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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-05-15 06:39:41 -0700 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-05-15 06:39:41 -0700 |
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diff --git a/78687-h/78687-h.htm b/78687-h/78687-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..912c649 --- /dev/null +++ b/78687-h/78687-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8902 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no,date=no,address=no,email=no,url=no"> + <title> + The coming of the Amazons | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; +} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.ph1 { + text-align: center; + font-size: xx-large; + font-weight: bold; +} +.ph2 { + text-align: center; + font-size: x-large; + font-weight: bold; +} +.transnote { + margin-left:17.5%; + margin-right:17.5%; +} + +/* Conventional dropcaps */ +p.dropcap { + text-indent: 0em; +} +p.dropcap:first-letter { + float: left; + margin: 0.1em 0.1em 0em 0em; + font-size: 250%; + line-height: 0.85em; +} +.x-ebookmaker p.dropcap:first-letter { + float: none; + margin: 0; + font-size: 100%; +} + +.upper-case +{ + text-transform: uppercase; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .ep6 {margin-top: 6em;} + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78687 ***</div> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<h1><i> +THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS</i> +</h1> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_ii"></a><a id="Page_iii"></a>[Pg iii]</span></p> + + +<p class="center ph1">THE COMING OF<br> +THE AMAZONS</p> + +<p class="center">A SATIRISTIC SPECULATION ON<br> +THE SCIENTIFIC FUTURE<br> +OF CIVILIZATION</p> + +<p class="center p4">BY</p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: large;">OWEN JOHNSON</p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: small;">AUTHOR OF “SACRIFICE,” ETC.</p> + +<p class="center p6"><span style="font-size: large;">LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO.</span><br> +NEW YORK · TORONTO<br> +1931</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</span></p> + + +<p class="center" style="font-size: small;">JOHNSON<br> +THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS</p> + +<p class="center p2" style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.05em;">COPYRIGHT · 1931<br> +BY OWEN JOHNSON</p> + +<p class="center p2" style="font-size: small;">First edition October 1931<br> +Reprinted October 1931</p> + + +<p class="center p6" style="font-size: small;">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span></p> + + +<p class="center ep6"><i>To</i><br> +HARRIE T. LINDEBERG</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vi"></a><a id="Page_vii"></a>[Pg vii]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE"> + PREFACE + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">It is now</span> one week since the termination of the +extraordinary adventure which happened to me +in this, the third week in November 1929. Every +detail, even to the least conversation is clear in my +memory as I start to set down my strange revelation. +I, John Bogardus, graduate of Harvard and Oxford, +descendant of a virile patroon ancestry, now in my +thirty-second year make this record, that my fellow +men, at present supinely indifferent to the alarming +portent of the feminist uprising, may perceive +before it is too late, the hideous catastrophe toward +which in the relentless war of the sexes we are +blindly drifting.</p> + +<p>On the fifteenth of November I had sought refuge +at my club in the company of my old friend Dr. +Sachaloff, a biologist in the —— Foundation, +whose propensity to think out loud had proved exceedingly +irritating to the mediocrity of his associates.</p> + +<p>We had lunched and wined in a manner befitting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</span>the cellar inherited from my paternal grandfather, +and luncheon over, the conversation had run along +lines of scientific speculation into the future of society +and the possibilities of the prolongation of +life. Dr. Sachaloff, sure of my confidence, had +permitted his imagination the unpardonable scientific +liberty of prophecy. He declared that while +the complete conquest of the natural processes of +decay must still be regarded as an impossibility, +still, with the elimination of present scourges and +a fuller control of the glandular sources of energy, +<i>theoretically</i> (a word which he pronounced with +deliberate emphasis) the span of life might eventually +be prolonged from two to three hundred years. +However, he qualified this audacity by adding that +the birth of new diseases must be reckoned with. +I immediately broached an idea which had been +long in my mind.</p> + +<p>“If,” I began eagerly, “organic bodies can be kept +long periods free from decomposition by freezing +processes and human beings thrown into a cataleptic +state which so nearly resembles death as to defy the +acutest observer, why couldn’t a man by some induced +hypnotic catalepsy be then subjected to an +intense refrigeration and kept alive in cold storage +over a long period of years?”</p> + +<p>“Port like this,” said Dr. Sachaloff raising his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</span>glass to the light, “is a great stimulation to the imagination.”</p> + +<p>“Come now—” I replied with a wheedling +smile, “in a mood of pure speculation?”</p> + +<p>“Do you want to have me deported from the +country, John?”</p> + +<p>“But what about the mystery of hibernation,” I +persisted. “Is that not a similar arrestation of life? +Curious in the larger forms of animal life, more and +more inexplicable as we descend into the reptiles +and bacterial phenomena.”</p> + +<p>“Strange you should have mentioned hibernation,” +he said with an expression in his eyes that +struck me. I taxed him with concealing his real +opinion.</p> + +<p>“What is true to any form of life may be possible +to all,” I continued. “We need not accept all the +stories of toads being shut up for ten—twenty +years, but the authentic records are startling +enough.”</p> + +<p>“Very.”</p> + +<p>“And is not hibernation a state of induced catalepsy—self +hypnotism if you will?”</p> + +<p>He admitted at last with a glance over his shoulder +that, <i>theoretically</i> (again he dwelt on the word) +there was ground for speculation. Then having +sworn me into secrecy, he disclosed to me that he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</span>had long considered the problem, that in fact he +had constructed a machine with which he intended +to conduct certain experimental tests with animals. +The hypnotic state of catalepsy, he explained, was +really so essential that unless some human being +could be induced to make the experiment he had +doubts of arriving at any conclusions of significance.</p> + +<p>“What a pity you are young, happily married +and possessed of an excellent liver,” he concluded +looking at me hungrily. “Think what it would be +to wake up in another century.”</p> + +<p>I rose with a chill in my back, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>“Sachaloff, you <i>are</i> serious!”</p> + +<p>“Theoretically, theoretically,” he mumbled.</p> + +<p>“But does such a machine exist?” I asked doubtfully, +knowing his reputation as a practical joker.</p> + +<p>“Come tomorrow to the laboratory, and see for +yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Would it be safe?” I exclaimed laughing.</p> + +<p>“Come armed then,” he replied smiling. “However, +John,” he continued glancing at the table, +“your wine was good, too good. Remember that +the conversation was not serious.”</p> + +<p>“Except theoretically.”</p> + +<p>“Quite so. Quite so.”</p> + +<p class="p2">I left the Club about four o’clock and proceeded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</span>homeward by way of Park Avenue. I had hardly +gone a block when a familiar voice called me and +I looked up into the charming eyes of Kitty Dalgleesh.</p> + +<p>“Why, John, you were in the clouds,” she exclaimed +laughingly. “What can be worrying you, +the happily married man?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps I was worrying about you,” I said maliciously, +for I was sensitive to the jibes of my +friends at my complete and astonishing domestication.</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“You are approaching a dreadful spinsterhood.”</p> + +<p>“How nasty. Just because I wouldn’t rush into +marriage with you?”</p> + +<p>My eyebrows went up at this impertinence, but +Kitty was irresistible with her dimple and I yielded +to temptation.</p> + +<p>“Seriously, why don’t you start marrying?” I +said drawing her arm through mine.</p> + +<p>“Seriously, I have never found anyone I liked +better than you.”</p> + +<p>“I tried to convince you of that—you remember.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m glad you didn’t marry Ernesta. +You’d have been only a lady’s maid, Ernesta is too +publicly brilliant for you. But I didn’t foresee +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</span>sister Emelia.” She thought a moment, “You look +disconcertingly happy. It’s quite discouraging.”</p> + +<p>“How you must suffer!”</p> + +<p>“Just because I didn’t want to marry you, then +and there, doesn’t mean I didn’t love you, John.”</p> + +<p>“I perceive my cue.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no. I’m not starting a flirtation with you,” +she said disengaging her arm. “I might have if you +were unhappy. However, one word of advice,—for +your own good.”</p> + +<p>“What now?”</p> + +<p>“Beware! You have married two mothers-in-law, +mother and sister. Dear me, you don’t seem +to respond. You <i>are</i> happy, John. I’m running +away.”</p> + +<p>The suggestion that Kitty had artfully implanted +in my imagination disturbed me though I tried to +shake it off. It was in line with my own growing +forebodings.</p> + +<p>When I entered my home, I found tea spread and +a group of women listening to Mrs. Agatha Billings +laying down the daily law with occasional sallies +from Ernesta. My mother-in-law is a woman of +terrific dignity; calmly impressive as the classic +portraits of Martha Washington whom she resembles. +Ernesta is a young Amazon, who leads parades +of protest on horseback, who writes Latin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</span>poetry, has taken her bar examination and spends +five thousand a year on her clothes.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Billings was sitting like a statue of Memnon, +planted in her opinions, and remaining thus rigidly +entrenched gestured only with her fingers. Ernesta, +on the contrary, strode up and down, using +her hands like an Italian, throwing off her arguments +like the brilliant cadenza of a coloratura +soprano. Emelia, my wife, listened modestly but +rapturously. There were present the militant Mrs. +Zanzigger, head of an impressive concentration of +women’s clubs and two stern faced delegates, with +heavy wrinkled boots, from affiliated societies across +the sea.</p> + +<p>I excused myself wearily and slipped into a further +library where I could hear but not be seen. On +the table, placed there for my education, were the +works of Bertrand Russell, Elinor Keyes, Havelocke +Ellis, and the whole gamut of the psycho-analysts. +I took up a volume, concentrated, yawned and put +it down.</p> + +<p>The voice of my mother-in-law coldly irritant +rose from the other room.</p> + +<p>“The history of society wherever we study it +profoundly is simply the record of the warfare of +the sexes. No wonder then that marriage must +remain the battle ground.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</span></p> + +<p>“But,” objected Mrs. Zanzigger, who was militant +but not advanced, “in modern marriage, with equal +division of economic responsibility and a common +standard of moral judgment, isn’t an intellectual +companionship possible?”</p> + +<p>“After sixty, perhaps,” interrupted Ernesta. +“But where sex is involved it is inevitable that each +through the instinct of jealousy and possession will +always seek to limit the liberty of the other. You +can never change the essential quality of marriage. +What we must look forward to is the shifting of +authorities. Man-made marriage is a failure. The +salvation of society is in the future of woman.”</p> + +<p>“The salvation of <i>civilization</i>, of all economic +and political reform is in the true development of +woman,” corrected my mother-in-law in her coldly +treble voice.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mamma,” said Ernesta. “I was coming to +that.”</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Billings is right, quite right,” broke in a +guttural Scandinavian voice. “Society has gone as +far as it can go under the man era. All men understand +is the instinct they were born with, to wrestle +and claw and fight down one another.”</p> + +<p>I yawned again and peeped into the pages of +“Marriage and Morals.” I knew the arguments by +heart....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</span></p> + +<p>“But how can we do without them?” said Mrs. +Zanzigger faintly.</p> + +<p>“What becomes of men is unimportant,” said +Ernesta parading the floor. “They will return to +their clubs probably. The woman’s movement has +only just begun. Suffrage is the first step. What +are we going to do with marriage, with the home, +with the children? Is woman to remain an adjunct +or free herself as a completed individuality? +We must destroy all traditional inhibitions; the fear +complexes that are holding her back. We must +make her look on herself not as man’s equal but as +man’s superior.”</p> + +<p>“If the children are to be kept in the home,” said +the guttural voice, “what then?”</p> + +<p>“Then the man must look after them,” said Ernesta +to the accompaniment of a ripple of laughter. +“The age of physical force is over. The age of intellect +is coming. Only physical force has kept +woman as the mistress of man and the nurse of his +children. When machinery has neutralized muscle, +a woman will be able to run the machinery as well +as man.”</p> + +<p>“Our program should be political action, to enlarge +our economic progress,” said Mrs. Billings. +“We should always have in view, as Ernesta has correctly +expressed my views, that ahead of us is the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</span>dawn of a higher civilization, freed from old superstitions +and based on logic and scientific readjustments. +Only women have the imagination and +courage to bring that about.”</p> + +<p>After this I heard only confusedly, my head must +have begun to nod, for sounds and forms became +confused and my book slid to the floor.</p> + +<p>All at once—a brilliant light seemed to play +about me. I started up and found myself on a +stretcher in the laboratory of my friend Dr. Sachaloff, +with two white clad nurses bending over me. +My friend came over.</p> + +<p>“Well, John, if you still wish to back out, this is +your last chance. Everything is ready. You’ve +stood the preliminary tests astonishingly well. +Heart action, liver, blood and respiration, perfect. +Do you feel any discomfort?”</p> + +<p>“Not the slightest.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve had you in a cataleptic state for just eight +hours at a temperature as low as forty degrees. +The thing is practically possible without a doubt. +Is it all aboard for the twenty-first century?”</p> + +<p>I found myself replying as though perfectly conscious +of an ulterior decision.</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t change places with you for the world. +On with the great adventure!”</p> + +<p>“Bon voyage, you lucky dog!” said Sachaloff +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvii">[Pg xvii]</span>grasping my hand. “Now look me fixedly in the +eyes, so.”</p> + +<p>I saw the steely eyes, through the bushy dark +whiskers, felt a sudden pain from the pressure of +the fingers on my brow and again all outlines became +watery and evasive.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + <p class="ph2 ep6" id="THE_COMING_OF_THE_AMAZONS"> + <i>THE COMING OF THE AMAZONS</i> + </p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> + <p class="ph1"> + THE COMING OF + THE AMAZONS + </p> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">My first</span> sensation on awakening was of being +submerged and fighting my way back to +the surface. Then a murmur of women’s voices.</p> + +<p>“He’s breathing naturally now, but keep the +pulmonator ready in case of a relapse.”</p> + +<p>My mouth was forced open and some liquid of +a salty taste ran like fire down my throat.</p> + +<p>“What temperature?”</p> + +<p>“Raise him to ten above zero, but slowly and +hold it there for ten minutes. Then continue to +heat the body gradually until we reach forty. How +is the heart action?”</p> + +<p>“Strong.”</p> + +<p>“Respiration?”</p> + +<p>“Excellent.”</p> + +<p>“Give him the saline every half hour.”</p> + +<p>After that I must have lapsed into unconsciousness +again, for the next impressions were fitful and +interrupted like the lifting and settling of a fog +at sea. Gradually under the effects of some powerful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span>restorative I became feebly awake, but every +sensation of the body was diminished. I heard +sounds as though from a great distance. From +time to time I was aware of the same salty, fiery +liquid passing down my throat. My eyes perceived +the glimmerings of a colored light and my body +felt in its numbness a touch of warmth, as though +a myriad of small flies were delicately passing over +the dried surfaces of my skin. This feeling of returning +sensation became more acute. I opened +my eyes, but the effort was like a straining of the +back muscles to raise an unaccustomed weight. I +tried to raise my hand but found no reaction. +Again I went through the mental processes of +ordering my limbs to move only to find that not +the slightest physical response occurred. My mind +was awake, my body asleep. Some heavy substance +enclosed my eyes and let in a diluted minimum +of feeble purple light.</p> + +<p>My first thought was that I was coming out of +ether but my brain was clearing so rapidly that I +rejected this explanation. I tried to remember and +discovered that my memories were clear. I recalled +distinctly the last words of my friend, Dr. Sachaloff, +the boring sensation of his eyes above me and +the pleasant sensation of fading consciousness. +Was I awake or in the grip of an artificial dream induced +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>by an opiate? Were the voices I heard +about me simply the figments of my imagination?</p> + +<p>At this moment I felt a sensation of warmth at +the back of my neck which gradually extended +over my back and down my arms like the tingling +heat of a myriad electric needles.</p> + +<p>“Are you conscious now?” said a voice.</p> + +<p>By great effort I succeeded in producing a sound +in my throat.</p> + +<p>“I hear you. Everything is going well. Relax +completely. I am going to put you to sleep again +while we complete the defrigeration of your body. +By tomorrow all will be normal.”</p> + +<p>“What beautiful teeth and all his own,” I heard +another voice say as I passed blissfully into unconsciousness.</p> + +<p class="p2">When I awoke for the second time, I found myself +strapped to a stretcher, enveloped in warm soft +coverings. My head alone was free to move but +a bandage over my eyes shut out all opportunity to +see what was transpiring about me. At the motion +of my head a soft hand was placed on my shoulder +and a voice said:</p> + +<p>“How do you feel?”</p> + +<p>“All right.”</p> + +<p>“Are you warm enough?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Any buzzing in your head or ears?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Can you move your fingers?”</p> + +<p>“Perfectly.”</p> + +<p>“Your feet?”</p> + +<p>“The same.”</p> + +<p>“Without pain?”</p> + +<p>“Absolutely.”</p> + +<p>“Are you hungry?”</p> + +<p>“Not particularly.”</p> + +<p>“Thirsty?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Is there anything you want?”</p> + +<p>“I want to see.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, but be careful to obey implicitly my +directions. Otherwise you may be blinded by too +sudden an exposure to the light.”</p> + +<p>A heavy glass frame replaced the bandages.</p> + +<p>“I am giving you a fortifying solution to +strengthen your eyesight. Open your eyes and +keep them open. Does that hurt?”</p> + +<p>“No, very pleasant.”</p> + +<p>“Now I am letting in the light gradually. If +you feel any strain tell me at once.”</p> + +<p>I became aware of the same misty violet light +that I remembered on first awakening. This dissolved +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>into a greyish blue, to be succeeded by a green +changing to orange. This process of gradual modification +lasted about two hours, without having +produced any disagreeable effect. My eyes were +again washed out and a pair of greyish glasses replaced +the weight on my forehead. I sat up and +looked about me.</p> + +<p>The first thing I perceived was a great stretch of +blue sky without horizon. At the same time I was +aware of a pleasant floating motion. My first +thought was that I was on the deck of a ship, riding +on a lazy sea. But a second glance showed neither +masts nor funnels to mar the blue unity above me. +I soon recognized that I was in an open air hospital, +with rows of white cots and moving white-clad +nurses. Probably, I was on top of a modern skyscraper, +two or three thousand feet from the ground. +A score of women in loose Grecian robes were standing +around, gazing at me with the utmost curiosity. +Two things struck me at once. They were all of a +uniform stature, at least seven feet in height, slender, +broad-shouldered, and all had the blue eyes and pale +yellow hair of the true Scandinavian blonde. Furthermore +as far as I could judge, they appeared all +to be of an age between twenty-five and thirty. +One who evidently was of superior rank approached +and put me through the following interrogatory:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span></p> + +<p>“Have you any sensation of dizziness?”</p> + +<p>“Not the slightest.”</p> + +<p>“You can move your arms freely?”</p> + +<p>“Perfectly.”</p> + +<p>“Do you feel able to answer a few questions?”</p> + +<p>“Gladly. Only tell me where I am.”</p> + +<p>“You are in the Aerodrome Hospital above New +York.”</p> + +<p>“Above? How far above?”</p> + +<p>“About three miles.”</p> + +<p>“How long have I been here?”</p> + +<p>“A month. We have purposely extended the defrigeration +process in your case to eliminate all danger +of sudden shock.”</p> + +<p>“What month is this, then?”</p> + +<p>“Athena, the thirteenth month of the year.”</p> + +<p>“And the date?”</p> + +<p>“2181.”</p> + +<p>Strange to say I felt no giddiness. From my first +awakening, I had been prepared to find Dr. Sachaloff’s +experiment successful, though I confess the +extent of my journey through time was unexpected.</p> + +<p>“Now if it does not tire you too much—”</p> + +<p>“Not at all. I feel astonishingly well.”</p> + +<p>“What year then were you committed to the +Frigidrome?”</p> + +<p>“1929.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + +<p>There was an outburst of exclamations at this. I +felt myself the cynosure of all eyes.</p> + +<p>“You are certain of the date?”</p> + +<p>“Absolutely. November 15th, 1929.”</p> + +<p>“But the Frigidrome was not in general use until +the year 2075.”</p> + +<p>“Nevertheless I repeat the date was November +15, 1929, tenth year of prohibition, and two weeks +after the collapse of the stock market in the reign +of Mr. Hoover.”</p> + +<p>I heard a murmur in which I distinctly caught the +words, “prohibition,” “stock market,” “Hoover,” +pronounced in various degrees of incomprehension.</p> + +<p>“You speak of things that are strange to us. For +the moment we’ll postpone our inquiry until you +have had time to thoroughly recover. But first, +what is your name?”</p> + +<p>“My family name? Bogardus. John Bogardus.”</p> + +<p>“Family name? What is that?”</p> + +<p>“Why the name of the father and mother—the +name of the children. Family name—name of the +family.” I looked around at their puzzled expressions +and a light dawned on me. “What—doesn’t +the family exist? Has marriage been abolished?”</p> + +<p>My interlocutor made a sign to her companions +who withdrew, and approaching me said gently:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p> + +<p>“Bogardus, if what you say is true, you will find +many startling changes. You must prepare yourself, +but your arrival here is so revolutionary that +in the interests of science we must guard against +any shock that might affect your brain.”</p> + +<p>In my impatience, I started to make a feverish +protest but a hand laid on my lips stopped me short.</p> + +<p>“Never fear. I shall take the best of care of you. +Tomorrow, we’ll talk over many things. Now as +the weather bureau is turning on the rain tonight, +we must hurry down.” She stopped and looking +at me with a fascinated intentness said, “Bogardus, +you have the most beautiful hair and teeth I’ve ever +seen. And I love your eyes and smile. We don’t +have males like you now-a-days.”</p> + +<p>She put her arms under me and lifted me lightly +up, holding me a moment suspended. Her blue +eyes were close over mine, she was smiling with a +smile that was tantalizing, magnetic, and ardently +possessive. She reminded me, yes, all at once she +reminded me of Ernesta.</p> + +<p>“I’ve seen you before,” I said drowsily. “What +is your name?”</p> + +<p>“Acquilla.”</p> + +<p>I could not meet the flame in her glance, my eyelids +closed and with a sigh, my head relaxed against +her protecting breast.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">My unconsciousness</span> induced by weakness +was only temporary. When I came to +myself presently, I found myself in what I took at +first to be a light diving suit, but which I divined +was to protect me from the cold of the journey +down. The helmet was open and I availed myself +of the opportunity to explore more minutely. The +deck, which I judged must be the top of a gigantic +dirigible, extended almost a mile in every direction, +rising and falling gently with the air currents. A +number of electric heating plants in the shape of +semaphores distilled a pleasant atmosphere of about +60 degrees. Near where we were standing a score +of aeroplanes were parked, but of a shape that resembled +nothing I remembered. At first sight they +appeared to be large toadstools about twenty feet +over the wing surface, and with light basket attachments +on wheels. While I watched, these cars were +constantly rising or descending, but with a lightness +that was extraordinary in its precision. In +fact, at that moment a machine arrived out of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>blue, hung a moment over our heads and settled +down among the others with hardly a foot to spare +on either side.</p> + +<p>“Try walking about a little,” said Acquilla who +was standing at my side, her helmet in her hand.</p> + +<p>I did so and found to my surprise that I experienced +little inconvenience.</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand.”</p> + +<p>“What, Bogardus?”</p> + +<p>“After two hundred and fifty years—it’s amazing!”</p> + +<p>“But you have been electrically massaged for +weeks.”</p> + +<p>She put on her helmet, signified to me to close +mine and led me to a tiny aeroplane, the body of +which reminded me of our own taxis. I sank back +in the cushioned seat and examined it carefully with +a little trepidation. In front of us an automaton +in shape like a giant insect had its multiple antennae +fixed on the levers. Acquilla turned a switch. +Immediately a low purring sound began above us +as we rose easily in the air, poised a moment and +shot off into space.</p> + +<p>“Of course we could put on electronized belts +and walk,” said Acquilla relaxing in the seat beside +me. “But if you’ve never done it before it might +be distressing.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> + +<p>“What, you have overcome the force of gravity?” +I said astonished. “You can walk on air?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, long ago. Michaelson’s discovery of the +disassociation of protons is over a hundred years old +now.”</p> + +<p>So many revolutionary ideas had crowded in upon +my imagination, that for the moment I postponed +the flood of questions on the tip of my tongue. +Besides, I was too keen for first impressions to wish +to have my attention diverted. I looked up and +saw that the floating island which we had just left +was a raft at most only twenty feet in thickness and +consequently, unless supported by some extraordinary +new chemical gas, owed its stability to a new +principle. I next examined with care the aeromat +in which we were riding. The first thing that +struck me was that except for the purring sound +I had first heard, it was virtually noiseless. Nor +could I discern any signs of a gasoline tank. To my +question, Acquilla pointed to a small box, about +a foot square placed before us which she called the +electronoid and which she assured me contained +enough energy to fly twenty thousand miles if necessary.</p> + +<p>“Besides which,” she added, “we carry an auxiliary +battery from which we can get any amount of +energy from the wireless power stations at Niagara +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>or Fundy. But that is only in case of emergency,—if +we should run short out at sea.”</p> + +<p>“But you are not directing the car so far as I can +see.”</p> + +<p>“No indeed, I have given the directions to the +machinot. There is nothing to worry about.”</p> + +<p>“And you will land where you wish like this?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly.”</p> + +<p>“But the danger of collision?”</p> + +<p>Acquilla looked at me in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Why that’s the abc’s of mechanics.” She +drew my attention to the telescopic lenses which +were set in either side of the machinot’s head and +which evidently signalled the approach of an impending +aeroplane. “The magnetic field immediately +operates and the aeromat veers to the right +until the passing is completed and then returns to +its course. In a highway the machine slows up as +it approaches congestion. A collision is quite impossible, +for both machines come to a standstill if +forced too close to each other. It’s warm enough +now to take off your helmet. Besides, the car is +automatically heated.”</p> + +<p>We were now about two miles above the earth. +The aeromat checked its forward progress and began +to descend perpendicularly with an easy fluttering +of its circular wings. I craned forward +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>eagerly, my brain thrilling at the thought of the immensity +of the great city I was now to witness after +two hundred and fifty years. By now New York +must have a population of thirty or forty millions, +skyscrapers reaching a mile into the air, hanging +gardens in the skies, with superimposed layers of +activity.</p> + +<p>“I should like to fly around Manhattan—as low +as possible. Could this be done?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing easier.”</p> + +<p>I craned out of the window eagerly and immediately +recognized the familiar configuration of the +landscape, Long Island and the thin tongue of Manhattan. +We descended rapidly and my perplexity +increased. Instead of the towering skyline of lower +Broadway, I seemed to distinguish the spreading +green of wooded lawns.</p> + +<p>“But New York?”</p> + +<p>“There is New York.”</p> + +<p>“But the buildings, the skyscrapers, the millions.”</p> + +<p>“Skyscrapers? What a funny name.”</p> + +<p>I looked at Acquilla in blank stupor.</p> + +<p>“Then New York is gone too?”</p> + +<p>She reflected a moment.</p> + +<p>“You are talking of things that happened a long +while ago. I keep forgetting that you lived in the +age of materialism. New York, of course, was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>completely destroyed for the first time in 1984 and +resettled only a hundred years ago.”</p> + +<p>“Wait.” I grasped her arm excitedly and gazed +out. We were now perhaps two hundred feet +above what was old Staten Island.—Before me the +island of Manhattan rose distinctly, at least one +hundred and fifty feet above water level.</p> + +<p>“But it’s, it’s Gibraltar,” I gasped.</p> + +<p>“What seems so changed to you, Bogardus?”</p> + +<p>I continued to gaze at the great promontory with +its villas and parks, its terraced descents to the water +and but for the fact that from above I had unmistakably +recognized the topography, I should have +refused the evidence of my own eyes. Acquilla repeated +the question.</p> + +<p>“Changed? Everything. Not only has a city +of ten million inhabitants disappeared—buildings +that rose a thousand feet into the air—but something +has happened to the ground itself. The New +York that I knew was a low flat island. What has +happened? A volcanic disturbance?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I see, that’s what puzzles you, Bogardus,” +said Acquilla, smiling. “Of course the New York +you see is built on the ruins of two other civilizations. +The immense buildings you speak of are +buried in these artificial heights. It’s like Rome, +you know, that was built and rebuilt on the ruins +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>of former cities. New York, of course, has been +twice destroyed. Once in 1984, at the period of +the European conquest and again in 2080, when it +was voluntarily levelled under the first years of the +Matriarchal era.” She gave a quick glance, noting +probably the rising excitement in my eyes and fearing +too great a strain on my dizzy imagination, said, +“Enough for the moment, Bogardus. You will +have to accustom yourself to many things. Close +your eyes now and don’t ask any more questions.”</p> + +<p>Her arm drew my head to her shoulder. Her +warm lips closed my eyelids. Intoxicated, I yielded +again to her superior strength. Indeed my head was +in such a state of turbulent anarchy that I began to +be afraid for my reason.</p> + +<p>“There, poor dear. I’ve been terribly thoughtless +in tiring you like this. Relax now and I’ll promise +to take better care of you in the future.”</p> + +<p>When I opened my eyes again we had come to +rest in front of a long Georgian villa of some colored +material in the midst of a charming English park.</p> + +<p>“Home at last. You must have fallen asleep, +Bogardus.”</p> + +<p>Acquilla’s arms slipped under me and raising me +tenderly from the car, set me down on the steps +where a dozen lengthy dogs of a variety unfamiliar +to me immediately fawned at my side. Acquilla +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>leaned over and pulled a series of levers. The car +immediately moved off lightly to a hangar in the +elms about a half a mile down the lawn.</p> + +<p>“Can you walk? A little weak? Take my +arm. An electric bath will set you up.” She +glanced backwards over the green vista and then +at the clear sky, “We’re down just before the rain.”</p> + +<p>“Why there isn’t a cloud in the sky,” I could not +help exclaiming.</p> + +<p>“Look.”</p> + +<p>I followed the direction of her hand and perceived +some ten miles distant a score of gigantic +pylons, which I calculated must be at least three to +four thousand feet in height, about whose soaring +tops light lavender clouds were piling up, until +presently the whole sky was veiled in a purplish mist +through which long electric streamers were playing.</p> + +<p>“What, you are enabled to generate rain by electricity?” +I cried suddenly enlightened.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we have been able to control the weather +for over fifty years,” Acquilla announced in a matter-of-fact +way. “We do all our raining at night +of course. Every day is just like what you have +witnessed.”</p> + +<p>“I can understand your bringing on a rain storm. +Even in my day we had developed that principle. +But how are you able to prevent storms?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span></p> + +<p>“By applying the reverse of the principle, of +course. These great pylons with their enormous +dynamos are likewise great condensers. In the daytime +they absorb the moisture in the air and at +night they release it. But it is starting to rain already,” +she continued, putting her arm about my +waist. “Let’s go in.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">The home</span> of Acquilla was on a monumental +scale designed in the form of a Greek cross with +wings two stories high, capped with a long slanting +roof, the façade brilliantly colored in rich purple +tints, relieved by black and white marble pilasters. +The doors opened at a wave of her hand and we +entered a corridor fully thirty feet in height. A +brilliantly colored machinot, shaped like a beetle +rose from its seat, received our coats and disappeared. +We went about forty feet forward and +found ourselves in a great colonnaded circular room, +rising some ninety feet to a tinted glass roof. An +elevator concealed in the wall took us lightly to the +next floor which was given over to the sleeping +apartments. My own room was on the scale of an +Italian palace of the middle ages, with transparent +walls of glass bricks, so that in the daytime the effect +was similar to living in the open sunlight. Outside +the arrival of the rain had obscured the sky and +brought on a sudden darkness, but as we arrived, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>the whole house, by some invisible process was gradually +flooded with artificial daylight. Acquilla, +noticing my curiosity, said:</p> + +<p>“The lights are regulated automatically by a +simple contrivance that keeps a fixed glow. The +principle of the ancient thermostat.”</p> + +<p>“But there are no lamps. And though, of course, +the principle of indirect lighting,” I continued, +glancing up at the cornices, “was used in my day, +it was, of course, simply the reflection from bulbs +concealed behind the walls.”</p> + +<p>The word bulbs puzzled her. I explained at +length our system of wiring which excited her curiosity +and astonishment.</p> + +<p>“How strangely archaic, but then of course you +ignored the true relation of electricity, gravity, and +heat. Though later, Zugg and Plumpf must have +suspected the truth. Of course today there are not +many secrets in the physical world. Light is generated +like heat and radiated through the house. +The floors and walls are porous, that is the whole +secret. But there is too much to tell you to begin +tonight. A half an hour’s bath before dinner is +what you need to relax and stimulate you.”</p> + +<p>We descended and traversing the theatre which +was the main axis of the house, entered a further +wing, after passing through a series of doors which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>opened at a peculiar wave of her hand and closed +behind us automatically. I stopped with an exclamation +of delight. We were in a thermal bath +such as Rome in all its days of aesthetic splendor had +never produced. Instead of marble the walls, the +floors, the pool were made of the same brilliant +glass colored in opalescent tones. The water itself +was amethyst shot through with quivering rays of +red and violet streamers. The air was delicately +perfumed with a scent resembling heliotrope, while +the sides of the pool were carpeted with thick rugs +of a yielding softness.</p> + +<p>A female attendant, who for a moment I took for +an automaton, rose and bowed at our entrance. +Acquilla slipped from the Grecian robe which was +her only garment and advanced to the edge of the +pool. I hesitated a moment with that sense of modesty +which is inherent in the male, but perceiving the +complete naturalness of her gesture, I realized +quickly that a false show of prudery would render +me ridiculous. I gave my toga to Mag, who smiled +at me entranced, and followed Acquilla.</p> + +<p>I now noticed with interest certain physical +changes that the scientific evolution had made in +the female figure. From the flat waist upward it +was the torso of a man, powerfully muscled, broad +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>over the shoulders and flat breasted, due to the fact, +as I learned later, that for over two centuries no +woman had nursed her own child. For the rest, +though she overtopped me by a clear foot, it was +the graceful, lithe figure of the young Mercury one +sees in medieval art. But my feeling of aesthetic +admiration was rudely dispelled. Turning to Mag, +who was staring at me with fascinated eyes, +Acquilla lifted the lovely golden curls from her +head and stood before me absolutely bald. I +could not repress an exclamation of dismay.</p> + +<p>“That is the price women have to pay for the +supremacy of their intelligence,” said Acquilla.</p> + +<p>“What! Science that has worked such miracles +has not been able to prevent baldness?”</p> + +<p>“Those of the Histrionic caste keep theirs much +longer,” Acquilla replied, “but we of the Philosophers +and Scientists lose ours at fifty.”