the coming race-第14章
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by which He acts cannot admit of any partial injustice or evil； and therefore cannot be comprehended without reference to their action over all space and throughout all time。 And since； as I shall have occasion to observe later； the intellectual conditions and social systems of this subterranean race comprise and harmonise great； and apparently antagonistic； varieties in philosophical doctrine and speculation which have from time to time been started； discussed； dismissed； and have re…appeared amongst thinkers or dreamers in the upper world；… so I may perhaps appropriately conclude this reference to the belief of the Vril…ya； that self…conscious or sentient life once given is indestructible among inferior creatures as well as in man； by an eloquent passage from the work of that eminent zoologist； Louis Agassiz； which I have only just met with； many years after I had committed to paper these recollections of the life of the Vril…ya which I now reduce into something like arrangement and form： 〃The relations which individual animals bear to one another are of such a character that they ought long ago to have been considered as sufficient proof that no organised being could ever have been called into existence by other agency than 59by the direct intervention of a reflective mind。 This argues strongly in favour of the existence in every animal of an immaterial principle similar to that which by its excellence and superior endowments places man so much above the animals； yet the principle unquestionably exists； and whether it be called sense； reason； or instinct； it presents in the whole range of organised beings a series of phenomena closely linked together； and upon it are based not only the higher manifestations of the mind； but the very permanence of the specific differences which characterise every organism。 Most of the arguments in favour of the immortality of man apply equally to the permanency of this principle in other living beings。 May I not add that a future life in which man would be deprived of that great source of enjoyment and intellectual and moral improvement which results from the contemplation of the harmonies of an organic world would involve a lamentable loss？ And may we not look to a spiritual concert of the combined worlds and ALL their inhabitants in the presence of their Creator as the highest conception of paradise？〃… 'Essay on Classification；' sect。 xvii。 p。 97…99。
Chapter XV。
Kind to me as I found all in this household； the young daughter of my host was the most considerate and thoughtful in her kindness。 At her suggestion I laid aside the habiliments in which I had descended from the upper earth； and adopted the dress of the Vril…ya； with the exception of the artful wings which served them； when on foot； as a graceful mantle。 But as many of the Vril…ya； when occupied in urban pursuits； did not wear these wings； this exception created no marked difference between myself and the race among whom I sojourned； and I was thus enabled to visit the town without exciting unpleasant 60curiosity。 Out of the household no one suspected that I had come from the upper world； and I was but regarded as one of some inferior and barbarous tribe whom Aph…Lin entertained as a guest。
The city was large in proportion to the territory round it； which was of no greater extent than many an English or Hungarian nobleman's estate； but the whole if it； to the verge of the rocks which constituted its boundary； was cultivated to the nicest degree； except where certain allotments of mountain and pasture were humanely left free to the sustenance of the harmless animals they had tamed； though not for domestic use。 So great is their kindness towards these humbler creatures； that a sum is devoted from the public treasury for the purpose of deporting them to other Vril…ya communities willing to receive them （chiefly new colonies）； whenever they become too numerous for the pastures allotted to them in their native place。 They do not； however； multiply to an extent comparable to the ratio at which； with us； animals bred for slaughter； increase。 It seems a law of nature that animals not useful to man gradually recede from the domains he occupies； or even become extinct。 It is an old custom of the various sovereign states amidst which the race of the Vril…ya are distributed； to leave between each state a neutral and uncultivated border…land。 In the instance of the community I speak of； this tract； being a ridge of savage rocks； was impassable by foot； but was easily surmounted； whether by the wings of the inhabitants or the air…boats； of which I shall speak hereafter。 Roads through it were also cut for the transit of vehicles impelled by vril。 These intercommunicating tracts were always kept lighted； and the expense thereof defrayed by a special tax； to which all the communities comprehended in the denomination of Vril…ya contribute in settled proportions。 By these means a considerable commercial traffic with other states； both near and distant； was carried on。 The surplus wealth on this special community was chiefly agricultural。 The 61community was also eminent for skill in constructing implements connected with the arts of husbandry。 In exchange for such merchandise it obtained articles more of luxury than necessity。 There were few things imported on which they set a higher price than birds taught to pipe artful tunes in concert。 These were brought from a great distance； and were marvellous for beauty of song and plumage。 I understand that extraordinary care was taken by their breeders and teachers in selection； and that the species had wonderfully improved during the last few years。 I saw no other pet animals among this community except some very amusing and sportive creatures of the Batrachian species； resembling frogs； but with very intelligent countenances； which the children were fond of； and kept in their private gardens。 They appear to have no animals akin to our dogs or horses； though that learned naturalist； Zee； informed me that such creatures had once existed in those parts； and might now be found in regions inhabited by other races than the Vril…ya。 She said that they had gradually disappeared from the more civilised world since the discovery of vril； and the results attending that discovery had dispensed with their uses。 Machinery and the invention of wings had superseded the horse as a beast of burden； and the dog was no longer wanted either for protection or the chase； as it had been when the ancestors of the Vril…ya feared the aggressions of their own kind； or hunted the lesser animals for food。 Indeed； however； so far as the horse was concerned； this region was so rocky that a horse could have been； there； of little use either for pastime or burden。 The only creature they use for the latter purpose is a kind of large goat which is much employed on farms。 The nature of the surrounding soil in these districts may be said to have first suggested the invention of wings and air…boats。 The largeness of space in proportion to the space occupied by the city； was occasioned by the custom of surrounding every house with a separate garden。 The broad main street； in which Aph…Lin dwelt； expanded into a vast square； in which were 62placed the College of Sages and all the public offices； a magnificent fountain of the luminous fluid which I call naptha （I am ignorant of its real nature） in the centre。 All these public edifices have a uniform character of massiveness and solidity。 They reminded me of the architectural pictures of Martin。 Along the upper stories of each ran a balcony； or rather a terraced garden； supported by columns； filled with flowering plants； and tenanted by many kinds of tame birds。 》From the square branched several streets； all broad and brilliantly lighted； and ascending up the eminence on either side。 In my excursions in the town I was never allowed to go alone； Aph…Lin or his daughter was my habitual companion。 In this community the adult Gy is seen walking with any young An as familiarly as if there were no difference of sex。
The retail shops are not very numerous； the persons who attend on a customer are all children of various ages； and exceedingly intelligent and
