Машина времени
Chapter 4
forthestrengthofamanandthesoftnessofawoman,theinstitutionofthefamily,andthedifferentiationofoccupationsaremeremilitantnecessitiesofanageofphysicalforce; wherepopulationisbalancedandabundant,muchchildbearingbecomesanevilratherthanablessingtotheState; whereviolencecomesbutrarelyandoff-springaresecure,thereislessnecessity—indeedthereisnonecessity—foranefficientfamily,andthespecializationofthesexeswithreferencetotheirchildren’sneedsdisappears. Weseesomebeginningsofthiseveninourowntime,andinthisfutureageitwascomplete. This,Imustremindyou,wasmyspeculationatthetime. Later,Iwastoappreciatehowfaritfellshortofthereality.
‘WhileIwasmusinguponthesethings,myattentionwasattractedbyaprettylittlestructure,likeawellunderacupola. Ithoughtinatransitorywayoftheoddnessofwellsstillexisting,andthenresumedthethreadofmyspeculations. Therewerenolargebuildingstowardsthetopofthehill,andasmywalkingpowerswereevidentlymiraculous,Iwaspresentlyleftaloneforthefirsttime. WithastrangesenseoffreedomandadventureIpushedonuptothecrest.
‘ThereIfoundaseatofsomeyellowmetalthatIdidnotrecognize,corrodedinplaceswithakindofpinkishrustandhalfsmotheredinsoftmoss,thearm-restscastandfiledintotheresemblanceofgriffins’heads. Isatdownonit,andIsurveyedthebroadviewofouroldworldunderthesunsetofthatlongday. ItwasassweetandfairaviewasIhaveeverseen. Thesunhadalreadygonebelowthehorizonandthewestwasflaminggold,touchedwithsomehorizontalbarsofpurpleandcrimson. BelowwasthevalleyoftheThames,inwhichtheriverlaylikeabandofburnishedsteel.
