Herland

by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Published: 1915 Categorie(s): Fiction, Humorous, Political, rotica !bout Gilman: Charlotte Perkins Gilman ("uly #, 1$%& ' !ugust 1(, 19#5) )as a *rominent !merican sociologist, no+elist, )riter o, short stories, *oetry, and non ,iction, and a lecturer ,or social re,orm.he )as a uto*ian ,eminist during a time )hen her accom*lishments )ere e/ce*tional ,or )omen, and she ser+ed as a role model ,or ,uture generations o, ,eminists because o, her unorthodo/ conce*ts and li,estyle- Her best remembered )ork today is her semi0autobiogra*hical short story, 12he 3ello) 4all*a*er5, )hich she )rote a,ter a se+ere bout o, *ost0*artum de*ression-

Herland
Chapter 1 A Not Unnatural Enterprise 2his is )ritten ,rom memory, un,ortunately- 6, 6 could ha+e brought )ith me the material 6 so care,ully *re*ared, this )ould be a +ery di,,erent story- 4hole books ,ull o, notes, care,ully co*ied records, ,irsthand descri*tions, and the *ictures7that8s the )orst loss- 4e had some bird8s0eyes o, the cities and *arks9 a lot o, lo+ely +ie)s o, streets, o, buildings, outside and in, and some o, those gorgeous gardens, and, most im*ortant o, all, o, the )omen themsel+es:obody )ill e+er belie+e ho) they looked- ;escri*tions aren8t any good )hen it comes to )omen, and 6 ne+er )as good at descri*tions anyho)- <ut it8s got to be done someho)9 the rest o, the )orld needs to kno) about that country6 ha+en8t said )here it )as ,or ,ear some sel,0a**ointed missionaries, or traders, or land0greedy e/*ansionists, )ill take it u*on themsel+es to *ush in- 2hey )ill not be )anted, 6 can tell them that, and )ill ,are )orse than )e did i, they do ,ind it6t began this )ay- 2here )ere three o, us, classmates and ,riends72erry =- :icholson ()e used to call him the =ld :ick, )ith good reason), "e,, >argra+e, and 6, ?andyck "ennings4e had kno)n each other years and years, and in s*ite o, our di,,erences )e had a good deal in common- !ll o, us )ere interested in science2erry )as rich enough to do as he *leased- His great aim )as e/*loration- He used to make all kinds o, a ro) because there )as nothing le,t to e/*lore no), only *atch)ork and ,illing in, he saidHe ,illed in )ell enough7he had a lot o, talents7great on mechanics and electricity- Had all kinds o, boats and motorcars, and )as one o, the best o, our airmen4e ne+er could ha+e done the thing at all )ithout 2erry"e,, >argra+e )as born to be a *oet, a botanist7or both7but his ,olks *ersuaded him to be a doctor instead- He )as a good one, ,or his age, but his real interest )as in )hat he lo+ed to call 1the )onders o, science-5 !s ,or me, sociology8s my ma@or- 3ou ha+e to back that u* )ith a lot o, other sciences, o, course- 68m interested in them all-

2erry )as strong on ,acts7geogra*hy and meteorology and those9 "e,, could beat him any time on biology, and 6 didn8t care )hat it )as they talked about, so long as it connected )ith human li,e, someho)- 2here are ,e) things that don8t4e three had a chance to @oin a big scienti,ic e/*edition- 2hey needed a doctor, and that ga+e "e,, an e/cuse ,or dro**ing his @ust o*ening *ractice9 they needed 2erry8s e/*erience, his machine, and his money9 and as ,or me, 6 got in through 2erry8s in,luence2he e/*edition )as u* among the thousand tributaries and enormous hinterland o, a great ri+er, u* )here the ma*s had to be made, sa+age dialects studied, and all manner o, strange ,lora and ,auna e/*ected<ut this story is not about that e/*edition- 2hat )as only the merest starter ,or ours>y interest )as ,irst roused by talk among our guides- 68m Auick at languages, kno) a good many, and *ick them u* readily- 4hat )ith that and a really good inter*reter )e took )ith us, 6 made out Auite a ,e) legends and ,olk myths o, these scattered tribes!nd as )e got ,arther and ,arther u*stream, in a dark tangle o, ri+ers, lakes, morasses, and dense ,orests, )ith here and there an une/*ected long s*ur running out ,rom the big mountains beyond, 6 noticed that more and more o, these sa+ages had a story about a strange and terrible 4oman Band in the high distance1C* yonder,5 1=+er there,5 14ay u*57)as all the direction they could o,,er, but their legends all agreed on the main *oint7that there )as this strange country )here no men li+ed7only )omen and girl children:one o, them had e+er seen it- 6t )as dangerous, deadly, they said, ,or any man to go there- <ut there )ere tales o, long ago, )hen some bra+e in+estigator had seen it7a <ig Country, <ig Houses, Plenty Peo*le7!ll 4omenHad no one else goneD 3es7a good many7but they ne+er came back- 6t )as no *lace ,or men 7o, that they seemed sure6 told the boys about these stories, and they laughed at them- :aturally 6 did mysel,- 6 kne) the stu,, that sa+age dreams are made o,<ut )hen )e had reached our ,arthest *oint, @ust the day be,ore )e all had to turn around and start ,or home again, as the best o, e/*editions must in time, )e three made a disco+ery2he main encam*ment )as on a s*it o, land running out into the main stream, or )hat )e thought )as the main stream- 6t had the same muddy color )e had been seeing ,or )eeks *ast, the same taste6 ha**ened to s*eak o, that ri+er to our last guide, a rather su*erior ,ello) )ith Auick, bright eyesHe told me that there )as another ri+er71o+er there, short ri+er, s)eet )ater, red and blue-5 6 )as interested in this and an/ious to see i, 6 had understood, so 6 sho)ed him a red and blue *encil 6 carried, and asked again3es, he *ointed to the ri+er, and then to the south)est)ard- 1Ei+er7good )ater7red and blue-5 2erry )as close by and interested in the ,ello)8s *ointing14hat does he say, ?anD5 6 told him2erry blaFed u* at once1!sk him ho) ,ar it is-5 2he man indicated a short @ourney9 6 @udged about t)o hours, maybe three1Bet8s go,5 urged 2erry- 1"ust us three- >aybe )e can really ,ind something- >ay be cinnabar in it-5 1>ay be indigo,5 "e,, suggested, )ith his laFy smile6t )as early yet9 )e had @ust break,asted9 and lea+ing )ord that )e8d be back be,ore night, )e got a)ay Auietly, not )ishing to be thought too gullible i, )e ,ailed, and secretly ho*ing to ha+e some nice little disco+ery all to oursel+es6t )as a long t)o hours, nearer three- 6 ,ancy the sa+age could ha+e done it alone much Auicker2here )as a des*erate tangle o, )ood and )ater and a s)am*y *atch )e ne+er should ha+e ,ound

our )ay across alone- <ut there )as one, and 6 could see 2erry, )ith com*ass and notebook, marking directions and trying to *lace landmarks4e came a,ter a )hile to a sort o, marshy lake, +ery big, so that the circling ,orest looked Auite lo) and dim across it- =ur guide told us that boats could go ,rom there to our cam*7but 1long )ay 7all day-5 2his )ater )as some)hat clearer than that )e had le,t, but )e could not @udge )ell ,rom the margin- 4e skirted it ,or another hal, hour or so, the ground gro)ing ,irmer as )e ad+anced, and *resently )e turned the corner o, a )ooded *romontory and sa) a Auite di,,erent country7a sudden +ie) o, mountains, stee* and bare1=ne o, those long easterly s*urs,5 2erry said a**raisingly- 1>ay be hundreds o, miles ,rom the range- 2hey cro* out like that-5 .uddenly )e le,t the lake and struck directly to)ard the cli,,s- 4e heard running )ater be,ore )e reached it, and the guide *ointed *roudly to his ri+er6t )as short- 4e could see )here it *oured do)n a narro) +ertical cataract ,rom an o*ening in the ,ace o, the cli,,- 6t )as s)eet )ater- 2he guide drank eagerly and so did )e12hat8s sno) )ater,5 2erry announced- 1>ust come ,rom )ay back in the hills-5 <ut as to being red and blue7it )as greenish in tint- 2he guide seemed not at all sur*rised- He hunted about a little and sho)ed us a Auiet marginal *ool )here there )ere smears o, red along the border9 yes, and o, blue2erry got out his magni,ying glass and sAuatted do)n to in+estigate1Chemicals o, some sort76 can8t tell on the s*ot- Book to me like dyestu,,s- Bet8s get nearer,5 he urged, 1u* there by the ,all-5 4e scrambled along the stee* banks and got close to the *ool that ,oamed and boiled beneath the ,alling )ater- Here )e searched the border and ,ound traces o, color beyond dis*ute- >ore7 "e,, suddenly held u* an unlooked0,or tro*hy6t )as only a rag, a long, ra+eled ,ragment o, cloth- <ut it )as a )ell0)o+en ,abric, )ith a *attern, and o, a clear scarlet that the )ater had not ,aded- :o sa+age tribe that )e had heard o, made such ,abrics2he guide stood serenely on the bank, )ell *leased )ith our e/citement1=ne day blue7one day red7one day green,5 he told us, and *ulled ,rom his *ouch another stri* o, bright0hued cloth1Come do)n,5 he said, *ointing to the cataract- 14oman Country7u* there-5 2hen )e )ere interested- 4e had our rest and lunch right there and *um*ed the man ,or ,urther in,ormation- He could tell us only )hat the others had7a land o, )omen7no men7babies, but all girls- :o *lace ,or men7dangerous- .ome had gone to see7none had come back6 could see 2erry8s @a) set at that- :o *lace ,or menD ;angerousD He looked as i, he might shin u* the )ater,all on the s*ot- <ut the guide )ould not hear o, going u*, e+en i, there had been any *ossible method o, scaling that sheer cli,,, and )e had to get back to our *arty be,ore night12hey might stay i, )e told them,5 6 suggested<ut 2erry sto**ed in his tracks- 1Book here, ,ello)s,5 he said- 12his is our ,ind- Bet8s not tell those cocky old *ro,essors- Bet8s go on home )ith 8em, and then come back7@ust us7ha+e a little e/*edition o, our o)n-5 4e looked at him, much im*ressed- 2here )as something attracti+e to a bunch o, unattached young men in ,inding an undisco+ered country o, a strictly !maFonian nature=, course )e didn8t belie+e the story7but yetG 12here is no such cloth made by any o, these local tribes,5 6 announced, e/amining those rags )ith great care- 1.ome)here u* yonder they s*in and )ea+e and dye7as )ell as )e do-5 12hat )ould mean a considerable ci+iliFation, ?an- 2here couldn8t be such a *lace7and not kno)n about-5 1=h, )ell, 6 don8t kno)- 4hat8s that old re*ublic u* in the Pyrenees some)here7!ndorraD Precious ,e) *eo*le kno) anything about that, and it8s been minding its o)n business ,or a thousand years- 2hen there8s >ontenegro7s*lendid little state7you could lose a doFen

>ontenegroes u* and do)n these great ranges-5 4e discussed it hotly all the )ay back to cam*- 4e discussed it )ith care and *ri+acy on the +oyage home- 4e discussed it a,ter that, still only among oursel+es, )hile 2erry )as making his arrangementsHe )as hot about it- Bucky he had so much money7)e might ha+e had to beg and ad+ertise ,or years to start the thing, and then it )ould ha+e been a matter o, *ublic amusement7@ust s*ort ,or the *a*ers<ut 2- =- :icholson could ,i/ u* his big steam yacht, load his s*ecially0made big motorboat aboard, and tuck in a 1dissembled5 bi*lane )ithout any more notice than a sni* in the society column4e had *ro+isions and *re+enti+es and all manner o, su**lies- His *re+ious e/*erience stood him in good stead there- 6t )as a +ery com*lete little out,it4e )ere to lea+e the yacht at the nearest sa,e *ort and go u* that endless ri+er in our motorboat, @ust the three o, us and a *ilot9 then dro* the *ilot )hen )e got to that last sto**ing *lace o, the *re+ious *arty, and hunt u* that clear )ater stream oursel+es2he motorboat )e )ere going to lea+e at anchor in that )ide shallo) lake- 6t had a s*ecial co+ering o, ,itted armor, thin but strong, shut u* like a clamshell12hose nati+es can8t get into it, or hurt it, or mo+e it,5 2erry e/*lained *roudly- 14e8ll start our ,lier ,rom the lake and lea+e the boat as a base to come back to-5 16, )e come back,5 6 suggested cheer,ully18Fraid the ladies )ill eat youD5 he sco,,ed14e8re not so sure about those ladies, you kno),5 dra)led "e,,- 12here may be a contingent o, gentlemen )ith *oisoned arro)s or something-5 13ou don8t need to go i, you don8t )ant to,5 2erry remarked drily1GoD 3ou8ll ha+e to get an in@unction to sto* meG5 <oth "e,, and 6 )ere sure about that<ut )e did ha+e di,,erences o, o*inion, all the long )ay!n ocean +oyage is an e/cellent time ,or discussion- :o) )e had no ea+esdro**ers, )e could loll and loa, in our deck chairs and talk and talk7there )as nothing else to do- =ur absolute lack o, ,acts only made the ,ield o, discussion )ider14e8ll lea+e *a*ers )ith our consul )here the yacht stays,5 2erry *lanned- 16, )e don8t come back in7say a month7they can send a relie, *arty a,ter us-5 1! *uniti+e e/*edition,5 6 urged- 16, the ladies do eat us )e must make re*risals-5 12hey can locate that last sto**ing *lace easy enough, and 68+e made a sort o, chart o, that lake and cli,, and )ater,all-5 13es, but ho) )ill they get u*D5 asked "e,,1.ame )ay )e do, o, course- 6, three +aluable !merican citiFens are lost u* there, they )ill ,ollo) someho)7to say nothing o, the glittering attractions o, that ,air land7let8s call it 8Feminisia,85 he broke o,,13ou8re right, 2erry- =nce the story gets out, the ri+er )ill cra)l )ith e/*editions and the airshi*s rise like a s)arm o, mosAuitoes-5 6 laughed as 6 thought o, it- 14e8+e made a great mistake not to let >r- 3ello) Press in on this- .a+e usG 4hat headlinesG5 1:ot muchG5 said 2erry grimly- 12his is our *arty- 4e8re going to ,ind that *lace alone-5 14hat are you going to do )ith it )hen you do ,ind it7i, you doD5 "e,, asked mildly"e,, )as a tender soul- 6 think he thought that country7i, there )as one7)as @ust blossoming )ith roses and babies and canaries and tidies, and all that sort o, thing!nd 2erry, in his secret heart, had +isions o, a sort o, sublimated summer resort7@ust Girls and Girls and Girls7and that he )as going to be7)ell, 2erry )as *o*ular among )omen e+en )hen there )ere other men around, and it8s not to be )ondered at that he had *leasant dreams o, )hat might ha**en- 6 could see it in his eyes as he lay there, looking at the long blue rollers sli**ing by, and ,ingering that im*ressi+e mustache o, his<ut 6 thought7then7that 6 could ,orm a ,ar clearer idea o, )hat )as be,ore us than either o, them-

13ou8re all o,,, boys,5 6 insisted- 16, there is such a *lace7and there does seem some ,oundation ,or belie+ing it7you8ll ,ind it8s built on a sort o, matriarchal *rinci*le, that8s all- 2he men ha+e a se*arate cult o, their o)n, less socially de+elo*ed than the )omen, and make them an annual +isit 7a sort o, )edding call- 2his is a condition kno)n to ha+e e/isted7here8s @ust a sur+i+al- 2hey8+e got some *eculiarly isolated +alley or tableland u* there, and their *rime+al customs ha+e sur+i+ed2hat8s all there is to it-5 1Ho) about the boysD5 "e,, asked1=h, the men take them a)ay as soon as they are ,i+e or si/, you see-5 1!nd ho) about this danger theory all our guides )ere so sure o,D5 1;anger enough, 2erry, and )e8ll ha+e to be mighty care,ul- 4omen o, that stage o, culture are Auite able to de,end themsel+es and ha+e no )elcome ,or unseasonable +isitors-5 4e talked and talked!nd )ith all my airs o, sociological su*eriority 6 )as no nearer than any o, them6t )as ,unny though, in the light o, )hat )e did ,ind, those e/tremely clear ideas o, ours as to )hat a country o, )omen )ould be like- 6t )as no use to tell oursel+es and one another that all this )as idle s*eculation- 4e )ere idle and )e did s*eculate, on the ocean +oyage and the ri+er +oyage, too1!dmitting the im*robability,5 )e8d begin solemnly, and then launch out again12hey )ould ,ight among themsel+es,5 2erry insisted- 14omen al)ays do- 4e mustn8t look to ,ind any sort o, order and organiFation-5 13ou8re dead )rong,5 "e,, told him- 16t )ill be like a nunnery under an abbess7a *eace,ul, harmonious sisterhood-5 6 snorted derision at this idea1:uns, indeedG 3our *eace,ul sisterhoods )ere all celibate, "e,,, and under +o)s o, obedience2hese are @ust )omen, and mothers, and )here there8s motherhood you don8t ,ind sisterhood7not much-5 1:o, sir7they8ll scra*,5 agreed 2erry- 1!lso )e mustn8t look ,or in+entions and *rogress9 it8ll be a),ully *rimiti+e-5 1Ho) about that cloth millD5 "e,, suggested1=h, clothG 4omen ha+e al)ays been s*insters- <ut there they sto*7you8ll see-5 4e @oked 2erry about his modest im*ression that he )ould be )armly recei+ed, but he held his ground13ou8ll see,5 he insisted- 168ll get solid )ith them all7and *lay one bunch against another- 68ll get mysel, elected king in no time7)he)G .olomon )ill ha+e to take a back seatG5 14here do )e come in on that dealD5 6 demanded- 1!ren8t )e ?iFiers or anythingD5 1Couldn8t risk it,5 he asserted solemnly- 13ou might start a re+olution7*robably )ould- :o, you8ll ha+e to be beheaded, or bo)strung7or )hate+er the *o*ular method o, e/ecution is-5 13ou8d ha+e to do it yoursel,, remember,5 grinned "e,,- 1:o husky black sla+es and mamelukesG !nd there8d be t)o o, us and only one o, you7eh, ?anD5 "e,,8s ideas and 2erry8s )ere so ,ar a*art that sometimes it )as all 6 could do to kee* the *eace bet)een them- "e,, idealiFed )omen in the best .outhern style- He )as ,ull o, chi+alry and sentiment, and all that- !nd he )as a good boy9 he li+ed u* to his ideals3ou might say 2erry did, too, i, you can call his +ie)s about )omen anything so *olite as ideals6 al)ays liked 2erry- He )as a man8s man, +ery much so, generous and bra+e and cle+er9 but 6 don8t think any o, us in college days )as Auite *leased to ha+e him )ith our sisters- 4e )eren8t +ery stringent, hea+ens noG <ut 2erry )as 1the limit-5 Bater on7)hy, o, course a man8s li,e is his o)n, )e held, and asked no Auestions<ut barring a *ossible e/ce*tion in ,a+or o, a not im*ossible )i,e, or o, his mother, or, o, course, the ,air relati+es o, his ,riends, 2erry8s idea seemed to be that *retty )omen )ere @ust so much game and homely ones not )orth considering6t )as really un*leasant sometimes to see the notions he had<ut 6 got out o, *atience )ith "e,,, too- He had such rose0colored halos on his )omen,olks- 6

held a middle ground, highly scienti,ic, o, course, and used to argue learnedly about the *hysiological limitations o, the se/4e )ere not in the least 1ad+anced5 on the )oman Auestion, any o, us, then.o )e @oked and dis*uted and s*eculated, and a,ter an interminable @ourney, )e got to our old cam*ing *lace at last6t )as not hard to ,ind the ri+er, @ust *oking along that side till )e came to it, and it )as na+igable as ,ar as the lake4hen )e reached that and slid out on its broad glistening bosom, )ith that high gray *romontory running out to)ard us, and the straight )hite ,all clearly +isible, it began to be really e/citing2here )as some talk, e+en then, o, skirting the rock )all and seeking a *ossible ,oot)ay u*, but the marshy @ungle made that method look not only di,,icult but dangerous2erry dismissed the *lan shar*ly1:onsense, ,ello)sG 4e8+e decided that- 6t might take months7)e ha+en8t got the *ro+isions:o, sir7)e8+e got to take our chances- 6, )e get back sa,e7all right- 6, )e don8t, )hy, )e8re not the ,irst e/*lorers to get lost in the shu,,le- 2here are *lenty to come a,ter us-5 .o )e got the big bi*lane together and loaded it )ith our scienti,ically com*ressed baggage: the camera, o, course9 the glasses9 a su**ly o, concentrated ,ood- =ur *ockets )ere magaFines o, small necessities, and )e had our guns, o, course7there )as no kno)ing )hat might ha**enC* and u* and u* )e sailed, )ay u* at ,irst, to get 1the lay o, the land5 and make note o, it=ut o, that dark green sea o, cro)ding ,orest this high0standing s*ur rose stee*ly- 6t ran back on either side, a**arently, to the ,ar0o,, )hite0cro)ned *eaks in the distance, themsel+es *robably inaccessible1Bet8s make the ,irst tri* geogra*hical,5 6 suggested- 1.*y out the land, and dro* back here ,or more gasoline- 4ith your tremendous s*eed )e can reach that range and back all right- 2hen )e can lea+e a sort o, ma* on board7,or that relie, e/*edition-5 12here8s sense in that,5 2erry agreed- 168ll *ut o,, being king o, Badyland ,or one more day-5 .o )e made a long skirting +oyage, turned the *oint o, the ca*e )hich )as close by, ran u* one side o, the triangle at our best s*eed, crossed o+er the base )here it le,t the higher mountains, and so back to our lake by moonlight12hat8s not a bad little kingdom,5 )e agreed )hen it )as roughly dra)n and measured- 4e could tell the siFe ,airly by our s*eed- !nd ,rom )hat )e could see o, the sides7and that icy ridge at the back end716t8s a *retty enter*rising sa+age )ho )ould manage to get into it,5 "e,, said=, course )e had looked at the land itsel,7eagerly, but )e )ere too high and going too ,ast to see much- 6t a**eared to be )ell ,orested about the edges, but in the interior there )ere )ide *lains, and e+ery)here *arklike meado)s and o*en *laces2here )ere cities, too9 that 6 insisted- 6t looked7)ell, it looked like any other country7a ci+iliFed one, 6 mean4e had to slee* a,ter that long s)ee* through the air, but )e turned out early enough ne/t day, and again )e rose so,tly u* the height till )e could to* the cro)ning trees and see the broad ,air land at our *leasure1.emitro*ical- Books like a ,irst0rate climate- 6t8s )onder,ul )hat a little height )ill do ,or tem*erature-5 2erry )as studying the ,orest gro)th1Bittle heightG 6s that )hat you call littleD5 6 asked- =ur instruments measured it clearly- 4e had not realiFed the long gentle rise ,rom the coast *erha*s1>ighty lucky *iece o, land, 6 call it,5 2erry *ursued- 1:o) ,or the ,olks768+e had enough scenery-5 .o )e sailed lo), crossing back and ,orth, Auartering the country as )e )ent, and studying it4e sa)76 can8t remember no) ho) much o, this )e noted then and ho) much )as su**lemented by our later kno)ledge, but )e could not hel* seeing this much, e+en on that e/cited day7a land in a state o, *er,ect culti+ation, )here e+en the ,orests looked as i, they )ere cared ,or9 a land that looked like an enormous *ark, only it )as e+en more e+idently an enormous garden-

