按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bodh of the dark ages； and now only serve for the amusement of infants。
When we know the elements out of which our bodies are composed；
elements in common to the humblest vegetable plants； can it signify
whether the All…Wise combined those elements out of one form more than
another； in order to create that in which He has placed the capacity to
receive the idea of Himself； and all the varied grandeurs of intellect to
which that idea gives birth？ The An in reality commenced to exist as An
with the donation of that capacity； and； with that capacity； the sense to
acknowledge that； however through the countless ages his race may
improve in wisdom； it can never combine the elements at its command
into the form of a tadpole。〃
〃You speak well； Zee；〃 said Aph…Lin； 〃and it is enough for us
shortlived mortals to feel a reasonable assurance that whether the origin of
72
… Page 73…
The Coming Race
the An was a tadpole or not； he is no more likely to become a tadpole
again than the institutions of the Vril…ya are likely to relapse into the
heaving quagmire and certain strife…rot of a Koom…Posh。〃
73
… Page 74…
The Coming Race
CHAPTER XVII。
The Vril…ya； being excluded from all sight of the heavenly bodies；
and having no other difference between night and day than that which they
deem it convenient to make for themselves；… do not； of course； arrive at
their divisions of time by the same process that we do； but I found it easy
by the aid of my watch； which I luckily had about me； to compute their
time with great nicety。 I reserve for a future work on the science and
literature of the Vril…ya； should I live to complete it； all details as to the
manner in which they arrive at their rotation of time； and content myself
here with saying； that in point of duration； their year differs very
slightly from ours； but that the divisions of their year are by no means
the same。 Their day； （including what we call night） consists of twenty
hours of our time； instead of twenty…four； and of course their year
comprises the correspondent increase in the number of days by which it
is summed up。 They subdivide the twenty hours of their day thus…
eight hours；* called the 〃Silent Hours；〃 for repose； eight hours； called
the 〃Earnest Time；〃 for the pursuits and occupations of life； and four
hours called the 〃Easy Time〃 （with which what I may term their day
closes）； allotted to festivities； sport； recreation； or family converse；
according to their several tastes and inclinations。
* For the sake of convenience； I adopt the word hours； days； years； &c。；
in any general reference to subdivisions of time among the Vril…ya； those
terms but loosely corresponding； however； with such subdivisions。
But； in truth； out of doors there is no night。 They maintain； both in
the streets and in the surrounding country； to the limits of their territory；
the same degree of light at all hours。 Only； within doors； they lower it to
a soft twilight during the Silent Hours。 They have a great horror of
perfect 81darkness； and their lights are never wholly extinguished。 On
occasions of festivity they continue the duration of full light； but equally
keep note of the distinction between night and day； by mechanical
contrivances which answer the purpose of our clocks and watches。 They
are very fond of music； and it is by music that these chronometers strike
the principal division of time。 At every one of their hours； during their
74
… Page 75…
The Coming Race
day； the sounds coming from all the time…pieces in their public buildings；
and caught up； as it were； by those of houses or hamlets scattered amidst
the landscapes without the city； have an effect singularly sweet； and yet
singularly solemn。 But during the Silent Hours these sounds are so
subdued as to be only faintly heard by a waking ear。 They have no
change of seasons； and； at least on the territory of this tribe； the
atmosphere seemed to me very equable； warm as that of an Italian summer；
and humid rather than dry； in the forenoon usually very still； but at times
invaded by strong blasts from the rocks that made the borders of their
domain。 But time is the same to them for sowing or reaping as in the
Golden Isles of the ancient poets。 At the same moment you see the
younger plants in blade or bud； the older in ear or fruit。 All fruit…bearing
plants； however； after fruitage； either shed or change the colour of their
leaves。 But that which interested me most in reckoning up their divisions
of time was the ascertainment of the average duration of life amongst them。
I found on minute inquiry that this very considerably exceeded the term
allotted to us on the upper earth。 What seventy years are to us； one
hundred years are to them。 Nor is this the only advantage they have over
us in longevity； for as few among us attain to the age of seventy； so； on the
contrary； few among them die before the age of one hundred； and they
enjoy a general degree of health and vigour which makes life itself a
blessing even to the last。 Various causes contribute to this result： the
absence of all alcoholic stimulants； temperance in 82food； more especially；
perhaps； a serenity of mind undisturbed by anxious occupations and eager
passions。 They are not tormented by our avarice or our ambition； they
appear perfectly indifferent even to the desire of fame； they are capable of
great affection； but their love shows itself in a tender and cheerful
complaisance； and； while forming their happiness； seems rarely； if ever； to
constitute their woe。 As the Gy is sure only to marry where she herself
fixes her choice； and as here； not less than above ground； it is the female
on whom the happiness of home depends； so the Gy； having chosen the
mate she prefers to all others； is lenient to his faults； consults his humours；
and does her best to secure his attachment。 The death of a beloved one is
of course with them； as with us； a cause for sorrow； but not only is death
75
… Page 76…
The Coming Race
with them so much more rare before that age in which it becomes a release；
but when it does occur the survivor takes much more consolation than； I
am afraid； the generality of us do； in the certainty of reunion in another
and yet happier life。
All these causes； then； concur to their healthful and enjoyable
longevity； though； no doubt； much also must be owing to hereditary
organisation。 According to their records； however； in those earlier stages
of their society when they lived in communities resembling ours； agitated
by fierce competition； their lives were considerably shorter； and their
maladies more numerous and grave。 They themselves say that the
duration of life； too； has increased； and is still on the increase； since their
discovery of the invigorating and medicinal properties of vril； applied for
remedial purposes。 They have few professional and regular practitioners
of medicine； and these are chiefly Gy…ei； who； especially if widowed and
childless； find great delight in the healing art； and even undertake surgical
operations in those cases required by accident； or； more rarely； by disease。
They have their diversions and entertainments； and； during the Easy
Time of their day； they are wont to assemble in great numbers for those
winged sports in