YoucannotforgetwhoNumberSevenisifIinformyouthathespeciallyprideshimselfonbeingaseventhsonofaseventhson。
Thefactofsuchadescentissupposedtocarrywonderfulendowmentswithit。NumberSevenpassesforanaturalhealer。Heislookeduponasakindofwizard,andisluckyinlivinginthenineteenthcenturyinsteadofthesixteenthorearlier。Howmuchconfidencehefeelsinhimselfasthepossessorofhalf—supernaturalgiftsIcannotsay。Ithinkhispeculiarbirthrightgiveshimacertainconfidenceinhiswhimsandfancieswhichbutforthathewouldhardlyfeel。
Afterthisexplanation,whenIspeakofNumberFiveorNumberSeven,youwillknowtowhomIrefer。
Thecompanyareveryfrankintheircriticismsofeachother。\"Ididnotlikethatexpressionofyours,planetaryfoundlings,\"saidtheMistress。\"ItseemstomethatitistoolikeatheismforagoodChristianlikeyoutouse。\"
Ah,mydearmadam,Ianswered,Iwasthinkingoftheelementsandthenaturalforcestowhichmanwasbornanalmosthelplesssubjectintherudimentarystagesofhisexistence,andfromwhichhehasonlypartiallygotfreeafteragesuponagesofwarfarewiththeirtyranny。Thinkwhathungerforcedthecavemantodo！Thinkofthesurlyindifferenceofthestormsthatswepttheforestandthewaters,theearthquakechasmsthatengulfedhim,theinundationsthatdrownedhimoutofhismiserablehiding—places,thepestilencesthatlayinwaitforhim,theunequalstrifewithferociousanimals！
Ineednotsumupallthewretchednessthatgoestoconstitutethe\"martyrdomofman。\"Whenourforefatherscametothiswildernessasitthenwas,andfoundeverywherethebonesofthepoornativeswhohadperishedinthegreatplague（whichourDoctortherethinkswasprobablythesmall—pox）,theyconsideredthisdestructivemaladyasaspecialmarkofprovidentialfavorforthem。HowaboutthemiserableIndians？Weretheyanythingbutplanetaryfoundlings？No！
Civilizationisagreatfoundlinghospital,andfortunateareallthosewhogetsafelyintothecrechebeforethefrostorthemalariahaskilledthem,thewildbeastsorthevenomousreptilesworkedouttheirdeadlyappetitesandinstinctsuponthem。Theveryideaofhumanityseemstobethatitshalltakecareofitselfanddevelopitspowersinthe\"struggleforlife。\"Whetherweapproveitornot,ifwecanjudgebythematerialrecord,manwasbornafoundling,andfoughthiswayashebestmighttothatkindofexistencewhichwecallcivilized,——onewhichaconsiderablepartoftheinhabitantsofourplanethavereached。
Ifyoudonotliketheexpressionplanetaryfoundlings,Ihavenoobjectiontoyourconsideringtheraceasputouttonurse。AndwhatanurseNatureis！Shegivesherchargeaholeintherockstolivein,iceforhispillowandsnowforhisblanket,inonepartoftheworld;thejungleforhisbedroominanother,withthetigerforhiswatch—dog,andthecobraashisplayfellow。
Well,Isaid,theremaybeotherpartsoftheuniversewheretherearenotigersandnocobras。Itisnotquitecertainthatsuchrealmsofcreationarebetteroff,onthewhole,thanthisearthlyresidenceofours,whichhasfoughtitswayuptothedevelopmentofsuchcentresofcivilizationasAthensandRome,tosuchpersonalitiesasSocrates,asWashington。
\"Oneofourcompanyhasbeenonanexcursionamongthecelestialbodiesofoursystem,Iunderstand,\"saidtheProfessor。
NumberFivecolored。\"Nothingbutadream,\"shesaid。\"Thetruthis,Ihadtakenetherintheeveningforatouchofneuralgia,anditsetmyimaginationatworkinawayquiteunusualwithme。Ihadbeenreadinganumberofbooksaboutanidealconditionofsociety,——
SirThomasMores\'Utopia,\'LordBacon\'s\'NewAtlantis,\'andanotherofmorerecentdate。Iwenttobedwithmybrainagooddealexcited,andfellintoadeepslumber,inwhichIpassedthroughsomeexperiencessosingularthat,onawaking,Iputthemdownonpaper。
