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rapidity with which that of the machines is advancing。 This is the
most alarming feature in the case； and I must be pardoned for
insisting on it so frequently。〃
CHAPTER XXV： THE MACHINESconcluded
Here followed a very long and untranslatable digression about the
different races and families of the then existing machines。 The
writer attempted to support his theory by pointing out the
similarities existing between many machines of a widely different
character； which served to show descent from a common ancestor。 He
divided machines into their genera； subgenera； species； varieties；
subvarieties； and so forth。 He proved the existence of connecting
links between machines that seemed to have very little in common；
and showed that many more such links had existed； but had now
perished。 He pointed out tendencies to reversion； and the presence
of rudimentary organs which existed in many machines feebly
developed and perfectly useless； yet serving to mark descent from
an ancestor to whom the function was actually useful。
I left the translation of this part of the treatise； which； by the
way； was far longer than all that I have given here； for a later
opportunity。 Unfortunately； I left Erewhon before I could return
to the subject； and though I saved my translation and other papers
at the hazard of my life； I was a obliged to sacrifice the original
work。 It went to my heart to do so； but I thus gained ten minutes
of invaluable time； without which both Arowhena and myself must
have certainly perished。
I remember one incident which bears upon this part of the treatise。
The gentleman who gave it to me had asked to see my tobacco…pipe；
he examined it carefully； and when he came to the little
protuberance at the bottom of the bowl he seemed much delighted；
and exclaimed that it must be rudimentary。 I asked him what he
meant。
〃Sir；〃 he answered； 〃this organ is identical with the rim at the
bottom of a cup； it is but another form of the same function。 Its
purpose must have been to keep the heat of the pipe from marking
the table upon which it rested。 You would find； if you were to
look up the history of tobacco…pipes； that in early specimens this
protuberance was of a different shape to what it is now。 It will
have been broad at the bottom； and flat； so that while the pipe was
being smoked the bowl might rest upon the table without marking it。
Use and disuse must have come into play and reduced the function to
its present rudimentary condition。 I should not be surprised；
sir；〃 he continued； 〃if； in the course of time； it were to become
modified still farther； and to assume the form of an ornamental
leaf or scroll； or even a butterfly； while； in some cases； it will
become extinct。〃
On my return to England； I looked up the point； and found that my
friend was right。
Returning； however； to the treatise； my translation recommences as
follows：…
〃May we not fancy that if； in the remotest geological period； some
early form of vegetable life had been endowed with the power of
reflecting upon the dawning life of animals which was coming into
existence alongside of its own； it would have thought itself
exceedingly acute if it had surmised that animals would one day
become real vegetables？ Yet would this be more mistaken than it
would be on our part to imagine that because the life of machines
is a very different one to our own； there is therefore no higher
possible development of life than ours； or that because mechanical
life is a very different thing from ours； therefore that it is not
life at all？
〃But I have heard it said； 'granted that this is so； and that the
vapour…engine has a strength of its own； surely no one will say
that it has a will of its own？' Alas！ if we look more closely； we
shall find that this does not make against the supposition that the
vapour…engine is one of the germs of a new phase of life。 What is
there in this whole world； or in the worlds beyond it； which has a
will of its own？ The Unknown and Unknowable only！
〃A man is the resultant and exponent of all the forces that have
been brought to bear upon him； whether before his birth or
afterwards。 His action at any moment depends solely upon his
constitution； and on the intensity and direction of the various
agencies to which he is； and has been； subjected。 Some of these
will counteract each other； but as he is by nature； and as he has
been acted on； and is now acted on from without； so will he do； as
certainly and regularly as though he were a machine。
〃We do not generally admit this； because we do not know the whole
nature of any one； nor the whole of the forces that act upon him。
We see but a part； and being thus unable to generalise human
conduct； except very roughly； we deny that it is subject to any
fixed laws at all； and ascribe much both of a man's character and
actions to chance； or luck； or fortune； but these are only words
whereby we escape the admission of our own ignorance； and a little
reflection will teach us that the most daring flight of the
imagination or the most subtle exercise of the reason is as much
the thing that must arise； and the only thing that can by any
possibility arise； at the moment of its arising； as the falling of
a dead leaf when the wind shakes it from the tree。
〃For the future depends upon the present； and the present （whose
existence is only one of those minor compromises of which human
life is fullfor it lives only on sufferance of the past and
future） depends upon the past； and the past is unalterable。 The
only reason why we cannot see the future as plainly as the past； is
because we know too little of the actual past and actual present；
these things are too great for us； otherwise the future； in its
minutest details； would lie spread out before our eyes； and we
should lose our sense of time present by reason of the clearness
with which we should see the past and future； perhaps we should not
be even able to distinguish time at all； but that is foreign。 What
we do know is； that the more the past and present are known； the
more the future can be predicted； and that no one dreams of
doubting the fixity of the future in cases where he is fully
cognisant of both past and present； and has had experience of the
consequences that followed from such a past and such a present on
previous occasions。 He perfectly well knows what will happen； and
will stake his whole fortune thereon。
〃And this is a great blessing； for it is the foundation on which
morality and science are built。 The assurance that the future is
no arbitrary and changeable thing； but that like futures will
invariably follow like presents； is the groundwork on which we lay
all our plansthe faith on which we do every conscious action of
our lives。 If this were not so we should be without a guide； we
should have no confidence in acting； and hence we should never act；
for there would be no knowing that the results which will follow
now will be the same as those which followed before。
〃Who would plough or sow if he disbelieved in the fixity of the
future？ Who would throw water on a blazing house if the action of
water upon