Now if America stands for progress, this
old world may be permitted--with a reasonable dose of that flattery
which we accord to the dead--to represent civilization. Tell me, Mr. van
Koppen, how do you propose to amalgamate or reconcile such ferociously
antagonistic strivings? I fear we will have to wait for the
millennium."
"The millennium!" echoed Mr. Heard. "That is another of those unhappy
words which are always cropping up in my department."
"Why unhappy?" asked Mr. van Koppen.
"Because they mean nothing. The millennium will never come."
"Why not?"
"Because nobody wants it to come. They want tangible things. Nobody
wants a millennium."
"Which is very fortunate," observed the Count. "For if they did, the
Creator would be considerably embarrassed how to arrange matters,
seeing that every man's millennium differs from that of his neighbour.
Mine is not the same as yours. Now I wonder, Mr. van Koppen--I wonder
what your millennium would be like?"
"I wonder! I believe I never gave it a thought.
Pages:
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587