第15章

Everywherehecaughtsnatchesofthatcrudethickdialectthatservedtheilliterateclass，theclass，thatis，beyondthereachofphonographculture，intheircommon—placeintercourse。Everywherethistroubleofdisarmamentwasintheair，withaqualityofimmediatestressofwhichhehadnoinklingduringhisseclusionintheWind—Vanequarter。HeperceivedthatassoonashereturnedhemustdiscussthiswithOstrog，thisandthegreaterissuesofwhichitwastheexpression，inafarmoreconclusivewaythanhehadsofardone。Perpetuallythatnight，evenintheearlierhoursoftheirwanderingsaboutthecity，thespiritofunrestandrevoltswampedhisattention，totheexclusionofcountlessstrangethingshemightotherwisehaveobserved。

Thispreoccupationmadehisimpressionsfragmeary。

Yetamidstsomuchthatwasstrangeandvivid，nosubject，howeverpersonalandinsistent，couldexertundividedsway。Therewerespaceswhentherevolutionarymovementpassedcleanoutofhismind，wasdrawnasidelikeacurtainfrombeforesomestartlingnewaspectofthetime。Helenhadswayedhismindtothisintenseearnestnessofenquiry，buttherecametimeswhenshe，even，recededbeyondhisconsciousthoughts。Atonemoment，forexample，hefoundtheyweretraversingthereligiousquarter，fortheeasytransitaboutthecityaffordedbythemovingwaysrenderedsporadicchurchesandchapelsnolongernecessary——andhisattentionwasvividlyarrestedbythefacadeofoneoftheChristiansects。

Theyweretravellingseatedononeoftheswiftupperways，theplaceleaptuponthematabendandadvancedrapidlytowardsthem。Itwascoveredwithinscriptionsfromtoptobase，invividwhiteandblue，savewhereavastandglaringkinematographtransparencypresentedarealisticNewTestamentscene，andwhereavastfestoonofblacktoshowthatthepopularreligionfollowedthepopularpolitics，hungacrosstheletteringGrahamhadalreadybecomefamiliarwiththephonotypewritingandtheseinscriptionsarrestedhim，beingtohissenseforthemostpartalmostincredibleblasphemy。Amongthelessoffensivewere"SalvationontheFirstFloorandturntotheRight。""PutyourMoneyonyourMaker。""TheSharpestConversioninLondon，ExpertOperators！LookSlippy！"

"WhatChristwouldsaytotheSleeper；——JointheUp—to—dateSaints！""BeaChristian——withouthindrancetoyourpresentOccupation。""AlltheBrightestBishopsontheBenchto—nightandPricesasUsual。"

"BriskBlessingsforBusyBusinessMen。"

"Butthisisappalling！"saidGraham，asthatdeafeningscreamofmercantilepietytoweredabovethem。

"Whatisappalling？"askedhislittleofficer，apparentlyseekingvainlyforanythingunusualinthisshriekingenamel。

"__This！__Surelytheessenceofreligionisreverence。"

"Oh__that！__"AsanolookedatGraham。"Doesitshockyou？"hesaidinthetoneofonewhomakesadiscovery。"Isupposeitwould，ofcourse。Ihadforgotten。Nowadaysthecompetitionforattentionissokeen。andpeoplesimplyhaven’ttheleisuretoattendtotheirsouls，youknow，astheyusedtodo。"Hesmiled。

"IntheolddaysyouhadquietSabbathsandthecountryside。ThoughsomewhereI’vereadofSundayafternoonsthat——"

"But，__that__，"saidGraham，glancingbackattherecedingblueandwhite。"Thatissurelynottheonly——"

"Therearehundredsofdifferentways。But，ofcourse，ifasectdoesn’ttellitdoesn’tpay。Worshiphasmovedwiththetimes。Therearehighclasssectswithquieterways——costlyincenseandpersonalattentionsandallthat。Thesepeopleareextremelypopularandprosperous。TheypayseveraldozenlionsforthoseapartmentstotheCouncil——toyou，Ishouldsay。"