16 don8t see any cattle,5 6 suggested, but 2erry )as silent- 4e )ere a**roaching a +illage6 con,ess that )e *aid small attention to the clean, )ell0built roads, to the attracti+e architecture, to the ordered beauty o, the little to)n- 4e had our glasses out9 e+en 2erry, setting his machine ,or a s*iral glide, cla**ed the binoculars to his eyes2hey heard our )hirring scre)- 2hey ran out o, the houses7they gathered in ,rom the ,ields, s)i,t0running light ,igures, cro)ds o, them- 4e stared and stared until it )as almost too late to catch the le+ers, s)ee* o,, and rise again9 and then )e held our *eace ,or a long run u*)ard1GoshG5 said 2erry, a,ter a )hile1=nly )omen there7and children,5 "e,, urged e/citedly1<ut they look7)hy, this is a C6?6B6H ; countryG5 6 *rotested- 12here must be men-5 1=, course there are men,5 said 2erry- 1Come on, let8s ,ind 8em-5 He re,used to listen to "e,,8s suggestion that )e e/amine the country ,urther be,ore )e risked lea+ing our machine12here8s a ,ine landing *lace right there )here )e came o+er,5 he insisted, and it )as an e/cellent one7a )ide, ,lat0to**ed rock, o+erlooking the lake, and Auite out o, sight ,rom the interior12hey )on8t ,ind this in a hurry,5 he asserted, as )e scrambled )ith the utmost di,,iculty do)n to sa,er ,ooting- 1Come on, boys7there )ere some good lookers in that bunch-5 =, course it )as un)ise o, us6t )as Auite easy to see a,ter)ard that our best *lan )as to ha+e studied the country more ,ully be,ore )e le,t our s)oo*ing airshi* and trusted oursel+es to mere ,oot ser+ice- <ut )e )ere three young men- 4e had been talking about this country ,or o+er a year, hardly belie+ing that there )as such a *lace, and no)7)e )ere in it6t looked sa,e and ci+iliFed enough, and among those u*turned, cro)ding ,aces, though some )ere terri,ied enough, there )as great beauty7on that )e all agreed1Come onG5 cried 2erry, *ushing ,or)ard- 1=h, come onG Here goes ,or HerlandG5

Chapter 2 Rash Advances :ot more than ten or ,i,teen miles )e @udged it ,rom our landing rock to that last +illage- For all our eagerness )e thought it )ise to kee* to the )oods and go care,ully+en 2erry8s ardor )as held in check by his ,irm con+iction that there )ere men to be met, and )e sa) to it that each o, us had a good stock o, cartridges12hey may be scarce, and they may be hidden a)ay some)here7some kind o, a matriarchate, as "e,, tells us9 ,or that matter, they may li+e u* in the mountains yonder and kee* the )omen in this *art o, the country7sort o, a national haremG <ut there are men some)here7didn8t you see the babiesD5 4e had all seen babies, children big and little, e+ery)here that )e had come near enough to distinguish the *eo*le- !nd though by dress )e could not be sure o, all the gro)n *ersons, still there had not been one man that )e )ere certain o,16 al)ays liked that !rab saying, 8First tie your camel and then trust in the Bord,85 "e,, murmured9 so )e all had our )ea*ons in hand, and stole cautiously through the ,orest- 2erry studied it as )e *rogressed12alk o, ci+iliFation,5 he cried so,tly in restrained enthusiasm- 16 ne+er sa) a ,orest so *etted, e+en in Germany- Book, there8s not a dead bough7the +ines are trained7actuallyG !nd see here57 he sto**ed and looked about him, calling "e,,8s attention to the kinds o, trees2hey le,t me ,or a landmark and made a limited e/cursion on either side1Food0bearing, *ractically all o, them,5 they announced returning- 12he rest, s*lendid hard)ood- Call this a ,orestD 6t8s a truck ,armG5 1Good thing to ha+e a botanist on hand,5 6 agreed- 1.ure there are no medicinal onesD =r any

,or *ure ornamentD5 !s a matter o, ,act they )ere Auite right- 2hese to)ering trees )ere under as care,ul culti+ation as so many cabbages- 6n other conditions )e should ha+e ,ound those )oods ,ull o, ,air ,oresters and ,ruit gatherers9 but an airshi* is a cons*icuous ob@ect, and by no means Auiet7and )omen are cautious!ll )e ,ound mo+ing in those )oods, as )e started through them, )ere birds, some gorgeous, some musical, all so tame that it seemed almost to contradict our theory o, culti+ation7at least until )e came u*on occasional little glades, )here car+ed stone seats and tables stood in the shade beside clear ,ountains, )ith shallo) bird baths al)ays added12hey don8t kill birds, and a**arently they do kill cats,5 2erry declared- 1>C.2 be men hereHarkG5 4e had heard something: something not in the least like a birdsong, and +ery much like a su**ressed )his*er o, laughter7a little ha**y sound, instantly smothered- 4e stood like so many *ointers, and then used our glasses, s)i,tly, care,ully16t couldn8t ha+e been ,ar o,,,5 said 2erry e/citedly- 1Ho) about this big treeD5 2here )as a +ery large and beauti,ul tree in the glade )e had @ust entered, )ith thick )ide0 s*reading branches that slo*ed out in la**ing ,ans like a beech or *ine- 6t )as trimmed underneath some t)enty ,eet u*, and stood there like a huge umbrella, )ith circling seats beneath1Book,5 he *ursued- 12here are short stum*s o, branches le,t to climb on- 2here8s someone u* that tree, 6 belie+e-5 4e stole near, cautiously1Book out ,or a *oisoned arro) in your eye,5 6 suggested, but 2erry *ressed ,or)ard, s*rang u* on the seat0back, and gras*ed the trunk- 16n my heart, more likely,5 he ans)ered- 1GeeG Book, boysG5 4e rushed close in and looked u*- 2here among the boughs o+erhead )as something7more than one something7that clung motionless, close to the great trunk at ,irst, and then, as one and all )e started u* the tree, se*arated into three s)i,t0mo+ing ,igures and ,led u*)ard- !s )e climbed )e could catch glim*ses o, them scattering abo+e us- <y the time )e had reached about as ,ar as three men together dared *ush, they had le,t the main trunk and mo+ed out)ard, each one balanced on a long branch that di**ed and s)ayed beneath the )eight4e *aused uncertain- 6, )e *ursued ,urther, the boughs )ould break under the double burden4e might shake them o,,, *erha*s, but none o, us )as so inclined- 6n the so,t da**led light o, these high regions, breathless )ith our ra*id climb, )e rested a)hile, eagerly studying our ob@ects o, *ursuit9 )hile they in turn, )ith no more terror than a set o, ,rolicsome children in a game o, tag, sat as lightly as so many big bright birds on their *recarious *erches and ,rankly, curiously, stared at us1GirlsG5 )his*ered "e,,, under his breath, as i, they might ,ly i, he s*oke aloud1PeachesG5 added 2erry, scarcely louder- 1Peacherinos7a*ricot0nectarinesG 4he)G5 2hey )ere girls, o, course, no boys could e+er ha+e sho)n that s*arkling beauty, and yet none o, us )as certain at ,irst4e sa) short hair, hatless, loose, and shining9 a suit o, some light ,irm stu,,, the closest o, tunics and kneebreeches, met by trim gaiters- !s bright and smooth as *arrots and as una)are o, danger, they s)ung there be,ore us, )holly at ease, staring as )e stared, till ,irst one, and then all o, them burst into *eals o, delighted laughter2hen there )as a torrent o, so,t talk tossed back and ,orth9 no sa+age sing0song, but clear musical ,luent s*eech4e met their laughter cordially, and do,,ed our hats to them, at )hich they laughed again, delightedly2hen 2erry, )holly in his element, made a *olite s*eech, )ith e/*lanatory gestures, and *roceeded to introduce us, )ith *ointing ,inger- 1>r- "e,, >argra+e,5 he said clearly9 "e,, bo)ed as grace,ully as a man could in the ,ork o, a great limb- 1>r- ?andyck "ennings576 also tried to make an e,,ecti+e salute and nearly lost my balance2hen 2erry laid his hand u*on his chest7a ,ine chest he had, too, and introduced himsel,9 he

)as braced care,ully ,or the occasion and achie+ed an e/cellent obeisance!gain they laughed delightedly, and the one nearest me ,ollo)ed his tactics1Celis,5 she said distinctly, *ointing to the one in blue9 1!lima57the one in rose9 then, )ith a +i+id imitation o, 2erry8s im*ressi+e manner, she laid a ,irm delicate hand on her gold0green @erkin 71 llador-5 2his )as *leasant, but )e got no nearer14e can8t sit here and learn the language,5 2erry *rotested- He beckoned to them to come nearer, most )inningly7but they gaily shook their heads- He suggested, by signs, that )e all go do)n together9 but again they shook their heads, still merrily- 2hen llador clearly indicated that )e should go do)n, *ointing to each and all o, us, )ith unmistakable ,irmness9 and ,urther seeming to im*ly by the s)ee* o, a lithe arm that )e not only go do)n)ard, but go a)ay altogether7at )hich )e shook our heads in turn1Ha+e to use bait,5 grinned 2erry- 16 don8t kno) about you ,ello)s, but 6 came *re*ared-5 He *roduced ,rom an inner *ocket a little bo/ o, *ur*le +el+et, that o*ened )ith a sna*7and out o, it he dre) a long s*arkling thing, a necklace o, big +aricolored stones that )ould ha+e been )orth a million i, real ones- He held it u*, s)ung it, glittering in the sun, o,,ered it ,irst to one, then to another, holding it out as ,ar as he could reach to)ard the girl nearest him- He stood braced in the ,ork, held ,irmly by one hand7the other, s)inging his bright tem*tation, reached ,ar out along the bough, but not Auite to his ,ull stretch.he )as +isibly mo+ed, 6 noted, hesitated, s*oke to her com*anions- 2hey chattered so,tly together, one e+idently )arning her, the other encouraging- 2hen, so,tly and slo)ly, she dre) nearer- 2his )as !lima, a tall long0limbed lass, )ell0knit and e+idently both strong and agile- Her eyes )ere s*lendid, )ide, ,earless, as ,ree ,rom sus*icion as a child8s )ho has ne+er been rebukedHer interest )as more that o, an intent boy *laying a ,ascinating game than o, a girl lured by an ornament2he others mo+ed a bit ,arther out, holding ,irmly, )atching- 2erry8s smile )as irre*roachable, but 6 did not like the look in his eyes7it )as like a creature about to s*ring- 6 could already see it ha**en7the dro**ed necklace, the sudden clutching hand, the girl8s shar* cry as he seiFed her and dre) her in- <ut it didn8t ha**en- .he made a timid reach )ith her right hand ,or the gay s)inging thing7he held it a little nearer7then, s)i,t as light, she seiFed it ,rom him )ith her le,t, and dro**ed on the instant to the bough belo)He made his snatch, Auite +ainly, almost losing his *osition as his hand clutched only air9 and then, )ith inconcei+able ra*idity, the three bright creatures )ere gone- 2hey dro**ed ,rom the ends o, the big boughs to those belo), ,airly *ouring themsel+es o,, the tree, )hile )e climbed do)n)ard as s)i,tly as )e could- 4e heard their +anishing gay laughter, )e sa) them ,leeting a)ay in the )ide o*en reaches o, the ,orest, and ga+e chase, but )e might as )ell ha+e chased )ild antelo*es9 so )e sto**ed at length some)hat breathless1:o use,5 gas*ed 2erry- 12hey got a)ay )ith it- >y )ordG 2he men o, this country must be good s*rintersG5 16nhabitants e+idently arboreal,5 6 grimly suggested- 1Ci+iliFed and still arboreal7*eculiar *eo*le-5 13ou shouldn8t ha+e tried that )ay,5 "e,, *rotested- 12hey )ere *er,ectly ,riendly9 no) )e8+e scared them-5 <ut it )as no use grumbling, and 2erry re,used to admit any mistake- 1:onsense,5 he said12hey e/*ected it- 4omen like to be run a,ter- Come on, let8s get to that to)n9 maybe )e8ll ,ind them there- Bet8s see, it )as in this direction and not ,ar ,rom the )oods, as 6 remember-5 4hen )e reached the edge o, the o*en country )e reconnoitered )ith our ,ield glasses- 2here it )as, about ,our miles o,,, the same to)n, )e concluded, unless, as "e,, +entured, they all had *ink houses- 2he broad green ,ields and closely culti+ated gardens slo*ed a)ay at our ,eet, a long easy slant, )ith good roads )inding *leasantly here and there, and narro)er *aths besides1Book at thatG5 cried "e,, suddenly- 12here they goG5 .ure enough, close to the to)n, across a )ide meado), three bright0hued ,igures )ere running s)i,tly-

1Ho) could they ha+e got that ,ar in this timeD 6t can8t be the same ones,5 6 urged- <ut through the glasses )e could identi,y our *retty tree0climbers Auite *lainly, at least by costume2erry )atched them, )e all did ,or that matter, till they disa**eared among the houses- 2hen he *ut do)n his glass and turned to us, dra)ing a long breath- 1>other o, >ike, boys7)hat Gorgeous GirlsG 2o climb like thatG to run like thatG and a,raid o, nothing- 2his country suits me all right- Bet8s get ahead-5 1:othing +enture, nothing ha+e,5 6 suggested, but 2erry *re,erred 1Faint heart ne8er )on ,air lady-5 4e set ,orth in the o*en, )alking briskly- 16, there are any men, )e8d better kee* an eye out,5 6 suggested, but "e,, seemed lost in hea+enly dreams, and 2erry in highly *ractical *lans14hat a *er,ect roadG 4hat a hea+enly countryG .ee the ,lo)ers, )ill youD5 2his )as "e,,, al)ays an enthusiast9 but )e could agree )ith him ,ully2he road )as some sort o, hard manu,actured stu,,, slo*ed slightly to shed rain, )ith e+ery cur+e and grade and gutter as *er,ect as i, it )ere uro*e8s best- 1:o men, ehD5 sneered 2erry- =n either side a double ro) o, trees shaded the ,oot*aths9 bet)een the trees bushes or +ines, all ,ruit0 bearing, no) and then seats and little )ayside ,ountains9 e+ery)here ,lo)ers14e8d better im*ort some o, these ladies and set 8em to *arking the Cnited .tates,5 6 suggested1>ighty nice *lace they8+e got here-5 4e rested a ,e) moments by one o, the ,ountains, tested the ,ruit that looked ri*e, and )ent on, im*ressed, ,or all our gay bra+ado by the sense o, Auiet *otency )hich lay about usHere )as e+idently a *eo*le highly skilled, e,,icient, caring ,or their country as a ,lorist cares ,or his costliest orchids- Cnder the so,t brilliant blue o, that clear sky, in the *leasant shade o, those endless ro)s o, trees, )e )alked unharmed, the *lacid silence broken only by the birdsPresently there lay be,ore us at the ,oot o, a long hill the to)n or +illage )e )ere aiming ,or- 4e sto**ed and studied it"e,, dre) a long breath- 16 )ouldn8t ha+e belie+ed a collection o, houses could look so lo+ely,5 he said12hey8+e got architects and landsca*e gardeners in *lenty, that8s sure,5 agreed 2erry6 )as astonished mysel,- 3ou see, 6 come ,rom Cali,ornia, and there8s no country lo+elier, but )hen it comes to to)ns7G 6 ha+e o,ten groaned at home to see the o,,ensi+e mess man made in the ,ace o, nature, e+en though 68m no art shar*, like "e,,- <ut this *laceG 6t )as built mostly o, a sort o, dull rose0colored stone, )ith here and there some clear )hite houses9 and it lay abroad among the green gro+es and gardens like a broken rosary o, *ink coral12hose big )hite ones are *ublic buildings e+idently,5 2erry declared- 12his is no sa+age country, my ,riend- <ut no menD <oys, it behoo+es us to go ,or)ard most *olitely-5 2he *lace had an odd look, more im*ressi+e as )e a**roached- 16t8s like an e/*osition-5 16t8s too *retty to be true-5 1Plenty o, *alaces, but )here are the homesD5 1=h there are little ones enough7 but7-5 6t certainly )as di,,erent ,rom any to)ns )e had e+er seen12here8s no dirt,5 said "e,, suddenly- 12here8s no smoke,5 he added a,ter a little12here8s no noise,5 6 o,,ered9 but 2erry snubbed me712hat8s because they are laying lo) ,or us9 )e8d better be care,ul ho) )e go in there-5 :othing could induce him to stay out, ho)e+er, so )e )alked on+erything )as beauty, order, *er,ect cleanness, and the *leasantest sense o, home o+er it all!s )e neared the center o, the to)n the houses stood thicker, ran together as it )ere, gre) into rambling *alaces grou*ed among *arks and o*en sAuares, something as college buildings stand in their Auiet greens!nd then, turning a corner, )e came into a broad *a+ed s*ace and sa) be,ore us a band o, )omen standing close together in e+en order, e+idently )aiting ,or us4e sto**ed a moment and looked back- 2he street behind )as closed by another band, marching steadily, shoulder to shoulder- 4e )ent on7there seemed no other )ay to go7and *resently ,ound oursel+es Auite surrounded by this close0massed multitude, )omen, all o, them, but 7

