English
'Inanothermomentwewerestandingfacetoface,Iandthisfragilethingoutoffuturity.
Hecamestraightuptomeandlaughedintomyeyes.
Theabsencefromhisbearingofanysignoffearstruckmeatonce.
Thenheturnedtothetwootherswhowerefollowinghimandspoketotheminastrangeandverysweetandliquidtongue.
'Therewereotherscoming,andpresentlyalittlegroupofperhapseightortenoftheseexquisitecreatureswereaboutme.Oneofthemaddressedme.
Itcameintomyhead,oddlyenough,thatmyvoicewastooharshanddeepforthem.
SoIshookmyhead,and,pointingtomyears,shookitagain.
Hecameastepforward,hesitated,andthentouchedmyhand.
ThenIfeltothersoftlittletentaclesuponmybackandshoulders.TheywantedtomakesureIwasreal.
Therewasnothinginthisatallalarming.
Indeed,therewassomethingintheseprettylittlepeoplethatinspiredconfidence—agracefulgentleness,acertainchildlikeease.
Andbesides,theylookedsofrailthatIcouldfancymyselfflingingthewholedozenofthemaboutlikenine–pins.
ButImadeasuddenmotiontowarnthemwhenIsawtheirlittlepinkhandsfeelingattheTimeMachine.
Happilythen,whenitwasnottoolate,IthoughtofadangerIhadhithertoforgotten,andreachingoverthebarsofthemachineIunscrewedthelittleleversthatwouldsetitinmotion,andputtheseinmypocket.
ThenIturnedagaintoseewhatIcoulddointhewayofcommunication.
'Andthen,lookingmorenearlyintotheirfeatures,IsawsomefurtherpeculiaritiesintheirDresden–chinatypeofprettiness.
Theirhair,whichwasuniformlycurly,cametoasharpendattheneckandcheek;therewasnotthefaintestsuggestionofitontheface,andtheirearsweresingularlyminute.
Themouthsweresmall,withbrightred,ratherthinlips,andthelittlechinsrantoapoint.
Theeyeswerelargeandmild;and—thismayseemegotismonmypart—IfanciedeventhattherewasacertainlackoftheinterestImighthaveexpectedinthem.
'Astheymadenoefforttocommunicatewithme,butsimplystoodroundmesmilingandspeakinginsoftcooingnotestoeachother,Ibegantheconversation.
IpointedtotheTimeMachineandtomyself.
Thenhesitatingforamomenthowtoexpresstime,Ipointedtothesun.
Atonceaquaintlyprettylittlefigureinchequeredpurpleandwhitefollowedmygesture,andthenastonishedmebyimitatingthesoundofthunder.
'ForamomentIwasstaggered,thoughtheimportofhisgesturewasplainenough.
Thequestionhadcomeintomymindabruptly:werethesecreaturesfools?
Youmayhardlyunderstandhowittookme.
YouseeIhadalwaysanticipatedthatthepeopleoftheyearEightHundredandTwoThousandoddwouldbeincrediblyinfrontofusinknowledge,art,everything.
Thenoneofthemsuddenlyaskedmeaquestionthatshowedhimtobeontheintellectuallevelofoneofourfive–year–oldchildren—askedme,infact,ifIhadcomefromthesuninathunderstorm!
ItletloosethejudgmentIhadsuspendedupontheirclothes,theirfraillightlimbs,andfragilefeatures.
Aflowofdisappointmentrushedacrossmymind.
ForamomentIfeltthatIhadbuilttheTimeMachineinvain.
'Inodded,pointedtothesun,andgavethemsuchavividrenderingofathunderclapasstartledthem.
Theyallwithdrewapaceorsoandbowed.
Thencameonelaughingtowardsme,carryingachainofbeautifulflowersaltogethernewtome,andputitaboutmyneck.
Theideawasreceivedwithmelodiousapplause;andpresentlytheywereallrunningtoandfroforflowers,andlaughinglyflingingthemuponmeuntilIwasalmostsmotheredwithblossom.
Youwhohaveneverseenthelikecanscarcelyimaginewhatdelicateandwonderfulflowerscountlessyearsofculturehadcreated.
Thensomeonesuggestedthattheirplaythingshouldbeexhibitedinthenearestbuilding,andsoIwasledpastthesphinxofwhitemarble,whichhadseemedtowatchmeallthewhilewithasmileatmyastonishment,towardsavastgreyedificeoffrettedstone.
