"Let the great be blessed for the joy they cause to fall on the
world like refreshing dews."
There are two seasons in our world--the one called "moderate," the other
"extreme." In the extreme season the heat is far beyond the most
powerful heat prevailing in your tropics. Special precautions are then
necessary to preserve the health of the people. None are allowed to
expose themselves to the sun during the greater part of the day; a
cooling regimen is enjoined, and animal food is forbidden for a certain
period. In both seasons the light by day is intense; its nearest
approach to colour is a warm, bright, golden hue, not the cold, white,
greyish hue of your climates; and its red shades are sufficient to light
our caverns and passages through the rocks to a certain distance.
Those who confer large benefits on the world are naturally entitled to
enjoy a portion of the wealth and well-being they have successfully
laboured to increase.
This truth I constantly bore in mind, and in spacious galleries
perforating the rocks I built the Trombetski, or Internal Cities, for
the especial use of those whose superior intelligence had been occupied
for the good of the world. Here, sheltered from the scorching rays of
the sun, are the palace residences of the higher classes during the
extreme season. These galleries serve also to shorten distances between
remote parts of the external world. With their streets and passages they
form of themselves cities, with scarcely less movement than in those
without.
Light is admitted through occasional apertures--some natural, some made
by man. It is not as vivid as that of the external world, but subdued
and beautifully soft, is ample indeed for all purposes by day, like the
pale red of the shade in the external world. Even at night artificial
light is not ordinarily required in the open air, the shade of the red
light of night being sufficient. Both sea and fresh water in abundance
is brought to every part of the internal cities, which abound in
waterfalls and fountains, nothing being omitted that may contribute to
beauty, health, or comfort.
Many of the most lovely flowers and plants in the external world are
those which flourish in the red shade, and are, therefore, eminently
suited to the internal cities, where, planted in profusion, they
flourish greatly, and emit aromas like your essences, but invariably
fresh, sweet, and wholesome. Their natural beauty and odours are
increased by electricity, an agent by means of which we can give most
beautiful fragrance--nay, colour, form, and variety to flowers in
general.
The communication from the palaces in the external world is often by
means of a winding path, descending from the basement of the upper
palace to the palace in the internal world. By means of machines worked
by electricity we have facilities for excavating earth; and where rocks
or hard substances intervene we can remove large masses by the
application of explosive electricities. These paths are therefore
excavated with ease.
My palace, situate on the summit of the upper mountain city,
communicates with a magnificent summer palace, reached easily by a well
lighted descent. The daylight in the internal palaces is peculiarly
beautiful, almost unearthly. Pictures of life-like power are painted
expressly for this light.
In my summer palace is a saloon of very great proportions, with a floor
of ivory inlaid with pearls. This saloon contains more than 150
pictures, works of our great artists, representing the principal events
of my life. In these the figures are large as life. Here are depicted
extreme perils which I had undergone; here are the present times
contrasted with the past; and thus the benefits conferred by my reign
are presented in a manner which appeals at once to the heart.