2hey )ere not young- 2hey )ere not old- 2hey )ere not, in the girl sense, beauti,ul- 2hey )ere not in the least ,erocious- !nd yet, as 6 looked ,rom ,ace to ,ace, calm, gra+e, )ise, )holly una,raid, e+idently assured and determined, 6 had the ,unniest ,eeling7a +ery early ,eeling7a ,eeling that 6 traced back and back in memory until 6 caught u* )ith it at last- 6t )as that sense o, being ho*elessly in the )rong that 6 had so o,ten ,elt in early youth )hen my short legs8 utmost e,,ort ,ailed to o+ercome the ,act that 6 )as late to school"e,, ,elt it too9 6 could see he did- 4e ,elt like small boys, +ery small boys, caught doing mischie, in some gracious lady8s house- <ut 2erry sho)ed no such consciousness- 6 sa) his Auick eyes darting here and there, estimating numbers, measuring distances, @udging chances o, esca*eHe e/amined the close ranks about us, reaching back ,ar on e+ery side, and murmured so,tly to me, 1 +ery one o, 8em o+er ,orty as 68m a sinner-5 3et they )ere not old )omen- ach )as in the ,ull bloom o, rosy health, erect, serene, standing sure0,ooted and light as any *ugilist- 2hey had no )ea*ons, and )e had, but )e had no )ish to shoot168d as soon shoot my aunts,5 muttered 2erry again- 14hat do they )ant )ith us anyho)D 2hey seem to mean business-5 <ut in s*ite o, that businesslike as*ect, he determined to try his ,a+orite tactics- 2erry had come armed )ith a theoryHe ste**ed ,or)ard, )ith his brilliant ingratiating smile, and made lo) obeisance to the )omen be,ore him- 2hen he *roduced another tribute, a broad so,t scar, o, ,ilmy te/ture, rich in color and *attern, a lo+ely thing, e+en to my eye, and o,,ered it )ith a dee* bo) to the tall unsmiling )oman )ho seemed to head the ranks be,ore him- .he took it )ith a gracious nod o, ackno)ledgment, and *assed it on to those behind herHe tried again, this time bringing out a circlet o, rhinestones, a glittering cro)n that should ha+e *leased any )oman on earth- He made a brie, address, including "e,, and me as *artners in his enter*rise, and )ith another bo) *resented this- !gain his gi,t )as acce*ted and, as be,ore, *assed out o, sight16, they )ere only younger,5 he muttered bet)een his teeth- 14hat on earth is a ,ello) to say to a regiment o, old Colonels like thisD5 6n all our discussions and s*eculations )e had al)ays unconsciously assumed that the )omen, )hate+er else they might be, )ould be young- >ost men do think that )ay, 6 ,ancy14oman5 in the abstract is young, and, )e assume, charming- !s they get older they *ass o,, the stage, someho), into *ri+ate o)nershi* mostly, or out o, it altogether- <ut these good ladies )ere +ery much on the stage, and yet any one o, them might ha+e been a grandmother4e looked ,or ner+ousness7there )as noneFor terror, *erha*s7there )as noneFor uneasiness, ,or curiosity, ,or e/citement7and all )e sa) )as )hat might ha+e been a +igilance committee o, )omen doctors, as cool as cucumbers, and e+idently meaning to take us to task ,or being there.i/ o, them ste**ed ,or)ard no), one on either side o, each o, us, and indicated that )e )ere to go )ith them- 4e thought it best to accede, at ,irst any)ay, and marched along, one o, these close at each elbo), and the others in close masses be,ore, behind, on both sides! large building o*ened be,ore us, a +ery hea+y thick0)alled im*ressi+e *lace, big, and old0 looking9 o, gray stone, not like the rest o, the to)n12his )on8t doG5 said 2erry to us, Auickly- 14e mustn8t let them get us in this, boys- !ll together, no)75 4e sto**ed in our tracks- 4e began to e/*lain, to make signs *ointing a)ay to)ard the big ,orest7indicating that )e )ould go back to it7at once6t makes me laugh, kno)ing all 6 do no), to think o, us three boys7nothing else9 three audacious im*ertinent boys7butting into an unkno)n country )ithout any sort o, a guard or de,ense- 4e seemed to think that i, there )ere men )e could ,ight them, and i, there )ere only )omen7)hy, they )ould be no obstacles at all"e,,, )ith his gentle romantic old0,ashioned notions o, )omen as clinging +ines- 2erry, )ith his

clear decided *ractical theories that there )ere t)o kinds o, )omen7those he )anted and those he didn8t9 ;esirable and Cndesirable )as his demarcation- 2he latter as a large class, but negligible7 he had ne+er thought about them at all!nd no) here they )ere, in great numbers, e+idently indi,,erent to )hat he might think, e+idently determined on some *ur*ose o, their o)n regarding him, and a**arently )ell able to en,orce their *ur*ose4e all thought hard @ust then- 6t had not seemed )ise to ob@ect to going )ith them, e+en i, )e could ha+e9 our one chance )as ,riendliness7a ci+iliFed attitude on both sides<ut once inside that building, there )as no kno)ing )hat these determined ladies might do to us- +en a *eace,ul detention )as not to our minds, and )hen )e named it im*risonment it looked e+en )orse.o )e made a stand, trying to make clear that )e *re,erred the o*en country- =ne o, them came ,or)ard )ith a sketch o, our ,lier, asking by signs i, )e )ere the aerial +isitors they had seen2his )e admitted2hey *ointed to it again, and to the outlying country, in di,,erent directions7but )e *retended )e did not kno) )here it )as, and in truth )e )ere not Auite sure and ga+e a rather )ild indication o, its )hereabouts!gain they motioned us to ad+ance, standing so *acked about the door that there remained but the one straight *ath o*en- !ll around us and behind they )ere massed solidly7there )as sim*ly nothing to do but go ,or)ard7or ,ight4e held a consultation16 ne+er ,ought )ith )omen in my li,e,5 said 2erry, greatly *erturbed, 1but 68m not going in there- 68m not going to be7herded in7as i, )e )ere in a cattle chute-5 14e can8t ,ight them, o, course,5 "e,, urged- 12hey8re all )omen, in s*ite o, their nondescri*t clothes9 nice )omen, too9 good strong sensible ,aces- 6 guess )e8ll ha+e to go in-5 14e may ne+er get out, i, )e do,5 6 told them- 1.trong and sensible, yes9 but 68m not so sure about the good- Book at those ,acesG5 2hey had stood at ease, )aiting )hile )e con,erred together, but ne+er rela/ing their close attention2heir attitude )as not the rigid disci*line o, soldiers9 there )as no sense o, com*ulsion about them- 2erry8s term o, a 1+igilance committee5 )as highly descri*ti+e- 2hey had @ust the as*ect o, sturdy burghers, gathered hastily to meet some common need or *eril, all mo+ed by *recisely the same ,eelings, to the same end:e+er, any)here be,ore, had 6 seen )omen o, *recisely this Auality- Fish)i+es and market )omen might sho) similar strength, but it )as coarse and hea+y- 2hese )ere merely athletic7light and *o)er,ul- College *ro,essors, teachers, )riters7many )omen sho)ed similar intelligence but o,ten )ore a strained ner+ous look, )hile these )ere as calm as co)s, ,or all their e+ident intellect4e obser+ed *retty closely @ust then, ,or all o, us ,elt that it )as a crucial moment2he leader ga+e some )ord o, command and beckoned us on, and the surrounding mass mo+ed a ste* nearer14e8+e got to decide Auick,5 said 2erry16 +ote to go in,5 "e,, urged- <ut )e )ere t)o to one against him and he loyally stood by us- 4e made one more e,,ort to be let go, urgent, but not im*loring- 6n +ain1:o) ,or a rush, boysG5 2erry said- 1!nd i, )e can8t break 8em, 68ll shoot in the air-5 2hen )e ,ound oursel+es much in the *osition o, the su,,ragette trying to get to the Parliament buildings through a tri*le cordon o, Bondon *olice2he solidity o, those )omen )as something amaFing- 2erry soon ,ound that it )as useless, tore himsel, loose ,or a moment, *ulled his re+ol+er, and ,ired u*)ard- !s they caught at it, he ,ired again7)e heard a cry76nstantly each o, us )as seiFed by ,i+e )omen, each holding arm or leg or head9 )e )ere li,ted like children, straddling hel*less children, and borne on)ard, )riggling indeed, but most ine,,ectually-

4e )ere borne inside, struggling man,ully, but held secure most )oman,ully, in s*ite o, our best endea+ors.o carried and so held, )e came into a high inner hall, gray and bare, and )ere brought be,ore a ma@estic gray0haired )oman )ho seemed to hold a @udicial *osition2here )as some talk, not much, among them, and then suddenly there ,ell u*on each o, us at once a ,irm hand holding a )etted cloth be,ore mouth and nose7an order o, s)imming s)eetness 7anesthesiaHerland Chapter 3 A Peculiar Imprisonment From a slumber as dee* as death, as re,reshing as that o, a healthy child, 6 slo)ly a)akened6t )as like rising u*, u*, u* through a dee* )arm ocean, nearer and nearer to ,ull light and stirring air- =r like the return to consciousness a,ter concussion o, the brain- 6 )as once thro)n ,rom a horse )hile on a +isit to a )ild mountainous country Auite ne) to me, and 6 can clearly remember the mental e/*erience o, coming back to li,e, through li,ting +eils o, dream- 4hen 6 ,irst dimly heard the +oices o, those about me, and sa) the shining sno)*eaks o, that mighty range, 6 assumed that this too )ould *ass, and 6 should *resently ,ind mysel, in my o)n home2hat )as *recisely the e/*erience o, this a)akening: receding )a+es o, hal,0caught s)irling +ision, memories o, home, the steamer, the boat, the airshi*, the ,orest7at last all sinking a)ay one a,ter another, till my eyes )ere )ide o*en, my brain clear, and 6 realiFed )hat had ha**ened2he most *rominent sensation )as o, absolute *hysical com,ort- 6 )as lying in a *er,ect bed: long, broad, smooth9 ,irmly so,t and le+el9 )ith the ,inest linen, some )arm light Auilt o, blanket, and a counter*ane that )as a @oy to the eye- 2he sheet turned do)n some ,i,teen inches, yet 6 could stretch my ,eet at the ,oot o, the bed ,ree but )armly co+ered6 ,elt as light and clean as a )hite ,eather- 6t took me some time to conscientiously locate my arms and legs, to ,eel the +i+id sense o, li,e radiate ,rom the )akening center to the e/tremities! big room, high and )ide, )ith many lo,ty )indo)s )hose closed blinds let through so,t green0lit air9 a beauti,ul room, in *ro*ortion, in color, in smooth sim*licity9 a scent o, blossoming gardens outside6 lay *er,ectly still, Auite ha**y, Auite conscious, and yet not acti+ely realiFing )hat had ha**ened till 6 heard 2erry1GoshG5 )as )hat he said6 turned my head- 2here )ere three beds in this chamber, and *lenty o, room ,or them2erry )as sitting u*, looking about him, alert as e+er- His remark, though not loud, roused "e,, also- 4e all sat u*2erry s)ung his legs out o, bed, stood u*, stretched himsel, mightily- He )as in a long nightrobe, a sort o, seamless garment, undoubtedly com,ortable7)e all ,ound oursel+es so co+ered- .hoes )ere beside each bed, also Auite com,ortable and goodlooking though by no means like our o)n4e looked ,or our clothes7they )ere not there, nor anything o, all the +aried contents o, our *ockets! door stood some)hat a@ar9 it o*ened into a most attracti+e bathroom, co*iously *ro+ided )ith to)els, soa*, mirrors, and all such con+enient com,orts, )ith indeed our toothbrushes and combs, our notebooks, and thank goodness, our )atches7but no clothes2hen )e made a search o, the big room again and ,ound a large airy closet, holding *lenty o, clothing, but not ours1! council o, )arG5 demanded 2erry- 1Come on back to bed7the bed8s all right anyho)- :o) then, my scienti,ic ,riend, let us consider our case dis*assionately-5 He meant me, but "e,, seemed most im*ressed12hey ha+en8t hurt us in the leastG5 he said- 12hey could ha+e killed us7or7or anything7and

6 ne+er ,elt better in my li,e-5 12hat argues that they are all )omen,5 6 suggested, 1and highly ci+iliFed- 3ou kno) you hit one in the last scrimmage76 heard her sing out7and )e kicked a),ully-5 2erry )as grinning at us- 1.o you realiFe )hat these ladies ha+e done to usD5 he *leasantly inAuired- 12hey ha+e taken a)ay all our *ossessions, all our clothes7e+ery stitch- 4e ha+e been stri**ed and )ashed and *ut to bed like so many yearling babies7by these highly ci+iliFed )omen-5 "e,, actually blushed- He had a *oetic imagination- 2erry had imagination enough, o, a di,,erent kind- .o had 6, also di,,erent- 6 al)ays ,lattered mysel, 6 had the scienti,ic imagination, )hich, incidentally, 6 considered the highest sort- =ne has a right to a certain amount o, egotism i, ,ounded on ,act7and ke*t to one8s sel,76 think1:o use kicking, boys,5 6 said- 12hey8+e got us, and a**arently they8re *er,ectly harmless- 6t remains ,or us to cook u* some *lan o, esca*e like any other bottled heroes- >ean)hile )e8+e got to *ut on these clothes7Hobson8s choice-5 2he garments )ere sim*le in the e/treme, and absolutely com,ortable, *hysically, though o, course )e all ,elt like su*es in the theater- 2here )as a one0*iece cotton undergarment, thin and so,t, that reached o+er the knees and shoulders, something like the one0*iece *a@amas some ,ello)s )ear, and a kind o, hal,0hose, that came u* to @ust under the knee and stayed there7had elastic to*s o, their o)n, and co+ered the edges o, the ,irst2hen there )as a thicker +ariety o, union suit, a lot o, them in the closet, o, +arying )eights and some)hat sturdier material7e+idently they )ould do at a *inch )ith nothing ,urther- 2hen there )ere tunics, knee0length, and some long robes- :eedless to say, )e took tunics4e bathed and dressed Auite cheer,ully1:ot hal, bad,5 said 2erry, sur+eying himsel, in a long mirror- His hair )as some)hat longer than )hen )e le,t the last barber, and the hats *ro+ided )ere much like those seen on the *rince in the ,airy tale, lacking the *lume2he costume )as similar to that )hich )e had seen on all the )omen, though some o, them, those )orking in the ,ields, glim*sed by our glasses )hen )e ,irst ,le) o+er, )ore only the ,irst t)o6 settled my shoulders and stretched my arms, remarking: 12hey ha+e )orked out a mighty sensible dress, 68ll say that ,or them-5 4ith )hich )e all agreed1:o) then,5 2erry *roclaimed, 1)e8+e had a ,ine long slee*7)e8+e had a good bath7)e8re clothed and in our right minds, though ,eeling like a lot o, neuters- ;o you think these highly ci+iliFed ladies are going to gi+e us any break,astD5 1=, course they )ill,5 "e,, asserted con,idently- 16, they had meant to kill us, they )ould ha+e done it be,ore- 6 belie+e )e are going to be treated as guests-5 1Hailed as deli+erers, 6 think,5 said 2erry1.tudied as curiosities,5 6 told them- 1<ut anyho), )e )ant ,ood- .o no) ,or a sortieG5 ! sortie )as not so easy2he bathroom only o*ened into our chamber, and that had but one outlet, a big hea+y door, )hich )as ,astened4e listened12here8s someone outside,5 "e,, suggested- 1Bet8s knock-5 .o )e knocked, )hereu*on the door o*ened=utside )as another large room, ,urnished )ith a great table at one end, long benches or couches against the )all, some smaller tables and chairs- !ll these )ere solid, strong, sim*le in structure, and com,ortable in use7also, incidentally, beauti,ul2his room )as occu*ied by a number o, )omen, eighteen to be e/act, some o, )hom )e distinctly recalled2erry hea+ed a disa**ointed sigh- 12he ColonelsG5 6 heard him )his*er to "e,,"e,,, ho)e+er, ad+anced and bo)ed in his best manner9 so did )e all, and )e )ere saluted ci+illy by the tall0standing )omen-

4e had no need to make *athetic *antomime o, hunger9 the smaller tables )ere already laid )ith ,ood, and )e )ere gra+ely in+ited to be seated- 2he tables )ere set ,or t)o9 each o, us ,ound oursel+es *laced +is0a0+is )ith one o, our hosts, and each table had ,i+e other stal)arts nearby, unobtrusi+ely )atching- 4e had *lenty o, time to get tired o, those )omenG 2he break,ast )as not *ro,use, but su,,icient in amount and e/cellent in Auality- 4e )ere all too good tra+elers to ob@ect to no+elty, and this re*ast )ith its ne) but delicious ,ruit, its dish o, large rich0,la+ored nuts, and its highly satis,actory little cakes )as most agreeable- 2here )as )ater to drink, and a hot be+erage o, a most *leasing Auality, some *re*aration like cocoa!nd then and there, )illy0nilly, be,ore )e had satis,ied our a**etites, our education began<y each o, our *lates lay a little book, a real *rinted book, though di,,erent ,rom ours both in *a*er and binding, as )ell, o, course, as in ty*e- 4e e/amined them curiously1.hades o, .au+eurG5 muttered 2erry- 14e8re to learn the languageG5 4e )ere indeed to learn the language, and not only that, but to teach our o)n- 2here )ere blank books )ith *arallel columns, neatly ruled, e+idently *re*ared ,or the occasion, and in these, as ,ast as )e learned and )rote do)n the name o, anything, )e )ere urged to )rite our o)n name ,or it by its side2he book )e had to study )as e+idently a schoolbook, one in )hich children learned to read, and )e @udged ,rom this, and ,rom their ,reAuent consultation as to methods, that they had had no *re+ious e/*erience in the art o, teaching ,oreigners their language, or o, learning any other=n the other hand, )hat they lacked in e/*erience, they made u* ,or in genius- .uch subtle understanding, such instant recognition o, our di,,iculties, and readiness to meet them, )ere a constant sur*rise to us=, course, )e )ere )illing to meet them hal,)ay- 6t )as )holly to our ad+antage to be able to understand and s*eak )ith them, and as to re,using to teach them7)hy should )eD Bater on )e did try o*en rebellion, but only once2hat ,irst meal )as *leasant enough, each o, us Auietly studying his com*anion, "e,, )ith sincere admiration, 2erry )ith that highly technical look o, his, as o, a *ast master7like a lion tamer, a ser*ent charmer, or some such *ro,essional- 6 mysel, )as intensely interested6t )as e+ident that those sets o, ,i+e )ere there to check any outbreak on our *art- 4e had no )ea*ons, and i, )e did try to do any damage, )ith a chair, say, )hy ,i+e to one )as too many ,or us, e+en i, they )ere )omen9 that )e had ,ound out to our sorro)- 6t )as not *leasant, ha+ing them al)ays around, but )e soon got used to it16t8s better than being *hysically restrained oursel+es,5 "e,, *hiloso*hically suggested )hen )e )ere alone- 12hey8+e gi+en us a room7)ith no great *ossibility o, esca*e7and *ersonal liberty7 hea+ily cha*eroned- 6t8s better than )e8d ha+e been likely to get in a man0country-5 1>an0CountryG ;o you really belie+e there are no men here, you innocentD ;on8t you kno) there must beD5 demanded 2erry13e7es,5 "e,, agreed- 1=, course7and yet75 1!nd yet7)hatG Come, you obdurate sentimentalist7)hat are you thinking aboutD5 12hey may ha+e some *eculiar di+ision o, labor )e8+e ne+er heard o,,5 6 suggested- 12he men may li+e in se*arate to)ns, or they may ha+e subdued them7someho)7and kee* them shut u*<ut there must be some-5 12hat last suggestion o, yours is a nice one, ?an,5 2erry *rotested- 1.ame as they8+e got us subdued and shut u*G you make me shi+er-5 14ell, ,igure it out ,or yoursel,, any)ay you *lease- 4e sa) *lenty o, kids, the ,irst day, and )e8+e seen those girls75 1Eeal girlsG5 2erry agreed, in immense relie,- 1Glad you mentioned 8em- 6 declare, i, 6 thought there )as nothing in the country but those grenadiers 68d @um* out the )indo)-5 1.*eaking o, )indo)s,5 6 suggested, 1let8s e/amine ours-5 4e looked out o, all the )indo)s- 2he blinds o*ened easily enough, and there )ere no bars, but the *ros*ect )as not reassuring2his )as not the *ink0)alled to)n )e had so rashly entered the day be,ore- =ur chamber )as

high u*, in a *ro@ecting )ing o, a sort o, castle, built out on a stee* s*ur o, rock- 6mmediately belo) us )ere gardens, ,ruit,ul and ,ragrant, but their high )alls ,ollo)ed the edge o, the cli,, )hich dro**ed sheer do)n, )e could not see ho) ,ar- 2he distant sound o, )ater suggested a ri+er at the ,oot4e could look out east, )est, and south- 2o the southeast)ard stretched the o*en country, lying bright and ,air in the morning light, but on either side, and e+idently behind, rose great mountains12his thing is a regular ,ortress7and no )omen built it, 6 can tell you that,5 said 2erry- 4e nodded agreeingly- 16t8s right u* among the hills7they must ha+e brought us a long )ay-5 14e sa) some kind o, s)i,t0mo+ing +ehicles the ,irst day,5 "e,, reminded us- 16, they8+e got motors, they !E ci+iliFed-5 1Ci+iliFed or not, )e8+e got our )ork cut out ,or us to get a)ay ,rom here- 6 don8t *ro*ose to make a ro*e o, bedclothes and try those )alls till 68m sure there is no better )ay-5 4e all concurred on this *oint, and returned to our discussion as to the )omen"e,, continued thought,ul- 1!ll the same, there8s something ,unny about it,5 he urged- 16t isn8t @ust that )e don8t see any men7but )e don8t see any signs o, them- 2he7the7reaction o, these )omen is di,,erent ,rom any that 68+e e+er met-5 12here is something in )hat you say, "e,,,5 6 agreed- 12here is a di,,erent7atmos*here-5 12hey don8t seem to notice our being men,5 he )ent on- 12hey treat us7)ell7@ust as they do one another- 6t8s as i, our being men )as a minor incident-5 6 nodded- 68d noticed it mysel,- <ut 2erry broke in rudely1FiddlesticksG5 he said- 16t8s because o, their ad+anced age- 2hey8re all grandmas, 6 tell you7or ought to be- Great aunts, anyho)- 2hose girls )ere girls all right, )eren8t theyD5 13es75 "e,, agreed, still slo)ly- 1<ut they )eren8t a,raid7they ,le) u* that tree and hid, like schoolboys caught out o, bounds7not like shy girls-5 1!nd they ran like marathon )inners7you8ll admit that, 2erry,5 he added2erry )as moody as the days *assed- He seemed to mind our con,inement more than "e,, or 6 did9 and he har*ed on !lima, and ho) near he8d come to catching her- 16, 6 had75 he )ould say, rather sa+agely, 1)e8d ha+e had a hostage and could ha+e made terms-5 <ut "e,, )as getting on e/cellent terms )ith his tutor, and e+en his guards, and so )as 6- 6t interested me *ro,oundly to note and study the subtle di,,erence bet)een these )omen and other )omen, and try to account ,or them- 6n the matter o, *ersonal a**earance, there )as a great di,,erence- 2hey all )ore short hair, some ,e) inches at most9 some curly, some not9 all light and clean and ,resh0looking16, their hair )as only long,5 "e,, )ould com*lain, 1they )ould look so much more ,eminine-5 6 rather liked it mysel,, a,ter 6 got used to it- 4hy )e should so admire 1a )oman8s cro)n o, hair5 and not admire a Chinaman8s Aueue is hard to e/*lain, e/ce*t that )e are so con+inced that the long hair 1belongs5 to a )oman- 4hereas the 1mane5 in horses is on both, and in lions, bu,,alos, and such creatures only on the male- <ut 6 did miss it7at ,irst=ur time )as Auite *leasantly ,illed- 4e )ere ,ree o, the garden belo) our )indo)s, Auite long in its irregular rambling sha*e, bordering the cli,,- 2he )alls )ere *er,ectly smooth and high, ending in the masonry o, the building9 and as 6 studied the great stones 6 became con+inced that the )hole structure )as e/tremely old- 6t )as built like the *re06ncan architecture in Peru, o, enormous monoliths, ,itted as closely as mosaics12hese ,olks ha+e a history, that8s sure,5 6 told the others- 1!nd .=> time they )ere ,ighters 7else )hy a ,ortressD5 6 said )e )ere ,ree o, the garden, but not )holly alone in it- 2here )as al)ays a string o, those uncom,ortably strong )omen sitting about, al)ays one o, them )atching us e+en i, the others )ere reading, *laying games, or busy at some kind o, handi)ork14hen 6 see them knit,5 2erry said, 16 can almost call them ,eminine-5 12hat doesn8t *ro+e anything,5 "e,, *rom*tly re*lied- 1.cotch she*herds knit7al)ays knitting-5 14hen )e get out75 2erry stretched himsel, and looked at the ,ar *eaks, 1)hen )e get out o, this and get to )here the real )omen are7the mothers, and the girls75