Grahamstillfeltadifficultywiththecoinage，andthismentionofadozenlionsbroughthimabruptlytothatmatter。Inamomentthescreamingtemplesandtheirswarmingtoutswereforgotteninthisnewinterest。Aturnofaphrasesuggested，andananswerconfirmedtheideathatgoldandsilverwerebothdemonetised，thatstampedgoldwhichhadbegunitsreignamidstthemerchantsofPhoeniciawasatlastdethroned。Thechangehadbeengraduatedbutswift，broughtaboutbyanextensionofthesystemofchequesthathadeveninhispreviouslifealreadypracticallysupersededgoldinallthelargerbusinesstransactions。Thecommontrafficofthecity，thecommoncurrencyindeedofalltheworld，wasconductedbymeansofthelittlebrown，greenandpinkcouncilchequesforsmallamounts，printedwithablankpayee。

Asanohadseveralwithhim，andatthefirstopportunityhesuppliedthegapsinhisset。Theywereprintednotontearablepaper，butonasemi—transparentfabricofsilken，flexibility，interwovenwithsilk。

AcrossthemallsprawledafacsimileofGraham’ssignature，hisfirstencounterwiththecurvesandturnsofthatfamiliarautographfortwohundredandthreeyears。

Someintermediaryexperiencesmadenoimpressionsufficientlyvividtopreventthematterofthedisarmamentclaiminghisthoughtsagain；ablurredpictureofaTheosophisttemplethatpromisedMIRACLES

inenormouslettersofunsteadyfirewasleastsubmergedperhaps，butthencametheviewofthedininghallinNorthumberlandAvenue。Thatinterestedhimverygreatly。

BytheenergyandthoughtofAsanohewasabletoviewthisplacefromalittlescreenedgalleryreservedfortheattendantsofthetables。Thebuildingwaspervadedbyadistantmuffledhooting，pipingandbawling，ofwhichhedidnotatfirstunderstandtheimport，butwhichrecalledacertainmysteriousleatheryvoicehehadheardaftertheresumptionofthelightsonthenightofhissolitarywandering。

Hehadgrownaccustomednowtovastnessandgreatnumbersofpeople，neverthelessthisspectacleheldhimforalongtime。Itwasashewatchedthetableservicemoreimmediatelybeneath，andinterspersedwithmanyquestionsandanswersconcerningdetails，thattherealisationofthefullsignificanceofthefeastofseveralthousandpeoplecametohim。

Itwashisconstantsurprisetofindthatpointsthatonemighthaveexpectedtostrikevividlyattheveryoutsetneveroccurredtohimuntilsometrivialdetailsuddenlyshapedasariddleandpointedtotheobviousthinghehadoverlooked。Inthismatter，forinstance，ithadnotoccurredtohimthatthiscontinuityofthecity，thisexclusionofweather，thesevasthallsandways，involvedthedisappearanceofthehousehold；

thatthetypicalVictorian"home，"thelittlebrickcellcontainingkitchenandscullery，livingroomsandbedrooms，had，savefortheruinsthatdiversifiedthecountryside，vanishedassurelyasthewattlehut。Butnowhesawwhathadindeedbeenmanifestfromthefirst，thatLondon，regardedasalivingplace，wasnolongeranaggregationofhousesbutaprodigioushotel，anhotelwithathousandclassesofaccommodation，thousandsofdininghalls，chapels，theatres，marketsandplacesofassembly，asynthesisofenterprises，ofwhichhechieflywastheowner。Peoplehadtheirsleepingrooms，with，itmightbe，antechambers，roomsthatwerealwayssanitaryatleastwhateverthedegreeofcomfortandprivacy，andfortheresttheylivedmuchasmanypeoplehadlivedinthenew—madegianthotelsoftheVictoriandays，eating，reading，thinking，playing，conversing，allinplacesofpublicresort，goingtotheirworkintheindustrialquartersofthecityordoingbusinessintheirofficesinthetradingsection。

