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notwithstanding the beauty of the designs； the material on which
they were stamped was as nearly valueless as possible。 Some were
covered with tin foil； but the greater part were frankly of a cheap
base metal the exact nature of which I was not able to determine。
Indeed they were made of a great variety of metals； or； perhaps
more accurately； alloys； some of which were hard； while others
would bend easily and assume almost any form which their possessor
might desire at the moment。
Of course every one knew that their commercial value was nil； but
all those who wished to be considered respectable thought it
incumbent upon them to retain a few coins in their possession； and
to let them be seen from time to time in their hands and purses。
Not only this； but they would stick to it that the current coin of
the realm was dross in comparison with the Musical Bank coinage。
Perhaps； however； the strangest thing of all was that these very
people would at times make fun in small ways of the whole system；
indeed； there was hardly any insinuation against it which they
would not tolerate and even applaud in their daily newspapers if
written anonymously； while if the same thing were said without
ambiguity to their facesnominative case verb and accusative being
all in their right places； and doubt impossiblethey would
consider themselves very seriously and justly outraged； and accuse
the speaker of being unwell。
I never could understand （neither can I quite do so now； though I
begin to see better what they mean） why a single currency should
not suffice them； it would seem to me as though all their dealings
would have been thus greatly simplified； but I was met with a look
of horror if ever I dared to hint at it。 Even those who to my
certain knowledge kept only just enough money at the Musical Banks
to swear by； would call the other banks （where their securities
really lay） cold； deadening； paralysing； and the like。
I noticed another thing； moreover； which struck me greatly。 I was
taken to the opening of one of these banks in a neighbouring town；
and saw a large assemblage of cashiers and managers。 I sat
opposite them and scanned their faces attentively。 They did not
please me； they lacked； with few exceptions； the true Erewhonian
frankness； and an equal number from any other class would have
looked happier and better men。 When I met them in the streets they
did not seem like other people； but had； as a general rule； a
cramped expression upon their faces which pained and depressed me。
Those who came from the country were better； they seemed to have
lived less as a separate class； and to be freer and healthier； but
in spite of my seeing not a few whose looks were benign and noble；
I could not help asking myself concerning the greater number of
those whom I met； whether Erewhon would be a better country if
their expression were to be transferred to the people in general。
I answered myself emphatically； no。 The expression on the faces of
the high Ydgrunites was that which one would wish to diffuse； and
not that of the cashiers。
A man's expression is his sacrament； it is the outward and visible
sign of his inward and spiritual grace； or want of grace； and as I
looked at the a majority of these men； I could not help feeling
that there must be a something in their lives which had stunted
their natural development； and that they would have been more
healthily minded in any other profession。 I was always sorry for
them； for in nine cases out of ten they were well…meaning persons；
they were in the main very poorly paid； their constitutions were as
a rule above suspicion； and there were recorded numberless
instances of their self…sacrifice and generosity； but they had had
the misfortune to have been betrayed into a false position at an
age for the most part when their judgement was not matured； and
after having been kept in studied ignorance of the real
difficulties of the system。 But this did not make their position
the less a false one； and its bad effects upon themselves were
unmistakable。
Few people would speak quite openly and freely before them； which
struck me as a very bad sign。 When they were in the room every one
would talk as though all currency save that of the Musical Banks
should be abolished； and yet they knew perfectly well that even the
cashiers themselves hardly used the Musical Bank money more than
other people。 It was expected of them that they should appear to
do so； but this was all。 The less thoughtful of them did not seem
particularly unhappy； but many were plainly sick at heart； though
perhaps they hardly knew it； and would not have owned to being so。
Some few were opponents of the whole system； but these were liable
to be dismissed from their employment at any moment； and this
rendered them very careful； for a man who had once been cashier at
a Musical Bank was out of the field for other employment； and was
generally unfitted for it by reason of that course of treatment
which was commonly called his education。 In fact it was a career
from which retreat was virtually impossible； and into which young
men were generally induced to enter before they could be reasonably
expected； considering their training； to have formed any opinions
of their own。 Not unfrequently； indeed； they were induced； by what
we in England should call undue influence； concealment； and fraud。
Few indeed were those who had the courage to insist on seeing both
sides of the question before they committed themselves to what was
practically a leap in the dark。 One would have thought that
caution in this respect was an elementary principle；one of the
first things that an honourable man would teach his boy to
understand； but in practice it was not so。
I even saw cases in which parents bought the right of presenting to
the office of cashier at one of these banks； with the fixed
determination that some one of their sons （perhaps a mere child）
should fill it。 There was the lad himselfgrowing up with every
promise of becoming a good and honourable manbut utterly without
warning concerning the iron shoe which his natural protector was
providing for him。 Who could say that the whole thing would not
end in a life…long lie； and vain chafing to escape？ I confess that
there were few things in Erewhon which shocked me more than this。
Yet we do something not so very different from this even in
England； and as regards the dual commercial system； all countries
have； and have had； a law of the land； and also another law； which；
though professedly more sacred； has far less effect on their daily
life and actions。 It seems as though the need for some law over
and above； and sometimes even conflicting with； the law of the
land； must spring from something that lies deep down in man's
nature； indeed； it is hard to think that man could ever have become
man at all； but for the gradual evolution of a perception that
though this world looms so large when we are in it； it may seem a
little thing when we have got away from it。
When man had grown to the perception that in the everlasting Is…
and…Is…Not of nature； the world and all that it contains； including
man； is at the same time both seen and unseen； he felt the need of
two rules of life； one for the seen； and the other for the unseen
side of things。 For the laws affecting the seen world he claimed
the sanction of seen powers； for the unseen （of which he knows
nothing save that it exists and is powerful） he appealed to the
unseen power （of which； again； he knows nothing save that it exists
and is powerful） to which he gives the name of God。
Some Erewhonian opinions concerning the intelligence of the unborn
embryo； that I regret my space will not permit me to lay before the
reader； have led me to conclude that the Erewhonian Musical Banks；
and perhaps the religious systems of all countries； are now more or
less of an attempt to uphold the unfathomable and unconscious
instinctive wisdom of millions of past generations； against the
comparatively shallow； consciously reasoning； and ephemeral
conclusions drawn from that of the last thirty or forty。
The saving feature of the Erewhonian M