</p> + +<p>“For heaven’s sake, how old are you?” I exclaimed +bewildered.</p> + +<p>“Oh, not so old,” Acquilla replied with a touch of +asperity. “How old are you?”</p> + +<p>“Thirty-two.”</p> + +<p>“Really, if it weren’t for your teeth and hair I +should have said a hundred.”</p> + +<p>I glanced at the perfect lustre of her teeth and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>shuddered. Was that possible too? But I mastered +my fears and replied according to etiquette:</p> + +<p>“And you look twenty-four.”</p> + +<p>“I am hardly seventy-six at that.” She extended +her hand, took mine and led me into the perfumed +pool.</p> + +<p>Before I could digest the import of her last remark, +the colored water closed over us and I immediately +rose to the surface with the resiliency of +a rubber ball. Indeed I presently found, such was +the density of the water, that I remained floating on +the surface without the slightest effort. At the +same time, due no doubt to the electric charges, I +was conscious of a feeling of extraordinary physical +stimulation, like the caresses of a myriad of miniscule +fingertips running over my body.</p> + +<p>“Relax and don’t talk, dear man,” said Acquilla, +“and you will see how refreshed your mind will be.”</p> + +<p>At the same moment, above us, a panorama of +shifting hues passed as the clouds pass on a clear +autumn day, while the air was filled with the slumberous, +subdued notes of a great orchestra; strains +that vaguely pleasantly reminded me of the “Après-midi +d’un Faun.”</p> + +<p>“The color organ was known in my day,” I said +drowsily.</p> + +<p>“This is an entirely different principle,” said +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>Acquilla. “Each chord has a color value so that +as you listen to music, your eye at the same time receives +an identical impression. It is an aesthetic +emotion extremely restful and stimulating for the +brain. But don’t talk. Relax completely for ten +minutes.”</p> + +<p>I obeyed and experienced a sensation of being +transported into a fairy world of morphine enchantment. +I seemed to be drowsily gazing up at +the rich deep green of velvety woodland recesses, +which gradually became alive with the golden hues +of autumn leaves. This dissolved into the deep +crystalline blue of the open sky with lazy white +clouds piling up in harmonious languor. All the +shock and strain of the day on my perplexed brain +passed away. I felt calm and unvexed. Then with +the changing rhythms, the fleecy skies took on the +brilliant red and purples of such a sunset as one +remembers over the tourmaline waters of the Bay +of Naples. The effect on me was one of a complete +mental invigoration and a new eagerness to +explore my incredible adventure. The voice of +Acquilla recalled me.</p> + +<p>“Enough for the first time, Bogardus.”</p> + +<p>She rose from the pool, the water falling from +her lovely glistening sides, like the petals of drifting +cherry blossoms. We passed into a warmer room +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>where my body dried immediately under the contact +of pleasant vapors. Then resuming our robes we +passed into another wing.</p> + +<p>“How do you feel?”</p> + +<p>“As though I had found the fountain of youth.”</p> + +<p>“That astonished you,” said Acquilla putting on +a wig of silvery blue which became her immensely. +“But of course in your time you bathed in porcelain +boxes! And yet two thousand years before +you the Romans had opened the way to the aesthetic +life. Are you hungry?”</p> + +<p>“After two hundred and fifty years?” I exclaimed +laughing, “ravenous!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that is a long while,” replied Acquilla without +a trace of a smile. As a matter of fact my +laugh seemed to excite her curiosity, for she gave +me a quick look in which I detected a touch of +anxiety.</p> + +<p>The dining room which was of the proportions of +a banquet hall, was in a luminous emerald green +with black marble columns and ivory trims. I was +not surprised to find a low table scarcely two feet +in height surrounded by couches resembling Recamier +sofas.</p> + +<p>“So we have returned to the classics?”</p> + +<p>“You should never have departed from them.” +Acquilla waved me to a couch and disposed herself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>on one opposite. “It is quite a masculine repast I +have ordered tonight, in consideration of your long +fasting. I myself eat sparingly.”</p> + +<p>A curious thing happened. The two dogs immediately +came and crouched adoringly at my feet.</p> + +<p>“How odd,” said Acquilla. “I’ve never seen +them pay the slightest attention to any male before.”</p> + +<p>I confess this allusion to her past struck me disagreeably, +for already romance was stirring in my +imagination.</p> + +<p>She touched a signal and the centre of the table +sunk on some mechanism under the floor.</p> + +<p>“And now, Bogardus, while we are waiting, you +can imagine how curious I am to hear your first +question.”</p> + +<p>“You will never guess what it will be,” I said +smiling. “It is in fact very mundane, but in a +sense it was the great question of my time.”</p> + +<p>“Political?”</p> + +<p>“No, social.”</p> + +<p>“Marriage?”</p> + +<p>“More important than that.”</p> + +<p>“The competitive system?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you. How have you solved the servant +problem?”</p> + +<p>“Oh.” Acquilla regarded me with a look of disappointment. +“But that is no problem at all. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>run this place on a dozen machinots, a gardener and +Mag, my housekeeper.”</p> + +<p>“But even if you have one servant, my dear Acquilla, +you have the servant problem, haven’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Problem? There is no problem,” she replied, +thinking over what I had said.</p> + +<p>“Then you have discovered how to produce perfect +servants.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, we have absolute control over our +servants.”</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“Why, very simple. We put them under hypnotic +control, of course.”</p> + +<p>My face expressed such blank amazement that +she continued immediately:</p> + +<p>“But how else can you handle servants? I +simply hypnotize them and suggest to them each +morning what they shall do during the day. That +eliminates all possibility of error or misunderstanding.”</p> + +<p>“Wonderful! And to think no one ever thought +of it in my day. Perfect, and so simple!” The +idea appealed to my sense of humor. I flung myself +back among the cushions and laughed until I cried. +All at once I felt Acquilla’s hand on my shoulder +and saw her bending anxiously over me.</p> + +<p>“Bogardus, dear, you are in pain!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> + +<p>I sat up wiping my eyes.</p> + +<p>“Pain?! Don’t you see I am laughing?”</p> + +<p>“Laughing? What is that?”</p> + +<p>My jaw dropped.</p> + +<p>“What, you have never heard of laughter?” A +sudden revelation came to me at her blank seriousness. +“Good heavens, women have abolished +laughter!”</p> + +<p>“Laughter—laughter? I haven’t the least +idea what you’re talking about.”</p> + +<p>I remembered swiftly that I had never seen Acquilla +laugh. It was true. Acquilla had never +laughed. No one laughed now in this era of pure +reason! I shrank back staring at her and a sudden +suspicion came to me. Acquilla was not human, +Acquilla too was an automaton.</p> + +<p>“Why do you stare so, Bogardus?”</p> + +<p>“Give me your hand,” I blurted out, shuddering.</p> + +<p>I felt the warm flesh under mine. I examined +the clear texture minutely. The veins were there, +red and finely blue. Acquilla <i>was</i> human. Then +softly I passed my fingers caressingly over the +molded forearm.</p> + +<p>“That is strangely pleasant, Bogardus,” she said +at once. “But now your face is contorted again. +Is that laughter?”</p> + +<p>“I was afraid you were an automaton.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> + +<p>She shook her head gravely.</p> + +<p>“What a strange idea! But here is dinner.”</p> + +<p>She resumed her seat. The centre of the table +rose, charged with curious silver and ivory dishes, +which to my whetted appetite appeared alarmingly +inadequate. But the presence of certain promising +flagons reassured me. I sat up hungrily for my +first meal after two hundred and fifty years with +this amazing young Amazon of seventy-six, who +was bald as Socrates, strong as Achilles and totally +devoid of a sense of humor.</p> + +<p>“My dear Acquilla,” I said beaming. “You will +teach me many things but I shall teach you how to +laugh.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">Acquilla</span> cast a swift glance at the centre of +the table, and drawing a silver platter towards +her on which were a dozen colored bottles about the +size of egg cups, said:</p> + +<p>“I shall dine as you dine but in a different +manner.”</p> + +<p>“Pills!” I exclaimed in dismay. “Compressed +food—I knew it!”</p> + +<p>“You are like all men, I see,” she answered gravely. +“Always jumping at conclusions. What I am eating +is exactly what you will partake of, only it is +in the form of extracts and quite as delicious too, +I assure you. As for your fear of compressed tablets, +it is groundless. Until the age of seventy, +modern dietetics long ago recognized the value of +bulk in food. It is only when the problem of preserving +tissues and health is one of arrestation rather +than development of the vitamins that we eliminate +bulk for chemical values. I can recommend the +soup, Bogardus, it is a <i>pot-au-feu</i> such as I am certain +you have never tasted.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + +<p>Saying which she took a little bottle at her side, +unscrewed it, and poured a few drops into a silver +cup the size of a liqueur glass.</p> + +<p>“Take off the cover before you, Bogardus, and +give me your opinion.”</p> + +<p>At her direction I unscrewed, not without effort, +the upper half of a silver melon and discovered the +receptacle filled with a liquid of peculiarly agreeable +odor. I tasted it and looked at her in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Ghosts of Savarin and Vatel! This <i>is</i> a soup!”</p> + +<p>“It has been aging twenty-five years,” said Acquilla +proudly. “What, that surprises you? +True, you applied the principle only to wines and +liqueurs; but if the principle, which is after all but +the evaporation of noxious gases holds true in one +case why not in another?”</p> + +<p>“But twenty-five years!” I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Look at the seal and the date. It comes from +the kitchen of the celebrated André Poullardier of +Rouen. But eat sparingly. It is very rich and +there are other surprises for you.”</p> + +<p>Another dish hermetically sealed was opened in a +similar manner, and displayed three tender trout <i>au +bleu</i> cooked in white wine and seasoned with some +herbs that recalled sarriette and cress.</p> + +<p>“Acquilla, I am relieved, relieved and delighted,” +I said after the first gustatory satisfaction. “My +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>fears were groundless. Your cook is worthy of the +progress of science.”</p> + +<p>“Cook? I have no cook.”</p> + +<p>“But—”</p> + +<p>“My dear Bogardus,” Acquilla replied with an +evident satisfaction at my increasing amazement. +“We have progressed beyond cooks and the hazards +of cooking. There are great central restaurants +for every day. But all you taste tonight is imported +from France, and if I say it, it was prepared by the +greatest chefs of the last fifty years. What, you +are astonished? But there is nothing more simple. +There is no greater difficulty today in preserving a +dish at exactly the temperature at which it should +be served, than to keep the human body in a process +of refrigeration a hundred years. You see?”</p> + +<p>“I see at once,” I replied, for already I could feel +in my mind a new attitude, the scientific attitude of +the 22nd century. “But the mechanics interest +me.”</p> + +<p>“I shall show you through my culinary library—in +its day it was quite famous. The fish is by Grisset +of Tours. No one has ever surpassed him in his +specialty. After this I am offering you as a special +treat, for I have only fifty examples of it left, the +masterpiece of Raoul Binard signed by him 2145 as +you will see; <i>ortolans farcis au truffles</i>, and braised +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>in endives and Beaujolais. For dessert you will +have a pineapple glacéed in madeira and champagne. +The wine is worthy of the rest, I assure you. The +vintages are now exceedingly rare.”</p> + +<p>The wines, as she had prophesied, were fragrant +and delicious; a mild white wine that resembled an +excellent Meursault and a red with the flavor of +Romany, only clearer and not so heady.</p> + +<p>“I must confess that never in my life have I dined +so miraculously,” I said, reclining gorgeously.</p> + +<p>“You are looking for tobacco?” said Acquilla, +noticing my look.</p> + +<p>“I had hoped?”</p> + +<p>“There it is before you.” She leaned over, took +up a thin, delicately modelled pipe, and filling it +with a fine brown powder, offered it to me, at the +same time arranging one for herself. The extract, +for such I judged it to be, was of a flavor superior +to anything I had ever known before, about the +strength of a vintage Havana cigar.</p> + +<p>“Content, Bogardus?”</p> + +<p>“Blissfully.” I settled back languidly among +the cushions. “And now tell me. How am I +here?”</p> + +<p>Acquilla blew a thin vapor into the air and reclined—a +charming figure among the purple +cushions. Seeing her thus, I was again agreeably +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>reminded of the young Ernesta. To dine on the +food of the gods and to have a goddess looking at +you with tender eyes, a goddess smitten as goddesses +were, by the yearning for a mortal; what could a +man ask more of Paradise?</p> + +<p>Divinely content and my imagination mellowed +by exquisite vintages I threw the reins to my fancy. +A fig for that wig or any wig in the world! In the +days of the Roi Soleil and his Watteau Duchesses, +who but a peasant ever exposed her own hair! +Really Acquilla’s headdress was the creation of an +artist and the blue and silvery threads in the softened +lights gave a harlequin illusion to the scene.</p> + +<p>But all at once I remembered Emelia. I set it +down to my credit, absurd as it may seem. For +the Bogarduses have always stood four-square for +the sanctity of the home, the law of the land and +the conservative tradition. But an instant’s reflection +revealed to me the absurdity of my scruples. +Emelia was with history, and I in command of the +present, a bachelor again in an age to which no +bachelor could object. I turned toward the lovely +creature and smiled languorously as a Pacha in his +seraglio might have smiled, in his omnipotence.</p> + +<p>“You were found about a quarter of a mile from +here,” said Acquilla returning my smile. “In the +course of a series of excavations I have been undertaking +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>to determine the location of your great museum. +You were discovered in a steel vault, that +had been strangely preserved by a network of beams +which had collapsed in a manner to surround you +with the protection of an outer shell. It was +due to your being in this pocket that you have +survived the destruction that was prevalent about +you.”</p> + +<p>“Have you a map of New York?” I asked.</p> + +<p>Acquilla took up a wireless telephone and gave an +order. The table sank by the same invisible service +and presently returned with an atlas. I opened it +eagerly to the plate of Manhattan and stared at it in +perplexity.</p> + +<p>“But the city—the city has disappeared!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, on the contrary we find it already over-crowded,” +said Acquilla. She leaned forward and +placed her finger on a spot.</p> + +<p>“This is where we are and here close by is where +you were found.”</p> + +<p>“Then we must be directly above the junction of +Park Avenue and Seventy-Ninth Street, and the +museum—” I stopped again and stared at the +map, “But what is this?”</p> + +<p>“That is Gotham Lake of course. We use it as a +fish preserve.”</p> + +<p>“But that is where the Park should be!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p> + +<p>All at once I divined what had happened. In the +general collapse of the skyscrapers which had raised +the level of Manhattan from a hundred and fifty to +two hundred feet, the Park had retained its level +and filled up with the water released from the +broken mains. I explained to Acquilla.</p> + +<p>“Probably the museum, being located on Fifth +Avenue, was buried under the opposite apartment +houses. If I was found here, you were within two +hundred yards of your objective.”</p> + +<p>“What a treasure you are going to be to the archeologists, +Bogardus,” exclaimed Acquilla.</p> + +<p>I was gazing at the map eagerly and indeed with +a certain sadness. There were, it is true, indications +of public squares and buildings, but though +they were on a majestic scale, it was plain to see that +New York, my New York, had been blotted out. +An involuntary feeling of local pride brought with +it a sharp chagrin.</p> + +<p>“Then Chicago has become the metropolis of +America,” I said sadly.</p> + +<p>“In your day,” remarked Acquilla reflectively, +“under your dreadful materialistic system, you +crowded a million—</p> + +<p>“A million? Ten millions!”</p> + +<p>“How dreadful, ten million human beings where +fifty thousand hardly find space enough now!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> + +<p>“But Chicago?” I persisted clinging to my obsession.</p> + +<p>“Chicago? What about Chicago?”</p> + +<p>“What is the population of Chicago?”</p> + +<p>“Twenty-five to thirty thousand.”</p> + +<p>“San Francisco?”</p> + +<p>“The same.”</p> + +<p>“Good heavens, but then,” I sat up, staring at +her. “But then, how many human beings have +survived on this continent?”</p> + +<p>“North America? A million.”</p> + +<p>“And the entire world?” I said faintly.</p> + +<p>“I can tell you that exactly as I happen to be on +the International Control of Population Board. +All this, of course, Bogardus, you realize is the subject +of the most careful regulation. For, as you will +learn, it is the foundation of our modern individualization. +For the rest of the world the figure with +certain seasonal fluctuations is placed at two million, +six hundred thousand. Five hundred thousand +each for Europe, South America, and Africa. One +hundred thousand for Australia, and a million for +Asia.”</p> + +<p>“Good Lord, do you realize what it was in my +day?”</p> + +<p>“In the twentieth century about twelve hundred +millions, wasn’t it?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span></p> + +<p>“A billion, six hundred millions.”</p> + +<p>“How dreadful! Why that was not humanity, +but vermin!”</p> + +<p>“But how has all this happened?”</p> + +<p>“That, Bogardus, is a matter of history; the rise +of womankind,” said Acquilla proudly. “But perhaps +it would make it simpler for you to comprehend +the changes that have taken place, if I took +things in order.” She looked about reflectively a +moment. “If you were put in the Frigidrome in +1929—”</p> + +<p>“Eleven years after the World War.”</p> + +<p>“The World War? Is that what you called that +little struggle? Because after all it settled nothing, +did it? The first true mondial conflict came +in 1984 though there were local conflicts before +that; the Japanese-Russian War of 1955, which +brought all Asia, including Siberia, into the Oriental +Empire; the breaking up of the British Empire and +the Unification of Europe under the Germans in +1965.”</p> + +<p>“Then Bolshevism did not over-run the world,” +I interrupted.</p> + +<p>“The Russians had only manpower and inaccessibility +in their favor, and to science these two factors +are negligible. Of course, Bogardus, you recognize +that the object of all the great male civilizations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>was to crush all competition by evolving a +superior form of destruction.”</p> + +<p>Feeling myself and my sex attacked, I demurred.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t that a sweeping indictment?”</p> + +<p>“Why? Look at history. What is it? It is +simply the record of a scientifically organized minority +overcoming less martially intelligent masses. +You are not convinced? Surely you do not ascribe +it to moral virtues. Take your America. The +white race conquered the red because ten intelligent +men with muskets could slaughter a thousand ignorant +savages. Take the conquest of Africa by a +handful of Europeans. You do not claim it was +superior courage?”</p> + +<p>“We have always regarded it as such,” I volunteered +timidly.</p> + +<p>“Because you looked at civilization only from +your egocentric point of view. The courage was +always on the side of the savage, fighting against incomparable +odds. The intelligence was back of the +guns. Do you see my point?”</p> + +<p>“There is something in your theory,” I said. +With the traditional instinct of the male, I have +never cared to reason with the opposite sex, but in +this instance my curiosity got the better of me. +“Yes, there is a great deal in what you say.”</p> + +<p>“It is the accepted commonplace of history,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>said Acquilla sharply. “It was the Macedonian Phalanx +that established the Empire of Alexander. +The fleets of Athens brought the Periclean Age. +Rome? The Legions. Mohammedanism? The +utilization of religious fanaticism as a military +weapon. Sea power made Portugal, then Spain, +then the British Empire. Napoleon’s Empire? A +new art of war, crashing through decayed traditions. +Germany? Germany failed in 1914 because +it discovered no new principle, because it did +not wait for its scientists.”</p> + +<p>“It almost succeeded—”</p> + +<p>“It would have succeeded if it had developed the +submarine and the use of poison gas before it started +its conquests. To conquer the world, one must find +a new principle of destruction.”</p> + +<p>“Then how do you explain the rise of the United +States?”</p> + +<p>“What do you know of the United States, Bogardus?” +said Acquilla, preparing to enjoy my astonishment. +“You speak of a nation that in 1930 +had existed only a century and a half.”</p> + +<p>“Yet in my day it was admitted to be the greatest +country in the world in power and in resources,” I +protested loyally. “You can’t deny that.”</p> + +<p>“A country that fatuously developed the great +standardized age of materialistic wealth and forgot +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>to protect itself. A country that drove all Europe +into a defensive alliance; by not only exacting a +yearly tribute, but by its blind policy of tariff discriminations, +aroused the passions and hatreds of +Europe’s Socialistic masses. The United States +never fought a great war until 1984 and then it was +completely destroyed.”</p> + +<p>“Destroyed—America!”</p> + +<p>“True, these things were after your day. While +Japan and China were organizing Asia, Germany +and France united into one state, crushed Russia and +England, and having founded the United States of +Europe conquered the Americas.”</p> + +<p>“It was then that New York was destroyed?” +I said faintly, feeling my head go round.</p> + +<p>“New York and every city, every village, on the +continent, Bogardus, was razed to the ground. +During this period the population of America and +Europe was of course decimated. That was a +war.”</p> + +<p>“And after that?”</p> + +<p>“Ten years later, in 1994, came the real World +War; the teeming manpower of Asia against the +laboratories of Germano-France. Again history +repeated itself. The great discoveries of Europe’s +scientists, particularly the perfecting of electronic +energy and the destructive Z-rays with which a hundred +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>aeroplanes were able to destroy all forms of +life, wiped out in seven days the menace of Cathay +forever.”</p> + +<p>“How frightful!”</p> + +<p>“Bogardus, like all men you are a sentimentalist,” +said Acquilla calmly. “You are for little wars, but +you stop at pursuing your ideas to a logical conclusion. +To end war, a world calamity was necessary +to destroy the cause of all war.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t comprehend—”</p> + +<p>“Really? In your day, your men philosophers +and economists never perceived the obstacle to the +establishment of a final scientific civilization.”</p> + +<p>I put my hand to my head and said slowly:</p> + +<p>“I haven’t the slightest idea, unless it can be the +conflict of nationalities.”</p> + +<p>“Much deeper than that.”</p> + +<p>“What then?”</p> + +<p>“Over-population, and its concentration in the +cities, that and nothing else.”</p> + +<p>“The idea is interesting,” I said, meditating.</p> + +<p>“Over-population has been the source of all wars +and all poverty since men began to congregate in +social bodies. The rise of the metropolis has been +the doom of the nation. Consider Babylon, Sardanapolis, +Rome, Alexandria, London, and New +York. But no man perceived that, or at least if he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>did perceive it, had the courage to advocate the depopulation +of the world. That was the first great +advance of the feminine state.”</p> + +<p>“What an extraordinary idea!”</p> + +<p>“All your political failures were due to your obsession +of exalting the mass over the individual. +What an insensate appetite you had for population! +What a horrible negation of human life it was! +What a society of vermin your great cities must +have been! Democracy, Socialism, Communism; +each was an inevitable step forced upon you by your +distention of the mass. And the science you boasted +of! And your age of efficiency! Did you ever +have, as we have, a yearly world survey as to the +adjustment of population to that progress of +mechanics which continually eliminates human +labor?”</p> + +<p>“I have no answer,” I replied dumfounded. “It +all seems so simple as you state it. Though,” I added, +lighting up, “I do seem to remember some serious +suggestion that science should take a holiday!”</p> + +<p>“The wrong way to approach the problem,” said +Acquilla, shaking her head. “Our civilization is +based on a hundred acres to each woman.”</p> + +<p>“Then the world is run by women?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, absolutely, for the last one hundred and +fifty years, from 2030 when the collapse of male +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>civilization became evident to all, and men were +finally disenfranchised.”</p> + +<p>“But—” I stopped, confused by the flood of +questions which rose to my lips.</p> + +<p>Acquilla who had been watching me carefully +and had noticed my heightened color and startled +eyes, here interposed.</p> + +<p>“I think, Bogardus, we have talked seriously +enough for the first day. In fact, I’m afraid in my +eagerness that I have gone too far ahead.”</p> + +<p>I passed my hand over my forehead and noticed +how the veins in my temples quivered.</p> + +<p>“I feel as though I had been transplanted to a +strange planet. Everything is gone that I knew or +could reason by. It leaves me with the feeling of +terrible depression, a terrible loneliness.”</p> + +<p>Acquilla sprang up and held out her hand.</p> + +<p>“Come. We will relax. I have a surprise for +you. Dianne, the famous soprano, and Schiappa +are singing in ‘Tristan’ tonight. A familiar sensation +is just the mental relaxation that you need. +Though I must say to your credit, you extraordinary +man, that you have stood the shock remarkably +well. In some cases of early Frigidrome treatment, +we have had serious lapses into brain disorders.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">I rose</span> and followed Acquilla to the circular +theatre which I learned formed the principal +axis of every house.</p> + +<p>“There are a number of interesting things going +on,” said Acquilla, “particularly in Arcturus III, +where there is a war on with Stella IV. Then you +will be interested in the historical records of the wars +of 1984 and 1994, but not tonight. Nine o’clock. +The opera is beginning.”</p> + +<p>She went to a switchboard at one side and made +certain adjustments. A heavy screen immediately +shut out the glass dome above us through which the +stars had been shining down.</p> + +<p>“How near do you want to be, Bogardus?”</p> + +<p>“What! Can you regulate that, too?”</p> + +<p>“Easiest thing in the world. It will probably be +more interesting to you to have a front seat. +Afterwards, if the orchestra is too loud, we can +move back.”</p> + +<p>She extinguished the lights and took a place at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>my side. All at once the theatre, for such I must +call it, was flooded with light and before my astounded +eyes I beheld a vast rippling of waters, +while the air was filled with the opening bars. +Across the glistening green seas under the blue dome +a ship grew out of the horizon and bore down upon +us with colored sails bellying above the glistening +of iron and bronze upon the decks. The prelude +closed and with a sudden shift, I found myself +literally on the deck, so complete was the illusion +presented. The figures appeared not only in their +natural size and color, but in three dimensions so +that I could not repress an exclamation of astonishment, +so life like was the corporeal illusion. The +orchestra was hidden and reinforced by new varieties +of wind and string instruments that were exceedingly +pleasant to the ear. The stage, needless +to say, had disappeared. Above us was the cloud-swept +sky, about us the grey-blue splash of waves. +We were within twenty feet of the principal actors, +who for all purposes of illusion, might have been +bodily in the room.</p> + +<p>Though only an amateur in my love of music, I +perceived at once certain agreeable innovations. +The stilted dramatic action had been replaced by a +naturalness of movement which nevertheless harmonized +with the melodic rhythm. The music, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>likewise, due no doubt to our proximity, was no +longer delivered with the need of filling a vast auditorium, +but phrased with a delicacy that revealed +a hundred new shades. As for the performance of +the celebrated Dianne, I cannot express my admiration. +Isolde in her hands was no longer a stalking +classical puppet of conventionality, a thinly disguised +sophisticate, but a tempestuous, savage nature, +barbaric and impulsive as a wild animal. She +was strangely slender and youthful and eschewing +the traditional flaxen wig, had the blue-black hair +and the clear azure eyes of the dark Scandinavian, +eyes which suggested now the mysteries of black +caverns, now the leap of free seas. To my imagination +at least, the impersonation, cleared of all artificiality, +transported me back with an utter absence +of criticism into the elemental, even brutal passions +of a barbaric race.</p> + +<p>I had never seen anything more entrancing than +the lithe grace of her feline movements, nor listened +with more troubled ecstasy to the thrill of her warm, +full-throated notes. Whether art or nature, she +was the woman of a forgotten age that never knew +the sophisticated mincings of our modern coquettes, +but were swept into turbulent, even tragic passions +by elemental emotions. At the first glance of her +startled eyes I fell hopelessly, headlong in love, love +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>at first sight, as sudden, as poignant as though I had +received the blow between my eyes.</p> + +<p>So swift, so overwhelming was the shock that it +blotted out all pale memories of my youth, Ernesta, +Kitty, Emelia, even the radiant Acquilla, so fragrantly +close to my side, Acquilla who a moment +before seemed offered up to me in some incredible +dream from the Arabian nights. And yet I did +not even know if Dianne still existed or was nothing +but the empty record of a great artist of another +century.</p> + +<p>But Schiappa’s performance of ‘Tristan’ aroused +my indignation. Due to the female domination of +the new society, an incredible liberty had been +taken with the part. A complete transposition of +rôles had been worked. It was Isolde now who +visualized the possessive passion and Tristan the surrender. +If it had not been so monstrously grotesque +I should have burst into laughter. As it was, I was +left staring and dumfounded.</p> + +<p>“Well, Bogardus,” said Acquilla, when the opera +had ended and the theatre emerged from its darkness, +“I am anxious to know what your criticisms +will be. For of course you lived when the Wagnerian +tradition was still young.”</p> + +<p>“I am overwhelmed,” I replied, coming out of +the revery into which the exquisite performance of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>Dianne had plunged me. “But first of all, thank +heavens, that you have found a genius to edit the +score.”</p> + +<p>“In what way? But that must have taken place +in the last century then,” Acquilla added, after a +minute’s reflection.</p> + +<p>“In the first place, you have cut the heavy anti-climax +at the end of the second act, where King +Mark surprises the lovers and given it the natural +dramatic expression it demanded.”</p> + +<p>“But how was it in your day?”</p> + +<p>I described the lengthy and ponderous recital of +King Mark’s grievances, which to my modest imagination +had always been an anti-climax to the glorious +mounting ecstasy of the lovers’ song.</p> + +<p>“But even in your day, you edited and rearranged +Shakespeare, why not Wagner, who after all, was +not a dramatist?”</p> + +<p>“True, but men are traditionalists,” I replied +ironically. “You see, you women have brought a +fresh point of view to the consideration of all +things.”</p> + +<p>“True,” said Acquilla, without smiling, “Dianne +will be tremendously interested.”</p> + +<p>“You know her?” I said with a catch of my +breath.</p> + +<p>“Of course! Would you like to meet her?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> + +<p>“Now? Then she exists?” I exclaimed, my +imagination racing.</p> + +<p>“Of course she exists. Oh, I see. You thought +perhaps you were listening to a record taken fifty +or a hundred years ago?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing would surprise me, even to find that +she was an automaton,” I answered, laughing. +“You know, for a moment I wasn’t sure about +you.”</p> + +<p>“We have evolved automatons that are really extraordinary,” +said Acquilla, looking at me with the +mystified expression which she assumed whenever +I gave way to my hilarity. “But they remain +machines. No indeed, Dianne is very much alive. +She has only just begun her career.”</p> + +<p>I breathed a grateful sigh. At least then, the +divine creature who had captured my imagination +would have her own hair and teeth! But I +checked my eagerness, for I was suddenly aware of +a new flame in Acquilla’s steel-blue eyes, and though +the world was topsy-turvy and women more so +than anything else, I suspected that certain primal +characteristics had not changed. So I answered +with a show of casualness.</p> + +<p>“Yes, there are a number of criticisms I could +make, but probably they would not interest a prima +donna.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> + +<p>“We’ll talk to her now.” Acquilla rose, and +opening a partition in the wall, disappeared. A +moment later, she returned. “We’ll get her in a +few moments, as soon as central locates her. Of +course, Bogardus, that was a television record taken +two years ago, but surely that doesn’t astonish you?”</p> + +<p>“The theory, of course, had been established,” I +answered with some pride, “but the complete +achievement is astonishing. But then Acquilla, are +there no more theatres?”</p> + +<p>“Why should there be any theatres?” said Acquilla. +“A theatre was simply a limited convention, +where only a few hundred persons at a time +could enjoy a performance and for that, think how +conventionalized your theatre and opera had to +be! It was only your great poets, like Shakespeare +and the Greeks, who intuitively wrote for the future. +To think that your actors performed on a +stage with artificial trees and skies! Surely you +do not regret such performances when you can have +life itself?”</p> + +<p>“Then every home has a theatre like this?”</p> + +<p>“Why, of course! How could anyone live differently? +The theatre <i>is</i> the home! The theatre +is the world before us; history, music and the drama; +the past and the actual. Surely, Bogardus, you recognize +that the stage as you saw it, was simply a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>conventionalized barrier between the free imagination +of the creative artist and his audience.”</p> + +<p>“I agree heartily,” I said enthusiastically, “and I +can hardly wait to see more.”</p> + +<p>“Now you are greatly excited again,” said Acquilla, +“and I thought to relax you. I think Bogardus, +I shall have to send you off to sleep.”</p> + +<p>But at this moment, a low chiming rhythm +sounded in the room, and Acquilla rising, disappeared +through a partition.</p> + +<p>“We are lucky. Dianne is in Chicago and will +dine with us tomorrow night. Come, she is eager +to talk to you.”</p> + +<p>I rose and resolved to conceal my emotion, entered +a secret closet in the wall, about twenty feet square, +with some form of opaque glass forming the sides. +Acquilla closed the door behind us and touched a +switch. Instantly the figure of Dianne appeared +before me, as distinctly as though she were sitting +in the room. From the intense curiosity in her +eyes, I divined that my presence was equally clear +to her.</p> + +<p>“So you are the man from the twentieth century?” +her lovely voice said as distinctly as though +she were at my side. “You cannot imagine what +excitement your arrival has caused. Tell me, what +did you think of my Isolde?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + +<p>“It was worth waiting two centuries to hear,” I +began, but feeling the compliment rather banal, I +hastened to say, “Acquilla tells me you are dining +with us tomorrow night. We can discuss it then.”</p> + +<p>“Did you find it changed? It satisfies you? +Have I departed too much from tradition?” she +asked rapidly.</p> + +<p>“Changed, yes, but wonderfully so. I am still +dazzled.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want compliments,” she said, smiling +with pleasure, more at the intensity of feeling in +my voice than at my halting words. “What was +there to criticize?”</p> + +<p>“In your performance—nothing,” I said emphatically. +“The conception of Tristan, perhaps, +was rather—rather—”</p> + +<p>“Too masculine,” she interrupted avidly. “I +knew it. I have always said so!” she continued +with a satisfaction that showed me that the feminine +in the artist had not changed so much.</p> + +<p>“On the contrary—I found—what shall I say—I +found it rather too feminine.”</p> + +<p>“Feminine?” she cried, opening her lovely grey-blue +eyes. “But I don’t understand, I thought it +lacked rugged strength.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Dianne,” I said, smiling, “I do not +know what your new civilization has done to my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>fellowmen, but I assure you in my time, virility, +robustness, vigor were qualities we associated with +the male sex.”</p> + +<p>“Oh—” Her glance rested on mine in renewed +curiosity. “I see. How curious! That is +a new point of view.”</p> + +<p>“It is a point of view, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“But rather hard to make comprehensible to a +modern audience,” she said doubtfully. “You are +different, Bogardus, very different. Your voice is +different. You look at me differently, straight in +the eyes. Yes, strangely, disconcertingly different.”</p> + +<p>“You too,” I was about to continue, in the more +personal tone her look seemed to permit, when the +presence of Acquilla at my back recalled my caution. +“At any rate,” I added, carefully, “even if +we quarrel, our discussion promises to be interesting.”</p> + +<p>“Well, if I can put off an engagement, I’ll come,” +she answered in a changed voice, which for the moment +puzzled me. “Thanks all the same, Acquilla. +Your find ought to prove most instructive, I’m +sure.”</p> + +<p>We returned to the theatre.</p> + +<p>“Do you find her beautiful?” said Acquilla, looking +at me sharply.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, in a stagey sort of way,” I replied on my +guard. “Is she intelligent?”</p> + +<p>“In a limited way, yes, but rather capricious.”</p> + +<p>“As a matter of fact, I had to be polite, but one +or two things in her performance rather shocked +me. For instance, Isolde should be played as a +blonde.”</p> + +<p>Deceived by my manner, Acquilla replied:</p> + +<p>“That is part of her capriciousness. She never +will consent to appear as a blonde. There are, of +course, strong differences between the blondes and +the brunettes as we breed them, and to tell you a +little secret, the brunettes are extremely jealous +of us.”</p> + +<p>“Aha!” I exclaimed, suppressing a smile.