Машина времени

           Then,thinkhownarrowthegapbetweenanegroandawhitemanofourowntimes,andhowwidetheintervalbetweenmyselfandtheseoftheGoldenAge! Iwassensibleofmuchwhichwasunseen,andwhichcontributedtomycomfort; butsaveforageneralimpressionofautomaticorganization,IfearIcanconveyverylittleofthedifferencetoyourmind. 

           ‘Inthematterofsepulchre,forinstance,Icouldseenosignsofcrematorianoranythingsuggestiveoftombs. Butitoccurredtomethat,possibly,theremightbecemeteries(orcrematoria)somewherebeyondtherangeofmyexplorings. This,again,wasaquestionIdeliberatelyputtomyself,andmycuriositywasatfirstentirelydefeateduponthepoint. Thethingpuzzledme,andIwasledtomakeafurtherremark,whichpuzzledmestillmore: thatagedandinfirmamongthispeopletherewerenone. 

           ‘Imustconfessthatmysatisfactionwithmyfirsttheoriesofanautomaticcivilizationandadecadenthumanitydidnotlongendure. YetIcouldthinkofnoother. Letmeputmydifficulties. TheseveralbigpalacesIhadexploredweremerelivingplaces,greatdining-hallsandsleepingapartments. Icouldfindnomachinery,noappliancesofanykind. Yetthesepeoplewereclothedinpleasantfabricsthatmustattimesneedrenewal,andtheirsandals,thoughundecorated,werefairlycomplexspecimensofmetalwork. Somehowsuchthingsmustbemade. Andthelittlepeopledisplayednovestigeofacreativetendency. Therewerenoshops,noworkshops,nosignofimportationsamongthem. Theyspentalltheirtimeinplayinggently,inbathingintheriver,inmakingloveinahalf-playfulfashion,ineatingfruitandsleeping. Icouldnotseehowthingswerekeptgoing.