Of course, there was much overlapping of the periods: and at first the new handwork came in very slowly.
"You must remember," said the old antiquary, "that the handicraft was not the result of what used to be called material necessity: on the contrary, by that time the machines had been so much improved that almost all necessary work might have been done by them: and indeed many people at that time, and before it, used to think that machinery would entirely supersede handicraft; which certainly, on the face of it, seemed more than likely.

But there was another opinion, far less logical, prevalent amongst the rich people before the days of freedom, which did not die out at once after that epoch had begun.

This opinion, which from all I can learn seemed as natural then, as it seems absurd now, was, that while the ordinary daily work of the world would be done entirely by automatic machinery, the energies of the more intelligent part of mankind would be set free to follow the higher forms of the arts, as well as science and the study of history.

It was strange, was it not, that they should thus ignore that aspiration after complete equality which we now recognise as the bond of all happy human society ?" I did not answer, but thought the more.

Dick looked thoughtful, and said: "Strange, neighbour?
Well, I don't know.