</p> + +<p>“Because, after all, they are usually of a lower +caste, you know.”</p> + +<p>I suspected that this remark would lead to new +revelations in this strictly scientific society, but already +overwhelmed by the mystery of the new +knowledge to be acquired, I did not persist.</p> + +<p>Acquilla took my hand and led me to my room, +where I perceived a low broad couch, soft and covered +with silken cushions.</p> + +<p>“What are you staring at now?”</p> + +<p>“But where are the bed-clothes?” I asked, looking +around.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span></p> + +<p>“Bed-clothes? Did you put on clothes to go to +bed?” said Acquilla with a drawing of her eyebrows.</p> + +<p>“By bed-clothes I mean sheets—”</p> + +<p>“But there is the sheet.”</p> + +<p>“I see. But the upper sheet—and the blanket—and +the bedspread—and the comforter?”</p> + +<p>“What, you actually slept beneath all that! +How unhygienic! No wonder you all died +young!”</p> + +<p>“But I shall catch my death of cold!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t you realize, my dear, that the human +body like any other animal body craves air and sunshine? +Throw off your toga and try the couch. +You will find it deliciously soft. As for catching +cold, that is impossible. We adjust the temperature +of the room by this thermostat. So. Now you +have the warm dry glow you require for perfect +rest.”</p> + +<p>“And you sleep without anything on,” I said hesitating, +“the whole year round?”</p> + +<p>“Naturally. Night is the great renovator. Not +only does the body require contact with oxygen but +we charge the atmosphere with invigorating electric +currents. Even the air you will breathe will be +modified according to your chemical needs. Tomorrow +when you have been thoroughly examined +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>your chemical formula will be worked out. I am +speaking of course of the abc’s of modern scientific +prolongation of life.”</p> + +<p>“So this at last is the fountain of youth,” I exclaimed, +extending my arms languorously to the +warm incoming current. “I can feel my eyes closing +already!”</p> + +<p>“Well—good night!” said Acquilla after a moment’s +hesitation, and taking me up into her arms +she whispered, “You are unlike any man I ever +knew. What is it that draws me so to you with +such strange and bewildering force? Are you +glad that it was I that found you?”</p> + +<p>I nodded shyly, with a twentieth-century prudery, +hoping desperately that she would go and leave +me alone. But as she remained staring at me entranced, +there was no help for it. I slipped from +my garment and flung myself on the couch which +was indeed of a voluptuous softness truly astounding.</p> + +<p>“Good night, my beautiful one,” said Acquilla +softly.</p> + +<p>I counterfeited an extreme drowsiness.</p> + +<p>“Good night, dear—I can hardly keep my eyes +open—tired, so tired—so many bewildering +things—”</p> + +<p>She slipped from the room, extinguishing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>the lights. My twentieth-century inhibitions, of +course! Ridiculous? Yes, even archaic, such +prudery! For after all I freely acknowledge the +superiority of this new self-unconsciousness. Besides, +even in my day were there not enfranchised +spirits on the beaches of Scandinavia and Russia, to +say nothing of Germany?</p> + +<p>Acquilla was right. After a moment I found +myself perfectly accustomed to the new hygiene. +In fact nothing could have been more delightful +than this warm indolence, lying under the great +panorama of the stars that shone down on me +through the transparency above, as they shone down +once on the Garden of Eden.</p> + +<p>But for a long time I was unable to close my +eyes. All the startling discoveries of the day surged +through my head in a confused torrent. What did +I know after all? Even the hints that Acquilla +had dropped added to my mystification. All had +changed that I had known, but what had replaced +the old in this era of women’s ascendancy? A +world where a billion and a half human beings had +been wiped out of existence! A world where all +social traditions seemed to have been discarded! +And in all this mystery what had become of man? +Had we evolved into a state of polyandry and communism? +Gradually these disturbing speculations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>passed away. I grew drowsy with some faint perfume +that pervaded the room. I thought of Dianne +with a quickening of my imagination. I thought +of Acquilla too with an involuntary admiration, +and yet with an instinctive apprehension.</p> + +<p>Acquilla and Dianne, both beautiful, yet so differently +appealing. Acquilla who stimulated my +mind and drew me to her with a soberer affection, +Dianne who fascinated me dangerously and set my +blood to racing with the flame of her young passion. +Acquilla or Dianne? Perhaps in this new +society Acquilla <i>and</i> Dianne—and thus deliciously +perplexed I fell asleep.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">When</span> I awoke it was late in the morning and +my imagination still, confused, listened for +the warring jangle of the noises of New York. I +sat up, stared about me and realization returned. +Whether on account of the chemical infusion or the +charge of electricity, I found the air more delicious +than any I had yet breathed. I awoke refreshed +and with an extraordinary sense of well being and +following Acquilla’s directions, touched a button +at my bedside. Almost immediately the languor +of the atmosphere changed to an invigorating glow. +I rose and started to examine my surroundings when +the voice of Acquilla said:</p> + +<p>“Good morning, Bogardus. I hope you have +rested well.”</p> + +<p>I turned hastily, snatching a dressing robe about +me, with that instinctive modesty which is so difficult +for a man to forget. To my amazement the +room was empty, though the voice continued. “I +have been called to a special meeting of the Population +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>Council in New Orleans and won’t be back +until late. However, the housekeeper has her instructions +and you will find the library and the +astronomical parlor enough to interest you until +my return.”</p> + +<p>Following the direction of the voice I discovered +a minute disk in the wall. The mystery was after +all only a commonplace. Acquilla had used a dictaphone +which had probably been automatically released +when I had changed the temperature.</p> + +<p>There were no windows in the room but the glass +walls, due no doubt to some infiltrating lighting +control were now so transparent that I had a clear +view of the scenery for miles about. Due to the +present height of the New York mesa I could discern +not only the Sound and the entire bay of New +York but far down the Atlantic coast—an incomparable +spectacle. From where I was, down to the +old Battery, there were magnificent villas glittering +in coats of many colors through the vistas of +noble parks. Immense pylons stretched up into +the sky, either the gigantic weather transformers I +had seen or colossal plants for transmitting energy. +Aeroplanes flashed against the blue like the migrations +of swiftly moving birds or floated nearby like +lazy clusters of poising butterflies. The speed of +some of the larger ones held me fascinated. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>judged rightly that they were huge transatlantic +carriers for the projectile-like speed of their streaking +across the sky was like the path of a shooting +star across the night.</p> + +<p>I was in the midst of these observations when Mag +the housekeeper entered to receive my orders. I +tried to explain to her unsuccessfully my need of a +razor, but after witnessing the bewilderment on +her face gave up the attempt.</p> + +<p>When I ran my hand expressively over the blue +stubble on my cheeks her curiosity and amazement +knew no bounds.</p> + +<p>“But don’t men have mustaches or beards?” I +exclaimed with a full portraying gesture.</p> + +<p>“Goats have hair on their faces like that, not +men,” she replied, opening her eyes.</p> + +<p>I looked at her sharply but remembering that a +sense of humor had evidently departed with the +descent of my sex, I said:</p> + +<p>“Very well, I shall raise a beard if only to show the +modern woman what magnificent creatures men +once were.”</p> + +<p>“You are indeed curiously beautiful, Bogardus,” +she said in a low voice, casting down her glance. +“And your voice is so deep and your body is so +strong for a man!”</p> + +<p>Though Mag was square and built like a blacksmith, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>I confess this humble admiration was inspiring +to me and opened agreeable vistas for the future.</p> + +<p>“What does Acquilla wish me to do this morning?” +I asked.</p> + +<p>“She has sent the famous Gallia to treat your +body after the bath.”</p> + +<p>“Gallia? Who is Gallia? A masseuse?”</p> + +<p>“Gallia is the great Æsthete who discovered the +new method of tissue preservation. If you will +come down to the bath now I will inform her.”</p> + +<p>I nodded, dismissed her and presently descended.</p> + +<p>Gallia, like the generality of her caste, was a +brunette, with black olive-shaped eyes and a delicate, +slightly acquiline nose. She came forward +graceful and fragrant, and putting her arms about +me embraced me cordially, a greeting which I later +discovered had replaced the crude handshake of our +male civilization.</p> + +<p>“What a magnificent specimen you are, Bogardus,” +she said, looking me over with the glance +of a connoisseur. “Really, when we see what demigods +men once were, it is a disgrace to reflect on +how we have let your sex deteriorate.”</p> + +<p>“Good,” I said somewhat embarrassed at her frank +admiration. “At least you do not share the common +prejudice.”</p> + +<p>“There are, of course, dominant reasons for our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>present social state from a political and philosophic +point of view,” Gallia replied with a precautionary +glance at Mag. “But looking at the matter purely +from the science of eugenics, I maintain that for +the proper breeding of the superlative female, it is +necessary to regenerate the mental capacities and +initiatives of the male. Besides, men educated by +women will possess totally different characteristics.”</p> + +<p>“Is there a party then that holds with you?” I +said eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, but we are in the minority.”</p> + +<p>“But minorities are always the most powerful +elements politically. It was a minority that +brought about woman suffrage in my day.”</p> + +<p>“Later,” she replied, frowning significantly in the +direction of the housekeeper, “it will be interesting +to learn by what methods. At present I have a duty +in the interests of science, to determine what effect +your long preservation may have had on the glandular +and nervous system. You see, Bogardus, the +principles of frigiferous arrestation of life have only +been tested by short periods of from fifty to sixty +years. Your arrival is of course quite the most important +scientific event that has occurred.”</p> + +<p>I divined from her manner that political questions +had to be treated with discretion, and so postponed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>until later the many questions which occurred +to me as to the status of my sex. We +entered a laboratory directly above the bath where +I was subjected to a series of tests which resembled +the metabolism examination of my day.</p> + +<p>“Everything is normal,” said Gallia delighted. “I +can find no disturbance whatsoever. In fact for a +man of sixty—”</p> + +<p>“Sixty. I am exactly thirty-two if you please.”</p> + +<p>Gallia looked at me a moment with a perplexity +that suddenly lifted.</p> + +<p>“True, I forget. You come from an age when +the glandular secrets of youth were still a closed +book. That is the reason for my mistake. You +see we begin invigoration treatments immediately at +the completion of the body growth—that is about +the age of twenty. In your case, I shall have to +treat you intensively. It will be most interesting. +I shall work out the nutrition formulas and the +chemistry of the air you must have at night. +Meanwhile the ordinary daily regime will work +wonders.”</p> + +<p>“Gallia, I am curious to know to what extent you +have been able to prolong life.”</p> + +<p>“We have still to submit to the tests of experience,” +she replied. “We have it is true only begun +our exploration, and today there are only a few +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>living who have reached the age of a hundred and +seventy. Theoretically, there is no reason why we +cannot with our present knowledge extend life to +four or five centuries. We have eliminated the +ravages of such diseases as tuberculosis and cancer, +pneumonia and paralysis, but to be strictly scientific, +we may have to encounter new types of diseases +which will have to be studied and conquered.”</p> + +<p>“Then there are persons who actually wish to +live two hundred and three hundred years in this +world?”</p> + +<p>“That is the trouble. You see with the perfection +of the Frigidrome, particularly with the proof +of its efficacy which you have supplied, Bogardus, +there will be an overwhelming demand to be translated +from century to century.”</p> + +<p>“A most natural curiosity, I should say.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. But until we can supply the demand, +you realize that it is a privilege that has to be restricted. +It is now an honor conferred for distinguished +services.”</p> + +<p>“Then I may hope for another voyage into the +future in as favorable a state as the present.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing easier, if you respond as I am sure you +will to our treatment.”</p> + +<p>“Proceed then, Gallia. You will never have a +more obedient patient.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> + +<p>She smiled at me the flitting Latin smile that is +reflected in the eyes and, Mag being absent, embraced +me with a warmth that was more than professional, +and which I confess I returned with such +interest that she gave a little gasp of pleasure.</p> + +<p>“Oh! That is not at all like a man!” She gave +me a long, veiled glance and added, “Really, your +case is so important I shall have to treat it personally.”</p> + +<p>For two most agreeable hours I received a treatment +under Gallia’s directions, which consisted of +an immersion in a chemical bath, a massage with +some violet ray machine and the application of delicious +unguents which left my skin aglow and sensitively +alive. From Gallia I learned that the day of +every woman began at five o’clock with two hours +devotion to this meticulous care of the body, as the +first obligation of a civilized state. No woman, it +appeared, ever took more than four hours sleep, except +in the nascent and child-bearing periods. +Sleep, to the extent in which we indulged ourselves, +was an excess as injurious as drunkenness or gluttony. +All that Gallia had to say struck me as of +exceeding good sense, and I promised to follow +rigorously her precepts.</p> + +<p>After her departure breakfast was served while I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>reclined on a divan. The repast consisted of a variety +of fruits; a syrup formed on the basis of honey +but not so oppressively saccharine; coffee, which +had a vintage of twenty years and a light breakfast +food which was a mélange of different vitamins exceedingly +pleasant and appetizing. I complimented +Mag, but expressed a masculine desire to indulge +in the morning newspaper.</p> + +<p>“Or has the newspaper been abolished as a male +distraction?” I asked facetiously.</p> + +<p>“Oh, no. The news came in, hours ago.”</p> + +<p>“Bring it to me, then.”</p> + +<p>Mag returned with a record about the size of an +ordinary spool and placed it in a small receptacle, explaining +that the broadcasting from the central station +was recorded on these disks which could be +turned on later at will.</p> + +<p>I found as I had expected that the circumstances +of my arrival occupied the place of honor. But +what astonished me was to discover that the gist of +my inquiries and the long explanations of Acquilla +the night before were rendered with an amazing +fidelity. I surmised that by some hidden recording +device every word of our conversation had been +transmitted. The portrait given of me was flattering, +though certain liberties were taken with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>amazement and admiration I had displayed for the +marvels of the new civilization. But this I put +down to the editorial tradition of local pride. The +news of the day was given briefly without the embellishments +to which we are accustomed; important +discoveries in the social organization of Arcturus +III made possible by the micro-photostatic +enlargement of astronomical records; the launching +of a new luminous fringe in the Paris fashions; the +meeting of the Population Council in New Orleans +to deal with an unforeseen outcrop of twins; the +opening of the new Frigidrome in the tunnelled +vaults of the Palisades, capable of accommodating +a thousand new inmates, etc. There were talks on +health, a description of a new symphony, the arrival +of a hundred Scandinavian males and the excitement +caused by their striking personal appearance. +All this, while interesting, left me with a feeling of +depression.</p> + +<p>I called Mag and said:</p> + +<p>“But isn’t there a man’s section; a sport page, you +know? You don’t understand? Don’t men play +football or baseball or golf or tennis? Isn’t there a +world’s heavyweight champion?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes. I understand,” Mag replied vaguely. +“Run-jump, you mean.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. Run, jump, swim, you know.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh yes, I know! Men run, men jump and they +dance, oh, beautifully!”</p> + +<p>I gave a gesture of discouragement.</p> + +<p>“You make me fear the worst,” I said dejectedly. +I rose. “Never mind. I’ll visit the grounds for a +little walk and then return to the library.”</p> + +<p>When I stepped out onto the broad lawn a machinot +was cutting the grass, seated on an electric +machine which he guided so deftly that I watched +entranced the mathematical inevitability of his +movements.</p> + +<p>Here again unwillingly I have to admit the fertility +of the feminine imagination. Truly the +vanity of man could only create gods or automatons +in his own image. It may be debatable whether two +legs are not sufficient, but certainly any knowledge +of the marvels of the insect world should have convinced +us of the utter inadequacy of two hands. +Not only were the machinots supplied with numerous +antennae, but instead of the restricted human +orbit of vision they were supplied with the myriad +faceted eyes of the bee, which communicated to +their intricate mechanism what we lack—a complete +vision. While I was watching, one of the +machinots in crossing the lawn evidently ran down, +for it came to a complete stop, sending out a radio +call to the head mechanic. Another machinot operating +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>a lawnmower arrived within ten feet of the +obstruction, stopped, turned out and as deliberately +readjusted itself to its appointed path!</p> + +<p>Other automatons were spraying the orchards, +and running cultivators through the flower gardens. +What cultivation of the soil was done was +evidently only of an ornamental nature. Vegetables +and cereals for the table were raised elsewhere, +for no home cooking was necessary, with their +thermostatic devices and their central cooking stations.</p> + +<p>The servants’ quarters (all were women, including +the gardener and the mechanic) were behind a +thicket about a quarter of a mile from the house and +constructed on a curious principle. At first glance +it resembled a circus tent and on closer inspection I +found the analogy more striking. The entire house +was suspended by cables from a central pole or +tower, about twenty feet in diameter, which beside +an elevator, contained heating, lighting and air circulating +equipments. The ground floor was given +over to a garage for the aeromats. On the second +floor were three large bedrooms and a bath, a laboratory +and a large living room or theatre. Above +was a sheltered open roof banked with flowers, very +pleasant and comfortable. The curious thing about +these houses, which I found, later, were manufactured +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>in a standardized form, was that they were +designed to be lifted from their sockets and transported +by aeroplanes to any distance and again set +up with only the necessity of providing an emplacement, +thus obviating the necessity of separate summer +and winter homes.</p> + +<p>I was in the midst of these investigations when +Mag informed me that I was wanted on the radio. +The way she conveyed the message with a sort of +sly impertinence, convinced me that it could not be +Acquilla. I returned to the house greatly intrigued. +Who could it be? A reporter seeking an interview? +An offer for a vaudeville engagement? +A moving picture contract? Or simply an invitation +from the Sons of some Native State to be the +speaker of honor at their annual banquet.</p> + +<p>“How ridiculous,” I thought suddenly. “All +such things are vanished with the age of publicity. +Or have they?”</p> + +<p>I went into the television chamber and found +myself looking into the troubling eyes of the charming +Dianne.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">“I heard</span> in the morning news that Acquilla +had to go to New Orleans,” she said with a significant +smile, “and stole this opportunity for a +tête-à-tête.”</p> + +<p>“You were casual enough last night,” I remarked, +trying to assume an indifference that my racing +pulse violently denied.</p> + +<p>“You forget that Acquilla was present,” replied +Dianne, looking at me tenderly. “But first, go to +the direction box and press the button that is illuminated +by a green fight. That is the isolator. +There is no need of anyone listening in on our conversation. +You’ve done it? Good. Now we can +lunch together—just by ourselves.”</p> + +<p>“Lunch? But where are you, my delightful but +capricious friend?”</p> + +<p>“I? In Chicago.”</p> + +<p>“But then?”</p> + +<p>“True, you are still a barbarian, Bogardus. But +I find a certain charm in that,” she added with one +of those appraising smiles with which women in my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>day used to suggest that the approach to intimacy +need not be unnecessarily prolonged. “Well, to +explain to you the simplest thing in the world; have +your lunch served before you, I will do the same +and we shall talk as we eat. You look surprised? +Why, I often lunch with friends in Paris or Vienna.”</p> + +<p>Now as a matter of pride I had promised myself +to show no astonishment, whatever I discovered in +my new experience. But this time I was caught as +flat as a country bumpkin translated to the complexities +of the metropolis. To hide my confusion +I turned and gave my orders to Mag, who received +them with such evident ill-humor that I had to +speak to her sharply. The table was brought. I +sat down and so complete was the illusion that my +fascinating companion appeared to be seated across +it enjoying my bewilderment.</p> + +<p>Of all the innovations which I had encountered +so far, I must say that this one pleased me the most; +for not only were you free to select or leave your +company at a moment’s impulse, but each was assured +of the menu he preferred. What terrors of +the society I had known could have been eliminated +by this simple device! To recover my authority, I +leaned forward and said:</p> + +<p>“My dear Dianne, there is one thing must be understood +between us. There is no use telling you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>that I adored you from the moment I saw you. And +I am going to be bold enough to say that I felt at once +the attraction was mutual. However, I refuse to +be treated like—well, like what you call a man today. +In other words I forbid <i>you</i> to make love to +<i>me</i>,” I concluded with a smile.</p> + +<p>Dianne’s eyes opened wide, she drew back and +then craned forward eagerly.</p> + +<p>“How exciting! Of course, in your day it <i>was</i> +the man who pursued.”</p> + +<p>“And I want it distinctly understood that I +<i>am</i> a man of my day and not a spineless dehydrated +invertebrate your civilization has probably made of +my noble sex.”</p> + +<p>Dianne’s glance met the ardor of my gaze without +yielding, but I was gratified to observe a pleasant +convulsive shudder of her adorable shoulders.</p> + +<p>“How strange, but how thrilling! Go on, Bogardus,” +she said. It was not so much feminine +coquetry as a feline curiosity.</p> + +<p>“We shall see,” I thought, “if the old instincts are +entirely gone.”</p> + +<p>“My adorable Dianne,” I continued. “This is +quite the most alluring way of staging a romance +one could imagine. In my day, it was the telephone +which supplied the thrills. But how simple and +primitive compared to this.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span></p> + +<p>“How interesting—but of course to us this is a +commonplace.”</p> + +<p>“Then I have the advantage over you. I assure +you I am already head over heels in love. Was anything +ever more delightful or more tantalizing? I +sit here. I look into your lovely eyes. I hear your +charming voice. I watch every graceful movement +of your body and when I reach out my hand, +you elude me. What wouldn’t our coquettes have +given to possess such a power of mystification!”</p> + +<p>“Bogardus, were you run after by lots of +women?” said Dianne.</p> + +<p>I reflected. I did not wish to appear too modest. +After all, history was as I chose to create it and this +feeling I must confess gave me an extraordinary assurance.</p> + +<p>“In my day, your sex pretended to be the courted, +though a great many satirists insisted the opposite +was true. However, I was never exactly lonely.”</p> + +<p>“How strange to hear a man talk like this, but go +on. I like it, though it gives me a funny feeling +when you look at me so boldly.”</p> + +<p>“Dianne,” I said, beginning to lose my head a +little. “You, a great artist should know great loves. +Scientifically and socially, I confess, you have done +miracles, but what have you not lost in the conquest—laughter +and love!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> + +<p>“But Bogardus dear—”</p> + +<p>“Stop. It is impossible to give a sentimental note +to the name of Bogardus—”</p> + +<p>“I confess it is rather a mouthful.”</p> + +<p>“My name for sentimental purposes is Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Jack,” she repeated, lingering over the sound.</p> + +<p>“I have even been called Jacko.”</p> + +<p>Dianne clapped her hands.</p> + +<p>“How delightful. But Jacko, my dear—laughter—what +do you mean by laughter? Is it those +funny faces you made a while ago?”</p> + +<p>“Laughter,” I said majestically, “was undoubtedly +the invention of the first man who challenged +the phantoms of the gods who oppressed him. +Laughter is the will to be happy despite all the sorrow +and suffering life is afflicted with. It is man’s +triumph over his destinies.”</p> + +<p>“But we have done away with sorrow and suffering.”</p> + +<p>“True!” I said, struck by the thought. “Perhaps +without tears, laughter <i>is</i> impossible.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t you teach me to laugh, Jacko?”</p> + +<p>“It is possible,” I said, struck by a sudden inspiration. +“Tonight we shall see.”</p> + +<p>Dianne’s expression changed swiftly.</p> + +<p>“Dear, it was specially about tonight I wanted to +warn you—”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p> + +<p>“I know. Acquilla is jealous.”</p> + +<p>“How quick you are. Does she suspect your +true feelings?”</p> + +<p>“She is suspicious, but I flatter myself—”</p> + +<p>“Be careful, be extremely careful. Acquilla +wants you for herself.”</p> + +<p>“What of it?” I replied, shrugging my shoulders. +“After all, Acquilla is a woman of seventy-six and +youth must be served!”</p> + +<p>“True, but Acquilla is implacable and if she even +suspected that you were going to escape her—”</p> + +<p>“Well, even then?” I asked anxiously as Dianne +hesitated.</p> + +<p>“I must tell you all the truth,” said Dianne making +up her mind abruptly. “For you should be +warned. You see, your arrival has caused a tremendous +commotion. For Bogar—for Jacko, you +are not like the men of today. You represent another +civilization. You are so resplendently what +men must have been. And just now that is very +dangerous, dangerous to you!”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Because in the last ten years, there has grown up +a new radical school that is preaching the rehabilitation +of men.”</p> + +<p>“What—Votes for Men?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. You see how disturbing your arrival +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>is to the powers that be. You will be brought before +the Supreme Council—I know for a fact that +already they have been deliberating over your case. +Be on your guard when you are questioned—” +Dianne stopped and leaning forward plunged her +glance into mine. “Be careful for my sake.”</p> + +<p>“Now you are making love to me, which is contrary +to orders,” I said smiling. “But what danger +do I run?”</p> + +<p>“You could be suppressed as a menace to society.”</p> + +<p>“Murdered, or if you wish, executed?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no, but you would be returned to the Frigidrome +and sent into another century.”</p> + +<p>“I see, an ingenious way of abolishing capital +punishment.” But despite my bravado, I felt the +beginnings of uneasiness. “Is the situation really so +serious?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. For already the male suffrage movement +is a problem. Acquilla has tremendous power. +She can protect you so long as she is personally interested—”</p> + +<p>“I understand. To tell the truth, my instincts +did warn me.”</p> + +<p>“You see. Be careful, dear, be very careful.”</p> + +<p>“Say ‘for my sake’ again,” I said, looking at her +boldly, “but drop your eyes as you say it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span></p> + +<p>Dianne glanced at me in surprise, her glance +wavered a moment and then fell away.</p> + +<p>“What a strange effect you have on me,” she said +in a low voice.</p> + +<p>“Say it,” I repeated insistently as I felt my growing +power.</p> + +<p>“For my sake, dearest,” she said in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“Ah, my darling Dianne,” I cried, “if only I +could jump through space and snatch you up in my +arms this very moment.”</p> + +<p>Dianne raised her eyes and again averted them.</p> + +<p>“Truly, dear, you have the weirdest effect on me. +I have never known anything quite—quite like +this before.”</p> + +<p>“Dianne darling, I promise you that you will +know what love once meant between man and +woman,” I continued impulsively. “Not your eugenic, +cold-blooded matings, but the love that stirs +and tortures you, the love that is pleasure and pain, +that is madness and ecstasy, that takes its moment +and accepts the price, whatever it has to pay.”</p> + +<p>I stretched out my hands and Dianne’s lovely fingers, +as her flushed face turned to me, seemed already +to yield to my clasp, when suddenly with a click, the +whole mirage vanished before my eyes. The door +opened and Mag came in.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> + +<p>“Acquilla is just returning,” she said looking at +me sulkily. “Quick. Keep her outside, while I get +the table out of sight.”</p> + +<p>From which, I gathered that certain primitive instincts +still persisted and that Mag, after the tradition +of servants, had been listening at the door.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">I went</span> outdoors with some trepidation, striving +to assume a natural air and dreadfully conscious +of a feeling of guilt. But instead of Acquilla’s +Dionysian figure I found no one. I returned and +summoned Mag.</p> + +<p>“Why did you interrupt me with this cock-and-bull +excuse,” I said severely.</p> + +<p>“You’d talked long enough with that hardened +woman,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Then you were listening at the door?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I was,” she said sulkily.</p> + +<p>“And who permits you to judge my actions,” I +continued angrily.</p> + +<p>The girl’s eyes filled with tears, she stammered, +tried to meet my eyes and ran away.</p> + +<p>“Good heavens, here’s a bit of comedy,” I +thought, suddenly enlightened. “Mag jealous! +Acquilla, Dianne, Gallia and now even Mag! Is it +possible that the mere sight of a man as he used to be +is going to work such havoc?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> + +<p>I must confess that my anger vanished in a laugh, +and though I have always held myself without much +vanity this revelation of my devastating attractions +was not at all displeasing.</p> + +<p>I presently repaired to the library, which I found +to consist of thousands of carefully packed reels, all +arranged according to subjects. For instance, I +found under ancient history that the siege of Troy +was given with a faithful visualization of the Homeric +legend accompanied by a lecture explanatory +of customs and traditions; the French revolution +and the Civil War were not only historically analyzed +but actually laid before my eyes. My curiosity +was naturally directed to the fate of my native +city. I searched in the section entitled 20th Century +and found a reel, labelled Apotheosis of Material +Civilization, which I immediately placed in +the projection and returned to my seat, with what +emotion may be imagined.</p> + +<p>Before my eyes rose the colossal city of my +dreams, a vast intricate triple metropolis, with +superimposed avenues, crowded with traffic; the +two lower strata vibrantly brilliant in an electric +flood; the upper interlaced with vertiginous spans +that supported great concourses, lined with trees +and parkways. The Pennsylvania and Grand Central +Stations, trebled in stature, discharged passengers +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>on the concourses of the middle stage which +was reserved for pedestrians solely. The scene +which had evidently been filmed at the opening of +business, showed the ceaseless inflow of vast multitudes +which were regimented according to destination +and marched in military formation under the +vigilant control of thousands of traffic officers. +Heavy traffic and incoming automobiles were rigorously +kept on the lower avenue, and only private +automobiles of the greatest luxury circulated above. +Each block was treated as an architectural entity +rising five hundred feet and flanked with enormous +towers at each corner with a central landing place +for aeroplanes which swarmed over the sky. Seen +thus with its standardized armies of workers it resembled +nothing else than a cross section of an ant +hill or a beehive.</p> + +<p>But, abruptly, when my curiosity was just +aroused, the scene shifted to the new capital, Europa, +showing the great woman scientist, Selma +Benegal, in her laboratory, experimenting with electronic +disassociation and the startling discovery of +the deadly electroid ray. Next came the declaration +of war by the feminine controlled states of Europe +on the Americas; the consternation in New York, +the panic in the Senate at Washington as President +McGuffy at the wireless telephone, indignantly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>demanded of Europa some justifying explanation.</p> + +<p>Reply of the European Council. An epochal +note relegating to the dust heap all the hypocrisies +of the old man-made diplomacy:—“Europe makes +war because Europe is ready to conquer!”</p> + +<p>Then, while my head swam, came in quick succession +shots of the hasty assemblage of the volunteer +air forces of America; politicians proclaiming +that America was rising like one man; while all the +time the great European armada of the air was seen +embarking in the night, a hundred armored aeroplanes +equipped with the new Z-ray destroyers.</p> + +<p>While I sat thus twisting my hands, I beheld the +dreadful meeting at dawn and the sickening destruction +of the feeble American forces as the Z-rays, +with the crash of thunderbolts withered everything +that opposed them. I saw the armada sweep on +toward New York; the panic in Babylon; the first +bolts toppling over the skyscrapers; crazed multitudes +flinging themselves from the topmost windows. +I saw New York collapse like an ant hill +under the fall of an immense foot.</p> + +<p>No words can picture the satanic grandeur of this +destruction. The electroid rays seemed to have the +quality of paralyzing all life, either because joined +to some deadly chemical or because the immense +concussion produced sudden deadly vacuums. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>From the air the tottering city swayed and crumbled +into unrecognizable heaps of stone and steel, while +great sheets of fire a hundred feet in height leaped +over the destruction. Millions died instantly of +suffocation or fright while the armada, passing on, +swept the country like a plague of fiery locusts, destroying +every vestige of plant and animal life.</p> + +<p>I turned away in horror and rushed into the open +air, where I must have swooned, for the next thing +I remember I was in Acquilla’s arms and Acquilla’s +voice, alarmed and compassionate, was calling my +name.</p> + +<p>I sat up, recollecting myself.</p> + +<p>“What happened, Bogardus dear?” said Acquilla, +passing her hand gently over my forehead.</p> + +<p>“That awful picture,” I said with a shudder. +“How could human beings be so fiendish?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you have been looking at the destruction of +New York,” Acquilla said, looking at me curiously. +“And it has upset you as much as that? And you +are a representative of the war age—the age of +war? So men were not so different after all?”</p> + +<p>I put her arm from me indignantly and mastered +my emotion, ashamed before a woman to have so +betrayed my britannic ancestry.</p> + +<p>“True, we made war but not on women and children. +We left that to savages.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> + +<p>“Your attitude surprises me,” said Acquilla reflectively. +“What sentimental creatures you men +were after all. What horrifies you? That you +saw millions wiped out in an instant? But was +there anything less horrible in men dying by the +hundreds of thousands?”</p> + +<p>“But a whole city, a nation, the women and children!”</p> + +<p>“Really, Bogardus, do you believe that war was +not always directed at the women and children? +Is it easier to die suddenly or to live blankly and +carry on the burden of life? Who suffered most +in your romantic age, the lover who died or the +lover who remained? As for the horror you imagine, +stop and think on this. The destruction +you saw was instantaneous, the vibration of the electroid +ray paralyzes every nerve instantly. There is +no more experience with pain than a bolt of lightning +gives. Such a death was virtually an unconscious +blotting out. Yet at the same epoch in your +sentimentality, you gave to your criminals an instantaneous +merciful death and allowed the ones you +loved, to die in prolonged agonies. Isn’t that +true?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know if it is true. It sounds logical,” I +admitted unwillingly.</p> + +<p>“And that is what you men never were!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> + +<p>“At least we were consistent.”</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“You have enslaved my sex, because you say, it +lived only to kill. Yet on what have you founded +your civilization of peace? On the most gigantic +holocaust that the imagination could conceive. I +call that inconsistent.”</p> + +<p>“You have brought up the fundamental difference +between the sexes. You men were ever slaves +to tradition and your consistency on which you +pride yourselves was after all only a servitude to a +rooted idea which no longer served. There is +woman’s superior mentality. We never ask is a +thing right, but is it necessary. Your vanity made +you believe you could foresee all future conditions. +We simply say the present has no relation to the +past, because new conditions and not old ones determine +our decisions.”</p> + +<p>“I have heard such stuff before,” I said, irritated +at my own lack of resource.</p> + +<p>For some reason Acquilla did not wish to further +antagonize me. She took my hand tenderly and +said:</p> + +<p>“I must make allowance for your man’s point of +view, dear Bogardus. I don’t want to annoy you. +I am simply comparing different viewpoints. After +all, remember that life is the cheapest thing in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>world and it matters little how or when we go. +You will do us the justice as you see us, to realize +that if we have not yet conquered death, we never +permit suffering, and though we had to decimate +the world to do it, we have produced a state where +hunger, poverty, sickness and suffering are unknown. +You are not angry with me, Bogardus,” +she concluded, holding out her arms with a charming +gesture.