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when you take away from a human 63being the incentives to action which
are found in cupidity or ambition； it seems to me no wonder that he rests
quiet。
In their ordinary movements they prefer the use of their feet to that of
their wings。 But for their sports or （to indulge in a bold misuse of terms）
their public 'promenades；' they employ the latter； also for the aerial dances
I have described； as well as for visiting their country places； which are
mostly placed on lofty heights； and； when still young； they prefer their
wings for travel into the other regions of the Ana； to vehicular
conveyances。
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The Coming Race
Those who accustom themselves to flight can fly； if less rapidly than
some birds； yet from twenty…five to thirty miles an hour； and keep up that
rate for five or six hours at a stretch。 But the Ana generally； on reaching
middle age； are not fond of rapid movements requiring violent exercise。
Perhaps for this reason； as they hold a doctrine which our own physicians
will doubtless approve… viz。； that regular transpiration through the pores of
the skin is essential to health； they habitually use the sweating…baths to
which we give the name Turkish or Roman； succeeded by douches of
perfumed waters。 They have great faith in the salubrious virtue of certain
perfumes。
It is their custom also； at stated but rare periods； perhaps four times a…
year when in health； to use a bath charged with vril。*
* I once tried the effect of the vril bath。 It was very similar in its
invigorating powers to that of the baths at Gastein； the virtues of which are
ascribed by many physicians to electricity； but though similar； the effect of
the vril bath was more lasting。 They consider that this fluid； sparingly
used； is a great sustainer of life； but used in excess； when in the normal
state of health； rather tends to reaction and exhausted vitality。 For nearly
all their diseases； however； they resort to it as the chief assistant to nature
in throwing off their complaint。
In their own way they are the most luxurious of people； but all their
luxuries are innocent。 They may be said to dwell in an atmosphere of
music and fragrance。 Every room has its 64mechanical contrivances for
melodious sounds； usually tuned down to soft…murmured notes； which
seem like sweet whispers from invisible spirits。 They are too accustomed
to these gentle sounds to find them a hindrance to conversation； nor； when
alone； to reflection。 But they have a notion that to breathe an air filled
with continuous melody and perfume has necessarily an effect at once
soothing and elevating upon the formation of character and the habits of
thought。 Though so temperate； and with total abstinence from other
animal food than milk； and from all intoxicating drinks； they are delicate
and dainty to an extreme in food and beverage； and in all their sports even
the old exhibit a childlike gaiety。 Happiness is the end at which they aim；
not as the excitement of a moment； but as the prevailing condition of the
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The Coming Race
entire existence； and regard for the happiness of each other is evinced by
the exquisite amenity of their manners。
Their conformation of skull has marked differences from that of any
known races in the upper world； though I cannot help thinking it a
development； in the course of countless ages of the Brachycephalic type of
the Age of Stone in Lyell's 'Elements of Geology；' C。 X。； p。 113； as
compared with the Dolichocephalic type of the beginning of the Age of
Iron； correspondent with that now so prevalent amongst us； and called the
Celtic type。 It has the same comparative massiveness of forehead； not
receding like the Celtic… the same even roundness in the frontal organs； but
it is far loftier in the apex； and far less pronounced in the hinder cranial
hemisphere where phrenologists place the animal organs。 To speak as a
phrenologist； the cranium common to the Vril…ya has the organs of weight；
number； tune； form； order； causality； very largely developed； that of
construction much more pronounced than that of ideality。 Those which
are called the moral organs； such as conscientiousness and benevolence；
are amazingly full； amativeness and combativeness are both small；
adhesiveness large； the organ of destructiveness （i。e。； of determined
65clearance of intervening obstacles） immense； but less than that of
benevolence； and their philoprogenitiveness takes rather the character of
compassion and tenderness to things that need aid or protection than of the
animal love of offspring。 I never met with one person deformed or
misshapen。 The beauty of their countenances is not only in symmetry of
feature； but in a smoothness of surface； which continues without line or
wrinkle to the extreme of old age； and a serene sweetness of expression；
combined with that majesty which seems to come from consciousness of
power and the freedom of all terror； physical or moral。 It is that very
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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The Coming Race
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 th