profits by way of bonus on the original shares once in every thirty
thousand years； and as it was now only two thousand years since
there had been one of these distributions； people felt that they
could not hope for another in their own time and preferred
investments whereby they got some more tangible return； all which；
she said； was very melancholy to think of。
Having made these last admissions； she returned to her original
statement； namely； that every one in the country really supported
these banks。 As to the fewness of the people； and the absence of
the able…bodied； she pointed out to me with some justice that this
was exactly what we ought to expect。 The men who were most
conversant about the stability of human institutions； such as the
lawyers； men of science； doctors； statesmen； painters； and the
like； were just those who were most likely to be misled by their
own fancied accomplishments； and to be made unduly suspicious by
their licentious desire for greater present return； which was at
the root of nine…tenths of the opposition； by their vanity； which
would prompt them to affect superiority to the prejudices of the
vulgar； and by the stings of their own conscience； which was
constantly upbraiding them in the most cruel manner on account of
their bodies； which were generally diseased。
Let a person's intellect （she continued） be never so sound； unless
his body is in absolute health； he can form no judgement worth
having on matters of this kind。 The body is everything： it need
not perhaps be such a strong body （she said this because she saw
that I was thinking of the old and infirm…looking folks whom I had
seen in the bank）； but it must be in perfect health； in this case；
the less active strength it had the more free would be the working
of the intellect； and therefore the sounder the conclusion。 The
people； then； whom I had seen at the bank were in reality the very
ones whose opinions were most worth having； they declared its
advantages to be incalculable； and even professed to consider the
immediate return to be far larger than they were entitled to； and
so she ran on； nor did she leave off till we had got back to the
house。
She might say what she pleased； but her manner carried no
conviction； and later on I saw signs of general indifference to
these banks that were not to be mistaken。 Their supporters often
denied it； but the denial was generally so couched as to add
another proof of its existence。 In commercial panics； and in times
of general distress； the people as a mass did not so much as even
think of turning to these banks。 A few might do so； some from
habit and early training； some from the instinct that prompts us to
catch at any straw when we think ourselves drowning； but few from a
genuine belief that the Musical Banks could save them from
financial ruin； if they were unable to meet their engagements in
the other kind of currency。
In conversation with one of the Musical Bank managers I ventured to
hint this as plainly as politeness would allow。 He said that it
had been more or less true till lately； but that now they had put
fresh stained glass windows into all the banks in the country； and
repaired the buildings； and enlarged the organs； the presidents；
moreover； had taken to riding in omnibuses and talking nicely to
people in the streets； and to remembering the ages of their
children； and giving them things when they were naughty； so that
all would henceforth go smoothly。
〃But haven't you done anything to the money itself？〃 said I；
timidly。
〃It is not necessary；〃 he rejoined； 〃not in the least necessary； I
assure you。〃
And yet any one could see that the money given out at these banks
was not that with which people bought their bread； meat； and
clothing。 It was like it at a first glance； and was stamped with
designs that were often of great beauty； it was not； again； a
spurious coinage； made with the intention that it should be
mistaken for the money in actual use； it was more like a toy money；
or the counters used for certain games at cards； for；
notwithstanding the beauty of the designs； the material on which
they were stamped was as nearly valueless as possible。 Some were
covered with tin foil； but the greater part were frankly of a cheap
base metal the exact nature of which I was not able to determine。
Indeed they were made of a great variety of metals； or； perhaps
more accurately； alloys； some of which were hard； while others
would bend easily and assume almost any form which their possessor
might desire at the moment。
Of course every one knew that their commercial value was nil； but
all those who wished to be considered respectable thought it
incumbent upon them to retain a few coins in their possession； and
to let them be seen from time to time in their hands and purses。
Not only this； but they would stick to it that the current coin of
the realm was dross in comparison with the Musical Bank coinage。
Perhaps； however； the strangest thing of all was that these very
people would at times make fun in small ways of the whole system；