HeperceivedatoncehownecessarilythisstateofaffairshaddevelopedfromtheVictoriancity。Thefundamentalreasonforthemoderncityhadeverbeentheeconomyofco—operation。Thechiefthingtopreventthemergingoftheseparatehouseholdsinhisowngenerationwassimplythestillimperfectcivilisationofthepeople，thestrongbarbaricpride，passions，andprejudices，thejealousies，rivalries，andviolenceofthemiddleandlowerclasses，whichhadnecessitatedtheentireseparationofcontiguoushouseholds。Butthechange，thetamingofthepeople，hadbeeninrapidprogresseventhen。Inhisbriefthirtyyearsofpreviouslifehehadseenanenormousextensionofthehabitofconsumingmealsfromhome，thecasuallypatronisedhorse—boxcoffee—househadgivenplacetotheopenandcrowdedAeratedBreadShopforinstance，women’sclubshadhadtheirbeginning，andanimmensedevelopmentofreadingrooms，loungesandlibrarieshadwitnessedtothegrowthofsocialconfidence。Thesepromiseshadbythistimeattainedtotheircompletefulfillment。Thelockedandbarredhouseholdhadpassedaway。

Thesepeoplebelowhimbelonged，helearnt，tothelowermiddleclass，theclassjustabovethebluelabourers，aclasssoaccustomedintheVictorianperiodtofeedwitheveryprecautionofprivacythatitsmembers，whenoccasionconfrontedthemwithapublicmeal，wouldusuallyhidetheirembarrassmentunderhorseplayoramarkedlymilitantdemeanour。

Butthesegaily，iflightlydressedpeoplebelow，albeitvivacious，hurriedanduncommunicative，weredexterouslymanneredandcertainlyquiteattheireasewithregardtooneanother。

Henotedaslightsignificantthing；thetable，asfarashecouldsee，wasandremaineddelightfullyneat，therewasnothingtoparalleltheconfusion，thebroadcastcrumbs，thesplashesofviandandcondiment，theoverturneddrinkanddisplacedornaments，whichwouldhavemarkedthestormyprogressoftheVictorianmeal。

Thetablefurniturewasverydifferent。Therewerenoornaments，noflowers，andthetablewaswithoutacloth，beingmade，helearnt，ofasolidsubstancehavingthetextureandappearanceofdamask。Hediscernedthatthisdamasksubstancewaspatternedwithgracefullydesignedtradeadvertisements。

Inasortofrecessbeforeeachdinerwasacompleteapparatusofporcelainandmetal。Therewasoneplateofwhiteporcelain，andbymeansoftapsforhotandcoldvolatilefluidsthedinerwashedthishimselfbetweenthecourses；healsowashedhiselegantwhitemetalknifeandforkandspoonasoccasionrequired。

Soupandthechemicalwinethatwasthecommondrinkweredeliveredbysimilartaps，andtheremainingcoverstravelledautomaticallyintastefullyarrangeddishesdownthetablealongsilverrails。Thedinerstoppedtheseandhelpedhimselfathisdiscretion。

Theyappearedatalittledooratoneendofthetable，andvanishedattheother。Thatturnofdemocraticsentimentindecay，thatuglyprideofmenialsouls，whichrendersequalslothtowaitononeanother，wasverystronghefoundamongthesepeople。Hewassopreoccupiedwiththesedetailsthatitwasonlyjustashewasleavingtheplacethatheremarkedthehugeadvertisementdioramasthatmarchedmajesticallyalongtheupperwallsandproclaimedthemostremarkablecommodities。

Beyondthisplacetheycameintoacrowdedhall，andhediscoveredthecauseofthenoisethathadperplexedhim。Theypausedataturnstileatwhichapaymentwasmade。

