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With these words Zee left me。 And recalling those words； I thought
no more of succeeding to the throne of the Vril…ya； or of the political；
social； and moral reforms I should institute in the capacity of Absolute
Sovereign。
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CHAPTER XXVI。
After the conversation with Zee just recorded； I fell into a profound
melancholy。 The curious interest with which I had hitherto examined the
life and habits of this marvellous community was at an end。 I could not
banish from my mind the consciousness that I was among a people who；
however kind and courteous； could destroy me at any moment without
scruple or compunction。 The virtuous and peaceful life of the people
which； while new to me； had seemed so holy a contrast to the contentions；
the passions； the vices of the upper world； now began to oppress me with a
sense of dulness and monotony。 Even the serene tranquility of the
lustrous air preyed on my 142spirits。 I longed for a change； even to
winter； or storm； or darkness。 I began to feel that； whatever our dreams
of perfectibility； our restless aspirations towards a better； and higher； and
calmer； sphere of being； we； the mortals of the upper world； are not trained
or fitted to enjoy for long the very happiness of which we dream or to
which we aspire。
Now； in this social state of the Vril…ya； it was singular to mark how it
contrived to unite and to harmonise into one system nearly all the objects
which the various philosophers of the upper world have placed before
human hopes as the ideals of a Utopian future。 It was a state in which
war； with all its calamities； was deemed impossible；… a state in which the
freedom of all and each was secured to the uttermost degree； without one
of those animosities which make freedom in the upper world depend on
the perpetual strife of hostile parties。 Here the corruption which debases
democracies was as unknown as the discontents which undermine the
thrones of monarchies。 Equality here was not a name； it was a reality。
Riches were not persecuted； because they were not envied。 Here those
problems connected with the labours of a working class； hitherto insoluble
above ground； and above ground conducing to such bitterness between
classes； were solved by a process the simplest；… a distinct and separate
working class was dispensed with altogether。 Mechanical inventions；
constructed on the principles that baffled my research to ascertain； worked
by an agency infinitely more powerful and infinitely more easy of
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The Coming Race
management than aught we have yet extracted from electricity or steam；
with the aid of children whose strength was never overtasked； but who
loved their employment as sport and pastime； sufficed to create a Public…
wealth so devoted to the general use that not a grumbler was ever heard of。
The vices that rot our cities here had no footing。 Amusements abounded；
but they were all innocent。 No merry…makings conduced to intoxication；
to riot； to disease。 Love existed； and was 143ardent in pursuit； but its
object； once secured； was faithful。 The adulterer； the profligate； the
harlot； were phenomena so unknown in this commonwealth； that even to
find the words by which they were designated one would have had to
search throughout an obsolete literature composed thousands of years
before。 They who have been students of theoretical philosophies above
ground； know that all these strange departures from civilised life do but
realise ideas which have been broached； canvassed； ridiculed； contested
for； sometimes partially tried； and still put forth in fantastic books； but
have never come to practical result。 Nor were these all the steps towards
theoretical perfectibility which this community had made。 It had been
the sober belief of Descartes that the life of man could be prolonged； not；
indeed； on this earth； to eternal duration； but to what he called the age of
the patriarchs； and modestly defined to be from 100 to 150 years average
length。 Well； even this dream of sages was here fulfilled… nay； more than
fulfilled； for the vigour of middle life was preserved even after the term of
a century was passed。 With this longevity was combined a greater
blessing than itself… that of continuous health。 Such diseases as befell the
race were removed with ease by scientific applications of that agency…
life…giving as life…destroying… which is inherent in vril。 Even this idea is
not unknown above ground； though it has generally been confined to
enthusiasts or charlatans； and emanates from confused notions about
mesmerism； odic force； &c。 Passing by such trivial contrivances as
wings； which every schoolboy knows has been tried and found wanting；
from the mythical or pre…historical period； I proceed to that very delicate
question； urged of late as essential to the perfect happiness of our human
species by the two most disturbing and potential influences on upper…
ground society；… Womankind and Philosophy。 I mean； the Rights of
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Women。
Now； it is allowed by jurisprudists that it is idle to talk of rights where
there are not corresponding powers to enforce 144them； and above ground；
for some reason or other； man； in his physical force； in the use of weapons
offensive and defensive； when it come to positive personal contest； can； as
a rule of general application； master women。 But among this people
there can be no doubt about the rights of women； because； as I have before
said； the Gy； physically speaking； is bigger and stronger than the An； and
her will being also more resolute than his； and will being essential to the
direction of the vril force； she can bring to bear upon him； more potently
than he on herself； the mystical agency which art can extract from the
occult properties of nature。 Therefore all that our female philosophers
above ground contend for as to rights of women； is conceded as a matter
of course in this happy commonwealth。 Besides such physical powers；
the Gy…ei have （at least in youth） a keen desire for accomplishments and
learning which exceeds that of the male； and thus they are the scholars； the
professors… the learned portion； in short； of the community。
Of course； in this state of society the female establishes； as I have
shown； her most valued privilege； that of choosing and courting her
wedding partner。 Without that privilege she would despise all the others。
Now； above ground； we should not unreasonably apprehend that a female；
thus potent and thus privileged； when she had fairly hunted us down and
married us； would be very imperious and tyrannical。 Not so with the Gy…
ei： once married； the wings once suspended； and more amiable；
complacent； docile mates； more sympathetic； more sinking their loftier
capacities into the study of their husbands' comparatively frivolous tastes
and whims； no poet could conceive in his visions of conjugal bliss。
Lastly； among the more important characteristics of the Vril…ya； as
distinguished from our mankind… lastly； and most important on the
bearings of their life and the peace of their commonwealths； is their
universal agreement in the existence of a merciful beneficent Diety； and of
a future world to the duration of which a century 145or two are moments
too brief to waste upon thoughts of fame and power and avarice； wh