diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | 59252-0.txt | 425 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 59252-h/59252-h.htm | 411 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 59252.txt | 809 |
3 files changed, 427 insertions, 1218 deletions
diff --git a/59252-0.txt b/59252-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..02b7494 --- /dev/null +++ b/59252-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,425 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59252 *** + + + + + + + + + + + + + FIRTH'S WORLD + + BY IRVING COX, JR. + + _His world was Utopia inhabited only by + wealthy, brilliant, creative, ambitious people; + it was the ultimate in freedom, exempt from + taxes, social problems, petty responsibilities...._ + + [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from + Worlds of If Science Fiction, May 1955. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that + the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + +Let him go. It's quite safe to leave us. I want to talk to him. + +Sit over there, Chris, where you can be comfortable. + +A paradox, isn't it? You were taught we may never go back. Now I've +authorized the building of the rocket. From your point of view you +were justified in trying to destroy it. I'm violating the regulations; +you weren't. But time changes the shape of the truth, Chris; it isn't +static. No one had the insight, then, to grasp the insanity of John +Firth's dream. People hated Firth or envied him; but no one called him +mad. + + * * * * * + +John Firth was an industrialist; yet far more than that, +too--politician, scientist, financier, even an artist of sorts. There +was nothing he couldn't do; and few things he didn't do superbly +well. That accounts for his philosophy. He never understood his own +superiority. He honestly believed that all men could achieve what he +had, if they set their minds to it. + +"Lazy, incompetent fools!" he would say. "The world's full of them. And +they've elected a government of fools, taxing me to support the others." + +As billionaires go, John Firth was very young. Six months after World +Government became an established reality, Earth ships began to explore +the skies; and in less than a year Mars, Venus and the Earth had formed +a planetary confederacy. + +A new feeling came to men when the burden of war-fear was lifted from +their minds. Men were free--free for the first time in centuries. Their +full energies were channeled into invention, exploration, experiment. +The Earth was like a frontier town: booming, uproarious, lusty, +dynamic--but with a social conscience: poverty and deprivation for none +and unlimited opportunity for all. For Man--that abstract symbol of +mass humanity--it was the best of all possible worlds. Yet there were +misfits; John Firth was one of them. + +"We're coddling people," he said. "We're teaching them to live on +charity, on government hand-outs--and I'm expected to pay for it all. +Cut them loose; let them sink or swim for themselves. If some of them +don't survive--well, they won't; that's all. We'd be a stronger people +if we could rid ourselves of the leeches." + +He was a man of the new age,--stubbornly holding to ideas from the old. + +And then the Stranger came to see him. We don't know who the Stranger +was or where he came from. A force of evil, perhaps--the symbol of +Satan refurbished and streamlined to fit the concepts of the modern +world. + +"I've been reading your political pamphlets, Mr. Firth," the Stranger +said. "You hold rather--rather fascinating views." + +"Now that I'm suitably flattered," Firth answered, "may I ask what +particular form of hand-out you want?" + +"None. I've something for sale." The Stranger took a pamphlet out of +his pocket. "But tell me this, first: do you honestly believe what +you've written here?" + +"Every word of it. If I could find my sort of world anywhere in the +universe, I'd pull up stakes in a minute and--" + +"You can create your own world, Mr. Firth." + +"Do you suppose I haven't tried? In every election I back my candidates +with all I have--prestige, propaganda, money. It does no good. The +fools prefer to be governed by other fools, like themselves." + +"I didn't mean here, Mr. Firth." The Stranger smiled as he lit a +cigarette. "You see, my friend, I have a world for sale--a brand new +world." + +"One of the asteroids?" Firth laughed bitterly. "I could have done that +years ago. They're too close to the commercial orbits. How long would +it be before one of our ships found the place? Then I'd be right back +in the system again--and a laughing stock as well." + +"This is a planetoid beyond Pluto. It'll be generations before any of +our ships--" + +"A frozen world? No thanks!" + +"Only on the surface. It's a hollow sphere, with a granite crust half +a mile thick. Inside there's a suggestion of passageways and caverns, +which may have been made artificially. Perhaps this was an outpost of a +race which lived