Karel Čapek R.U.R. (Rossum´s Universal Robots) Kolektivní drama o vstupní komedii a třech dějstvích OSOBY Harry Domin centrální ředitel Rossumových Univerzálních Robotů Inž. Fabry generální technický ředitel R.U.R. Dr. Gall přednosta fyziologického a výzkumného oddělení R.U.R. Dr. Hallemeier přednosta ústavu pro psychologii a výchovu robotů R.U.R Konzul Busman generální komerční ředitel R.U.R. Stavitel Alquist šéf staveb R.U.R. Helena Gloryová Nána její chůva Marius Robot Sulla Robotka Radius Robot Damon Robot 1. Robot 2. Robot 3. Robot 4. Robot Primus Robot Helena Robotka Robotský sluha a četní Roboti Domin v předehře asi osmatřicetiletý, vysoký, oholený Fabry rovněž oholený, plavý, vážné a jemné tváře Dr. Gall drobný, živý, snědý, s černým knírem Hallemeier ohromný, hřmotný, se zrzavým anglickým knírem a zrzavým kartáčem vlasů Busman tlustý, plešatý, krátkozraký žid Alquist starší než ostatní, nedbale oblečený, dlouhých, prošedivělých vlasů a vousů Helena velmi elegantní Ve vlastní hře všichni o deset let starší. Roboti v předehře oblečeni jako lidé. Jsou úsečná v pohybech i výslovnosti, bezvýrazných tváří, upřeného pohledu. Ve vlastní hře mají plátěné blůzy v pasu stažené řemenem a na prsou mosazné číslo. Po předehře a druhém aktu přestávka. Předehra Ústřední kancelář továrny Rossum s Universal Robots. Vpravo vchod. Okny v průčelní stěně pohled na nekonečné řady továrních budov. Vlevo další ředitelské místnosti. Domin (sedí u velikého amerického psacího stolu v otáčecím křesle. Na stole žárovka, telefon, těžítka, pořadač dopisů, atd., na stěně vlevo veliké mapy s lodními a železničními liniemi, veliký kalendář, hodiny, jež ukazují něco málo před polednem; na stěně vpravo tištěné plakáty: "Nejlacinější práce: Rossumovi Roboti" "Tropičtí Roboti, nový vynález. Kus 150 d." "Každý si kup svého Robota!" "Chcete zlevnit svoje výrobky? Objednejte si Rossumovy Roboty." Dále jiné mapy, dopravní lodní řád, tabulka s telegrafickými záznamy kursů atd. V kontrastu k této výzdobě stěn je na zemi nádherný turecký koberec, vpravo kulatý stůl, pohovka, kožená klubovní křesla a knihovna, v níž místo knih stojí láhve s vínem a kořalkami. Vlevo pokladna. Vedle Dominova stolu psací stroj, na němž píše dívka Sulla.) Domin (diktuje) "- že neručíme za zboží poškozené dopravou. Upozornili jsme vašeho kapitána hned při nakládání, že loď je nezpůsobilá k dopravě Robotů, takže zkáza nákladu nepadá na náš účet. Znamenáme se - za Rossum s Universal Robots -" Hotovo? Sulla Ano. Domin Nový list. Friedrichswerke, Hamburk. - Datum. - "Potvrzujeme objednávku patnáct tisíc Robotů -" (zazvoní domácí telefon. Domin jej zvedne a mluví do něho) Haló - Zde centrální - ano. - Zajisté. Ale ano, jako vždycky. - Ovšem, kabelujte jim. - Dobrá - (zavěsí telefon) Kde jsem přestal? Sulla Potvrzujeme objednávku na patnáct tisíc R. Domin (zamyšleně) Patnáct tisíc R. Patnáct tisíc R. Marius (vstoupí) Pane řediteli, nějaká dáma prosí - Domin Kdo? Marius Nevím. Podává vizitku. Domin (čte) Prezident Glory. - Že prosím. Marius (otevře dveře) Račte, paní. (vejde Helena Gloryová. Marius odejde) Domin (vstane) Račte. Helena Pan centrální ředitel Domin? Domin Prosím. Helena Jdi k vám - Domin - s lístkem prezidenta Gloryho. To stačí. Helena Prezident Glory je můj otec. Jsem Helena Gloryová. Domin Slečno Gloryová, je pro nás neobyčejnou ctí, že - že - Helena - že vám nemůžeme ukázat dveře. Domin - že smíme pozdravit dceru velkého prezidenta. Prosím, posaďte se. Sullo, můžete odejít. (Sulla odejde) Domin (usedne) Čím mohu posloužit, slečno Gloryová? Helena Já jsem přijela - Domin - podívat se na naši tovární výrobu lidí. Jako všechny návštěvy. Prosím, beze všeho. Helena Myslela jsem, že je zakázáno - Domin - vstoupit do továrny, ovšem. Jenže každý sem přijde s něčí vizitkou, slečno Gloryová. Helena A vy ukážete každému ... ? Domin Jen něco. Výroba umělých lidí, slečno, je tovární tajemství. Helena Proč mne nenecháte domluvit? Domin Prosím za prominutí. Chtěla jste snad říci něco jiného? Helena Chtěla jsem se jen zeptat - Domin - zda bych vám zcela výjimečně neukázal naši továrnu. Ale zajisté, slečno Gloryová. Helena Jak víte, že jsem se na to chtěla ptát? Domin Všichni se ptají stejně. Vstane. Ze zvláštní úcty, slečno, vám ukážeme víc než jiným a - jedním slovem - Helena Děkuji vám. Domin Zavážete-li se, že nikomu neprozradíte ani to nejmenší - Helena (vstane a podává mu ruku) Mé čestné slovo. Domin Děkuji. Nechtěla byste snad sejmout závoj? Helena Ach ovšem, vy chcete vidět - Promiňte. Domin Prosím? Helena Kdybyste mi pustil ruku. Domin (pustí) Prosím za prominutí. Helena (snímá závoj) Chcete vidět, nejsem-li vyzvědač. Jak jste opatrní. Domin (pozoruje ji nadšeně) Hm - ovšem - my - tak jest. Helena Vy mi nedůvěřujete? Domin Neobyčejně, slečno hele - pardon, slečno Gloryová. Vskutku neobyčejně potěšen - Měla jste dobrou plavbu? Helena Ano. Proč - Domin Protože - míním totiž - že jste ještě velmi mladá. Helena Půjdeme hned do továrny? Domin Ano. Myslím dvaadvacet, ne? Helena Dvaadvacet čeho? Domin Let. Helena Jedenadvacet. Proč to chcete vědět? Domin Protože - poněvadž - (s nadšením) Zdržíte se déle, že ano? Helena Podle toho, co mi ukážete z výroby. Domin Čertova výroba! Ale zajisté, slečno Gloryová, všechno uvidíte. Prosím, posaďte se. Zajímala by vás historie vynálezu? Helena Ano, prosím vás. (usedne) Domin Tak tedy. (sedne si na psací stůl, pozoruje Helenu uchvácen a odříkává rychle) Bylo to roku 1920 kdy se starý Rossum veliký filozof ale tehdy ještě mladý učenec odebral na tento daleký ostrov aby studoval mořské živočišstvo tečka. Přitom se pokoušel napodobit chemickou syntézou živou hmotu řečenou protoplazma až najednou objevil látku která se chovala naprosto jako živá hmota ač byla jiného chemického složení to bylo roku 1932, právě čtyři sta čtyřicet let po objevení Ameriky, uf. Helena To umíte zpaměti? Domin Ano; fyziologie, slečno Gloryová, není mým řemeslem. Tak dál? Helena Třeba. Domin (slavnostně) A tehdy, slečno, starý Rossum napsal mezi své chemické vzorce tohleto: "Příroda našla jeden způsob, jak organizovat živou hmotu. Je však jiný způsob, jednodušší, tvárnější a rychlejší, na nějž příroda vůbec nenarazila. Tuto druhou cestu, po které se mohl brát vývoj života, jsem dnešního dne objevil." Představte si, slečno, že tahle veliká slova psal nad chrchlem jakéhosi koloidálního rosolu, který by ani pes nesežral. Představte si ho, že sedí nad zkumavkou a myslí na to, jak z ní vyroste celý strom života, jak z ní budou vycházet všechna zvířata, počínajíc vířníkem a končíc - končíc samotným člověkem. Člověk z jiné látky, než jsme my. Slečno Gloryová, to byl ohromný okamžik. Helena Tak dál. Domin Dál? Teď šlo o to, dostat život ze zkumavky ven a zrychlit vývoj a utvořit nějaké ty orgány, kosti a nervy a kdesi cosi a nalézt jakési takové látky, katalyzátory, enzymy, hormóny a tak dále, zkrátka, rozumíte tomu? Helena N - n - nevím. Myslím, že jen málo. Domin Já docela nic. Víte, pomocí těch vodiček mohl dělat, co chtěl. Mohl třeba dostat medúzu se sokratovským mozkem nebo žížalu padesát metrů dlouhou. Ale protože neměl kousku humoru, vzal si do hlavy, že udělá normálního obratlovce nebo snad člověka. A tak se do toho pustil. Helena Do čeho? Domin Do napodobení přírody. Nejdřív zkusil udělat umělého psa. Stálo ho to řadu let, vyšlo z toho cosi jako zakrnělé tele a pošlo to za pár dní. Ukážu vám to v muzeu. A pak už se dal starý Rossum do vytváření člověka. (Pauza) Helena A to nesmím nikomu prozradit? Domin Nikomu na světě. Helena Škoda, že už je to ve všech čítankách. Domin Škoda. Seskočí ze stolu a usedne vedle Heleny. Ale víte, co v čítankách není? Ťuká si na čelo. Že byl starý Rossum úžasný blázen. Vážně, slečno Gloryová, ale tohle nechte pro sebe. Ten starý výstředník chtěl opravdu dělat lidi. Helena Ale vždyť vy děláte lidi! Domin Přibližně, slečno Heleno. Ale starý Rossum to mínil doslovně. Víte, chtěl jaksi vědecky sesadit Boha. Byl strašlivý materialista, a proto to všechno dělal. Nešlo mu o nic víc než podat důkaz, že nebylo žádného Pánaboha zapotřebí. Proto si umanul udělat člověka navlas, jako jsme my. Znáte trochu anatomii? Helena Jen - docela málo. Domin Já také. Představte si, že si vzal do hlavy vyrobit všechno do poslední žlázy jako v lidském těle. Slepé střevo, mandle, pupek, samé zbytečnosti. Dokonce i - hm - i pohlavní žlázy. Helena Ale ty přece - ty přece - Domin - nejsou zbytečné, já vím. Ale mají-li se lidé uměle vyrábět, pak není - hm - nijak třeba - Helena Rozumím. Domin Ukážu vám v muzeu, co spackal za deset let dohromady. Měl to být muž, žilo to celé tři dny. Starý Rossum neměl trochy vkusu. Bylo to hrozné. Bylo to hrozné, co udělal. Ale mělo to uvnitř všechno, co má člověk. Skutečně, úžasně piplavá práce. A tehdy sem přišel inženýr Rossum, synovec starého. Geniální hlava, slečno Gloryová. Jak uviděl, co tropí starý, řekl: "To je nesmysl, vyrábět člověka deset let. Nebudeš-li