首页 >出版文学> Latter-Day Pamphlets>第8章
  Trulyiftherebenotsomethinginarticulateamongus,notyetutteredbutpressingtowardsutterance,whichismuchwiserthananythingwehavelatelyarticulatedorbroughtintowordoraction,ouroutlooksareratherlamentable。Thegreatmajorityofthepowerfulandactive-minded,sunkinegoisticscepticisms,busiedinchaseoflucre,pleasure,andmerevulgarobjects,lookingwithindifferenceontheworld’swoes,andpassingcarelesslybyontheotherside;andtheselectminority,ofwhombettermighthavebeenexpected,bendingalltheirstrengthtocurethembymethodswhichcanonlymakebadworse,andintheendrendercurehopeless。AblindloquaciouspruriencyofindiscriminatePhilanthropismsubstitutingitself,withmuchself-laudation,forthesilentdivinelyawfulsenseofRightandWrong;——testifyingtooclearlythathereisnolongeradivinesenseofRightandWrong;that,inthesmokeofthisuniversal,andalasinevitableandindispensablerevolutionaryfire,andburningupofworn-outragsofwhichtheworldisfull,ourlife-atmospherehasforthetimebecomeonevileLondonfog,andtheeternalloadstarsaregoneoutforus!Goneout;——yetveryvisibleifyoucangetabovethefog;stillthereintheirplace,andquitethesameastheyalwayswere!Towhoeverdoesstillknowofloadstars,theproceedings,whichexpandthemselvesdaily,ofthesesublimephilanthropicassociations,and“universalsluggard-and-scoundrelprotection-societies,“areaperpetualaffliction。Withtheiremancipationsandabolitionprinciples,andreignsofbrotherhoodandnewmethodsoflove,theyhavedonegreatthingsintheWhiteandintheBlackWorld,duringlateyears;andarepreparingforgreater。
  Intheinterestofhumanreform,ifthereisevertobeanyreform,andreturntoprosperityortothepossibilityofprospering,itisurgentthatthenonsenseofallthisanditismostlynonsense,butnotquiteshouldbesentaboutitsbusinessstraightway,andforbiddentodeceivethewell-meaningsoulsamongusanymore。Reform,ifwewillunderstandthatdivineword,cannotbegintillthen。Oneday,Idoknow,this,asisthedoomofallnonsense,willbedrummedoutoftheworld,withdueplacardstuckonitsback,andthepopulaceflingingdeadcatsatit:butwhethersoonornot,isbynomeanssocertain。
  Iratherguess,_not_atpresent,notquitesoon。Fraternity,inothercountries,hasgoneon,tillitfounditselfunexpectedlymanipulatingguillotinesbyitschosenRobespierres,andbecomeafraternitylikeCain’s。Muchtoitsamazement!Forinfactitisnotallnonsense;thereisaninfinitesimalfractionofsenseinitwithal;whichissodifficulttodisengage;——whichmustbedisengaged,andlaidholdof,beforeFraternitycanvanish。
  Buttooursubject,——theModelPrison,andthestrangetheoryoflifenowinactionthere。That,forthepresent,ismyshareinthewideadventureofPhilanthropism;theworld’sshare,andhowandwhenitistobeliquidatedandended,restswiththeSupremeDestinies。
  Severalmonthsago,somefriendstookmewiththemtoseeoneoftheLondonPrisons;aPrisonoftheexemplaryormodelkind。Animmensecircuitofbuildings;cutout,girtwithahighring-wall,fromthelanesandstreetsofthequarter,whichisadimandcrowdedone。Gatewayastoafortifiedplace;thenaspaciouscourt,likethesquareofacity;broadstaircases,passagestointeriorcourts;frontsofstatelyarchitectureallround。Itlodgessomethousandortwelvehundredprisoners,besidestheofficersoftheestablishment。Surelyoneofthemostperfectbuildings,withinthecompassofLondon。Welookedattheapartments,sleeping-cells,dining-rooms,working-rooms,generalcourtsorspecialandprivate:excellentall,thene-plus-ultraofhumancareandingenuity;inmylifeIneversawsocleanabuilding;probablynoDukeinEnglandlivesinamansionofsuchperfectandthoroughcleanness。
  Thebread,thecocoa,soup,meat,allthevarioussortsoffood,intheirrespectivecooking-places,wetasted:foundthemofexcellencesuperlative。Theprisonerssatatwork,lightwork,pickingoakum,andthelike,inairyapartmentswithglassroofs,ofagreeabletemperatureandperfectventilation;silent,oratleastconversingonlybysecretsigns:otherswereout,takingtheirhourofpromenadeincleanflaggedcourts:methodiccomposure,cleanliness,peace,substantialwholesomecomfortreignedeverywheresupreme。Thewomeninotherapartments,somenotablemurderessesamongthem,allinthelikestateofmethodiccomposureandsubstantialwholesomecomfort,satsewing:inlongrangesofwash-houses,drying-housesandwhateverpertainstothegetting-upofcleanlinen,werecertainothers,withallconceivablemechanicalfurtherances,nottooarduouslyworking。