and died billions of years before our time." + +"An archeological gold mine!" + +"But Science pays so little, Mr. Firth. I'm interested in cash, not +prestige." + +"Why should I pay you anything? You've told me where it is and what it +is. I can find it for myself." + +The Stranger laughed. "I said beyond Pluto; that covers a lot of +space, Mr. Firth." He paused for a moment. "My price is the stock in +your Martian mines. Convert the rest of your holdings into any form of +wealth that seems convenient and usable. In your case, Mr. Firth, you +_can_ take it with you--to your own world. Think of it! No taxes; no +social problems; no unfortunate masses to prey on your conscience; no +government but your own." + +That was the beginning of the dream. The seed of the idea grew in John +Firth's mind until it over-shadowed everything else. It became an +obsession, driving him so that he had no peace. + + * * * * * + +During the course of a year Firth and the Stranger imported and +installed the machinery to make the sphere livable: hydroponic tanks, +air machines, gravitators, electric generators and an Atomic Power +Core. In the crust of the planetoid they found enough fissionable +material to keep Firth's world running for an eternity. They laid +out the decorative landscaping, planned the living quarters, the +laboratories, the amusement hall and the university. + +It is interesting to speculate how much the Stranger contributed to the +scheme; and it is an ironic speculation, for as soon as the larger idea +took shape in Firth's mind, his only logical course was to murder the +Stranger. + +Firth could allow no outsider to know of the planetoid. To him it +had become far more than a means of personal escape. It was to be an +archive for the survival of John Firth's ideas, for the survival of +civilization itself. John Firth believed that sincerely. + +Firth's world--that magnificent dream which was like a holy +crusade--was founded on murder, deception and greed. The reasoning of +fanaticism engenders its own kind of ruthlessness. As soon as John +Firth had disposed of the Stranger, he began to select his colonists. +Men who by his definition, were not fools. He had to make his choice +very carefully. If he misjudged his candidate and his proposition was +rejected, Firth had given away his secret. Any man who refused him had +to die. Murder was Firth's only guarantee of silence. + +But he made few mistakes. John Firth was a good judge of men--his kind +of men. All of them were wealthy, ambitious, brilliant. Nearly three +hundred men and women were recruited. + +They came here to escape; the record tells us that until we gag over +the repetition. But to escape what? Taxes they resented unanimously, +and restrictions on their freedom. They placed a value on the ownership +of property that we can no longer understand. But, if you read the +record closely, all that becomes superfluous. The thing they wanted to +escape was responsibility. Responsibility to their fellow men. + +Physically, Firth's world was a paradise. It still is. Yet the +dissolution began before the last colonist had arrived. Here they +had assembled their wealth--in terms of machines, comforts, books, +art treasures, amusements, laboratory equipment. They were entirely +free from the burden of taxation. But, somehow, their wealth lost its +meaning. + +They claimed they had not withdrawn from the world in order to +hibernate and decay among their luxuries. They wanted freedom in order +to create, to invent, to experiment as they pleased. And they had +that in Firth's world: a maximum opportunity for the development of +individual initiative. For a short time they turned out a wonderful +assortment of new gadgets and new machines, but slowly their industry +ground to a stop. + +If they had faced the truth then--but they were far too human to admit +the failure of the dream. Instead, they found a scapegoat. John Firth +has left us a record of a conversation he had with Adam Boetz; it is +typical of their thinking at the time. + +Boetz, as you may know, was one of the outstanding physicists of his +day; he had created and built Atomic Cores, Incorporated, until it was +the largest power company in the Confederation. + +John Firth met Boetz one morning on the golf course in the recreation +cavern. + +"Adam!" Firth cried, with his usual, boisterous good-humor. "I never +thought I'd find you out here at this time of day." + +"Why not?" The physicist shrugged. "I'm tired, Firth. I had to do my +four hour shift in the light plant last night. Maybe I'll feel like +working in the lab tomorrow--and maybe not. I'm scheduled for a shift +in hydroponics then." + +"The shifts are short, Adam, and--" + +"Still too long for me. I'm not used to so much physical labor." The +physicist's lips curled in a sneer. "So very democratic, isn't it, +Firth? Back home I hired men to do that kind of work for me." + +Firth clapped him heartily on the back. "But we have other +compensations, Adam. Four