212 FIELDS, FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS. 



of a civilised nation with the comfort now accessible 

 for the few only, provided everybody took his due 

 share in production. But we have made some progress 

 since Franklin's times, and some of that progress in the 

 hitherto most backward branch of production has been 

 indicated in the preceding pages. Even in that branch 

 the productivity of labour can be immensely increased, 

 and work itself rendered easy and pleasant. More than 

 one half of the working day would thus remain to every 

 one for the pursuit of art, science, or any hobby he might 

 prefer ; and his work in those fields jvould be the more 

 profitable if he spent the other half of the day in pro- 

 ductive work if art and science were followed from mere 

 inclination, not for mercantile purposes. Moreover, a 

 community organised on the principles of all being 

 workers would be rich enough to conclude that every 

 man and woman, after having reached a certain age 

 say of forty or more ought to be relieved from the 

 moral obligation of taking a direct part in the perform- 

 ance of the necessary manual work, so as to be able 

 entirely to devote himself or herself to whatever he or 

 she chooses in the domain of art, or science, or any 

 kind of work. Free pursuit in new branches of art and. 

 knowledge, free creation, and free development thus; 

 might be fully guaranteed. And such a community 

 would not know misery amidst wealth. It would not 

 know the duality of conscience which permeates our 

 life and stifles every noble effort. It would freely take 

 its flight towards the highest regions of progress com- 

 patible with human nature. 