</p> + +<p>I yielded to the embrace but with a certain obstinacy +which she must have felt, for she began to +display the most tender solicitude to win me out of +the stubbornness of my mood.</p> + +<p>“Dianne is dining with us tonight and bringing +Dulcina, the great composer, and Carrilla, who +plays divinely. You will see that the aesthetics of +living has not been lost in our feminine age. Come, +we’ll plan the dinner together and you shall order +the banquet as the Epicures of your day would have +done. There you men remain supreme.”</p> + +<p>I understood the reasons of her flattery, but was +somewhat mollified by it. Yet as I took her hand +and followed her to the culinary libraries, I was +curiously conscious that in this scene I had behaved +strangely like a woman and Acquilla had had all the +masculine advantages. This irritated me and I resolved +not to appear again at such a disadvantage.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">I had</span> made no reference to my luncheon and I +must admit that I was considerably perplexed as +to what course to pursue. Due to the abrupt interruption +of my tête-à-tête with Dianne, we had +been unable to agree upon a story. Of Mag I felt +reasonably sure, for to betray me would be to implicate +herself, but what if Dianne herself should +make a slip before I could warn her? However, +my short experience with that fascinating person +had revealed to me enough of the eternal feminine +to trust to her ingenuity.</p> + +<p>My confidence was not misplaced for Dianne immediately +on entering remarked:</p> + +<p>“My dear Acquilla, I should be a thousand miles +away from here, but the opportunity to talk a +second time to your strange visitor from another +world was too tempting, even if I am going to quarrel +with him over my interpretation.”</p> + +<p>I received this as a hint for my future attitude +and answered militantly:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span></p> + +<p>“We shall quarrel certainly, for you have done +dreadful things to poor Tristan!”</p> + +<p>I advanced and held out my hand.</p> + +<p>“What is that for?” said Dianne, staring at it.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you shake hands any more?” I replied +perplexed in turn.</p> + +<p>“What a funny custom. Let me try it,” said +Dianne, glancing at Acquilla. “Gracious, how +strong and vibrant your hand is! Why do you +suppose people ever greeted each other like that? +And your face is all covered with hair, like a wild +animal.”</p> + +<p>I was explaining my predicament when Dulcina +and Carrilla entered, the last a statuesque blonde +with a wig of flaming purple hair. When Dulcina +approached and kissed me on the cheek in the accepted +modern style, I purposely returned it with +more warmth than I had shown.</p> + +<p>Acquilla, to my delight, immediately began to +consider the famous aesthete with marked aversion, +and to further aggravate her suspicions, I confess +that during the evening, I pretended to be greatly +attracted. Again, I must refer to a curious phenomenon. +With Dianne I felt always the traditional +male superiority; but with Acquilla, despite every +effort, I felt myself constantly resorting to those +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>devious ways of concealment that left me with a +bewildered sense of a transmuted sex.</p> + +<p>Our dinner, needless to say, was of the same high +order of gastronomic delicacy as my first. The +four Amazons were of faultless beauty, slender and +regal in their graceful limbs and tinted headdresses, +so that my imagination mellowed by the exquisite +vintages, pictured myself in the court of some +mythological divinity surrounded by her nymphs. +Yet the fascination that Dianne had imposed on my +senses from the first view, was imperative and exclusive +of all other desires. Dinner over, the conversation +naturally developed into a series of cross-examinations +on the habits and manners of the +twentieth century, which I sustained with spirit. +Dulcina was particularly interested in the aesthetic +life of my sex.</p> + +<p>“Is it true, Bogardus,” she said, “at a time when +certainly women must have discarded the absurdities +of hoop-skirts, corsets and powdered headdresses +that you men continued to dress in the livery +of your butlers?”</p> + +<p>“Dulcina, I shall not attempt to defend myself. +On this point I admit you score heavily. Nothing +could have been more absurd than the clothes to +which we were subjected. In fact, in an age when +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals +flourished, no one ever thought of a society for the +prevention of cruelty to men.”</p> + +<p>“I have seen curious drawings of the times,” said +Dulcina, “but I confess I cannot comprehend them. +Explain please, Bogardus, the strange way you +dressed.”</p> + +<p>“It is easier to explain how, than why,” I continued. +“In the first place when women’s dress +did not weigh more than two to three pounds, we +were staggering about in clothes that weighed five +to six times as much. We wore heavy stiff hats, +like inverted kettles and almost as heavy, that shut +out all air from our heads. We wore collars as +rigid as boards about our necks that strangled our +throats in a way no human being would have treated +a dog, and at night we placed another rigid white +board over our chests and for some mysterious +reason exposed it proudly to the public view. But +worst of all, while we encouraged our women to display +themselves in bright colors, exquisitely blended +and designed, we confined ourselves to browns and +greys and went into mourning each night.”</p> + +<p>“And yet in the past—you had Rome and +Athens! Even in the middle ages, you men in your +dress rivalled the male plumage in nature. How +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>could such an absurdity happen then? And why +did you endure it so long without a revolt?”</p> + +<p>I shook my head.</p> + +<p>“It has been described as a product of democracy.”</p> + +<p>“Yet the women were never affected, Bogardus.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” said Acquilla maliciously, “it may +have been that women never really accepted democracy.”</p> + +<p>“I make no defence,” I said shrugging my shoulders +again. “I have suffered too much.”</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t it be fair to say, Bogardus,” said Acquilla +slyly, “that this is another proof that men +were traditional and women the pioneers of the +imagination?”</p> + +<p>As I felt myself cornered again, I evaded the answer +by saying:</p> + +<p>“Yet the curious thing, Dulcina, is that the great +designers of the fashions were always men.”</p> + +<p>“It is so today.”</p> + +<p>“Really?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. In certain things, Bogardus, we +freely admit that the talents of men have remained +supreme.” There was some objection to this, but +Dulcina persisted, “Who are the great chefs today? +Men. Who sets the fashions? The men of Paris. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>Who are the great producers of masques and spectacles? +Men. And of course, when you come to +the great composers and painters—”</p> + +<p>“How about mathematics? In my day, though +women distinguished themselves in every other +field—higher mathematics was a closed door.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” Acquilla admitted grudgingly. “In that +one branch of science we admit the natural talent of +the male mind. When you go to the Astrodrome +you will see how we use it. But after all it is a +deductive quality, rather than a creative one.”</p> + +<p>“It produced an Einstein,” I said warmly. “By +the way, in your stupefying progress, have you succeeded +in understanding the Einstein theories?”</p> + +<p>“That exploded theory is taught in the primary +schools as a scientific curiosity,” Acquilla responded +crushingly. But after a glance at the irritation +which must have been evident on my face, she said, +with that new solicitude her voice took on when +she spoke to me. “However, Bogardus, we would +be most ungenerous if we devoted the evening to +an attack on the civilization of our guest. You +have a treat before you, Carrilla has promised to +give us the great Stars Symphony by Fliederfeldt, +the famous composer of the twenty first century!”</p> + +<p>The thought that came to me instantly was that +my ears were now about to be assailed by a cacophony +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>of strident noises along the lines of that modern +school which in my day had gone over to the +rhythm of locomotives and trip hammers.</p> + +<p>“The orchestron was not known to you,” said Acquilla, +motioning me to a seat on the couch beside +her. “I think you have a surprise waiting for you.”</p> + +<p>Carrilla who had been unusually silent, gazing at +me with that entranced concentration I was learning +to expect, allowed herself to be persuaded after +the manner of all great artists, before going to a +large instrument which resembled more an organ +than a piano. At the first bars, I exclaimed in +surprise:</p> + +<p>“But it’s impossible! She is not playing herself. +It is the record of a great symphony orchestra!”</p> + +<p>“It is an orchestra, true,” said Dulcina, gratified +by my astonishment, “but it is played by a single +performer.”</p> + +<p>I rose and approached the instrument incredulously.</p> + +<p>“Forgive me this interruption, my dear Carrilla,” +I said, “but before you begin, explain to me how +it is possible for you to produce on a keyboard, not +only the sounds of wind instruments which our organs +did imitate, but the clear and definite notes of +violins and cellos.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span></p> + +<p>“After all, it is quite simple,” Carrilla said, indicating +to me an elaborate keyboard. “If anyone +had thought of it in your day, I’m sure they would +have invented it. There is but one gamut and all +the orchestron does is to reproduce the notes of all +instruments. You see, here are the strings and these +delicately adjusted instruments are the bows. As +for the flutes and the horns, if a human mouth can +blow into them, surely a mechanical device can +do so.”</p> + +<p>“It is wonderfully designed,” I said, staring into +the intricate mechanism, “but how are you able to +control these multiple instruments under one direction, +particularly when one part of your orchestra +is playing one theme against another?”</p> + +<p>“It is a complicated art, of course,” said Carrilla +proudly, “and certain mechanical devices are necessary. +For instance, when the strings are carrying +the theme, this device insures the repetition of the +motif. Music is after all only the mathematics of +melody. It has its repetitions, iterations and progressions. +I indicate the theme on the keyboard +while underneath by these different pedals I throw +it into the different instruments I desire. Do you +see? So. Here are the flutes, now I close the +flutes and bring up the cellos, now both mingle and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>now one plays this simple theme against the other. +Is it clear?”</p> + +<p>“Clear as the suspension of the solar system in +space. Since we see it, it is so, but just as miraculous.”</p> + +<p>“Recline and I shall play—just for you,” she said +in a low voice, pressing my hand.</p> + +<p>I returned and placed myself between Acquilla +and Dianne, agreeably intoxicated by their fragrant +personalities, while Carrilla began to play. +Even now I cannot believe the testimony of my +senses. All I can say is that apparently Carrilla at +the keyboard seemed to play upon an invisible orchestra +as deftly as though she were rendering a +simple performance on the pianoforte. Possibly +the orchestron was merely a glorified organ. The +thought occurred to me. But if so, it was unlike +any organ I had ever listened to and there was not +the faintest note of the piping tremolo I associated +with that instrument.</p> + +<p>After this divine music, Dianne without rising, +sang to Carrilla’s accompaniment, the air of Elsa +from Lohengrin (Wagner alone seemed to have survived) +and another that resembled somewhat the +salute to the sun in Coq d’Or. She was so close +that I could almost feel the passing of the lovely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>liquid notes against my cheek. Once in an impassioned +burst I felt her hand slip into mine and +lie there all tremulous with emotion. My own +senses were now in such a whirl by the magnetism +of her nearness that fearing to betray myself, I sat +up at the conclusion of her song and said:</p> + +<p>“Carrilla and Dianne, for pity’s sake, no more! +If I listen any longer to your ravishing music, I shall +feel myself back on Calypso’s island bewitched by +the songs of sirens. And you know what happened +to those who listened?” I drew a long sharp +breath and to recover some calm added, “Oh, by the +way, I have one complaint to make, but that is a +serious one. Who emasculated the rôle of Tristan +in the otherwise perfect performance I witnessed +yesterday?”</p> + +<p>The Amazons glanced at one another in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Emasculate? Just what do you mean, Bogardus?” +said Acquilla at length.</p> + +<p>“While it is true that the passion of love overwhelms +each at the drinking of the love potion, +Tristan is a magnificent male, a hero of a hundred +battles, one of the famous knights of legend. But +you make him a pliant shrinking personality dominated +by Isolde.”</p> + +<p>“But after all, Tristan is a man!” exclaimed +Dianne, after a chorus of exclamations.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span></p> + +<p>“Even a love potion could not have made the +regal Isolde fall in love with an invertebrate like +that.”</p> + +<p>“Historically he is right,” said Dulcina, “I have +always maintained that we should produce the opera +to represent the times.”</p> + +<p>“The public would never understand it!” said +Acquilla.</p> + +<p>“Where could you find a man today to play the +part differently!”</p> + +<p>“My dear ladies, let me tell you frankly that +what you defend is nothing but nature faking. +Why, in the second act,” I continued, boiling at the +recollection, “in the sublimest love scene of all +drama, how do you represent it? By Isolde putting +her arm around Tristan and pillowing his head +on her shoulder! If you don’t see the absurdity of +that, there is no sense of humor left in the world. +No, really it is too funny!”</p> + +<p>At this memory, and the blank seriousness of their +looks, I was seized with a sudden uncontrollable +spasm of hilarity. I laughed, holding my sides until +the tears ran down my cheeks.</p> + +<p>“There he is doing it again,” said Acquilla in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>“Are you in such dreadful pain,” cried Dianne, +seizing my arm with a warmth that should have betrayed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>her personal interest, while Dulcina and Carrilla +stood frightened and helpless staring at me.</p> + +<p>“Pain, no! I am laughing,” I managed to cry +out.</p> + +<p>“Laughing, that’s what he called it,” Acquilla explained. +“No, I assure you he is not suffering. He +will be quite normal in a moment!”</p> + +<p>I mastered my emotion, but the ludicrousness of +their perplexed concern for me so overcame me, +that again I doubled up. When at last I was master +of myself, I said:</p> + +<p>“It is true you have abolished laughter! What +a revelation!” I cried, struck by a sudden enlightenment. +“It must be true then, that women +never really had a sense of humor and only counterfeited +our inexplicable amusement!”</p> + +<p>“But why do you laugh, Bogardus?” said Dulcina, +curiously.</p> + +<p>“How can I explain the nature of laughter to +those who have never laughed? And yet, wise +women of the twenty-second century, don’t you +realize that laughter has overthrown kings and +gods? When men slunk in the woods and feared +the night and the storm and shivered under the +tyranny of fear and superstition, it was the first +man who dared to laugh at a clay god, who made +men gods of men themselves. You want to know +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>what it is to laugh?” I concluded. “I will teach +you as we taught our babies!”</p> + +<p>“I am willing to try,” said Acquilla, nerving +herself in the interest of science.</p> + +<p>“Very well. Slip off your sandal—so. Put out +your foot.”</p> + +<p>Wondering, Acquilla obliged, while the others +craned about us.</p> + +<p>I took the lovely ankle firmly in my hand and ran +my fingertips lightly over the sole of her foot.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Oh!” cried Acquilla, with a convulsive +shiver.</p> + +<p>“It is not painful, is it?” I demanded, maliciously.</p> + +<p>“No—but it’s very strange. No, Bogardus, let +go of my foot. I can’t stand any more. It—it—”</p> + +<p>“Tickles?”</p> + +<p>“Oh how—oh, how it tickles!” she cried and +suddenly began to laugh. “Oh, how funny—how +queer—but oh, how delightful. I do, I do like it!”</p> + +<p>Dulcina, Carrilla and Dianne each in their turn +clamored for the experiment, and each was hilariously +initiated into the lost art.</p> + +<p>“There,” I exclaimed, pointing to Acquilla, who +was laughing at their first contortions, “now she is +laughing at you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span></p> + +<p>“I am laughing because they are making such +strange faces,” said Acquilla, wiping the tears from +her eyes.</p> + +<p>At this moment Mag entered with a tray. I +waited my moment and suddenly pulled the rug +from under her. The four women burst out laughing +at the sudden sprawling descent. But all at +once Acquilla frowned and with a gesture of dismissal +to the maid, said:</p> + +<p>“Bogardus, is laughter then so cruel!”</p> + +<p>I saw my mistake and tried to rectify it.</p> + +<p>“Laughter in that case was simply an atavistic +sense of superiority. It was because Mag was placed +in a ludicrous light, that our self-superiority expressed +itself in a laugh. But that is only a trivial +and a very obvious side.”</p> + +<p>“Wait!” Acquilla stopped me with a frown. +“You have done a daring and it may be an unwise +thing, Bogardus. There are illimitable consequences +to what you have taught us. Perhaps this +is what was meant by the fruit of the Tree of the +Knowledge of Good and Evil.”</p> + +<p>“Acquilla, how ridiculous!” exclaimed Dulcina, +and to my horror began to giggle.</p> + +<p>“There you see,” said Acquilla sombrely. “The +poison has already begun to act! Bogardus, answer +my question.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p> + +<p>When Acquilla was in this mood the effect was +terrifying. A sudden hush ensued and I caught +an admonishing glance from Dianne.</p> + +<p>“You say, Bogardus, that laughter has overthrown +tyrannies and superstitions. That is good. But +answer me truthfully: has it never destroyed the +reputation of a genius or caused the decadence of +a great civilization?”</p> + +<p>“You are thinking of some particular instance?” +I said, to gain time.</p> + +<p>“Of many, Bogardus. Was not Pericles driven +out by ridicule and weren’t the greatest of the Greek +tragedians made the butt of the coarse humor of +Aristophanes and his school? And in a larger sense, +did not the most brilliant of your civilizations lapse +into an intellectual and political decadence when the +Athenians had learned to turn everything into +ridicule?”</p> + +<p>“You are ascribing to one cause what must have +been the result of many. And I may remind you +that Æschylus, Euripides and Sophocles have remained +among the immortals.”</p> + +<p>“You are adroit, Bogardus, but you are temporizing. +Let us go further. Answer me honestly. +Was not the spirit of irony directed against your +most sacred institutions? And wasn’t the object +of your so-called humorists to ridicule everything +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>you held by; the family relationship, marriage, the +established church, your statesmen, your professors +and your traditions?”</p> + +<p>“True. Our satirists and comedians amused +themselves at the expense of marriage, love, fidelity, +domestic bliss, the older generation; but Acquilla,” +I added artfully, “was the attack unjustified? And +since you have abolished marriage and the home, +and parentage and romance, is it not fair to ascribe +some part in the new enlightenment to that same +masculine spirit of irony which undermines with +ridicule what you have destroyed with your logic?”</p> + +<p>“You argue glibly,” said Acquilla, in the usual +feminine way, “but one thing is clear from your +own words—this thing you exalt as laughter, which +I call the spirit of irony, has been a cruel and destructive +force, and when it dominates a society it +destroys it. I see the danger now, and Dulcina, +Carrilla, Dianne, I expressly enjoin on you that what +has happened here tonight, through a careless whim, +must go no further.”</p> + +<p>“Really, my dear,” said Dulcina, laughing, “you +are just a little put out by the brilliant exposition of +a mere man and trying to magnify into an affair of +state what is a game for children.”</p> + +<p>“I think Bogardus has argued brilliantly and revealed +to us a surprising breadth of view. I am +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>more of a masculinist than ever,” said Carrilla, coming +to me and looking deep into my eyes. “And if +he displeases you I shall be delighted to take him +home with me.”</p> + +<p>“Carrilla, you are frivolous,” said Dianne, rising +angrily. “I quite agree with Acquilla, and I am +confident that when Bogardus has had time to become +acquainted with our institutions he will be +the last to advocate the introduction of any spirit +of criticism.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I thought you stood for the regeneration +of men,” said Dulcina, turning on Dianne. “At +least you have said so a hundred times. It is you +who are inconsistent! I agree with Carrilla—Bogardus +has convinced me. The suppression of +the male sex as it is carried on today is contrary to +nature and justice!” She turned to me and taking +my hand added: “Bogardus, all you say interests me +intensely, and I invite you now to return with me +and let me personally act as your guide.”</p> + +<p>“Why, the idea!” said Carrilla acidly. “I asked +him first.”</p> + +<p>“Suppose we leave the choice to Bogardus himself,” +said Dianne, looking angrily at the other two.</p> + +<p>Acquilla, who had watched this scene with frowning +brow interrupted with a peremptory gesture. +“For shame! We are acting like a group of silly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>men! Enough! When I need advice or assistance +I shall know where to find it.” She rose, ending +the evening. “It is late and Bogardus is still in +need of strength and sleep. Good night!”</p> + +<p>Carrilla and Dulcina shrugged their shoulders +and embraced me, with a warmth that had been +entirely lacking in their first contact, but when I +felt the lovely arms of Dianne about me, my pulse +began to race.</p> + +<p>“Be careful, Jacko,” she whispered in my ear. +“You went too far. Acquilla is alarmed and Acquilla +is implacable. Good night, my adorable +one!”</p> + +<p>The sensation of having thrown the apple of discord +among these beautiful creatures was, I confess, +humorously satisfactory to my vanity. But heeding +Dianne’s warning look, and intimidated by the +angry fire in the eyes of Acquilla, I resolved that +discretion was the better part of valor. When we +were left alone, I held out my hand and said, smiling:</p> + +<p>“Dear Acquilla, I see that even now discussions +are dangerous between the sexes, but since we are +alone, let me admit that I see a great deal for serious +consideration in what you have said.”</p> + +<p>“They are only Histriones and Æsthetes,” said +Acquilla, her brow clearing, “and their faculties are +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>all emotional. You are a man of such sound sense +that I am confident of your final judgment. But +meanwhile no more such experiments as tonight, +Bogardus.”</p> + +<p>“I promise,” I replied, smiling a relieved smile. +“So it’s understood we shall laugh no more!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well,” replied Acquilla, looking at me with +a tender light in her eyes. “I don’t say never. It +wasn’t so painful. But only when we are alone, +dear.”</p> + +<p>She came toward me with a radiant smile, opening +her arms.</p> + +<p>Again I felt a swift metamorphosis.</p> + +<p>“When you look at me like that,” I said, with assumed +dizziness, “my head goes round. I—I +feel—”</p> + +<p>Acquilla sprang forward and lifted me clear in +her strong arms as I pretended to reel and fall.</p> + +<p>“Poor dear! You are still not strong!” she said, +holding me as a child, and bending over my eyes. +“Forgive me! I must take better care of you. +Better, dear?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but—but, I don’t understand why I am so +weak.”</p> + +<p>Thanks to my duplicity, I was carried upstairs +and put to bed, but the kiss that Acquilla laid on my +lips burned into me. Again I lay awake a long time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>dreaming of Dianne and Acquilla, realizing all at +once the dangers and perplexities with which my +situation was now fraught;—I, of the now decidedly +weaker sex, alone and unprotected, at the +mercy of this resplendent but ruthless and unmoral +Amazon.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">When</span> I awoke, Acquilla was standing at the +side of my couch. I rubbed my eyes. +The room through its glass walls was flooded with +an agreeable modified sunlight.</p> + +<p>“I must have overslept,” I said.</p> + +<p>“You’ve slept a whole day, but now you ought +to feel splendidly,” she replied eagerly.</p> + +<p>“It’s true. I don’t remember when I’ve felt so +alive and keen. And I feel a wolfish appetite.”</p> + +<p>“How fast your hair grows,” said Acquilla passing +her hand over my face, “and how wiry it is.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t tell me that men don’t shave any more!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, not for a long while here. In Southern +races you occasionally see curious throwbacks. +How funny it feels,” she added, again taking liberties +with my chin. “You know I rather like it.”</p> + +<p>“Acquilla,” I said solemnly, “I am beginning to +be worried about my fellow men. What have you +done with your brothers?”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid you will be rather upset,” she said, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>smiling, “but you are so different from the men of +today. You are a reasoning creature and will understand, +I am sure.”</p> + +<p>“I reserve judgment, but meantime I am exceedingly +apprehensive.”</p> + +<p>We breakfasted out of doors, in a charming little +bower of fragrant roses. A machinot waited on +us with a dexterity that was little short of uncanny. +Twice during the meal Acquilla rose and went into +the house, probably to give the orders for the day. +Each time true to the precepts of an excellent +training, I rose and waited until she resumed her +seat.</p> + +<p>“Why do you get up so often?” said Acquilla +the second time.</p> + +<p>“A gentleman in my day always rose when a +lady did,” I answered with a touch of asperity. +“It was a deference we paid the sex of our mothers. +We called it good manners.”</p> + +<p>“What a strange idea. You placed women on an +inferior scale and flattered them by treating them +as your superiors.”</p> + +<p>I must confess that after a moment’s deliberation +I found no reply adequate.</p> + +<p>“What inconceivable sentimentalists you men +really were,” continued Acquilla reflectively.</p> + +<p>“It was an attitude, of course, that descended +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>from the age of chivalry—the service of the strong +towards the weak.”</p> + +<p>“All vanity. You preferred that attitude to +acknowledging our equality.”</p> + +<p>“Well, it seems now the situation is reversed. +May I ask what is <i>your</i> attitude to my unfortunate +sex?”</p> + +<p>This question evidently perplexed Acquilla for +reasons I was to learn later. Perhaps she regretted +the indiscretion of her previous remarks. But +after a moment she replied.</p> + +<p>“As a sex, yes, we consider the male inferior, +though, of course, we make exceptions in the case +of outstanding merit. To a small element who +distinguish themselves in the arts and sciences we +give modified political rights—chiefly advisory.”</p> + +<p>I sat up and stared at her.</p> + +<p>“How long since you have taken away the vote +from men?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, men have been disfranchised for over a +century,” said Acquilla carelessly. “The age of +reason could not have been achieved in any other +way.”</p> + +<p>“And they submit to it—tamely?”</p> + +<p>“Why not? They are quite happy, I assure +you. There are a few radical thinkers among us +who have lately raised the cry of votes for men, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>but this heresy is confined chiefly to the brunettes +and the Histriones. It will die out naturally.”</p> + +<p>“But the men themselves,” I exclaimed indignantly. +“After all, there is the appeal to force.”</p> + +<p>“What can they do? They are outnumbered +twenty five to one. My dear man, let me urge +you to put aside your incurable sentimentality and +your traditional way of looking at things, and try +to appreciate the age of reason, in which you are +now living. Soon, you will see how your males are +living and enjoying themselves—and afterwards +tell me candidly if we have not solved the sex +problem.”</p> + +<p>“One man to twenty five women!!” I cried, +hearing nothing else. “But then you must have +deliberately suppressed, socially murdered—”</p> + +<p>“All that was done long ago,” said Acquilla interrupting. +“Don’t excite yourself so, Bogardus. +How like a man! Emotion should never precede +knowledge. How agitated you are before you +have even investigated.”</p> + +<p>“Is this true everywhere?”</p> + +<p>“Naturally. When the male civilization collapsed +in the sanguinary World War it would have +been a tragic futility to have returned man to +power again, wouldn’t it?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> + +<p>“So it is an Amazon state that we have +come to!”</p> + +<p>“You have said it. But don’t forget that an +Amazon civilization existed three thousand years +ago.”</p> + +<p>I contained my wrath and asked with new curiosity:</p> + +<p>“And this Amazon state, is it modelled on our +communistic or despotic theories?”</p> + +<p>“You may call it a despotism, but it has certainly +nothing to do with communism or socialism.”</p> + +<p>“Then democracy has survived?”</p> + +<p>“How absurd! You will be quoting to me the +sentimentalities of Rousseau and your Declaration +of Independence! ‘All men are created free and +equal.’”</p> + +<p>“Well?”</p> + +<p>“My dear Bogardus, that was a male egotism. +All men created free and equal! No woman ever +really believed that!”</p> + +<p>“There you have scored,” I cried laughing. “I +must admit that women did <i>not</i> believe that.”</p> + +<p>“Exactly, and that is true in our sex, too. Even +with our scientific methods of advanced eugenics, +we create types but never equalities.”</p> + +<p>“Just what then, is the basis of the modern +state?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p> + +<p>“You can’t guess? And yet it was written on +the walls of history for anyone to recognize. Well, +Bogardus, I’ll help you. But first, you had a civilization +based on the family. The fatherhead of +course.”</p> + +<p>“Then the tribal chief.”</p> + +<p>“The kinghead, of course. Then oligarchies, +democracies, and demagogueries. Now what were +they based on? The army, the church or the +mob.”</p> + +<p>“True,” I admitted, interested in spite of myself.</p> + +<p>“But after all, what makes the difference between +human beings, the superior mind and the +average?”</p> + +<p>“Power.”</p> + +<p>“In your days power became an artificial inheritance. +In our days power is knowledge.”</p> + +<p>“Knowledge is power. I remember writing that +as a child in a Spencerian copy book, I think,” I +said meditatively.</p> + +<p>“Our state of course, is founded on the University, +as any logical civilization must be. Success +is simply the process of elimination. That is +what the University accomplishes scientifically and +impartially.”</p> + +<p>“But then,” I asked, remembering certain remarks, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>“you are organized on a system of castes.”</p> + +<p>“True. We have rejected your democratic sentimentalisms +and have returned to the first principle +of nature, the survival of the fittest. With +that we have adopted Napoleon’s conception of an +aristocracy of achievement.”</p> + +<p>“Very good,” I said, “and all you say interests +me keenly. For Acquilla, you must know that +there were many solitary thinkers, even in my day, +who held with you. In fact, the British sought to +reinvigorate their own aristocracy by the generous +introduction of strong new personalities. But the +weakness in all such systems is, of course, in the +decline in vigor and effort which comes with the +generations that inherit. How do you handle the +second generation?”</p> + +<p>“It is a pleasure to converse with you, Bogardus,” +said Acquilla, brightening up. “Truly, you have +the mind of a woman. The answer is simple. +You have correctly pointed out the danger of all +inherited institutions. We have eliminated it.”</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“There is no second generation.”</p> + +<p>“You—you suppress the children of your aristocracy?” +I cried, gazing at her in horror.</p> + +<p>“Not exactly. But we have suppressed the family +which amounts to the same thing. You see, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>as our great philosopher, Manfreda, has pointed +out in her epochal work which led to the final +abolishment of your archaic tribal institutions, not +only did the family idea constitute a rebellious element +in society but—”</p> + +<p>“One moment, I do not quite seize the implication.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you must read Manfreda, the greatest creative +thinker of all times. You didn’t understand? +But what is the object of the family; the strong +must carry with them the weak. The moment a +leader begins to provide for his family, his loyalty +is to his children and not to the state. The parasitic +second generation of which you speak retained +artificial power, only by inheritance. Is that +plain?”</p> + +<p>“As you state it, it’s made plausible.”</p> + +<p>“Furthermore, Bogardus, was not the family in +itself an institution curiously contrary to the principle +of the survival of the fittest?”</p> + +<p>“In what way?”</p> + +<p>“Was it not generally the weak that preyed upon +the strong? In the family as you knew it, how +often was the strongest member sacrificed for the +incompetents?”</p> + +<p>“The idea is a novel one—”</p> + +<p>“Reflect.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> + +<p>“I am reflecting—yes—and many incidents +come to my mind that bear out your statement. +But—”</p> + +<p>“Now you are going to talk morality.”</p> + +<p>“I was.”</p> + +<p>“Let us postpone morality for the present.”</p> + +<p>“I am curious to know how you would define it.”</p> + +<p>“Morality is order. Immorality disorder.”</p> + +<p>“I like the definition.”</p> + +<p>“There is no other possible. So you see until +you are conversant with our new institutions and +manners, you cannot argue on morality in the +terms of the twentieth century, any more than you +would have argued then in the terms of the middle +ages.”</p> + +<p>“To go back a little,” I said, keenly interested, +I must confess, “may I ask some questions?”</p> + +<p>“Do.”</p> + +<p>“You have abolished marriage and the family, I +perceive, but how do you handle the question of +the children?”</p> + +<p>“The determination of sex was solved in the last +century. Birth control was in force all over the +world long before that.”</p> + +<p>“So you permit birth control?” I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Permit? It is obligatory. As science has diminished +the need of labor, we have met the challenge +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>of the machine by successively reducing the +population. Anything else would be unscientific. +The production of females and males is fixed for +each country by the World Commission, of which +I am a member. Our decisions are immutable and +never disobeyed.”</p> + +<p>“How can you be sure of that?”</p> + +<p>“Fundamental laws are reduced to the smallest +number and any wilful infraction is punishable by +death. In the case of the resistance of a community +we would wipe out that community,” Acquilla +concluded calmly.</p> + +<p>“Acquilla, when you talk like that you make me +shudder.”</p> + +<p>“In your day,” replied Acquilla quickly, “you +had thousands of laws and expected them all to be +broken.”</p> + +<p>“But death—”</p> + +<p>“The infraction of any law must be punishable +by death if there is any necessity for the law.”</p> + +<p>“But an unjust law—”</p> + +<p>“There are no unjust laws because there is no +oppression of the individual. As for the death +penalty (which of course, is simply the arrestation +of life by means of the Frigidrome) you would be +astonished to see how it has simplified the observance.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> + +<p>“I shall reserve my opinion to our discussion on +morality,” I said obstinately. “But to continue; +what do you do with the children when they are +born?”</p> + +<p>“They are removed to the state nurseries immediately +and brought up in community.”</p> + +<p>“And you never see them?”</p> + +<p>“Never.”</p> + +<p>“But the children?”</p> + +<p>“Science has demonstrated that children to be +entirely normal, must be removed from the dangers +of the mother or father complex. But Freud and +Bertrand Russell, in your day, must have realized +that.”</p> + +<p>“The mother and father complex, it is true, were +held responsible for many things.”</p> + +<p>“You see we have really broken up the home in +the interest of the children.”</p> + +<p>I felt a dizziness in my head and took a long +breath.</p> + +<p>“What is wrong, dear?” said Acquilla solicitously.</p> + +<p>“I am trying to acquire your modern point of +view,” I answered feebly. “One thing occurs to +me; why go through the torture of childbirth at +all?”</p> + +<p>“In the first place childbearing has now no discomforts. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>In the second place it is a duty imposed +by the state and finally it has been established that +it is a process of nature that is essential to the complete +health and mental vigor of a woman.”</p> + +<p>“Then all children are treated alike?”</p> + +<p>“No, but the children of each caste, yes. For, +Bogardus, it would be absurd to say that a child +of mine has no greater equipment than the child of +a servant.”</p> + +<p>“Naturally.”</p> + +<p>“Eugenics has taught us to develop inherited +characteristics. We breed not only for physical +form but for developed tendencies. A great scientist +or a philosopher in her offspring, with the +proper mating, produces a finer brain, naturally. +Nothing more complex in that than breeding for +speed in horses or scent in dogs.”</p> + +<p>“What then, Acquilla, is the arrangement of +castes?”</p> + +<p>“The highest caste is called the Minervenes. +This comprises the highest types of mind, the scientists, +the philosophers, the teachers, the doctors +and the governors or administrators.”</p> + +<p>“What has become of the lawyers?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not sure I understand what you mean by +lawyers. What were lawyers? Do you mean +law makers?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span></p> + +<p>“On the contrary.” I hesitated before an obvious +witticism before replying. “Lawyers interpreted +the laws. In my day there were so many +laws and so often in conflict that no one ever contemplated +any step without recourse to a lawyer.”</p> + +<p>“Laws that have to be interpreted. How +strange!”</p> + +<p>“But how can you leave property without a lawyer +to draw up the will?”</p> + +<p>“There is no one to leave property to. Everything +returns to the state, and the state fixes the +income of each according to merit.”</p> + +<p>“But surely there are such things as income +taxes?”</p> + +<p>Acquilla shook her head.</p> + +<p>“But in your life don’t you buy or sell?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, but all this is arranged through government +agencies.”</p> + +<p>“Then there were the corporation lawyers who +found the way to accomplish results that were +seemingly forbidden by laws.”</p> + +<p>“There are no privately owned corporations.”</p> + +<p>“But the criminal lawyers—surely there must +be someone to represent the individual who is accused +of breaking your laws?”