AsIwentwiththemthememoryofmyconfidentanticipationsofaprofoundlygraveandintellectualposteritycame,withirresistiblemerriment,tomymind.
'Thebuildinghadahugeentry,andwasaltogetherofcolossaldimensions.
Iwasnaturallymostoccupiedwiththegrowingcrowdoflittlepeople,andwiththebigopenportalsthatyawnedbeforemeshadowyandmysterious.
MygeneralimpressionoftheworldIsawovertheirheadswasatangledwasteofbeautifulbushesandflowers,alongneglectedandyetweedlessgarden.
Isawanumberoftallspikesofstrangewhiteflowers,measuringafootperhapsacrossthespreadofthewaxenpetals.
Theygrewscattered,asifwild,amongthevariegatedshrubs,but,asIsay,Ididnotexaminethemcloselyatthistime.
TheTimeMachinewasleftdesertedontheturfamongtherhododendrons.
'Thearchofthedoorwaywasrichlycarved,butnaturallyIdidnotobservethecarvingverynarrowly,thoughIfanciedIsawsuggestionsofoldPhoeniciandecorationsasIpassedthrough,anditstruckmethattheywereverybadlybrokenandweather–worn.
Severalmorebrightlycladpeoplemetmeinthedoorway,andsoweentered,I,dressedindingynineteenth–centurygarments,lookinggrotesqueenough,garlandedwithflowers,andsurroundedbyaneddyingmassofbright,soft–coloredrobesandshiningwhitelimbs,inamelodiouswhirloflaughterandlaughingspeech.
'Thebigdoorwayopenedintoaproportionatelygreathallhungwithbrown.
Theroofwasinshadow,andthewindows,partiallyglazedwithcolouredglassandpartiallyunglazed,admittedatemperedlight.
Thefloorwasmadeupofhugeblocksofsomeveryhardwhitemetal,notplatesnorslabs—blocks,anditwassomuchworn,asIjudgedbythegoingtoandfroofpastgenerations,astobedeeplychannelledalongthemorefrequentedways.
Transversetothelengthwereinnumerabletablesmadeofslabsofpolishedstone,raisedperhapsafootfromthefloor,anduponthesewereheapsoffruits.
SomeIrecognizedasakindofhypertrophiedraspberryandorange,butforthemostparttheywerestrange.
'Betweenthetableswasscatteredagreatnumberofcushions.
Uponthesemyconductorsseatedthemselves,signingformetodolikewise.
Withaprettyabsenceofceremonytheybegantoeatthefruitwiththeirhands,flingingpeelandstalks,andsoforth,intotheroundopeningsinthesidesofthetables.
Iwasnotloathtofollowtheirexample,forIfeltthirstyandhungry.
AsIdidsoIsurveyedthehallatmyleisure.
'Andperhapsthethingthatstruckmemostwasitsdilapidatedlook.
Thestained–glasswindows,whichdisplayedonlyageometricalpattern,werebrokeninmanyplaces,andthecurtainsthathungacrossthelowerendwerethickwithdust.
Anditcaughtmyeyethatthecornerofthemarbletablenearmewasfractured.
Nevertheless,thegeneraleffectwasextremelyrichandpicturesque.
Therewere,perhaps,acoupleofhundredpeopledininginthehall,andmostofthem,seatedasneartomeastheycouldcome,werewatchingmewithinterest,theirlittleeyesshiningoverthefruittheywereeating.
Allwerecladinthesamesoftandyetstrong,silkymaterial.
'Fruit,bytheby,wasalltheirdiet.Thesepeopleoftheremotefuturewerestrictvegetarians,andwhileIwaswiththem,inspiteofsomecarnalcravings,Ihadtobefrugivorousalso.
Indeed,Ifoundafterwardsthathorses,cattle,sheep,dogs,hadfollowedtheIchthyosaurusintoextinction.
Butthefruitswereverydelightful;one,inparticular,thatseemedtobeinseasonallthetimeIwasthere—aflourythinginathree–sidedhusk—wasespeciallygood,andImadeitmystaple.
AtfirstIwaspuzzledbyallthesestrangefruits,andbythestrangeflowersIsaw,butlaterIbegantoperceivetheirimport.
