m //, THE WILLIAM R. PERKINS LIBRARY OF DUKE UNIVERSITY Rare Books ^a~#<<± v_ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Duke University Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/lomacitizenofvenOOwind Sincerely your friend, LOAAR A CITIZEN OF VENUS HY WILLIAM WINDSOR, LL. B., Ph. D. AUTHOR OF 'The Science ot Creation," "Phrenology, Choice of Professions, Matrimony,' 1 '' "Great Secrets of Happiness," "Health, Wealth and Sunshine," Etc. ST. PAUL, MINN. The Windsor & Lewis Publishing Co. 1897 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1897, By Prof. William Windsor, LL. B., Ph. D., In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. All rights reserved. To the Beautiful, True, and Good VI omen Who have appreciated my devotion to their sex, and who have cheered me with their smiles, encouraged me with their applause, delighted me with their companionship, and sustained me with their love, The child of my brain, consecrated to the emancipation of woman from the enthrallment of Sex Slavery, Presents an Mircllonnlt (firftlinn. preface. Twenty years of active professional experience iu occu- pations Imaging me into intimate touch with human needs and a comprehension of the difficulties of supplying those needs under existing social conditions, combined with a nature yearn- ing with infinite love for humanity, and especially that part of it which is represented in womanhood, have produced within my brain the thoughts which are herein expressed. Eight of these years were passed at the bar, in an active prac- tice defending criminals, where 1 learned something of the causes and results of crime, and, most of all, the monstrous injustice of the criminal code of the entire civilized world. The last twelve years have been occupied in visiting every state of the Union, in the capacity of a lecturer, teacher and adviser, disseminating the truth as I have comprehended it, and listening with ears awakened by love and controlled by con- science, to the cry of the distressed in every department of life. The more I have studied and observed, the more I have loved. With the growth of love, came the comprehension of the evil conditions under which my beloved brothers and sis- ters in the race are laboring. To comprehend the conditions was to discover the cause. When the discovery of the cause of crime, degradation and poverty, disease and deformity was made and I began to realize that I held the key to a higher and better order of things in my grasp, I had no choice but to speak and to write. Had I restrained my voice or my type- writer, I would have sacrificed my manhood. I may offend many. So did Jesus and every philosopher who has dared to speak the truth against existing institutions, since the world began. With him, I will turn to the scriptures and read to the multitude as follows: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. because he hath anointed me to fireaeh the dosjicl to the poor: lie hatli sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach delirerance to the captins, ami recovering of Hght'to the blind, to set ut when the stran- ger clasped her in his arms and rose to the surface, turning toward the pier on which he stood, with the 4 LOMA, appreciation which true manhood always gives to the brave action of another, the doctor forgot everything in his enthusiasm over the rescue. In a moment he was down on the pier at full length, stretching his arms toward the rescuer and his quarry at the edge. "Bravo! Bravo I Bring her along! Steady. Brace yourself against that post and I'll pull her up. That's good. Excuse me a moment, ma'am, until I lend a hand to our friend here. Now, sir! Ah, here we are, safe and sound. Now for the patient !" The reactions of the human mind are a curious study in themselves. As Doctor Bell bent over the prostrate form of the half-strangled woman, who a moment be- fore had courted death at her own volition, she threw her arms around his neck in the desperation of fear and cried out, "Oh, save me! save me! Don't let me drown!" "Bless you, my dear girl, we have no such intention. But I am afraid if it had not been for our worthy friend here, you might have succeeded better — or worse." Having satisfied himself that his patient was unin- jured except by fright, which promised nothing worse than hysterical demonstrations, the doctor rose to his feet, resumed his coat and vest and extended his hand in congratulation to the rescuer, who had remained in dignified contemplation of the situation. As his hand met that of the stranger, the physician became conscious of a thrill which pervaded his entire being. A delicious sense of warmth and an indefinable magnetism was conveyed in the touch of the stranger's hand, which for a moment be- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 5 wildered the senses of the astute and learned scientist. It was an experience which left a never-to-be-forgotten impression, and for years afterward Doctor Bell found it a profitable study to analyze his feelings of that moment. It seemed to him as though the contact of the hand conveyed to him a flash of light in which were blended the colors of the rainbow, and at the same time he became distinctly conscious of a delicious sensation of taste, and au exquisite odor which seemed to ema- nate from the body of the stranger. We have already remarked that the doctor was a man of quick per- ception. His naturally acute faculties had been trained by a long course of professional observation, and the peculiarities of this man, who had so miraculously appeared in the bosom of Lake Michigan, impressed him profoundly. Even in the uncertain light of the shaded pier, on which they were standing, the doctor did not fail to note that the stranger possessed a figure of faultless proportions, above the medium height, sur- mounted by a massive head, made still more imposing by a crown of long, curly hair which seemed to glow with a peculiar luminosity which to some extent per- vaded the entire body of the man. "By George, sir, that was well done! It was lucky for our misguided young friend here that you were just where you were, and so well prepared for the emer- gency. You are the most magnificent swimmer I ever saw. But I do not understand what you were doing with that elect lie light under the water. Are you a professional diver?" 6 LOMA, And the doctor stepped to the edge of the pier and looked into the water from which the two persons had just emerged. It was dark and no trace of the lu- minous glow was visible. Realizing, however, that he still had duties to perform, the doctor lost no time in speculation, but again addressed himself to his patient who was sitting upon the floor of the pier sobbing con- vulsively. "Come, my dear girl, cheer up," he said, with that finely modulated tone of sympathetic encouragement which long practice in dealing with unfortunates of every description had made a part of his professional equipment. "You must let me take you away from here, and, after you have had proper attention, we will take you to your friends." "I have no friends," sobbed the girl, as she buried her face in the folds of her dress, which was still drip- ping with the water of the lake. "Tut! tut! that's another one of your mistakes. You have two good friends, right here on this pier, one of whom has risked his life for you within the last five minutes, and thereby prevented the other from doing the same thing. You let me manage this business for you, for the present, and I'll warrant that to-morrow will be one of the brightest days of your life. But you, sir," said the doctor, turning to the stranger, "I would like to have you accompany me to my residence with this young lady, and when we have disposed of her in a comfortable manner, I should like to cultivate your ac- quaintance further." A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 7 Up to this point the stranger had not spoken. He had watched the rapid and professional actions of the physician With dignified and active interest, but had not moved from the position he had taken when he had first stepped upon the pier. Now, in answer to this direct and courteous address, he made an exceedingly graceful movement with both hands, a gesture which expressed complaisance, kindness and respect, inclined his head slightly forward, and said: "I am at your service." The effect of his voice upon the physician was as startling as his touch had been a moment before. The tone was deep, rich and musical, and could only be com- pared to the notes of perfectly attuned bells. The doc- tor, in addition to his other accomplishments, was a critical musician, and the quality of the stranger's voice impressed him as deeply as his other peculiarities had already. He delighted in adventure, and the fact that he was dealing with an extraordinary person and an unfortunate woman, under very peculiar circumstances, gave him unusual zest in the problems of the moment. One thing which now impressed him was the fact that this remarkable man was standing in the presence of a female, in a state of perfect nudity, and yet he had made no effort to conceal his person or to procure his clothing. On the contrary, he could not have been more self-possessed and dignified if he had been arrayed in kingly robes in (he highest court of royally. In fad the superb dignity of the man was Ids most noticeable characteristic. The physician had noticed this, bin lie 8 LOMA, was too well versed in dealing with people of peculiar habits to allow it to influence his conduct. Turning to the stranger, he said: "We must take this girl to my house at once, where she can have attention. If you will get into your cloth- ing as quickly as possible, we will go to the end of the pier where we can get a cab." "I have no clothing," said the stranger quietly, but in a tone which carried the conviction that he meant what he said. Doctor Bell regarded the man fixedly for a moment and then muttered, "The deuce you haven't! Well, this is no time to ask questions. Here, you can wear my mackintosh, and when we have gotten to my house it will be time enough to arrange matters. Jiy George! I have broken my telescope, but I guess I won't be likely to be interested in any eclipse to-night. There, put this mackintosh on aud nobody will know or care, at this time of night, whether you are dressed or not. Now, my dear, we will take you to better quarters, and I will introduce you to the best woman on earth, in the person of my mother, who will see that you are com- fortable in both mind and body, in short order." Slipping his telescope case once more orer his shoulder, with a rattle which told of broken glass in the interior, and taking the tripod in one hand, the doctor supported the light figure of the girl with one arm, while the stranger supported her on the other side. As for the girl herself, she allowed the two men to carry her unresistingly, and barely supported herself A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 9 011 her feet. The extreme 1 elision of her nervous sys- tem had given way, and was succeeded by a collapse which almost amounted to stupor. Arriving at the end of the pier, the doctor hailed a cab, and placing his guests within spoke to the driver: "Drive quickly to No. , Michigan avenue." The man bowed and closed the door of the cab after the doctor, who had stepped lightly inside as he gave the order. In a moment they were rattling over the pavement, and in a few minutes the cab stopped before one of the elegant residences which line the popular thoroughfare which the doctor had mentioned. Handing the driver his fee, the doctor carried his patient up the broad flight of stone steps which led to the front entrance. Touching a button, the call was instantly answered by a young maid servant, whose face expressed no surprise as she admitted the doctor and his companions. "Has your mistress retired?" asked the doctor, in a low tone. "Yes, sir; she has been asleep about an hour." "Call her quietly, and tell her that an emergency case requires her attention, and then attend me in the east bedroom." Turning to the stranger, the doctor said, with easy courtesy: "My dear sir, if you will enter this room on the left, you will find every provision for your temporary com- fort, and in the meantime you will excuse me, while I attend to the wants of the one in which we have a com- 10 LOMA, mon interest. As soon as she is provided for, I will join you." The stranger bowed and entered the apartment indi- cated. The doctor closed the door, and picking up the figure of the girl as though she were an infant, bore her up a broad stairway into a spacious apartment on the second floor, where he was joined by the maid, who re- ported that her mistress would attend at once. The doctor deposited his patient upon a divan, and said : "Undress this lady and place her in bed. Give her a sponge bath and one ounce of this cordial, and leave the rest to my mother." Having thus disposed of the case, the physician turned and left the room. At the threshold he en- countered a sweet-faced, elderly lady, in a lace cap and satin wrapper, who greeted him with a peculiar smile. "I thought you went out to view the eclipse, Edward," she said. "So I did, mother dear, but there are eclipses and eclipses. Sometimes it is the moon, and sometimes a human life which is eclipsed. Let us hope that in the present cases both are only temporary. Come away a moment and let me tell you." In a few brief words the doctor acquainted his moth- er with the facts which are already known to the read- er. At the conclusion of his statement, his mother took his face in her hands and imprinted a kiss upon his bearded lips. "This adventure is 'very characteristic of my boy," she said, with motherly pride. "I will see that the A CITIZEN OK VENUS. 11 dear girl is comforted, while you attend to the cour- tesies that are due to your extraordinary guest in the mackintosh." Then a mutual smile was exchanged be- tween the mother and son, a smile suggestive of every- thing that is good, benevolent, helpful and sympathetic. A keen observer would have noticed that there was a remarkable similarity in the expression of the two faces, and that the son had inherited all of the mental and physical peculiarities of the mother. And as the good lady proceeded to the guest chamber, the doctor re- turned to the library, where the stranger awaited him, conscious that his patient would receive every minis- tration which human sympathy could devise, when prompted by the purest and best of motives. CHAPTER II. A REMARKABLE GUEST. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." When Doctor Bell returned to the library, into which he had ushered his strange guest, he found that gentle- man still arrayed in his mackintosh, reclining in one of the easy chairs, and intently regarding a handsome oil painting which was suspended above the mantel. On the entrance of the doctor, however, he arose and made one of his characteristic gestures, which, being executed with inimitable grace and dignity, expressed so much of genuine sincerity, friendship and gracious* ness that it carried a conviction of the excellent breed- ing of the man and inspired a confidence which was irresistible. Doctor Bell was in the best sense of the word, a man of the world, and prided himself on his knowledge of human nature, and his professional ex- perience had sharpened his natural perception to an acute degree. He realized that he was dealing with an extraordinary character, and yet it was with the utmost confidence in the integrity of his guest that he addressed him. "After the remarkable occurrence of this evening, sir, in which we have both played a part, it may not be (13) 14 LOMA, presumptuous if I express the fact that i am very much interested in you. In the excitement of the adventure, we have neglected to introduce ourselves. I am Dr. Edward Bell, and the house which you honor with your presence is my residence." The stranger, in acknowledgment, extended both hands to the doctor, who clasped them in his own. Again that wonderful thrill of magnetic effect passed through the doctor's frame, and the sensations of ex- quisite odor and taste assailed his senses. At the same time he was distinctly conscious of the luminous glow which had attracted his attention on the pier and which he was now certain was an emanation from the remarkable person of his guest. "Your name is very'familiar to me, doctor, although this is the first time I have had the privilege of a per- sonal meeting. But I have looked forward to this mo- ment witb great happiness for many years. My name is Loma." "Of Chicago?" "No, sir," said Loma, with a smile of exquisite di- plomacy, "of quite another country. You will excuse me, doctor, if I postpone naming my residence to you to-night. I am exhausted with the fatigue of a long journey, but to-morrow, after a good night's sleep and the enjoyment of your hospitality, I shall be able to give you a better account of myself. In the meantime let me ask,« is there any reason why I should retain the use of this garment?" A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 15 "Certainly not," replied the doctor; " in lliis room we will not be disturbed, and I beg that you will make yourself perfectly at home. This bedroom is at your disposal," he continued, opening the door of a sumptu- ously furnished chamber adjoining the library, "and here you will find a bathroom and all of the conven- iences you require. In the morning I will place my valet and my wardrobe at your disposal, for temporary purposes, and after that your requirements in the mat- ter of clothing will be attended to. To-night you may wear this robe," talcing an elegantly embroidered gar- ment of the finest silk from a closet, "and while you are bathing, permit me to order some refreshments. What would you like to eat?" "If it is convenient, doctor, a bunch of grapes and a glass of cold water will be all I require to-night."' "I will get them myself, so that our privacy will not be disturbed," said the doctor; and leaving the room he immediately returned, bearing a large silver basket filled with the choicest Concord grapes and a pitcher of water. "These grapes," said the doctor, with the pride of a horticulturist, "were raised on my farm, near Elgin, in this state, and this w r ater is shipped to me daily from the famous Waukesha springs in Wisconsin. I hope you will find both as refreshing as the one is luscious and the other is pure." Placing the fruit and water upon a table in the center of the room he had just assigned to his guest, the doc- tor returned to the library, where Loina, who had di- 16 LOMA, vested himself of the mackintosh, was reclining at his ease upon one of the luxurious divans which adorned the room. For the first time the doctor had an oppor- tunity of critically inspecting the personality of the re markable man he was entertaining. Loma, reclining in an easy attitude upon the divan, presented a picture of classic beauty. We have al- ready noted that his figure was of faultless proportions, but in the electric light of the library the doctor, who was an enthusiastic student of physical culture, noted his splendid development with admiration he could not conceal. Loma noticed it, and said with a smile: "I know you consider me something of a curiosity, doctor, and I will not consider it an impertinence if you subject me to as much scrutiny as your professional curiosity may dictate. To-morrow, after I have rested, I will also aid you with as much information as I my- self possess." Loma was indeed a magnificent specimen of man- hood. He was evidently about thirty-five years of age, and no trace of decay or breaking down of the tissues was perceptible in any part of his person. His height was within a fraction of an inch of six feet, and his weight about one hundred and ninety pounds. His build was athletic, and the rounded perfection of every muscle gave evidence of systematic and intelligent cul ture. His head, however, was the most remarkable part of his person, and while the general result of his appearance was that of a graceful and powerful man, yet it was his head which impressed the observer with A CITIZEN OF VENTS. !7 his kingly dignity. The features of the face were har- monious and classic, the mouth, which was only par- tially concealed by a full beard, especially possessing curves which gave it a remarkable sweetness ami versa 1 tility of expression. The lips were full and red, the nose straight and Grecian in outline; the eves were large, blue in color and wide apart, and above these rose a broad, high forehead, across which the skin was tightly and smoothly drawn, and the doctor noticed that it shone like polished ivory. The rest of his head was crowned with a wealth of dark brown, curly hair, which hung down to his shoulders and gave him a peculiar graciousness of appearance, and the doctor noticed that this particular feature was never without some traces of the magnetic glow which was one of the remarkable peculiarities of the man. The head was wide at the base of the brain, and the whole expression of the personality was that of great force and courage, held under complete control. Being an ardent devotee of Phrenology, the doctor's curiosity was not satisfied until he had taken the measurements of Loma's head with a tape measure which he took from his vest pocket. Adjusting the tape to the base of the brain, he noted that it measured twenty-four inches in basilar circum- ference, and a measurement across the crown registered sixteen inches. But what most impressed him was the fact that the head was complete. Passing his hand from the altitudinous crown to the massive occiput, and comparing the frontal developments with l he re- mainder, the doctor was obliged to confess to himself 2 18 LOMA, that lie could not say that any part of the head was deficient in development. Loma submitted to this critical inspection with smil- ing complaisance. At its conclusion, the doctor said: "You are the most perfect specimen of manhood it has been my good fortune to meet. But you are tired and need rest, so I will give you my conclusions, at length, at another time. Good night, sir, and may your sleep be as pleasant and restful as the events of this night have been exciting. When you awake in the morning, and are ready to communicate with me, touch the bell button in your room, and I will have the serv- ant summon me." Loma had stepped into the bedroom and now stood facing the door looking into the library. The doctor, looking toward him, saw him make another of his im- pressive gestures, saw the room illuminated for a sec- ond with the warm light of the magnetic glow, heard him pronounce the words "Good night," in his peculiar, rich, bell-like voice, and then the door was softly closed and he was alone. Left to himself, the doctor placed himself in one of the easy chairs and became absorbed in deep medita- tion. The events of the evening had all been of such an extraordinary character that he was somewhat be- wildered. The attempted suicide and his benevolent attentions to an unfortunate woman, he would have treated as very ordinary occurrences, for Doctor Bell was a philanthropist of the highest type, and hundreds of unfortunate men and women in the great city in A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 19 which he resided spoke his name with reverence and gratitude. But the exciting circumstances of the res- cue and the remarkable character of the rescuer im- pressed him profoundly. Had he been a believer in supernatural agencies, he might well have considered his guest in the light of an angel. But Doctor Bell was a philosopher and a reasoner, and long training in scientific habits of thought had enabled him to look for a natural cause for every phenomenon, no matter how surprising its manifestations might be. He had inherited his scientific proclivities through several an- cestors. His mother was a physician and the daughter of a celebrated surgeon. His father had amassed a handsome fortune in the practice of law in Chicago, and had died just as his son had obtained his diploma. Under the wise direction and assistance of his mother, Doctor Bell had, in a few short years, reached the goal of his ambition, and found himself in the possession of one of the most lucrative practices in the metropolis of the West. The rise in Chicago real estate had more than quadrupled the fortune left by his father, and at the time of our narrative begins the young physician, at thirty years of age, found himself in possession of ample means to gratify all of his ambitious desires, as far as money, property and social position could aid him. Unlike most rich, young and ambitious men, his prosperity had not spoiled him. In early youth his mother had instilled into his mind the broadest princi- ples of humanitarianism, justice and philanthropy, and she had lived to see these principles bear the sweet 20 LOMA, fruits of a multitude of noble deeds. She had, also, from the moment of his conception, impressed him with a love for knowledge. In this, also, she was not disap- pointed. He had distinguished himself in college, was the valedictorian of his class at the University of Michi- gan, and received first honors at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in which he was now an honored member of the faculty. He had distinguished himself in the med- ical societies of the state, and was regarded as one of the highest authorities in all departments of medical jurisprudence, to which he had devoted special atten- tion. He was well versed in the intricacies of Latin and Greek, and spoke English, French and German with equal facility. In personal appearance, Doctor Bell was univer- sally considered a handsome man. In height he was slightly above the medium; his shoulders were broad, his body compact, and indicative of excellent vitality and endurance. His head was large and well poised upon a strong, thick neck. A careful observer would have seen that it was unusually wide between the ears and in the region back of the ears. His fore- head was smooth and symmetrical in outline and wide at the top. His hair was cut short and was of a rich chestnut brown, and his full and well-trimmed beard was nearly of the same color, but somewhat more tinged with red. His eyes were brown, and were shaded by very large and prominent eyebrows, and when he looked at a person there was a peculiar steadi- ness and penetration in his gaze, which was sometimes A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 21 uncomfortably impressive, unless the person was well able to stand the scrutiny. His voice was pleasant, sympathetic and mellow, but it possessed a quality which conveyed the impression that it could be harsh if occasion demanded. Altogether, Doctor Bell was a very complete specimen of the highest type of Ameri- can, nineteenth century civilization. He remained in meditation about a quarter of an hour, when having reviewed all of the circumstances of the evening's adventure, and not being able to satis- factorily account for all of the peculiarities of his guest, like the philosopher that he was, he dismissed the mat- ter from his mind, for the time being, and seeking his bedroom was soon lost in the delicious slumber which conies to the innocent, rirtuous and just man, who reposes in the consciousness of having performed his whole duty for that day. CHAPTER III. THE COMFORTER. "For I was a stranger and ye took me in. * * * Verily I say unto you. inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto me." When Mrs. Bell entered the room into which her son had carried his patient, she found the well-trained maid servant had undressed the young- woman and was engaged in administering the sponge bath which the doctor had prescribed. The patient lay upon the lux- uriously furnished bed with her eyes closed, and evi- dently submitted to the kind ministrations of the at- tendant in a condition of extreme collapse of all will power. When the maid had finished the bath and had administered the cordial, which the woman received without opening her eyes, she discreetly and noise- lessly withdrew and left Mrs. Bell by the bedside. Fifty years of experience in human affairs, and a complete medical education, had made Mrs. Bell fully equal to any occasion where combined skill and sym- pathy w 7 ere required. In an eminent degree she blended the qualities of an educated and practical philanthropist with those of an affectionate mother and sincere friend. The unfortunate and the oppressed found in her a ready assistant, but she was seldom imposed upon by those (23) 24 » LOMA, who appealed to her from unworthy motives. Her eyes were large, brown, and handsome in expression, with a peculiar questioning look in them at times, which seemed to compel a truthful answer. Wavy brown hair, slightly tinged with gray, was combed back from a forehead which was very high for its breadth. In fact, her forehead would have been called narrow by a superficial observer, but the remarkable altitude was largely responsible for this impression. Her face was open, frank and sincere, but there were traces of suffer- ing in the lines of the mouth, as there was ample evi- dence of fortitude to bear it and resolution to conquer difficulties. Such was the face which the unfortunate woman beheld when she opened her eyes, after a cool hand had been laid upon her forehead and a sweet and sympa- thetic voice had spoken : "My dear child, how do you feel now ?" For an answer, the eyes closed again, and a tear fell from each upon the pillow. The sensitive lips quivered and sobs shook the slight frame under the rich folds of the elegant embroidered counterpane. Mrs. Bell, looking into the face of her charge, saw that she was young and beautiful. The face was oval and harmoni- ous in its outline, and the pillow was covered with a wealth of golden hair which formed an exquisite frame for the lovely picture. A hand which would have in- spired a sculptor lay motionless outside the cover. It was small, and the fingers were tapering, and the skin was as fine grained as silk. Yearning with infinite A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 25 compassion toward the unhappy girl, the philanthro- pist took the hand and, holding it tenderly, bent over and impressed a motherly kiss upon the feverish brow of her charge. Again the young girl sobbed con- vulsively. "There, my dear child, do not grieve so. You have had trouble, and it has been hard to bear, but it will all come right, if you will be brave and hopeful. You are with friends now who will help you out of all difficulties, and I want you to realize it and compose yourself." "Oh, madam, you have all been so kind to me. May God bless you all for your goodness; but I must go away, I cannot stay here/' "My poor child, you are hysterical. You must com- pose yourself and let me help you out of all your troubles." And again the good woman pressed a kiss upon the brow of the sobbing girl. "Oh, madam, do not kiss me. You do not know what I am or you would not touch me with your lips. You would turn away from me if you knew, as they all did. Oh, why did I not die in the lake. Oh, let me go away and die. It is the only place for such as I. Oh, I want to go to my mother. But she is in heaven, and they will not let me come there, either. Oh, God! why was I born?" The experienced perception of Mrs. Bell did not mid any more elaborate explanation of the case before her. But as the unhappy and desperate girl buried her face in the pillow and sobbed out her grief, an observer 26 LOMA, would have been interested in the expressions which played over the face of the philanthropist. First, her eyes filled with tears, and for a moment her hand passed caressingly and soothingly over the head of the girl, while she softly murmured, "Poor, innocent, mis- guided, persecuted darling." Suddenly she clasped her hands and rose from her seat and for a few moments walked the room rapidly, while an expression of fierce, energetic resolution pervaded her entire manner. Then she paused, and raising her eyes to the ceiling, stretched out her hands and in a low but intense tone uttered the words, "How long, oh eternal Truth, will you be disregarded! How long must the good and the beauti- ful be trampled upon by selfish prejudice!" Soon, however, she had composed herself and ap- proached the bedside. For a moment she paused and gazed upon the fair young form before her, with an ex- pression of infinite tenderness and love. All traces of her recent emotion had disappeared when she again began to caress the golden head. Gently inserting one hand between the pillow and the face of her charge, she turned and raised the girl's head until the blue eyes opened and met her own. Something in the look of unutterable love with which the philanthropist regarded her penetrated the con- fused perception of the girl, for she caught the hand which pressed her cheek in her own and covered it with kisses. "Oh, you look like my mother. She would not turn away from me if she were here, and you do not, al- A CITIZEN OK VENUS. 27 though I have told you I am bad. Oh, I did not mean to be bad! I did not know. They never told me. Oh, do not drive me away from you! I will do any- thing you say. I will be your slave if you will only show me how to be good !" "My poor, little, persecuted darling," said Mrs. Bell, as she continued to caress her charge, "who told you that you were bad?" "They did, my aunt and uncle, with whom I lived. They found it out last Sunday, and they told me that I was a bad woman and that they would never speak to me again, and they made me leave their house. My aunt said I had disgraced them, and my uncle said I was only lit for hell, and the quicker I went there the better. Oh, it was awful! I went to my Aunt Mary's, but my uncle came there and said if she gave me a home he would never speak to her again, and as he supports her, I had to leave there too. Then I tried to get work, but I never did anything of that kind, and people would ask for references, and I could not give any, and I was so excited and crying that they would not help me." "My poor girl!" "I slept in a doorway Sunday night, and in the morn- ing the man came and ordered me out and said he would get a policeman to take me to the station house. I walked the streets all day Monday, and last night I did not sleep at all, but I stayed in the doorway part of the night. This morning, as I was walking down Stale street. 1 saw a man's name on a sign, thai I knew 1 had met at my uncle's Bible class in Sunday-school. I went 28 LOMA. into his office and asked for him, and told him my uncle had turned me away, and asked him if there was any place I could go where Christian people helped a girl in such cases. He said there was, but that I need not go to such a place, but that I could stay with him. I asked him what he meant, and he took hold of me and tried to kiss me, and do something else which I felt was wrong, and I ran out of the office. When I left my uncle's house, I only had a dollar in my pocket, and I spent that for something to eat, and it was all gone this morning, and I was so tired and hungry, and every- body was against me, and I could not stand it to stay on the streets another night, and I went out on the pier and tried to end it all. I jumped into the lake, and then somebody pulled me out, and the gentlemen brought me here. Oh, you are so good and kind." More than one tear had fallen during this recital, from the overflowing eyes of good, motherly Mrs. Bell. Now she bent over the pillow and covered the face of the girl with kisses, while her tears flowed freely. The girl threw her arms around her neck and kissed her in response, saying, "Oh, you are so good, so kind ; you are just like my mother." "Was your mother a Christian?" "I do not know. She died when I was ten years old, before I knew much about such things. But I remem- ber my uncle quarreled with her once, because she said that she believed more in doing good than in talking so much about it." "Your uncle is a Christian?" A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 29 "Oh, yes; he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and teaches a large class in the Sunday-school. My aunt is also a teacher in the Sunday-school and is presi- dent of the missionary society. That was one thing my aunt said, that 1 had disgraced them, and unless I was driven out none of their fashionable acquaintances would call, and she could not be reelected president of the missionary society. 1 ' Mrs. Bell's lip curled for a moment, and again the expression of a fierce resolution gleamed in her eyes. But it gave way in a moment to her habitual expression of tender compassion, as she spoke to the girl. "Listen, my dear. If I tell you that I am your friend, that I love you as I would my own daughter, and that I will help you in every way, will you believe me and trust me, and do as I tell you in all things?" "Oh, madam, will you? I will do anything you say. I could trust you as I would my mother," and the girl placed her hand in Mrs. Bell's and looked appealiugly into her face. "That's a dear, sensible, good girl. Now listen. First of all, you must realize that you are not bad. That is a horrible, ignorant mistake. Your uncle is blinded by a false philosophy, and will live to regret his course toward you with bitter remorse. So will your aunt. You shall stay with me and be my daughter, and I will help you out of all your trouble. I am a physician, and my sou who brought you here is a physician and one of the best in the world. Now, put your arms around my neck and kiss me, and then go to sleep, unless you feel that vou would like to have some nourishment." 30 LOMA, "I could not eat anything now," said the girl, as she disengaged her arms from the neck of her benefactor, while a heavenly smile illumined her features. "I am too happy. This seems like heaven. I will believe it is and go to sleep and dream of you and my mother." Slowly the fringed curtains drooped over the blue eyes, and the lips parted in a smile of sweet rest from pain and sorrow. Mrs. Bell sat by the bedside until the regular breathing of her patient told that her slumber was complete. Then she arose and stood for a moment by the bedside with her eyes upraised and her hands extended as if in prayer. Her lips moved, but no sound disturbed the sleeper. For a moment she stood in an attitude of invocation, then she turned toward the sleeping girl and extended her hands over her in an attitude of benediction. Stooping to press a kiss lightly upon the brow of the sleeping girl, she noted with satisfaction that it was cool and moist. The girl's lips moved and smiled, and Mrs. Bell caught the whispered word, "Mother." The philanthropist moved noiselessly to the door of the apartment. As she passed out into the hall she met the maid. "Nora, you may lower the light in that room and take your position just outside the door. I do not think the patient will need any attention to-night, but if she awakes and makes any demonstrations, attend to her wants. If anything occurs that you cannot manage, call me at once. I shall now retire." The maid did as she was told, but not without paus- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 31 ing to cast an admiring glance in the direction of her mistress. She took her place at the door of the apart- ment, saying softly to herself, in a rich Irish brogue: "Yis, you'll retire, aftlier yon have taken all the tears away from the blissid young lady and lift her sleepin' as if it was in her own mitkor's arms she was, an' she a two-year-old baby, with niver a sin or a thronble on her white soul, at all, at all! An' sure, if the loikes of you don't go to heaven, its mesilf that's wonderin' whether there'll be any dacint people there, afther all. And Father McGinnis says you're a haytheist, an' that yer goin' straight to the divil. Ochone!" Entirely oblivions of these reflections on the part of her faithful servant, and conscious only of having per- formed a duty toward a suffering sister, Mrs. Bell reached her apartment, and laying aside her wrapper and donning a robe of snowy whiteness which was not more pure than her own good motives, she disposed herself upon her bed and was soon enjoying the peace- ful slumber which was the portion of all her household, except the faithful Nora, who remained at her post. Sleep! Gentle, restful, healing, peaceful sleep! It fell upon the great city like the brooding wings of a benevolent angel, and everywhere it carried a blessing and a benediction. The clanging bells of the cable cars and the shrieking whistles of the locomotives, the buzz of ten thousand wheels and the smiting of a thousand anvils were hushed, and tired men laid down the weap- ons of toil and temporarily forgot, their sorrows. A cool breeze, fresh from the bosom of the lake, fluttered 32 LOMA, over the tops of the houses, wound its way through the narrow and stifling streets, swept them of millions of disease-breeding germs, and deposited its burden on the green prairies of the South, where they became harm- less fertilizers to the teeming fields. And Sleep said to the breeze, "I will be your companion," and together they wandered over the great city. They visited the tenements of the poor and kissed the cheeks of half- starved children and the pinched faces of the parents, and gave them the first sensation of comfort they had felt in forty-eight hours. They penetrated the stables, and the tired horses yielded to their influence, and rested. They entered the homes of the men of busi- ness, and strong men blessed them and sank to the negative recuperation of their energies. Tired clerks inhaled the breeze, with a sense of relief, and embraced Sleep with a sigh of satisfaction. They rushed through the saloons, and weary debauchees drank the breeze, and Sleep gave them brief respite from remorse. In the brothels, weary, jaded women paused from cursing, to bless the breeze, and Sleep kissed into temporary obliv- ion, even the most depraved. But the breeze said to Sleep, ''Let us make one more visit," and they entered the mansion of a millionaire on Prairie avenue. And the breeze bore on its wings a grain of conscientiousness, and it fell into the brain of the millionaire and disturbed him. And Sleep said, "I will depart, until this man learns the way of righteous- ness." And it came to pass, that the millionaire did not sleep, and he was tortured with remorse and he A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 33 said, "Woe is me, for I have not considered the case of the unfortunate, neither have I listened to the cry <>! distress." And while he was yet meditating upon the evil of his ways, the sun arose and Sleep departed from the city, but the breeze remained to comfort the inlni hit- ants thereof. CHAPTER IV. TEIE CITIZEN OF VENUS. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreampt of in your philosophy." When Doctor Bell arose on the morning following the events recorded in the preceding chapters, his first thoughts naturally reverted to the guests who were ia such a remarkable manner placed within the courtesies of his hospitality. He arose and dressed himself at once, and, as he did so, resolved that he would follow the adventure to its finale, regardless of expense or per- sonal inconvenience. He was very sure that his mother would give to the unfortunate young woman every needed attention, so he did not concern himself about her as much as he pondered about the extraordinary character of Loma. He had just completed his toilet, when a servant appeared at his door and announced: "The gentleman in the library bedroom has just rung his bell, sir. and you left word that you were to be called." "Quite right, Thomas; I will attend to his wants my- self." The doctor proceeded at once to the library and knocked gently on the door of the bedroom to which he had conducted Loma the night before. Loma 36 LOMA, opened it, and seeing the doctor, his face was at once illumined with one of his peculiar and affectionate ex- pressions. He extended both hands to the doctor, who grasped them cordially and exclaimed: "Good morning, my dear sir. I am delighted to see you looking so well. I hope you found your quarters agreeable, and that you are fully recovered from the fatigue of your journey." "Delightful, my dear doctor. No one could fail to be refreshed in the enjoyment of such hospitality as yours, Those grapes were delicious, and I have enjoyed the bath and other conveniences to the fullest extent." "That reminds me, sir, that I came to provide for your breakfast, after which we will consider such other matters as may be necessary for your comfort. Is there anything you would specially prefer? I will have my steward provide the breakfast for both of us in the library, and then withdraw, and while we are discuss- ing the viands, I will listen to any suggestions you have to offer, in regard to any matter in which I can be of service to you." As he spoke, the doctor glanced curiously at Loma, who was standing in an easy attitude, in the state of perfect nudity, which he seemed to prefer, and at the covers of the bed, which were laid carefully over the footboard and had not been used, while the print of Loma's body was evident upon the sheet where he had rested. The elegant silk night robe had not been used, and was lying upon the chair where the doctor had placed it when he called Loma's attention to it. A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 37 Evidently his guest had considered his own comfort rather than fashion, and it was also evident that he preferred to be nude whenever he could be so with pro- priety. The doctor's quick eye also noticed, what had escaped him the night previous, that Loma's body was covered with soft, downy hair, of exquisite fineness of quality, but sufficiently copious to afford a very com- fortable covering against ordinary exposure. The color of this hair was very much lighter than that which hung in such profusion from his head, and was in fact almost the same color as his skin, which accounted for the fact that the doctor had not noticed it before. "Thank you, doctor," said Loma, "All I require for food is such fruits, vegetables and nuts as you may be able to supply without inconvenience. My only bever- age is water, and that which you so kindly served last night is superb in quality. I am aware that you are accustomed to animal food and grains, and you will not offend my taste by ordering for yourself anything which you may prefer, if you propose to entertain me with your own good company." "I will be with you in a moment," said the doctor, smiling; and quitting the room he gave his orders to an attendant, which were soon executed. In a few minutes, when the doctor again stepped to the door of Loma's apartment, he invited the latter to the library, where a delicious repast awaited them on the table, in the center of the room. A damask table-cloth had been laid, and a delicate service of silver and nil glass glittered upon the table. In baskets of solid silver 38 LOMA, were tastefully arranged apples, peaches, pears, plums and grapes. In the center of the table was a large glass urn filled with the choicest of nuts, while two smaller dishes were filled with large Florida navel oranges. Two handsomely engraved silver goblets flanked a silver water pitcher near the doctor's seat, and in a receptacle above the urn was arranged a choice bouquet of flowers. As Loma stepped into the library, the doctor placed a chair near the table and invited his guest to be seated, saying, in his usual gracious and courtly manner. "Permit me, sir, to offer you the best my resources afford. The fruits, with the exception of the oranges, are from the farm near Elgin, which I mentioned to you last night. The oranges are from another farm which I am fortunate enough to possess in Florida. For nuts, I am compelled to depend upon the Chicago market, but I trust you will find these not altogether unpalatable." "My dear doctor," said Loma, as he took his seat and began the repast, "your hospitality leaves nothing to be desired. These peaches are delicious," he continued, as he paused to inhale the aroma of a superb specimen before removing the skin. "Is it not strange that in the development of your civilization your people have not learned to apply the same principles to the develop- ment of humanity, that you have mastered so well in respect to horticulture?" "That is one of the facts which have often struck me as singular," said the doctor, as he poured out a goblet of sparkling water for Loma, and then filled the re- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 39 maining one for himself. "Yet, I have attributed it to this cause. In the evolution of intelligence, man must first become cognizant of his environment, and the facts which apply to it arc more interesting than those which more nearly concern his own individuality. As he learns more of those objects which surround him, his curiosity in that direction becomes satisfied, and he then begins to contemplate himself. It must neces- sarily follow that he will give more attention, therefore, at first, to the improvement of his environment than to the improvement of his own personal condition. For that reason, in his present stage of development, man gives greater attention to the improvement of horti- cultural products, and even to his own domestic ani- mals, than he does to the improvement of himself. There is another reason, and that is that these prod- ucts are immediately marketable, and therefore as at present man is largely dominated by his acquisitiveness, he expends his energies in improving that which he can convert into money in a very short time. He en- tirely overlooks the fact that human intelligence and superiority are the final and most powerful factors in prosperity, but to comprehend this would require a depth of philosophical reasoning of which our people are, alas, sadly incapable. But the trend of our best minds is now in this direction, and many movements are on foot having for (heir ostensible' end the improve- ment of the race. Of course these movements are cha- otic and conflicting, but thai is t<> be expected in the beginning of any great stage <>f evolution. I am confi- 40 LOMA, dent that the close of the present century will witness a marked advance along this line of thought." Loma had paused in his dissection of the peach, and had listened to the doctor with interest and admiration depicted upon his fine countenance. He now spoke with enthusiasm. "Your remarks, my dear friend, have shown you to be the philosopher you are reputed to be in my country. I am delighted to be the guest of a man who is capable of viewing things as they are, and of solving, in a meas- ure, the problems which stand in the way of advance- ment. When we have finished this delightful repast, and have gathered from it the strength we shall both require to comprehend the situation, I shall take pleas- ure in enlightening you concerning myself." Loma continued his breakfast with the air of a man who has an important mission to perform in which he evidently took great delight. There was an air of suppressed excitement in his manner, which, neverthe- less, detracted nothing from the superb dignity which he always maintained. Doctor Bell regarded him with respectful curiosity and great interest. He had never been in the presence of such a man before, and he was certain, as he considered all that had happened since their first meeting on the pier, that he was confronted with the most remarkable episode that had ever oc- curred in his experience. He had thoroughly resolved to be equal to any emergency, and he was prepared for any extraordinary phenomenon which might develop itself in the premises. P>ut he could not suppress the A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 41 feeling that something was about to occur which would transcend the usual line of events, and he awaited the conversation of his guest with intense interest. Having finished his breakfast with evident relish and appreciation, Lonia arose from his seat and stood be- fore the doctor with folded arms. The latter regarded him with fixed attention. Loma's eyes blazed with a strange luster, and as he stood looking into the face of the physician, the expression of his countenance was animated, sincere and enthusiastic. Doctor Bell was impressed with the volume of intelligence which seemed to flash from the eyes of Loma, and his first impression was, that whatever the extraordinary man before him should say, would be true. In fact, the doctor had already noted as one of the peculiarities of the man his power of seeming to compel belief. "Doctor Bell," said Loma, impressively, after a brief pause, ''are you prepared to receive a most unusual declaration from me, and to receive it with the same degree of candor with which I deliver it?" "I am," replied the physician, still regarding his guest with fixed attention. "The events which I have already observed have in a measure prepared me for the recep- tion of still further surprising phenomena, and even if that were lacking, your own personal character is such that I would be compelled to treat with respectful con- sideration anything which you might feel disposed to communicate. I am deeply interested, even impatient, to see or hear anything which you may have to offer, and T have sufficient confidence in you io believe, that 42 . LOMA, what you have to disclose, however surprising, will stand any test which I, as a scientific investigator, may be disposed to apply." "Thank you, doctor. Your confidence is appreciated, and I will proceed upon the plane of perfect candor. I will now give you my residence, which I, for reasons which you will perfectly understand, withheld from you last night. Doctor Bell, I am LOMA, A citizen of Venus. "Of Venus?" "Yes, sir, of Venus. The beautiful star which il- lumined the western heavens last evening, which you have studied through your telescope with the interest of an astronomer, was until last evening, a moment be- fore we met, my home and abiding place. I arrived upon this planet at the precise moment that the young woman who is now enjoying your hospitality in another apartment touched the waters of Lake Michigan in the mad attempt to end her existence, which we both wit- nessed. Strange as it may appear to you, our meeting un- der such peculiar circumstances was not accidental, but in accordance with the plan of certain great events which have been arranged by forces entirely unknown to you and to her, but in which you are both destined to play important parts. My own position in this important drama is that of an humble agent of the aforesaid pow- ers, but a position of which I am extremely proud. I am intrusted with a commission fraught with conse- quences of the greatest moment to the inhabitants of this planet, for the execution of which I am directed A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 43 to rely upon your assistance. It may be a source of satisfaction and pride to you, sir, to know, that, from the moment of your conception in your mother's womb, you have been selected by the powers to which I refer as the person to aid me in this enterprise, as I was se- lected from an equally important moment for its prose- cution. The credit for the selection, in each case, is due to our excellent mothers, who, by conforming to the most perfect conditions of gestation and subse- quent education, endowed us each with the requisite powers for the successful consummation of the most important service ever rendered to mankind." As Loma finished this declaration, he extended his hands and clasped those of the doctor, in a fervid and enthusiastic grasp. The doctor returned his grasp with enthusiasm, and while he thrilled under the mag- netism of Loma, which for the moment seemed to be of more than its former intensity, he felt that he himself was glowing with a corresponding emanation, which the association of Loma seemed to have suddenly called out. He was conscious of the most delicious sensations and he surrendered himself to them without reserve. He could not help believing every word spoken by Loma, but the disclosure was so wonderful that he was confused and bewildered. Loma noticed this and said: "Compose yourself, my dear friend, and let me give you the substance of my narrative, as you arc able to receive it. In the meantime, if you will drink tliis gob- let of water which T have charged with certain mac- 44 . LOMA, netic conditions not known to your therapeutics, you will be considerably strengthened." As Loma spoke, he handed the doctor one of the gob- lets which he had filled, and which he had held for a moment under the palm of his hand. The doctor drank it, and as he did so noted that it had a strange aroma and flavor, and that it sparkled unusually. As he drank it he felt his excitement subside, his senses be- came perfectly collected, and he awaited the further disclosures of Loma with the cool interest of a scientist and philosopher. "I am astonished at what you say," he said to Loma, as the latter resumed his seat; "but I am prepared to follow you through your entire statement, and to re- ceive such arguments and proofs as you may desire to submit." "That is what I have expected from a man of your caliber," said Loma, admiringly, "and I will proceed. Know, then, that it is a part of the economy of the Universe, that each planet shall, at certain intervals, not regular as to time, but determined by the progress of development, receive from that planet in the same solar system which precedes it in development, certain impulses, which are accomplished b}' the translation of germs from the preceding planet to the succeeding. These germs are translated by an electro-magnetic process, which I am not at liberty to disclose, for the reason that this planet has not yet reached that stage of development at which it would be practicable for men to use it. It is sufficient for me to say, that, when A CITIZEX OF VENUS. 45 it becomes necessary for a germ to be translated, a proper vehicle is provided, and the genus are trans- lated from the first planet to the second with the same rapidity that a dispatch could be sent if a telegraph line were established between them. It is in this way that vegetation first appears upon any planet, and later that the various forms of life are evolved. In each case the parent germs are deposited upon the planet from the planet preceding it in development. The planet Venus, being the precedent of the earth, is the source of supply for the germs of all the developments which you have. The operation of this law has been known in Venus for many centuries, and our scientists have watched with great interest the outcome of the many varieties of germs that have been, from time to time, translated from our planet to yours. The law of trans- lation not being recognized on this planet, you have re- mained in ignorance of it, and have not even known the effect of the translations of vegetation which have been made to Mars from the earth, which is the precedent of Mars. These translations have been going on from re- motest time, and you have long since received all of the varieties of germs of vegetation which are known upon our planet, but they have not reached an equal stage of development. The same fact is time of the animal germs and the germs of humanity. What remains to be translated now are germs of thought, and of such 1 am the honored custodian. In obedience to the great law of development of which I have spoken, the time has arrived when it has become necessary for the fur- 46 LOMA, ther progress of your civilization, that certain germs of thought should be translated from our planet to yours, which, taking root here, will marvelously accel- erate your advancement. In the accomplishment of this design I. am the vehicle of certain thoughts which I am commissioned to deliver upon this planet. To en- able them to take root and accomplish the purpose of the powers which sent me, it is necessary that they should be planted in fruitful soil and cultivated with the utmost solicitude «md intelligence. The beautiful young female whom we caught from the bosom of Lake Michigan last night has been destined from the first moment of her existence to be the receptacle of the germs which I am commissioned to plant. Yourself, your honored mother, and such other persons as we shall hereafter take into our confidence, are the hus- bandmen who will cultivate and disseminate these germs of living truth." "This is magnificent," exclaimed the doctor. "I think I understand the outline of the plan, but there are some questions I would like to ask." "As many as you please." "How does it happen that your planet Venus is the precedent of the earth? Our astronomers have dis- cussed that question to a great extent, and they are generally agreed that Venus is a younger planet than the earth. In fact, one of the most eminent observers has recently declared that Mars is the planet which precedes ours in development, and that our advance- ment does in some measure depend upon the study of A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 47 conditions upon its surface. An animated discussion has recently been carried on as to the possibility of communicating with the astronomers of Mars, and vari- ous plans have been suggested, but nothing as yet has seemed practical." ''There are no astronomers on Mars," said Loma, smil- ing, "and if your observers should succeed in divining the true condition of affairs on that planet they would get more information as to the condition of matters on this planet hundreds of centuries ago. Your as- tronomers are, as a rule, brilliant and astute men, but they have utterly failed to understand the true rule of progression, because they have ignored the primal laws of genesis, which govern the production of stars, as well as of planets, animals and human beings. Ig- noring these laws, they have been led into fatal errors as to the origin and nature of the stars themselves, as well as the effects produced by one star upon another, hence their conceptions of the causes of solar heat and light are totally erroneous." "It is commonly supposed," said the doctor, "that, Venus being at least twenty-five million miles closer to the blazing mass of the sun than we are, the increase in the amount of heat received would be sufficient to pre- clude the possibility of any form of life with which we are familiar existing upon its surface." "Here, again, your astronomers are in error. The sun is not a blazing mass, nor does it radiate heat or light. The conditions upon Venus are so nearly like those upon this planet that in my sudden transition to 48 LOMA. this earth I have experienced no inconvenience what- ever. If you could be as suddenly removed to the sur- face of Venus as I have been from Venus to earth, you would find yourself in a region in which the physical characteristics are so similar that you would be in- sensible to the change, did you not observe the radical difference in the inhabitants and their accomplish- ments. In these latter respects we are many centuries in advance of you in the development of humanity and all that that implies. "I will now proceed to explain the cause. Stars and planets are the product of growth, as is every other object with which we are familiar. If the sun were a blazing mass, as you have supposed, and the planets simply cooled cinders, according to the popular hy- pothesis, the process of combustion would have en- tirely devitalized them, and being dead themselves, they would be incapable of sustaining life. On the contrary, the planets of each solar system are living organs, of which the central sun is the parent, and they are pro- jected into space according to the operation of the same law which governs the gestation and projection of every other object. The grand principles of sex are the potencies which produce this result. You are familiar with the operations of the male and female principles, as expressed in plants and animals. The same princi- ples are expressed in the operation of creation through- out the universe. Stars are generated continuously from a prime potential source in which the genitive factors are space, matter, omnipresence, limitation, per- A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 49 sistency, consistency, continuance and divisibility. The first two of these factors, to-wit, space and matter, con- stitute the prime source, the male and female princi- ples, from which all creation is derived. Space is nega- tive, matter is positive. Space is female, matter is male. Space is omnipresent, persistent and continu- ous. Matter is limited, consistent and divisible. The eternal affinity which exists between these negative and positive principles produces worlds, stars and solar systems, as well as the most minute forms of growth of every organism which exists. "Your astronomers and philosophers say that nature abhors a vacuum. The true statement of this princi- ple is that matter loves space. Wherever unoccupied space exists, matter tries to fill it. The omnipresence of space and the limitation of matter makes this a never-ending struggle, which produces all the phe- nomena of growth. The constant mutations of matter are the result of its eternal effort to occupy space. "By virtue of the genderic degree of state with which space, matter, omnipresence and limitation are en- dowed, like degrees of genitive passion are generated among them. The negative degree of this genitive pus sion is ever generated in unoccupied space, and we call it electricity. The positive degree is ever generated from all matter, and we call it magnetism. In other words, electricity is the love of space for mailer and magnetism is the love or passion of matter for space. It is therefore evident that the entire creation is founded on love as its great creative principle, and Hint when 50 LOMA, man places himself in harmony with the universal law of love, his advancement is as rapid as growth is pos- sible. -"It follows from the principles that I have announced that the stars and planets, being composed of matter, are all masculine. You are doubtless familiar with the fact, that all genesis proceeds by the successive steps of impregnation, incubation and parturition. The pas- sion of the male produces a germ, which is deposited in the female, who nourishes it during the period of in- cubation, when final parturition endows it with a sep- arate life. "The sun may, therefore, be properly recognized as the male parent of all the planets within this solar system, as space is the female parent. The grand pas- sion of the sun for the space which surrounds him, has caused him at various intervals to produce the germs of the planets, which, as they have matured within his substance, have been deposited by him, in the fervency of his love for space, within the broad womb of her maternal receptivity, w 7 here they have been nourished by her during their respective periods of incubation. This nourishment is derived from the immense quantity of matter which space constantly holds as a product of the disintegration which is continually resulting from the depletion and death of planets and stars. This product, orginally devitalized, is regenerated with her electricity after an inconceivable period of time, and being brought into contact with a germ from the sun which is glowing with magnetism, a mutual attraction A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 51 results which causes them (<> unite. This beautiful phenomenon is visible to you every night of the year. A meteor, which is simply the fragment of a (lend planet, long held in the embrace of Space, and by her reduced to a condition in which electricity preponder- ates over magnetism, but still retaining some magnet- ism, comes within the attraction of the center of elec- trical receptivity of the earth, which is simply one of the living germs still requiring nourishment. The re- ceptivity of the earth attracts this meteor, and finding an affinity for its remnant of magnetism, it rushes to the embrace of the earth, and in doing so, encounters the resistance of the earth's magnetism and atmos- phere, which fuses it and causes it to dissipate itself by the fervency of its own passion. It will become incorporated into the earth's substance and will remain until it is again thrown off by some other manifestation of the eternal energy of the passion of matter for space. "Meteors and asteroids are the fragments of dead planets, held in solution by space. The asteroids and meteors which we encounter are the fragments of dead members of our solar system which have not entirely disintegrated, hence the fragments retain the original orbits in effect. Space holds an immense quantity of matter which is entirely dissolved, and is therefore absorbed without any phenomena whioh is visible to our senses, as the meteor is, after it has been entirely fused in our atmosphere. As the sun gives out his energy in new generations of planet germs and magnetism, he is constantly depleting him 52 LOMA, self, and will ultimately die, when a large portion of his substance will remain, to be disintegrated by decompo- sition in the form of a comet, as in the case with all dead bodies. Comets are simply the decomposing bodies of dead worlds, glowing with the phosphores- cence which always accompanies decomposition. The planets will continue to grow until the3 T have reached the full limit of their vitality, which is only measured by the quantity of nourishment which space holds in the regions in which they move, and their inherent ab- sorbing power, which is an inheritance from their par- ents, space and matter, and which is decided by the conditions of space and matter under which they were generated, precisely as the vitality of any earthly child depends upon the conditions of his parents at the mo- ment of conception. "The moon is an example of a planet germ in the process of incubation, as are all the moons of the plan- ets Jupiter, Saturn, etc. While a planet germ is in the period of incubation, it has no atmosphere and no di- urnal motion. These limitations as to atmosphere and diurnal motion correspond to the limitations which you see imposed upon all germs during the process of incubation. The young chicken in the egg does not breathe, nor does it manifest the motions which after- birth enable it to manifest life. Atmosphere is the breath of a planet. Diurnal motion is the regular manifestation of its functionality. "Star and planet germs, like all others, have their vicissitudes. Some may be devitalized during the pe- riod of incubation; some are destroyed by the