Graham’sattentionwasimmediatelyarrestedbyaviolent，loudhoot，followedbyavastleatheryvoice。

"TheMasterissleepingpeacefully，"itvociferately。

"Heisinexcellenthealth。Heisgoingtodevotetherestofhislifetoaeronautics。Hesayswomenaremorebeautifulthanever。Galloop！Wow！Ourwonderfulcivilisationastonisheshimbeyondmeasure。

Beyondallmeasure。Galloop。HeputsgreattrustinBossOstrog，absoluteconfidenceinBossOstrog。

Ostrogistobehischiefminister；isauthorisedtoremoveorreinstatepublicofficers——allpatronagewillbeinhishands。AllpatronageinthehandsofBossOstrog！TheCouncillorshavebeensentbacktotheirownprisonabovetheCouncilHouse。"

Grahamstoppedatthefirstsentence，and，lookingup，beheldafoolishtrumpetfacefromwhichthiswasbrayed。ThiswastheGeneralIntelligenceMachine。

Foraspaceitseemedtobegatheringbreath，andaregularthrobbingfromitscylindricalbodywasaudible。Thenittrumpeted"Galloop，Galloop，"andbrokeoutagain。

"Parisisnowpacified。Allresistanceisover。

Galloop！Theblackpoliceholdeverypositionofimportanceinthecity。Theyfoughtwithgreatbravery，singingsongswritteninpraiseoftheirancestorsbythepoetKipling。Onceortwicetheygotoutofhand，andtorturedandmutilatedwoundedandcapturedinsurgents，menandwomen。Moral——don’tgorebelling。Haha！Galloop，Galloop！Theyarelivelyfellows。Livelybravefellows。Letthisbealessontothedisorderlybanderlogofthiscity。Yah！

Banderlog！Filthoftheearth！Galloop，Galloop！"

Thevoiceceased。Therewasaconfusedmurmurofdisapprovalamongthecrowd。"Damnedniggers。"

Amanbegantoharangnenearthem。"IsthistheMaster’sdoing，brothers？IsthistheMaster’sdoing？"

"Blackpolice！"saidGraham。"Whatisthat？

Youdon’tmean——"

Asanotouchedhisarmandgavehimawarninglook，andforthwithanotherofthesemechanismsI

screameddeafeninglyandgavetongueinashrillvoice。

"Yahaha，Yahah，Yap！Hearalivepaperyelp！

Livepaper。Yaha！ShockingoutrageinParis。

Yahahah！TheParisiansexasperatedbytheblackpolicetothepitchofassassination。Dreadfulreprisals。Savagetimescomeagain。Blood！Blood！

Yaha！"ThenearerBabbleMachinehootedstupendously，"Galloop，Galloop，"drownedtheendofthesentence，andproceededinaratherflatternotethanbeforewithnovelcommentsonthehorrorsofdisorder。

"Lawandordermustbemaintained，"saidthenearerBabbleMachine。

"But，"beganGraham。

"Don’taskquestionshere，"saidAsano，"oryouwillbeinvolvedinanargument。"

"Thenletusgoon，"saidGraham，"forIwanttoknowmoreofthis。"

Asheandhiscompanionpushedtheirwaythroughtheexcitedcrowdthatswarmedbeneaththesevoices，towardstheexit，Grahamconceivedmoreclearlytheproportionandfeaturesofthisroom。Altogether，greatandsmall，theremusthavebeennearlyathousandoftheseerections，piping，hooting，bawlingandgabblinginthatgreatspace，eachwithitscrowdofexcitedlisteners，themajorityofthemmendressedinbluecanvas。Therewereallsizesofmachines，fromthelittlegossippingmechanismsthatchuckledoutmechanicalsarcasminoddcorners，throughanumberofgradestosuchfifty—footgiantsasthatwhichhadfirsthootedoverGraham。

