ARRIVAL IN ALTRURIA--A COLOSSAL COMMUNAL HOME--DISTRICT 1, RANGE
1--UNDER THE PACIFIC OCEAN--BATTELL AT THE TELEPHONE--STARTLING
APPARITION IN A MIRROR--ENROLLED IN SCHOOL--STUDY OF THE
LANGUAGE--PHONOGRAPHIC ENUNCIATOR--A COMMUNAL AGRICULTURAL
DISTRICT--THE FIRST REVOLT AGAINST LANDLORDISM--FREEDOM THE RULE--A
NEW WORLD--STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO AMERICA.
[Illustration]
WHILE MacNair was speaking our airship had alighted upon the top of one
of the monster houses. We found that a portion of the roof constituted
the boat yard for the airships which were kept for the use of the
community. In the center of this roof and elevated far above it, was a
circular structure which was slowly revolving, and we could see that
it was occupied by people who seemed to be enjoying a siesta. MacNair
informed us that this was the reclining room where the members of the
community retired to rest and enjoy the scenery in every direction, as
well as a place for conferences in its many private apartments.
From this roof, elevators connected at various points with the floors
below. This was by far the largest residence building I had ever seen.
It consisted of one main building, twelve stories in height and 600
feet in length by 200 wide. On either side were three wings, of the
same height, 200 feet long by 100 feet in width. The building was
constructed of semi-transparent material which admitted a mellowed
light. At the points occupied by the elevator cages were awnings of
the same material as that which constituted the roof. We took our
seats in one of these elevators, MacNair touched a button and the cage
descended, leaving its covering as part of the main roof.
We landed in an extensive dining hall where a magnificent repast had
been provided for us. The tables were loaded with the finest soups,
bread, vegetables, honey, fruits and nuts in the greatest variety.
MacNair informed us that any person had the right to eat at any
communal home or public dining hall in the world provided that he had
performed his share of productive labor in any part of the world.
No matter where the labor is applied, the product is added to the
world's supply and it does not signify where its equivalent is
consumed. The evidences of useful service rendered to society, which
are issued by the proper authorities in every part of the world,
entitle the holder to food, shelter and raiment in any other part of
the world. These evidences of labor performed, procure the right of way
upon any public conveyance on land or water, or through the air.
To us, this had indeed been a most eventful day.
We had been discovered in our forlorn condition early in the morning
and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon we had embarked for a voyage of 1000
miles through the air, during which time we had been permitted to enjoy
a bird's eye view of the mighty oceans and vast continents of the
world. By the time we were through with our suppers it was 11 p.m., and
MacNair's announcement that we would now be conducted to our rooms,
was indeed most welcome. He explained that they were in the visitor's
department which we would occupy until our own apartments were ready.
I was introduced into a magnificent bed chamber but was so sleepy that
I scarcely noticed its contents. It was late next morning when I awoke,
and when I went out into the hall, I found it full of people passing to
and fro, and wondered how it was that I could sleep so soundly. But the
mystery was soon explained. I met MacNair in the dining hall and in his
usual cheerful manner he asked:
"Well, Jack, how did you rest?"
"All right," I said, "but I seem to have lost my ability to waken up. I
am usually aroused by the least noise, but all the passing to and fro
in the hall had no effect on me."
"Of course not," said he. "We wanted you to sleep all you could, and so
cut off the sounds from your rooms. These walls are all upholstered so
that no sound can enter when the sound conductors are disconnected.
"Now," he continued, "just make yourself at home and look around for
a day or two. Go wherever your inclinations seem to direct, and make
good use of your eyes. Remember that transportation is free. I am now
going to register your arrival. Your other comrades have gone to Lake
Byblis. Polaris will take care of them and the Ice King."
I took him at his word, and roamed at will over the grounds and through
the public offices, Library, Museum, Lecture Room, Music Hall, etc. I
found that the heads of the departments and many others understood some
English, and all treated me with the utmost courtesy.