14ell, )hat8ll )e do thenD5 6 asked, rather gloomily- 1Ho) do you kno) )e8ll e+er get outD5 2his )as an un*leasant idea, )hich )e unanimously considered, returning )ith earnestness to our studies16, )e are good boys and learn our lessons )ell,5 6 suggested- 16, )e are Auiet and res*ect,ul and *olite and they are not a,raid o, us7then *erha*s they )ill let us out- !nd any)ay7)hen )e do esca*e, it is o, immense im*ortance that )e kno) the language-5 Personally, 6 )as tremendously interested in that language, and seeing they had books, )as eager to get at them, to dig into their history, i, they had one6t )as not hard to s*eak, smooth and *leasant to the ear, and so easy to read and )rite that 6 mar+eled at it- 2hey had an absolutely *honetic system, the )hole thing )as as scienti,ic as s*aranto yet bore all the marks o, an old and rich ci+iliFation4e )ere ,ree to study as much as )e )ished, and )ere not le,t merely to )ander in the garden ,or recreation but introduced to a great gymnasium, *artly on the roo, and *artly in the story belo)Here )e learned real res*ect ,or our tall guards- :o change o, costume )as needed ,or this )ork, sa+e to lay o,, outer clothing- 2he ,irst one )as as *er,ect a garment ,or e/ercise as need be de+ised, absolutely ,ree to mo+e in, and, 6 had to admit, much better0looking than our usual one1Forty7o+er ,orty7some o, 8em ,i,ty, 6 bet7and look at 8emG5 grumbled 2erry in reluctant admiration2here )ere no s*ectacular acrobatics, such as only the young can *er,orm, but ,or all0around de+elo*ment they had a most e/cellent system- ! good deal o, music )ent )ith it, )ith *osture dancing and, sometimes, gra+ely beauti,ul *rocessional *er,ormances"e,, )as much im*ressed by it- 4e did not kno) then ho) small a *art o, their *hysical culture methods this really )as, but ,ound it agreeable to )atch, and to take *art in=h yes, )e took *art all rightG 6t )asn8t absolutely com*ulsory, but )e thought it better to *lease2erry )as the strongest o, us, though 6 )as )iry and had good staying *o)er, and "e,, )as a great s*rinter and hurdler, but 6 can tell you those old ladies ga+e us cards and s*ades- 2hey ran like deer, by )hich 6 mean that they ran not as i, it )as a *er,ormance, but as i, it )as their natural gait4e remembered those ,leeting girls o, our ,irst bright ad+enture, and concluded that it )as2hey lea*ed like deer, too, )ith a Auick ,olding motion o, the legs, dra)n u* and turned to one side )ith a sidelong t)ist o, the body- 6 remembered the s*ra)ling s*read0eagle )ay in )hich some o, the ,ello)s used to come o+er the line7and tried to learn the trick- 4e did not easily catch u* )ith these e/*erts, ho)e+er1:e+er thought 68d li+e to be bossed by a lot o, elderly lady acrobats,5 2erry *rotested2hey had games, too, a good many o, them, but )e ,ound them rather uninteresting at ,irst- 6t )as like t)o *eo*le *laying solitaire to see )ho )ould get it ,irst9 more like a race or a7a com*etiti+e e/amination, than a real game )ith some ,ight in it6 *hiloso*hiFed a bit o+er this and told 2erry it argued against their ha+ing any men about12here isn8t a man0siFe game in the lot,5 6 said1<ut they are interesting76 like them,5 "e,, ob@ected, 1and 68m sure they are educational-5 168m sick and tired o, being educated,5 2erry *rotested- 1Fancy going to a dame school7at our age- 6 )ant to Get =utG5 <ut )e could not get out, and )e )ere being educated s)i,tly- =ur s*ecial tutors rose ra*idly in our esteem- 2hey seemed o, rather ,iner Auality than the guards, though all )ere on terms o, easy ,riendliness- >ine )as named .omel, "e,,8s Ha+a, and 2erry8s >oadine- 4e tried to generaliFe ,rom the names, those o, the guards, and o, our three girls, but got no)here12hey sound )ell enough, and they8re mostly short, but there8s no similarity o, termination7 and no t)o alike- Ho)e+er, our acAuaintance is limited as yet-5 2here )ere many things )e meant to ask7as soon as )e could talk )ell enough- <etter teaching 6 ne+er sa)- From morning to night there )as .omel, al)ays on call e/ce*t bet)een t)o and ,our9 al)ays *leasant )ith a steady ,riendly kindness that 6 gre) to en@oy +ery much- "e,, said >iss Ha+a7he )ould *ut on a title, though they a**arently had none7)as a darling, that she

reminded him o, his !unt sther at home9 but 2erry re,used to be )on, and rather @eered at his o)n com*anion, )hen )e )ere alone168m sick o, itG5 he *rotested- 1.ick o, the )hole thing- Here )e are coo*ed u* as hel*less as a bunch o, three0year0old or*hans, and being taught )hat they think is necessary7)hether )e like it or not- Con,ound their old0maid im*udenceG5 :e+ertheless )e )ere taught- 2hey brought in a raised ma* o, their country, beauti,ully made, and increased our kno)ledge o, geogra*hical terms9 but )hen )e inAuired ,or in,ormation as to the country outside, they smilingly shook their heads2hey brought *ictures, not only the engra+ings in the books but colored studies o, *lants and trees and ,lo)ers and birds- 2hey brought tools and +arious small ob@ects7)e had *lenty o, 1material5 in our school6, it had not been ,or 2erry )e )ould ha+e been much more contented, but as the )eeks ran into months he gre) more and more irritable1;on8t act like a bear )ith a sore head,5 6 begged him- 14e8re getting on ,inely- +ery day )e can understand them better, and *retty soon )e can make a reasonable *lea to be let out75 1B 2 outG5 he stormed- 1B 2 out7like children ke*t a,ter school- 6 )ant to Get =ut, and 68m going to- 6 )ant to ,ind the men o, this *lace and ,ightG7or the girls75 1Guess it8s the girls you8re most interested in,5 "e,, commented- 14hat are you going to ,ight 462H7your ,istsD5 13es7or sticks and stones768d @ust like toG5 !nd 2erry sAuared o,, and ta**ed "e,, so,tly on the @a)- 1"ust ,or instance,5 he said1!nyho),5 he )ent on, 1)e could get back to our machine and clear out-5 16, it8s there,5 6 cautiously suggested1=h, don8t croak, ?anG 6, it isn8t there, )e8ll ,ind our )ay do)n someho)7the boat8s there, 6 guess-5 6t )as hard on 2erry, so hard that he ,inally *ersuaded us to consider a *lan o, esca*e- 6t )as di,,icult, it )as highly dangerous, but he declared that he8d go alone i, )e )ouldn8t go )ith him, and o, course )e couldn8t think o, that6t a**eared he had made a *retty care,ul study o, the en+ironment- From our end )indo) that ,aced the *oint o, the *romontory )e could get a ,air idea o, the stretch o, )all, and the dro* belo)!lso ,rom the roo, )e could make out more, and e+en, in one *lace, glim*se a sort o, *ath belo) the )all16t8s a Auestion o, three things,5 he said- 1Eo*es, agility, and not being seen-5 12hat8s the hardest *art,5 6 urged, still ho*ing to dissuade him- 1=ne or another *air o, eyes is on us e+ery minute e/ce*t at night-5 12here,ore )e must do it at night,5 he ans)ered- 12hat8s easy-5 14e8+e got to think that i, they catch us )e may not be so )ell treated a,ter)ard,5 said "e,,12hat8s the business risk )e must take- 68m going7i, 6 break my neck-5 2here )as no changing him2he ro*e *roblem )as not easy- .omething strong enough to hold a man and long enough to let us do)n into the garden, and then do)n o+er the )all- 2here )ere *lenty o, strong ro*es in the gymnasium7they seemed to lo+e to s)ing and climb on them7but )e )ere ne+er there by oursel+es4e should ha+e to *iece it out ,rom our bedding, rugs, and garments, and moreo+er, )e should ha+e to do it a,ter )e )ere shut in ,or the night, ,or e+ery day the *lace )as cleaned to *er,ection by t)o o, our guardians4e had no shears, no kni+es, but 2erry )as resource,ul- 12hese "ennies ha+e glass and china, you see- 4e8ll break a glass ,rom the bathroom and use that- 8Bo+e )ill ,ind out a )ay,85 he hummed- 14hen )e8re all out o, the )indo), )e8ll stand three0man high and cut the ro*e as ,ar u* as )e can reach, so as to ha+e more ,or the )all- 6 kno) @ust )here 6 sa) that bit o, *ath belo), and there8s a big tree there, too, or a +ine or something76 sa) the lea+es-5 6t seemed a craFy risk to take, but this )as, in a )ay, 2erry8s e/*edition, and )e )ere all tired o,

our im*risonment.o )e )aited ,or ,ull moon, retired early, and s*ent an an/ious hour or t)o in the unskilled manu,acture o, man0strong ro*es2o retire into the de*ths o, the closet, mu,,le a glass in thick cloth, and break it )ithout noise )as not di,,icult, and broken glass )ill cut, though not as de,tly as a *air o, scissors2he broad moonlight streamed in through ,our o, our )indo)s7)e had not dared lea+e our lights on too long7and )e )orked hard and ,ast at our task o, destructionHangings, rugs, robes, to)els, as )ell as bed0,urniture7e+en the mattress co+ers7)e le,t not one stitch u*on another, as "e,, *ut it2hen at an end )indo), as less liable to obser+ation, )e ,astened one end o, our cable, strongly, to the ,irm0set hinge o, the inner blind, and dro**ed our coiled bundle o, ro*e so,tly o+er12his *art8s easy enough768ll come last, so as to cut the ro*e,5 said 2erry.o 6 sli**ed do)n ,irst, and stood, )ell braced against the )all9 then "e,, on my shoulders, then 2erry, )ho shook us a little as he sa)ed through the cord abo+e his head- 2hen 6 slo)ly dro**ed to the ground, "e,, ,ollo)ing, and at last )e all three stood sa,e in the garden, )ith most o, our ro*e )ith us1Good0bye, GrandmaG5 )his*ered 2erry, under his breath, and )e cre*t so,tly to)ard the )all, taking ad+antage o, the shado) o, e+ery bush and tree- He had been ,oresighted enough to mark the +ery s*ot, only a scratch o, stone on stone, but )e could see to read in that light- For anchorage there )as a tough, ,air0siFed shrub close to the )all1:o) 68ll climb u* on you t)o again and go o+er ,irst,5 said 2erry- 12hat8ll hold the ro*e ,irm till you both get u* on to*- 2hen 68ll go do)n to the end- 6, 6 can get o,, sa,ely, you can see me and ,ollo)7or, say, 68ll t)itch it three times- 6, 6 ,ind there8s absolutely no ,ooting7)hy 68ll climb u* again, that8s all- 6 don8t think they8ll kill us-5 From the to* he reconnoitered care,ully, )a+ed his hand, and )his*ered, 1=I,5 then sli**ed o+er- "e,, climbed u* and 6 ,ollo)ed, and )e rather shi+ered to see ho) ,ar do)n that s)aying, )a+ering ,igure dro**ed, hand under hand, till it disa**eared in a mass o, ,oliage ,ar belo)2hen there )ere three Auick *ulls, and "e,, and 6, not )ithout a @oyous sense o, reco+ered ,reedom, success,ully ,ollo)ed our leaderHerland Cha*ter J =ur ?enture 4e )ere standing on a narro), irregular, all too slanting little ledge, and should doubtless ha+e ignominiously sli**ed o,, and broken our rash necks but ,or the +ine- 2his )as a thick0lea+ed, )ide0s*reading thing, a little like !m*helo*sis16t8s not KC62 +ertical here, you see,5 said 2erry, ,ull o, *ride and enthusiasm- 12his thing ne+er )ould hold our direct )eight, but 6 think i, )e sort o, slide do)n on it, one at a time, sticking in )ith hands and ,eet, )e8ll reach that ne/t ledge ali+e-5 1!s )e do not )ish to get u* our ro*e again7and can8t com,ortably stay here76 a**ro+e,5 said "e,, solemnly2erry slid do)n ,irst7said he8d sho) us ho) a Christian meets his death- Buck )as )ith us- 4e had *ut on the thickest o, those intermediate suits, lea+ing our tunics behind, and made this scramble Auite success,ully, though 6 got a *retty hea+y ,all @ust at the end, and )as only ke*t on the second ledge by main ,orce- 2he ne/t stage )as do)n a sort o, 1chimney57a long irregular ,issure9 and so )ith scratches many and *ain,ul and bruises not a ,e), )e ,inally reached the stream6t )as darker there, but )e ,elt it highly necessary to *ut as much distance as *ossible behind us9 so )e )aded, @um*ed, and clambered do)n that rocky ri+erbed, in the ,lickering black and )hite moonlight and lea, shado), till gro)ing daylight ,orced a halt4e ,ound a ,riendly nut0tree, those large, satis,ying, so,t0shelled nuts )e already kne) so )ell, and ,illed our *ockets6 see that 6 ha+e not remarked that these )omen had *ockets in sur*rising number and +ariety-

2hey )ere in all their garments, and the middle one in *articular )as shingled )ith them- .o )e stocked u* )ith nuts till )e bulged like Prussian *ri+ates in marching order, drank all )e could hold, and retired ,or the day6t )as not a +ery com,ortable *lace, not at all easy to get at, @ust a sort o, cre+ice high u* along the stee* bank, but it )as )ell +eiled )ith ,oliage and dry- !,ter our e/hausti+e three0 or ,our0hour scramble and the good break,ast ,ood, )e all lay do)n along that crack7heads and tails, as it )ere 7and sle*t till the a,ternoon sun almost toasted our ,aces2erry *oked a tentati+e ,oot against my head1Ho) are you, ?anD !li+e yetD5 1?ery much so,5 6 told him- !nd "e,, )as eAually cheer,ul4e had room to stretch, i, not to turn around9 but )e could +ery care,ully roll o+er, one at a time, behind the sheltering ,oliage6t )as no use to lea+e there by daylight- 4e could not see much o, the country, but enough to kno) that )e )ere no) at the beginning o, the culti+ated area, and no doubt there )ould be an alarm sent out ,ar and )ide2erry chuckled so,tly to himsel,, lying there on that hot narro) little rim o, rock- He dilated on the discom,iture o, our guards and tutors, making many discourteous remarks6 reminded him that )e had still a long )ay to go be,ore getting to the *lace )here )e8d le,t our machine, and no *robability o, ,inding it there9 but he only kicked me, mildly, ,or a croaker16, you can8t boost, don8t knock,5 he *rotested- 16 ne+er said 8t)ould be a *icnic- <ut 68d run a)ay in the !ntarctic ice ,ields rather than be a *risoner-5 4e soon doFed o,, again2he long rest and *enetrating dry heat )ere good ,or us, and that night )e co+ered a considerable distance, kee*ing al)ays in the rough ,orested belt o, land )hich )e kne) bordered the )hole country- .ometimes )e )ere near the outer edge, and caught sudden glim*ses o, the tremendous de*ths beyond12his *iece o, geogra*hy stands u* like a basalt column,5 "e,, said- 1:ice time )e8ll ha+e getting do)n i, they ha+e con,iscated our machineG5 For )hich suggestion he recei+ed summary chastisement4hat )e could see inland )as *eaceable enough, but only moonlit glim*ses9 by daylight )e lay +ery close- !s 2erry said, )e did not )ish to kill the old ladies7e+en i, )e could9 and short o, that they )ere *er,ectly com*etent to *ick us u* bodily and carry us back, i, disco+ered- 2here )as nothing ,or it but to lie lo), and sneak out unseen i, )e could do it2here )asn8t much talking done- !t night )e had our marathon0obstacle race9 )e 1stayed not ,or brake and )e sto**ed not ,or stone,5 and s)am )hate+er )ater )as too dee* to )ade and could not be got around9 but that )as only necessary t)ice- <y day, slee*, sound and s)eet- >ighty lucky it )as that )e could li+e o,, the country as )e did- +en that margin o, ,orest seemed rich in ,oodstu,,s<ut "e,, thought,ully suggested that that +ery thing sho)ed ho) care,ul )e should ha+e to be, as )e might run into some stal)art grou* o, gardeners or ,oresters or nut0gatherers at any minuteCare,ul )e )ere, ,eeling *retty sure that i, )e did not make good this time )e )ere not likely to ha+e another o**ortunity9 and at last )e reached a *oint ,rom )hich )e could see, ,ar belo), the broad stretch o, that still lake ,rom )hich )e had made our ascent12hat looks *retty good to meG5 said 2erry, gaFing do)n at it- 1:o), i, )e can8t ,ind the 8*lane, )e kno) )here to aim i, )e ha+e to dro* o+er this )all some other )ay-5 2he )all at that *oint )as singularly unin+iting- 6t rose so straight that )e had to *ut our heads o+er to see the base, and the country belo) seemed to be a ,ar0o,, marshy tangle o, rank +egetation4e did not ha+e to risk our necks to that e/tent, ho)e+er, ,or at last, stealing along among the rocks and trees like so many cree*ing sa+ages, )e came to that ,lat s*ace )here )e had landed9 and there, in unbelie+able good ,ortune, )e ,ound our machine1Co+ered, too, by @ingoG 4ould you think they had that much senseD5 cried 2erry16, they had that much, they8re likely to ha+e more,5 6 )arned him, so,tly- 1<et you the thing8s

