按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
were full of interest； so that in three or four generations they
reached a perfection hardly if at all inferior to that of several
hundred years earlier。
On this the same evils recurred。 Sculptors obtained high prices
the art became a tradeschools arose which professed to sell the
holy spirit of art for money； pupils flocked from far and near to
buy it； in the hopes of selling it later on； and were struck
purblind as a punishment for the sin of those who sent them。
Before long a second iconoclastic fury would infallibly have
followed； but for the prescience of a statesman who succeeded in
passing an Act to the effect that no statue of any public man or
woman should be allowed to remain unbroken for more than fifty
years； unless at the end of that time a jury of twenty…four men
taken at random from the street pronounced in favour of its being
allowed a second fifty years of life。 Every fifty years this
reconsideration was to be repeated； and unless there was a majority
of eighteen in favour of the retention of the statue； it was to be
destroyed。
Perhaps a simpler plan would have been to forbid the erection of a
statue to any public man or woman till he or she had been dead at
least one hundred years； and even then to insist on reconsideration
of the claims of the deceased and the merit of the statue every
fifty yearsbut the working of the Act brought about results that
on the whole were satisfactory。 For in the first place； many
public statues that would have been voted under the old system；
were not ordered； when it was known that they would be almost
certainly broken up after fifty years； and in the second； public
sculptors knowing their work to be so ephemeral； scamped it to an
extent that made it offensive even to the most uncultured eye。
Hence before long subscribers took to paying the sculptor for the
statue of their dead statesmen； on condition that he did not make
it。 The tribute of respect was thus paid to the deceased； the
public sculptors were not mulcted； and the rest of the public
suffered no inconvenience。
I was told； however； that an abuse of this custom is growing up；
inasmuch as the competition for the commission not to make a statue
is so keen； that sculptors have been known to return a considerable
part of the purchase money to the subscribers； by an arrangement
made with them beforehand。 Such transactions； however； are always
clandestine。 A small inscription is let into the pavement； where
the public statue would have stood； which informs the reader that
such a statue has been ordered for the person； whoever he or she
may be； but that as yet the sculptor has not been able to complete
it。 There has been no Act to repress statues that are intended for
private consumption； but as I have said； the custom is falling into
desuetude。
Returning to Erewhonian customs in connection with death； there is
one which I can hardly pass over。 When any one dies； the friends
of the family write no letters of condolence； neither do they
attend the scattering； nor wear mourning； but they send little
boxes filled with artificial tears； and with the name of the sender
painted neatly upon the outside of the lid。 The tears vary in
number from two to fifteen or sixteen； according to degree of
intimacy or relationship； and people sometimes find it a nice point
of etiquette to know the exact number which they ought to send。
Strange as it may appear； this attention is highly valued； and its
omission by those from whom it might be expected is keenly felt。
These tears were formerly stuck with adhesive plaster to the cheeks
of the bereaved； and were worn in public for a few months after the
death of a relative； they were then banished to the hat or bonnet；
and are now no longer worn。
The birth of a child is looked upon as a painful subject on which
it is kinder not to touch： the illness of the mother is carefully
concealed until the necessity for signing the birth…formula （of
which hereafter） renders further secrecy impossible； and for some
months before the event the family live in retirement； seeing very
little company。 When the offence is over and done with； it is
condoned by the common want of logic； for this merciful provision
of nature； this buffer against collisions； this friction which
upsets our calculations but without which existence would be
intolerable； this crowning glory of human invention whereby we can
be blind and see at one and the same moment； this blessed
inconsistency； exists here as elsewhere； and though the strictest
writers on morality have maintained that it is wicked for a woman
to have children at all； inasmuch as it is wrong to be out of
health that good may come； yet the necessity of the case has caused
a general feeling in favour of passing over such events in silence；
and of assuming their non…existence except in such flagrant cases
as force themselves on the public notice。 Against these the
condemnation of society is inexorable； and if it is believed that
the illness has been dangerous and protracted； it is almost
impossible for a woman to recover her former position in society。
The above conventions struck me as arbitrary and cruel； but they
put a stop to many fancied ailments； for the situation； so far from
being considered interesting； is looked upon as savouring more or
less distinctly of a very reprehensible condition of things； and
the ladies take care to conceal it as long as they can even from
their own husbands； in anticipation of a severe scolding as soon as
the misdemeanour is discovered。 Also the baby is kept out of
sight； except on the day of signing the birth…formula； until it can
walk and talk。 Should the child unhappily die； a coroner's inquest
is inevitable； but in order to avoid disgracing a family which may
have been hitherto respected； it is almost invariably found that
the child was over seventy…five years old； and died from the decay
of nature。
CHAPTER XIV： MAHAINA
I continued my sojourn with the Nosnibors。 In a few days Mr。
Nosnibor had recovered from his flogging； and was looking forward
with glee to the fact that the next would be the last。 I did not
think that there seemed any occasion even for this； but he said it
was better to be on the safe side； and he would make up the dozen。
He now went to his business as usual； and I understood that he was
never more prosperous； in spite of his heavy fine。 He was unable
to give me much of his time during the day； for he was one of those
valuable men who are paid； not by the year； month； week； or day；
but by the minute。 His wife and daughters； however； made much of
me； and introduced me to their friends； who came in shoals to call
upon me。
One of these persons was a lady called Mahaina。 Zulora （the elder
of my host's daughters） ran up to her and embraced her as soon as
she entered the room； at the same time inquiring tenderly after her
〃poor dipsomania。〃 Mahaina answered that it was just as bad as
ever； she was a perfect martyr to it； and her excellent health was
the only thing which consoled her under her affliction。
Then the other ladies joined in with condolences and the never…
fail