The second morning Iola informed us that Battell wanted to communicate
with us and conducted us to the telephone room. On entering I was
surprised to see Battell standing before me, and he greeted me in his
usual cordial manner:
"Well, good morning, Jack. How do you like this enchanted land?"
"I am delighted to meet you," I replied, and extended my hand. Imagine
my surprise when it touched the smooth surface of a mirror, and Battell
broke into a hearty laugh, saying:
"I would indeed like to shake, but we are not yet able to reach 150
miles."
I was astonished. Indeed I was so taken aback by the unexpected and
life-like apparition, that for once I was completely dumbfounded. Iola,
seeing my confusion came to my rescue, saying:
"I ought to have prepared you for this by some explanation of our
system of inter-communication, but I thought that the use of our
electro-magnetic optical instruments, by which we are enabled to see
through opaque substances had prepared you for this. The reflection of
Captain Battell on the mirror, is only another method of applying the
same principle. The rays from him, converted into rays of light, are
reflected upon the mirror, on the same principle that the rays from
the eastern hemisphere are reflected on the retina of the eye."
"I ought to have anticipated such an application of this wonderful
discovery," I replied, "but it was nevertheless so unexpected, that I
was entirely unprepared for it."
"Well Jack," came from the phonograph, "you are not alone in your
astonishment. I would have been quite as much surprised to see you, had
I not been apprised of what I might expect. I called you up in order to
let you know that we have JUST ARRIVED at Lake Byblis. The Ice King is
coming. The hospital boat is here. Pat and Mike are well. Lief and Eric
have gone on to the hospital and the other three sailors are dead. We
are all well pleased with the possible exception of Mike, who thinks we
are bewitched. Pat got well so soon that Mike thinks he must be crazy.
But what shall be done with your baggage when it arrives?"
After consulting with Captain Ganoe, who was present, I replied:
"Send our trunks to Headquarters, District No. 1, Range 1, Continent of
Altruria."
"Well, well, Jack," responded Battell, "I am glad you know where you
are. I am not so sure about myself. We are treated royally. This is a
lovely lake with the most magnificent surroundings I ever beheld. I
take it, that this is a great pleasure resort, for a people who seem
to have nothing to do but to enjoy themselves. We are taking lessons
in the language, and find it very easy. I have taken the liberty to
authorize the Department of Education to translate our library, and
they were so anxious about it, that they went out on airships to meet
the Ice King, and commence the work."
"That is right," said Captain Ganoe, who now came forward and took up
the conversation. "Tell them the Ice King, and all we have so far as I
am concerned, is at their service."
"They have no use for the ship," responded Battell, "but would highly
appreciate it, as a specimen of American ship building. They will place
Pat and Mike in charge as soon as the ship comes in. Polaris informs
me that the whole world will give us a reception at Lake Byblis when
some great council meets here. By that time she thinks we will have
become masters of the language and learned in all the wisdom of the
Altrurians."
We frequently conferred with Battell, and he kept us advised in
regard to everything of interest relating to the Ice King, and other
matters in which we felt especially interested. Acting upon MacNair's
suggestion, I gave my entire time to the study of our immediate
surroundings. I found that this magnificent home contained over 2000
people, men, women, and children, and still there was no crowding.
The main building contained all the offices and store rooms, public
halls, school rooms, library, museum, dining hall, kitchen and laundry.
Powerful storage batteries furnished electricity for heating and
lighting, and motor power for manufacturing, which formed a part of
the educational system in every home. The wings were given up entirely
to apartments, so that the members of this immense family could be
just as secluded and exclusive as they desired. Each one had a private
apartment furnished to his or her taste.
Each room was numbered and connected by telephone with the library,
storerooms and business offices, and could be placed in communication
with the occupants of any other apartment, or with the District
Exchange which could place them in communication with any part of the
world. If a book was wanted from the library or any article from the
storeroom, it was ordered by telephone, and delivered at once, by
pneumatic tube. Every apartment could be connected by phonograph with
the lecture room or music hall, and the occupant could listen to the
lecture or music, without leaving his or her room. There was also a
universal distribution of news by the same means to any person who
desired such service.