hours out of twenty-four is a small price to +pay for freedom." + +"Twenty-eight hours a week. Remember the new labor law the Earth +government put into effect before we left? It proscribed a maximum +work week of twenty-five hours for every man. We came here to escape +restrictions, but we've saddled ourselves with more hours of manual +labor than the least skilled laborer has to do on Earth. Firth! I'm not +a manual laborer; neither is anyone else you've brought here." + +"Do you want to go back?" + +"What answer can I make to that? We're executives, Firth; but here +we're a brain without a body. We can formulate the orders, but we've +neither arms nor legs to carry them out." + +"In other words, you're saying we should import a labor force to do our +basic work for us?" + +"Why not?" + +"They're the fools, Adam, the incompetents! On Earth they were the +millstones around our necks--envying us, hating us, building a prison +for us with their laws and their regulations." + +"All very true, Adam, where the government is in their hands. But we +could keep them under control." + +After that John Firth heard the same complaint from the others, over +and over. They said they could not take advantage of their freedom +because of the chores they had to do to keep Firth's world functioning. + +Firth called a meeting of the colonists. It was the closest +approximation to a government they had; government itself was one of +the things they wanted to escape. They unanimously agreed that a labor +force had to be recruited, and they settled upon one hundred and fifty +as the necessary number, half of them to be women. Working eight hours +a day, such a force could perform the work of Firth's world, yet the +colonists would outnumber them two-to-one and the labor force would not +be large enough to constitute a threat. + +"We'll insist that they marry, of course," Adam Boetz said, "and each +couple will provide us with two children, so that we shall always have +a stabilized labor supply." + +"We're talking," one of the women whispered, "as if we were buying +cattle!" + +"We are." + +"But how can you recruit men and women under these conditions? What +inducement can you possibly offer them?" + +Firth smiled. "When we find the people who meet our specifications, +they'll come; don't worry. In the days of the sailing ships the +technique was called shanghaiing." + +"What specifications, Mr. Firth?" + +"They must be young, strong, healthy, single--" + +"And low-level morons," Adam Boetz cut in. "Imbeciles won't give us any +trouble later on." + +To his other crimes, John Firth then added kidnapping; the end +justified the means. He was creating a world and that world would save +civilization. I doubt that his conscience ever troubled him. + + * * * * * + +Within two years the second group of colonists was established in +Firth's world. Apparently they made an easy adjustment to their new +environment. We have no record of complaints or protests. They were +docile, obedient people. They took orders well; they liked to be told +what to do; they needed very little supervision. + +The first colonists were entirely free, then, of any sort of +work-responsibility. For a while they went back to work in their +laboratories or in the university--inventing, exploring, accumulating +their store of knowledge. In imperceptible stages, however, their +interest lagged, their production came to a halt again. This time they +had no excuse, no scapegoat. + +We can assume that some of them faced the truth squarely and honestly, +yet they had chosen Firth's world and there was no way to turn back. +We find only one actual hint of their despondency, in a diary page +written by an unknown woman. + + + _Karl stayed home again to-day. He has nearly finished the design + for his machine, but he has no more enthusiasm to complete it. I + know how he feels; I can't go on with my painting, either. We have + no purpose, no goal to achieve. We sit isolated in space, counting + over the wealth of our talent and ability; but we can make no use + of it. I wish I knew how many of the others think as I do, but + I'm afraid to ask._ + +The key to understanding them, is that last sentence. Perhaps they +all felt her disillusionment, but they had to pretend. Firth's world +couldn't be at fault. If they were dissatisfied, it was because of a +failure within themselves. At all costs, the flaw had to be hidden from +their neighbors. + +Their first labor trouble was a welcome interlude in the creeping +boredom. The docile labor battalion suddenly discovered they were +being overworked. Just what they could have done in Firth's world with +shorter hours, no one knows. They staged a spotty, amateurish strike; +speakers made reference to the labor laws applicable on the Earth and +demanded better pay. To what end, it's hard for us to say. If the first +colonists had turned over all their wealth, the workers would have had +no more use for it. + +John Firth was unusually alarmed by the