Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
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Attheageofforty,Dr.RobertStadleraddressedthenation,endorsingtheestablishmentofaStateScienceInstitute."Setsciencefreeoftheruleofthedollar,"hepleaded.Theissuehadhunginthebalance;anobscuregroupofscientistshadquietlyforcedabillthroughitslongwaytotheflooroftheLegislature;therehadbeensomepublichesitationaboutthebill,somedoubt,anuneasinessnoonecoulddefine.ThenameofDr.RobertStadleracteduponthecountrylikethecosmicrayshestudied:itpiercedanybarrier.Thenationbuiltthewhitemarbleedificeasapersonalpresenttooneofitsgreatestmen.
Dr.Stadler’sofficeattheInstitutewasasmallroomthatlookedliketheofficeofthebookkeeperofanunsuccessfulfirm.Therewasacheapdeskofuglyyellowoak,afilingcabinet,twochairs,andablackboardchalkedwithmathematicalformulas.Sittingononeofthechairsagainstablankwall,Dagnythoughtthattheofficehadanairofostentationandelegance,together:ostentation,becauseitseemedintendedtosuggestthattheownerwasgreatenoughtopermithimselfsuchasetting;elegance,becausehetrulyneedednothingelse.
ShehadmetDr.Stadleronafewoccasions,atbanquetsgivenbyleadingbusinessmenorgreatengineeringsocieties,inhonorofsomesolemncauseoranother.Shehadattendedtheoccasionsasreluctantlyashedid,andhadfoundthathelikedtotalktoher."MissTaggart,"hehadsaidtoheronce,"Ineverexpecttoencounterintelligence.