opposi- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 53 tion of superior forces, and some live out the full period of their existence. "From this brief statement of the nature and effed of genesis in the solar system, it follows, as von would readily infer from the observation of growth in other forms, that those products of gestation which lie near- est to the parent are the oldest. Some of the older children of our sun, which originally lay nearer to him than Mercury, have already died and have been decom- posed into their original elements, and are now held in solution in the everlasting anus of space. Mercury is the oldest living member of our solar family, and from him, as from an older brother to younger members of the same family, there is a constant radiation of mag- netism, containing germs of good will and progress, toward all the younger planets. "Venus ranks next in order, and there is from him a constant emanation of these germs to other and younger planets. There is also a form of reciprocal affection, exercised from a younger planet toward an older one, but as it does not imply the transmission of progressive germs, it does not concern us to consider that at this time. "It is in obedience to this great law of the transla- tion of germs from an older planet to a younger one, that I have been sent to this planet, to deliver the thoughts which by careful impression and education have been implanted in my brain, and have readied the proper stage of growth to be transplanted to the brain of an inhabitant of this planet. How (his shall be ac- complished, I will now proceed to explain." CHAPTER V. THE MISSION OF LOMA. "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory." Loma had held the undivided attention of his listener during the foregoing narrative. In fact, Doctor Bell had never heard from human lips as brilliant and lucid an explanation of the phenomena which for years had possessed for him all the fascination of an absorbing study. In a few brief words, Loma had set before him a complete and reasonable solution of the greatest problems of astronomy, and many which he had con- sidered as practically unknowable were now made per- fectly clear. The philosophy itself would have charmed him if the ideas had been crudely expressed by an unin- teresting person. But the faultless language of Loma, his superb manner and his magnetic and convincing delivery, combined with the absolute reasonableness of all he had uttered, raised the doctor to an ecstasy of enthusiasm. "My dear Loma," he exclaimed as the latter paused in his narrative, "this is a transcendent experience. You convince me that all you say is true, and yet it contains a perfect demolition of all our cherished the- (55) 56 LOMA, ories. But I am impatient to know how you, at a dis- tance of twenty-five million miles, came to be acquaint- ed with my existence, and also with the existence and destiny of the young female whom you say has been selected for the high office of receiving the germs of thought which you are to implant. Moreover, how does it happen that you, a citizen of a world many centuries in advance of this one, are so perfectly ac- quainted with the language which we speak on this planet." "Nothing is easier," replied Loma. "You are doubt- less familiar with the crude phenomena of clairvoyance, as practiced here. Well, in our world we have devel- oped this power to such a degree that it is entirely pos- sible for our adepts to see what is transpiring on anoth- er planet with far greater ease and much more satis- factory results than your best clairvoyants here can discern what is transpiring in another city. In that way we have not only learned at what time you are ripe for the reception of other germs, but the precise conditions and locality in which to plant them. Your conditions, as well as those of your excellent mother, and of the young female who is, at this moment, receiv- ing her ministrations, have been carefully noted, and at the proper time our meeting has occurred. In the same way, knowing that it was my high destiny to be the bearer of the germs of thought to her and to you, it has been a part of my training to prepare myself thoroughly in your language and literature." "In what way, may I ask, are you to impress her A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 57 with the thoughts which von are" commissioned to deliver?" "In order that you may properly understand my answer to that question, it will be necessary for you to know more of her history, which you will, of course, understand has been known to me for many years, and you may imagine with what affectionate interest I have followed all the details of its development. In brief, her history is as follows: She is the daughter of Charles Burnham, a teacher and writer of great ability, and a man of spotless integrity, who died in this city in 1878, when Myrtle was three years old. Her mother, a beautiful and supremely cultured woman, survived him seven years, when she also died, and little Myrtle was taken by her mother's brother, who became guardian for the small property which Myrtle inherited from her parents and which was ex- hausted in her education, which has been quite exten- sive. She is an accomplished linguist and musician, and has inherited all of the superb talents of her father as a teacher and writer. Her uncle and aunt, with whom she has resided until three days ago, are well meaning people, but the victims of the false philosophy of that form of Christianity which is expressed in the strictest form of Presbyterianisrn. It is one of the curiosities of the Christian religion, as it is practiced on this planet, that it condemns to social ostracism, star- vation and contumely every female who imitates the example of the mother of the man they worship as < rod. "Abonl one year ago, Myrtle became acquainted with 58 LOMA, a most excellent young man, by the name of Albert Caldwell, who was a member of a literary society of which she was secretary. They were complete com- plements of each other's natures, and the acquaintance inevitably ripened into love. They were engaged to be married, and the wedding was set for the twelfth of June. As is customary, the young people were accus- tomed to spend much time in each other's society, and they indulged freely in kisses and caresses, and other demonstrations of affection. Myrtle is a superbly sexed young woman, and the excitement of her lover's ca- resses brought on a degree of sexual passion which neither of them could control. Believing that they were perfectly safe, and having perfect confidence in each oth- er, they participated several times in the act of coition. It is hardly necessary for me to say, doctor, that this was the result of forces which were entirely beyond their control and a preparation for the events which are to follow in connection with my mission. Albert was entirely honorable in his intentions, and would have killed himself before he would have permitted any harm to come to his sweetheart through his rashness. In one of these acts of coition, in which her sexual pas- sion and her love for her betrothed found its most complete and full expression, she conceived the son with which she is now pregnant, and which is now in the fourth month of incubation. On the eleventh day of June Albert was killed in an accident on a cable car in the La Salle street tunnel as he was on his way to visit Myrtle. The girl bore this calamity bravely, although A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 59 her heart was almost broken. She had, however, ow- ing to the buoyancy of her temperament, practically recovered from this grief when she began to discover the changes in her organization which are familiar to you as the first indications of pregnancy. It is only fair to remark, in this connection, that up to the pres- ent time she has had no instruction whatever in the mysteries of physiology, her aunt and uncle, and nearly all others of that faith, regarding such instruction as the height of indecency, and unfit for a virgin to even have mentioned in her presence. As a consequence, when Myrtle cohabited with her lover she was totally ignorant of the consequences, and in her innocence and ignorance, when she began to notice the changes which are the symptoms of pregnancy, she went to her aunt, to whom she naturally looked for advice and instruc- tion, and asked her what it meant. Imagine her dis- may, when her aunt had, by a few shrewd questions, discovered the truth, which Myrtle made no effort to conceal, when she was informed that she was an out- cast from the comfortable home in which she had been reared, and that those to whom she had been accus- tomed to look for protection were now her most bitter enemies, following her with a mercilessness which even prevented her from being harbored by another relative who was more compassionate. Driven from shelter, bounded by those who should have been her protectors, insulted by a lecherous scoundrel and rebuffed by every- body with whom she came in contact, after (wo nights and three days of despair, she sought rest in the waters 60 LOMA, of Lake Michigan, and found it in the sympathizing bosom of your family." "Thanks to your opportune appearance, and your su- perb rescue," interrupted the doctor. "All of which was for a purpose," resumed Loma. "My appearance at that moment was in obedience to a natural law which I had no power to resist and in ful- fillment of my destiny and yours. "For the accomplishment of my mission in the trans lation of germs of thought, the following conditions are necessary: First, there must be a vehicle, sent from the precedent planet to the succeedent, as I have already explained. I am the vehicle, and the thougnis are in my possession. "Second, there must be a young and impressionable female who is in a state of pregnancy, and advanced as far as the fourth month, at which time it is possible for her to impress her offspring with the germs of thought which she may receive from conversation with the per- son who bears the germs to her in that manner. "Third, the offspring with which she is pregnant must be of such superior quality, and she herself must be such an impressionable medium of communication between her instructor and her offspring, that the best possible results may be obtained from the process. "I am delighted to state that in the present case all of these requirements are met, and that the offspring with which Myrtle Burnham is pregnant is as perfect as it is possible for human beings at this stage of the world's progress to produce. Her boy will be a com- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 61 plete reproduction of all her own good qualities, resem- bling his mother in form and feature, reinforced by a superb vitality from Iris father, and such other and further excellencies as I shall be able to impress upon him with your assistance. Being conceived in the pur- est expression of love, at a time when both his parents were in the best possible condition, he will develop into a. teacher and writer, the like of which has never been seen upon this earth, for he himself will be pregnant with great truths, the utterance of which will revolu- tionize society." Doctor Bell could no longer contain himself. He embraced Loma with all the ardor of his affectionate nature, exclaiming, "It is grand! Magnificent! Suit- lime! My entire personal resources and services are at your disposal for the accomplishment of this noble pur- pose. But tell me, dear friend, why have I been hon- ored by being selected to aid you in your grand mission?" "You have furnished a practical answer to your own question, my dear 1 not her," said Loma. "Your own su- perb character, inherited from the best of mothers, your advanced and liberal ideas, your magnificent gen- erosity, and your ample fortune, which you eminently deserve, have all combined to make you the one man of all the world, capable and worthy to aid me in this, the grandest of all enterprises." "I am yours to command, at any sacrifice," exclaimed the doctor, "lint before we terminate this interesting conversation, T wish to ask you a few more questions, 62 LOMA, You have stated that the sun does not radiate light or heat. I should infer, therefore, that the sun, like this earth, is a world, perhaps having substantially similar physical characteristics, and only differing from this earth in the fact of being older and larger by growth, as earthly parents are older and larger by growth than their infant progeny. Am I correct?" "Precisely." "How, then, do you account for the phenomena of light and heat which seem to be developed by the sun's rays as soon as he rises above the horizon?" "You, of course, understand, from what I have al- ready said, that the sun, being a living organ, composed of matter, is radiating constantly an emanation of mag- netism, which, having a natural affinity for space, penetrates space as far as his influence is capable of making itself felt. Of course a certain amount of this magnetism strikes that side of the earth which is presented to the sun." "Certainly." "Now, coldness is the phenomenon of electricity and composure. Hotness is the phenomenon of magnetism and fervency. Darkness is the phenomenon of recep- tivity and gravity, while light is the phenomenon of radiation and vibration. To be more explicit, in the ratio in which electricity and composure dominate over magnetism and fervency, we have coldness as a result; hence it is colder on that side of the earth which is turned away from the sun, because there is no mag- netism striking that side, and it is in a state of com- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 63 posure. On the other side, that is, the side next to the sun, the rays of magnetism are striking- the atmosphere of the earth and penel rating to its surface, and Ave have magnetism dominating over electricity, and heat is produced, and it is more intense as the ray is more vertical or direct. The heat, therefore, which our con- sciousness ascribes to the sun is really generated in the atmosphere of the earth, by the magnetism of the sun striking a resisting medium. The proof of this is found in the fact that the higher we ascend into the atmosphere of the earth the colder it becomes, because as the atmosphere becomes more rare the sun ray is less restrained. Beyond the outer atmospheric limits, heat is impossible until another atmosphere is reached. "Darkness is exhibited in the ratio that receptivity and gravity dominate over radiation and vibration. Conversely, light is exhibited in the ratio in which radiation and vibration dominate over receptivity and gravity. Consequently, on that side of the earth upon which we have the radiation of the sun's magnetism, and the vibrations of the atmosphere caused thereby . we have light. Beyond the outer limits of the atmos- phere, light is as impossible as heat, until another atmosphere is reached. "This explains why, as I have said, there is no reason for supposing that the sun is a blazing mass. This conception grows out of the impression produced upon the consciousness, which is a totally unreliable guide. It is just as absurd to believe that the earth is fiat, yet, until science proved the contrary, such was the uni- versal belief." 64 LOMA, "Recent experiments have certainly shown, that the higher we go in balloon ascensions, and the closer we get to the outer limits of the atmosphere, the darker and colder it becomes,"' said the doctor. "Certainly," said Loma. "Now, if the observer at high altitude had a mirror, if your commonly accepted hypothesis were correct, he should be able to reflect as bright an image of the sun as he can at the surface of the earth. We know this is not the case; and if he were beyond the outer limits of the atmosphere, he could not get any image at all, for under such condi- tions light and heat are both impossible." "But," said the doctor musingly, "if such is the case, how does it happen that light is developed on the sur- face of the moon which has no atmosphere?" "There is no light or heat from the sun, developed on the moon. The rays of the sun's magnetism which strike the surface of the moon are reflected to this earth, and passing into our atmosphere produce light, which enables us to form an image of the moon. But if an observer could be translated to the center of the apparently illuminated surface of the moon, he would find himself in total darkness and absolute cold, as far as the sun is concerned. All the heat which the moon has is internal heat generated by its own fervency of magnetic passion, which is very small comparatively until it passes from incu- bation to actual activity. Then it will form an atmosphere, and the magnetism of the earth, acting through the laws we have just discussed, will A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 65 give it light and heat, as the sun gives light and heat to the earth. When the sun dies, there will be no per- ceptible diminution of heat and light on the moon, for the earth will be the source of its supply. "Our solar center, the sun, has heat and light on its surface, developed by its parent, a super-solar center, around which our sun revolves. This super-solar cen- ter is too remote for us to determine whether it has a revolution around an extra-super-solar center or not. It is probable that it has, but if our super-solar center is the center of a complete stellar system, which is true, if its more remote ancestors are dead, then this super-solar center is enshrouded in perpetual and almost total darkness and frigidity, for although radi- ating magnetism itself, it is receiving none,except from very remote stars, which would, of course, afford the same quantity of starlight we receive, but hardly an appreciable degree of heat. When it has become de- pleted and has expired, then our sun and all his brother suns who revolve around the same super-solar center will become centers of complete stellar systems, and will be perpetually shrouded in darkness and frigidity. But they will continue to animate their children with the radiation of their magnetisms until they in turn are depleted. When this finally occurs, this earth will have grown by accretion, as I have already described, to the dimensions of its parent, our present sun, more or less, according to the conditions of its existence, as is exhibited in all other growths. In the light of this philosophy, the destinies of your father, the earth, and 66 LOMA, my father. Venus, are something glorious to eon- template." "Why do you say 'father?' " inquired the doctor. "Because each world is masculine, being composed of matter,'' replied Loma. "Space is the universal mother of us all " "This is a sublime philosophy," exclaimed Doctor Bell. "My dear Loma, you have in one brief interview given me a better grasp of the mysteries of astronomy than I have been able to obtain in years of study. I will not press you with more questions at this time, but will take immediate measures to secure your personal comfort Now, what is your pleasure in regard to your clothing and the employment of your time?" "I am not accustomed to the use of clothing of any kind," said Loma. "In Venus we have long since out- grown the barbarism of that practice. A very large per cent, of disease which afflicts the inhabitants of this planet is due to the habit of wearing the absurd costumes which are seen on your streets. Moreover, the outrageous belief that the exposure of the human form is indecent is responsible for most of the sexual crimes which afflict your civilization." "I have long believed that to be true," said the doctor, "and my mother, who is one of the purest and best of women, from my infancy has inculcated the same doctrine. She, my father and myself, always enjoyed the luxury of a sunbath in the conservatory, which my father built for the purpose and which I shall be pleased to introduce you to. Here in my home, sur- A CITIZEN OF VENUS 67 rounded by my faithful servants, all of whom owe their lives to my professional services in some way or anoth- er, we are perfectly safe in the prosecution of any actions which we may deem conducive to health or morality, without consulting our neighbors. But if you expect to visit other localities, it will be necessary to conform, to some extent at lenst, to the customs of those who are not as far advanced as ourselves, in or der to avoid unpleasant consequences." "That is true, and in the immediate future we will give that subject proper consideration. If you will give me the freedom of the conservatory you mention, and the use of your library, T shall be perfectly com- fortable. Tn the meantime, T desire to cultivate the acquaintance of your mother and Myrtle. I greatly prefer to meet them as I am, for it is intolerable to me that their first impressions of myself should be asso- ciated with the ridiculous effects which would be pro- duced if I were attired in any of the fantastic costumes which have come to be regarded as a part of the per- sonality of your citizens." "My mother will be delighted to meet you," said the doctor, rising. "And now, if you will excuse me, I will attend for a few hours to other duties. I will join you again in time for lunch, and in the interim I will have arranged for your complete entertainment. With your permission, I will now conduct you to the conservatory, where you may entertain yourself until I can again avail myself of your delightful companionship." 68 LOMA. So saying the doctor took Loma by the arm and con- ducted him to the second floor of his residence. At the top of a broad flight of steps he unlocked a large door, and a scene of surpassing beauty delighted the expectant eyes of the citizen of Venus. CHAPTER VI. THE ANNUNCIATION. "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!" When Myrtle Burnham opened her eyes on the day following her attempted suicide, it was with an ex- quisite sense of rest, luxury and safety. The treatment she had received at the hands of Doctor Bell and his mother, the gracious sympathy of the latter, and above all the impression that she was now with friends upon whom she could rely, filled the mind of the girl with hope and thankfulness. The events of the three pre- ceding days were too severe and momentous for her to understand, and she did not attempt it. She only knew, that, whereas, she had before felt like a hunted fawn, pursued by dogs and harassed by enemies, she now had a delicious sense of protection, comfort and congenial association. It is one of the curious facts of human constitution, that the most delightful sensa- tions are those which immediately ensue upon the relief of pain. Myrtle was now experiencing one of these reactions. When she entered the room in which she was now lying, she was in a state of complete collapse, caused by fear, exhaustion and shock. Under the kind (G9) 70 LOMA, and intelligent ministrations of Mrs. Bell these painful impressions had passed away, and she had sunk into a delightful slumber, or rather an ecstasy of relief, in which all consciousness became lost in a succession of dreamy impressions of goodness. This was succeeded by a heavy slumber which lasted until after 12 o'clock noon, when nature asserted herself, and she slowly awoke to a comprehension of her situation. For a long time she lay with her eyes closed, while the events of the past three days and nights passed slowly in review before her mental vision. Her conversation with her aunt, the horror of her expulsion, her adventures on the street, her attempted suicide and her rescue by Loma and the doctor, seemed to her like the phantasmagoria of an awful dream. They did not disturb her, and so complete was her sense of present safety that they merely formed a dark background to the sweeter im- pressions of her interview with Mrs. Bell. Slowly the blue eyes opened, and as she became accustomed to the dim light which came through win- dows which had been carefully shaded by the faithful Nora, in order that her sleep might last as long as pos- sible, Myrtle became conscious of the fact that she was lying in a sumptuously furnished apartment, the ap- pointments of which reflected luxury, combined with exquisite taste. Every incident of the furnishings seemed to be a part of a harmonious assemblage of restf ulness, comfort and hospitality. Myrtle was so completely impressed with this fact that she abandoned herself once more to the sense of luxury and safety A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 71 which overwhelmed her, and turning over in the bed, which seemed to be itself charged with a benediction, she sighed: "Oh, this is heaven itself." "Are yez awake, darlint," said a pleasant voice, and opening her eyes once more, Myrtle recognized the face of the maid who had attended her the night before. "Oh, yes, and T have had such a delightful dream. Oh, this is so nice, and you are all so kind." "Bless your swate face, who could be unkind to the likes of you. It wouldn't be Nora O'Grady, an' bad 'cess to the likes of them that ever caused you the trouble that brought the tears to your swate eyes last night. But yez are all right now. Would yez like to slape some more, or will I be afther helpin' ye with yer twiletf "Thank you, Nora; you may wash my face if you like, and comb my hair, before that dear lady comes in who was here last night. I presume she is your mis- tress." "Indade she is, an' sure its mesilf wouldn't be livin' to-day, if it wasn't for her and the doctor, her son, he is. Ah! but he's the swate gintleman! an' sure, all he has to do is to look at a body, and they gets well in spite of themselves, I'm thinkin'." Amused at the intense loyalty of the maid, but at the same time mentally conceding that the praise was well placed, Myrtle submitted to her manipulations with a further sense of sympathy and comfort. When Nora had bathed her face, and had bound back her luxurious 72 LOMA, tresses with a ribbon, she paused and looked admiring- ly into Myrtle's face and said with genuine Irish appro- bativeness : "There now, you look as if you were ready to meet the finest lady in the land, an' sure that's what's comin'. Oh! but isn't your hair purty. But the missus left orders, as how I was to get your breakfast as soon as ye waked up, an' if yez like, I'll be after gettin' it at wanst." "Thank you, Nora. I am really hungry, I believe. I did not eat anything yesterday, and I begin to feel as though I would enjoy a breakfast." The maid withdrew, and in a few moments returned with a tray containing a tempting arrangement of sim- ple food. A dish of toast, a small piece of steak, done to a turn, an omelet and a small urn filled with steam- ing liquid, all delicately served in beautifully decorated small dishes. A bunch of Concord grapes and an orange completed the repast, which Myrtle regarded with the interest of an artist. "This is delicious," she exclaimed as Nora poured out a cup of the liquid from the urn. "What is this, Nora? It is not coffee." "That's restoria," said Nora. "It's something Mrs. Bell invented a long time ago, and we all like it. Sure, you'll never get a drink of coffee in this house. They don't have anything here that's any harm to any one. There's no liquor in the cookin', nor in the house, for that matter, and the missus wouldn't let me cousin, what comes to see me, light bis pipe in the back yard. A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 73 The whole premises, as the doctor calls 'em, is sacred to health and goodness, he says, and sure it's himself that does be spakin' the truth, for not a bit of sickness has any of the family or the servants had since I've known 'em, and that be six years, come next Christ- mas." While Nora was thus volubly sounding the praises of her employers, Myrtle finished her breakfast and leaned back against the pillows of the luxurious bed, with a delightful consciousness of strength regained. Nora removed the tray, and said: "Now, I'll go to tell the missus, that yez have had a good breakfast, and that yer as well and as smilin' as a basket of chips." Nora departed, and Myrtle awaited the coming of Mrs. Bell with an impatience born of love and grati- tude. Nora had opened one of the windows, and the sunlight was streaming in and falling in a broad ray across the bed. To the mind of the girl, raised so sud- denly from the darkest despair to the brightest of hope, it seemed a promise of happiness, and she felt her whole being warmed with the magnetism of its rays. While she was breathing a prayer of thankfulness and hope, the door opened and Mrs. Bell advanced to the bedside. Myrtle threw up her arms, and clasping her benefactress about the neck, kissed her again and again, finally burying her face ou her shoulder and bursting into a Hood of tears. "()li, l love you so! T love you so!" she exclaimed when her emotion had calmed sufficiently for her to 74 LOMA, speak. "I am so happy, and I have had such sweet dreams. My mother came to me last night and kissed me and told me not to fear anything in the future. She said that you would be my mother here on earth, and that I should love you and trust you as I would her, and I do. Oh, I would love to be as good as you are." "You shall be my own sweet daughter, Myrtle dear, and you may call me mother if you like, for you shall remain with me henceforth, and it will be my loving duty to protect and cherish you as you deserve," said Mrs. Bell, as she kissed her tenderly and, as Myrtle thought, reverentially. "I will be your daughter, and I will love and respect you in all things," said Myrtle, "for you have certainly been a mother to me when I most needed love and sympathy." The compact was sealed with a long and loving kiss, and Myrtle lay upon the pillow, holding the hand of her new found mother, caressing it tenderly. "My dear child," said Mrs. Bell, after a pause, "are you as well and strong as you appear to be, this morning?" "Oh, yes, indeed. I never felt better in my life. I don't believe I ever felt as good. I am so happy I can- not express myself." "Then you are well enough to have some important information conveyed to you, and to know something which will still further increase your happiness?" "Oh, yes, indeed. I will listen to anything you wish A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 75 to say, for I know it could only be good," and Myrtle looked inquiringly into the eyes of Mrs. Bell. "But tell ine how you knew my name. I do not remember having told you." "You did not tell me, dear, but since you went to sleep 1 have learned your whole history, and that from a very unexpected source. You have nothing to be ashamed of, but, on the contrary, your destiny is so high that you will be accounted as one of the most blessed of women, by reason of the very facts which have seemed for the time to bring you into misfortune. You have been in love with an excellent young man who is now dead, and in the expression of your love for him, you did something which your uncle and aunt thought was very disgraceful, and for that they turned you out of your home. I know all about how you tried to get work, and how you found the world all against you, and how you at last tried to find relief in the lake. I tell you these things so that you will know that I know all about them, and you may dismiss them from your mind, for I do not want you to think about them any more than you can help. I also know who your father and your mother were, and you have every rea- son to be proud of them. Your aunt and uncle are good people, only they have been wrongly taught, and they are the victims of the false philosophy of the re- ligion they profess. They thought they were doing right to treat you as they did. but they were mistaken, and it is your duty to forgive them, and love them, and 76 LOMA, perhaps, some time, you may teach them the great and glorious truth." "It seemed dreadful for them to treat me as they did," said Myrtle, "but I could not help feeling that they were laboring under some horrible mistake all the time. They liked Albert, and seemed to think that he was an excellent young man, and I heard my uncle say once that he was a perfect gentleman. They never told me anything about what we did, and I was per- fectly ignorant. I knew Albert would not do anything wrong and I trusted him. If he had not been killed, I do not think there would ever have been anything said." "You are quite right, my dear, because you would have been married, and the form of Christian religion which your aunt and uncle profess teaches that mar- riage is the only state in which such actions as you and Albert performed are permissible. If you are mar- ried, you may do all such things, even regardless of health and safety, but if you perform that act outside of marriage, you are forever disgraced in their eyes." "Then why did they not tell me about it, so I could have avoided it," exclaimed Myrtle, with some indigna- tion. "Neither myself nor Albert would have thought of doing anything of the kind if we had known it was wrong." "That is one of the peculiar inconsistencies of Chris- tianity," said Mrs. Bell. "While they condemn such actions as the vilest form of sin, and visit the most condign punishment upon the violators of their very A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 77 singular code of sexual ethics, they consider it almost equally vile for any one to impart any information upon the subject, and some of the best men aud women of this country have been imprisoned and many more have been socially ostracized for endeavoring to teach the truth in regard to such matters. This seems all the more singular, when you consider that Jesus Christ, whom they profess to worship as God, and whose mother they venerate as the most blessed of women, be- lieved and taught an entirely different doctrine, and Jesus himself was born as a result of the violation on the part of his mother of this very same custom." "Is that what they mean when they say that Jesus was born of a virgin?" asked Myrtle wonderingly. "Certainly. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a lover, exactly as you have had Albert. Like you they had indulged in intercourse without marriage. Subse- quently when Mary was betrothed, according to the custom of her country, to a man named Joseph, she was discovered to be in the same condition that you are now, that is, she was about to become a mother. Joseph, being a kind-hearted man, did not wish to dis- grace her, and he was about to break off the engage- ment privately, when he had a dream in which he re- ceived the impression that he should not only over- look her condition, but that he himself would be greatly honored by becoming her husband. He did so and became her protector, and when her child was born he kept it as his own. You are probably familiar with the rest of the story." 78 LOMA, "Oh, yes; I have heard it in Sunday school and in church many times. But they never explain that part of it." "No, that is the singular part of it; and while they worship an illegitimate child, as they term it, they drive into dishonor and starvation all mothers of sim- ilar children to-day. Now, my dear, you must under- stand that here, in this house, you will be taught a different doctrine. If this were not true, we would have turned you out last night like all the rest. We believe in and practice a different form of religion. We believe that motherhood is the highest and most sacred duty of woman, and that marriage is simply an ex- pedient invention of society. We believe that love is the real law of reproduction, and that as you and Albert loved each other dearly, that you committed no crime, but merely violated a social custom of which you were ignorant. The son, of which you will be delivered in due time, will be a lovely child, and a thousand times better in every element which makes a good man than the average child that is born in wed- lock. Jesus was an example of the same fact. Now as Nature sets her seal of approval upon such offspring, we believe that man has no right to condemn them for sins they never committed." "I could not see how it could be a crime for Albert and myself to enjoy each other, when we loved so dear- ly," said Myrtle. "It was not a crime, in fact, my dear, and the worst wrong which any one has committed has been in leav- A CITIZEN OF VBNUS. 79 ing you in ignorance and then condemning you, when you had no chance to even know their sentiment. 1 wish you to get all the idea of guilt out of your mind as soon as possible. Believe in your innocence and virtue, and cultivate your self-respect to the utmost, for you have a glorious destiny. And now, my dear, I must tell you that a most extraordinary thing has happened in your case. Do you remember the gentleman who took you out of the water last night?" "Not very well. I can only remember that, when I jumped into the lake, I was immediately seized by a strong arm, and I was dazzled by what seemed to be an electric light all around me. I felt something like elec- tricity go all through me, and then I have a confused memory of voices and some one carrying me into this room. I remember you best of all." And so saying, Myrtle smiled and kissed the hand of Mrs. Bell which she still held. "Very well. Then I must tell you that the gentle- man who rescued you is now in the house as our guest. He is a distinguished scientist from another country, and it is through him that we have learned all about you. This gentleman is of the same religion that we are, but he is infinitely more advanced; in fact, he is, without doubt, the greatest teacher now on earth. He has all the wonderful powers that you have been taught were possessed only by Jesus Christ and his disciples. These powers are natural to all men, but few men become good enough to ever learn to use them. Now I come to the most wonderful part of my an- 80 LOMA, nouncement to you. This gentleman, whose name is Loma, says that you have been destined, from the mo- ment of your conception in your mother's womb, to be the mother of a child which shall develop into the grandest teacher the world has ever known. This child you are now pregnant with has been conceived by you at a time when your love for Albert reached its purest and best expression, and it is destined to be as perfect as it is possible for a human being to be at this stage of the world's history. Loma says that your whole history, up to this time, has been according to a pre- arranged plan, and that jour meeting last night was not accidental, but controlled by the same great power which molds the destiny of the universe. His mission is to teach you everything that is good and true and beautiful during the remaining months of your preg- nancy, and by so doing he will be able to implant in the forming brain of your child the germs of the great truths which he is hereafter destined to teach to the world. Myrtle, my beloved daughter, is it not glori- ous?" Unable to control her emotions longer, Mrs. Bell rose and walked the floor in a transport of sublime exaltation. Myrtle, who had listened with wonder and amazement, now sprang from the bed in an ecstasy of delight and threw herself into the arms of her foster- mother, crying out, "Oh, mother, my darling mother, what happiness this is! Oh, Albert! Albert! if you could but have lived to hear this! Oh, it was not wrong, it was not wrong! Our love was the truest guide after all." A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 81 Clasping - the palpitating form of the girl in her arms, Mrs. Bell rained kiss after kiss upon her forehead and upon the golden hair, which had become loosened from its ribbon and now Mowed at will in a bewildering mass of gold aronnd tin 1 queenly head. The loose robe which enveloped Myrtle's slender form slipped from her shoulders and fell to the floor. In all her life Mrs. Bell had never gazed upon a vision of such en- chanting loveliness as Myrtle presented as she stood upon the floor, arrayed in nothing but the garb of her own complete personal beauty. With a quick movement of her left hand she disen- gaged the cord which fastened the wrapper she wore about her own person, and in a moment she also was without adornment other than her own splendid per- sonality. Placing her arm around the waist of Myrtle, she led her toward the east end of the room, which was composed of two large folding doors. "Take me to Loma !" cried Myrtle, as she clung to her benefactress in a transport of joy. "I know that I will love him and that he will love me." "LOMA IS HERE!" said a voice, which fell upon their ears like a deep-toned bell sounding amid the rush of a cataract of sweet waters. There was a strain of entrancing music, the folding doors opened noiselessly, and revealed the conservatory, in the midst of which stood Loma, with arms outstretched iu an expression of welcome, his body illumined by the magnetic glow which seemed to radiate from him in all directions in the form of a halo of glory. As Myrtle and Mrs. Bell 82 LGMA, entered the conservatory, the folding doors closed noiselessly behind them, and Lonia, advancing, em- braced them. Myrtle felt the wonderful thrill of his personal contact, and then as his lips met hers, she closed her eyes and sank upon his breast in blissful unconsciousness. CHAPTER VII. MYRTLE'S FIRST LESSON. "And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the saluta- tion of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost." The introduction of Myrtle into the conservatory, and her first impression of Loma, had been carefully planned. Doctor Bell had informed his mother of the remarkable character of Loma's mission to the earth, and the important part which Myrtle was destined to play in the advancement of civilization. With superb tact, Mrs. Bell had conducted the announcement to Myrtle of her glorious destiny, and just at the moment when the delicate and impressionable nature of the young mother was at the highest point of its receptiv- ity, the introduction had occurred. That it was in the highest degree dramatic, and that it was accompanied with all the accessories of music and the beautiful scenery of the conservatory, where aesthetic taste com- bined with wealth had produced the most surpassing effects, were all elements which combined to impress upon Myrtle's unborn child the happiest conditions of organization. Myrtle, as the reader has already been informed, was in the first period of her pregnancy, when impressions of physical beauty can be mosl sue- (83) 84 LOMA, cessfiilly made. Her association with Loma was de- signed to impress upon her offspring the most desirable physical and mental conditions. Loma had been intro- duced to her as a dazzling vision of human perfection. Himself the embodiment of all that is good and beauti- ful in human character, both in physical and mental attributes, which are always inseparable, and imbued with a lofty conception of the dignity and grandeur of his mission to the earth, it is not strange that he should have glowed with the highest intensity of the mag- netism which was a part of his glorious nature. In her first sweet embrace, received from the being who had traversed the space of worlds in her behalf, Myrtle received a charge of magnetism which permeated her whole being and thrilled her in every nerve and cell of her organization. In an instant of time, the superb personality of Loma entered into her being and became incorporated with it, never to depart. In after years the memory of that sweet moment was sufficient to set every center of her brain vibrating with intense and delicious ecstasy. At the same time, the sensitive embryo within her womb received the impression of Loma's character, and thenceforth all of his grand attributes became a part of the nature of the unborn child. The quickening effect of Loma's magnetism was such, that, at the moment of contact, the child leaped in the womb of its mother, and from that time Myrtle was conscious of its presence. The conservatory in which this extraordinary event took place was itself a bower of beauty. It was built A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 85 upon an elevation in the rear of the doctor's residence, level with the second floor, and connected, as the reader already knows, with the room in which Myrtle had slept by folding; doors, which were operated by electricity. It was also reached by the door at the head of the stairs in the hall through which Loma had been introduced. Tt consisted of a broad dome of stained glass, so arranged that by means of sliding panels any desired quantity of sunlight could, be admit- ted or excluded. Artificial heat was supplied from a furnace in the room beneath, ami cold air connections enabled the doctor to command any degree of tempera- ture that might be desired, in any condition of weather. Tn the center of the conservatory a fountain continu- ally played and filled the air with the music of falling water. Rare plants and flowers from all parts of the world, arranged with that skill which only is exhibited by those who have long studied the laws of beauty, shed their delicious fragrance and filled the room with exquisite combinations of harmonious colors. Adjoin- ing the conservatory, and really forming a part of it by an extension, was a music room containing a mag- nificent pipe organ, a grand piano, and several portable musical instruments. Doctor Bell had been seated at' the organ when Myrtle and his mother entered, and had accompanied their entrance with the subliniesl strains of which his musical skill was capable. lie had controlled the movement of the folding doors with an electric button, at a signal from his mother, and had been largely responsible for the dramatic effect of the 86 LOMA, introduction, having received his instructions from Lorua, as to the effect the latter desired to produce. He remained at the organ until he finished the march, when he left it and joined the interesting group at the fountain. He, also, was entirely nude, and as he joined his mother, who leaned upon his shoulder with infinite pride, he presented a striking picture of manly grace and physical beauty. Loma held the unconscious form of Myrtle for several moments in a loving embrace. Then he placed her upon a couch near the fountain, and pressing one long kiss upon her brow, stood for a moment contemplating her with an expression of unspeakable love and tender- ness. Mrs. Bell and the doctor stood upon the opposite side of the couch, and gazed entranced upon the exhibi- tion of beauty before them. Loma's body continued to glow with his incomparable magnetism, and so great was its fervor at times that it completely dazzled the two witnesses. Gradually it subsided until it was evidenced only by a halo of magnetic glory around his head. When he had reached this stage, he lowered his hands, which until this time he had held over Myrtle in an attitude of benediction. Myrtle opened her eyes with an exquisite smile. "Oh, I thought I was in heaven last night, but now I know I am. You all wear halos, just as I have seen in the pictures of Christ and the angels. You look like angels. I am one myself. I am happy. This is Life. It is Love. I love everything. Everything loves me." Loma took both of Myrtle's hands in his, and bending A CITIZEN OF VKNUS. 87 over her iii an attitude of superb grace, spoke iu a tone which mingled with the music of the fountain in exquisite harmony: "Beloved, receive the Truth. Nature is Love's high- est, sweetest expression, as Love is Nature's supreme law. Everything which is natural is good. Evil is only the antagonism and repulsion of that which is contrary to Love. Humanity must learn to love, be- fore it can be natural or good, in a complete sense. "It is impossible to love that which is unnatural. It is impossible to love completely that which is not com- pletely revealed. As long as humanity is presented to the senses in an unnatural way, love is impossible, and it can never be complete until humanity is completely revealed. "The religions of the past have degraded humanity, and priests and kings have taught that humanity is vile, in order that it might lose self-respect and be more easily enslaved. Men and women have been taught to regard their bodies as vile, and that those members of the body which were directly used to reproduce human- ity were especially to be held in dishonor. Men have been ashamed of their manhood; women have blushed for the evidences of maternity; all have covered them- selves with the garb of disgrace. The belief that these organs and functions were dishonorable has caused them to be put to dishonorable uses. Men and women will not cherish and cultivate that which they have been taught to despise. Because of this fundamental error, man has received the impression that his mother 88 LOMA, conceived him in sin and disgrace, and hence he has not respected his mother nor her sex, but as a conse- quence woman has been held in slavery to man. This degradation will continue as long as woman is ashamed o* her person, or is ashamed of maternity, for slave mothers never yet produced a race of freemen. "The long night of slavery, ignorance and supersti- tion is past. The glorious dawn of liberty is at hand. You are, at this moment, enveloped in the first rays of the advancing sunrise of intelligence. The experi- ences of this moment will never be forgotten by you, and will be received by your sweet offspring in embryo, to be by him developed and expanded and transmitted to a world which is hungry for the Truth. From this supreme moment you will be proud of your body, and of the maternity of which it is the beautiful and appro- priate instrument. Your child will never blush for his manhood, and he will revere and love the body of his mother, and through her, the body of all that humanity it is his mission to bless. "Nature has scourged humanity with a long train of frightful diseases, caused by the reabsorption of the excreta, thrown off by perspiration, which is absorbed by the unnatural clothing so universally worn and reabsorbed by the skin. The covering of the body has made it unduly sensitive to changes of temperature, and many of its sweetest and best powers have been lost. Men have become careless as to cleanliness, for it has been easier to cover filth than to remove it. Frightful and distorted fashions have been invented A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 89 and the original beauty of the form has been destroyed, But the worst and most degrading fact, in the whole train of calamities, is the false conception of human nature which has taken the place of the true standard of manhood and womanhood. The children of men do not know what a true man or Avoman is, and hence they form no true ideal of character, and do not strive to attain to any. The conception of womanhood which exists in the minds of most men, is a dress, a face and a bonnet. With equal force it may be said that most women think of a man as a cloth suit, surmounted by a face and a hat. True manhood and womanhood lies buried beneath the product of the tailor and the dress- maker. Until manhood and womanhood can be re- vealed in its completeness no conception of it can be formed by the fathers and mothers of the coming generations, and a correct generation is impossible. "Generation can only be accomplished by the trans- mission of magnetism. This transmission is accom- plished by personal contact, at the time of conception, and during gestation. It is impossible to completely transmit magnetism when the bodies of the parents are insulated in clothing. Yet most of the conceptions of humanity on this earth take place when the parents are at least partially robed, and under the cover of darkness, when it is impossible for a true conception to result, hence most men are only fragments of the humanity they misrepresent. "Conception is not confined to I he lime of the im- pregnating intercourse. The mother receives new im- 90 LOMA, pressions daily from those with whom she comes in contact. Unless she receives impressions constantly from the free and untrammeled forms of good men and women, she cannot endow her offspring with their attributes. Unless she is free and untrammeled her- self, her capacity for receiving magnetic influence is destroyed. "Rise, beloved, and enjoy your liberty. Embrace those who, like yourself, have passed beyond the de- grading influences of conventional laws and customs, and who are pure, as their thoughts and motives are pure. In these delightful surroundings, and amid these sweet and pure associations, submit your own fair body to the reception of the germs of truth it is my mission to implant !" So saying, Loma raised Myrtle from the couch, and embracing her and imprinting upon her lips a raptur- ous caress, delivered her to the no less enthusiastic and affectionate congratulations of the doctor and Airs. Bell. Love reigned supreme, and mingling with the perfume of the flowers and the music of the fountain, in one delicious harmony, was the exquisite aroma of human magnetism in its highest and best expression. When the first enthusiasm of this transcendent experience had in part subsided, the doctor arranged four luxurious easy chairs near the fountain, and the four friends, who were so closely united in the develop ment of a higher civilization, held an earnest conversa tion. Notwithstanding the exciting experiences she had passed through so recently. Myrtle's mind was A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 91 well balanced, and while she was only beginning to realize her high destiny, she was neither unduly exalted nor in any manner removed from the sweet womanliness which was a very conspicuous part of her character. She received the caresses of her friends with a hearty reciprocation of affection, but she also ] deserved her dignity, and when Loma made any sug- gestion, he found in her an attentive and earnest listener. "I love to hear you talk," she said to Loma. "1 do not think I have ever met any one like you. You seem to be like a person from another world." "I am from another world,'- replied Loma, and in a few brief sentences he conveyed to her the information, which is already in the possession of the reader, regard- ing his origin. Myrtle accepted his statement as a matter of fact, for his extraordinary character and the peculiar impression of truthfulness which was a part of his manner left no room for doubt. "This is all so new to me," she said to Loma after a pause, "that I am not sure that I fully comprehend it. Of course it is all so different from what I have been taught. Now that I comprehend that everything that 1 learn from you will be implanted in the brain of my child, I am anxious to have a clear impression. I understand from your statements, that it is natural to be nude, and that we are unhealthy because we are not. lint how is such a custom to be maintained in this climate? Do the inhabitants of Venus remain in a nude state at all times?" 92 LOMA, "In tropical countries, on this planet," said Loraa, "the natives who live naturally, remain nude most of the time, and spend a great deal of time in the water. Man is originally a native of the tropical zone, and it is only as he has moved north that the necessity for clothing became apparent. His excursions were first of a limited extent, and of short duration, and he availed himself of the covering of the skins of beasts, to protect him from temporary discomfort. Subse- quently, as he increased the extent of his excursions northward, he allowed the habit to become fixed and disregarded the law of nature that would have pro- vided him with abundant natural protection, if he had been content to go more slowly and allow his body to become adapted to the climate. It is true, thai when the continent of South America was explored, whole tribes of natives were found at the extreme southern extremity, where the climate is much more rigorous than is the climate of Chicago, who were en- tirely nude at all seasons of the year and who enjoyed excellent health. The advent of Christian mission- aries wrought a sad change in the condition of these natives. They were persuaded to adopt the custom of wearing clothing, and in a short time hundreds of them died with consumption and various forms of catarrh. The almost universal prevalence of catarrh in this climate, and the hundreds of deaths from con- sumption, are due to the same cause. Until jour people learn to expose the body and allow the skin to have its natural action, you cannot become clean. The ex- A CITIZEN OF VENDS 93 creta which is thus arrested is reabsorbed and most be thrown out of the body in some other way. The lungs and the mucous linings of the various canals of the body become overtaxed, and the result is the numerous and offensive diseases which afflict mankind. In Venus we have advanced to that degree of civiliza- tion that the energies of men and women are not absorbed in the conquest of land or finances. We have a limited population and we inhabit only the best climates, and as we have abundant leisure for enjoy- ment, we are habitually nude. If it becomes necessary for any purpose to expose the person to the rigors of an unaccustomed climate, a sufficient protection is worn, but such conditions rarely occur, and are only experienced by the adventurous portion of the com- munity who desire to make explorations, or those who are engaged in transportation. The regular apart- ments of dwellings, workshops and other places of habitual resort are all kept at such a temperature as is approximately the mean average temperature of the atmosphere. Under such conditions the body is allowed its full liberty. We are universally a healthy people, and disease is regarded as a disgrace." "My experience as a medical practitioner has con- firmed all that you say," said Doctor Bell, "and I must give my excellent mother here the credit for having first called my attention to it. This doctrine is not taught in the medical colleges, but I have always been able to cure catarrh and incipient consumption when- ever I could persuade a patient to live in pure air, in an 94 LOMA, equable temperature, aud be habitually uude aud prar- tice bathing to the fullest extent. Our sanitariums benefit patients very greatly by energetic baths, mas- sage and various forms of exposure, but it is only recently that these methods have had any standing as therapeutic agents."' "The hardest thing that I have encountered in my efforts to introduce this practice," said Mrs. Bell, "is the apparent impossibility of persuading patients to do enough of it. Patients do not like to be alone, and they cannot be persuaded to be nude in a sociable way. If men and women could recover from the awful sense of shame which seems to beset them when they are exposed to the view of others, it would not be difficult to insure healthy conditions." "I have always been taught," said Myrtle, "that this sense of shame was natural, and that it was the chief guard of virtue, and that if I did not have it 1 was very immodest. I must confess, however, that I could never see any good reason for it, and if it were so, why should babies be exposed. Mothers are always proud of the chubby arms and legs of their babies, and frequently expose their beautiful bodies to the admiring gaze of their friends of both sexes, and no one thinks it is wrong. But these same mothers would be awfully ashamed to expose themselves in the same way. And I have noticed another peculiar thing. Young girls, who would faint if their gentlemen friends saw them in their underclothing onl} T , will go in bathing in suits that are made on a pattern that exposes more of the A CITIZEN OF VENUS. ' 95 body than the underclothing docs and think nothing of it. They expose their breasts and arms in full evening dress, but are filled with consternation if a tear in another style of dress should expose half as much of the person in the same locality." "The exposure of the person," said Loma, "is entirely a matter of fashion. As soon as it becomes fashion able to wear a style of dress which last year was con- demned as indecent, the devotees of fashion are eager to adopt it. Let the enlightened conscience of a people declare that it is unfashionable to wear health-de- stroying clothing, and as soon as people became accus- tomed to it, you would hear no more of this false modesty. True modesty consists in being ashamed of that which is wrong. If the sense of shame were naturally associated with the condition of nudity, chil- dren would manifest it as soon as they began to be conscious of their surroundings. As a matter of fact they do not until they are chided and shamed into manifesting it, and it generally takes some time to establish it then. There are some sensitive natures which seem to show it very early, but they are the offspring of mothers who were ashamed of the condi- tion of maternity, and such offspring usually pass through the world apologizing for their existence. "The most remarkable fact in this condition is the strange prejudice with which people of all religions founded upon the Bible view the subject. The Bible contains abundant authority for the defense of habit- ual nudity, and it is strange fchat some vigorous 96 LOMA, expounder of so-called sacred history has not immortal- ized himself by exposing the true meaning of certain well-known passages. The circumstances of the plant- ing of germs of thought for the advancement of civiliza- tion are well recorded in the Bible if the correct inter- pretation were understood." "Do you mean that this process has been repeated before, and that other citizens of Venus have visited this earth for this purpose?" asked Myrtle, wonder- ingly. "Certainly," said Loma. "Every important advance in civilization on this earth has been brought about in this way. In every case, it was necessary for the par- ties to be brought together in a nude state, just as we aire, for it is impossible for the communication to be made when the magnetisms of the communicants are insulated in clothing. To receive a communication of this kind, it is necessary for the parties to be in a state of perfect purity, and to have their minds above all forms of disagreeable, indecent and lascivious thought. As soon as the element of lust is present, the communication is destroyed. It is not always necessary for the whole person to be nude in order to get a communication of minor importance, but if the communication is of great importance, nudity is essen- tial, because it is necessarj^ that there should be a complete and powerful transmission of magnetism. Only those persons who have attained to such a degree of magnetic perfection that the rays are intense and highly visible are capable of being translated from one A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 97 world to another, or of making the sublime impression which is necessary to the transmission of germs of thought. The magnetic glow which you see at limes radiating from my person is the badge of my office, and the evidence of my fitness for my mission. When T am engaged in some great effort you see that the glow becomes intense. When the effort is less intense the glow diminishes, but it is never entirely absent. My translation from Venus to the earth was accomplished over an electrical conduit, one end of which was at the summit of the mountain of Alusia in Venus and the other in the end of Lake Michigan near Chicago. When T caught our beloved Myrtle from the lake, I was in a glow from my transit, which made the doctor think I was using an electric light. You have seen a similar exhibition of its power here to-day. If I should ap- proach you at such a time when you are arrayed in your customary clothing, the resistance to my magnet- ism would be so great that an intense heat would be generated which would burn your clothing and prove fatal. When you are nude, as I am, the transmission of the magnetic current is uninterrupted, and you are not injured, but on the contrary delighted and strength- ened. In Venus, the transmission of pure and highly cultivated magnetism is the highest art of social inter- course. It is not necessary for me to argue with you that this can only be attained while the parties are in a state of perfect health and the correct use of all their faculties. Xow, if you will bring me a copy of the Bible, 1 will call your attention to certain passages 98 LOMA, which are more or less familial' to you, but upon which I shall be able to throw some new light." Doctor Bell withdrew from the conservatory for a moment, and quickly returned with a copy of the Bible in his hand. Loma received it and opened it while his three auditors drew near with breathless interest. CHAPTER VIII. NEW LIGHT ON THE BIBLE. "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech." "The first instance of a communication between this planet and Venus which is recorded in the Bible,'' said Loma, as he opened the book, "is found in the second chapter of Genesis. The story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, while subject to a great many erroneous impressions among- those who accept it liter- ally, as here recorded, is far from being the myth which it is considered by some. The real facts are these. Adam and Eve were two highly cultivated and advanced persons who had been selected and trained, by the powers who have selected us for a similar pur- pose, to be the receptacles of germs of advanced thought. For that purpose they were isolated in the garden, and were delightfully cared for and educated, by persons selected for that high office, as you have been for the education of Myrtle's offspring. In order that they might be pure, healthy and happy, they had been nude from childhood. The story opens in this chapter, at the time when the representative of ad- vanced civilization from Venus began to communicate willi them. In the Bible this personage is called the (99) 100 LOMA, Lord God, because he represented to them a guardian of all good. The words literally mean, 'Ruler for Good.' Adam and Eve continued to receive his com- munications and to live in happiness and purity. The Bible says : "'And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.'' "They had not reached the time when sexual inter- course was permissible, for under the laws of nature, properly understood, the sexual act must be prefaced by a long period of culture, in order that it may be in the highest degree enjoyable, and that the best results may flow from it. The 'serpent' spoken of in the third chapter was one of the inhabitants of the earth, of the lower strata of society, who was fascinating in manner, and 'more subtle than any beast of the field.' He invaded the garden and succeeded in seducing Eve, and in arousing her passions to an extent which ren- dered her desirous of continued intercourse. Her se- ducer having departed, to obtain relief, she appealed to Adam and succeeded in inducing him to share in her unholy pleasure. This intercourse, participated in by them prematurely, for the mere gratification of desire, and not for its high and legitimate functions, caused a serious weakening of all the functions of the sexual organs, producing disease, and so changed their ap- pearance that Adam and Eve became frightened, and thus discovered that the 'fruit of the tree,' that is the fruit of their unholy intercourse, was to give them a knowledge of the difference between good and evil, for A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 101 whereas they had up to this time lived perfectly vir- tuous lives, and hence knew not the effects of evil, this unfortunate action showed them the consequences of a violation of Nature's law. Realizing, in part, the consequences of disobedience, and afraid to meet their instructor and friend in a condition which they knew he must detect, they hid themselves and resorted to fig leaf aprons. The consequence of this disobedience was, that they lowered their mental and moral status to such a degree that it was impossible for them to fulfill the high mission to which they had been called, and they were rejected, and sent out of the garden, and were compelled to associate with their fellow men and women on an equal plane. Hence, thereafter, they were compelled to toil for a living, and eat bread in the sweat of their faces." "How very interesting," exclaimed Doctor Bell. "There are a number of cases of similar communica- tions related in the Bible," said Loma, "but the cir- cumstances are not always set forth in detail. One of the best, however, is this one in the third chapter of Exodus, in which one of our citizens was sent to instruct Moses, to prepare him for the movement which resulted in the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, which has had as much to do with the advancement of civil- ization as any event in the history of the world. In the second verse f this chapter, it says: "'And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, and he looked, 102 LOMA, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.' "You, of course, understand why the bush was not consumed by the magnetic glow, which emanated from the person of the 'Angel,' which was mistaken by Moses for fire. But mark the sequel : '"And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am /.' "'And he said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.'' "Moses, according to the custom of shepherds in that climate, was already nude, except shoes or sandals for the feet, and the inference is, that he lost no time in obeying the warning, for he was afraid, and he hid his face. The incident, however, shows that nudity is a necessity in such communications, for the reasons I have already stated. It is amusing, however, to see that 'The Lord' does not tolerate the wearing of cloth- ing in his presence, and then see the efforts made by those who profess to be his followers to claim that it is necessary to decency. It simply shows that those who attempt to interpret the Bible as a system of wor- ship and theology have entirely mistaken the nature of the persons who have from time to time appeared as 'The Lord' and as 'Angels,' and that their whole system of interpretation, theology and morals is rotten and utterly unfounded on fact. "Passing over numerous other instances found in A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 103 the Old Testament, we come to one which more nearly concerns us, as it furnishes the immediate precedent for my own mission, and was accomplished under very similar circumstances. I allude to the case of Jesus Christ. "In the highest and best sense, Jesus was the son of God. But since the beginning of time, God has never violated a natural law to accomplish the designs of His creation. He always works according to His own great eternal principles, and in the case of Jesus, while the circumstances of his conception and birth are marvelous to the mind of man, who does not com- prehend the extraordinary conditions which accom- pany the transmission of germs of good influences from precedent planets to suceeedant ones, yet, in every case, natural laws are obeyed. "Before you can comprehend the extraordinary char acter of the conception and birth of Jesus, you must, know that this tremendous presence which men wor- ship under different names as God, is the great, univer- sal creative Energy, which molds the destinies of stars and planets with the same unerring righteousness with which it deals with the growth of vegetation and the evolution of animal life. With the first glimmer- ings of reason, man realizes his dependence upon this power, and he personifies it, ascribing all his good fortune to the beneficence of a Good spirit and all of his troubles to an Evil one. As he advances in intel- ligence and lea ins, thai everything in nature is good, ;i ii<] thai his troubles are only Ihe corrective influences 104 LOMA, of goodness toward him, he eliminates the devil from his theology and learns to cast himself trustfully upon the goodness of an Infinite Heavenly Father, whose best expression conies to him in the natural processes of the universe which surrounds him. It is natural, therefore, that he should forever keep in his mind a high conception of a Great Power which is infinitely good, infinitely just, omnipresent, omnipotent and om- niscient. "The higher man advances in the scale of intel- ligence the more perfect becomes his knowledge of his Creator. He learns to divest Him of the puerile at- tributes of the personality with which he first ex- pressed his conception of God, and to acknowledge his inability to define the Infinite. When he has reached this stage he is ready to study God as He reveals him- self in Nature, and then it is that he begins to be able to comprehend the working of the great law of inter- planetary transmission. I will briefly explain the working of this law, by saying that every good and perfect gift, originating with the center of Creative Energy, is transmitted by it to every super-solar center, by them to solar centers, and from them to their attend- ant children, the planets and satellites. The universe, filled with starry constellations, thus becomes a grand machine for the distribution of the unfathomable good- ness of God, and all that man should do, instead of disputing over dogmas and doctrines, is simply to look above him, and hold out his hands to receive to the limits of his capacity the blessings which will come as the reward of his faith and expectancy. A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 105 "In Venus we have reached this stage. We do not have any churches or priests to quarrel over disputed doctrines. We have learned to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, by living perfectly natural lives. Recognizing that God is Love, we have learned the science of love and practice it. And when, in the course of nature, an extraordinary wave of Love, com- ing down from the center of Creative Energy, reaches us, we have learned to recognize it and to accept it. "Jesus Christ was the product of such a wave. The same wave of Infinite Love which produced such mar- velous effects upon this planet at the birth of Jesus, permeated the entire universe with beneficent effects. But you must realize that upon a world as far advanced in growth as our sun, the conditions of life and growth are as far in advance of our conditions as the radiation of his superb magnetism exceeds in power that which we may receive from another planet of our own solar system. Compare the heat and light developed by magnetism received by this planet from Venus with that developed by magnetism received from the sun, and you have a fairly accurate idea of the difference in the conditions of life and growth on the two spheres. Grand as are our conditions upon Venus, as compared with conditions existing upon this earth, xvt we realize that there 1 are conditions yet to be reached in the progress of growth that are as entire- ly beyond our present comprehension as the glory of the sun is beyond the comprehension of the human eye. We do not, therefore, attempt to explain the 106 LOMA, methods by which God deals with His children, but accept His mercies with simple, child-like faith. This faith, however, gives us the power to reach a better comprehension of the natural phenomena that accom- pany the manifestations of the extraordinary impulses of His goodness that we from time to time receive. "To explain, therefore, the natural phenomena at- tending the conception of Jesus, I will say that just previous to that conception an extraordinary impulse of Divine goodness was transmitted to Venus through Mercury and the sun, which culminated in the most marvelous growth of the virtues among the inhabit- ants of our planet. In fact, we passed into a condition which has been quite accurately described by the writ- ers of your sacred books as the millenium. The mil- lenium spoken of in the Bible is at hand, and the mission of Myrtle's offspring is to introduce it, and when it has worked out its grand results, it will send the germs of its goodness onward to Mars and the succeeding planets beyond the earth. Now, when this wave of goodness reached its height on Venus, all of its best and highest impulses were crystallized into the organization of a superbly perfect man named Manrolin, who was selected as the bearer of these influ- ences to the earth, and he became the 'Angel of the Lord' who appeared to Mary, announced his mission and secured the conception by her of the greatest character in the history of the world. "I have said that in the highest and best sense Jesus was the son of God. He was the natural son of A CITIZEN OF VENUS 107 Manrolin, who represented in his personality the direct concentration of an extraordinary impulse of goodness from God, transmitted through the natural channel. Manrolin was the male vehicle of the germ of goodness, as Mary was the female receptacle. The product of their union was the first perfect man who ever appeared upon the face of this earth. In his perfection of humanity he was the representation of G-od to man, as the highest conception of God which can be formed in the human mind is perfect goodness, and (his Jesus thoroughly typified. In so far as he was born of an earthly mother, he was earthly and human, as that word is applied to the inhabitants of this planet. In so far as he was the result of a conception of a germ borne to Mary from sources beyond the earth, he was suiter-human but not super-natural. He brought to the world the essentials of a complete philosophy which has never been successfully attacked. After passing through his remarkable history on this planet he returned to the source of Eternal Goodness from whence he came, and as a consequence of his success ful performance of his mission now 'sitteth on the right hand of God,' by the operation of a perfectly natural process which it is my delightful duty to explain to you at a future time. "In the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke the circumstances of the conception and birth of -Icsus are set forth with as much fidelity as could be expected of a narrator who wrote many years after the occurrence of the facts he relates, with a vivid 108 LOMA, imagination, somewhat inflamed with religious zeal. It will be seen that the communication was given by an 'angel of the Lord,' and tradition gives us a descrip- tion of this personage, as he was probably described by Mary In the paintings produced by devout artists this 'angel' is represented as a man of great personal beauty, surrounded by the magnetic halo, which was undoubtedly true. The inference from this chapter, as related by Luke, is, that the communication was made to Mary when she was in bed, and nude. The facts of the case, as related in the histories used in Venus, are, that Manrolin was intrusted with this delicate mission, and came to the earth at the time of the conception of Jesus, and managed it with consummate wisdom and skill. First he introduced himself to Mary, as record- ed in this chapter, and finding her in bed, and nude, he gave her a communication with such superb mani- festations of power that he completely won her con- fidence. "'And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me, according to thy word.'' "Having thus completely secured the affections and cooperation of Mary, Manrolin presented his creden- tials and assured her that he was the man whom God had selected as the father of the coming prodigy, and they being complete complements of each other's natures, love at first sight was a natural consequence. In this way Manrolin produced the conception of Jesus, and the rest was a comparatively easy task. Joseph, who was in every way fitted to become the A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 109 protector and guardian of the child and his mother, was selected for that office, and only required one visit from Manrolin to secure his hearty cooperation. It frequently happens that the person who is selected ns the father of a child is not permitted to raise it, as many persons who have the gifts required in a certain character it is desired to secure are not fitted for the responsibilities of child culture. It was so in the case of Jesus, and was so decided in the case of Myrtle's offspring. Joseph, however, being a man of advanced ideas, accepted the trust and discharged it with great fidelity, and with the cooperation of these parties, Manrolin succeeded in implanting in the offspring of Mary and himself the seeds of the brilliant and humane philosophy which was afterward preached with such fervor and success by Jesus. The teachings of Jesus are the purest and best the world has had up to the present time, and have been the source of great prog- ress, but have often been obscured by the distorted use which has been made of them by political ma- chines, known as churches. In all ages, however, since his triumphant mission, there have been those who have comprehended and taught some of the true doctrines inculcated by him, and Manrolin's success won for him an enviable immortality in the annals of illustrious achievements. So great was his success, that his sou and protege, Jesus, was enabled to attain to the eminence of being himself translated, and came to Venus at the close of his illustrious career on earth, where he was received with the greatest enthusiasm and where he finished his life in great felicity." 