Part 1, Chapter 4

To facilitate my progress in the language of Mizora I was sent to their National College. It was the greatest favor they could have conferred upon me, as it opened to me a wide field of knowledge. Their educational system was a peculiar one, and, as it was the chief interest of the country. I shall describe it before proceeding farther with this narrative.

To help me learn the language of Mizora, I was sent to their National College. It was the greatest favor they could have granted me, because it opened up a wide field of knowledge. Their educational system was unusual, and education was the country’s chief interest. So I will describe the system before continuing my story.

All institutions for instruction were public, as were, also, the books and other accessories. The State was the beneficent mother who furnished everything, and required of her children only their time and application. Each pupil was compelled to attain a certain degree of excellence that I thought unreasonably high, after which she selected the science or vocation she felt most competent to master, and to that she then devoted herself.

All schools were public, as were the books and other supplies. The State was a generous mother who provided everything. She asked her children only for their time and effort. Each student was required to reach a certain standard of excellence, which I thought unreasonably high. After that, she chose the science or profession she felt best able to master and devoted herself to it.

The salaries of teachers were larger than those of any other public position. The Principal of the National College had an income that exceeded any royal one I had ever heard of; but, as education was the paramount interest of Mizora, I was not surprised at it. Their desire was to secure the finest talent for educational purposes, and as the highest honors and emoluments belonged to such a position, it could not be otherwise. To be a teacher in Mizora was to be a person of consequence. They were its aristocracy.

Teachers earned more than anyone else in a public position. The Principal of the National College earned more than any royal income I had ever heard of. But education was Mizora's highest priority, so I was not surprised. Mizora wanted to attract the finest talent to education. The highest honors and salaries belonged to teaching positions, so it could hardly be otherwise. In Mizora, a teacher was a person of importance. Teachers were its aristocracy.

Every State had a free college provided for out of the State funds. In these colleges every department of Science, Art, or Mechanics was furnished with all the facilities for thorough instruction. All the expenses of a pupil, including board, clothing, and the necessary traveling fares, were defrayed by the State. I may here remark that all railroads are owned and controlled by the General Government. The rates of transportation were fixed by law, and were uniform throughout the country.

Every State had a free college funded by the State. Each college had all the facilities needed for thorough instruction in every field of science, art, and mechanics. The State paid all students’ expenses, including room, board, clothing, and necessary travel fares. I should mention here that the national government owns and controls all railroads. Transportation rates were set by law and were the same throughout the country.

The National College which I entered belonged to the General Government. Here was taught the highest attainments in the arts and sciences, and all industries practised in Mizora. It contained the very cream of learning. There the scientist, the philosopher and inventor found the means and appliances for study and investigation. There the artist and sculptor had their finest work, and often their studios. The principals and subordinate teachers and assistants were elected by popular vote. The State Colleges were free to those of another State who might desire to enter them, for Mizora was like one vast family. It was regarded as the duty of every citizen to lend all the aid and encouragement in her power to further the enlightenment of others, wisely knowing the benefits of such would accrue to her own and the general good. The National College was open to all applicants, irrespective of age, the only requirements being a previous training to enter upon so high a plane of mental culture. Every allurement was held out to the people to come and drink at the public fountain where the cup was inviting and the waters sweet. "For," said one of the leading instructors to me, "education is the foundation of our moral elevation, our government, our happiness. Let us relax our efforts, or curtail the means and inducements to become educated, and we relax into ignorance, and end in demoralization. We know the value of free education. It is frequently the case that the greatest minds are of slow development, and manifest in the primary schools no marked ability. They often leave the schools unnoticed; and when time has awakened them to their mental needs, all they have to do is to apply to the college, pass an examination, and be admitted. If not prepared to enter the college, they could again attend the common schools. We realize in its broadest sense the ennobling influence of universal education. The higher the culture of a people, the more secure is their government and happiness. A prosperous people is always an educated one; and the freer the education, the wealthier they become."