'However,Iamtellingyouofmyfruitdinnerinthedistantfuturenow.
Sosoonasmyappetitewasalittlechecked,Ideterminedtomakearesoluteattempttolearnthespeechofthesenewmenofmine.Clearlythatwasthenextthingtodo.
Thefruitsseemedaconvenientthingtobeginupon,andholdingoneoftheseupIbeganaseriesofinterrogativesoundsandgestures.
Ihadsomeconsiderabledifficultyinconveyingmymeaning.
Atfirstmyeffortsmetwithastareofsurpriseorinextinguishablelaughter,butpresentlyafair–hairedlittlecreatureseemedtograspmyintentionandrepeatedaname.
Theyhadtochatterandexplainthebusinessatgreatlengthtoeachother,andmyfirstattemptstomaketheexquisitelittlesoundsoftheirlanguagecausedanimmenseamountofamusement.
However,Ifeltlikeaschoolmasteramidstchildren,andpersisted,andpresentlyIhadascoreofnounsubstantivesatleastatmycommand;andthenIgottodemonstrativepronouns,andeventheverb"toeat."
Butitwasslowwork,andthelittlepeoplesoontiredandwantedtogetawayfrommyinterrogations,soIdetermined,ratherofnecessity,toletthemgivetheirlessonsinlittledoseswhentheyfeltinclined.
AndverylittledosesIfoundtheywerebeforelong,forInevermetpeoplemoreindolentormoreeasilyfatigued.
'AqueerthingIsoondiscoveredaboutmylittlehosts,andthatwastheirlackofinterest.
Theywouldcometomewitheagercriesofastonishment,likechildren,butlikechildrentheywouldsoonstopexaminingmeandwanderawayaftersomeothertoy.
Thedinnerandmyconversationalbeginningsended,Inotedforthefirsttimethatalmostallthosewhohadsurroundedmeatfirstweregone.
Itisodd,too,howspeedilyIcametodisregardtheselittlepeople.
Iwentoutthroughtheportalintothesunlitworldagainassoonasmyhungerwassatisfied.
Iwascontinuallymeetingmoreofthesemenofthefuture,whowouldfollowmealittledistance,chatterandlaughaboutme,and,havingsmiledandgesticulatedinafriendlyway,leavemeagaintomyowndevices.
'ThecalmofeveningwasupontheworldasIemergedfromthegreathall,andthescenewaslitbythewarmglowofthesettingsun.Atfirstthingswereveryconfusing.
EverythingwassoentirelydifferentfromtheworldIhadknown—eventheflowers.
ThebigbuildingIhadleftwassituatedontheslopeofabroadrivervalley,buttheThameshadshiftedperhapsamilefromitspresentposition.
Iresolvedtomounttothesummitofacrest,perhapsamileandahalfaway,fromwhichIcouldgetawiderviewofthisourplanetintheyearEightHundredandTwoThousandSevenHundredandOneA.D.Forthat,Ishouldexplain,wasthedatethelittledialsofmymachinerecorded.
'AsIwalkedIwaswatchingforeveryimpressionthatcouldpossiblyhelptoexplaintheconditionofruinoussplendourinwhichIfoundtheworld—forruinousitwas.
Alittlewayupthehill,forinstance,wasagreatheapofgranite,boundtogetherbymassesofaluminium,avastlabyrinthofprecipitouswallsandcrumpledheaps,amidstwhichwerethickheapsofverybeautifulpagoda–likeplants—nettlespossibly—butwonderfullytintedwithbrownabouttheleaves,andincapableofstinging.
Itwasevidentlythederelictremainsofsomevaststructure,towhatendbuiltIcouldnotdetermine.
ItwasherethatIwasdestined,atalaterdate,tohaveaverystrangeexperience—thefirstintimationofastillstrangerdiscovery—butofthatIwillspeakinitsproperplace.
'Lookingroundwithasuddenthought,fromaterraceonwhichIrestedforawhile,Irealizedthattherewerenosmallhousestobeseen.
Apparentlythesinglehouse,andpossiblyeventhehousehold,hadvanished.
Hereandthereamongthegreenerywerepalace–likebuildings,butthehouseandthecottage,whichformsuchcharacteristicfeaturesofourownEnglishlandscape,haddisappeared.
'"Communism,"saidItomyself.
