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only doing half the usual day's work in a well…organized Socialist
community； and some degree of hardship is not objectionable； as a test of
the strength of the creative impulse； and as an offset to the peculiar joys of
the creative life。
The other possibility＇58＇ would be that the necessaries of life should
be free； as Anarchists desire； to all equally； regardless of whether they
work or not。 Under this plan； every man could live without work： there
would be what might be called a ‘‘vagabond's wage；'' sufficient for
existence but not for luxury。 The artist who preferred to have his whole
time for art and enjoyment might live on the ‘‘vagabond's wage''
traveling on foot when the humor seized him to see foreign countries；
enjoying the air and the sun； as free as the birds； and perhaps scarcely less
happy。 Such men would bring color and diversity into the life of the
community； their outlook would be different from that of steady； stay…at…
home workers； and would keep alive a much…needed element of light…
heartedness which our sober； serious civilization tends to kill。 If they
became very numerous； they might be too great an economic burden on
the workers； but I doubt if there are many with enough capacity for simple
enjoyments to choose poverty and free… dom in preference to the
comparatively light and pleasant work which will be usual in those days。
＇58＇ Which we discussed in Chapter IV。
By either of these methods； freedom can be preserved for the artist in
a socialistic commonwealth far more complete freedom； and far more
widespread； than any that now exists except for the possessors of capital。
But there still remain some not altogether easy problems。 Take； for
example； the publishing of books。 There will not； under Socialism； be
private publishers as at present： under State Socialism； presumably the
State will be the sole publisher； while under Syndicalism or Guild
Socialism the Federation du Livre will have the whole of the trade in its
hands。 Under these circumstances； who is to decide what MSS。 are to be
printed？ It is clear that opportunities exist for an Index more rigorous than
that of the Inquisition。 If the State were the sole publisher； it would
doubtless refuse books opposed to State Socialism。 If the Federation du
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Livre were the ultimate arbiter； what publicity could be obtained for works
criticising it？ And apart from such political difficulties we should have； as
regards literature； that very censorship by eminent officials which we
agreed to regard as disastrous when we were considering the fine arts in
general。 The difficulty is serious； and a way of meeting it must be found if
literature is to remain free。
Kropotkin； who believes that manual and intellectual work should be
combined； holds that authors themselves should be compositors；
bookbinders； etc。 He even seems to suggest that the whole of the manual
work involved in producing books should be done by authors。 It may be
doubted whether there are enough authors in the world for this to be
possible； and in any case I cannot but think that it would be a waste of
time for them to leave the work they understand in order to do badly work
which others could do far better and more quickly。 That； however； does
not touch our present point； which is the question how the MSS。 to be
printed will be selected。 In Kropotkin's plan there will presumably be an
Author's Guild； with a Committee of Management； if Anarchism allows
such things。 This Committee of Management will decide which of the
books submitted to it are worthy to be printed。 Among these will be
included those by the Committee and their friends； but not those by their
enemies。 Authors of rejected MSS。 will hardly have the patience to spend
their time setting up the works of successful rivals； and there will have to
be an elaborate system of log…rolling if any books are to be printed at all。 It
hardly looks as if this plan would conduce to harmony among literary men；
or would lead to the publication of any book of an unconventional
tendency。 Kropotkin's own books； for example； would hardly have found
favor。
The only way of meeting these difficulties； whether under State
Socialism or Guild Socialism or Anarchism； seems to be by making it
possible for an author to pay for the publication of his book if it is not such
as the State or the Guild is willing to print at its own expense。 I am aware
that this method is contrary to the spirit of Socialism； but I do not see what
other way there is of securing freedom。 The payment might be made by
undertaking to engage for an assigned period in some work of recognized
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utility and to hand over such proportion of the earnings as might be
necessary。 The work undertaken might of course be； as Kropotkin suggests；
the manual part of the production of books； but I see no special reason
why it should be。 It would have to be an absolute rule that no book should
be refused； no matter what the nature of its contents might be； if payment
for publication were offered at the standard rate。 An author who had
admirers would be able to secure their help in payment。 An unknown
author might； it is true； have to suffer a considerable loss of comfort in
order to make his payment； but that would give an automatic means of
eliminating those whose writing was not the result of any very profound
impulse and would be by no means wholly an evil。
Probably some similar method would be desirable as regards the
publishing and performing of new music。
What we have been suggesting will； no doubt； be objected to by
orthodox Socialists； since they will find something repugnant to their
principles in the whole idea of a private person paying to have certain
work done。 But it is a mistake to be the slave of a system； and every
system； if it is applied rigidly； will entail evils which could only be
avoided by some concession to the exigencies of special cases。 On the
whole； a wise form of Socialism might afford infinitely better
opportunities for the artist and the man of science than are possible in a
capitalist community； but only if the form of Socialism adopted is one
which is fitted for this end by means of provisions such as we have been
suggesting。
3。 Possibility of Appreciation。This condition is one which is not
necessary to all who do creative work； but in the sense in which I mean it
the great majority find it very nearly indispensable。 I do not mean
widespread public r