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which the various operations of national intellect were carried on； from the
first education of an infant to the departments in which the College of
Sages were perpetually trying new experiments in mechanical science； all
these involved the necessity for considerable state funds。 To these I must
add an item that struck me as very singular。 I have said that all the
human labour required by the state is carried on by children up to the
marriageable age。 For this labour the state pays； and at a rate
immeasurably higher than our own remuneration to labour even in the
United States。 According to their theory； every child； male or female； on
attaining the marriageable age； and there terminating the period of labour；
should have acquired enough for an independent competence during life。
As； no matter what the disparity of fortune in the parents； all the children
must equally serve； so all are equally paid according to their several ages
or the nature of their work。 Where the parents or friends choose to retain
a child in their own service； they must pay into the public fund in the same
ratio as the state pays to the children it employs； and this sum is handed
over to the child when the period of service expires。 This practice serves；
no doubt； to render the notion of social equality familiar and agreeable；
and if it may be said that all the children form a democracy； no less truly it
may be said that all the adults form an aristocracy。 The exquisite
politeness and refinement of manners among the Vril…ya； the generosity of
their sentiments； the absolute leisure they enjoy for following out their
own private pursuits； the amenities of their domestic intercourse； in which
they seem as members of one noble order that can have no distrust of each
other's word or deed； all combine to make the Vril…ya the most perfect
nobility which a political disciple of Plato or Sidney could conceive for
the ideal of an aristocratic republic。 102
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CHAPTER XX。
From the date of the expedition with Taee which I have just narrated；
the child paid me frequent visits。 He had taken a liking to me； which I
cordially returned。 Indeed； as he was not yet twelve years old； and had
not commenced the course of scientific studies with which childhood
closes in that country； my intellect was less inferior to his than to that of
the elder members of his race； especially of the Gy…ei； and most especially
of the accomplished Zee。 The children of the Vril…ya； having upon their
minds the weight of so many active duties and grave responsibilities； are
not generally mirthful； but Taee； with all his wisdom； had much of the
playful good…humour one often finds the characteristic of elderly men of
genius。 He felt that sort of pleasure in my society which a boy of a
similar age in the upper world has in the company of a pet dog or monkey。
It amused him to try and teach me the ways of his people； as it amuses a
nephew of mine to make his poodle walk on his hind legs or jump through
a hoop。 I willingly lent myself to such experiments； but I never achieved
the success of the poodle。 I was very much interested at first in the
attempt to ply the wings which the youngest of the Vril…ya use as nimbly
and easily as ours do their legs and arms； but my efforts were attended
with contusions serious enough to make me abandon them in despair。
These wings； as I before said； are very large； reaching to the knee； and
in repose thrown back so as to form a very graceful mantle。 They are
composed from the feathers of a gigantic bird that abounds in the rocky
heights of the country… the colour mostly white； but sometimes with
reddish streaks。 They are fastened round the shoulders with light but
strong springs of steel； and； when expanded； the arms slide through loops
for that purpose； forming； as it were； a stout central membrane。 As the
arms are raised； a tubular lining beneath the vest or 103tunic becomes； by
mechanical contrivance inflated with air； increased or diminished at will
by the movement of the arms； and serving to buoy the whole form as on
bladders。 The wings and the balloon…like apparatus are highly charged
with vril； and when the body is thus wafted upward； it seems to become
singularly lightened of its weight。 I found it easy enough to soar from
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the ground； indeed； when the wings were spread it was scarcely possible
not to soar； but then came the difficulty and the danger。 I utterly failed in
the power to use and direct the pinions； though I am considered among my
own race unusually alert and ready in bodily exercises； and am a very
practiced swimmer。 I could only make the most confused and blundering
efforts at flight。 I was the servant of the wings； the wings were not my
servants… they were beyond my control； and when by a violent strain of
muscle； and； I must fairly own； in that abnormal strength which is given
by excessive fright； I curbed their gyrations and brought them near to the
body； it seemed as if I lost the sustaining power stored in them and the
connecting bladders； as when the air is let out of a balloon； and found
myself precipitated again to the earth； saved； indeed； by some spasmodic
flutterings； from being dashed to pieces； but not saved from the bruises
and the stun of a heavy fall。 I would； however； have persevered in my
attempts； but for the advice or the commands of the scientific Zee； who
had benevolently accompanied my flutterings； and； indeed； on the last
occasion； flying just under me； received my form as it fell on her own
expanded wings； and preserved me from breaking my head on the roof of
the pyramid from which we had ascended。
〃I see；〃 she said； 〃that your trials are in vain； not from the fault of the
wings and their appurtenances； nor from any imperfectness and
malformation of your own corpuscular system； but from irremediable；
because organic； defect in your power of volition。 Learn that the
connection between the will and the agencies of that fluid which has been
subjected to the control 104of the Vril…ya was never established by the
first discoverers； never achieved by a single generation； it has gone on
increasing； like other properties of race； in proportion as it has been
uniformly transmitted from parent to child； so that； at last； it has become
an instinct； and an infant An of our race wills to fly as intuitively and
unconsciously as he wills to walk。 He thus plies his invented or artificial
wings with as much safety as a bird plies those with which it is born。 I
did not think sufficiently of this when I allowed you to try an experiment
which allured me； for I have longed to have in you a companion。 I shall
abandon the experiment now。 Your life is becoming dear to me。〃
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Herewith the Gy's voice and face softened； and I felt more seriously
alarmed than I had been in my previous flights。
Now that I am on the subject of wings； I ought not to omit mention of
a custom among the Gy…ei which seems to me very pretty and tender in the
sentiment it implies。 A Gy wears wings habitually when yet a virgin… she
joins the Ana in their aerial sports… she adventures alone and afar into the
wilder regions of the sunless world： in the boldness and height of her
soarings； not less than in the grace of her movements； she excels the
opposite sex。 But； from the day of her marriage she wears