In each of these communal homes was a publishing department, and all
the facilities for manufacturing furniture, clothing and almost any
utensil needed, equal to the supply of the community, if it was found
to be necessary. While the district was devoted mostly to agriculture,
in its educational system, every member was trained in the mechanic
arts and general business methods.
This training began with the children and continued for life as
occasion might require. People never imagined that they would become
too old to learn. They were taught that the most important service they
could render to themselves and to society was to educate themselves,
physically, mentally and morally, and that for this kind of service
society could well afford to give them access to all that was required
for their sustenance and comfort.
Hence all facilities for improvement, books, papers, scientific
instruments and instruction were not only free, but the use of them
was regarded as a valuable service to society. The pupil attended
school, got his or her evidence of labor performed, which entitled the
holder to food, shelter, clothing, etc., the same as the teacher,--as
both were alike serving society. The pupils, in training themselves
for lives of usefulness, were regarded as benefiting the community
as well as themselves, and hence the community was in duty bound to
provide them with all the essentials for their highest development of
body and mind, in harmony with the demands of an advanced or advancing
civilization.
These lessons concerning this inner world civilization, derived from
conversations with MacNair, Iola and others who could converse in
English, and confirmed by our own observations as far as they had gone
were intensely interesting, and we never tired of asking questions,
which were always answered courteously and in a satisfactory manner.
But I soon reached the point where I began to feel the need of more
comprehensive sources of information. I wanted to be able to speak the
language of the country, converse with all the people, attend lectures
and make the fullest use practicable of the extensive libraries and
numerous publications which contained the current literature of the
times, so that I could enter into the spirit and purpose of this
wonderful civilisation, which seemed to be far more attractive than the
most entrancing picture of Utopia. Feeling thus, I was prepared for
what was to follow.
One morning after we had somewhat familiarized ourselves with our new
surroundings, and we felt inclined to rest and think, rather than to
roam around, MacNair asked:
"How do you like your new home since you have had time to look around
and get acquainted?"
"So far as I am concerned," I replied, "I am delighted with the country
and the treatment I receive wherever I go. But there is so much to
learn, that I feel overwhelmed. If I were able to converse with the
people, and enter into the spirit of their daily life, I would be more
at home. I want to be able to utilize all the sources of learning which
are contained in your literature and I think that the time has come
when the best thing we can do is to settle down in earnest to the study
of the language."
"I knew that you would soon come to that conclusion," said MacNair,
"but what you have seen is a necessary step in your education. We must
soon go to our classes and you can go with us and take your first
lesson. In order to facilitate your studies, you have been assigned
apartments adjoining the Library and Lecture room."
We assented and were at once conducted to our apartments. Iola
presented each of us with just such a bookcase and library as Polaris
had shown us, on her airship. As she opened one of these cases and
displayed the contents, she said:
"You will find here everything needed in order to acquire an accurate
understanding of our language. It has been prepared under the direction
of MacNair and myself by the publishing department, particularly for
the use of English speaking people who might succeed in getting through
the ice barriers. These cards contain the English alphabet with our
corresponding characters printed on the right. The only difference is
that we have a character for each sound while you have a number of
sounds to one character. When you have learned our alphabet you will be
able to read our language. If there should be any difficulty with the
pronunciation all you have to do is to formulate the word by pressing
the characters on this keyboard and you will hear every sound clearly
enunciated. Every word thus formed is inscribed on a cylinder and after
the sounds have been recorded all you have to do is to increase the
speed of the clock work in order to have the word pronounced just as
it is spoken in ordinary conversation. This instrument is called a
Phonographic Enunciator and it records the sound of every character
by means of a simple but most delicately constructed mechanical
contrivance which has been carefully adjusted to the tones of the human
voice. The sounds thus recorded by the use of the sound characters on
the keyboard are then pronounced audibly on the principle of our old
fashioned phonograph.