110 LOMA, "It is commonly believed," said Doctor Bell, "that Jesus died upon the cross at the time of his cruci- fixion, at least by those who do not accept the Bible version of his death and resurrection." "Neither of the commonly accepted beliefs in regard to the resurrection of Jesus are true," said Loma. "The facts are, that Jesus, when he had suffered upon the cross for several hours and mastered all the depths of human sensation and misery, which was necessary discipline, being a master of hypnotism, induced in him- self the condition of catalepsy, which so closely resem- bles death that the Roman soldiers were completely deceived. None of the wounds inflicted on hi m were fatal, and after his supposed dead body had been deliv- ered to Joseph, he was placed by the latter in the sepulchre, where he remained until the third day. At this time he recovered from the catalepsy and was released from the sepulchre, and appeared to the dis- ciples as stated in the Bible. He subsequently depart- ed for Venus, in the sight of a number of persons, as I hope you will have the privilege of seeing me take my departure when the time comes. Jesus succeeded in developing a great deal of magnetic power before his crucifixion, and at one time held a consultation with two distinguished men from our planet, who met him on top of a high mountain, at which time his powers were tested, but were not deemed sufficient to attempt the flight. Subsequently by the discipline incident to his sufferings he developed the powers of his mind to such an extent that he was able to evolve sufficient A CITIZEN OF VENUS. HI magnetism to accomplish the wonderful results which marked the close of his earthly history. If the true facts iu regard to the life of Jesus were known, man would learn the value of discipline. The grandest acts in the history of the world have been performed by men and women who developed the ability to perform them by the discipline of great sorrows. Inactivity and self- indulgence are the greatest destroyers of mental power. The circumstances of this test are related in the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Mark, and the men were mis- taken by the disciples for Moses and Elias. They were, in fact, two of the distinguished electricians of our planet, who had managed the translations of Man- rolin, and who succeeded admirably with Jesus, a few days after his crucifixion. They were also largely in- strumental in aiding him in his recovery from the catalepsy, and w 7 ere the two men in shining garmeuts mentioned in the twenty-fourth chapter of Luke. These gentlemen succeeded in producing some pecu- liarly brilliant electro-magnetic phenomena, in connec lion with Jesus, on various occasions. At the time of the so-called transfiguration, and at the baptism of Jesus by John, they succeeded in establishing the first telephonic connection betw r een this world and Venus, and on both of these occasions the venerable Manrolin, who had returned to Venus long before, was permitted to send his voice reverberating though many million miles of space, exclaiming with all the fervor of his great paternal love and solicitude, 'This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.' It may interest you to 112 LOMA, know that Manrolin lived twenty years after Jesus reached Venus, and that the closing years of his life were enriched by his society. Jesus himself lived about seventy years in Venus after reaching society in which he was appreciated. "So you see, my dear Myrtle," said Loma, affection- ately, as he concluded this remarkable narrative, ''the occurrences you have been taught to regard as the most wonderful and miraculous in the history of the world are susceptible to a perfect solution under natu- ral laws. I am anxious that you should receive this fact as a permanent impression, for your child can never be the teacher or philosopher we desire him to be unless you succeed in liberating him from the last vestige of belief in the supernatural. Nature is suf- ficient. There is nothing supernatural, and there is no need for it." "I am thoroughly convinced of that," said Myrtle, "and I am sure my child will be free from everything which can in the least enshackle his reason. But tell me, has any one else ever attained to the degree of eminence necessary for translation, and is there any hope that my child could progress to that degree?" "There is every hope," replied Loma, "and one of the inducements you may hold out to him is the great reward which awaits him if he proves faithful to his trust. Adam and Eve could have attained to transla- tion if they had not permitted unholy lust to mar their prospects for further advancement. Several persons besides Jesus have attained to translation from this A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 113 earth to Venus. Enoch was one, but the circumstances are not set forth with any degree of detail in the Bible. Elijah was translated as related in the second chapter of the second book of Kings, and Elisha mistook the magnetic glow of the occasion for a chariot and horses of fire. You will also see in this narrative, that the translation occurred when Elijah was nude, for his mantle fell upon Elisha, when he had no further use for it." "Taking all of these facts into consideration," said Myrtle, "I think it is wonderfully stupid on the part of the ministers of the gospel and others who pretend to study the Bible exhaustively, that they have not rec- ognized the fact long ago, that the higher powers which have caused the events recorded in the Bible to happen have always recognized the nude state as the only one conducive to health and happiness. If the churches would teach this truth, it would not be long before health and happiness would be the rule, and sickness and misery the exception. But how much time is wasted on useless subjects, and no real information given to the suffering and starving people." "Exercise patience, my love," said Mrs. Bell. "All will come to pass in due time. Trvith, like everything else, must have its growth, and your mission will do its part toward impelling the world toward that glori- ous perfection which i! seems is our ultimate destiny." Loma turned to Myrtle and Mrs. Bell and embraced them affectionately, saving, "My treasures, you must now retire to your rooms. 114 LOMA, and find in blissful repose for one hour, that which will strengthen memory and enable you to retain all that you have received. May all good influences be with you while you rest." As the ladies withdrew from the conservatory, the doctor played a beautiful air of his own composition. The folding doors opened at their approach, and closed as noiselessly after them as when they entered the conservatory. Then the doctor arose, and drawing Loma's arm through his own, conducted his distin- guished guest to his own bedroom. CHAPTER IX. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. "Forsivonoss is a virtue born of heaven. The highest attribute of gods aud men." When Doctor Bell and Lomn retired to the bedroom of the former, the auspicious beginning of the series of impressions which Loma was commissioned to make upon Myrtle was naturally the topic of their conversa- tion. The doctor was enthusiastic; Lomn, as usual, quiet and dignified, but evidently pleased with the de- velopment of the situation. "A better woman than your mother, my dear Ed- ward," said Loma, affectionately and familiarly, "never lived upon this planet. I heard much of her through my preceptors, before I left Venus, but I must confess that they did not more than do her justice. We are especially fortunate in having such a person to supple- ment my efforts in behalf of Myrtle's offspring, for it would be impossible for any one human brain to en- tirely comprehend the depth and scope of what I have to impart. Now that I have in some measure realized the extent of the aid which I may confidently expect from her and you, I have no doubt of the complete success of my mission. I am, of course, anxious that my work should in no degree fall short of that of Manrolin; and (115) 116 LOMA, when you comprehend the tremendous influences that have been brought to bear upon civilization through the teachings of Jesus, you will understand what an undertaking lies before me, when I tell you that the powers expect fully as much, or more, of the present object of our solicitude." "It is well that the outside world does not compre- hend the nature or extent of your undertaking,'" said the doctor, "else this house would be besieged by a curious mob, and it is probable that the chances would be about equal for you to be worshiped as an angel or crucified, or, what amounts to the same thing in these times, lynched as a criminal." "Manrolin had to contend with the same conditions," said Loma, "and we must be sufficiently politic not to allow any untoward circumstance to happen which could possibly interfere with my purpose. Now that my most important communication has been made to Myrtle, I desire that she should have the utmost free- dom, and I do not wish to weary her with long and tedious lessons. Whenever I have an impression 1o make of paramount importance, I will meet her in the conservatory, under similar circumstances to those of this day's interview. At other times I desire her to receive impressions of less importance, in ordinary conversation, by contact with desirable persons, and particularly by hearing conversations between us and those of good abilities who hold contrary views. By these means she will herself become very much bright- ened in intelligence and in the scope of her understand- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 117 ing. All of this will have a desirable effect upon her offspring, and I expect much of you and jour mother in aiding me in earning ut those designs. In order to do this it is necessary that for part of the time I should adopt some kind of costume., and while I am very averse to burdening myself with the conventional cos tumes worn upon your streets, which would, in a meas- ure, interfere with my health, as well as my comfort, I must wear something, at least when we go in public, to avoid the opposition of the vulgar and the ignorant." "I have already considered that problem," said the doctor, "and T will endeavor to solve it to your com- plete satisfaction. 1 have already told you the views which both my mother and myself entertain upon the question of nudity. Now I have endeavored as far as possible to conform to what I consider the best condi- tions of health and hygiene, and so in this house, after my professional labors are over, and I have no further occasion to go out, I am in the habit of being nude as much as possible. I have, however, found, that, owing to inherited conditions, my ancestors for so many gen- erations having violated the laws of nature in this re- spect, my skin is too sensitive to permit of my being entirely nude to the extent that you would probably find agreeable and safe. Moreover, I have induced some of my immediate associates to follow the same custom for tlie benefit of themselves, and as some of them are ladies, and all of them to a greal extenl afflicted with the absurd fear of being considered immodest if they appeared before persons of the opposite sex in a nude 118 LOMA, state, I have effected a compromise which has been at- tended with the happiest results. I have imported from China a number of the most elegant silk gowns, which, being made loosely, do not interfere with the circulation nor distort the body, and simply serve the purpose of a covering, which satisfies the vulgar no- tion of so-called decency, and at the same time pre- serves the comfort and health of the wearer. I dis- pense entirely with underclothing while wearing these gowns, except a suit of the lightest cotton netting, and those being changed every day, the result is ap- proximately perfect cleanliness, and at least the most comfortable and cleanly conditions that can be estab- lished short of a complete return to natural conditions. Now I suggest that you make these costumes your ha- bitual wear, on the street or in the carriage, and at such times as we have guests in the house who are unaccustomed to our more radical views. I will to-day place the bedroom at your disposal, which is on the opposite side of the hall from Myrtle's, from which you will have completely free access to the conserva- tory. On that floor you may be habitually nude, as no one will ever intrude upon your privacy who would be objectionable, as my mother and myself occupy these front rooms, as you and Myrtle will occupy those in the rear adjoining the conservatory. The only other person who will come upon this floor without my special permission is Nora, and as she owes her life to my doc- trine and treatment in this very particular, you will not have occasion to consider her. You will notice that A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 119 she, as well as my mother, wears only a light silk gown while in the house. Myrtle will adopt the same fash- ion to-day, and we will all be as comfortable and con- genial as it is possible to be. In regard to yourself, I will introduce you" as a distinguished physician who has spent a great deal of time in the East, and who has adopted the customs of those countries. You will be the object of some well-bred curiosity among my friends, but as I am already regarded as something of a crank, it will not be considered strange that I have such a personage in my house. In that way you will be able to enjoy all the privileges you desire, and also to meet without reserve such persons as you may de- sire to bring into contact with Myrtle, which I pre- sume will only be a select few." "Admirable, my dear Edward; admirable," exclaimed Loma. "You have exactly anticipated my wants, and, as usual, left nothing to be desired." "Now, I will show you my resources," said the doctor, opening a large dressing case. "These robes have never been worn, and as we are about the same height, I presume these will fit you without alteration. Here are also several pairs of Chinese shoes, which are more healthful than our own. Although they treat the feet of their women shamefully, it seems their lords of creation show better sense in regard to their own. I prefer our Indian moccasins, myself, and if you should desire to wear them, here are several new pairs. I also have some sandals, which are better than our shoes, but the thongs with which they are tied on are 120 LOMA, not comfortable to rue, and they impair circulation, so I seldom wear thein, except in very warm weather." "I shall be able to get along excellently with these," said Lonia, as he donned one of the richest of the robes and surveyed himself in one of the mirrors, "but I can- not say that I believe with the most of your citizens, that the dress improves the appearance of a man. I certainly would not have been willing that Myrtle should have received her first impression of me while I was thus arrayed." "It docs not add to your appearance," said the doctor. "On the contrary, it hides just that much of a person- ality which must be seen in its entirety to be appre- ciated. I have often thought that Jesus must have had this subject in his mind, when he said, 'Consider the lilies of the field. They toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these? " "You are right," said Loma, "and if you will read the next verse, you will be impressed still more with the fact, that Jesus was striving in some degree to correct this error. His own raiment was very simple, and at no time exceeded what you have so generously pro- vided for me. He wore clothing for the same reason that I shall wear these gowns, and by so doing post- poned his crucifixion, until he was ready to endure it, but he did not hesitate to declare himself, in the very words you have quoted and what follows: « 'Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 121 to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, oh ye of little faith?' " '■"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall ice ait/ or. What shall ire drink/ or. Wherewithal shall we he clothed? "'(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Hcarenly Father knoireth that ye have need of all these things. " 'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- ness: and all these things shall he added unto you." "In the light of our recent discussion, these words of Jesus are very plain," continued Loma. "In his en- thusiasm, he appeals to the patriotism of the Jews, which he knew to be one of the strongest influences he could use, urging them to be different from the Gen- tiles. He uses the faith they had in their iJod also, and yet he introduced an appellation which shows how strongly he implied that all good gifts come from the eternal source of supply in older planets toward younger ones. 'Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.' He urges them to take no thought wherewithal they shall be clothed, for Nature will provide a covering. It is equally true that men should not 'take thought' to provide so many varieties of unwholesome foods and drinks. Nature supplies an abundance of natural food and drink in every climate which man should inhabit. Jesus classes all of these evils together, and in the strongest language implores his countrymen (<> live naturally. J I is climax comes in the sublime words of the last 122 LOMA, verse I have quoted. "The kingdom of God' is the natural life, in which man lives according to the laws of the universe. When man comprehends 'his right- eousness,' which is simply living according to the im- mutable laws of equity and justice, 's r . these things,' to-wit, all the blessings of a natural life, health, wealth, beauty and happiness, wi? 1 ^ I.'..' "It is wonderful," exclaiinca Doctor Bell, "how priests and kings and unscrupulous politicians have distorted those sublime teachings of Jesus into a mass of con- tradictory rubbish, apparently designed for no purpose but the stupefaction of the human intellect and the enslavement of their devotees. I have heard those verses preached from as texts, by renowned preachers, many times, but I have never comprehended what was meant until this moment. Do you suppose, my dear Loma, that Jesus comprehended and taught the sub- lime doctrine of the origin of this world which you unfolded to me this morning, and that he understood the doctrine of the translation of germs, from parent stars to their children, and from them to younger gen- erations?" "Certainly. He not only understood it and taught it, but his disciples did also. Listen to this sublime pas- sage from the Epistle of James, which shows the grasp he had on this subject, and that he perfectly compre- hended the condition of the center of all our systems, the center of our super-solar system, which, as I ex- plained to you this morning, is the parent of all that surrounds him, and is therefore at rest, in perpetual A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 123 darkness, cold, and equilibrium, while he diffuses mag- netism to all bis children. The seventeenth verse of the first chapter of the General Epistle of James reads as follows: " (Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.''" Doctor Bell dropped into a seat and regarded Loma with fixed astonishment. "And this is the Bible," he exclaimed, "which half the Christian w 7 orld reads with eyes blinded by an idolatrous trust in the interpreta- tion of stupid priests, and the other half treats with complete indifference. Why, the words you have quoted would not make sense in the light of any other explana- tion." "Certainly not," said Loma. "But then, you know, the priests do not w ant anything to read with sense, for that would tend to educate their dupes beyond their control. However, if you will read the whole of the chapter, you will find that this superb w r riter was one of the free-thinkers of his period. In the twenty-fifth verse he says: "'But ichoso lookcth into the perfect law of liberty, and. continucth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the ivord, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 7 "And again, in the closing verse of this chapter, you will find a sentiment which you, my dear Edward, have most nobly exemplified, and which yon may sometime have occasion <<> quote to Myrtle's Presbyterian uncle: "'Purr religion and undefiled before God and tJic Father 124 LOMA. is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in tlicir afflic- tion, and to keep himself unspotted from the world? " "Thank you, my dear Loma. I am most happy in having deserved that compliment, and I assure you that T shall continue to live according to the noble princi- ples that have been instilled into me from my youth by the mother T adore. Now we will appropriate of these costumes those which blend most harmoniously in color, and prepare to meet the ladies at dinner, after which I promise myself the felicity of a drive with all of you over our incomparable boulevard." "I shall be delighted to view Chicago," said Loma. "for I have heard much of it through my instructors, as it has from the first been regarded as my field of operations." "I presume you will find much to criticise," said the doctor, "for I imagine that your civilization is so far ad- vanced that much that we endure with complaisance would be regarded by your citizens as intolerable." "Perhaps so; but as my mission does not relate to municipal ordinances, but rather to the inculcation of those doctrines which will, when comprehended and taught, elevate the tastes and refine the intellectual processes of mankind, I do not expect that I will have much to say on those subjects which are daily discussed pro and con in your newspapers. For instance, the whole subject of municipal, and I may add, state and national government, is embraced in the principle of social justice, which, when once considered in the light of advanced intelligence, will lead to the abolition of A CITIZF/N OF VENUS. 125 every trace of your present form of government, and the overthrow of your entire social and industrial sys- tem." "I can readily see that such a revolution must come with advanced civilization, and our best minds now concede that there is a monstrous injustice somewhere, but as yet no one has been able to formulate a plan which promises complete relief. Of course, this must be a matter of growth, like everything else, but I assure you that I await with some impatience everything which you will say in my presence, for the experiences of the last twenty-four hours have awakened me to a realizing sense of the immense importance of your mis- sion to mankind, and of the transcendent responsibili- ties you have imposed upon you, as well as those which rest upon us, who have been counted worthy to be your assistants." Just at this point the doctor was interrupted by a strain of music, proceeding from a large orchestrion in the hall below. "That is the way my steward announces dinner. If you are ready, we will proceed to the parlor, where the ladies are awaiting us." The doctor escorted Loma to the parlor, where they were met by Mrs. Bell and Myrtle. Both ladies were arrayed in gowns of the finest Chinese silk, some- what different in style from those worn by the gentle- men, but made perfectly loose, and of such colors as were harmonious with each other and with the com- plexions of the wearers. Mrs. Bell took the arm of 126 LOMA, Loma and led the way to the dining room, while the doctor escorted Myrtle, the orchestrion meanwhile play- ing a lively march. The dining room was under the conservatory, and here also all the details reflected the refined taste of the owner. Everything was arranged with reference to comfort, hospitality, and the combination of lights and colors into one general delightful effect. It was a happy and a merry party which sat down to the repast which was served by the doctor's steward in most approved style. Myrtle was radiant in her new-found happiness; Mrs. Bell genial and smiling in the capacity of hostess; the doctor, divided in his ad- miration for Myrtle, devotion to his mother and en- thusiasm in behalf of Loma, while the latter was charm- ing in his courtliness, in gallantry to the ladies, and in the wit and sparkle of his conversation. The table was beautifully decorated with flowers, and the dinner con- sisted of the choicest vegetables and fruits in the mar- ket, elegantly served and supplemented by a small roast, of which all partook but Loma, who excused himself on the ground that meats were not permissible to him, for reasons which he would explain at another time. Occasional bursts of melody from the orchestrion relieved the conversation, which was itself punctuated with frequent peals of merry laughter from the quartet of friends, provoked by some sally of wit from the doc- tor or Loma, or some bright saying of one or the other of the accomplished and versatile ladies. A CITIZEN OF VBNUS. 127 When dinner was over, the friends returned to the parlor, where conversation was resumed for a half hour. Then the ladies retired to dress for the ride, and the gentlemen repaired to their own rooms for the same purpose. An hour later they were rolling along the famous boulevard, in the vicinity of Lincoln Park, behind the doctor's team of black beauties, in which he took espe- cial pride. The ribbons were in the hands of Thomas Flannigan, a young Irishman ^/hose skill in driving was only equaled by his devotion to the doctor him- self. The carriage was a. handsome landau, and the doctor and Myrtle occupied the seat next to that of the driver, while Mrs. Bell and Loma faced them at the rear. The day was drawing to a close and the sun was set- ting behind the western hills, through a maze of In- dian-summer clouds. The balmy breezes from Lake Michigan tempered the heat of the early autumn into a delightful warmth, which was grateful to the senses and invigorating to the body. The four friends were enjoying their ride with all the exuberance and zest which comes from clear con- sciences and happy and congenial natures pleasantly associated. Myrtle's hand nestled confidingly into that of the doctor as she remarked: "We are all so happy, and it seems to me that Na- ture herself is expressing enjoyment in its full fruition at this time of the year. Why is it that human beings, who are accounted the most intelligent beings on earth, 128 LOMA, should be so universally unhappy? Nine out of ten of the faces we meet are not cheerful." "Human beings are not as intelligent as they believe themselves to be,'' replied the doctor. "In proportion to the volume of brain carried, the average individual should be able to show more than ten times the amount of intellectual energy that is actually displayed in order to compare favorably with the results attained by the best classes of animals, in their natural state. I at- tribute this result to our defective education, and the further fact, that mankind has not yet progressed sufficiently in the evolution of its faculties to establish that harmonious co-relation which animals, having a smaller number, and hence less complicated cerebral development, have been enabled to reach." Just at this moment Myrtle caught his arm, saying, "Oh, Edward, look! There are my uncle and aunt, in their carriage! They will pass us in a moment. Shall I recognize them?" "Certainly, my dear," said Mrs. Bell. "That is, if you wish to forgive them for the way they have treated you." "Oh, I do forgive them!" exclaimed Myrtle. "In my happiness, I cannot harbor ill will toward any one. I am sure they did not know what they were doing." As the carriage containing her relatives approached, Myrtle leaned forward and smiled and bowed most af- fectionately to her aunt, who was looking toward her. The woman recognized her, but without returning the salutation, turned to her husband and caught his arm. A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 129 He also turned, and recognizing Myrtle in the hand- some carriage of the doctor surrounded by her friends, stared in astonishment and frowned. Then giving no further sign of recognition, they passed on. Myrtle's eyes filled with tears. "Never mind, my dear," said the doctor, affection- ately passing his arm around her waist. "I have rec- ognized your uncle and know him well. He will doubt- less call on us in a short time to continue his persecu- tion of you, at which time we will turn him over to mother, for a lesson in religion and advanced civiliza- tion. When she finishes her instruction, he will have learned several important truths." Mrs. Bell and Loma smiled, and Myrtle dried her eyes. Her elastic temperament soon overcame the depression caused by the slight her relatives had imposed, and the drive was finished by the entire party in the best of spirits. CHAPTER X. THE PHILOSOPHY OF LOVE. "These things I command you. that ye love one another." The life of Myrtle Burnham, after the events detailed in the preceding chapters, flowed on like the placid current of an untroubled stream. In the delightful society of her new environment, her mind expanded, and as she was no longer bound by the conventionali- ties of the narrow society in which she had before been placed, her growth was rapid and sure. In the exer- cise of her new liberties, however, she was guilty of no impropriety, and her natural self-poise always as- serted itself, and the buoyancy of her temperament, and her rare gifts of intellectual accomplishments, added to the sweetness of her affectionate nature, soon endeared her beyond measure to every member of the household. Under the wise administration of Mrs. Bell, guided by suggestions from Loma, Myrtle's time was well oc- cupied with pleasant occupation and agreeable coni- pany. She was altogether absorbed in the exalted mission to which she had been called, and like most enthusiastic natures, would soon have exhausted her vitality, if her excellent preceptors had not compelled (131) 132 LOMA, her to observe a wiser course. As it was, she usually de- voted about two hours each morning to special instruc- tion from Loma in the conservatory, in which delightful interviews she was generally, but not always, attended by her devoted friends. It was a part of Loma's plan, that the doctor and Mrs. Bell should also hear his in- structions, as he desired that they should become thor- oughly familiar with his doctrines, in order that they might be competent to act as instructors to Myrtle's offspring after he had taken his departure for Venus. Consequently they were rarely absent from his morn- ing lessons to his protege, and the morning session in the "holy of holies," as the doctor called the conserva- tory, became a delightful experience to which they all looked forward daily with most pleasurable anticipa- tions. In addition to these pleasant sessions for instruction, much time was devoted to music. The four friends were all accomplished musicians. Mrs. Bell possessed a contralto voice of great sweetness and power; her son was considered one of the best baritones in the city, and had frequently distinguished himself in concerts given for charitable purposes, by the elite society in which he moved. Both were masters of the organ and piano, and the doctor was also an amateur violinist of considerable note. Myrtle possessed a soprano voice of surpassing compass and extraordinary quality, and it had been carefully trained by the best teachers in Chicago. But it is impossible to describe the musical abilities A CITIZEN OF VENUS. I33 of Lonia. As he had mastered the language aud Hi na- ture of the earth, before undertaking his great mission, so he had also mastered music. And in its perform- ance he not only expressed the abilities of an earthly musician producing the best effects of the masters in the stage of the development of the art now known on the earth, but he added to it much of the beauty and higher expression he had learned at home. When joining with his friends in the rendition of some of the classical music in which they all delighted, he sang the tenor with the skill and expression of the best earthly performers. But at their request he frequently sang alone the melodies of his native planet. At such times his body glowed with strong emanations of magnetism and his voice assumed a quality unknown to earth. His hearers became enraptured to complete ecstasy, and Myrtle frequently lost consciousness of everything but the heavenly melody which thrilled her whole being. At other times she surrendered herself entirely to the pleasures of social intercourse. Toward both Loma and the doctor she became conscious of the most de- voted emotions of love, arising within her own nature and craving a free expression. She regarded them both as representatives of the highest types of manhood, and whenever they approached her, she felt that each was impelled by the highest motives of love for her, and consideration, devotion and purity of intention. In a short time she learned to treat both of them and Mrs. Hell with the most hearty expressions and demonstia- 134 LOMA. tions of affection, which were always warmly recipro- cated. On one occasion, when she met Loma in the conserva- tory, she threw herself into his embrace with more than usual fervor. She imprinted several ardent kisses on his lips, and as he sat down beside her on a divan and affectionately encircled her waist with his arm, she inquired : "Tell me why I love to kiss you and Edward so much. 1 never kissed any man but Albert until I kissed you, and I was always told that it was wrong. But now I feel and know that it is right, and moreover my nature seems to crave these expressions of love from those whom I feel truly love me." "In the first place," answered Loma, "you are now for the first time really living in a natural way. Love is natural, and the unfortunate woman who is not sur- rounded by those whom she can unreservedly trust and upon whom she can freely express her affection is robbed of the sweetest and best food which, nature pro- vides for growth and development. It is just as nat- ural for a woman at your age to crave the loving ca- resses of pure and affectionate men as it is for her to breathe and to crave the pure air of heaven. You are fortunate in possessing two loving friends, whom you can implicitly trust, with whom you may freely indulge your natural desire. It would be just so much better, if, instead of two, you had twenty, for love is a thing sus- ceptible to growth, and the more you love, the stronger and sweeter it becomes. It is necessary, however, for you A CITIZEN OF VEXUS. ,__ 135 to discriminate, for it wonld not be wise to lavish vour ..ffoct,on on unworthy objects, and von won 1,1 be 'eon- laminated by their impure association. With the knowl- edge which I shall impart to yon. however, y„„ will be perfect 1, safe, tor ,y,„, win ,eam to discriminate «.th intelligence. Tonr son will also possess this power, and wherever he goes, he will be surronnded by pnre and rirtuous women, who will sustain him <«th their affect ion and caresses as Jesns was s s tamed bv the delightful friendships which he had with Mary and Martha, and the man, unfortunate women whom he rescued from the degradation of their time There is no question, from the accounts given of Jesus n the B,bl„, without referring to other sources of au- ' ,"'"• that he 0»"tinuaUy surrounded himself with good women, and that his affections were gratified by them m the highest degree. "There is another reason, however, why yon are more than usually affectionate at this time," continued Luma while Ins voice thrilled with peculiar tenderness, "and hat .a, hat at just this stage of your pregnancy your < hild ,s forming the rudiments of those portions of his bnun which preside over the affections and give him the capacity to have affection himself. At this time ,v«u have an unusual craving for the expressions of love, and if you were not gratified, your child would come into this world without the ability ,„ develop Lose energies which give the sweetest and most at ™-''ve traits - "omaii character. „ h pe rfecay « -'M to distinguish be< we,,, , he offspring of loving and 136 L 0* IA . niuch-loved mothers and those who have had but little desire and satisfaction of these faculties. Those who love much, and are satisfied by the loving expression of friends and consorts, develop the posterior portion of their brain, and the head becomes symmetrical, and those features of the face, and, in fact, of the whole body, which are in sympathy with and controlled by that portion of the brain, become much more har- monious and beautiful. While the unfortunate off- spring of mothers who do not call out these demonstra- tions, by a lack of affection in themselves, or who are deprived of a natural satisfaction by the coldness and indifference of those who surround them, are uniformly lacking in the essential elements of manhood and wom- anhood. Their heads are badly formed, especially in the occipital region, and every feature of their un- fortunate bodies shares the misfortune and reflects deformity in just the measure that these conditions of growth have been denied. The eyes are small and lack luster; the chin is small and retreating, and even the walk is ungraceful, and the voice disagreeable in its tone. "So, my sweet girl, whenever you feel the desire to give expression to your feelings in these directions, re- member that we love you, and that it is our highest privilege to minister to you the gratification which will not only cause you to thrill with happiness, but will endow your child with the highest social graces, and enable him to bless untold thousands who may fomc within the radiance of his sublime magnetism." A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 137 As a response to this fraternal declaration, Myrtle • bestowed another rapturous kiss upon Loma's lips, and Doctor Bell happening to enter the conservatory at this moment, she ran to him and greeted him with cor- responding ardor. The doctor placed his arm around her, and led her back to the divan, where, seated be- tween himself and Loina, she surrendered herself to the full measure of their warm and magnetic influences. "Tell me," she exclaimed, as she entwined her arms around her friends, and rested her golden head upon the doctor's shoulder, "why is it that humanity has never recognized the benefits to be derived from such loving associations as we have, and why is it so uni- versally considered to be wrong? Now, my teachings in the past have been very meager upon all of these subjects; in fact, I was often reproved for even asking questions on those topics, but the impression I received generally was, that it was wrong to let any one kiss me, and that even in marriage some things would be done which were mysterious and dark, and which in that state might be permissible, but were even then to be cov- ered with secrecy. I know that once or twice my aunt went to visit some of her lady friends who were said to be 'in a delicate condition,' and when I asked what that meant I was reproved, and told to wait until I was mar- ried, and then I would find out. I never could understand why, if marriage was the most blessed state in existence, there should be such an unwillingness to let us know anything about it. Moreover, when T went to church, T heard the preacher read a great deal from 138 LOMA, the Bible commanding the people to love one another. But it seemed to me that the moment any one tried to carry the precept into practice, a great scandal arose. If a married man or woman even expresses a great deal of love for any one of the opposite sex, by words or writ- ings, it is considered proof that something is wrong. I re- member that one of our Sunday school superintendents was compelled to resign, because a letter which he wrote to a married lady, who was one of his teachers, contained the words, 'I love you dearly, and I believe that 30U are the best woman I ever met. Your kisses are the sweetest in the world.' Her hubsand found the letter and he made a commotion, and the lady was dis- graced and lost her position in society, and the man re- signed the superintendence of the Sunday school and left the church. Now, if the Bible is right, and it says 'Love one another,' I do not see why this should have happened. Another thing I wish you would explain. We are expected to love our husbands, and yet it is the prevailing doctrine that a young lady should not allow any gentleman to kiss her, and even after she is engaged, she is urged not to allow her fiance* to take any liberties with her, as it is called. The most that is considered consistent with prudence is to allow him a very formal kiss once in a while. I did not see any good sense in this, and as no one ever gave me a satis- factory reason, but only a warning command which seemed to be contradictory to the impulses of my na- ture, I violated it with Albert. Now I would like to know, if a young woman is to be thus restricted, how A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 139 she can ever find out whether she really loves a man or not. It seems to me that love is something which comes to us by experience, and that the closest possible inti- macy is necessary to enable any one to decide, whether it is possible to love the object in view." "You have stated the case with the ability of a first- class lawyer, my dear," exclaimed the doctor. "Now, let us hear what Loma's answer will be." Loma was thoughtful for a moment, and then began to answer with earnestness and gravity. "The trouble is, that love is not as yet understood upon this planet. Your poets sing of it, your teachers and preachers prate concerning it, but your citizens have not as yet comprehended what it is. To under- stand love it is necessary to study the human constitu- tion. When we do this intelligently, we find that man has a large number of mental faculties, each one of which is devoted to the acquisition of a different kind of sensation and knowledge. It is the possession of all of these faculties in a good degree of condition and capacity which distinguishes a bright and intelligent man from the idiot. It is the possession of a larger number of these faculties and a higher degree of educa- bility which is the principal distinction between man and the animals by which he is surrounded. Some animals seem to have only a single faculty, others have more, but man seems to have more than twice as many as any animal with which we are familiar. Our best mental philosophers now estimate the number of facul- ties possessed by man as sixty-four, and we nave, cor- 140 LOMA, respondingly, sixty-four departments of knowledge ob- tainable by man. Each mental faculty possesses four distinct powers, to wit, attraction, repulsion, satisfac- tion, and memory. Each mental faculty is derived from the action of an organ in the brain corresponding to it. You will also understand that the mental powers of individuals will vary according to the growth and de- velopment of the brain and the consequent size and physiological condition of those organs. Thus one man has more musical talent than another, because those organs which relate to music are larger and in better condition in his brain than they are in the brain of his less fortunately endowed brother. As a consequence, he will be more strongly attracted toward good music, more powerfully repelled from discord, will derive greater satisfaction from a satisfactory performance, and will remember more about it. As you are all mu- sicians, you, of course, understand this. "I have chosen music as the basis of my illustration, because it is one of the departments of knowledge which have been brought to a high degree of perfection on this planet, and is so universal that it will be more readily understood. Now, the ability of a man to love music, and to delight his friends with his performances, depends, first, upon his possession of the musical facul- ties; second, upon his education in the art; third, upon his possession of an excellent instrument of expression ; fourth, upon his willingness to play, and lastly, upon the appreciation of his audience. It is not necessary for me to enlarge upon the fact, that his audience must A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 141 in some degree be as cultured as himself, in order that the appreciation may be complete, and that the highest degree of mutual pleasure may be experienced. "What I have stated as being true of music applies with equal force to every faculty of man, and to every department of knowledge which is represented by a faculty. In order to have a complete man, it is neces- sary that every faculty should be insured b} 7 the crea- tion of a complete brain. This can be done by comply- ing with the laws of reproduction. It is only as man violates these laws that he is punished with offspring which are fragmentary, and so far idiotic. When a complete brain is produced, it is then necessary that a complete education should follow. The education of the citizens of this planet, at present, is confined to less than half of the actual capacity of the brain, and this is so faultily administered that your students get but little benefit, and your industrial system is so un- just that the great majority of your children are en- tirely neglected. Assuming, however, that reform in education is established, and that your citizens are completely educated, it is still necessary that each one should have the largest opportunity for the exercise of his faculties, by being provided with instruments and occupation, and that he should have the liberty to enjoy his powers. W T hen these conditions are estab- lished you will have the highest expressions of good- ness in all departments of human effort, and the ap- preciation of the efforts of each individual by his fel- lows will follow as a matter of course. 142 LOMA, "It follows, necessarily, that while there will always be diversity of human character, there will also be diversity of talent, and diversity in the expression of the various forms of love of which man is capable. One individual will love music above all other occupations, another will love architecture, a third may devote him- self to mathematics, and so on through the whole cata- logue. While this is true, there is no reason why all persons should not be required to reach that degree of perfection in the social graces which will make them fit objects for association and affection. "I will now proceed to answer Myrtle's questions, by saying, that those faculties which are concerned in the expression of all forms of personal attachment, are en- tirely neglected in the curriculum of education, as at present administered on this planet. It is true, that man has, as prime faculties of his mental powers, the faculties which enable him to take cognizance of gen- der and the act of reproduction, of attachment for off- spring, animals and parents, of friendship for man and woman, independent of sexual association, and also the love of home and the associations of patriotism. The nat- ural growth and education of those powers would cause him to experience the largest possible happiness to himself, and the highest ministration of gratification to others. Instead of obtaining this development, how- ever, the selfishness of mankind has produced a distor- tion of these impulses, into the most barbarous senti- ments, until the natural language of these faculties has been almost entirely obliterated, and actions which are, A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 143 in fact, the most outrageous of crimes have come to be considered the exemplification of the virtues. "The fundn mental error was the chaining of the re- productive sense of gender by the institution of polyga- mous marriage. As long as men and women were free to choose their sexual affinities, the race improved by the operation of thelawof natural selection. When marriage was given enforcement by law, woman was enslaved, and in a few generations it became an easy matter to enslave her sons. Consequently, we find in an early period of the Jewish civilization, from which the present Christian stage is descended, that a tyrant like Sol- omon could revel in debauchery with three hundred concubines and seven hundred wives, while his slaves toiled at the building of the temple for his glorification, without any wives at all, and hundreds were even de- prived of the means of reproduction by mutilation, as eunuchs. "The natural sense of justice in man has asserted itself, until in the later development of civilization the practice of emasculating men has been discontinued, and all men are free to have one wife, provided they are able to persuade one to submit to the relationship. The idea of the dominion of man over the woman is still the central one, however, in the Christian form of civilization, and the barbarous form of marriage is still practiced, with all of its humiliating and degrading implications. It is to the infinite credit of your hu- manity, that it has outgrown the ceremony, and that it is in a large measure only a mere formality, which 144 LOMA, society takes for granted will only be considered sub- ject to the modifications which good sense and the enlarged liberties of mankind have imperatively de- manded. However, as long as the present form of matrimonial obligation is practiced among you, it will remain as a partial barrier to the development of correct sexual relations and good morals, because it continually educates the minds of the people to false conceptions of duties and privileges, and engenders jealousy, promotes selfishness, creates wrong desires, and, worst of all, prevents the development of love. "The earlier forms of marriage required only the ex- pression of allegiance and devotion on the part of the wife to the husband. She became his slave and sur- rendered all of her liberties to him, hence the pledge of the woman, to love, honor and obey her tyrant, de- stroyed in her the ability to discriminate as to what was lovable, honorable or capable of being obeyed without sacrificing her own honor. As an abject slave she was not supposed to consider these things. It was sufficient for her that her lord and master commanded. She obeyed. It is easy to see how, in this condition of things, the selfishness of her master soon dictated to her that she must not under any circumstances love, honor or obey any one but himself. Here we have the origin of the sentiment that it is wrong for a woman to allow herself to love any man but her husband. The enslavement of woman naturally led to another disas- trous consequence. She ceased to become an object of love to man, except as she ministered to his carnal A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 145 desires. The idea of love became dissociated from every relationship but the sexual. Considered solely as the vehicle for the satisfaction of the inflamed and unnatural desires of man, the desires having become inflamed and unnatural through the abuse which followed the enslavement of woman, she was, of course, degraded in his eyes, and was considered un- worthy of education, or participation in any of the higher walks of life. "To the infinite credit of your manhood, it is true, that gradually, though slowly and painfully, it has struggled from beneath the burden of these errors, until at this time, in the more enlightened communi- ties, the proposition to advance woman to full and complete equality with man is being seriously consid- ered, and will eventually occur. One by one her privi- leges have been restored to her, until her condition is infinitely more tolerable than in the past, but com- plete results will not be attained until the last barrier is removed, and she is .recognized as the companion, and not as the slave of man. She will then become the mother of a generation of freemen, and the advance of civilization will be rapid. "The first step in the line of reform must be the com- plete emancipation of woman. As soon as this is ac- complished, and she receives the benefit of her liber- ties, so that she can think and act with freedom, she will escape from the present impression that she is merely the vehicle of man's passions. She will cease to regard her possession by a man as essential to her 10 146 LOMA, existence, and she will act independently. The next step will be the industrial equality of woman, and she will demand and obtain the same wages as man. Be- ing by this fact placed in possession of the mastery of her own person, she will yield it only on. the dic- tates of love. The best men will then be able to obtain sexual favors, regardless of money, while those who are nonattractive, vicious or depraved will be compelled to go without altogether. In the meantime, the advancement of woman and the reorganization of the industrial system will have decreased prostitution to a minimum, and with the generation of better men and women and the advancement of education as to the proper use of the sexual functions, it will eventually disappear, and there will exist on this planet a greatly improved type of humanity. "When humanity reaches this stage of development, marriage will be regarded as it is in Venus, as a bar- barous custom of savage nations, as polygamy is al- ready. Men and women will then begin to study love as a science, as you now study music. The act of re- production will not be considered as it is now, the only basis of association between a man and a woman. Nei- ther man nor woman will be under a pledge to love one person to the exclusion of all others, because the fact will be generally recognized, that such a pledge is de- structive of morals, and is practically the suicide of the love faculties. Such a pledge will then be regarded as you would now regard the pledge of a musician to play only one tune. Whenever civilization advances beyond A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 147 the selfishness of man, the principle will be recognized that the largest growth and the grandest expression of human life is in universal love. "When Jesus commanded his followers to love one another, he meant exactly what he said. It is not only the right but the duty of every sane man and woman to cultivate and express love for as many individuals as possible. The larger the number of lovers, the richer becomes the life. This does not mean promiscuous love, nor promiscuous sexual association, but it does mean the largest possible freedom in social intercourse. It means that if a woman loves a man, or a man loves a woman, that they should have the privilege of meeting as often as they please, where and when they please, and expressing their love for each other in any lan- guage they choose, whether it be spoken, written or ex- pressed in kisses, caresses, or merely friendly greet- ings. This right is inalienable, according to all dic- tates of sound public policy, and any contract which deprives a man or woman of this liberty is void. Un- der your present conditions, if a man and woman meet each other freely, or a married man or woman is seen to any great extent with some other person of the other sex, you assume that they have met for sexual inter- course, and a scandal is the result. This is greatly augmented if there is the slightest evidence that they have kissed or caressed each other. All of this grows out of the degraded conception of love which has been forced on the human mind by the fact that man has been trained to regard woman as solely an object for 148 LOMA, the expression of sexual passion, and your men of the present generation cannot understand any other rela- tionship. "As soon as woman escapes from the bondage of marriage, she will regulate this matter herself. She will demand that men recognize the purity of her mo- tives, and she will teach them that if they wish to find favor in her eyes, they must be capable of enjoying all the other pleasures of life with her, without associating her with the gratification of mere passion. When men and women learn to associate on this plane the espion- age of woman will cease. As it is now, a man is sus- picious of his associate, because his own conscience tells him in many cases that if she is not unfaithful to her marriage vow, it is not because she has not ample provocation. Men establish an espionage upon women, because they are suspicious and selfish. Women assist in this espionage with incredible zeal, because they are jealous and selfish, and every woman who can be crowded off the social stage makes that much more room for the degraded slaves who do the spying and gossiping. When this slavery and degradation is abol- ished with marriage, and men and women associate upon an equal plane, the artificial crimes of adultery and fornication will disappear, friendship and love will be cultivated, better men and women will appear, and harmony will exist where discord now prevails." CHAPTER XI. A LESSON IN ETHICS. "And Jesus said unto her. Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more." A few days after the recognition by Myrtle of her relatives on the boulevard, as the friends were about to repair to the conservatory for the morning ses- sion of instruction, a visitor was announced in the par- lor, and Nora presented to Mrs. Bell a card salver bear- ing a card upon which was engraved "Mr. J. C. Mc- Donald." As Mrs. Bell read the name aloud, Myrtle exclaimed, "That is my uncle!'' "Sure enough!" said the doctor. "Well, as I sug- gested before, we will have mother attend to him, while Loma entertains us in the music room. When you have finished his instruction, mother, you will find us in the conservatory eagerly awaiting to hear the re- sult of the interview."' So saying, the doctor led Myrtle to the conservatory, where Loma awaited them, while Mrs. Bell proceeded to the parlor to meet her visitor. She found a tall, dark-complexioned man, of an intellectual but some- what melancholy appearance, whom she at once recog- nized as the gentleman she had seen in the carriage 1 on the boulevard. (149) 150 LOMA, The formal greetings over, Mrs. Bell requested her visitor to be seated. He complied, and with evident embarrassment began the conversation. "Mrs. Bell, I have come to perform a very disagree- able duty, but one which I am compelled to face in the discharge of my obligations as a Christian and a mem- ber of society, and one which, however painful it may be to both of us, you will doubtless thank me for not de- laying." "Indeed, sir, you astonish me. I hope it may not be as painful as you anticipate." "Would to God, madam, that it were not. But as it is always painful to recognize depravity in any of our fellow creatures, it becomes doubly so when we find it in our own household and in the hearts of those we have learned to love and from whom we have reason to expect better things. To come directly to the point, however, madam, I have learned recently that you have in your house, and, as I am informed, as your guest, a young woman by the name of Myrtle Burnham. Is this true?" "It is true. She is my guest, and I am sure a sweeter and more lovely associate could not exist. Are you in- terested in her?" "It grieves me beyond measure, madam, to destroy the conception you have of the character of this person. It is my Christian duty to inform you that she is ut- terly depraved, an outcast and a reproach to her sex, and that, as you value your own good name, it is im- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 151 peratively necessary that you should expel her at once from your house." "Impossible! My dear sir, we regard Myrtle as the embodiment of everything which is good. By what right do you bring these accusations against her? I beg you to be careful what you say, for remember it is easier to accuse than it is to prove guilt. 