threatened strike. He reacted +with excessive violence and the other colonists followed his lead. +Three of the leaders of the uprising were executed; others were +brutally whipped. The Outlaw Pit was built then. Thereafter, at the +first hint of any dissatisfaction, workers were condemned to it. + +The violence taught the workers resentment. Silently, sullenly they +passed on their hatred to their children. The aristocracy created the +revolution, and nurtured it; for it would have made no real difference +if they had surrendered entirely to the strikers' demands. + +The children of the first colonists made no pretense of using Firth's +world to advance knowledge, invention or art. They were hedonists, bred +to luxury, supported by slaves. + +The slaves, for their part, felt no emotion but hatred. From their +parents they learned that the aristocracy had violated the labor law. +The children knew nothing about the law or the distant Earth where it +applied, but it was held in deep and sacred reverence. + +The laboratories and the university stood empty; only the recreation +cavern held any interest for the new aristocracy. A change took place +among the slaves too. Their parents had been hand-picked morons. But +neither brilliant achievement nor the moronic mind is hereditary. Most +of the workers' children had an average intelligence; one or two would +have been classified as geniuses. To their hatred the second generation +joined intelligence, and Firth's world was ready to blow apart. + +They struck the light plant first. Sudden and unexpected violence +surged through the dark, stone-walled corridors. + +John Firth led a band of men against the enemy. But his attack failed +and the workers seized the Atomic Power Core--the heart of our world. +If they shut down the reactors, they would stifle not only our lights, +but the gravitators and the air machines as well; they would kill us +all. + +The workers knew that. They were willing to risk suicide. Every +bargaining counter was on their side. It was John Firth who surrendered. + +Firth's world died then. In the bitter depths of the Pit, John Firth +remembered what Adam Boetz had said to him so many years before, + +"We've become a brain without a body. We can formulate the orders, but +we've neither arms nor legs to carry them out. + +Suddenly John Firth understood the fallacy of his fanaticism. A society +was like a living body, an integrated organism of many members. No +one could function without the others. No man--no group of men--could +create an isolate world. The social equation seemed as clear to Firth +as the simplest sum in arithmetic. Each man was a part of a functioning +social unit which included them all. Each man's talent, whether it was +the plodding docility of a moron or the brilliance of genius, belonged +to all men. + +In the meantime, the workers found that they could not run Firth's +world alone, either. They gloried in forbidden luxuries until they +were satiated. Shortly they became as indolent as the aristocracy had +been; and the food supply was nearly exhausted. + +The treaty they made was direct and to the point: the two groups +agreed to live in equality, sharing the burden of the labor and the +accumulated wealth of knowledge. The treaty was made when you were +a child; we have perfected the technique of co-operation within one +generation. We're ready, now, to go back to Earth. + +You'll be with us? Fine, Chris! + +No. Please, no apologies. I understand why you intended to destroy +our ship; others have attempted it, too. No harm was done. You're +free,--entirely free ... + +... The Organizer waited until he was alone in the office. Then, with +trembling, aging hands, he took the log book out of the safe and slowly +made another entry: + + _Chris was the last, I think. He accepted the lie, just as most of + the others have. When they return to Earth, they will be sound men + with whole minds. For them Firth's world will always stand as a + symbol of man's highest achievement in co-operation. May this sham, + in some small way, expiate the crime and the folly of my arrogant + delusion._ + +John Firth's head dropped on his arm and his shoulders shook; but the +sobs were sobs of relief. Chris was saved; Chris would go back. That +mattered very much--for Chris was his grandson. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Firth's World, by Irving Cox + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59252 *** diff --git a/59252-h/59252-h.htm b/59252-h/59252-h.htm index 4164658..3ea8e29 100644 --- a/59252-h/59252-h.htm +++ b/59252-h/59252-h.htm @@ -78,44 +78,7 @@ div.titlepage p { <body> -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Firth's World, by Irving Cox - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Firth's World - -Author: Irving Cox - -Release Date: April 11, 2019 [EBook #59252] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIRTH'S WORLD *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59252 ***</div> <div class="figcenter"> @@ -540,377 +503,7 @@ mattered very much—for Chris was his grandson.