The National College I entered belonged to the General Government. It taught the most advanced arts and sciences, as well as all the industries practiced in Mizora. It held the best of learning. Scientists, philosophers, and inventors found the tools and equipment they needed for study and research. Artists and sculptors kept their finest work there, and often had their studios there as well. The principals, teachers, and assistants were elected by popular vote. The State Colleges were open free of charge to people from other States who wished to enter. Mizora was like one vast family. Every citizen was expected to do all she could to help and encourage the education of others. People wisely understood that this would benefit both themselves and the common good. The National College was open to applicants of any age. They needed only enough prior training to pursue such advanced studies. Every attraction was offered to draw people to the public fountain of learning. Its cup was inviting, and its waters were sweet. "For," one of the leading instructors told me, "education is the foundation of our moral advancement, our government, and our happiness. If we ease our efforts or reduce the means and incentives for education, we will fall back into ignorance and end in moral decline. We know the value of free education. Often, the greatest minds develop slowly and show no remarkable ability in primary school. They often leave school unnoticed. When time awakens them to their need for learning, they need only apply to the college, pass an examination, and be admitted. If they are not prepared to enter college, they can attend the common schools again. We understand, in the broadest sense, how universal education elevates people. The more educated a people are, the more secure their government and happiness. A prosperous people is always an educated one. And the more freely available education is, the wealthier they become."

The Preceptress of the National College was the leading scientist of the country. Her position was more exalted than any that wealth could have given her. In fact, while wealth had acknowledged advantages, it held a subordinate place in the estimation of the people. I never heard the expression "very wealthy," used as a recommendation of a person. It was always: "She is a fine scholar, or mechanic, or artist, or musician. She excels in landscape gardening, or domestic work. She is a first-class chemist." But never "She is rich."

The head of the National College was the country's leading scientist. Her position brought her greater respect than wealth ever could have. Wealth had recognized advantages, but people valued it less. I never heard anyone recommend a person by saying she was "very wealthy." People always said: "She is a fine scholar, mechanic, artist, or musician. She excels at landscape gardening or housework. She is a first-class chemist." But never "She is rich."

The idea of a Government assuming the responsibility of education, like a parent securing the interest of its children, was all so new to me; and yet, I confessed to myself, the system might prove beneficial to other countries than Mizora. In that world, from whence I had so mysteriously emigrated, education was the privilege only of the rich. And in no country, however enlightened, was there a system of education that would reach all. Charitable institutions were restricted, and benefited only a few. My heart beat with enthusiasm when I thought of the mission before me. And then I reflected that the philosophers of my world were but as children in progress compared to these. Still traveling in grooves that had been worn and fixed for posterity by bygone ages of ignorance and narrow-mindedness, it would require courage and resolution, and more eloquence than I possessed, to persuade them out of these trodden paths. To be considered the privileged class was an active characteristic of human nature. Wealth, and the powerful grip upon the people which the organizations of society and governments gave, made it hereditary. Yet in this country, nothing was hereditary but the prosperity and happiness of the whole people.

The idea of a government taking responsibility for education was entirely new to me. It was like a parent looking after the interests of its children. Yet I admitted to myself that the system might benefit countries besides Mizora. In the world I had so mysteriously left, education was a privilege reserved for the rich. No country, however enlightened, had a system of education that reached everyone. Charitable institutions were limited and benefited only a few. My heart beat with enthusiasm when I thought of the mission before me. Then I reflected that the philosophers of my world were like children in their progress compared with Mizora’s philosophers. They still followed paths worn and fixed for future generations by past ages of ignorance and narrow-mindedness. Persuading them to leave those paths would require courage, determination, and more eloquence than I possessed. The desire to belong to a privileged class was a powerful part of human nature. Wealth and the powerful grip on the people provided by society and government made that privilege hereditary. Yet in this country, nothing was hereditary but the prosperity and happiness of all the people.

It was not a surprise to me that astronomy was an unknown science in Mizora, as neither sun, moon, nor stars were visible there. "The moon's pale beams" never afford material for a blank line in poetry; neither do scientific discussions rage on the formation of Saturn's rings, or the spots on the sun. They knew they occupied a hollow sphere, bounded North and South by impassible oceans. Light was a property of the atmosphere. A circle of burning mist shot forth long streamers of light from the North, and a similar phenomena occurred in the South.

I was not surprised that astronomy was unknown in Mizora, since the sun, moon, and stars were never visible there. "The moon's pale beams" never provide material for a line of blank verse. Nor do scientific debates rage over the formation of Saturn's rings or the spots on the sun. The people knew they lived inside a hollow sphere, bounded to the north and south by oceans no one could cross. Light was a property of the atmosphere. A circle of burning mist sent out long streamers of light from the north, and a similar phenomenon occurred in the south.