1 ' "Alas! madam, the proof is only too easily obtain- able. We have her own confession and her own con- dition to substantiate everything I say. This person is, or rather was, my own niece, and until a few days ago resided at my house, where she had every induce- ment to lead a pure, virtuous and upright life. I say she was my niece, for since the discovery of her dis- honor, she has been dead to us. She has had all the advantages of the church, the Sabbath school and a Christian home, and the purest and best of associa- tions. She was engaged to be married to a young man! who was considered a most eligible and wealthy con- nection, and who was a perfect gentleman. Such, how- ever, was the depravity of this girl, that she allowed herself to be seduced by her fiance^, and what is still worse, she became pregnant, and is now plainly in that condition. The young man paid the penalty of his sin by being killed in an accident to a cable "car in the La Salle street tunnel several weeks ago, which cir- cumstance we are obliged to confess a direct visitation of Providence. A few days ago this girl confessed to my wife that she had been guilly of the worst of crimes, with her intended, and when my wife informed 152 LOMA, her of her condition she did not have sufficient sense of shame to even profess remorse. We, of course, ex- pelled her from our home, and we heard no more of her until my wife recognized her in your carriage on the boulevard a few days ago. We were at first dum- founded, but later inquiry developed the fact that she was here as your guest. I do not know by what measure of deceit she has succeeded in imposing herself upon you as a respectable person, but I presume that this explanation, for which I hold myself responsible, will enable you to see your way clear to her immediate expulsion." "The circumstances of her admission to my house are simply these," said Mrs. Bell, quietly. "After being driven from your home, she wandered three days and two nights upon the street, when, in her misery and despair, she attempted suicide by throwing herself into Lake Michigan from the pier at the foot of Van Buren street. She was rescued by a gentleman who is also our guest, and by him and my son brought to this house, where she has since remained." "How unfortunate," groaned the visitor. "Would to God, madam, she had succeeded in her attempt, for living, she can only be a source of misery to herself and a disgrace to those who are unfortunately associ- ated with her. My wife has been almost crazy with grief since this calamity, for our position in society is among the best, and my wife is president of the mis- sionary society of one of our leading churches, and you A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 153 know how seriously such an occurrence affects one's so- cial standing." "I infer from jour remarks, sir, that your wife's grief and your own discomfiture arise mainly from the fear of disaster to your social position. You do not seem to have any consideration or sympathy for the unfortu- nate girl." "Why, surely, madam, you would not expect me to show sympathy toward a depraved and unchaste per- son, where the honor and social standing of my family are concerned," exclaimed Mr. McDonald, warmly. "I expect you to show justice, at least," said Mrs. Bell. "You have not proved, as yet, that Myrtle Burn- ham is either depraved or unchaste. Before I reach a decision in this case I desire to know all the circum- stances, that I may act intelligently, and place the blame, if there is any, where it rightfully belongs." "Madam, I fail to understand you. Have I not told you that this young woman has been seduced, that she is even now pregnant, and that she has confessed these circumstances to my wife. As a respectable, Christian woman, what more can you demand?" "I am not a Christian," said Mrs. Bell, with dignity, "but I will discuss this matter with you from a Chris- tian standpoint, if you please. As far as you have pro- ceeded with your statement, you have only brought two fads in evidence, namely, that she is a young unmarried woman, and thai she is now pregnant. Have you any other evidences of her depravity?" "T do not see that more could be required." 154 LOMA, "I differ with you. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was in precisely the same condition at one time, yet you consider her the most blessed of women, and worship the fruit of her womb as your God. You surely would not claim that a depraved mother could bring forth such a son as Jesus." "But, my dear Mrs. Bell, that was different." "In what respect, pray?" "Why, he was God." "Very well. If he was God and was conceived in that way, then if there is any distinction between be- ing conceived in or out of wedlock, it is more godlike to be illegitimate than it is to be legitimate. If you re- gard him simply as a man, then the only criterion by which we may judge is his character and works. But if he was really God, by coming into the world in that way he manifested in the clearest manner his disap- proval of the barbarous custom of marriage, which then, as now, was simply the badge of the enslave- ment of woman. I find that he still further exempli- fied his disapproval of marriage by remaining single himself." "Madam, you astonish me. You surely do not mean to claim that the Son of God approved of adultery and fornication." "Certainly not. But there is a vast difference be- tween adultery and fornication and the expression of pure love, in a natural way. When you exalt mar- riage as the only test of purity, you are making a stu- pendous mistake. There is as much prostitution in A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 155 marriage as there is out of it. Love existed in the human constitution before marriage laws or customs, and it will survive after they have perished." "Do you not believe that marriage is a divine institu- tion, and that fornication and adultery are the worst possible crimes?" "By no means. Marriage is simply the invention of priests, kings and politicians, used for purely political purposes. Applying the tests of the highest Christian standards, the actions of Jesus and his blessed mother, I find that both condemned the custom by their ac- tions, and Jesus by his express words refused to con- demn a woman taken in adultery. I do not find that he ever approved the custom by any action or word. I honor his judgment, and from the standpoint of one who is not a Christian there are far worse crimes than either adultery or fornication, and I do not hestitate to tell you that one of them consists in turning a defense- less girl from a home, where she has a right to protec- tion, out upon the street without resources, where she is exposed to every temptation that can beset mind or body, and likely to fall into the most horrible evils that exist. There are conditions that are worse than death, and to expose a young, innocent, and defenseless girl to them is worse than murder." Mrs. Bell's visitor regarded her in silent astonish- ment. He sat nervously clasping his hands and biting his lips, which were dry and colorless. "Now, Mr. McDonald, we may as well come to the vital point in this matter at once. I believe that you 156 bOMA, are a. man of good impulses, and naturally upright and kind, but you are laboring under a horrible mistake, and you have committed an act of the greatest in- humanity, while you believed you were doing your duty. I do not blame you, but I do hold in utter con- tempt and detestation the execrable philosophy which has blinded you to the dictates of affection and justice. Now, sir, if I am correctly informed, you became guard- ian for Myrtle when she was ten years of age, and since the death of her mother, which occurred at that time, you have directed her education, her father having died seventeen years ago." "That is true." "Now, will you please inform me to what extent Myrtle has been instructed in the details of physiology, especially that part which relates to the sexual nature and the processes of reproduction?" "Why, madam, I do not consider that the topics you mention are fit subjects for a young and unmarried female to study at all. We never mentioned them in her presence, much less made them a part of her educa- tion." "Just so. And yet you exposed her to the society of a young and amorous man, where she was sure to be confronted with the temptation to indulge in sexual intercourse, without the slightest information or knowl- edge as to its nature and consequences. You required her to continue chaste, when you never gave her an opportunity to know the difference between chastity and unchastitv, or in what unchastitv consisted. With- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. I57 out the slightest preparation for the ordeal, you ex- posed her to conditions which have, in all ages, proven too much for the established principles of the wisest and best of men, and because she ignorantly trans- gressed a social custom which she had no opportunity to understand, you consider her vicious and depraved. Do you think this accords with justice or reason?" The visitor was silent, but his face changed color and he was evidently very much disturbed. Mrs. Bell paused a moment to give him time to think, and then resumed : "There is another aspect in which we ought to con- sider this question. Suppose we admit, for the sake of argument, that Myrtle had willfully sinned. What should we do with a sinner? What did Jesus say we should do? You said that you came here to discharge your duty as a Christiau. Can you find the place in the Bible where Jesus ever persecuted any one? Did he follow the woman who was taken in adultery to see that she did not associate with decent people, and to warn them against her? Nay, do we not find, on the contrary that he gave even his own loving com- panionship to the Magdalen, out of whom he had cast seven devils? Suppose that Jesus had been present at your house when you expelled this dear girl and sent her forth from your home to wander on the streets of Chi- cago, do you really think he would have approved of your action?'' Mr. McDonald's lips trembled while he muttered the words, "But Jesus was different." 158 LOMA, "Yes,- Mr. McDonald, he was different from the aver- age Christian of to-day. If he had come into your Bible class last Sunday, you would have regarded him as a tramp. If he had brought with him the women he associated with when he was on earth, you would have sent for the patrol wagon. But your religion professes to encourage you to follow him and be like him. My religion permits me to admire him and imitate his actions as near as I can in my humble way. I do not expect to meet him at the judgment seat, but you profess that you do. Assuming that you are right, what are you going to say when he asks you what you have done 'unto the least of these,' the girl who was intrusted to your education and protection?" Mr, McDonald groaned. He wiped his eyes with his handkerchief and said nothing. The philanthropist continued: "I read in your Bible this definition of true religion : "'Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this; to visit the widows and the fatherless in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted front the world.' "Now, my dear brother, the very worst that can be said of Myrtle when your wife discovered her condition last week, is, that she was in affliction. She had done no willful wrong, for she knew nothing of the conse- quences of her act, and her ignorance was the direct result of education. She was the fatherless and in affliction. How did 3011 visit her? What account can you render of your actions toward her at the Christian A CITIZEN OF VENT'S. 159 day of judgment? Are you without siu yourself iu this direction? Are you able to cast the first stone at an unchaste woman, admitting that she is willfully guilty of fornication?" Mr. McDonald could staud no more. He rose ab- ruptly and took his leave, saying: "Madam, I do not understand this. Perhaps I have done wrong. I must have time to think. I will call again." He went out wiping his eyes and pulling his hat down over them, and as Mrs. Bell closed the door she noticed that his steps were unsteady as he walked away from the house. Mrs. Bell returned to the conservatory, where Myrtle, Loma. and the doctor listened eagerly to her report of the conversation. Myrtle was much affected. "Oh, I wish they would learn the truth, and let me love them," she exclaimed. "They were always good and kind to me, until this happened, and I would be perfectly happy if they would only see their mistake and trust me as they did before. Of course I do not wish to return to their home, for I am much happier here, but it would relieve my mind to know that there was no ill will between us. In my present surround- ings I cannot bear to think of any enmity or harshness toward any one, and I do not want it expressed toward me." "You are rapidly developing the Christ spirit, be- loved,"' said Loma, as he embraced her and imprinted a kiss upon 1km- forehead. "I hope that your wishes 160 LOMA, may be gratified, and from what our dear mother here tells us, I think we may confidently hope that your uncle may soon be converted. Let us celebrate her victory with a song." The friends repaired to the music room, and a mo- ment later the perfumed air vibrated with the harmoni- ous blending of human voices in an expression of triumphant love. CHAPTER XII. RECONCILIATION. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." While Loina was thus engaged in implanting in the mind of Myrtle the germs of the great truths which her offspring was destined to teach to the world, his devoted assistants were no less conscientious in the performance of their duties in preparing her for the physical ordeal through which she was about to pass. Both the doctor and his mother were enthusiastic stu- dents of gyna?cology and had for years made a special- ty of conditions favorable to the best results in child- birth. Now that a lively personal interest was joined to professional pride, in the case in hand, they made elaborate arrangements to procure for Myrtle every influence which would secure her comfort, safety and happiness, as well as conduce to the perfection of her offspring. In all of this they were warmly assisted by Loma, who brought to their aid not only the immense stock of new ideas he had imported from his native planet but also the inventive genius and artistic talent of his superb intelligence. Her diet was the first consideration. Mrs. Bell ex- plained to her that now that the bones of her child 11 (161) 162 LOMA, were beginning to form, it was necessary that she should avoid all such food as would result in hardening them to such a degree as would render her parturition painful. She was instructed that it was necessary that her own bones should be subjected to a softening process, in order that they might be rendered pliable and thus decrease the resistance to the passage of the child from the internal cavity, through the opening of the pelvis. She was assured that if these precautions were carried out, she would not only pass through the critical experience of labor with little, if any, pain but that her offspring would be greatly protected, and that by a proper course of diet after birth, his bones would be rendered sufficiently strong before he would have any occasion to support himself upon them, and that her own system would quickly recover its necessary rigidity. Myrtle submitted to all of these arrange- ments with a ready compliance, so perfectly did she repose confidence in the skill and superior wisdom of her devoted friends. Accordingly, all the water that she drank was care- fully distilled to remove the lime and other earthy material held in solution, and all articles of food con- taining the same principles were carefully excluded. She was provided with an abundance of the best fruit on the market, and several barrels of apples were secured for her especial benefit. These she ate, either raw or cooked, as she desired, and grapes, tomatoes and melons, were freely provided. A limited quantity of lemons and oranges were added to this, but as the A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 183 doctor believed and Loma confirmed, it was not con- sidered best to indulge in any great degree in fruits that were not indigenous to the climate of her res- idence. These were supplemented with onions and green vegetables, with a limited quantity of rice, sago, tapioca, figs and raisins. Potatoes were excluded, and turnips, beets and such vegetables as consisted of roots were not favored. The general principle adopted in this diet was, that whatever grew above the ground, as the fruit of the plant, was acceptable, while roots and tubers were not. The single exception to this was onions, and as these were only used as a relish in small quantities, and were valuable for their anti- scorbutic qualities, they were considered desirable. Pure honey, molasses, sugar, butter, oils and vinegar were allowed in such quantities as she desired, but all bone-hardening and muscle-producing foods were rigorously excluded. Hence she used no bread, either of corn or wheat, and very little meat of any hind. An occasional indulgence was permitted in meait, but when used it was usually fat, and of limited quantity. On the subject of meat eating, Loma expressed himself as follows: "In the present stage of your civilization, the con- sumption of meat is a necessity to many of your citi- zens. Meat is nourishing and stimulating, and incites the consumer to the display of great energy, and often to cruelty. Meat-eating nations are usually cruel and selfish, and as long as you have to contend with cruel and selfish conditions, your citizens will need the 164 LOMA, stimulating effect of a meat diet. But when you reach the perfect form of civilization which exists in Venus, the consumption of all animal food will cease. Conse- quently, for myself, I desire to follow an exclusively vegetable and fruit regimen, but I do not consider that you have reached the stage when you can safely do without meat." Myrtle was kept in a state of absolute cleanliness by frequent baths in tepid water, and occasional sponge baths in cold water, for which services the trained skill of Nora was enlisted. The exposure of her body in the equable temperature of the conservatory, and tho action of the sunlight on her skin, produced a peculiar strengthening and beautifying effect, and at the end of the second month of her stay at the residence of Doctor Bell, she was more beautiful than at first. During all of this time she had been subject to a thorough but not fatiguing course of gymnastics. Mrs. Bell was an enthusiastic teacher of physical culture and had a large class of young people whom she had personally instructed, and who were enthusiastic con- verts to all of her physiological and social theories. Myrtle was introduced to these young people, and im- mediately became a general favorite. Among these liberal minded and thoroughly enlightened people, her condition, instead of being regarded as a disgrace, entitled her at once to generous love and considera- tion. Social parties and clubs were organized in her honor, and she was constantly made to feel that she was an honored guest. Dancing parties occurred at A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 165 least twice a week, and while she indulged in this exercise with moderation, she was permitted to have a full and complete enjoyment of her strength, and was not encouraged to consider herself an invalid merely because she was pregnant. In this way the time passed agreeably, and she was sufficiently employed at all times to obtain the full use of all her faculties without becoming fatigued, and in all of her social engagements she was carefully guarded against the possibility of an unfortunate accident. She enjoyed a ride in the carriage every pleasant day, with one or more members of the family, and took frequent walks through the parks and streets, accom- panied by the doctor or Loma, all of which she enjoyed with all the enthusiasm of her elastic temperament. Under the careful tuition of Loma, she was daily engaged in those forms of physical and mental culture which were considered desirable, having reference to the formation of the brain of her offspring. Loma had explained, that there were three distinct stages of edu- cational influences, the conditions surrounding the mother at the time of her impregnation, the impres- sions received by her during gestation, and the train- ing imparted after birth. The conditions surround- ing her at the time of her impregnation had been most favorable, owing to the fact that she had con- ceived her child at a time when her whole system was glowing with a pure expression of love for its father. The first three mouths had been passed by her in great activity of mind and body, which was most 166 LOMA, favorable for the operation of the second class of educa- tional influences, to wit, the impressions received by the mother during pregnancy. Loma explained that, during this period, those organs of the brain which were occupied with the faculties of observation, the objective intellect, physical energy and physical love, were being rudimentarily developed, and by the fact that the mother during these months was kept very active in the expressions of the same faculties, they would be strengthened and developed in the child. By this means she also escaped all of the distressing symptoms of "morning sickness." Mrs. Bell had always believed and taught her patients, that this unpleasant symptom of pregnancy was simply the revenge of nature for the general inactivity which was practiced by most ladies as soon as they discovered themselves to be pregnant, and often induced by the confirmed indolent habits of the patient. She was glad to find her doctrine corroborated by Loma, and as Myrtle yielded to the advice of her friends, and performed heartily all of the exercises and duties assigned to her, which she realized to be for the wel- fare of herself and her child, the results were highly satisfactory. It was arranged that the general activity of her bodily exercise should be gradually reduced dur- ing the fourth and fifth month, and that her energy should be directed more toward intellectual and con- structive employment, involving the subjective intel- lect, the cultivation of prudence, the love of the beauti- ful and the sublime, and the extension of her social A CITIZEN UF VENUS. 167 pleasures. This arrangement corresponded with the second period of brain formation, and involved the faculties that would be represented in those organs of (he brain that are located iu the middle portion. The last three months of her pregnancy were to be devoted to the higher forms of logical and subjective reasoning, the cultivation of sympathy and dignity, and special exercises in benevolence, mirthfulness, hope, faith and reverence. During this time she was also to be im- pressed with the firmness and justice of the eternal truths she had received from Loma, and the dignity and importance of her exalted office, with the full and adequate realization of the renown which must inevita- bly accompany it. As she was now passing through the stage when impressions of beauty were desirable, the doctor ar- ranged that every morning, as soon as she awakened, her eyes should be feasted with some object of exquisite perfection. For that purpose he ransacked the art stores and the collections of his friends, and provided a new object of beauty at least twice a week. Some- times it was a beautiful painting, at other time's a choice piece of statuary, and as often some lovely floral design in which colors were blended in perfect har- mony. These were taken into Myrtle's room and cov- ered with a beautiful curtain, just at the foot of her bed. While she was asleep, the curtain was removed and the lights arranged so as to produce the most desirable effect iu the morning when she should first behold it. Each article was permitted to remain as 168 LOMA, long as she desired it, and when her senses had thor- oughly comprehended it, she was supplied with some- thing new. Her expressions were carefully watched, to see that she was not wearied by this process, and occasionally when she had a decided attachment to some particular work of great beauty, it was presented to her by some of her devoted associates, so that the gift might always be a reminder of friendship or love. One day Lonia came in from a walk with the doctor, and finding Myrtle in the parlor, advanced and pre- sented her with a beautiful diamond ring, at the same time paying her a delightful compliment, and con- gratulating her on having reached in safety the middle day of her pregnancy. "This is a custom on Venus," he said, as he placed the ring on her finger, "and I hope that whenever your eyes are pleased with the brill- iancy of its rays, you will think affectionately and gratefully of the brilliant star whose rays are always directed toward you in paternal benediction." Myrtle was deeply affected, and embraced him with great ardor. "I love the beautiful planet, every time I see it above the horizon," she exclaimed. "I love it be- cause it is beautiful and good, and because it has sent you to me. I love it because upon it humanity is free and maternity is honored. But tell me one thing. Are all pregnant women upon Venus treated as I am treated by you and these dear friends?" "Yes indeed," said Loma. "Only upon Venus we have infinitely better facilities than are even furnished by the munificent hospitality we are at present enjoy- A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 169 ing. In a few days I shall begin the discussion of subjects in which the advanced methods we pursue upon iny native planet will be explained to you, and I promise you that you will be delighted to know them, and that when you realize the tremendous advance which must occur upon this planet, from the teaching of the same principles by your son, you will feel that your mission is indeed an exalted one." "I have often wondered," said Myrtle, "which afford- ed the most happiness — to live in a place where all the conditions were perfect, or to feel one's self a potent factor in evolving good conditions out of evil. When I was a child I used to read of the struggles of those brave men and women who led the battle for liberty in behalf of the African slaves on this continent, and I frequently wished that I had been born a generation sooner, in order that I might have had a part in it. But it seems that there are battles of greater magni- tude to be fought to-day, and I am highly favored in having a share in them. But my situation is so much more pleasant than those who fought those battles. I do not think that it takes much heroism to be placed in such delightful surroundings and be ministered to in this way." "My dear child," said Loma, smilingly, "the highest test of heroism is the willingness to do one's duty at the right time and in the right way. Your duty falls in pleasant places, but it requires great strength of character to endure your present situation without becoming selfish and indifferent to the rights and 170 LOMA, wrongs of others. I have carefully watched your con- duct, and you have invariably returned a full measure of love for all of the favors you have received, and your mind has been constantly on the alert for the best possible use to be made of your opportunities. As long as you maintain this high standard, you will be performing the duties of a heroine, and you will fight and win a battle which was lost by Adam and Eve, and by many others since the civilization of this world began." At this point in the conversation, the door bell rang, and Loma and Myrtle retired to the library. The visitor was shown into the parlor, and Mrs. Bell was summoned. When that lady reached the parlor she recognized in her visitor Myrtle's uncle, Mr. McDonald. He looked haggard and worn. Mrs. Bell greeted him cordially, and endeavored to place him at his ease. She invited him to be seated, but he remained standing and gave every evidence of being in a state of mental distress. Finally he exclaimed: "My dear madam, I have come to tell you that I am the most miserable of men. Your conversation of a few days ago has opened my eyes to the utter injustice of my action toward an innocent and unfortunate girl, who had a claim upon my protection which miser- ably failed her in the hour of need. I have confessed my sin upon my knees in the presence of my God, and I have come to acknowledge my transgression before you, and to beg for you to intercede with her to forgive me. Thank God, she is yet alive, and my ignorance A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 171 and uncharitableness has had no worse effect than to expose her to perils, from which by the mercy of God she has escaped. I can never express my gratitude to Ilim, and to you and your friends as his instruments, for saving me from the commission of a crime which I now believe with you, to be worse than murder. AVill you grant me the favor to say to the dear girl, that I have not slept since I was here from remorse, and that unless I can obtain her pardon I will never see another happy moment." "It will not be necessary for me to intercede for you, my dear sir," said the philanthropist, gently. "With- out solicitation on the part of any one, Myrtle has declared that she bears you no malice, and only awaits the first indication on your part of a desire to resume affectionate relations, to meet you more than half way. Such is the beautiful and forgiving nature of her char- acter, that I do not believe she is capable of harboring a thought of revenge or enmity against any one, not even those who have wronged her. Shall I tell her that you wish to see her?" Mr. McDonald sank down upon a sofa, covered his face with his handkerchief, and burst into tears. "And this is the girl I thought was vicious and depraved!" he exclaimed. "She is an angel, and I am not worthy to touch the hem of her garment. Send her to me that I ma}' confess my inhumanity, and if she forgives me I will know that God has done likewise." Mis. Bell withdrew from the parlor, and in another moment Myrtle entered the room. She advanced to 172 LOMA, her uncle's side and placed her arm around his neck, and imprinted a kiss upon his cheek. " Dear uncle," she said softly, "I know what you would say, and I have forgiven all. Do not think of it again, but love me as you always have and let us be happy. It was all a horrible mistake." Her uncle caught her in his arms and kissed her pas- sionately. "My child, my precious child !" he exclaimed, "can you forgive the ignorance and inhuman conduct of your poor, weak, blind uncle? I was blinded by prejudice, and by the slavish adherence to conven- tional beliefs. I was selfish and inconsiderate, and I allowed my pride in my social and religious position to destroy the spirit of the religion I professed. Forgive me, and I will be your protector and guardian hence- forth in the face of the world, and of my wife." "Is Aunt Sarah still against me?" asked Myrtle. "Alas! my child, for the hollo wness and insincerity of religious profession. Your aunt is entirely absorbed in her social position and in the prestige she obtains from the presidency of a missionary society which spends thousands of dollars annually on the heathen in foreign lands, and which is powerless to soften the hard hearts of the heathen in its own membership. I know now that I was entirely dominated by her in my treatment of you, fool, coward and hypocrite that I was. I have read the Bible, argued, wept and prayed with her, and all to no purpose. But I have realized my own duty, and in spite of her threats and curses, — yes, she cursed me when I told her I was coming to beg A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 173 your forgiveness, — I am here to offer you my protection and my love, and to say that I despise the teaching of the formal religion which has caused me to do this great wrong to you. I have seen your Aunt Mary, and she rejoices in my changed views. She sends you her love, and offers you a home with her, and T will say that you shall never need for anything while I live, and in my will you shall be remembered as my own daughter. This is all I can do at present to atone for my great wrong, but if you will accept it, I shall be happy once more in the performance of my duty to my sister's child." "Dear uncle," said Myrtle, as she kissed him on the forehead, "you have made me very happy, and I will be able to relieve you from all embarrassment in the matter. These dear friends with whom I now have a home, have adopted me as a member of the family, and I am very happy. If I should go to Aunt Mary's now I would be thrown among those who look at me in very much the same spirit as Aunt Sarah does. The people of your church, and the class of society in which. I formerly moved are all blind on this subject, and it will require the coming of another Messiah to convert them. Here, I am surrounded by those who love and respect me, and my child will be born and educated under the most favorable circumstances. If you will give me the comfort of your society occasionally, and Aunt Mary will come to see me here, I shall be per- fectly happy. I love you both, and I love and forgive Aunt Sarah, and I only hope she will also see her 174 LOMA, mistake some day and be converted to the glorious truth. Now kiss me, and know that I have forgotten all the unpleasant things that have occurred, and we will never mention them again. I want to introduce you to my friends, and show you what a beautiful home I have."' Pressing an ardent and forgiving kiss upon her uncle's lips, Myrtle left the room and soon returned with Loma, whom she gracefully introduced. Doctor Bell soon entered, and Mr. McDonald took occasion to feelingly thank both gentlemen for their rescue of Myr- tle, whom he now referred to in terms of the wannest affection. Mrs. Bell was the recipient of a graceful tribute from the thoroughly reformed pharisee, and when he had recovered his ease of manner and felt secure in the respect of Myrtle's friends, who were too liberal to hold his mistake against him after he had confessed his fault, Mr. McDonald proved himself to be a warm-hearted, accomplished and lovable man. An hour was spent in delightful conversation, and then he cook his leave, after accepting an invitation from Mrs. Bell to bring his sister and dine with her on the follow- ing Tuesday. Myrtle was rauiant with joy after her uncle left, and was warmly congratulated by her friends on his con- version to her defense. "I owe it all to you," she said, gratefully, to Mrs. Bell. "I believe you would convert Aunt Sarah, too, if you could meet her personally as you did Uncle John." "I admire his courage," said Doctor Bell. "Consider- A CITIZEN' OF VENUS. 175 ing his education and prejudices, and the character of his associations, it is a remarkable exhibition of courage, conscientiousness, independence and intelli- gence for him to do what he has done to-day. An ordinary man can go forward in what he knows to be his duty, when he has never committed himself to a contrary course. But it takes a brave man io acknowl- edge a wrong, to apologize or ask forgiveness of one he has wronged." CHAPTER XIII. THE CODE OF OALLIIEIM. "Alone he stands. Girt with the flawless armor of the Truth, And in one hand a torch whose light dispels The mists of superstition, as the sun Drives doubts and shadows from the face of morn. The other holds a sword whose keenest edge Is turned against the mortal heart of Error, A trenchant blade, and wielded by an arm That knows not fear, nor halts at criticism." Doctor Bell had followed with rapt attention every lesson which Loma had delivered at which he could possibly be present. The young physician was a bright student and had made very copious notes of every one of the short lectures delivered by Loma, being fully resolved that nothing should escape him which would add to his ability to perform successfully his part of the great mission of instruction to Myrtle's son, when he reached the age at which he would be committed to his charge. Loma had planned that the childhood of the coming prodigy should be spent under the maternal instruction of Mrs. Bell and Myrtle, and that when he reached puberty, his education should then be directed by the doctor. These matters had been fully discussed and agreed to by the friends, and all their energies were harmoniously directed toward the consummat ion of the great plan. V2 (177) 178 LOMA, More than two months had passed rapidly and pleas- antly away, since the arrival of Loma upon the earth, and the time had been most thoroughly utilized. Myr- tle was now in the second period of her pregnancy, and according to the laws of gestation which Loma had explained, she was building in the brain of her child those organs which related to the constructive powers, the reasoning faculties, and the instincts of preserva- tion and sociability. She became more cautious and prudent, for her increasing size and weight constantly reminded her of her condition and the care necessary to prevent accidents. The select circle of friends to whom she had been introduced by Mrs. Bell became still more solicitous and interested in her daily. Never a day passed but she was reminded of the affectionate interest of some one of the circle by a personal visit, usually accompanied by some loving token or gift, most frequently some beautifully fashioned garment designed either for herself or the little one who was soon to bless her with his appearance. Every mani- festation of this character caused Myrtle to thrill with the sweet sensations of love and pride, for they were nearly all the work of the hands of the givers, and bore to Myrtle the delightful assurance that she was loved and cared for. In this way her mind continued to expand and grow, until one day when some special tribute of affection had aroused her enthusiasm to a high degree she exclaimed: "If this continues I shall feel that I am the best loved woman on earth, and I A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 179 shall glow like Loma with the magnetism of its recip- rocation." "That is precisely as we wish you to feel, my love," said Mrs. Bell, kissing her. "And if you feel that way now it will become the permanent condition of your child, and he will be a worthy representative of Loma, as Jesus was of Manrolin." Myrtle became, during this period, intensely inter- ested in art, especially in its constructive forms, and in the expression of the beautiful. Sometimes her rapture over these subjects became sublime, and she wrote articles and poems, which were gems of literary construction and artistic conception. Much time was now devoted to music, and here, also, she displayed her constructive and perfective powers by producing musical compositions of a high grade. Under the tuition of Loma, she progressed rapidly in the study of philosophy and logic, and entered into debates with her friends with extraordinary spirit and lofty courage. Loma was delighted with the progress made by his pupil, and when he had thoroughly satisfied himself that she had mastered all of the preliminary instruc- tions he had designed for her, he thrilled her and his two other auditors, one day in the morning session in the conservatory, by announcing that he was now ready to relate the substance of a description of civil- ization as it existed on his native planet Myrtle clapped her hands with pleasure, while Mrs. Bell exclaimed, "How delightful! I have been dying with curiosity to ask you about the condition of society 180 LOMA, in Venus, but we have been so thoroughly entertained by what you have told us on other subjects, that I have not found the opportunity, and, moreover, I was afraid if I did ask, that you might decline on the ground that we were not ready to comprehend it." "All in good time," said Loma, smiling. "You were not ready for it two months ago, but now that I have criticised some of the conditions which exist here on earth, you have a right to know how things are man- aged with us, who have developed beyond your present stage." "The civilization of Venus," said Loma, as he began his narrative, "while it is many centuries in advance of this, is not so essentially different from what you will attain to in a short time as you may suppose. To make myself clearer, I will say that while a people are engaged in advancing from ignorance to intelligence, there is great rapidity of progress, but when complete intelligence is reached there is no progress necessary. Our people reached a solution of the problem of ex- istence mamy centuries ago, and since that time they have been living right, and in accord with nature, hence there has been no change except the slow growth toward higher forms of intelligence as new senses and faculties have been evolved. These only occur with the changing conditions of natural surroundings, which you will uuderstand are not rapid. "The essential difference between your people and ours, at present, is, that your citizens are impelled forward by resistless energy toward progress, while A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 181 ours are contented and happy ;is they are, because they are enjoying correct conditions, while you are straining every energy to develop better conditions than those you now have. Now, some of the animals on this planet have developed to perfectly correct con- ditions, according to the limit of their faculties, hence they live perfectly contented lives and make no remark- able progress, because progress is not necessary. Man will continue to struggle toward correct conditions until he reaches them, and you have already reached a comprehension of them in a large degree, in some of your faculties, and your complete civilization will date, as ours does, from the time when, as a race, you recognize the principle of mathematical equity in all the departments of action, and the true nature of the constitution of man. You have the means of the solu- tion of the problem in your hands already, and if I can impress upon you, and through you especially upon Myrtle's offspring, the comprehension of the true solu- tion, he will be able to teach it to mankind, and there- after it will only be a matter of a few generations of men and women created upon correct principles, which will enable you to reach a plane of life sub- stantially the same as now exists upon Venus." His auditors drew closer with breathless interest. Lama rose from his seat and requested them to do the same. He then formed a circle by joining hands and raising his eyes toward the sun which glowed through the opening in the dome of the conservatory, exclaimed: "Source of Power aud all Goodness! 182 LOMA, give me strength to perform my duty! May the words of this hour be uttered in wisdom, and may the effect be the elevation of mankind to happiness in the domain of universal love!" As he spoke this invocation, his body glowed with magnetism until it was as bright as the sun, and the glow communicated itself to the bodies of Myrtle, Mrs. Bell and Edward, while they thrilled with the deli- cious sensations which Loma's magnetism always im- parted. He then released their hands and seated him- self to begin his instruction. "The foundation of a correct civilization," said Loma, "begins with the rejection of the belief in the supernatural. As long as our people believed in the existence of ghosts, gods and devils, they attributed all phenomena to their agency and neglected the study of the natural. Our civilization properly begins with the teaching of a great and good man by name of Gall- heim, who declared, as I hope Myrtle's son will teach, that everything is natural, that human character is a matter of growth and culture, and that all problems can be solved by applying the principles of mathe- matics. He was at first persecuted and ridiculed, but his power was so great, that he established a respecta- ble following, who lived strictly according to his teachings. They organized themselves into a society, from which, as a nucleus, arose a growth of humanity which ultimately conquered the planet and established the civilization which we now enjoy. "The fundamental doctrines of Gallheim were: A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 183 "First — That man is an aggregation of atoms that are all governed by the same laws which govern the material universe, and that his intelligence is the result of growth and the formation of his constitution, the aggregation of the power of the associated atoms composing his organization and depending for its com- plete manifestation upon the completeness and com- plexity of his structure. "Second — That the character of any individual can be determined by an inspection of his physical con- stitution, and adapted to its proper sphere of growth and enjoyment of existence. "Third— That by the study of the laws of nature and by conforming thereto in the generation and culture of humanity, as well as all other organisms, approximately perfect results can be obtained. "Fourth — That the laws of mathematical equity which have been found to produce harmony in music and art, can be applied to every other of the sixty-four departments of knowledge and the spheres of action pertaining thereto. "As soon as these doctrines took root and began to form the rule of action in the lives of Gallheim's followers, the following remarkable results were at- tained: First, his followers abandoned the delusion of future lives, which had consumed their energies to the neglect of the present, and began to study and order their lives so as to produce the greatest amount of happiness for themselves and their associates in the present. His second great doctrine taught them the 184 LOMA, true worth of human character, and the study of themselves from a scientific standpoint enabled them to form a true conception of their talents and how to use them, and their faults and how to correct them." "That is what the magnificent discoveries of our own Gall and Spurzheim will do for us as soon as Phrenology is accepted," exclaimed the doctor, with enthusiasm. "Certainly," resumed Loma. "I told you a moment ago that you had the means of the solution of the problem in your hands already, and as soon as the science of Phrenology is developed, in accordance with Gallheim's first great doctrine, instead of making it subservient to the old errors concerning mind and soul, you will be half way toward the correct result. "The great light shed upon human character by these two doctrines led to the enthusiastic develop- ment of the third, which, as has also happened on the earth, had already in a measure been applied to the culture of animals and vegetation. As soon as man comprehend his weaknesses, as exposed by Gallheim's system of character study, which was essentially the same as the rhrenology of Gall and Spurzheim upon this planet, he began to conscientiously cultivate him- self toward perfection. The result was that, in seven generations, approximately perfect organizations had been reached, and during this transition marriage and all other barbarous customs were abolished, for as soon as intelligent culture was attempted, it was found that perfect love was essential, and as love A CITIZKN OF VENTS. 185 could not exist under compulsion and slavery, mar- riage disappeared and love was the universal law. The most remarkable result attending this develop- ment was the fact, that, as soon as liberty was de- clared and people became accustomed to it, the tone of public sentiment rose so high that those persons who attempted to be selfish, or who would not conform to the best conditions of development, were held in such universal detestation that they immediately reformed, or else went out of the new society and asso- ciated with the barbarians, who were at last entirely crowded off the planet. Because as the new society grew in numbers and in the perfection of its members, it rapidly obtained control of all governments, and the remainder of the population were gradually educated to a comprehension of the benefits, so that they were rapidly absorbed. The new society began by limiting the increase of population among themselves, produc- ing only as many citizens as were required, and these only of the best quality. It followed, as a matter of course, that even among the barbarians those who wanted offspring followed the teachings of Gallheim and produced good citizens, who became members of the new society, while those who were indifferent failed to reproduce, and thus at last died out. The new- society gained at last complete possession of the planet by peaceable means, and with the use of no other weapon than its own superb intelligence." "Admirable!" exclaimed Doctor Bell. "But the crowning glory of the teachings of Gall- 186 LOMA > heim is found in his fourth great doctrine," resumed Loma, "and it is to this especially that I wish to direct your attention, for it is the essential doctrine which is necessary to the completion of your civilization. The most advanced minds among you are quite ready to accept the others, but unless the fourth doctrine is enforced, the best results will be delayed until it is. The great doctrine of mathematical equity is all that is needed to make men honest and unselfish, and you will agree with me that dishonesty and selfishness are the great barriers which stand in the way of the progress of all reforms. "I can best illustrate this doctrine by again referring to music, because you understand it, and it is one of the departments of human knowledge and effort in which you have already applied the principle with superb results. Now, music has been reduced to exact mathematical principles. A half note is just twice as valuable as a quarter note, and pitch is regulated by a mathematical position of the note upon the staff which corresponds exactly with the position of the tone it represents in the musical scale. Our beloved Myrtle, here, being an accomplished musician, can compose an entirely new work, express it in musical notation and send it to Germany, where an equally accomplished and intelligent person who has never heard it will play it exactly as Myrtle has intended it should be played. The piece may be rehearsed by an orchestra in Ger- many, and by another in Chicago, and if they are all well-trained musicians, the two orchestras may be A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 187 brought together, and upon meeting, they will be able to play the work together with such harmony that other cultivated musicians will be constrained to applaud. The same result has been substantially attained wher ever mathematical equity has been brought to bear upon the working of any of the human faculties, but it has only been applied to a few. But you have reached superb results through these laws in music, art, archi- tecture, mechanics, engineering, and accounts, and fragmentary results of great value in some other de- partments. The application of precisely the same principle will give you the same perfection of results in the administration of every form of action of which a human being is capable. Right here I wish to call your attention to a remarkable fact. It is, that the comprehension of the harmony which results from the application of mathematical principles incites men to righteousness. The musician loves to play correctly, and in the case of the orchestra I have used as an illustration, if one of the musicians willfully played wrong and destroyed the harmony, he would be regard- ed as insane by his brother musicians. Such conduct docs not occur among refined musicians, because they are trained by the application of these laws and con- strained by ambition and love of applause to do exact justice. As soon as these laws are understood and applied in other departments of human effort, wrong conduct disappears. You can hardly con ceive of a tirst- class artist daubing a beautiful picture, or of an accom- plished architect willfully destroying the strength of a 188 LOMA. building, or of an expert accountant falsifying an account, unless some element is introduced which will make it appear profitable. Now, when all the human faculties are educated on this principle it becomes impossible to commit an unrighteous action without outraging some sense which is thoroughly well trained, and hence a complete equilibrium is established and maintained. When you understand that there are only sixty-four faculties to educate, if you will consider the amount of effort it takes to train the single faculty of time to correct action, and multiply that by sixty-four, you will have a conception of the effort it takes to educate a child in Venus to a complete use of all his abilities, which leads to the establishment of a basis for absolutely correct moral conduct in every depart ment of life. In subsequent lessons I will give you a further insight into the operation of these doctrines as they were developed on our planet and as they are now responsible for the measure of happiness we enjoy. But the knowledge of this principle, and its application in the present instance, admonishes me that my be- loved pupil has received as much instruction to-day as justice will permit. Let us adjourn to the music room and rest the faculties we have been using, by the em- ployment of others no less enjoyable." CHAPTER XIV. THE LABOK PROBLEM. 'Threnology! The word is like a charm. To cure the ills of life. An omen sun- To cheer the toiling masses on their way To higher aims and brighter hopes withal. When Love shall tear aside the blackened pall Of misery and let the daylight shine Upon the birth of Justice and of Truth. When Reason shall prevail and men shall bow Before the shrine of Wisdom, learning there The lessons sweet of beauty and of health." ''The first sweeping revolution which was accom- plished by the adoption of Gallheim's teachings was the effect it produced upon the labor problem," said Loma, as he began his next lesson, on the day follow- ing. "Previous to the advent of this great philosopher upon our planet, we were in exactly the same dilemma, as to the disposition of human labor and the accumula- tion of wealth, that now besets your society. The increase in the productive power of machinery, the great advance which had been made in the arts and sciences, and the development of new territory, pro- duced the same conditions upon Venus that you have experienced here. Enormous fortunes were made and enjoyed by the few who possessed financial skill, while those who were not organized upon that pattern went hungry, as they do here. The great majority of men (189.) 190 LOMA, and women were slaves to those who possessed wealth, and the aristocracy were the only people who enjoyed even a small measure of the conditions of correct growth. Even they did not receive the benefits which were possible to them, for selfishness and ignorance are always the greatest enemies to happiness, and the rich suffered, in common with the poor, from the results of a pernicious industrial system, which condemned the great majority of mankind to enslavement and to the performance of unnecessary toil, with the consequent loss of development, while the rich, by reason of being relieved from toil altogether, failed to obtain the devel- opment which comes from a correct amount of whole- some labor. We had precisely the same conditions upon Venus which now confront you, and while, on the one hand, large numbers of our citizens were impover- ished, for lack of wealth, and thousands starved in the sight of plenty, another class of idlers was created who died miserably for want of enterprising occupation. "Grallheim's followers began by organizing their society on the basis of exclusive association, as far as it was possible. They kept their wealth within their own society by producing everything they needed and patronizing their own institutions exclusively. The} r early advocated the abolition of marriage, but as public opinion was very strong in favor of the ancient and venerable mistake, they did not antagonize the bar- barians by whom they were surrounded by disobeying the laws, however erroneous they considered them, but they secured their end by marrying among themselves. A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 191 When they bad been organized fifty years, they bad produced such an improvement in human development, that they began to attract universal attention by their superior beauty, and it was impossible to find a fol- lower of Gallheim who would consider the proposition of associating in marriage with a barbarian. So thor- oughly did they practice the doctrines of their dis- tinguished founder, that their marriages were almost universally agreeable, and as we had liberal divorce laws at that time, even among the barbarians, when any marriage was found to be unhappy for any reason, it was quickly dissolved, and that without scandal. One of the curious facts about the early followers of Gallheim was the reform they introduced into the mar- riage ceremony itself. Wo had, up to that time, the same absurd implications in the ceremony that you have here. The woman promised to love, honor, and obey her husband; the man promised to love, honor, and cherish his wife. Gallheim himself called atten- tion to the absurdity of these promises, and showed so clearly that they were void on their face, that they became ridiculous even in the eyes of the most con- servative barbarians. He argued that love and honor were consequences that flowed from lovable and honor- able conduct, and could not be pledged in advance without the stultification of the party making the pledge. This was so clearly evident, that a reform in the ceremony followed at once, and thereafter the par- ties promised to be lovable and honorable themselves, instead of requiring a pledge of love and honor i<» be 192 LOMA, rendered, regardless of the conduct of the other party. The result was, as might have been expected, that as soon as loving and honorable conduct became the rule and not the exception, the pledge itself fell into disuse, because it was so universally understood as implied. "As soon as love and justice began to be developed, through these influences, a better conception of human rights and privileges began to obtain. The followers of Gallheim had in the meantime become immensely wealthy. But as they were committed to the doctrines of their great founder, as soon as they began to accumu- late a surplus of wealth they applied the doctrine of mathematical equity to its use. The members of the society who were gifted with financial skill realized that they could not accumulate vast riches and allow their brethren to starve, without sacrificing the benefits of the third great doctrine of their order. It became necessary for them, in order to improve themselves to the highest degree, to practice the most exalted forms of benevolence and justice. The ambition which the members of this remarkable society possessed, to im- prove the society, itself, so that it would be able to fulfill its exalted mission of the subjugation of the planet to their high ideal of civilization, caused them to use their wealth to the fullest extent in improving every member in the order. Thus, in a short time, those who possessed great financial skill came to be considered merely as the stewards of the order, and their social standing was made to depend on the ability and fidelity with which they discharged this obligation. A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 103 When a member was round who did not possess the ability to gather riches, ho was in a large measure relieved from financial responsibility, and was only required to perform such work in thai direction as would tend to develop him, if lie was a young man. If he was advanced in years, he was relieved altogether from any kind of labor which he was likely to fail in performing, and was permitted to expend all his ener- gies where he had talent. This was one of the secrets of the great success of the movement and the remark- able power which (hey developed. It was largely due to the recognition of Grallheim's code, and especially to his method of character study, which enabled them to measure the capacity of an individual with accuracy, and to assign him to his proper vocation in advance. "The new society continued to grow in wealth, num- bers and popularity, until, some thirty years before (lallheim's death, they numbered about three million. We had at that time upon Venus nearly the same political conditions you have here, and strange to say. there was a nation which was in all respects analogous to the United States of America, in which (Jallheiin's work had originated. His followers, acting under his advice, settled in such numbers in one of these states, which was in size, productiveness and natural situation very much like the State of Illinois, that they were able to buy all of the real estate in the state, and establish such laws and customs as they desired. From that time all obstacles to the new civilization seem to have disappeared, and its progress was as rapid as 13 19 4 LOMA. the growth of humanity itself. Within one hundred years, from the time of the organization of their first state, they were in possession of all the desirable por- tions of the globe, and the barbarians were eagerly submitting to their laws and customs and becoming absorbed into the new society. "As soon as the great principles of Gallheim's code were understood, humanity realized that the end and purpose of existence is enjoyment. In the study and application of the third great principle embraced in the code, it was found that those persons who enjoyed life most produced the most desirable and perfect offspring. Another great fact was, that those persons who experienced the greatest amount of pleasure in the sexual act, itself, produced the strongest and most perfect offspring. The enjoyment of existence then became the most enthusiastic study of the populace. Here again the majestic character of Gallheim dis- played itself. He impressed upon his followers that the development of pleasure would come, not from dis- sipation and the indulgence of desire but in cultivating perfect self-control, and in displaying the most perfect harmony in the use and development of the mental faculties. In a word, the effect of his teaching was, that every member of his society strove to the utmost to secure as quickly as possible that development of the sixty-four organs of the brain, the action of the sixty-four corresponding faculties, and such education in the sixty-four departments of human knowledge as would enable them to order their conduct with the A CITIZEN OF VENUS. I95 same degree of righteousness that had already been obtained in music. The results wercmarvelous. Gall- heim lived to realize the complete success of his phi- losophy, and died at the close of his long and illustrious career, Mossed, honored and revered by every inhab- itant of the globe he had so thoroughly reformed." "And do you consider h possible, that my son may be able to make an impression upon the inhabitants of this earth, similar to that which Gallheim made upon the people of Venus?" exclaimed Myrtle, as Loma paused at this point in his narrative. ■ "Certainly," responded Loma. "Unless he does, I shall be completely disappointed, and shall be compelled to consider my mission a failure. But there is no fear of such a result. The principles I have announced to you, as constituting the code of Gallheim, are very simple, and you have comprehended them yourself sufficiently well to begin their inculcation to-morrow. But when they are presented by your son, with all the force and magnetism with which he will be endowed, by reason of the pains we are taking to make him a complete specimen of manhood, there can be but one result." "Oh, this is perfectly glorious!" exclaimed Myrtle, while Mrs. Bell encircled her waist with her arm and held her in a warm embrace of sympathy, while Loma continued liis narrative: "As soon as the conduct of the new society became regulated by the principles nnd teachings of Gallheim, and men became accustomed to living for enjoyment, 196 LOMA, instead of the pursuit of wealth, some very extraor- dinary changes occurred. The study and practice of the third article of his code soon developed the fact that the greater portion of the labor which had been performed up to that time had been worse than useless. For as soon as it became known that great happiness could be attained by studying and conforming to the laws of nature, a great deal Of energy was expended in that direction, and, of course, the laws of health and correct living soon became established in the intelligence of the people by the results of the experi- ments that were made. Of course, it was soon estab- lished what articles of food were desirable and what were injurious. All injurious articles of food were at once discontinued and their manufacture ceased. You would be astonished, if 3-ou knew what an effect would be produced on your own market, if the knowl- edge which we have in Venus could be enforced in this direction alone. Over half the stock of your provision depots would be condemned, and, of course, the people engaged in the manufacture and sale of these articles would be liberated, or, as you would express it, 'thrown out of employment.' You will not be astonished to know that all such articles as alcoholic liquors, tobacco, opium, and other purely injurious articles, went by the board in the early stages of the development of this new civilization. Only such quantities as were needed for purely chemical and medicinal uses were tolerated, and these were soon greatly reduced by the excellent health of the inhabitants under the new order of things. A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 197 When you consider that in the United States von spend more money for these injurious articles than you do for food, you will understand how many people were re- leased by this change. The next advance occurred with the development of the fact that every one had been con- suming too much food, and food of poor quality, and the reduction of the quantity to just that amount which was required by the individual, and the pro- duction of only the purest and best foods, released an- other large contingent. With the abandonment of the habitual use of clothing, and the discontinuing of harmful and useless forms of dress, another great bur- den was lifted from the shoulders of toiling humanity. "The improvement in the growth of humanity, itself, and the development of the sense of justice, abolished crime and contention among the members of the new society, and a vast army of lawyers, judges, policemen and officeholders were relieved from their wearisome duties. The change in the system of the administra- tion of wealth made insurance unnecessary; banking, speculation, and all forms of gambling were discontin- ued, and the offices occupied for such purposes were closed, and their owners, with their legions of over- worked clerks, typewriters and cashiers, walked out into the sunshine of liberty. The decrease in the de- mand for commercial commodities, and the destruction of the competitive system of the accumulation of wealth, liberated the merchants and their hordes of employes and those who were connected with them. hi short, the introduction of the new system destroyed 198 LOMA, the necessity for nine-tenths of the distressing labor under which humanity had groaned for centuries." "And this grand result was accomplished by the recognition of the single fact, declared to the inhab- itants of this earth centuries ago, but never under- stood, that wisdom is better than gold," exclaimed Doctor Bell. "That is very true," said Loma; "but humanity, en- slaved under the conditions which then existed, was unable to comprehend the utterance, much less put it »into practice. It is doubtful whether the philoso- pher who uttered it had the faintest conception of what it implied. Our humanity had to go through the same conditions of growth, and it is impossible to reach perfection in any other way." "It is not quite clear to me," said Mrs. Bell, "how such a large number of persons were organized into correct methods and habits, without the demoraliza- tion which must surely arise from idleness. Will you please explain." "It was a matter of gradual, though very rapid growth. You must understand, that this movement began with a small collection of persons who were under the direct tuition of the great Gallheim, and who were by him instructed in the full meaning of his code. They increased very rapidly, as soon as he was able to demonstrate the results of his system, for we had then on our planet, as you have here, a large number of very advanced and intelligent persons who were seek- ing earnestly for a better method of living. As soon A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 199 as tlrey solved the money problem — and the solution, as you have seen, consisted simply in having the com- monwealth administered by those members who were best endowed with financial sense, and holding them to the application of the rule of mathematical equity, which they dared not violate, because they would not only outrage their own consciences, but would lose the inestimable benefits of the society by being cast out among the barbarians, — then everything else became comparatively easy. As fast as new members were received, they were kept busy, first in learning the principles of development, and secondly in doing what- ever work was necessary to be done, while the older members of the order were granted complete immunity from labor, except when their services were required as teachers. During the first two generations, the teachers had plenty of employment, and there was so much to be done in clearing away the evils of the old system, and in devising and putting into operation the improvements which were made, that there was plenty of employment for every one within the limits of the hours which Gallheim had established as the maximum amount of labor which should be required of every member of society. But as a large amount of unnecessary labor had been abolished by the new system, so, also, a large increase was the immediate result in those departments of labor which minister directly to human enjoymenl and improvement. There was a tremendous demand for teachers and workers in every department of literary labor. The sense of 200 LOMA, justice and discrimination having been highly devel- oped, there was an overwhelming sentiment in favor of good literature, and everything which was vicious, obscene and demoralizing was soon condemned. The universal demand was for that which would elevate, refine and purify society and enable the members to reach, in the shortest possible time, the highest culture of every faculty. Brilliant authors and writers, lectur- ers, artists and musicians, had only to demonstrate their abilities, and they