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“Well, manifestly someone with the knowledge +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>of the law must advise the accused and plead his +case before the jury.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Bogardus, criminology is an exact science, +as you will see. We have judges but no +juries.”</p> + +<p>“But the laws of testimony?”</p> + +<p>“Confusion, mystification. We simply bring +the accused before the judge and ask him one question.”</p> + +<p>“What question?”</p> + +<p>“Why—‘Are you guilty?’ of course! Who +knows better than the accused?”</p> + +<p>“Very simple; if all women have forgotten how +to lie.”</p> + +<p>“But a lie is impossible. We apply the scientific +test, the detecto-vibrator, that records the truth +or falsity of the answer by the nervous reaction. +That principle surely was known in your day.”</p> + +<p>“True, but not in use. Manifestly then, there +is no need of lawyers. This, I admit cheerfully, is +a great progress. Please continue.”</p> + +<p>“The Minervenes are, of course, the supreme +directing body in the state. Then there are the +Histriones who compose all the liberal professions, +the writers, musicians, actors, artists and +architects. Socially they rank with the Minervenes, +but politically they have nothing to do with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>the direction of the government, except as they +may indirectly influence ideas.”</p> + +<p>“And they submit to this inferiority?”</p> + +<p>“Submit? Inferiority? They claim it as their +right to be exempt from any such burden. Why +should anyone with a creative gift wish to have +her valuable time diverted to the dry routine of +government?”</p> + +<p>I bowed.</p> + +<p>“You have an answer to everything.”</p> + +<p>“The third caste is the Vulcates, our great mechanics +and engineers. The fourth the Æsthetes, +the arbiters of fashions, the decorators, the great +culinary artists, all those who study the greatest +enjoyment to be had out of life. The fifth are +the Cerenes, the agricultural producers, farmers, +cattlewomen, dairywomen, wine makers. The +sixth caste, the Mercurenes, the artisans and manufacturers, +and finally the seventh caste, the Domesticates, +the servants, the clerks, and the police.”</p> + +<p>“And are these castes rigid? Is there no hope +of rising from one caste to another?”</p> + +<p>“There is nothing rigid about any of them, +Bogardus, because there is no inheritance. A +woman’s caste is determined by her education. +Opportunity is open to everyone according to their +merits. You will see how this works out.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> + +<p>“We are going to visit the University?”</p> + +<p>“Now,” said Acquilla, pointing to the open lawn +at the bottom of the park, where an aeromat was +descending at this moment. “But I have a busy +day in Europa and will have to leave you to another +guide.”</p> + +<p>“Dulcina?” I said with simulated eagerness.</p> + +<p>“You are attracted by her. Admit it!”</p> + +<p>“I thought her interesting, more so than Carrilla +or Dianne, who are amusing but like all artists interested +only in themselves,” I replied adroitly. +Again I was conscious of a translated personality +in the domineering presence of the Minervene, as +though the sexes were reversed and I was resorting +to the artifices of the weaker.</p> + +<p>“Dulcina is even more vain and egotistical,” said +Acquilla peremptorily, “and knows nothing outside +her own talent.”</p> + +<p>“Then it is not Dulcina?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not!”</p> + +<p>“Carrilla?”</p> + +<p>“It is not Carrilla!”</p> + +<p>Before I could venture another guess, my lovely +Dianne stepped out of the aeromat and said, “Doctrina +has an important meeting and asked me to +take her place.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">Acquilla</span> did not look any too well pleased +at this substitution, but as she had no time to +lose she made the best of it.</p> + +<p>“How in the world did you manage it?” I exclaimed +when Dianne and I had soared lightly into +the clear air.</p> + +<p>“Oh, we Histriones are privileged to lie a little +now and then,” said Dianne with the smile of a +naughty child. “Were you disappointed it wasn’t +Dulcina?”</p> + +<p>I took quite a little time to prove to her that her +jealousy had no foundation.</p> + +<p>“It is Acquilla that worries me,” I concluded.</p> + +<p>“Acquilla is a cerebral. I am not worried about +her. I shall never be jealous of a Minervene, I +promise you.”</p> + +<p>“She is very intelligent,” I remarked, unwilling +to surrender any advantage.</p> + +<p>“Are you trying to make me jealous!” exclaimed +Dianne, taking me in her arms with a savagery that +crushed my body to hers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span></p> + +<p>“The eternal feminine, thank heaven,” I cried +laughing.</p> + +<p>Dianne’s eyes were glowing like a startled +lioness.</p> + +<p>“If you hurt me, I shall hurt you!” she said, +showing her sharp white teeth. But instantly she +relaxed under my mocking gaze. “Please, Jack +dear, don’t stir me up. Things are bad enough as +they are.”</p> + +<p>“How am I ever going to escape from Acquilla?” +I said dejectedly, but at this moment looking down, +I perceived we were about five hundred feet over +the East River, which was spanned by a dozen great +bridges at least a quarter of a mile in width.</p> + +<p>“But aren’t those palms and cork trees below +me?” I exclaimed, peering over.</p> + +<p>“Yes. By the control of the Gulf Stream we +have been able to procure a temperate zone as far +north along the Atlantic coast as Newfoundland. +It is middle Athena but the temperature is not +below sixty.”</p> + +<p>“You have changed the course of the Gulf +Stream! Then you have changed history.”</p> + +<p>“No. Of course, the strategic position we have +allows us to deflect the stream after it leaves the +Gulf. We divide it and send a part to the coast of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>Greenland, which has developed an entirely new +civilization.”</p> + +<p>“But how?”</p> + +<p>“Really I don’t know—it’s all engineering and +I never could understand mathematics.”</p> + +<p>“My darling Dianne, how refreshing to find a +woman who doesn’t know something! But you +speak of Greenland as we did. Then countries +have retained their identities?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. Women have a horror of uniformity +and standardization. Climate, we know, influences +the types of human brains. We do everything +to preserve the genius of local areas. Internationally +we govern as little as possible.”</p> + +<p>“And here—is there such a thing as the United +States left?”</p> + +<p>“There is a loose alliance, of course, but there +are broad divisions you did not have. There are +four great states. Amazonia, which extends from +Florida to Baffin Bay and as far west as the Appalachians; +Dixie, which starts from Panama and +goes to the Rockies; Illinois, which takes in the +great lakes and the midwestern basin, and California, +which takes in the whole western coast.”</p> + +<p>“But is there no conflict of interests there?”</p> + +<p>“What interests could divide us?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> + +<p>“Commercial interests?”</p> + +<p>“Each state produces what it is best fitted for. +We have a supreme council, it is true, that controls +such vital matters as health, climate, population +and the distribution of energy, but in an age of +pure reason it is impossible that any injustice should +be done.”</p> + +<p>“Still—”</p> + +<p>“Later you will understand. Our solidarity is +the solidarity of the whole human race. We are +united in the pursuit of great scientific achievements. +Education has broken down the barriers +of prejudices and greeds. But what do you wish +most to see? The hospitals, schools or museums? +I must take you somewhere, you know!” she added, +glancing at me with adorable mischief in her eyes.</p> + +<p>“There is just one thing I want to see above all +others,” I exclaimed instantly. “I want to see my +fellow men.”</p> + +<p>“I was afraid you were going to ask that,” said +Dianne, looking grave.</p> + +<p>“Do you realize that since I have been here I +haven’t seen a single man! Do you wonder at my +curiosity? Where are they? When I try to +open the subject with Acquilla she always evades +me. You at least will tell me the truth.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span></p> + +<p>Dianne hesitated a moment and then leaning +forward, gave certain directions to the machinot, +who flew rapidly down Long Island.</p> + +<p>“It is a dangerous thing I am doing,” she said +frowning. “Dangerous perhaps for both of us. +It will make Acquilla my enemy for life, but since +you ask, my darling, I can’t refuse.”</p> + +<p>“I know you have carried your subordination of +my sex to the extent of shutting them out of all +public life. Do you also bring them up in ignorance, +that they have forgotten what they once +were?” I asked indignantly.</p> + +<p>“Oh no, it is only the personal contact and the +public appearance that is eliminated. They go to +school and college—a television college, of course. +For those who have a natural talent the higher education +is open. But few avail themselves of the +privilege. You will find, dear, a great change in +your fellow men. You must be prepared.”</p> + +<p>“But what do they do?”</p> + +<p>“Of course males are primarily developed as +breeders, naturally.”</p> + +<p>“So they are segregated—in some sort of glorified +seraglios, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>“Segregated of course, but really, Jack dear, +they are quite happy with their existence and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>everything is done for their physical comforts.”</p> + +<p>“So that is the level to which they have sunk,” +I said oppressed by the prospect.</p> + +<p>“I realize now,” said Dianne, gazing at me with +undisguised admiration, “how changed men will +seem to you. But if you find any trace of dissatisfaction, +it will be I who will be surprised. Look +over there. We are approaching the first of the +Clubs.”</p> + +<p>“Clubs? Is that what you call these prisons?” +I exclaimed, perceiving an immense park surrounded +by high walls.</p> + +<p>“Oh, the walls. They are really to protect the +men.”</p> + +<p>We flew over the enclosure which was an immense +tract about the size of lower Manhattan +with a dozen golf courses and two stadiums, in one +of which I observed the familiar sight of a gridiron +with a football match in progress.</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t we see the game?” I said eagerly, +thrilling with the memories of my college enthusiasms.</p> + +<p>“No. Impossible. Women are barred from +the Clubs by an ancient tradition. But we can +stop and watch for a while.”</p> + +<p>The aeromat sank to a distance of five hundred +feet above the ground and remained poised by some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>gyroscopic device. Dianne handed me a telescopic +helmet which not only brought the whole scene to +my eyes in the minutest detail, but recorded the +slightest sounds.</p> + +<p>“But these are women!” I exclaimed after one +quick glance around at the brightly colored togas +which crowded the auditorium.</p> + +<p>“It is the colors that confuse you.”</p> + +<p>“But they have long hair.”</p> + +<p>“Men again.”</p> + +<p>I looked closer and observed that on one side of +the arena the entire section was occupied by men +dressed in black. When I inquired of Dianne she +said:</p> + +<p>“Men take these contests very seriously, Jack, +and defeat is considered such a disgrace that the losing +club goes into mourning until the stain is wiped +out by victory. This Spartan attitude on the part +of their supporters is believed to inflame the eleven +with the spirit to win or die. Of course, this is a +development of sport since your day which must +be surprising to you.”</p> + +<p>I looked at Dianne from the corner of my eye, +but evaded comment. Since the experiment on +the soles of her feet, I had begun to wonder if a +sense of humor were not beginning to develop.</p> + +<p>“But why don’t they begin to play?” I asked, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>observing the field covered with a score of figures +in conclave.</p> + +<p>“Why the teams aren’t yet on the field.”</p> + +<p>“But the—”</p> + +<p>“Oh those are the officials.”</p> + +<p>“Twenty-four officials!”</p> + +<p>“I confess, dear, that I am not familiar with the +great masculine sport,” said Dianne, “but I believe +that such a vast body of legislation has grown up +about the game that not only each player has to be +watched by two officials, but each team has to be +represented by legal experts to argue on the interpretations +which may arise.”</p> + +<p>“Then lawyers do exist!” I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“The club community has nothing to do with +the state,” said Dianne. “Inside their walls, men +are allowed to organize themselves as they see fit. +That’s why a great many atavistic customs have +been retained. For example, they say everything +there is run by committees.”</p> + +<p>“I must visit the Club,” I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>“Impossible!” exclaimed Dianne, really alarmed, +“and I beg of you, if you love me, don’t ask anything +of the kind. You must watch every step, +dear, for our happiness depends on your discretion. +You have enemies, determined enemies already—”</p> + +<p>Before I could reply the air was filled with a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>terrific din. I looked down and observed the section +of bright colors fluttering in a state of the +wildest hysteria.</p> + +<p>“The home team is arriving,” said Dianne.</p> + +<p>Through the portals at the north end I observed +the irruption of a band of Dionysian revellers performing +the most curious revolutions, shaking tambourines +and leaping to great heights in the air. +Behind with their hands on each others’ shoulders +the eleven and substitutes marched in military +formation. The appearance of the home team +completed the frenzy in the stands which burst +into a triumphant paean under the skillful guidance +of a score of cheer leaders.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the pandemonium subsided than the +turn of the visitors came—but with what a difference! +The sections of mourners rose and stood +with bared heads while the procession led by similarly +black clad figures with the colors furled and +wrapped around in crepe entered and approaching +the home stands, passed with solemnly uplifted +hands, as the gladiators about to die before Caesar +once saluted him. From the adherents a funereal +chant rose in barbaric acclaim. It needed no effort +of my memory to realize that the team was +being expected to do or die. I am not ashamed +to confess, that the noble spectacle so moved me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>that my eyes filled with tears and I had to turn my +head lest Dianne should surprise my emotion.</p> + +<p>“What magnificent specimens,” I exclaimed +when I could master my voice. “But they are +giants compared to the others,” I added, for in general +the spectators I had observed, were small and +effeminately slight, whereas the players were +Goliaths.</p> + +<p>“We breed the athletes solely for these spectacles,” +said Dianne. “They are really good for +nothing else and we never mate them with the +higher castes.”</p> + +<p>“What’s happening now?”</p> + +<p>“The officials are searching the players, of course, +before the game begins.”</p> + +<p>These preliminaries were conducted with the +minute fidelity of a police force. Not only were +the nose guards, head guards, neck protectors, ear +mufflers, shoulder, knee and elbow protectors +searched for any metallic substance, but the soles +of the shoes were displayed against the possibility +of murderous spikes. That these precautions were +not unnecessary was evidenced by the storm of boos +and groans which accompanied the unmasking of +several players, when the offenders were on the +opposing side.</p> + +<p>The game, though so extremely sanguinary as to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>require the constant passage of the stretcher bearers, +I found dull, due to the fact that at every moment +the officials inflicted a penalty which necessitated +lengthy discussions and so encumbered the +field that it was impossible to follow the play. +From the frequent casualties I gathered that the +game had returned to first principles and that after +the forcible elimination of the star players the result +as in my day would be left to the multitude +of substitutes.</p> + +<p>“Enough, dear?” said Dianne observing my restlessness.</p> + +<p>“Plenty. The game has been ruined by the +legislators,” I replied. “And to call such beings +men makes me hot with anger!”</p> + +<p>“I knew how you would feel,” she said taking +my hand and looking at me affectionately. “And +don’t regret that you can’t visit the Clubs. Really, +you would be bored to death. Don’t waste any +sympathy over their condition. They are a lazy +indulged lot and not in the least rebellious.”</p> + +<p>“But is no work required of them?” I asked +frowning as we rose and flew toward the south.</p> + +<p>“What work could they do that is not better +done by machinery?”</p> + +<p>“Yet you said there were exceptions.”</p> + +<p>“True, but they live separately. Men in general +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>are simply the breeders who live a pampered +existence from twenty to thirty-five.”</p> + +<p>“And then do you operate a sort of slaughter of +the drones?” I asked ironically.</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course. Oh, we do not exterminate +them,” she added, observing my start of horror. +“We simply consign them to the Frigidrome with +the records of their get. Occasionally if the +Eugenics board is not satisfied with the strain in +some particular caste, we restore the strongest +breeders for further service.”</p> + +<p>“Ended and cast off at the age of thirty-five!” +I said bitterly, for the degradation of my sex +aroused in me the flame of revolt.</p> + +<p>I was silent, sunk in my black mood, nor could +any of Dianne’s enticements draw me out of my +depression. I think it was then that the call came +to me to dedicate myself to the cause, as from the +blue a voice called to Joan of Arc to lead her country +out of defeat and despair. For suddenly I felt +uplifted with a new revealing purpose. Things +should not continue as they were. I would not +tamely witness the humiliation of my brothers. +What man had once been he should become again. +Then and there I dedicated myself to the cause. +I would be the John of Arc of my sex, even if the +end too were martyrdom!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p> + +<p>“Jack dear—darling, what is it! You look so +strange,” cried Dianne, who had been watching my +gloomy abstraction.</p> + +<p>I looked at her and was conscious that in that +brief interval of time something had changed between +us. I loved her—my senses rioted under +the flame in her eyes, but I was no longer the irresponsible +John Bogardus of a moment ago. I +belonged to the cause and the cause came first.</p> + +<p>“Dianne, my beloved Dianne,” I said, taking her +hand gently. “I must tell you the truth.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, not that!” she cried, for love had awakened +the eternal feminine, “your eyes, your voice +frighten me.”</p> + +<p>“You were right! If I could only have remained +ignorant, how happy we could have been,” +I said sadly. “But now that I have seen,” I continued +with flashing eyes, “my whole nature protests +against this slavery you have placed on my sex. +I shall never, never know a quiet moment until I +have changed all this!”</p> + +<p>“But you—what can you do?” said Dianne, +looking at me in terror.</p> + +<p>“I do not know yet, but I do know that somehow, +some day, I know it, I feel it, Dianne, I shall +be the instrument to deliver my brothers out of +their bondage!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span></p> + +<p>“How your eyes shine,” said Dianne, clasping +her hands and gazing rapturously at me. “You +are like a god in his wrath.”</p> + +<p>She flung her arms about me, holding me to her +in the terror of her passion. I tried to comfort +her, felt a certain giddiness myself, and firmly drew +the lovely arms from my neck.</p> + +<p>“You will help me?”</p> + +<p>“You know I will,” she said, catching her breath.</p> + +<p>“No matter what happens?”</p> + +<p>“If you go into the Frigidrome, I shall go with +you.”</p> + +<p>This time it was I who held out my arms and +caught her to me.</p> + +<p>“Tell the machinot to fly to paradise,” I cried +with a happy laugh. And for the rest of the day +suspended indolently above the clouds we dismissed +our fears and there was no further talk of politics.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">Fortunately</span> Acquilla had not yet returned +from Europa. Before the jealous eyes of Mag, +we sought to conceal our happiness, foolishly believing, +as lovers will, that they can look on each +other without betraying the kindling in their +glances. My head was still giddy with the fantasy +of this miraculous day with my bewildering Dianne, +alone in the clear ether, even the world shut +out by the fleecy canopies of the clouds beneath us. +But the moment I had gone to my room the sternness +of my resolve returned. And a little guilty, +like a neophyte who has forgotten his vows, I consecrated +myself anew, determined to conquer my +passion for Dianne, if it should begin to interfere +with the accomplishment of my purpose.</p> + +<p>When I descended to the bath, Mag was waiting +for me with eyes red with weeping. I determined +to make sure of her loyalty, so laying my hand on +her shoulder, I said gently:</p> + +<p>“You are my friend, are you not, Mag? And +you would never do me any harm?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> + +<p>The poor girl was struck all in a heap. Her +glance dropped before mine and bursting into tears +she vowed that never, never, would she betray me! +I rewarded her with a smile and a pat on the +shoulder and descended gratefully into this healing +bath of all the senses. There I spent some time +turning over in my mind my future activities as +a militant suffragist.</p> + +<p>I had scarcely finished dressing when Acquilla +returned. At the first glance I saw all the anxiety +which was torturing her imagination. Acquilla +was jealous as only a woman can be, to whom love +comes late in life. During her going to and fro +she must have had time to turn over the sudden +appearance of Dianne, and the intuitions of a +jealous woman had led her to the correct solution +that Dulcina had been used as a blind to screen my +true feelings for Dianne. But perceiving the +lugubriousness of my expression, she had a momentary +flash of hope. Perhaps we had quarreled!</p> + +<p>“Something is wrong, dear?” she said, holding me +off and searching anxiously in my face.</p> + +<p>“You are right,” I replied sternly, “something is +wrong. But something that cannot be dismissed +in a word. If you please, we will wait until after +dinner.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> + +<p>“You are angry with me?” she exclaimed with +such sharp suffering in her voice, that, realizing all +the torments of jealousy she must have been suffering +during the day, I could not resist a movement +of sympathy. I pressed her hand in mine and allowed +a smile to soften the severity of my look.</p> + +<p>“Not with you personally,” I replied, shaking +my head. “But much will depend on your attitude.”</p> + +<p>“You cannot tell me now?”</p> + +<p>“Wait.”</p> + +<p>She was devoured with anxiety during dinner, +for she scarcely touched her extracts, while I, on +the contrary, after the fashion of men, fortified +myself copiously. But all at once the perplexity +in her eyes cleared and sitting up unexpectedly she +cried:</p> + +<p>“Ah, I know, you have seen the Clubs!”</p> + +<p>“Your intuitions are right,” I said sternly to +avoid explanations. “I have seen that shameful +prison you call a Club, I have seen what you call +men assembled in a football arena; and I have +learned precisely what humiliating positions they +occupy in your state.”</p> + +<p>My anger brought back her calm. Since the +contest was to be on intellectual grounds she recovered +her authority.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span></p> + +<p>“I suspected it,” she said acidly. “Dianne has +done a wrong, a dangerous thing. I myself would +have guided you when the time was ripe. But this +premature introduction before you have a true +conception of what our civilization has accomplished +has, as I foresaw, worked on your sentimental +nature.”</p> + +<p>I laughed an angry ironical laugh.</p> + +<p>“You call my reactions sentimental, indeed!”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. What do you object to? You +have learned that men are kept simply as breeders, +privileged to be free of all care and responsibility. +And you are in a rage. Why? Is it because we +have taken from the male instinct the inhibitions +that he rebelled against in your day? Come, let +us be frank! How many men you knew would +have rebelled against this existence they now +enjoy?”</p> + +<p>“My dear Acquilla!” I started to say, then +coughed and stopped. I realized that I was meeting +the adroit feminine mind and that above everything +I must keep cool and avoid being put on the +defensive. I rose, took a turn about the room and +sat down.</p> + +<p>“Let us discuss it calmly,” I said, biting my lips.</p> + +<p>“Calmly.”</p> + +<p>“It is not simply that you have made specialists +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>of my sex,” I said with an attempt at irony, “but +the cold-blooded way in which you carry out your +intentions!”</p> + +<p>“As for instance?”</p> + +<p>“You have gone a little further than the insects +which you admire so much. I suppose I should +return thanks for that. But I do not. I have +now recognized that sentimentality plays no part +in a woman’s nature. But I was not prepared for +the machine-like efficiency—”</p> + +<p>“What are you talking about, my dear man?”</p> + +<p>I stopped, composed myself, and blurted out:</p> + +<p>“Do you deny that at the age of thirty-five men +are disposed of in a sort of slaughter of the +drones?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I see,” said Acquilla. She looked at me +with one of her irritating smiles and replied, “But +how did you treat my sex when you had a man-made +civilization?”</p> + +<p>“What? What?”</p> + +<p>“I asked you a simple question, dear. How did +you treat my sex when you had a man-made civilization? +After thirty-five what was there in life +for the generality of women?”</p> + +<p>“Their homes, their children,” I answered pontifically.</p> + +<p>“The drudgery of the home, the servitude to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>their children. No, Bogardus, at thirty-five or +before when men were still young, women were +ended. They had lost their value as women and +were esteemed according to their value as nurses +and housekeepers. The final cruelty you inflicted +on them was to let them grow old. We are much +more humane.”</p> + +<p>“You look on history as simply a war of the +sexes?” I said hotly, for the degradation of my +sex as I successively comprehended it, made it difficult +to restrain my anger.</p> + +<p>“Of course. So long as civilization had to rise +through physical force, the male ascendency was +inevitable. Granted. But the moment that scientific +discoveries did away with the necessity of +multitudes for cannon fodder and replaced blind +hands by intelligent machines women were freed +from their need of your physical protection. In +the last phases of your civilization, though you did +not perceive the underlying conflict, were you not +aware that economically, and in a measure morally, +the women you rated as the weaker sex were really +the despots of your existences?”</p> + +<p>Some curious trick of habit made me glance +over my shoulder for the shadow of my mother-in-law +before replying:</p> + +<p>“When you say morally, I do not entirely agree. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>Economically, yes, there is no doubt that the expenditure +of women for luxuries was out of all +proportion. But allowing the past to lie,” I said, +striving to be diplomatic, “tell me, Acquilla, in +your opinion, is this warfare of the sexes, as you +call it, to endure forever? Do you not in some +future state of society conceive of the possibility +of men and women equally intelligent living together +in harmony? For, after all, without too +much vanity, do you not prefer to converse on +equal terms as you have with me, than to treat +men simply as playthings of your passions?”</p> + +<p>“Possibly,” she said after a moment, “what you +suggest is in the future when we have completely +achieved the freedom of the individual, but the +moment is not now.”</p> + +<p>“Why not? Men educated by women will be +different,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“That is not quite honest,” said Acquilla reprovingly. +“The nature of man cannot be changed in +a few hundred years.”</p> + +<p>“Why not experiment? What is there to fear +now that the age of reason is so completely +achieved?”</p> + +<p>“The passion for conquest. Even today, despite +all our discoveries in the field of Eugenics the male +child’s first impulse is to wrestle down his companions. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>What is the passion for sport you have +just witnessed—more intense than ever—but an +evolution of the desire to kill? You men seek to +destroy your opponents not to play with them. +You make of your games battles. You hate those +with whom you contend.”</p> + +<p>“That is an exaggeration,” I interrupted, and +then stopped. “At least in my day it was only +when we were young, when in school and college +we were given an exaggerated idea of winning for +the glorification of a mass ideal. Besides, even +then, we did not take ourselves too seriously.”</p> + +<p>“Then why this hysterical frenzy you saw in the +mob of spectators—a frenzy like the blood lust +of the Roman arena? No, no, dear man, put away +your pride and prejudices. They are out of place. +You are a man of the past with a singularly honest +and reasoning brain, but don’t deceive yourself. +The nature of man is the same today as yesterday +or tomorrow. If we should listen to the sentimentalist +and restore him to equality in our civilization, +the world would return to war within a +generation.”</p> + +<p>Was it true? I was silent, troubled, finding no +conviction in my self-interrogatory.</p> + +<p>Acquilla was too clever to pursue her advantage. +She rose and coming to me took my hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span></p> + +<p>“I wished to spare you all this, dear,” she said in +a swift change of mood. “My only thought was +to lead you gradually to a perception of why the +great adventure on which we are embarked cannot +now be entrusted to a divided authority.”</p> + +<p>“Answer me this, Acquilla,” I said looking at +her fixedly, “am I a free agent or am I simply your +prisoner, delightful as that sentence may be?”</p> + +<p>“That is a problem that is still to be decided by +the Supreme Council,” she replied. “A very perplexing +problem. Whether you will be interned +or treated as a distinguished visitor depends on you, +my dear. Now do you understand all my solicitude?”</p> + +<p>The thought that I could play upon my hold over +her to add a new ally, occurred to me. I said in +a conciliatory tone, though I must confess with a +certain pleasant provocation:</p> + +<p>“My lovely Amazon, don’t you see that it is just +because I am unlike your foolish males of today—that +it is my intelligence which attracts you.”</p> + +<p>“To be truthful,” she said looking at me boldly, +“it is that, and a good deal more than that.”</p> + +<p>I acknowledged the compliment with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Then to continue in a truthful mood, is it not +the man of yesterday that is the true mate of the +woman of today?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span></p> + +<p>“I can admit all that between us two, yes—and +yet I can deny it in its public application,” replied +Acquilla with that annoying obstinacy of cerebral +women that destroys the necessary illusion in romance.</p> + +<p>“Still—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, foolish man, are you going to spoil everything +with your eternal consistency?” she added, +devouring me with eyes that were awake with passion.</p> + +<p>Consistency? No, certainly not! If I had +been in love with her, I should have flung consistency +to the winds. But having Dianne in all +my veins, I replied, adroitly:</p> + +<p>“My charming Acquilla, I shall not pretend to +be more obtuse than I am. The time has come when +we must understand each other. You also must +understand one thing: I am what I am—a man +brought up in the strictest traditions of the Dutch +Reformed Church; proud of my name and my ancestry. +No Bogardus has ever temporized or +yielded an inch to any doctrine that would upset +the sanctity of marriage—”</p> + +<p>To my astonishment Acquilla began to laugh. I +cannot describe it as a complete laugh, but it was +undeniably a titter.</p> + +<p>“You yourself have taught me the use of irony,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>she said noticing my astonishment. “Really +aren’t you a little ridiculous, dear?” she added, +passing her fingers through my hair. “Since marriage +no longer exists, what has the Dutch Reformed +Church to do with us?”</p> + +<p>I put her hand firmly from me with as much +dignity as I could muster and suddenly inspired, +said:</p> + +<p>“It means that I keep my standards as you keep +yours. When I take my mate it shall be for life. +If you love me as your attitude implies—”</p> + +<p>“Love you! Yes, for the first time,” she cried +breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“Stop!” I said, as a maiden might have interposed. +“I ask no confession, but understand this, +Acquilla: no matter how dazzling your position, I +refuse to be yours for a day or month. Your past +is not my affair, but in the future there must be no +other man. Your free companion for life—never +your plaything for an hour!” And as she stood +staring at me absolutely dumfounded, I added in +the best dramatic manner: “All or nothing!”</p> + +<p>With which I escaped for fear of spoiling my +climax by an uncontrollable gasp of laughter. I +went to my room and stifled my hysterical laughter +as best I could. But all at once a thought sobered +me. Suppose, blinded by passion, she should +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>agree? Here was a predicament. I rose and went +to the door to lock it. But of course, in these +modern days, bars and bolts did not exist. At last +in despair—for what was I in strength compared +with this amazing Amazon—I drew my bed across +the door and lay down.</p> + +<p>Twice before I fell off to sleep, I heard her footsteps +hesitating outside, and once—though it +might have been my imagination—I thought +someone pressed softly on the door.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">When</span> I saw Acquilla the next morning, I +was shocked by the restlessness and fatigue +in her eyes.</p> + +<p>“How did you sleep?” I asked maliciously.</p> + +<p>“Badly,” she snapped back, and until the end of +breakfast not another word did she volunteer. +However, she continued to stare at me with such a +look of frustrated perplexity that if I had not been +secretly delighted with the success of my artifice, +I should have been embarrassed. As it was, I had +trouble in concealing my elation, for my thoughts +were racing. If only a spark of the eternal feminine +still slumbered in Acquilla! What a day +it would be for the cause! At the end of breakfast, +she said abruptly:</p> + +<p>“Did you mean what you said last night?”</p> + +<p>“All or nothing,” I repeated in a way to have +excited the admiration of the empress who had invented +the phrase.</p> + +<p>Acquilla sprang up nervously and went inside. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>She was away for over an hour and I was wondering +if she meant to sulk through the day when she +returned, gentleness itself.</p> + +<p>“Explain to me about the Dutch Reformed +Church,” she said anxiously, taking my hand in +both of hers and looking earnestly in my eyes.</p> + +<p>I was in the midst of a fervid eulogy on that +bulwark of my ancestors, when an aeromat poised +above us and began to descend. I stopped with an +involuntary wavering of my voice.</p> + +<p>“Who do you think has come for you, Bogardus?” +she said softly, but with the intentness +of a cat.</p> + +<p>The idea came to me that she had brought +Dianne back to learn the truth in a difficult confrontation.</p> + +<p>“Not Dianne again!” I said with as much indifference +as I could command.</p> + +<p>“No—not Dianne,” she replied slowly, not entirely +the dupe of my manner, “nor Dulcina either. +This time it is really Doctrina, the head of the +University.” But all at once her antagonism vanished +and leaning close to me, she said hurriedly: +“She is the enemy of all males—and oh, my dear, +be careful! Consider every word you say. Beware +of every trap she may put you, for this afternoon +you must appear before the Supreme Council. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>I should not warn you, I know, but I cannot help +it, my beloved—”</p> + +<p>She drew back hastily as Doctrina approached. +Whatever reliance, in my new Casanovian fatuity, +I might have put in the strength of my newly revealed +sex appeal, one glance at Doctrina rudely +dispelled my illusions. She marched up the lawn +like a procession of one, nodded to Acquilla and +gave me the conventional embrace. But the peck +on my cheeks was more like a bite than a kiss. We +disliked each other intuitively, cordially and immediately.</p> + +<p>“Were you anyone of importance in your day?” +she demanded, eyeing me unfavorably.</p> + +<p>“Only in the Socratic sense,” I replied humbly.</p> + +<p>“I don’t seize the allusion.”</p> + +<p>“Socrates, you may remember, claimed he was +the wisest of men because he knew he knew nothing,” +I replied, bowing.</p> + +<p>I thought this rather neat and disarming, but +Doctrina was impermeable. There was something +Prussian in the massiveness of her jowl and the +lantern-like eyes that faced me down.</p> + +<p>“Well, perhaps even so we may learn something,” +she said, turning to Acquilla, who was preparing +to depart to the aero hospital.</p> + +<p>“You will find him not only intelligent,” said +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>Acquilla to give me a hint, “but most appreciative +of the progress we have made.”</p> + +<p>“Humph—we shall see,” replied Doctrina, +turning on her heel and gesturing to me to follow.</p> + +<p>I raised my eyebrows involuntarily at this +abruptness, and caught the agonized look of Acquilla +fixed on me entreatingly. I nodded encouragingly +and followed my new cicerone, resolved +to give her no cause for complaint. After +all when one belongs to a cause, discretion is as +necessary as courage.</p> + +<p>“What do you know about the position of children +in our civilization?” said Doctrina when we +had risen.</p> + +<p>I felt as though I stood before an examining +board.</p> + +<p>“I know that in the pursuit of the noblest object +of human life, the liberation of the individual,” +I replied from memory, “you have abolished marriage +and the home!”</p> + +<p>“Well, go on,” said Doctrina in a noncommittal +voice as I paused for approval.</p> + +<p>“That in order to do away with the evil of +motherhood and the clash of the generations, the +children are taken as soon as born and entrusted +to the state.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span></p> + +<p>“So far, correct,” Doctrina said rather unwillingly, +“but you forget—”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” I interjected hastily, “the new science +likewise frees the child from the evils of the +mother and father complex. We heard a good deal +about that too, in our day,” I added proudly.</p> + +<p>“Really? Then why didn’t you act upon it?” +said Doctrina, in whom the repressed mother-in-law +instinct that must slumber in every woman, +had turned blood to acid. “Those archaic tribal +institutions you clung to—motherhood and the +home, were responsible for all the inhibitions, abnormalities, +psychoneurotics that made you human +beings slaves of prejudices and fears.”</p> + +<p>I was seized with a hot indignation and a hasty +retort was on my lips at this blasphemy, but I remembered +in time and controlled myself with difficulty.</p> + +<p>“There were happy memories too,” I suggested.</p> + +<p>“All unnecessary. The child develops quicker +when thrown on his own initiative and subjected +to the stimulation of competition with other children. +We will begin with the state nurseries and +the primary schools,” she added, pointing to a long +wooded tract about the middle of Long Island.