  Thenotablemurderesseswere,thoughwithgreatprecautionsofprivacy,pointedouttous;andwewererequestednottolookopenlyatthem,orseemtonoticethematall,asitwasfoundto“cherishtheirvanity“whenvisitorslookedatthem。Schoolstoowerethere;intelligentteachersofbothsexes,studiouslyinstructingthestillignorantofthesethieves。
  Fromaninnerupperroomorgallery,welookeddownintoarangeofprivatecourts,wherecertainChartistNotabilitieswereundergoingtheirterm。ChartistNotabilityFirststruckmeverymuch;Ihadseenhimaboutayearbefore,byinvoluntaryaccidentandmuchtomydisgust,magnetizingasillyyoungperson;andhadnotedwelltheunlovelyvoraciouslookofhim,histhickoilyskin,hisheavydull-burningeyes,hisgreedymouth,theduskypotentinsatiableanimalismthatlookedoutofeveryfeatureofhim:afellowadequatetoanimal-magnetizemostthings,Ididsuppose;——andherewasthepostInowfoundhimarrivedat。NextneighbortohimwasNotabilitySecond,aphilosophicorliteraryChartist;walkingrapidlytoandfroinhisprivatecourt,aclean,high-walledplace;theworldanditscaresquiteexcluded,forsomemonthstocome:masterofhisowntimeandspiritualresourcesto,asIsupposed,areallyenviableextent。What“literaryman“toanequalextent!IfanciedI,formyownpart,soleftwithpaperandink,andalltaxesandbotherationsshutoutfromme,couldhavewrittensuchaBookasnoreaderwillhereevergetofme。Never,Oreader,neverhereinamerehousewithtaxesandbotherations。Here,alas,onehastosnatchone’spoorBook,bitbybit,asfromaconflagration;andtothinkandlive,comparatively,asifthehousewerenotone’sown,butmainlytheworld’sandthedevil’s。NotabilitySecondmighthavefilledonewithenvy。
  TheCaptainoftheplace,agentlemanofancientMilitaryorRoyal-Navyhabits,wasoneofthemostperfectgovernors;
  professionallyandbynaturezealousforcleanliness,punctuality,goodorderofeverykind;ahumaneheartandyetastrongone;softofspeechandmanner,yetwithaninflexiblerigorofcommand,sofarashislimitswent:“ironhandinavelvetglove,“asNapoleondefinedit。Amanofrealworth,challengingatonceloveandrespect:thelightofthosemildbrighteyesseemedtopermeatetheplaceaswithanall-pervadingvigilance,andkindlyyetvictoriousillumination;
  inthesoftdefinitevoiceitwasasifNatureherselfwerepromulgatingherorders,gentlestmildestorders,whichhowever,intheend,therewouldbenodisobeying,whichintheendtherewouldbenolivingwithoutfulfilmentof。Atrue“aristos,“andcommanderofmen。Amanworthytohavecommandedandguidedforward,ingoodways,twelvehundredofthebestcommon-peopleinLondonortheworld:hewashere,formanyyearspast,givingallhiscareandfacultytocommand,andguideforwardinsuchwaysastherewere,twelvehundredoftheworst。Ilookedwithconsiderableadmirationonthisgentleman;andwithconsiderableastonishment,thereverseofadmiration,ontheworkhehadherebeensetupon。
  ThisexcellentCaptainwastoooldaCommandertocomplainofanything;indeedhestruggledvisiblytheotherway,tofindinhisownmindthatallherewasbest;butIcouldsufficientlydiscernthat,inhisnaturalinstincts,ifnotmountinguptotheregionofhisthoughts,therewasacontinualprotestgoingonagainstmuchofit;thatnatureandallhisinarticulatepersuasionhowevermuchforbiddentoarticulateitselftaughthimthefutilityandunfeasibilityofthesystemfollowedhere。
  TheVisitingMagistrates,hegentlyregrettedratherthancomplained,hadlatelytakenhistread-wheelfromhim,menwerejustnowpullingitdown;andhowhewashenceforthtoenforcedisciplineonthesebadsubjects,wasmuchadifficultywithhim。
  “Theycaredfornothingbutthetread-wheel,andforhavingtheirrationscutshort:“ofthetwosolepenalties,hardworkandoccasionalhunger,thereremainednowonlyone,andthatbynomeansthebetterone,ashethought。The“sympathy“ofvisitors,too,their“pity“forhisinterestingscoundrel-subjects,thoughhetriedtolikeit,wasevidentlynojoytothispracticalmind。
  Pity,yes:butpityforthescoundrel-species?Forthosewhowillnothavepityonthemselves,andwillforcetheUniverseandtheLawsofNaturetohaveno“pityon“them?MeseemsIcoulddiscoverfitterobjectsofpity!
