how my father used to lament over the way things -were tending. He said it was becoming almost impossible to remain a -good citizen. He had always thought himself a sane and sober person, -not given to quarrelling, but he found it impossible to attach himself -to any of the political parties or cliques in Meccania. He was not a -follower of Spotts, who, he said, was a kind of inverted Bludiron, -but he disliked still more the politicians and so-called statesmen -who were preaching the Meccanian spirit as a new gospel. I think it -was his growing uneasiness with politics that caused him to drift -gradually into the position of a voluntary exile. But we were very -happy. Every year or so I used to go over to Meccania, and in spite -of my cosmopolitan education I retained a strong affection for the -land of my birth. I was full of its old traditions, and not even the -peaceful charms of Bridgeford--an island that seemed like a vision of -Utopia--could stifle my passion for the pine forests of Bergerland, our -old home in Meccania. When I had finished my course at Bridgeford I had -to decide whether I would return to serve my two years in the army. It -was a great worry to my mother that I had not, like my brothers, passed -the Meccanian examination which reduced the time of service to one -year, but I made light of the matter; and although, after my life in -Luniland, it was very distasteful to me, I went through my two years as -cheerfully as I could. I learnt a great deal from it. I was nicknamed -'the Lunilander,' and was unpopular because I did not share the silly -enthusiasm and boasting which at that time was prevalent. I had got out -of touch with the youthful life of Meccania, and these two years opened -my eyes. But I will not dwell on that time. At the end of it I joined -my father, who had remained in Luniland when he was not travelling. It -was time to choose a career. I had little taste for business and I was -determined that I would not become an official of any kind, and when I -proposed to devote some years to following up the work that my father -had planned for himself, but had never been able to carry out, he gave -his consent. We had just planned a long archæological tour in Francaria -when the great war broke out." - -"I shall never forget the state of agitation into which this -catastrophe threw him. I was about to return to Meccania in obedience -to the instruction I had received, when he begged me not to go back -at any cost. He had spent two sleepless nights, and his agony of mind -was terrible. What he had feared for years had come to pass. He had -thought it would be somehow avoided. He had been watching events very -closely for the few weeks before the crisis. The day that war was -declared between Luniland and Meccania, he declared his intention of -going back to Meccania; but not to join in the madness of his country. -He could not do much; probably he would not be allowed to do anything, -but at any rate he would fight for sanity and right. My mother was -eager to go back, but for other reasons. She burst out into a frenzy -of abuse of Luniland. She repeated all the lies that I had heard in -Meccania about the country in which she had been perfectly happy for -years. She called me a coward for not being with my brothers. She said -she had always been against my having come to Luniland. I knew she -was hysterical, but I could hardly believe my ears. My father stood -firm. He insisted on my staying. He said he should regard himself as -a murderer if he consented to my going to fight for what he knew to -be a monstrous crime. What my mother had said, although of course -it pained me, did more to convince me that my father was right than -anything he could have said. I had seen already the accounts of the -Meccanian crowds shouting for war in a frenzy of martial pride. I had -seen also the streets of Lunopolis, full of serious faces, awed by the -thought of war and yet never wavering a moment. I had heard my own -countrymen jeering at the craven spirit of the Lunilanders. It was a -cruel position to be in, and in the years that followed I was tempted -sometimes to regret that I had not gone back and sought peace of mind -in a soldier's grave. But in my heart I was so revolted by the thought -that all this horror was the work of my countrymen that I grew ashamed -of being a Meccanian. For the first two years my father wrote to me -constantly, and if I had had any doubts of the rightness of my conduct, -what he said would have sustained me. - -"But that is a long story. All I need say is that it was in those years -of suffering and horror that I discovered where my duty lay, and took -a vow to follow it. When the war ended I would go back, and if I were -the only man left in Meccania I would fight for truth and liberty. It -was a quixotic vow, but I was a young man of thirty." - -"Well, I came back. I had to wait three years, even after the war was -over, until there was an amnesty for such as I. And when