'Andontheheelsofthatcameanotherthought.
Ilookedatthehalf–dozenlittlefiguresthatwerefollowingme.
Then,inaflash,Iperceivedthatallhadthesameformofcostume,thesamesofthairlessvisage,andthesamegirlishrotundityoflimb.
Itmayseemstrange,perhaps,thatIhadnotnoticedthisbefore.Buteverythingwassostrange.Now,Isawthefactplainlyenough.
Incostume,andinallthedifferencesoftextureandbearingthatnowmarkoffthesexesfromeachother,thesepeopleofthefuturewerealike.
Andthechildrenseemedtomyeyestobebuttheminiaturesoftheirparents.
Ijudged,then,thatthechildrenofthattimewereextremelyprecocious,physicallyatleast,andIfoundafterwardsabundantverificationofmyopinion.
'Seeingtheeaseandsecurityinwhichthesepeoplewereliving,Ifeltthatthiscloseresemblanceofthesexeswasafterallwhatonewouldexpect;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.
Ihavealreadyspokenofthegreatpalacesdottedaboutamongthevariegatedgreenery,someinruinsandsomestilloccupied.
Hereandthereroseawhiteorsilveryfigureinthewastegardenoftheearth,hereandtherecamethesharpverticallineofsomecupolaorobelisk.
Therewerenohedges,nosignsofproprietaryrights,noevidencesofagriculture;thewholeearthhadbecomeagarden.
'Sowatching,IbegantoputmyinterpretationuponthethingsIhadseen,andasitshapeditselftomethatevening,myinterpretationwassomethinginthisway.
(AfterwardsIfoundIhadgotonlyahalf–truth—oronlyaglimpseofonefacetofthetruth.)
'ItseemedtomethatIhadhappeneduponhumanityuponthewane.
Theruddysunsetsetmethinkingofthesunsetofmankind.
ForthefirsttimeIbegantorealizeanoddconsequenceofthesocialeffortinwhichweareatpresentengaged.
Andyet,cometothink,itisalogicalconsequenceenough.
Strengthistheoutcomeofneed;securitysetsapremiumonfeebleness.
Theworkofamelioratingtheconditionsoflife—thetruecivilizingprocessthatmakeslifemoreandmoresecure—hadgonesteadilyontoaclimax.
OnetriumphofaunitedhumanityoverNaturehadfollowedanother.
Thingsthatarenowmeredreamshadbecomeprojectsdeliberatelyputinhandandcarriedforward.AndtheharvestwaswhatIsaw!
'Afterall,thesanitationandtheagricultureofto–dayarestillintherudimentarystage.
Thescienceofourtimehasattackedbutalittledepartmentofthefieldofhumandisease,butevenso,itspreadsitsoperationsverysteadilyandpersistently.
Ouragricultureandhorticulturedestroyaweedjusthereandthereandcultivateperhapsascoreorsoofwholesomeplants,leavingthegreaternumbertofightoutabalanceastheycan.
Weimproveourfavouriteplantsandanimals—andhowfewtheyare—graduallybyselectivebreeding;nowanewandbetterpeach,nowaseedlessgrape,nowasweeterandlargerflower,nowamoreconvenientbreedofcattle.
Weimprovethemgradually,becauseouridealsarevagueandtentative,andourknowledgeisverylimited;becauseNature,too,isshyandslowinourclumsyhands.
Somedayallthiswillbebetterorganized,andstillbetter.
Thatisthedriftofthecurrentinspiteoftheeddies.
Thewholeworldwillbeintelligent,educated,andco–operating;thingswillmovefasterandfastertowardsthesubjugationofNature.
Intheend,wiselyandcarefullyweshallreadjustthebalanceofanimalandvegetablelifetosuitourhumanneeds.
'Thisadjustment,Isay,musthavebeendone,anddonewell;doneindeedforallTime,inthespaceofTimeacrosswhichmymachinehadleaped.
Theairwasfreefromgnats,theearthfromweedsorfungi;everywherewerefruitsandsweetanddelightfulflowers;brilliantbutterfliesflewhitherandthither.
Theidealofpreventivemedicinewasattained.Diseaseshadbeenstampedout.
Isawnoevidenceofanycontagiousdiseasesduringallmystay.
AndIshallhavetotellyoulaterthateventheprocessesofputrefactionanddecayhadbeenprofoundlyaffectedbythesechanges.
