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anifest that all； except the Isosceles； were moved by his words and were either neutral or averse to the Bill。
Turning now to the Workmen he asserted that their interests must not be neglected； and that； if they intended to accept the Colour Bill； they ought at least to do so with full view of the consequences。 Many of them； he said； were on the point of being admitted to the class of the Regular Triangles； others anticipated for their children a distinction they could not hope for themselves。 That honourable ambition would now have to be sacrificed。 With the universal adoption of Colour； all distinctions would cease； Regularity would be confused with Irregularity； development would give place to retrogression； the Workman would in a few generations be degraded to the level of the Military； or even the Convict Class； political power would be in the hands of the greatest number； that is to say the Criminal Classes； who were already more numerous than the Workmen； and would soon out…number all the other Classes put together when the usual Compensative Laws of Nature were violated。
A subdued murmur of assent ran through the ranks of the Artisans； and Chromatistes； in alarm； attempted to step forward and address them。 But he found himself encompassed with guards and forced to remain silent while the Chief Circle in a few impassioned words made a final appeal to the Women； exclaiming that； if the Colour Bill passed； no marriage would henceforth be safe； no woman's honour secure； fraud； deception； hypocrisy would pervade every household； domestic bliss would share the fate of the Constitution and pass to speedy perdition。 〃Sooner than this；〃 he cried； 〃Come death。〃
At these words； which were the preconcerted signal for action； the Isosceles Convicts fell on and transfixed the wretched Chromatistes； the Regular Classes； opening their ranks； made way for a band of Women who； under direction of the Circles； moved； back foremost； invisibly and unerringly upon the unconscious soldiers； the Artisans； imitating the example of their betters； also opened their ranks。 Meantime bands of Convicts occupied every entrance with an impenetrable phalanx。
The battle； or rather carnage； was of short duration。 Under the skillful generalship of the Circles almost every Woman's charge was fatal and very many extracted their sting uninjured； ready for a second slaughter。 But no second blow was needed； the rabble of the Isosceles did the rest of the business for themselves。 Surprised； leader…less； attacked in front by invisible foes； and finding egress cut off by the Convicts behind them； they at once after their manner lost all presence of mind； and raised the cry of 〃treachery〃。 This sealed their fate。 Every Isosceles now saw and felt a foe in every other。 In half an hour not one of that vast multitude was living； and the fragments of seven score thousand of the Criminal Class slain by one another's angles attested the triumph of Order。
The Circles delayed not to push their victory to the uttermost。 The Working Men they spared but decimated。 The Militia of the Equilaterals was at once called out； and every Triangle suspected of Irregularity on reasonable grounds； was destroyed by Court Martial； without the formality of exact measurement by the Social Board。 The homes of the Military and Artisan classes were inspected in a course of visitations extending through upwards of a year； and during that period every town； village； and hamlet was systematically purged of that excess of the lower orders which had been brought about by the neglect to pay the tribute of Criminals to the Schools and University； and by the violation of the other natural Laws of the Constitution of Flatland。 Thus the balance of classes was again restored。
Needless to say that henceforth the use of Colour was abolished； and its possession prohibited。 Even the utterance of any word denoting Colour； except by the Circles or by qualified scientific teachers； was punished by a severe penalty。 Only at our University in some of the very highest and most esoteric classes which I myself have never been privileged to attend it is understood that the sparing use of Colour is still sanctioned for the purpose of illustrating some of the deeper problems of mathematics。 But of this I can only speak from hearsay。
Elsewhere in Flatland； Colour is now non…existent。 The art of making it is known to only one living person； the Chief Circle for the time being； and by him it is handed down on his death…bed to none but his Successor。 One manufactory alone produces it； and； lest the secret should be betrayed； the Workmen are annually consumed； and fresh ones introduced。 So great is the terror with which even now our Aristocracy looks back to the far…distant days of the agitation for the Universal Colour Bill。
Section 11。 Concerning our Priests
It is high time that I should pass from these brief and discursive notes about things in Flatland to the central event of this book； my initiation into the mysteries of Space。 THAT is my subject； all that has gone before is merely preface。
For this reason I must omit many matters of which the explanation would not； I flatter myself； be without interest for my Readers： as for example； our method of propelling and stopping ourselves； although destitute of feet； the means by which we give fixity to structures of wood； stone； or brick； although of course we have no hands； nor can we lay foundations as you can； nor avail ourselves of the lateral pressure of the earth； the manner in which the rain originates in the intervals between our various zones； so that the northern regions do not intercept the moisture from falling on the southern； the nature of our hills and mines； our trees and vegetables； our seasons and harvests； our Alphabet and method of writing； adapted to our linear tablets； these and a hundred other details of our physical existence I must pass over； nor do I mention them now except to indicate to my readers that their omission proceeds not from forgetfulness on the part of the author； but from his regard for the time of the Reader。
Yet before I proceed to my legitimate subject some few final remarks will no doubt be expected by my Readers upon those pillars and mainstays of the Constitution of Flatland； the controllers of our conduct and shapers of our destiny； the objects of universal homage and almost of adoration： need I say that I mean our Circles or Priests？
When I call them Priests； let me not be understood as meaning no more than the term denotes with you。 With us； our Priests are Administrators of all Business； Art； and Science； Directors of Trade； Commerce； Generalship； Architecture； Engineering； Education； Statesmanship； Legislature； Morality； Theology； doing nothing themselves； they are the Causes of everything worth doing； that is done by others。
Although popularly everyone called a Circle is deemed a Circle； yet among the better educated Classes it is known that no Circle is really a Circle； but only a Polygon with a very large number of very small sides。 As the number of the sides increases； a Polygon approximates to a Circle； and； when the number is very great indeed； say for e