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education that will prepare the way for everyone to receive the wisdom that you,
our elders, can offer them."
—"Do you think that it will be as simple as that?"
—"Why not? Oh, we don't expect it to be simple. We know that we will run head on
into some of the most cherished misconceptions of everyone, but we can use that
very fact to help. It will be spectacular; we can get publicity through it that
will call attention to our work. You have taught us enough that we can prove
that we are right. For example—suppose we put on a public demonstration of
levitation, and proved before thousands of people that human mind could do the
things we know it can? Suppose we said that anyone could learn such things who
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first learned the techniques of telepathy? Why, in a year, or two, the whole
nation could be taught telepathy, and be ready for the reading of the records,
and all that that implies!"
Howe's mind was silent for several long minutes—no message reached them. The
three stirred uneasily under his thoughtful, sober gaze. Finally, —"If it were
as simple as that, would we not have done it before?"
It was the turn of the three to be silent. Howe continued kindly,—"Speak up, my
children. Do not be afraid. Tell us your thoughts freely. You will not offend
us.
The thought that Coburn sent in answer was hesitant—"If is difficult . . . Many
of you are very old, and we know that all of you are wise. Nevertheless, it
seems to us, in our youth, that you have waited overly long in acting. We
feel—we feel that you have allowed the pursuit of understanding to son your will
to action. From our standpoint, you have waited from year to year, perfecting an
organization that will never be perfected, while the storm that overturns the
world is gathering its force."
The elders pondered before Ephraim Howe answered.—"It may be that you are right,
dearly beloved children, yet it does not seem so to us. We have not attempted to
place the ancient knowledge in the hands of all men because few are ready for
it. It is no more safe in childish minds than matches in childish hands.
—"And yet . . . you may be right. Mark Twain thought so, and was given
permission to tell all that 'he had learned. He did so, writing so that anyone
ready for the knowledge could understand. No one did. In desperation he set
forth specifically how to become telepathic. Still no one took him seriously,
The more seriously he spoke, the more his readers laughed. He died embittered.
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—"We would not have you believe that we have done nothing. This republic, with
its uncommon emphasis on personal freedom and human dignity, would not have
endured as long as it has had we not helped. We chose Lincoln. Oliver Wendell
Holmes was one of us. Walt Whitman was our beloved brother, In a thousand ways
we have supplied help, when needed, to avert a setback toward slavery and
darkness."
The thought paused, then continued.—"Yet each must act as he sees it. It is
still your decision to do this?"
Ben spoke aloud, in a steady voice, "It is!"
—"So let it be! Do you remember the history of Salem?"
--"Salem? Where the witchcraft trials were held? ... Do you mean to warn us that
we may be persecuted as witches?"
—"No. There are no laws against witchcraft today, of course. It would be better
if there were. We hold no monopoly on the power of knowledge; do not expect an
easy victory. Beware of those who hold, some portion of the ancient knowledge
and use it to a base purpose—witches . . . black magicians!"
The conference concluded and rapport loosed, Ephraim Howe shook hands solemnly
all around and bade themgoodby .
"I envy you kids," he said, "going off like Jack the Giant Killer to tackle the
whole educational system. You've got your work cut out for you. Do you remember
what Mark Twain said? 'God made an idiot for practice, then he made a school
board.' Still, I'd like to come along."
"Why don't you, sir?"
"Eh? No, 'twouldn'tdo. I don't really believe in your plan.F'r instance—it was
frequently a temptation during the years I spentpeddlin ' hardware in the State
of Maine to show people better ways of doing things. But I didn't do it; people
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are used to paring knives and ice cream freezers, and they won't thank you to
show them how to get along without them, just by the power of the mind. Not all
at once, anyhow. They'd read you out of meetin'—and lynch you, too, most
probably.
"Still, I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Joan reached up and kissed him good-bye. They left.
CHAPTER TEN
Lions Mouth
PHIL PICKED HIS LARGEST CLASS to make the demonstration which was to get the
newspapers interested in them.
They had played safe to the extent of getting back to Los Angeles and started [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]