“All gone,.”said the Man in Asbestos..Then next to that we killed the changes of climate 36).I don't think that in your day you properly understood how much of your work was due to 7 the shifts of what you called the weather.It meant the need of all kinds of special clothes and houses and shelters,a wilderness of work.How dreadful it must have been in your day-wind and storms,clouds flying through the air, the ocean tossed and torn by the wind, snow thrown all over everything." cSo,”I said,“the Conquest of Nature meant that presently there was no more work to do?
“All gone,” said the Man in Asbestos. “Then next to that we killed the changes of climate(36). I don’t think that in your day you properly understood how much of your work was due to(37) the shifts of what you called the weather. It the ocean tossed and torn by the wind, snow thrown all over everything.” “So,” I said, “the Conquest of Nature meant that presently there was no more work to do?” meant the need of all kinds of special clothes and houses and shelters, a wilderness of work. How dreadful it must have been in your day — wind and storms, clouds flying through the air
“Exactly,”he said,.“nothing left.” "Food enough for all?" Too much,”he answered. "Houses and clothes?” “All you like.” Then I realized for the first time,just what had meant in the old life,and how much of the texture of life itself had been bound up in the keen effort ofit 38). Presently my eyes looked upward: dangling at the top of a building I saw what seemed to be the remains of telephone wires
“Exactly,” he said, “nothing left.” “Food enough for all?” “Too much,” he answered. “Houses and clothes?” “All you like.” Then I realized for the first time, just what had meant in the old life, and how much of the texture of life itself had been bound up in the keen effort of it(38). Presently my eyes looked upward: dangling at the top of a building I saw what seemed to be the remains of telephone wires
What became of 39all the system of communication?"I asked. “Ah,”said the Man in Asbestos,.“all cut out..You see,when work stopped and commerce ended, and food was needless,and the weather killed,there was nothing to communicate and it was foolish to move about. Besides it was dangerous!" "So!"I said.You still have danger?" Why,yes,”he said. "Do you mean you can still die?"I asked. No,”said the Man in Asbestos,“there's been no death for centuries past;we cut that out.Disease and death were simply a matter
“What became of (39)all the system of communication?” I asked. “Ah,” said the Man in Asbestos, “all cut out. You see, when work stopped and commerce ended, and food was needless, and the weather killed, there was nothing to communicate and it was foolish to move about. Besides it was dangerous!” “So!” I said. You still have danger?” “Why, yes,” he said. “Do you mean you can still die?” I asked. “No,” said the Man in Asbestos, “there’s been no death for centuries past; we cut that out. Disease and death were simply a matter
of germs.Well,we hunted them down one by one and destroyed (40)them." “And you mean to say,.”I ejaculated in amazement,.“that nowadays you live forever?” "Yes,"he said,"unless,of course,we get broken.( Therefore we took steps to cut out all accidents.We forbid all streetcars,street traffic,airplanes,and so on."We sat silent for a long time.I looked about me at the crumbling buildings,the unchanging sky,and the dreary,empty street. Here,then,was the fruit of the Conquest, here was the elimination of work,the downfall of change and death-nay,the very millennium of
of germs. Well, we hunted them down one by one and destroyed (40) them.” “And you mean to say,” I ejaculated in amazement, “that nowadays you live forever?” “Yes,” he said, “unless, of course, we get broken.(41) Therefore we took steps to cut out all accidents. We forbid all streetcars, street traffic, airplanes, and so on.” We sat silent for a long time. I looked about me at the crumbling buildings, the unchanging sky, and the dreary, empty street. Here, then, was the fruit of the Conquest, here was the elimination of work, the downfall of change and death — nay, the very millennium of
happiness.I pondered,then I put two or three rapid questions,hardly waiting to reflect upon the answers. “Is there any war now?" “Done away with centuries ago.” “Do you still have newspapers?” "Newspapers!What on earth would we want them for?What is in them,anyway;only things that happen,wars and accidents and work and death.When these went,newspapers went too. Listen,.”continued the Man in Asbestos,.“you still don't seem to understand the new life at all.How used your people to spend all the early part of their lives?
happiness. I pondered, then I put two or three rapid questions, hardly waiting to reflect upon the answers. “Is there any war now?” “Done away with centuries ago.” “Do you still have newspapers?” “Newspapers! What on earth would we want them for? What is in them, anyway; only things that happen,wars and accidents and work and death.When these went, newspapers went too. Listen,” continued the Man in Asbestos, “you still don’t seem to understand the new life at all. How used your people to spend all the early part of their lives?