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Willersley and I had worked out in the Alps。 They wanted things
more organised； more correlated with government and a collective
purpose； just as we did； but they saw it not in terms of a growing
collective understanding； but in terms of functionaries； legislative
change； and methods of administration。 。 。 。
It wasn't clear at first how we differed。 The Baileys were very
anxious to win me to co…operation； and I was quite prepared at first
to identify their distinctive expressions with phrases of my own；
and so we came very readily into an alliance that was to last some
years； and break at last very painfully。 Altiora manifestly liked
me； I was soon discussing with her the perplexity I found in placing
myself efficiently in the world； the problem of how to take hold of
things that occupied my thoughts； and she was sketching out careers
for my consideration； very much as an architect on his first visit
sketches houses； considers requirements； and puts before you this
example and that of the more or less similar thing already done。 。 。 。
4
It is easy to see how much in common there was between the Baileys
and me； and how natural it was that I should become a constant
visitor at their house and an ally of theirs in many enterprises。
It is not nearly so easy to define the profound antagonism of spirit
that also held between us。 There was a difference in texture； a
difference in quality。 How can I express it？ The shapes of our
thoughts were the same； but the substance quite different。 It was
as if they had made in china or cast iron what I had made in
transparent living matter。 （The comparison is manifestly from my
point of view。） Certain things never seemed to show through their
ideas that were visible； refracted perhaps and distorted； but
visible always through mine。
I thought for a time the essential difference lay in our relation to
beauty。 With me beauty is quite primary in life； I like truth；
order and goodness； wholly because they are beautiful or lead
straight to beautiful consequences。 The Baileys either hadn't got
that or they didn't see it。 They seemed at times to prefer things
harsh and ugly。 That puzzled me extremely。 The esthetic quality of
many of their proposals； the 〃manners〃 of their work； so to speak；
were at times as dreadful aswell； War Office barrack architecture。
A caricature by its exaggerated statements will sometimes serve to
point a truth by antagonising falsity and falsity。 I remember
talking to a prominent museum official in need of more public funds
for the work he had in hand。 I mentioned the possibility of
enlisting Bailey's influence。
〃Oh； we don't want Philistines like that infernal Bottle…Imp running
us；〃 he said hastily； and would hear of no concerted action for the
end he had in view。 〃I'd rather not have the extension。
〃You see；〃 he went on to explain； 〃Bailey's wanting in the
essentials。〃
〃What essentials？〃 said I。
〃Oh！ he'd be like a nasty oily efficient little machine for some
merely subordinate necessity among all my delicate stuff。 He'd do
all we wanted no doubt in the way of money and powersand he'd do
it wrong and mess the place for ever。 Hands all black； you know。
He's just a means。 Just a very aggressive and unmanageable means。
This isn't a plumber's job。 。 。 。〃
I stuck to my argument。
〃I don't LIKE him；〃 said the official conclusively； and it seemed to
me at the time he was just blind prejudice speaking。 。 。 。
I came nearer the truth of the matter as I came to realise that our
philosophies differed profoundly。 That isn't a very curable
difference；once people have grown up。 Theirs was a philosophy
devoid of FINESSE。 Temperamentally the Baileys were specialised；
concentrated； accurate； while I am urged either by some Inner force
or some entirely assimilated influence in my training； always to
round off and shadow my outlines。 I hate them hard。 I would
sacrifice detail to modelling always； and the Baileys； it seemed to
me； loved a world as flat and metallic as Sidney Cooper's cows。 If
they had the universe in hand I know they would take down all the
trees and put up stamped tin green shades and sunlight accumulators。
Altiora thought trees hopelessly irregular and sea cliffs a great
mistake。 。 。 。 I got things clearer as time went on。 Though it
was an Hegelian mess of which I had partaken at Codger's table by
way of a philosophical training； my sympathies have always been
Pragmatist。 I belong almost by nature to that school of Pragmatism
that； following the medieval Nominalists； bases itself upon a denial
of the reality of classes； and of the validity of general laws。 The
Baileys classified everything。 They were； in the scholastic sense
which so oddly contradicts the modern use of the word—〃Realists。〃
They believed classes were REAL and independent of their
individuals。 This is the common habit of all so…called educated
people who have no metaphysical aptitude and no metaphysical
training。 It leads them to a progressive misunderstanding of the
world。 It was a favourite trick of Altiora's to speak of everybody
as a 〃type〃； she saw men as samples moving； her dining…room became a
chamber of representatives。 It gave a tremendously scientific air
to many of their generalisations； using 〃scientific〃 in its
nineteenth…century uncritical Herbert Spencer sense； an air that
only began to disappear when you thought them over again in terms of
actuality and the people one knew。 。 。 。
At the Baileys' one always seemed to be getting one's hands on the
very strings that guided the world。 You heard legislation projected
to affect this 〃type〃 and that； statistics marched by you with sin
and shame and injustice and misery reduced to quite manageable
percentages； you found men who were to frame or amend bills in grave
and intimate exchange with Bailey's omniscience； you heard Altiora
canvassing approaching resignations and possible appointments that
might make or mar a revolution in administrative methods； and doing
it with a vigorous directness that manifestly swayed the decision；
and you felt you were in a sort of signal box with levers all about
you； and the world outside there； albeit a little dark and
mysterious beyond the window； running on its lines in ready
obedience to these unhesitating lights； true and steady to trim
termini。
And then with all this administrative fizzle； this pseudo…scientific
administrative chatter； dying away in your head； out you went into
the limitless grimy chaos of London streets and squares； roads and
avenues lined with teeming houses； each larger than the Chambers
Street house and at least equally alive； you saw the chaotic clamour
of hoardings； the jumble of traffic； the coming and going of
mysterious myriads； you heard the rumble of traffic like the noise