ho vyrábět rychleji než příroda, pak na ten celý krám nakašlat." A pustil se sám do anatomie. Helena V čítankách je to jinak. Domin (vstane) V čítankách je placená reklama a ostatně nesmysl. Stojí tam například, že Roboty vynalezl starý pán. Zatím e starý pán hodil na univerzitu, ale o tovární výrobě neměl ponětí. Myslel, že udělá skutečné lidi, tedy snad nějaké nové Indiány, docenty nebo idioty, víte? A teprve mladý Rossum měl nápad udělat z toho živé a inteligentní pracovní stroje. Co je v čítankách o spolupráci obou velikých Rossumů, je povídačka. Ti dva se ukrutně hádali. Starý ateista neměl drobet pochopení pro industrii, a konečně ho mladý zavřel do nějaké laboratoře, aby se tam piplal se svými velikými potraty, a začal to vyprávět sám, po inženýrsku. Starý Rossum ho doslovně proklel a do své smrti usmolil ještě dvě fyziologické obludy, až ho nakonec našli v laboratoři mrtvého. To je celá historie. Helena A co tedy mladý? Domin Mladý Rossum, slečno, to byl nový věk. Věk výroby po věku poznání. Když si okoukl anatomii člověka, viděl hned, že je to příliš složité a že by to dobrý inženýr udělal jednodušeji. Začal tedy předělávat anatomii a zkoušel, co se dá vynechat nebo zjednodušit - Zkrátka, slečno Gloryová, nenudí vás to? Helena Ne, naopak, je to hrozně zajímavé. Domin Tak tedy mladý Rossum si řekl: Člověk, to je něco, co dejme tomu cítí radost, hraje na housle, chce jít na procházku a vůbec potřebuje dělat spoustu věcí, které - které jsou vlastně zbytečné. Helena Oho! Domin Počkejte. Které jsou zbytečné, když má třeba tkát nebo sčítat. Naftový motor nemá mít třapce a ornamenty, slečno Gloryová. A vyrábět umělé dělníky je stejné jako vyrábět naftové motory. Výroba má být co nejjednodušší a výrobek prakticky nejlepší. Co myslíte, jaký dělník je prakticky nejlepší? Helena Nejlepší? Snad ten, který - který - Když je poctivý - a oddaný. Domin Ne, ale ten nejlacinější. Ten, který má nejmíň potřeb. Mladý Rossum vynalezl dělníka s nejmenším počtem potřeb. Musel ho zjednodušit. Vyhodil všechno, co neslouží přímo práci. Tím vlastně vyhodil člověka a udělal Robota. Drahá slečno Gloryová, Roboti nejsou lidé. Jsou mechanicky dokonalejší než my, mají úžasnou rozumovou inteligenci, ale nemají duši. Ó, slečno Gloryová, výrobek inženýra je technicky vytříbenější než výrobek přírody. Helena Říká se, že člověk je výrobek boží. Domin Tím hůř. Bůh neměl ani ponětí o moderní technice. Věřila byste, že si nebožtík mladý Rossum zahrál na Boha? Helena Jak, prosím vás? Domin Začal vyrábět Nadroboty. Pracovní obry. Zkusil to s postavami čtyřmetrovými, ale to byste nevěřila, jak se ti mamuti lámali. Helena Lámali? Domin Ano. Z ničeho nic jim praskla noha nebo něco. Naše planeta je patrně trochu malá pro obry. Teď děláme jen Roboty přirozené velikosti a velmi slušné lidské úpravy. Helena Viděla jsem první Roboty u nás. Obec je koupila ... chci říci vzala do práce - Domin Koupila, drahá slečno. Roboti se kupují. Helena - získala jako metaře. Viděla jsem je mést. Jsou tak divní, tak tiší. Domin Viděla jste mou písařku? Helena Nevšimla jsem si. Domin (zvoní) Víte, akciová továrna Rossumových Univerzálních Robotů dosud nevyrábí jednotné zboží. Máme jemnější a hrubší Roboty. Ti lepší budou snad žít dvacet let. Helena Pak hynou? Domin Ano, opotřebují se. (vstoupí Sulla) Domin Sullo, ukažte se slečně Gloryové. Helena (vstane a podává jí ruku) Těší mne. Je vám asi hrozně smutno tak daleko od světa, viďte? Sulla To neznám, slečno Gloryová. Račte usednout, prosím. Helena (usedne) Odkud jste, slečno? Sulla Odtud, z továrny. Helena Ach, vy jste se narodila tady? Sulla Ano, byla jsem tu udělána. Helena (vyskočí) Cože? Domin (směje se) Sulla není člověk, slečno, Sulla je Robot. Helena Prosím za odpuštění - Domin (položí ruku Sulle na rameno) Sulla se nehněvá. Podívejte se, slečno Gloryová, jakou děláme pleť. Sáhněte jí na tvář. Helena Oh, ne, ne! Domin Nepoznala byste, že je z jiné látky než my. Prosím, má i typické chmýří blondýnek. Jen oči jsou drobátko - Ale zato vlasy! Obraťte se, Sullo! Helena Přestaňte už! Domin Pohovořte s hostem, Sullo. Je to vzácná návštěva. Sulla Prosím, slečno, posaďte se. (obě usednou) Měla jste dobrou plavbu? Helena Ano - za - zajisté. Sulla Nevracejte se po Amélii, Slečno Gloryová. Barometr silně klesá, na 705. Počkejte na Pensylvánii, to je velmi dobrá, velmi silná loď. Domin Kolik? Sulla Dvacet uzlů za hodinu. Tonáž dvanáct tisíc. Domin (směje se) Dost, Sullo, dost. Ukažte nám, jak umíte francouzsky. Helena Vy umíte francouzsky? Sulla Umím čtyři jazyky. Píši Dear Sir! Monsieur! Geehrter Herr! Ctěný pane! Helena (vyskočí) To je humbuk! Vy jste šarlatán! Sulla není Robot, Sulla je děvče jako já! Sullo, to je hanebné - proč hrajete takovou komedii? Sulla Já jsem Robot. Helena ne, ne, vy lžete! Oh, Sullo, odpusťte, já vím - donutili vás, abyste jim dělala reklamu! Sullo, vy jste děvče jako já, že? Řekněte! Domin Lituji, slečno Gloryová. Sulla je Robot. Helena Vy lžete! Domin (vztyčí se) Jakže? - (zazvoní) Promiňte, slečno, pak vás musím přesvědčit. (vejde Marius) Domin Marie, doveďte Sullu do pitevny, aby ji otevřeli. Rychle! Helena Kam? Domin Do pitevny. Až jí rozříznou, půjdete se na ní podívat. Helena Nepůjdu. Domin Pardon, mluvila jste o lži. Helena Vy ji chcete dát zabít? Domin Stroje se nezabíjejí. Helena (obejme Sullu) Nebojte se, Sullo, já vás nedám! Řekněte, drahoušku, jsou k vám všichni tak suroví? To se nesmíte dát líbit, slyšíte? Nesmíte, Sullo! Sulla Já jsem Robot. Helena To je jedno. Roboti jsou stejně dobří lidé jako my. Sullo, vy byste se nechala rozříznout? Sulla Ano. Helena Oh, vy se nebojíte smrti? Sulla Neznám, slečno Gloryová. Helena Víte, co by se pak s vámi stalo? Sulla Ano, přestala bych se hýbat. Helena To je hrrozné! Domin Marie, řekněte slečně co jste. Marius Robot Marius. Domin Dal byste Sullu do pitevny? Marius Ano. Domin Nelitoval byste jí? Marius Neznám. Domin Co by se s ní stalo? Marius Přestala by se hýbat. Dali by ji do stoupy. Domin To je smrt, Marie. Bojíte se smrti? Marius Ne. Domin Tak vidíte, slečno Gloryová. Roboti nelpí na životě. Nemají totiž čím. Nemají požitků. Jsou méně než tráva. Helena Oh, přestaňte! Pošlete je aspoň pryč! Domin Marie, Sullo, můžete odejít. (Sulla a Marius odejdou) Helena Jsou hrrozní! To je ohavné, co děláte! Domin Proč ohavné? Helena Nevím. Proč - proč jste jí dali jméno Sulla? Domin Nehezké jméno? Helena Je to mužské jméno. Sulla byl římský vojevůdce. Domin Oh, myslili jsme, že Marius a Sulla byli milenci. Helena Ne, Marius a Sulla byli vojevůdci a bojovali proti sobě roku - roku - Nevím už. Domin Pojďte sem k oknu. Co vidíte? Helena Zedníky. Domin To jsou Roboti. Všichni naši dělníci jsou Roboti. A tady dole, vidíte něco? Helena Nějaká kancelář. Domin Účtárna. A v ní - Helena - plno úředníků. Domin To jsou Roboti. Všichni naši úředníci jsou Roboti. Až uvidíte továrnu - (v tom spustí tovární píšťaly a sirény) Domin Poledne. Roboti nevědí, kdy přestat v práci. Ve dvě hodiny vám ukážu díže. Helena Jaké díže? Domin (suše) Měsidla na těsto. V každém se míchá látka na tisíc Robotů najednou. Potom kádě na játra, mozky a tak dále. Pak uvidíte továrnu na kosti. Potom vám ukážu přádelnu. Helena Jakou přádelnu? Domin Přádelnu nervů. Přádelnu žil. Přádelnu, kde běží najednou celé kilometry zažívacích rour. Pak je montovna, kde se to dává dohromady, víte, jako automobily. Každý dělník přidělá jen jednu součást, a zas to samočinně běží dál k druhému, třetímu, donekonečna. To je nejzajímavější podívaná. Pak přijde sušárna a skladiště, kde čerstvé výrobky pracují. Helena Proboha, hned musejí pracovat? Domin Pardon. Pracují, jako pracuje nový nábytek. Zvykají si na existenci. Jaksi uvnitř srůstají či co. Mnoho v nich dokonce nově narůstá. Rozumíte, musíme nechat drobet místa pro přirozený vývoj. A zatím se výrobky apretují. Helena Co to je? Domin Tolik co u lidí "škola". Učí se mluvit, psát a počítat. Mají totiž úžasnou paměť. Kdybyste jim přečetla dvacetisvazkový Naučný slovník, budou vám všechno opakovat po pořádku. Něco nového nikdy nevymyslí. Mohli by docela dobře učit na univerzitách. Pak se roztřídí a rozešlou. Denně patnáct tisíc kusů, nepočítajíc stálé procento vadných, které se hodí do stoupy... a tak dále a tak dále. Helena Zlobíte se na mne? Domin Ale chraň bůh! Myslím jen, že .. že jsme mohli mluvit o jiných věcech. Je nás tu jen hrstka mezi stotisíci Roboty, a žádná žena. Mluvíme jen o výrobě, celý den, každý den - Jsme jako prokletí, slečno Gloryová. Helena Mně je tak líto, že jsem řekla, že - že - že lžete - (Zaklepání) Domin Vejděte, mládenci. (Zleva vyjdou inž. Fabry, dr. Gall, dr. Hallemeier, stavitel Alquist) Dr. Gall Pardon, nerušíme? Domin Pojďte sem. Slečno Gloryová, to jsou Alquist, Fabry, Gall, Hallemeier. Dcera prezidenta Gloryho. Helena (v rozpacích) Dobrý den. Fabry Neměli jsme potuchy - Dr. Gall Nekonečně poctěni - Alquist Buďte vítána, slečno Gloryová. (Zprava vrazí Busman)

