war, but I am
fairly sure Germany will. If she joins up with Russia look out for
squalls. In your old country, which appears to be peopled by madmen,
there's a writing chap who spent a fortnight in Russia, not long enough
to know the ins and outs of a village, yet assuming to know everything
about the biggest territory in Europe, and the press is puffing up his
ignorance as if it were wisdom. Germany has her finger on the spot--so
perhaps your stuff will come in useful. But don't forget that if you
make up your mind to use it you will ruin America, commercially
speaking. And many other countries besides. So think it well
over,--more than a hundred times! Lydia Herbert, whom perhaps you
remember, and perhaps you don't, has caught her 'ancient mariner'--that
is to say, her millionaire,--and all fashionable New York is going to
the wedding, including yours truly. I had expected Morgana Royal to
grace the function, but I hear she is quite engrossed with the
decoration and furnishing of her Sicilian palace, as well as with her
advising artist, a very good-looking Marquis or Marchese as he is
called. It is also whispered that she has invented a wonderful air-ship
which has no engines, and creates its own motive power as it goes!
Sounds rather tall talk!--but this is an age of wonders and we never
know what next. There is a new Light Ray just out which prospects for
gold, oil and all ores and minerals, and finds them in a fifty-mile
circuit--so probably nobody need be poor for the future. When we've all
got most things we want, and there's nothing left to work for, I wonder
what the world will be worth!"

Seaton left off reading and thrust the letter again in his pocket.

"What will the world be worth?" he soliloquised--"Why, nothing!"

Suddenly struck by this thought, which had not always presented itself
with such sharp and clear precision as now, he took time to consider
it. Capital and Labour, the two forces which are much more prone to
rend each other than to co-operate--these would both possibly be
non-existent if Science had its full way. If gold, silver and other
precious minerals could be "picked up" as on the fabled Tom Tiddler's
ground, by a ray of light, then the striving for wealth would cease and
work would be reduced to a minimum. The prospect was stupendous, but
hardly entirely pleasing. If there were no need for effort, then the
powers of mind and body would sink into inertia.

"What object should we live