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belief of the Vril…ya may be； it tends perhaps to confirm politically the
systems of government which； admitting different degrees of wealth； yet
establishes perfect equality in rank； exquisite mildness in all relations and
intercourse； and tenderness to all created things which the good of the
community does not require them to destroy。 And though their notion of
compensation to a tortured insect or a cankered flower may seem to some
of us a very wild crotchet； yet； at least； is not a mischievous one； and it
may furnish matter for no unpleasing reflection to think that within the
abysses of earth； never lit by a ray from the material heavens； there should
have penetrated so luminous a conviction of the ineffable goodness of the
Creator… so fixed an idea that the general laws 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
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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。
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The Coming Race
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
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The Coming Race
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