</p> -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Firth's World, by Irving Cox - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIRTH'S WORLD *** - -***** This file should be named 59252-h.htm or 59252-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/9/2/5/59252/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59252 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/59252.txt b/59252.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6da1e6b..0000000 --- a/59252.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,809 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Firth's World, by Irving Cox - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Firth's World - -Author: Irving Cox - -Release Date: April 11, 2019 [EBook #59252] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIRTH'S WORLD *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - FIRTH'S WORLD - - BY IRVING COX, JR. - - _His world was Utopia inhabited only by - wealthy, brilliant, creative, ambitious people; - it was the ultimate in freedom, exempt from - taxes, social problems, petty responsibilities...._ - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Worlds of If Science Fiction, May 1955. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Let him go. It's quite safe to leave us. I want to talk to him. - -Sit over there, Chris, where you can be comfortable. - -A paradox, isn't it? You were taught we may never go back. Now I've -authorized the building of the rocket. From your point of view you -were justified in trying to destroy it. I'm violating the regulations; -you weren't. But time changes the shape of the truth, Chris; it isn't -static. No one had the insight, then, to grasp the insanity of John -Firth's dream. People hated Firth or envied him; but no one called him -mad. - - * * * * * - -John Firth was an industrialist; yet far more than that, -too--politician, scientist, financier, even an artist of sorts. There -was nothing he couldn't do; and few things he didn't do superbly -well. That accounts for his philosophy. He never understood his own -superiority. He honestly believed that all men could achieve what he -had, if they set their minds to it. - -"Lazy, incompetent fools!" he would say. "The world's full of them. And -they've elected a government of fools, taxing me to support the others." - -As billionaires go, John Firth was very young. Six months after World -Government became an established reality, Earth ships began to explore -the skies; and in less than a year Mars, Venus and the Earth had formed -a planetary confederacy. - -A new feeling came to men when the burden of war-fear was lifted from -their minds. Men were free--free for the first time in centuries. Their -full energies were channeled into invention, exploration, experiment. -The Earth was like a frontier town: booming, uproarious, lusty, -dynamic--but with a social conscience: poverty and deprivation for none -and unlimited opportunity for all. For Man--that abstract symbol of -mass humanity--it was the best of all possible worlds. Yet there were -misfits; John Firth was one of them. - -"We're coddling people," he said. "We're teaching them to live on -charity, on government hand-outs--and I'm expected to pay for it all. -Cut them loose; let them sink or swim for themselves. If some of them -don't survive--well, they won't; that's all. We'd be a stronger people -if we could rid ourselves of the leeches." - -He was a man of the new age,--stubbornly holding to ideas from the old. - -And then the Stranger came to see him. We don't know who the Stranger -was or where he came from. A force of evil, perhaps--the symbol of -Satan refurbished and streamlined to fit the concepts of the modern -world. - -"I've been reading your political pamphlets, Mr. Firth," the Stranger -said. "You hold rather--rather fascinating views." - -"Now that I'm suitably flattered," Firth answered, "may I ask what -particular form of hand-out you want?" - -"None. I've something for sale." The Stranger took a pamphlet out of -his pocket. "But tell me this, first: do you honestly believe what -you've written here?" - -"Every word of it. If I could find my sort of world anywhere in the -universe, I'd pull up stakes in a minute and--" - -"You can create your own world, Mr. Firth." - -"Do you suppose I haven't tried? In every election I back my candidates -with all I have--prestige, propaganda, money. It does no good. The -fools prefer to be governed by other fools, like themselves." - -"I didn't mean here, Mr. Firth." The Stranger smiled as he lit a -cigarette. "You see, my friend, I have a world for sale--a brand new -world." - -"One of the asteroids?" Firth laughed bitterly. "I could have done that -years ago. They're too close to the commercial orbits. How long would -it be before one of our ships found the place? Then I'd be right back -in the system again--and a laughing stock as