)atched-5 4e reconnoitered as )idely as )e could in the ,ailing moonlight7moons are o, a *ain,ully unreliable nature9 but the gro)ing da)n sho)ed us the ,amiliar sha*e, shrouded in some hea+y cloth like can+as, and no slightest sign o, any )atchman near- 4e decided to make a Auick dash as soon as the light )as strong enough ,or accurate )ork16 don8t care i, the old thing8ll go or not,5 2erry declared- 14e can run her to the edge, get aboard, and @ust *lane do)n7*lo*G7beside our boat there- Book there7see the boatG5 .ure enough7there )as our motor, lying like a gray cocoon on the ,lat *ale sheet o, )aterKuietly but s)i,tly )e rushed ,or)ard and began to tug at the ,astenings o, that co+er1Con,ound the thingG5 2erry cried in des*erate im*atience- 12hey8+e got it se)ed u* in a bagG !nd )e8+e not a kni,e among usG5 2hen, as )e tugged and *ulled at that tough cloth )e heard a sound that made 2erry li,t his head like a )ar horse7the sound o, an unmistakable giggle, yes7three giggles2here they )ere7Celis, !lima, llador7looking @ust as they had )hen )e ,irst sa) them, standing a little )ay o,, ,rom us, as interested, as mischie+ous as three schoolboys1Hold on, 2erry7hold onG5 6 )arned- 12hat8s too easy- Book out ,or a tra*-5 1Bet us a**eal to their kind hearts,5 "e,, urged- 16 think they )ill hel* us- Perha*s they8+e got kni+es-5 16t8s no use rushing them, anyho),5 6 )as absolutely holding on to 2erry- 14e kno) they can out0run and out0climb us-5 He reluctantly admitted this9 and a,ter a brie, *arley among oursel+es, )e all ad+anced slo)ly to)ard them, holding out our hands in token o, ,riendliness2hey stood their ground till )e had come ,airly near, and then indicated that )e should sto*- 2o make sure, )e ad+anced a ste* or t)o and they *rom*tly and s)i,tly )ithdre)- .o )e sto**ed at the distance s*eci,ied- 2hen )e used their language, as ,ar as )e )ere able, to e/*lain our *light, telling ho) )e )ere im*risoned, ho) )e had esca*ed7a good deal o, *antomime here and +i+id interest on their *art7ho) )e had tra+eled by night and hidden by day, li+ing on nuts7and here 2erry *retended great hunger6 kno) he could not ha+e been hungry9 )e had ,ound *lenty to eat and had not been s*aring in hel*ing oursel+es- <ut they seemed some)hat im*ressed9 and a,ter a murmured consultation they *roduced ,rom their *ockets certain little *ackages, and )ith the utmost ease and accuracy tossed them into our hands"e,, )as most a**reciati+e o, this9 and 2erry made e/tra+agant gestures o, admiration, )hich seemed to set them o,,, boy0,ashion, to sho) their skill- 4hile )e ate the e/cellent biscuits they had thro)n us, and )hile llador ke*t a )atch,ul eye on our mo+ements, Celis ran o,, to some distance, and set u* a sort o, 1duck0on0a0rock5 arrangement, a big yello) nut on to* o, three balanced sticks9 !lima, mean)hile, gathering stones2hey urged us to thro) at it, and )e did, but the thing )as a long )ay o,,, and it )as only a,ter a number o, ,ailures, at )hich those el+ish damsels laughed delightedly, that "e,, succeeded in bringing the )hole structure to the ground- 6t took me still longer, and 2erry, to his intense annoyance, came third2hen Celis set u* the little tri*od again, and looked back at us, knocking it do)n, *ointing at it, and shaking her short curls se+erely- 1:o,5 she said- 1<ad7)rongG5 4e )ere Auite able to ,ollo) her2hen she set it u* once more, *ut the ,at nut on to*, and returned to the others9 and there those aggra+ating girls sat and took turns thro)ing little stones at that thing, )hile one stayed by as a setter0u*9 and they @ust *o**ed that nut o,,, t)o times out o, three, )ithout u*setting the sticksPleased as Punch they )ere, too, and )e *retended to be, but )eren8t4e got +ery ,riendly o+er this game, but 6 told 2erry )e8d be sorry i, )e didn8t get o,, )hile )e could, and then )e begged ,or kni+es- 6t )as easy to sho) )hat )e )anted to do, and they each *roudly *roduced a sort o, strong clas*0kni,e ,rom their *ockets13es,5 )e said eagerly, 1that8s itG Please75 4e had learned Auite a bit o, their language, you

see- !nd )e @ust begged ,or those kni+es, but they )ould not gi+e them to us- 6, )e came a ste* too near they backed o,,, standing light and eager ,or ,light16t8s no sort o, use,5 6 said- 1Come on7let8s get a shar* stone or something7)e must get this thing o,,-5 .o )e hunted about and ,ound )hat edged ,ragments )e could, and hacked a)ay, but it )as like trying to cut sailcloth )ith a clamshell2erry hacked and dug, but said to us under his breath- 1<oys, )e8re in *retty good condition7 let8s make a li,e and death dash and get hold o, those girls7)e8+e got to-5 2hey had dra)n rather nearer to )atch our e,,orts, and )e did take them rather by sur*rise9 also, as 2erry said, our recent training had strengthened us in )ind and limb, and ,or a ,e) des*erate moments those girls )ere scared and )e almost trium*hant<ut @ust as )e stretched out our hands, the distance bet)een us )idened9 they had got their *ace a**arently, and then, though )e ran at our utmost s*eed, and much ,arther than 6 thought )ise, they ke*t @ust out o, reach all the time4e sto**ed breathless, at last, at my re*eated admonitions12his is stark ,oolishness,5 6 urged- 12hey are doing it on *ur*ose7come back or you8ll be sorry-5 4e )ent back, much slo)er than )e came, and in truth )e )ere sorry!s )e reached our s)addled machine, and sought again to tear loose its co+ering, there rose u* ,rom all around the sturdy ,orms, the Auiet determined ,aces )e kne) so )ell1=h BordG5 groaned 2erry- 12he ColonelsG 6t8s all u*7they8re ,orty to one-5 6t )as no use to ,ight- 2hese )omen e+idently relied on numbers, not so much as a drilled ,orce but as a multitude actuated by a common im*ulse- 2hey sho)ed no sign o, ,ear, and since )e had no )ea*ons )hate+er and there )ere at least a hundred o, them, standing ten dee* about us, )e ga+e in as grace,ully as )e might=, course )e looked ,or *unishment7a closer im*risonment, solitary con,inement maybe7but nothing o, the kind ha**ened- 2hey treated us as truants only, and as i, they Auite understood our truancy<ack )e )ent, not under an anesthetic this time but skimming along in electric motors enough like ours to be Auite recogniFable, each o, us in a se*arate +ehicle )ith one able0bodied lady on either side and three ,acing him2hey )ere all *leasant enough, and talked to us as much as )as *ossible )ith our limited *o)ers- !nd though 2erry )as keenly morti,ied, and at ,irst )e all rather dreaded harsh treatment, 6 ,or one soon began to ,eel a sort o, *leasant con,idence and to en@oy the tri*Here )ere my ,i+e ,amiliar com*anions, all good0natured as could be, seeming to ha+e no )orse ,eeling than a mild trium*h as o, )inning some sim*le game9 and e+en that they *olitely su**ressed2his )as a good o**ortunity to see the country, too, and the more 6 sa) o, it, the better 6 liked it4e )ent too s)i,tly ,or close obser+ation, but 6 could a**reciate *er,ect roads, as dustless as a s)e*t ,loor9 the shade o, endless lines o, trees9 the ribbon o, ,lo)ers that unrolled beneath them9 and the rich com,ortable country that stretched o,, and a)ay, ,ull o, +aried charm4e rolled through many +illages and to)ns, and 6 soon sa) that the *arklike beauty o, our ,irst0 seen city )as no e/ce*tion- =ur s)i,t high0s)ee*ing +ie) ,rom the 8*lane had been most attracti+e, but lacked detail9 and in that ,irst day o, struggle and ca*ture, )e noticed little- <ut no) )e )ere s)e*t along at an easy rate o, some thirty miles an hour and co+ered Auite a good deal o, ground4e sto**ed ,or lunch in Auite a siFable to)n, and here, rolling slo)ly through the streets, )e sa) more o, the *o*ulation- 2hey had come out to look at us e+ery)here )e had *assed, but here )ere more9 and )hen )e )ent in to eat, in a big garden *lace )ith little shaded tables among the trees and ,lo)ers, many eyes )ere u*on us- !nd e+ery)here, o*en country, +illage, or city7only )omen- =ld )omen and young )omen and a great ma@ority )ho seemed neither young nor old, but @ust )omen9 young girls, also, though these, and the children, seeming to be in grou*s by themsel+es generally, )ere less in e+idence- 4e caught many glim*ses o, girls and children in )hat

seemed to be schools or in *laygrounds, and so ,ar as )e could @udge there )ere no boys- 4e all looked, care,ully- +eryone gaFed at us *olitely, kindly, and )ith eager interest- :o one )as im*ertinent- 4e could catch Auite a bit o, the talk no), and all they said seemed *leasant enough4ell7be,ore night,all )e )ere all sa,ely back in our big room- 2he damage )e had done )as Auite ignored9 the beds as smooth and com,ortable as be,ore, ne) clothing and to)els su**lied- 2he only thing those )omen did )as to illuminate the gardens at night, and to set an e/tra )atch- <ut they called us to account ne/t day- =ur three tutors, )ho had not @oined in the reca*turing e/*edition, had been Auite busy in *re*aring ,or us, and no) made e/*lanation2hey kne) )ell )e )ould make ,or our machine, and also that there )as no other )ay o, getting do)n7ali+e- .o our ,light had troubled no one9 all they did )as to call the inhabitants to kee* an eye on our mo+ements all along the edge o, the ,orest bet)een the t)o *oints- 6t a**eared that many o, those nights )e had been seen, by care,ul ladies sitting snugly in big trees by the ri+erbed, or u* among the rocks2erry looked immensely disgusted, but it struck me as e/tremely ,unny- Here )e had been risking our li+es, hiding and *ro)ling like outla)s, li+ing on nuts and ,ruit, getting )et and cold at night, and dry and hot by day, and all the )hile these estimable )omen had @ust been )aiting ,or us to come out:o) they began to e/*lain, care,ully using such )ords as )e could understand- 6t a**eared that )e )ere considered as guests o, the country7sort o, *ublic )ards- =ur ,irst +iolence had made it necessary to kee* us sa,eguarded ,or a )hile, but as soon as )e learned the language7and )ould agree to do no harm7they )ould sho) us all about the land"e,, )as eager to reassure them- =, course he did not tell on 2erry, but he made it clear that he )as ashamed o, himsel,, and that he )ould no) con,orm- !s to the language7)e all ,ell u*on it )ith redoubled energy- 2hey brought us books, in greater numbers, and 6 began to study them seriously1Pretty *unk literature,5 2erry burst ,orth one day, )hen )e )ere in the *ri+acy o, our o)n room- 1=, course one e/*ects to begin on child0stories, but 6 )ould like something more interesting no)-5 1Can8t e/*ect stirring romance and )ild ad+enture )ithout men, can youD5 6 asked- :othing irritated 2erry more than to ha+e us assume that there )ere no men9 but there )ere no signs o, them in the books they ga+e us, or the *ictures1.hut u*G5 he gro)led- 14hat in,ernal nonsense you talkG 68m going to ask 8em outright7)e kno) enough no)-5 6n truth )e had been using our best e,,orts to master the language, and )ere able to read ,luently and to discuss )hat )e read )ith considerable ease2hat a,ternoon )e )ere all sitting together on the roo,7)e three and the tutors gathered about a table, no guards about- 4e had been made to understand some time earlier that i, )e )ould agree to do no +iolence they )ould )ithdra) their constant attendance, and )e *romised most )illingly.o there )e sat, at ease9 all in similar dress9 our hair, by no), as long as theirs, only our beards to distinguish us- 4e did not )ant those beards, but had so ,ar been unable to induce them to gi+e us any cutting instruments1Badies,5 2erry began, out o, a clear sky, as it )ere, 1are there no men in this countryD5 1>enD5 .omel ans)ered- 1Bike youD5 13es, men,5 2erry indicated his beard, and thre) back his broad shoulders- 1>en, real men-5 1:o,5 she ans)ered Auietly- 12here are no men in this country- 2here has not been a man among us ,or t)o thousand years-5 Her look )as clear and truth,ul and she did not ad+ance this astonishing statement as i, it )as astonishing, but Auite as a matter o, ,act1<ut7the *eo*le7the children,5 he *rotested, not belie+ing her in the least, but not )ishing to say so1=h yes,5 she smiled- 16 do not )onder you are *uFFled- 4e are mothers7all o, us7but there are no ,athers- 4e thought you )ould ask about that long ago7)hy ha+e you notD5 Her look )as

as ,rankly kind as al)ays, her tone Auite sim*le2erry e/*lained that )e had not ,elt su,,iciently used to the language, making rather a mess o, it, 6 thought, but "e,, )as ,ranker14ill you e/cuse us all,5 he said, 1i, )e admit that )e ,ind it hard to belie+eD 2here is no such 7*ossibility7in the rest o, the )orld-5 1Ha+e you no kind o, li,e )here it is *ossibleD5 asked Ha+a14hy, yes7some lo) ,orms, o, course-5 1Ho) lo)7or ho) high, ratherD5 14ell7there are some rather high ,orms o, insect li,e in )hich it occurs- Parthenogenesis, )e call it7that means +irgin birth-5 .he could not ,ollo) him1<6E2H, )e kno), o, course9 but )hat is ?6EG6:D5 2erry looked uncom,ortable, but "e,, met the Auestion Auite calmly- 1!mong mating animals, the term ?6EG6: is a**lied to the ,emale )ho has not mated,5 he ans)ered1=h, 6 see- !nd does it a**ly to the male alsoD =r is there a di,,erent term ,or himD5 He *assed this o+er rather hurriedly, saying that the same term )ould a**ly, but )as seldom used1:oD5 she said- 1<ut one cannot mate )ithout the other surely- 6s not each then7+irgin7be,ore matingD !nd, tell me, ha+e you any ,orms o, li,e in )hich there is birth ,rom a ,ather onlyD5 16 kno) o, none,5 he ans)ered, and 6 inAuired seriously13ou ask us to belie+e that ,or t)o thousand years there ha+e been only )omen here, and only girl babies bornD5 1 /actly,5 ans)ered .omel, nodding gra+ely- 1=, course )e kno) that among other animals it is not so, that there are ,athers as )ell as mothers9 and )e see that you are ,athers, that you come ,rom a *eo*le )ho are o, both kinds- 4e ha+e been )aiting, you see, ,or you to be able to s*eak ,reely )ith us, and teach us about your country and the rest o, the )orld- 3ou kno) so much, you see, and )e kno) only our o)n land-5 6n the course o, our *re+ious studies )e had been at some *ains to tell them about the big )orld outside, to dra) sketches, ma*s, to make a globe, e+en, out o, a s*herical ,ruit, and sho) the siFe and relation o, the countries, and to tell o, the numbers o, their *eo*le- !ll this had been scant and in outline, but they Auite understood6 ,ind 6 succeed +ery *oorly in con+eying the im*ression 6 )ould like to o, these )omen- .o ,ar ,rom being ignorant, they )ere dee*ly )ise7that )e realiFed more and more9 and ,or clear reasoning, ,or real brain sco*e and *o)er they )ere ! :o- 1, but there )ere a lot o, things they did not kno)2hey had the e+enest tem*ers, the most *er,ect *atience and good nature7one o, the things most im*ressi+e about them all )as the absence o, irritability- .o ,ar )e had only this grou* to study, but a,ter)ard 6 ,ound it a common trait4e had gradually come to ,eel that )e )ere in the hands o, ,riends, and +ery ca*able ones at that7but )e couldn8t ,orm any o*inion yet o, the general le+el o, these )omen14e )ant you to teach us all you can,5 .omel )ent on, her ,irm sha*ely hands clas*ed on the table be,ore her, her clear Auiet eyes meeting ours ,rankly- 1!nd )e )ant to teach you )hat )e ha+e that is no+el and use,ul- 3ou can )ell imagine that it is a )onder,ul e+ent to us, to ha+e men among us7a,ter t)o thousand years- !nd )e )ant to kno) about your )omen-5 4hat she said about our im*ortance ga+e instant *leasure to 2erry- 6 could see by the )ay he li,ted his head that it *leased him- <ut )hen she s*oke o, our )omen7some)ay 6 had a Aueer little indescribable ,eeling, not like any ,eeling 6 e+er had be,ore )hen 1)omen5 )ere mentioned14ill you tell us ho) it came aboutD5 "e,, *ursued- 13ou said 8,or t)o thousand years87did you ha+e men here be,ore thatD5 13es,5 ans)ered Ha+a2hey )ere all Auiet ,or a little13ou should ha+e our ,ull history to read7do not be alarmed7it has been made clear and short-

6t took us a long time to learn ho) to )rite history- =h, ho) 6 should lo+e to read yoursG5 .he turned )ith ,lashing eager eyes, looking ,rom one to the other o, us16t )ould be so )onder,ul7)ould it notD 2o com*are the history o, t)o thousand years, to see )hat the di,,erences are7bet)een us, )ho are only mothers, and you, )ho are mothers and ,athers, too- =, course )e see, )ith our birds, that the ,ather is as use,ul as the mother, almost- <ut among insects )e ,ind him o, less im*ortance, sometimes +ery little- 6s it not so )ith youD5 1=h, yes, birds and bugs,5 2erry said, 1but not among animals7ha+e you := animalsD5 14e ha+e cats,5 she said- 12he ,ather is not +ery use,ul-5 1Ha+e you no cattle7shee*7horsesD5 6 dre) some rough outlines o, these beasts and sho)ed them to her14e had, in the +ery old days, these,5 said .omel, and sketched )ith s)i,t sure touches a sort o, shee* or llama, 1and these57dogs, o, t)o or three kinds, 1that that57*ointing to my absurd but recogniFable horse14hat became o, themD5 asked "e,,14e do not )ant them anymore- 2hey took u* too much room7)e need all our land to ,eed our *eo*le- 6t is such a little country, you kno)-5 14hate+er do you do )ithout milkD5 2erry demanded incredulously1>6BID 4e ha+e milk in abundance7our o)n-5 1<ut7but76 mean ,or cooking7,or gro)n *eo*le,5 2erry blundered, )hile they looked amaFed and a shade dis*leased"e,, came to the rescue- 14e kee* cattle ,or their milk, as )ell as ,or their meat,5 he e/*lained1Co)8s milk is a sta*le article o, diet- 2here is a great milk industry7to collect and distribute it-5 .till they looked *uFFled- 6 *ointed to my outline o, a co)- 12he ,armer milks the co),5 6 said, and sketched a milk *ail, the stool, and in *antomime sho)ed the man milking- 12hen it is carried to the city and distributed by milkmen7e+erybody has it at the door in the morning-5 1Has the co) no childD5 asked .omel earnestly1=h, yes, o, course, a cal,, that is-5 16s there milk ,or the cal, and you, tooD5 6t took some time to make clear to those three s)eet0,aced )omen the *rocess )hich robs the co) o, her cal,, and the cal, o, its true ,ood9 and the talk led us into a ,urther discussion o, the meat business- 2hey heard it out, looking +ery )hite, and *resently begged to be e/cusedHerland Cha*ter 5 ! CniAue History 6t is no use ,or me to try to *iece out this account )ith ad+entures- 6, the *eo*le )ho read it are not interested in these amaFing )omen and their history, they )ill not be interested at all!s ,or us7three young men to a )hole land,ul o, )omen7)hat could )e doD 4e did get a)ay, as described, and )ere *eace,ully brought back again )ithout, as 2erry com*lained, e+en the satis,action o, hitting anybody2here )ere no ad+entures because there )as nothing to ,ight- 2here )ere no )ild beasts in the country and +ery ,e) tame ones- =, these 6 might as )ell sto* to describe the one common *et o, the country- Cats, o, course- <ut such catsG 4hat do you su**ose these Bady <urbanks had done )ith their catsD <y the most *rolonged and care,ul selection and e/clusion they had de+elo*ed a race o, cats that did not singG 2hat8s a ,act- 2he most those *oor dumb brutes could do )as to make a kind o, sAueak )hen they )ere hungry or )anted the door o*en, and, o, course, to *urr, and make the +arious mother0noises to their kittens>oreo+er, they had ceased to kill birds- 2hey )ere rigorously bred to destroy mice and moles and all such enemies o, the ,ood su**ly9 but the birds )ere numerous and sa,e4hile )e )ere discussing birds, 2erry asked them i, they used ,eathers ,or their hats, and they seemed amused at the idea- He made a ,e) sketches o, our )omen8s hats, )ith *lumes and Auills and those +arious tickling things that stick out so ,ar9 and they )ere eagerly interested, as at