The recitation of my geography lesson would have astonished a pupil from the outer world. They taught that a powerful current of electricity existed in the upper regions of the atmosphere. It was the origin of their atmospheric heat and light, and their change of seasons. The latter appeared to me to coincide with those of the Arctic zone, in one particular. The light of the sun during the Arctic summer is reflected by the atmosphere, and produces that mellow, golden, rapturous light that hangs like a veil of enchantment over the land of Mizora for six months in the year. It was followed by six months of the shifting iridescence of the Aurora Borealis.

A student from the outer world would have been astonished to hear me recite my geography lesson. They taught that a powerful electric current existed in the upper atmosphere. It was the source of their atmospheric heat and light, as well as their changing seasons. The seasons seemed to me to match those of the Arctic zone in one respect. During the Arctic summer, sunlight reflects off the atmosphere. It produces a soft, golden, rapturous light that hangs like a veil of enchantment over Mizora for six months of the year. Six months of the shifting, iridescent light of the Aurora Borealis followed.

As the display of the Aurora Borealis originated, and was most brilliant at what appeared to me to be the terminus of the pole, I believed it was caused by the meeting at that point of the two great electric currents of the earth, the one on its surface, and the one known to the inhabitants of Mizora. The heat produced by the meeting of two such powerful currents of electricity is, undoubtedly, the cause of the open Polar Sea. As the point of meeting is below the vision of the inhabitants of the Arctic regions, they see only the reflection of the Aurora. Its gorgeous, brilliant, indescribable splendor is known only to the inhabitants of Mizora.

The Aurora Borealis began and shone most brightly at what seemed to me to be the end of the pole. So I believed it was caused by the meeting of two great electric currents of the earth. One flowed on its surface, and the other was known to the inhabitants of Mizora. The heat produced by the meeting of two such powerful electric currents undoubtedly causes the open Polar Sea. The currents meet below the sight of the inhabitants of the Arctic regions, so they see only the Aurora’s reflection. Only the inhabitants of Mizora know its magnificent, brilliant, indescribable splendor.

At the National College, where it is taught as a regular science, I witnessed the chemical production of bread and a preparation resembling meat. Agriculture in this wonderful land, was a lost art. No one that I questioned had any knowledge of it. It had vanished in the dim past of their barbarism. With the exception of vegetables and fruit, which were raised in luscious perfection, their food came from the elements. A famine among such enlightened people was impossible, and scarcity was unknown. Food for the body and food for the mind were without price. It was owing to this that poverty was unknown to them, as well as disease. The absolute purity of all that they ate preserved an activity of vital power long exceeding our span of life. The length of their year, measured by the two seasons, was the same as ours, but the women who had marked a hundred of them in their lifetime, looked younger and fresher, and were more supple of limb than myself, yet I had barely passed my twenty-second year.

At the National College, where it was taught as a regular science, I saw bread and a meatlike food made chemically. Agriculture was a lost art in this wonderful land. No one I questioned knew anything about it. It had vanished in the distant past, when they were still barbarians. Except for vegetables and fruit, which were grown to delicious perfection, their food came from the elements. Famine was impossible among such enlightened people, and scarcity was unknown. Food for the body and food for the mind were free. Because of this, they knew neither poverty nor disease. Everything they ate was absolutely pure, and this kept them healthy and active for far longer than our lifespan. Their year, measured by the two seasons, was the same length as ours. But women who had lived a hundred years looked younger and fresher than I did. They were also more supple, though I had barely passed my twenty-second year.

I wrote out a careful description of the processes by which they converted food out of the valueless elements—valueless because of their abundance—and put it carefully away for use in my own country. There drouth, or excessive rainfalls, produced scarcity, and sometimes famine. The struggle of the poor was for food, to the exclusion of all other interests. Many of them knew not what proper and health-giving nourishment was. But here in Mizora, the daintiest morsels came from the chemists laboratory, cheap as the earth under her feet.

I wrote a careful description of how they made food from worthless elements. The elements were worthless because they were so abundant. I put the description away carefully, so I could use it in my own country. There, drought or excessive rain caused shortages and sometimes famine. The poor struggled to get food, to the exclusion of all other interests. Many of them did not know what proper, healthy nourishment was. But here in Mizora, the most delicate foods came from the chemist’s laboratory, as cheap as the earth under her feet.

