Part 2, Chapter 3

I expressed my astonishment at her revelation. Their social life existed under conditions that were incredible to me. Would it be an impertinence to ask for an explanation that I might comprehend? Or was it really the one secret they possessed and guarded from discovery, a mystery that must forever surround them with a halo of doubt, the suggestion of uncanny power? I spoke as deprecatingly as I could. The Preceptress turned upon me a calm but penetrating gaze.

I expressed my amazement at what she had revealed. The conditions of their social life were beyond my belief. Would it be rude to ask for an explanation I could understand? Or was this really their one secret, guarded from discovery? Was it a mystery that would always surround them with doubt and suggest they had uncanny powers? I spoke as apologetically as I could. The Preceptress turned to me with a calm but penetrating gaze.

"Have we impressed you as a mysterious people?" she asked.

"Do we seem like a mysterious people to you?" she asked.

"Very, very much!" I exclaimed. "I have at times been oppressed by it."

"Very, very much!" I exclaimed. "At times, it has weighed heavily on me."

"You never mentioned it," she said, kindly.

"You never mentioned it," she said kindly.

"I could not find an opportunity to," I said.

"I couldn't find a chance to," I said.

"It is the custom in Mizora, as you have no doubt observed, never to make domestic affairs a topic of conversation outside of the family, the only ones who would be interested in them; and this refinement has kept you from the solution of our social system. I have no hesitancy in gratifying your wish to comprehend it. The best way to do it is to let history lead up to it, if you have the patience to listen."

"As you have no doubt noticed, people in Mizora never discuss family matters outside the family. Only family members would be interested in them. This discretion has kept you from understanding our social system. I am happy to explain it, since you wish to understand it. The best way is to start with its history, if you have the patience to listen."

I assured her that I was anxious to hear all she chose to tell. She then resumed:

I assured her that I was eager to hear everything she wanted to tell me. She then continued:

"The prosperity of the country rapidly increased under the rule of the female Presidents. The majority of them were in favor of a high state of morality, and they enforced it by law and practice. The arts and sciences were liberally encouraged and made rapid advancement. Colleges and schools flourished vigorously, and every branch of education was now open to women.

"The country quickly became more prosperous under its female presidents. Most of them supported high moral standards and enforced them through laws and practices. The arts and sciences received generous support and advanced rapidly. Colleges and schools thrived, and every field of education was now open to women.

"During the Republic of men, the government had founded and sustained a military and naval academy, where a limited number of the youth of the country were educated at government expense. The female government re-organized the institutions, substituting the youth of their own sex. They also founded an academy of science, which was supplied with every facility for investigation and progress. None but those having a marked predilection for scientific research could obtain admission, and then it was accorded to demonstrated ability only. This drew to the college the best female talent in the country. The number of applicants was not limited.

"During the republic governed by men, the government had established and funded a military and naval academy. A limited number of the country's young people were educated there at government expense. The government of women reorganized the institutions, replacing the young men with young women. The women also established an academy of science, equipped with everything needed for research and progress. Only those with a strong inclination toward scientific research could apply, and admission was based on demonstrated ability. This drew the most talented women in the country to the college. There was no limit on the number of applicants."

"Science had hitherto been, save by a very few, an untrodden field to women, but the encouragement and rare facilities offered soon revealed latent talent that developed rapidly. Scarcely half a century had elapsed before the pupils of the college had effected by their discoveries some remarkable changes in living, especially in the prevention and cure of diseases.

“Until then, all but a very few women had never explored science. But encouragement and exceptional resources soon revealed hidden talent that developed rapidly. Within half a century, the college’s students had made discoveries that brought remarkable changes to daily life. Their discoveries especially improved the prevention and treatment of diseases.

"However prosperous they might become, they could not dwell in political security with a portion of the citizens disfranchised. The men were resolved to secure their former power. Intrigues and plots against the government were constantly in force among them. In order to avert another civil war, it was finally decided to amend the constitution, and give them an equal share in the ballot. They had no sooner obtained that than the old practices of the former Republic were resorted to to secure their supremacy in government affairs. The women looked forward to their former subjugation as only a matter of time, and bitterly regretted their inability to prevent it. But at the crisis, a prominent scientist proposed to let the race die out. Science had revealed the Secret of Life."

