kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第28章
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biological importance； and of no less importance in their strange relation
to the subject of ethics； can be studied to advantage only in the existence
of the most highly evolved societies of ants。
After all that has been written of late years about the probable value of
relative experience in the long life of the ant； I suppose that few persons
would venture to deny individual character to the ant。 The intelligence of
the little creature in meeting and overcoming difficulties of a totally new
kind； and in adapting itself to conditions entirely foreign to its experience；
proves a considerable power of independent thinking。 But this at least is
certain： that the ant has no individuality capable of being exercised in a
purely selfish direction； I am using the word 〃selfish〃 in its ordinary
acceptation。 A greedy ant； a sensual ant； an ant capable of any one of the
seven deadly sins； or even of a small venial sin； is unimaginable。 Equally
unimaginable； of course； a romantic ant； an ideological ant； a poetical ant；
or an ant inclined to metaphysical speculations。 No human mind could
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attain to the absolute matter…of…fact quality of the ant…mind； no human
being； as now constituted； could cultivate a mental habit so impeccably
practical as that of the ant。 But this superlatively practical mind is
incapable of moral error。 It would be difficult； perhaps； to prove that the
ant has no religious ideas。 But it is certain that such ideas could not be of
any use to it。 The being incapable of moral weakness is beyond the need
of 〃spiritual guidance。〃
Only in a vague way can we conceive the character of ant…society； and
the nature of ant…morality； and to do even this we must try to imagine
some yet impossible state of human society and human morals。 Let us；
then； imagine a world full of people incessantly and furiously working；
all of whom seem to be women。 No one of these women could be
persuaded or deluded into taking a single atom of food more than is
needful to maintain her strength； and no one of them ever sleeps a second
longer than is necessary to keep her nervous system in good working…
order。 And all of them are so peculiarly constituted that the least
unnecessary indulgence would result in some derangement of function。
The work daily performed by these female laborers comprises road…
making； bridge…building； timber…cutting； architectural construction of
numberless kinds； horticulture and agriculture； the feeding and sheltering
of a hundred varieties of domestic animals； the manufacture of sundry
chemical products； the storage and conservation of countless food…stuffs；
and the care of the children of the race。 All this labor is done for the
commonwealth no citizen of which is capable even of thinking about
〃property；〃 except as a res publica； and the sole object of the
commonwealth is the nurture and training of its young； nearly all of
whom are girls。 The period of infancy is long： the children remain for a
great while； not only helpless； but shapeless； and withal so delicate that
they must be very carefully guarded against the least change of
temperature。 Fortunately their nurses understand the laws of health： each
thoroughly knows all that she ought to know in regard to ventilation；
disinfection； drainage； moisture； and the danger of germs； germs being as
visible； perhaps； to her myopic sight as they become to our own eyes
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under the microscope。 Indeed； all matters of hygiene are so well
comprehended that no nurse ever makes a mistake about the sanitary
conditions of her neighborhood。
In spite of this perpetual labor no worker remains unkempt： each is
scrupulously neat； making her toilet many times a day。 But as every
worker is born with the most beautiful of combs and brushes attached to
her wrists； no time is wasted in the toilet…room。 Besides keeping
themselves strictly clean； the workers must also keep their houses and
gardens in faultless order； for the sake of the children。 Nothing less than an
earthquake； an eruption； an inundation； or a desperate war； is allowed to
interrupt the daily routine of dusting； sweeping； scrubbing； and
disinfecting。
IV
Now for stranger facts：
This world of incessant toil is a more than Vestal world。 It is true that
males can sometimes be perceived in it； but they appear only at particular
seasons； and they have nothing whatever to do with the workers or with
the work。 None of them would presume to address a worker； except；
perhaps； under extraordinary circumstances of common peril。 And no
worker would think of talking to a male； for males； in this queer world；
are inferior beings； equally incapable of fighting or working； and tolerated
only as necessary evils。 One special class of females； the Mothers…Elect
of the race； do condescend to consort with males； during a very brief
period； at particular seasons。 But the Mothers…Elect do not work； and they
most accept husbands。 A worker could not even dream of keeping
company with a male； not merely because such association would
signify the most frivolous waste of time； nor yet because the worker
necessarily regards all males with unspeakable contempt； but because the
worker is incapable of wedlock。 Some workers； indeed； are capable of
parthenogenesis； and give birth to children who never had fathers。 As a
general rule； however； the worker is truly feminine by her moral instincts
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only： she has all the tenderness； the patience； and the foresight that we call
〃maternal；〃 but her sex has disappeared； like the sex of the Dragon…
Maiden in the Buddhist legend。
For defense against creatures of prey； or enemies of the state； the
workers are provided with weapons； and they are furthermore protected by
a large military force。 The warriors are so much bigger than the workers
（in some communities； at least） that it is difficult； at first sight； to believe
them of the same race。 Soldiers one hundred times larger than the workers
whom they guard are not uncommon。 But all these soldiers are Amazons；
or； more correctly speaking； semi…females。 They can work sturdily； but
being built for fighting and for heavy pulling chiefly； their usefulness is
restricted to those directions in which force； rather than skill； is required。
＇Why females； rather than males； should have been evolutionally
specialized into soldiery and laborers may not be nearly so simple a