indeed； there was hardly any insinuation against it which they
would not tolerate and even applaud in their daily newspapers if
written anonymously； while if the same thing were said without
ambiguity to their facesnominative case verb and accusative being
all in their right places； and doubt impossiblethey would
consider themselves very seriously and justly outraged； and accuse
the speaker of being unwell。
I never could understand （neither can I quite do so now； though I
begin to see better what they mean） why a single currency should
not suffice them； it would seem to me as though all their dealings
would have been thus greatly simplified； but I was met with a look
of horror if ever I dared to hint at it。 Even those who to my
certain knowledge kept only just enough money at the Musical Banks
to swear by； would call the other banks （where their securities
really lay） cold； deadening； paralysing； and the like。
I noticed another thing； moreover； which struck me greatly。 I was
taken to the opening of one of these banks in a neighbouring town；
and saw a large assemblage of cashiers and managers。 I sat
opposite them and scanned their faces attentively。 They did not
please me； they lacked； with few exceptions； the true Erewhonian
frankness； and an equal number from any other class would have
looked happier and better men。 When I met them in the streets they
did not seem like other people； but had； as a general rule； a
cramped expression upon their faces which pained and depressed me。
Those who came from the country were better； they seemed to have
lived less as a separate class； and to be freer and healthier； but
in spite of my seeing not a few whose looks were benign and noble；
I could not help asking myself concerning the greater number of
those whom I met； whether Erewhon would be a better country if
their expression were to be transferred to the people in general。
I answered myself emphatically； no。 The expression on the faces of
the high Ydgrunites was that which one would wish to diffuse； and
not that of the cashiers。
A man's expression is his sacrament； it is the outward and visible
sign of his inward and spiritual grace； or want of grace； and as I
looked at the a majority of these men； I could not help feeling
that there must be a something in their lives which had stunted
their natural development； and that they would have been more
healthily minded in any other profession。 I was always sorry for
them； for in nine cases out of ten they were well…meaning persons；
they were in the main very poorly paid； their constitutions were as
a rule above suspicion； and there were recorded numberless
instances of their self…sacrifice and generosity； but they had had
the misfortune to have been betrayed into a false position at an
age for the most part when their judgement was not matured； and
after having been kept in studied ignorance of the real
difficulties of the system。 But this did not make their position
the less a false one； and its bad effects upon themselves were
unmistakable。
Few people would speak quite openly and freely before them； which
struck me as a very bad sign。 When they were in the room every one
would talk as though all currency save that of the Musical Banks
should be abolished； and yet they knew perfectly well that even the
cashiers themselves hardly used the Musical Bank money more than
other people。 It was expected of them that they should appear to
do so； but this was all。 The less thoughtful of them did not seem
particularly unhappy； but many were plainly sick at heart； though
perhaps they hardly knew it； and would not have owned to being so。
Some few were opponents of the whole system； but these were liable
to be dismissed from their employment at any moment； and this
rendered them very careful； for a man who had once been cashier at
a Musical Bank was out of the field for other employment； and was
generally unfitted for it by reason of that course of treatment
which was commonly called his education。 In fact it was a career
from which retreat was virtually impossible； and into which young
men were generally induced to enter before they could be reasonably
expected； considering their training； to have formed any opinions
of their own。 Not unfrequently； indeed； they were induced； by what
we in England should call undue influence； concealment； and fraud。
Few indeed were those who had the courage to insist on seeing both
sides of the question before they committed themselves to what was
practically a leap in the dark。 One would have thought that
caution in this respect was an elementary principle；one of the
first things that an honourable man would teach his boy to
understand； but in practice it was not so。
I even saw cases in which parents bought the right of presenting to
the office of cashier at one of these banks； with the fixed
determination that some one of their sons （perhaps a mere child）
should fill it。 There was the lad himselfgrowing up with every
promise of becoming a good and honourable manbut utterly without
warning concerning the iron shoe which hi