Idon\'tknowthatthereisanythingveryoriginalabouttheexperiencesIhaverecorded,butIthoughtthemworthpreserving。
Perhapsyouwouldnotagreewithmeinthatbelief。\"
\"IfNumberFivewillgiveusachancetoformourownjudgmentaboutherdreamorvision,Ithinkweshallenjoyit,\"saidtheMistress。
\"SheknowswhatwillpleaseTheTeacupsinthewayofreadingaswellasIdohowmanylumpsofsugartheProfessorwantsinhisteaandhowmanyIwantinmine。\"
ThecompanywassourgentthatNumberFivesentup—stairsforherpaper。
NumberFivereadsthestoryofherdream。
ItcostmeagreatefforttosetdownthewordsofthemanuscriptfromwhichIamreading。MydreamsforthemostpartfadeawaysosoonaftertheiroccurrencethatIcannotrecallthematall。Butinthiscasemyideasheldtogetherwithremarkabletenacity。Bykeepingmymindsteadilyuponthework,Igraduallyunfoldedthenarrativewhichfollows,asthefamousItalianantiquaryopenedoneofthosefragilecarbonizedmanuscriptsfoundintheruinsofHerculaneumorPompeii。
ThefirstthingIrememberaboutitisthatIwasfloatingupward,withoutanysenseofeffortonmypart。Thefeelingwasthatofflying,whichIhaveoftenhadindreams,ashavemanyotherpersons。
Itwasthemostnaturalthingintheworld,——asemi—materializedvolition,ifImayusesuchanexpression。
Atthefirstmomentofmynewconsciousness,——forIseemedtohavejustemergedfromadeepslumber,Iwasawarethattherewasacompanionatmyside。Nothingcouldbemoregraciousthanthewayinwhichthisbeingaccostedme。Iwillspeakofitasshe,becausetherewasadelicacy,asweetness,adivinepurity,aboutitsaspectthatrecalledmyidealoftheloveliestwomanhood。
\"Iamyourcompanionandyourguide,\"thisbeingmademeunderstand,asshelookedatme。SomefacultyofwhichIhadneverbeforebeenconscioushadawakenedinme,andIneedednointerpretertoexplaintheunspokenlanguageofmycelestialattendant。
\"Youarenotyetoutsideofspaceandtime,\"shesaid,\"andIamgoingwithyouthroughsomepartsofthephenomenalorapparentuniverse,——whatyoucallthematerialworld。Wehaveplentyofwhatyoucalltimebeforeus,andwewilltakeourvoyageleisurely,lookingatsuchobjectsofinterestasmayattractourattentionaswepass。Thefirstthingyouwillnaturallywishtolookatwillbetheearthyouhavejustleft。Thisisabouttherightdistance,\"shesaid,andwepausedinourflight。
Thegreatglobewehadleftwasrollingbeneathus。NoeyeofoneinthefleshcouldseeitasIsaworseemedtoseeit。NoearofanymortalbeingcouldbearthesoundsthatcamefromitasIheardorseemedtohearthem。Thebroadoceansunrolledthemselvesbeforeme。
IcouldrecognizethecalmPacificandthestormyAtlantic,——theshipsthatdottedthem,thewhitelineswherethewavesbrokeontheshore,——frillsontherobesofthecontinents,——sotheylookedtomywoman\'sperception;the——vastSouthAmericanforests;theglitteringicebergsaboutthepoles;thesnowymountainranges,hereandthereasummitsendingupfireandsmoke;mightyrivers,dividingprovinceswithinsightofeachother,andmakingneighborsofrealmsthousandsofmilesapart;cities;light—housestoinsurethesafetyofsea—goingvessels,andwar—shipstoknockthemtopiecesandsinkthem。Allthis,andinfinitelymore,showeditselftomeduringasinglerevolutionofthesphere:twenty—fourhoursitwouldhavebeen,ifreckonedbyearthlymeasurementsoftime。IhavenotspokenofthesoundsIheardwhiletheearthwasrevolvingunderus。Thehowlofstorms,theroarandclashofwaves,thecrackandcrashofthefallingthunderbolt,——theseofcoursemadethemselvesheardastheydotomortalears。Buttherewereothersoundswhichenchainedmyattentionmorethanthesevoicesofnature。Astheskilledleaderofanorchestrahearseverysinglesoundfromeachmemberofthemobofstringedandwindinstruments,andaboveallthescreechofthestrainingsoprano,somysharpenedperceptionsmadewhatwouldhavebeenforcommonmortalsaconfusedmurmuraudibletomeascompoundedofinnumerableeasilydistinguishedsounds。Abovethemallaroseonecontinued,unbroken,agonizingcry。Itwasthevoiceofsufferingwomanhood,asoundthatgoesupdayandnight,onelongchorusoftorturedvictims。