'Socialtriumphs,too,hadbeeneffected.
Isawmankindhousedinsplendidshelters,gloriouslyclothed,andasyetIhadfoundthemengagedinnotoil.
Therewerenosignsofstruggle,neithersocialnoreconomicalstruggle.
Theshop,theadvertisement,traffic,allthatcommercewhichconstitutesthebodyofourworld,wasgone.
ItwasnaturalonthatgoldeneveningthatIshouldjumpattheideaofasocialparadise.
Thedifficultyofincreasingpopulationhadbeenmet,Iguessed,andpopulationhadceasedtoincrease.
'Butwiththischangeinconditioncomesinevitablyadaptationstothechange.
What,unlessbiologicalscienceisamassoferrors,isthecauseofhumanintelligenceandvigour?
Hardshipandfreedom:conditionsunderwhichtheactive,strong,andsubtlesurviveandtheweakergotothewall;conditionsthatputapremiumupontheloyalallianceofcapablemen,uponself–restraint,patience,anddecision.
Andtheinstitutionofthefamily,andtheemotionsthatarisetherein,thefiercejealousy,thetendernessforoffspring,parentalself–devotion,allfoundtheirjustificationandsupportintheimminentdangersoftheyoung.Now,wherearetheseimminentdangers?
Thereisasentimentarising,anditwillgrow,againstconnubialjealousy,againstfiercematernity,againstpassionofallsorts;unnecessarythingsnow,andthingsthatmakeusuncomfortable,savagesurvivals,discordsinarefinedandpleasantlife.
'Ithoughtofthephysicalslightnessofthepeople,theirlackofintelligence,andthosebigabundantruins,anditstrengthenedmybeliefinaperfectconquestofNature.ForafterthebattlecomesQuiet.
Humanityhadbeenstrong,energetic,andintelligent,andhadusedallitsabundantvitalitytoaltertheconditionsunderwhichitlived.
Andnowcamethereactionofthealteredconditions.
'Underthenewconditionsofperfectcomfortandsecurity,thatrestlessenergy,thatwithusisstrength,wouldbecomeweakness.
Eveninourowntimecertaintendenciesanddesires,oncenecessarytosurvival,areaconstantsourceoffailure.
Physicalcourageandtheloveofbattle,forinstance,arenogreathelp—mayevenbehindrances—toacivilizedman.
Andinastateofphysicalbalanceandsecurity,power,intellectualaswellasphysical,wouldbeoutofplace.
ForcountlessyearsIjudgedtherehadbeennodangerofwarorsolitaryviolence,nodangerfromwildbeasts,nowastingdiseasetorequirestrengthofconstitution,noneedoftoil.
Forsuchalife,whatweshouldcalltheweakareaswellequippedasthestrong,areindeednolongerweak.
Betterequippedindeedtheyare,forthestrongwouldbefrettedbyanenergyforwhichtherewasnooutlet.
NodoubttheexquisitebeautyofthebuildingsIsawwastheoutcomeofthelastsurgingsofthenowpurposelessenergyofmankindbeforeitsettleddownintoperfectharmonywiththeconditionsunderwhichitlived—theflourishofthattriumphwhichbeganthelastgreatpeace.
Thishaseverbeenthefateofenergyinsecurity;ittakestoartandtoeroticism,andthencomelanguoranddecay.
'Eventhisartisticimpetuswouldatlastdieaway—hadalmostdiedintheTimeIsaw.
Toadornthemselveswithflowers,todance,tosinginthesunlight:somuchwasleftoftheartisticspirit,andnomore.
Eventhatwouldfadeintheendintoacontentedinactivity.
Wearekeptkeenonthegrindstoneofpainandnecessity,and,itseemedtome,thatherewasthathatefulgrindstonebrokenatlast!
'AsIstoodthereinthegatheringdarkIthoughtthatinthissimpleexplanationIhadmasteredtheproblemoftheworld—masteredthewholesecretofthesedeliciouspeople.
Possiblythecheckstheyhaddevisedfortheincreaseofpopulationhadsucceededtoowell,andtheirnumbershadratherdiminishedthankeptstationary.
Thatwouldaccountfortheabandonedruins.
Verysimplewasmyexplanation,andplausibleenough—asmostwrongtheoriesare!
Share this article to
FINISH