</p> + +<p>We alighted on a great star-shaped campus, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>administration hall in the center with hospitals like +great glass hangars at the apexes. The new-born +infants were being classified and registered according +to their caste, receiving a disk which indicated +the strain of the mother and father, for statistical +purposes presumably.</p> + +<p>“The child is subjected to the first physical tests +immediately,” said Doctrina. “In the exceedingly +rare instances where some unforeseen conjunction +of inherited strains has produced a defection, we +of course, do not permit it to grow up to a life of +misery.”</p> + +<p>“You suppress it?” I said shuddering.</p> + +<p>“Of course,” said Doctrina noticing my emotion. +“In your sentimental day you preferred, in +order to save your own sensibilities, to condemn it +to a tragic existence.”</p> + +<p>“You will be surprised to know that even in my +day such a course had its male adherents,” I replied +defiantly. “But then even in your scientific breeding, +failures do result.”</p> + +<p>“Less than one hundredth of one percent,” replied +Doctrina. “Strangely enough, these throwbacks +occur in the higher castes.”</p> + +<p>“When the intellectual conjunction is too +strong?”</p> + +<p>“So it appears, for of course, with us the brain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>has become tremendously developed. That is one +reason why, in the case of the male, we have found +it advisable to perfect the physical vigor at the expense +of the mental.”</p> + +<p>I had all I could do not to betray myself at this +insolence. As it was, I could not help saying: “But +tell me, why, Doctrina, you are so set against the +male?”</p> + +<p>“I was born in a time when the memory of the +male catastrophe was still fresh. I do not theorize. +I know. Are you defending that era of tragic +futility?”</p> + +<p>“God forbid!” I hastened to reply. “I am only +curious. But men of genius, for I believe that +genius still shows itself in my decadent sex, are not +then permitted to breed?”</p> + +<p>“On the contrary, but not to mate with those +castes which have reached a high degree of mentality. +We find the best results come from a union +with the Cerenes particularly those that live habitually +in the mountains.”</p> + +<p>The hospitals though on a grander scale, I found +in their material arrangements much like our own, +with the exception of course, of the ingenuous devices +by which light and air were continuously provided. +All the nurses were of the lithe physical +type of Acquilla, though the visiting doctors inclined +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>to the brunette type, not over six feet, and +thinner. Two things struck my attention at once, +the absence of eyeglasses and operating rooms. +Surgery, it appeared, had passed out of general use +with the knowledge of the glandular organization +of the body and was only reserved for accidents and +the experimental laboratories. The uniform good +eyesight was achieved, first by selective breeding +and more particularly with the discovery of what +might be called ocular calisthenics, exercises by +which the eye was strengthened in youth.</p> + +<p>Needless to say, my appearance excited the greatest +curiosity, for the circumstances of my arrival +had evidently been widely broadcast. However, +the prestige of Doctrina commanded such universal +deference that all curiosity was within the bounds +of good manners.</p> + +<p>“The first stage,” said Doctrina, resuming her +lecture as we passed to the kindergarten, “is in the +education of the mind how to study. We discover +the aptitude of each child and concentrate on the +things it likes to achieve the ideal of perfection. +Later when the mind has acquired the habit of +concentration, we introduce those subjects which +are difficult to it. Needless to say, we consider this +period the most critical and the indications we +discover as to the quality and fineness of the mind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>are seldom in error. In other words by the age of +five it is possible to make the division of the castes +with unfailing accuracy.”</p> + +<p>“Yet many great geniuses developed late.”</p> + +<p>“In your time yes, from faulty early training +and also from the error of subjecting an abnormal +mind to a normal routine. In our practice we are, +of course, aided by the knowledge of the inherited +tendencies. Such children are the object of special +attention.”</p> + +<p>“Then education is specialization.”</p> + +<p>“Not entirely. Only we have reversed the process. +We begin, as I said, by intensive training along +lines of natural aptitude in order to produce the +enthusiasm for knowledge. Later sometimes as +late as ten or eleven, we broaden the horizon along +the lines of general knowledge.”</p> + +<p>“At what period then, do you finish your education?”</p> + +<p>Doctrina looked at me in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Really, Bogardus, for the clever man you are +supposed to be, that is a strange question.”</p> + +<p>I did not perceive immediately the reason for her +astonishment, so I answered, somewhat piqued:</p> + +<p>“I do not see anything strange in my perfectly +natural curiosity. In my day we were graduated +from college at twenty-two, and spent from two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>to six years in supplementary schools if we chose +the profession of medicine or law or architecture.”</p> + +<p>“And then you were educated?”</p> + +<p>“And then we were educated, yes.”</p> + +<p>“In the higher castes we never cease to attend +the University,” said Doctrina crushingly. “As +we conceive life as a pursuit of knowledge, we +naturally never cease our studies. Even Acquilla +gives ten hours a week to following the lectures of +our greatest teachers.”</p> + +<p>“Is this true of all castes?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly not. Why should it be? How absurd! +The education of Domesticates is completed +at the age of eight; the Cerenes have two +years longer, the Vulcates likewise, the Æsthetes +at twelve.”</p> + +<p>“What! But you are talking of children!”</p> + +<p>“We have abbreviated the period of childhood. +In your day you spent half your life in the simplest +preparation of how to live. With us the age of +puberty is the one of complete maturity and the +end of primary education. That,” she added +acidly, “would be about the same as your college +matriculation.”</p> + +<p>“So childhood has gone too,” I was betrayed into +exclaiming.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span></p> + +<p>“Not at all. We give a full five years to it.”</p> + +<p>“But, Doctrina,” I persisted, carried away with +my resentment, “if there is no maternal instinct +left—”</p> + +<p>“I did not say that.”</p> + +<p>“But if the mother surrenders her child—”</p> + +<p>“These are the real mothers,” said Doctrina with +a gesture that embraced the entire organization. +“Because a woman bore a child, voluntarily or involuntarily, +you ascribed to her maternal qualities. +Rubbish! Sentimentality! Bearing of children +has nothing to do with the maternal instinct! A +woman is either egocentric or egofugal. In your +day how many women, genuine mothers, were +forced to sit and starve themselves in a lonely +spinsterhood?”</p> + +<p>“It is true!” I exclaimed involuntarily, “and I +say now as I said then, that the cruelest thing our +society did was to deny the right of every woman +who wanted, to have a child!”</p> + +<p>Doctrina looked at me with almost a human +sympathy and continued in a less bellicose tone:</p> + +<p>“That remark does you honor. Any woman +who loves children and wishes to find her happiness +in their upbringing is privileged to enter this sisterhood. +For remark another thing, which the later +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>psycho-analysts recognized, the maternal instinct is +not necessarily confined to one’s own child, but +goes out to all.”</p> + +<p>“Even to friends and husbands,” I added smiling. +“All this is undeniably true.”</p> + +<p>“More than this we recognize that in man too, +this instinct exists and we permit a teaching brotherhood.”</p> + +<p>“Here?” I said, looking about eagerly.</p> + +<p>“It is useless,” Doctrina said severely. “The +monasteries which are devoted to the care of the +young males from five to ten are never entered by +an outsider except a Minervene of the highest academic +rank. You see,” she added, “that in the +treatment of your sex, we strive to live up to a standard +of enlightened justice. What they crave we +supply—with certain limitations.”</p> + +<p>I opened my mouth to debate this ex-parte assertion, +but again refrained. My reticence had +been rewarded by a friendlier attitude. Until I had +appeared before the Supreme Council and had some +inkling of the treatment to be accorded to me, I decided +not to show my hand.</p> + +<p>“The Histriones and the Minervenes, being the +superior intellectual castes, never complete their +education. But now since we have the time, on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>way to the University, we can stop at our Museum +of Archeology.”</p> + +<p>At the Museum we found a sizable crowd—all +women of course—about the halls devoted to the +nineteenth and twentieth centuries. My appearance, +needless to say, created such a disturbance +among the younger elements that Doctrina, I believe, +seriously considered forcing me to take a veil. +Fortunately a few peremptory commands, delivered +in her best Prussian style, had the effect of clearing +the halls.</p> + +<p>The Museum, I confess fascinated me, for in a +glance I felt myself in a cemetery of familiar +things. The first thing I saw was full-sized reproduction +of a locomotive and a section of rail +labelled:</p> + +<p class="center"> + <i>PRIMITIVE METHOD OF CONVEYANCE</i><br> + <span style="font-size: small;">ABOUT THE YEAR 1976</span> +</p> + +<p>That the railroad had disappeared before the development +of highways and motor buses, I was prepared +to believe, but not to find that the automobile +likewise was a thing of the past which was gone, with +the ship—all cumbersome and unnecessary in this +age of amphibian aeroplanes able to remain stationary +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>at any height or to streak across the sky with +the speed of projectiles. There were life-size reproductions +of the customs and manners of our day, +and I must admit, in comparison with the ease and +grace of the modern garment, that at the sight of +the incredible fashions which once afflicted the men +of my day, I had to acknowledge defeat. We had +of course, but a moment before we were forced to +depart for the city, or rather the University of +New York.</p> + +<p>I found the University laid out on the star-shaped +plan which was evidently their favorite +concentration. The avenues were fully a hundred +yards in width and the buildings on that monumental +scale which one sees only at St. Peter’s and +the Vatican. In the centre of each building was +an immense dome-shaped theatre which I learned +was used for the reproduction in living pictures of +the records of historical events and astronomical +and scientific phenomena. There were at least a +dozen of these star-shaped campuses extending over +a great area and surrounded by grouped quadrangles +where the students lived.</p> + +<p>What struck me at once was the small number +of students, not exceeding a hundred to each separate +college; the uniformity of the type and the +air of extreme seriousness in all their contacts.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span></p> + +<p>“Acquilla told me New York consisted of fifty +thousand inhabitants,” I said turning to Doctrina +in surprise. “But from what I see, there are only a +tenth of that number.”</p> + +<p>“This represents only the higher University. +The industrial city is across the river and residential +New York of course, extends a hundred miles in +every direction.”</p> + +<p>“And these students I see, what age can they possibly +be?”</p> + +<p>“As a rule a girl enters here at the age of twelve +and completes her preliminary general education in +two years, when she is allotted her caste group number +according to her capabilities. She then pursues +her higher studies for from five to ten years returning +for six months every fifth year until the age of +thirty. At that time if she is of the Minervene +caste she is privileged to return for two hours a +day for the rest of her existence.”</p> + +<p>“The University then is not simply the political +symbol of the state, but its social centre as well?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly, and there are of course, according to +her attainments, inner circles to which she is privileged +to enter. But I have promised to bring you, +Bogardus, to the Academy and we must not be +late.”</p> + +<p>We had been flying gently over the ground as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>Doctrina had been demonstrating the organization +of the buildings and now came to light near one of +the charming groves of red woods which lay between +the points of the star. A score of magnificent +trees fully one hundred and fifty feet in height +blotted out the warmth of the noonday sun and +made a Parnassian retreat.</p> + +<p>“How is it possible,” I exclaimed, “to produce +such trees in less than two centuries?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, there have been discoveries in horticulture +that will surprise you,” said Doctrina, enjoying my +astonishment. “It is now just as easy to stimulate +the growth of a tree, as it is that of a human being. +These trees you see are not more than fifty years +old. But that is child’s play to what has been done. +An acre of farmland now produces five crops a +year by the use of the new nitrates and intensified +cultivation under water. We’ll leave the car here.”</p> + +<p>We descended and walked toward the grove. +My appearance as usual, created a commotion and +instantly the air above was clouded over by hundreds +of small aeroplanes which hovered over us +like the migration of birds.</p> + +<p>“Curious how excited people are over your coming,” +said Doctrina, acidly. “I suppose it is because +you are over a hundred and fifty years older +than anyone who has yet come to us.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span></p> + +<p>Strangely enough this thought had not yet impressed +itself on me. It was true! I was actually +two hundred and eighty years old and in comparison +Acquilla with the bloom of her seventy-eight +years, was a mere child! I drew a long breath, +stretched myself on the points of my toes and was +reassured by a feeling of extraordinary youth and +vitality.</p> + +<p>“You are privileged, indeed, Bogardus,” said +Doctrina, leading the way in the grove, “for you +are going to meet our great Manfreda and the Supreme +Council of Amazonia, an honor that never +before has been given to a man.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">The</span> Supreme Council were seated in a semi-circle +at the foot of a magnificent redwood, +nine in number, Acquilla’s seat being at one end. +At my approach they rose with a curiosity which +showed in the alacrity of their greeting, despite all +their efforts at repression. I felt no timidity. In +fact it was with a certain confident pride that I +enjoyed this opportunity of presenting to the leaders +of the new matriarchal state, a not at all ill-formed +example of the sex which for four thousand +years of authentic history had ruled the world. I +had of course, no way of estimating their age but +their pleasing physical appearance and apparent +youth made it very easy to grasp each one strongly +by the hand and to look into her eyes with a touch +of that possessive masculine admiration which was +instinctive in my day. My manly appearance, the +deep resonance of my voice, the male challenge in +my look and I believe, a certain magnetism in the +handshake to which they were not accustomed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>made a distinct impression. At least this was my +belief and I set it down in no spirit of conceit, but +simply for its significance as it affected surprising +later developments.</p> + +<p>The introduction over, I took my seat opposite, +and studied my distinguished hosts with the same +curiosity which they in turn bent on me. In the +centre sat the famous philosopher and law giver, +Manfreda. She seemed older than her associates, +and like Doctrina had the look of a man in the +fifties, and this was true of Directa, the executive +head of the state. (I learned afterwards that their +extreme absorption in the matters of intellect had +removed them from the pardonable vanities of the +flesh, just as formerly holy men of the east retired +to fasting and contemplation.) Outside of this +triumvirate that dominated the Amazon civilization +by right of authority and achievement, the +others were finely cut variations of the prevailing +blonde types, Amazons with regular features, blue +eyes and the lithe bodies of young males. The +composition of the council interested me; Germa +representing the sciences of research; Stella, astronomy; +Acquilla, medicine in its universal state; +Electra, the laboratories and the sources of energy; +Candora, history and philosophy, while Dulcina sat +as the representative of the caste of the Histriones.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> + +<p>I had hardly made these rapid observations when +Manfreda with the dignity of a supreme judge, +turned to her associates:</p> + +<p>“In order not to confuse Bogardus, if it is your +pleasure, I shall put to him the general questions +which I know are in all our minds. At a later day, +each may interrogate him according to her special +field.” She turned to me. “You of course, Bogardus, +realize the importance of your discovery to +us. Until your arrival, the principle of the Frigidrome +preservation of life was ascribed to Coperta +in 2085. Will you give us as completely as possible +the account of your revolutionary experience.”</p> + +<p>I repeated the details I had already supplied to +Acquilla, who at the end of my recital, remarked:</p> + +<p>“Though the crude use of hypnotism to produce +a cataleptic stage is decidedly archaic in this day +when the glandular relationships are better understood, +there is no question that the principle of the +Frigidrome must be ascribed to Sachaloff, and I +have already taken steps to do justice to his discovery.”</p> + +<p>“There can be no question of that,” said Manfreda +while the others nodded acquiescence. “And +now to the purpose of our inquiry. The great +world conflict which took place at the end of the +twentieth century, Bogardus, was of such devastating +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>character, that the records of previous civilization +were blotted out in great measure. You can +supply us not only with much valuable historical +detail, but can give us an intimate judgment on the +questions which interest us profoundly. You lived +at the close of the great era of materialism when the +male mechanico-civilization finally suppressed all +individualism under a standardized collectivism.”</p> + +<p>“I am a little bewildered,” I said tentatively, “we +spoke of standardization it is true, but in my day +there was no such suppression of that individualism +of which you speak.”</p> + +<p>“Bogardus is speaking of 1929,” said Candora, +interrupting. “The spread of standardization into +the industrial domination of the state must have +just been perceptible.”</p> + +<p>“You speak of things I did not witness,” I replied, +more and more confused. “To aid me in my recital, +would it be possible to tell me briefly just +what happened in the fifty years after my disappearance. +For at that time, far from seeking war, +the peoples of the world had not only founded a +League of Nations, but had agreed on a general reduction +of armaments.”</p> + +<p>Candora, at a signal from Manfreda, rose.</p> + +<p>“True. After 1919 there was a general revolt +against war as visualized by armaments. But the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>industrial conflict remained more intense than ever. +War in the last analysis is the correction for over-population, +as over-population is the cause of war. +While the progress in hygiene and the control of +disease increased enormously the population, the +production of automatic machinery continually +diminished the need of man power. What was +bound to happen? It became a competition for +the survival of the economically fittest nation. +What was this but a war of attrition and starvation? +In order to compete internationally the nations +of the world were forced to change their +political structure. They became great business +exporting corporations. The trusts were reestablished, +merged and formed one gigantic trust. +This may interest you.”</p> + +<p>“In fact I am listening, Candora,” I exclaimed, +“and yet all this was prophesied.”</p> + +<p>“By prophets without honor in their own countries,” +explained Candora, smiling.</p> + +<p>“Exactly, but how was all this accomplished?”</p> + +<p>“By 1955, there were four great trusts. The +Steel Trust had absorbed all its dependents, the railroads, +the automobile, the construction trusts, the +harvester and the cement trust. Second the Mercantile +Trust, had absorbed the food trust and the +chain stores. The Power Trust had absorbed the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span>chemical trust and the electric trust. Finally the +Money Trust had been formed from the banking +trust with its chain branches and the investment +trusts. In the second step the Money Trust absorbed +all other trusts and produced the economy +of one selling office for the entire nation.”</p> + +<p>“But was not the effect beneficial?”</p> + +<p>“Momentarily, yes. The industry of the entire +country was financed from a central bank and distributed +from a unified distributing system.”</p> + +<p>“Then the principle of the department store +finally dominated?”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. You went to the same distributing +centre for eggs or a thousand tons of steel, a suit of +clothes or a 520,000 horse power dynamo. In a +way the industrial apotheosis was sound and you +will see that we have retained its essential quality.”</p> + +<p>“But then why did it fail?”</p> + +<p>“Because in your hands it was for the purpose of +conquest and subjection of other nations. You +men, Bogardus, were extremely illogical beings. +You erected your civilization on the survival of the +fittest and yet you did nothing to apply that principle +internally. The Spartans are the only example +of a logical civilization for they did expose +their weaklings to die. So when the whole world +was in the grip of an economic war, you continued +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>to breed instead of applying the scientific principle +of depopulation. But men have always been unscientific +breeders. It was only when women assumed +direction of the state that the problem could +be treated from the standpoint of the nation.”</p> + +<p>“Candora, I have heard a great deal in criticism +of my sex since my arrival here,” I interjected irritated +beyond measure, “and a great deal of talk +about the abuse of over-population. I am willing +to admit the admirable results of the decimation of +the inhabitants of the earth. I gladly, even enthusiastically, +admit that you, in your restoration +of the world to the individual have corrected the +dreadful mass tyranny to which we men had condemned +society. I likewise admire the way you +breed to perfected types. But,” here I turned to +my auditors, “is it not justice to admit that in order +to have lifted man from the brute to the gods, it +was necessary first to multiply? If mankind had +simply reproduced itself like the elephant, man +would be as extinct today as the dodo. I am not +defending war today, but without war would there +have been any civilization? When men multiplied +rapidly they began to move over mountains +and across the seas and to do so, they had to invent +and to invent is to progress. Therefore, at least +admit that only the male instinct to breed could +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>have raised us to the civilization of the twentieth +century. Remember that I am speaking in defence +of my embattled sex.”</p> + +<p>There was a murmur of approbation, rather +grudgingly given, it seemed to me, but Germa, +Stella and Dulcina, who represented the new radical +school of thought, beamed on me enthusiastically. +Candora, however, showed a strong atavistic tendency +to be irritated by contradiction. She hesitated +and finally said:</p> + +<p>“As an historian, it would be idle for me to deny +the truth of what you state. But in a way it only +proves my contention; the male state was instinctive +and traditional. You were committed to one +principle and could not rise above it.”</p> + +<p>“Let us leave till later what—after all, must be +a philosophical discussion,” I said, well pleased with +the effect I had produced. “Let me continue my +questions.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what?” said Candora, not relishing the +turn, while Acquilla looked at me anxiously.</p> + +<p>“You speak of the formation of great industrial +oligarchies and their final absorption into one great +national industry—then we did come to socialism?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all, socialism preached the equality of +men and the industrial state was founded on a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>recognition of their inequalities. Socialism is international +and this on the contrary, was pure +chauvinism; the standardization of all activities for +the better crushing out of foreign competition.”</p> + +<p>“But was there no revolt?”</p> + +<p>“No, because men had become so standardized in +their thinking and habits that individualism could +only exist among the leaders.”</p> + +<p>“But the press—”</p> + +<p>“The printed newspapers?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“They were bought up with the magazines and +the radio trust in a central control under the Mercantile +Trust which in turn disappeared with the +arrival of the newspaper of the air.”</p> + +<p>“But if America was able to organize itself with +such scientific concentration, why did it fail?”</p> + +<p>“Because fatuously believing in pacific ideals, it +did not protect itself. Equally fatuously you believed +that you could impoverish other nations by +economical pressure without their having recourse +to primitive methods of retaliation. That is what +happened. Europe, unable to meet the competition +of America, founded first the central state of +Europe, and by means of the Electronoid ray discovered +in the laboratories of Europa, obliterated +American civilization, prior to the subjugation of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>Asia. These, Bogardus, are what are known as the +world wars.”</p> + +<p>Candora, at a nod from Manfreda, resumed her +seat. Several of the council strained forward as +though to question me, but Manfreda with a slight +peremptory gesture of her uplifted fingers, enforced +silence.</p> + +<p>“Bogardus,” she began, in her ever dispassionate +voice, “you have heard of the reasons which culminated +in the final world catastrophe, and the end +of the male civilization. Later on you will be +given an opportunity to study it in more detail. +Now, if you are ready, I should like to put to you +some questions of a general nature.”</p> + +<p>I bowed and glanced around the semi-circle, noting +at once, a whispered consultation to my left. +All at once Stella spoke:</p> + +<p>“Manfreda, without desiring in any way to influence +the witness, does it not seem only fair that +he should be informed of the real purpose of this +inquiry?”</p> + +<p>“I regard the interruption as unfortunate,” said +Manfreda, acidly, “and designed only to affect the +impartiality of the testimony.”</p> + +<p>“Permit me, in the interests of justice, to record +my objection with Stella’s,” said Dulcina.</p> + +<p>Though I did not then grasp the full import of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>the dissension, I was not without certain suspicions.</p> + +<p>“Would it not be better if I were represented by +counsel?” I said, ironically.</p> + +<p>This question seemed to perplex my auditors.</p> + +<p>“By counsel? What do you mean, Bogardus?” +said Manfreda.</p> + +<p>“In my day,” I answered facetiously, “when a +board of inquiry was held to discover the truth, +each witness always appeared with one or more +lawyers who advised him when to refuse to answer.”</p> + +<p>“But if the object was to discover the truth, what +right had he to refuse to answer?”</p> + +<p>“For fear of incriminating himself.”</p> + +<p>“But if he were guilty?”</p> + +<p>“He could not be proved guilty unless the board +had equally good lawyers—and all traditions were +scrupulously observed.”</p> + +<p>“If I may remark,” said Doctrina, who had been +fidgetting, “Bogardus is speaking of a time when +the curiously archaic jury system existed and judges +were regarded as presiding legal hosts. It is well +to remember that in those days of male-made justice, +that it was necessary to convince every one of +twelve jurors to procure a verdict. If one disagreed +the accused was acquitted.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, more than that,” I added, “he was entitled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>to consider himself as publicly vindicated. I +gladly surrender to your jury system, Doctrina.”</p> + +<p>My admission evidently created a most favorable +impression, for Manfreda, stilling the chorus of surprised +interjections, said in a more cordial voice:</p> + +<p>“Bogardus, you are so clearly a man of intelligence +and observation, that I feel it is only a recognition +of your manifested open-mindedness to inform +you of the underlying purpose of this inquiry. +There has risen lately among certain of the younger +group, a school of radicals which is urging the social +and political re-establishment of man. I, myself, +have no part in such sentimentalism, but in this +council, this new issue is represented by Germa, +Stella and Dulcina.”</p> + +<p>“I thank you for the warning,” I replied instantly, +“and though my male instinct will naturally +desire to do full justice to a departed society, I +assure you that everything I have seen here has +filled me with such amazement and admiration that +I would be incapable of distorting the facts as I +have known them.”</p> + +<p>Dulcina and Stella smiled on me with a personal +pride as though I were an excellent exponent of +their political opinions, and Manfreda, after a moment’s +deliberation, said:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p> + +<p>“We, of course, are anxious to have your personal +testimony as to the success or failure of the institutions +you knew. You were a democracy. You +believed that all men were free and equal. The +phrase of Lincoln was government of the people, +by the people and for the people! High ideals if +sentimental ones. Actually how were you governed?”</p> + +<p>I had intended to be an honest witness, but this +first question threw me into perplexity. I found +myself seeking in my imagination for ingenuous +excuses.</p> + +<p>“At that time,” I said by way of preface, “it is +only fair to state that a large part of the population +was of recent immigration, that there were no fixed +classes and that the object of everyone was to rise +in the social scale by prospering financially. Also,” +I added shrewdly, “you must remember that +women shared the suffrage.”</p> + +<p>“Shared, yes, but they did not control it,” put in +Candora.</p> + +<p>“To be honest, I must confess that we were badly +governed, but no worse than the people deserved.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Bogardus?”</p> + +<p>“Because—well, because a large proportion of +the people were indifferent to how they were governed. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>In many cases only a small fraction of the +electorate took the trouble to vote. In our big +cities despite occasional revolts, we were in the +hands of political machines who fattened on their +opportunities of selling offices and privileges. In +some cases, they were in direct alliance with criminals.”</p> + +<p>“Was this state of affairs generally known?”</p> + +<p>“So well known that the public was quite indifferent +as to which side robbed them.”</p> + +<p>“But what maintained such organizations?”</p> + +<p>“A sentiment called party loyalty.”</p> + +<p>“The traditional way of looking at things, Bogardus?” +interrupted Doctrina.</p> + +<p>I realized the purpose of the remark but I could +not deny it.</p> + +<p>“But outside their cities which, of course, suffered +from the evils of over-population, in the general +country, what was the state of law and order?”</p> + +<p>I could not but admit that as respecting the observance +of law, I had no defence to offer.</p> + +<p>“However,” I hastened to add, “it is only fair to +remark that in 1929 we were in a transitional stage. +New experiments in government and new authorities +in social and religious forms had to be worked +out and if the surface indications were chaotic, I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>believe it was simply the ferment that accompanies +the rise of new standards and the re-establishing of +authority.”</p> + +<p>“In a way you are right,” said Manfreda, nodding, +“for the age of standardization that followed +was at least a return to discipline. But I am anxious +to know what was the position of the university +in all this?”</p> + +<p>“Again I must plead that the universities too, +were in a transitional stage,” I said frowning, for I +feared this question.</p> + +<p>“In what way?”</p> + +<p>“They were passing through a period of great +material building; providing for the future, by the +laying down of great laboratories and recitation +halls; expanding their housing and the income +available for their faculties.”</p> + +<p>“This is the explanation. What were the +facts?”</p> + +<p>“With the notable exceptions of the technical +schools, the universities were intent on raising the +standards of the mass.”</p> + +<p>“But if you admit democracy as a principle of +civilization, Bogardus, this would seem a natural +and laudable object. You hesitate. Is it possible +that the mass did not respond?”</p> + +<p>“I cannot truthfully claim that the average college +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>student of my day was occupied with the pursuit +of knowledge. A college experience was +regarded as a school for character. It was a sort +of social melting pot which at the time certainly +had a certain value. A man who was an outstanding +figure in his class—”</p> + +<p>“As a remarkable student, Bogardus?” said Doctrina, +maliciously.</p> + +<p>“Well, no. A man who excelled in running and +jumping, or in the control of round balls, whether +baseball or golf or tennis or football, or a man who +had certain natural social gifts, undoubtedly profited +by these attainments in college by making certain +restricted groups called societies or clubs and in +after life by the friendships thus formed with +powerful elements in society.”</p> + +<p>“But those in control of the universities, for you +must have had men of pre-eminent intellectual +abilities on your faculties, did they look with favor +on such a distortion of values?”</p> + +<p>“Individually no. Collectively they acquiesced +in the program of material expansion which tolerated +this system in order to use it.”</p> + +<p>“Use it? In what way?”</p> + +<p>“By the bequests of millions of dollars which +they received by an adroit appeal to the emotional +quality of loyalty to the Alma Mater.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span></p> + +<p>My exposition was received, I could see, with +profound astonishment.</p> + +<p>“But then in general, the university as you say +was really a school for character with certain resemblances +to the gymnasium and the gladiatorial +arena.”</p> + +<p>“Of course, certain elements did pursue the acquisition +of knowledge as their prime object,” I +hastened to add, feeling that I had drawn too dark +a picture, “and in later life they did rise to intellectual +prominence and received recognition.”</p> + +<p>“In what way?”</p> + +<p>“By the conferring of honorary degrees and +sometimes by the belated recognition of a class dinner—twenty +years later.”</p> + +<p>“Let us pass to another subject,” said Manfreda, +after a significant glance at Stella and Dulcina, who +were manifestly depressed. “We are curious to +know at first hand, something of the institution of +marriage as practiced in its last phases.”</p> + +<p>“Ask and I will endeavor to answer.”</p> + +<p>“Is it true, Bogardus, that in your day when a +man and a woman lived together under the institution +which you called marriage, that they were +compelled to promise to live together and remain +faithful to each other for life?”</p> + +<p>I shifted from foot to foot before making a reply.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p> + +<p>“You are well informed, Manfreda. That is +true.”</p> + +<p>“But if that is so, how was it possible for them to +divorce later? For if I am right, divorce as an +institution, began about this time to have equal +popularity.”</p> + +<p>“The marriage ceremony,” I replied, after a +moment’s deliberation, “was, of course, a survival +of ancient times. It had a certain ceremonial +picturesqueness. It was taken symbolically, like +the account of the creation in the Old Testament.”</p> + +<p>“But this mutual promise was symbolic of +what?”</p> + +<p>“Well,” I resumed, beginning to flounder, “for +instance, the expression ‘Whom God hath joined together, +let no man put asunder’ was undoubtedly +a relic of that time when the belief was that marriages +were made in heaven.”</p> + +<p>“Did you believe that?”</p> + +<p>Looking backward, truth compelled me to answer:</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Did many others believe that?”</p> + +<p>“A few—well, perhaps many. In my day, +many politicians still believed in Jonah and the +whale.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span></p> + +<p>“I see. But if the promise was made, how could +it be broken?”</p> + +<p>“Legally—as far as the state was concerned—for +infidelity, for excessive cruelty, for failure to +support. As a religious ceremony, to divorce and +remain in the church was more difficult, but certain +cases were recognized as permitting annulment.”</p> + +<p>“Then if the divorce was granted, how was the +guilty party punished? A prison sentence, or social +ostracism?”</p> + +<p>“I am bound to admit that with the exception +of a certain annoying financial penalty called alimony, +that there was no loss of standing.”</p> + +<p>“And the guilty party could remarry?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“And repeat the same promise?”</p> + +<p>“That is so.”</p> + +<p>“But why didn’t you change this obsolete ceremony +to an agreement to live together until each +desired to part?” interjected Candora.</p> + +<p>“What you suggest is undoubtedly relevant, +Candora,” I returned. “But you forget that we +were living under old institutions, and that the +maintenance of the home was the object of the +church and the state.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span></p> + +<p>“Because the more children the greater the +strength of the church and the state.”</p> + +<p>“Always the same error,” said Manfreda, turning +to the council. “You see how man’s mistaken obsession +for population enslaved the individual and +forced him to archaic tyrannies that were not above +the level of the early tribal state. And now, Bogardus, +in those marriages which did not terminate +in divorce, would you say that in practice a larger +percent were happy?”</p> + +<p>“Let me preface my answer,” I replied, “it is +easy to pick out the shortcomings and failures of +marriage as you have done. Most writers and +philosophers of my time did so. There was no +other institution that was so widely and continuously +discussed with a sincere desire to find a solution. +I perceive now, since my arrival here, that +we lived in a sentimental age. Undoubtedly you +have eliminated the greater part of the suffering +and hardships to which we were subjected. But +in our time, the union of man and woman was not +a eugenic episode, but an emotional urge. If it +ended too often in disillusionment, it had its compensations +and to experience the height of a passion, +we were willing to take the consequences. +We called it youth, and youth I perceive has been +abolished, along with middle age.