Thisplacewasunusuallycrowded，becauseoftheintensepublicinterestinthecourseofaffairsinParis。

EvidentlythestrugglehadbeenmuchmoresavagethanOstroghadrepresentedit。Allthemechanismswerediscoursinguponthattopic，andtherepetitionofthepeoplemadethehugehivebuzzwithsuchphrasesas"Lynchedpolicemen，""Womenburntalive，""FuzzyWuzzy。""ButdoestheMasterallowsuchthings？"askedamannearhim。"IsthisthebeginningoftheMaster’srule？"

Is__this__thebeginningoftheMaster’srule？Foralongtimeafterhehadlefttheplace，thehooting，whistlingandbrayingofthemachinespursuedhim；

"Galloop，Galloop，""Yahahah，Yaha，Yap！Yaha！"

IsthisthebeginningoftheMaster’srule？

DirectlytheywereoutuponthewayshebegantoquestionAsanocloselyonthenatureoftheParisianstruggle。"Thisdisarmament！Whatwastheirtrouble？Whatdoesitallmean？"Asanoseemedchieflyanxioustoreassurehimthatitwas"allright。"

"Buttheseoutrages！""Youcannothaveanomelette，"

saidAsano，"withoutbreakingeggs。Itisonlytheroughpeople。Onlyinonepartofthecity。Alltherestisallright。TheParisianlabourersarethewildestintheworld，exceptours。"

"What！theLondoners？"

"No，theJapanese。Theyhavetobekeptinorder。"

"Butburningwomenalive！"

"ACommune！"saidAsano。"Theywouldrobyouofyourproperty。Theywoulddoawaywithpropertyandgivetheworldovertomobrule。YouareMaster，theworldisyours。ButtherewillbenoCommunehere。Thereisnoneedforblackpolicehere。

"Andeveryconsiderationhasbeenshown。Itistheirownnegroes——Frenchspeakingnegroes。Senegalregiments，andNigerandTimbuctoo。"

"Regiments？"saidGraham，"Ithoughttherewasonlyone——。"

"No，"saidAsano，andglancedathim。"Thereismorethanone。"

Grahamfeltunpleasantlyhelpless。

"Ididnotthink，"hebeganandstoppedabruptlyHewentoffatatangenttoaskforinformationabouttheseBabbleMachines。Forthemostpart，thecrowdpresenthadbeenshabbilyorevenraggedlydressed，andGrahamlearntthatsofarasthemoreprosperousclasseswereconcerned，inallthemorecomfortableprivateapartmentsofthecitywerefixedBabbleMachinesthatwouldspeakdirectlyaleverwaspulled。ThetenantoftheapartmentcouldconnectthiswiththecablesofanyofthegreatNewsSyndicatesthathepreferred。Whenhelearntthispresently，hedemandedthereasonoftheirabsencefromhisownsuiteofapartments。Asanostared。"Ineverthought，"hesaid。"Ostrogmusthavehadthemremoved。"

Grahamstared。"HowwasItoknow？"heexclaimed。

"Perhapshethoughttheywouldannoyyou，"saidAsano。

"TheymustbereplaceddirectlyIreturn，"saidGrahamafteraninterval。

Hefoundadifficultyinunderstandingthatthisnewsroomandthedininghallwerenotgreatcentralplaces，thatsuchestablishmentswererepeatedalmostbeyondcountingalloverthecity。Buteverandagainduringthenight’sexpeditionhisears，insomenewquarterwouldpickoutfromthetumultofthewaysthepeculiarhootingoftheorganofBossOstrog，"Galloop，Galloop！"ortheshrill"Yahaha，Yaha，Yap！——Hearalivepaperyelp！"ofitschiefrival。

Repeated，too，everywhere，weresuch__creches__astheonehenowentered。Itwasreachedbyalift，andbyaglassbridgethatflungacrossthedininghallandtraversedthewaysataslightupwardangle。ToenterthefirstsectionoftheplacenecessitatedtheuseofhissolventsignatureunderAsano’sdirection。

