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the Saturnians is wholly different from that of air…breathing； that
is oxygen…breathing； human beings。 They are the dullest； slowest；
most torpid of mortal creatures。
All this is not to be wondered at when you remember the inert
characteristics of nitrogen。 There are in some localities natural
springs which give out slender streams of oxygen。 You will learn by
and by what use the Saturnians make of this dangerous gas； which； as
you recollect； constitutes about one fifth of your own atmosphere。
Saturn has large lead mines； but no other metal is found on this
planet。 The inhabitants have nothing else to make tools of； except
stones and shells。 The mechanical arts have therefore made no great
progress among them。 Chopping down a tree with a leaden axe is
necessarily a slow process。
So far as the Saturnians can be said to have any pride in anything；
it is in the absolute level which characterizes their political and
social order。 They profess to be the only true republicans in the
solar system。 The fundamental articles of their Constitution are
these：
All Saturnians are born equal； live equal； and die equal。
All Saturnians are born free； free； that is； to obey the rules laid
down for the regulation of their conduct； pursuits； and opinions；
free to be married to the person selected for them by the
physiological section of the government； and free to die at such
proper period of life as may best suit the convenience and general
welfare of the community。
The one great industrial product of Saturn is the bread…root。 The
Saturnians find this wholesome and palatable enough； and it is well
they do； as they have no other vegetable。 It is what I should call a
most uninteresting kind of eatable； but it serves as food and drink；
having juice enough； so that they get along without water。 They have
a tough； dry grass； which； matted together； furnishes them with
clothes sufficiently warm for their cold…blooded constitutions； and
more than sufficiently ugly。
A piece of ground large enough to furnish bread…root for ten persons
is allotted to each head of a household； allowance being made for the
possible increase of families。 This； however； is not a very
important consideration； as the Saturnians are not a prolific race。
The great object of life being the product of the largest possible
quantity of bread…roots； and women not being so capable in the fields
as the stronger sex； females are considered an undesirable addition
to society。 The one thing the Saturnians dread and abhor is
inequality。 The whole object of their laws and customs is to
maintain the strictest equality in everything；social relations；
property； so far as they can be said to have anything which can be so
called； mode of living； dress； and all other matters。 It is their
boast that nobody ever starved under their government。 Nobody goes
in rags； for the coarse…fibred grass from which they fabricate their
clothes is very durable。 （I confess I wondered how a woman could
live in Saturn。 They have no looking…glasses。 There is no such
article as a ribbon known among them。 All their clothes are of one
pattern。 I noticed that there were no pockets in any of their
garments； and learned that a pocket would be considered prima facie
evidence of theft； as no honest person would have use for such a
secret receptacle。） Before the revolution which established the
great law of absolute and lifelong equality； the inhabitants used to
feed at their own private tables。 Since the regeneration of society
all meals are taken in common。 The last relic of barbarism was the
use of plates；one or even more to each individual。 This 〃odious
relic of an effete civilization；〃 as they called it； has long been
superseded by oblong hollow receptacles； one of which is allotted to
each twelve persons。 A great riot took place when an attempt was
made by some fastidious and exclusive egotists to introduce
partitions which should partially divide one portion of these
receptacles into individual compartments。 The Saturnians boast that
they have no paupers； no thieves； none of those fictitious values
called money；all which things； they hear； are known in that small
Saturn nearer the sun than the great planet which is their dwelling…
place。
〃I suppose that now they have levelled everything they are quiet and
contented。 Have they any of those uneasy people called reformers？〃
〃Indeed they have；〃 said my attendant。 〃There are the
Orthobrachians； who declaim against the shameful abuse of the left
arm and hand； and insist on restoring their perfect equality with the
right。 Then there are Isopodic societies； which insist on bringing
back the original equality of the upper and lower limbs。 If you can
believe it； they actually practise going on all fours；generally in
a private way； a few of them together； but hoping to bring the world
round to them in the near future。〃
Here I had to stop and laugh。
〃I should think life might be a little dull in Saturn；〃 I said。
〃It is liable to that accusation；〃 she answered。 〃Do you notice how
many people you meet with their mouths stretched wide open？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃and I do not know what to make of it。 I should think
every fourth or fifth person had his mouth open in that way。〃
〃They are suffering from the endemic disease of their planet；
prolonged and inveterate gaping or yawning； which has ended in
dislocation of the lower jaw。 After a time this becomes fixed； and
requires a difficult surgical operation to restore it to its place。〃
It struck me that； in spite of their boast that they have no paupers；
no thieves； no money； they were a melancholy…looking set of beings。
〃What are their amusements？〃 I asked。
Intoxication and suicide are their chief recreations。 They have a
way of mixing the oxygen which issues in small jets from certain
natural springs with their atmospheric nitrogen in the proportion of
about twenty per cent； which makes very nearly the same thing as the
air of your planet。 But to the Saturnians the mixture is highly
intoxicating； and is therefore a relief to the monotony of their
every…day life。 This mixture is greatly sought after； but hard to
obtain； as the sources of oxygen are few and scanty。 It shortens the
lives of those who have recourse to it； but if it takes too long；
they have other ways of escaping from a life which cuts and dries
everything for its miserable subjects； defeats all the natural
instincts； confounds all individual characteristics； and makes
existence such a colossal bore； as your worldly people say； that
self…destruction becomes a luxury。〃
Number Five stopped here。
Your imaginary wholesale Shakerdom is all very fine； said I。 Your
Utopia； your New Atlantis； and the rest are pretty to look at。 But
your philosophers are treating the world of living souls as if they
were； each of them； playing a game of solitaire； all