第12章

"What has become of devotion to the family gods,and the worship of ancestors?Once the graves of the dead were at the door of the living,so that libations might be conveniently poured out on them,and the ground where they lay was inalienable because it was supposed to be used by their spirits as well as their bodies.A man could not sell the bones,because he could not sell the ghosts,of his kindred.By-and by,when religion ceased to be domestic and became social,and the service of the gods was carried on in temples common to all,it was found that the tombs of one's forefathers could be sold without violence to their specter.I dare say it wouldn't be different in the case of our tender and sacred associations with tables and chairs,pots and pans,beds and bedding,pictures and bricabrac. We have only to evolve a little further.In fact we have already evolved far beyond the point that troubles you.Most people in modern towns and cities have changed their domiciles from ten to twenty times during their lives,and have not paid the slightest attention to the tender and sacred associations connected with them.I don't suppose you would say that a man has no such associations with the house that has sheltered him,while he has them with the stuff that has furnished it?"