I now began to enjoy the advantages of conversation, which added greatly to my happiness and acquirements. I formed an intimate companionship with the daughter of the Preceptress of the National College, and to her was addressed the questions I asked about things that impressed me. She was one of the most beautiful beings that it had been my lot to behold. Her eyes were dark, almost the purplish blue of a pansy, and her hair had a darker tinge than is common in Mizora, as if it had stolen the golden edge of a ripe chestnut. Her beauty was a constant charm to me.

I now began to enjoy the benefits of conversation, which greatly added to my happiness and knowledge. I became close friends with the daughter of the head of the National College. I asked her about the things that impressed me. She was one of the most beautiful beings I had ever seen. Her eyes were dark, almost the purplish blue of a pansy. Her hair was darker than was common in Mizora, as if it had taken the golden edge of a ripe chestnut. Her beauty was a constant delight to me.

The National College contained a large and well filled gallery. Its pictures and statuary were varied, not confined to historical portraits and busts as was the one at the College of Experimental Science. Yet it possessed a number of portraits of women exclusively of the blonde type. Many of them were ideal in loveliness. This gallery also contained the masterpieces of their most celebrated sculptors. They were all studies of the female form. I am a connoisseur in art, and nothing that I had ever seen before could compare with these matchless marbles, bewitching in every delicate contour, alluring in softness, but grand and majestic in pose and expression.

The National College had a large, well-filled gallery. Its paintings and statues were varied. Unlike the gallery at the College of Experimental Science, it was not limited to historical portraits and busts. Yet it had a number of portraits of women, all of them blonde. Many were ideally beautiful. The gallery also contained masterpieces by their most celebrated sculptors. All were studies of the female form. I am an art connoisseur, and nothing I had ever seen could compare with these marbles. They were enchanting in every delicate curve and alluring in their softness, yet grand and majestic in pose and expression.

But I haunted this gallery for other reasons than its artistic attractions. I was searching for the portrait of a man, or something suggesting his presence. I searched in vain. Many of the paintings were on a peculiar transparent substance that gave to the subject a startlingly vivid effect. I afterward learned that they were imperishable, the material being a translucent adamant of their own manufacture. After a picture was painted upon it, another piece of adamant was cemented over it.

But I spent much time in the gallery for reasons other than its art. I was looking for a portrait of a man, or something that suggested a man was present. I found nothing. Many paintings were on a strange transparent material that made their subjects look startlingly vivid. I later learned that the paintings would never decay. The material was a translucent adamant the people made themselves. After a picture was painted on it, another piece of adamant was cemented over it.

Each day, as my acquaintance with the peculiar institutions and character of the inhabitants of Mizora increased, my perplexity and a certain air of mystery about them increased with it. It was impossible for me not to feel for them a high degree of respect, admiration, and affection. They were ever gentle, tender, and kind to solicitude. To accuse them of mystery were a paradox; and yet they were a mystery. In conversation, manners and habits, they were frank to singularity. It was just as common an occurrence for a poem to be read and commented on by its author, as to hear it done by another. I have heard a poetess call attention to the beauties of her own production, and receive praise or adverse criticism with the same charming urbanity.

Each day, as I learned more about the unusual institutions and character of Mizora’s inhabitants, my puzzlement grew. They seemed increasingly mysterious to me. I could not help feeling deep respect, admiration, and affection for them. They were always gentle, tender, and remarkably caring. It would seem contradictory to call them mysterious, and yet they were a mystery. They were remarkably open in their conversation, manners, and habits. It was just as common for a poet to read and discuss their own poem as for someone else to do it. I have heard a woman poet point out the beauty of her own work. She received praise and criticism with the same charming courtesy.

Ambition of the most intense earnestness was a natural characteristic, but was guided by a stern and inflexible justice. Envy and malice were unknown to them. It was, doubtless, owing to their elevated moral character that courts and legal proceedings had become unnecessary. If a discussion arose between parties involving a question of law, they repaired to the Public Library, where the statute books were kept, and looked up the matter themselves, and settled it as the law directed. Should they fail to interpret the law alike, a third party was selected as referee, but accepted no pay.

