按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
its territory is cultivated to the utmost perfection of garden ground； its
machinery excels that of every other tribe； and there is no product of its
industry in any department which is not sought for； at extraordinary prices；
by each community of our race。 All our tribes make this state their
model； considering that we should reach the highest state of civilisation
allowed to mortals if we could unite the greatest degree of happiness with
the highest degree of intellectual achievement； and it is clear that the
smaller the society the less difficult that will be。 Ours is too large for it。〃
This reply set me thinking。 I reminded myself of that little state of
Athens； with only twenty thousand free citizens； and which to this day our
mightiest nations regard as the supreme guide and model in all
departments of intellect。 But then Athens permitted fierce rivalry and
perpetual change； and was certainly not happy。 Rousing myself from the
85
… Page 86…
The Coming Race
reverie into which these reflections had plunged me； I brought back our
talk to the subjects connected with emigration。
〃But；〃 said I； 〃when； I suppose yearly； a certain number among 94you
agree to quit home and found a new community elsewhere； they must
necessarily be very few； and scarcely sufficient； even with the help of the
machines they take with them； to clear the ground； and build towns； and
form a civilised state with the comforts and luxuries in which they had
been reared。〃
〃You mistake。 All the tribes of the Vril…ya are in constant
communication with each other； and settle amongst themselves each year
what proportion of one community will unite with the emigrants of
another； so as to form a state of sufficient size； and the place for
emigration is agreed upon at least a year before； and pioneers sent from
each state to level rocks； and embank waters； and construct houses； so that
when the emigrants at last go； they find a city already made； and a country
around it at least partially cleared。 Our hardy life as children make us
take cheerfully to travel and adventure。 I mean to emigrate myself when
of age。〃
〃Do the emigrants always select places hitherto uninhabited and
barren？〃
〃As yet generally； because it is our rule never to destroy except when
necessary to our well…being。 Of course； we cannot settle in lands already
occupied by the Vril…ya； and if we take the cultivated lands of the other
races of Ana； we must utterly destroy the previous inhabitants。
Sometimes； as it is； we take waste spots； and find that a troublesome；
quarrelsome race of Ana； especially if under the administration of Koom…
Posh or Glek…Nas； resents our vicinity； and picks a quarrel with us； then；
of course； as menacing our welfare； we destroy it： there is no coming to
terms of peace with a race so idiotic that it is always changing the form of
government which represents it。 Koom…Posh；〃 said the child；
emphatically； 〃is bad enough； still it has brains； though at the back of its
head； and is not without a heart； but in Glek…Nas the brain and heart of the
creatures disappear； and they become all jaws； claws； and belly。〃
95〃You express yourself strongly。 Allow me to inform you that I
86
… Page 87…
The Coming Race
myself； and I am proud to say it； am the citizen of a Koom…Posh。〃
〃I no longer；〃 answered Taee； 〃wonder to see you here so far from
your home。 What was the condition of your native community before it
became a Koom…Posh？〃
〃A settlement of emigrants… like those settlements which your tribe
sends forth… but so far unlike your settlements； that it was dependent on
the state from which it came。 It shook off that yoke； and； crowned with
eternal glory； became a Koom…Posh。〃
〃Eternal glory！ How long has the Koom…Posh lasted？〃
〃About 100 years。〃
〃The length of an An's life… a very young community。 In much less
than another 100 years your Koom…Posh will be a Glek…Nas。〃
〃Nay； the oldest states in the world I come from； have such faith in its
duration； that they are all gradually shaping their institutions so as to melt
into ours； and their most thoughtful politicians say that； whether they like
it or not； the inevitable tendency of these old states is towards Koom…
Posh…erie。〃
〃The old states？〃
〃Yes； the old states。〃
〃With populations very small in proportion to the area of productive
land？〃
〃On the contrary； with populations very large in proportion to that
area。〃
〃I see！ old states indeed！… so old as to become drivelling if they don't
pack off that surplus population as we do ours… very old states！… very； very
old！ Pray； Tish； do you think it wise for very old men to try to turn head…
over…heels as very young children do？ And if you ask them why they
attempted such antics； should you not laugh if they answered that by
imitating very young children they could become very young children
themselves？ Ancient history abounds with instances of this sort a great
many thousand years ago… and in every instance a very 96old state that
played at Koom…Posh soon tumbled into Glek…Nas。 Then； in horror of its
own self； it cried out for a master； as an old man in his dotage cries out for
a nurse； and after a succession of masters or nurses； more or less long； that
87
… Page 88…
The Coming Race
very old state died out of history。 A very old state attempting Koom…
Posh…erie is like a very old man who pulls down the house to which he has
been accustomed； but he has so exhausted his vigour in pulling down； that
all he can do in the way of rebuilding is to run up a crazy hut； in which
himself and his successors whine out； 'How the wind blows！ How the
walls shake！'〃
〃My dear Taee； I make all excuse for your unenlightened prejudices；
which every schoolboy educated in a Koom…Posh