were at once lionized in so- ciety. The architect who could improve a building, the engineer who established a swifter or a safer mode of transportation for the myriads of emancipated men and women, who were for the first time enabled to enjoy the delights of travel, the actor who could pre- sent a realistic portrayal of that which was good or beautiful, in fact, any one who could add to the sum total of human happiness, was hailed as a benefactor, and accorded the praise and social position which he merited. It was no longer a question of money or of the ability to make money. The test of a man's popu- larity was simply the voice of the people, testifying to the benefits he conferred upon them. The effect of all this upon the energies and ambitions of the people was simply incredible. Some of the critics of Gallheim had urged that the adoption of his system would de- stroy progress and annihilate the energy and ambition of the people. These men were probably honest in their belief, for they could not comprehend the exist- ence of energy without the commercial stimulus. The A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 201 truth of the matter was, however, that under the old system no one was energetic, except those who were gifted with the acquisitive sense, or who were stung into action by the privations of poverty. The first class were the only ones who succeeded. The second class made spasmodic efforts, but usually sank into the apathy of disappointment, after a number of failures, and it was only after the new system was adopted, that the political economists realized what a vast amount of energy had been paralyzed by the evils of the old. "Under the new system, instead of having a half dozen incentives to human activity, we now have sixty- four. As matters now stand in this world, the great majority of your citizens have no conception of business except as a means to accumulate money. Ask the first one hundred men you may meet in Chicago, what they would do if they had a million dollars, and the majority of them will answer, 'I would retire from busi- ness and have a good time.' By a good time, they mean the indulgence of every form of human selfish- ness. This is proved by the fact that nearly every man who does accumulate enough money to do some good in the world fails to employ it for any purpose except the gratification of his own selfish desires. If your average citizen of wealth, say those who possess from one hundred thousand dollars up, could be translated to Venus to-day, and be endowed with the same power that they have here for the amelioration of human misery, and they lived as they do here, they would be held iu universal execration and contempt. Under the 202 LOMA, development of the entire list of faculties, as we are now educated in Venus, there is constant employment in the practice of good actions, and as it is one of the laws of health and development that a man must exercise every faculty in some degree, every day, you can readily see that life in Venus is not idleness, but a continual round of healthful, enjoyable and life- developing duties. "One of the remarkable principles which Gallheim inculcated under the application of the fourth article of his code was the limitation of population. In Venus, you will understand, the principle of mathematical equity is applied to everything. Accordingly, as the members of the new society possessed themselves of those portions of the globe which were desirable places of residence, the exact number of inhabitants which each territory would sustain under the very best condi- tions of growth was carefully calculated, and the popu- lation was limited to that number. In applying this principle, Gallheim enforced upon humanity the same degree of forethought which an intelligent husband- man exercises in regard to his crops. He has learned by experience that in the successful growth of corn, for instance, the hills must be just so many feet apart, and there must not be more than a certain number of stalks within a. certain territory. If he violates this law of mathematical equity, his crop suffers in propor- tion to the extent of the violation. This law was vigorously enforced by Gallheim's followers, and, as a consequence, their offspring were uniformly vigorous, A CITIZEN OF VENUS. OQ3 and as the barbarians were gradually crowded upon the most undesirable and least fertile portions of the globe, and as they paid no attention to the great laws of reproduction, they very soon died out. The develop- ment of the study of human improvement, under the stimulus imparted to it by Gallheim's code, soon en- abled his followers to establish a complete code of sexual ethics, under which it became possible for them to not only regulate the number of offspring but to determine the sex at will, and to endow them with whatever talents were most needed by the society, and to insure their health and personal beauty. This threw the phjsicians out of employment, and most of them became teachers or devoted themselves to the development of special branches of scientific study. "In future lessons I will tell you all about the system of education as it is practiced in Venus, and also explain, at length, how the domestic relations have been brought to their present strge of perfection." CHAPTER XV. THE NEW EDUCATION. "It is a long way from tho charcoal to the diamond, but every element that is in the diamond is also in the charcoal. It is a long way from average humanity to Jesus, but the virtues and graces which shine with such resplendent luster in Him lie hidden and undeveloped in us. "What do these facts indicate? Not that we are ruined, but that we are incomplete." When the four Mends assembled in the conserva- tory, for the next session of instruction from Loma, Mrs. Bell began the conversation by saying: "Whenever these reforms have been discussed among advanced thinkers on this earth, we have always been met by the following questions: 'If marriage is abol- ished in society, what will prevent the race from relaxing into complete licentiousness? How will the sexual relations be regulated? How will a father be able to recognize his own child? What will become of the children? What will become of parental respon- sibility? Who will take any interest in education?' These, and a thousand similar questions, are pro- pounded to the advocates of reform, and T must con- fess that, so far, they have never been satisfactorily answered." (205) 20fi -LOMA, "They cannot be satisfactorily answered until the code of Gallhehn is adopted and practiced in its entire- ty. As long as humanity is dominated by selfish mo- tives, slavery must exist in some form. Some years ago, in the United States, you practiced four leading forms of slavery. You now have three conspicuous forms remaining. You have abolished in a degree, and wholly as a matter of law, the slavery of the African to the Caucasian, but you still enforce the slavery of of the poor to the rich, the slavery of woman to man, and the slavery of children to their parents. You have yet to learn that each of these classes have rights which those who rule over them are bound to respect. I might also speak of the slavery of animals to man, but that subject properly belongs to another discus- sion. I think I can best answer all of your questions by tracing the operation of the code of Gallheim at the present time upon our planet, and showing you how it affects the life of an individual from the time the germ of his life originates in the loins of his father, to the time that he reposes in the everlast- ing arms of the universal mother, Space, when his organization is dissolved in what you call death. "To understand the working of society on Venus, you must understand that every man and woman is com- pletely educated. You will also understand, that, by reason of the perfect application of the third article of Gallheim's code, we have an almost universally perfect humanity. By this I mean that every one of our citizens is brought into the world with a complete A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 207 brain and body, and while we have diversity of char- acter and different types of humanity, yet we have completely eliminated idiocy, insanity, deformity, and all other unfortunate congenital conditions which arise from ignorance and disease. Occasionally, though very rarely, some accident occurs to a pregnant woman, or to a young child, by which a cripple is produced, but this is so rare that such persons are regarded as great curiosities when seen. They are tenderly cared for according to the degree of their misfortune, and secure as much happiness as it is possible for them to appreciate and enjoy. Now, if you will conceive of a society organized with such individuals composing it, and that all are equally free and independent, and that they are not hampered with the consideration of accu- mulating wealth, but are all living for the greatest possible enjoyment, and all actuated by the sincerest desire to promote the happiness of all that surround them, and particularly anxious to promote the happi- ness of posterity, and to leave a progeny which will be a credit to the last generation, you may comprehend what follows. "There are always a large number of persons who do not wish to become parents. They are absorbed in other pursuits, and are persuaded that they can render the state a better service by not attempting to produce offspring. There are others who find in parentage the exercise of the highest privilege, and when a young man or woman decides to adopt that mode of life, they are enrolled in that class, after being carefully exam- 208 LOMA. ined to see that they possess the highest degree of physical and mental perfection, and are accorded the special privileges of the parental division. This ex- empts them from compulsory labor and leaves them free to devote their whole time to the cultivation of the talents they desire to impress upon their offspring. The relation of sexual intercourse is established accord- ing to a system which I will describe in due season. I wish you, at this point, to simply realize that the con- ception takes place when both parents are in the highest possible state of perfection, and that the act is performed under such conditions as will insure the greatest possible gratification to both parents, which, as I have before intimated, has a. corresponding effect of producing the greatest possible perfection in the offspring. "When the female has conceived, she is at once made the recipient of special attention and honor, and the father of her child attends her through the whole period of her pregnancy, giving her the felicity of his society, and jealously guarding her from every possible accident or untoward circumstance which may possibly mar the perfect effect, which he is, of course, desirous of producing. He gives her at all times the warmest proofs of his affection, and any neglect at this time, or harsh conduct on his part, would forever disgrace him in the eyes of society, and possibly prevent his ever being selected for a similar office. In short, every pregnant female in Venus is surrounded constantly by the same conditions which we have been so careful to a CITIZEN OF v i:\rs. 209 provide for the benefil of our beloved Myrtle, only on our plane 1 ! the conditions are rendered more favorable by the fact that there are more 1 persona who have a perfect understanding of the subject. We believe, however, that more 1 education can be accomplished dur- ing the nine months of pregnancy by correct maternal impressions than can be reached in nine years of effort after birth where these important influences have been disregarded. Consequently, you will understand, that the citizen of Venus comes into his world with the first right of every citizen fully guaranteed to him, — the right to be thoroughly and completely created. "In the meantime, the life of the mother has been so natural, and her diet and exercise has been so well regulated, that parturition takes place without pain, and the birth of a child is an event of great rejoicing and congratulation to the parents, who are invested with further honors with pleasing ceremonies. The father is now relieved from further duty toward his offspring and the mother, but the attachment is usually so strong that he devotes much of his time to her enter- tainment, and, as I will explain later, these attach- ments are usually of life-long duration, and greatly more felicitous than the most happy marriages you have on this planet. "From the conception of the child until it is weaned the mother is an inmate of the palace of maternity, an institution especially maintained by the state for the entertainment of pregnant and nursing mothers. Here every condition is maintained which will conduce to her 14 210 LOMA, happiness and the perfection of her offspring, and dur- ing the nursing period her food is specially prepared to give her strength and to harden the bones and increase the growth of her child. When the child is weaned her responsibility ceases, and the further care and education of the young citizen is assumed by the national educators. These are persons who have been selected by the state with reference to their especial fitness for the purpose, according to the superb system of character study introduced by Gallheim, and are those who are known to be most highly endowed with patience and love for the work of instruction. They assume the education of the child, and from the time it is weaned until it graduates from the highest educa- tional institution on the planet, it remains under the jurisdiction of the various departments of education. Thus one department superintends the awakening of the faculties during the first year, another continues the process the second year, and as the child grows, he passes through all of the departments, on the same principle that you have in your graded schools, but in Venus we never sacrifice the first and most important years to the methods of incompetent mothers. On the contrary, as the state recognizes its most important duty to be the protection of its youngest and most helpless citizens, it provides that during each succes- sive year of growth the citizen shall be placed in the most favorable environment, surrounded by the com- panionship of those of his own age, and under the jurisdiction of skilled educators, who have won dis- A CITIZEN OF VKNTS 211 tinctioD for their success in the management of pnpils of that ayv. It lias been determined, by experience, that those persons who give their lives to the office of reproduction have done enough when that function has been well performed. Therefore, instead of having the conditions which formerly obtained, and which si ill obtain here, where the children are conceived, nursed and governed during the first six and most important years by overworked, devitalized, impoverished and entirely incompetent parents, we secure for both parent and child the happiest possible conditions. In doing this we have only carried into effect the principle which you recognize in the establishment of the public school. If the state has a right to pass a compulsory education law, — and there are few of your citizens who do not concede this as necessary to the preservation of the state, — then it certainly has the right to make that education complete and effective. The difference in our system and yours is this: your educators have not yet comprehended that the chief end of education is, not to stuff the child with information but to teach hi ip +he use of his faculties. You begin your education at six years, because you are dominated by the idea that that is as soon as the child can begin to load up with information, and remember such things as the multiplication table and the forms of letters. You have lost the most Important years of the child's life, because lie has not been taught the true use of his faculties, and he has acquired pernicious habits and faults of character, under the jurisdiction of his im- 212 LOMA, patient, incompetent and often unkind parents, which will remain to cripple him for life. Moreover, ytrar teachers are not instructed in the art of character study. They do not understand the child, because they do not understand human nature. They proceed upon the altogether untenable and unscientific theory, that the child has a soul, regardless of the fact that such a thing has never been seen or demonstrated to exist since the beginning of the world. They do not regard the child as a creature of growth, and hence they do not inspect his growth. Many a child has been pun- ished and degraded in your schools for inattention, when the fact was that the pupil was deaf. We might, with justice, say that the teacher was blind." "I can readily see that such a system must result in the greatest possible culture of the child,'' said Mrs. Bell; "but do not the mothers suffer from this separa- tion from their offspring, and does it not tend to destroy the maternal instinct ?" "Quite the contrary. You must remember that the mothers are granted almost complete immunity from other duties, and are left to the highest culture of them- selves. They thus have abundant leisure, and they are not separated from their offspring. The children are under the jurisdiction of the educators, but as only a few hours each day are devoted to actual exercises of development, and the greater part of the time of the young citizen is passed in play and various forms of athletic exercises, the mothers have the privilege of being delighted spectators and participants in these A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 213 spoils, and they have five or ten times as much actual companionship with their offspring as the average mother has here. Moreover, as the departments of edu- cation are constantly needing new teachers, in all of the grades, a large number of the young mothers find it enjoyable to master the entire details of the educa- tional system of certain grades, notably the infant and primary classes, and many of our best educators arc those who have been the fathers or mothers of several citizens. The grounds of the departments of education are magnificent parks, and they are constantly filled with parents, who, in addition to participating in the games and sports of the young, are exchanging the most delightful social courtesies among themselves. You will remember that every citizen is instructed as the basis of his education, that he must exercise every one of the sixty-four faculties to some extent, and while the lives of our citizens are for the most part continually passed in the development of pleasure, there is no ennui and no dissipation. These evils are entirely prevented by the operation of the law of niathe- matical equity, which every citizen understands, and which he is trained to observe and regard as the foun- dation of his happiness. "The period of education of a citizen of Venus ex- tends over thirty years. This is divided into three decades. The first decade is occupied with the awak- ening of the faculties, which is simply physical cul- ture. By an admirable system of exercises and drill, the child is taughl the correct use of himself. He is 214 LOMA, first trained to observe. Then the faculty of language is aroused and he learns to talk. Meanwhile his social faculties have not been neglected, and he is made to realize that he is loved, and he at once reciprocates the affection. Then he learns to walk, and by calis- thenic exercises and drill, he learns to walk gracefully and correctly. He is not permitted to do any of these things until he has developed strength, and hence we never have any bow legs, crooked knees, or other de- formities such as are so common among your citizens from the neglect or ignorance of incompetent parents. "This first decade is passed under the most favora- ble conditions of growth and development, which is, in fact, the rule of the entire life on our planet. There is no confinement, no close atmosphere, and no impa- tience or injustice practiced toward the young citizen. He passes his time with companions of his own age, and as the sexes are constantly associated, he has the ad- vantage of the development of love from the very be- ginning of his existence. You will understand that I use the pronoun me' in its general signification, for there is absolutely no distinction in the matter of sex, except that the little girls are impressed with the dig- nity of motherhood, while the boys are instructed to observe and practice the virtues that lead to correct fatherhood. These subjects, however, are freely dis- cussed in the presence of both sexes at all ages, and, therefore, there may be said to be no difference in the methods of education. It is a fact that the little boys love dolls as well as the little girls, and the girls love A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 215 athletic sports as well as the boys. The greatest at- tention is paid, during this decade, to the develop- ment of social graces, the cultivation of physical en- ergy, and the training of the objective powers of the intellect, so that, at the age of ten years, there is not a child among us but what is affectionate, sociable. active, observing and exceedingly graceful in all of his expressions. "During the second decade all of these acquired powers are kept active, but more attention is given to the development of the subjective forms of reason- ing, to composition and construction, to the develop- ment of prudence and executive ability, the forms of government and military discipline. The military sys- tem, by the way, is not organized for offense and de- fense, as on this planet, and guns and swords have long since become obsolete. A few of them are pre- served in the museums as curiosities, and to show the great progress which has been made; but our mili- tary system is simply the orderly arrangement of gov- ernmental discipline. The evolutions of large bodies of persons is still practiced as a means of securing control, and it is one of the admirable illustrations of the application of the rule of mathematical equity. During this second decade all of the education which is at tempted on this planet is accomplished, and a great deal more, in the departments of sociability and ethics, of which you do not, as yvi, have the faintest conception. During this decade a great deal of pro- ductive work is accomplish- d, and all that is done for 216 LOMA, the benefit of society, in the line of actual production, is placed to the credit of the student. "The progress of the student has been carefully watched up to this point, and the observations of the direction his growth is taking enable his preceptors to decide with absolute accuracy what line of work he is best adapted to, and to what extent his powers are limited. Usually, these powers have been given a definite direction by the desires of his parents, and the pains that have been taken to make the circum- stances attending the conception and gestation of the citizen insure his possession of special talent for special services. But it sometimes happens that some unforeseen circumstance changes the character of the citizen, and some unexpected talent is developed, or perhaps some weakness is discovered, which will alter the calculation and change the destiny of the life. (Jallheinfs system of character study, embraced in the second article of his code, provides for this exigency, and whatever the character of the citizen proves itself to be, it is recognized and permitted to have its full development in the most profitable lines of action. "At the end of the second decade the decision is made as to what profession, trade or occupation the young citizen will devote his efforts. It is, of 00111*80, his ambition to excel in some line, and render such important services to the state that he will be ad- vanced to the highest grade of social position. The third decade gives him an excellent apprenticeship, in which he performs a large amount of profitable A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 217 work, which is placed to his credit. He now devotes four hours per day to the work of his chosen profes- sion, under the most competent instructors. The rest of his time is his own, and the most ambitious young citizens deA r ote four more hours to the prosecution of the further study of such arts and sciences as they may have a liking for. Large numbers devote this time to music, and the number of trained musicians who are always at the service of the state, and who are engaged in giving private concerts at various places, would astonish you. There is a great demand for the services of musicians, for all of the athletic and calisthenic exercises of the young members of the two first decades are performed to the time of music, and this music must needs be first class, because their young ears must not be dulled with imperfect har- mony. A great deal of time is devoted by all classes to dancing, and the military drill requires a large num- ber of musicians of the highest grade. Grand choruses are constantly being organized, and every afternoon every park is converted into a feast of song, music aud dancing, according to the desires of the persons who frequent each resort. Thus, in the city of Rosa- lia, where I reside, which has only five thousand in- habitants, there are more than one hundred musical organizations of a private nature, beside the large mu- sical section of the students, who are required to fur- nish a certain number of concerts every month. "The student, therefore, after spending four hours per day in the labor of his profession and devoting 218 LOMA, four more hours to such arts and sciences as may suit his taste, is prohibited from any further severe form of labor by the law of mathematical equity, and is required to devote the remaining time to social pleas- ure, rest, or any occupation which may be wholesome and agreeable, provided that he appropriates at least eight hours of this remaining time to sleep. He has every opportunity for social pleasure, as the working hours for professional labor are from 8 a. m. to noon, and after that the young apprentice is prac- tically master of his own time, provided he is able to give a good account of it to his prefect. The prefects are members of the educational body, and each one is responsible for the conduct of one hundred pupils. "When the third decade is completed the citizen has completed his education, and at the age of thirty years he is inducted into his profession with appropriate ceremonies. He now devotes ten years to the service of the state, and is required to serve four hours per day, six days in the week, in the discharge of his pro- fessional duties. It has been found by experience that this amount of time is more than sufficient to place at the disposal of the state a splendidly trained and equipped body of workers in every department of labor required by society. Consequently, the gov- ernment has at its disposal plenty of time to allow deserving workers frequent vacations, and it is a fact that the workers are, as a rule, so absorbed in the prosecution of their duties, and so thoroughly con- tented, that the government is obliged to employ a A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 219 large corps of fertile inventors to keep up a supply of new enterprises upon which to employ the talent at its command. In fact, at the present time the highest honors have recently been won by those who have been able to suggest some desirable enter- prise for the employment of the regular professionals. Every available piece of ground has been beautified and cultivated, until the entire inhabitable portion of the globe is a vast farm, garden and park. The most superb examples of architecture abound every- where, and as fast as there is the slightest sign of decay or lack of safety, the old buildings are torn down and replaced by new ones. Our engineers have brought the problems of transportation and sanita- tion to the highest possible point of perfection. In fact, there is hardly a branch of industry that can be named, that is conducive to the happiness and wel- fare of mankind, which has not been brought to the very best possible conditions. "At the age of forty the citizen has completed his services to the state, and thereafter his time is entirely at his own disposal and he does as he pleases. His social position is assured; he has earned his living, and the amount of his services placed to his credit is greatly in excess of the cost of his maintenance in luxury, even to the age of one hundred and fifty years, which is the greatest age which any of our citizens have succeeded in reaching. His habits of industry, however, are so thoroughly well fixed by this time, that he probably continues to work in his profession, 220 LOMA, either as a teacher or writer, or perhaps he devotes his time to the prosecution of some entirely new branch of study. For instance, my father, after serv- ing the state for ten years in the capacity of editor of a daily paper, upon receiving his discharge, devoted his^ usual working hours to the study of astronomy, in which he became very expert and won two gold medals from the National Association of Astronomers, for the discovery of two new comets. "One grand feature of our industrial system remain ;; to be told," said Loma, and his fine countenance glowed with an expression of great pride and rever- ence. "We take care of our aged citizens with the same solicitude that is expended upon the young. As the shades of eternal night begin to gather, when the step loses its buoyancy and the eyes grow dim, there irf no sadness, no neglect, no memories of ingratitude. As there are those who by nature are specially qual- ified to assume the control and direction of the first years of the young life, so there are those who are especially gifted in the ability to minister to the wants of the aged. Serene in the contemplation of a life well spent, jubilant in the retrospection of past tri- umphs, surrounded by the hale companions of his youth, and ministered to by loving hands, with no speculation on the present and no fears for the future, the aged citizen of Venus calmly awaits the dissolu- tion of his powers. There are no honors too great to be rendered to the serene old man or woman, as they calmly review the procession of their descendants, A CITIZEN OF VKNTS. o 2 l who arc enjoying the blessings bequeathed to them through their observation of the law of mathematical cquit}'. And when at last the golden bowl is broken and the citizen is admitted to eternal rest, there is no grief, no mourning, no habiliments and trappings of woe. His body is quietly cremated, and all that re- mains of him is the sweet perfume of his perfect life and the memory of his excellent accomplishments." CHAPTER XVI. SOCIAL AND SEXUAL ETHICS. "Phrenology! Best gift of Mind to 111:111, Before whom Evil hides her guilty face And Superstition cries out in alarm. Thy power will emancipate the race And lead us on to joys intensified A thousandfold beyond our present ken, "When we shall blend in perfect harmony And Love's sweet offspring come in Virtue's power To bless the world with fairer creatures still. Phrenology! 'Tis thy triumphant hour!" At his next morning session for instruction, Loma announced that he would proceed to interest his audi- tors with a complete exposition of the system of sexual association practiced upon Venus. "To understand my remarks upon this subject you must bear in mind that our citizens have the ad- vantage of many generations of complete and correct edueation. While Gallheim's system of philosophy was very complete in itself, yet the full benefits of its operation were not felt for many years. At first there was some friction, and this is always to be expected after a change, until the mental capacities of the peo- ple are educated to a full comprehension of it. But when you understand that all of our citizens are now created under the operation of his wise laws, and that the patriotism of each member of society is always (223) 224 LOMA, excited towards making a record in behalf of the im- provement of the race, you will be able to understand how we conquer some difficulties that might otherwise seem insurmountable. "The first important fact to which I wish to direct your attention is, that our citizens are in a natural state, and that we do not have to contend with in- flamed and unnatural passions. It is safe to say, that seven-eighths of the moral obliquity of which your citizens are guilty in the department of sexual ethics come from unnatural and injurious food, and the use of alcoholic liquors, tobacco and other stimulants, which are entirely injurious, and which, beside blunt- ing the moral perception and destroying the balance of the judgment, actually inflame the desires to such an extent that they are uncontrollable. These con- ditions were all abolished by the adoption of Gall- heim's code, and we have a class of citizens, as a con- sequence, who are able to control their desires and make them subject to the application of the law of mathematical equity. "Another condition which is in our favor, is that the natural desires of the affectional nature are satisfied from infancy to old age. The very first impression that is made upon the young citizen is, that he is loved, and that his affection is desired in return. He is kissed, caressed and encouraged to exercise his own affection by both sexes from the beginning to the end of his life. Now, on this planet you violate the law of the development of love by instructing your young A CITIZEN OP VENDS. 225 people thai it is dangerous and indecent to express love freely. As soon as the young citizen passes out of his swaddling clothes he begins to despise the caresses of his mother, and he is taught that it is un- manly and babyish to be affectionate. Your girl is taught to absolutely strangle her affections until mar- riage, in order that she may then gratify the selfish whim of the tyrant who is to own her, by being what he calls 'chaste;' that is, that she has never given ex- pression to a single impulse of love to any fellow- creature of the opposite sex, except his arrogant, igno- rant and selfish self. Asa consequence of this sentiment and doctrine, there are thousands of your young men and women who are in a state of sexual starvation, and as they have been starved from their youth up, they have no conception of what is right. With the larger liberties you allow your boys, the majority of them become rakes, and satisfy their passions when- ever and wherever they can, without taste or discrim- ination, and after a few years of such dissipation they are utterly unfit for a pure sexual association with any woman. On the other hand, your girls either become sexually paralyzed, or, yielding to the dictates of strong impulses, they violate the customs of your so- ciety, and, if discovered, they are disgraced. "Now, upon our planet we have no such conditions. The fact that love is made a subject of study, and in- struction, the same as music or any other department of knowledge, has enabled us to obtain the same de- sirable results. The affection which exists between 15 228 LOMA, the parent and child is never allowed to grow cold. You will see a mother of advanced age surrounded by stalwart sons and beautiful daughters, and per- haps a score of grandchildren, and by actual count you will see that she receives as many, or perhaps more, demonstrations of affection in the course of a day as she received when she was a beautiful young baby in her mother's arms. As between the sexes, and persons of the same age, the same spirit of affec- tion prevails. Young persons become attached to each other in infancy, and continue through life to give and receive kisses and caresses with the greatest free- dom. "As a consequence, we do not have the condition of starvation to contend with, and the affectional natures of our young men and women being satisfied by these conditions, they are ready to consider the sexual rela- tions with sound judgment and to adopt that course of action which the experience of the race has proven to be in accord with the law of mathematical equity and the best practical results. Another fact which conduces greatly to the establishment of correct moral conditions is, that sexual intercourse is not consid- ered forbidden fruit. It is regarded as a purely nat- ural function, and the imagination of the young citi- zen is not inflamed by its being surrounded by the air of mystery which pervades all classes on the earth. The destruction of the belief in the supernat- ural, which was the first principle of Gallheim's code, rendered all subjects free to the investigation of the A CITIZEN OP VENDS. 227 people, and as soon as the curiosity of the young citi- zen is satisfied with reference to his sexual functions, and he understands them, he dismisses the subject from his mind and engages himself in the pleasures which are suitable to his ago, with the full belief, that, when he reaches maturity, he will have all of the en- joyment intended by nature in the exercise of those parts of his constitution. "With these explanations, you can readily under- stand that it is not difficult to enforce the doctrine which is universally accepted on Venus, that sexual intercourse should not take place until the partici- pants have reached maturity. We find that our male citizens usually become fully mature at the age of twenty-five, and the female citizens about five years younger. Hence the question of indulgence does not present itself to the consideration of the young mem- bers of society until they are sufficiently mature to meet it with sound judgment. It is firmly impressed upon the young citizen, that sexual intercourse before maturity is highly injurious, and destructive of enjoy- ment after that period, and the law of mathematical equity is again invoked with the happiest results.. But in the meantime the young citizen is instructed in the minutest details of the proper performance of the act, and as this, as well as every department of knowledge, is carried to the perfection of a fine art, when the time for indulgence arrives, the participants are prepared to obtain the highest form of enjoyment from the exercise of the function. 228 LOMA, "The enforcement of the second and third articles of Gallheim's code has caused every citizen of Venus to be thoroughly instructed in the art of character study and the principles which underlie the improve- ment of the race. Consequently, all intimate associa- tions are governed by the laws of affinity, and as the study of personal magnetism has been carried to the same degree of perfection as all others, we have learned what combinations of complexion, tempera- ment, quality and phrenological development produce the best results in all departments of effort. You will remember that every citizen has been created with a definite purpose, and that that purpose has been kept in view at every stage of development and education. Each citizen is anxious to make the highest possible record, and consequently, as the act of sexual intercourse is recognized and used as one of the greatest powers of the individual, it follows that the selections that are made of companions for this exalted act are made with direct reference to the best possible effects on the happiness of the parties, and the results desired in the offspring, if any are contem- plated. "In order that you may comprehend the manner in which these selections are made, I must explain an- other feature of our social system. In the very nature of the constitution of man it is plain that some per- sons must be more agreeable than others to any given individual. While it is our duty to treat every living- thing with justice and kindness, yet there are some A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 229 we do not wish to be continually associated with, and many we cannot entertain to any extent. There are others we wish to manifest friendship toward, with more than conventional warmth, and there are others still upon whom we wish to lavish affection. Now. the capacity of any individual is limited in all of these directions, though under our system of culture of the affections, the number of persons that are fervently loved by some of our strongest and best natures would be incredible on this planet, where nothing of the kind is practiced, but rather suppressed. "In Venus the social relations of every citizen are classified under seven specific degrees, as strangers, acquaintances, associates, brothers, sisters, lovers, and consorts. "A stranger is a person whose relationship is un- known. This includes all persons not defined in the remaining classifications. "An acquaintance is a person whose name, resi- dence and social position are known, but who may not be related to the individual in any intimate way. An associate is an intimate acquaintance, and this rela- tionship corresponds to that which your society main- tains among those who have a visiting and cordial friendship, but who do not consider themselves bound by any special ties. The establishment of these rela- tions is largely a matter of locality and convenience, sometimes of accident, but a man is not considered an associate until cordial social courtesies have been ex- changed. 230 LOMA. "When persons of either sex conceive a strong at- tachment for each other it is in order for either to pro- pose a covenant of fraternity. This covenant is a pleasing ceremony, and is always celebrated with fes- tivities in the presence of other members of society. When this covenant has been formally sealed, the parties are considered in an affectionate relationship, and they caress each other as freely as is agreeable. In this state there is an absolute guaranty of protec- tion and fidelity, and a young woman in Venus never hesitates to accept a caress from a brother, because she knows he is sincere, and that it does not imply any sexual intercourse, or any temptation to indulge in that act. While sexual intercourse is not consid- ered a crime, and if it were indulged in, it would not subject the parties to disgrace, but only to a parental admonition from a prefect, yet so thoroughly is the idea inculcated that this act must not be performed until the proper stage is reached, that the rule is never violated. A brother proposing such a thing to a young woman with whom he has celebrated this covenant would be regarded as insane, and it would probably produce the same effect upon her that would be pro- duced upon Myrtle if I should ask her to rattle a tin pan while Edward was singing us one of his excellent compositions. Such is the effect of education and re- finement, coupled with a correct understanding of the use of things. "When, however, the citizen has advanced toward maturity, and the sexual senses have become thor- A CITIZKN OF VENUS. 231 oughly trained and subject to the dictates of enlight- ened judgment, the young man or woman becomes conscious that those persons who arc his or her sexual affinities, according to the laws of human association, which have by this time been thoroughly mastered, are agreeable for a higher use. We will suppose that we are considering the case of a young woman of Myrtle's age, though, as I have said, there is no dis- tinction in favor of either sex in the practical work- ing of these customs. She has a large number of as- sociates, and of these a number have been advanced to the fraternal degree. She becomes conscious that of her brothers there are not less than twenty who are of suitable age and temperament to be her sexual affinity. She must have time to discover which of these she prefers, and this can only be determined at last by very intimate association and the extension of fraternal greetings and caresses into those expres- sions which have a closer significance to the sexual act. She, therefore, advances to the degree of lovers those of her brothers for whom she has a strong per- sonal attachment. This is probably five years before she expects to become a mother. But in the degree of love, she tests her feelings, and very soon discovers the one for whom she has the highest and most ex- alted sentiments and who reciprocates them in the highest degree. This mailer of selection is purely mutual, and a rejection is not considered a slight to either party, for the law of mathematical equity re- quires each person to use the highest skill and best 232 LOMA, possible judgment in making the selection. When the selection has been made, it is announced, and the parties remain as betrothed lovers for several months, testing the effect of association in every possible way, and developing their powers together, so as to be sure before any sexual intercourse is attempted that they will be perfectly harmonious. "When this period of probation is past they receive the congratulations of their friends, and begin their sexual association, with a ceremony acknowledging and recording the relationship. For at least one year no possibility of conception is incurred, and if at any time it is discovered that the relationship is injurious to either party, or that they do not harmonize in the highest degree, the relationship *is at once dissolved and new relationships formed according to the same system. So perfect is the operation of the system of selection, however, that only a fraction of one per cent, of the relationships thus fonned are ever dis- solved. When a dissolution takes place, however, there is no scandal, and the parties suffer no more loss in the esteem of their associates than Myrtle would with us if she attempted to play a difficult piece of music and should make a mistake. The law of mathematical equity prohibits the visitation of any loss of social position upon the parties who have earn- estly and conscientiously endeavored to do their best for the advancement of society, even though they may fail. "Tt is usual for the parties to continue in the rela- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 233 tion of consorts for a period of years, usually from two to five, before they produce offspring. When they have become perfectly attuned, they are admitted to the palaces of maternity, and here they generate their offspring according to the admirable system I have already described. When a child has been pro- duced the obligation is at an end, and either party is free to return to single life, or to form a new rela- tionship, if they so desire; but they have usually be- come so warmly attached to each other that the re- lation is continued at least to the full extent for which they are allowed by the law of mathematical equity to become parents. No woman becomes a mother after she is thirty-five years of age, and no man be- comes a father after he is forty. So perfectly is the law of conception understood on our planet, that no accidents occur, and the man or woman who cannot regulate the matter of conception is unknown among us. After the age of conception is past the parties continue to consort together and enjoy their sexual relations, and, as I have stated, they seldom dissolve the relation. It is not compulsory, however, and after the parties have passed the age of parentage they are at liberty to do as they please. But by this time they have been so thoroughly satisfied, and what is decent and correct has become so thoroughly understood, that there is no indulgence but what is approved by our authorities as conducive to health and the best possi- ble effects upon happiness. "It has been determined that the best results are 234 LOMA, attained by the exclusive sexual intercourse of one man with one woman, provided that it is accompanied by the highest expression of mutual love and recipro- cated desire. Hence it is never attempted in any other way, and if the parties cease to be attractive and loving, which rarely happens, they are permitted to correct the mistake, and to form another relation, which is equally as exclusive while it lasts, and it usually lasts. Now, while it is found that sexual in- tercourse is more beneficial when it is confined to one consort, it is not so with the other expressions of love. When a man or woman ceases to exchange affectionate demonstrations with all persons except the consort, it is discovered that such persons become stale and flat in the exercise of love, and receiving no mag- netism, except that of the consort, they soon become starved. Hence it is the custom for both parties to re- tain all of their lovers, and after a person has selected his or her consort, the lovers unite in contributing all their good influences to the benefit of the one who has favored them by advancing them to that degree. Hence, in the case of the young woman we have been considering, while she has sexual intercourse only with her consort, yet she is continually fed with the magnetism of her lovers and brothers, and the rich- ness of the development of her love nature goes on without interruption. When she becomes pregnant she draws largely upon all of these resources for the sustenance and mental food she requires, and the re- sult is, that her child reflects the combined excellen- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 235 cies of all her lovers in his constitution, instead of be- ing the starved and puny production of two narrow natures. "The foregoing observations apply to all those per- sons who have adopted the profession of parentage. The same system of selection obtains among those who have decided that they will not produce offspring, except that this fact is always mutually understood before they advance to the degree of consorts. In case both parties desire it, they may at any time adopt the profession of parentage, even though they do not contemplate it at the time of consorting. But in case one party develops a strong desire for offspring, and the other party does not, the relationship is then dis- solved, and new relations formed, according to the wishes of the parties, for it is a cardinal principle in the law of reproduction that no person should ever become the parent of a child unwillingly, and that no one who is healthy and of suitable age should be de- nied that privilege when it is earnestly desired and can be indulged without violating the law of mathe- matical equity in its application to the welfare of the proposed offspring. Under the enlightened conditions which have been produced by the application of tin 1 full text of Clallheim's code, these matters are perfectly adjusted." "It is clear from your exposition of the subject," said Mrs. Bell, "that your citizens use the act of sexual in- tercourse for more purposes than mere reproduction. Since the agitation of these subjects began on the 236 LOMA, earth, a certain class of reformers have developed, who argue that there should be no intercourse under any circumstances, except for actual reproduction. They have attracted a very respectable following by their arguments, many of which appear to rest upon reason. I would greatly enjoy hearing your opinion upon this subject." "The same theory was advanced upon Venus when the subject was in the same stage of development," answered Loma, "and it was a healthy reaction from the unbridled license which had prevailed up to that time, under the system of marriage. While the wife was the slave of the husband, she was obliged to sub- mit to his unnatural demands, and a long train of evils was the result. As is usual in such cases, there was a reaction when the wife began to obtain the control of her person, and those persons who did not comprehend the enjoyments of a perfect form of the act, began to advocate the theory you have men- tioned. It was noticeable, however, that it had no strong adherents of either sex who were well devel- oped in the affectional nature, except those who had been disappointed in marriage, and whose sexual pas- sions had been in a measure injured or destroyed by some form of abuse. Those who really loved and cop- ulated in purity and happiness, experienced such ecstatic joys that they were unwilling to adopt the theory, and those who were inflamed by unnatural desire ridiculed it and disregarded it. This led to a careful investigation at last, and under the application A CITIZEN OF VENT'S. 237 and practices of Galllieinfs code, and especially of the third article, it was discovered that the sexual act con- sisted in an exchange of magnetism, and that when it was performed intelligently, it was a powerful force which could be used, not only for the reproduction of offspring but also for the reproduction and increase of all the mental and physical powers of the participants. The argument which was the strongest advanced by the advocates of the theory, that all other animals ob- served this supposed law except man, was completely overthrown by this discovery, because man was dem- onstrated to be the only animal who was sufficiently endowed with intelligence to apply it. It was shown that man was the only animal who could understand the laws of electricity and magnetism, and to compel him to forego the benefits which he could derive from a proper understanding and application of the laws of sexual magnetism and electricity was as absurd as to require him to abandon the uses of the same forces in the arts and sciences. Therefore, when man ceased to consider himself bound by the habits of the animals who were beneath him in intelligence and complexity of organization, and began to study himself, in the light of science, experiment and observation, the true laws of sexual association were rapidly formulated and comprehensively taught. I will make these laws the subject of a special session of your instruction." "There is only one thing which I do not clearly un- derstand in the operation of your system of sexual as- sociation," said Myrtle, "and that I can embody in a 238 LOMA, single question. When a young man or woman has a large number of lovers, do they become jealous and quarrel among themselves over preferences, as we do on this planet?" "That is rendered impossible by the operation of the law of mathematical equity," answered Loma. "You understand that the fact that the young woman has advanced a number of her brothers to the exalted de- gree of lovers gives them no claim to exclusive posses- sion of her under any circumstances. They are simply complimented by being assured that they have a share in her affections, and jealousy among them would be as absurd as jealousy among brothers in one of your present families concerning a sister. Jealousy never arises in such a relationship, even on this earth, unless the jealous person is insane. You sometimes have an example of a woman who is jealous of the affection of her husband toward his daughter by a former mar- riage, or of a wife toward her husband's sisters, or something similar, but in all of these cases you know that the condition is abnormal and you treat it as a form of insanity. A young man who would show jeal- ousy, and make himself disagreeable, or attempt to in- terfere with the young lady's liberties in any way, would soon find himself dismissed from the coterie of her lovers, and sometimes such things have occurred, but so rarely as to furnish few examples. When a young man has been selected as a lady's consort he is very secure in her affections, and as all of her lovers now unite in showing how faithful and devoted they can A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 239 be to her interests, he would be a tool if he manifested anything but the warmest appreciation of their efforts in her behalf. At the same time his lovers of the other sex are showing their devotion to him by every act which can promote his happiness in his choice, and his consort would be considered insane, and it would be considered good grounds for the immediate dissolution of the compact, if she in any way attempted to inter- fere with his liberties, or to require him to sacrifice any of the privileges which science and the experience of the race have decided are beneficial. For instance, if she should manifest displeasure because he bestowed an ardent caress upon one of his lovers, she would be regarded as having acted as insanely as if she had been displeased because he ate his dinner with relish. We do not have these conditions upon Venus, because all of our citizens have been so thoroughly instructed in the principles of mathematical equity. To show you how our lovers act, I will relate the method of a very delightful social custom. Notwithstanding the fact that the choice of consorts has been made, and the minds of the parties are regarded as settled, after a scientific and sensible method of choice, the fact is recognized, that, the delight of the parties in each other can be greatly increased bv the congratulations of their friends. So when a betrothal is announced, it is the custom for the lovers of both parties to arrange a series of receptions in their honor, and to write fre- quent letters of congratulation, in which some virtue of the consort is commented on. By the time the par- 240 LOMA, ties are ready for the final ceremony of the act of con- sorting, they are in the highest possible condition of mutual admiration and love, and the attachment is thus cemented and continued. It is considered a most elegant thing to suggest to a man some extraordinary virtue of his consort. If this custom prevailed on earth there would be fewer divorces, but your people lose all interest in the married man or woman, because they are regarded as the chattels of each other. "It is this idea of ownership which is the curse of your social system and the cause of jealousy. Men and women will continue to be selfish until they learn the law of mathematical equity. While in ignorance of this law, and believing in the ownership of the mar- riage relation, an inferior man becomes the husband of a superior wife. As soon as she becomes his prop- erty he forbids her the natural association which it is her privilege to have with all good men. He is not agreeable himself, and he knows it. He knows that when she meets a superior man, he shows to a disad- vantage, therefore he does not want her to meet any superior men. She craves a natural food which he cannot and will not provide her, and because she seeks the society of some good man he is torn with spasms of insane fury. He is jealous. Being jealous, he makes himself so disagreeable that it takes a saint to live with him. All women are not saints, and none should be required to be. All that should be required of any man or woman is to be natural. It is impossible to be natural in an unnatural state. A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 241 "I will state, in closing, that the social standing of a citizen of Venus is graded according to the number of fraternal and loving relations he has established. If he can make himself so agreeable that he can secure a brother he is credited with ten marks of merit. If he can secure a sister he has twenty marks placed to his credit. For every lover he receives on,- hundred marks, and for a consort five hundred. These credits are repeated for every year that the relationship con- tinues. For every child, a maximum of one thousand marks is granted for perfection, and this number is proportionately reduced if there is any imperfection m the offspring. The citizen makes two records V juvenile record, which marks his progress on a. similar scale, until he is twenty years of- age. At twenty he begins to make his life record. It usually happens that, on his twentieth birthday, all of the friends of his youth renew their covenants with him, so he starts with a very respectable record. It may interest yen to know my record, of which I am proud. The juvenile record is composed entirely of fraternal relations as .a juvenile has no lovers or consorts. I closed mv juvenile record with seven hundred and twenty broth- ers, and one thousand five hundred and ninety-six sis ters, and as the relationships had continued on an average ol !nine years each, my social record was indi- cated by the number .352,080. All of n.v fraternal rela turns were renewed on my twentieth birthday, and at the close of the last year I had the following record, 16 242 LOMA < which has been slightly increased since. I am now thirty -five years of age: I have brothers to the number of 2,960, with an average of eleven years of association, which entitles me to credit marks 325,000 Sisters, 4,320, average 12 years 1,030,800 Lovers, 276, average 14 years 386,400 I have had one consort, ten years 5,000 We have produced three perfect children 3,000 My social standing, therefore, last year was 1,756,800 Mrs. Bell, Myrtle and the doctor broke into ap- plause. Loma, glowing with his exquisite magnet ism, extended his arms to Myrtle, and said : "Beloved, may I add you to the list of my lovers as my latest and sweetest accession?" Myrtle, for an answer, sprang into his arms and cov- ered his lips with kisses. "Oh! if I am only worthy!" was all she said, Loma returned her caresses with fervor, and then, releasing her, extended his arms to Mrs. Bell. "May I claim you as my sister?" he said to her, and she re, sponded with a warm and sisterly caress which left no doubt as to the sincerity with which she reciprocated his attachment. Doctor Bell arose from his seat and extended his arms to Loma. "I offered you my resources and all my powers of assistance the second day of our acquaint- ance," he exclaimed. "May I now take the initiative and ask that you make the compact of Brotherhood A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 243 with me, and that it may date from that happy mo- ment?" "With all my love!" said Loma. "In fact, I so con- sidered it at that time, but it is delightful to renew it now," and so saying he embraced the doctor and kissed him affectionately. Then turning to the ladies he ex- claimed: "Beloved, if you were sufficiently clairvoyant, you would know that at this moment, in Venus, in one of the temples of my city, my exalted consort is presiding over a meeting of my lovers and most intimate brothers and sisters, who are able to be present, to the number of five thousand. Our entire proceedings of the last hour have been as well known to them as if they were in this conservatory. At this moment they are uniting in a grand anthem of love and friendship in honor of the birth on this earth of the true system of social fraternity. Let us unite with them, and for a brief period I will give you a glimpse into the regions of the blessed." In a moment Loma glowed with an intensity of mag- netism he had never before displayed. He stretched out his hands over his friends, and the conservatory seemed to change into a vast auditorium of such sur- passing beauty that the senses were bewildered with the effect of its magnificence. The auditorium was filled with an audience of human forms, glowing with magnetism, and radiant with the perfection of their own superb loveliness. Upon a dias in the center of this auditorium was a woman, whose magnet ism seemed 244 LOMA, to be more intense than any of her audience, and whose beauty was so surpassing that her image remained for- ever impressed upon the three beholders as a dream of never-to-be-forgotten loveliness. While they gazed entranced upon this vision, their ears were ravished with strains of music beyond the comprehension of earthly senses, but which they recognized as of the same type with which Loma had often delighted them. Then their receptive abilities were exhausted and they lost consciousness, and knew no more until they awoke in the conservatory and found Loma regarding them with his loving and exquisite smile. CHAPTER XVII. COMMERCE AND WEALTH. "Give us this day our daily bread." "We do not shatter for the sake of destruction. There is not one of the old doctrines for which we do not substitute what we believe to be better and more rational. We do not take down a single structure of the past, but that we seek to erect a more modern one and a better one in its stead. We have never taken away ;iny belief, any cherished idea, without standing ready to put in its place something that to us. at least, seems nobler and more beautiful. To destroy for the sake of instruction is without excuse. To destroy for the sake of reconstruction is a work that is of be treated himself, when he is sick, 300 LOMA, with justice and kindness, and when he recovers, he should not be deprived of his liberty. Now the whole policy of Christian civilization is opposed to this com- mandment. Your code of criminal laws and punish- ments is all constructed upon the principle that I have condemned in your conception of God. You appeal only to the sense of fear^ and you follow offenders with the same vindictiveness that your God is sup- posed to consign those to hell who offend him. You consign your neighbors to living hells for life, and if the poor wretches could be prevented from dying, your Christian civilization would extend the punishment indefinitely. It will not do for you to say that this is outside of the jurisdiction of the church, for your religion, having been on trial for these long centuries, is responsible for the civilization it has produced, if it has produced any, and if not, then it is responsible for the fact that it has not produced a better form than that which exists. But you cannot escape this indict- ment, for the same policy is pursued in your churches themselves. What forgiveness do you give to the brother who, through pressure of poverty, commits a defalcation? You expel him from the church, and turn him over to the bloodhounds of the law. What love do you show to the sister who commits an offense against your marriage customs? You degrade her below the level of the brute. You regard certain animals as unfit for association with man on account of their ferocity and violent disposition, but when you learn the truth, you will find that there is no ferocity so A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 301 great as that which Christian mail exhibits toward his neighbor man, no violence so wicked as that which Christian woman has at all ages displayed toward a neighbor woman who has erred in the violation of a social custom." "Your arraignment of the system of religion which we ha ve been taught to regard as the sum total of all that is good, is severe, but I am not prepared to say that it is not deserved," said Mr. McDonald. "You have certainly given me new light on the meaning of the two great commandments of Jesus. I am quite willing to accept your views on these commandments, but I still do not see why you should tear down the conception we have of heaven. Surely there is no harm in the belief in a future life, and the reunion of those we love on a blissful shore, from which the pain- ful conditions of this life have been removed. This is a last, and as it now seems to me, a conclusive objec- tion to your philosophy. Even if it were a delusion, it seems to me that its effect could only be good. 1 am willing to adopt all you have said, in regard to the duties of man to live naturally here, but I am un- willing to surrender the hope of a blessed immortality after death. I am anxious for you to discuss this topic." "It is always wrong and injurious to believe what is untrue," replied Loma. "If you have any facts upon which to base a belief in the existence of a soul, or in- dividual intelligence, which continues to exist after the death of the body, you are justified in believing 302 LOMA, what the facts seem to indicate. But the belief in the immortality of the soul is based, first, upon the bald assumption that man possesses a soul, which has never been shown to rest upon a single natural fact. The greatest proof of this is found in the fact that man has never seriously conceded that any animal pos- sesses a soul, but he regards these creatures as simply products of growth, which is true. In fact, the prin- cipal distinction which 3-our greatest mental philoso- phers have drawn between man and the animals is, that man possesses a soul, while animals do not. Now the science of character study discloses the fact, that man is subject to exactly the same conditions of growth as the animals; he comes into existence in the same way, and he leaves it by the same universal exit. The difference between man and other animals is simply this: Man has a greater complexity of organization, and a greater number of faculties united in him than any other animal possesses. But he does not possess a single faculty that is not found in some degree of development in some animal. He makes a higher use of some of them because he is able to form greater combinations. The almost universal belief of man is, that animals have no souls, but he is unwilling to con- sider himself in the same way, because he has been taught differently by his priests, and the belief has flattered his egotism. Man loves to believe that he is different from and more highly favored than any other product of growth. When these facts have been forcibly presented to some of your boldest and most A CITIZEN of VENUS. 