Busman	Haló, co tu máte?
Domin	Sem, Busmane. To je náš Busman, slečno. Dcera prezidenta Gloryho.
Helena	Těší mne.
Busman	Jemináčku, to je sláva! Slečno Gloryová, smíme kabelovat do novin, že jste ráčila zavítat -?
Helena	Ne, ne, prosím vás!
Domin	Prosím, slečno, posaďte se.
	(Fabry, Busman a Dr. Gall přitahují lenošky)
Fabry	Prosím -
Busman	Račte -
Dr. Gall	Pardon -
Alquist	Slečno Gloryová, jakou jste měla cestu?
Dr. Gall	Zdržíte se u nás déle?
Fabry	Co říkáte továrně, slečno Gloryová?
Hallemeier	Vy jste přijela na Amélii?
Domin	Ticho, nechte mluvit slečnu Gloryovou.
Helena	(k Dominovi) O čem mám s nimi mluvit?
Domin	(s údivem) O čem chcete.
Helena	Mám... smím mluvit docela otevřeně?
Domin	Ale ovšem.
Helena	(váhá, pak zoufale odhodlána) Řekněte, není vám nikdy trapno, jak s vámi nakládají?
Fabry	Kdo, prosím?
Helena	Všichni lidé.
	(Všichni se na sebe zaraženě dívají)
Alquist	S námi?
Dr. Gall	Proč myslíte?
Hallemeier	U sta hromů!
Busman	Ale bůh uchovej, slečno Gloryová!
Helena	Což necítíte, že byste mohli existovat lépe?
Dr. Gall	Přijde na to, slečno. Jak to myslíte?
Helena	Myslím, že - vybuchne -, že je to ohavné! Že je to strašné! (Vstane) Celá Evropa mluví o tom, co se tu s vámi děje! Proto sem jedu, abych to uviděla, a je to tisíckrát horší, než si kdo mysli! Jak to můžete snášet?
Alquist	Co snášet?
Helena	Své postavení. Proboha, vždyť jste lidé jako my, jako celá Evropa, jako celý svět! To je skandální, to je nedůstojné, jak žijete!
Busman	Propána, slečno!
Fabry	Ne, mládenci, má trochu pravdu. Žijeme tu jistě jako Indiáni.
Helena	Hůř než Indiáni! Smím, oh, smím vám říkat bratři?
Busman	Ale božíčku, pročpak ne?
Helena	Bratři, nepřijela jsem jako dcera prezidentova. Přijela jsem za Ligu humanity. Bratři, Liga humanity má už přes dvě stě tisíc členů. Dvě stě tisíc lidi stojí za vámi a nabízí vám svou pomoc.
Busman	Dvě stě tisíc lidí, panečku, to už je slušné, to je docela krásné.
Fabry	Říkám vám vždycky, není nad starou Evropu. Vidíte, nezapomněla na nás. Nabízí nám pomoc.
Dr. Gall	Jakou pomoc? Divadlo?
Hallemeier	Orchestr?
Helena	Víc než to.
Alquist	Vás samotnou?
Helena	Oh, což o mne! Zůstanu, pokud bude třeba.
Busman	Panebože, to je radost!
Alquist	Domine, půjdu připravit pro slečnu nejlepší pokoj.
Domin	Počkejte chvilku. Bojím se, že - že slečna Gloryová ještě nedomluvila.
Helena	Ne, nedomluvila. Leda byste mi násilím zavřel ústa.
Dr. Gall	Harry, opovažte se!
Helena	Děkuji vám. Věděla jsem, že mne budete chránit.
Domin	Pardon, slečno Gloryová. Jste si tím jista, že mluvíte s Roboty?
Helena	(zarazí se) S kým jiným?
Domin	Je mi líto. Ti pánové jsou totiž lidé jako vy. Jako celá Evropa.
Helena	(k ostatním) Vy nejste Roboti?
Busman	(řehtá se) Bůh uchovej!
Hallemeier	Fuj, Roboti!
Dr. Gall	(směje se) Pěkně děkujem!
Helena	Ale... to není možno!
Fabry	Na mou čest, slečno, my nejsme Roboti.
Helena	(k Dominovi) Proč jste mi tedy říkal, že všichni vaši úředníci jsou Roboti?
Domin	Ano, úředníci. Ale ředitelové ne. Dovolte, slečno Gloryová: inženýr Fabry, generální technický ředitel Rossumových Univerzálních Robotů. Doktor Gall, přednosta fyziologického a výzkumného oddělení. Doktor Hallemeier, přednosta ústavu pro psychologii a výchovu Robotů. Konzul Busman, generální komerční ředitel, a stavitel Alquist, šéf staveb Rossumových Univerzálních Robotů.
Helena	Odpusťte, pánové, že - že -- - Je to hrrozné, co jsem provedla?
Alquist	Ale chraň bůh, slečno Gloryová. Prosím, sedněte.
Helena	(usedne) Jsem hloupé děvče. Teď - teď mne pošlete první lodí zpátky.
Dr. Gall	Za nic na světě, slečno. Proč bychom vás posílali pryč?
Helena	Protože už víte - protože - protože bych vám bouřila Roboty.
Domin	Drahá slečno Gloryová, tady už bylo na sta spasitelů a proroků. Každá loď některého přiveze. Misionáře, anarchisty, Armádu spásy, všechno možné. To je vám úžasné, co je na světě církví a bláznů.
Helena	A vy je necháte mluvit k Robotům?
Domin	Proč ne? Doposud toho všichni nechali. Roboti si všechno pamatuji, ale nic víc. Dokonce se ani nesmějí tomu, co lidé říkají. Skutečně, přímo k nevíře. Baví-li vás to, drahá slečno, dovedu vás do skladiště Robotů. Je jich tam asi tři sta tisíc.
Busman	Tři sta čtyřicet sedm tisíc.
Domin	Dobrá. Můžete k ním promluvit, co chcete. Můžete jim přečíst bibli, logaritmy nebo co je vám libo. Můžete jim dokonce kázat o lidských právech.
Helena	Oh, myslím, že... kdyby se jim ukázalo trochu lásky -
Fabry	Nemožno, slečno Gloryová. Nic není člověku cizejšího než Robot.
Helena	Proč je tedy děláte?
Busman	Hahaha, to je dobré! Proč se dělají Roboti!
Fabry	Pro práci, slečno. Jeden Robot nahradí dva a půl dělníka. Lidský stroj, slečno Gloryová, byl náramně nedokonalý. Musel se jednou konečně odstranit.
Busman	Byl příliš drahý.
Fabry	Byl málo výkonný. Moderní technice už nemohl stačit. A za druhé - za druhé - je to veliký pokrok, že... pardon.
Helena	Co?
Fabry	Prosím za odpuštění. Je to veliký pokrok rodit strojem. Je to pohodlnější a rychlejší. Každé zrychlení je pokrok, slečno. Příroda neměla ponětí o moderním tempu práce. Celé dětství je technicky vzato holý nesmysl. Prostě ztracený čas. Neudržitelné mrhání časem, slečno Gloryová. A za třetí -
Helena	Oh, přestaňte!
Fabry	Prosím. Dovolte, co vlastně chce ta vaše Liga - Liga - Liga humanity?
Helena	Má zvláště - zvláště má chránit Roboty a - a zajistit jim - dobré zacházení.
Fabry	To není špatný cíl. Se stroji se má dobře zacházet. Namouduši, to si chválím. Nemám rád poškozené věci. Prosím vás, slečno Gloryová, zapište nás všechny za přispívající, za řádné, za zakládající členy té vaší Ligy!
Helena	Ne, vy mi nerozumíte. My chceme - zvláště - my chceme Roboty osvobodit!
Hallemeier	Jak, prosím vás?
Helena	Má se s nimi jednat... jednat... jako s lidmi.
Hallemeier	Aha. Mají snad hlasovat? Nemají dokonce dostávat mzdu?
Helena	Ovšemže mají!
Hallemeier	Koukejme. A co by s ní, prosím vás, dělali?
Helena	Koupili si... co potřebují... co by je těšilo.
Hallemeier	To je moc hezké, slečno; jenomže Roboty nic netěší. Hrome, co si mají koupit? Můžete je krmit ananasy, slámou, čím chcete; jim je to jedno, nemají vůbec chuti. Nemají na ničem zájmu, slečno Gloryová. U čerta, nikdo ještě neviděl, že by se Robot usmál.
Helena	Proč... proč... proč je neuděláte šťastnější?
Hallemeier	To nejde, slečno Gloryová. Jsou to jen Roboti. Bez vlastní vůle. Bez vášní. Bez dějin. Bez duše.
Helena	Bez lásky a vzdoru?
Hallemeier	To se rozumí. Roboti nemilují nic, ani sebe. A vzdor? Já nevím; jen zřídka, jen časem -
Helena	Co?
Hallemeier	Nic vlastně. Někdy se jaksi pominou. Cosi, jako padoucnice, víte? Říká se tomu křeč Robotů. Najednou některý praští vším, co má v ruce, stojí, skřípá zuby - a musí přijít do stoupy. Patrně porucha organismu.
Domin	Vada ve výrobě.
Helena	Ne, ne, to je duše!
Fabry	Myslíte, že duše začíná skřípáním zubů?
Domin	To se odstraní, slečno Gloryová. Doktor Gall dělá zrovna nějaké pokusy
Dr. Gall	S tímhle ne, Domine; teď dělám nervy na bolest.
Helena	Nervy na bolest?
Dr. Gall	Ano. Roboti skoro necítí tělesné bolesti. Víte, nebožtík mladý Rossum příliš omezil nervovou soustavu. To se neosvědčilo. Musíme zavést utrpení.
Helena	Proč - proč - Nedáte-li jim duši, proč jim chcete dát bolest?
Dr. Gall	Z průmyslových důvodů, slečno Gloryová. Robot se někdy poškodí sám, protože ho to nebolí; strčí ruku do stroje, ulomí si prst, rozbije si hlavu, to mu je jedno. Musíme jim dát bolest; to je automatická ochrana před úrazem.
Helena	Budou šťastnější, když budou cítit bolest?
Dr. Gall	Naopak; ale budou technicky dokonalejší.
Helena	Proč jim nestvoříte duši?
Dr. Gall	To není v naši moci.
Fabry	To nyní v našem zájmu.
Busman	To by zdražilo výrobu. Propánička, krásná dámo, vždyť my to děláme tak lacino! Sto dvacet dolarů ošacený kus, a před patnácti lety stál deset tisíc! Před pěti lety jsme pro ně kupovali šaty; dnes máme vlastní tkalcovny a ještě expedujeme látečky pětkrát laciněji než jiné továrny. Prosím vás, slečno Gloryová, co platíte metr plátna?
Helena	Nevím - - skutečně -- zapomněla jsem.
Busman	Můj ty Tondo, a pak chcete zakládat Ligu humanity! Stojí už jen třetinu, slečno; všechny ceny jsou dnes na třetině a ještě půjdou níž, níž, níž, až - takhle. He?
Helena	Nerozumím.
Busman	Jemináčku, slečno, to znamená, že práce klesla v ceně! Vždyť Robot i s krmením stojí za hodinu tři čtvrtě centíku! To je vám legrační, slečno: všechny továrny praskají jako žaludy nebo honem kupují Roboty, aby zlevnily výrobu.
Helena	Ano, a vyhazují dělníky na dlažbu.
Busman	Haha, to se rozumí! Ale my, boží dobroto, my jsme zatím vrhli pět set tisíc tropických Robotů na argentinské pampy, aby pěstili pšenici. Buďte tak dobrá, co stojí u vás libra chleba?
Helena	Nemám ponětí.
Busman	Tak vidíte; teď stojí dva centíky v té vaší dobré staré Evropě; ale to je náš chlebíček, rozumíte? Dva centíky libra chleba; a Liga humanity o tom nemá tušení! Haha, slečno Gloryová, vy nevíte, co to je příliš drahý krajíc. Pro kulturu a tak dále. Ale za pět let, no tak, vsaďte se!
Helena	Co?
Busman	Že za pět let Budou ceny všeho na žádná celá deset. Lidičky, za pět let se utopíme v pšenici a všem možném.
Alquist	Ano, a všichni dělníci světa budou bez práce.
Domin	(vstane) Budou, Alquiste. Budou, slečno Gloryová. Ale do desíti let nadělají Rossumovi Univerzální Roboti tolik pšenice, tolik látek, tolik všeho, že řekneme: věci už nemají ceny. Nyní ber každý, kolik potřebuješ. Není bídy. Ano, budou bez práce. Ale pak nebude už vůbec žádné práce. Všechno udělají živé stroje. Člověk bude dělat jen to, co miluje. Bude žít jen proto, aby se zdokonaloval.
Helena	(vstane) Bude to tak?
Domin	Bude. Nemůže to být jinak. Předtím snad přijdou strašlivé věci, slečno Gloryová. Tomu se nedá prostě zabránit. Ale pak přestane služebnictví člověka člověku a otročení člověka hmotě. Nikdo už nebude platit za chléb životem a nenávistí. Ty už nejsi dělník, ty už nejsi písař; ty už nekopeš uhlí a ty nestojíš u cizího stroje. Už nebudeš své duše utrácet v práci, kterou jsi proklínal!
Alquist	Domine, Domine! To, co říkáte, vypadá příliš jako ráj. Domine, bývalo něco dobrého v sloužení a něco velkého v pokoření. Ach, Harry, byla nevím jaká ctnost v práci a únavě.
Domin	Snad byla. Ale nemůžeme počítat s tím, co se ztratí, když předěláváme svět od Adama. Adame, Adame! už nebudeš jíst chléb svůj v potu tváře; už nepoznáš hladu a žízně, únavy a ponížení; vrátíš se do ráje, kde tě živila ruka Páně. Budeš svobodný a svrchovaný; nebudeš mít jiného úkolu, jiné práce, jiné starosti než zdokonalit sama sebe. Budeš pánem stvoření.
Helena	Zmátl jste mne. Jsem pošetilé děvče. Chtěla bych - chtěla bych tomu věřit.
Dr. Gall	Jste mladší než my, slečno Gloryová. Dočkáte se všeho.
Hallemeier	Tak jest. Já myslím, že by slečna Gloryová mohla s námi posnídat.
Dr. Gall	Toť se rozumí! Domine, poproste za nás všechny.
Domin	Slečno Gloryová, prokažte nám tu čest.
Helena	Ale to přece - Jak bych mohla?
Fabry	Za Ligu humanity, slečno.
Busman	A na její počest.
Helena	Ah, v tom případě - snad -
Fabry	Tak sláva! Slečno Gloryová, promiňte na pět minut.
Dr. Gall	Pardon.
Busman	Propána, musím kabelovat -
Hallemeier	Hrome, a já jsem zapomněl -
	(Všichni, krom Domina, se hrnou ven)
Helena	Proč jdou všichni pryč?
Domin	Vařit, slečno Gloryová.
Helena	Co vařit?
Domin	Snídani, slečno Gloryová. Nám vaří Roboti a - a - protože nemají žádné chuti, není to docela - Hallemeier totiž výborně roští. A Gall dovede jakousi omáčku, a Busman se vyzná v omeletě -
Helena	Proboha, to je hostina! A co dovede pan - stavitel
Domin	Alquist? Nic. Jenom upraví stůl a - a Fabry sežene trochu ovoce. Velice skromná kuchyně, slečno Gloryová.
Helena	Chtěla jsem se vás zeptat -
Domin	Také bych se vás chtěl na něco zeptat. Postaví své hodinky na stůl. Pět minut času.
Helena	Nač zeptat?
Domin	Pardon, vy jste se ptala dříve.
Helena	Snad to je ode mne hloupé, ale - Proč vyrábíte ženské Roboty, když - když
Domin	- když u nich, hm, když pro ně pohlaví nemá významu?
Helena	Ano.
Domin	Je jistá poptávka, víte? Služky, prodavačky, písařky - Lidé jsou na to zvyklí.
Helena	A - a řekněte, jsou Roboti - a Robotky -- navzájem - naprosto -
Domin	Naprosto lhostejní, drahá slečno. Není ani stopy po nějaké náklonnosti.
Helena	Oh, to je - hrrozné!
Domin	Proč?
Helena	Je to - je to - tak nepřirozené! Člověk ani neví, má-li si je proto ošklivit, nebo - jim závidět - nebo snad -
Domin	- je litovat.
Helena	To nejspíš! - Ne, přestaňte! Nač jste se chtěl ptát?
Domin	Rád bych se zeptal, slečno Gloryová, nechcete-li si mne vzít.
Helena	Jak vzít?
Domin	Za, muže.
Helena	Ne! Co vás to napadlo?
Domin	(dívá se na hodinky) Ještě tři minuty. Nevezmete-li si mne, musíte si vzít některého z ostatních pěti.
Helena	Ale chraň bůh! Proč bych si ho brala?
Domin	Protože vás všichni po řadě požádají.
Helena	Jak by se mohli opovážit?
Domin	Lituji velice, slečno Gloryová. Zdá se, že se do vás zamilovali.
Helena	Prosím vás, ať to nedělají! Já - já hned odjedu.
Domin	Heleno, snad jim neuděláte takový zármutek, že byste je odmítla?
Helena	Ale vždyť - vždy si nemohu vzít všech šest!
Domin	Ne, ale aspoň jednoho. Nechcete-li mne, tedy Fabryho.
Helena	Nechci
Domin	Doktora Galla.
Helena	Ne, ne, mlčte! Nechci žádného!
Domin	Ještě dvě minuty.
Helena	To je hrrozné! Vemte si nějakou Robotku.

