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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Research Magnificent by H. G. Wells: inferior imagination, a base materialist people, could so maintain
its attention upon precision and cleanliness. Benham was roused to
defence against this paradox. "But all exaltation neglects," said
Prothero. "No religion has ever boasted that its saints were spick
and span." This controversy raged between them in the streets of
Irkutsk. It was still burning while they picked their way through
the indescribable filth of Pekin.
"You say that all this is a fine disdain for material things," said
Benham. "But look out there!"
Apt to their argument a couple of sturdy young women came shuffling
along, cleaving the crowd in the narrow street by virtue of a single
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