Part 2, Chapter 4

I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking. I expressed my gratitude for her kindness. There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime. These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew. I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country. Would she kindly give it?

I listened with great interest to this unusual and instructive history. When the Preceptress finished speaking, I thanked her for her kindness. I wanted to know about many things, especially how they had eliminated disease and crime. These two evils were major afflictions in all the civilized nations I knew. I believed I could understand enough of their method to benefit my own country. Would she kindly explain it?

"I shall take Disease first," she said, "as it is a near relative of Crime. You look surprised. You have known life-long and incurable invalids who were not criminals. But go to the squalid portion of any of your large cities, where Poverty and Disease go hand in hand, where the child receives its life and its first nourishment from a haggard and discontented mother. Starvation is her daily dread. The little tendernesses that make home the haven of the heart, are never known to her. Ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-cherished, all that might be refined and elevated in her nature, if properly cultivated, is choked into starveling shapes by her enemy—Want.

"I will start with Disease," she said, "because it is a close relative of Crime. You look surprised. You have known people who were ill all their lives and could not be cured, yet were not criminals. But go to the squalid parts of any of your large cities, where Poverty and Disease go hand in hand. There, a child gets its life and first nourishment from a weary, unhappy mother. Every day she fears starvation. She never knows the small acts of tenderness that make home a haven for the heart. She is poorly fed, poorly clothed, and shown little love. All in her nature that might be refined and uplifted, if properly nurtured, is stunted by her enemy, Want.

"If you have any knowledge of nature, ask yourself if such a condition of birth and infancy is likely to produce a noble, healthy human being? Do your agriculturists expect a stunted, neglected tree to produce rare and luscious fruit?"

"If you know anything about nature, ask yourself: Are such conditions at birth and in infancy likely to produce a noble, healthy human being? Do your farmers expect a stunted, neglected tree to produce rare and delicious fruit?"

I was surprised at the Preceptress' graphic description of wretchedness, so familiar to all the civilized nations that I knew, and asked:

I was surprised by the Preceptress' vivid description of misery. It was familiar in all the civilized nations I knew, and I asked:

"Did such a state of society ever exist in this country?"

"Did this country ever have such a society?"

"Ages ago it was as marked a social condition of this land as it is of your own to-day. The first great move toward eradicating disease was in providing clean and wholesome food for the masses. It required the utmost rigor of the law to destroy the pernicious practice of adulteration. The next endeavor was to crowd poverty out of the land. In order to do this the Labor question came first under discussion, and resulted in the establishment in every state of a Board of Arbitration that fixed the price of labor on a per cent, of the profits of the business. Public and private charities were forbidden by law as having an immoral influence upon society. Charitable institutions had long been numerous and fashionable, and many persons engaged in them as much for their own benefit as that of the poor. It was not always the honest and benevolent ones who became treasurers, nor were the funds always distributed among the needy and destitute, or those whom they were collected for. The law put a stop to the possibility of such frauds, and of professional impostors seeking alms. Those who needed assistance were supplied with work—respectable, independent work—furnished by the city or town in which they resided. A love of industry, its dignity and independence, was carefully instilled into every young mind. There is no country but what ought to provide for everyone of its citizens a comfortable, if not luxurious, home by humane legislation on the labor question.

"Ages ago, disease was as much a part of life in this land as it is in yours today. The first major step toward eliminating it was to provide clean, wholesome food for everyone. It took the full force of the law to end the harmful practice of adulterating food. The next effort was to drive poverty out of the land. To do this, people first debated the labor question. As a result, every state established a Board of Arbitration. Each board set wages as a percentage of a business's profits. Public and private charities were forbidden by law because they had an immoral influence on society. Charitable institutions had long been numerous and fashionable. Many people took part as much for their own benefit as for that of the poor. Treasurers were not always honest and charitable. Funds were not always distributed to the needy and destitute, or to those for whom they were collected. The law ended the possibility of such frauds and of professional impostors seeking handouts. Those who needed help were provided with respectable, independent work by the city or town where they lived. Every child was carefully taught to value hard work, its dignity, and its independence. Every country should pass humane labor laws that provide every citizen with a comfortable, if not luxurious, home.

"The penitentiaries were reconstructed by the female government. One half the time formerly allotted to labor was employed in compulsory education. Industrial schools were established in every State, where all the mechanical employments were taught free. Objects of charity were sent there and compelled to become self supporting. These industrial schools finally became State Colleges, where are taught, free, all the known branches of knowledge, intellectual and mechanical.

"The government run by women rebuilt the prisons. Half the time previously set aside for labor was used for compulsory education. Industrial schools were established in every State. They taught all mechanical trades for free. People in need of charity were sent to the schools and required to become self-supporting. These industrial schools eventually became State Colleges. They teach all known branches of knowledge, both intellectual and mechanical, for free.

"Pauperism disappeared before the wide reaching influence of these industrial schools, but universal affluence had not come. It could not exist until education had become universal.

"Poverty disappeared as these industrial schools spread their influence, but not everyone was wealthy. Universal wealth could not exist until everyone had an education.

"With this object in view, the Government forbade the employment of any citizen under the age of twenty-one, and compelled their attendance at school up to that time. At the same time a law was passed that authorized the furnishing of all school-room necessaries out of the public funds. If a higher education were desired the State Colleges furnished it free of all expenses contingent.

"To achieve this goal, the Government forbade the employment of citizens under twenty-one. It also required them to attend school until that age. At the same time, a law authorized public funds to pay for all classroom necessities. Anyone who wanted a higher education could attend State Colleges free of all related expenses.

"All of these measures had a marked influence in improving the condition of society, but not all that was required. The necessity for strict sanitary laws became obvious. Cities and towns and even farms were visited, and everything that could breed malaria, or produce impure air, was compelled to be removed. Personal and household cleanliness at last became an object of public interest, and inspectors were appointed who visited families and reported the condition of their homes. All kinds of out-door sports and athletic exercises were encouraged and became fashionable.

"All of these measures greatly improved society, but they were not enough. The need for strict sanitation laws became clear. Inspectors visited cities, towns, and even farms. Anything that could breed malaria or pollute the air had to be removed. Personal and household cleanliness finally became a matter of public concern. Inspectors were appointed to visit families and report on the condition of their homes. All kinds of outdoor sports and exercise were encouraged and became fashionable.

"All of these things combined, made a great improvement in the health and vigor of our race, but still hereditary diseases lingered.

"Together, all these things greatly improved the health and strength of our race, but hereditary diseases still lingered.

"There were many so enfeebled by hereditary disease they had not enough energy to seek recuperation, and died, leaving offspring as wretched, who in turn followed their parents' example.

"Many were so weakened by inherited disease that they lacked the energy to seek recovery. They died, leaving children who were just as miserable and who, in turn, followed their parents' example.

"Statistics were compiled, and physician's reports circulated, until a law was passed prohibiting the perpetuity of diseased offspring. But, although disease became less prevalent, it did not entirely disappear. The law could only reach the most deplorable afflictions, and was eventually repealed.

"Statistics were gathered and doctors' reports circulated until a law was passed to prevent diseased children from being born. Although disease became less common, it did not disappear entirely. The law could only address the most severe afflictions, and it was eventually repealed.

"As the science of therapeutics advanced, all diseases—whether hereditary or acquired—were found to be associated with abnormal conditions of the blood. A microscopic examination of a drop of blood enabled the scientist to determine the character and intensity of any disease, and at last to effect its elimination from the system.

"As medical treatment advanced, scientists found that all diseases were linked to abnormal conditions in the blood. This was true whether the diseases were inherited or acquired. By examining a drop of blood under a microscope, a scientist could determine the nature and severity of any disease. Eventually, scientists could eliminate the disease from the body.

"The blood is the primal element of the body. It feeds the flesh, the nerves, the muscles, the brain. Disease cannot exist when it is in a natural condition. Countless experiments have determined the exact properties of healthy blood and how to produce it. By the use of this knowledge we have eliminated hereditary diseases, and developed into a healthy and moral people. For people universally healthy is sure of being moral. Necessity begets crime. It is the wants of the ignorant and debased that suggests theft. It is a diseased fancy, or a mind ignorant of the laws that govern the development of human nature, that could attribute to offspring hated before birth: infancy and childhood neglected; starved, ill-used in every way, a disposition and character, amiable and humane and likely to become worthy members of society. The reverse is almost inevitable. Human nature relapses into the lower and baser instincts of its earlier existence, when neglected, ill-used and ignorant. All of those lovely traits of character which excite the enthusiast, such as gratitude, honor, charity are the results of education only. They are not the natural instincts of the human mind, but the cultivated ones.

"Blood is the body's basic element. It nourishes the flesh, nerves, muscles, and brain. Disease cannot exist when blood is in its natural condition. Countless experiments have established the exact properties of healthy blood and how to produce it. Using this knowledge, we have eliminated hereditary diseases and developed into a healthy and moral people. For a people who are universally healthy are sure to be moral. Need gives rise to crime. It is the wants of the ignorant and degraded that lead them to steal. Only a diseased imagination, or a mind ignorant of the laws governing human development, could expect such children to be amiable and humane. These children were hated before birth, neglected throughout infancy and childhood, starved, and mistreated in every way. Only such a mind could expect them to have characters that would make them worthy members of society. The opposite is almost inevitable. When people are neglected, mistreated, and ignorant, human nature falls back on the lower, baser instincts of its earlier existence. All the lovely traits of character that inspire enthusiasm, such as gratitude, honor, and charity, are products of education alone. They are not natural instincts of the human mind, but cultivated ones."

"The most rigid laws were passed in regard to the practice of medicine. No physician could become a practitioner until examined and authorized to do so by the State Medical College. In order to prevent favoritism, or the furnishing of diplomas to incompetent applicants, enormous penalties were incurred by any who would sign such. The profession long ago became extinct. Every mother is a family physician. That is, she obeys the laws of nature in regard to herself and her children, and they never need a doctor.

"Very strict laws were passed governing the practice of medicine. No doctor could practice without being examined and licensed by the State Medical College. To prevent favoritism or the granting of diplomas to unqualified applicants, anyone who signed such a diploma faced enormous penalties. The medical profession died out long ago. Every mother is her family's doctor. That is, she follows the laws of nature in caring for herself and her children, and they never need a doctor.

"Having become healthy and independent of charity, crime began to decrease naturally. The conditions that had bred and fostered petty crimes having ceased to exist, the natures that had inherited them rose above their influence in a few generations, and left honorable posterity.

"As people became healthy and no longer depended on charity, crime naturally began to decrease. The conditions that had caused and encouraged petty crimes no longer existed. Within a few generations, those who had inherited criminal tendencies rose above their influence and left honorable descendants.

"But crime in its grossest form is an ineradicable hereditary taint. Generation after generation may rise and disappear in a family once tainted with it, without displaying it, and then in a most unexpected manner it will spring up in some descendant, violent and unconquerable.

"But crime in its worst form is an inherited taint that can never be erased. Generation after generation may come and go in a tainted family without showing any sign of it. Then, most unexpectedly, it may appear in a descendant, violent and impossible to overcome.

"We tried to eliminate it as we had disease, but failed. It was an inherited molecular structure of the brain. Science could not reconstruct it. The only remedy was annihilation. Criminals had no posterity."

"We tried to eliminate it as we had eliminated disease, but we failed. It was an inherited molecular structure in the brain. Science could not rebuild it. The only solution was annihilation. Criminals had no children."

"I am surprised," I interrupted, "that possessing the power to control the development of the body, you should not do so with the mind."

"I'm surprised," I interrupted, "that you can control the body's development but don't do the same for the mind."

"If we could we would produce genius that could discover the source of all life. We can control Cause and Effect, but we cannot create Cause. We do not even know its origin. What the perfume is to the flower, the intellect is to the body; a secret that Nature keeps to herself. For a thousand years our greatest minds have sought to discover its source, and we are as far from it to-day as we were a thousand years ago."

“If we could, we would produce a genius who could discover the source of all life. We can control cause and effect, but we cannot create cause. We do not even know where cause comes from. Intellect is to the body what fragrance is to a flower. It is a secret that Nature keeps to herself. For a thousand years, our greatest minds have tried to discover its source. But we are as far from finding it today as we were a thousand years ago.”

"How then have you obtained your mental superiority?" I inquired.

"How did you achieve your mental superiority, then?" I asked.

"By securing to our offspring perfect, physical and mental health. Science has taught us how to evolve intellect by following demonstrated laws. I put a seed into the ground and it comes up a little green slip, that eventually becomes a tree. When I planted the seed in congenial soil, and watered and tended the slip, I assisted Nature. But I did not create the seed nor supply the force that made it develop into a tree, nor can I define that force."

“By ensuring that our children have perfect physical and mental health. Science has taught us how to develop intelligence by following proven laws. I put a seed in the ground, and a small green shoot comes up. Eventually, the shoot becomes a tree. I helped Nature by planting the seed in suitable soil, then watering and tending the shoot. But I did not create the seed or supply the force that made it grow into a tree. Nor can I define that force.”

"What has produced the exquisite refinement of your people?"

"What made your people so remarkably refined?"

"Like everything else, it is the result of gradual development aiming at higher improvement. By following strictly the laws that govern the evolution of life, we control the formation of the body and brain. Strong mental traits become intensified by cultivation from generation to generation and finally culminate in one glorious outburst of power, called Genius. But there is one peculiarity about mind. It resembles that wonderful century plant which, after decades of developing, flowers and dies. Genius is the long unfolding bloom of mind, and leaves no posterity. We carefully prepare for the future development of Genius. We know that our children will be neither deformed nor imbecile, but we watch the unfolding of their intellects with the interest of a new revelation. We guide them with the greatest care.

“Like everything else, it develops gradually, always aiming for further improvement. By strictly following the laws of life’s evolution, we control how the body and brain form. Strong mental traits grow stronger as they are cultivated from generation to generation. Finally, they culminate in one glorious burst of power called Genius. But the mind has one peculiar quality. It is like the wonderful century plant, which flowers and dies after decades of growth. Genius is the mind’s long-unfolding flower, and it leaves no descendants. We carefully prepare for the future development of Genius. We know that our children will not be deformed or intellectually disabled. But we watch their minds develop with the interest of a new revelation. We guide them with the greatest care.

"I could take a child of your people with inherited weakness of body and mind. I should rear it on proper food and exercise—both mental and physical—and it would have, when matured, a marked superiority to its parents. It is not what Nature has done for us, it is what we have done for her, that makes us a race of superior people."

“I could take a child from your people who had inherited weaknesses of body and mind. I would raise the child with proper food and both mental and physical exercise. When grown, the child would be clearly superior to its parents. We are a superior race not because of what Nature has done for us, but because of what we have done for Nature.”

"The qualities of mind that are the general feature of your people," I remarked, "are so very high, higher than our estimate of Genius. How was it arrived at?"

"The mental abilities common among your people are remarkably high," I said. "They surpass what we consider genius. How did your people achieve this?"

"By the processes I have just explained. Genius is always a leader. A genius with us has a subtlety of thought and perception beyond your power of appreciation. All organized social bodies move intellectually in a mass, with their leader just ahead of them."

“Through the processes I just explained. Genius always leads. Among us, a genius has a subtlety of thought and perception beyond your ability to appreciate. All organized social groups move forward intellectually as a mass, with their leader just ahead of them.”

"I have visited, as a guest, a number of your families, and found their homes adorned with paintings and sculpture that would excite wondering admiration in my own land as rare works of art, but here they are only the expression of family taste and culture. Is that a quality of intellect that has been evolved, or is it a natural endowment of your race?"

"I have visited several of your families as a guest. Their homes are decorated with paintings and sculptures that would inspire wonder and admiration as rare works of art in my own land. But here, they simply express each family's taste and culture. Is that intellectual quality something that evolved, or is it a natural gift of your race?"

"It is not an endowment, but has been arrived at by the same process of careful cultivation. Do you see in those ancient portraits a variety of striking colors? There is not a suggestion of harmony in any of them. On the contrary, they all display violent contrasts of color. The originals of them trod this land thousands of years ago. Many of the colors, we know, were unknown to them. Color is a faculty of the mind that is wholly the result of culture. In the early ages of society, it was known only in the coarsest and most brilliant hues. A conception and appreciation of delicate harmonies in color is evidence of a superior and refined mentality. If you will notice it, the illiterate of your own land have no taste for or idea of the harmony of color. It is the same with sound. The higher we rise in culture, the more difficult we are to please in music. Our taste becomes critical."

"It is not an inborn gift. It has been developed through the same process of careful cultivation. Do you see the variety of striking colors in those ancient portraits? There is no hint of harmony in any of them. Instead, they all show harsh contrasts of color. The people they depict walked this land thousands of years ago. We know that many colors were unknown to them. The ability to perceive color is a mental faculty that is entirely the result of cultivation. In the early ages of society, people knew only the coarsest and brightest colors. An understanding and appreciation of delicate color harmonies shows a superior and refined mind. If you pay attention, you will notice that the illiterate people of your own land have no taste for or understanding of color harmony. It is the same with sound. The more cultured we become, the harder we are to please with music. Our taste becomes more critical."

I had been revolving some things in my mind while the Preceptress was speaking, and I now ventured to express them. I said:

While the Preceptress was speaking, I had been thinking about a few things. I now ventured to share them. I said:

"You tell me that generations will come and go before a marked change can occur in a people. What good then would it do me or mine to study and labor and investigate in or to teach my people how to improve? They can not comprehend progress. They have not learned by contact, as I have in Mizora, how to appreciate it. I should only waste life and happiness in trying to persuade them to get out of the ruts they have traveled so long; they think there are no other roads. I should be reviled, and perhaps persecuted. My doctrines would be called visionary and impracticable. I think I had better use my knowledge for my own kindred, and let the rest of the world find out the best way it can."

“You tell me that generations will come and go before a people can change significantly. So what good would it do me or my family if I studied, worked, and investigated to teach my people how to improve? They cannot understand progress. They have not experienced it firsthand, as I have in Mizora, and learned to appreciate it. I would only waste my life and happiness trying to persuade them to leave the ruts they have followed for so long. They think there are no other roads. I would be insulted and perhaps persecuted. My ideas would be called unrealistic and impractical. I think I had better use my knowledge for my own family and let the rest of the world find its own way as best it can.”

The Preceptress looked at me with mild severity. I never before had seen so near an approach to rebuke in her grand eyes.

The Preceptress looked at me with gentle sternness. I had never seen anything so close to disapproval in her magnificent eyes before.

"What a barbarous, barbarous idea!" she exclaimed. "Your country will never rise above its ignorance and degradation, until out of its mental agony shall be evolved a nature kindled with an ambition that burns for Humanity instead of self. It will be the nucleus round which will gather the timid but anxious, and then will be lighted that fire which no waters can quench. It burns for the liberty of thought. Let human nature once feel the warmth of its beacon fires, and it will march onward, defying all obstacles, braving all perils till it be won. Human nature is ever reaching for the unattained. It is that little spark within us that has an undying life. When we can no longer use it, it flies elsewhere."

"What a barbaric, barbaric idea!" she exclaimed. "Your country will never rise above its ignorance and degradation until its mental agony gives rise to a new kind of person. That person must be inspired by an ambition that burns for Humanity instead of self. Such a person will be the center around which the timid but anxious will gather. Then a fire will be lit that no water can put out. It burns for freedom of thought. Once human nature feels the warmth of that beacon fire, it will march onward. It will defy all obstacles and brave all dangers until freedom of thought is won. Human nature is always reaching for what it has not yet attained. That little spark within us has an eternal life. When we can no longer use it, it flies elsewhere."