the coming race(一个即临种族)-第21章
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68all the tribes and families of the Vril…ya seek to attain； and towards that
goal all our theories of government are shaped。 You see how utterly
opposed is such a progress to that of the uncivilised nations from which
you come； and which aim at a systematic perpetuity of troubles； and cares；
and warring passions aggravated more and more as their progress storms
its way onward。 The most powerful of all the races in our world； beyond
the pale of the Vril…ya； esteems itself the best governed of all political
societies； and to have reached in that respect the extreme end at which
political wisdom can arrive； so that the other nations should tend more or
less to copy it。 It has established； on its broadest base； the Koom…Posh…
viz。； the government of the ignorant upon the principle of being the most
numerous。 It has placed the supreme bliss in the vying with each other in
all things； so that the evil passions are never in repose… vying for power；
for wealth； for eminence of some kind； and in this rivalry it is horrible to
hear the vituperation； the slanders； and calumnies which even the best and
mildest among them heap on each other without remorse or shame。〃
〃Some years ago；〃 said Aph…Lin； 〃I visited this people； and their
misery and degradation were the more appalling because they were always
boasting of their felicity and grandeur as compared with the rest of their
species。 And there is no hope that this people； which evidently resembles
your own； can improve； because all their notions tend to further
deterioration。 They desire to enlarge their dominion more and more； in
direct antagonism to the truth that； beyond a very limited range； it is
impossible to secure to a community the happiness which belongs to a
well…ordered family； and the more they mature a system by which a few
individuals are heated and swollen to a size above the standard
slenderness of the millions； the more they chuckle and exact； and cry out；
'See by what great exceptions to the common littleness of our race we
prove the magnificent results of our system！'〃 69 〃In fact；〃 resumed Zee；
〃if the wisdom of human life be to approximate to the serene equality of
immortals； there can be no more direct flying off into the opposite
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direction than a system which aims at carrying to the utmost the
inequalities and turbulences of mortals。 Nor do I see how； by any
forms of religious belief； mortals； so acting； could fit themselves even to
appreciate the joys of immortals to which they still expect to be
transferred by the mere act of dying。 On the contrary； minds
accustomed to place happiness in things so much the reverse of godlike；
would find the happiness of gods exceedingly dull； and would long to
get back to a world in which they could quarrel with each other。〃
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CHAPTER XVI。
I have spoken so much of the Vril Staff that my reader may expect
me to describe it。 This I cannot do accurately； for I was never allowed to
handle it for fear of some terrible accident occasioned by my ignorance of
its use； and I have no doubt that it requires much skill and practice in the
exercise of its various powers。 It is hollow； and has in the handle several
stops； keys； or springs by which its force can be altered； modified； or
directed… so that by one process it destroys； by another it heals… by one it
can rend the rock； by another disperse the vapour… by one it affects bodies；
by another it can exercise a certain influence over minds。 It is usually
carried in the convenient size of a walking…staff； but it has slides by which
it can be lengthened or shortened at will。 When used for special purposes；
the upper part rests in the hollow of the palm with the fore and middle
fingers protruded。 I was assured； however； that its power was not equal
in all； but proportioned to the amount of certain vril 70properties in the
wearer in affinity； or 'rapport' with the purposes to be effected。 Some
were more potent to destroy； others to heal； &c。； much also depended on
the calm and steadiness of volition in the manipulator。 They assert that
the full exercise of vril power can only be acquired by the constitutional
temperament… i。e。； by hereditarily transmitted organisation… and that a
female infant of four years old belonging to the Vril…ya races can
accomplish feats which a life spent in its practice would not enable the
strongest and most skilled mechanician； born out of the pale of the Vril…ya
to achieve。 All these wands are not equally complicated； those intrusted
to children are much simpler than those borne by sages of either sex； and
constructed with a view to the special object on which the children are
employed； which as I have before said； is among the youngest children the
most destructive。 In the wands of wives and mothers the correlative
destroying force is usually abstracted； the healing power fully charged。 I
wish I could say more in detail of this singular conductor of the vril fluid；
but its machinery is as exquisite as its effects are marvellous。
I should say； however； that this people have invented certain tubes by
which the vril fluid can be conducted towards the object it is meant to
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destroy； throughout a distance almost indefinite； at least I put it modestly
when I say from 500 to 600 miles。 And their mathematical science as
applied to such purpose is so nicely accurate； that on the report of some
observer in an air…boat； any member of the vril department can estimate
unerringly the nature of intervening obstacles； the height to which the
projectile instrument should be raised； and the extent to which it should be
charged； so as to reduce to ashes within a space of time too short for me to
venture to specify it； a capital twice as vast as London。
Certainly these Ana are wonderful mathematicians… wonderful for the
adaptation of the inventive faculty to practical uses。 71 I went with my
host and his daughter Zee over the great public museum； which occupies a
wing in the College of Sages； and in which are hoarded； as curious
specimens of the ignorant and blundering experiments of ancient times；
many contrivances on which we pride ourselves as recent achievements。
In one department； carelessly thrown aside as obsolete lumber； are tubes
for destroying life by metallic balls and an inflammable powder； on the
principle of our cannons and catapults； and even still more murderous than
our latest improvements。
My host spoke of these with a smile of contempt； such as an artillery
officer might bestow on the bows and arrows of the Chinese。 In anoth
