XXIIVV — pastoral

Even before the Alexandrian age, ancient Greeks had sentiments of an ideal pastoral life that they had already lost. In the late 19th century, city dwellers were worried that the unnatural pace of life brought on by railroads and telegraphs had given rise to a new disease, neurasthenia. There is no progress whatever. Everything is just the same as it was thousands, and tens of thousands, of years ago. The outward form changes. The essence does not change. Man remains just the same. Civilized and cultured people live with exactly the same interests as the most ignorant savages. Modern civilization is based on violence and slavery and fine words. But all these fine words about progress and civilization are merely words. The breakdown of the television set, the unavailability of a channel, or some sort of experimental situation breaks the habit of viewing. In such a situation almost all families experience a restoration of vigor and depth. They recall with fondness and a wistful pride lif

saved by

• Artyom Grechko