\"Letusgetoutofreachofthis,\"Isaid;andweleftourplanet,withitsblank,desolatemoonstaringatit,asifithadturnedpaleatthesightsandsoundsithadtowitness。
PresentlythegildeddomeoftheStateHouse,whichmarkedourstarting—point,cameintoviewforthesecondtime,andIknewthatthisside—showwasover。IbadefarewelltotheCommonwithitsCogswellfountain,andtheGardenwithitslastawe—inspiringmonument。
\"Oh,ifIcouldsometimesrevisitthesebelovedscenes！\"Iexclaimed。
\"ThereisnothingtohinderthatIknowof,\"saidmycompanion。
\"Memoryandimaginationasyouknowthemintheflesharetwowingedcreatureswithstringstiedtotheirlegs,andanchoredtoabodilyweightofahundredandfiftypounds,moreorless。Whenthestringiscutyoucanbewhereyouwishtobe,——notmerelyapartofyou,leavingtherestbehind,butthewholeofyou。Whyshouldn\'tyouwanttorevisityouroldhomesometimes？\"
Iwasastonishedatthehumanwayinwhichmyguideconversedwithme。Itwasalwaysonthebasisofmyearthlyhabits,experiences,andlimitations。\"Yoursolarsystem,\"shesaid,\"isaverysmallpartoftheuniverse,butyounaturallyfeelacuriosityaboutthebodieswhichconstituteitandabouttheirinhabitants。Thereisyourmoon:abareanddesolate—lookingplaceitis,andwellitmaybe,forithasnorespirableatmosphere,andnooccasionforone。
TheLunitesdonotbreathe;theylivewithoutwasteandwithoutsupply。Youlookasifyoudonotunderstandthis。Yetyourpeoplehave,asyouwellknow,whattheycallincandescentlightseverywhere。Youwouldhavesaidtherecanbenolampwithoutoilorgas,orothercombustiblesubstance,tofeedit;andyetyouseeafilamentwhichshedsalightlikethatofnoonallaroundit,anddoesnotwasteatall。SotheLuniteslivebyinfluxofdivineenergy,justastheincandescentlampglows,——glows,andisnotconsumed;receivingitslife,ifwemaycallitso,fromthecentralpower,whichwearstheunpleasantnameof\"dynamo。\"\'
TheLunitesappearedtomeaspalephosphorescentfiguresofill—
definedoutline,lostintheirownhalos,asitwere。IcouldnothelpthinkingofShelley\'s\"maidenWithwhitefireladen。\"
ButastheLuniteswereafterallbutprovincials,asarethetenantsofallthesatellites,Ididnotcaretocontemplatethemforanygreatlengthoftime。
Idonotremembermuchaboutthetwoplanetsthatcamenexttoourown,exceptthebeautifulrosyatmosphereofoneandthehugebulkoftheother。Presently,wefoundourselveswithinhailingdistanceofanothercelestialbody,whichIrecognizedatonce,bytheringswhichgirdledit,astheplanetSaturn。Adingy,dull—lookingsphereitwasinitsappearance。\"Wewilltieuphereforawhile,\"saidmyattendant。Theeasy,familiarwayinwhichshespokesurprisedandpleasedme。
Why,saidI,——TheDictator,——whatistheretopreventbeingsofanotherorderfrombeingascheerful,associal,asgoodcompanions,astheveryliveliestofGod\'screatureswhomwehaveknownintheflesh？Isitimpossibleforanarchangeltosmile？Issuchaphenomenonasalaughneverheardexceptinourlittlesinfulcorneroftheuniverse？Doyousuppose,thatwhenthedisciplesheardfromthelipsoftheirMastertheplayofwordsonthenameofPeter,therewasnosmileofappreciationonthebeardedfacesofthoseholymen？FromanyotherlipsweshouldhavecalledthispleasantryaNumberFiveshookherheadveryslightly,andgavemealookthatseemedtosay,\"Don\'tfrightentheotherTeacups。Wedon\'tcallthingsbythenamesthatbelongtothemwhenwedealwithcelestialsubjects。\"