I did set foot -here again, the cause I had come to fight for was already lost. But I -did not know it." - -"My father had already spent two years in prison, and was only released -in time to die. But through him I knew that there were still some -left who felt as we did. The idea of Liberty had been lost. Although -the war had been over three years, everybody was still under martial -law. The military professed that the country was in danger of a -revolution. The newspapers preached the necessity for everybody to -be organised to repair the ravages of the war. The socialists said -the economic revolution, so long predicted, was accomplishing itself. -For a few years we could make no headway. Then things began to settle -down a little. The fever seemed to be spending itself. That was the -moment when Prince Mechow became Chief Minister of the Interior. Some -semblance of constitutional government was restored, and we began -to hope for better things. We started a newspaper, and established -societies in all the big towns. What we were out for was, first and -foremost, political liberty. We had three or four brilliant writers -and speakers. But the only papers that would take our articles were a -few of the socialist papers which wrote leaders criticising our ideas -as 'unscientific,' and the only people who came to our meetings were -socialists who used them to speechify about the economic revolution. -Then Mechow's reforms began. All education was completely controlled. -The Press was bought up, and gradually suppressed. The right of public -meeting was curtailed, till it disappeared altogether. The censorship -of printing was made complete. New regulations accumulated year by -year, and month by month. The seven classes were established. And all -the time the socialists went on prating about the economic revolution. -Prince Mechow was doing their work, they said. All they would have to -do would be to step into his place when he had completed it. A few -hundreds of us, scattered in various parts of the country, tried to -keep up the struggle. We got into prison several times, but nobody -cared a straw for our 'Luniland' party, as they called it. I fell -ill, and then I tried to go abroad for a rest. I was arrested for an -alleged plot, and sentenced to a term of imprisonment and degradation -to the Fifth Class! After that I was forbidden to communicate with my -children, for fear of infecting them. As they grew up in their teens, -even they grew to look on me as an eccentric. Need I say more? The -time came when I had either to recant from all my convictions, or be -treated as a person of unsound mind. I came here determined to hold -out to the last. What I feared--and I think I feared nothing else--was -that some of their diabolical medical experiments would undermine my -will. Fortunately I was sent here, where after a time Dr. Weakling--who -is at any rate not a scoundrel--has done his best to protect me. He -represents a type we have in Meccania--perhaps the most common type of -all--a man who conforms to the system because he finds himself in it -and part of it, but who is not actively wicked, and who has some good -nature left. He regards me and those like me as simple-minded fanatics -who are harmless so long as we are only few in number." - -"So you think your cause is lost?" I said. - -"No," he said quickly, "our cause is not lost. It is Meccania that is -lost." - -"But is there no hope even for Meccania?" - -"There is no hope from within: hope can only come from without." - -"That is a hard saying. How can it come from without?" - -"Fifty years ago our neighbours--not our enemies, our neighbours--fought -for liberty: they set themselves free, but they did not set us free. -They said they would make the world safe for democracy." - -"Well, did they not do so?" I asked. - -He was quiet for a minute. "I wonder if they did," he said. "I wonder -if either Liberty or Democracy can be safe so long as there is a -Super-State. If a tragedy like this can happen to one nation it can -happen to the whole world. Meccania will never become free whilst the -Meccanian Spirit remains alive; and Liberty will never be secure until -the whole world is free." - -He sank back in his chair looking very tired after the excitement of -our interview. At this moment a gong sounded. It was the signal for -supper, and he got up mechanically to wash his hands in a bowl by the -side of his bed-cupboard. Kwang then knocked at the door and came to -bid good-bye. We left our 'patient' preparing to cross the quadrangle. -It was growing dark, and we could see the lights in the great hall -of the hospital. We were just about to walk back to the lodge when -Kwang suddenly said, "Come with me." I followed him through a long -corridor, and he led the way to a door which opened into the great -dining-hall. There we saw, seated at long tables, nearly two hundred -old men. They had just begun their evening meal. There was a strange -silence, oppressive and