well." - -"This is a planetoid beyond Pluto. It'll be generations before any of -our ships--" - -"A frozen world? No thanks!" - -"Only on the surface. It's a hollow sphere, with a granite crust half -a mile thick. Inside there's a suggestion of passageways and caverns, -which may have been made artificially. Perhaps this was an outpost of a -race which lived and died billions of years before our time." - -"An archeological gold mine!" - -"But Science pays so little, Mr. Firth. I'm interested in cash, not -prestige." - -"Why should I pay you anything? You've told me where it is and what it -is. I can find it for myself." - -The Stranger laughed. "I said beyond Pluto; that covers a lot of -space, Mr. Firth." He paused for a moment. "My price is the stock in -your Martian mines. Convert the rest of your holdings into any form of -wealth that seems convenient and usable. In your case, Mr. Firth, you -_can_ take it with you--to your own world. Think of it! No taxes; no -social problems; no unfortunate masses to prey on your conscience; no -government but your own." - -That was the beginning of the dream. The seed of the idea grew in John -Firth's mind until it over-shadowed everything else. It became an -obsession, driving him so that he had no peace. - - * * * * * - -During the course of a year Firth and the Stranger imported and -installed the machinery to make the sphere livable: hydroponic tanks, -air machines, gravitators, electric generators and an Atomic Power -Core. In the crust of the planetoid they found enough fissionable -material to keep Firth's world running for an eternity. They laid -out the decorative landscaping, planned the living quarters, the -laboratories, the amusement hall and the university. - -It is interesting to speculate how much the Stranger contributed to the -scheme; and it is an ironic speculation, for as soon as the larger idea -took shape in Firth's mind, his only logical course was to murder the -Stranger. - -Firth could allow no outsider to know of the planetoid. To him it -had become far more than a means of personal escape. It was to be an -archive for the survival of John Firth's ideas, for the survival of -civilization itself. John Firth believed that sincerely. - -Firth's world--that magnificent dream which was like a holy -crusade--was founded on murder, deception and greed. The reasoning of -fanaticism engenders its own kind of ruthlessness. As soon as John -Firth had disposed of the Stranger, he began to select his colonists. -Men who by his definition, were not fools. He had to make his choice -very carefully. If he misjudged his candidate and his proposition was -rejected, Firth had given away his secret. Any man who refused him had -to die. Murder was Firth's only guarantee of silence. - -But he made few mistakes. John Firth was a good judge of men--his kind -of men. All of them were wealthy, ambitious, brilliant. Nearly three -hundred men and women were recruited. - -They came here to escape; the record tells us that until we gag over -the repetition. But to escape what? Taxes they resented unanimously, -and restrictions on their freedom. They placed a value on the ownership -of property that we can no longer understand. But, if you read the -record closely, all that becomes superfluous. The thing they wanted to -escape was responsibility. Responsibility to their fellow men. - -Physically, Firth's world was a paradise. It still is. Yet the -dissolution began before the last colonist had arrived. Here they -had assembled their wealth--in terms of machines, comforts, books, -art treasures, amusements, laboratory equipment. They were entirely -free from the burden of taxation. But, somehow, their wealth lost its -meaning. - -They claimed they had not withdrawn from the world in order to -hibernate and decay among their luxuries. They wanted freedom in order -to create, to invent, to experiment as they pleased. And they had -that in Firth's world: a maximum opportunity for the development of -individual initiative. For a short time they turned out a wonderful -assortment of new gadgets and new machines, but slowly their industry -ground to a stop. - -If they had faced the truth then--but they were far too human to admit -the failure of the dream. Instead, they found a scapegoat. John Firth -has left us a record of a conversation he had with Adam Boetz; it is -typical of their thinking at the time. - -Boetz, as you may know, was one of the outstanding physicists of his -day; he had created and built Atomic Cores, Incorporated, until it was -the largest power company in the Confederation. - -John Firth met Boetz one morning on the golf course in the recreation -cavern. - -"Adam!" Firth cried, with his usual, boisterous good-humor. "I never -thought I'd find you out here at this time of day." - -"Why not?" The physicist shrugged. "I'm tired, Firth. I had to do my -four hour shift in the light plant last night. Maybe I'll feel like -working in the lab tomorrow--and maybe not. I'm scheduled for a