Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
142
"I
see.
And
the
lower
middle
classes?"
"Well,
for
one
thing
they
lack
creative
energy.
They
wear
ready-made
clothing,
for
example,
without
taking
the
trouble
to
improve
upon
it.
The
same
goes
for
their
homes.
Mere
uninspired
adornment
won't
do,
let
me
add.
That's
simply
the
mark
of
the
nouveau
upper
middle
class.
One
doesn't
receive
such
persons
in
the
home."
"Thank
you,
Citizen
Gotthreid.
And
where
would
you
classify
yourself
statuswise?"
(With
the
very
faintest
hesitation).
"Oh,
I've
never
thought
much
about
it--upper
middle,
I
suppose."
(Citizen
Dreister,
age
43,
occupation
shoe
vendor.
A
slender,
mild
man,
young-looking
for
his
years.)
"Yes,
sir.
Myra
and
I
have
three
children
of
school
age.
All
boys."
"Could
you
give
me
some
idea
what
their
education
consists
of?"
"They
learn
how
to
read
and
write,
and
how
to
become
good
citizens.
They're
already
starting
to
learn
their
trades.
The
oldest
is
going
into
the
family
business--shoes.
The
other
two
are
taking
apprenticeship
courses
in
groceries
and
retail
marketing.
That's
my
wife's
family's
business.
They
also
learn
how
to
retain
status,
and
how
to
utilize
standard
techniques
for
moving
upward.
That's
about
what
goes
on
in
the
open
classes."
"Are
there
other
school
classes
which
are
not
open?"
"Well,
naturally
there
are
the
closed
classes.
Every
child
attends
them."
"And
what
do
they
learn
in
the
closed
classes?"
"I
don't
know.
They're
closed,
as
I
said."
"Don't
the
children
ever
speak
about
those
classes?"
"No.
They
talk
about
everything
under
the
sun,
but
not
about
that."
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