Wetiedup,asmyattendantplayfullycalledourresting,soneartheplanetthatIcouldknow——Iwillnotsayseeandhear,butapprehend——allthatwasgoingoninthatremotesphere;remote,aswewholiveinwhatwehavebeenusedtoconsiderthecentreoftherationaluniverseregardit。WhatstruckmeatoncewasthedeadnessofeverythingIlookedupon。Dead,uniformcolorofsurfaceandsurroundingatmosphere。Deadcomplexionofalltheinhabitants。
Dead—lookingtrees,dead—lookinggrass,noflowerstobeseenanywhere。
\"Whatisthemeaningofallthis？\"Isaidtomyguide。
Shesmiledgood—naturedly,andreplied,\"Itisaforlornhomeforanythingabovealichenoratoadstool;butthatisnowonder,whenyouknowwhattheairiswhichtheybreathe。Itispurenitrogen。\"
TheProfessorspokeup。\"Thatcan\'tbe,madam,\"hesaid。\"ThespectroscopeshowstheatmosphereofSaturntobe——nomatter,Ihaveforgottenwhat;butitwasnotpurenitrogen,atanyrate。\"
NumberFiveisneverdisconcerted。\"Willyoutellme,\"shesaid,\"whereyouhavefoundanyaccountofthebandsandlinesinthespectrumofdream—nitrogen？Ishouldbesopleasedtobecomeacquaintedwiththem。\"
TheProfessorwincedalittle,andaskedDelilah,thehandmaiden,topassaplateofmuffinstohim。Thedreamhadcarriedhimaway,andhethoughtforthemomentthathewaslisteningtoascientificpaper。
Ofcourse,mycompanionwentontosay,thebodilyconstitutionoftheSaturniansiswhollydifferentfromthatofair—breathing,thatisoxygen—breathing,humanbeings。Theyarethedullest,slowest,mosttorpidofmortalcreatures。
Allthisisnottobewonderedatwhenyouremembertheinertcharacteristicsofnitrogen。Thereareinsomelocalitiesnaturalspringswhichgiveoutslenderstreamsofoxygen。YouwilllearnbyandbywhatusetheSaturniansmakeofthisdangerousgas,which,asyourecollect,constitutesaboutonefifthofyourownatmosphere。
Saturnhaslargeleadmines,butnoothermetalisfoundonthisplanet。Theinhabitantshavenothingelsetomaketoolsof,exceptstonesandshells。Themechanicalartshavethereforemadenogreatprogressamongthem。Choppingdownatreewithaleadenaxeisnecessarilyaslowprocess。
SofarastheSaturnianscanbesaidtohaveanyprideinanything,itisintheabsolutelevelwhichcharacterizestheirpoliticalandsocialorder。Theyprofesstobetheonlytruerepublicansinthesolarsystem。ThefundamentalarticlesoftheirConstitutionarethese:
AllSaturniansarebornequal,liveequal,anddieequal。
AllSaturniansarebornfree,——free,thatis,toobeytheruleslaiddownfortheregulationoftheirconduct,pursuits,andopinions,freetobemarriedtothepersonselectedforthembythephysiologicalsectionofthegovernment,andfreetodieatsuchproperperiodoflifeasmaybestsuittheconvenienceandgeneralwelfareofthecommunity。
TheonegreatindustrialproductofSaturnisthebread—root。TheSaturniansfindthiswholesomeandpalatableenough;anditiswelltheydo,astheyhavenoothervegetable。ItiswhatIshouldcallamostuninterestingkindofeatable,butitservesasfoodanddrink,havingjuiceenough,sothattheygetalongwithoutwater。Theyhaveatough,drygrass,which,mattedtogether,furnishesthemwithclothessufficientlywarmfortheircold—bloodedconstitutions,andmorethansufficientlyugly。
Apieceofgroundlargeenoughtofurnishbread—rootfortenpersonsisallottedtoeachheadofahousehold,allowancebeingmadeforthepossibleincreaseoffamilies。This,however,isnotaveryimportantconsideration,astheSaturniansarenotaprolificrace。