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span></p> + +<p>Stella and Dulcina’s eyes shone on me with such +brilliance that, encouraged, I continued:</p> + +<p>“It is easy indeed, Manfreda, to criticize and you +will admit that I have not sought to avoid your +criticisms, though each one has been designed to +force me to condemn my sex. Very well, I admit +as you want me to do, that we lived in a chaotic +state of society, that our ideals were for the most +part materialistic, that our democracy was usually a +complaisant indifference to the rule of plunderers, +and that mediocrities led us rather than supermen. +This is true. But it was also an age of liberation +that produced a ferment of rebellion against traditions. +We were not smugly contented but dared +to question our gods. We applied a new searching +scientific method to every relation in life. We +were explorers, rebels. Because an idea was new, +we wished to try it out even if we suffered for it. +We men conquered the air and the depths of the +sea, we dared to seek the riddles of life, of space and +of eternity. We produced exceptional minds to do +this. If in our political society, we lacked pre-eminent +leaders, at least this is what we accomplished. +We gave to the masses an opportunity to +enjoy life, such as kings in the middle ages had +never possessed. We no sooner invented, than we +adapted the invention to the mass. What great +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>emperor before the year 1820, ever lived in a palace, +lighted by electricity, heated mechanically, was +able to move at a hundred miles an hour, had the +world’s journal brought before his eyes each day, +and listened to great artists, great orchestras and +famous men and women at great distances. Yet, +that is what the age you call materialistic did for +those who formerly would have lived in poverty +and dirt, in unsanitary hovels, who used to eat +meat once a week, if at all, never touched butter +and were tied to the spot where they were born. +Isn’t this to the credit of man?”</p> + +<p>Several of the council sprung up to respond, agitated +by the heat of my defence but Manfreda silenced +them and without departing from the philosophic +calm of her even tone said:</p> + +<p>“All this is true if we admit that the object of +civilization is to produce multitudes and to raise +the level of a low average. That, Bogardus, is not +our conception. We stand for the selection of the +fittest, not the multiplication of a cheap article +which your democracy did, in men as in machines. +But to answer you. It is true your time saw a +marvelous advance in science, but to what did you +apply the noblest creations of the scientific imagination? +Every new discovery was immediately +put to the perfecting of the art of destruction. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>The railroads became the arteries of military communication. +The automobile followed them and +produced the dreadful juggernaut of the armored +tank. You mastered the wisdom of the fishes to +do what—to make war more horrible on the sea. +You conquered the secret of the birds in order to +destroy whole country sides from the air. Your +scientists evolved high explosives, poison gases, +your mathematicians calculated the trajectory of +projectiles that could bombard cities fifty miles distant +and range-finding devices to locate unseen +enemies. The telephone, the telegraph, the camera +all became part of this perfected military organization. +You discovered the principle of wireless +transmission of energy to direct torpedos in the +water and aeroplanes to bombard from the sky. +Even your artists were enlisted. Your musicians +wrote military marches, or glorified war and heroes +in their symphonies. Your painters not only invented +camouflage but exalted the conqueror in +historic decorations. I can admit all that you record +of the fertility of an inventive age and answer +that your genuises were but the servants of man’s +brutal conception of war as the sum of all talents +and all energies within a state.”</p> + +<p>At this moment the air was filled with the pleasant +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>sound of chimes. Manfreda rose and advancing +towards me said:</p> + +<p>“Enough for today. You have an open mind, +Bogardus. Keep it open and judge our civilization +fairly, having known the old. I am certain the result +will bring small comfort to those sentimentalists +who today would have us imperil all that we +have achieved, by the dangerous doctrine that men +should be restored to equality with women.”</p> + +<p>Whatever the result of my first encounter with +Manfreda, it was evident to me from the flattering +expressions I received, that the spectacle of a mere +man, stating his contentions with lucidity and inspiration, +had made a marked impression on my +hearers.</p> + +<p>Acquilla pressed my arm with a new tenderness +as we departed but I was surprised to notice on her +forehead a foreboding frown.</p> + +<p>“You have created a profound effect, Bogardus,” +she said, when we were alone, “too profound I’m +afraid. Be on your guard and don’t let your enthusiasms +lead you into an imprudence. Remember +this is a woman’s world and sentiment plays no +part in it. What I can do I shall do to preserve +your liberty of action,” she added in a tender tone, +“but you must do nothing to make it difficult.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span></p> + +<p>Had I realized then the import of her fears, my +pardonable elation would have been chilled indeed.</p> + +<p>“When shall I really know how men live under +this civilization?” I asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>“This evening,” Acquilla answered, “I shall take +you to the Promenade of the Males, but before that, +I shall give you a great sensation.”</p> + +<p>“Where now?”</p> + +<p>“We are going to the great Astrodrome in the +Berkshire valley.” Acquilla took up the telephone +and gave the order to the machinot. Instantly the +aeroplane turned towards the northeast and shot +off at a speed of a thousand miles an hour; yet so +easy was the motion that only the slipping by of +the landscape below betrayed our vertiginous pace.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">I was</span> prepared of course, to find a great observatory +far surpassing our feeble edifices, but +accustomed as I was now to the stupendous, I could +not resist an exclamation of amazement. Below us +in the pleasant valley of the Housatonic was what I +at first took to be batteries of gigantic siege guns on +immense concrete emplacements.</p> + +<p>“They must be telescopes of course,” I said recovering +from my stupefaction. “But if you were +to tell me that the war of the worlds was imminent +and that you were preparing against an invasion of +the Martians—I could easily believe you.”</p> + +<p>“Always thinking in terms of war! How like +a man!” said Acquilla, but with the affectionate +superiority that in my day the husband was gratified +to show his wife. “As you surmised they are +great telescopes, at least seventy in number, but as +you will see, they are also immense inter-stellar +radio receiving stations as well as transmitters.”</p> + +<p>“You have communicated with Mars!” I exclaimed, +flushing with excitement.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p> + +<p>“Mars? That would be pastime for children, +but wait and learn for yourself.”</p> + +<p>We began to settle gently on the great common +and despite every intention to repress my amazement, +I remained gazing open-mouthed. Seen +from below, the mammoth proportions of these +cupolas and stretching barrels, dwarfed the imagination. +Several of the telescopes were two to three +thousand feet in length, so grim, so formidable and +so menacing in their confrontation of the firmament +above, that were they instruments of destruction +I could well imagine them capable of blotting +out the moon in a single terrific blast.</p> + +<p>We approached the principal observatory which +was so vast that St. Peter’s might have formed an +ante-room.</p> + +<p>“When you enter here,” said Acquilla, “enter in +reverence. To us, it is a temple in which lie the +illimitable mysteries of what the human mind can +achieve.”</p> + +<p>I saw her eyes lit with visions and her cheeks +suffused with emotion. I, myself, felt the contagion +and with quickened pulses, followed her into +the great dome of what I found to be the central +recording station. Around the great hall were +written in letters of gold, six feet high, the famous +prophecy of Manfreda:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span></p> + +<p class="center">WHATEVER WOMAN CAN CONCEIVE IN HER<br> +IMAGINATION SHE WILL ACHIEVE BY HER WILL</p> + +<p>While I was still lost in the immensity of the cathedral +spaces, Stella approached. She embraced me, +but in a more restrained manner than that to which +by now, I had become accustomed. In type she of +course, resembled the blonde litheness of Acquilla, +but with a more ascetic maturity in her expression.</p> + +<p>“You come in good time, Bogardus,” she exclaimed. +“For you will witness a sight no one in +your day could ever have dreamed of—the most +magnificent spectacle in creation—the explosion +of a sun twenty thousand light years away.”</p> + +<p>“Good heavens, where?” I exclaimed, looking +about me hastily.</p> + +<p>“Oh, there is no hurry,” said Stella, smiling at my +excitement. “We have a good three quarters of an +hour ahead of us.”</p> + +<p>“But how can you tell?” I cried staring at her +incredulously.</p> + +<p>“Oh, the breaking up of a solar system is an +every day spectacle with us.”</p> + +<p>“Explain to Bogardus first,” said Acquilla, “how +greatly we have extended our vision of the known +astral world since his day.”</p> + +<p>“But first explain,” I objected, “why there are so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>many observatories. Why more than one? Acquilla +tells me there are at least seventy.”</p> + +<p>“Seventy-three and there ought to be twenty +times that number,” replied Acquilla shaking her +head. “You see, Bogardus, with the immense +range of the modern telescope which the discovery +of the high-magnification of inter-stellar radioactivity +has brought us, the field of sight has become +so vast that one of these great telescopes can +cover no more than the space occupied by our sun +in the firmament. It is true that with the great +stations in Europe and Asia, not to speak of ours in +Arizona and the West, over three thousand telescopes +are concentrated on a minute observation of +the stars—but what an inadequate patch that +represents!”</p> + +<p>“Then how many stars are in your vision now?”</p> + +<p>“There is no mathematical figure that can give +any adequate estimate,” said Stella. “Roughly +speaking, there are a hundred million stars of a +size greater than our own sun which we can place +under accurate observation and see as clearly as you +saw Mars.”</p> + +<p>“And you can measure the distances?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, but the computation is so intricate, +that it requires ten years steady application of our +finest mathematicians.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span></p> + +<p>“Why? Some new theory of relativity?” I +said, brightening up.</p> + +<p>“Oh, all the old parallaxes were wrong,” replied +Stella. “The Einstein theories which seemed so +revolutionary in your day have all had to be adjusted +to the new theory of Ir-relativity—yes, a +truly complex computation.”</p> + +<p>“Can it be expressed in any words that will give +us a glimpse at least of its character?” said Acquilla +curiously.</p> + +<p>“Quite impossible! The simplest computation +and I cite it to you to show you how intricate the +whole problem has to be—is one you can perhaps +understand. If an electric stream transverse another +of equal strength so as to bisect it perpendicularly, +the arrestation of the speed of the bisector can +be nicely calculated. But if you vary the relative +potency of the two streams and the angle of the crossing +you naturally must have different variations.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, naturally,” I replied drawing a long breath.</p> + +<p>“That is simple, isn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“All theories are simple, if you don’t try to understand +them,” I said gravely.</p> + +<p>“Well, would you believe that is only the abc’s +of the problem. We know now that space is a +great electric sea, of which the currents are formed +by myriads of light rays, crossing and recrossing, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>impinging on each other, causing countless intricate +refractions and deviations. It is to bring order +into these formerly undivided factors—the +unsuspected, seemingly irrelative factors, that we +have had to promulgate our new theory. The Einstein +theory was founded on new principles of relativity, +the new theory is, of course, based on the +discovery that nothing in creation is irrelative to +the consideration of the properties of an apparent +mass. When you realize, Bogardus, that the rays +from the star Abacadabrun must traverse the paths +of hundreds of thousands of planets’ streams—but +you are perhaps a mathematician?”</p> + +<p>“Thank God, no!” I exclaimed holding my head. +“My dear Stella, show me everything, but for +heaven’s sake don’t, don’t, I beg you, try to explain +anything!”</p> + +<p>“Thanks, Bogardus, my head is reeling too,” said +Acquilla, and to my amazement, she began to laugh.</p> + +<p>Stella noticed it and gazed at her in alarm.</p> + +<p>“Acquilla you are in pain!”</p> + +<p>“No, no, it is nothing,” said Acquilla hastily, +making me a sign to be silent. “I never could +understand mathematics, anyhow. But now Stella, +leaving us outside the higher knowledge, explain to +Bogardus the organization of your plant.”</p> + +<p>Stella, abandoning the subject rather reluctantly, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>drew my attention to a great number of doors leading +to a hundred receiving rooms in each of which +one could follow on a circular glass plate the observations +of the different telescopes (these observations +were likewise radioed to the receiving sets in +the home theatres). Whenever it was desirable to +concentrate on some unusual phenomena, the moving +picture record was placed in the great magnifiers +underneath the floor and the projection thrown +on the top of the dome above our heads.</p> + +<p>“But you will see for yourself,” said Stella breaking +off. “We have just time—”</p> + +<p>At this moment, like the voice of the call boy in +the theatre, a mechanical voice cried:</p> + +<p>“Ten minutes before the explosion!”</p> + +<p>“Place yourself here,” said Stella, indicating one +of several inclined couches and throwing herself +down on one. “To give you some idea of what +you are witnessing, I have arranged an interesting +visualization. Here is the star as it appears to the +naked eye.”</p> + +<p>I gazed up eagerly as a complete night shut out +all outlines of the hall.</p> + +<p>“Where?”</p> + +<p>“Watch in the centre of the cupola above you.”</p> + +<p>“I see nothing.”</p> + +<p>“Not even a pin prick of light?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, perhaps.”</p> + +<p>“Now watch it grow as we magnify it.”</p> + +<p>The little dot of light grew into a perceptible +twinkle, became a ball of fire, expanded with alarming +rapidity until I shrank from it in alarm as +though it were going to burst over me.</p> + +<p>“There,” said Stella when on the surface of the +cupola appeared a luminous whirling molten mass +almost the size of a football, revolving with staggering +velocity. “We are now about to witness +the gestation of a new solar system. And remember +this happened twenty thousand years—light +years—ago. Look!”</p> + +<p>All at once the spinning mass threw off a number +of flaming particles which slowly proceeded in +different directions leaving the main mass reduced +at least a half in diameter.</p> + +<p>“But why is the speed so gradual?” I exclaimed, +rather disappointed.</p> + +<p>“Gradual! Have you forgotten the distance we +are looking across and that the slightest fraction of +space traversed has to be reckoned in hundreds of +thousands of miles?”</p> + +<p>“True, I forgot,” I said humbly. “But then, +Stella, you can follow the whole process to the +final stabilization of a new solar system.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. Within a day the minor satellites +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>will be arrested in their flight. Before a week is +over the whole new gravital balance will be accomplished.”</p> + +<p>“Wonderful! What good luck to have seen +it!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, but this is an hourly spectacle in infinity, if +our telescopes only knew where to find them.”</p> + +<p>“I could remain spellbound—”</p> + +<p>“You have seen all in principle,” said Stella, +flooding the room with light. “Yes, the first time +you see it, it is tremendously impressive. Think, +Bogardus, that we can now trace the whole creation +of a world from the first solar paroxysm to the +beginnings of an atmosphere, to the arrival of planets +and the beginnings of vertebrate existence.”</p> + +<p>“But that is a process that covers billions of +years.”</p> + +<p>“And there are billions of solar systems in infinity, +Bogardus, all in different stages of growth +or decay. Think of the achievements of astronomy +that lie ahead of us, when we have adequate +facilities for observation. When I think what another +age may know!” added Stella, shaking her +head impotently.</p> + +<p>“It would be amusing to show him life on some +nearby planet,” suggested Acquilla.</p> + +<p>“Then other worlds are inhabited!” I exclaimed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span></p> + +<p>“Every world has been at some time inhabited +but with various forms of life. But to understand +the infinite complexities of nature you must understand +this. It was only the vanity of man” (she +pronounced the word with the accent of Acquilla’s +superior disdain) “that could conceive of intelligent +life only in his own image. There are worlds where +the inhabitants resemble us, but there are myriads +of civilizations, perhaps at a much greater development +than ours, where the dominant vertebrates +are plainly of birdlike characteristics, or insects, or, +various curious strains of fauna.”</p> + +<p>“Insects—creating an intelligent world, thinking, +conversing, imagining?” I cried incredulously.</p> + +<p>“Why not? The determination of the dominant +vertebrate in any world is largely a conjunction of +accidents, in the first sanguinary struggles for existence. +Yes, indeed, the insect worlds are of an astonishing +degree of intelligence. You will be surprised +to know that Neptune is inhabited by a race +plainly derived from an insect ancestry.”</p> + +<p>“But an insect—how feeble!”</p> + +<p>“Bogardus, think a moment. The common flea +or the grasshopper, has relatively a vastly superior +muscular strength than man. And when you have +insects ten times the size of a woman!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span></p> + +<p>“Show me at once and don’t tantalize me with +your explanations,” I exclaimed feverishly.</p> + +<p>“Here then, is a typical Neptunian community of +today,” said Stella, leading the way into a small hall +and signalling for a reel. “You see the type has +some resemblance to the dragon fly, or the winged +ant that we know. It is a true matriarchal state +from the beginning, and for that reason has probably +developed so rapidly. You speak of insects. Imagine +woman twenty feet tall, equipped with wings +and not two hands and feet but eight. Imagine +the strength imparted and the power of locomotion +that we cannot possess!”</p> + +<p>It was true, the Neptunians were of undoubted +insect characteristics and as Stella had so proudly +proclaimed, of a true matriarchal civilization. For +I observed that, as in the ant colonies in this world, +the male workers were rooted to the soil, while the +female of a surpassing loveliness of gay colors and +slender bodies had that gift of soaring, which we +fondly dream of for ourselves in an angelic state. +Presently I perceived an army of toiling ape-like +laborers.</p> + +<p>“What are these strange slave-like figures that are +laboring on that great pyramid?” I asked in wonder.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span></p> + +<p>“Speaking in terms of ourselves, they are undoubtedly +an arrested development of ape or if you +please, human beings. The pyramid you speak of +is undoubtedly a great telescopic emplacement, immeasurably +greater than any we have achieved. +Now, look as we explore the country. You will see +any number of these pyramidical structures. Some +are for astronomical observations and others are for +radio transmission.”</p> + +<p>“We are then in communication with Neptune +and Mars?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, for fifty years, we have been signalling back +and forth. When the interstellar radiophone is an +accomplished fact, as it is a proved theory for radios, +and has the speed of light, we may in a hundred or +five hundred years be able to receive messages that +are passing us every instant of our day.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing surprises me any longer,” I said bravely. +“But if you can perceive each other, why cannot you +communicate intelligently?”</p> + +<p>“It is, of course, an insect language, and there is +the difficulty. When we shall have learned the +basis of insect communication here, we shall have +taken a great step forward. We have already over +a hundred of our great scientists engaged in this +study. It is possible that this language is based on +a musical vibration.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span></p> + +<p>“What other strange civilizations are in the wonders +of your firmament?” I asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>“There are over a hundred known planets, where +the great bird civilizations flourish. If I had time, I +could show you an example, for in beauty of color +and form, nothing excels them. There are worlds +where the feline or the canine is supreme and of +course, backward civilizations where huge mammals +live in crude organizations.” Stella stopped +and gazed at me a moment. “Really, Bogardus, +to see your wonder and enthusiasm is like a tonic +to one who like myself is daily oppressed by the +limitations we struggle against. If it seems to you +we have accomplished miracles since your day, why +should we doubt the genius that is imagination in +woman, to conquer the seemingly impossible?”</p> + +<p>“Great heavens, what is there left!” I cried involuntarily.</p> + +<p>“What is there left?” said Stella sadly. “What, +rather, have we accomplished? We can see, we +may soon hear from planet to planet. But what +shall we see and hear? Civilizations, that were, +but are no longer. The thing that depresses us, is +the tragically slow speed of light. Will any force +yet undreamed of be discovered that can outdistance +the beam that can only crawl through space at +184,000 miles a second? Will it ever be possible +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>with all our knowledge, to visit other worlds, or +must we remain eternally rooted here? And the +problem of life itself? What a stupefying mystery, +akin to infinity! We know that it can be +prolonged immeasurably. Is the conquest of immortality +possible? Have other worlds solved it? +And you stand amazed, Bogardus, before the little +veil we have lifted for you.”</p> + +<p>The great scientist seemed to have forgotten our +presence as she stood immersed in the terrifying consideration +of these mysteries.</p> + +<p>Acquilla signed to me and we moved away, unnoticed.</p> + +<p>“She may remain hours in her abstraction,” she +whispered to me. “What a mind! What an imagination!”</p> + +<p>“Can we visit some of the observatories? I +should like to see the great telescope in operation.”</p> + +<p>“We shall return often, though the daily records +are available to us at home. However, instead of +visiting personally the different plants, which would +be fatiguing, we can see everything we wish from a +television hall.”</p> + +<p>We entered a cabinet, similar to the one in which +I had lunched with Dianne at Acquilla’s house and +installed ourselves. But at the first interior of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>great cupola with its cyclopian telescopic eye, I +cried:</p> + +<p>“But there is a man!”</p> + +<p>“Of course. There are hundreds of them employed +in the higher mathematics and problems of +intricate research.”</p> + +<p>“A man!” I repeated sadly.</p> + +<p>What I saw before me was a creature with a +magnificent head it is true, but the body of a frail +child of eight or nine.</p> + +<p>“I see what surprises you,” said Acquilla quickly. +“But you must not judge by appearances. Really, +though it has taken us generations, we have at last +bred the true mathematical type. They have none +of those physical appetites or deviations, that afflict +us, Bogardus. They are intellectual Buddhas, the +ascetic-saints of science. They live in their visions, +in a world of their own.”</p> + +<p>“I prefer the slaves of the Neptunian insects,” I +exclaimed indignantly, “at least they could roam in +the outer air. But these deformed dwarfs are nothing +but inhuman calculating machines.”</p> + +<p>“Wait and see them in their monasteries,” said +Acquilla, changing the view.</p> + +<p>I saw then hundreds of gnomes in a long, low +building—a monastery in fact; moving about the +great esplanade gesticulating in animated conversation, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>smoking pipes, playing chess or pitching quoits +with all the appearance, I must confess, of complete +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Do they look as though they were abused? +Now honestly.”</p> + +<p>“No—but I should like to assure myself of that +by talking to them.”</p> + +<p>“Quite impossible,” said Acquilla formally. “I +should not dream of intruding myself. As for you—you +would bring nothing but disorder in their +well regulated existence.”</p> + +<p>“They are indeed slaves,” I repeated bitterly.</p> + +<p>“So am I, in a sense,” said Acquilla. “Are you +going back to the sentimentalities of the Declaration +of Independence? Freedom? Nonsense! We +have bred them scientifically to accomplish intricate +and necessary things and skillfully atrophied the unnecessary +glands, so that they find their happiness in +their work. To receive the work you are best fitted +for and to find your happiness in your work—if +that is not Paradise, what is, Bogardus?”</p> + +<p>I shrugged my shoulders.</p> + +<p>“I dislike arguing with a woman,” I said.</p> + +<p>“And I with you, Bogardus dear, if it makes you +cross,” she said, changing her tone immediately. +“Now we must return, if we are to be in time for +the Promenade of the Young Males.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span></p> + +<p>I looked at her suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“I perceive the devilish ingenuity of the contrast +you are planning to offer me.”</p> + +<p>“Well, what of it—if it convinces you!”</p> + +<p>I took my seat in our aeromat with a feeling of +complete mental exhaustion. One cannot experience +such marvels as I had witnessed, without a limp +revulsion. We rose and streaked toward the south, +I too weary to resist, as Acquilla boldly put her arm +about my waist and drawing my head toward her, +pillowed it on her firm shoulder.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">The</span> Promenade of the Young Males was again +a spectacle for which I was totally unprepared.</p> + +<p>The spot itself was of a sylvan beauty that recalled +the Elysian fields with its shaded groves and +soft greensward. Under the trees were hundreds +of marble seats grouped according to the castes +where the women as spectators had taken their posts +of observation. I sought feverishly for my lovely +Dianne but in vain. Following Acquilla, I took my +place among the Minervenes and eagerly looked out +at last upon my fellow men.</p> + +<p>For a moment, I could not believe my eyes. +Groups of young men in twos and threes were sauntering +through the sylvan avenues, with a rhythmical +Andalusian swaying of their hips, glancing with +timid provocation over their long plumed fans, at +the Amazons who gazed down upon them with an +estimating curiosity. I heard around me a buzz of +comments, which I must confess, reminded me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>strangely of certain memories of club windows +fronting on Fifth Avenue.</p> + +<p>“A fine neck and shoulders.”</p> + +<p>“The one, the third to the left, is a darling.”</p> + +<p>“What a charming figure!”</p> + +<p>“You can have him! Too athletic, but the boy +over there is like a Greek god.”</p> + +<p>A Greek god! The expression in a flash made +comprehensible to me the metamorphosis. I remembered +that every young girl, somewhere in her +life, had a Greek god as her ideal and now when the +secrets of eugenics were in their hands, what more +natural, than that they should breed to that ideal?</p> + +<p>Just as among the Amazons, I had noted three +variations, the blond Greek, the dark Latin and +the heavy intellectual Prussian, so I found the males +were bred for two distinct varieties. There was a +graceful Olympian type resembling the decadent +period of Greek sculpture; lithe and delicately +turned, rounded and dimpled, the hair curled above +the forehead and piled high as in the famous Apollo +Belvedere. In strong contrast the second type had +brown dusky skins and glossy black hair brushed +straight back. Slender and languorous in their +movements, they had the slanted seductive eyes +which recalled to me a certain predominant type of +moving picture hero popular in my day. These +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>last carried small lutes of an agreeable tinkling sound +with which they accompanied their soft crooning +voices. Their flowing tunics, Attic in feeling, but +with a touch of the licentiousness of the later Directoire, +were in multi-colored gossamer materials +of an astonishing richness that revealed the flowing +lines of the graceful young bodies beneath.</p> + +<p>Several of the blonds, in fact exceeded the bounds +of good taste in the arrogant display of their soft +shoulders and backs, with a curious fluttering divided +skirt which too boldly revealed the length of their +shapely legs. I noted with a growing repulsion, that +not only were these young debutants manifestly +painted and powdered, but that generally they had +adopted ridiculously high heels to increase their +stature which I estimated at no more than five feet +six.</p> + +<p>“I am waiting for your comments, Bogardus,” +said Acquilla gently. “Your face is flushed and you +are positively scowling. What angers you now?”</p> + +<p>My face must have betrayed my extreme dejection! +In truth, my courage all but failed me then +and there. What possible hope was there that I +alone against all the forces of a determined and relentless +matriarchy, could regenerate such a degenerate +and decadent sex? But I did not wish Acquilla +to suspect my true thoughts.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span></p> + +<p>“As if you did not know very well,” I answered. +“What other feeling except scorn and repulsion +could I have, in seeing my fellow men reduced to +this artificial slavery and parading like prospective +concubines in the humiliation of a slave mart!”</p> + +<p>“What do you specially object to?”</p> + +<p>“I object to everything, their unmanly mincings +and veiled provocations. Good God! To think +that my sex has descended to the arts of decadent +courtesans, to paint and perfume, to insidious advertising +of their physical charms, to giggling and +smirking. If you did not affirm it, I should refuse +to believe these theatrical voluptuous figures were +men.”</p> + +<p>“Yet, if they were women, nothing would astonish +you?”</p> + +<p>I caught myself, frowned, blurted out:</p> + +<p>“Well, no. Of course not.”</p> + +<p>“You see, Bogardus, you make the mistake that +men made for centuries, in believing that woman’s +nature was different from man’s. All that you +have observed in this curious display is only acquired +characteristics and the acquired characteristics of +the sex whose primary function is to attract the +stronger. Once it was woman, now it is man.”</p> + +<p>“I am forced to believe it,” I said gloomily.</p> + +<p>“And to be fair, if it were possible to revive the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>process, wouldn’t I be just as indignant, if you were +taking me to one of your assembly balls?”</p> + +<p>“I should like to drive them out with whips and +scorpions,” I said, evading an answer.</p> + +<p>“On the contrary, they are really quite charming—for +a week or so. Nor is it fair to believe that +what annoys you now is the result of our suppression. +The young fops of decadent Greece and +Rome, I imagine, would have excited your puritanical +scorn just as much. It may be painful to you, +Bogardus—but it is better to face the truth. Is +it from such that you would attempt a movement +for social equality?”</p> + +<p>Carried away with my resentment, I did an impulsive +and rash thing.</p> + +<p>“Which would you prefer, Acquilla?” I said +looking her boldly in the eyes. “One of these decadent +Roman demigods you have created or a man +like myself?”</p> + +<p>“For a week or for a year?” said Acquilla, smiling.</p> + +<p>“As a woman, any time!” I said insistently and +the desire to avenge myself on the humiliation of my +sex was so strong, that I threw into my voice, my +look and the touch of my hand, all the animal +magnetism that my male instinct could summon.</p> + +<p>Acquilla’s glance unlike Dianne’s, never fell. On +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>the contrary, a quick feline light gleamed in her +eyes as she looked at me.</p> + +<p>“You, of course,” she said tensely, to my dismay. +“Being what I am, you on your own terms, you all +my life! And just as frankly, dear man, if it were +a question of a hundred men like you to be let loose +among our society, I should cast my vote at once +for extermination.”</p> + +<p>A shudder passed over me. To be loved by Acquilla, +was like being loved by a coldly reasoning +tigress. I regretted instantly the dangerous provocation +I had given and uneasily changed the +subject.</p> + +<p>“Now that I am reconciled to realities,” I said, +with a touch of sarcasm, “I am anxious to understand +more fully your customs. What is the object +of this parade?”</p> + +<p>“What was the object of the introduction of +your daughters to society?” replied Acquilla. +“Daughters to marry—men to mate! The principle +is the same, only I think we are franker, because +we have done away with inhibitions. Those +you see with the white plumed fans are the debutants +of the first year. They do not mate immediately +with the maidens of their age, but are apprenticed +to the Histriones for their sentimental education. +Those with the scarlet fans are of the second year.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span></p> + +<p>“Yes, they have a look of men of the world,” I +said with a sarcasm that was of course, lost on +Acquilla.</p> + +<p>At this moment, there was a perceptible stir of +curiosity among the languidly circulating males, a +sudden chime of bells in the air and the irruption +of hundreds of young maidens, which I can only +describe as the scrambling rush of the stags at a ball. +These young Dianas, dressed in short tunics that +stopped short of the knee, advanced eagerly and +posting themselves at points of vantage, stared appraisingly +at the fluttering males, with a boldness +that Don Juan himself might have envied.</p> + +<p>The debutants of the first year, I observed, pretended +an indifference which their furtive glances +belied, as they endeavored by careless and seemingly +haphazard meetings to attract their attention. But +the superior Dianas (I had almost written “the +young bucks,” so completely did their impertinent +inspection suggest the manners of the highborn +oglers of other days) indifferent to these timorous +advances, had eyes only for their more experienced +brothers. The white fans, as though conscious of +their inferiority, gradually drifted away to the grove +of the Histriones.</p> + +<p>I beheld then, the curious sight of hundreds of +couples moving languidly with the woman’s arms +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>around the man, her head bent in solicitous courtship.</p> + +<p>“Are these women virgins?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Oh, absolutely,” said Acquilla. “We permit no +intercourse until a woman has borne her female +child. These first unions are serious and endure for +six months, during which time the male resides in +the seclusion of the woman’s home.”</p> + +<p>“In a solitary seraglio?”</p> + +<p>“Naturally. What you see is only the first of +the promenades. They continue every week for +several months during the period of courtship, before +the final engagements are concluded.”</p> + +<p>“Then the men have a freedom of choice?”</p> + +<p>“Theoretically, yes, but they seldom exercise that +right.”</p> + +<p>“But supposing several women desire the same +man?”</p> + +<p>“That often happens, but the priority is determined +by the eugenics board according to their +qualifications.”</p> + +<p>“But doesn’t this arouse fierce jealousies?”</p> + +<p>“Why, one man is like another. Besides, it’s a +question of waiting.”</p> + +<p>“One question,” I persisted, “I comprehend that +in this age of reason, you have done away with sentiment. +But have you so completely dominated the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>emotions that these mating comradeships do not +sometimes develop into what we called the passion +of love? And what then?”</p> + +<p>“In the young, it is quite true that violent attractions +take place,” said Acquilla. “But as we +know that such infatuations are immoral, we limit +the duration of the attachment to six months.”</p> + +<p>“Immoral?” I said, looking at her fixedly. +“How am I to understand that?”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” said Acquilla perceiving, +I think, her slip.</p> + +<p>I saw my opportunity and seized it.</p> + +<p>“Six months!” I exclaimed indignantly. “A +plaything for six months! So that is all you have +had in mind. Now I know your real intentions.”</p> + +<p>“A particular case has nothing to do with a general +law,” said Acquilla with her genius for easy evasion. +“Besides, such a case as yours has yet to be determined. +Trust me, my dear one. I shall know how to protect +us.”</p> + +<p>My glance dropped before the ardor of her look.</p> + +<p>“But how can passion under your society ever be +immoral?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Morality is order, and immorality disorder. +Anything that takes away from a woman the control +over her faculties is of the quality of disorder and +therefore immoral. The moment the relationship +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>exceeds the bounds of her self-control, a woman +passes into a state of emotional servitude and ceases +to think honestly. Of course, in your day, you used +marriage as a moral umbrella, forgetting that in the +majority of cases, marriage either became a physical +slavery or worse, and where hatred had risen, contrary +to the natural selective principles of nature +and therefore doubly immoral.”</p> + +<p>“All this is marvelously if incredibly reasoned, +Acquilla,” I said, “but since you admit that the +passions do flame out, how do you treat them?”</p> + +<p>“With the exception of the Histriones, where for +the purposes of art we encourage a certain emotional +latitude to produce that contact with suffering +which the artist we know must experience; the cases +you refer to, are rare. The remedy is of course, +simple. All emotions have a physical or glandular +origin so that a short period of treatment in the +hospital corrects the malady.”</p> + +<p>It was on the tip of my tongue to recommend to +her an immediate treatment, but I conquered my +sense of humor. Our relations had now reached +so critical a point that I realized they would bear +no further provocation. So I said smiling: “But +if the woman doesn’t want to be cured?”</p> + +<p>“You forget,” said Acquilla, with a gesture to the +assembly, “that men such as you see there, can have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>only a physical appeal. In the rare case where an +accidental intelligence may complicate the emotional +problem, and this has only happened to the Histriones, +there is a choice. We cannot, in the name +of morality, permit the continuance of a relationship +which has degenerated into a disorganization of +the senses, but we do permit the unfortunate couple +the right to be translated together through the +Frigidrome into another existence.”</p> + +<p>“Wait.” I stopped and took her hand genuinely +moved. “Do I understand, my dear Acquilla, +that you are prepared to take this voyage into time +with me?”</p> + +<p>“If there is no other way out—yes,” she said +tremulously.</p> + +<p>“But if I could show you another way?” I said, +pressing her arm in my eagerness.</p> + +<p>In that heroic moment, I was ready to sacrifice +Dianne for Acquilla.</p> + +<p>“What way, dear?” she asked startled.</p> + +<p>“Help me to restore men to their former dignity +and rights. Make them your mates and not simply +breeders.”</p> + +<p>“Never!” she cried, drawing her hand instantly +away from me. “Betray my beliefs—never! I +shall sacrifice myself but never my civilization! +Understand that once and for all, Bogardus!