e+erything about our )omen!s ,or them, they said they only )ore hats ,or shade )hen )orking in the sun9 and those )ere big light stra) hats, something like those used in China and "a*an- 6n cold )eather they )ore ca*s or hoods1<ut ,or decorati+e *ur*oses7don8t you think they )ould be becomingD5 *ursued 2erry, making as *retty a *icture as he could o, a lady )ith a *lumed hat2hey by no means agreed to that, asking Auite sim*ly i, the men )ore the same kind- 4e hastened to assure her that they did not7dre) ,or them our kind o, headgear1!nd do no men )ear ,eathers in their hatsD5 1=nly 6ndians,5 "e,, e/*lained- 1.a+ages, you kno)-5 !nd he sketched a )ar bonnet to sho) them1!nd soldiers,5 6 added, dra)ing a military hat )ith *lumes2hey ne+er e/*ressed horror or disa**ro+al, nor indeed much sur*rise7@ust a keen interest!nd the notes they madeG7miles o, themG <ut to return to our *ussycats- 4e )ere a good deal im*ressed by this achie+ement in breeding, and )hen they Auestioned us76 can tell you )e )ere )ell *um*ed ,or in,ormation7)e told o, )hat had been done ,or dogs and horses and cattle, but that there )as no e,,ort a**lied to cats, e/ce*t ,or sho) *ur*oses6 )ish 6 could re*resent the kind, Auiet, steady, ingenious )ay they Auestioned us- 6t )as not @ust curiosity7they )eren8t a bit more curious about us than )e )ere about them, i, as much- <ut they )ere bent on understanding our kind o, ci+iliFation, and their lines o, interrogation )ould gradually surround us and dri+e us in till )e ,ound oursel+es u* against some admissions )e did not )ant to make1!re all these breeds o, dogs you ha+e made use,ulD5 they asked1=h7use,ulG 4hy, the hunting dogs and )atchdogs and shee*dogs are use,ul7and sleddogs o, courseG7and ratters, 6 su**ose, but )e don8t kee* dogs ,or their C. FCB: ..- 2he dog is 8the ,riend o, man,8 )e say7)e lo+e them-5 2hat they understood- 14e lo+e our cats that )ay- 2hey surely are our ,riends, and hel*ers, too3ou can see ho) intelligent and a,,ectionate they are-5 6t )as a ,act- 68d ne+er seen such cats, e/ce*t in a ,e) rare instances- <ig, handsome silky things, ,riendly )ith e+eryone and de+otedly attached to their s*ecial o)ners13ou must ha+e a heartbreaking time dro)ning kittens,5 )e suggested- <ut they said, 1=h, noG 3ou see )e care ,or them as you do ,or your +aluable cattle- 2he ,athers are ,e) com*ared to the mothers, @ust a ,e) +ery ,ine ones in each to)n9 they li+e Auite ha**ily in )alled gardens and the houses o, their ,riends- <ut they only ha+e a mating season once a year-5 1Eather hard on 2homas, isn8t itD5 suggested 2erry1=h, no7trulyG 3ou see, it is many centuries that )e ha+e been breeding the kind o, cats )e )anted- 2hey are healthy and ha**y and ,riendly, as you see- Ho) do you manage )ith your dogsD ;o you kee* them in *airs, or segregate the ,athers, or )hatD5 2hen )e e/*lained that7)ell, that it )asn8t a Auestion o, ,athers e/actly9 that nobody )anted a 7a mother dog9 that, )ell, that *ractically all our dogs )ere males7there )as only a +ery small *ercentage o, ,emales allo)ed to li+e2hen Ha+a, obser+ing 2erry )ith her gra+e s)eet smile, Auoted back at him: 1Eather hard on 2homas, isn8t itD ;o they en@oy it7li+ing )ithout matesD !re your dogs as uni,ormly healthy and s)eet0tem*ered as our catsD5 "e,, laughed, eyeing 2erry mischie+ously- !s a matter o, ,act )e began to ,eel "e,, something o, a traitor7he so o,ten ,lo**ed o+er and took their side o, things9 also his medical kno)ledge ga+e him a di,,erent *oint o, +ie) someho)168m sorry to admit,5 he told them, 1that the dog, )ith us, is the most diseased o, any animal7 ne/t to man- !nd as to tem*er7there are al)ays some dogs )ho bite *eo*le7es*ecially children-5 2hat )as *ure malice- 3ou see, children )ere the7the E!6.=: ;8 2E in this country- !ll our interlocutors sat u* straight at once- 2hey )ere still gentle, still restrained, but there )as a note

o, dee* amaFement in their +oices1;o )e understand that you kee* an animal7an unmated male animal7that bites childrenD !bout ho) many are there o, them, *leaseD5 12housands7in a large city,5 said "e,,, 1and nearly e+ery ,amily has one in the country-5 2erry broke in at this- 13ou must not imagine they are all dangerous7it8s not one in a hundred that e+er bites anybody- 4hy, they are the best ,riends o, the children7a boy doesn8t ha+e hal, a chance that hasn8t a dog to *lay )ithG5 1!nd the girlsD5 asked .omel1=h7girls7)hy they like them too,5 he said, but his +oice ,latted a little- 2hey al)ays noticed little things like that, )e ,ound laterBittle by little they )rung ,rom us the ,act that the ,riend o, man, in the city, )as a *risoner9 )as taken out ,or his meager e/ercise on a leash9 )as liable not only to many diseases but to the one destroying horror o, rabies9 and, in many cases, ,or the sa,ety o, the citiFens, had to go muFFled"e,, maliciously added +i+id instances he had kno)n or read o, in@ury and death ,rom mad dogs2hey did not scold or ,uss about it- Calm as @udges, those )omen )ere- <ut they made notes9 >oadine read them to us1Please tell me i, 6 ha+e the ,acts correct,5 she said- 16n your country7and in others tooD5 13es,5 )e admitted, 1in most ci+iliFed countries-5 16n most ci+iliFed countries a kind o, animal is ke*t )hich is no longer use,ul75 12hey are a *rotection,5 2erry insisted- 12hey bark i, burglars try to get in-5 2hen she made notes o, 1burglars5 and )ent on: 1because o, the lo+e )hich *eo*le bear to this animal-5 Ha+a interru*ted here- 16s it the men or the )omen )ho lo+e this animal so muchD5 1<othG5 insisted 2erry1 AuallyD5 she inAuired!nd "e,, said, 1:onsense, 2erry7you kno) men like dogs better than )omen do7as a )hole-5 1<ecause they lo+e it so much7es*ecially men- 2his animal is ke*t shut u*, or chained-5 14hyD5 suddenly asked .omel- 14e kee* our ,ather cats shut u* because )e do not )ant too much ,athering9 but they are not chained7they ha+e large grounds to run in-5 1! +aluable dog )ould be stolen i, he )as let loose,5 6 said- 14e *ut collars on them, )ith the o)ner8s name, in case they do stray- <esides, they get into ,ights7a +aluable dog might easily be killed by a bigger one-5 16 see,5 she said- 12hey ,ight )hen they meet7is that commonD5 4e admitted that it )as12hey are ke*t shut u*, or chained-5 .he *aused again, and asked, 16s not a dog ,ond o, runningD !re they not built ,or s*eedD5 2hat )e admitted, too, and "e,,, still malicious, enlightened them ,urther168+e al)ays thought it )as a *athetic sight, both )ays7to see a man or a )oman taking a dog to )alk7at the end o, a string-5 1Ha+e you bred them to be as neat in their habits as cats areD5 )as the ne/t Auestion- !nd )hen "e,, told them o, the e,,ect o, dogs on side)alk merchandise and the streets generally, they ,ound it hard to belie+e3ou see, their country )as as neat as a ;utch kitchen, and as to sanitation7but 6 might as )ell start in no) )ith as much as 6 can remember o, the history o, this amaFing country be,ore ,urther descri*tion!nd 68ll summariFe here a bit as to our o**ortunities ,or learning it- 6 )ill not try to re*eat the care,ul, detailed account 6 lost9 68ll @ust say that )e )ere ke*t in that ,ortress a good si/ months all told, and a,ter that, three in a *leasant enough city )here7to 2erry8s in,inite disgust7there )ere only 1Colonels5 and little children7no young )omen )hate+er- 2hen )e )ere under sur+eillance ,or three more7al)ays )ith a tutor or a guard or both- <ut those months )ere *leasant because )e )ere really getting acAuainted )ith the girls- 2hat )as a cha*terG7or )ill be76 )ill try to do @ustice to it4e learned their language *retty thoroughly7had to9 and they learned ours much more Auickly

and used it to hasten our o)n studies"e,,, )ho )as ne+er )ithout reading matter o, some sort, had t)o little books )ith him, a no+el and a little anthology o, +erse9 and 6 had one o, those *ocket encyclo*edias7a ,at little thing, bursting )ith ,acts- 2hese )ere used in our education7and theirs- 2hen as soon as )e )ere u* to it, they ,urnished us )ith *lenty o, their o)n books, and 6 )ent in ,or the history *art76 )anted to understand the genesis o, this miracle o, theirs!nd this is )hat ha**ened, according to their records!s to geogra*hy7at about the time o, the Christian era this land had a ,ree *assage to the sea68m not saying )here, ,or good reasons- <ut there )as a ,airly easy *ass through that )all o, mountains behind us, and there is no doubt in my mind that these *eo*le )ere o, !ryan stock, and )ere once in contact )ith the best ci+iliFation o, the old )orld- 2hey )ere 1)hite,5 but some)hat darker than our northern races because o, their constant e/*osure to sun and air2he country )as ,ar larger then, including much land beyond the *ass, and a stri* o, coast- 2hey had shi*s, commerce, an army, a king7,or at that time they )ere )hat they so calmly called us7a bi0se/ual race4hat ha**ened to them ,irst )as merely a succession o, historic mis,ortunes such as ha+e be,allen other nations o,ten enough- 2hey )ere decimated by )ar, dri+en u* ,rom their coastline till ,inally the reduced *o*ulation, )ith many o, the men killed in battle, occu*ied this hinterland, and de,ended it ,or years, in the mountain *asses- 4here it )as o*en to any *ossible attack ,rom belo) they strengthened the natural de,enses so that it became unscalably secure, as )e ,ound it2hey )ere a *olygamous *eo*le, and a sla+e0holding *eo*le, like all o, their time9 and during the generation or t)o o, this struggle to de,end their mountain home they built the ,ortresses, such as the one )e )ere held in, and other o, their oldest buildings, some still in use- :othing but earthAuakes could destroy such architecture7huge solid blocks, holding by their o)n )eight- 2hey must ha+e had e,,icient )orkmen and enough o, them in those days2hey made a bra+e ,ight ,or their e/istence, but no nation can stand u* against )hat the steamshi* com*anies call 1an act o, God-5 4hile the )hole ,ighting ,orce )as doing its best to de,end their mountain *ath)ay, there occurred a +olcanic outburst, )ith some local tremors, and the result )as the com*lete ,illing u* o, the *ass7their only outlet- 6nstead o, a *assage, a ne) ridge, sheer and high, stood bet)een them and the sea9 they )ere )alled in, and beneath that )all lay their )hole little army- ?ery ,e) men )ere le,t ali+e, sa+e the sla+es9 and these no) seiFed their o**ortunity, rose in re+olt, killed their remaining masters e+en to the youngest boy, killed the old )omen too, and the mothers, intending to take *ossession o, the country )ith the remaining young )omen and girls<ut this succession o, mis,ortunes )as too much ,or those in,uriated +irgins- 2here )ere many o, them, and but ,e) o, these )ould0be masters, so the young )omen, instead o, submitting, rose in sheer des*eration and sle) their brutal conAuerors2his sounds like 2itus !ndronicus, 6 kno), but that is their account- 6 su**ose they )ere about craFy7can you blame themD 2here )as literally no one le,t on this beauti,ul high garden land but a bunch o, hysterical girls and some older sla+e )omen2hat )as about t)o thousand years ago!t ,irst there )as a *eriod o, sheer des*air- 2he mountains to)ered bet)een them and their old enemies, but also bet)een them and esca*e- 2here )as no )ay u* or do)n or out7they sim*ly had to stay there- .ome )ere ,or suicide, but not the ma@ority- 2hey must ha+e been a *lucky lot, as a )hole, and they decided to li+e7as long as they did li+e- =, course they had ho*e, as youth must, that something )ould ha**en to change their ,ate.o they set to )ork, to bury the dead, to *lo) and so), to care ,or one another.*eaking o, burying the dead, 6 )ill set do)n )hile 6 think o, it, that they had ado*ted cremation in about the thirteenth century, ,or the same reason that they had le,t o,, raising cattle7 they could not s*are the room- 2hey )ere much sur*rised to learn that )e )ere still burying7asked our reasons ,or it, and )ere much dissatis,ied )ith )hat )e ga+e- 4e told them o, the belie, in the

resurrection o, the body, and they asked i, our God )as not as )ell able to resurrect ,rom ashes as ,rom long corru*tion- 4e told them o, ho) *eo*le thought it re*ugnant to ha+e their lo+ed ones burn, and they asked i, it )as less re*ugnant to ha+e them decay- 2hey )ere incon+eniently reasonable, those )omen4ell7that original bunch o, girls set to )ork to clean u* the *lace and make their li+ing as best they could- .ome o, the remaining sla+e )omen rendered in+aluable ser+ice, teaching such trades as they kne)- 2hey had such records as )ere then ke*t, all the tools and im*lements o, the time, and a most ,ertile land to )ork in2here )ere a hand,ul o, the younger matrons )ho had esca*ed slaughter, and a ,e) babies )ere born a,ter the cataclysm7but only t)o boys, and they both diedFor ,i+e or ten years they )orked together, gro)ing stronger and )iser and more and more mutually attached, and then the miracle ha**ened7one o, these young )omen bore a child- =, course they all thought there must be a man some)here, but none )as ,ound- 2hen they decided it must be a direct gi,t ,rom the gods, and *laced the *roud mother in the 2em*le o, >aaia7their Goddess o, >otherhood7under strict )atch- !nd there, as years *assed, this )onder0)oman bore child a,ter child, ,i+e o, them7all girls6 did my best, keenly interested as 6 ha+e al)ays been in sociology and social *sychology, to reconstruct in my mind the real *osition o, these ancient )omen- 2here )ere some ,i+e or si/ hundred o, them, and they )ere harem0bred9 yet ,or the ,e) *receding generations they had been reared in the atmos*here o, such heroic struggle that the stock must ha+e been toughened some)hat- Be,t alone in that terri,ic or*hanhood, they had clung together, su**orting one another and their little sisters, and de+elo*ing unkno)n *o)ers in the stress o, ne) necessity- 2o this *ain0 hardened and )ork0strengthened grou*, )ho had lost not only the lo+e and care o, *arents, but the ho*e o, e+er ha+ing children o, their o)n, there no) da)ned the ne) ho*eHere at last )as >otherhood, and though it )as not ,or all o, them *ersonally, it might7i, the *o)er )as inherited7,ound here a ne) race6t may be imagined ho) those ,i+e ;aughters o, >aaia, Children o, the 2em*le, >others o, the Future7they had all the titles that lo+e and ho*e and re+erence could gi+e7)ere reared- 2he )hole little nation o, )omen surrounded them )ith lo+ing ser+ice, and )aited, bet)een a boundless ho*e and an eAually boundless des*air, to see i, they, too, )ould be mothers!nd they )ereG !s ,ast as they reached the age o, t)enty0,i+e they began bearing- ach o, them, like her mother, bore ,i+e daughters- Presently there )ere t)enty0,i+e :e) 4omen, >others in their o)n right, and the )hole s*irit o, the country changed ,rom mourning and mere courageous resignation to *roud @oy- 2he older )omen, those )ho remembered men, died o,,9 the youngest o, all the ,irst lot o, course died too, a,ter a )hile, and by that time there )ere le,t one hundred and ,i,ty0,i+e *arthenogenetic )omen, ,ounding a ne) race2hey inherited all that the de+oted care o, that declining band o, original ones could lea+e them2heir little country )as Auite sa,e- 2heir ,arms and gardens )ere all in ,ull *roduction- .uch industries as they had )ere in care,ul order- 2he records o, their *ast )ere all *reser+ed, and ,or years the older )omen had s*ent their time in the best teaching they )ere ca*able o,, that they might lea+e to the little grou* o, sisters and mothers all they *ossessed o, skill and kno)ledge2here you ha+e the start o, HerlandG =ne ,amily, all descended ,rom one motherG .he li+ed to a hundred years old9 li+ed to see her hundred and t)enty0,i+e great0granddaughters born9 li+ed as Kueen0Priestess0>other o, them all9 and died )ith a nobler *ride and a ,uller @oy than *erha*s any human soul has e+er kno)n7she alone had ,ounded a ne) raceG 2he ,irst ,i+e daughters had gro)n u* in an atmos*here o, holy calm, o, a)ed )atch,ul )aiting, o, breathless *rayer- 2o them the longed0,or motherhood )as not only a *ersonal @oy, but a nation8s ho*e- 2heir t)enty0,i+e daughters in turn, )ith a stronger ho*e, a richer, )ider outlook, )ith the de+oted lo+e and care o, all the sur+i+ing *o*ulation, gre) u* as a holy sisterhood, their )hole ardent youth looking ,or)ard to their great o,,ice- !nd at last they )ere le,t alone9 the )hite0haired First >other )as gone, and this one ,amily, ,i+e sisters, t)enty0,i+e ,irst cousins, and a hundred and t)enty0,i+e second cousins, began a ne) race-

Here you ha+e human beings, unAuestionably, but )hat )e )ere slo) in understanding )as ho) these ultra0)omen, inheriting only ,rom )omen, had eliminated not only certain masculine characteristics, )hich o, course )e did not look ,or, but so much o, )hat )e had al)ays thought essentially ,eminine2he tradition o, men as guardians and *rotectors had Auite died out- 2hese stal)art +irgins had no men to ,ear and there,ore no need o, *rotection- !s to )ild beasts7there )ere none in their sheltered land2he *o)er o, mother0lo+e, that maternal instinct )e so highly laud, )as theirs o, course, raised to its highest *o)er9 and a sister0lo+e )hich, e+en )hile recogniFing the actual relationshi*, )e ,ound it hard to credit2erry, incredulous, e+en contem*tuous, )hen )e )ere alone, re,used to belie+e the story- 1! lot o, traditions as old as Herodotus7and about as trust)orthyG5 he said- 16t8s likely )omen7@ust a *ack o, )omen7)ould ha+e hung together like thatG 4e all kno) )omen can8t organiFe7that they scra* like anything7are ,right,ully @ealous-5 1<ut these :e) Badies didn8t ha+e anyone to be @ealous o,, remember,5 dra)led "e,,12hat8s a likely story,5 2erry sneered14hy don8t you in+ent a likelier oneD5 6 asked him- 1Here !E the )omen7nothing but )omen, and you yoursel, admit there8s no trace o, a man in the country-5 2his )as a,ter )e had been about a good deal168ll admit that,5 he gro)led- 1!nd it8s a big miss, too- 2here8s not only no ,un )ithout 8em7no real s*ort7no com*etition9 but these )omen aren8t 4=>!:B3- 3ou kno) they aren8t-5 2hat kind o, talk al)ays set "e,, going9 and 6 gradually gre) to side )ith him- 12hen you don8t call a breed o, )omen )hose one concern is motherhood7)omanlyD5 he asked16ndeed 6 don8t,5 sna**ed 2erry- 14hat does a man care ,or motherhood7)hen he hasn8t a ghost o, a chance at ,atherhoodD !nd besides7)hat8s the good o, talking sentiment )hen )e are @ust men togetherD 4hat a man )ants o, )omen is a good deal more than all this 8motherhood8G5 4e )ere as *atient as *ossible )ith 2erry- He had li+ed about nine months among the 1Colonels5 )hen he made that outburst9 and )ith no chance at any more strenuous e/citement than our gymnastics ga+e us7sa+e ,or our esca*e ,iasco- 6 don8t su**ose 2erry had e+er li+ed so long )ith neither Bo+e, Combat, nor ;anger to em*loy his su*erabundant energies, and he )as irritable:either "e,, nor 6 ,ound it so )earing- 6 )as so much interested intellectually that our con,inement did not )ear on me9 and as ,or "e,,, bless his heartG7he en@oyed the society o, that tutor o, his almost as much as i, she had been a girl76 don8t kno) but more!s to 2erry8s criticism, it )as true- 2hese )omen, )hose essential distinction o, motherhood )as the dominant note o, their )hole culture, )ere strikingly de,icient in )hat )e call 1,emininity-5 2his led me +ery *rom*tly to the con+iction that those 1,eminine charms5 )e are so ,ond o, are not ,eminine at all, but mere re,lected masculinity7de+elo*ed to *lease us because they had to *lease us, and in no )ay essential to the real ,ul,illment o, their great *rocess- <ut 2erry came to no such conclusion1"ust you )ait till 6 get outG5 he muttered2hen )e both cautioned him- 1Book here, 2erry, my boyG 3ou be care,ulG 2hey8+e been mighty good to us7but do you remember the anesthesiaD 6, you do any mischie, in this +irgin land, be)are o, the +engeance o, the >aiden !untsG Come, be a manG 6t )on8t be ,ore+er-5 2o return to the history: 2hey began at once to *lan and built ,or their children, all the strength and intelligence o, the )hole o, them de+oted to that one thing- ach girl, o, course, )as reared in ,ull kno)ledge o, her Cro)ning =,,ice, and they had, e+en then, +ery high ideas o, the molding *o)ers o, the mother, as )ell as those o, education.uch high ideals as they hadG <eauty, Health, .trength, 6ntellect, Goodness7,or those they *rayed and )orked2hey had no enemies9 they themsel+es )ere all sisters and ,riends- 2he land )as ,air be,ore them, and a great ,uture began to ,orm itsel, in their minds-