Thegreatobjectoflifebeingtheproductofthelargestpossiblequantityofbread—roots,andwomennotbeingsocapableinthefieldsasthestrongersex,femalesareconsideredanundesirableadditiontosociety。TheonethingtheSaturniansdreadandabhorisinequality。Thewholeobjectoftheirlawsandcustomsistomaintainthestrictestequalityineverything,——socialrelations,property,sofarastheycanbesaidtohaveanythingwhichcanbesocalled,modeofliving,dress,andallothermatters。Itistheirboastthatnobodyeverstarvedundertheirgovernment。Nobodygoesinrags,forthecoarse—fibredgrassfromwhichtheyfabricatetheirclothesisverydurable。（IconfessIwonderedhowawomancouldliveinSaturn。Theyhavenolooking—glasses。Thereisnosucharticleasaribbonknownamongthem。Alltheirclothesareofonepattern。Inoticedthattherewerenopocketsinanyoftheirgarments,andlearnedthatapocketwouldbeconsideredprimafacieevidenceoftheft,asnohonestpersonwouldhaveuseforsuchasecretreceptacle。）Beforetherevolutionwhichestablishedthegreatlawofabsoluteandlifelongequality,theinhabitantsusedtofeedattheirownprivatetables。Sincetheregenerationofsocietyallmealsaretakenincommon。Thelastrelicofbarbarismwastheuseofplates,——oneorevenmoretoeachindividual。This\"odiousrelicofaneffetecivilization,\"astheycalledit,haslongbeensupersededbyoblonghollowreceptacles,oneofwhichisallottedtoeachtwelvepersons。Agreatriottookplacewhenanattemptwasmadebysomefastidiousandexclusiveegotiststointroducepartitionswhichshouldpartiallydivideoneportionofthesereceptaclesintoindividualcompartments。TheSaturniansboastthattheyhavenopaupers,nothieves,noneofthosefictitiousvaluescalledmoney,——allwhichthings,theyhear,areknowninthatsmallSaturnnearerthesunthanthegreatplanetwhichistheirdwelling—
place。
\"Isupposethatnowtheyhavelevelledeverythingtheyarequietandcontented。Havetheyanyofthoseuneasypeoplecalledreformers？\"
\"Indeedtheyhave,\"saidmyattendant。\"TherearetheOrthobrachians,whodeclaimagainsttheshamefulabuseoftheleftarmandhand,andinsistonrestoringtheirperfectequalitywiththeright。ThenthereareIsopodicsocieties,whichinsistonbringingbacktheoriginalequalityoftheupperandlowerlimbs。Ifyoucanbelieveit,theyactuallypractisegoingonallfours,——generallyinaprivateway,afewofthemtogether,buthopingtobringtheworldroundtotheminthenearfuture。\"
HereIhadtostopandlaugh。
\"IshouldthinklifemightbealittledullinSaturn,\"Isaid。
\"Itisliabletothataccusation,\"sheanswered。\"Doyounoticehowmanypeopleyoumeetwiththeirmouthsstretchedwideopen？\"
\"Yes,\"Isaid,\"andIdonotknowwhattomakeofit。Ishouldthinkeveryfourthorfifthpersonhadhismouthopeninthatway。\"
\"Theyaresufferingfromtheendemicdiseaseoftheirplanet,prolongedandinveterategapingoryawning,whichhasendedindislocationofthelowerjaw。Afteratimethisbecomesfixed,andrequiresadifficultsurgicaloperationtorestoreittoitsplace。\"
Itstruckmethat,inspiteoftheirboastthattheyhavenopaupers,nothieves,nomoney,theywereamelancholy—lookingsetofbeings。
\"Whataretheiramusements？\"Iasked。
