large/6138/signsofchange_1209_librivox_64kb_mp3/signsofchange_05_morris_64kb_19
large/6138/signsofchange_1209_librivox_64kb_mp3/signsofchange_05_morris_64kb
English
6138
And first remember that this period includes the death throes of feudalism, with all the good and evil which that system bore with it. AND FIRST REMEMBER THAT THIS PERIOD INCLUDES THE DEATH THROES OF FEUDALISM WITH ALL THE GOOD AND EVIL WHICH THAT SYSTEM BORE WITH IT
s are no more believed than Cassandra’s prophecies, or are even taken in a contrary sense by those who have anything to lose; since they look upon them as signs of the prosperity of the times, and the long endurance of that state of things which is so kind to them. Let us then see what the hopes of civilization are like to-day: for indeed I purpose speaking of our own times chiefly, and will leave for the present all mention of that older civilization which was destroyed by the healthy barbarism out of which our present society has grown. Yet a few words may be necessary concerning the birth of our present epoch and the hopes it gave rise to, and what has become of them: that will not take us very far back in history; as to my mind our modern civilization begins with the stirring period about the time of the Reformation in England, the time which in the then more important countries of the Continent is known as the period of the Renaissance, the so-called new-birth of art and learning. LY SUCH TOKENS ARE NO MORE BELIEVED THAN CASSANDRA'S PROPHECIES OR ARE EVEN TAKEN IN A CONTRARY SENSE BY THOSE WHO HAVE ANYTHING TO LOSE SINCE THEY LOOK UPON THEM AS SIGNS OF THE PROSPERITY OF THE TIMES AND THE LONG ENDURANCE OF THAT STATE OF THINGS WHICH IS SO KIND TO THEM LET US THEN SEE WHAT THE HOPES OF CIVILIZATION ARE LIKE TO DAY FOR INDEED I PURPOSE SPEAKING OF OUR OWN TIMES CHIEFLY AND WILL LEAVE FOR THE PRESENT ALL MENTION OF THAT OLDER CIVILIZATION WHICH WAS DESTROYED BY THE HEALTHY BARBARISM OUT OF WHICH OUR PRESENT SOCIETY HAS GROWN YET A FEW WORDS MAY BE NECESSARY CONCERNING THE BIRTH OF OUR PRESENT EPOCH AND THE HOPES IT GAVE RISE TO AND WHAT HAS BECOME OF THEM THAT WILL NOT TAKE US VERY FAR BACK IN HISTORY AS TO MY MIND OUR MODERN CIVILIZATION BEGINS WITH THE STIRRING PERIOD ABOUT THE TIME OF THE REFORMATION IN ENGLAND THE TIME WHICH IN THE THEN MORE IMPORTANT COUNTRIES OF THE CONTINENT IS KNOWN AS THE PERIOD OF THE RENAISSANCE THE SO CALLED NEW BIRTH OF ART AND LEARNING
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