DARKLING THE WINTER COMES AND FOR MANY A TIME ....OF COLD OF FAST RUNNING DEATH ....IN SOFT FRAMES OF SNOW AND WINDY RHYME ...TO TAKE INTO THE AIR THE LAST BREATH ,,,,THE SNOWS THAT TURN MEN IN DUST ...IN THIS WINTER AMERICA GOING TO BUST? .....IN TRUMP IN TRUMP THE TRUSTS WE TRUST ....

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER

THE MELANCHOLY THAT WINTER GIVE

THE SOFT SNOWS OF NOVEMBER

AND SORROWS THAT CHOOSE TO LIVE

THE HARD MEN  CUT TO DUST

AND YOUNG ONES DEAD IN IS PRIME

AND OLD EMPIRES GOING TO RUST

IN THIS ISLAMIC WINTER OF CRIME 

  

W'en you see a man in woe, Walk right up and say "hullo!" Say "hullo," an' "how d'ye do!" "How's the world a usin' you?" Slap the fellow on his back, Bring your han' down with a whack; Waltz right up, an' don't go slow, Grin an' shake an' say "hullo!" Is he clothed in rags? O sho! Walk right up an' say "hullo!" Rags is but a cotton roll Jest for wrappin' up a soul; An' a soul is worth a true Hale an' hearty "how d'ye do!" Don't wait for the crowd to go, Walk right up an' say "hullo!" W'en big vessels meet, they say, They saloot an' sail away. Jest the same are you an' me, Lonesome ships upon a sea; Each one sailing his own jog For a port beyond the fog. Let your speakin' trumpet blow, [Pg 1707]Lift your horn an' cry "hullo!" Say "hullo," an' "how d'ye do!" Other folks are good as you. W'en you leave your house of clay, Wanderin' in the Far-Away, W'en you travel through the strange Country t'other side the range, Then the souls you've cheered will know Who you be, an' say "hullo!"

A REFLECTIVE RETROSPECT

BY JOHN G. SAXE

'Tis twenty years, and something more,
Since, all athirst for useful knowledge,
I took some draughts of classic lore,
Drawn very mild, at ——rd College;
Yet I remember all that one
Could wish to hold in recollection;
The boys, the joys, the noise, the fun;
But not a single Conic Section.

I recollect those harsh affairs,
The morning bells that gave us panics;
I recollect the formal prayers,
That seemed like lessons in Mechanics;
I recollect the drowsy way
In which the students listened to them,
As clearly, in my wig, to-day,
As when, a boy, I slumbered through them.

I recollect the tutors all
As freshly now, if I may say so,
As any chapter I recall
In Homer or Ovidius Naso.
I recollect, extremely well,
"Old Hugh," the mildest of fanatics;
I well remember Matthew Bell,[Pg 1704]But very faintly, Mathematics.

I recollect the prizes paid
For lessons fathomed to the bottom;
(Alas that pencil-marks should fade!)
I recollect the chaps who got 'em,—
The light equestrians who soared
O'er every passage reckoned stony;
And took the chalks,—but never scored
A single honor to the pony!

Ah me! what changes Time has wrought,
And how predictions have miscarried!
A few have reached the goal they sought,
And some are dead, and some are married!
And some in city journals war;
And some as politicians bicker;
And some are pleading at the bar—
For jury-verdicts, or for liquor!

And some on Trade and Commerce wait;
And some in schools with dunces battle;
And some the Gospel propagate;
And some the choicest breeds of cattle;
And some are living at their ease;
And some were wrecked in "the revulsion;"
Some served the State for handsome fees,
And one, I hear, upon compulsion!

Lamont, who, in his college days,
Thought e'en a cross a moral scandal,
Has left his Puritanic ways,
And worships now with bell and candle;
And Mann, who mourned the negro's fate,
And held the slave as most unlucky,
Now holds him, at the market rate,[Pg 1705]On a plantation in Kentucky!

Tom Knox—who swore in such a tone
It fairly might be doubted whether
It really was himself alone,
Or Knox and Erebus together—
Has grown a very altered man,
And, changing oaths for mild entreaty,
Now recommends the Christian plan
To savages in Otaheite!

Alas for young ambition's vow!
How envious Fate may overthrow it!—
Poor Harvey is in Congress now,
Who struggled long to be a poet;
Smith carves (quite well) memorial stones,
Who tried in vain to make the law go;
Hall deals in hides; and "Pious Jones"
Is dealing faro in Chicago!

And, sadder still, the brilliant Hays,
Once honest, manly, and ambitious,
Has taken latterly to ways
Extremely profligate and vicious;
By slow degrees—I can't tell how—
He's reached at last the very groundsel,
And in New York he figures now,
A member of the Common Council!
[Pg 1706]

Unconscious plagiarism explained MANY GEORGE BUSH AND STALINIAN MANIAS...SINCE Zarathustra example Glossolalia Helen Smith's Martian language The names in Ivenes' mystic System show rudimentary glossolalia The Cryptomncsic picture may enter consciousness as an hallucination Or arrive at consciousness by motor automatism By automatisms regions formerly sealed are made accessible Hypermnesia Thought- reading a prototype for extraordinary intuitive knowledge of som- nambulists and some normal persons Association-concordance Possibility that concept and feeling are not always clearly separated SOARES UND COSTA MENTALITY must be regarded as extraordinary.Effect of parental POLITICAL discord on APRIL children SYNDROME Unconscious tendency to repetition of parental mistakes Case of pathological association-concordance between mother OF ALL SOCIALISMUS and daughter PARTIES Neurosis, a counter-argument against the personality with which the patient is most nearly concerned How to free the individual from unconscious attachments to the milieu

• large groups of intellectual and
  emotional deficiency, there remain those deficiencies coloured
  pre-eminently by hysteria or epilepsy (epileptoid) or neuras-
  thenia, which are not notably deficiency of the intellect or of
  feeling. It is pre-eminently in this region, insusceptible of
  any absolute classification, that the above-named conditions
  play their part. As is well known, they can appear as part
  manifestations of a typical epilepsy or hysteria, or can exist
  separately in the realm of psychopathic mental deficiency,
  where their qualifications of epileptic or hysterical are often
  due to the non-essential accessory features. It is thus the
  rule to count somnambulism among hysterical diseases,
  because it is occasionally a phenomenon of severe hysteria,
  or because mild so-called hysterical symptoms may accompany it.
  

  
  
