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sweetness； combined with that majesty； which inspired in a beholder like
myself； accustomed to strive with the passions of mankind； a sentiment of
humiliation； of awe； of dread。 It is such an expression as a painter might
give to a demi…god； a genius； an angel。 The males of the Vril…ya are
entirely beardless； the Gy…ei sometimes； in old age； develop a small
moustache。
I was surprised to find that the colour of their skin was not uniformly
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that which I had remarked in those individuals whom I had first
encountered；… some being much fairer； and even with blue eyes； and hair
of a deep golden auburn； though still of complexions warmer or richer in
tone than persons in the north of Europe。
I was told that this admixture of colouring arose from intermarriage
with other and more distant tribes of the Vril…ya； who； whether by the
accident of climate or early distinction of race； were of fairer hues than the
tribes of which this community formed one。 It was considered that the
dark…red skin showed the most ancient family of Ana； but they attached no
sentiment of pride to that antiquity； and； on the contrary； believed their
present excellence of breed came from frequent crossing with other
families differing； yet akin； and they encourage such intermarriages；
always provided that it be with the Vril…ya nations。 Nations which； not
conforming their 66manners and institutions to those of the Vril…ya； nor
indeed held capable of acquiring the powers over the vril agencies which it
had taken them generations to attain and transmit； were regarded with
more disdain than the citizens of New York regard the negroes。
I learned from Zee； who had more lore in all matters than any male
with whom I was brought into familiar converse； that the superiority of the
Vril…ya was supposed to have originated in the intensity of their earlier
struggles against obstacles in nature amidst the localities in which they
had first settled。 〃Wherever；〃 said Zee； moralising； 〃wherever goes on
that early process in the history of civilisation； by which life is made a
struggle； in which the individual has to put forth all his powers to compete
with his fellow； we invariably find this result… viz。； since in the
competition a vast number must perish； nature selects for preservation
only the strongest specimens。 With our race； therefore； even before the
discovery of vril； only the highest organisations were preserved； and there
is among our ancient books a legend； once popularly believed； that we
were driven from a region that seems to denote the world you come from；
in order to perfect our condition and attain to the purest elimination of our
species by the severity of the struggles our forefathers underwent； and that；
when our education shall become finally completed； we are destined to
return to the upper world； and supplant all the inferior races now existing
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The Coming Race
therein。〃
Aph…Lin and Zee often conversed with me in private upon the political
and social conditions of that upper world； in which Zee so philosophically
assumed that the inhabitants were to be exterminated one day or other by
the advent of the Vril…ya。 They found in my accounts；… in which I
continued to do all I could （without launching into falsehoods so positive
that they would have been easily detected by the shrewdness of my
listeners） to present our powers and ourselves in the most flattering point
of view；… perpetual subjects of comparison 67between our most civilised
populations and the meaner subterranean races which they considered
hopelessly plunged in barbarism； and doomed to gradual if certain
extinction。 But they both agreed in desiring to conceal from their
community all premature opening into the regions lighted by the sun； both
were humane； and shrunk from the thought of annihilating so many
millions of creatures； and the pictures I drew of our life； highly coloured
as they were； saddened them。 In vain I boasted of our great men… poets；
philosophers； orators； generals… and defied the Vril…ya to produce their
equals。 〃Alas；〃 said Zee； 〃this predominance of the few over the many is
the surest and most fatal sign of a race incorrigibly savage。 See you not
that the primary condition of mortal happiness consists in the extinction of
that strife and competition between individuals； which； no matter what
forms of government they adopt； render the many subordinate to the few；
destroy real liberty to the individual； whatever may be the nominal liberty
of the state； and annul that calm of existence； without which； felicity；
mental or bodily； cannot be attained？ Our notion is； that the more we can
assimilate life to the existence which our noblest ideas can conceive to be
that of spirits on the other side of the grave； why； the more we
approximate to a divine happiness here； and the more easily we glide into
the conditions of being hereafter。 For； surely； all we can imagine of the
life of gods； or of blessed immortals； supposes the absence of self…made
cares and contentious passions； such as avarice and ambition。 It seems to
us that it must be a life of serene tranquility； not indeed without active
occupations to the intellectual or spiritual powers； but occupations； of
whatsoever nature they be； congenial to the idiosyncrasies of each； not
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forced and repugnant… a life gladdened by the untrammelled interchange of
gentle affections； in which the moral atmosphere utterly kills hate and
vengeance； and strife and rivalry。 Such is the political state to which
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 swoll