XXVIII. The tale about provident Baron and genius Inventor (From the Collection "Two Tales of Four Technical Revolutions").

(Phased translation from Russian into English).

1861. Ancient castle. The ingenious Inventor hurrying on affairs. Inventor of the engine of Industrial revolution.

Portraits on the walls.

A man came down from one of the portraits.

- Do you mind, Mr. Academician, if I walk with you for a few minutes?

- I will consider it as honor, mister Baron, - the Inventor has answered.

Delicately refused in due time from the title of Baron, a brilliant Inventor has not renounced membership in different scientific societies and was a member of the Royal societies of London and Edinburgh, to the Paris Academy and many others.

- I am getting acquainted, Mr. Academician, at leisure with literature. Recently read a biographic essay about You. For example, what is there about You said: "He was very happy with their monetary companions."

The Baron looked attentively at the Inventor. And continuing:

- Writers like to speak beautifully ... Sometimes it is difficult to understand where the truth is. Makes you wonder about the power of literary creativity and about change of focus of attention. So I distrustfully reacted to "happiness", was "granted", "given" by the monetary companions ... By coincidence, I saw you, Mr. Academician. And I decided to clarify for himself the question ...

- Imagine, mister Baron, all arising up difficulties were settled well. In the end, the practical implementation of my invention has completed successfully. By and large, I have no claims to partners. Even there are occasions to thank them..

- Perfectly, Mr. Academician! I see that the author of biographic essay about You tried to be exact. I thank You for an answer!

It seemed to the Inventor that a Baron intended to return back in a portrait.

- I will take an opportunity, mister Baron. I will take an interest. How did You decide, personally You - it's understandable, not alone, - but personally You ... To go to the Head of State, to demand from him the signing of the Historical Charter of constitutionality, parliamentarism and justice?

Baron smiled:

- As said by a famous writer, my distant relative, "Wake up - clean the planet." At that time, we did not have such an ambitious task, but we decided to heed the recommendation. The formulation was a little changed: "woke up - get busy improving the affairs on the Island". So, I woke up and started to work, started to act ...

- It's nice to understand, Mr. Baron, that you are in a good mood.

- Relatives do not forget. They sent a present.

- You're joking, Mr. Baron, but plan was not such simple. And unusual, and risky.

- - I understand. It isn't always appropriate to speak about serious questions with a joke. I will give the following argument as an excuse. One of the authors - seems to be the Briton, - published a book about great people. He writes that both the Industrial Revolution and the American and French revolutions occurred in the same historical era. And that the Industrial revolution had a much greater impact on the daily lives of people than any of these named political revolutions. This author believes that You, Mr. Academician, one of the most important personalities in history. Even Richard the Lionheart, composing the knightly ballad, couldn't write better!

After a short pause, the Baron has continued to speak out:

- Here I am talking with You, Mr. Academician, a man who - according to the logic of the author of one of the books about great people - is equivalent to a whole cohort of famous politicians. I ask, for example, to You a question: "How You have decided to begin Industrial revolution?". One of quite admissible versions of Your answer: "I have woken up, and I have started affairs. I began a campaign!". How to you my version, Mr. Academician?

- In something You are right, Baron. But about my personality You can read, at first, a biographic essay, secondly, chapter in the mentioned book on great people, thirdly, other publications. But about You is written briefly. 'Barons 'compelled' the King to sign a Charter'. It was written briefly and not clearly.

- And the Head of State, and we, initiators of the project, remembered history, an experience of our Great predecessor, the Duke, the gloomy legends which were connected with his death... Have understood circumstances of His death as a warning sign. Have decided to be engaged in improvement of the future. Have decided to work to improve the future in a timely manner.

It was clear that with weapons and violence all problems could not be solved. That justice, law and order are necessary. And less arbitrariness. And more development - in all spheres. At least on one separate Island. At this conception we came to the consent. So we agreed. Of course, it is more correct to tell that not we have compelled, but that "has compelled" us. History.

More precisely, History "taught" us and for us. She insisted persistently. And we have tried to be quick-witted and provident: we learned from History.

The Baron paused for a moment.

- As for political technology, Mr. Academician, we have previously remembered about the political culture of Ancient Rome... The procedure itself was in line with Island traditions. We arrived for an audience with all reverence. Short oral statements from representatives. Have submitted the written petition. Short discussion. The Head of State took time to ponder, for consultation with advisers. After some time,we heard an oral response and received signed copies of the Charter.

Both the initiators and the King swore that the Charter would be respected in good faith and without malice. Everything is businesslike and civilized. '...By the will of God and for the safety of our soul, and of the souls of all our predecessors and our heirs, to the honour of God and for the exalting of the holy church and the bettering of our kingdom...' The signing of the Charter was announced in the churches and on the squares of cities. So.

Someone will apply a word-combination: "Barons compelled the King ". And someone - "Barons impelled the King ".

- Sounds logically, Mr. Baron. But nevertheless something in your logic is missing. In many cases the history has gone significantly differently. In many, many, many...

- Your merit, Your achievement, Mr. Academician. They have political revolutions, we have the Industrial Revolution. In short, Mr. Academician, we, the inhabitants of the Island, were lucky.