Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/123

 "At school much of the time is occupied in that industrial training already referred to, and in the practical application of the mechanical and scientific principles that underlie our industrial system. At special schools, when arrived at a suitable age, the young receive instruction in the handicraft they intend to practise during life."

"Do all learn a mechanical occupation?" I inquired.

"All, without exception."

"But the children of wealthy parents?" I asked.

"They too," was the reply. At a very early period it was found that the excessive accumulation of wealth in certain families led to very serious evils. Of those, that, without any merit or exertion on their part, became rich by inheritance, it was found, that, for one useful to society in proportion to his riches, there were dozens of mere drones inflated with the idiotic pride of uselessness, Besides many actively noxious by their vices. The power of bequest was, accordingly, limited by law. After several fluctuations, it settled down to this: no person, however wealthy, was allowed to bequeath to any one person more than a certain amount. This, in the values of your period, might be estimated at about twenty thousand dollars. It was reasoned, that with a good education, and a capital of the specified amount, if a person could not manage to make a living, his living or dying was of very little consequence to the community.

"But that was rank socialism!" said I, to whom, for special reasons, such doctrines were most distasteful.

"The owner," replied Utis, "was not deprived of his property, nor even of the power of bequeathing it in