"
"But I found them a part of the social as well as the political structure
in England. You have no kings or nobles here. Have you any ranks or
classes?"
"Well, not exactly in the English sense. Our ranks and classes, such as we
have, are what I may call voluntary."
"Oh, I understand. I suppose that from time to time certain ones among you
feel the need of serving, and ask leave of the commonwealth to subordinate
themselves to the rest of the state and perform all the lowlier offices in
it. Such persons must be held in peculiar honor. Is it something like
that?"
"Well, no, I can't say it's quite like that. In fact I think I'd better
let you trust to your own observation of our life."
"But I'm sure," said the Altrurian, with a simplicity so fine that it was
a long time before I could believe it quite real, "that I shall approach
it so much more intelligently with a little instruction from you. You say
that your social divisions are voluntary. But do I understand that those
who serve among you do not wish to do so?"
"Well, I don't suppose they would serve if they could help it," I replied.
"Surely," said the Altrurian, with a look of horror, "you don't mean that
they are slaves.
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