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span></p> + +<p>“Incorruptible one!” I murmured in involuntary +admiration. “Incorruptible as Robespierre,” I +added to myself, “and just as implacable.”</p> + +<p>“You will find as a matter of fact,” Acquilla +added after a moment’s reflection, “that we are +always guided by the strictest sense of justice. Our +acquired scientific wisdom has laid down certain inviolable +rules of conduct. If an individual refuses +to conform we don’t avenge ourselves by any cruel +or unusual method of punishment, we simply remove +him to another civilization.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing could be more just, oh, Solomon,” I +admitted enthusiastically, “and you put to shame +our archaic penal system where a man was not even +permitted the right to take his own life.”</p> + +<p>“Bear always in mind, dear,” said Acquilla with +an approving nod, “that man’s logic always reasoned +from traditions, whereas we women reason from the +immediate necessity. Your brain was a deductive +one, ours is always inductive. It is that power of +divination, of sensing first what ought to be, that +has produced the great feminine discoveries in +science.”</p> + +<p>During the conversation, I had become increasingly +aware of the disturbance that my presence was +creating. Groups of maidens passed and repassed, +gazing at me with undisguised curiosity and admiration, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span>until becoming bolder they remained in a +whispering group gazing up at me. Whether a +certain license was permitted at these affairs or +whether Acquilla was moved by a sense of pride +in a coveted possession, she made no effort to dispel +these inquisitive groupings. I sustained this persistent +admiration with as indifferent a countenance +as possible until I noticed that the attraction I exerted +was arousing the evident displeasure of the +young males, who from their furious glances and +mutterings seemed to regard my presence as an unwarranted +intrusion. This attitude became so +noticeable that I said hastily to Acquilla:</p> + +<p>“My dear Acquilla, though a man of a certain +vanity, I am unfortunately afflicted with a little +modesty and as, after all, I am not on parade, +couldn’t we leave the field to its rightful possessors?”</p> + +<p>Acquilla rose and offering her arm drew me +through the crowd which in response to a peremptory +gesture, immediately dissolved and left us free. +We passed thus, through this curiously inverted +throng of lovers and arrived at the grove of the +Histriones, where unfortunately my presence +created an even greater disturbance. Dulcina and +Carrilla came hurriedly forward and embraced me +with a warmth that was noticeably displeasing to +Acquilla.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span></p> + +<p>I searched feverishly for my lovely Dianne and +discovered her at length, in a farther group, devouring +me with her ardent gaze. She laid her fingers +on her lips, to signal to me to be patient, and I understood +that, fearful of betraying her passion before +Acquilla, she preferred to remain in the background.</p> + +<p>The young males of the first year, were at this +moment performing a ballet with the evident intention +of attracting the attention of the most famous +of the Histriones, and truth compels me to admit +that in the grace of their flying movement, they +surpassed any ballet that I had previously witnessed. +The attention of the charming Histriones, which +had been fixed on the <i>premiers danseurs</i>, was quite +naturally diverted to me. The result was disastrous. +The entire chorus, aware of the sudden relaxation +in the attention of the audience, stopped, began to +whisper and abruptly abandoned the scene. Before +I could make my apologies for this regrettable interruption, +a messenger approached Acquilla and +summoned her to what I learned afterwards, was a +suddenly convoked meeting of the Supreme Council. +To leave me with the Histriones was extremely +distasteful, but the summons being of a peremptory +nature, she was forced to make the best of it.</p> + +<p>Hardly had she disappeared, when Dianne seized +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span>my hand, and drawing me out of the crowd, led me +into a shady grotto.</p> + +<p>“I have only a moment to warn you,” she said +hastily, “but the Council has been convoked on your +account.”</p> + +<p>“On mine?” I exclaimed, with a feeling of uneasiness.</p> + +<p>“You see, your position here is an irregular one. +You are of course, a man and subject to all the +regulations, but you are enjoying the freedom that +we permit only to our own sex. The young males +are furious, naturally.”</p> + +<p>“At last—” I exclaimed triumphantly. “Am I +to be incarcerated then?”</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry, my beloved,” said Dianne, putting +her arm around my neck and looking at me with +glowing eyes, “and forgive me if I’m a good deal in +what is about to happen to you. For I can stand +anything, rather than the thought of your being +alone day and night with Acquilla. You will have +to enter the Club for a short while, but by entering +it, you will acquire a freedom of action that you +never could have had as Acquilla’s prisoner.”</p> + +<p>“You will take me out yourself, oh, Dianne!” +I exclaimed, divining the whole stratagem in her +amorous glances.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span></p> + +<p>“You have always the right to refuse,” said the +bewitching creature, drawing near me.</p> + +<p>My answer was to fold her into my arms and +gather her to me with a passion that obliterated all +consciousness. All at once I felt a shudder pass +through her soft body, and with a cry of alarm she +sprang from me. I looked up. Acquilla, with +blazing eyes, was staring at us.</p> + +<p>“I might have guessed your stratagem, treacherous +Histrione,” she cried bitterly. “Very well, the responsibility +is on your head! Good-bye, Bogardus!”</p> + +<p>Before we could stammer an excuse, she turned +abruptly on her heel and went off with a final menacing +gesture. The next moment the officials appeared +and signified to me the decision of the Supreme +Council.</p> + +<p>“Courage, my beloved,” said Dianne, clasping me +to her a last time. “Acquilla is a terrible enemy, +but I too, have great influence. Only do be careful +at the Club. Be patient until your friends can +organize in your support. I’ll get you out as soon +as I can.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">In the</span> company of my two Amazon guides, I +passed through the buzzing crowd to a sort of +official Black Maria which in this case was nothing +more or less than an aerial taxi. On our journey +I attempted to extract some information of my +destination and probable length of stay. Despite +the usual bureaucratic lack of information, I did +gather that the Club to which I was being taken was +a junior organization where the young males on +their first introduction into society were segregated +and carefully instructed in the arts and graces of +conduct. My first uneasiness gave place to a growing +curiosity. Knowing that crimes of violence +were outlawed I ceased to fear my reception among +my own sex, confident that in a short contact I could +dissipate the first unfavorable impression. I had +not, in fact, any carefully matured plan but I was +determined now that the opportunity had presented +itself, to awake in my decadent and helpless brothers +a sentiment of the glory that had been stripped from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>them. I set it down to my credit that, strong as was +the fascination that Dianne exercised over me, the +feeling of sex solidarity in me was so imperious +that I was determined to stop before neither threats +nor reprisals.</p> + +<p>We alighted before a massive iron gate, fully forty +feet in height, that broke the grim monotony of the +towering walls. Evidently apprised of my intended +arrival, a venerable proctor (in appearance sixty +years of age though undoubtedly much older) was +waiting to greet me. Once beyond the walls we +entered a little two-seated scooter which traversed +the grounds with astonishing lightness and speed and +arrived at the home of my Nestorian companion, +who evidently was a sort of super head master.</p> + +<p>“It is better for you to pass the first night under +my roof,” he said when we had alighted, “until +the feeling against you shall have abated somewhat.”</p> + +<p>“Really? I should think that the only sentiment +would be curiosity. How have I offended?”</p> + +<p>“This year’s debutants are a vain and silly lot and +they have been made unruly by this talk of social +equality that is in the air.”</p> + +<p>“Then I gather you do not believe in male suffrage,” +I said, gazing at him in surprise.</p> + +<p>“This is a woman’s world,” he said shrugging his +shoulders. “Man’s place is in the Club.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span></p> + +<p>I broke out laughing with the same result. Men +too in this advanced age were totally deprived of +humor. Suddenly I stopped struck by an inspiration. +To begin the revolt of the males, I must teach +them to laugh!</p> + +<p>The young debutants began to return in a state of +great excitement. Within half an hour, there were +fully two hundred gathered in a clamoring group +outside. What they wanted was, of course, a view +of me. Nestor, with a caution to remain within, +stepped outside the door and was addressing the ring +leaders in a peremptory tone, when, moved by an +impulse of disdain for these effeminate slender +striplings, I sprang out boldly, and raising my hand +aloft in the best oratorical manner cried:</p> + +<p>“Hello, Twenty-Second Century!”</p> + +<p>This salutation delivered with perfect good humor +and confidence caught that animal curiosity which +is instinct in the crowd. The first ranks stopped +and stared. Profiting by the moment, I put Nestor +behind me with a commanding gesture and advancing +boldly among them, said:</p> + +<p>“You are not a bit more curious to know what +men were in my day than I am to know you and +your ways. Gentlemen, I am delighted to be with +you. And if anyone here thinks that it was with +any pleasure that I have suffered myself to be dragged +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>about and exhibited like a tamed animal, let him +undeceive himself. Or if you think I am sent here +by any complaints of yours, you are wrong again. +I am here because the female powers that be, regard +me as a menace to the society they have imposed on +you. As I shall probably be deported within forty-eight +hours to another century, make the most of +this opportunity to find out how and why men ruled +the world when men were giants!”</p> + +<p>This speech which I personally thought rather +bombastic, had a triumphant result. My appeal to +the curiosity of the male (which women have always +insisted on) turned the irritation of the crowd into +one of the friendliest eagerness. By nightfall I can +truly say that I was the most popular man in the +Club. I wisely postponed any attempt to stir my +fellow men to revolt until I had taken time to acquaint +myself with their point of view, their habits +and their inhibitions.</p> + +<p>At first I admit to a certain discouragement as I +realized the full strength of the inertia that ease and +idleness had developed in them.</p> + +<p>The young males had been rendered so pampered +and indolent that at first I found it impossible to +arouse them to any shame of the life of luxury and +indulgence in which they were steeped. Outside +of the gladiators (who were like a sex apart) the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span>young male of the twenty-second century was a +vain and slothful creature of the harem. Due, no +doubt, to the multiplication of automatic machinery +and the use of the aeroplane, I doubt if any of them +could have walked a brisk five miles without needing +resuscitation. On the other hand, all their +physical education was directed towards the terpsichorean +arts, in which they excelled for grace of +movement and lightness of poise.</p> + +<p>Their mental education I discovered went scarcely +between the three R’s, reading, writing and arithmetic +and their reading consisted in as feverish an application +to detective literature as would have distinguished +a statesman in my time. They rose late +in the morning and spent a greater part of the day +in the bath with solicitous applications for the softening +of their skins, which were of an extraordinary +velvety texture. The oiling, perfuming and curling +of their hair occupied another two hours, after +which they trained themselves in the intricate +choreographic steps which they would later display +to delight the eyes of the stronger sex. The habit of +gambling was a mania with them and even in their +baths which were of a Roman splendor, they were +continually throwing dice in a dozen different and +extremely intricate games. At night they remained +until the small hours engrossed in their cards in a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>game which was a strange development of poker and +contract bridge.</p> + +<p>When I attempted to arouse them from their +torpor of indulgence by recitals of the exploits of +the male heroes of other days, citing the explorers +who with adventurous courage had braved the +Arctic colds, dared the terrors of the deep, or first +laid their perilous courses across the uncharted sky, +I found that the very idea of such dangers appalled +their imaginations. The invariable response was +that it was a woman’s world and some frankly proclaimed +that the revolt I was urging, meant nothing +but exchanging a pleasant life of sheltered ease for +tasks of effort and responsibility.</p> + +<p>I was, I admit, in despair of any success, when +fortunately I discovered a small group whose racial +characteristics marked them as descendants of the +Irish Isles. Knowing the strong instinct of that +rebellious race to any and all existing forms of government, +I worked upon this strain and found to +my delight a responsive enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>It was then that my first inspiration returned to +my memory. I determined to begin at the beginning +of all revolts, by teaching these supernaturally +sober-faced descendants the art of laughing. Applying +the same physical methods I had used in the +home of Acquilla, I succeeded in a few days in completely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span>changing the character of the community. +No sooner had they been instructed into the manly +art of laughter than they began to seek by all manner +of practical jokes a means for giving vent to these +new emotions. From morning to night the Club +was filled with boisterous outbursts and I became +at last an acknowledged leader.</p> + +<p>I now developed their newly discovered sense of +humor by holding up to ridicule their feminine +despots until, when the time was ripe, I brought forward +triumphantly my scheme for a successful rebellion. +I recited to them the story of Lysistrata and +the woman’s revolt and having carefully demonstrated +to them that they were set apart for one particular +purpose alone, I pictured the consternation +that would ensue if they steadfastly refused to venture +from their walls, assuring them that in a short +time they would be able to dictate their own terms.</p> + +<p>This idea appealed so strongly to their rapidly +developing sense of the ridiculous that the proposition +was greeted with cheers and shouts of laughter +and by unanimous acclaim I was appointed general +in chief, with power to issue the ultimatum and enforce +all needed discipline over the weaker minded +elements.</p> + +<p>For three days not a male stirred from the walls +that by inviolable tradition protected their seclusion. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>On the fourth, the entire body of the Histriones +gathered outside the gates led by Dianne, and demanded +a conference.</p> + +<p>Restraining my forces, with some difficulty I +admit, I advanced outside the gates. While the +young males in a fever of curiosity lined the walls, +the lovely Dianne approaching me with dimmed +eyes and outstretched arms enfolded me in her trembling +embrace.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jack,” she exclaimed reproachfully, “you +do not love me!”</p> + +<p>It was the first time I had heard that peculiar +feminine complaint since my arrival and its evidence +that the primitive instincts could be counted upon, +heartened me greatly.</p> + +<p>“On the contrary,” I replied with unfeigned emotion. +“It is because I am more in love with you +than ever, that I have done what I have done to free +us from Acquilla’s tyranny.”</p> + +<p>“But what is happening? We hear the strangest +noises as though the debutants had gone mad. And +what is this new strange costume I see you in,” she +added drawing back in surprise and staring at the +shorts and polo shirt I had introduced.</p> + +<p>“We have adopted the costume that was already +being debated at the time of my departure. Do you +like them?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span></p> + +<p>“What beautiful legs you have, Jack dear, so +straight and strong and wooly!”</p> + +<p>Her enthusiasm pleased but abashed me. I said +hastily:</p> + +<p>“As for the disturbances you have heard, reassure +your fellow women. The men are in revolt, but we +shall not proceed to acts of violence. Ours is what +was called the rebellion of non-resistance.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” continued Dianne, still +contemplating my legs.</p> + +<p>“Have you read ‘Lysistrata’? Since the sexes +are reversed, we have determined to revert to +woman’s weapons!”</p> + +<p>“Bogardus, how cruel!” Dianne exclaimed suddenly +enlightened. “But then—no, you do not +love me as I love you! You are thinking only of +your pride of sex and I think of nothing but my +longing for you!”</p> + +<blockquote> + “<i>I could not love thee half so well</i><br> + <i>Loved I not honor more</i>,” +</blockquote> + +<p>I quoted triumphantly.</p> + +<p>“But explain. Yes, I remember ‘Lysistrata’ +dimly. What is your plan and how long are you +going to hold to it?”</p> + +<p>“Do not reproach me, adorable Dianne, but set +your wits to help me and I assure you, in a short, a +very short time we shall be triumphantly united! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span>Take back our ultimatum to the Minervenes and +Manfreda and the Supreme Council;—complete +equality for men, political, social and educational or +we refuse to leave our walls!”</p> + +<p>“It is ingenious if cruel,” said Dianne meditating. +“Yet I’m afraid, terribly afraid for you! For what +can mere man do against this woman’s civilization?”</p> + +<p>“What can we do? We can do what any horse +can do if a horse knew his strength. Lie down and +refuse to get up. The decision is up to you. If you +need us in your lives, you must restore our dignity +and our rights. This is our last word!”</p> + +<p>Dianne shook her head mournfully, oppressed by, +alas, too well founded premonitions.</p> + +<p>“I shall do my best—if it were in the power of +the Histriones, you would win, dear. We are already, +as you know, your advocates. But Manfreda +and the Minervenes—I am afraid, my beloved, +afraid!”</p> + +<p>She kissed me sadly and returned to her companions +who thronged about her with questioning +lips while I entered the gates to report.</p> + +<p>The audacity of my defiance seemed to appall my +adherents. Whereas, before, they had been imbued +with the gaiety of a child’s rebellion, I found now a +general feeling of depression, shaking heads and +ominous glances. Their forebodings were only too +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>well justified. For two days we were cut off from +all knowledge of what was transpiring in the outer +world, radiophone and television abruptly interrupted. +Then suddenly over our heads a squadron +of aerial cruisers, armed with the devastating electronoid +rays appeared. The answer of Manfreda +was short and uncompromising. I was to be delivered +up for judgment immediately. At the end +of one hour a failure to comply would mean the instant +blotting out of the whole community!</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="upper-case">At the</span> end of half an hour I stepped through +the gates to meet my destiny. I had not +waited for the decision of my fellow men. It was +only too apparent what it would be. By my voluntary +submission I did in fact regain at least a sentimental +if tragic prestige. The walls were thronged +and as I left the Club, the entire body burst forth +in three resounding cheers, which considering the +time I had had to instruct them in the art, were +quite impressive.</p> + +<p>A great throng was gathered to witness my surrender, +and my heart leaped with a sudden hope as +I perceived banners flying above the crowd with +these devices:</p> + +<p class="center"> + VOTES FOR MEN<br> + EQUALITY OF THE SEXES<br> + SOCIAL EQUALITY IS SIMPLE JUSTICE +</p> + +<p>My beloved Dianne was the first to greet me and +sadly insisted on accompanying me in the official +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span>aeroplane which was to conduct me to the Supreme +Council. Despite the cheers and flutter of hands +that greeted my progress, I perceived that her eyes +were oppressed with forebodings.</p> + +<p>As we rose a thousand little aeroplanes rose like the +scurry of birds and followed behind us.</p> + +<p>“But it is a triumph!” I exclaimed as our victorious +progress developed.</p> + +<p>“Don’t nourish any false hopes, my dear one,” +Dianne said, shaking her lovely head. “The people +are with you, and the younger students. But what +does that amount to? Manfreda dominates the +Supreme Council and no emotion has ever swayed +her.”</p> + +<p>“But surely—the voice of the people, <i>vox populi, +vox dei</i>,” I insisted. “To defy the sovereign will +might mean a revolution.”</p> + +<p>For answer Dianne pointed to the skies where the +grim armada hovered over us with the menace of +a thunder cloud.</p> + +<p>“All New York could be wiped out in ten minutes. +There is the answer.”</p> + +<p>“But a compromise—certain concessions?”</p> + +<p>“It is for you I fear,” she replied, slipping her +adorable hand into mine. “You have shown yourself +too strong. Oh, Jack dear, if you had only +listened to my advice.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p> + +<p>“After all, the worst is immortality,” I replied.</p> + +<p>The phrase pleased me and threw me into a heroic +mood. I resolved come what might, to face my +destiny with a stoic dignity.</p> + +<p>We came to ground before the great dome of the +hall of justice where the Supreme Council was assembled. +The square was packed with a sympathetic +and curious crowd, while the flight of the +accompanying aeroplanes flung shifting shadows +like the moving silhouettes of leaves. Two guards +stood at the top of the steps holding in their hands +what seemed to be electric torches, but which were +in fact deadly electronoid batteries that plainly +overawed the crowd.</p> + +<p>I passed with Dianne at my side, my blood tingling +with the murmured sympathy of thousands, and +ascending the steps was shortly conducted to the +great hall of judgment. The dramatic sense which +flames up in all martyrs upheld me. I had sought +for some word that might pass down into history, +worthy to be linked with the last of my sex, but to +tell the truth the inspiration deserted me and all I +could find to say, as I confronted the judges, was:</p> + +<p>“Ladies, I am here!”</p> + +<p>However I put into the words a certain defiance, +smiled proudly and stood at rest.</p> + +<p>My judges, as before at our first meeting, were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span>seated in a hemicycle with the austere Manfreda in +the centre. I looked for Acquilla and perceived her +sitting with downcast eyes. She raised her glance, +perceived Dianne, and a flush of anger transformed +her.</p> + +<p>“Be seated, Bogardus,” said Manfreda, indicating +a seat in the centre. Her tone as always was emotionless, +calm as authority itself. “You are accused +of rebellion against the state, of exciting the Clubs +to defy our customs, and of an intention to overthrow +the existing order. Prisoner before us, are +you guilty?”</p> + +<p>Dianne had warned me of the recording apparatus, +of which indeed Acquilla had already exposed to me +the secret. I was prepared and even as the question +was put, I rose and standing, replied:</p> + +<p>“Manfreda, in your woman’s age of pure logic, +is the accused still permitted to defend himself, or +am I brought here simply to hear a sentence passed +upon me?”</p> + +<p>She was visibly surprised at this challenge, but +recovering herself, she replied coldly:</p> + +<p>“You have every right to defend yourself.”</p> + +<p>“Then may I inquire what is the penalty which +may be imposed upon me if I am considered guilty +in your eyes of the charges you have brought against +me?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span></p> + +<p>“There is only one punishment, Bogardus, as you +know.”</p> + +<p>“For great crimes and little offences.”</p> + +<p>“The crime is always against the sanctity of the +law. We impose no laws unless we intend to have +them observed.”</p> + +<p>“Then the punishment is invariably death?”</p> + +<p>“We do not take human life.”</p> + +<p>“Then if guilty, I shall be returned to the Frigidrome +and translated to another century,” I exclaimed +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“You are right, Bogardus.”</p> + +<p>“Ladies,” I cried joyfully, “you see before you +the happiest prisoner in history. I am certain that +you will find me guilty. You must if you hold as +strictly to justice as you claim, and I demand now as +my right the immediate infliction of the penalty.”</p> + +<p>I heard a low groan from Dianne behind me, and +at the same time I noticed that the anger seemed +to depart from Acquilla’s furrowed brow.</p> + +<p>“The accused is wanting in respect,” said Doctrina +severely.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” I took up instantly, “but is that not +precisely the whole of my offending? I come from +that uncivilized age, that strangely emotional age, +that age of curious sentimentalities and when I am +introduced to this woman-ruled society I remain un-impressed. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span>And because, my dear ladies, you are +afraid to answer my arguments you are going to +send me to another age, perhaps another world. I +answer as we used to answer. How like a woman!”</p> + +<p>The taunt which I had flung out intentionally, +to procure a hearing, stirred the assembly to violent +protests. Doctrina and some of the council were +on their feet demanding to reply. Manfreda, however, +without any further show of emotion, calmed +the council and waved them back to their seats. +From that moment I felt secure of being heard, for +I knew that if there was one weakness in the coldly +logically composition of Manfreda it was the age-old +primitive instinct of women. Manfreda intended +to have the last word.</p> + +<p>“You are in error, Bogardus,” she said in chiselled +accents. “There will be no obstacle placed in the +way of anything you wish to say. Now may I ask +you to return to the point. Do you plead guilty or +not guilty?”</p> + +<p>“I might retort, Manfreda,” I replied, “that I +should like to be informed on what evidence I am +accused?”</p> + +<p>“It is hardly necessary to remind you, Bogardus,” +she replied with a spidery satisfaction, “that every +word and every movement you have made since you +were in the Club has been heard and noted by every +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span>woman in the state. But to proceed to overt acts. +Do you deny that you were the author of the ultimatum +delivered by the young males to the Histriones?”</p> + +<p>“I was the author. Yes, but that does not constitute +treason.”</p> + +<p>“And why not?”</p> + +<p>“Because,” I replied, taking a long chance, “I am +certain as the incident cannot have happened before, +that no law can be on the statute books dealing with +the case. I appeal to the Council and wait for a +reply.”</p> + +<p>My surmise was correct, as a hurried consultation +and furtive whispering showed me.</p> + +<p>“The question is, of course, one of a technical +defence,” said Manfreda. “If you were appealing to +a jury of men, accustomed daily to see justice miscarry, +by appeals to legal mystification, you could +evade the issue in the name of Justice. But—”</p> + +<p>“No buts, Manfreda,” I said, smiling at the immediate +relief visible in the council at this extraordinary +reply. “Your answer does credit to your +sex, but in my day I have heard just as ingenuous +answers from your prehistoric sisters. I pass to the +next point. I am accused of rebellion against the +State. A very serious charge. But on what +grounds? Because I have urged my fellow men to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span>demand social and political equality and to become +total abstainers until their rights shall have been +granted? Am I right?”</p> + +<p>I waited, but already a certain defiance of my +legal acumen had become evident. There was a +pause but no precipitation to reply. Finally Manfreda, +forced to meet the issue, said:</p> + +<p>“And how do you reply to this charge you yourself +have formulated?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, Manfreda, you are subtle but you are evading +the issue, and you know it. Is this or is this not +<i>your</i> complaint against me?”</p> + +<p>For the first time I observed that adamantine +temperament, show a touch of human resentment.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is,” she snapped back irritably.</p> + +<p>“Good. Observe, you yourself, you the great +Manfreda, have said it. It is treason for me to stir +up my fellow men to insist upon equality. That is +right, is it not, oh, Manfreda?”</p> + +<p>I think she perceived the trap, for she twisted in +her seat and made as though to answer, but it was +too late.</p> + +<p>“Your silence is consent, but it would have been +franker to have said it,” I continued, for in humiliating +Manfreda before the assembly I knew was my +one chance of escape. “Now I appeal to every +woman present. Was I the first to launch the cry +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span>of ‘Votes for Men’? Before I came was there not +a party already formed who sought to rehabilitate +my sex? Hasn’t the discussion been open and has +there been any concealment that here even in this +council its proponents have urged their views? +Again I ask, am I right and pause for an answer? +No one protests. I continue. If it was not treason +to the State to urge male equality before I came, I +submit that it cannot be treason for me to do so +now. Again I appeal to the council that the second +charge as the first charge has no bearing in fact, +and ask that both be dismissed.”</p> + +<p>There was a burst of applause from the great +crowd outside, to whom every word evidently was +being transmitted, mingled with shouts of:</p> + +<p>“Votes for Men!”</p> + +<p>“Hurrah for Bogardus!”</p> + +<p>Within, the consternation was so evident that +even Acquilla, carried away by her passion, dared +to exclaim:</p> + +<p>“He is right!”</p> + +<p>“Ah, Acquilla,” I exclaimed, moved by the daring +of her act, “by that word you have doomed me. +Your sex has always forgiven us when we were in +the wrong, but never for being right!”</p> + +<p>“Bogardus has at least the intelligence to perceive +the issue,” said Manfreda, raising her hand for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span>silence. “It is not a question of right or wrong. +True justice is a matter of necessity. And we shall +decide this question not on legal quibbles or adroit +justification but on one simple issue. Is it necessary +to remove Bogardus from the State?”</p> + +<p>There was a visible brightening among the Minervenes. +I bowed ironically and replied:</p> + +<p>“For a moment I was afraid that I might convince +you. Thank heaven that a sense of humor no +longer exists, for I shudder to think that if it did, +you would compel me to go on living in this dreadful +state!”</p> + +<p>Dianne, my beloved Dianne sprang to my side, +crying:</p> + +<p>“If you sentence this man, I demand the right to +follow him.”</p> + +<p>“And I!” cried Dulcina.</p> + +<p>“And I!” cried Carrilla, to my surprise.</p> + +<p>Acquilla hesitated, stunned, and covered her eyes +with her arm.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by the stupor these defections produced, +I stood with my arm about Dianne and +taunted them:</p> + +<p>“If you only knew how gladly I welcome my +fate! Your vaunted civilization is nothing but a +dreadful monotony. Your freedom of the individual +is only a terrifying loneliness. You are not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span>human beings; you are as mechanical as your machinots. +You are so afraid of suffering that you have +cut away every emotion that makes life worth living. +You can’t laugh with a friend, romp with a +child or cling to a man! This magnificent scientific +era is, my dear ladies, to me a man who has lived +in the glorious twentieth century—just a flat, drab, +dreary existence! If God had intended humanity +to end thus, He would have taken color and beauty +out of His universe as you have done out of life. +Stay here? Thanks, ladies! I should be bored to +death!”</p> + +<p>“Before we pass to a vote,” said Manfreda flushing, +as she stilled the outburst of angry protests, “it +is well to take up the challenge that this barbaric +man has flung out. We are accused of oppressing +the male sex. I shall answer, and my answer is +directed to all those mistaken emotional minds who +have allowed themselves to be tricked into an advocacy +of male equality. But first how have we +oppressed the male sex? What have men been +deprived of? We have abolished poverty, so that +no man need longer work. We have abolished sickness, +so that every man may indulge his appetites and +luxuries without fear of consequence. We have +taken from him the conduct of public affairs where +even Bogardus has admitted he has been a tragic +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span>failure. We have ended crime and war so that no +false sentiment demands the sacrifice of his life. +We have freed him from monogamy so that his +natural instincts need no longer be repressed. Is +this oppression or what once was man’s idea of a +heavenly paradise?”</p> + +<p>I rose and bowed.</p> + +<p>“Paradise, oh Manfreda, but how did you guess +it?”</p> + +<p>A sense of humor has always misled me. From +this moment I felt the assembly turn against me.</p> + +<p>“Now to pass to the major consideration,” continued +Manfreda. “To restore male equality means +just one thing—to destroy authority. One thing +is certain—history has always been the record of +the war of the sexes. One or the other must dominate. +Authority cannot be shared. Read history. +The world was at its worst when a divided authority +broke down the standards of morality. The age +this man represents was an age of compromise and +anarchy. Restore the male—you will bring back +the hypocrisy of marriage with its lies and its +treachery, its mutual tyranny. You will restore +the family and permit the weak to prey upon the +strong, the unfit to ride upon the backs of the fit. +You will return to the jealousy and irreverence of +the younger generation, impatient to crowd out the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span>older. For the family is nothing but the battleground +of the sexes and the clash of opposing generations. +You are now free and self sufficing individualities. +Do you wish to return to a society of +sacrifice and mutual tyranny?”</p> + +<p>I sprang up, through the applause and exclaimed +indignantly:</p> + +<p>“It is for me to recall you to the point, Manfreda. +You have made an ex-parte statement, with the +evident intention of prejudicing my judges by an +appeal to their emotions, and this from a woman who +feigns to hold up to ridicule our system of justice. +Enough. Let me state the issue and save you the +waste of your adroit pleadings. I am guilty of +being too intelligent for you, and that is my crime. +Have the courage to admit it. Remove me because +you cannot, you dare not allow me to remain here +any longer. But for heaven’s sake, ladies, please +don’t try to be logical. Let us ignore the charges. +You have decided to condemn me, please, please +don’t try to justify your actions!”</p> + +<p>I sat down well pleased at the adroitness of my +answer, feeling that woman-like they could not let +my taunt stand on the record, and that to remove +me would be to approve me. But I misjudged the +infinite subtlety of the feminine mind. The room +was in an uproar and the hubbub in the square was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span>deafening. In the midst of the clamor Doctrina, +having obtained silence, rose and pointing her finger +at me cried angrily:</p> + +<p>“Well, I will bring a charge that cannot be denied. +I demand this man’s removal for having corrupted +the morals of youth by the introduction of a shameful +and detestable costume, and I call on all to +witness,” she added, tempestuously pointing to the +shorts and polo shirt in which I was clothed, “that +he himself stands before us in this nude and unmanly +exposure.”</p> + +<p>“Rubbish!” I shouted at the top of my voice, +losing my temper at the last. “Ridiculous! Condemn +me honestly or not at all. Listen, all! I demand +to be heard!”</p> + +<p>“And I move now that all discussion end,” continued +Doctrina, “and that a vote be taken.”</p> + +<p>Everyone was standing up gesticulating wildly. +Dianne clung to my side, but I pushed past her.</p> + +<p>“I will be heard!” I shouted furiously, sprang +forward, tripped and went down with a crash.</p> + +<p class="p2">When I came to consciousness, Manfreda was standing +before me, and Doctrina shaking my arm.</p> + +<p>“Wake up, John, wake up,” said the voice of my +wife. “You are having a dreadful nightmare.”</p> + +<p>I sat up, staring wildly. The face of Doctrina +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span>was the face of Emelia, and the terrible calm of Manfreda +was on the face of my mother-in-law.</p> + +<p>“Don’t touch me,” I cried. “Traitors, spies! +Never again will I listen to you! Between us it +is war—open war to the end!”</p> + +<p>And then and there I fled from my home.</p> + +<p class="p2">[Note by Theodosia Sitwell. Assistant physician +in the Clarendon County Hospital for the Insane.]</p> + +<p><i>John Bogardus was confined in this hospital for +over eight months during which time he wrote the +preceding curious manuscript. Despite some hesitation +we have decided on its publication in the interest +of medical science, revealing as it does +how strange and casual suggestions may lead to the +most exaggerated hallucinations. During the whole +of his confinement, John Bogardus, with the exception +of a fixed feminaphobia and an obsession that +his duty lay in warning his sex of the danger of +feminine progress, was an exemplary and tractable +patient. His tragic death could not have been foreseen. +A week after the completion of his manuscript, +he disappeared and after forty-eight hours’ +search, his frozen body was recovered in the large +refrigerator of the asylum, where he had taken +refuge under the evident delusion that it was a +Frigidrome.</i></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> + <p class="ph2" id="TRANSCRIBERS_NOTES"> + TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES + </p> + + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been left unchanged.</p> + +<p>Typos corrected: “sariette” to “sarriette” (<a href="#Page_30">page 30</a>); “Of” corrected to “Or” in “Or simply an invitation” +(<a href="#Page_71">page 71</a>); “brittanic” to “britannic” (<a href="#Page_85">page 85</a>); “Astrodome” to “Astrodrome” (<a href="#Page_94">page 94</a>); “tremulo” to “tremolo” +(<a href="#Page_97">page 97</a>); “superor” to “superior” (<a href="#Page_114">page 114</a>); “comtemplated” to +“contemplated” (<a href="#Page_121">page 121</a>); “psychoanalists” to “psycho-analysts” +(<a href="#Page_162">page 162</a>); “chorographic” to +“choreographic” (<a href="#Page_230">page 230</a>); “is” corrected to “it” in “revealing as it +does” (<a href="#Page_251">page 251</a>).</p> + +<p>Missing comma added after “Besides” in “Besides, men educated by” (<a href="#Page_63">page +63</a>) and “Besides, such a case as yours” (<a href="#Page_218">page 218</a>)</p> + +<p>Missing/misprinted single/double quotes corrected.</p> + +<p>Differing spellings of “ascendancy” (<a href="#Page_57">page 57</a>) and +“ascendency” (<a href="#Page_144">page 144</a>) retained.</p> + +<p>Author’s spelling of “dumfounded” retained.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78687 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78687-h/images/cover.jpg b/78687-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a80379 --- /dev/null +++ b/78687-h/images/cover.jpg |