"You will find that the definition of the words and the grammatical
structure of our language are very easy to learn. This small dictionary
of root words, defined in English, contains the key to the definition
of every word in our language. When you have committed these
definitions to memory you will not find it difficult, even without a
teacher, or lexicon, to define every word compounded from them. The
grammar, as you will see, is not essentially different from your own,
except that we have simplified its treatment. We recognize but four
parts of speech; nouns, verbs, modifiers and connectives. The study
of our language is further facilitated from the fact, that when its
fundamental principles are fully understood, you will naturally have
a word for every meaning, instead of a variety of meanings for one
word. Our Altrurian language has been repeatedly revised by carefully
selected committees of eminent scholars, with a view to making it
so easy to learn that it would become universal, a result that was
accomplished several hundred years ago."
"Polaris showed me a school library something like this," said I, "but
it was adapted to pupils who wanted to study English."
"Yes," remarked Iola, "we have been urging her for a long time to study
English, but we never could induce her to make the effort. But," she
added, smiling, "no doubt she now regrets it. I predict that it will
not be long before she is speaking English as glibly as she does her
mother tongue. But I must go now. If you need any help, just touch that
button and I will come at once."
She bade us adieu, and we went to work to master the language. As
Iola and MacNair had informed us, we found it remarkably easy. We had
been well trained from childhood in distinguishing all these sounds,
and our eyes soon became familiar with the characters by which they
were represented, and before we retired to rest after our first day's
study, we were practicing the pronunciation of words, and committing
definitions to memory.
We soon had quite a vocabulary of words at our command, which we
introduced into our ordinary conversation. This could be the more
readily done, because of the grammatical construction of the language
being so similar to the English. Associated as we were, with a number
of highly educated people, who understood both languages, our progress
was very rapid, and in a short time we could express all of our wants
in the language of the country, and when we did not have the right
word we substituted English, knowing it would be understood, and also,
that some one would supply the right word. We determined from the
beginning, to use no language but the Altrurian, just as rapidly as we
could acquire it. We used it in reading, writing and conversation, and
soon we scarcely thought of our mother tongue, except when we heard it
spoken.
MacNair and Iola were engaged with their classes an average of two
hours a day, and we ordinarily spent our leisure and recreation time
together. Our home was also District Headquarters, and here we were
continually meeting with representatives from every home in the
district, and our acquaintance was rapidly extended. We often visited
other homes, sometimes by electric carriage or airship, and sometimes
we would walk for miles. When tired, we could always hail a car or
carriage. Thus, we were by our associations continually improving in
the use of the language, while we were adding to our fund of knowledge
concerning the country, by observation and conversation with the people.
I carefully studied the economy of the home in which we lived, being
assured that this was a sample of a multitude of others. The same thing
was true of the district. So in a general way, we were making a study
of the entire concave by having a sample submitted to our inspection.
At least, I could get a very clear idea of agriculture, the great
basic industry that sustains the race, and hence, I am condensing into
this chapter the results of a long and careful investigation under
exceptionally favorable conditions.
During our attendance at school Iola and MacNair frequently took us
for a sail in their airship. This gave us an opportunity to study
its mechanism, and at the same time obtain a bird's eye view of the
country, and if anything especially attracted our attention, all we had
to do was to ask for an explanation. As we had first approached the
continent we were struck by the large residences, storage buildings,
and the long rectilinear fields, but now that we examined the scene
at leisure we began to take in the details, and were impressed by the
general sameness of the picture.
These magnificent buildings were strikingly similar to each other
and the same thing was true of the long rectilinear fields and the
arrangement of the crops. The residence buildings were apparently
situated at alternate section corners and hence about two miles apart
each way. Midway between these were large warehouses, elevators, mills,
factories, etc.
To the east and west these long rows of buildings were connected by
surface, electric roads, and north and south by elevated roads. These
roads, both passenger and freight, all passed through these buildings.
This general arrangement of everything into squares, gave the entire
district, from the cabin of the airships, the appearance of an immense
checkerboard.
