Hephæstus : $b or, The soul of the machineFournier d'Albe, E. E. (Edmund Edward)
Philosophy
Hephæstus : $b or, The soul of the machine
Fournier d'Albe, E. E. (Edmund Edward)
Machinery; Progress
The God of Fire and of Iron hobbles over the broad earth, seeking and
finding new paths of advancement towards a better and fuller life.
Man has become less and less limited by his permanent organism, that
Body which in the beginning was all he possessed. He has now as many
different shapes as ever Proteus had, and he can assume any of them
at will. At one time he has the shape of a rowing boat, his arms
prolonged seven feet or more till his blades skim the water. Again, his
legs will be two wheels, and his body will be like those steeds with
fire-breathing nostrils which Hephæstus made for the King of Colchis.
Again, the pupil of his eye will grow until its diameter measures 100
inches and then he will sound the depths of the heavens with the power
of 100,000 eyes in one. When he goes to war, he throws his “stone”
some seventy miles and arms it with vast destruction. He belches forth
deadly vapours which choke and strangle his enemies. He becomes an
armed slug creeping over all obstacles and destroying as he creeps.
In times of peace he dresses in various garbs to suit his changing
occupation. His womenfolk emphasize and glorify their variety of
personal presentation and expression. Protea shines in all the colours
and shades of the rainbow, and invents new colours and new forms every
day, forms of dress, of outline, and of her very bodily figure.
The resignations and renunciations of former ages are forgotten. Music,
travel, pictures, education――the luxuries of past generations are the
common property of all to-day. That is the sort of Communism which is
feasible and reasonable. Take all the luxuries and good things of this
life and bring them within reach of all by cheapening their cost of
production. Travel at a pound a mile is a luxury. Travel at a penny a
mile becomes a “necessity” as soon as people get used to it and take it
for granted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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