  Infactitwastooclear,thisexcellentmanhadgotafieldforhisfacultieswhich,inseveralrespects,wasbynomeansthesuitableone。Todrilltwelvehundredscoundrelsby“themethodofkindness,“andofabolishingyourverytread-wheel,——howcouldanycommanderrejoicetohavesuchaworkcutoutforhim?Youhadbuttolookinthefacesofthesetwelvehundred,anddespair,formostpart,ofever“commanding“thematall。
  Miserabledistortedblockheads,thegenerality;ape-faces,imp-faces,angrydog-faces,heavysullenox-faces;degradedunderfootperversecreatures,sonsof_in_docility,greedymutinousdarkness,andinoneword,ofSTUPIDITY,whichisthegeneralmotherofsuch。Stupidityintellectualandstupiditymoralfortheonealwaysmeanstheother,asyouwill,withsurpriseornot,discoverifyoulookhadbornethisprogeny:
  base-naturedbeings,onwhominthecourseofamaleficentsubterraneanlifeofLondonScoundrelism,theGeniusofDarknesscalledSatan,Devil,andothernameshadnowvisiblyimpressedhisseal,andhadmarkedthemoutassoldiersofChaosandofhim,——appointedtoservein_his_Regiments,Firstoftheline,Secondditto,andsoonintheirorder。Him,youcouldperceive,theywouldserve;butnoteasilyanotherthanhim。ThesewerethesubjectswhomourbraveCaptainandPrison-Governorwasappointedtocommand,andreclaimto_other_service,by“themethodoflove,“withatread-wheelabolished。
  Hopelessforevermoresuchaproject。Theseabject,ape,wolf,ox,impandotherdiabolic-animalspecimensofhumanity,whooftheverygodscouldeverhavecommandedthembylove?Acollarroundtheneck,andacart-whipflourishedovertheback;these,inajustandsteadyhumanhand,werewhatthegodswouldhaveappointedthem;andnowwhen,bylongmisconductandneglect,theyhadswornthemselvesintotheDevil’sregimentsoftheline,andgotthesealofChaosimpressedontheirvisage,itwasverydoubtfulwhethereventhesewouldbeofavailfortheunfortunatecommanderoftwelvehundredmen!By“love,“withouthopeexceptofpeaceablyteasingoakum,orfearexceptofatemporarylossofdinner,hewastoguidethesemen,andwiselyconstrainthem,——whitherward?No-whither:thatwashisgoal,ifyouwillthinkwellofit;thatwasasecondfundamentalfalsityinhisproblem。Falseinthewarpandfalseinthewoof,thoughtoneofus;aboutasfalseaproblemasanyIhaveseenagoodmansetuponlately!Toguidescoundrelsby“love;“thatisafalsewoof,Itakeit,amethodthatwillnotholdtogether;hardlyfortheflowerofmenwilllovealonedo;andforthesedimentandscoundrelismofmenithasnotevenachancetodo。Andthentoguideanyclassofmen,scoundrelorother,_No-whither_,whichwasthispoorCaptain’sproblem,inthisPrisonwithoakumforitsoneelementofhopeoroutlook,howcanthatprosperby“love“orbyanyconceivablemethod?Thatisawarpwhollyfalse。Outofwhichfalsewarp,ororiginallyfalseconditiontostartfrom,combinedanddailywovenintobyyourfalsewoof,ormethodsof“love“andsuchlike,therearisesforourpoorCaptainthefalsestofproblems,andforamanofhisfacultytheunfairestofsituations。Hisproblemwas,nottocommandgoodmentodosomething,butbadmentodowithsuperficialdisguisesnothing。
  Onthewhole,whatabeautifulEstablishmentherefittedupfortheaccommodationofthescoundrel-world,maleandfemale!AsI
  said,noDukeinEnglandis,forallrationalpurposeswhichahumanbeingcanoroughttoaimat,lodged,fed,tended,takencareof,withsuchperfection。Ofpoorcraftsmenthatpayratesandtaxesfromtheirday’swages,ofthedimmillionsthattoilandmoilcontinuallyunderthesun,weknowwhatisthelodgingandthetending。OftheJohnsons,Goldsmiths,lodgedintheirsqualidgarrets;workingoftenenoughamidfamine,darkness,tumult,dustanddesolation,whatwork_they_havetodo:——oftheseasof“spiritualbackwoodsmen,“understoodtobepreappointedtosuchalife,andlikethepigstokilling,“quiteusedtoit,“Isaynothing。ButofDukes,whichDuke,Icouldask,hascocoa,soup,meat,andfoodingeneralmadeready,sofitforkeepinghiminhealth,inabilitytodoandtoenjoy?
  WhichDukehasahousesothoroughlyclean,pureandairy;livesinanelementsowholesome,andperfectlyadaptedtotheusesofsoulandbodyasthissame,whichisprovidedherefortheDevil’sregimentsoftheline?NoDukethatIhaveeverknown。