This district which may be taken as a sample of many others, had a
complete system of waterworks, a continuous pressure being secured by
a series of stand-pipes, from three to five hundred feet in height,
which forced the water to every point where it was needed. This system
also provided water for irrigation purposes as the season seemed to
require. This with a complete system of drainage, constituted a method
of keeping the most perfect condition for producing the greatest
abundance. In addition to this, all the waste products were converted
into fertilizer and returned to the soil. These wise, economic,
scientific methods and intense cultivation, explain how this small
district, sustained a population of 200,000 and yet gave up fully
one-half of its lands to boulevards, lawns, parks, driveways and
ornamented grounds.
Electricity was the universal motor power, as well as a stimulant to
the growth of crops. The soil was pulverized, seeded and rolled by
vast machines. The grain was harvested, threshed and placed in sacks
by huge combined reapers and threshers, and dried by passing through
evaporators on an endless belt which conveyed it to elevators, from
which it reached the mills by force of gravity, if that is the right
word to apply to the centrifugal force which in this moral world held
everything to the surface.
The standard day's labor was but two hours; and yet with the aid of
machinery, ten persons harvested a strip of grain one hundred feet wide
and thirty miles in length, delivering the same at the elevators in
sacks, while another ten prepared the soil and put in another crop. All
the other work was carried on in the same labor saving manner, and this
two hours of labor was deprived of every feature of drudgery and became
only agreeable exercise.
One thing I noticed particularly; domestic animals seemed to be raised
more as pets than for use. The only animal diet ordinarily used
consisted of eggs, milk, butter and cheese. Sheep and goats were raised
for the fleece which was manufactured into the finest fabrics. Fruits
and nuts were produced in the greatest abundance and constituted a very
large part of the diet of the people.
The district was in fact a stupendous farm and in its original design
the prime object had evidently been utility rather than ornament.
The work of the landscape gardener had been utilized to the largest
extent, but it had not been permitted to encroach upon the useful. The
economy in the uniformity in which the lands were laid out, the houses
constructed and the work of production carried on, gave to the whole
country such an artificial appearance, especially from the airships
which we need most generally in our observations, that Captain Ganoe
could no longer refrain from commenting upon it. One day as we were
soaring above this magnificent farming district, he asked MacNair if
the entire inner world had been cut out according to the same pattern.
"Not at all," replied MacNair. "You will find plenty of variety. Every
person has an opportunity to gratify his or her tastes, provided that
by so doing they do not deprive others of the same privilege. There is
nothing compulsory about it. People who do not desire to dwell together
can find plenty of opportunities to be by themselves. The rule here
is freedom. People live together in communities because it secures so
many advantages, but they often take an outing and find variety, and
solitude if they want it, in comparatively wild and uninhabited parts
of the country."
"But," I said, "I am curious to learn how it was that the communal
system came to be established. In the outer world I am inclined to
believe that it would be impossible to find so many people who would
live together in harmony."
"That is doubtless true," said MacNair. "But as I now understand it,
influences are at work, which will ultimately compel the producing
masses to come together as one family, in order to enable them to
preserve any semblance of personal liberty and economic independence."
"And was it," I asked, "necessity that compelled the founders of this
district to organize this system of community life?"
"It certainly was," interrupted Iola. "This district was founded by a
few of the more intelligent laborers in the great city which at that
time existed at the mouth of the Cocytas. A time had come when the
laboring masses were forced to get together in colonies and co-operate
with each other in order to live. This represents the first organized
revolt of the masses against landlordism and the spirit of commercial
and financial cannibalism, which had reached its apex in the large
cities existing in the olden time along this eastern coast. The few
owned all the land, all the machinery and all the facilities for
distribution while the many were often famishing for food, and always
begging for an opportunity to serve some master who would feed them."
"If they were indeed so poor," I asked, "how was it possible for them
to break the chains by which they were bound?"
"That is a long story," said Iola, "and cannot be recorded in a word.
Volumes are filled with the futile efforts of the working classes
to protect themselves by organization, and their education had to
come through their repeated failures. But all these futile efforts
at organization were on the competitive plan, and actually placed
one class of workers in competition with another class. At first the
skilled artisans, seemingly secured some advantages by the trade
unions, but it was only a question of time when the improvement in
machinery and a division of labor, placed the skilled workman, to a
very large extent, in competition with the common laborer for the
privilege of running the machines, which did the work better than the
most skillful mechanic, and with a speed that had never before been
dreamed of. From that time on to the end, the employed in every branch
of production were placed in a bitter and destructive contest with the
unemployed for the privilege of working for a master.