"However prosperous they became, they could not be politically secure while some citizens were denied the vote. The men were determined to regain their former power. They constantly schemed and plotted against the government. To prevent another civil war, it was finally decided to amend the constitution and give men equal voting rights. As soon as they gained those rights, they turned to the old practices of the former Republic to secure their supremacy in government. The women believed it was only a matter of time before they were subjected to men again. They bitterly regretted that they could not prevent it. But at the critical moment, a prominent scientist proposed letting the race die out. Science had revealed the Secret of Life."

She ceased speaking, as though I fully understood her.

She stopped speaking, as if I fully understood her.

"I am more bewildered than ever," I exclaimed. "I cannot comprehend you."

"I'm more confused than ever," I exclaimed. "I can't understand you."

"Come with me," she said.

"Come with me," she said.

I followed her into the Chemist's Laboratory. She bade me look into a microscope that she designated, and tell her what I saw.

I followed her into the Chemist's Laboratory. She pointed out a microscope and asked me to look through it and tell her what I saw.

"An exquisitely minute cell in violent motion," I answered.

"An extremely tiny cell moving violently," I answered.

"Daughter," she said, solemnly, "you are now looking upon the germ of all Life, be it animal or vegetable, a flower or a human being, it has that one common beginning. We have advanced far enough in Science to control its development. Know that the MOTHER is the only important part of all life. In the lowest organisms no other sex is apparent."

"Daughter," she said solemnly, "you are now looking at the germ of all life. Animal or plant, flower or human being, all life has that one common beginning. Science has advanced far enough for us to control its development. Know that the MOTHER is the only important part of all life. In the simplest organisms, no other sex is apparent."

I sat down and looked at my companion in a frame of mind not easily described. There was an intellectual grandeur in her look and mien that was impressive. Truth sat, like a coronet, upon her brow. The revelation I had so longed for, I now almost regretted. It separated me so far from these beautiful, companionable beings.

I sat down and looked at my companion, feeling something I could hardly describe. There was an impressive intellectual grandeur in her expression and manner. Truth sat like a crown on her forehead. I had longed for the revelation, but now I almost regretted it. It made me feel so far removed from these beautiful, friendly beings.

"Science has instructed you how to supercede Nature," I said, finally.

"Science has taught you how to replace Nature," I said at last.

"By no means. It has only taught us how to make her obey us. We cannot create Life. We cannot develop it. But we can control Nature's processes of development as we will. Can you deprecate such a power? Would not your own land be happier without idiots, without lunatics, without deformity and disease?"

“Not at all. It has only taught us how to make Nature obey us. We cannot create life. We cannot develop it. But we can control Nature’s processes of development however we wish. Can you disapprove of such power? Wouldn’t your own country be happier without idiots, lunatics, deformity, and disease?”

"You will give me little hope of any radical change in my own lifetime when I inform you that deformity, if extraordinary, becomes a source of revenue to its possessor."

"You will give me little hope of any major change in my lifetime when I tell you this. If a deformity is unusual enough, the person with it can make money from it."

"All reforms are of slow growth," she said. "The moral life is the highest development of Nature. It is evolved by the same slow processes, and like the lower life, its succeeding forms are always higher ones. Its ultimate perfection will be mind, where all happiness shall dwell, where pleasure shall find fruition, and desire its ecstasy.

"All reforms grow slowly," she said. "Moral life is Nature's highest development. It evolves through the same slow processes as lower forms of life. And like them, each form of moral life is higher than the one before it. Its ultimate perfection will be mind, where all happiness will dwell, pleasure will be fulfilled, and desire will reach ecstasy.

"It is the duty of every generation to prepare the way for a higher development of the next, as we see demonstrated by Nature in the fossilized remains of long extinct animal life, a preparatory condition for a higher form in the next evolution. If you do not enjoy the fruit of your labor in your own lifetime, the generation that follows you will be the happier for it. Be not so selfish as to think only of your own narrow span of life."

"Every generation has a duty to prepare the way for the next to develop further. Nature shows us this in the fossilized remains of animals that died out long ago. They prepared the way for a higher form in the next stage of evolution. If you do not enjoy the fruits of your labor in your lifetime, the next generation will be happier for it. Do not be so selfish as to think only of your own short life."

"By what means have you reached so grand a development?" I asked.