Theywereimmediatelyattendedtobyamaninavioletrobeandgoldclasp，theinsigniaofpractisingmedicalmen。Heperceivedfromthisman’smannerthathisidentitywasknown，andproceededtoaskquestionsonthestrangearrangementsoftheplacewithoutreserve。

Oneithersideofthepassage，whichwassilentandpadded，asiftodeadenthefootfall，werenarrowlittledoors，theirsizeandarrangementsuggestiveofthecellsofaVictorianprison。Buttheupperportionofeachdoorwasofthesamegreenishtransparentstuffthathadenclosedhimathisawakening，andwithin，dimlyseen，lay，ineverycase，averyyoungbabyinalittlenestofwadding。Elaborateapparatuswatchedtheatmosphereandrangabellfarawayinthecentralofficeattheslightestdeparturefromtheoptimumoftemperatureandmoisture。A

systemofsuch__creches__hadalmostentirelyreplacedthehazardousadventuresoftheold—worldnursing。

TheattendantpresentlycalledGraham’sattentiontothewetnurses，avistaofmechanicalfigures，witharms，shouldersandbreastsofastonishinglyrealisticmodelling，articulation，andtexture，butmerebrasstripodsbelow，andhavingintheplaceoffeaturesaflatdiscbearingadvertisementslikelytobeofinteresttomothers。

OfallthestrangethingsthatGrahamcameuponthatnight，nonejarredmoreuponhishabitsofthoughtthanthisplace。Thespectacleofthelittlepinkcreatures，theirfeeblelimbsswayinguncertainlyinvaguefirstmovements，leftalone，withoutembraceorendearment，waswhollyrepugnanttohim。Theattendantdoctorwasofadifferentopinion。HisstatisticalevidenceshowedbeyonddisputethatintheVictoriantimesthemostdangerouspassageoflifewasthearmsofthemother，thattherehumanmortalityhadeverbeenmostterrible。Ontheotherhandthis__creche__company，theInternationalCrecheSyndicate，lostnotone—halfpercentofthemillionbabiesorsothatformeditspeculiarcare。ButGraham’sprejudicewastoostrongevenforthosefigures。

Alongoneofthemanypassagesoftheplacetheypresentlycameuponayoungcoupleintheusualbluecanvaspeeringthroughthetransparencyandlaughinghystericallyatthebaldheadoftheirfirst—born。

Graham’sfacemusthaveshowedhisestimateofthem，fortheirmerrimentceasedandtheylookedabashed。

Butthislittleincidentaccentuatedhissuddenrealisationofthegulfbetweenhishabitsofthoughtandthewaysofthenewage。HepassedontothecrawlingroomsandtheKindergarten，perplexedanddistressed。

Hefoundtheendlesslongplayroomswereempty！thelatter—daychildrenatleaststillspenttheirnightsinsleep。Astheywentthroughthese，thelittleofficerpointedoutthenatureofthetoys，developmentsofthosedevisedbythatinspiredsentimentalistFroebel。Therewerenurseshere，butmuchwasdonebymachinesthatsanganddancedanddandled。

Grahamwasstillnotclearuponmanypoints。

"Butsomanyorphans，"hesaidperplexed，revertingtoafirstmisconception，andlearntagainthattheywerenotorphans。

Sosoonastheyhadleftthe__creche__hebegantospeakofthehorrorthebabiesintheirincubatingcaseshadcausedhim。"Ismotherhoodgone？"hesaid。"Wasitacant？Surelyitwasaninstinct。

Thisseemssounnatural——abominablealmost。"

"Alonghereweshallcometothedancingplace，"

saidAsanobywayofreply。"Itissuretobecrowded。Inspiteofallthepoliticalunrestitwillbecrowded。Thewomentakenogreatinterestinpolitics——exceptafewhereandthere。Youwillseethemothers——mostyoungwomeninLondonaremothers。

