latter-day pamphlets-第13章
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ot the smallest hope of its misery going；that not for all the charity and rose…water in the world will its misery try to go till then！
This is a sad error； all the sadder as it is the error chiefly of the more humane and noble…minded of our generation； among whom； as we said； or elsewhere not at all； the cause of real Reform must expect its servants。 At present； and for a long while past； whatsoever young soul awoke in EnGland with some disposition towards generosity and social heroism； or at lowest with some intimation of the beauty of such a disposition；he； in whom the poor world might have looked for a Reformer； and valiant mender of its foul ways； was almost sure to become a Philanthropist； reforming merely by this rose…water method。 To admit that the world's ways are foul； and not the ways of God the Maker； but of Satan the Destroyer； many of them； and that they must be mended or we all die； that if huge misery prevails； huge cowardice； falsity； disloyalty； universal Injustice high and low； have still longer prevailed； and must straightway try to cease prevailing： this is what no visible reformer has yet thought of doing： All so…called 〃reforms〃 hitherto are grounded either on openly admitted egoism （cheap bread to the cotton…spinner； voting to those that have no vote； and the like）； which does not point towards very celestial developments of the Reform movement； or else upon this of remedying social injustices by indiscriminate contributions of philanthropy； a method surely still more unpromising。 Such contributions； being indiscriminate； are but a new injustice； these will never lead to reform； or abolition of injustice； whatever else they lead to！
Not by that method shall we 〃get round Cape Horn；〃 by never such unanimity of voting； under the most approved Phantasm Captains！ It is miserable to see。 Having； as it were； quite lost our way round Cape Horn； and being sorely 〃admonished〃 by the Iceberg and other dumb councillors； the pilots；instead of taking to their sextants； and asking with a seriousness unknown for a long while； What the Laws of wind and water； and of Earth and of Heaven are；decide that now； in these new circumstances； they will； to the worthy and unworthy； serve out a double allowance of grog。 In this way they hope to do it；by steering on the old wrong tack； and serving out more and more； copiously what little _aqua vitae_ may be still on board！ Philanthropy； emancipation； and pity for human calamity is very beautiful； but the deep oblivion of the Law of Right and Wrong； this 〃indiscriminate mashing up of Right and Wrong into a patent treacle〃 of the Philanthropic movement； is by no means beautiful； this； on the contrary； is altogether ugly and alarming。
Truly if there be not something inarticulate among us； not yet uttered but pressing towards utterance； which is much wiser than anything we have lately articulated or brought into word or action； our outlooks are rather lamentable。 The great majority
of the powerful and active…minded； sunk in egoistic scepticisms； busied in chase of lucre； pleasure； and mere vulgar objects； looking with indifference on the world's woes； and passing carelessly by on the other side； and the select minority； of whom better might have been expected； bending all their strength to cure them by methods which can only make bad worse； and in the end render cure hopeless。 A blind loquacious pruriency of indiscriminate Philanthropism substituting itself； with much self…laudation； for the silent divinely awful sense of Right and Wrong；testifying too clearly that here is no longer a divine sense of Right and Wrong； that； in the smoke of this universal； and alas inevitable and indispensable revolutionary fire； and burning up of worn…out rags of which the world is full； our life…atmosphere has （for the time） become one vile London fog； and the eternal loadstars are gone out for us！ Gone out；yet very visible if you can get above the fog； still there in their place； and quite the same as they always were！ To whoever does still know of loadstars； the proceedings； which expand themselves daily； of these sublime philanthropic associations； and 〃universal sluggard…and…scoundrel protection…societies；〃 are a perpetual affliction。 With their emancipations and abolition principles； and reigns of brotherhood and new methods of love； they have done great things in the White and in the Black World； during late years； and are preparing for greater。
In the interest of human reform； if there is ever to be any reform； and return to prosperity or to the possibility of prospering； it is urgent that the nonsense of all this （and it is mostly nonsense； but not quite） should be sent about its business straightway； and forbidden to deceive the well…meaning souls among us any more。 Reform； if we will understand that divine word； cannot begin till then。 One day； I do know； this； as is the doom of all nonsense； will be drummed out of the world； with due placard stuck on its back； and the populace flinging dead cats at it： but whether soon or not； is by no means so certain。 I rather guess； _not_ at present； not quite soon。 Fraternity； in other countries； has gone on； till it found itself unexpectedly manipulating guillotines by its chosen Robespierres； and become a fraternity like Cain's。 Much to its amazement！ For in fact it is not all nonsense； there is an infinitesimal fraction of sense in it withal； which is so difficult to disengage；which must be disengaged； and laid hold of； before Fraternity can vanish。
But to our subject；the Model Prison； and the strange theory of life now in action there。 That； for the present； is my share in the wide adventure of Philanthropism； the world's share； and how and when it is to be liquidated and ended； rests with the Supreme Destinies。
Several months ago； some friends took me with them to see one of the London Prisons； a Prison of the exemplary or model kind。 An immense circuit of buildings； cut out； girt with a high ring…wall； from the lanes and streets of the quarter； which is a dim and crowded one。 Gateway as to a fortified place； then a spacious court； like the square of a city； broad staircases； passages to interior courts； fronts of stately architecture all round。 It lodges some thousand or twelve hundred prisoners； besides the officers of the establishment。 Surely one of the most perfect buildings； within the compass of London。 We looked at the apartments； sleeping…cells； dining…rooms； working…rooms； general courts or special and private： excellent all； the ne…plus…ultra of human care and ingenuity； in my life I never saw so clean a building； probably no Duke in England lives in a mansion of such perfect and thorough cleanness。
The bread； the cocoa； soup； meat； all the various sorts of food； in their respective cooking…places； we tasted： found them of excellence superlative。 The prisoners sat at work； light work； picking oakum； and the like； in airy apartments with glass roofs； of agreeable temperature and perfect ventilation； silent； or at least conversing only by secret signs： others were out； taking their hour of promenade in clean flagged courts： methodic composure； cleanliness； peace； substantial wholesome comfort reigned everywhere supreme。 The women in other apartments； some notable murderesses among them； all in the like state of methodic composure and substantial wholesome comfort； sat sewing： in long ranges of wash…houses； drying…houses and whatever pertains to the getting…up of clean linen； were certain others； with all conceivable mechanical furtherances； not too arduously working。 The notable murderesses were； though with great precautions of privacy； pointed out to us； and we were requested not to look openly at them； or seem to notice them at all； as it was found to 〃cherish their vanity〃 when visitors looked at them。 Schools too were there； intelligent teachers of both sexes； studiously instructing the still ignorant of these thieves。
From an inner upper room or gallery； we looked down into a range of private courts； where certain Chartist Notabilities were undergoing their term。 Chartist Notability First struck me very much； I had seen him about a year before； by involuntary accident and much to my disg