almost sinister. There were no servants to wait -on them, but some of the more active men handed the dishes, while a -couple of warders in green uniforms seemed to be patrolling the room -for the purpose of checking all attempts at conversation. But there -was not even a whisper. The men did not look sullen or rebellious. -Perhaps they had got past that. I could see them interchanging looks -of friendly greeting across the room, and no doubt from long practice -they had learnt to convey some simple messages by a glance or a smile; -but there was an air of quiet courtesy about them, so different from -what I had learnt to know as the typical Meccanian manner. I looked -at the faces of those nearest me. Many of them might have sat for the -portraits of senators, or have served as models for some of those -old-fashioned paintings of assemblies of statesmen and ambassadors -of bygone centuries. The surroundings were not altogether wanting in -dignity. The hall was large and lofty, and although bare--save for -the inevitable Imperial portraits which greet one everywhere--was -not unsightly. Indeed, the absence of ornament was a relief from the -perpetual reminders of the latest phases of Meccanian Art. Governor -Canting had apparently been present at the beginning of the meal and -was going off to his own dinner. He joined us for a moment. "Do you -notice," he said, "how ungracious their expression is? One would think -they had never come under the influence of the Meccanian spirit. -Their whole bearing is characteristic of their attitude of studied -disloyalty. They never even give the salute. It has not been insisted -upon because--you know ..." and he tapped his forehead. "They would not -meet with such consideration in many countries, but we have respect -for age and infirmity, no matter what provocation we receive." - -We left the hall and took our leave of Hospital Governor Canting. As -we started on our journey it was dark, and a cool wind was blowing. We -could see before us the dull glow of light from the great city in the -distance. The road was perfect, and we passed few vehicles of any kind; -but we were stopped three times by the police, to whom Kwang showed his -pass. As we entered the outer ring we slowed down. Although we were -passing along the main roadway only a few persons were to be seen. -Here and there near the outer ring in the Business Quarter we passed -a few groups of workmen marching in step on their way home. The trams -were running, but there was no bustle and no excitement. No boisterous -groups of young people filled the streets. No sound of laughter or -merry-making fell on our ears. Where were the people? Where were those -crowds that make the streets of all cities in the world a spectacle to -move the heart of man? This might have been a plague-stricken town, a -city of the dead. We passed the great station with its lofty dome, and -the towering pile of the Time Department with the great clock above -it. As we slowly swung through the great square, the colossal statue -of Prince Mechow looked down on us like the grim and menacing image of -this city of Power. Was he some evil Genius that had slain the souls of -men, leaving their bodies only to inhabit the vast prison-house he had -built for them with their own labour? - -Kwang put me down at the hotel and drove on to his rooms. I found a -letter awaiting me. It was from my father, and contained painful news. -My mother was seriously ill and he urged me to return at once. Early -next morning I hastened to visit Kwang--first obtaining permission from -the manager of the hotel--and found him busy with his preparations -also. "Don't be alarmed," he said, when I told him my news. "Your -mother is not ill. At any rate we do not know that she is. I thought -it was time for you to be getting ready to leave this country and I -had that letter sent. It will be a good reason in the eyes of the -'Authorities.' I go the day after to-morrow. I have a secret mission -for the Government to the Chinese Embassy at Prisa" (the capital of -Francaria). "I may not return. I may fall suddenly ill." - -I expressed some surprise that Kwang, the most privileged stranger in -Meccania, the _persona grata_ with all the official world, should think -it necessary to slip out of the country by a back door, and provide for -my sudden departure as well. - -"You have been here five months," he said. "I have been here fifteen -years. It is always best in this country to take as little risk as -possible--consistent with your objectives. A word to the wise.... If -you have anything that you wish to take out with you, you had better -let me have it. You will be examined when you go out as you were when -you came in. I do not propose to be examined when I leave. That is why -I am going via Prisa on a special mission." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -NEVER AGAIN - - -I did not see Kwang again until we met some weeks after, in Prisa. He -had begun to suspect that one or two persons in the Foreign Department -had guessed the nature of the rôle he had been playing. There was -practically no evidence against him, because all the information he had -obtained, and it was a great deal, had been furnished to him willingly -by the Meccanian Government under the impression that he had become a -sort of missionary of Meccanian Culture. All the same, as he observed -to me, without arresting him as a spy (a course of procedure which for -many reasons would have been inconvenient to the Government) he might -have been made the victim of an 'accident.' He could no longer play his -part in safety. Anyhow, he succeeded in making his exit in a manner -that aroused no suspicion, and he managed to return to his own country -a short time afterwards. Consequently I need say no more about Kwang. - -My own departure was also rather a tame affair. I had an interview, -on the day I received my letter, with Inspector of Foreigners -Bulley. Although I knew that the letter had been censored, and I was -morally certain its contents had been made known to him, he betrayed -no knowledge of the facts. I explained the circumstances and showed -him the letter. I asked if the three days' notice could be dispensed -with, as I wished to leave at the earliest moment. He said I might -possibly leave the day after to-morrow, but not before, as it would -be necessary to see that all my affairs were in order before issuing -the certificate of absolution as it was called--a certificate which -all foreigners must obtain before the issue of the ticket authorising -them to be conveyed across the frontier. There would be a charge of £1 -for the extra trouble involved. One little difficulty had not occurred -to me: there might not be a conveyance to Graves, via Bridgetown, for -several days--perhaps not for a week. Inspector Bulley, who had all -such matters at his finger-ends, told me there was no conveyance for -five days by that route, but that he would arrange for me to travel -by another route, via Primburg and Durven, which lay convenient for a -journey to Prisa. After that I could either return home direct or go -first to Lunopolis. - -He was sorry my visit had been cut short almost before my serious study -had begun, and hoped I should find it possible to return. He arranged -for me to undergo my necessary medical examination on the afternoon -of the same day, and this turned out to be almost a formality. Dr. -Pincher was much more polite, and much less exacting, than on a former -occasion. Clearly the influence of Kwang--for I was now regarded as a -sort of protégé of his--was evident in all this. Altogether my exit was -made quite pleasant, and I almost began to regret my precipitancy, but -when I reflected on what I had to gain by staying longer I saw that -Kwang was right. I turned over in my mind what I had seen and learnt -during five months. I had seen a provincial town (or some aspects of -it), and the capital, under the close supervision of well-informed -warders. I had talked to a score of officials and a few professors, -and received a vast amount of instruction from them. I had seen a -great public ceremony. I had visited a large number of institutions. -But I had only got into contact with a single native Meccanian who was -free from the influence of the all-pervading Super-State, and this -person was in an asylum only accessible by a dangerous ruse. I knew -little more of the people, perhaps less, than I could have got from -reading a few books; but I had at any rate got an impression of the -Meccanian 'System' which no book could have given me. That impression -was the most valuable result of my tour, but it seemed unlikely that -a further stay would do anything more than deepen it. For unless I -were prepared to play the rôle that Kwang had played I was not likely -to learn anything the Meccanian Government did not wish me to learn, -and, however much I might be sustained by my curiosity, the actual -experience of living in the atmosphere of the Meccanian Super-State was -not pleasant. - -I said good-bye to my friends at the hotel, and, after an uneventful -journey by express train, reached Primburg. Except that it bore a -general resemblance to Bridgetown, I can say nothing of it, for we were -not permitted to go out of the station whilst waiting for the motor-van -to take us across the frontier. I say 'us,' because there were about -half a dozen other travellers. The fact that not more than half a dozen -persons a week travelled from Mecco to Prisa--for this was the main -route to the capital of Francaria--was in itself astounding. Even of -these, three looked like persons on official business. At Primburg -I was spared the indignity of a further medical examination, as I -had already obtained the necessary certificate from Dr. Pincher, but -nothing could exempt me from the examination which all foreigners had -to submit to in order to ensure that they carried nothing out of the -country except by leave of the chief