303 liberal religious philosophers, notably such men as John Wesley, they have avoided the surrender of their cherished belief in the soul of man, by boldly accept- ing the conclusion, to which they are logically forced, that animals have souls as well as men, and are cor- respondingly immortal. This is the only course open to the consistent believer, for there is no argument which suggests the existence of a soul in man which does not apply with equal force to animals. But man does not generally consider this doctrine seriously with regard to animals, for the reason that all the observed facts of nature combine to teach him that it is false. "The principal objection to the belief is, however, that it causes man to be indifferent to his duties in this life. He is constantly looking forward to the reali- zation of his extravagant hopes for the good time in the future, and he neglects the enjoyment of the pres- ent. He is taught to have a contempt for the pleas- ures of this world, by the magnificence of the furnish- ings of his imaginary heaven, if he will conform to the teachings of the priest, and believe the system of the- ology which is furnished to him ready made. To compel him to accept the system without question, and to prevent him from reasoning upon its absurdi- ties, he is instructed in early youth, that the church is infallible, or what amounts to the same thing, that the Bible from which it derives its authority is in- spired beyond the possibility of a mistake. By this ingenious system of fraud and arrogance, your intelli- gence has been stupefied, until you are unable to rea- 304 LOMA, son with the same degree of perspicuity upon religion that you display upon other topics, where you are not dominated by fear. Under such a system it is impos- sible to develop moral character, for moral character depends upon the ability to reason without fear, and to decide upon a duty and its performance for moral reasons. The indifference to the discharge of moral duties is increased by the emphasis which is laid upon belief as the only condition of salvation. While your advanced theologians concede, that faith without works is dead, yet it is not to be expected that the mass of your ignorant and degraded classes will ever be able to draw a distinction upon these fine points. It is a common spectacle to see a criminal of the worst class executed in the presence of a priest of some de- nomination, and dying assured by him that he is saved at the eleventh hour by his confession of belief. This is logically correct, according to the plan of Christianity, and it cannot be abandoned without surrendering the whole theory of salvation. But the effect upon the popular mind is, that it places a premium upon wrong- doing, and comforts the criminal with the assurance that he may persist in his wickedness as long as he likes, and unless he dies too suddenly, he is always sure of the chance of heaven, if he has time and op- portunity to call in any minister of an orthodox church and make a profession of penitence and belief. This is a miserable substitute for that education, which the state owes to every citizen, on the rights and duties of persons and things, which will cause him to deal A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 305 with moral questions intelligently, according- to the mathematical principles of equity. Your doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and the jurisdiction of the priest which has grown out of it, has crowded out of your education every form of instruction upon moral questions. "A serious consequence of this belief is, that it creates so much anxiety about the future in the mind of the earnest and conscientious believer, that it con- sumes his energies. He is so busy preparing for the future life that he has no time to devote to the devel- opment of himself or his family here. It is pitiable to see what a destruction of happiness this doctrine has caused in the lives of Christians. Lest his imaginary God should be offended, and therefore his chances for heaven decreased, the Christian has forfeited every good which bountiful nature affords. The most fanat- ical have gone to the extent of torturing themselves. They have denied themselves food, raiment, sleep and every form of comfort; have withdrawn from the so- ciety of their fellows and lived in cells and caves; have suffered disease and tortures worse than death, to exalt the soul at the expense of the body. You may say that this is fanaticism. It is only the complete application of the logical consequences of the system. Men who are not considered fanatics have fought every form of human enjoyment for the same reason. The church goes into a spasm of wrath whenever any new form of pleasure appears. Tt has condemned dancing, many denominations have fought instrumental music; 20 306 LOMA, it anathematized every form of the drama, and ful- minated its curse upon roller skating and, more lately, upon the pleasures of the bicycle. Women have been expelled from churches because they ornamented their bodies with appropriate colors of ribbons and with jewelry. There has never been a development in art, science, or the study of morals itself, which has not received the fiery opposition of those who were thor- oughly indoctrinated with Christianity, and the force of the opposition has always been in exact proportion to the sincerity and zeal of the Christian representa- tive." "It seems to me," said Mr. McDonald, "that you hold Christianity responsible for the eccentricities of Chris- tians, which is unjust. Any system is likely to have adherents who will go to the extent of fanaticism. And you have not made clear to me yet, why immor- tality may not be contemplated with satisfaction by those who have lived according to their profession. Suppose a man does live according to the principles of eternal justice and righteousness, why should he not have a prolongation of his life in eternity?" "The eccentricities of the Christians which I have described," said Loma, "were the legitimate outcome of the system. If the principles of Christian theology are true, these men did right. Their actions were ap- proved in their day by the highest concensus of opin- ion in their respective denominations. And these actions were not modified until the prevailing spirit of scepticism produced a force which compelled the A CITIZRX OF VENUS. 307 Christian authorities to revise their judgment. And when this revision took place, it was not according to Christian standards of right and wrong-, but in ac- cordance with the enlightened demands of science and public sentiment. The answer to your last question is as follows: When an organization has completed the purpose for which it was created, it is a waste of material to keep it in existence. Nature demands that all bodies shall live, die and decompose into original elements. In the sense that all matter is indestructi- ble, so everything is immortal. But in the constant mutations of matter organizations change. As the intelligence of man changes with the changes in his organization, so his individuality must be lost with the loss of the individuality of his organization. This is in accordance with the facts which Nature lays be- fore us, and there is nothing which seems to indicate the contrary. The acceptance of this doctrine relieves all anxiety as to the future, which is the bane of man's existence. With the fading of his vision of a palace in an imaginary heaven, which he would not know how to use and enjoy if he had, there is also an ex- tinction of the nightmare of a dungeon in hell. Ac- cepting the command of Nature to live and enjoy her bounties, he thrills with the pleasure of the present, and when he has finished the use of the faculties with which he has been endowed, he surrenders them back to her keeping, and slumbers peacefully in the broad receptivity of the universe, of which his substance was always, and ever will be, a component part." 308 LOMA, "The true doctrine of immortality is this," continued Loma, after a pause : "The amount or measure of mag- netism which a person is capable of generating and expressing through the machinery of his body, consti- tutes his intelligence or mind, and the character of that mind will be determined by the form which the body takes. In other words, the amount of mind of any given individual is determined by his state of health, quality, temperament and magnitude. The kind of mind is determined by the form of his body and head, and this is proved by Phrenology to be as true of animals as of man. The character of the mind is constantly chan- ging, as the form of the body changes, by growth and the influences brought to bear upon it. The volume of mind varies constantly with conditions of health or disease, depletion, exhaustion, recuperation, etc. If you wish to use the terms 'soul' and 'spirit,' the fol- lowing are the only definitions that would accord with reason, human experience and observed facts: "The 'soul' of man may be properly considered as the capacity he possesses to generate mental power. Con- sidered as a measure and not as an entity, the word 'soul' is useful. "The 'spirit' of man is his influence derived from the exhibition of his mentality. In the highest and best sense this 'spirit' never dies, but preserves its individ- uality and progresses in an ever-widening circle. The spirit of Moses as a lawgiver and political leader is more powerful to-day than when he gave the Deca- logue to the children of Israel. The Christ spirit is A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 309 present whenever any good deed is performed in obedi- ence to his influence, and this is probably the most powerful spirit in existence to-day. The spirit of every man, animal, tree, flower or crystal is in this sense forever immortal. But it survives as an influence and not as a personality. "Now, it is true that every good influence continues indefinitely as well as every evil one. Good is posi- tive, evil is negative, and all of these influences re- turn at last to the center of Creative Energy, which Ave recognize as God. In figurative language God is said to 'put on His right hand' all good things and on 'His left hand' everything that is evil. This is only an- other way of saying that He is the great ungenerated source of all goodness, and the ultimate end of all goodness also, and that, as all good impulses originally proceed from Him, to Him also will they ultimately re- turn. All evil He 'puts on His left hand ;' that is to say, renders it negative. The spirit of Jesus Christ, set in motion by him during the performance of his glorious mission on this earth, not only encompassed this globe but our planet also, and made itself felt throughout the universe. How it has affected other spheres it does not concern you to know, even if I had the power to tell you, which I do not claim. But this we know as a matter of philosophy, that any disturbance in any part of the universe, for good or evil, affects the whole. It is a grandly inspiring thought that any good action performed by the humblest individual swells the vol- ume of goodness throughoul the universe, and makes conditions upon the most distant star better because 310 LOMA, it lias been performed. Because Jesus was perfect in his goodness, it follows that his whole spirit has been placed at the right hand of God, because it was wholly and completely good. May we so conduct our high and holy mission that the offspring of our beloved Myrtle may reach an equally high destiny!" "Oh, is it possible!" exclaimed Myrtle, with rapture. "Certainly," -replied Loma. "Human perfection has been attained once and it can be attained again. Vol- umes have been written and great energies have been expended in trying to induce men and women to be like Jesus, when from their faulty organization it was manifestly impossible. But if the same effort had been put forth to regenerate the parents before the unre- generate sinners were born, and they had been in- structed in the true philosophy of complete generation so as to produce men and women capable of compre- hending and expressing goodness, better results would have been reached. The only way that men and women can be brought to truly resemble Jesus, is to conceive them in pure love, as he was conceived, and educate them, as he was educated, from the beginning of life in the womb of the mother, in all goodness. If the true facts in relation to the conception and edu- cation of Jesus had been taught to the world, instead of the absurd and pernicious mystery with which priestcraft has veiled them, there would be more men and women in the world to-day Christ-like in character, beautiful in appearance, worthy to be placed at the right hand of God with the 'spirits of just men made perfect.' " CHAPTER XX. THE REIGN OF JUSTICE. "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets." "Your exposition of the conditions of civilization upon the planet of Venus has been exceedingly inter- esting- to me in all of its phases,'' said Doctor Bell to Loma at the next session; "but there are still some economic matters of great value upon which I am anxious to be enlightened. For instance, I have un- derstood you to say, that cremation is the usual method of disposing of the dead. Is this the universal prac- tice?" "It is not only the universal practice in the disposal of the dead, but also of all other decomposing and offensive accumulations," said Loma. "The universal principle is recognized, that after a body has served its purpose, and it has passed from the state of life to that of death, the best way to dispose of it is to reduce it to its original elements as quickly as pos- sible. Fire is the greatest and most effective purifier of all things, and it is a mistaken and morbid love which would ding to the lifeless body after the ani- mating and magnetic condition has departed. We do (311) 312 LOMA, not recognize the desirability of perpetuating the or- ganization after Nature has begun the work of final disintegration. Nearly all of our citizens live to ad- vanced ages, and after their social standing has been registered in the national gazettes, they are sure of a just recognition of whatever services they have ren- dered to humanity after they have ceased to exist, hence there is no occasion for expensive monuments. When a citizen dies, his lovers and associates assemble and witness his cremation, and listen to a recital of his history by competent orators. Music of the most cheerful character is rendered, and there is no grief, no weeping or wailing or any of the uncanny perform- ances which form so much of the stock in trade of your undertakers and those who conduct religious services on this planet. As the citizen has lived during his life for the benefit of those who surround him, so in death every precaution is taken to avoid contaminating and unhealthy influences. The burial of bodies pol- lutes the ground and causes a long train of diseases and calamities, of which your citizens are ignorant, while they constantly suffer from them. Your ceme- teries are usually placed on elevated grounds, so that the monuments may make a display, and the decom- posing bodies pollute the water for miles in all direc- tions. You drain your cities into your streams, and after a river has flowed through one such city as Chicago it becomes a river of death. Even in the country where healthier conditions should prevail, and where there is plenty of room, this universal blunder con- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 313 tinues. You discharge your excreta and refuse into pits dug in the ground, and in a majority of cases these are so near to the dwellings and wells that the poison is continually reabsorbed by living bodies. Now, in Venus we have a much better system. All of our garbage is collected and burned, the product converted into fertilizing material and returned to the earth in purity, and every stream on the planet flows with living water, so pure that under all circumstances it is acceptable for drinking purposes without filter- ing. The perfect system with which the food supply is administered prevents waste, and as we use only fruits and vegetables for food, and we have only such domestic animals as are companionable, we have no great amount of garbage to dispose of. The principal burden in your garbage problem arises from the large herds of domestic animals that are kept in unnatural confinement, in close proximity to man, and the use you make of animal food, which causes a great per- centage of the diseases with which you are afflicted.'" "What became of the herds of domestic animals which existed on Venus, after your present system was inaugurated and you found that you had no fur- ther use for them? Were they slaughtered?" asked Myrtle. "By no means," replied Loma. "The law of uni- versal justice forbade any such brutality. While they remained in confinement the reproduction of domestic animals was discontinued, but as soon as the new so- ciety decided upon what portions of the globe were 314 LOMA, best suited to human habitation, the remaining terri- tory was abandoned, and as soon as it became evident that certain animals had ceased to be useful to man, and that man was not essential to their existence, they were transported to those portions of the globe which were not required for man's use, and set at liberty. The consequence was, that many species which had served their usefulness became extinct, while others, according to the survival of the fittest, occupied the territory, where they live in happiness and develop- ment, according to their standing in the scale of crea- tion." "Another question in which I am greatly inter- ested," said the doctor, "is this — What uses do you make of gold and silver and diamonds? From what you have already said, I infer that you use no cur- rency or money of any kind, and as you do not use clothing, I do not see what use you would have for these articles as ornaments." "We have no use for money," said Loma, "hence we are never troubled with such economic problems as you have on the questions of money and values. It is the duty of the state to produce all the commodities needed b}^ its citizens, and the citizen having per- formed his duty, is entitled to have all of his legitimate desires satisfied. He has no desires that are not legit- imate, for he is too well educated to desire anything that is not according to the law of mathematical equity. We use gold and silver as we use all other metals, in manufacturing desirable articles, but there is no special value set upon these metals. In fact, A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 315 aluminum, which is much more common, but which is subject to a great many more uses, is much more esteemed. Diamonds are worn as ornaments, in rings and necklaces, on formal occasions. They are all the property of the state, and at the death of a citizen all of his ornaments revert to the state, to be again disposed, where worthy services have been performed. Thus every woman who becomes pregnant is invested with a diamond ring at the middle day of her pregnancy, and at parturition she is presented with a diamond necklace, which at first bears a large single stone. For every citizen she bears for the state, a diamond is added to her necklace, and so it is easy to tell by the jewels worn by a woman how many jewels she has given to the state in the form of good citizens. The same decorations are worn by fathers, and other precious stones are used to denote other services. I did not wear my decorations to the earth, for the reason that in the transit they would have been de- stroyed. Only those bodies capable of developing a high degree of magnetism can pass from one planet to another." "You have said a great deal about rewards that are given to your citizens for good conduct, both in this matter of decorations and in the system of credit marks in social standing," said Myrtle, "and the question of punishment naturally suggests itself. How do you correct delinquents, and what method do you pursue in establishing guilt?" 1 "The system of complete education practically elim- inates delinquency, and all lapses are treated as mis- 316 LOMA, takes. There is no occasion for punishment, for the mortification of a bad performance is, in itself, suffi- cient to the educated person. Take your own case, for instance. We do not have to threaten you with punishment, to cause you to speak your language cor- rectly. I have known you many weeks, and you have not, as yet, been guilty of a single blunder in this de- partment of conduct. You speak correctly because you have been educated to do so, and it has become habitual. If you should make a mistake, you would be mortified, and all that would be necessary to cause you to correct it would be to call your attention to it. The credit marks and ornaments we use are not given as rewards, but simply as evidences of achievement, to suggest to the young the desirability of reaching a similarly high grade. Complete education, as prac- ticed on Venus, completely destroys the possibility of crime, and as the principal incentives to crime which exist here are removed, there is no unnatural pressure upon our citizens to cause the various forms of in- sanity which produce all the crimes with which you are afflicted." "Is crime always the result of insanity? 1 ' asked Mrs. Bell. "Always,'' replied Loma. "There are only two con- ditions which can result in a criminal action, viz., idiocy and mania. Idiocy is of two kinds, congenital, where there is some portion of the brain which is im- perfectly formed, and acquired, where there is origi- nally a complete brain, but where some parts are per- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 317 milted to become paralyzed through disuse. Now, the science of Phrenology, even in the crude form in which it is practiced on this planet, discloses the fact that the great majority of your citizens come into exist- ence partially idiotic. They have, in most cases, suffi- cient brain to learn all of the subjects which are taught in your schools, but as these subjects are very limited in scope, and successive generations are edu- cated in the same general channel, where considera- ble culture is given to a few faculties, and no culture whatever to others, the deficiencies are not usually noticed, and you have a great many citizens who are considered well educated, and mentally responsible, who are nevertheless incapable of correct judgment and moral action. A man may read in all languages, be capable of excellent mechanical skill, be a skillful musician, and show great shrewdness in business, and still be morally idiotic, because he has no development in certain other portions of his brain, which enable him when properly educated, to reason correctly on the rights and duties of persons. It is even possible, that, when questioned, he might be able to answer correctly on the abstract moral question involved, when he is free from excitement, and yet, when he is confronted with a temptation, he yields to an irre- sistible impulse, because the faculties which should restrain him from the commission of a wrong act have never been educated, and are therefore powerless to act The unfortunate offender is arraigned before a court and jury who know nothing of these psycholog- 318 LOMA, ical problems or principles; the commission of the offense is fairly proved, bnt the psychological condi- tion of the accused is never considered, unless he pre- sents such evidences of insanity as amount to com- plete stupidity or actual mania. Even in the first case, he is usually condemned and hustled off to a stupid punishment, because such unfortunates are, as a general thing, without money or friends. In cases of mania, your courts are inclined to administer justice, but the people frequently defeat justice by clamor- ing for condign punishment, because they are inflamed with the spirit of revenge, which is such a conspic- uous feature of your religious education. Complete congenital idiocy and mania are recognized in your courts, but the large class of unfortunates who are rendered incapable of correct action by congenital de- formity and insufficient education will continue to be afflicted with inhuman punishments until your people adopt the code of Gallheim, as it will be proclaimed by Myrtle's offspring, and learn to study character correctly and apply the law of mathematical equity in all classes of actions. Then they will learn the value of human culture and apply it in its complete form, and there will be no congenital idiocy or de- formity, and the adoption of correct habits of living will prevent mania, as well as all other forms of dis- ease. Then the law of love will be recognized, and revenge will cease to be the ruling motive in the en- actment and enforcement of law." "Then it is a true principle, that all corrective meas- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 3]g ures should be remedial and reformatory and never vindictive," said Doctor Bell. "That is strictly tare. It is a monstrous injustice for the state to punish a citizen, when it has denied to that citizen the conditions which make it possible for him to have a complete organization and a com- plete education. A government which cannot protect its citizens in growth and development, and which permits some of the members of society to absorb all of its benefits to the impoverishment of the majority is worse than no government at all. What, then! shall we say of a government which derives a large part of its revenues from fostering and putting in motion forces which destroy its citizens by wholesale? Your government is the principal partner in every distillery brewery and saloon in the country, as well as every manufactory of tobacco, opium and every other product which ministers to the vices of your citizens and de- stroys virtue. Your government, for a pecuniary con- sideration in the form of a. tax, grants to an army of unscrupulous persons the right to manufacture and sell products which will destroy the health and moral Character of every citizen who is brought under the * influence. By this system of taxation and the monopoly which is thereby created, the destruction of humanity has become the most profitable business in the catalogue of your industries. It is the lasting disgrace of your civilization that the saloon is more Profitable than the provision house, and that a man can become rich more rapidly by manufacturing criminals 320 LOMA, than by any other industry known to your commerce. The same system has been extended indirectly to the brothel, and among the most profitable industries pur- sued by your citizens is that of recruiting and selling into a form of slavery worse than death, thousands of young girls annually to supply the ranks of prosti- tution. It is estimated that two hundred and forty thousand young girls are now being annually sacri- ficed in the United States. With the saloon on the corner, the brothel in the rear, the tobacco stand on the sidewalk and the courthouse and jail across the street, all of them managed in partnership by your government, the wonder is, that any citizen can walk the street without falling into crime, and experiencing some form of the vicious penalties which disgrace your statute books." "Our reformers recognize the truthfulness of your observations," said Mrs. Bell, "and many experiments have been tried to reduce the evil of intemperance, but so far these efforts have not been successful. I should like very much to have your views on the sub- jects of prohibition, license, moral suasion and such other remedies as we have tried, and also what you consider to be the correct remedy for the evil. We are generally agreed that until the curse of intemper- ance is banished, we cannot have any substantial or lasting reform in any direction.'' "Prohibition is wrong in principle, whether it be directed against intemperance or any other crime. It is folly to prohibit any wrong action, as long as the A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 321 state is engaged in producing conditions which impel its citizens to the commission of the acts prohibited. Hut in this respect, your state follows the example of your God, who is represented as prohibiting cer- tain actions, and then creating men and women in such a condition as insures the commission of the pro- hibited actions. This is your conception of justice, and until you learn better, both in religion and state- craft, you will continue to suffer the consequences of injustice. You cannot legislate away the inherited or acquired propensities of the citizen. The only way in which these propensities can be changed, is by edu- cation, and this must be commenced in the youth of the citizen. Now, your government stands in the position of a national educator in vice. It licenses the saloon, the tobacco stand, and practically licenses the brothel, and the youth of your land are instructed, by the very presence of the sumptuous palaces of sin, which are constantly frequented by those who hold high places among you, that it is elegant, respectable and correct to patronize them. The feeble efforts which are put forth by your churches are, as a rule, only advertisements of these evils by attracting atten- tion to them. While a very small contingent of your youth is kept from temptation by good inlluences, the majority is constantly drawn into the meshes of evil, and if it were not for the inherent goodness of your young manhood and womanhood, the results would be frightfully worse. It is not the result of your la ws, your system of morals or your religions training that your 21 322 LOMA, citizens are not wholly given over to indulgence, for all of these are hopelessly inefficient and are working on a wrong principle. It is the natural good sense of a large number of your young people which keeps them out of evil practices, and their natural suscepti- bility to education causes them to observe and avoid evil. But as long as men are paid princely salaries in breweries to drug the liquor, so as to enslave the appe- tites of the consumer, and as long as men are gov- erned by the acquisitive instinct in its uneducated form, which prompts them to trade in human flesh and blood for pecuniary gain, it is useless to attempt to stem the tide of evil by prohibitory measures. The only form of prohibition which can be effective is that which conies to the individual citizen by the action of an enlightened conscience. Before you can have an enlightened public conscience, there must be a gen- eral and complete education of your citizens. As long as the education of your citizens on moral questions is left to the feeble and ridiculous methods of your churches, you will have no development of the sense of justice." "What immediate policy would you recommend to our reformers as the best to pursue in relation to the liquor traffic?" inquired Mrs. Bell. "Instead of advocating prohibition, or merely con- fining your efforts to moral suasion, which latter policy is well enough as an educating force as far as it goes, the temperance advocates should make a vig- orous war on the partnership of the government in A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 323 the saloons. License is simply the com pounding of the crime. High license makes the manufacture and sale of liquor profitable, by creating a monopoly, and this results in the making of tippling a luxury, which it is fashionable and popular to cultivate. It is en- tirely to this fact that the practice of treating owes its popularity. Now, if the government would with- draw its protection, and the manufacture and sale of liquor were free to every citizen, large quantities of pure and unadulterated stimulants would be produced and for a while the consumption would be greater among those upon whom the habit is firmly fixed, but the consequences would not be as serious as they are now, for the liquor would not be poisoned. The univer- sal cheapening of the product, and the freedom with which it could be obtained, would destroy the saloon, and the practice of treating would disappear. When it became common, it would cease to be fashionable, and then your efforts in the line of moral suasion and edu- cation would become effective. It would take one gen ■e ration to reduce the consumption, another to develop the educational influences required, and the third gen- eration would be entirely free from the vice, and would have concurrently advanced to the same high plane along other lines, in which the same rational policy had been pursued. That was the history of the movement upon our planet, after the code of Gall- heim began to be generally adopted by the barbarians. The followers of that distinguished philosopher, how ever, reached a much more immediate result, by the 324 LOMA, formation of their society, in which the laws of cor- rect living were studied and applied, and as soon as they were established they were at once adopted and practiced by the entire membership. It was easy for them to adopt reforms, because they had ceased to struggle for riches, and the society guaranteed to every member everything that he needed. The trouble with reforms on this planet is, that your citizens are so wholly given to the consideration of money getting, that you have sold your consciences, your self-respect and your entire moral character to the forces of evil. The destruction of the saloon and similar institutions means that your so-called respectable citizens will have to pay higher taxes, temporarily. I say temporarily, for it would only be a short time before the reduction in crime and misery would more than compensate for the increase in the tax rate. But your citizens are not interested in the suppression of crime and misery as much as they are in the accumulation of wealth. If a citizen finds that his taxes are being increased to a small degree, he is seized with a spasm, and the admin- istration which increases the comfort of the great mass of citizens at the expense of the taxpayer is doomed. It is a melancholy coniinentary on your civilization, that any form of vice can flourish if it is able to pay a heavy tax, and your cities vie with each other in offering premiums to demoralizing enterprises and brutal exhibitions, whenever it can be shown that they will bring with them a large crowd of persons, no mat- ter how vicious, who will spend money. Until your cit- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 325 izens learn the law of mathematical equity, and become convinced that every evil act brings its own punish- ment, and that the law of ethics cannot be violated without disaster, you will have these conditions. The state must learn that it cannot suppress crime until it ceases to be criminal itself in its policy." "I should infer from the principles that you have an nounced in this lesson, that capital punishment, im- prisonment for life, and, in fact, every punishment which is inflicted in the spirit of retribution, is radi- cally wrong," said Myrtle. "That is exactly the impression that I wish to con- vey," said Loma. "These punishments are all in the nature of prohibitory measures, directed against con- ditions that cannot be successfully prohibited until society ceases to foster them. The nature of the pun- ishment is a natural outgrowth of the doctrine of eter- nal and unmerciful cruelty which is preached as one of the attributes of the God which your people are in- structed to worship. The ideas of retribution, revenge and atonement must be eliminated from the public mind, before you can form an adequate idea of justice. I will analyze some of your most brutal expressions of retributive punishment and see in what they originate, and what consequences are inevitable. "The worst form of retributive punishment which has become common in this country, is the burning and torturing of negroes in the South for the crime of rape. It has occurred so frequently of late, that even your sluggish public conscience is becoming awakened to 326 LOMA, the enormity of the crime, by the side of which the original crime of the rapist pales into insignificance. The negro who commits the rape is usually a low bru- talized type, frequently crazed by liquor which is sold to him by the community without protest, and his con- dition is the natural outgrowth of the brutalizing and degrading institution of slavery, which was so long practiced in this country. The community in which he resides has given him little chance for improvement. He is not encouraged to rise above the condition of the slave by education or social intercourse. The commu- nity permits him to be surrounded by every form of education in vice, and discourages his elevation, while it grants him the opportunity to commit the crime. In this condition he commits the crime of rape, perhaps ander circumstances of great atrocity, which are in themselves the best evidences of his insanity, and thisi insanity is the direct result of his environment, for which the community is responsible. If the law of justice were strictly applied, the community would be found responsible for the rape and not the negro. How- ever, he is caught by an infuriated mob, and we will admit that the proof of his commission of the act is clear. The sentiment of the community is in favor of retributive punishment. They worship a God who deals largely in that commodity. He is paraded around the public square, before assembled thousands. Men, women and children witness the spectacle, and he is tortured and burned under the mistaken impression that the example will deter others from the commis- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 327 sion of similar offenses. But it produces an entirely opposite effect. While it may deter a few timid negroes from the commission of crimes of a similar nature, for a short period of time, immediately follow- ing the outrage, the subsequent consequences are dis- astrous. An entire community has been educated in brutality. Pregnant women by the score have been impressed with horrible conditions. A monstrous ob- ject lesson in injustice has been given to the young who witnessed the spectacle. The instincts of kind- ness, forbearance, friendship and love have been blunted in the organizations of hundreds, if not thou- sands of citizens, who have, on the other hand, been stimulated to deeds of violence, hatred, vindictiveness and cruelty. Veneration' for law and established forms of judicial procedure is destroyed and a premium set upon lawlessness The result is a long train of calam- ities to the community, which is never fully appreci- ated, for the full effect of the reaction is not felt for years, and the series of crimes and evils that result are not attributed to the true cause. Let me illustrate with a single example. A pregnant woman witnesses such an outrage and rejoices in the cruelty which is inflicted on what she considers a human monster. She impresses her offspring with the spirit of vindictive- ness. In childhood he manifests it by burning and tor- turing animals and playmates. He has an ungovern- able and disagreeable temper which embitters his whole life. He reaches manhood and becomes a seducer of women and a violent, quarrelsome man. His whole 328 LOMA, career is marked by violence and crime, and his history is infinitely worse than that of the unfortunate and brutalized negro whose execution and torture is re- sponsible for his own unhappy condition. He leaves a progeny of five daughters, who are, like himself, vio- lent, unchaste and ungovernable, and who lead crim- inal lives and become the mothers of criminals. He finally terminates his career on the gallows, after the commission of some horrible atrocity which is worse than that of which the negro was guilty. Now, if you will consider, that this is only one of the results which may flow from such an outrage, and consider further that instead of one witness, there are usually not less than ten or twenty thousand, all of whom are exposed to consequences as awful as those I have described, it is possible to form a remote conception of the fearful injustice and inexpediency of retributive punishment." "What is the proper procedure in such a case?" said Doctor Bell. "Kindness and restraint. The state must recognize that whenever a crime is committed, the state and not the individual is responsible. There has been a defect, either in the generation or the education of the crim- inal. If the defect can be remedied, he is entitled to a cure, and if not, he must be gently and kindly re- strained from the commission of future offenses. 'It is a true principle that the exhibition of love and for- bearance generates goodness, exactly as the exhibition of hatred and violence generates evil. The state is the worst criminal in society, and until it is reformed there A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 329 is little hope tor the citizen. The practice of capital punishment, when performed legally, is open to all the objections that I have stated as applying to the prac- tice of burning and torture, except as it is modified in the brutality of the exhibition. Public hangings are nearly as bad as public burnings. Private executions are only less evil, as they are witnessed by a smaller audience. Electrocution is merely a modification of the same evil. Imprisonment for life is a monstrous exhibition of cruelty and injustice, the legitimate off- spring of the detestable doctrine of eternal imprison- ment in hell. Imprisonment for long terms of years for trivial offenses against property or person is a con- stant lesson in injustice, and it is a wonder that the moral sense of your citizens is not wholly obliterated by the constant appeal that is made to fear, while no appeal is made or education given to the sense of jus- tice." CHAPTER XXI. FOUR GREAT MISTAKES CORRECTED. "It is inconceivable that inanimate brute matter should, without the mediation of something else which is not mate- rial, operate upon and affect other matter, without mutual contact, as it must do if gravitation, in the sense of Epicurus, be essential and inherent in it. And this is the reason why I de- sire you would not ascribe innate gravity to me. That grav- ity should be innate, inherent and essential in matter, so that one body may act upon another at a distance, through a vacuum, without the mediation of anything else by and through which their action may be conveyed from one to an- other, is to me so great an absurdity that I believe no man who has in philosophical matters a competent faculty of think- ing can ever fall into it. Gravity must be caused by an agent acting according to certain laws; but, whether this agent be material or immaterial, I have left to the consideration of my readers." — Newton. At various times during his tuition of Myrtle, Lonia had unfolded to her the mysteries of astronomy, in which he was an expert. His great abilities as a teacher, and the interest with which his delightful personality invested every subject upon which he con- versed, made the contemplation of the heavens under his guidance a pleasure more than a task, and filled the mind of Myrtle with sublime raptures. He did not burden her with mathematical problems, but rather directed her intelligence to the comprehension of flic true theory of the creation of the universe, and the (331) 332 LOMA, contemplation of its simplicity and grandeur. In this way her appreciation of the beautiful and the sublime was increased, and her worship of the good, the true and the beautiful in Nature impressed her offspring with those faculties which would enable him to compre- hend the same subjects and give him power to speak and write in the loftiest strains. In the course of his instruction, Loma had imparted to her all of the knowledge of the sublime philosophy of the genesis of worlds, the nature of space and matter and their sexual affinities, as expressed in electricity and mag- netism, together with the causes of heat and light, which he had so graphically explained to Doctor Bell on the second day of his sojourn on the earth. Myrtle was an apt pupil, and while she received each startling disclosure with girlish delight and wonder, her prac- tical intellect absorbed the information, and she soon became able to converse on these grand topics with brilliancy and effect. Doctor Bell was no less enthusiastic than Myrtle in this part of Loma's instructions. Shortly after the ar- rival of Loma upon the earth he had caused a small observatory to be constructed upon the roof of his resi- dence and had equipped it with all the necessary instru- ments for elementary studies, such as Loma designed to impart. A fine six-inch equatorial telescope had been purchased and mounted in this observatory, and many delightful evenings were spent under Loma's di- rection in the practical observation of the wonders of the heavens. This telescope, as may be supposed, was A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 333 most frequently turned upon Venus, which planet Myrtle, as well as the rest of the family, had invested with more than affectionate interest. Doctor Bell had also set apart one of the commodious rooms of his residence as a physical laboratory and had equipped it with all the apparatus necessary for the practical study of physics and chemistry. He found the tutorship of Loma invaluable to himself in his pro- fessional work, and he became as enthusiastic in the study of the advanced problems of these sciences as Myrtle was in the more elementary work. Loma had explained that the elementary studies pursued by Myr- tle at this time would serve the purpose of impressing her offspring with the necessary capacity for the com- prehension of the subjects, while the advanced studies pursued by Doctor Bell would fit him to become the instructor of the coming prodigy when he arrived at the proper age to pursue these branches. Loma illustrated his instructions wdth brilliant ex- periments which fascinated his pupils and kept them in a constant state of wonder and admiration. His perfect pow T ers of analysis and description, added to his wonderful stock of knowledge, which represented the advanced stage of development upon Venus, no less than his loving and genial companionship, made the experience of his pupils a never-failing source of enter- tainment, instruction and happiness. It happened that while Myrtle was deeply engaged in these studies Doctor Bell received a visit from one of his intimate friends, a former classmate in the 334 LOMA. University of Michigan, and at present one of the expert astronomers of the Washburn Observatory at Madison, Wisconsin, connected with the University of that state. This gentleman, Professor George Hamil- ton, became at once greatly interested in Loma, whom he immediately recognized as a person of superior attainments, and as he remained several days as the guest of Doctor Bell, the acquaintance soon ripened into warm friendship. Toward Myrtle the professor was genial and polite, but like many scientific students, he had allowed his scientific proclivities to develop at the expense of his social faculties, and he was not inclined to spend a great deal of time in the society of ladies if he could avoid it. He found, however, that the best time to get Loma to expound his remarkable philosophy was when the ladies were present, and he submitted to the conditions with a good grace. But one day at dinner, he laughingly remarked : "I see that Doctor Loma is attracted to the society of you ladies, as inevitably as matter is attracted to matter." "I fear if such were the case that I should be de- prived of the delights of their association," said Loma, "for the principle you have used as a comparison is in- correct." "Do you mean that matter does not attract matter?" inquired the professor. "Precisely. Matter never attracts matter, and to assert that it does is to violate the universal principle that likes never attract each other but always repel. A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 335 Consequently matter always repels matter instead of attracting it." "You astonish me. I have supposed that the prin- ciple that matter attracts matter was as well estab- lished as the fact that the earth revolves on its axis." "Both are equally incorrect," said Loma with a smile, while the professor regarded him with amazement. "This is getting interesting," said the professor, at last. "If I did not know you to be a philosopher of no mean merit, I would be inclined to regard you as a crank, for you are denying the two principles upon which astronomy has based its greatest triumphs. But knowing your character, I cannot afford to let your statements pass unchallenged, and I ask you to be explicit. If matter does not attract matter, then Sir Isaac Newton was wrong in his theory of the law of gravitation, and the foundation of our philosophy is destroyed. In view of the fact, that our profession, resting upon the correctness of his theory, has reached out into space and discovered a planet which eluded the telescope until it was located with mathe- matical certainty by the application of the Newtonian philosophy, I feel secure in the statement that you have committed yourself to a doctrine you cannot maintain." "Sir Isaac Newton is merely the example of an astute philosopher, who is right in his practice, while he is wrong in his theory and explanation," answered Loma. "He did not comprehend the nature of matter and space, nor of magnetism and electricity, and hence 336 LOMA. in observing the operation of these forces, he was led into a wrong statement. But he never taught the doctrine which has been ascribed to him, that matter has an innate attraction for other matter, at a distance without contact, or the intervention of some other medium. Before you can understand the true theory, you must be informed as to these matters yourself, or my explanations would be futile. I will there- fore begin at the foundation of things, by remark- ing that all worlds are the product of growth, the off- spring of the two grand, prime, genitive potencies, space and matter, which have always existed, and will always exist, in precisely the same quantity in which they now exist, but in constantly changing conditions. Space is the eternal, omnipresent, per- sistent and continuous female parent of all that is. Matter is the eternal, limited, consistent and divisible male element which occupies only a part of space, and is continually striving to fill it, but never succeeds. There is a genitive passion in matter for space, and a genitive passion in space for matter. Space continually generates this passion in the form of electricity, which is manifested by the states of receptivity, gravity and coldness. Matter continually generates this passion in the form of magnetism, which is manifested by the states of radiation, vibration and warmth. If you will recognize the fact that each planet or star is a body of matter contained in space, but not filling it, and acting as a center of magnetic radiation, and that among these centers of radiation are great volumes A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 337 of matterless space, which furnish corresponding cen- ters of electrical receptivity, and that each subjective center of magnetic radiation has a special objective center of electrical receptivity, toward which it is im- pelled by the eternal affinity of matter for space, as expressed in these passional attributes, and that for this reason these centers are constantly changing their positions in space, you will have comprehended the fundamental principle which lies at the base of philosophy, and accounts for the constant mutations of matter as expressed in motions of all kinds. This leads to the statement of the true law of gravitation, which is that matter is always attracted toward the cen- ter of electrical receptivity which is the center of its own sphere of organization." "In the absence of some restraining force, matter always organizes itself into spheres. This absence of a restraining force can only exist where there is an equilibrium between magnetism and electricity, be- cause where either preponderates there would be a controlling and hence a restraining force. When this equilibrium exists, we have the fluid state of matter; when electricity preponderates it becomes solid, when magnetism dominates it becomes gaseous. But in the state of electro-magnetic equilibrium matter always assumes a spherical shape, because the particles of matter instantly arrange themselves around a center of electrical receptivity. As soon as this organization is perfected, the sphere moves toward another center 338 LOMA, of electrical receptivity which is the center of the next higher form of organization and so ad infinitum?'' "Assuming, as the atomical theory does, that the atom is the smallest possible division of matter, the molecule is the first arrangement of atoms around a center of electrical receptivity. In the case of a sub- stance of matter in a state of electro-magnetic equi- librium, as water in the fluid state, you will find that these molecules arrange themselves into another sphere in the form of the drop. Small drops will coalesce into another superior sphere and form a large drop, and this organization will go on indefinitely until a restraining force is encountered. It is in this way that star germs are produced at last, and it is by con- tinued accretions and crystallization that they grow. As soon as electricity dominates over mag-netism, the process of crystallization occurs, and the matter be- comes hard. "Now, right here occurs a truism, which your philoso- phers have recognized, but have not accounted for, and that is, that the atoms of matter do not touch each other, but are separated by spaces, inconceivably small, but still sufficient to keep the atoms apart. If this were not true, there could be no motion among the atoms, and the theory depends on this fact for its explanation of phenomena. Now if the atoms attract each other, this could not possibly be true, for they would cohere eternally and compactly, and there could be no mutation. The truth is that every atom is sur- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 339 rounded by an aura of magnetism, which repels and sep- arates it from every other atom. "The pressure of other atoms surrounding it, which are seeking the same center of electrical receptivity, causes cohesion, and the process of crystallization pro- duces solidity. Now, if sufficient heat is applied to cause magnetism to equal electricity, the fluid state will be restored, and if the heat is increased until mag- netism dominates over electricity, the matter will be restored to its previous gaseous condition, which is simply the expansion of the magnetic auras of the atoms until spheres are disorganized. In neither case is there any attraction of matter for mat- ter, but always a repulsion. However, as there is always, in any organized body of matter, a cen- ter of electrical receptivity, there is an apparent attraction of other particles of matter, because these particles seek the same center. As a matter of fact, however, they can only approach within a limited dis- tance of each other, when their magnetic auras hold them apart. As the force with which two bodies of matter will approach a common center of electrical receptivity and organize themselves into the same sphere varies directly as the separate spheres of the bodies under consideration, which corresponds to their respective masses and inversely as the square of the distance between the centers of their separate spheres, you see that the law of gravitation as practiced by your astronomers has been correct as to its mathematical practice while it has been ascribed to incorrect causes. 340 LOMA, Iii other words, you have ignored the true relation of particles of matter toward each other, while you have calculated correctly their behavior toward their re- spective centers of electrical receptivity." "Well, I declare," exclaimed Professor Hamilton, "you have certainly put forth a most plausible expla- nation of a theory which I was at first inclined to re- gard as merely visionary. But how do you explain the fact that if a piece of sealing wax is electrified by rub- bing it with a piece of flannel and then presented to two small balls of pith, the balls will first be attracted to the electrified sealing wax and afterward repelled both from it and from each other? This certainly seems to prove that under certain conditions matter attracts matter, and also that when electrified, matter repels matter." "You should say that the sealing wax and the pith balls are 'magnetized,' instead of 'electrified,' " said Loma. "All of your nomenclature is incorrect on elec- trical subjects, because you do not recognize the true nature of electricity and magnetism, and consequently you are constantly putting forth false explanations of the phenomena. The exceedingly mobile force which is developed when matter is subjected to friction, as in the case of the sealing wax, and as is the case with electrical machines, so called, or when it is developed by chemical action, as in a battery, is the magnetism of matter. The corresponding degree of genitive passion which exists in space is electricity. When sealing wax or glass is subjected to friction by certain kinds of A CITIZEN OF VENUS. ' 341 material, notably flannel or silk, a high degree of this passion is generated, and the radiation of magnetism is increased by the friction which produces vibration. The pith balls are in a state of gravity, coldness and receptivity, and when the excited substance is brought near them a mutual attraction exists as it always does in bodies that are in opposite conditions. The mag- netism from the excited substance passes into the pith balls, and they are changed from a state in which elec- tricity dominated over magnetism to a state in which magnetism dominates over electricity. As soon as this condition is reached they are in a state of repul- sion from the originally excited substance, and from each other, according to the law that bodies in a simi- lar condition universally repel each other, while those which are in an opposite condition invariably attract." "You astonish me," said Professor Hamilton with great interest. "Your theory seems to be consistent as far as we have gone, but it is so new and so radically different from the accepted teachings of the schools that I am obliged to press you further. I shall Be under obligations to you if you will enlighten me fully" as to your remarkable doctrines. I am always willing to learn, and if I can obtain any information from you which will aid me in my professional employment or shed new light on any of the problems in which my profession is interested, I shall forever consider my- self your debtor." "If you investigate my theories," said Loma, "you will reconstruct nearly your entire professional equip- 342 LOMA. ment, for nearly all the accepted theories respecting physical astronomy are radically erroneous. To be brief, and at the same time astonish you, I will remark that the results to which this investigation will lead you are as follows : "First — That the law of gravitation as stated by Newton is entirely wrong, upon the grounds I have already stated. "Second — That the sun does not attract, but con- stantly repels the planets that surround him, and that the earth does not attract the moon, nor does any body of matter ever attract any other body. "Third — That the earth does not revolve upon its axis. "Fourth — That the sun does not radiate light or heat. "Bold as these propositions are, and flatly contra- dictory to everything taught in the schools, I am con- fident that I will be able to make you acknowledge their truth within two hours." At this point in the conversation dinner was con- cluded, and the friends adjourned to the library, where Loma resumed his instruction. Professor Hamilton was incredulous and curious, Doctor Bell and the ladies intensely interested, but confident that Loma would be able to fully maintain his position, however radical it might seem. "Before you begin your demonstration, Doctor Loma," said the professor, "I wish to be fully informed as to the precise meaning of the terms you use. I understood you to say, a few minutes ago, that our A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 343 nomenclature is incorrect on electrical subjects. Now, to avoid confusion, let us understand each other. What is electricity?" "Electricity is the emptiness of space,'' replied Loma. "As the term is usually employed, it signifies the force which is generated by the passage of mag- netism from matter into the receptivity of space, which is incorrect. The expressions 'electric current,' 'electric fluid,' etc., are all incorrect. To understand this, let me explain: "If you can imagine any quantity of space divested of every atom of matter, you would have absolute emptiness, a complete vacuum. It would be absolutely dark, cold and composed; for without matter in some form, there can be no manifestation of light, heat or vibration.'' "Certainly," assented the professor. "Now, if you will conceive such a vacuum to exist, and conceive that in close proximity to it there is a body of matter, you will have in the matter the an- tithesis of the conditions of space, for matter is always vibratory, in some degree, and heat and light are the natural results of this vibration. Now, matter is always disintegrating and throwing off in vibratory radiation an essence which we call magnetism. This magnetism is the finest essence of matter, moving in straight lines in all directions from the body of matter from which it is radiated. This radiation of magnetism is the universal property of matter. The phenomena of light, heat, sound, odor, and all other sensations 344 LOMA, which assail our senses are simply different degrees of vibration." "That is generally admitted as to light and heat," said the professor, "but not as to odor. But proceed with your explanation." "Now," continued Loma, "it is this antithesis of con- ditions between space and matter which gives us the solution of all the problems to which I have referred. Space is empty and receptive, matter is vibratory and radiant, and this property of radiation results in a con- tinued effort on the part of matter to fill space. You say that Nature abhors a vacuum. The true statement is that Matter loves Space, and Space loves Matter, and this eternal affinity results in a constant energy which is in some form responsible for every phenomenon of growth and mutation which we witness. When this force is gathered into a channel by reason of some re- straining conditions operating to form the channel, it is currentized to such an extent that we recognize it in some special form, as in the lightning of the clouds or the current of a telegraph apparatus. Then jon erro- neously call it electricity when you should call it mag- netism. The performances of a dynamo, an electrical machine, a chemical battery, or any other form of gen- erator, is in obedience to this law. In either case mat- ter is decomposed by vibration, radiation results, and you have magnetism expressed in some form which is capable of being recognized by one or more of the seven senses of man." "Seven senses!" exclaimed Professor Hamilton. "Do A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 345 you claim that man has seven senses? Please enu- merate them." "With pleasure," replied Loma. "Man is only able to recognize the vibration and radiation of magnetism ac- cording to the scale of his senses, and the degree of vi- brations to which each sense is attuned. The lowest vi- brations are those which are cognizable by his sense of gender. For the recognition of these vibrations he is provided with sexual organs, which are just as much organs of sense as his eyes or ears. The sexual organs take cognizance of gender, and you will discover as you study life that the lowest forms of life recognize gender, and reproduce themselves intelligently before they de- velop feeling. The vibrations which relate to the sense of touch are next in order. Just one stage finer are the vibrations experienced in the sensations of taste. Increase the rapidity of the vibrations another stage, and you have the sense of hearing; next comes sight, then the finer vibrations of smell, and above that the exquisite perception which is exercised in clairvoy- ance." "I am obliged to confess again that you astonish me," exclaimed the professor, "and yet your statements seem to be in accordance with observed facts. We have been a long time reaching the conclusion that heat and light are simply different degrees of the same energy, but it is now generally conceded. I see no reason why your explanation of the cause of other sensations should not be correct. But 1 am ;tnxious to hear you. Proceed." 