the ancien regime-第22章
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degenerated； till the end of the eighteenth century。
And so it may be with our means of locomotion and intercommunion；
and what depends on them。 The vast and unprecedented amount of
capital； of social interest； of actual human intellect investedI
may say locked upin these railroads； and telegraphs； and other
triumphs of industry and science； will not enter into competition
against themselves。 They will not set themselves free to seek new
discoveries in directions which are often actually opposed to their
own； always foreign to it。 If the money of thousands are locked up
in these great works； the brains of hundreds of thousands； and of
the very shrewdest too； are equally locked up therein likewise； and
are to be subtracted from the gross material of social development；
and added （without personal fault of their owners； who may be very
good men） to the dead weight of vested selfishness； ignorance； and
dislike of change。
Yes。 A Byzantine and stationary age is possible yet。 Perhaps we
are now entering upon it； an age in which mankind shall be satisfied
with the 〃triumphs of science；〃 and shall look merely to the
greatest comfort （call it not happiness） of the greatest number； and
like the debased Jews of old； 〃having found the life of their hand；
be therewith content；〃 no matter in what mud…hole of slavery and
superstition。
But one hope there is； and more than a hopeone certainty； that
however satisfied enlightened public opinion may become with the
results of science； and the progress of the human race； there will
be always a more enlightened private opinion or opinions； which will
not be satisfied therewith at all； a few men of genius； a few
children of light； it may be a few persecuted； and a few martyrs for
new truths； who will wish the world not to rest and be thankful； but
to be discontented with itself； ashamed of itself； striving and
toiling upward； without present hope of gain； till it has reached
that unknown goal which Bacon saw afar off； and like all other
heroes； died in faith； not having received the promises； but seeking
still a polity which has foundations； whose builder and maker is
God。
These will be the men of science； whether physical or spiritual。
Not merely the men who utilise and apply that which is known （useful
as they plainly are）； but the men who themselves discover that which
was unknown； and are generally deemed useless； if not hurtful； to
their race。 They will keep the sacred lamp burning unobserved in
quiet studies； while all the world is gazing only at the gaslights
flaring in the street。 They will pass that lamp on from hand to
hand； modestly； almost stealthily； till the day comes round again；
when the obscure student shall be discovered once more to be； as he
has always been； the strongest man on earth。 For they follow a
mistress whose footsteps may often slip； yet never fall； for she
walks forward on the eternal facts of Nature； which are the acted
will of God。 A giantess she is； young indeed； but humble as yet：
cautious and modest beyond her years。 She is accused of trying to
scale Olympus； by some who fancy that they have already scaled it
themselves； and will； of course； brook no rival in their fancied
monopoly of wisdom。
The accusation； I believe； is unjust。 And yet science may scale
Olympus after all。 Without intending it； almost without knowing it；
she may find herself hereafter upon a summit of which she never
dreamed； surveying the universe of God in the light of Him who made
it and her； and remakes them both for ever and ever。 On that summit
she may stand hereafter； if only she goes on； as she goes now； in
humility and in patience； doing the duty which lies nearest her；
lured along the upward road； not by ambition； vanity； or greed； but
by reverent curiosity for every new pebble； and flower； and child；
and savage； around her feet。
Footnotes：
｛1｝ Mr。 H。 Reeve's translation of De Tocqueville's 〃France before
the Revolution of 1789。〃 p。 280。
End
