erewhon-第38章
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true that those who have valuable qualities are perceived to have
them and can sell them。 I think that the Erewhonians are beginning
to become aware of these things； for there was much talk about
putting a tax upon all parents whose children were not earning a
competence according to their degrees by the time they were twenty
years old。 I am sure that if they will have the courage to carry
it through they will never regret it； for the parents will take
care that the children shall begin earning money （which means
〃doing good〃 to society） at an early age； then the children will be
independent early； and they will not press on the parents； nor the
parents on them； and they will like each other better than they do
now。
This is the true philanthropy。 He who makes a colossal fortune in
the hosiery trade； and by his energy has succeeded in reducing the
price of woollen goods by the thousandth part of a penny in the
poundthis man is worth ten professional philanthropists。 So
strongly are the Erewhonians impressed with this； that if a man has
made a fortune of over 20；000 pounds a year they exempt him from
all taxation； considering him as a work of art； and too precious to
be meddled with； they say； 〃How very much he must have done for
society before society could have been prevailed upon to give him
so much money；〃 so magnificent an organisation overawes them； they
regard it as a thing dropped from heaven。
〃Money；〃 they say； 〃is the symbol of duty； it is the sacrament of
having done for mankind that which mankind wanted。 Mankind may not
be a very good judge； but there is no better。〃 This used to shock
me at first； when I remembered that it had been said on high
authority that they who have riches shall enter hardly into the
kingdom of heaven； but the influence of Erewhon had made me begin
to see things in a new light； and I could not help thinking that
they who have not riches shall enter more hardly still。
People oppose money to culture； and imply that if a man has spent
his time in making money he will not be cultivatedfallacy of
fallacies！ As though there could be a greater aid to culture than
the having earned an honourable independence； and as though any
amount of culture will do much for the man who is penniless； except
make him feel his position more deeply。 The young man who was told
to sell all his goods and give to the poor； must have been an
entirely exceptional person if the advice was given wisely； either
for him or for the poor； how much more often does it happen that we
perceive a man to have all sorts of good qualities except money；
and feel that his real duty lies in getting every half…penny that
he can persuade others to pay him for his services； and becoming
rich。 It has been said that the love of money is the root of all
evil。 The want of money is so quite as truly。
The above may sound irreverent； but it is conceived in a spirit of
the most utter reverence for those things which do alone deserve
itthat is； for the things which are； which mould us and fashion
us； be they what they may； for the things that have power to punish
us； and which will punish us if we do not heed them； for our
masters therefore。 But I am drifting away from my story。
They have another plan about which they are making a great noise
and fuss； much as some are doing with women's rights in England。 A
party of extreme radicals have professed themselves unable to
decide upon the superiority of age or youth。 At present all goes
on the supposition that it is desirable to make the young old as
soon as possible。 Some would have it that this is wrong； and that
the object of education should be to keep the old young as long as
possible。 They say that each age should take it turn in turn
about； week by week； one week the old to be topsawyers； and the
other the young； drawing the line at thirty…five years of age； but
they insist that the young should be allowed to inflict corporal
chastisement on the old； without which the old would be quite
incorrigible。 In any European country this would be out of the
question； but it is not so there； for the straighteners are
constantly ordering people to be flogged； so that they are familiar
with the notion。 I do not suppose that the idea will be ever acted
upon； but its having been even mooted is enough to show the utter
perversion of the Erewhonian mind。
CHAPTER XXI： THE COLLEGES OF UNREASON
I had now been a visitor with the Nosnibors for some five or six
months； and though I had frequently proposed to leave them and take
apartments of my own； they would not hear of my doing so。 I
suppose they thought I should be more likely to fall in love with
Zulora if I remained； but it was my affection for Arowhena that
kept me。
During all this time both Arowhena and myself had been dreaming；
and drifting towards an avowed attachment； but had not dared to
face the real difficulties of the position。 Gradually； however；
matters came to a crisis in spite of ourselves； and we got to see
the true state of the case； all too clearly。
One evening we were sitting in the garden； and I had been trying in
every stupid roundabout way to get her to say that she should be at
any rate sorry for a man； if he really loved a woman who would not
marry him。 I had been stammering and blushing； and been as silly
as any one could be； and I suppose had pained her by fishing for
pity for myself in such a transparent way； and saying nothing about
her own need of it； at any rate； she turned all upon me with a
sweet sad smile and said； 〃Sorry？ I am sorry for myself； I am
sorry for you； and I am sorry for every one。〃 The words had no
sooner crossed her lips than she bowed her head； gave me a look as
though I were to make no answer； and left me。
The words were few and simple； but the manner with which they were
uttered was ineffable： the scales fell from my eyes； and I felt
that I had no right to try and induce her to infringe one of the
most inviolable customs of her country； as she needs must do if she
were to marry me。 I sat for a long while thinking； and when I
remembered the sin and shame and misery which an unrighteous
marriagefor as such it would be held in Erewhonwould entail； I
became thoroughly ashamed of myself for having been so long self…
blinded。 I write coldly now； but I suffered keenly at the time；
and should probably retain a much more vivid recollection of what I
felt； had not all ended so happily。
As for giving up the idea of marrying Arowhena； it never so much as
entered my head to do so： the solution must be found in some other
direction than this。 The idea of waiting till somebody married
Zulora was to be no less summarily dismissed。 To marry Arowhena at
once in Erewhonthis had already been abandoned： there remained
therefore but one alternative； and that was to run away with her；
and get her with me to Europe； where there would be no bar to our
union save my own impecuniosity； a matter which gave me no
uneasiness。
To this obvious and simple plan I could see but two objections that
deserved the name；the first； that perhaps Arowhena would not
come； the second； that it was almost impossible for me to escape
even alone； for the king had himself told me that I was to consider
myself a prisoner on parole； and that the first sign of my
endeavouring to escape would cause me to be sent to one of the
hospitals for incurables。 Besides； I did not know the geography of
the country； and even were I to try and find my way back； I should
be discovered long before I had reached the pass over which I had
come。 How then could I hope to be able to take Arowhena with me？
For days and days I turned these difficulties over in my mind； and
at last hit upon as wild a plan as was ever suggested by extremity。
This was to meet the second difficulty： the first gave me less
uneasiness； for when Arowhena and I next met after our interview in
the garden I could see that she had suffered not less acutely than
myself。
I resolved that I would have another interview with herthe last
for the presentthat I would then leave her； and set to work upon
maturing my plan as fast as possible。
