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savage against civilization。 The cruelty of ages and of
political cynicism or necessity has done much to burden the
race of which Gorky writes； but time has left them one thing
which it has not left to the people in Poplar or West Ham。
ix INTRODUCTION
It has left them； apparently； the clear and childlike power
of seeing the cruelty which encompasses them。 Gorky is a
tramp； a man of the people； and also a critic； and a bitter
one。 In the West poor men； when they become articulate in
literature； are always sentimentalists and nearly always
optimists。
It is no exaggeration to say that these people of whom Gorky
writes in such a story as 〃Creatures that once were Men〃
are to the Western mind children。 They have； indeed； been
tortured and broken by experience and sin。 But this has only
sufficed to make them sad children or naughty children or
bewildered children。 They have absolutely no trace of that
quality upon which secure government rests so largely in
Western Europe； the quality of being soothed by long words
as if by an incantation。 They do not call hunger 〃economic
pressure〃； they call it hunger。 They do not call rich men
〃examples of capitalistic concentration；〃 they call them
rich men。 And this note of plainness and of something nobly
prosaic is as characteristic of Gorky； in some ways the most
modern； and sophisticated of Russian authors； as it is of
Tolstoy or any of the Tolstoyan type of mind。 The very
title of this story strike the note of this sudden and simple
vision。 The philanthropist writing long letters to the Daily
Telegraph says； of men living in a slum； that 〃their
degeneration is of such a kind as almost to pass the limits
of the semblance of humanity；〃 and we read the whole thing
with a tepid assent as we should read phrases about the
virtues of Queen Victoria or the dignity of the House of
Commons。
x INTRODUCTION
The Russian novelist； when he describes a dosshouse； says；
〃Creatures that once were Men。〃 And we are arrested； and
regard the facts as a kind of terrible fairy tale。 This story
is a test case of the Russian manner； for it is in itself a
study of decay； a study of failure； and a study of old age。
And yet the author is forced to write even of staleness
freshly； and though he is treating of the world as seen
by eyes darkened or blood…shot with evil experience； his
own eyes look out upon the scene with a clarity that is almost
babyish。 Through all runs that curious Russian sense that
every man is only a man； which； if the Russians ever are a
democracy； will make them the most democratic democracy that
the world has ever seen。 Take this passage； for instance；
from the austere conclusion of 〃Creatures that once were Men〃：
Petunikoff smiled the smile of the conqueror and went back
into the dosshouse； but suddenly he stopped and trembled。
At the door facing him stood an old man with a stick in his
hand and a large bag on his back； a horrible old man in rags
and tatters； which covered his bony figure。 He bent under
the weight of his burden； and lowered his head on his breast；
as if he wished to attack the merchant。
〃What are you？ Who are you？〃 shouted Petunikoff。
〃A man 。 。 。〃 he answered； In a hoarse voice。 This hoarseness
pleased and tranquillized Petunikoff； he even smiled。
〃A man！ And are there really men like you？〃 Stepping aside；
he let the old man pass。 He went； saying slowly：
〃Men are of various kinds 。 。 。 as God wills 。 。 。 There are
worse than me 。 。 。 still worse。 。 。
Yes。 。 。 。〃
xi INTRODUCTION
Here； in the very act of describing a kind of a fall from
humanity； Gorky expresses a sense of the strangeness and
essential value of the human being which is far too commonly
absent altogether from such complex civilizations as our own。
To no Westerner； I am afraid； would it occur； when asked
what he was； to say； 〃A man。〃 He would be a plasterer who
had walked from Reading； or an iron…puddler who had been
thrown out of work in Lancashire； or a University man who
would be really most grateful for the loan of five shillings；
or the son of a lieutenant…general living in Brighton； who
would not have made such an application if he had not known
that he was talking to another gentleman。 With us it is not
a question of men being of various kinds； with us the kinds
are almost different animals。 But in spite of all Gorky's
superficial scepticism and brutality； it is to him the fall
from humanity； or the apparent fall from humanity； which is
not merely great and lamentable； but essential and even
mystical。 The line between man and the beasts is one of the
transcendental essentials of every religion； and it is； like
most of the transcendental things of religion； identical
with the main sentiments of the man of common sense。 We feel
this gulf when theologies say that it cannot be crossed。 But
we feel it quite as much （and that with a primal shudder）
when philosophers or fanciful writers suggest that it might
be crossed。 And if any man wishes to discover whether or no
he has really learned to regard the line between man and
brute as merely relative and evolutionary； let him say again
to himself those frightful words； 〃Creatures that once were Men。〃
G。 K。 CHESTERTON。
CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
PART I
In front of you is the main street； with two rows of
miserable…looking huts with shuttered windows and old walls
pressing on each other and leaning forward。 The roofs of
these time…worn habitations are full of holes； and have been
patched here and there with laths； from underneath them
project mildewed beams； which are shaded by the dusty…leaved
elder…trees and crooked white willowpitiable flora of
those suburbs inhabited by the poor。
The dull green time…stained panes of the windows look upon
each other with the cowardly glances of cheats。 Through the
street and toward the adjacent mountain runs the sinuous
path； winding through the deep ditches filled with
rain…water。 Here and there are piled heaps of dust and other
rubbisheither refuse or else put there purposely to keep
the rain…water from flooding the houses。 On the top of the
mountain； among green gardens with dense foliage； beautiful
stone houses lie hidden； the belfries of the churches rise
proudly toward the sky； and their gilded crosses shine beneath
the rays of the sun。 During the rainy weather the
neighboring town pours its water into this main road； which；
at other times； is full of its dust； and all these miserable
houses seem； as it were； thrown by some powerful hand into
that heap of dust； rubbish； and rainwater。
14 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
They cling to the ground beneath the high mountain； exposed
to the sun； surrounded by d