Inthatclassitisconsideredacreditablethingtohaveonechild——aproofofanimation。Fewmiddleclasspeoplehavemorethanone。WiththeLabourCompanyitisdifferent。AsformotherhoodTheystilltakeanimmenseprideinthechildren。

Theycomeheretolookatthemquiteoften。"

"Thendoyoumeanthatthepopulationoftheworld——？"

"Isfalling？Yes。ExceptamongthepeopleundertheLabourCompany。Theyarereckless——。"

Theairwassuddenlydancingwithmusic，anddownawaytheyapproachedobliquely，setwithgorgeouspillarsasitseemedofclearamethyst，flowedaconcourseofgaypeopleandatumultofmerrycriesandlaughter。Hesawcurledheads，wreathedbrows，andahappyintricateflutterofgambogepasstriumphantacrossthepicture。

"Youwillsee，"saidAsanowithafaintsmile"Theworldhaschanged。Inamomentyouwillseethemothersofthenewage。Comethisway。Weshallseethoseyonderagainverysoon。"

Theyascendedacertainheightinaswiftlift，andchangedtoaslowerone。Astheywentonthemusicgrewuponthem，untilitwasnearandfullandsplendid，and，movingwithitsgloriousintricaciestheycoulddistinguishthebeatofinnumerabledancingfeet。Theymadeapaymentataturnstile，andemergeduponthewidegallerythatoverlookedthedancingplace，anduponthefullenchantmentofsoundandsight。

"Here，"saidAsano，"arethefathersandmothersofthelittleonesyousaw。"

ThehallwasnotsorichlydecoratedasthatoftheAtlas，butsavingthat，itwas，foritssize，themostsplendidGrahamhadseen。Thebeautifulwhitelimbedfiguresthatsupportedthegalleriesremindedhimoncemoreoftherestoredmagnificenceofsculpture；

theyseemedtowritheinengagingattitudes，theirfaceslaughed。Thesourceofthemusicthatfilledtheplacewashidden，andthewholevastshiningfloorwasthickwithdancingcouples。"Lookatthem，"saidthelittleofficer，"seehowmuchtheyshowofmotherhood。"

Thegallerytheystooduponranalongtheupperedgeofahugescreenthatcutthedancinghallononesidefromasortofouterhallthatshowedthroughbroadarchestheincessantonwardrushofthecityways。Inthisouterhallwasagreatcrowdoflessbrilliantlydressedpeople，asnumerousalmostasthosewhodancedwithin，thegreatmajoritywearingtheblueuniformoftheLabourCompanythatwasnowsofamiliartoGraham。Toopoortopasstheturnstilestothefestival，theywereyetunabletokeepawayfromthesoundofitsseductions。Someofthemevenhadclearedspaces，andweredancingalso，flutteringtheirragsintheair。Someshoutedastheydanced，jestsandoddallusionsGrahamdidnotunderstand。

Oncesomeonebeganwhistlingtherefrainoftherevolutionarysong，butitseemedasthoughthatbeginningwaspromptlysuppressed。ThecornerwasdarkandGrahamcouldnotsee。Heturnedtothehallagain。Abovethecaryatidaeweremarblebustsofmenwhomthatageesteemedgreatmoralemancipatorsandpioneers；forthemostparttheirnameswerestrangetoGraham，thoughherecognisedGrantAllen，LeGallienne，Nietzsche，ShelleyandGoodwin。

Greatblackfestoonsandeloquentsentimentsreinforcedthehugeinscriptionthatpartiallydefacedtheupperendofthedancingplace，andassertedthat"TheFestivaloftheAwakening"wasinprogress。

"Myriadsaretakingholidayorstayingfromworkbecauseofthat，quiteapartfromthelabourerswhorefusetogoback，"saidAsano。"Thesepeoplearealwaysreadyforholidays。"