Алая чума

           “Butitwillbeslow,veryslow;wehavesofartoclimb. Wefellsohopelesslyfar. Ifonlyonephysicistoronechemisthadsurvived! Butitwasnottobe,andwehaveforgotteneverything. TheChauffeurstartedworkinginiron. Hemadetheforgewhichweusetothisday. Buthewasalazyman,andwhenhediedhetookwithhimallheknewofmetalsandmachinery. WhatwasItoknowofsuchthings? Iwasaclassicalscholar,notachemist.. Theothermenwhosurvivedwerenoteducated. OnlytwothingsdidtheChauffeuraccomplish—thebrewingofstrongdrinkandthegrowingoftobacco. Itwaswhilehewasdrunk,once,thathekilledVesta. IfirmlybelievethathekilledVestainafitofdrunkencrueltythoughhealwaysmaintainedthatshefellintothelakeandwasdrowned. 

           “And,mygrandsons,letmewarnyouagainstthemedicine-men. Theycallthemselvesdoctors,travestyingwhatwasonceanobleprofession,butinrealitytheyaremedicine-men,devil-devilmen,andtheymakeforsuperstitionanddarkness. Theyarecheatsandliars. Butsodebasedanddegradedarewe,thatwebelievetheirlies. They,too,willincreaseinnumbersasweincrease,andtheywillstrivetoruleus. Yetaretheyliarsandcharlatans. LookatyoungCross-Eyes,posingasadoctor,sellingcharmsagainstsickness,givinggoodhunting,exchangingpromisesoffairweatherforgoodmeatandskins,sendingthedeath-stick,performingathousandabominations. YetIsaytoyou,thatwhenhesayshecandothesethings,helies. I,ProfessorSmith,ProfessorJamesHowardSmith,saythathelies. Ihavetoldhimsotohisteeth.