2he religion they had to begin )ith )as much like that o, old Greece7a number o, gods and goddesses9 but they lost all interest in deities o, )ar and *lunder, and gradually centered on their >other Goddess altogether- 2hen, as they gre) more intelligent, this had turned into a sort o, >aternal PantheismHere )as >other arth, bearing ,ruit- !ll that they ate )as ,ruit o, motherhood, ,rom seed or egg or their *roduct- <y motherhood they )ere born and by motherhood they li+ed7li,e )as, to them, @ust the long cycle o, motherhood<ut +ery early they recogniFed the need o, im*ro+ement as )ell as o, mere re*etition, and de+oted their combined intelligence to that *roblem7ho) to make the best kind o, *eo*le- First this )as merely the ho*e o, bearing better ones, and then they recogniFed that ho)e+er the children di,,ered at birth, the real gro)th lay later7through education2hen things began to hum!s 6 learned more and more to a**reciate )hat these )omen had accom*lished, the less *roud 6 )as o, )hat )e, )ith all our manhood, had done3ou see, they had had no )ars- 2hey had had no kings, and no *riests, and no aristocracies2hey )ere sisters, and as they gre), they gre) together7not by com*etition, but by united action4e tried to *ut in a good )ord ,or com*etition, and they )ere keenly interested- 6ndeed, )e soon ,ound ,rom their earnest Auestions o, us that they )ere *re*ared to belie+e our )orld must be better than theirs- 2hey )ere not sure9 they )anted to kno)9 but there )as no such arrogance about them as might ha+e been e/*ected4e rather s*read oursel+es, telling o, the ad+antages o, com*etition: ho) it de+elo*ed ,ine Aualities9 that )ithout it there )ould be 1no stimulus to industry-5 2erry )as +ery strong on that *oint1:o stimulus to industry,5 they re*eated, )ith that *uFFled look )e had learned to kno) so )ell- 1.26>CBC.D 2= 6:;C.2E3D <ut don8t you B6I to )orkD5 1:o man )ould )ork unless he had to,5 2erry declared1=h, no >!:G 3ou mean that is one o, your se/ distinctionsD5 1:o, indeedG5 he said hastily- 1:o one, 6 mean, man or )oman, )ould )ork )ithout incenti+eCom*etition is the7the motor *o)er, you see-5 16t is not )ith us,5 they e/*lained gently, 1so it is hard ,or us to understand- ;o you mean, ,or instance, that )ith you no mother )ould )ork ,or her children )ithout the stimulus o, com*etitionD5 :o, he admitted that he did not mean that- >others, he su**osed, )ould o, course )ork ,or their children in the home9 but the )orld8s )ork )as di,,erent7that had to be done by men, and reAuired the com*etiti+e element!ll our teachers )ere eagerly interested14e )ant so much to kno)7you ha+e the )hole )orld to tell us o,, and )e ha+e only our little landG !nd there are t)o o, you7the t)o se/es7to lo+e and hel* one another- 6t must be a rich and )onder,ul )orld- 2ell us7)hat is the )ork o, the )orld, that men do7)hich )e ha+e not hereD5 1=h, e+erything,5 2erry said grandly- 12he men do e+erything, )ith us-5 He sAuared his broad shoulders and li,ted his chest- 14e do not allo) our )omen to )ork- 4omen are lo+ed7idoliFed7 honored7ke*t in the home to care ,or the children-5 14hat is 8the home8D5 asked .omel a little )ist,ully<ut Ha+a begged: 12ell me ,irst, do := )omen )ork, reallyD5 14hy, yes,5 2erry admitted- 1.ome ha+e to, o, the *oorer sort-5 1!bout ho) many7in your countryD5 1!bout se+en or eight million,5 said "e,,, as mischie+ous as e+erHerland Cha*ter % Com*arisons !re =dious 6 had al)ays been *roud o, my country, o, course- +eryone is- Com*ared )ith the other lands

and other races 6 kne), the Cnited .tates o, !merica had al)ays seemed to me, s*eaking modestly, as good as the best o, them<ut @ust as a clear0eyed, intelligent, *er,ectly honest, and )ell0meaning child )ill ,reAuently @ar one8s sel,0esteem by innocent Auestions, so did these )omen, )ithout the slightest a**earance o, malice or satire, continually bring u* *oints o, discussion )hich )e s*ent our best e,,orts in e+ading:o) that )e )ere ,airly *ro,icient in their language, had read a lot about their history, and had gi+en them the general outlines o, ours, they )ere able to *ress their Auestions closer.o )hen "e,, admitted the number o, 1)omen )age earners5 )e had, they instantly asked ,or the total *o*ulation, ,or the *ro*ortion o, adult )omen, and ,ound that there )ere but t)enty million or so at the outside12hen at least a third o, your )omen are7)hat is it you call them7)age earnersD !nd they are all P==E- 4hat is P==E, e/actlyD5 1=urs is the best country in the )orld as to *o+erty,5 2erry told them- 14e do not ha+e the )retched *au*ers and beggars o, the older countries, 6 assure you- 4hy, uro*ean +isitors tell us, )e don8t kno) )hat *o+erty is-5 1:either do )e,5 ans)ered Ha+a- 14on8t you tell usD5 2erry *ut it u* to me, saying 6 )as the sociologist, and 6 e/*lained that the la)s o, nature reAuire a struggle ,or e/istence, and that in the struggle the ,ittest sur+i+e, and the un,it *erish- 6n our economic struggle, 6 continued, there )as al)ays *lenty o, o**ortunity ,or the ,ittest to reach the to*, )hich they did, in great numbers, *articularly in our country9 that )here there )as se+ere economic *ressure the lo)est classes o, course ,elt it the )orst, and that among the *oorest o, all the )omen )ere dri+en into the labor market by necessity2hey listened closely, )ith the usual note0taking1!bout one0third, then, belong to the *oorest class,5 obser+ed >oadine gra+ely- 1!nd t)o0 thirds are the ones )ho are7ho) )as it you so beauti,ully *ut itD78lo+ed, honored, ke*t in the home to care ,or the children-8 2his in,erior one0third ha+e no children, 6 su**oseD5 "e,,7he )as getting as bad as they )ere7solemnly re*lied that, on the contrary, the *oorer they )ere, the more children they had- 2hat too, he e/*lained, )as a la) o, nature: 1Ee*roduction is in in+erse *ro*ortion to indi+iduation-5 12hese 8la)s o, nature,85 Ha+a gently asked, 1are they all the la)s you ha+eD5 16 should say notG5 *rotested 2erry- 14e ha+e systems o, la) that go back thousands and thousands o, years7@ust as you do, no doubt,5 he ,inished *olitely1=h no,5 >oadine told him- 14e ha+e no la)s o+er a hundred years old, and most o, them are under t)enty- 6n a ,e) )eeks more,5 she continued, 1)e are going to ha+e the *leasure o, sho)ing you o+er our little land and e/*laining e+erything you care to kno) about- 4e )ant you to see our *eo*le-5 1!nd 6 assure you,5 .omel added, 1that our *eo*le )ant to see you-5 2erry brightened u* immensely at this ne)s, and reconciled himsel, to the rene)ed demands u*on our ca*acity as teachers- 6t )as lucky that )e kne) so little, really, and had no books to re,er to, else, 6 ,ancy )e might all be there yet, teaching those eager0minded )omen about the rest o, the )orld!s to geogra*hy, they had the tradition o, the Great .ea, beyond the mountains9 and they could see ,or themsel+es the endless thick0,orested *lains belo) them7that )as all- <ut ,rom the ,e) records o, their ancient condition7not 1be,ore the ,lood5 )ith them, but be,ore that mighty Auake )hich had cut them o,, so com*letely7they )ere a)are that there )ere other *eo*les and other countries6n geology they )ere Auite ignorant!s to anthro*ology, they had those same remnants o, in,ormation about other *eo*les, and the kno)ledge o, the sa+agery o, the occu*ants o, those dim ,orests belo)- :e+ertheless, they had in,erred (mar+elously keen on in,erence and deduction their minds )ereG) the e/istence and de+elo*ment o, ci+iliFation in other *laces, much as )e in,er it on other *lanets-

4hen our bi*lane came )hirring o+er their heads in that ,irst scouting ,light o, ours, they had instantly acce*ted it as *roo, o, the high de+elo*ment o, .ome 4here lse, and had *re*ared to recei+e us as cautiously and eagerly as )e might *re*are to )elcome +isitors )ho came 1by meteor5 ,rom >ars=, history7outside their o)n7they kne) nothing, o, course, sa+e ,or their ancient traditions=, astronomy they had a ,air )orking kno)ledge7that is a +ery old science9 and )ith it, a sur*rising range and ,acility in mathematicsPhysiology they )ere Auite ,amiliar )ith- 6ndeed, )hen it came to the sim*ler and more concrete sciences, )herein the sub@ect matter )as at hand and they had but to e/ercise their minds u*on it, the results )ere sur*rising- 2hey had )orked out a chemistry, a botany, a *hysics, )ith all the blends )here a science touches an art, or merges into an industry, to such ,ullness o, kno)ledge as made us ,eel like schoolchildren!lso )e ,ound this out7as soon as )e )ere ,ree o, the country, and by ,urther study and Auestion7that )hat one kne), all kne), to a +ery considerable e/tent6 talked later )ith little mountain girls ,rom the ,ir0dark +alleys a)ay u* at their highest *art, and )ith sunburned *lains0)omen and agile ,oresters, all o+er the country, as )ell as those in the to)ns, and e+ery)here there )as the same high le+el o, intelligence- .ome kne) ,ar more than others about one thing7they )ere s*ecialiFed, o, course9 but all o, them kne) more about e+erything7that is, about e+erything the country )as acAuainted )ith7than is the case )ith us4e boast a good deal o, our 1high le+el o, general intelligence5 and our 1com*ulsory *ublic education,5 but in *ro*ortion to their o**ortunities they )ere ,ar better educated than our *eo*le4ith )hat )e told them, ,rom )hat sketches and models )e )ere able to *re*are, they constructed a sort o, )orking outline to ,ill in as they learned more! big globe )as made, and our uncertain ma*s, hel*ed out by those in that *recious yearbook thing 6 had, )ere tentati+ely indicated u*on it2hey sat in eager grou*s, masses o, them )ho came ,or the *ur*ose, and listened )hile "e,, roughly ran o+er the geologic history o, the earth, and sho)ed them their o)n land in relation to the others- =ut o, that same *ocket re,erence book o, mine came ,acts and ,igures )hich )ere seiFed u*on and *laced in right relation )ith unerring acumen+en 2erry gre) interested in this )ork- 16, )e can kee* this u*, they8ll be ha+ing us lecture to all the girls8 schools and colleges7ho) about thatD5 he suggested to us- 1;on8t kno) as 68d ob@ect to being an !uthority to such audiences-5 2hey did, in ,act, urge us to gi+e *ublic lectures later, but not to the hearers or )ith the *ur*ose )e e/*ected4hat they )ere doing )ith us )as like7like7)ell, say like :a*oleon e/tracting military in,ormation ,rom a ,e) illiterate *easants- 2hey kne) @ust )hat to ask, and @ust )hat use to make o, it9 they had mechanical a**liances ,or disseminating in,ormation almost eAual to ours at home9 and by the time )e )ere led ,orth to lecture, our audiences had thoroughly mastered a )ell0arranged digest o, all )e had *re+iously gi+en to our teachers, and )ere *re*ared )ith such notes and Auestions as might ha+e intimidated a uni+ersity *ro,essor2hey )ere not audiences o, girls, either- 6t )as some time be,ore )e )ere allo)ed to meet the young )omen1;o you mind telling )hat you intend to do )ith usD5 2erry burst ,orth one day, ,acing the calm and ,riendly >oadine )ith that ,unny hal,0blustering air o, his- !t ,irst he used to storm and ,lourish Auite a good deal, but nothing seemed to amuse them more9 they )ould gather around and )atch him as i, it )as an e/hibition, *olitely, but )ith e+ident interest- .o he learned to check himsel,, and )as almost reasonable in his bearing7but not Auite.he announced smoothly and e+enly: 1:ot in the least- 6 thought it )as Auite *lain- 4e are trying to learn o, you all )e can, and to teach you )hat you are )illing to learn o, our country-5 16s that allD5 he insisted.he smiled a Auiet enigmatic smile- 12hat de*ends-5 1;e*ends on )hatD5

1>ainly on yoursel+es,5 she re*lied14hy do you kee* us shut u* so closelyD5 1<ecause )e do not ,eel Auite sa,e in allo)ing you at large )here there are so many young )omen-5 2erry )as really *leased at that- He had thought as much, in)ardly9 but he *ushed the Auestion14hy should you be a,raidD 4e are gentlemen-5 .he smiled that little smile again, and asked: 1!re 8gentlemen8 al)ays sa,eD5 13ou surely do not think that any o, us,5 he said it )ith a good deal o, em*hasis on the 1us,5 1)ould hurt your young girlsD5 1=h no,5 she said Auickly, in real sur*rise- 12he danger is Auite the other )ay- 2hey might hurt you- 6,, by any accident, you did harm any one o, us, you )ould ha+e to ,ace a million mothers-5 He looked so amaFed and outraged that "e,, and 6 laughed outright, but she )ent on gently16 do not think you Auite understand yet- 3ou are but men, three men, in a country )here the )hole *o*ulation are mothers7or are going to be- >otherhood means to us something )hich 6 cannot yet disco+er in any o, the countries o, )hich you tell us- 3ou ha+e s*oken57she turned to "e,,, 1o, Human <rotherhood as a great idea among you, but e+en that 6 @udge is ,ar ,rom a *ractical e/*ressionD5 "e,, nodded rather sadly- 1?ery ,ar75 he said1Here )e ha+e Human >otherhood7in ,ull )orking use,5 she )ent on- L:othing else e/ce*t the literal sisterhood o, our origin, and the ,ar higher and dee*er union o, our social gro)th12he children in this country are the one center and ,ocus o, all our thoughts- +ery ste* o, our ad+ance is al)ays considered in its e,,ect on them7on the race- 3ou see, )e are >=2H E.,5 she re*eated, as i, in that she had said it all16 don8t see ho) that ,act7)hich is shared by all )omen7constitutes any risk to us,5 2erry *ersisted- 13ou mean they )ould de,end their children ,rom attack- =, course- !ny mothers )ould<ut )e are not sa+ages, my dear lady9 )e are not going to hurt any mother8s child-5 2hey looked at one another and shook their heads a little, but Ha+a turned to "e,, and urged him to make us see7said he seemed to understand more ,ully than )e did- !nd he tried6 can see it no), or at least much more o, it, but it has taken me a long time, and a good deal o, honest intellectual e,,ort4hat they call >otherhood )as like this: 2hey began )ith a really high degree o, social de+elo*ment, something like that o, !ncient gy*t or Greece- 2hen they su,,ered the loss o, e+erything masculine, and su**osed at ,irst that all human *o)er and sa,ety had gone too- 2hen they de+elo*ed this +irgin birth ca*acity- 2hen, since the *ros*erity o, their children de*ended on it, the ,ullest and subtlest coordination began to be *racticed6 remember ho) long 2erry balked at the e+ident unanimity o, these )omen7the most cons*icuous ,eature o, their )hole culture- 16t8s im*ossibleG5 he )ould insist- 14omen cannot coo*erate7it8s against nature-5 4hen )e urged the ob+ious ,acts he )ould say: 1FiddlesticksG5 or 1Hang your ,acts76 tell you it can8t be doneG5 !nd )e ne+er succeeded in shutting him u* till "e,, dragged in the hymeno*tera18Go to the ant, thou sluggard87and learn something,5 he said trium*hantly- 1;on8t they coo*erate *retty )ellD 3ou can8t beat it- 2his *lace is @ust like an enormous anthill7you kno) an anthill is nothing but a nursery- !nd ho) about beesD ;on8t they manage to coo*erate and lo+e one anotherD as that *recious Constable had it- "ust sho) me a combination o, male creatures, bird, bug, or beast, that )orks as )ell, )ill youD =r one o, our masculine countries )here the *eo*le )ork together as )ell as they do hereG 6 tell you, )omen are the natural coo*erators, not menG5 2erry had to learn a good many things he did not )ant to- 2o go back to my little analysis o, )hat ha**ened: 2hey de+elo*ed all this close inter0ser+ice in the interests o, their children- 2o do the best )ork they had to s*ecialiFe, o, course9 the children needed s*inners and )ea+ers, ,armers and gardeners, car*enters and masons, as )ell as mothers-

2hen came the ,illing u* o, the *lace- 4hen a *o*ulation multi*lies by ,i+e e+ery thirty years it soon reaches the limits o, a country, es*ecially a small one like this- 2hey +ery soon eliminated all the graFing cattle7shee* )ere the last to go, 6 belie+e- !lso, they )orked out a system o, intensi+e agriculture sur*assing anything 6 e+er heard o,, )ith the +ery ,orests all reset )ith ,ruit0 or nut0 bearing trees;o )hat they )ould, ho)e+er, there soon came a time )hen they )ere con,ronted )ith the *roblem o, 1the *ressure o, *o*ulation5 in an acute ,orm- 2here )as really cro)ding, and )ith it, una+oidably, a decline in standards!nd ho) did those )omen meet itD :ot by a 1struggle ,or e/istence5 )hich )ould result in an e+erlasting )rithing mass o, underbred *eo*le trying to get ahead o, one another7some ,e) on to*, tem*orarily, many constantly crushed out underneath, a ho*eless substratum o, *au*ers and degenerates, and no serenity or *eace ,or anyone, no *ossibility ,or really noble Aualities among the *eo*le at large:either did they start o,, on *redatory e/cursions to get more land ,rom somebody else, or to get more ,ood ,rom somebody else, to maintain their struggling mass:ot at all- 2hey sat do)n in council together and thought it out- ?ery clear, strong thinkers they )ere- 2hey said: 14ith our best endea+ors this country )ill su**ort about so many *eo*le, )ith the standard o, *eace, com,ort, health, beauty, and *rogress )e demand- ?ery )ell- 2hat is all the *eo*le )e )ill make-5 2here you ha+e it- 3ou see, they )ere >others, not in our sense o, hel*less in+oluntary ,ecundity, ,orced to ,ill and o+er,ill the land, e+ery land, and then see their children su,,er, sin, and die, ,ighting horribly )ith one another9 but in the sense o, Conscious >akers o, Peo*le- >other0 lo+e )ith them )as not a brute *assion, a mere 1instinct,5 a )holly *ersonal ,eeling9 it )as7a religion6t included that limitless ,eeling o, sisterhood, that )ide unity in ser+ice, )hich )as so di,,icult ,or us to gras*- !nd it )as :ational, Eacial, Human7oh, 6 don8t kno) ho) to say it4e are used to seeing )hat )e call 1a mother5 com*letely )ra**ed u* in her o)n *ink bundle o, ,ascinating babyhood, and taking but the ,aintest theoretic interest in anybody else8s bundle, to say nothing o, the common needs o, !BB the bundles- <ut these )omen )ere )orking all together at the grandest o, tasks7they )ere >aking Peo*le7and they made them )ell2here ,ollo)ed a *eriod o, 1negati+e eugenics5 )hich must ha+e been an a**alling sacri,ice4e are commonly )illing to 1lay do)n our li+es5 ,or our country, but they had to ,orego motherhood ,or their country7and it )as *recisely the hardest thing ,or them to do4hen 6 got this ,ar in my reading 6 )ent to .omel ,or more light- 4e )ere as ,riendly by that time as 6 had e+er been in my li,e )ith any )oman- ! mighty com,ortable soul she )as, gi+ing one the nice smooth mother0,eeling a man likes in a )oman, and yet gi+ing also the clear intelligence and de*endableness 6 used to assume to be masculine Aualities- 4e had talked +olumes already1.ee here,5 said 6- LHere )as this dread,ul *eriod )hen they got ,ar too thick, and decided to limit the *o*ulation- 4e ha+e a lot o, talk about that among us, but your *osition is so di,,erent that 68d like to kno) a little more about it16 understand that you make >otherhood the highest social ser+ice7a sacrament, really9 that it is only undertaken once, by the ma@ority o, the *o*ulation9 that those held un,it are not allo)ed e+en that9 and that to be encouraged to bear more than one child is the +ery highest re)ard and honor in the *o)er o, the state-5 (.he inter*olated here that the nearest a**roach to an aristocracy they had )as to come o, a line o, 1=+er >others57those )ho had been so honored-) 1<ut )hat 6 do not understand, naturally, is ho) you *re+ent it- 6 gathered that each )oman had ,i+e- 3ou ha+e no tyrannical husbands to hold in check7and you surely do not destroy the unborn 75 2he look o, ghastly horror she ga+e me 6 shall ne+er ,orget- .he started ,rom her chair, *ale, her eyes blaFing1;estroy the unborn7G5 she said in a hard )his*er- 1;o men do that in your countryD5