They were naturally and intensely ambitious, but their ambition was guided by strict and unyielding justice. They knew neither envy nor malice. Their high moral character was no doubt why courts and legal proceedings had become unnecessary. If people disagreed over a question of law, they went to the Public Library, where the law books were kept. They looked up the matter themselves and settled it as the law directed. If they interpreted the law differently, they chose a third person to settle the dispute. That person accepted no pay.

Indolence was as much a disgrace to them as is the lack of virtue to the women of my country, hence every citizen, no matter how wealthy, had some regular trade, business or profession. I found those occupations we are accustomed to see accepted by the people of inferior birth and breeding, were there filled by women of the highest social rank, refined in manner and frequently of notable intellectual acquirements. It grew, or was the result of the custom of selecting whatever vocation they felt themselves competent to most worthily fill, and as no social favor or ignominy rested on any kind of labor, the whole community of Mizora was one immense family of sisters who knew no distinction of birth or position among themselves.

Laziness was as much a disgrace to them as a lack of virtue is to women in my country. So every citizen, no matter how wealthy, practiced a trade or profession or ran a business. In my country, we are used to seeing people of lower birth and upbringing do certain kinds of work. There, I found women of the highest social rank doing that work. They had refined manners and often had notable intellectual accomplishments. This situation grew from, or resulted in, the custom of choosing the work they felt best able to do well. No kind of work brought social favor or disgrace. As a result, the whole community of Mizora was one immense family of sisters. They made no distinctions among themselves based on birth or position.

There were no paupers and no charities, either public or private, to be found in the country. The absence of poverty such as I knew existed in all civilized nations upon the face of the earth, was largely owing to the cheapness of food. But there was one other consideration that bore vitally upon it. The dignity and necessity of labor was early and diligently impressed upon the mind. The Preceptress said to me:

There were no poor people in the country and no public or private charities. Food was cheap, and this largely explained the absence of poverty. I knew such poverty existed in all civilized nations on earth. But another factor was also vital. From an early age, people were carefully taught that work was necessary and dignified. The Preceptress said to me:

"Mizora is a land of industry. Nature has taught us the duty of work. Had some of us been born with minds fully matured, or did knowledge come to some as old age comes to all, we might think that a portion was intended to live without effort. But we are all born equal, and labor is assigned to all; and the one who seeks labor is wiser than the one who lets labor seek her."

"Mizora is a land of hard work. Nature has taught us that work is our duty. Suppose some of us were born with fully developed minds. Or suppose knowledge came to some people as old age comes to everyone. We might then think that some were meant to live without effort. But we are all born equal, and we all have work to do. The woman who seeks work is wiser than the one who waits for work to seek her."

Citizens, I learned, were not restrained from accumulating vast wealth had they the desire and ability to do so, but custom imposed upon them the most honorable processes. If a citizen should be found guilty of questionable business transactions, she suffered banishment to a lonely island and the confiscation of her entire estate, both hereditary and acquired. The property confiscated went to the public schools in the town or city where she resided; but never was permitted to augment salaries. I discovered this in the statute books, but not in the memory of any one living had it been found necessary to inflict such a punishment.

I learned that citizens were free to accumulate vast wealth if they wanted to and were able. But custom required them to use the most honorable methods. If a citizen was found guilty of questionable business dealings, she was banished to a lonely island. Her entire estate, both inherited and acquired, was also confiscated. The confiscated property went to the public schools in the town or city where she lived. But it was never allowed to increase salaries. I found this law in the statute books, but no one living could remember such a punishment ever being necessary.

"Our laws," said Wauna, "are simply established legal advice. No law can be so constructed as to fit every case so exactly that a criminal mind could not warp it into a dishonest use. But in a country like ours, where civilization has reached that state of enlightenment that needs no laws, we are simply guided by custom."

"Our laws," said Wauna, "are simply established legal advice. No law can fit every case so precisely that a criminal mind could not twist it for dishonest purposes. But in a country like ours, civilization has become so enlightened that we need no laws. We are simply guided by custom."

The love of splendor and ornament was a pronounced characteristic of these strange people. But where gorgeous colors were used, they were always of rich quality. The humblest homes were exquisitely ornamented, and often displayed a luxury that, with us, would have been considered an evidence of wealth.

These strange people had a strong love of splendor and decoration. But whenever they used brilliant colors, the colors were always rich. Even the simplest homes were beautifully decorated. They often displayed a level of luxury that we would have considered a sign of wealth.

They took the greatest delight in their beauty, and were exceedingly careful of it. A lovely face and delicate complexion, they averred, added to one's refinement. The art of applying an artificial bloom and fairness to the skin, which I had often seen practiced in my own country, appeared to be unknown to them. But everything savoring of deception was universally condemned. They made no concealment of the practice they resorted to for preserving their complexions, and so universal and effectual were they, that women who, I was informed, had passed the age allotted to the grandmothers in my country, had the smooth brow and pink bloom of cheek that belongs to a more youthful period of life. There was, however, a distinction between youth and old age. The hair was permitted to whiten, but the delicate complexion of old age, with its exquisite coloring, excited in my mind as much admiration as astonishment.

They took great delight in their beauty and took great care to preserve it. They said that a lovely face and delicate complexion added to a person’s refinement. They seemed unfamiliar with the art of using makeup to give skin a rosy, fair appearance. I had often seen this practiced in my own country. But they universally condemned anything that suggested deception. They made no secret of the methods they used to preserve their complexions. These methods were so widely used and effective that even older women had smooth brows and rosy cheeks. I was told that these women were older than the grandmothers in my country. Yet their skin had the smoothness and pink color of youth. There was, however, a difference between youth and old age. Their hair was allowed to turn white. But the delicate complexion of old age, with its exquisite coloring, filled me with admiration and astonishment.

I cannot explain why I hesitated to press my first inquiry as to where the men were. I had put the question to Wauna one day, but she professed never to have heard of such beings. It silenced me—for a time.

I cannot explain why I hesitated to ask again where the men were. One day, I had asked Wauna, but she claimed she had never heard of such beings. Her answer silenced me, for a time.

"Perhaps it is some extinct animal," she added, naively. "We have so many new things to study and investigate, that we pay but little attention to ancient history."

"Perhaps it's some extinct animal," she added naively. "We have so many new things to study and investigate that we pay little attention to ancient history."

I bided my time and put the query in another form.

I waited for the right moment and asked the question another way.

"Where is your other parent?"

"Where is your other parent?"

She regarded me with innocent surprise. "You talk strangely. I have but one parent. How could I have any more?"

She looked at me with innocent surprise. "You talk strangely. I have only one parent. How could I have more?"

"You ought to have two."

"You should have two."

She laughed merrily. "You have a queer way of jesting. I have but one mother, one adorable mother. How could I have two?" and she laughed again.

She laughed happily. "You have a strange way of joking. I have only one mother, one adorable mother. How could I have two?" She laughed again.

I saw that there was some mystery I could not unravel at present, and fearing to involve myself in some trouble, refrained from further questioning on the subject. I nevertheless kept a close observance of all that passed, and seized every opportunity to investigate a mystery that began to harass me with its strangeness.

I realized there was a mystery I could not solve just yet. Fearing I might get into trouble, I asked no more questions about it. Even so, I watched everything that happened closely. I took every opportunity to investigate the mystery, whose strangeness was beginning to trouble me.

Soon after my conversation with Wauna, I attended an entertainment at which a great number of guests were present. It was a literary festival and, after the intellectual delicacies were disposed of, a banquet followed of more than royal munificence. Toasts were drank, succeeded by music and dancing and all the gayeties of a festive occasion, yet none but the fairest of fair women graced the scene. Is it strange, therefore, that I should have regarded with increasing astonishment and uneasiness a country in all respects alluring to the desires of man—yet found him not there in lordly possession?

Soon after my conversation with Wauna, I attended a gathering with a great many guests. It was a literary festival. After the intellectual treats came a banquet more lavish than any royal feast. There were toasts, followed by music, dancing, and all the pleasures of a festive occasion. Yet only the most beautiful women were present. Is it strange, then, that I regarded the country with growing astonishment and unease? It was appealing in every way to a man’s desires, yet no man was there to rule over it.

Beauty and intellect, wealth and industry, splendor and careful economy, natures lofty and generous, gentle and loving—why has not Man claimed this for himself?

Beauty and intelligence, wealth and hard work, splendor and careful thrift, noble and generous, gentle and loving natures. Why has Man not claimed all this for himself?