346 LOMA, "We have now reached a substantial foundation for a philosophy," resumed Loma. "If we are correct about this radiation of magnetism from all forms of matter, then every particle of matter is repelled by every other particle of matter, and not attracted by it, as erro- neously stated by Newton. But matter is attracted by the receptivity of space, and it is the drawing power of the vacuum which attracts. The presence of centers of electrical receptivity in space is all that is necessary to cause particles of matter to arrange themselves around these centers and form spheres. While every particle of matter is repelled by every other particle, yet as they are drawn to a common center of recep- tivity they seem to be attracting each other. But this is not in fact true, as I have clearly shown. Now, this philosophy is in exact accord with the universal law that likes repel each other while opposites attract. You cannot iind a single exception to this law in all nature, and yet in the face of it your profession has gone on, since the time of Sir Isaac Newton, asserting that matter attracts matter." "If you have any lingering doubt about the correct- ness of this theory," continued Loma, after pausing to give the professor time to think, "consider the dif- ference between ice, water and steam. In ice, elec- tricity dominates to such a degree that crystallization has occurred, and heat is at a minimum. Increase the degree of heat and you have fluidity as a result, or the equilibrium between electric and magnetic con- ditions. Increase the heat and the increased radia- A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 347 tion of magnetism will separate the molecules and you will have steam. You will, of course, admit that all the elements are subject to these conditions ac- cording to the degree of heat existing. "The experiment with the pith balls simply proves the same fact. While the sealing wax and the pith balls remain at the same temperature as the surround- ing atmosphere, there is no special exhibition of phe- nomena, because the electro-magnetic conditions are not disturbed. But friction applied to the sealing wax causes vibration and radiation, a change in the temperature and a disturbance of the electro-magnetic equilibrium occurs. Then the balls being dominated by electricity really attract the sealing wax, but the balls approach the sealing wax because they are light and suspended, while the sealing wax is heavy and fixed, but the attraction is mutual whenever a sphere of receptivity is organized with radiant matter to fill it. But if this sphere is occupied by a radiant body of matter and the balls are also radiant with magnetism, they will be repelled, both from the radiant body and from each other." "I can readily understand from these facts," 1 said Professor Hamilton, "that all that you claimed in your second proposition must be true. The sun as a radiant body of matter must repel the planets that surround him, and, obeying the same law, the moon must be repelled by the earth. Now, this repulsion of the planets by the solar center clearly explains the ecu trifugal force which we have always recognized as 348 LOMA, existing, but which I ninst confess I never before com- prehended. And, if I understand you, the universal tendency of matter to organize itself into spheres ex- plains the organization of the planets themselves, and furnishes the centripetal force by the universal tend- ency toward centers of electrical receptivity. Now, if we carry this to its fullest extent, the particles of matter composing the moon are drawn to its center; the moon and the matter composing the earth are organized into a larger sphere, represented by the orbit of the moon around the earth; this sphere is included in a still larger one represented by the orbits of the planets around the sun, and the sun and all of these spheres are moving together through space to- ward another center of electrical receptivity, and so on ad infinitum. Am I right in this statement?'' "Precisely," said Loma, "and you may continue the process indefinitely as long as the intellect of man can comprehend it, for there is no limit to space. Matter is limited and divisible, but space is unlimited, per- sistent and continuous. You have gone as far as it is possible for man to go in comprehending the un- limited." "I believe you are right in your theory of gravita- tion," said the professor, after a pause, "but I reserve the right to find objections to it if I can. But you said that the earth does not revolve on its axis. I am curious to know why you should entertain that theory. If the earth does not revolve on its axis, what causes day and night?" A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 349 "The earth revolves, but not on its axis. The ques- tion of the production of day and night is not involved. for we are agreed that these conditions follow from the revolution of the earth in some way. But instead of revolving on an axis, as a top spins on the floor, it rolls on the periphery of its magnetic aura, as a wheel revolves on the ground." "Please explain:" "First, let me ask you some questions," said Loma, with his most winning and diplomatic smile. "In round numbers, what is the circumference of the earth?" "Nearly twenty-five thousand miles," replied the pro- fessor. "The earth is progressing through space in the direc- tion in which it revolves, is it not?" "Certainly." "At what rate of speed?" "About eighteen miles per second." "And that would be per day?" "About one million five hundred and fifty-five thou- sand two hundred miles." "Good. Now, how do you explain this discrepancy? A ball rolling along and progressing in the direction of its rotary motion will only progress the length of its circumference during each revolution. According to this the earth should only progress about twenty-five thousand miles in twenty-four hours, when we know it progresses more than a million and a half." 350 LOMA. The professor was nonplused for a moment, but in stantly rallied. "Why, it does not follow that the earth is confined to the progression given by its circumference. That would be true of a ball rolling on a solid surface, but the earth is not rolling on a solid surface. It is revolv- ing through space, and its progress is due to some other force." "What is this other force, when did it originate, and what causes it to continue?" "I don't know." "There you are, and that is where you all land, until you comprehend the true facts. You understand from our previous conversation that the earth and sun are both bodies of matter radiating magnetism and re- pelling each other, but drawn together by a common center of electrical receptivity which attracts them both. Now, both the earth and sun are surrounded by their respective auras of repellant magnetism. These magnetisms collide at some distance between the earth and sun, and the smaller sphere of the earth's magnetism rolls around the larger sphere of the sun's magnetism, as a small wheel may be made to roll around the rim or periphery of a. larger one. According to the figures you have just named, repre- senting the progression of the earth, the diameter of the earth's sphere of magnetism is something less than five hundred thousand miles; hence the line of equilibrium upon which the sphere of the earth travels must be about two hundred and fifty thousand miles A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 351 r; rgcu 352 LOMA, from the earth's center, iu the direction of the sun. This theory accounts not only for the progression of the earth through space, but for its revolution also, as the constant mutation of the centers of electrical receptivity in space produces a constant gravity, and this line of equilibrium being established by the col- lision of the earth's magnetism with that of the sun there is nothing more inevitable than that the earth should revolve and progress in obedience to it. Every other star, planet and satellite revolves and progresses in the same way in obedience to the same great law." "Your theory certainly seems plausible," said the professor admiringly, "and I will take it under consid- eration. At the first blush it certainly seems reasona- ble, but I must subject it to careful scrutiny before I adopt it. But I am curious to know why you be- lieve that the sun does not radiate light or heat. You have commanded my respect and admiration by what you have already explained, and I am anxious to hear your discussion of the last proposition." In a few brief but comprehensive sentences Loma explained the causes of heat and light as he had ex- plained them to Doctor Bell on the first morning of their acquaintance, showing that heat and light are the result of the vibration of the magnetism of the sun in the atmosphere of the earth. The professor plied him with searching questions, all of which Loma answered with his usual graciousness and perspicuity. Finally, the professor said: "You have certainly defended your remarkable doc- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 353 trines with great ability. I shall give them the most searching investigation and criticism, and shall hope to meet you again for a more complete discussion." "I shall be delighted to meet you at any time," said Loma, "but my stay in Chicago will be short, and I may not have the pleasure. But while you are study- ing these doctrines, there is just one more prob- lem 1 would like to leave with you for the exercise of your mentality. We have seen that the earth re- volves about the sun at a mean distance of 91,328,000 miles, consequently the amount of heat given off by the sun must be sufficient to heat a sphere of double that distance in diameter surrounding his center, to the same degree that he heats the earth." "Certainly," said the professor again. "Now, we also know that the sun is progressing through space in the direction of the constellation Hercules, carrying the earth with him, at a rate vari- ously estimated from 150,000,000 miles to 1,051,200,000 miles per annum, of which the latter figures are prob- ably the most correct, and during this process the orbit of the earth moves through a cylinder of space 182,()5(»,000 miles in diameter, and in one year 1,051,- 200,000 miles in length, which the sun must heat in his passage to the same degree according to the ac- cepted theory. Now, it is one thing to heat a given quantity of space with a heater that is stationary, but quite another thing to heat new space with it when it is moving through the new space at the rate at which the sun travels. I would like to have you 88 354 LOMA, figure on me amount of matter the sun contains and then estimate how much fuel it would take to warm up that much space with a heater of the sun's magni- tude moving at that rate. You will find it about as absurd to ascribe the warming of this space to the sun as to propose to raise Lake Michigan to the boiling point by the heat from the furnaces of one of the steam- ers on its bosom. "Magnetism, however, travels with greater velocity than light, and it is not difficult to conceive of a much larger space being filled with the light developed by the magnetism of the sun during his passage, if there was an atmosphere to develop it, so that there is nothing un- reasonable in supposing that he fills the space of this stupendous cylinder with his magnetism, and this mag- netism passing to the planets around him produces all the phenomena I have described as it encounters the resistance of the atmospheres of the planets." "There is only one thing in your sublime explana- tion of astronomy that I have not fully comprehended," said Doctor Bell, who, up to this point, had remained a silent but absorbed listener, "and that is, how star germs are produced by parent stars." "Every star, including the earth, is a hollow sphere," replied Loma, "and is a living organ of the male gen- der, having an outer crust with which we are familiar, an inner crust lining the interior cavity, and between these two crusts a bed of molten lava, which is the product of the restrained magnetism of the star, which produces internal heat. The inner cavity of every ma- A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 355 356 LOMA, ture star is provided with two vents, one at each pole, from which there is a constant escape of magnetism which produces the phenomena known as the aurora borcalis. The restrained magnetism of the star breaks through the crust in both directions, on the inner and outer surfaces in volcanic eruptions. The matter which is thrown out upon the outer surface in obedi- ence to the law of gravitation falls back upon the star and is incorporated into its sphere. But the con- stant discharge of matter from the inner surface is collected in the cavity and formed into small spheres, just as pills are formed in the pill box of an apoth- ecary. When one of these spheres collects sufficient material to radiate magnetism strongly repellant to the magnetism of the parent star, it is discharged by the force of these repellant magnetisms through one of the polar vents into outer space, and these discharges are accompanied with great seismic disturbances. You can understand that it takes ages to form one of these germs of sufficient magnitude to produce a dis- charge. But at intervals these discharges take place, and the germ thus originated in the 'loins of its father' (to use a figurative expression) is deposited by its father, the parent star, in the broad womb of space, where it passes through the stage of incubation. Our moon is a planet germ in the stage of incubation. It has progressed so far that it has a hollow interior and one polar vent, which is on the side opposite the earth, as it would naturally be, as the discharge of magnet- ism from the vent antagonizes the magnetism of the A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 357 earth and forces the moon into that position; hence we see only one side of the moon, which is the side opposite the vent. When it. progresses far enough to form another vent, which will occur opposite the first, in the side now turned toward the earth, the moon will pass from incubation to complete life, turn side- ways to the earth and begin a diurnal motion similar to that displayed by the earth, or any other completely incubated planet. It will also form an atmosphere, and then will occur upon the moon the same succession of growths that have already occurred upon the earth. "The principal reason why these scientific facts have escaped the comprehension of modern scientists is this," said Loma, in conclusion: "The human race has become so saturated with a theology which teaches that, all things have their origin in the decree of a lone masculine god, and which ignores completely the motherhood of God which is just as essential as the fatherhood, and human sociology has so degraded woman to the level of a chattel of man, so that she is held in contempt and all things feminine are despised, that your scientists are incapable of comprehending the passional relations of space and matter. As long as they ignore the prime, iingenerated, infinite all- mother, space, in their calculations, their conclusions will be erroneous, their efforts vain, their attempts to solve the problems of nature puerile, and their own advancement impossible." CHAPTER XXII. THE NATIVITY. "And tbo angel said unto them, 'Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy wbicb sball be to all people.' * * * "And suddenly there was with the angel :i multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: " 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' " The time for Myrtle's parturition arrived at last, and the young mother, prepared by every precaution and assistance which science could suggest, and sustained by the loving ministrations of her devoted friends, passed through the ordeal in perfect safety and with no pain. The careful attention which had been given to her diet and regimen had resulted in the most favor- able bodily conditions, and instead of the distressing circumstances usually attendant upon childbirth, Myr- tle experienced only delightful sensations. In this she was greatly assisted by Loma, who, being a master of hypnotism, placed her under control at the proper sea- son, and not only protected her from unpleasant effects, but by the power of suggestion, regulated the precise moment of her delivery and its attendant consequences. So perfectly did Myrtle yield to the masterful influ- ence of her protector and lover that on the second (359) 360 LOMA. day after her delivery her normal condition was com- pletely regained. The first signs of parturition manifested themselves at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the day upon which Loma had suggested her delivery, and the birth oc- curred precisely at noon. Loma explained that this was arranged in accordance with Myrtle's tempera- ment and constitution, and that she reached the highest point of her daily vitality at that hour. Con- sequently he had suggested the delivery at the precise moment when her delicate and impressionable consti- tution was at its most favorable condition for the dis- play of resistance and strength. At the moment of parturition Loma stood at the foot of the couch upon which Myrtle reclined, and, ex- tending his arms, poured forth his incomparable mag- netism in a flood of glory. Myrtle, bathed in this sus- taining and life-giving emanation, felt no pain, but simply relaxed her nerves in a succession of happy im- pressions. Doctor and Mrs. Bell, administering the professional details of the accouchement, performed their duties with consummate skill. In a few moments Myrtle, radiant with joy, clasped to her breast the beautiful fruit of her first maternity. When the last details of the delivery had been ac- complished, Loma spoke: "Beloved, as I once gave you a glimpse into the re- gions of the blessed, when the first compact of our love was sealed, so now if you will join hands and become receptive, I will show you how the advent of the fifth A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 361 member of our sacred circle is celebrated in Venus," and as Myrtle extended her hands to the doctor and Mrs. Bell, Loma raised his hands and extended them, as he had done on a former occasion, while the intensity of his magnetism increased to its dazzling degree. A vision of enchanting loveliness overwhelmed the senses of the young mother and her devoted friends. Again the strains of heavenly music ravished their ears, but this time their senses were sufficiently devel- oped to comprehend its import. Human forms of sur- passing beauty encompassed them, while the very air they breathed was surcharged with the magnetism radiated by these forms in waves of glory. Delicious sensations assailed every avenue of intelligence, and all seemed to unite in one grand crescendo into the ex- pression: "Glory to God iu the highest, On earth peace, good will toward men." Loma permitted his proteges to thrill in the joy of this experience for several minutes. Then as their receptivities became exhausted, and they were unable to comprehend more, he lowered his magnetism, and they fell into the deep sleep which had before fol- lowed the manifestation of his power. For several hours they continued to sleep while Loma maintained his vigil over all. Doctor Bell and his mother re- gained consciousness before Myrtle, whom Loma con- tinued to impress with loving and solicitous affection until the last vestige of fatigue and weakness from her recent experience had passed away. 362 LOMA, Beautiful indeed was Myrtle's offspring. Perfect in every feature, strong- in every element of vitality, in- stead of coming into the world crying, as is the case with nearly every child born to the human race, as it was received by the motherly hands of Mrs. Bell it instantly began its respiration, and as it did so smiled. And as the deft hands of the experienced matron as- sisted it to increase the power of its lungs, soft cooing notes of inexpressible sweetness came from its infant lips. And thus began the life which was destined to bless the world with the unfolding germs of the new civilization. When Myrtle had in some measure regained her composure after the first thrilling sensations of moth- erhood, Loma approached her, and, clasping about her neck a beautiful gold necklace, bearing upon its front a magnificent solitaire diamond, weighing over six carats, kissed her affectionately, and said : "Exalted one, receive the badge of motherhood as it is worn in Venus. You have brought a jewel to the state. The state salutes you with its congratulations, and every citizen acknowledges an obligation to you. Henceforth your place is with the honored matrons, to whom the state is indebted for its life and perpetuity." Myrtle received her new honor with becoming dig- nity. Doctor and Mrs. Bell congratulated her affec- tionately, and each presented her with a beautiful jewel. Faithful Nora headed the servants of the household in a brief but happy interview, and then the young mother again sank into blissful repose. A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 363 On the day following her delivery. Myrtle, with her full strength completely regained, held a levee of con- gratulation. Mr. McDonald and his sister were among the early callers, and the small circle of devoted friends to whom Myrtle had been introduced by the doctor and Mrs. Bell made the young mother supremely happy by their delicate attentions. On the third day after her delivery a remarkable event occurred. At about eleven o'clock a visitor was announced, who was met in the parlor by Doctor Bell. As the doctor entered the parlor he was greeted by a man of commanding appearance and scholarly de- meanor, who said: "Doctor Bell, my mission may seem strange to you, but I am the representative of a scientific association which is unknown to the world, because its mem- bers live on a plane so exalted that we do not court notoriety. But among the privileges we enjoy by reason of our superior knowledge is the power of dis- cerning from astrological data and clairvoyant percep- tion when an extraordinary event takes place in any part of the world. We have discovered by means which I may not take time to explain, what I am sure must be known to you, that within the past three days a child has been born in this house which we are informed will bless the world with his greatness and virtue. There are within a few hundred miles of Chicago, thirty members of our cult, who have been summoned to meet, in this city for the purpose of suit- ably recognizing and celebrating the happy event. I 364 LOMA, have been delegated by my associates to come to you and ask for the privilege of congratulating the mother of the coming prodigy, and of feasting our eyes on what we know to be the only perfect human child which has been born upon this planet for nearly nine- teen hundred years," Doctor Bell was at first considerably surprised at this message, but he was too polite and self-possessed to betray it. With his usual courtly grace he re- quested his visitor to be seated, while he made some inquiries of his colleagues. In the library he found Loma, to whom he commu- nicated the request of the visitor. "I have been expecting this," said Loma, with one of his peculiar smiles, "although it is not a necessary part of my experience. I have known of the exist- ence of the cult to which he belongs, and I have been curious to see whether they would be able to locate Myrtle's offspring. They are proceeding upon correct lines and developing some very interesting powers, and it will be our happy privilege to extend them every courtesy. Mary and Joseph were visited by a similar delegation at the time of the birth of Jesus, and they are referred to in the Bible as the 'wise men from the East' I shall be pleased to meet the gentleman my- self." Doctor Bell and Loma proceeded to the parlor, where they both extended distinguished courtesies to the stranger, who introduced himself as Professor A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 365 James Gannon. When the doctor asked bis residence, lie replied: "I am not a resident of any city or country, neither are any of my colleagues. We are so thoroughly con- vinced that the present organization of society is wrong that we cannot consistently allow ourselves to become identified with any of its permanent organiza- tions. We live natural lives as far as possible with- out offending those with whom we come in contact, but while we are organized for purposes of communi- cation and mutual study, we are practically inde- pendent of organized society. We are simply known to each other as the 'Associated Philosophers.' " It was arranged that the Associated Philosophers should have a reception at noon on the following day, and Professor Gannon took his leave. Precisely at twelve o'clock on the next day the dele- gation arrived. They were at first received in the par- lor by Doctor and Mrs. Pell, and by them conducted in a body to the conservatory, where Loma. and Myrtle, with her beautiful babe, awaited them. The Associated Philosophers consisted of fifteen handsome, dignified and scholarly men and an equal number of beautiful, attractive and cultivated women. Myrtle received them with her accustomed grace, and while she delighted her visitors with her own beauty and sweet womanliness, she was also herself over- whelmed with their expressions of devotion and kind- ness. Every one of the delegation caressed her and 366 LOMA, her baby boy, and each one presented her with some beautiful token of friendship. Two hours were spent in delightful conversation and music, when the philosophers departed, leaving Myrtle enriched with a magnificent collection of presents, and what she valued more highly, substantial pledges of personal devotion to her and her highly favored off- spring. Doctor Bell was unremitting in his loyalty and de- votion to Myrtle. Every possible provision had been made for her comfort and protection by him during her six months' sojourn under his roof. Now that the ordeal was safely passed by Myrtle, and she was a happy mother, in the complete possession of normal health, which had never for one moment been disturbed by her experience, his professional gratification was only exceeded by his personal joy in her happiness. Myrtle was deeply conscious of his devotion and love, and reciprocated it in a complete degree. In one of their delightful interviews in the conserva- tory, when she and the doctor were bending over her beautiful babe in transports of affectionate admiration, Myrtle entwined her arms about his neck and kissed him affectionately, saying: "Oh, I owe so much to you for all this happiness. Without your love and protection I would have been dead and disgraced, instead of being the happiest and most honored woman in the world. How can I ever reward you and show my gratitude and love?" "My reward has come already, in being permitted to A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 367 share in this happiness," said the doctor, as he returned her caress. "Gratitude 1 do not require, for the con- sciousness of duty well performed is always the reward of correct action. But," he continued, as he stood be- fore Myrtle and clasped both of her hands in his, while his manly voice trembled with deep emotion and his eves gazed into hers with an expression which thrilled her with happiness, "if you wish to show your love, and you love me well enough, you can make me the happiest man in the world, by becoming my adored, my incom- parable consort." Myrtle buried her face on his shoulder while her slight frame trembled with the highest sensations of joy. "Oh, Edward," she exclaimed, "I thought I was su- premely happy in my glorious motherhood, but this is transcendent joy. I have loved you from the first day I knew you, and you have filled my life with every sweet experience of which it is capable." Just at this moment Loma entered the conservatory, and seeing the expressions of the faces of the doctor and Myrtle, both of whom were radiant with their new happiness, he comprehended the situation at once. He advanced and embraced them both, glowing with his richest expression of magnetism. "My blessed lovers!'' he exclaimed, as he caressed them, "I have been wondering how long it would take you to realize how necessary you are to each other and to consummate your happiness. You will accept my loving congratulations and my highest blessing.'" 368 LOMA, At this point Loiiia was interrupted by the entrance of Mrs. Bell into the conservatory, and when the situa- tion was explained to her, she overwhelmed the lovers with her maternal benediction. "I have been praying for this," she exclaimed with rapture, "and my prayer being answered, my joy is com- plete." As Mrs. Bell ceased speaking the babe awakened from a deep slumber, and, opening its eyes, looked into the face of Doctor Bell, and smiled, at the same time raising its tiny hands and voicing the sweet and cooing sounds which were peculiar to it. "See," said Loma, "the babe extends its congratula- tions also, and welcomes the protection of its devoted foster-father." Doctor Bell pressed his bearded lips to the forehead of the beautiful child, while he murmured: "May nature deal with me as I am faithful to the high trust imposed upon me, and as my love is devoted to this child and its royal mother." "Amen!" said Loma fervently, while Myrtle embraced her betrothed lover and Mrs. Bell smiled upon both. After the transports of this new experience had sub sided in part, Doctor Bell addressed Loma affection- ately and seriously, while he said: "There is a subject which lies nearest to my heart at the present moment upon which I wish to be instructed, and I think Myrtle and my mother will also be grateful for an expression from you. Now, that Myrtle and my- self are betrothed as consorts, the subject of marriage A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 369 is before us. Hitherto I have never considered mar riage at all, because 1 was absorbed in my profession, and I did not expect to ever assume the relationship, which I have always considered degrading to both woman and man, and I never expected 1o meet any woman who could cause me to consider it. But recent events have changed all of these considerations, and now that I have met and loved Myrtle, I am anxious to do w T hat is exactly right. I do not wish that either she or myself should be subjected to the degrading condi- tions of marriage if I can avoid it. Yet I fully realize that unless we enter into some form of a legal marriage our social and my professional standing will be imper- iled, and we will be subject to many inconveniences which will fall more heavily upon her than upon my- self. At the same time we owe a duty to society -to set an example of a correct life, and it seems impossible to do this in marriage. I appeal to you in this dilemma for complete instruction as to what should be done for the benefit of Myrtle, her offspring, myself and society at large." "I have already considered this problem," replied Loma, "and am ready w 7 ith its solution. The degrada- tion of marriage consists, not in the fad that men and women marry, and call the contract by that name, but in the fact that they violate nature by promising to do impossible things, by assuming ownership over each other, and by regarding the relationship as only deter- minable by the death or the criminal action of one or the other of the parties. To enable Myrtle to enjoy the priv- 24 370 LOMA, ileges of society, and to enable you to give her boy the advantages he should have, it is desirable that you should occupy a position giving the largest freedom of action without unnecessarily antagonizing the society in which you move. You will enjoy greater privileges in society' and greater immunity from persecution during the boyhood and adolescence of your charge if you apparently conform to the usages of society in this respect, while you may at the same time introduce a radical reform into the marriage ceremony itself. By so doing you will accomplish greater good for society and perform a higher duty than you will by antag- onizing your associates and suffering martyrdom. This was the plan pursued by the followers of Gall- heim upon our planet, who practiced a reformed style of marriage for several generations. This is the next natural step towards complete freedom, and you should conscientiously conform to it instead of overstepping the plans of natural development and attempting to force the growth of institutions which take time to mature. I therefore suggest, that as my time with you is necessarily short, and I am anxious to consum- mate my mission as speedily as possible, that you allow me to celebrate your ceremony of consorting as we practice it in Venus, and that you publish it as a marriage according to the reformed method proclaimed by Grailheim, while, in fact, you repudiate all the de- grading implications of the conventional marriage, and that the ceremony take place in a public manner so as to create the greatest possible impression." A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 371 To this tlio doctor ami Myrtle eagerly consented, and, after consulting with Mrs. Bell, it was aranged that the ceremony should take place on the following Wednes- day, at noon, and invitations were immediately issued to five hundred guests, among whom were included Myrtle's relatives, the friends and associates of Doctor and Mrs. Bell, the Associated Philosophers and rep- resentatives of the press. As the immediate associ- ates of Doctor and Mrs. Bell had for some time been incorporated as a religious society under the laws of the State of Illinois, and as Loma had been shortly after his arrival upon the earth admitted to the society and made one of its leaders and teachers, it was ar- ranged that the ceremony should be conducted under the auspices of the society, and the invitations were so worded. CHAPTER XXIII. MARRIAGE UNDER THE NEW CIVILIZATION. "For always in thine eyes, O Liberty! Shines that high light whereby the world is saved." "Self-abnegation, subservience to man. whether he be father, lover or husband, is the most dangerous theory that can be taught to or forced upon a woman. She has no right to transmit a nature that is subservient and a slavish char- acter, either blindly obedient or blindly rebellious, and there- fore set, as is a time lock, to prey or to be preyed upon by the society of the future. If woman is not brave enough person- ally to demand and obtain absolute personal liberty of action, equality of status, entire control of her great and race-endow- ing function, maternity, she has no right to dare to stamp upon a child and to curse a race with the descendants of such a servile, a dwarfed, time and master serving character." The day which had been set for the celebration of the ceremony of consorting of Doctor Bell and Myrtle dawned auspiciously. The wedding ceremony was ar- ranged to take place at noon, and some time before that hour the invited guests began to arrive in large numbers. The conservatory and music room, together with the two huge bedrooms usually occupied by Loma and Myrtle, which connected, as the reader knows, with the conservatory, had been arranged into a charming auditorium capable of accommodating all of (he in- vited guests, and had been beautifully decorated. (373) 374 LOMA, The devoted circle of young people who had taken such great interest in Myrtle from the first, were now much in evidence. Loma had taken enough of them into his confidence to make most elaborate arrange- ments for the use of their services to produce desira- ble effects, and as the doctor, Myrtle and Mrs. Bell were to sustain principal parts in the ceremony, with himself, he had arranged that the social and hos- pitable courtesies of the occasion should be performed by committees of these friends as he was able to make them available. The' guests were received in the parlors below, and escorted to the conservatory as they arrived by a com- mittee of young ladies and gentlemen selected for this service. Another band of ushers received them at the conservatory, and provided them with seats. As each guest took the position assigned, one of the ushers pre- sented a beautiful souvenir containing superb portraits of the doctor and Myrtle, and a copy of the ceremony ritual, printed in gold upon the finest quality of white silk. The music room adjoining the conservatory had been beautifully decorated and made to resemble the chan- cel of a cathedral, being covered with white silk throughout, embellished with white roses. The foun- tain in the conservatory was transformed into a bank of white roses and calla lilies. Throughout the im- provised auditorium the decorations had been carried out on a similar scale, white being the only color of the flowers and decorations used. The organ in the A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 375 music room was concealed beneath a mass of white roses, and at the keys presided Miss Carrie William- son, one of the most accomplished organists of the city, arrayed in a costume of pure white, with a single white rose in her hair. Professor Hamilton, who had returned from Madi- son, Wisconsin, was among the invited guests, but not being a man of social tastes, he took no con- spicuous part in the ceremony. Mr. McDonald and his sister were expected, but when he arrived, to the astonishment of the friends who formed the reception committee, he was accompanied not only by his sister, but by his wife. The latter had been entirely overcome by the accounts her husband gave of the munificent hospitality of the Bells, and by his description of the remarkable character of Loma. As soon as she realized that Myrtle had indeed been adopted by rich and powerful friends, her selfish and narrow nature had secretly craved for an opportunity to resume friendly relations with the girl whom she had so shamelessly cast out of her own home, but pride and the apparent lack of a suitable opportunity had prevented her from making the attempt. But when she heard that Myrtle was about to be married, and found herself included in an invitation to attend the ceremony, her curiosity to see Loma and Myrtle's pros- perity found a ready excuse in the statement that she was glad Myrtle was about to return to the ranks of "respectability." And so she appeared among the in- vited guests, with her pharisaical crust a little thicker 376 LOMA, than usual over her thin veneer of intelligence, too ignorant to comprehend the hospitality which made it possible for her to be present, too narrow to appreciate the loving and forgiving spirit in which the invitation had been sent, and too much absorbed in the gratifica- tion of her own selfish desires and curiosity to realize the import of the event or the meaning of the cere- mony with which it was celebrated. And as she sat in the auditorium watching the prog- ress of events, herself in fact, the least respectable per- son in the bright assemblage, she represented the cur- rent of modern society and public opinion, of which Loma had said to Doctor Bell: "Society will look upon your ceremony of consorting with Myrtle as simply an ordinary marriage with per- haps some extraordinary features, of which they will take but little notice. But the thoughtful and the pro- found will see in this celebration a complete revolution of the institution of marriage, because the principles declared and the words spoken will be, in effect, a complete contradiction of the usual form. So while you will comply with the law in taking Myrtle as your wife, you will inaugurate an entirely new view of the relationship, and accomplish more for the reform of marriage than could be done in any other way. This was the course pursued by the followers of Gallheim, and as soon as the intelligent portion of the community are educated in this way to a rational relationship between man and woman, they will be prepared for the next great step which will consist in the abolition A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 377 of all pledges and the simple recognition of the rela- tionship, in which pledges will be unnecessary, be- cause they will be implied by every principle of good behavior." The Associated Philosophers were early among the guests, and were assigned to places of special honor near the improvised chancel. It was noticed that they were attired in striking costumes of white satin, the peculiar habit of their order on formal occasions. Nora and the other devoted servants of the house hold had been given good seats in the auditorium, together with a number of other persons who were in some measure the recipients of the splendid philan- thropy of Doctor and Mrs. Bell. Representatives of all the daily papers were on hand, prepared to report the details of what they had already been given to un- derstand would be an interesting departure from con- ventional methods. Precisely as the clock struck twelve, the organ filled the conservatory with the sublime strains of a new wedding march, which had been arranged by Loma for the organist, and which he had stated was first used in Venus on the occasion of the marriage of Gallheim's only daughter. At the same moment, amid a flutter of excitement, the ceremonial procession entered the rear of the conservatory and proceeded to the chancel, while the audience rose and remained standing. First came seven beautiful little girls and an equal number of handsome little boys, arrayed in cos- tumes of pure white, scattering white roses and 378 LOMA, delicious perfume over the aisle which led from the entrance to the chancel. Following these came Mr. McDonald, with Myrtle leaning upon his arm. Mr. McDonald was arrayed in a conventional dress suit of black, with a single white rose upon the lapel of his coat. Myrtle was dressed in a simple white gown, of the most delicate silk, beautifully embroid- ered, but wearing no ornaments save the ring and neck- lace which she had received from Loma, which were the badges of her glorious maternity. Her neck and shoulders were bare, and her golden hair, left without restriction, fell in beautiful waves to her waist. As she walked up the aisle leaning upon the arm of her uncle, her face was radiant with serene joy, and she presented a picture of classic loveliness and grace. Irnniediatety following Myrtle and her uncle came Doctor Bell, leaning upon the arm of his mother. Both were arrayed in garments of immaculate white satin, and wore no ornaments, save that Mrs. Bell wore a necklace bearing a large solitaire diamond, similar to that worn by Myrtle. Doctor Bell was a conspicu- ous example of manly dignity and self-possession as he advanced to the chancel with his mother and took his position on the right, while Myrtle and her uncle stood at the left of the chancel. The fourteen attend- ing cherubs ranged themselves in a semi-circle behind the contracting parties, just as Loma, who had been concealed behind a bank of roses in the chancel, ad- vanced and met the procession. Loma was attired in a simple toga of white silk, with bare arms and A CITIZEN OF VENT'S. 379 shoulders, and wore as ornaments a necklace bearing three magnificent diamonds, and four superb solitaire diamond rings, besides three smaller ones ornamented with clusters of sapphires and rubies. These had been manufactured at Doctor Bell's order for the oc- casion, and were exact duplicates, according to de- scriptions furnished by Loma, of the ornaments he wore in Venus as emoluments of his distinguished services. His body was pervaded with a mellow glow of his magnetism, which shone most conspicuously in a halo of glory around his head. His appear;m< :e was the signal for a complete silence, and hush of awe which fell upon the assemblage as they contem- plated his glorious personality. Facing the audience in his commanding dignity and in tones which thrilled his hearers with new and overwhelming emotions, he said : "Dearly beloved, the event which is about to occur is one of transcendent importance, not only to the high contracting parties, who have chosen in this man- ner to call you to witness the compact of their love, but to the entire human race, which has heretofore been impeded in its advancement and development by false conceptions of the duties of men and women to each other and to society. Marriage is honorable in all, if the motives and intentions of the parties are honorable, and those intentions are carried out in the spirit of love and devotion. But humanity is of more value than any ceremonial observance, and any com- pact which degrades humanity or any member of so- 380 LOMA, ciety is contrary to the laws of Nature, which are higher than any which are the result of the opinions or the enactment of any body of men. "The laws of j^our commonwealth are almost suffi- ciently liberal and rational to allow the correct asso- ciation of man and woman at this stage of the progress of the world. They merely require that the contract- ing parties should acknowledge in the presence of witnesses that they take each other as man and wife. Your civil law is in advance of your social customs, for in the usual ceremony performed in your churches and often by the civil magistrate, pledges of a de- grading and stultifying nature are required of the parties, in addition to the simple declaration of mar- riage in which the law wisely leaves pledges of conduct to the implications of good sense and morality. As soon as your public sentiment is sufficiently educated, and your laws are so amended as to permit the correc tion of matrimonial mistakes, without the scandal of divorce, or the commission of crime by either party to secure liberty, your conditions will be favorable for the development of perfect morality. "The only association of man and woman in mar- riage which can possibly result in good to society is that which is founded upon mutual love, respect and admiration, which associates persons who are adapted to make each other happy by the possession of those attributes of character which are conducive to each other's well being and which meet the demands of each other's natures, where love has been tested by A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 381 sufficient association and experiment, and is known to exist, and where there is a mutual, sincere and reasonable desire for its continued exercise. In such cases we believe that, as far as the parties themselves are concerned, there is no necessity for any ceremo- nial declaration or mutual pledge. Bnt for the edifi- cation of society, for the proper register of the rela- tionship, and for an example for the emulation of those who have not progressed to a similar state of felicity. we believe in and practice the ceremony which fol- lows." While the organ vibrated the perfumed air with a solemn but exceedingly sweet refrain, Loma, glowing to a somewhat higher degree of magnetism, raised his hands toward the sun, which at that moment flooded the conservatory with light, and pronounced the follow- ing invocation: "Infinite Source of Creation! Thou who revealest Thyself to us in the warming rays of the sun, in the perfume of the flowers, and in every progression of Thy handiwork, including our own intelligence and advancement, we invoke Thy blessing upon this com- pact of love which we are about to celebrate between two of Thy children. May the occasion be the be- ginning of a new epoch in the advancement of hm manity upon the earth, and may the declarations now uttered inspire all hearers to grander conceptions of love and devotion, to a higher expression of morality and to a closer communion with Thyself as ex pressed in all of the beneficent processes of Nature." 382 LOMA, As Loma ceased his invocation, the organ strains closed in a thrilling tremolo, and the audience waited in silent awe for the rest of the ceremony. At a sig- nal from Loma, Mr. McDonald and Mrs. Bell turned and faced the audience. Loma addressed the as- semblage as follows: "Dearly beloved, you see before you the representa- tives of the present and the coming civilization, at- tired in colors which fittingly portray the conditions existing in each. The civilization of the present is wholly represented by man, and in it woman has no part. In this civilization she is regarded as the chat- tel and slave of man; by him degraded to the lowest uses, and ministering to his passions to the destruction of herself and the race. Blackness and darkness, the suggestive conditions of this unhappy state of death, are considered by you appropriate for your highest festivities. Behold in woman, attired in garments of brightness and purity, the harbinger of the exalted state toward which you are advancing and which you will ultimately reach. In this sublime ceremonial the civilization of the present must deliver to woman her freedom, that she may stand erect in her independence and strength to dispose of her favors of love according . to the dictates of her own volition.'' As Loma spoke the last sentence of this address, Mr. McDonald, who had been standing near Myrtle with his hand clasping hers, while she leaned upon his shoulder, released his hold and stepped back three A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 383 paces. Myrtle remained standing facing Loma, who re- sumed: "In the new type of civilization the sweet influences of woman must have an equal value with those of man. She will impress her sons with her goodness as man will impress his daughters with his strength, and the combined excellencies of both uniting in im- proved offspring will fill the earth with a humanity which will be complete." At this point Mrs. Bell, w T ho had been standing with her hand clasping that of her son, led him three paces forward where he stood opposite Myrtle, released his hand, and stepped back to her original position, where she remained standing in calm but regal dignity. Doc- tor Bell faced Loma on a line with Myrtle, standing about three feet from her on the right. Loma, glowing with an exquisite emanation of mag- netism, addressed Myrtle first: "Beloved daughter, hast thou in the exercise of thy intelligence, without undue influence, coercion or fear, and in the full possession of knowledge of what is im- plied in the sacred relationship of consorts, discov- ered the one who is able to satisfy the yearnings of thy nature, and to whom thou art drawn in ties of complete respect, admiration and love?" To which Myrtle responded in a clear, sweet voice, "I have." 'Art thou conscious of intense emotions of love and devoted affection toward this man, and art thou fully persuaded that the close and intimate association of 384 LOMA, the higher expressions of love will be a source of per- petual enjoyment, satisfaction and profit to thee, so that thou wilt be sure to desire its continuance?" "I am." "Hast thou tested thyself and him to a sufficient degree that thou art satisfied that ye are both sincere in your professions of love, and dost thou believe that ye are adapted to each other in the possession of those elements of character that are necessary to each other's happiness and the perfection of offspring?" "I have tested both myself and him, and I believe that we are not only capable of promoting each other's happiness, but are essential to it, and that the elements of complete parentage will be represented in our union," responded Myrtle. Loma addressed the same questions to Doctor Bell, and received the same answers in a clear, firm voice. He then took the doctor's right hand in his left and Myrtle's right hand in his right, and joining them, propounded the following question: "Do you, in obedience to the laws of the state, de- clare in the presence of these witnesses, that you take each other as husband and wife; and in obedience to the higher laws of Nature, that you take each other into the higher, holier and grander relationship of consorts, for mutual love, protection and enjoyment; and for the advancement of the interests of humanity." To which both of the contracting parties responded simultaneously: "I do." A CITIZEN OF VENDS. 385 "Then," said Loma, "by virtue of the authority of the laws of the State of Illinois, 1 pronounce you hus- band and wife. And in the name of humanity and its most sacred interests I require of each of you, your declaration of the relationship of consorts and its higher and holier implications." As Loma concluded the last sentence the organ be- gan a sweet, low strain, which blended with the music of Myrtle's voice as she clasped the doctor's right hand in her own and recited the following declaration with faultless elocution: "/, Myrtle BurrihUm, take thee, Edward Bell, as my ex- alted and holy consort. I declare that I lore thee, that f admire and respect thee, that thou dost satisfy the //earn- ings of my nature, and that 1 will, in consideration of thy lore and devotion expressed toward me, present myself to thee daily in the most lovable and companionable aspect of which T am capable. I declare that, to the utmost of my ability, I will promote and protect thy happiness, thy welfare and thy health. I concede to thee full liberty of thought, speech and action. T will render unto thee honor and lore as thou deserrest both, and in every reasonable and correct manner endearor to develop, to win and to keep thy love and res/wet. I declare that I will live with thee according to the laws of Nature, and should it appear at any time that my companionship is injurious to thy welfare, thy health or thy advancement to a higher /dune of life, T will voluntarily remove myself from thee, and giving thee complete liberty, will endeavor still to promote thy welfare by evevy means in my power." 386 LOMA, As Myrtle finished this declaration she raised her face toward the doctor, who encircled her with his arm and imprinted a loving kiss upon her lips. Then clasping her right hand in his own, the doctor ad- dressed her in a similar manner: "I, Edward Bell, take thee, Myrtle Burnham, as my ex- alted and holy consort. I declare that I love thee, that I admire and respect thee, that thou dost satisfy the yearn- ings of my nature, and that I will, in consideration of thy love and devotion expressed toward me, present myself to thee daily in the most lovable and companionable aspect of which I am capable. I declare that, to the utmost of my ability, I will promote and protect thy happiness, thy welfare and thy health. I concede to thee full liberty of thought, speech and action. I will render unto thee honor and love as thou deservest both, and in every reasonable and correct manner endeavor to develop, to win and to keep thy love and respect. I declare that I will live with thee according to the laics of Nature, and should it appear at any time that my companionship is injurious to thy welfare, thy health or thy advancement to a higher plane of life, I will voluntarily remove myself from thee, and giving thee complete liberty, will endeavor still to promote thy welfare by every means in my power." As the doctor finished his declaration Myrtle em- braced and kissed him, while Loma advancing placed upon the third finger of the left hand of each a mag- nificent diamond ring, each bearing a device enclosing two beautiful gems, encircled by a golden band, say- ing: A CITIZEN OF VENTS. 387 "Beloved children of Nature, receive the insignia of the exalted and holy state of loving, devoted and nat- ural consorts." Then raising his hands above them in benediction, he exclaimed : "May all good influences surround and bless you. May Nature's highest, sweetest and holiest pleasures be yours, and may the fruit of your union be the be- ginning of a new race of exalted types of humanity who shall bless the world they inhabit and minister constantly to their own happiness and advancement. Id the Dame of the higher civilization, I pronounce you accepted and devoted cODSorts in purity and love." Loma coDcluded this sublime ceremony by imprint- ing a paternal kiss upon the brow of each. He was followed by Mrs. Bell, who embraced first Myrtle and theo the doctor in her maternal congratulations. Mr. McDonald followed, and then the Associated Philoso- phers. \Yhile the organ pealed sublime and inspiring strains the invited guests, who had all been deeply affected by the splendid exhibition of Lorna's powers and not less by the sublime implications of the decla- rations of the consorts, pressed forward to overwhelm the happy couple with every demonstration of affec- tion and enthusiasm. Even Mrs. McDonald, narrow and bigoted as she was, shared the enthusiasm of the moment, and shed tears as she received from Myrtle's lips a kiss which expressed so much of forgiveness and goodness that she could not be insensible to its angelic sweetness. 388 LOMA, The reception continued for three hours, during which time an excellent orchestra discoursed sweet music. A superb menu was served in the dining room, in which function the doctor's steward distinguished himself, and every guest was made to feel the genuine- ness and excellence of the hospitality dispensed. When the last guest had departed, and Myrtle and the doctor were once more at ease with Loma and Mrs. Bell, Loma said, as he bent over the cradle and impressed a kiss upon the brow of the sleeping babe, which during the exciting events of the afternoon had been under the faithful guardianship of the devoted Nora: "Beloved, it is now time for you to congratulate me. My mission to earth is finished, and all that remains is for me to return to my native planet, where my be- loved consort is anxiously awaiting the successful con- summation of my journey, to enjoy the felicity of see- ing me enrolled in the Academy of Heroes." This announcement would have been received by the friends with sorrow had it not been for two facts which prevented, it. In the time he had associated with them Loma had succeeded in instilling into their minds so much of the principles of equity that selfish- ness was destroyed, and they rejoiced exceedingly in what they knew to be a source of supreme joy to their instructor and lover. Moreover, Loma had assured them that the perfection of their clairvoyant sense would enable them to hold communication with him occasionally, and he explained that Jesus had taught A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 389 the same art to his disciples, and that it was the first exercise of this power which produced the remarkable occurrences of the day of Fentecost, as recorded in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The knowledge of this fact was a great comfort to the friends as the time of Loma's departure drew near; but even if the prospect of this sweet privilege had been denied them they could not have exhibited selfish- ness enough to have desired to detain him longer from the joys that awaited him on his return to Venus. Loma. had instructed them partially as to the re- quirements of his preparation for the journey, and il was therefore no surprise when he announced that he would take the train for Denver, Colorado, on the fol- lowing morning, and that he desired the doctor and Myrtle as well as Mrs. Bell to accompany him. Prep- arations were immediately made for the journey, and Nora was included in the party, as it was impossible to separate Myrtle from her offspring at this time, and no one was deemed to be as capable of filling the duties of maid and nurse as she. Nora was delighted with the prospect of the journey when it was announced to her, and after the simple preparations were made for the trip and tickets and berths were secured, the family retired to rest, to gain strength for the responsi- bilities of the morrow. The relations of Doctor Bell and Myrtle remained practically unchanged. Both were aware that at least ninety days must elapse between the birth of Myrtle's offspring and the beginning of any sexual relations. 390 L0MA > Their previous association bad been as intimate as it could be short of this degree, and the ceremony of con- sorting had simply made their relations permanent. Loma had imparted to them in a special instruction a complete knowledge of the exalted and perfect way in which the sexual relations were performed upon Venus, and they awaited the arrival of the proper time with calmness and the full consciousness that when it did arrive they would experience the highest joys of which their natures were capable. They were espe- cially interested in the instruction imparted by Loma as to the manner in which the number and sex of off- spring were regulated, and the uses of sexual inter- course in the strengthening and fortifying of every part of the brain. The doctor had, long before Loma's advent upon the earth, taught his patients that the prevailing habit of man and wife occupying the same bed was injurious to health and destructive of connu- bial happiness. Consequently, upon this wedding night, the beginning of a new civilization, fraught with tremendous consequences of good to the human race, the bride and groom retired to separate apart- ments, and rested in the negative recuperation of their energies, in the simple consciousness of complete hap- piness in the present and the hope of an exquisite realization of joy in the future. CHAPTER XXIV. THE ASCENSION. "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld. He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight" The journey of Loma and his devoted friends from Chicago to Denver was accomplished without special incident. The party enjoyed the trip as they did everything else, in the association of congenial person- alities, and, as Loma remarked, so perfect was their harmony that he would have frequently forgotten that he was not already in Venus, if the incongruities of the strangers with whom he came in contact did not forcibly remind him that he was still on earth. "But," he exclaimed enthusiastically, as he caressed the baby to which he was as much devoted as its mother, "this glorious boy will soon teach the world a better way. These plebeian crowds who throng the stations we pass, burdened with afflictions which they are deluded into regarding as natural, little realize the nature or the potentialities of this sweet babe who has come to lead them into a higher civilization. But it will come to pass, and future generations will bless the work we have inaugurated." When the party arrived in Denver they proceeded at once to the Brown Palace Hotel, where elegant (391) 392 LOMA, apartments had been engaged. Loma had explained that the preparations which were being made for his transit to Venus were about perfected, but that the distinguished electricians having the matter in charge were desirous of making several tests, so as to insure his safety, and it was probable that they might be de- layed several days, in order to secure the exact condi- tions required for so long a. transit. Doctor Bell was much interested in the scientific nature of the process of translation, and begged Loma to impart to him as much of the process as would be consistent with his professional and scientific ethics. Loma smilingly assented. "There is nothing mysterious about the process of translation, and nothing that I am required to conceal from you now, since you have been instructed in the principles of complete education. The ability to sus- tain such a translation is merely a question of the power of a complete and educated brain to generate a sufficient quantity of magnetism to sustain itself against the drawing power of the electrical receptivity of the earth's sphere. How to overcome the attraction of gravitation has been the greatest problem with which your scientists have grappled, but they will not solve it until they develop complete brains. Then they will find it very easy to walk on the water as Jesus did, and as Peter could have done if he had had a better brain. You will remember that when Peter began to sink, Jesus caught him by the hand, after which he had no difficulty because the magnetism de A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 393 veloped by the complete brain of Jesus was sufficient for both when the connection was established. "Now, the repulsion of magnetism being sufficient to sustain Jesus and Peter upon the water, you can readily understand that if the power of repulsion can be suffi- ciently increased it would sustain them in the air, or in interstellar space. It is this repulsion of magnet- ism which enables your spiritualistic mediums to de- velop the weak phenomena of table tipping, etc. Now, it is simply this principle we use in translation from Venus to the earth or from the earth to Venus. The body translated must have sufficient power to generate magnetism at will sufficient to repel it from the earth and other planets, and to decrease this magnetism as it approaches its destination so as to permit the force of electrical receptivity to draw it, and yet retain suffi- cient magnetism to exert resistance enough to prevent a violent fall. This requires education and training, as does every other form of athletic exercise. "To initiate a transit it is best to start from a high altitude, as the rarer the atmosphere the less resistance we encounter, and we are also aided by the earth's mag- netism, which is constantly being radiated from the summits of mountains. This is why Jesus took the disciples who were privileged to witness his ascension upon a mountain, as related in the Bible, and we have come to Colorado for the same reason. To finish a transit it is best to choose a location having a low altitude, a dense atmosphere and a large body of fresh water, into which the body can finally land, as these 394 LOMA, conditions furnish a natural cushion, and aid us in es- tablishing resistance sufficient to prevent a violent con- cussion. These conditions were admirably met in Lake Michigan, as you know. I have chosen Pike's Peak, near this city, as the place of my exit from the earth be- cause it is easily accessible, and the terminus of my transit will be in Lake Marieno in Venus, which is only one hundred and fifty miles from my residence, and where my exalted consort and nearly all of my lovers, sisters and brothers are already assembled, together with some twenty-five thousand other interested per- sons." Loma's fine countenance glowed with enthusiasm as he spoke of the welcome awaiting him, and his ardor was not dampened when Myrtle threw her arms around his neck and imprinted a passionate kiss upon his lips, saying: "Take that kiss to your glorious consort from the daughter of earth whom you have so greatly blessed by your mission. Tell her that next to you I love and honor her, and I know that what inconvenience she has suffered through your absence will be more than com- pensated by the magnificent honors which await your return." "She has hardly suffered inconvenience," said Loma, smiling, "for each night I have held communication with her by means of clairvoyance in which we are both adepts. In fact, much of the success of my mission has been due to her splendid sustaining influences, and when I return to Venus she will be duly honored for A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 395 her share in the work, as will also a large number of persons who have assisted me; two of whom I hope to have the pleasure of introducing to you before many hours." As Loma finished this statement a telegram was handed to him by a bell boy. He opened it and read : Manitou. Colorado, March 13, 1896. Preparations complete. All ready for you to-morrow. Weather indications perfect. Davenol. "Good!" exclaimed Loma. "This is from Professor Davenol, the finest electrician in Venus. He awaits us at Manitou. We will depart at once and sleep to-night iu Manitou." A telegram was sent to Professor Davenol announ- cing the time the party would arrive in Manitou, and in a few hours the Denver & Rio Grande train bore Loma and his friends to that celebrated watering place. At that time of the year most of the hotels were closed, and the cog-wheel railway made few trips to the sum- mit of Pike's Peak, but when Loma and his party ar- rived they were met at the depot by Professor Davenol in person, who explained that he had perfected all arrangements, and that after a good night's rest the party would be taken to the summit on a special train. Professor Davenol was, like Loma, a magnificent specimen of manhood, and an example of complete edu- cation. He differed from Loma in the fact thai he was of somewhal darker complexion and did not speak the English language as fluently. There was a peculiar accenl in his pronunciation which was distinctly dif- 396 LOMA, ferent from that of any foreigner Doctor Bell had ever met, but he was, like Loma, a prince of gentlemen in his social manners and general deportment. After a delicious night's rest and an excellent break- fast the party took seats in the special train which was waiting to convey them to the summit, and in a short time found themselves at the door of the old signal sta- tion, where they were provided with excellent shelter from the intense cold which prevailed at that altitude at that season of the year. Professor Davenol had arranged that the special should return to Manitou and that the party should be alone on the summit when the transit was initiated. He had explained to the officials of the railway that Doctor Bell and the two ladies would return without himself and Loma, as he desired to avoid any suspicion that might be caused by their absence on the return trip. As the transaction was not expected to con- sume more than a few hours, Nora and the baby had been left at the hotel in Manitou. The special was to return to the summit for Doctor Bell and the ladies precisely at noon. At precisely 10 o'clock A. M. on the 14th day of March, the party arrived at the summit. At 10 :30 the special was returning to Manitou, and the friends were in possession of the situation. Then occurred a succession of the most remarkable phenomena ever exhibited upon the earth. Professor Davenol and Loma divested themselves of clothing as soon as the special disappeared around the A CITIZEN OF VENUS. 397 curve of the mountain. Then the professor marked a large granite boulder, about one hundred yards from the signal station, and drew around this boulder a circle one hundred yards in diameter, leaving the boulder in the center. A rope was tightly stretched around this circle, and the professor warned the members of the little group not to come within it for twenty minutes after his departure, as the results of a viola- tion of this caution would probabhy be fatal. When these preparations were completed Loma took an affectionate leave of his friends, holding Myrtle last, in a long, loving embrace. Then he stepped lightly inside the circle, and joined the professor. Just at this moment a third actor appeared upon the scene. This was another man, evidently a citizen of Venus, from his likeness to the others, but who ap- peared, in a halo of magnetism, descending from space above the summit. As he approached, Loma and the professor began to glow with great fervor of mag- netism, evidently for the purpose of aiding the ap- proaching person to resist the force of gravitation. In this they were perfectly successful, as the new comer gracefully -approached the summit and alighted with- out any greater shock than would be experienced in stepping out of a carriage. Loma and Professor Davenol decreased their mag- netism for a moment, and, approaching the edge of the circle, Loma said: "Allow me to introduce my devoted brother, Pro- fessor Loyalice. He is Professor Davenol's assistant, 398 L ° MA - and has just completed a transit over the route to in- sure my safety and perfect working conditions. He does not speak the language of earth, but he assures me that everything is auspicious for my transit." Doctor Bell and the ladies bowed, and Professor Loyalice acknowledged this introduction with a grace- ful gesture, after which Loma said : "Farewell, beloved; but remember that I am always with you in the sweet communion of the highest sense." Then, as his body and those of his two associates began to glow with incomparable brightness, he made one of his exquisite gestures of gracious dignity and love, smiled sweetly upon his three friends, who clung to each other outside the circle in an ecstasy of intense expectation, and began to rise. His progress was rapid and with gradually accel- erating velocity until he was lost to sight. Professor Davenol and his assistant remained motionless, but continued to glow with the greatest fervor for several minutes. Then they relaxed the intensity of their radiation, but remained immovable for several minutes longer. Suddenly from the space above the summit, with startling distinctness, came the sound of Loma's voice, pure and musical as when he was upon the earth, but having a peculiar quality in the tone which betrayed the fact that it was sounding through some form of telephone constructed upon a stupendous scale: "BELOVED, BE OF GOOD CHEER.- I HAVE SAFELY ARRIVED AT HOME AND AM IN THE SWEET EM- BRACES OF MY PRECIOUS CONSORT." A CITIZEN OP VENUS. 399 Professor Davenol smiled and looked relieved. In a moment he and Professor Loyalice began to glow again with great intensity of magnetism, and Professor Loyalice began to rise, and in a few moments disap- peared as Loma had done. Again a moment of sus- pense, and once more the telephonic sound was heard, but this time it was a strange voice and in a language unknown to Doctor Bell and the ladies. But Professor Davenol seemed to be perfectly satisfied with results, for he bowed and smiled, and, beginning once more to glow with extraordinary fervor, rose majestically, waving his hands to the three absorbed spectators. In a moment he also had disappeared in the blue vault of the heavens; but although the doctor and the two ladies gazed and listened for several minutes in spell- bound attention, no sound occurred. With the de- parture of the last citizen of Venus the telephonic con- nection had ceased to exist. Doctor Bell, looking at the spot from which Professor Davenol had departed, noticed that the boulder which the professor had marked had disappeared, and ki its place was a pool of molten lava, and the air was per- meated with the odor of granite in a state of fusion. Mrs. Bell and Myrtle, overcome with emotion, sobbed upon the doctor's shoulders. The latter, however, had been so absorbed in the contemplation of the majestic scientific phenomena presented to his senses that he could think of little else. But the emotions of the ladies recalled him to the duties of the hour, and, as he placed one arm around his queenly mother and 400 LOMA, the other around his lovely consort and led them to- ward the special train, which at that moment appeared upon the side of the mountain, he felt that he was in- deed upon the mountain top physically, intellectually and socially. THE END. SCIENTIFIC PHRENOLOGY. The author of this work sincerely believes that the code of Gallheim announced by Loma, if conscientious- ly followed, would result in a complete revolution of so- cial conditions and a realization of the felicity which he depicts as actually existing upon Venus. The first, third, and fourth articles of the code will be readily understood by advanced thinkers. But the success of the code depends no less upon the second article, which enforces the doctrine that by the adoption of a correct system of character study, i. c, mental phi- losophy, human nature can be understood and es- timated at its correct value. The system of mental philosophy inaugurated by Francis Joseph Gall, M. D., in Vienna, in 178G~7, elab- orated by his pupil John Gasper Spurzheim, and later students, including the author, presents the foundation for such a system. It is still in its infancy, but it fur- nishes a more practical method for the study and de- termination of the elements of human character than any system of mental philosophy ever promulgated. The pure doctrines taught by Gall and Spurzheim luivc suffered much at the hands of charlatans, quacks, and pseudo-scientists, so much as to be the subject of great ridicule by the misinformed. It has suffered hardly less at the hands of its ignorant and bigoted 26 (401) 402 PHRENOLOGY. friends, who have sought to make the doctrine of the new science conform to existing standards of morals and religion. Believing that the present work would arouse an in- terest in the science, the author has considered it wise to append a brief statement of its leading principles and doctrines, as much for the purpose of educating the reader to a comprehension that Phrenology is not what it is usually represented to be, as for the addi- tional purpose of creating an interest for its more comprehensive and exhaustive study. At best, such a treatise can only consist of brief statements of prin- ciples and definitions. These are given as they are ap- plied by the author in his professional practice. DEFINITIONS. Phrenology is the science of Intelligence. It is a system of mental philosophy based upon accurate ob- servation and comparison of the origin, structure, and manifestations of intelligent organisms. As a science, Phrenology deals with the causes and effects of Intelligence. As an art, it consists in estimat- ing the kind and amount of Intelligence manifested by any organism. Intelligence is the power or capacity of any living organism to take cognizance of the facts of its environ- ment. The amount and kind of Intelligence depends on the structure and development of the organism, and PHRENOLOGY. 