• Donald Rael Strumpf IT'S MEXIOLÂNICA JUNGIANA

From a tumbledown coach house had issued an enormous wolf-hound which was now almost upon then, eyes flaming, fangs gleaming horribly. So unexpected was the attack that both men stood rooted in their tracks. The next moment the charging brute was upon them, and had bowled Handlon 356 off his equilibrium as if he were a child. The unfortunate photographer made a desperate attempt to prevent injury to his precious camera, which he had but a moment earlier succeeded in retrieving, and in doing so fell rather violently to the ground. Every moment he expected to feel the powerful jaws crunch his throat, and he made no effort to rise. For several seconds he remained thus, until he could endure the suspense no longer. He glanced around only to see Perry, staring open-mouthed at the animal which had so frightened them. Apparently it had forgotten the presence of the two men. Handlon regained his feet rather awkwardly, the while keeping a watchful eye on the beast, of whose uncertain temper he was by now fully aware. In an undertone he addressed his companion. “What do you make of it?” he wanted to know. “Did the critter bite you?” “No. That’s the queer part of it. Neither did he bite you, if you were to think it over a minute. Just put his nose down and rammed you, head on.” The photographer was flabbergasted. Involuntarily his gaze stole again in the direction of the offending brute. “What on earth––” he began. “Is he sharpening his teeth on a rock preparatory to another attack upon us? Or––What the deuce is he doing?” “If you ask me,” came astonishingly from the watchful Perry, “he’s eating grass, which is my idea of something damn foolish for a perfectly normal hound, genus lupo, to be––Look out!” The animal, as if suddenly remembering the presence of the men, suddenly charged at them again, head down, eyes blazing. As before, it made no effort to bite. Though both men were somewhat disconcerted by the great brute they held their ground, and when it presented the opportunity the older reporter planted a terrific kick to the flank which sent the animal whimpering back to its shed behind. “Score one,” breathed Handlon. “If we––” At a sudden grating sound overhead, he stopped. Both turned to face the threatening muzzle of an ancient blunderbuss. Behind it was an irate countenance, nearly covered by an unclipped beard of a dirty gray color. In the eyes now glaring at them malevolently through heavily concaved spectacles they read hate unutterable. The barrel of the blunderbuss swung slightly as it covered alternately one and the other. Both sensed that the finger even now tightening on the trigger would not hesitate unduly. Being more or less hardened to rebuffs of all kinds in the pursuance of their calling, the reporters did not hesitate in stating their purpose. “What?” yelled the old man. “You dare to invade my grounds and disturb me at my labors for such a reason? Reporters! My scientific research work is not for publicity, sirs; and futhermore I want it understood that I am not to be dragged from my laboratory again for the purpose of entertaining you or any others of your ilk. Get away!” Without further ado the window was slammed down, a shutter closed on the inside, and once more the silence of the dead descended upon the spot. The two men grinned ruefully at each other, Handlon finally breaking the stillness. “My idea of the world’s original one-sided conversation. We simply didn’t talk––and yet we’re supposed to be reporters. You’ve got to hand it to the Proff, Horace, for the beautiful rock-crusher he just handed us.” “You didn’t think we had anything easy, did you?” said Perry irritably. “He’ll change his tune presently, when––” Handlon’s jaw dropped. “You don’t mean you’re going to take any more chances! Would you rouse him again after the way he treated us 357 with that gun? Besides, the train....” Perry bent a scathing glance at his companion. “What on earth has the train to do with our getting the Professor’s confession of crime or whatever he has to offer? You evidently don’t know Bland––much. I deduce that a lot of my sweetness has been wasted on the desert air. Once more, let me assure you that if you propose to go back without the Proff’s mug on one of those plates you might as well mail your resignation from here. Get me?” The other wilted. “I wonder,” Perry ruminated as he stared in the direction of the shed wherein the canine monstrosity had disappeared. “Do you suppose that you can get a snap of the old boy’s mug if I can get him to the window again? If you can do that, just leave the rest to me. I’ve handled these crusty birds before. What say?” “Go as far as you like.” The photographer was once more grinning as he unslung his camera and carefully adjusted a plate in place. Everything at last to his satisfaction he gripped flash pan and bulb. “I’m going to make some racket now,” announced Perry grimly. “If Kell shows up, work fast. He may shoot at you, but don’t get excited. It’s almost dark, so his aim might be poor.” At this suggestion his companion showed signs of panic, but the other affected not to notice this. There came a deafening hullaballoo as Perry beat a terrific tattoo on the ancient door. Followed a deep silence, while Perry leaped back to stand in front of Skip and his camera. After perhaps a full minute’s wait he once more opened up his bombardment, to jump quickly back to the camera as before. This time he had better success. The window was again opened and the muzzle of the blunderbuss put in its appearance. Handlon stood close behind Perry as he silently swung the camera into a more favorable position for action. The face at the window was purple with wrath. “You damned pests! Leave my grounds at once or I shall call my hound and set him upon you. And when––” Crack! Flash! Click! Perry had made a sudden sidewise movement as Handlon went into action. “Much obliged, Professor,” said Perry politely. “Your pose with that old cannon is going to be very effective from the front page. The write-up will doubtless be interesting too. Probably the story won’t be quite so accurate as it would be had you told it to us yourself; but we shall get as many of the details from the natives hereabouts as we can. Good-day to you, sir!” Motioning to the other he turned on his heel and started down the driveway. It was an old trick, and for a long moment of suspense he almost feared that it would fail. Another moment–– “Wait!” The quavering voice of the irascible old villain had lost some of its malice. “Come back here a minute.” With simulated reluctance the two slowly retraced their steps. “Is there something else, sir?” “Perhaps....” The old man hesitated, as if pondering upon his words. “Perhaps if you care to step in I can be of assistance to you after all. It occurs to me that possibly I have been too abrupt with you.” “I am very glad that you have decided to cooperate with us, Professor Kell,” answered the reporter heartily, as they ascended the steps. The old man’s head disappeared from the window and shortly the sound of footsteps inside told of his approach. Finally the oaken door swung open, and they were silently ushered into the musty smelling hallway. Though outwardly accepting the Professor’s suddenly pacific attitude, Perry made up his mind to be on his guard. 358 As they entered what had evidently been the parlor in bygone days, an oppressive, heavy odor smote their nostrils, telling of age-old carpets and of draperies allowed to decay unnoticed. On the walls hung several antique prints, a poorly executed crayon portrait of a person doubtless an ancestor of the present Kell, and one or two paintings done in oil, now badly cracked and stained. Everything gave the impression of an era long since departed, and the two men felt vaguely out of place. Their host led them to a pair of dilapidated chairs, which they accepted gratefully. The ride to Keegan after a hard day’s work had not tended to improve their spirits. “Now to business.” Perry went straight to the point, desiring to get the interview over as soon as possible. “We have heard indirectly of various happenings in this vicinity which many think have some connection with your scientific experiments. Any statement you may care to make to us in regard to these happenings will be greatly appreciated by my paper. Inasmuch as what little has already been printed is probably of an erroneous nature, we believe it will be in your own best interest to give us as complete data as possible.” Here he became slightly histrionic. “Of course we do not allow ourselves to take the stories told by the local inhabitants too literally, as such persons are too liable to exaggerate, but we must assume that some of these stories have partial basis in fact. Any information relative to your scientific work, incidentally, will make good copy for us also.” Perry gazed steadily at the patriarch as he spoke. For a moment, a crafty expression passed over the old man’s face, but as suddenly it disappeared. Evidently he had arrived at a decision. “Come with me,” he wheezed. The two newspaper men exchanged swift glances, the same thought in the mind of each. Were they about to be led into a trap? If the old man’s shady reputation was at all deserved they would do well to be wary. Perry thought swiftly of the clippings he had read and of what gossip he had heard, then glanced once more in the direction of Handlon. That worthy was smiling meaningly and had already arisen to follow the Professor. Reluctantly Perry got to his feet and the three proceeded to climb a rickety stairway to the third floor. The guide turned at the head of the stairs and entered a long dark corridor. Here the floor was covered with a thick carpet which, as they trod upon it, gave forth not the slightest sound. The hall gave upon several rooms, all dark and gloomy and giving the same dismal impression of long disuse. How could the savant endure such a depressing abode! The accumulation of dust and cobwebs in these long forgotten chambers, the general evidence of decay––all told of possible horrors ahead. They became wary. But they were not wary enough! The uncouth figure ahead of them had stopped and was fumbling with the lock of an ancient door. Instinctively Perry noted that it was of great thickness and of heavy oak. Now the Professor had it open and was motioning for them to enter. Handlon started forward eagerly, but hurriedly drew back as he felt the grip of the other reporter’s hand on his arm. “Get back, you fool!” The words were hissed into the ear of the incautious one. Then, to the Professor, Perry observed: “If you have no objection we would prefer that you precede us.” A look of insane fury leaped to the face of the old man, lingered but an instant and was gone. Though the expression was but momentary, both men had seen, and seeing had realized their danger. They followed him into the chamber, which was soon illumined fitfully by a smoky kerosene lamp. Both 359 took a rapid survey of the place. Conceivably it might have been the scene of scientific experiments, but its aspect surely belied such a supposition. The average imagination would instantly pronounce it the abode of a maniac, or the lair of an alchemist. Again, that it might be the laboratory of an extremely slovenly veterinary was suggested by the several filthy cages to be seen resting against the wall. All of these were unoccupied except one in a dark corner, from which issued a sound of contented purring, evidently telling of some well-satisfied cat. The air was close and foul, being heavy with the odor of musty, decaying drugs. In every possible niche and cranny the omnipresent dust had settled in a uniform sheen of gray which showed but few signs of recent disturbance. “Here, gentlemen,” their host was saying, “is where I carry on my work. It is rather gloomy here after dark, but then I do not spend much time here during the night. I have decided to acquaint you with some of the details of one or two of my experiments. Doubtless you will find them interesting.” While speaking he had, mechanically it seemed, reached for a glass humidor in which were perhaps a dozen cigars. Silently he selected one and extended the rest to the two visitors. After all three had puffed for a moment at the weeds, the old man began to talk, rapidly it seemed to them. Perry from time to time took notes, as the old man proceeded, an expression of utter amazement gradually overspreading his face. Handlon pulled away contentedly at his cigar, and on his features there grew an almost ludicrous expression of well-being. Was the simple photographer so completely at ease that he had at length forsaken all thought of possible danger? As Professor Kell talked on he seemed to warm to his subject. At the end of five minutes he began uncovering a peculiar apparatus which had rested beneath the massive old table before which they were sitting. The two men caught the flash of light on glass, and a jumble of coiled wires became visible. Was the air in the laboratory getting unbearably close? Or was the queer leaden feeling that had taken possession of Perry’s lungs but an indication of his overpowering weariness? He felt a steadily increasing irritation, as if for some strange reason he suddenly resented the words of their host, which seemed to be pouring out in an endless stream. The cigar had, paradoxically, an oddly soothing quality, and he puffed away in silence. Why had the room suddenly taken on so hazy an aspect? Why did Handlon grin in that idiotic manner? And the Professor ... he was getting farther and farther away ... that perfecto ... or was it an El Cabbajo? What was the old archfiend doing to him anyhow?... Why was he laughing and leering at them so horribly?... Confound it all ... that cigar ... where was it?... Just one more puff.... Blindly he groped for the missing weed, becoming aware of a cackle of amusement nearby. Professor Kell was standing near the spot where he had fallen and now began prodding him contemptuously with his toe. “Fools!” he was saying. “You thought to interfere with my program. But you are in my power and you have no hope of escape. I am unexpectedly provided with more subjects for my experiments. You will....” His words became hazy and unintelligible, for the hapless reporter was drifting off into a numb oblivion. He had long since lost the power to move a muscle. Out of the corner of an eye, just before he lost consciousness altogether, he perceived Handlon lying upon the floor still puffing at the fateful drugged cigar. 360 Eons passed. To the reporter came a vision of a throbbing, glaring inferno, wherein he was shaken and tossed by terrific forces. His very vital essence seemed to respond to a mighty vibration. Now he was but a part of some terrific chaos. Dimly he became aware of another being with whom he must contend. Now he was in a death struggle, and to his horror he found himself being slowly but surely overpowered. A demoniac grin played upon the features of the other as he forced the reporter to his knees. It was Handlon.... Once more he was sinking into soft oblivion, the while a horrid miasma assailed his nostrils. He was nothing.... Slowly, and with infinite effort, Perry felt himself returning to consciousness, though he had no clear conception of his surroundings. His brain was as yet but a whirling vortex of confused sounds, colors and––yes, odors. A temporary rift came in the mental cloud which fettered his faculties, and things began to take definite shape. He became aware that he was lying upon his back at some elevation from the floor. Again the cloudy incubus closed in and he knew no more. When he finally recovered the use of his faculties it was to discover himself the possessor of a violent headache. The pain came in such fearsome throbs that it was well nigh unendurable. The lamp still sputtered dimly where the professor had left it. At the moment it was on the point of going out altogether. The reporter noticed this, and over him stole a sense of panic. What if the light should fail altogether, leaving him lying in the dark in this frightful place! Still dizzy and sick, he managed to rise upon his elbows enough to complete a survey of the room. He was still in the laboratory of Professor Kell, but that worthy had disappeared. Of Handlon there was no sign. The mysterious apparatus, of which he now had but a vague remembrance, also had vanished. His thoughts became confused again, and wearily he passed a hand over his brow in the effort to collect all of his faculties. The lamp began to sputter, arousing him to action. Desperately he fought against the benumbing sensation that was even again stealing over him. Gradually he gained the ascendancy. He struggled dizzily to his feet and took a few tentative steps. Where was Handlon? He decided his friend had probably recovered from the drug first and was gone, possibly to get a doctor for him, Perry. However, he must make some search to determine if Skip had really left the premises. As he walked through the open door the lamp in his hand gave a last despairing flicker and went out. From there he was forced to grope his way down the dark hall to the stairs. Just how he reached the lower floor he was never able to remember, for as yet all the effect of the powerful drug had not worn off. He had a dim recollection of being thankful to the ancestor of Kell who had provided such thick carpets in these halls. Thanks to them his footsteps had been noiseless, at any rate. What was Kell’s real object in giving them those drugged cigars? he wondered. How long had they been under the influence of the lethal stuff? Surely several hours. Upon glancing through a hall window he found that outside was the blackness of midnight. Cautiously he explored the desolate chambers on the ground floor: the kitchen––where it could be plainly seen that cooking of a sort had been done––the barn, and woodshed. Not a living thing could he find, not even the huge wolf-hound which had attacked them in so strange a manner that afternoon. By now he was quite frankly worried on Handlon’s account. At that moment, could he have known the actual fate that had overtaken his companion, it is quite probable he would 361 have gone mad. He stumbled back and into the dark front hall, shouting his friend’s name. The response was a hollow echo, and once or twice he thought he heard the ghost of a mocking chuckle. At length he gave up the search and started for the door, intent now only upon flight from the accursed place. He would report the whole thing to the office and let Bland do what he pleased about it. Doubtless Handlon had already left. Then he stumbled over Handlon’s camera. Evidently the Professor had neglected to take possession of it. That must be rescued, at all costs. He picked it up and felt the exposed plate still inside. He started again for the door. What little light there was faded out and he felt stealing over him a horrid sensation of weakness. Again came a period of agony during which he felt the grip of unseen forces. Once more it seemed that he was engaged in mortal strife with Skip Handlon. Malevolently Handlon glared at him as he endeavored with all his strength to overcome Perry. This time, however, the latter seemed to have more strength and resisted the attack for what must have been hours. Finally the other drew away baffled. At this the mental incubus surrounding Perry’s faculties broke. Dimly he became aware of a grinding noise nearby and a constant lurching of his body. At length his vision cleared sufficiently to enable him to discover the cause of the peculiar sensations. He was in a railroad coach! He took a rapid glance around and noted a drummer sitting in the seat across the aisle, staring curiously at him. With an effort Perry assumed an inscrutable expression and determined to stare the other out of countenance. Reluctantly the man glanced away, and after a moment, under Perry’s stony gaze, he suddenly arose and chose a new seat in front of the car. Perry took to the solace of a cigarette and stared out at the flying telegraph poles. From time to time he noted familiar landmarks. The train had evidently left Keegan far behind and was already nearly into the home town. For the balance of the ride the reporter experienced pure nightmare. The peculiar sensations of dizziness, accompanied by frightful periods of insensibility, kept recurring, now, however, not lasting more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time. At such times as he was conscious he found opportunity to wonder in an abstracted sort of way how he had ever managed to get on the train and pay his fare, which must have been a cash one, without arousing the conductor’s suspicions. Discovery of a rebate in his pocket proved that he must have done so, however. The business of leaving the train and getting to the office has always been an unknown chapter in Perry’s life. He came out of one of his mental fogs to find himself seated in the private editorial sanctum of the Journal. Evidently he had just arrived. Bland, a thick-set man with the jaw of a bulldog, was eyeing him intently. “Well! Any report to make?” The question was crisp. The reporter passed a hand across his perspiring forehead. “Yes, I guess so. I––er––that is––you see––” “Where’s Handlon? What happened to you? You act as if you were drunk.” Bland was not in an amiable mood. “Search me,” Perry managed to respond. “If Skip isn’t here old man Kell must have done for him. I came back alone.” “You wha-a-t?” the irate editor fairly roared, half rising from his chair. “Tell me exactly what happened and get ready to go back there on the next train. Or––no, on second thoughts you’d better go to bed. You look all used up. Handlon may be dead or dying at this minute. That Kell could do anything.” He pressed the button on his desk. “Johnny,” he said to the office boy, 362 “get O’Hara in here on the double quick and tell him to bring along his hat and coat.”

