Chapter 10
AbouteightornineinthemorningIcametothesameseatofyellowmetalfromwhichIhadviewedtheworldupontheeveningofmyarrival. Ithoughtofmyhastyconclusionsuponthateveningandcouldnotrefrainfromlaughingbitterlyatmyconfidence. Herewasthesamebeautifulscene,thesameabundantfoliage,thesamesplendidpalacesandmagnificentruins,thesamesilverriverrunningbetweenitsfertilebanks. Thegayrobesofthebeautifulpeoplemovedhitherandthitheramongthetrees. SomewerebathinginexactlytheplacewhereIhadsavedWeena,andthatsuddenlygavemeakeenstabofpain. AndlikeblotsuponthelandscaperosethecupolasabovethewaystotheUnder-world. IunderstoodnowwhatallthebeautyoftheOver-worldpeoplecovered. Verypleasantwastheirday,aspleasantasthedayofthecattleinthefield. Likethecattle,theyknewofnoenemiesandprovidedagainstnoneeds. Andtheirendwasthesame.
‘Igrievedtothinkhowbriefthedreamofthehumanintellecthadbeen. Ithadcommittedsuicide. Ithadsetitselfsteadfastlytowardscomfortandease,abalancedsocietywithsecurityandpermanencyasitswatchword,ithadattaineditshopes—tocometothisatlast. Once,lifeandpropertymusthavereachedalmostabsolutesafety. Therichhadbeenassuredofhiswealthandcomfort,thetoilerassuredofhislifeandwork. Nodoubtinthatperfectworldtherehadbeennounemployedproblem,nosocialquestionleftunsolved. Andagreatquiethadfollowed.
‘Itisalawofnatureweoverlook,thatintellectualversatilityisthecompensationforchange,danger,andtrouble. Ananimalperfectlyinharmonywithitsenvironmentisaperfectmechanism. Natureneverappealstointelligenceuntilhabitandinstinctareuseless. Thereisnointelligencewherethereisnochangeandnoneedofchange. Onlythoseanimalspartakeofintelligencethathavetomeetahugevarietyofneedsanddangers.