Intoxicationandsuicidearetheirchiefrecreations。Theyhaveawayofmixingtheoxygenwhichissuesinsmalljetsfromcertainnaturalspringswiththeiratmosphericnitrogenintheproportionofabouttwentypercent,whichmakesverynearlythesamethingastheairofyourplanet。ButtotheSaturniansthemixtureishighlyintoxicating,andisthereforearelieftothemonotonyoftheirevery—daylife。Thismixtureisgreatlysoughtafter,buthardtoobtain,asthesourcesofoxygenarefewandscanty。Itshortensthelivesofthosewhohaverecoursetoit;butifittakestoolong,theyhaveotherwaysofescapingfromalifewhichcutsanddrieseverythingforitsmiserablesubjects,defeatsallthenaturalinstincts,confoundsallindividualcharacteristics,andmakesexistencesuchacolossalbore,asyourworldlypeoplesay,thatself—destructionbecomesaluxury。\"
NumberFivestoppedhere。
YourimaginarywholesaleShakerdomisallveryfine,saidI。YourUtopia,yourNewAtlantis,andtherestareprettytolookat。Butyourphilosophersaretreatingtheworldoflivingsoulsasiftheywere,eachofthem,playingagameofsolitaire,——allthepegsandalltheholesalike。Lifeisaverydifferentsortofgame。Itisagameofchess,andnotofsolitaire,norevenofcheckers。Themenarenotallpawns,butyouhaveyourknights,bishops,rooks,——yes,yourkingandqueen,——tobeprovidedfor。Notwiththesenames,ofcourse,butalllookingfortheirproperplaces,andhavingtheirownlawsandmodesofaction。Youcanplaysolitairewiththemembersofyourownfamilyforpegs,ifyoulike,andifnoneofthemrebel。
Youcanplaycheckerswithalittlecommunityofmeek,like—mindedpeople。Butwhenitcomestothehandlingofagreatstate,youwillfindthatnaturehasemptiedaboxofchessmenbeforeyou,andyoumustplaywiththemsoastogiveeachitspropermove,orsweepthemofftheboard,andcomebacktothehomelygamesuchasIusedtoseeplayedwithbeansandkernelsofcornonsquaresmarkeduponthebackofthekitchenbellows。
ItwascurioustoseehowdifferentlyNumberFive\'snarrativewasreceivedbythedifferentlistenersinourcircle。NumberFiveherselfsaidshesupposedsheoughttobeashamedofitsabsurdities,butshedidnotknowthatitwasmuchsillierthandreamsoftenare,andshethoughtitmightamusethecompany。Shewasherselfalwaysinterestedbytheseidealpicturesofsociety。Butitseemedtoherthatlifemustbedullinanyofthem,andwiththatideainherheadherdreamingfancyhaddrawnthesepictures。
TheProfessorwasinterestedinherconceptionoftheexistenceoftheLuniteswithoutwaste,andthedeathinlifeofthenitrogen—
breathingSaturnians。Dream—chemistrywasanewsubjecttohim。
PerhapsNumberFivewouldgivehimsomelessonsinit。
Atthisshesmiled,andsaidshewasafraidshecouldnotteachhimanything,butifhewouldanswerafewquestionsinmatter—of—factchemistrywhichhadpuzzledhershewouldbevastlyobligedtohim。
\"Youmustcometomylaboratory,\"saidtheProfessor。
\"Iwillcometo—morrow,\"saidNumberFive。
Oh,yes！Muchlaboratoryworktheywilldo！Playofmutualaffinities。Amalgamates。Nofreezingmixtures,I\'llwarrantWhyshouldn\'twegetaromanceoutofallthis,hey？
ButNumberFivelooksasinnocentasalamb,andasbraveasalion。
ShedoesnotcareacopperforthelooksthataregoingroundTheTeacups。
OurDoctorwascuriousaboutthosecasesofanchylosis,ashecalledit,ofthelowerjaw。Hethoughtitaquitepossibleoccurrence。
Boththeyounggirlsthoughtthedreamgaveaveryhardviewoftheoptimists,wholookforwardtoareorganizationofsocietywhichshallridmankindoftheterribleevilsofover—crowdingandcompetition。
NumberSevenwasquiteexcitedaboutthematter。Hehadhimselfdrawnupaplanforanewsocialarrangement。Hehadshownittothelegalgentlemanwhohaslatelyjoinedus。Thisgentlemanthoughtitwell—intended,butthatitwouldtakeoneconstabletoeverythreeinhabitantstoenforceitsprovisions。