The heavy rain had of course effectually obliterated all wheel tracks.
Another clipping was fairly lengthy, but Perry glanced only at the headlines:

KELL STILL CARRYING ON HIS STRANGE EXPERIMENTS

Has Long Been Known to Have Fantastic Theories. Refuses to Divulge Exact Methods Employed, or Nature of Results

Still another appeared to be an excerpt from an article in an agricultural paper. It read:

A prize bull belonging to Alton Shepard, a Keegan cattle breeder, has created considerable sensation by running amuck in a most peculiar manner. While seemingly more intelligent than heretofore, it has developed characteristics known to be utterly alien to this type of animal.
Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the case is the refusal of the animal to eat its accustomed food. Instead it now consumes enormous quantities of meat. The terrific bellow of the animal’s voice has also undergone a marked change, now resembling nothing earthly, although some have remarked that it could be likened to the bay of an enormous hound. Some of its later actions have seemingly added further canine attributes, which make the matter all the more mystifying. Veterinaries are asking why this animal should chase automobiles, and why it should carry bones in its mouth and try to bury them!

The last one read in part:

Professor Kell has been questioned by authorities at Keegan relative to the disappearance there last Tuesday of Robert Manion and his daughter. Kell seemed unable to furnish clues of any value, but officials are not entirely satisfied with the man’s attitude toward the questions.

Somewhat bewildered by these apparently unrelated items, the reporter remained lost in thought for quite a space, the while he endeavored to map out his course of action when he should meet the redoubtable Professor. That many of the weird occurrences could be traced in some way to the latter’s door had evidently occurred to Bland. Furthermore, the Old Man relied implicitly upon Perry to get results.
It must be said that for once the star reporter was not overly enthusiastic with the assignment. Certain rumors aside from the clippings in his hand had produced in his mind a feeling of uneasiness. So far as his personal preference was concerned he would have been well satisfied if some cub reporter had been given the job. Try as he would, however, he could offer no tangible reason for the sudden wariness.
He was aroused from his absorption by his companion.
“Thought I smelled smoke a while 354 back, and I was right. That’s the house up in the edge of the pines. Deep grounds in front and all gone to seed; fits the description exactly. Thank Heaven we struck off from the station in the right direction. This stroll has been long enough. Come out of it and let’s get this job finished.”
Suiting the action to the words Handlon started off at a brisk pace down the hill, followed at a more moderate rate by Perry. At length they came within full sight of the grounds. Extending for a considerable distance before them and enclosing a large tract of land now well covered with lush grass, was a formidable looking wall. In former days a glorious mantle of ivy had covered the rough stones; but now there was little left, and what there was looked pitifully decrepit. They continued their progress along this barrier, finally coming upon a huge iron gate now much the worse for rust. It stood wide open
To the westward could be perceived a dull, red glow, which, even as they watched with fascinated eyes, developed into an intense glare. Gradually the fading stars became eclipsed in the greater glory.
Three cars, motors throbbing as if eager to be gone, stood a space apart on the main road. The car behind O’Hara’s was the Manion machine, now occupied by Bland and Riley. The remaining one was a touring car and contained the balance of the party. Perry was at the wheel, and beside him sat the Handlon-Kell-Saunders combination.
“Thus passes a den of horror,” whispered Jimmie to his companion.
“It is the funeral pyre of my father,” the girl answered simply. She had long since recovered from her initial outburst of grief at her loss, and now watched the progress of the conflagration dry-eyed. At length Jimmie slipped an arm protectingly about the trembling shoulders.
“You have seen enough,” he said. As the three cars raced from the scene of the holocaust, faint streamers in the east told of the rising orb of day.
“Good-by, Keegan, forever,” murmured Norma.
“Amen,” O’Hara devoutedly agreed.
.

As the road struck into the sierra we branched off to the right and Barbastro, though a long way from the front line, looked bleak

Barbastro, though a long way from the front line,
looked bleak and chipped.
 Swarms of militiamen in shabby uniforms wandered up and down the streets, trying to keep warm.
On a ruinous wall I came upon a poster dating from the previous year and announcing that 'six handsome bulls' would be killed in the arena