shift -in hydroponics then." - -"The shifts are short, Adam, and--" - -"Still too long for me. I'm not used to so much physical labor." The -physicist's lips curled in a sneer. "So very democratic, isn't it, -Firth? Back home I hired men to do that kind of work for me." - -Firth clapped him heartily on the back. "But we have other -compensations, Adam. Four hours out of twenty-four is a small price to -pay for freedom." - -"Twenty-eight hours a week. Remember the new labor law the Earth -government put into effect before we left? It proscribed a maximum -work week of twenty-five hours for every man. We came here to escape -restrictions, but we've saddled ourselves with more hours of manual -labor than the least skilled laborer has to do on Earth. Firth! I'm not -a manual laborer; neither is anyone else you've brought here." - -"Do you want to go back?" - -"What answer can I make to that? We're executives, Firth; but here -we're a brain without a body. We can formulate the orders, but we've -neither arms nor legs to carry them out." - -"In other words, you're saying we should import a labor force to do our -basic work for us?" - -"Why not?" - -"They're the fools, Adam, the incompetents! On Earth they were the -millstones around our necks--envying us, hating us, building a prison -for us with their laws and their regulations." - -"All very true, Adam, where the government is in their hands. But we -could keep them under control." - -After that John Firth heard the same complaint from the others, over -and over. They said they could not take advantage of their freedom -because of the chores they had to do to keep Firth's world functioning. - -Firth called a meeting of the colonists. It was the closest -approximation to a government they had; government itself was one of -the things they wanted to escape. They unanimously agreed that a labor -force had to be recruited, and they settled upon one hundred and fifty -as the necessary number, half of them to be women. Working eight hours -a day, such a force could perform the work of Firth's world, yet the -colonists would outnumber them two-to-one and the labor force would not -be large enough to constitute a threat. - -"We'll insist that they marry, of course," Adam Boetz said, "and each -couple will provide us with two children, so that we shall always have -a stabilized labor supply." - -"We're talking," one of the women whispered, "as if we were buying -cattle!" - -"We are." - -"But how can you recruit men and women under these conditions? What -inducement can you possibly offer them?" - -Firth smiled. "When we find the people who meet our specifications, -they'll come; don't worry. In the days of the sailing ships the -technique was called shanghaiing." - -"What specifications, Mr. Firth?" - -"They must be young, strong, healthy, single--" - -"And low-level morons," Adam Boetz cut in. "Imbeciles won't give us any -trouble later on." - -To his other crimes, John Firth then added kidnapping; the end -justified the means. He was creating a world and that world would save -civilization. I doubt that his conscience ever troubled him. - - * * * * * - -Within two years the second group of colonists was established in -Firth's world. Apparently they made an easy adjustment to their new -environment. We have no record of complaints or protests. They were -docile, obedient people. They took orders well; they liked to be told -what to do; they needed very little supervision. - -The first colonists were entirely free, then, of any sort of -work-responsibility. For a while they went back to work in their -laboratories or in the university--inventing, exploring, accumulating -their store of knowledge. In imperceptible stages, however, their -interest lagged, their production came to a halt again. This time they -had no excuse, no scapegoat. - -We can assume that some of them faced the truth squarely and honestly, -yet they had chosen Firth's world and there was no way to turn back. -We find only one actual hint of their despondency, in a diary page -written by an unknown woman. - - - _Karl stayed home again to-day. He has nearly finished the design - for his machine, but he has no more enthusiasm to complete it. I - know how he feels; I can't go on with my painting, either. We have - no purpose, no goal to achieve. We sit isolated in space, counting - over the wealth of our talent and ability; but we can make no use - of it. I wish I knew how many of the others think as I do, but - I'm afraid to ask._ - -The key to understanding them, is that last sentence. Perhaps they -all felt her disillusionment, but they had to pretend. Firth's world -couldn't be at fault. If they were dissatisfied, it was because of a -failure within themselves. At all costs, the flaw had to be hidden from -their neighbors. - -Their first labor trouble was a welcome interlude in the creeping -boredom. The docile labor battalion suddenly discovered they were -being overworked. Just what they could have done in Firth's world