"How did you achieve such great development?" I asked.

"By the careful study of, and adherence to, Nature's laws. It was long years—I should say centuries—before the influence of the coarser nature of men was eliminated from the present race.

"By carefully studying and following Nature's laws. It took many years, I should say centuries, to remove the influence of men's coarser nature from the present race.

"We devote the most careful attention to the Mothers of our race. No retarding mental or moral influences are ever permitted to reach her. On the contrary, the most agreeable contacts with nature, all that can cheer and ennoble in art or music surround her. She is an object of interest and tenderness to all who meet her. Guarded from unwholesome agitation, furnished with nourishing and proper diet—both mental and physical—the child of a Mizora mother is always an improvement upon herself. With us, childhood has no sorrows. We believe, and the present condition of our race proves, that a being environed from its birth with none but elevating influences, will grow up amiable and intelligent though inheriting unfavorable tendencies.

“We give the most careful attention to the mothers of our race. We never allow influences that could hinder their mental or moral development to reach them. Instead, we surround them with the most pleasant experiences of nature and all that uplifts and ennobles in art and music. Everyone they meet shows them interest and tenderness. Each Mizora mother is protected from unhealthy distress and given proper nourishment for both mind and body. Her child is always an improvement upon her. Among us, childhood has no sorrows. We believe that a person surrounded from birth by uplifting influences alone will grow up kind and intelligent, even with inherited unfavorable tendencies. The present condition of our race proves this.

"On this principle we have ennobled our race and discovered the means of prolonging life and youthful loveliness far beyond the limits known by our ancestors.

"Following this principle, we have made our race nobler. We have also found ways to extend life and youthful beauty far beyond the limits our ancestors knew.

"Temptation and necessity will often degrade a nature naturally inclined and desirous to be noble. We early recognized this fact, and that a nature once debased by crime would transmit it to posterity. For this reason we never permitted a convict to have posterity."

"Temptation and necessity can often corrupt someone naturally inclined and eager to be noble. We recognized this early on. We also recognized that someone corrupted by crime would pass that corruption on to their descendants. For this reason, we never allowed a convict to have children."

"But how have you become so beautiful?" I asked. "For, in all my journeys, I have not met an uncomely face or form. On the contrary, all the Mizora women have perfect bodies and lovely features."

"But how did you become so beautiful?" I asked. "In all my travels, I have not seen an unattractive face or body. On the contrary, all the Mizora women have perfect bodies and beautiful features."

"We follow the gentle guidance of our mother, Nature. Good air and judicious exercise for generations and generations before us have helped. Our ancestors knew the influence of art, sculpture, painting and music, which they were trained to appreciate."

"We follow the gentle guidance of our mother, Nature. Good air and sensible exercise over many generations have helped. Our ancestors knew the influence of art, sculpture, painting, and music. They were trained to appreciate them."

"But has not nature been a little generous to you?" I inquired.

“But hasn't nature been a little generous to you?” I asked.

"Not more so than she will be to any people who follow her laws. When you first came here you had an idea that you could improve nature by crowding your lungs and digestive organs into a smaller space than she, the maker of them, intended them to occupy.

"Not more so than she will be to any people who follow her laws. When you first came here, you thought you could improve on nature. You crowded your lungs and digestive organs into less space than she, their maker, intended them to occupy.

"If you construct an engine, and then cram it into a box so narrow and tight that it cannot move, and then crowd on the motive power, what would you expect?

"If you build an engine and cram it into a box so tight that it cannot move, what would you expect when you apply power?

"Beautiful as you think my people, and as they really are, yet, by disregarding nature's laws, or trying to thwart her intentions, in a few generations to come, perhaps even in the next, we could have coarse features and complexions, stoop shoulders and deformity.

"As beautiful as you think my people are, and as beautiful as they really are, we could lose that beauty. If we disregard nature's laws or try to thwart her intentions, we could develop coarse features and complexions, stooped shoulders, and deformities. This could happen in a few generations, perhaps even in the next.

"It has required patience, observation and care on the part of our ancestors to secure to us the priceless heritage of health and perfect bodies. Your people can acquire them by the same means."

“Our ancestors used patience, observation, and care to give us the priceless inheritance of health and perfect bodies. Your people can gain health and perfect bodies in the same way.”