"It was not until they had reached this condition by bitter experience
that they began to learn just what was the matter. Among the first
things that occurred to them, was, that they were at the mercy of the
landlord until they had access to the soil, but how could they obtain
access to the soil in their penniless condition? This was the question
that racked their brains.
"But conditions, which neither they, nor their oppressors could
control, were forcing a solution. It had been recognized in the
civilization of that time, that the poor and the physically infirm,
had a just claim on society for food, shelter and raiment which must
not be disregarded. All that they needed, was the fruits of their
labor applied to the soil, and the money kings had to a very great
extent monopolized the soil. It was worthless to them unless it was
cultivated. Its possession still gave them power to oppress the
landless, but not the opportunity to speculate, as no one was able to
buy. So to save the expense of feeding their victims they were willing
that the land should be used, by these objects of charity, to produce
their food by their labor.
"Thus was provided the opportunity that enabled far sighted reformers
to introduce a new system of organization among the poor, which placed
all their relations to each other on an ethical, instead of a selfish
basis. They began by organizing exchanges among themselves, and what
they saved to themselves in this way was invested in land for which
there were no other purchasers. For a time this enabled the land owners
to sell the lands which were useless to themselves, as a source of
profit. The colonists continued to cultivate the land, sell the surplus
in the cities, and buy more land, but they never sold an acre. In the
course of time, the lands of this district were socialized and rent
abolished.
"Thus, by using the profit, which under the old competitive system
left the hands of the producers, never to return, they were able to
abolish landlordism, as far as they were concerned, and their wealthy
oppressors congratulated themselves that they had gotten rid of a
dangerous class. But the same causes continued to impoverish others,
and thus create other dangerous classes, and the only way to get rid of
them, was to give them an opportunity to dig their living out of the
soil. It became a common thing for cities to organize movements which
enabled the poor to secure subsistence by cultivating vacant lots.
Indeed, this was one of the first signs that marked the decline, and
presaged the early abolition of the then existing system of commercial
and financial cannibalism that impoverished the people.
"This community demonstrated that labor could, even under the most
adverse circumstances, by co-operating in production and distribution,
get control of land and the means of production, and abolish tribute
to non-producers in all its forms. You will find the history of these
movements most intensely interesting, and I should think from what I
have learned, of inestimable value in your native land.
"Since MacNair gave us the benefit of his knowledge of the economic
system which exists in the outer world, our scholars have studied our
own ancient histories as they never did before. Situated as we are, it
is hard to believe that any people, no matter how ignorant they may be,
would permit a few to take possession of the earth and starve the many,
but such was the situation here in the olden times; hence, it is not
strange that these conditions exist in the outer world."
"Well," I remarked, "since I think of it, I am not surprised that
you can hardly believe such conditions could exist in any country
claiming to be civilized. But why is it that the people of this inner
world, understood the nature of this evil and removed it so long ago,
while the masses of the people of the outer world seem to be utterly
oblivious to the fact that there is anything wrong?"
"On this question I can only theorize," said Iola. "I have thought that
it may have been the long continued ice age, that with its rigors,
held the people of the outer world back and retarded their development
until long after the inner world had made a very considerable progress
toward civilization. But MacNair has a theory that may have something
in it. He believes that the psychic conditions in a concave world,
tend directly toward concentrated effort and co-operation, because
the heads of the people all point toward each other and converge at a
common center, while in the outer world they point outward, each in a
direction of its own, tending directly toward individualism and the
development of every selfish instinct."
"Well," said Captain Ganoe, who had been an attentive listener, "I am
glad, for the honor of my own country, that a fellow countryman of
mine has evolved a theory that has not been previously thought out and
demonstrated by this most progressive people. I think, Jack, that we
had better go to work and evolve an improvement on these airships that
will enable us to carry the news of these wonderful discoveries to our
own people."
