It would tempt us too far afield to inquire into the logical foundations of the new science of “Prophetics”, as no doubt this branch of learning will be called. A young science must not at first aim at too much systematic order, nor be too introspective. Let us, rather, glance into the future and try to fill in the larger of the empty spaces in the vision so far presented to our eyes.

We can readily grant at the outset all that the mechanists claim. In fact, there is nothing, I think, unlikely in the suggestion that, so far as mechanical invention is concerned, we are approaching the time when all that is physically possible will be realized. The future customer at Selfridges’ who inquires for a teleofactor in order to smell the perfumes of Arabia will be told that the impossibility of this has now been finally proved. For the rest of his desires, however, he will be quite amply supplied. He will have perfect wireless concerts and televisual cinemas; he will be conveyed by the morning aerial Pullman from his villa-palace in Devonshire to his office in what was once the Strand. To his Club or restaurant he will proceed by a moving pavement, or in a bath-chair propelled by radiant power. His week-ends may be spent in Samarkand or in tobogganing on Mount Everest. His wife, too, will benefit by this universal progress. Her day’s work will be done by 9 a.m. The turning of a tap or two will nourish the ectogenetic child foretold by Mr Haldane, and the pressing of a button will put in action the automatic cook. By wireless communication with Paris she will choose a garment, to be delivered by an aerial messenger boy upon his cycloplane. After luncheon she will, again by wireless, put herself in visual and auditory contact with other members of the society to which she belongs. It will probably be a society for the revival of twentieth-century customs.