humbug. Defiance, disobedience, contempt for thing that is, consumes them."
He drew from the shelves a lot of books, threw them on a table, and took up a volume.
"This from Fourier: 'Monogamy and private property are the main characteristics of Civilisation. They are the breastworks behind which the army of the rich crouch and from which they sally to rob the poor. The individual family is the unit of all faulty societies divided by opposing interests.'
"And this choice bit from William Morris: 'Marriage under existing conditions is absurd. The family, about which so much twaddle is talked, is hateful. A new development of the family will take place, as the basis not of a predetermined lifelong business arrangement to be formally held to irrespective of conditions, but on mutual inclination and affection, an association terminable at the will of either party.'"
Overman fixed his eye on Gordon for a moment, laid his hand on his arm and asked:
"Now, honestly, Frank, confess to me you never read one of those sentences in your life?"
"No, I never did."
"I was sure of it. Listen again; this from Robert Owen: 'In the new Moral World the irrational names of husband, wife, parent and child will be heard no more. Children will undoubtedly be the property of the whole community.'
"But perhaps the idea has been best expressed by