"I have been thinking of the same thing," I replied, "and that is why
I have always been insisting that we should use these airships for our
short journeys that did not require speed. It is when we go slowly that
I can study them best, and in my mind I have partially solved the
problem of constructing a ship that would be proof against both cold
and storms."
"Just like my luck," said the Captain. "I always succeed in getting an
idea in my head after someone else has worked it out. But still I think
that I am something of a mechanic and you can depend upon me to do my
best to assist you."
"Thank you," I replied, "I shall certainly call upon you for
assistance."
"I have reason," said MacNair, "for believing that Battell and Polaris
contemplate something of the same kind, and I am sure that they will
call upon both of you for your co-operation."
"Why," I asked, "have you had any intimation of the kind?"
"Not directly from them," said MacNair, "but I have heard this, that
Battell and Polaris spend much of their time in the airship factory at
Lake Byblis and that they are experimenting with their private airship
every day, and that they have succeeded in making some changes in the
gearing that enable them to reverse the wings and run backward; also in
moving the steering apparatus so they can ascend or descend without the
usual spiral motion."
"That is good news," I said, "but I thought that Captain Battell was
giving most of his time to the study of the language and customs of the
country."
"So he is," said MacNair. "Polaris told me so by telephone, and what is
more, she spoke in good clear English. She further said that the work
of translating the library was progressing rapidly and that several
volumes had been completed and furnished to Norrena, the Continental
Commissioner of Education at Orbitello, for distribution to the
commissioners of all the grand divisions of the Concave."
"Orbitello! What is Orbitello? A country or a city?" asked Captain
Ganoe.
"We have no cities," said MacNair, "but Orbitello is what you would
probably call the seat of government. It is the center of business for
this continent, the headquarters of all the departments of the public
service. The Altrurian Council meets at Orbitello every year, and the
World's Parliament every four years. Here the Continental Executive
Committee meets every day to transact business in which the whole
people are interested. It is located on the Cocytas at the foot of the
mountains."
"I would indeed be pleased to visit this center of business and
learning," said the Captain.
"We have thought of that," said MacNair, "and as soon as Oqua returns,
I think that we had better go. She is our District Commissioner of
education and I am deputy and must officiate in her absence. She is
attending the Quadrennial Congress of Educators in the mountains of
Atlan at Lake Minerva. The sessions seldom last more than thirty days
and that time has passed, so we may expect her return from the old
world almost any day."
"What's that? The old world!" ejaculated Captain Ganoe. "Am I to
understand that you have an old world here, and is this the new, just
as we have it in the outer world?"
"Yes, very much the same," said MacNair. "Altruria is often spoken of
as the new world because it was originally settled by colonists from
the other side of the Ocean. The early history of this country is in
a general way very similar to the early history of America. This
similarity holds good even to the almost total destruction of a warlike
race of red men. The original colonies achieved their independence of
kingly rule and established a republican form of government, just as
was done by our thirteen original colonies. But here the similarity
ends. Altruria now extends all over the continent, and has carried
out to their logical sequence, the principles set forth in our own
Declaration of Independence; and more than this, these principles have
extended over all parts of the inner world. This is why I often speak
of the concave as the World of Truth."
As MacNair ceased speaking, our airship alighted on the roof of our
home, and we were informed that Battell wanted to meet us at the
telephone. We went at once to the telephone room and again met Battell,
but I was not dumbfounded at the sight. He addressed me in his usual
familiar style, saying:
"Well, Jack, we have a boat factory here and I have conceived the
idea of becoming an inventor of airship attachments and I want you
and Captain Ganoe to join me. I want the Captain for his mechanical
skill and I want you to test our inventions, make observations and
report such changes in the mechanism as you deem advisable. Polaris
cannot stand the cold at the verges and I will not have time. Can you
undertake the work?"
"Certainly," I replied. "Just notify me whenever you are ready. I have
been contemplating the same thing myself, and Captain Ganoe has offered
his services as a skilled mechanic."