403 these are always the product of the environment of the organism and that of its ancestors. All things whatsoever are included in existence. Existence is composed of two prime, ungenerated potentialities, Space and Matter. Space is unlimited, continuous, persistent, and im- movable. It is the prime, ungenerated negative female parent of all that is. Matter is limited, divisible, consistent, and movable. It is the prime, ungenerated, positive male parent of all that is. By virtue of the inherent genderic degrees of state with which Space and Matter are endowed, like de- grees of genitive passion are continuously generated between them. Electricity is the genitive passion of Space. It is manifested by the states of gravity, receptivity, cold- ness, and darkness. Magnetism is the genitive passion of Matter. It is manifested by the states of vibration, radiation, heat, and light. The eternal affinities which exist between these con- ditions produce all the phenomena of growth. Growth is the change which takes [dace in a struc- ture in obedience to the law of conformity to the changes which take place in its environment. All objects are the product of Growth. This is as true of stars and planets, mountains and rivers, as il is of vegetables and animals. All things originate from ancestors, increase by nourishment, and disintegrate by depletion. 404 PHRENO LOG"i . All substances are composed of molecules, which are the smallest possible divisions of substances. All molecules are composed of atoms, which are the smallest possible divisions of matter. The difference in substances is due to the difference in the composi- tion of the molecules. The difference in molecules is due to the different forms of association of which atoms are capable. Every individual atom is capable of conforming to its environment in states of electricity and magnetism. When magnetism dominates in the environment, the atom vibrates and radiates its own magnetism. When electricity dominates in the environment the atom be- comes composed and contracts its magnetism. Asso- ciated atoms repel each other when vibratory and radi- ant, and cohere when composed and receptive. These principles explain the expansion and contrac- tion of matter in different states of temperature, i. e., of electricity and magnetism. All changes in the conditions of space and matter are due to changes in conditions of electricity and magnetism. Therefore all changes in the environment of any object are attributable to the same great causes. The inherent, property of atoms to conform to condi- tions of environment as to states of electricity and magnetism causes all associated atoms to behave ac- cording to the needs of the association, whatever it may be. Therefore every body changes according to the movements of the atoms composing it, and these PHRENOLOGY. 405 changes are always in conformity to the changing nature of the environment. Organisms are therefore simple or complex, accord- ing to the simple or complex nature of their structure and the simple or complex conditions of the environ- ment with which they are brought into contact. Man is the most complex organism known to this planet. He stands at the end of a long line of de- velopment, extending from the simplest form of min- eral, through the vegetable and animal kingdoms, to his own position in the cosmos, and embracing and in- cluding in his own structure a representation of evnV form below him. But when this exceedingly complex structure is analyzed it is found to consist wholly of combinations of the simpler forms which existed before him. In the light of a rational philosophy, therefore, we are forced to consider man as a creature of growth, and subject to exactly the same natural laws as the objects which surround him. Any attempt to regard him as an exception results in the calamities which must al- ways attend presumption and ignorance. The Intelligence of Man is his power to comprehend the conditions of his environment. The relative de- gree of this intelligence which any individual will possess depends upon the completeness and the com- plexity of his structure. The intelligence of the man is the aggregation of the power of his associated atoms. If there is any part of his organization incomplete, in its perfect relation to his environment, his structure 406 PHRENOLOGY. lacks the requisite complexity of parts and a loss of intelligence is the result. The Conditions of Enyironment can only be im- pressed upon an organism by the impacts of the vari- ous magnetisms of the surrounding objects constitut- ing the environment. These impacts will make them- selves felt by a variety of radiations and vibrations of magnetism, differing in intensity and rapidity, cor- responding to the conditions of the bodies from which they emanate. If the organism upon which these radiations and vibrations impinge is susceptible to cor- responding receptivity and similar vibrations, the con- ditions of the surrounding bodies will be communicated to it and it will respond to each with a corresponding state of vibration. This corresponding state of re- ceptivity and vibration constitutes sensibility. An organism develops degrees of intelligence accord- ing to its sensibility to some or all of the conditions of its environment. As these conditions are manifested by vibrations of lower and higher rapidity, organisms are provided with Organs of Sense, and corresponding Senses, according to the degree of intelligence devel- oped. Each organ of sense comprehends a different stage of receptivity and vibration, and each stage is susceptible to different degrees. The stages cor- respond to the different senses and the degrees cor- respond to the different sensations experienced within the domain of each sense. Man has Seven Senses, to-wit, Gender, Touch, Taste, Hearing, Sight Smell, and Clairvoyance. He is PHRENOLOGY. 407 provided with corresponding organs of sense, but the sexual organs of gender have been ignored, and 1 lit* organs of Clairvoyance within the brain are not visible externally and have not been located, but we know the^y exist. The Sense of Gender corresponds to the lowest stage of radiation and vibration. The sexual organs are attuned to these radiations and vibrations with a corresponding stage of receptivity and susceptibility to vibration, and communicate their sensations to cor- responding organs of the brain. The Sense of Touch takes cognizance of the next higher stage of radiation and vibration, and communi- cates its sensations to the brain in a similar manner, through the skin, and especially that of the hands and feet. The Sense of Taste takes cognizance of the third stage of radiation and vibration, through the lips, tongue, and palate. The Sense of Hearing enables the individual to comprehend the radiations and vibrations which exist in the fourth stage, and ears are provided for this pur- pose attuned only to the vibrations of this stage. The Sense of Sight receives the radiations and vi- brations of the fifth stage, and the exquisitely sensi- tive machinery of the eyes is beautifully adapted to the purpose. The Sense of Smell, through the nostrils, receives impressions pertaining to the sixth stage which are more delicate than those of sight 408 PHRENOLOGY. The Sense of Clairvoyance receives impressions of radiations and vibrations so intensely penetrating and exquisitely refined that they pass through all known substances, and for this reason the organs of this sense are contained within the skull, which forms no barrier to its operation. This is the highest form of sensibility, and completes the octave. Any sense beyond this must needs be the beginning of a new organization, and would be a repetition of the sense of gender as the foundation of a new octave, precisely as musical tones are repeated in the chromatic scale. This law applies throughout nature. It will be noticed that the arrangement of the senses in this order corresponds to the position of the relative arrangement of the organs of sense on the body. The olfactory nerves enter the skull at a point above the eyes and communicate their impressions to a higher point of the brain than the optic nerves. Hence although the external orifices of the nostrils are below the eyes, the real arrangement of the organs of sense is in the order above stated. An organization may be perfectly adapted to its environment by growth, but if violently removed to an- other situation it may be very incompletely adapted to its new environment, in which case it will either per- ish, or become slowly adapted to it by growth, possibly extending through many generations. Experience teaches us that the greatest happiness is secured by comprehending the nature of the in- dividual and by placing him where he can have the PHRENOLOGY. 409 most favorable environment for the largest possible growl li. Recognizing the foregoing definitions and principles, the analysis of the character of man considered ab- stractly, or the analysis of the character of the con- crete individual, proceeds upon strictly scientific lines, as follows: As man is a complex organism, consisting of bones, muscles, respiratory, digestive, and cir- culatory organs, brain and nerves, all of which are sub- ject to varying conditions, the practical phrenologist in his estimate of the character must consider carefully (he Physiological Condition, Temperament, Organic Quality, and Size and Development of Brain. These subjects will be considered in their order. PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION. If the individual is supplied with strong vital organs, supported by an adequate frame of bone and muscle, and these are all in good working order, he is said to be in a condition of health. Under this head the phre- nologist makes a careful note of the conditions of gen- eral health, personal appearance, breathing power, cir- culation, and digestion. The eccentricities of disease arc carefully noted and allowance made therefor in the estimate of mental power. The use of tobacco, alco- holic liquors, narcotics, tea, coffee, or other stimulants or poisons, in any degree, is incompatible with normal intelligence. If normal health exists and the in- dividual is supplied with a good equipment in all of 410 PHRENOLOGY. the physiological conditions of organization, the founda- tion is established for the display of intelligence. The amount of intelligence depends upon the general mag- nitude of the organization and the perfect correlation of its parts. The particular kind of intelligence mani- fested will be greatly modified by the form of the body and brain as expressed in Temperament, Organic Qual- ity and Size and Development of Brain. THE TEMPERAMENTS. Temperament is that peculiar state of the body, ex- pressed in color, temperature, form, and proportion, which results from the preponderance of some element in the constitution, over some other element or ele- ments. The Temperaments are classified with refer- ence to electro-magnetic, anatomical, and chemical con- ditions. ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TEMPERAMENTS. The Electric Temperament exists when electricity dominates over magnetism in the organization. Its characteristics are Gravity, Receptivity, Darkness, and Coldness. This temperament was formerly called the Bilious or Brunette Temperament. It is dis- tinguished by dark, hard, dry skin, dark, strong hair, dark eyes, olive complexion, and usually by a long, athletic form of body. It is remarkable for concentra- tiveness of design and affections, strong gravity, draw- PHREXOLOGY. 4U ing power and cohesiveness, strong will, resolution, dignity, serious disposition and expression, moderate circulation and coolness of temperature. It is pro- duced by a dry, hot climate, common in southern lat- itudes and almost universal in tropical natives. Per- sons of this temperament are better adapted to hot climates because electricity dominates over magnetism, and they do not antagonize the climate by the radiation of magnetism, but rather thrive on the magnetism which they absorb. This temperament is closely analogous to the condition of tropical animals and birds. The Magnetic Temperament exists when magnet- ism dominates over electricity in the organiza- tion. Its characteristics are Vibration, Radia- tion, Heat, and Light. This temperament was formerly called the Sanguine or Blonde Temperament. It is distinguished by a light colored, warm, moist skin, light colored or red hair, fresh ruddy or florid complex- ion, light colored or blue eyes, rounded form of body, often plump or corpulent, large chest, square shoulders, indicating a very active heart and vital organs. It is remarkable for versatility of character, jovial dis- position, fond of good living and great variety, change- ableness, activity, and vivaciousness. The temperature of the body is warm and the circulation very strong. This temperament vibrates between great extremes of disposition, develops great, force of radiation and driv- ing power, and is universally characterized by warmth, enthusiasm, and high color. It is produced by the climates of northern and temperate latitudes, and is al- 412 PHRENOLOGY. most universal in the natives of extreme northern coun- tries. Persons of this temperament are better adapted to cold climates, because magnetism dominates over electricity, consequently they produce more animal heat, and are better able to endure the rigors of a cold climate. The same general conditions are found to ex- ist in birds and animals inhabiting northern latitudes. ANATOMICAL TEMPERAMENTS. The Temperaments are also classed anatomically as: Motive, where the bones are large and strong and the muscular development is stronger than the nutri- tive or mental system. Persons of this temperament arc active, energetic, and best adapted to outdoor pursuits and vigorous employment. Vital, in which the nutritive or vital system is most active, large lungs, stomach and blood vessels, and corpulent and plump figure. Persons possessing this temperament are inclined to sedentary occupations, and if the brain is large and of good quality, are able to do an immense amount of mental labor without breaking down. They should take systematic exercise and avoid fats and stimulating foods and drinks to ob- tain the best results. Mental, in which the brain and nerves are most active. The body is not adapted to hard muscular labor, and there is not enough vitality or nutritive power to nourish the brain in the heavy demands made upon it. Such persons incline to mental effort and PHRENOLOGY. 4! 3 literary work, and for a time display greal brilliancy, but sooner or later collapse, unless this condition is corrected, by regular hours, plenty of sleep, the absence of stimulants and the cultivation of muscular and vital force. This temperament is distinguished by a rela- tively large head and small body, pyriform face, high wide forehead, and usually sharp features. CHEMICAL TEMPERAMENTS. There are three principal fluids which circulate through the body, viz., arterial blood, venous blood, and lymph. As the blood passes out from the heart through the arteries it is strongly charged with magnetism and is very strongly acid in quality. As it returns to the heart through the veins it has expended its magnetism and its acid- ity has been very much neutralized. The lymph is an alkali fluid, and it circulates through the lymphatic vessels as a reserve force of vital food. The predominance of either of these fluids in the constitu- tion greatly modifies the character and gives rise to the classification of the chemical temperaments. As every cell in the body comes in contact with an acid and an alkali fluid, we may, by estimating the relative quan- tities of each fluid, arrive at a very accurate judgment of the chemical condition of the body, and these ele- ments are also valuable in estimating the amount of magnetism that will be produced by the organization through chemical action, as every cell by its contact with these fluids is constituted a magnetic battery. 414 PHRENOLOGY. THE ACID TEMPERAMENT. The Acid Temperament exists where arterial blood predominates. It is distinguished by convexity of features and sharpness of angles. The face is usually round in general outline and convex in profile, the fore- head prominent at the eyebrows and retreating as it rises, the nose Roman, the mouth prominent, the teeth convex in form and arrangement and sharp, the chin round and sometimes retreating. The body is angular and generally convex in outline, with sharpness at all angles. This temperament is usually accompanied with great activity of mind and vivaciousness of dis- position, and sometimes develops great energy and asperity. It is very likely to exhaust itself prema- turely. PHRENOLOGY. 415 THE ALKALI TEMPERAMENT. The Alkali Temperament exists where lymph is in excess over arterial blood. It is distinguished by con- cavity of features and obliquity of angles, or rather the absence of angles. The face is usually broad in gen- eral outline, and concave in profile, the forehead prom- inent and wide at the upper part, and medium in de- velopment at the eyebrows, the nose concave, the mouth retreating, the teeth flat in form and arrange- ment, the chin concave and prominent at the point. The body is round and inclined to corpulency, without angles. This temperament is usually well stocked with vitality, but unless actively employed is likely to be- come dull and overloaded with adipose tissue and lymph. 416 PHRENOLOGY. From the foregoing observations it is evident that the temperaments combine in each individual accord- ing to whichever temperament is found to predominate in these three divisions. Thus one man will have an electric-motive-acid temperament, another a magnetic- mental-acid temperament, another a niagnetic-vital- alkali, and so on through all the combinations which can be made from the seven elementary temperaments. This blending when finally estimated constitutes the temperament of the individual. The ideal condition would, of course, be a perfect equilibrium of the ele- ments of each division, in which case the individual would be said to have a perfectly balanced tempera- ment. III. ORGANIC QUALITY. Organic Quality is the inherent, constitutional tex- ture of the organization. It is analogous to the grain of wood, the temper of mental, etc., and is considered with reference to the attributes of Strength, Delicacy, and Responsiveness. Strength signifies great capacity to undertake and successfully complete enterprises of great magnitude, requiring comprehensive thought and executive power. It also signifies great power of endurance and fortitude. When strength is marked low, on the phrenological chart, the individual has no surplus strength to waste and should carefully enconomize force and direct his power within the scope of his phrenological adaptation. PHRENOLOGY. 417 Delicacy indicates great refinement and sensitive- ness of organization. Such persons are able to ap- preciate nice shades of thought and to cultivate the graces in an eminent degree. They are adapted to pursuits requiring delicacy of the senses and acute perception, such as music, painting, manufacturing of delicate articles, etc. In literature they display re- fined taste, and the head is symmetrical and generally well developed. Those who are low in delicacy lack refinement and grace and should carefully cultivate these qualities. Responsiveness signifies that peculiar quality of or- ganization which takes impressions readily and re- sponds quickly to outside influences. It implies abil- ity to learn readily and to adopt one's self to circum- stances. Persons high in this quality are easily elated and correspondingly depressed, and should culti- vate self-control. Persons low in responsiveness in- cline toward stupidity. SIZE AND DEVELOPMENT OF BRAIN. The Physiological Condition, Temperament and Quality of the individual being established, the size of his brain becomes the measure of power. Concerning the brain, the doctrines of Phrenology may be briefly stated. I. The brain is the keyboard of Intelligence. The Intelligence of man manifests itself through many fac- ulties, and each faculty is a result of some condition 27 418 PHRENOLOGY. pertaining to his environment. Each faculty has a special organ in the brain. II. Size of brain is the measure of power, tempera- ment, quality and physiological condition being similar. Size of brain depends upon length of brain fiber. The brains of different individuals vary much in size and also in the direction of development, from which fact diversity of character arises, in brains of the same size and quality. III. Forty-three organs of the brain, by careful ob- servation and comparison, have been located and classified. The brain is divided into two hemispheres, and one organ pertaining to each faculty of the mind located in each hemisphere. Thus all organs are double, and there is one organ of each pair on each side of the head. The Phrenologist estimates the size of each or- gan by measuring the length of brain fiber from the surface of the brain to the Medulla Oblongata, which is at the base of the brain, at the head of the spinal col- umn and opposite the opening of the ears. We have reason to believe that there are sixty-four organs altogether, and that when ajl are discovered and classified that man will be found to possess sixty- four distinct faculties and be capable of acquiring sixty-four different kinds of knowledge and manifest- ing sixty-four kinds of intelligence. This is not stated as a demonstrated fact, but as a proposition believed to be true. The following are the names and definitions of the faculties of Intelligence that are known to be possessed PHRENOLOGY. 419 by man. For the location of the corresponding organs on the cranium the reader is referred to the accom- panying Symbolical Phrenological Head. On this head the faculties are symbolized by a picture engraved within the territory ascribed to each organ represent- ing some action of the corresponding faculty. Thus Constructiveness is represented by a suspension bridge, Combativeness by a fire scene in which the splendid energies of the firemen and the apparatus are opposed to the destructive element, etc. For convenience in classification the organs are ar- ranged in the six groups of Physical Love, Physical Energy, Dignity, Sympathy, Objective Intellect, and Subjective Intellect, but these divisions are purely ar- bitrary. Each of the faculties of Intelligence is capable of manifesting four distinct powers, Attraction, Repul- sion, Satisfaction, and Memory, depending upon cor- responding electro-magnetic states of the atoms com- posing the organ of the brain representing that faculty. When electricity dominates the atoms cohere, the brain cells become empty and Attraction results. When magnetism dominates, the atoms repel, the cells become filled with magnetism and Repulsion re- sults. When electro-inagnetic equilibrium is established, the faculty is said to be in a state of Satisfaction, and the organ is at rest. The ability to rearrange the atoms and to repeat formerly existing states, constitutes Memory. 420 PHRENOLOGY. PROF. Wm. WINDSOR, LL.B., Ph. D. The Symbolical Phrenological Head, Showing the Location of the Organs of the Brain. PHRENOLOGY. 421 From the foregoing, we deduce the propositions that Love (Attraction), Hate (Repulsion), Enjoyment (Satis- faction), and Recollection (Memory) are each the prod- uct of the combined action of the powers of all the or- gans of the brain, and the force resulting from this combination which ultimately governs the action of the individual is called Reason. Therefore, to constitute an individual perfectly Rea- sonable, he must have a complete cognition of his en- vironment by the possession of a complete equipment of the organs of sense, and a complete brain, educated to the full use of every faculty. Every organ of the brain and every corresponding faculty is equally valu- able, and none can be neglected in development or education without an equally serious loss. The ideal state of complete development and complete education is attainable and will be reached by the human race whenever this philosophy is accepted and enforced. 422 PHRENOLOGY. GROUPS OF ORGANS. DEFINITIONS OF THE FACULTIES OF INTELLIGENCE. PHYSICAL LOVE. Amativcncss — Reproductive love; love of the opposite sex, and desire to unite in sexual relations and enjoy its company. Conjugality — Conjugal love, sexual friendship and fidelity. Pliiloprogcnitivcncss — Parental love; love of offspring and pets. Friendship — Adhesiveness; gregariousness; love of family; desire for companionship; attachment to friends. PHRENOLOGY. 433 fiiJiabiti rates* — Love of home, place of abode; love of country and offensive and defensive patriotism. Continuity — The faculty of connection. The ability to comprehend continuousness or interruption; to give undivided and continued attention to one subject, or to interrupt intelligently; application, connectedness. PHYSICAL ENERGY. Vitativeness — The love of life; desire to exist. Combativencss — Defense; courage; defiance; force of character; energy and indignation. Executw&ms— Executive ability ; extermination ; thoroughness and severity. AUmentiveness — Desire for food and drink; faculty of discriminating taste. Acquisitiveness — Desire for property; industry; econ- omy in acquiring property; realization of value Secretwene88 — Reserve; concealment; policy; con- servatism. Ca ution— Prudence; solicitude; timidity; fear; ap- prehension of danger. DIGNITY. ApiJivbativdncss — Love of display; the desire to please; ambition to gain admiration and popularity. Self -Esteem — Dignity ; governing power ; independ- ence; self love. Firmness — Stability; perseverance; decision; inflex- ibility of purpose. 434 PHRENOLOGY. Conscientiousness — Justice; self-examination; integ- rity; circumspection; scrupulousness in matters of duty. SYMPATHY. Hope — Belief in future joy; tendency to high ex- pectations. Faith — Trust and belief. Confidence. Veneration — Reverence and worship; deference for superiors, and submission to superior power. Benevolence — The desire to do good; sympathy; phi- lanthropy. Imitation — The copying faculty. The ability to con- form to existing customs, conditions and facts by im- itating them. Human Nature — The power to discern motives, char- acter and qualities in other persons by sympathetic ac- tion. Suavity — Agreeableness; tendency to speak and act in a pleasant manner. OBJECTIVE INTELLECT. Individuality — Observation and desire to see things, to identify and separate objects. Form — Observation of the shape of things. Sensi- tiveness to correctness or the lack of it in shapes. Size — Power to measure distances, quantities and sizes. Weight — Perception of the effect of gravity, and sense of the perpendicular. PHRENOLOGY. 425 Color — The discrimination of lines and colors. Order — Faculty of arrangement; method; system; neatness. Calculation — The power to count, enumerate, reckon, etc.; faculty of number. Motion — Ability to comprehend movement. Love of motion, sailing, navigation, riding, dancing, etc. Eventuality — The historic faculty; faculty of experi- ence and occurrence. Locality — Discernment of position, perception of place. Time — Consciousness of duration; faculty of time; promptness. Tune — Appreciation of sound; ability to distinguish musical tones. Construetireness — Dexterity and ingenuity; ability in construction; faculty of adjustment. Language — Power of expression and ability to talk; verbal expression; vocabulary. SUBJECTIVE INTELLECT. Causality— The ability to comprehend principles, and to think abstractly ; to understand the relation between cause and effect. Comparison— The analyzing, illustrating and com- paring faculty. Ideality— Love of the beautiful; desire for perfection, refinement. Sublimity— Love of grandeur and the stupendous; appreciation of the terrific. Mirthf ulness— Wit; humor; love of fun. 426 PHRENOLOGY. The Phrenological Examination. The Phrenological Examination is designed to show in an accurate and scientific manner the size and de- velopment of Brain of the person measured, and to furnish a basis upon which an accurate and reliable knowledge of the character may be determined. The measurements can only be correctly made by an ex- pert familiar with the principles of Phrenology. When these measurements are determined according to the system, the Phrenologist is enabled to make a Com- plete Delineation of the character, describing the amount and kind of sense possessed by the individual, his adaptation to a particular Business, Trade or Pro- fession, where that kind and amount of Intelligence is required, the adaptation in Matrimony or Business Partnership, together with special directions as to faults and how to correct them, health and longevity and how to secure both. The expert must be able to judge the Physiological Condition, Temperament and Organic Quality of the individual with scientific accuracy, and these are important elements in a scientific delineation of character. Phrenological Examinations are said to be given orally when no record is made of the conclusions of the examiner. A Phrenological Chart is a blank prepared for concise written statements, and the chart filled out is said to constitute a Delineation of Character. PHRENOLOGY. 427 PROF. WINDSOR'S ASSISTANTS MAKING A PHRENOMETRICAL SURVEY. Phrenometrical Measurements are given by means of 1lu> Phroiomctcr, an instrument used for measuring the head, by which the exact form and size of sections of the head can be reproduced upon diagrams prepared for the purpose. This is the most valuable and reliable way of making an examination. 428 PHRENOLOGY. A Phrenograph is a written description of the char- acter of an individual, giving all the minute points and shadings of character in the language of the examiner, and its value depends upon the perspicuity and literary expression of the writer not less than upon his skill as a phrenologist. It must be evident from the foregoing that the value of the service rendered by the phrenologist varies, as in all other professions, according to his education and training, the instruments with which he works, the elaborateness of the product and the adaptation of the phrenologist to his own business. The public should be warned against patronizing men who practice Phrenology in a way that would bring any business into ridicule. Men who are uned- ucated, who do not use the latest and best equipments, who have never had any professional training, who do not comprehend professional ethics or dignity, and who do not possess the elements of success in their own characters, are hardly the ones to whom an intelligent man would submit the most important questions con- cerning his own welfare with the hope of receiving competent advice. But Phrenology has been cursed with this class of quacks, perhaps even more than the profession of medicine. And it is largely due to the stupendous blunders of such pretenders that Phre- nology is not recognized more generally by intelligent scientists. Considered in its beauty and simplicity, it certainly offers a more rational and practical system of mental philosophy than has ever been otherwise formu- lated. PHRENOLOGY. 429 EXAMPLES OF PHRENOMETRICAL MEASUREMENTS. Fig. 2. -ID COMBATIVE. NON-COMBATIVE. Sections of base of brain, showing development of physical energy The dotted lines in P^ig. 2 show the deiiciency in alimentiveness, execu- tiveness and combativeness. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. NON-SYMPATHETIC. SYMPATHETIC. Profile sections showing development of sympathy and dignity. The dotted line in Fig. 3 shows deficiency in Human Nature and Benevolence. Fig 6. Fig. MODERATE CAPACITY. liHKAT CAPACITY. Two sections of the region of subjective Intellect, showing different capacities of two individuals. ADVERTISEMENTS, THE WINDSOR & LEWIS PUBLISHING CO., 406 MARIA AVE., ST. PAUL, MINN., Are the exclusive publishers of all of Professor Windsor's works on Phrenology and Social Science, and are the business managers of THE INTERNATIONAL. COLLEGE OP SCIENCE. All correspondence in relation to books and publications, tuition and courses of study in the college, payments for books or tuition should be addressed to THE WINDSOR & LEWIS PUBLISHING CO., 406 Maria Ave., St. Paul, Minn. Professor Windsor's personal correspondence, and letters containing photographs for examination or requests for scien- tific information, and all private correspondence of his patrons concerning matters of a confidential nature should be ad- dressed as follows: PROP. WILLIAM WINDSOR, LL. B., PH. D., Care The Windsor & Lewis Publishing Co., 406 Maria Ave., St. Paul, Minn, and marked "personal." In sending remittances, please send postoffice or express money orders, payable at St. Paul, Minn., or New York drafts. Money may also be sent by express and by registered letter. Postage stamps in one or two-cent denominations will be ac- cepted in sums less than one dollar at risk of sender. Checks on local banks must have fen cents added to the amount to cover cost of collection through our bank. As Professor Windsor is generally traveling at some dis- tance from St. Paul, patrons-may expect a few days' delay in receiving answers to personal letters addressed to him. It is> our purpose to carry a full line of equipments for lec- turers and agents, and we will be pleased to hear from all per- sons engaged in the dissemination of information among the people. Our books and publications are up to date, and we allow larger commissions to good agents than other houses in # the same line. Write for terms. Fraternally, -^THE WINDSOR & LEWIS PUBLISHING CO. itdberl, 1899ft, « 0. Drawer 163, Chicago, Ills, THE SCIENCE OF CREftTION AND- ftRT OF REPRODUCTION. A beautiful volume of four hundred pages, devoted to the clear exposition of facts relating to the propagation and im- provement of the race. The first edition of this fascinating book was sold at five dollars in cloth and six dollars in Russia binding. E7 $ 250- Now Reduced to HALF TRICE. $2-50. xa The second edition has been revised and corrected, and will be issued in cloth binding only and sold at half the original price, viz., two dollars and fifty cents. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN SEPARATE CHAPTERS. Introduction. I.— General Anatomy and Physiology. II.— Sexual Anatomy and Physiology. III.— Manhood and Woman- hood. IV.— Manhood not Lost. V— Manhood Restored. VI.— The Education of the Sexual Instincts. VII.— Marriage. VIII. —Sexual Magnetism. IX.— Prostitution. X. — The Selection of the Consort. XI.— Copulation. XII.— Mistakes of Married Men. XIII.— Reproduction. XIV.— Maternity. XV.— Con- clusion. This book discusses the foregonig subjects in a fearless and candid manner, giving the information desired in a complete and clear way, instead of darkly hinting at the topics. It is also true that Professor Windsor teaches the doctrine that the functions of the body in all of its departments should be enjoyed in a legitimate and pure manner, instead of being suppressed and paralyzed, as would be the case if the teach- ings of a majority of writers on this subject were followed. It is the aim of the book to teach what a legitimate and pure enjoyment is. Like all of his writings, it is radical, revolution- ary and independent. It is fust the book which every young man and woman should read who is anxious to obtain the best use of all the powers of mind and body, and who wishes to enter the rela- tionship of marriage well informed as to the duties, rights, privileges and enjoyments of a husband and wife. It is the very book which every intelligent parent has been looking for, to have his children read in order that they may be instructed against the vices, and encouraged to secure the highest possible development. It is time that men and women understood themselves and each other. Professor Windsor has had the courage and in- telligence to write and utter what should have been said long ago. He believes in the dignity of manhood, the sacredness of womanhood, the protection of childhood. (3) L0MA, A CITIZEN OF VENUS. The Most Sensalional Book Ever Published in the English Language. A scathing criticism on the civilization of the nineteenth century, by a philosopher who understands Human Nature, its capabilities, its needs and its wrongs. The plot of this remarkable book is as follows: Myrtle Burnham, a beautiful and talented young girl, living with a wealthy uncle in Chicago, meets Avith misfortunes by which she is disgraced in the eyes of her uncle and aunt and is by them turned upon the street. After three days and nights of privation and hardship, she attempts suicide in Lake Michigan. She is rescued by a remarkable personage, who appears in the water at the critical moment, and upon the pier she and her rescuer meet a physician, who is also a philanthropist, who mercifully takes her to his home and provides for her com- fort, and who also entertains her rescuer in a very hospit- able manner. The latter introduces himself as Loma, a citizen of Venus, who has been sent to the earth for the express pur- pose of impressing Myrtle, and through her, her offspring, with the germs of new thought, representing an advanced civiliza- tion which her son is destined to proclaim to the world. The physician enters heartily into the scheme, and the remaining chapters of the book tell how Loma accomplished his mission. The work is pathetic, romantic, revolutionary and startling, and there is a sensation in every chapter. The denouement is sublime. Incidentally, Loma makes the following remarkable scien- tific disclosures: That the wearing of clothing is a mistake, and productive of disease. That physical astronomy as now taught is radically wrong in its principles and statements. That Sir Isaac Newton's theory of the law of gravitation is a mistake. That matter does not attract matter, and that the sun does not radiate light or heat. Loma's views on the prevailing vices, inconsistencies and absurdities of modern civilization are expressed in Professor Windsor's masterful literary style, and the utterances are characterized by the same fearlessness and freedom of expres- sion which are such marked peculiarities of his lectures, ad- dresses and other published works. This extraordinary book consists of about five hundred pages, handsomely printed and bound in silk cloth, with gold «tle. Price, $1.50. (4) Do You Wish to Understand Yourself and Everbodv Else? How to Become Rich? How to Select a Wife? How to Become Comfort- able, Happy and Prosperous? If you do you should purchase and read Phrenology! Choice of Professions; Matrimony, A handsome little volume of 200 pages, containing the full text of Professor Windsor's three most popular lectures as de- livered by him to overwhelming audiences throughout the United States. In addition to the three lectures the hook contains a nun> ber of interviews in which Professor Windsor describes phre- nologieally the mental characteristics of many prominent statesmen, philanthropists and criminals, in which startling contrasts and sensational facts are developed. Elegantly illus- trated, with portraits of noted characters. Professor Windsor is acknowledged to he the highest living authority on the sub- ject of which he treats. The entire book is Scientific, Witty, instructive and Absorbingly Interesting. Price., in cloth, $1.00. Price, in paper, 50 cents. HEALTH, WEALTH, AMD SUNSHIME, — OB THE — SECRET OF A GOOD DIGESTION. This valuable little pamphlet is one of Professor Windsor's greatest contributions to the relief of suffering humanity. It contains full instructions in regard to the Philosophy of Diges- tion, the causes of Indigestion and Constipation, the correct bill of fare for Proper Diet for each Temperament, and in- structions for the radical cure of Indigestion and Chronic Con- stipation, without medicine or expense, enabling anyone to regulate the bowels perfectly without the use of poisonous cathartics. PRICE, $1.00. Sold only as a confidential com- munication and upon promise by the purchaser that its in- structions will be confined to the members of the purchaser's own familv. NERVOUSNESS. Its Cause and Cure. How to Banish the Blues. A valuable pamphlet by Professor Windsor, giving direc- tions by which three-fourths of all cases of nervousness may be cured without, medicine. The cure of Insomnia, with valu- able instruction for inducing dreamless sleep. Also, sugges- tions for obtaining rest without sleep when time is limited. Invaluable for overworked business men and nervous women. Price, 50 cents. (5) Great Secrets of Happiness. In 1888 Professor Windsor published the first edition of What was then called his GREAT SEXUAL SECRETS, con- sisting of four small pamphlets, the largest of which con- tained eight pages. They were sold as confidential communi- cations from a teacher to his pupils and were never intended for general sale. The first was a treatise on Pregnancy, con- taining some valuable facts which every prospective wife and mother should know; the second was a brief instruction on the restoration of sexual vigor by hygienic treatment; the third gave valuable sanitary advice designed to prevent the spread of contagious venereal disease; and the fourth and largest of the series was a plain and chaste direction as to the proper method of performing the act of copulation. The sale of these pamphlets was remarkably large, not- withstanding the fact that they were sold at ten dollars apiece for Nos. 3, 4 and 5, and fifteen dollars for No. 1. The entire series was sold for fifty dollars, including a phrenological chart, which was at that time issued for ten dollars. A second and enlarged edition was published in 1891, which has just been exhausted. The great favor with which these works have been received results from their brevity and TRUTHFULNESS. Most writers in treating such subjects would have buried the information beneath a mass of verbiage. There are hun- dreds of books upon the market treating of these subjects, but the reader turns from most of them with a sense of dis- gust because so much has been written and so little has been said. Professor Windsor has had the good judgment and the courage to write the truth. He has realized that the average man wants facts and not arguments on propositions of ques- tionable value. Hundreds of men have remarked, after hear- ing Professor Windsor lecture on these topics, that in some way he had come into possession of a vast amount of truth upon subjects upon which there is general and much to be deplored ignorance. The third edition of these valuable pamphlets is now ready. In view of the fact that since the last edition was published, Professor Windsor has made extraordinary new and startling discoveries, it has been necessary to rewrite the whole series. (6) While all that was valuable in the old editions has been care- fully preserved, yet the pamphlets as now issued are prac- tically new works, entirely rewritten, up to date, and contain about four times as much information as the last edition. For this reason it has been thought best to give the new series a new and more attractive title. Pi-ofessor Windsor's GREAT SECRETS OF HAPPINESS. are now absolutely indispensable to the happiness of every man and woman in the world. In fact it may be safely said that without the information contained in Nos. 1 and 4 it is impossible to be happy in the marriage relation. The informa- tion contained in Nos. 2 and 3 is vitally important to every young man contemplating matrimony, and it is hardly safe for any young woman to entertain the proposition of marriage without the same information, while No. 5 is indispensable to every sane man or woman who wishes to preserve the happi- ness of married life. This pamphlet is a new and valuable addition to the series. The world is full of blasted homes, broken hearts, and wrecked constitutions caused by ignorance of the facts set forth in these pamphlets. The prisons are full of criminals and the insane asylums are crowded, because men and women do not understand the true laws of parentage. Idiots, paupers and cripples on every hand, tell the sad story of parental ignorance. Nor is this the worst side of the question. Thou- sands of good and true men and women are yearly infected with the most loathsome and contagious diseases because the truth is not known in respect to these unhappy subjects. There is a maudlin sentiment extant which deprecates any effort to impart information on these topics. These sickly moralists seem to think that it is a lofty work to protect a community from smallpox white it is a moral obliquity to sug- gest sanitary precautions against, a much more terrible form of disease. Both diseases result from the same cause, un- cleanliness, under but slightly varying conditions. One of the most fearful evils in existence to-day is the presence in every large city and in many smaller ones, of un- scrupulous quacks who pose as physicians and prey upon the morbid sensibilities of uninstructed young men. It is the busi- ness of these human vultures to persuade young men that they arc afflicted with disease when no such condition exists. Nearly every newspaper in the country is filled with the artfully (7) worded advertisements of these unconscionable scoundrels. Professor Windsor has learned byactual professional experience that nearly fifty per cent of the young men he addresses in lectures on these subjects are in some form the victims of this kind of quackery. The crime of abortion is frightfully on the increase, and will continue to disgrace society and the practice of the med- ical profession until greater intelligence prevails. Men will not restrain their passions while the government fosters conditions which inflame and brutalize them. As long as money rules the world, intemperance will abound and women will be sacrificed to prostitution. There is no hope for a better condition of affairs uutil intelligence concerning the proper use of the sexual powers is widely disseminated. With the earnest hope of teaching some men and women the true road to happiness, these pamphlets were first issued, and the last edition is sent forth in the same spirit. Each one of the series is aimed at some great evil in society, and while it condemns the wrong it teaches the right way. Just a word in regard to the price. Under existing condi- tions in society everything is measured in money values. These pamphets are sold at ten dollars each because they are worth it. The law of supply and demand must regulate here as elsewhere. No. 1 contains information which can be turned to practical account by any stock raiser to the extent of hun- dreds of dollars per annum. No. 2 is a godsend to the young men of the country and saves thousands of dollars from the rapacious pockets of the quacks, besides giving peace of mind and happiness to hundreds of young men who have been tor- tured with self-created fears. No. 3 is invaluable to every married man and woman who believes in cleanliness and who wishes to preserve good health and to transmit it unimpaired to offspring. No. 4 is probably the most popular of the series, and gives instruction which has brought happiness into many an otherwise clouded home, prevented hundreds of divorces and cured, without medicines or expense, embarrassments which have baffled the best of physicians and which were re- garded as the results of disease, until this invaluable informa- tion showed that they were simply the fruits of ignorance. No. 5 will teach you how to preserve your domestic happiness after you have obtained it. If you wish to be happy become well informed. Learn the truth and "the truth shall make you free." 8) Great Secrets of Happiness. No. 1. PERFECT OFFSPRING. HOW THEY MAY BE CREATED, AND THE REGULATION OF SEX. »A short treatise on pregnancy, showing the conditions which cause perfection or degeneracy in offspring. How great- ness is transmitted, the law of inheritance from father and mother and the causes which produce idiots, paupers and criminals. The information is condensed into a few pages of short, terse rules which anyone can commit to memory, and when followed the results are sure to hring the greatest hap- piness to prospective parents. This pamphlet teaches the enormity of the crime of abor- tion, and is designed to awaken the public conscience in a matter which is threatening the very life of the nation. It clearly shows that this crime, like all others, grows out of ignorance, and is all the more to be deplored because it is wholly unnecessary- It also gives full instructions for regulating the sex of offspring, enabling parents to produce a son or daughter at will. The same principle can be applied to animals by stock raisers, and full and complete directions are given for the vari- ous classes of animals, together with valuable suggestions in the application of the doctrine of impressions to animals, en- abling stock raisers to produce greater speed in horses, greater productiveness in cows, sheep, poultry, etc.. etc. Parents should place it in the hands of marriageable daughters at least one year before marriage. It makes the procreation of superb offspring a possibility, reducing the number of idiots, paupers, criminals and invalids caused by ignorance of the laws of Nature. It sheds a flood of light on all these questions of such vital importance to women in par- ticular and the i*ace at large. PRICE, TEN DOLLARS. (9) Great Secrets of Happiness. No. 2. MANHOOD RESTORED OR THE CURE OF NERVOUS WEAKNESS WITHOUT* MEDICINES OR EXPENSE. The object of this pamphlet is to place in the hands of every young man who may be suffering from the effects of early indiscretions, or who may have been led to believe that he is diseased when he is not, a simple, clear exposition of the truth. If weakness actually exists, the proper way to treat it is by the hygienic method and not by stimulants or nauseating drugs. This pamphlet contains a clear exposition of the causes and conditions which destroy sexual vigor. It exposes a great many tricks of the quacks, by which they extort money from their victims. It explains the true nature and causes of nerv- ous debility, loss of memory, involuntary losses, etc., and gives simple and plain directions for a cure without medicines or expense. The efficacy of this treatment is attested by hundreds of grateful patients in all parts of the world. It is not only valu- able to the afflicted, but will prove a priceless boon to all men and women of every age and condition. Young men and women suffering from Nervous Prostration, Impotency, Loss of Sleep, Loss of Memory, Depression of Spirits, Varicocele and all kindred difficulties, will find in this instruction the priceless information which will enable them to restore health and become useful members of society and fit candidates for the sacred obligation of matrimony. PRICE, TEN DOLLARS. (10) Great Secrets of Happiness. No. 3. CONNUBIAL CLEANLINESS OR THE CAUSE AND CURE OF VENEREAL DISEASES. The alarming prevalence of the worst forms of venereal diseases is a matter of the greatest concern to society. The awful effects of these diseases are not confined to the un- happy violators of the laws, of nature, but extend "even unto the third and fourth generation" of innocent offspring. Inno- cent men and women are often contaminated because of igno- rance of the conditions of contagion. Diseases of this nature are frequently originated by innocent men and women who are ignorant of the conditions which produce disease. This pamphlet contains clear and simple directions for the production of the highest form of sanitary conditions in the sexual relations. It explains the origin and cause of conta- gious conditions and how to avoid them. It also contains the best and most effective prescriptions for the cure of these forms of disease. The most advanced physicians and scientists now recognize the fact that the most effective treatment for these unhappy conditions consists in strict attention to cleanliness and the renovation of the tissues of the body by hygienic treatment. Drugs and mineral poisons are worse than useless, and the evil effects of mercury, which is so often ignorantly and copi- ously administered, are worse than the original disease. The treatment recommended in this pamphlet contains the most valuable features of the methods employed at the famous Hot Springs of Arkansas, and may be successfully applied at home, without inconvenience or expense. PRICE, TEN DOLLARS. (ID Great Secrets of Happiness. No. 4. HOW TO BE HAPPY. A TREATISE ON THE EMBARRASSMENTS OF WEDLOCK AND THEIR REMOVAL. This pamphlet is Professor Windsor's masterpiece, and has carried more happiness to more persons than any information which has ever flowed from his facile and courageous pen. In this instruction he has considered the act of copulation from a strictly scientific and utilitarian standpoint, and has shown that the reason why so many people are unhappy in the marriage relation is because they are ignorant and unin- structed in the performance of the highest of life's great func- tions. If reproduction is the highest privilege of mankind, as it surely is, then certainly as much attention should be paid to the intelligent study of the act of reproduction as to any sub- ject within the intellectual grasp of mankind. Yet, strange to say, this pamphlet is the only book ever written in which an attempt has been successfully made to explain the scientific conditions underlying the physical details. The instruction herein given is based upon three cardinal propositions, to-wit: 1. That reproduction should only be performed by those who are capable of producing the best possible offspring. 2. That the perfection of offspring is always in exact pro- portion to the pleasure experienced by the parents in produc- ing it. 3. That the act of copulation is designed not only for the reproduction of offspring, but also for the fortification and re- production of the powers of the participants. Following this line of argument, this pamphlet shows: (12) 1. The conditions essential to perfect reproduction. 2. The conditions essential to the highest development of enjoyment. 3. The evils attendant upon excessive, unnatural aud im moral uses of the sexual functions. 4. The benefits derived from the correct use of these pow- ers in the perfection of offspring, the enjoyment of the sexual relations and the development of self-control. 5. The full explanation of Professor Windsor's extraor- dinary doctrine that by the proper employment of the sexual relations every organ of the brain ean he enlarged and strength- ened and all forms of diseases ean be cured. This is the most startling and revolutionary of all his doctrines, but one which is demonstrably true. This pamphlet, perhaps more than any of the scries, con- tains information of priceless rnlue— information absolutely nec- essary to all who would obtain happiness in the marriage re- lation, perfect health of husband and wife, mutual enjoyment and superb offspring. Every young man or woman contem- plating matrimony, all married persons and parents who have the welfare of their children at heart must obtain this knowl- edge. Thousands of homes are blasted annually through sex- ual ignorance; thousands of idiots, paupers, criminals and de- formities are born annually through violation of the laws of nature, expounded in this instruction. Debilitated wives and mothers endure the pains of martyrdom, through ignorance of simple facts now for the first time placed within reach. Whole armies of young men are driven to desperation and many to insanity and suicide through Sexual Diseases resulting from imprudence and ignorance of the consequences of violating Nature's Sexual Laws. PRICE, TEN DOLLARS. i 13) Great Secrets of Happiness. No. 5. THE PRINCIPLES OF HARMONY APPLIED TO THE SELECTION OF SEXUAL CONSORTS. This pamphlet contains a clear exposition of the laws of nature governing the selection of companions for life. It shows what temperaments are adapted to each other, and what are discordant, and the reason why. It explains the great laws of electro-magnetic affinity, the relation of the anatomical temperaments and the laws of chemical affinity as expressed in human organization. It also gives directions for the detection of organic sexual weakness in either sex and the signs of complete manhood and womanhood. It is the de- sign of this pamphlet to instruct every young man and woman in the principles that underlie the conditions of happiness in the marriage relation, so that no mistake will be made in the selection of a companion for life. It shows: 1. How to judge what temperament is suitable to your own. 2. How to test the possibility of love and enjoyment of companionship. 3. How to avoid those who are unfitted for matrimony by disease or organic incompleteness. 4. How to conduct a magnetic courtship. 5. How to preserve the harmonies when they have been secured. 6. Causes and cure of jealousy. 7. The true philosophy of divorce, showing for what rea- sons and how a marriage should be terminated, and the be- havior of the parties after divorce. PRICE, TEN DOLLARS. (14) HOW TO OBTAIN PROFESSOR WINDSOR'S GREAT SECRETS OF HAPPINESS. The confidential nature of the information imparted in these pamphlets, together with the fact that they represent the accumulated experience of a life devoted to the investiga- tion of the subject, which has cost the author thousands of dollars as well as almost incredible labor and self-sacrifice, precludes the possibility of a general and indiscriminate sale. The information is of such a character that it will not be de- manded except by those who are sufficiently advanced to rec- ognize its importance, and the author does not care to place the information in the hands of those who will abuse it. Those who earnestly desire the advancement, of the human race and themselves, will be willing to comply with the condi- tions of sale, which are as follows: Carefully copy the following obligation of non-disclosure, sign it and forward, with the price of the pamphlet desired, to the Windsor & Lewis Publishing Co., 406 Maria avenue, St. Paul, Minn. Do not cut or mutilate this page. ,18. In consideration of receiving Professor Windsor's Great Secrets of Happiness, I hereby promise not to reveal the same to any person, under any circumstances, except as hereinafter stated, but to keep the said pamphlets for my own personal use, free from the observation of others. This pledge, however, permits a husband or wife to reveal the said information to the consort, aud permits parents to instruct their children, in all cases, however, previously ex- acting a promise from the person so instructed to observe the same pledge. It does not extend to brothers, sisters or other relatives, or to business partners, or to any person not spe- cifically allowed as above. Signed, On receipt of the above pledge, properly signed with your name and address, and the price of the pamphlets ordered they will be sent to you in a plain envelope, securely sealed from observation. Be sure you designate the pamphlets you desire. both by number and title, so there will be no mistake in filling your order. (15) THE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (Incorporated 1897.) BOARD OP DIRECTORS, WILLIAM WINDSOR, LL. B., PH. D.; T. H LEWIS. WM. H. GROSS. FACULTY. WILLIAM WINDSOR, LL. B., PH. D., President, Professor of Phrenology, Anthropology. Hypnotism and Social Science. T. H. LEWIS, Vice President, Professor of Archaeology, Ethnology and Natural History. L. W. ROBERTS, Professor of Astrology. FRANK J. JUNGEN, Professor of Phrenology, Hygiene and Dietetics. ALFRED B. WESTRUP. Professor of Political Economy. M. M. BURNHAM, Secretary. BUSINESS MANAGERS, THE WINDSOR & LEWIS PUBLISHING CO., 406 Maria Ave., St. Paul, Minn. This college is incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota, for the purpose of conducting courses of instruction under competent, teachers in all branches of science, by new and improved methods, especially by courses of lectures delivered at the college by the best talent obtainable, and also by special courses of lectures and instruction delivered in all parts of the United States by missionaries sent out by the college for the purpose. With this college as a center, it is proposed to inaugurate a complete system of instruction, which shall extend al over the world, by the organization of asso- ciations, classes and special courses of lectures, arranged to cover the most desirable forms of instruction upon topics of the greatest value. Correspondence courses of instruction in such branches as admit of the method will be inaugurated, by means of which persons in any part of the world may obtain the instruction of masters of the various subjects at minimum cost. Degrees, emoluments and certificates of merit are con- ferred in recognition of work actually accomplished by students. For further particulars address the business managers, THE WINDSOR & LEWIS PUBLISHING CO., 406 Maria Ave., St. Paul. Minn. (16) Forms and Prices of Phrenological Ex= aminations, Charts and Phrenographs Given by Professor Windsor. i. An Oral Examination consists of a careful measurement and estimate of the mental and physical powers of the appli- cant, by the examiner, who will explain: 1. The Physical Condition and General State of Health. 2. The Mental Development and Peculiarities of Char- acter. 3. Suggestions as to Faults and how to correct them, Talents and how to improve them. 4. The Best Business, Profession or Vocation to which the applicant is adapted, also suggestions of desirable studies to be pursued. In the case of children, this form also includes advice as to Culture (Physical and Mental), and the best methods to be pursued in government and discipline. This form is wholly verbal and does not include any written memoranda. Price, Two Dollars and Fifty Cents. II. A Business Chart is a written statement upon a form prepared for the purpose, giving all the above information in such form as can be preserved for future reference. It also contains an estimate of the Temperament and Organic Quality and such notes and explanations of technical terms as will enable the applicant to understand it thoroughly when prop- erly studied. The Business Chart includes— 1. A statement of the characteristics of the applicant, his Faults and Virtues. 2. A memoranda of his Best Business. Profession or Vo- cation. 3. A memoranda of Studies Recommended. 4. Rules for the development of all the Phrenological Or- gans of the Brain and for the Preservation of Health, care- fully marked with reference to the culture desirable for the person examined. Price, Five Dollars. (17) III. The Complete Phrenological Chart and Written De- lineation of Character, contains: 1. A careful estimate of the Physiological Condition, Tem- perament, Organic Quality and Phrenological Development of the applicant. 2. An analysis of his Business Capacity and Adaptability, with full directions for the choice of a Trade, Profession or Occupation. 3. A complete Physiological and Phrenological Description of the person adapted to the applicant for Matrimony or Busi- ness Partnership. 4. Memoranda of Desirable Studies and Branches of Edu- cation. 5. A complete Digest of Rules for the development of all the Phrenological Organs of the Brain, and Preservation of Health, carefully marked with reference to the Culture desir- able for the applicant. Price, Ten Dollars. This is a very desirable form of Examination and is de- signed to convey all the necessary information. This was the most complete chart given previous to the invention of the Phrenometer. The foregoing forms are estimative. That is to say, the statements contained in each are the conclusions drawn from the estimates made by the skillful examiner, whose long prac- tice enables him to tell with great accuracy, the essential ele- ments of the character from the inspection of the head. A strictly scientific and mathematically exact result may be ob- tained, however, by the use of the Phrenometer, an instru- ment invented and patented by Professor Windsor. By the use of this instrument, the exact dimensions of the head are shown upon charts prepared for the purpose, in five sections. The results attained by this method are extremely satisfactory. The exact development of the head in all its parts is shown, enabling the examiner to perform his work with mathematical accuracy and revealing for the first time to the applicant the true form of his head. The strong and weak developments are shown with such fidelity to nature as to make a great impres- sion upon the person examined. If the head is handsome in outline and well developed, it is one of the most powerful in- centives to ambition and culture to see it, as displayed on the (18) Phrettometer charts. If there is any weakness or deformity the Phrenologist immediately suggests the remedy, and teaches how to overcome it. The measurements can be pre- served and compared with those taken at later dates, show- ing exactly how much has been accomplished in the Interval by way of culture, and in just whal direction the character is developing. IV. A Complete Phrenological Chart and Written De- lineation of Character, with Phrenometer Measure- ments, includes all the information given under the third form, with the addition of the Phrenometer measurements and full explanations in an attractive form to be preserved for future reference. Price. Fifteen Dollars. V. A Phrenograph is a written statement of special advice, written out at length by the examiner, or copied on the type- writer. A Threnograph usually consists of about one thousand words, which may be extended to such, length as the exigencies of the case require. The charges for Phreuographs are in all cases regulated by the nature of the case, the value of the information imparted and the number of words required to convey the meaning of the examiner. The usual charges range from FIVE to TEN DOLLARS. It is desirable that everyone who can afford to do so should take a Complete Phrenological Chart and Written De- lineation of Character with Phrenometer Measure- ments, and a Phrenograph relating at least to the subjects of Health, Character, Adaptation in Business and Matrimony, all of which usually cost Twenty-five Dollars. This enables the examiner to discuss every subject for the applicant which is of the highest importance. The examination and Phreuo- graphs. however, can be indefinitely extended to the profit of the applicant, for it is practically impossible to exhaust the subject. The Best Time to be Examined is right now. Every day that you postpone your examination you are losing the bene- (19) fits which Phrenology confers. Mr. W. A. Harris of Fort Worth, Texas, examined by Professor Windsor in 1890, re- ported two hundred dollars profit in two days, and many sim- ilar cases could be mentioned. The Best Age at which to be Examined is as early as possible. Parents, do not wait until your children develop be- fore having them examined, but bring them to the Phrenologist and learn how to develop them. The younger the child, the greater the benefits of an ex- amination. Remember that the Phrenological Examination is purely educational, and the earlier its suggestions are applied the better DISCOUNTS TO CLUBS. The following table shows the discounts made to clubs of five or more persons. To obain these prices, in all cases the list of names must be made up and money paid in advance to the examiner. Members of clubs may then take their examina- tions at their convenience. Single Club of Club of Club of Examination. Fire. Ten. Twenty- Oral Examination $2.50 $2.00 $2.00 $1.50 Business Chart 5.00 4.00 3.50 3.00 Complete Phren. Chart and Written Delineation of Char- acter 10.00 8.00 7.50 7.00 Complete Phren. Chart and Written Delineation of Char- acter, with Phrenometer Measurements 15.00 12.50 11.00 10.00 E^All correspondence upon the subject of Phrenological Examinations should be addressed to PROF. WM. WINDSOR, LL. B., Ph. D., Care Windsor & Lewis Publishing Co., 406 Maria Ave, St. Paul, Minn. Marked "Personal." (20) EXAMINATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS. Phrenological examinations can be made from photographs with accuracy, provided the photograph is a correct likeness, and some additional information can be supplied. Owing to obvious difficulties, absolute correctness cannot be guaranteed, but the results are sufficiently valuable to justify the expedient wherever it is impossible to submit the living head. To obtain satisfactory 'results the photograph should bo cabinet size, and should show the form of the head and face as plainly as possible. Very little can be told from a photo- graph when a hat is worn, or when the personality is covered with millinery, wigs, bangs, uniforms, etc. etc. A plaiu photograph, showing a three-quarter view of the face, is best. Front views and profiles are valuable for some points and worthless for others. When it is possible, a three- quarter view, front and profile may all be submitted with good results. The forms of examinations and charts from photographs and prices charged for the service are the same as for the liv- ing subject, except that the Phrenometer measurements can- not be given from a photograph, and an oral examination can- not be given by mail. Forms II and III and Phrenographs are entirely practicable and very valuabe. Opinions on the Adapation in Business. Partnership or Matrimony are given at the following rates: Short opinion, two dollars; elaborate opinion, ten dollars. (This gives all minute points requiring usually one thousand words.) In all cases submit photos of both candidates. Persons who have already been examined by me and who hold certificates for Forms II, III or IV, may have opinions on Business Partnership or Matrimony at one dollar for short opinion, and five dollars for the elaborate form, (21) INFORMATION REQUIRED. Take the following measure- ments of the head: Pass a tape measure around the circumfer- ence of the base of the brain, passing just above the eyebrows and just above the ears. This is called the basilar circumference. Also measure the distance from the bottom of the orifice of one ear to the corresponding point of the other, over the top of the head at the highest point. This is called the trans-coronal measurement. Then copy and fill out the following blank, and submit with the photograph: c^Do not cut or mutilate this page. Name of original of photo Address Age Weight Height Sex Color of hair Color of eyes Basilar circumference of head inches. Trans-coronal measui'ement inches. Circumference of chest, lungs empty inches. Circumference of chest, lungs filled inches. Condition of health Amount of education received. Present occupation Information 'most especially desired. Number of photographs enclosed To be returned to (Write return address plainly.) Form of examination requested Fee enclosed, $ Stamps enclosed for return When all the above points can be stated it is desirable that it should be done. When it is impossible to do so, the blanks may be filled out in part, and I will in all cases do the best that can be done with information at hand. Address all corre- spondence on this subject to s^ ,.