inspector of Foreign Observers. -My journal had been entrusted to Kwang, and I had nothing else of any -importance. I was thoroughly searched, and my clothes and my baggage -were closely examined by an official called the Registrar of Travellers. - -Although I had spent a considerable time in Francaria I had never -before seen Durven. There was now no reason for hurrying on to Prisa, -so I decided to spend a day there to look round. I had to report myself -to the police, owing to the fact that I had arrived from Meccania, -but my credentials proving perfectly satisfactory I was at liberty to -go where I liked. It was about four o'clock when I stepped out of the -police station, and as it was a bright September afternoon there was -still time to walk about for some hours before dark. At first, for -about an hour, I could hardly help feeling that I was dreaming. Here I -was in the old familiar life of Europe again. The streets of the town -seemed full of people, some sauntering about and gossiping with their -friends, others shop-gazing, others carrying parcels containing their -purchases, some making their way home from business, others standing in -groups near the theatres. There were tram-cars and omnibuses and all -sorts of vehicles jostling in the central part of the town. A little -later I saw people streaming out from a popular _matinée_. There were -old men selling the first issues of the evening papers, and crying some -sensational news which was not of the slightest importance but which -somehow seemed good fun. - -I was delighted with everything I saw. It was a positive joy not to see -any green uniforms, nor any grey uniforms, nor any yellow uniforms. -Green and grey and yellow are beautiful colours, but the plain black -of the civilian dress of the men in the streets of Durven seemed -pleasanter, and the costumes of the women seemed positively beautiful. -There were children walking with their mothers, and little urchins -racing about in the side streets. I could have laughed with joy at the -sight of them: I had seen no children for five months, only little -future-Meccanians. There were old women selling flowers. I wondered if -they were poor; they looked fat and happy at any rate, and they were -free to sell flowers or do anything else they liked. I turned into a -café. A little band was playing some rollicking frivolous music that -I recognised. I remembered some of my former friends making sarcastic -remarks about this kind of music. It was not good music, yet it made -me feel like laughing or dancing. There was such a babel of talk I -could hardly hear the band. Not that I wanted to! I was quite content -to hear the happy voices round me, to watch the simple comedies of -human intercourse, and to feel that I was out of prison. I strolled out -again. This time I looked at the streets themselves, at the buildings -and houses and shops. I dived down a side street or two and found -myself by the river among little wharves and docks, all on the tiniest -scale. The streets were rather untidy and not too clean; the houses -were irregularly built. I was in the old town apparently. As I walked -farther I noticed that by far the greater part of the town had been -built during the last fifty years or so, yet the place looked as if -it were trying to preserve the appearance of age. At another time I -should probably have thought the town rather dull and uninteresting, -for there was nothing noteworthy about it. If there had once been any -genuine mediæval churches or guild halls or places of architectural -interest they must have been destroyed, yet I discovered a strange joy -and delight in everything I saw. - -After dark, when I had dined at the little hotel where I was to sleep -that night, I went off at once to the nearest theatre, which happened -to be a music hall. I laughed at the turns until people looked at me -to see if I were drunk or demented. When they saw I was only a little -excited they made good-humoured remarks. They were rather pleased that -I should be so easily amused. "Perhaps he has just come out of prison," -said one; "no doubt it is rather dull there." "Perhaps he is a friend -of one of the actors," said another, "and wants to encourage him." -"Perhaps he has come from the land where jokes are prohibited," said a -third. "Perhaps he is a deaf man who has recovered his hearing," said -another. "Or a blind man who has recovered his sight." "Anyhow, he -knows how to enjoy himself." Such were the remarks they made. - -When I came out I strolled about the streets until after midnight. It -seemed so jolly to be able to go just where one pleased. - -In the morning I looked up the trains to Prisa and found that I -could reach it in a few hours. So I decided to spend the morning in -Durven and go on to Prisa in the afternoon. I strolled into the open -market-place. How strange it seemed! People in all sorts of simple -costumes were going round to the various stalls picking up one thing -here and another