As the road struck into the sierra we branched off

to the right and climbed a narrow mule-track that wound round the mountain-side. The hills in that part of Spain are of a queer formation, horseshoe-shaped with flattish tops and very steep sides running down into immense ravines. On the higher slopes nothing grows except stunted shrubs and heath, with the white bones of the limestone sticking out everywhere. The front line here was not a continuous line of trenches, which would have been impossible in such mountainous country; it was simply a chain of fortified posts, always known as 'positions', perched on each hill-top. In the distance you could see our 'position' at the crown of the horseshoe; a ragged barricade of sand-bags, a red flag fluttering, the smoke of dug-out fires. A little nearer, and you could smell a sickening sweetish stink that lived in my nostrils for weeks afterwards. Into the cleft immediately behind the position all the refuse of months had been tipped--a deep festering bed of breadcrusts, excrement, and rusty tins. The company we were relieving were getting their kits together. They had been three months in the line; their uniforms were caked with mud, their boots falling to pieces, their faces mostly bearded. The captain commanding the position, Levinski by name, but known to everyone as Benjamin, and by birth a Polish Jew, but speaking French as his native language, crawled out of his dug-out and greeted us. He was a short youth of about twenty-five, with stiff black hair and a pale eager face which at this period of the war was always very dirty. A few stray bullets were cracking high overhead. The position was a semi-circular enclosure about fifty yards across, with a parapet that was partly sand-bags and partly lumps of limestone. There were thirty or forty dug-outs running into the ground like rat-holes. Williams, myself, and Williams's Spanish brother-in-law made a swift dive for the nearest unoccupied dug-out that looked habitable. Somewhere in front an occasional rifle banged, making queer rolling echoes among the stony hills. We had just dumped our kits and were crawling out of the dug-out when there was another bang and one of the children of our company rushed back from the parapet with his face pouring blood. He had fired his rifle and had somehow managed to blow out the bolt; his scalp was torn to ribbons by the splinters of the burst cartridge-case. It was our first casualty, and, characteristically, self-inflicted. In the afternoon we did our first guard and Benjamin showed us round the position. In front of the parapet there ran a system of narrow trenches hewn out of the rock, with extremely primitive loopholes made of piles of limestone. There were twelve sentries, placed at various points in the trench and behind the inner parapet. In front of the trench was the barbed wire, and then the hillside slid down into a seemingly bottomless ravine; opposite were naked hills, in places mere cliffs of rock, all grey and wintry, with no life anywhere, not even a bird. I peered cautiously through a loophole, trying to find the Fascist trench. 'Where are the enemy?' Benjamin waved his hand expansively. 'Over zere.' (Benjamin spoke English--terrible English.) 'But _where?_' According to my ideas of trench warfare the Fascists would be fifty or a hundred yards away. I could see nothing--seemingly their trenches were very well concealed. Then with a shock of dismay I saw where Benjamin was pointing; on the opposite hill-top, beyond the ravine, seven hundred metres away at the very least, the tiny outline of a parapet and a red-and-yellow flag--the Fascist position. I was indescribably disappointed. We were nowhere near them! At that range our rifles were completely useless. But at this moment there was a shout of excitement. Two Fascists, greyish figurines in the distance, were scrambling up the naked hill-side opposite. Benjamin grabbed the nearest man's rifle, took aim, and pulled the trigger. Click! A dud cartridge; I thought it a bad omen. The new sentries were no sooner in the trench than they began firing a terrific fusillade at nothing in particular. I could see the Fascists, tiny as ants, dodging to and fro behind their parapet, and sometimes a black dot which was a head would pause for a moment, impudently exposed. It was obviously no use firing. But presently the sentry on my left, leaving his post in the typical Spanish fashion, sidled up to me and began urging me to fire. I tried to explain that at that range and with these rifles you could not hit a man except by accident. But he was only a child, and he kept motioning with his rifle towards one of the dots, grinning as eagerly as a dog that expects a pebble to be thrown. Finally I put my sights up to seven hundred and let fly. The dot disappeared. I hope it went near enough to make him jump. It was the first time in my life that I had fired a gun at a human being. Now that I had seen the front I was profoundly disgusted. They called this war! And we were hardly even in touch with the enemy! I made no attempt to keep my head below the level of the trench. A little while later, however, a bullet shot past my ear with a vicious crack and banged into the parados behind. Alas! I ducked. All my life I had sworn that I would not duck the first time a bullet passed over me; but the movement appears to be instinctive, and almost everybody does it at least once. Chapter 3 In trench warfare five things are important: firewood, food, tobacco, candles, and the enemy. In winter on the Zaragoza front they were important in that order, with the enemy a bad last. Except at night, when a surprise-attack was always conceivable, nobody bothered about the enemy. They were simply remote black insects whom one occasionally saw hopping to and fro. The real preoccupation of both armies was trying to keep warm. I ought to say in passing that all the time I was in Spain I saw very little fighting. I was on the Aragón front from January to May, and between January and late March little or nothing happened on that front, except at Teruel. In March there was heavy fighting round Huesca, but I personally played only a minor part in it. Later, in June, there was the disastrous attack on Huesca in which several thousand men were killed in a single day, but I had been wounded and disabled before that happened. The things that one normally thinks of as the horrors of war seldom happened to me. No aeroplane ever dropped a bomb anywhere near me, I do not think a shell ever exploded within fifty yards of me, and I was only in hand-to-hand fighting once (once is once too often, I may say). Of course I was often under heavy machine-gun fire, but usually at longish ranges. Even at Huesca you were generally safe enough if you took reasonable precautions. Up here, in the hills round Zaragoza, it was simply the mingled boredom and discomfort of stationary warfare. A life as uneventful as a city clerk's, and almost as regular. Sentry-go, patrols, digging; digging, patrols, sentry-go. On every hill-top, Fascist or Loyalist, a knot of ragged, dirty men shivering round their flag and trying to keep warm. And all day and night the meaningless bullets wandering across the empty valleys and only by some rare improbable chance getting home on a human body. Often I used to gaze round the wintry landscape and marvel at the futility of it all. The inconclusiveness of such a kind of war! Earlier, about October, there had been savage fighting for all these hills; then, because the lack of men and arms, especially artillery, made any large-scale operation impossible, each army had dug itself in and settled down on the hill-tops it had won. Over to our right there was a small outpost, also P.O.U.M., and on the spur to our left, at seven o'clock of us, a P.S.U.C. position faced a taller spur with several small Fascist posts dotted on its peaks. The so-called line zigzagged to and fro in a pattern that would have been quite unintelligible if every position had not flown a flag. The P.O.U.M. and P.S.U.C. flags were red, those of the Anarchists red and black; the Fascists generally flew the monarchist flag (red-yellow-red), but occasionally they flew the flag of the Republic (red-yellow-purple).* The scenery was stupendous, if you could forget that every mountain-top was occupied by troops and was therefore littered with tin cans and crusted with dung. To the right of us the sierra bent south-eastwards and made way for the wide, veined valley that stretched across to Huesca. In the middle of the plain a few tiny cubes sprawled like a throw of dice; this was the town of Robres, which was in Loyalist possession. Often in the mornings the valley was hidden under seas of cloud, out of which the hills rose flat and blue, giving the landscape a strange resemblance to a photographic negative. Beyond Huesca there were more hills of the same formation as our own, streaked with a pattern of snow which altered day by day. In the far distance the monstrous peaks of the Pyrenees, where the snow never melts, seemed to float upon nothing. Even down in the plain everything looked dead and bare. The hills opposite us were grey and wrinkled like the skins of elephants. Almost always the sky was empty of birds. I do not think I have ever seen a country where there were so few birds. The only birds one saw at any time were a kind of magpie, and the coveys of partridges that startled one at night with their sudden whirring, and, very rarely, the flights of eagles that drifted slowly over, generally followed by rifle-shots which they did not deign to notice. [* Footnote: An errata note found in Orwell's papers after his death: "Am not now completely certain that I ever saw Fascists flying the republican flag, though I _think_ they sometimes flew it with a small imposed swastika."] At night and in misty weather, patrols were sent out in the valley between ourselves and the Fascists. The job was not popular, it was too cold and too easy to get lost, and I soon found that I could get leave to go out on patrol as often as I wished. In the huge jagged ravines there were no paths or tracks of any kind; you could only find your way about by making successive journeys and noting fresh landmarks each time. As the bullet flies the nearest Fascist post was seven hundred metres from our own, but it was a mile and a half by the only practicable route. It was rather fun wandering about the dark valleys with the stray bullets flying high overhead like redshanks whistling. Better than night-time were the heavy mists, which often lasted all day and which had a habit of clinging round the hill-tops and leaving the valleys clear. When you were anywhere near the Fascist lines you had to creep at a snail's pace; it was very difficult to move quietly on those hill-sides, among the crackling shrubs and tinkling limestones. It was only at the third or fourth attempt that I managed to find my way to the Fascist lines. The mist was very thick, and I crept up to the barbed wire to listen. I could hear the Fascists talking and singing inside. Then to my alarm I heard several of them coming down the hill towards me. I cowered behind a bush that suddenly seemed very small, and tried to cock my rifle without noise. However, they branched off and did not come within sight of me. Behind the bush where I was hiding I came upon various relics of the earlier fighting--a pile of empty cartridge-cases, a leather cap with a bullet-hole in it, and a red flag, obviously one of our own. I took it back to the position, where it was unsentimentally torn up for cleaning-rags. I had been made a corporal, or _cabo_, as it was called, as soon as we reached the front, and was in command of a guard of twelve men. It was no sinecure, especially at first. The _centuria_ was an untrained mob composed mostly of boys in their teens. Here and there in the militia you came across children as young as eleven or twelve, usually refugees from Fascist territory who had been enlisted as militiamen as the easiest way of providing for them. As a rule they were employed on light work in the rear, but sometimes they managed to worm their way to the front line, where they were a public menace. I remember one little brute throwing a hand-grenade into the dug-out fire 'for a joke'. At Monte Pocero I do not think there was anyone younger than fifteen, but the average age must have been well under twenty. Boys of this age ought never to be used in the front line, because they cannot stand the lack of sleep which is inseparable from trench warfare. At the beginning it was almost impossible to keep our position properly guarded at night. The wretched children of my section could only be roused by dragging them out of their dug-outs feet foremost, and as soon as your back was turned they left their posts and slipped into shelter; or they would even, in spite of the frightful cold, lean up against the wall of the trench and fall fast asleep. Luckily the enemy were very unenterprising. There were nights when it seemed to me that our position could be stormed by twenty Boy Scouts armed with airguns, or twenty Girl Guides armed with battledores, for that matter. At this time and until much later the Catalan militias were still on the same basis as they had been at the beginning of the war. In the early days of Franco's revolt the militias had been hurriedly raised by the various trade unions and political parties; each was essentially a political organization, owing allegiance to its party as much as to the central Government. When the Popular Army, which was a 'non-political' army organized on more or less ordinary lines, was raised at the beginning of 1937, the party militias were theoretically incorporated in it. But for a long time the only changes that occurred were on paper; the new Popular Army troops did not reach the Aragón front in any numbers till June, and until that time the militia-system remained unchanged. The essential point of the system was social equality between officers and men. Everyone from general to private drew the same pay, ate the same food, wore the same clothes, and mingled on terms of complete equality. If you wanted to slap the general commanding the division on the back and ask him for a cigarette, you could do so, and no one thought it curious. In theory at any rate each militia was a democracy and not a hierarchy. It was understood that orders had to be obeyed, but it was also understood that when you gave an order you gave it as comrade to comrade and not as superior to inferior. There were officers and N.C.O.s but there was no military rank in the ordinary sense; no titles, no badges, no heel-clicking and saluting. They had attempted to produce within the militias a sort of temporary working model of the classless society. Of course there was no perfect equality, but there was a nearer approach to it than I had ever seen or than I would have thought conceivable in time of war. But I admit that at first sight the state of affairs at the front horrified me. How on earth could the war be won by an army of this type? It was what everyone was saying at the time, and though it was true it was also unreasonable. For in the circumstances the militias could not have been much better than they were. A modern mechanized army does not spring up out of the ground, and if the Government had waited until it had trained troops at its disposal, Franco would never have been resisted. Later it became the fashion to decry the militias, and therefore to pretend that the faults which were due to lack of training and weapons were the result of the equalitarian system. Actually, a newly raised draft of militia was an undisciplined mob not because the officers called the private 'Comrade' but because raw troops are _always_ an undisciplined mob. In practice the democratic 'revolutionary' type of discipline is more reliable than might be expected. In a workers' army discipline is theoretically voluntary. It is based on class-loyalty, whereas the discipline of a bourgeois conscript army is based ultimately on fear. (The Popular Army that replaced the militias was midway between the two types.) In the militias the bullying and abuse that go on in an ordinary army would never have been tolerated for a moment. The normal military punishments existed, but they were only invoked for very serious offences. When a man refused to obey an order you did not immediately get him punished; you first appealed to him in the name of comradeship. Cynical people with no experience of handling men will say instantly that this would never 'work', but as a matter of fact it does 'work' in the long run. The discipline of even the worst drafts of militia visibly improved as time went on. In January the job of keeping a dozen raw recruits up to the mark almost turned my hair grey. In May for a short while I was acting-lieutenant in command of about thirty men, English and Spanish. We had all been under fire for months, and I never had the slightest difficulty in getting an order obeyed or in getting men to volunteer for a dangerous job. 'Revolutionary' discipline depends on political consciousness--on an understanding of _why_ orders must be obeyed; it takes time to diffuse this, but it also takes time to drill a man into an automaton on the barrack-square. The journalists who sneered at the militia-system seldom remembered that the militias had to hold the line while the Popular Army was training in the rear. And it is a tribute to the strength of 'revolutionary' discipline that the militias stayed in the field at all. For until about June 1937 there was nothing to keep them there, except class loyalty. Individual deserters could be shot--were shot, occasionally--but if a thousand men had decided to walk out of the line together there was no force to stop them. A conscript army in the same circumstances--with its battle-police removed--would have melted away. Yet the militias held the line, though God knows they won very few victories, and even individual desertions were not common. In four or five months in the P.O.U.M. militia I only heard of four men deserting, and two of those were fairly certainly spies who had enlisted to obtain information. At the beginning the apparent chaos, the general lack of training, the fact that you often had to argue for five minutes before you could get an order obeyed, appalled and infuriated me. I had British Army ideas, and certainly the Spanish militias were very unlike the British Army. But considering the circumstances they were better troops than one had any right to expect. Meanwhile, firewood--always firewood. Throughout that period there is probably no entry in my diary that does not mention firewood, or rather the lack of it. We were between two and three thousand feet above sea-level, it was mid winter and the cold was unspeakable. The temperature was not exceptionally low, on many nights it did not even freeze, and the wintry sun often shone for an hour in the middle of the day; but even if it was not really cold, I assure you that it seemed so. Sometimes there were shrieking winds that tore your cap off and twisted your hair in all directions, sometimes there were mists that poured into the trench like a liquid and seemed to penetrate your bones; frequently it rained, and even a quarter of an hour's rain was enough to make conditions intolerable. The thin skin of earth over the limestone turned promptly into a slippery grease, and as you were always walking on a slope it was impossible to keep your footing. On dark nights I have often fallen half a dozen times in twenty yards; and this was dangerous, because it meant that the lock of one's rifle became jammed with mud. For days together clothes, boots, blankets, and rifles were more or less coated with mud. I had brought as many thick clothes as I could carry, but many of the men were terribly underclad. For the whole garrison, about a hundred men, there were only twelve great-coats, which had to be handed from sentry to sentry, and most of the men had only one blanket. One icy night I made a list in my diary of the clothes I was wearing. It is of some interest as showing the amount of clothes the human body can carry. I was wearing a thick vest and pants, a flannel shirt, two pull-overs, a woollen jacket, a pigskin jacket, corduroy breeches, puttees, thick socks, boots, a stout trench-coat, a muffler, lined leather gloves, and a woollen cap. Nevertheless I was shivering like a jelly. But I admit I am unusually sensitive to cold. Firewood was the one thing that really mattered. The point about the firewood was that there was practically no firewood to be had. Our miserable mountain had not even at its best much vegetation, and for months it had been ranged over by freezing militiamen, with the result that everything thicker than one's finger had long since been burnt. When we were not eating, sleeping, on guard, or on fatigue-duty we were in the valley behind the position, scrounging for fuel. All my memories of that time are memories of scrambling up and down the almost perpendicular slopes, over the jagged limestone that knocked one's boots to pieces, pouncing eagerly on tiny twigs of wood. Three people searching for a couple of hours could collect enough fuel to keep the dug-out fire alight for about an hour. The eagerness of our search for firewood turned us all into botanists. We classified according to their burning qualities every plant that grew on the mountainside; the various heaths and grasses that were good to start a fire with but burnt out in a few minutes, the wild rosemary and the tiny whin bushes that would burn when the fire was well alight, the stunted oak tree, smaller than a gooseberry bush, that was practically unburnable. There was a kind of dried-up reed that was very good for starting fires with, but these grew only on the hill-top to the left of the position, and you had to go under fire to get them. If the Fascist machine-gunners saw you they gave you a drum of ammunition all to yourself. Generally their aim was high and the bullets sang overhead like birds, but sometime they crackled and chipped the limestone uncomfortably close, whereupon you flung yourself on your face. You went on gathering reeds, however; nothing mattered in comparison with firewood. Beside the cold the other discomforts seemed petty. Of course all of us were permanently dirty. Our water, like our food, came on mule-back from Alcubierre, and each man's share worked out at about a quart a day. It was beastly water, hardly more transparent than milk. Theoretically it was for drinking only, but I always stole a pannikinful for washing in the mornings. I used to wash one day and shave the next; there was never enough water for both. The position stank abominably, and outside the little enclosure of the barricade there was excrement everywhere. Some of the militiamen habitually defecated in the trench, a disgusting thing when one had to walk round it in the darkness. But the dirt never worried me. Dirt is a thing people make too much fuss about. It is astonishing how quickly you get used to doing without a handkerchief and to eating out of the tin pannikin in which you also wash. Nor was sleeping in one's clothes any hardship after a day or two. It was of course impossible to take one's clothes and especially one's boots off at night; one had to be ready to turn out instantly in case of an attack. In eighty nights I only took my clothes off three times, though I did occasionally manage to get them off in the daytime. It was too cold for lice as yet, but rats and mice abounded. It is often said that you don't find rats and mice in the same place, but you do when there is enough food for them. In other ways we were not badly off. The food was good enough and there was plenty of wine. Cigarettes were still being issued at the rate of a packet a day, matches were issued every other day, and there was even an issue of candles. They were very thin candles, like those on a Christmas cake, and were popularly supposed to have been looted from churches. Every dug-out was issued daily with three inches of candle, which would bum for about twenty minutes. At that time it was still possible to buy candles, and I had brought several pounds of them with me. Later on the famine of matches and candles made life a misery. You do not realize the importance of these things until you lack them. In a night-alarm, for instance, when everyone in the dug-out is scrambling for his rifle and treading on everybody else's face, being able to strike a light may make the difference between life and death. Every militiaman possessed a tinder-lighter and several yards of yellow wick. Next to his rifle it was his most important possession. The tinder-lighters had the great advantage that they could be struck in a wind, but they would only smoulder, so that they were no use for lighting a fire. When the match famine was at its worst our only way of producing a flame was to pull the bullet out of a cartridge and touch the cordite off with a tinder-lighter. It was an extraordinary life that we were living--an extraordinary way to be at war, if you could call it war. The whole militia chafed against the inaction and clamoured constantly to know why we were not allowed to attack. But it was perfectly obvious that there would be no battle for a long while yet, unless the enemy started it. Georges Kopp, on his periodical tours of inspection, was quite frank with us. 'This is not a war,' he used to say, 'it is a comic opera with an occasional death.' As a matter of fact the stagnation on the Aragón front had political causes of which I knew nothing at that time; but the purely military difficulties--quite apart from the lack of reserves of men--were obvious to anybody.

