IV
Once more Mind uses its highest faculties and outwits her, having no
intention that civilization shall drop below the plane to which it has been
raised through long laborious centuries of time. Life becomes more diverse,
more complex. The middle classes work harder to live; they have little
leisure for thoughts, for introspection. Punishment is dire....Those that
have leisure and yet not enough to command the more brilliant and special
forms of distraction are supplied with public libraries, gymnasiums, free
medical advice regarding the laws of hygiene in places where they cannot
fail to see it, new forms of cheap amusement; they are subtly encouraged to
take up useful work or study; or there are increasing pressures which may
force even this semi-leisure class to work for luxuries if not for bread.
Tens of thousands of women are led into the passionate diversions of club
life. For them, too, politics with its fierce championships and hatreds
and frictions; the necessity of concentration of thought on the impersonal
plane if only in the matter of getting the best of rivals within the fold;
and if hair flies souls are saved.
Over the Oldest Profession Mind still scratches its head in vain. It is
ever hopeful, and hamstrings a sovereign patron, like alcohol, now and
again; but the lady at the wheel smiles, for here, in addition to the
unquenchable maternal instinct, the ignorance of the poor, and the glamour
that the men of certain races have learned to give to love, she has her
clearest field.
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