there. The usual little comedies of bargaining were -going on. There were all sorts of trifles for sale, including toys for -children--real toys, not disguised mathematical problems, or exercises -in mechanical ingenuity. There were dolls and rattles and hoops and -balls and whistles and fishing-rods and marbles and pegtops and dolls' -houses and furniture and bricks and a hundred things besides. Then -there were gingerbread stalls, ice-cream stalls, cocoa-nut shies, -swings and even a little merry-go-round. I felt I should like to ride -on that merry-go-round, but as it was early in the forenoon there were -only a few children--good heavens! what were children doing here? They -ought to have been at school, or at any rate being instructed in the -use of Stage II. B toys. I turned into the street where the best shops -were. Even the grocers' shops looked interesting. There were goods from -all over the world. There were cheeses packed in dainty little cases, -and dates in little boxes covered with pictures; tea in packets and -canisters representing absurd Chinamen and Hindoo coolies. The clothing -shops were full of the latest fashions, although this was a small -provincial town; and very dainty and charming they looked. Then there -were antique shops and bric-à-brac shops, print shops and jewellers' -shops. I could have spent days wandering about like a child at a fair. -I had never realised before that the meanest European town--outside -Meccania--is a sort of perennial bazaar. - -I tore myself away, and after luncheon took train to Prisa. The -confusion and bustle at the stations was delightful; the chatter of the -passengers was most entertaining. There were people in shabby clothes -and people in smart costumes. There were ticket-collectors and guards -in rather dirty-looking uniforms, and an occasional gendarme who looked -as if he had come off the comic-opera stage. The villages on the route -were like the villages I had seen before in Europe--fragments of bygone -ages mixed up with the latest devices in farm buildings and model -cottages; churches built in the twelfth century and post offices built -in the twentieth; mediæval barns and modern factories. At length we -reached Prisa, which needs no description from me. - -It looked like an old friend, and I lost no time in resuming the habits -I had adopted during my previous stay. I looked up some of my old -acquaintances, and we spent days in endless talk about everything under -the sun. What a delight it was to read the newspapers, no matter how -silly they were! How delightful to hear the latest gossip about the -latest political crisis, the latest dramatic success, the latest social -scandal, the latest literary quarrel! In a week or two I had almost -forgotten the existence of Meccania. I had seen nothing to remind me of -it. I began to understand why the people in Francaria and Luniland were -so ignorant of that country. Why should they bother their heads about -it? It seemed to me now like a bad dream, a nightmare. They were quite -right to ignore it, to forget it. And yet, suppose Meccania should -startle Europe again? And with a chemical war this time! Would they be -able to escape? Or would the Super-Insects finally conquer the human -race? I confess I felt some doubt. It seemed not impossible that the -nightmare I had escaped from was a doom impending over the whole world. -And it is because I could not dismiss this doubt that I have written a -faithful account of what I saw and heard in Meccania, the Super-State. - - - - -Transcriber's note - - -Text in italics was surrounded by _underscores_, and text in all -capitals changed to all capitals. - -The following corrections have been made, on page - - xvii "n" changed to "in" (in the manner of a mere spectator) - - 17 "chocolate- coloured" changed to "chocolate-coloured" (with - chocolate-coloured buttons) - - 40 "t at" changed to "that" (but that the Organising Inspectors) - - 48 "death sand" changed to "deaths and" (births, deaths and - marriages) - - 161 , added (unmeaning to a Meccanian, the Meccanians must have lost) - - 212 " removed (and much more besides.) - - 221 "pr fessions" changed to "professions" (all the functions of - the independent professions) - - 221 "he told" changed to "the old" (That is the old argument) - - 270 "be" changed to "he" (Clearly he belonged to another generation.) - - 278 "this" changed to "these" (these two years opened my eyes). - -Otherwise the original was preserved, including inconsistent spelling -and hyphenation. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Meccania, by Owen Gregory - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MECCANIA *** - -***** This file should be named 44074-8.txt or 44074-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/0/7/44074/ - -Produced by eagkw, Greg Bergquist and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - -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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