DAS TRADUÇÕES E DO INTERESSE NOS ACTOS HUMANOS NÃO PARA NOS RIR-MOS DELES POIS SÃO TODOS RISÍVEIS NEM PARA OS DEPLORAR OU MESMO DEFLORAR OU DETESTAR OU MESMO CONTESTAR MAS SIMPLESMENTE PARA TENTAR COMPREENDER TAIS ACTOS E COMPREENDEDO-OS COMPREENDER OS MEUS ...Sedulo curavi humanas actiones non ridere, non lugere, neque detestari, sed intelligere.” — Ho assiduamente cercato di imparare a non ridere delle azioni degli uomini, a non piangerne, a non odiarle, ma a comprenderle.um corpo é capaz, em comparação com outros, de agir simultaneamente sobre um número maior de coisas, ou de padecer simultaneamente de um número maior de coisas, tanto mais sua mente é capaz, em comparação com outras, de perceber, simultaneamente, um número maior de coisas. E quanto mais as ações de um corpo dependem apenas dele próprio, e quan- to menos outros corpos cooperam com ele no agir, tanto mais sua mente é capaz de compreender distintamente. E por esses critérios que podemos reconhecer a superioridade de uma mente sobre as outras, bem como compreender por que não temos de nosso corpo senão um conhecimento muito confuso, além de muitas outras coisas, as quais deduzirei, a seguir, do que acabo de expor. Pensei, por isso, que valeria a pena explicar e de- monstrar cuidadosamente essas coisas e, para isso, é necessário estabelecer algumas premissas sobre a natureza dos corpos. Axioma 1. Todos os corpos estão ou em movimento ou em repouso. Axioma 2. Todo corpo se move ora mais lentamente, ora mais velozmente.

Comunista & Pastafariano.
Per fortuna o purtroppo terrone.
Occasionalmente posto porno.
"Io penso che il divertimento sia una cosa seria."
- Italo Calvino
" Quanno se scherza bisogna esse' seri!"
- Onofrio del Grillo
"Scherzando si può dire tutto, anche la verità."
- Sigmund Freud
"L'umorismo è un fenomeno di sdoppiamento nell'atto della concezione; è come un'erma bifronte, che ride per una faccia del pianto della faccia opposta."
- Luigi Pirandello
"Le persone veramente serie non sono mai serie."
- Luca Quadri
"Chi non sa ridere non è una persona seria."
- Fryderyk Chopin

schlutt ? is a popular element ...is a rock star not a elemental whore..Schlutt OLD saxon schlutt....reverted to anglo in 1385 ....the welch and english archers call sluts to the wenches that follow the english army in the wars in europe ---- the archers are in good need long bow you know CARBON ARE MONEY FORMS ...IN DOLLAR YOU TRUST.......DIAMONDS ARE C.....TOO....NO NO A BAD ELEMENT IS LIKE ISIS YOU SHOULD PUT IN ARE INTO IT ...LIKE THESE...So profitable was the business that the early dividends were at the ' rate of 12 to 16 per cent, per annum. Upon an allegation that the bank had produced evil effects, its charter was repealed in Sept. 1785, by the state government of Pennsylvania ; but it continued its business, claiming the right to do so under the act of Congress. In 1787, the bank was re-incorporated, and has been continued to the present day. Its operations are confined however to the state of Pennsylvania. BAD ELEMENTS ONLY IN WALL STREET

• sulfer will bond with six at once. This guy don't know what he is talking about

  SULFER SUFFER FROM SULFURIC INFLUENCES

  • sulfer will bond with six at once. This guy don't know what he is talking about

    
    

     The following is a list of all the 

    State Banks in 
    operation on the 1st of January, 1830. 

    — (From Mr. Galatin.) 
    
    
    
    MASSACHUSETTS. 
    
    
    
    Capital. 
    
    
    
    Massachusetts - 
    
    
    - 800,000 
    
    
    Union 
    
    
    - 800,000 
    
    
    Phoenix 
    
    
    . 200,000 
    
    
    Gloucester 
    
    
    - 120,000 
    
    
    Newburyport 
    
    
    - 210,000 
    
    
    Beverly 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Boston 
    
    
    - 900,000 
    
    
    Salem 
    
    
    - 250,000 
    
    
    Plymouth - 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Worcester 
    
    
    - 200,000 
    
    
    Marblehead 
    
    
    - 120,000 
    
    
    Pacific 
    
    
    - 200,000 
    
    
    State 
    
    
    - 1,800,000 
    
    
    Mechanics - 
    
    
    - 200,000 
    
    
    Merchants, (Salem) 
    
    
    - 400,000 
    
    
    Taunton - 
    
    
    - 175,000 
    
    
    New-England - 
    
    
    . 1,000,000 
    
    
    Hampshire 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Dedham - 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Manuf.&Mech's.(Boston) 750,000 
    
    
    Springfield 
    
    
    - 250,000 
    
    
    Lynn Mechanics 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Merrimack 
    
    
    - 150,000 
    
    
    Pawtucket 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Suffolk - . 
    
    
    - 750,000 
    
    
    Commercial, Salem 
    
    
    - 300,000 
    
    
    Bedford Commercial 
    
    
    - 250,000 
    
    
    Agricultural 
    
    
    - 1 00,000 
    
    
    American - 
    
    
    - 750,000 
    
    
    Andover - 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Asiatic 
    
    
    - 350,000 
    
    
    Atlantic - 
    
    
    - 500,000 
    
    
    Barnstable 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Blackstone 
    
    
    - 100,000 
    
    
    Brighton - 
    
    
    - 150,000 
    
    
    Bunker HiU - 
    
    
    - 150,000 
    
    
    Cambridge 
    
    
    - 150,000 
    
    
    Central 
    
    
    - 50,000 
    
    
    City 
    
    
    - 1,000,000 
    
    
    Columbian 
    
    
    - 500,000 
    
    
    Commonwealth - 
    
    
    - 500,000 
    
    
    Danvers - 
    
    
    - 120,000 
    
    
    Eagle 
    
    
    - 500,000 
    
    
    Exchange - 
    
    
    - 300,000 
    
    
    Fall River - 
    
    
    - 200,000 
    
    
    
    Capital 
    
    Falmouth - - - 100,000 
    
    Farmers - - - 100,000 
    
    Franklin, (Boston) - 100,000 
    
    Franklin, (Greenfield)- 100,000 
    
    
    
    Globe 
    Hampden - 
    Hampshire Man. 
    Housatonic 
    
    Leicester - - - 
    Lowell - - - 
    Man. & Mech.'s (Nan- 
    tucket) - - - 
    Mendon - - - 
    Mercantile 
    
    Mercht. (New-Bedford) 250,000 
    Millbury - - - 100,000 
    Norfolk - 
    North Bank 
    
    
    
    66 Banks 
    
    
    20,420,000 
    
    

    
    

    and which should not be equivalent to specie at the place 
    where offered, and convertible upon the spot into gold and silver, at 
    the will of the holder, and without loss or delay to him. Nor have 
    the states lagged behind in their efforts to improve the currency by 
    infusing into it a greater proportion of the precious metals. ^ Already 
    are the issuing of bills under the denomination of five dollars pro- 
    hibited by the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, 
    Tennessee, Louisiana, North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New 
    York, New Jersey, and Alabama, and of one and two dollars by 
    Connecticut. That this policy will become general, and gradually 
    extended, cannot be doubted. To what precise extent it may be 
    carried with advantage to the country, will be decided by time, 
    experience, and judicious observation. Evasions of it may for a 
    season take place, and some slight inconveniences arise from the 
    change, but they will both be temporary. The union committee of 
    the city of New York, confesseAy combining some of the best 
    business talents of our great conunercial emporium, regarded it as an 
    improvement of the currency of great importance to all classes of the 
    people. Legislative bodies have shewn great uflanimity in its &vour. 
    It is approved by the people, and must prevail. 
    
    " Sincerely believing, for the reasons which have just been stated, 
    that the public funds may be as safely and conveniently transmitted 
    from one portion of the Union to another, that domestic exchange can 
    be as successfully and as cheaply effected, and the currency be rendered 
    at least as sound under the existing system, as those objects could be 
    accomplished by means of a national bank, I would not seek a remedy 
    for the evils to which you allude, should they unfortunately occur, 
    through such a medium, even if the constitutional objection were not 
    in the way." 
    
    By a report recently made by the auditor-general 
    to the Pennsylvanian legislature, the following are the 
    principal items in the condition of the new bank of 
    the United States. 
    
    Dollars. 
    
    Capital 35,000,000 
    
    Notes in circulation 36,620,420 
    
    Deposits 2,194,231 
    
    Notes of other banks 19,078,796 
    
    Specie 5,079,460 
    
    Debts owng by other banks 31,553,035 
    
    Bills discounted 56,389,253 
    
    Unclaimed dividends 241,900 
    
    Contingent Fund 1,695,105 
    
    Real Estate 315,214 
    
    Due toother banks 30,755,561 
    
    
    
    42 THE HISTORY OF 
    
    SECTION III. 
    
    THE STATE BANKS. 
    
    The Bank of the United States 

    was founded by 
    Congress, 

    but all the other banks derived their char- 
    ter Irom the government of the states in which they 
    are established. They are all joint-stock companies, 
    as no private banking is allowed. The chartered 
    banks are subject to various restrictions, according to 
    the enactments of the different states ; and their re- 
    strictions are often such as are unknown in this coun- 
    try. Generally no shareholder is answerable for the 
    debts of the bank beyond the proportionate amount 
    of his shares. In some cases the government retains 
    the option of subscribing an additional number of 
    shares, and of appointing a corresponding number 
    of directors. And in others, the banks are under 
    obligation to advance a certain sum to the govern- 
    ment whenever required. Some states have laid a 
    tax of ten per cent, on the dividends paid on the 
    stock of each bank. The banks are sometimes re- 
    stricted not to incur debts beyond a certain proportion 
    to their capital ; and in all the states the banks are 
    now required to make periodical returns to the 
    government. 
    
    I. The business of the States Banks. 
    
    *' Tlie business of all those banks consists, in receiving money on 
    deposit, in issuing bank notes, and in discounting notes of band or bills 
    of exchange. A portion of the capital is sometimes vested in public 
    stocks, but this is not obligatory, and in this they differ essentially 
    from the Bank of England. 
    
    " Whenever therefore an American bank is in full operation, its 
    debts generally consist, 1st. to the stockholders of the capital; 2nd. 
    to the community, of the notes in circulation, and of the credits in 
    account current, commonly called deposits ; and its credits, Ist. of dis- 
    counted notes or bills of exchange, and occasionally of public stocks. 
    2. Of the specie in its vaults, and of the notes of, and balances due by, 
    other banks. 3. Of its real estate, either used for banking purposes 
    or taken in payment of debts. Some other incidental items may some- 
    times be introduced ; a part of the capital is occasionally invested in 
    road, canal, and bridge stocks, and the debts secured on judgments, 
    or bonds and mortgages, are generally distinguished in the official 
    returns of the banks." — Gallatin . 
    
    
    
    BANKING IN AMERICA.