the angel and the author-第14章
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and making the place damp and untidy with him。
＇Early instances of 〃Dumping。〃＇
Maybe the Cave Dweller； finding nuts in his own neighbourhood growing
scarce； would emigrate himself： for even in that age the politician
was not always logical。 Thus roles became reversed。 The defender of
his country became the alien； dumping himself where he was not
wanted。 The charm of those early political arguments lay in their
simplicity。 A child could have followed every point。 There could
never have been a moment's doubt； even among his own followers； as to
what a Palaeolithic statesman really meant to convey。 At the close
of the contest the party who considered it had won the moral victory
would be cleared away； or buried neatly on the spot； according to
taste： and the discussion； until the arrival of the next generation；
was voted closed。
All this must have been harassing； but it did serve to pass away the
time。 Civilization has brought into being a section of the community
with little else to do but to amuse itself。 For youth to play is
natural； the young barbarian plays； the kitten plays； the colt
gambols； the lamb skips。 But man is the only animal that gambols and
jumps and skips after it has reached maturity。 Were we to meet an
elderly bearded goat； springing about in the air and behaving；
generally speaking； like a kid； we should say it had gone mad。 Yet
we throng in our thousands to watch elderly ladies and gentlemen
jumping about after a ball； twisting themselves into strange shapes；
rushing； racing； falling over one another； and present them with
silver…backed hair…brushes and gold…handled umbrellas as a reward to
them for doing so。
Imagine some scientific inhabitant of one of the larger fixed stars
examining us through a magnifying…glass as we examine ants。 Our
amusements would puzzle him。 The ball of all sorts and sizes； from
the marble to the pushball； would lead to endless scientific
argument。
〃What is it？ Why are these men and women always knocking it about；
seizing it wherever and whenever they find it and worrying it？〃
The observer from that fixed star would argue that the Ball must be
some malignant creature of fiendish power； the great enemy of the
human race。 Watching our cricket…fields； our tennis…courts； our golf
links； he would conclude that a certain section of mankind had been
told off to do battle with the 〃Ball〃 on behalf of mankind in
general。
〃As a rule；〃 so he would report； 〃it is a superior class of insect to
which this special duty has been assigned。 They are a friskier；
gaudier species than their fellows。
＇Cricket； as viewed from the fixed Stars。＇
〃For this one purpose they appear to be kept and fed。 They do no
other work； so far as I have been able to ascertain。 Carefully
selected and trained； their mission is to go about the world looking
for Balls。 Whenever they find a Ball they set to work to kill it。
But the vitality of these Balls is extraordinary。 There is a medium…
sized； reddish species that； on an average； takes three days to kill。
When one of these is discovered； specially trained champions are
summoned from every corner of the country。 They arrive in hot haste；
eager for the battle； which takes place in the presence of the entire
neighbourhood。 The number of champions for some reason or another is
limited to twenty…two。 Each one seizing in turn a large piece of
wood； rushes at the Ball as it flies along the ground； or through the
air； and strikes at it with all his force。 When； exhausted； he can
strike no longer； he throws down his weapon and retires into a tent；
where he is restored to strength by copious draughts of a drug the
nature of which I have been unable to discover。 Meanwhile； another
has picked up the fallen weapon； and the contest is continued without
a moment's interruption。 The Ball makes frantic efforts to escape
from its tormentors； but every time it is captured and flung back。
So far as can be observed； it makes no attempt at retaliation； its
only object being to get away； though； occasionallywhether by
design or accidentit succeeds in inflicting injury upon one or
other of its executioners； or more often upon one of the spectators；
striking him either on the head or about the region of the waist；
which； judging by results； would appear； from the Ball's point of
view； to be the better selection。 These small reddish Balls are
quickened into life evidently by the heat of the sun； in the cold
season they disappear； and their place is taken by a much larger
Ball。 This Ball the champions kill by striking it with their feet
and with their heads。 But sometimes they will attempt to suffocate
it by falling on it； some dozen of them at a time。
〃Another of these seemingly harmless enemies of the human race is a
small white Ball of great cunning and resource。 It frequents sandy
districts by the sea coast and open spaces near the large towns。 It
is pursued with extraordinary animosity by a florid…faced insect of
fierce aspect and rotundity of figure。 The weapon he employs is a
long stick loaded with metal。 With one blow he will send the
creature through the air sometimes to a distance of nearly a quarter
of a mile； yet so vigorous is the constitution of these Balls that it
will fall to earth apparently but little damaged。 It is followed by
the rotund man accompanied by a smaller insect carrying spare clubs。
Though hampered by the prominent whiteness of its skin； the extreme
smallness of this Ball often enables it to defy re…discovery； and at
such times the fury of the little round man is terrible to
contemplate。 He dances round the spot where the ball has
disappeared； making frenzied passes at the surrounding vegetation
with his club； uttering the while the most savage and bloodcurdling
growls。 Occasionally striking at the small creature in fury； he will
miss it altogether； and； having struck merely the air； will sit down
heavily upon the ground； or； striking the solid earth； will shatter
his own club。 Then a curious thing takes place： all the other
insects standing round place their right hand before their mouth；
and； turning away their faces； shake their bodies to and fro；
emitting a strange crackling sound。 Whether this is to be regarded
as a mere expression of their grief that the blow of their comrade
should have miscarried； or whether one may assume it to be a
ceremonious appeal to their gods for better luck next time； I have
not as yet made up my mind。 The striker； meanwhile； raises both
arms； the hands tightly clenched； towards the heavens； and utters
what is probably a prayer； prepared expressly for the occasion。
＇The Heir of all Ages。 His Inheritance。＇
In similar manner he； the Celestial Observer； proceeds to describe
our billiard matches； our tennis tournaments； our croquet parties。
Maybe it never occurs to him that a large section of our race
surrounded by Eternity； would devote its entire span of life to sheer
killing of time。 A middle…aged friend of mine； a cultured gentleman；
a M。A。 of Cambridge； assured me the other day that； notwithstanding
all his experiences of life； the thing that still gave him the
greatest satisfaction was the accomplishment of a successful drive to
leg。 Rather a quaint commentary on our civilization； is it not？
〃The singers have sung； and the builders have builded。 The artists
have fashioned their dreams of delight。〃 The martyrs for thought and
freedom have died their death； knowledge has sprung from the bones of
ignorance； civilization for ten thousand years has battled with
brutality to this resultthat a specimen gentleman of the Twentieth
Century； the heir of all the ages； finds his greatest joy in life the
striking of a ball with a chunk of wood！
Human energy； human suffering； has been wasted。 Such crown of
happiness for a man might surely have been obtained earlier and at
less cost。 Was it intended？ Are we on the right track？ The child's
play is wiser。 The battered doll is a princess。 Within the sand
castle dwells an ogre。 It is with imagina