Isaidthedreamcoulddonoharm;itwastoooutrageouslyimprobabletocomehometoanybody\'sfeelings。Dreamswerelikebrokenmosaics,——theseparatedstonesmighthereandtheremakepartsofpictures。Ifonefoundacaricatureofhimselfmadeoutofthepieceswhichhadaccidentallycometogether,hewouldsmileatit,knowingthatitwasanaccidentaleffectwithnomaliceinit。IfanyofyoureallybelieveinaworkingUtopia,whynotjointheShakers,andconverttheworldtothismodeoflife？Celibacyalonewouldcureagreatmanyoftheevilsyoucomplainof。
Ithoughtthissuggestionseemedtoactratherunfavorablyupontheladiesofourcircle。ThetwoAnnexeslookedinquiringlyateachother。NumberFivelookedsmilinglyatthem。Sheevidentlythoughtitwastimetochangethesubjectofconversation,forsheturnedtomeandsaid,\"Youpromisedtoreadusthepoemyoureadbeforeyouroldclassmatestheotherevening。\"
Iwillfulfillmypromise,Isaid。WefeltthatthismightprobablybeourlastmeetingasaClass。Thepersonalreferenceistoourgreatlybelovedandhonoredclassmate,JamesFreemanClarke。
AFTERTHECURFEW。
ThePlayisover。WhilethelightYetlingersinthedarkeninghall,IcometosayalastGood—nightBeforethefinalExeuntall。
Wegatheredonce,ajoyousthrong:
Thejovialtoastswentgaylyround;
Withjest,andlaugh,andshout,andsongwemadethefloorsandwallsresound。
Wecomewithfeeblestepsandslow,Alittlebandoffourorfive,Leftfromthewrecksoflongago,Stillpleasedtofindourselvesalive。
Alive！Howliving,too,aretheywhosememoriesitisourstoshare！
Spreadthelongtable\'sfullarray,Theresitsaghostineverychair！
Onebreathingformnomore,alas！
Amidourslendergroupwesee;
Withhimwestillremained\"TheClass,\"
withouthispresencewhatarewe？
Thehandweeverlovedtoclasp,Thattirelesshandwhichknewnorest,Loosedfromaffection\'sclinginggrasp,Liesnervelessonthepeacefulbreast。
Thebeamingeye,thecheeringvoice,Thatlenttolifeagenerousglow,whoseeverymeaningsaid\"Rejoice,\"
wesee,wehear,nomorebelow。
Theairseemsdarkenedbyhisloss,Earth\'sshadowedfeatureslooklessfair,AndheavierweighsthedailycrossHiswillingshouldershelpedasbear。
Whymournthatwe,thefavoredfewWhomgraspingTimesolonghassparedLife\'ssweetillusionstopursue,Thecommonlotofagehaveshared？
IneverypulseofFriendship\'sheartTherebreedsunfeltathrobofpain,Onehourmustrenditslinksapart,Thoughyearsonyearshaveforgedthechain。
Soends\"TheBoys,\"——alifelongplay。
WetoomusthearthePrompter\'scallTofairerscenesandbrighterdayFarewell！Iletthecurtainfall。
IV
IfthereaderthinksthatallthesetalkingTeacupscametogetherbymereaccident,aspeoplemeetataboarding—house,Imayaswelltellhimatoncethatheismistaken。IfhethinksIamgoingtoexplainhowitisthathefindsthemthusbroughttogether,whethertheyformasecretassociation,whethertheyaretheeditorsofthisorthatperiodical,whethertheyareconnectedwithsomeinstitution,andsoon,——Imustdisappointhim。Itisenoughthathefindsthemineachother\'scompany,averymixedassembly,ofdifferentsexes,ages,andpursuits;andifthereisacertainmysterysurroundstheirmeetings,hemustnotbesurprised。Doeshesupposewewanttobeknownandtalkedaboutinpublicas\"Teacups\"？No;sofaraswegivetothecommunitysomerecordsofthetalksatourtableourthoughtsbecomepublicproperty,butthesacredpersonalityofeveryTeacupmustbeproperlyrespected。Ifanywonderatthepresenceofoneofournumber,whoseeccentricitiesmightseemtorenderhimanundesirableassociateofthecompany,heshouldrememberthatsomepeoplemayhaverelativeswhomtheyfeelboundtokeeptheireyeon;besidesthecrackedTeacupbringsouttheringofthesoundonesasnothingelsedoes。Rememberalsothatsoundestteacupdoesnotalwaysholdthebesttea,orthecrackedteacuptheworst。
Thisisahinttothereader,whoisnotexpectedtobetoocuriousabouttheindividualTeacupsconstitutingourunorganizedassociation。