with -shorter hours, no one knows. They staged a spotty, amateurish strike; -speakers made reference to the labor laws applicable on the Earth and -demanded better pay. To what end, it's hard for us to say. If the first -colonists had turned over all their wealth, the workers would have had -no more use for it. - -John Firth was unusually alarmed by the threatened strike. He reacted -with excessive violence and the other colonists followed his lead. -Three of the leaders of the uprising were executed; others were -brutally whipped. The Outlaw Pit was built then. Thereafter, at the -first hint of any dissatisfaction, workers were condemned to it. - -The violence taught the workers resentment. Silently, sullenly they -passed on their hatred to their children. The aristocracy created the -revolution, and nurtured it; for it would have made no real difference -if they had surrendered entirely to the strikers' demands. - -The children of the first colonists made no pretense of using Firth's -world to advance knowledge, invention or art. They were hedonists, bred -to luxury, supported by slaves. - -The slaves, for their part, felt no emotion but hatred. From their -parents they learned that the aristocracy had violated the labor law. -The children knew nothing about the law or the distant Earth where it -applied, but it was held in deep and sacred reverence. - -The laboratories and the university stood empty; only the recreation -cavern held any interest for the new aristocracy. A change took place -among the slaves too. Their parents had been hand-picked morons. But -neither brilliant achievement nor the moronic mind is hereditary. Most -of the workers' children had an average intelligence; one or two would -have been classified as geniuses. To their hatred the second generation -joined intelligence, and Firth's world was ready to blow apart. - -They struck the light plant first. Sudden and unexpected violence -surged through the dark, stone-walled corridors. - -John Firth led a band of men against the enemy. But his attack failed -and the workers seized the Atomic Power Core--the heart of our world. -If they shut down the reactors, they would stifle not only our lights, -but the gravitators and the air machines as well; they would kill us -all. - -The workers knew that. They were willing to risk suicide. Every -bargaining counter was on their side. It was John Firth who surrendered. - -Firth's world died then. In the bitter depths of the Pit, John Firth -remembered what Adam Boetz had said to him so many years before, - -"We've become a brain without a body. We can formulate the orders, but -we've neither arms nor legs to carry them out. - -Suddenly John Firth understood the fallacy of his fanaticism. A society -was like a living body, an integrated organism of many members. No -one could function without the others. No man--no group of men--could -create an isolate world. The social equation seemed as clear to Firth -as the simplest sum in arithmetic. Each man was a part of a functioning -social unit which included them all. Each man's talent, whether it was -the plodding docility of a moron or the brilliance of genius, belonged -to all men. - -In the meantime, the workers found that they could not run Firth's -world alone, either. They gloried in forbidden luxuries until they -were satiated. Shortly they became as indolent as the aristocracy had -been; and the food supply was nearly exhausted. - -The treaty they made was direct and to the point: the two groups -agreed to live in equality, sharing the burden of the labor and the -accumulated wealth of knowledge. The treaty was made when you were -a child; we have perfected the technique of co-operation within one -generation. We're ready, now, to go back to Earth. - -You'll be with us? Fine, Chris! - -No. Please, no apologies. I understand why you intended to destroy -our ship; others have attempted it, too. No harm was done. You're -free,--entirely free ... - -... The Organizer waited until he was alone in the office. Then, with -trembling, aging hands, he took the log book out of the safe and slowly -made another entry: - - _Chris was the last, I think. He accepted the lie, just as most of - the others have. When they return to Earth, they will be sound men - with whole minds. For them Firth's world will always stand as a - symbol of man's highest achievement in co-operation. May this sham, - in some small way, expiate the crime and the folly of my arrogant - delusion._ - -John Firth's head dropped on his arm and his shoulders shook; but the -sobs were sobs of relief. Chris was saved; Chris would go back. That -mattered very much--for Chris was his grandson. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Firth's World, by Irving Cox - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIRTH'S WORLD *** - -***** This file should be named 59252.txt or 59252.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/9/2/5/59252/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |