Part 1, Chapter 6

Their domestic life was so harmonious and perfect that it was a perpetual pleasure to contemplate.

Their home life was so harmonious and perfect that it was always a pleasure to think about.

Human nature finds its sweetest pleasure, its happiest content, within its own home circle; and in Mizora I found no exception to the rule. The arrangement and adornment of every house in Mizora were evidently for the comfort and happiness of its inmates. To purchase anything for merely outside show, or to excite the envy or jealousy of a neighbor, was never thought of by an inhabitant of Mizora.

People find their greatest pleasure and happiness at home with their families. In Mizora, I found no exception to this rule. Every house in Mizora was clearly arranged and decorated for the comfort and happiness of its residents. No one in Mizora ever thought of buying anything just for show or to make a neighbor envious or jealous.

The houses that were built to rent excited my admiration quite as much as did the private residences. They all seemed to have been designed with two special objects in view—beauty and comfort. Houses built to rent in large cities were always in the form of a hollow square, inclosing a commodious and handsomely decorated park. The back was adorned with an upper and lower piazza opening upon the park. The suites of rooms were so arranged as to exclusively separate their occupants from all others. The park was undivided. The center was occupied by a fountain large enough to shoot its spray as high as the uppermost piazza. The park was furnished with rustic seats and shade trees, frequently of immense size, branched above its smooth walks and promenades, where baby wagons, velocipedes and hobby horses on wheels could have uninterrupted sport.

The houses built for rent impressed me just as much as the private homes. All seemed designed with two special goals in mind: beauty and comfort. In large cities, rental houses were always arranged in a hollow square around a spacious, beautifully decorated park. The back of each house had upper and lower porches overlooking the park. The suites of rooms were arranged to give their occupants complete privacy from everyone else. The park was shared, with no dividing walls. At its center stood a fountain that sprayed water as high as the top porch. Rustic seats and shade trees filled the park. The trees, often enormous, spread their branches over smooth paths and walkways. There, baby carriages, tricycles, and wheeled rocking horses could move about without interruption.

Suburban residences, designed for rent, were on a similar but more amplified plan. The houses were detached, but the grounds were in common. Many private residences were also constructed on the same plan. Five or six acres would be purchased by a dozen families who were not rich enough to own large places separately. A separate residence would be built for each family, but the ground would be laid off and ornamented like a private park. Each of the dozen families would thus have a beautiful view and the privilege of the whole ground. In this way, cascades, fountains, rustic arbors, rockeries, aquariums, tiny lakes, and every variety of landscape ornamenting, could be supplied at a comparatively small cost to each family.

Suburban rental homes followed a similar but larger plan. The houses were separate, but their grounds were shared. Many private homes were also built on this plan. A dozen families who could not afford large properties of their own would buy five or six acres together. Each family would have a separate home, but the grounds would be landscaped and decorated like a private park. Each family would have a beautiful view and the use of the entire grounds. In this way, each family could enjoy waterfalls, fountains, rustic arbors, rock gardens, aquariums, tiny lakes, and every kind of landscape decoration at a relatively low cost.

Should any one wish to sell, they disposed of their house and one-twelfth of the undivided ground, and a certain per cent. of the value of its ornaments. The established custom was never to remove or alter property thus purchased without the consent of the other shareholders. Where a people had been educated to regard justice and conscience as their law, such an arrangement could be beneficial to an entire city.

If anyone wanted to sell, they sold their house, one-twelfth of the shared land, and a certain percentage of the ornaments’ value. By established custom, buyers never removed or altered property purchased this way without the other shareholders’ consent. Among people educated to treat justice and conscience as their law, such an arrangement could benefit an entire city.

Financial ability does not belong to every one, and this plan of uniting small capitals gave opportunity to the less wealthy classes to enjoy all the luxuries that belong to the rich. In fact some of the handsomest parks I saw in Mizora were owned and kept up in this manner. Sometimes as many as twenty families united in the purchase of an estate, and constructed artificial lakes large enough to sail upon. Artificial cascades and fountains of wonderful size and beauty were common ornaments in all the private and public parks of the city. I noticed in all the cities that I visited the beauty and charm of the public parks, which were found in all sections.

Not everyone has financial skill. By pooling their small fortunes, less wealthy people could enjoy all the luxuries of the rich. In fact, some of the most beautiful parks I saw in Mizora were owned and maintained this way. Sometimes as many as twenty families joined together to buy an estate. They built artificial lakes large enough to sail on. Artificial waterfalls and fountains of wonderful size and beauty commonly decorated all the city's private and public parks. In every city I visited, I noticed the beauty and charm of the public parks. They could be found in every part of each city.

The walks were smoothly paved and shaded by trees of enormous size. They were always frequented by children, who could romp and play in these sylvan retreats of beauty in perfect security.

The paths were smoothly paved and shaded by enormous trees. Children were always there, free to run and play safely in these beautiful wooded retreats.

The high state of culture arrived at by the Mizora people rendered a luxurious style of living a necessity to all. Many things that I had been brought up to regard as the exclusive privileges of the rich, were here the common pleasure of every one. There was no distinction of classes; no genteel-poverty people, who denied themselves necessities that they might appear to have luxuries. There was not a home in Mizora that I entered—and I had access to many—that did not give the impression of wealth in all its appointments.

The Mizora people had reached such a high level of culture that luxurious living was a necessity for everyone. Many things I had been raised to see as privileges reserved for the rich were enjoyed by everyone here. There were no class distinctions. No one lived in genteel poverty, going without necessities in order to appear to have luxuries. I entered many homes in Mizora, and every one gave the impression of wealth in all its furnishings.

I asked the Preceptress to explain to me how I might carry back to the people of my country this social happiness, this equality of physical comfort and luxury; and she answered me with emphasis:

I asked the Preceptress how I could bring this social happiness and equality of physical comfort and luxury back to my country. She answered emphatically:

"Educate them. Convince the rich that by educating the poor, they are providing for their own safety. They will have fewer prisons to build, fewer courts to sustain. Educated Labor will work out its own salvation against Capital. Let the children of toil start in life with exactly the same educational advantages that are enjoyed by the rich. Give them the same physical and moral training, and let the rich pay for it by taxes."

"Educate them. Convince the rich that educating the poor will keep the rich safe. They will need to build fewer prisons and maintain fewer courts. Educated workers will find their own way to overcome capital. Let the children of workers start life with exactly the same educational opportunities as the rich. Give them the same physical and moral training, and have the rich pay for it through taxes."

I shook my head "They will never submit to it," was my reluctant admission.

I shook my head. "They will never submit to it," I admitted reluctantly.

"Appeal to their selfishness," urged the Preceptress "Get them to open their college doors and ask all to come and be taught without money and without price. The power of capital is great, but stinted and ignorant toil will rise against its oppression, and innocence and guilt will alike suffer from its fury. Have you never known such an occurrence?"

"Appeal to their self-interest," urged the Preceptress. "Get them to open their colleges and invite everyone to come and learn for free. Wealth has great power, but underpaid and uneducated workers will rise against its oppression. Both the innocent and the guilty will suffer from their fury. Have you never known this to happen?"

"Not in my day or country," I answered "But the city in which I was educated has such a history. Its gutters flowed with human blood, the blood of its nobles."

"Not in my time or country," I answered. "But the city where I was educated has such a history. Its gutters ran with human blood, the blood of its nobles."

She inclined her head significantly. "It will be repeated," she said sadly, "unless you educate them. Give their bright and active minds the power of knowledge. They will use it wisely, for their own and their country's welfare."

She nodded knowingly. "It will happen again," she said sadly, "unless you educate them. Give their bright, active minds the power of knowledge. They will use it wisely, for their own good and their country's welfare."

I doubted my ability to do this, to contend against rooted and inherited prejudice, but I resolved to try. I did not need to be told that the rich and powerful had a monopoly of intellect: Nature was not partial to them, for the children of the poor, I well knew, were often handsomer and more intellectual than the offspring of wealth and aristocratic birth.

I doubted my ability to fight deeply rooted, inherited prejudice, but I resolved to try. I knew that the rich and powerful did not have a monopoly on intelligence. Nature did not favor them. I knew well that poor children were often better looking and more intelligent than children born into wealth and aristocracy.

I have before spoken of the positions occupied by those who performed what I had been bred to regard as menial work. At first, the mere fact of the person who presided over the kitchen being presented to me as an equal, was outraging to all my hereditary dignity and pride of birth. No one could be more pronounced in a consciousness of inherited nobility than I. I had been taught from infancy to regard myself as a superior being, merely because the accident of birth had made me so, and the arrogance with which I had treated some of my less favored schoolmates reverted to me with mortifying regret, when, having asked Wauna to point out to me the nobly born, she looked at me with her sweet expression of candor and innocence and said:

I have already described the positions held by those who did work I had been raised to see as menial. At first, simply being introduced to the person in charge of the kitchen as an equal offended my inherited dignity and pride of birth. No one could have been more conscious of their noble birth than I was. From infancy, I had been taught to think myself superior simply because of the accident of my birth. I remembered with humiliating regret how arrogantly I had treated some of my less fortunate schoolmates. This happened when I asked Wauna to point out those of noble birth. She looked at me with her sweet expression of candor and innocence and said:

"We have no nobility of birth. As I once before told you, intellect is our only standard of excellence. It alone occupies an exalted place and receives the homage of our people."

“We have no hereditary nobility. As I told you before, intellect is our only measure of excellence. Intellect alone holds a place of honor and receives the respect of our people.”

In a subsequent conversation with her mother, the Preceptress, she said:

Later, in a conversation with her mother, the Preceptress, she said:

"In remote ages, great honor and deference was paid to all who were born of rulers, and the designation 'noble blood,' was applied to them. At one time in the history of our country they could commit any outrage upon society or morals without fear of punishment, simply because they belonged to the aristocracy. Even a heinous murder would be unnoticed if perpetrated by one of them. Nature alone did not favor them Imbecile and immoral minds fell to the lot of the aristocrat as often as to the lowly born. Nature's laws are inflexible and swerve not for any human wish. They outraged them by the admixture of kindred blood, and degeneracy was often the result. A people should always have for their chief ruler the highest and noblest intellect among them, but in those dark ages they were too often compelled to submit to the lowest, simply because it had been born to the position. But," she added, with a sweet smile, "that time lies many centuries behind us, and I sometimes think we had better forget it entirely."

"In ancient times, great honor and respect were given to all who were born to rulers. They were said to have 'noble blood.' At one time in our country's history, aristocrats could commit any outrage against society or morals without fear of punishment. They escaped punishment simply because they belonged to the aristocracy. Even a terrible murder would go unnoticed if one of them committed it. Nature alone did not favor them. Aristocrats were just as likely as people of humble birth to have feeble or immoral minds. Nature's laws are unbending and do not yield to human wishes. Aristocrats violated those laws by marrying close relatives, and degeneration was often the result. A people should always have the highest and noblest intellect among them as their chief ruler. But in those dark ages, they were too often forced to submit to the lowest intellect, simply because its owner had been born to the position. But," she added with a sweet smile, "that time lies many centuries behind us, and I sometimes think we would be better off forgetting it entirely."

My first meeting with the domestics of my friend's house impressed me with their high mental culture, refinement and elegance. Certainly no "grande dame" of my own country but would have been proud of their beauty and graceful dignity.

When I first met my friend's household servants, I was struck by their education, refinement, and elegance. Any "grande dame" in my own country would have been proud of their beauty and graceful dignity.

Prejudice, however deeply ingrained, could not resist the custom of a whole country, and especially such a one as Mizora, so I soon found myself on a familiar footing with my friend's "artist"—for the name by which they were designated as a class had very nearly the same meaning.

Even deeply ingrained prejudice could not withstand the customs of a whole country, especially one like Mizora. So I soon became comfortable with my friend's "artist." The name they used for that class of people meant nearly the same thing.

Cooking was an art, and one which the people of Mizora had cultivated to the highest excellence. It is not strange, when their enlightenment is understood, that they should attach as much honor to it as the people of my country do to sculpture, painting and literature. The Preceptress told me that such would be the case with my people when education became universal and the poor could start in life with the same intellectual culture as the rich. The chemistry of food and its importance in preserving a youthful vigor and preventing disease, would then be understood and appreciated by all classes, and would receive the deference it deserved.

Cooking was an art, and the people of Mizora had developed it to the highest level. Given how enlightened they were, it is no surprise that they honored cooking as much as my people honor sculpture, painting, and literature. The Preceptress told me that my people would do the same when education became universal. Then the poor could start life with the same intellectual education as the rich. All classes would understand and appreciate the chemistry of food and its importance in preserving youthful vigor and preventing disease. They would give it the respect it deserved.

"You will never realize," said the Preceptress earnestly, "the incalculable benefit that will accrue to your people from educating your poor. Urge that Government to try it for just twenty years, long enough for a generation to be born and mature. The bright and eager intellects of poverty will turn to Chemistry to solve the problems of cheap Light, cheap Fuel and cheap Food. When you can clothe yourselves from the fibre of the trees, and warm and light your dwellings from the water of your rivers, and eat of the stones of the earth, Poverty and Disease will be as unknown to your people as it is to mine."

"You will never realize," the Preceptress said earnestly, "how much your people will benefit from educating the poor. Urge your government to try it for just twenty years, long enough for a generation to be born and grow up. Bright, eager minds among the poor will turn to chemistry to find cheap light, fuel, and food. You will be able to make clothes from tree fibers, heat and light your homes with river water, and eat the stones of the earth. When you can do all this, poverty and disease will be as unknown to your people as they are to mine."

"If I should preach that to them, they would call me a maniac."

"If I preached that to them, they would call me a maniac."

"None but the ignorant will do so. From your description of the great thinkers of your country, I am inclined to believe there are minds among you advanced enough to believe in it."

"Only the ignorant will do so. From your description of your country's great thinkers, I believe some of you may be advanced enough to believe in it."

I remembered how steamboats and railroads and telegraphy had been opposed and ridiculed until proven practicable, and I took courage and resolved to follow the advice of my wise counselor.

I remembered how people had opposed and mocked steamboats, railroads, and the telegraph until they proved practical. That gave me courage, and I decided to follow my wise counselor’s advice.

I had long felt a curiosity to behold the inner workings of a domestic's life, and one day ventured to ask my friend's permission to enter her kitchen. Surprise was manifested at such a request, when I began to apologize and explain. But my hostess smiled and said:

I had long been curious about the daily life of a household servant. One day, I ventured to ask my friend if I could enter her kitchen. My request was met with surprise, and I began to apologize and explain. But my hostess smiled and said:

"My kitchen is at all times as free to my guests as my drawing room."

"My guests are always as welcome in my kitchen as they are in my living room."

Every kitchen in Mizora is on the same plan and conducted the same way. To describe one, therefore, is to describe all. I undertook to explain that in my country, good breeding forbade a guest entering the host's kitchen, and frequently its appearance, and that of the cook's, would not conduce to gastric enjoyment of the edibles prepared in it.

Every kitchen in Mizora has the same layout and is run the same way. So describing one is enough to describe them all. I tried to explain that in my country, good manners forbade a guest from entering the host's kitchen. Often, the appearance of the kitchen and the cook would spoil one's appetite for the food prepared there.

My first visit happened to be on scrubbing day, and I was greatly amused to see a little machine, with brushes and sponges attached, going over the floor at a swift rate, scouring and sponging dry as it went. Two vessels, one containing soap suds and the other clear water, were connected by small feed pipes with the brushes. As soon as the drying sponge became saturated, it was lifted by an ingenious yet simple contrivance into a vessel and pressed dry, and was again dropped to the floor.

My first visit happened to be on scrubbing day. I was greatly amused to see a small machine moving quickly over the floor, with brushes and sponges attached. It scrubbed and sponged the floor dry as it went. Two containers, one holding soapy water and the other clean water, were connected to the brushes by small supply pipes. Whenever the drying sponge became soaked, a clever but simple device lifted it into a container and squeezed it dry. Then the sponge dropped back to the floor.

I inquired how it was turned to reverse its progress so as to clean the whole floor, and was told to watch when it struck the wall. I did so, and saw that the jar not only reversed the machine, but caused it to spring to the right about two feet, which was its width, and again begin work on a new line, to be again reversed in the same manner when it struck the opposite wall. Carpeted floors were swept by a similar contrivance.

I asked how the machine reversed direction to clean the whole floor. I was told to watch when it hit the wall. I did, and saw that the impact reversed the machine and made it jump about two feet to the right. This was the width of the machine. It then began cleaning a new strip of floor. When it hit the opposite wall, it reversed in the same way. Carpeted floors were swept by a similar device.

No wonder the "artists" of the kitchen had such a dainty appearance. They dipped their pretty hands in perfumed water and dried them on the finest and whitest damask, while machinery did the coarse work.

No wonder the kitchen "artists" looked so delicate. They dipped their pretty hands in scented water and dried them on the finest, whitest damask, while machines did the rough work.

Mizora, I discovered, was a land of brain workers. In every vocation of life machinery was called upon to perform the arduous physical labor. The whole domestic department was a marvel of ingenious mechanical contrivances. Dishwashing, scouring and cleaning of every description were done by machinery.

I discovered that Mizora was a land of people who worked with their minds. In every occupation, machines did the hard physical labor. The household was full of marvelously ingenious machines. Machines washed dishes, scrubbed, and did every kind of cleaning.

The Preceptress told me that it was the result of enlightenment, and it would become the custom in my country to make machinery perform the laborious work when they learned the value of universal and advanced knowledge.

The Preceptress told me that it was the result of enlightenment. She said that people in my country would also use machines to do hard work once they learned the value of universal and advanced knowledge.

I observed that the most exact care was given to the preparation of food. Every cook was required to be a chemist of the highest excellence; another thing that struck me as radically different from the custom in vogue in my country.

I noticed that great care was taken in preparing food. Every cook had to be a highly skilled chemist. This struck me as a radical departure from the custom in my country.

Everything was cooked by hot air and under cover, so that no odor was perceptible in the room. Ventilating pipes conveyed the steam from cooking food out of doors. Vegetables and fruits appeared to acquire a richer flavor when thus cooked. The seasoning was done by exact weight and measure, and there was no stirring or tasting. A glass tube, on the principle of a thermometer, determined when each article was done. The perfection which they had attained as culinary chemists was a source of much gratification to me, both in the taste of food so delicious and palatable, and in its wholesome effect on my constitution. As to its deliciousness, a meal prepared by a Mizora cook could rival the fabled feasts of the gods. Its beneficial effects upon me were manifested in a healthier tone of body and an an increase of animal spirits, a pleasurable feeling of content and amiability.

Everything was cooked with hot air under a cover, so there was no noticeable smell in the room. Ventilation pipes carried the steam from the cooking food outdoors. Vegetables and fruits seemed to develop a richer flavor when cooked this way. Seasonings were added by exact weight and measure, and there was no stirring or tasting. A glass tube, working like a thermometer, showed when each food was done. Their mastery of cooking as a science gave me great pleasure. The food was delicious and appetizing, and it had a wholesome effect on my health. A meal prepared by a Mizora cook could rival the legendary feasts of the gods. Its benefits showed in my improved health and higher spirits. I felt a pleasant sense of contentment and friendliness.

The Preceptress told me that the first step toward the eradication of disease was in the scientific preparation of food, and the establishment of schools where cooking was taught as an art to all who applied, and without charge. Placed upon a scientific basis it became respectable.

The Preceptress told me that the first step toward eliminating disease was to prepare food scientifically. It also involved establishing schools that taught cooking as an art, free of charge, to everyone who applied. Once cooking had a scientific basis, it became respectable.

"To eliminate from our food the deleterious earthy matter is our constant aim. To that alone do we owe immunity from old age far in advance of that period of life when your people become decrepit and senile. The human body is like a lamp-wick, which filters the oil while it furnishes light. In time the wick becomes clogged and useless and is thrown away. If the oil could be made perfectly pure, the wick would not fill up."

"We constantly aim to remove harmful earthy matter from our food. That alone keeps us free from old age long after your people become frail and senile. The human body is like a lamp wick, which filters the oil while giving light. In time, the wick becomes clogged and useless and is thrown away. If the oil could be made perfectly pure, the wick would not clog."

She gave this homely explanation with a smile and the air of a grown person trying to convey to the immature mind of a child an explanation of some of Nature's phenomena.

She smiled as she gave this simple explanation. She seemed like an adult trying to explain a natural phenomenon to a child.

I reflected upon their social condition and arrived at the conviction that there is no occupation in life but what has its usefulness and necessity, and, when united to culture and refinement, its dignity. A tree has a million leaves, yet each individual leaf, insignificant as it may appear, has its special share of work to perform in helping the tree to live and perfect its fruit. So should every citizen of a government contribute to its vitality and receive a share of its benefits.

I thought about their social condition and became convinced that every occupation is useful and necessary. When combined with culture and refinement, every occupation also has dignity. A tree has a million leaves, yet each leaf has its own work to do, however insignificant it may seem. Each leaf helps the tree live and bring its fruit to maturity. In the same way, every citizen should contribute to the life of the government and share in its benefits.

"Will the time ever come," I asked myself, "when my own country will see this and rise to a social, if not intellectual equality." And the admonition of the Preceptress would recur to my mind:

"Will my own country ever see this and achieve social equality, if not intellectual equality?" I asked myself. And the Preceptress's warning would come back to me:

"Educate them. Educate them, and enlightenment will solve for them every problem in Sociology."

"Educate them. Educate them, and enlightenment will solve every problem in sociology for them."

My observations in Mizora led me to believe that while Nature will permit and encourage the outgrowth of equality in refinement, she gives birth to a more decided prominence in the leadership of intellect.

My observations in Mizora led me to believe that Nature allows and encourages equality in refinement. But she gives intellectual leadership a more prominent role.

The lady who conducted me through the culinary department, and pointed out the machinery and explained its use and convenience, had the same grace and dignity of manner as the hostess displayed when exhibiting to me the rare plants in her conservatory.

The woman who showed me around the kitchen pointed out the machinery and explained how useful and convenient it was. She had the same grace and dignity as my hostess when she showed me the rare plants in her greenhouse.

The laundry was a separate business. No one unconnected with it as a profession had anything to do with its duties. I visited several of the large city laundries and was informed that all were conducted alike. Steam was employed in the cleaning process, and the drying was done by hot air impregnated with ozone. This removed from white fabrics every vestige of discoloration or stain. I saw twelve dozen fine damask table-cloths cleaned, dried and ironed in thirty minutes. All done by machinery. They emerged from the rollers that ironed them looking like new pieces of goods, so pure was their color, and so glossy their finish.

Laundry was a separate business. Only professional laundry workers had anything to do with the work. I visited several large city laundries and learned that all were run the same way. Steam was used for cleaning, and hot air infused with ozone was used for drying. This removed every trace of discoloration or stains from white fabrics. I saw twelve dozen fine damask tablecloths cleaned, dried, and ironed in thirty minutes. Machines did all the work. The tablecloths came out of the ironing rollers looking like new fabric. Their color was so pure and their finish so glossy.

I inquired the price for doing them up, and was told a cent a piece. Twelve cents per dozen was the established price for doing up clothes. Table-cloths and similar articles were ironed between rollers constructed to admit their full width. Other articles of more complicated make, were ironed by machines constructed to suit them. Some articles were dressed by having hot air forced rapidly through them. Lace curtains, shawls, veils, spreads, tidies and all similar articles, were by this process made to look like new, and at a cost that I thought ought certainly to reduce the establishment to beggary or insolvency. But here chemistry again was the magician that had made such cheap labor profitable. And such advanced knowledge of chemistry was the result of universal education.

I asked how much it cost to finish the clothes and was told one cent per item. The standard price was twelve cents per dozen. Tablecloths and similar items were ironed between rollers wide enough to take their full width. More complicated items were ironed by machines designed for them. Some items were finished by forcing hot air rapidly through them. This process made lace curtains, shawls, veils, bedspreads, tidies, and all similar items look like new. I thought the price was so low that it would surely bankrupt the business. But once again, chemistry was the magician that made such cheap labor profitable. And that advanced knowledge of chemistry was the result of universal education.

Ladies sent their finest laces to be renewed without fear of having them reduced to shreds. In doing up the frailest laces, nothing but hot air impregnated with ozone was employed. These were consecutively forced through the fabric after it was carefully stretched. Nothing was ever lost or torn, so methodical was the management of the work.

Women sent their finest lace to be restored without fear that it would be reduced to shreds. To clean the most delicate lace, workers used nothing but hot air infused with ozone. They carefully stretched the lace, then forced the air through it in successive passes. The work was so methodical that nothing was ever lost or torn.

I asked why cooking was not established as the laundry was, as a distinct public business, and was told that it had been tried a number of times, but had always been found impracticable. One kind of work in a laundry would suit everyone, but one course of cooking could not. Tastes and appetites differed greatly. What was palatable to one would be disliked by another, and to prepare food for a large number of customers, without knowing or being able to know exactly what the demand would be, had always resulted in large waste, and as the people of Mizora were the most rigid and exacting economists, it was not to be wondered at that they had selected the most economical plan. Every private cook could determine accurately the amount of food required for the household she prepared it for, and knowing their tastes she could cater to all without waste.

I asked why cooking had not been established as a separate public business, like laundry. I was told that people had tried it several times, but it had always proved impractical. The same kind of laundry work suited everyone, but the same kind of cooking could not. Tastes and appetites differed greatly. What one person found tasty, another would dislike. When cooks prepared food for many customers, they could not know exactly what the demand would be. This had always resulted in a great deal of waste. The people of Mizora were extremely strict and careful about economy, so it was no wonder they chose the most economical plan. Each private cook could determine exactly how much food her household needed. Knowing their tastes, she could provide for everyone without waste.

"We, as yet," said my distinguished instructor, "derive all our fruit and vegetables from the soil. We have orchards and vineyards and gardens which we carefully tend, and which our knowledge of chemistry enables us to keep in health and productiveness. But there is always more or less earthy matter in all food derived from cultivating the soil, and the laboratories are now striving to produce artificial fruit and vegetables that will satisfy the palate and be free from deleterious matter."

“Even now,” said my distinguished instructor, “we get all our fruit and vegetables from the soil. We carefully tend our orchards, vineyards, and gardens. Our knowledge of chemistry helps us keep them healthy and productive. But all food grown in soil contains some earthy matter. Laboratories are now trying to produce artificial fruit and vegetables that taste good and contain no harmful matter.”