1>enG5 6 began to ans)er, rather hotly, and then sa) the gul, be,ore me- :one o, us )anted these )omen to think that =CE )omen, o, )hom )e boasted so *roudly, )ere in any )ay in,erior to them- 6 am ashamed to say that 6 eAui+ocated- 6 told her o, certain criminal ty*es o, )omen7 *er+erts, or craFy, )ho had been kno)n to commit in,anticide- 6 told her, truly enough, that there )as much in our land )hich )as o*en to criticism, but that 6 hated to d)ell on our de,ects until they understood us and our conditions better!nd, making a )ide detour, 6 scrambled back to my Auestion o, ho) they limited the *o*ulation!s ,or .omel, she seemed sorry, a little ashamed e+en, o, her too clearly e/*ressed amaFement!s 6 look back no), kno)ing them better, 6 am more and more and more amaFed as 6 a**reciate the e/Auisite courtesy )ith )hich they had recei+ed o+er and o+er again statements and admissions on our *art )hich must ha+e re+olted them to the soul.he e/*lained to me, )ith s)eet seriousness, that as 6 had su**osed, at ,irst each )oman bore ,i+e children9 and that, in their eager desire to build u* a nation, they had gone on in that )ay ,or a ,e) centuries, till they )ere con,ronted )ith the absolute need o, a limit- 2his ,act )as eAually *lain to all7all )ere eAually interested2hey )ere no) as an/ious to check their )onder,ul *o)er as they had been to de+elo* it9 and ,or some generations ga+e the matter their most earnest thought and study14e )ere li+ing on rations be,ore )e )orked it out,5 she said- 1<ut )e did )ork it out- 3ou see, be,ore a child comes to one o, us there is a *eriod o, utter e/altation7the )hole being is u*li,ted and ,illed )ith a concentrated desire ,or that child- 4e learned to look ,or)ard to that *eriod )ith the greatest caution- =,ten our young )omen, those to )hom motherhood had not yet come, )ould +oluntarily de,er it- 4hen that dee* inner demand ,or a child began to be ,elt she )ould deliberately engage in the most acti+e )ork, *hysical and mental9 and e+en more im*ortant, )ould solace her longing by the direct care and ser+ice o, the babies )e already had-5 .he *aused- Her )ise s)eet ,ace gre) dee*ly, re+erently tender14e soon gre) to see that mother0lo+e has more than one channel o, e/*ression- 6 think the reason our children are so7so ,ully lo+ed, by all o, us, is that )e ne+er7any o, us7ha+e enough o, our o)n-5 2his seemed to me in,initely *athetic, and 6 said so- 14e ha+e much that is bitter and hard in our li,e at home,5 6 told her, 1but this seems to me *iteous beyond )ords7a )hole nation o, star+ing mothersG5 <ut she smiled her dee* contented smile, and said 6 Auite misunderstood14e each go )ithout a certain range o, *ersonal @oy,5 she said, 1but remember7)e each ha+e a million children to lo+e and ser+e7=CE children-5 6t )as beyond me- 2o hear a lot o, )omen talk about 1our children5G <ut 6 su**ose that is the )ay the ants and bees )ould talk7do talk, maybe2hat )as )hat they did, anyho)4hen a )oman chose to be a mother, she allo)ed the child0longing to gro) )ithin her till it )orked its natural miracle- 4hen she did not so choose she *ut the )hole thing out o, her mind, and ,ed her heart )ith the other babiesBet me see7)ith us, children7minors, that is7constitute about three0,i,ths o, the *o*ulation9 )ith them only about one0third, or less- !nd *recious7G :o sole heir to an em*ire8s throne, no solitary millionaire baby, no only child o, middle0aged *arents, could com*are as an idol )ith these Herland children<ut be,ore 6 start on that sub@ect 6 must ,inish u* that little analysis 6 )as trying to make2hey did e,,ectually and *ermanently limit the *o*ulation in numbers, so that the country ,urnished *lenty ,or the ,ullest, richest li,e ,or all o, them: *lenty o, e+erything, including room, air, solitude e+en!nd then they set to )ork to im*ro+e that *o*ulation in Auality7since they )ere restricted in Auantity- 2his they had been at )ork on, uninterru*tedly, ,or some ,i,teen hundred years- ;o you )onder they )ere nice *eo*leD

Physiology, hygiene, sanitation, *hysical culture7all that line o, )ork had been *er,ected long since- .ickness )as almost )holly unkno)n among them, so much so that a *re+iously high de+elo*ment in )hat )e call the 1science o, medicine5 had become *ractically a lost art- 2hey )ere a clean0bred, +igorous lot, ha+ing the best o, care, the most *er,ect li+ing conditions al)ays4hen it came to *sychology7there )as no one thing )hich le,t us so dumb,ounded, so really a)ed, as the e+eryday )orking kno)ledge7and *ractice7they had in this line- !s )e learned more and more o, it, )e learned to a**reciate the e/Auisite mastery )ith )hich )e oursel+es, strangers o, alien race, o, unkno)n o**osite se/, had been understood and *ro+ided ,or ,rom the ,irst4ith this )ide, dee*, thorough kno)ledge, they had met and sol+ed the *roblems o, education in )ays some o, )hich 6 ho*e to make clear later- 2hose nation0lo+ed children o, theirs com*ared )ith the a+erage in our country as the most *er,ectly culti+ated, richly de+elo*ed roses com*are )ith7tumble)eeds- 3et they did not . > 1culti+ated5 at all7it had all become a natural condition!nd this *eo*le, steadily de+elo*ing in mental ca*acity, in )ill *o)er, in social de+otion, had been *laying )ith the arts and sciences7as ,ar as they kne) them7,or a good many centuries no) )ith ine+itable success6nto this Auiet lo+ely land, among these )ise, s)eet, strong )omen, )e, in our easy assum*tion o, su*eriority, had suddenly arri+ed9 and no), tamed and trained to a degree they considered sa,e, )e )ere at last brought out to see the country, to kno) the *eo*leHerland Cha*ter ( =ur Gro)ing >odesty <eing at last considered su,,iciently tamed and trained to be trusted )ith scissors, )e barbered oursel+es as best )e could- ! close0trimmed beard is certainly more com,ortable than a ,ull oneEaFors, naturally, they could not su**ly14ith so many old )omen you8d think there8d be some raFors,5 sneered 2erry- 4hereat "e,, *ointed out that he ne+er be,ore had seen such com*lete absence o, ,acial hair on )omen1Books to me as i, the absence o, men made them more ,eminine in that regard, anyho),5 he suggested14ell, it8s the only one then,5 2erry reluctantly agreed- 1! less ,eminine lot 6 ne+er sa)- ! child a*iece doesn8t seem to be enough to de+elo* )hat 6 call motherliness-5 2erry8s idea o, motherliness )as the usual one, in+ol+ing a baby in arms, or 1a little ,lock about her knees,5 and the com*lete absor*tion o, the mother in said baby or ,lock- ! motherliness )hich dominated society, )hich in,luenced e+ery art and industry, )hich absolutely *rotected all childhood, and ga+e to it the most *er,ect care and training, did not seem motherly7to 2erry4e had become )ell used to the clothes- 2hey )ere Auite as com,ortable as our o)n7in some )ays more so7and undeniably better looking- !s to *ockets, they le,t nothing to be desired- 2hat second garment )as ,airly Auilted )ith *ockets- 2hey )ere most ingeniously arranged, so as to be con+enient to the hand and not incon+enient to the body, and )ere so *laced as at once to strengthen the garment and add decorati+e lines o, stitching6n this, as in so many other *oints )e had no) to obser+e, there )as sho)n the action o, a *ractical intelligence, cou*led )ith ,ine artistic ,eeling, and, a**arently, untrammeled by any in@urious in,luences=ur ,irst ste* o, com*arati+e ,reedom )as a *ersonally conducted tour o, the country- :o *entagonal bodyguard no)G =nly our s*ecial tutors, and )e got on ,amously )ith them- "e,, said he lo+ed Ha+a like an aunt71only @ollier than any aunt 6 e+er sa)59 .omel and 6 )ere as chummy as could be7the best o, ,riends9 but it )as ,unny to )atch 2erry and >oadine- .he )as *atient )ith him, and courteous, but it )as like the *atience and courtesy o, some great man, say a skilled, e/*erienced di*lomat, )ith a schoolgirl- Her gra+e acAuiescence )ith his most *re*osterous e/*ression o, ,eeling9 her genial laughter, not only )ith, but, 6 o,ten ,elt, at him7though

im*eccably *olite9 her innocent Auestions, )hich almost in+ariably led him to say more than he intended7"e,, and 6 ,ound it all amusing to )atchHe ne+er seemed to recogniFe that Auiet background o, su*eriority- 4hen she dro**ed an argument he al)ays thought he had silenced her9 )hen she laughed he thought it tribute to his )it6 hated to admit to mysel, ho) much 2erry had sunk in my esteem- "e,, ,elt it too, 6 am sure9 but neither o, us admitted it to the other- !t home )e had measured him )ith other men, and, though )e kne) his ,ailings, he )as by no means an unusual ty*e- 4e kne) his +irtues too, and they had al)ays seemed more *rominent than the ,aults- >easured among )omen7our )omen at home, 6 mean7he had al)ays stood high- He )as +isibly *o*ular- +en )here his habits )ere kno)n, there )as no discrimination against him9 in some cases his re*utation ,or )hat )as ,elicitously termed 1gaiety5 seemed a s*ecial charm<ut here, against the calm )isdom and Auiet restrained humor o, these )omen, )ith only that blessed "e,, and my incons*icuous sel, to com*are )ith, 2erry did stand out rather strong!s 1a man among men,5 he didn8t9 as a man among76 shall ha+e to say, 1,emales,5 he didn8t9 his intense masculinity seemed only ,it com*lement to their intense ,emininity- <ut here he )as all out o, dra)ing>oadine )as a big )oman, )ith a balanced strength that seldom sho)ed- Her eye )as as Auietly )atch,ul as a ,encer8s- .he maintained a *leasant relation )ith her charge, but 6 doubt i, many, e+en in that country, could ha+e done as )ellHe called her 1>aud,5 amongst oursel+es, and said she )as 1a good old soul, but a little slo)59 )herein he )as Auite )rong- :eedless to say, he called "e,,8s teacher 1"a+a,5 and sometimes 1>ocha,5 or *lain 1Co,,ee59 )hen s*ecially mischie+ous, 1Chicory,5 and e+en 1Postum-5 <ut .omel rather esca*ed this ,orm o, humor, sa+e ,or a rather ,orced 1.ome 8ell-5 1;on8t you *eo*le ha+e but one nameD5 he asked one day, a,ter )e had been introduced to a )hole grou* o, them, all )ith *leasant, ,e)0syllabled strange names, like the ones )e kne)1=h yes,5 >oadine told him- 1! good many o, us ha+e another, as )e get on in li,e7a descri*ti+e one- 2hat is the name )e earn- .ometimes e+en that is changed, or added to, in an unusually rich li,e- .uch as our *resent Band >other7)hat you call *resident or king, 6 belie+e.he )as called >era, e+en as a child9 that means 8thinker-8 Bater there )as added ;u7;u0>era7 the )ise thinker, and no) )e all kno) her as =0du0mera7great and )ise thinker- 3ou shall meet her-5 1:o surnames at all thenD5 *ursued 2erry, )ith his some)hat *atroniFing air- 1:o ,amily nameD5 14hy no,5 she said- 14hy should )eD 4e are all descended ,rom a common source7all one 8,amily8 in reality- 3ou see, our com*arati+ely brie, and limited history gi+es us that ad+antage at least-5 1<ut does not each mother )ant her o)n child to bear her nameD5 6 asked1:o7)hy should sheD 2he child has its o)n-5 14hy ,or7,or identi,ication7so *eo*le )ill kno) )hose child she is-5 14e kee* the most care,ul records,5 said .omel- 1 ach one o, us has our e/act line o, descent all the )ay back to our dear First >other- 2here are many reasons ,or doing that- <ut as to e+eryone kno)ing )hich child belongs to )hich mother7)hy should sheD5 Here, as in so many other instances, )e )ere led to ,eel the di,,erence bet)een the *urely maternal and the *aternal attitude o, mind- 2he element o, *ersonal *ride seemed strangely lacking1Ho) about your other )orksD5 asked "e,,- 1;on8t you sign your names to them7books and statues and so onD5 13es, surely, )e are all glad and *roud to- :ot only books and statues, but all kinds o, )ork3ou )ill ,ind little names on the houses, on the ,urniture, on the dishes sometimes- <ecause other)ise one is likely to ,orget, and )e )ant to kno) to )hom to be grate,ul-5 13ou s*eak as i, it )ere done ,or the con+enience o, the consumer7not the *ride o, the *roducer,5 6 suggested16t8s both,5 said .omel- 14e ha+e *ride enough in our )ork-5

12hen )hy not in your childrenD5 urged "e,,1<ut )e ha+eG 4e8re magni,icently *roud o, them,5 she insisted12hen )hy not sign 8emD5 said 2erry trium*hantly>oadine turned to him )ith her slightly AuiFFical smile- 1<ecause the ,inished *roduct is not a *ri+ate one- 4hen they are babies, )e do s*eak o, them, at times, as 8 ssa8s Bato,8 or 8:o+ine8s !mel89 but that is merely descri*ti+e and con+ersational- 6n the records, o, course, the child stands in her o)n line o, mothers9 but in dealing )ith it *ersonally it is Bato, or !mel, )ithout dragging in its ancestors-5 1<ut ha+e you names enough to gi+e a ne) one to each childD5 1!ssuredly )e ha+e, ,or each li+ing generation-5 2hen they asked about our methods, and ,ound ,irst that 1)e5 did so and so, and then that other nations did di,,erently- C*on )hich they )anted to kno) )hich method has been *ro+ed best7and )e had to admit that so ,ar as )e kne) there had been no attem*t at com*arison, each *eo*le *ursuing its o)n custom in the ,ond con+iction o, su*eriority, and either des*ising or Auite ignoring the others4ith these )omen the most salient Auality in all their institutions )as reasonableness- 4hen 6 dug into the records to ,ollo) out any line o, de+elo*ment, that )as the most astonishing thing7the conscious e,,ort to make it better2hey had early obser+ed the +alue o, certain im*ro+ements, had easily in,erred that there )as room ,or more, and took the greatest *ains to de+elo* t)o kinds o, minds7the critic and in+entor2hose )ho sho)ed an early tendency to obser+e, to discriminate, to suggest, )ere gi+en s*ecial training ,or that ,unction9 and some o, their highest o,,icials s*ent their time in the most care,ul study o, one or another branch o, )ork, )ith a +ie) to its ,urther im*ro+ement6n each generation there )as sure to arri+e some ne) mind to detect ,aults and sho) need o, alterations9 and the )hole cor*s o, in+entors )as at hand to a**ly their s*ecial ,aculty at the *oint criticiFed, and o,,er suggestions4e had learned by this time not to o*en a discussion on any o, their characteristics )ithout ,irst *riming oursel+es to ans)er Auestions about our o)n methods9 so 6 ke*t rather Auiet on this matter o, conscious im*ro+ement- 4e )ere not *re*ared to sho) our )ay )as better2here )as gro)ing in our minds, at least in "e,,8s and mine, a keen a**reciation o, the ad+antages o, this strange country and its management- 2erry remained critical- 4e laid most o, it to his ner+es- He certainly )as irritable2he most cons*icuous ,eature o, the )hole land )as the *er,ection o, its ,ood su**ly- 4e had begun to notice ,rom that +ery ,irst )alk in the ,orest, the ,irst *artial +ie) ,rom our 8*lane- :o) )e )ere taken to see this mighty garden, and sho)n its methods o, culture2he country )as about the siFe o, Holland, some ten or t)el+e thousand sAuare miles- =ne could lose a good many Hollands along the ,orest0smothered ,lanks o, those mighty mountains2hey had a *o*ulation o, about three million7not a large one, but Auality is something- 2hree million is Auite enough to allo) ,or considerable +ariation, and these *eo*le +aried more )idely than )e could at ,irst account ,or2erry had insisted that i, they )ere *arthenogenetic they8d be as alike as so many ants or a*hids9 he urged their +isible di,,erences as *roo, that there must be men7some)here<ut )hen )e asked them, in our later, more intimate con+ersations, ho) they accounted ,or so much di+ergence )ithout cross0,ertiliFation, they attributed it *artly to the care,ul education, )hich ,ollo)ed each slight tendency to di,,er, and *artly to the la) o, mutation- 2his they had ,ound in their )ork )ith *lants, and ,ully *ro+en in their o)n casePhysically they )ere more alike than )e, as they lacked all morbid or e/cessi+e ty*es- 2hey )ere tall, strong, healthy, and beauti,ul as a race, but di,,ered indi+idually in a )ide range o, ,eature, coloring, and e/*ression1<ut surely the most im*ortant gro)th is in mind7and in the things )e make,5 urged .omel1;o you ,ind your *hysical +ariation accom*anied by a *ro*ortionate +ariation in ideas, ,eelings, and *roductsD =r, among *eo*le )ho look more alike, do you ,ind their internal li,e and their )ork

as similarD5 4e )ere rather doubt,ul on this *oint, and inclined to hold that there )as more chance o, im*ro+ement in greater *hysical +ariation16t certainly should be,5 Ha+a admitted- 14e ha+e al)ays thought it a gra+e initial mis,ortune to ha+e lost hal, our little )orld- Perha*s that is one reason )hy )e ha+e so stri+en ,or conscious im*ro+ement-5 1<ut acAuired traits are not transmissible,5 2erry declared- 14eissman has *ro+ed that-5 2hey ne+er dis*uted our absolute statements, only made notes o, them16, that is so, then our im*ro+ement must be due either to mutation, or solely to education,5 she gra+ely *ursued- 14e certainly ha+e im*ro+ed- 6t may be that all these higher Aualities )ere latent in the original mother, that care,ul education is bringing them out, and that our *ersonal di,,erences de*end on slight +ariations in *renatal condition-5 16 think it is more in your accumulated culture,5 "e,, suggested- 1!nd in the amaFing *sychic gro)th you ha+e made- 4e kno) +ery little about methods o, real soul culture7and you seem to kno) a great deal-5 <e that as it might, they certainly *resented a higher le+el o, acti+e intelligence, and o, beha+ior, than )e had so ,ar really gras*ed- Ha+ing kno)n in our li+es se+eral *eo*le )ho sho)ed the same delicate courtesy and )ere eAually *leasant to li+e )ith, at least )hen they )ore their 1com*any manners,5 )e had assumed that our com*anions )ere a care,ully chosen ,e)- Bater )e )ere more and more im*ressed that all this gentle breeding )as breeding9 that they )ere born to it, reared in it, that it )as as natural and uni+ersal )ith them as the gentleness o, do+es or the alleged )isdom o, ser*ents!s ,or the intelligence, 6 con,ess that this )as the most im*ressi+e and, to me, most morti,ying, o, any single ,eature o, Herland- 4e soon ceased to comment on this or other matters )hich to them )ere such ob+ious common*laces as to call ,orth embarrassing Auestions about our o)n conditions2his )as no)here better sho)n than in that matter o, ,ood su**ly, )hich 6 )ill no) attem*t to describeHa+ing im*ro+ed their agriculture to the highest *oint, and care,ully estimated the number o, *ersons )ho could com,ortably li+e on their sAuare miles9 ha+ing then limited their *o*ulation to that number, one )ould think that )as all there )as to be done- <ut they had not thought so- 2o them the country )as a unit7it )as theirs- 2hey themsel+es )ere a unit, a conscious grou*9 they thought in terms o, the community- !s such, their time0sense )as not limited to the ho*es and ambitions o, an indi+idual li,e- 2here,ore, they habitually considered and carried out *lans ,or im*ro+ement )hich might co+er centuries6 had ne+er seen, had scarcely imagined, human beings undertaking such a )ork as the deliberate re*lanting o, an entire ,orest area )ith di,,erent kinds o, trees- 3et this seemed to them the sim*lest common sense, like a man8s *lo)ing u* an in,erior la)n and reseeding it- :o) e+ery tree bore ,ruit7edible ,ruit, that is- 6n the case o, one tree, in )hich they took es*ecial *ride, it had originally no ,ruit at all7that is, none humanly edible7yet )as so beauti,ul that they )ished to kee* it- For nine hundred years they had e/*erimented, and no) sho)ed us this *articularly lo+ely grace,ul tree, )ith a *ro,use cro* o, nutritious seeds2hey had early decided that trees )ere the best ,ood *lants, reAuiring ,ar less labor in tilling the soil, and bearing a larger amount o, ,ood ,or the same ground s*ace9 also doing much to *reser+e and enrich the soil;ue regard had been *aid to seasonable cro*s, and their ,ruit and nuts, grains and berries, ke*t on almost the year through=n the higher *art o, the country, near the backing )all o, mountains, they had a real )inter )ith sno)- 2o)ard the south0eastern *oint, )here there )as a large +alley )ith a lake )hose outlet )as subterranean, the climate )as like that o, Cali,ornia, and citrus ,ruits, ,igs, and oli+es gre) abundantly4hat im*ressed me *articularly )as their scheme o, ,ertiliFation- Here )as this little shut0in *iece o, land )here one )ould ha+e thought an ordinary *eo*le )ould ha+e been star+ed out long

ago or reduced to an annual struggle ,or li,e- 2hese care,ul culturists had )orked out a *er,ect scheme o, re,eeding the soil )ith all that came out o, it- !ll the scra*s and lea+ings o, their ,ood, *lant )aste ,rom lumber )ork or te/tile industry, all the solid matter ,rom the se)age, *ro*erly treated and combined7e+erything )hich came ,rom the earth )ent back to it2he *ractical result )as like that in any healthy ,orest9 an increasingly +aluable soil )as being built, instead o, the *rogressi+e im*o+erishment so o,ten seen in the rest o, the )orld4hen this ,irst burst u*on us )e made such a**ro+ing comments that they )ere sur*rised that such ob+ious common sense should be *raised9 asked )hat our methods )ere9 and )e had some di,,iculty in7)ell, in di+erting them, by re,erring to the e/tent o, our o)n land, and the7admitted 7carelessness )ith )hich )e had skimmed the cream o, it!t least )e thought )e had di+erted them- Bater 6 ,ound that besides kee*ing a care,ul and accurate account o, all )e told them, they had a sort o, skeleton chart, on )hich the things )e said and the things )e *al*ably a+oided saying )ere all set do)n and studied- 6t really )as child8s *lay ,or those *ro,ound educators to )ork out a *ain,ully accurate estimate o, our conditions7in some lines- 4hen a gi+en line o, obser+ation seemed to lead to some +ery dread,ul in,erence they al)ays ga+e us the bene,it o, the doubt, lea+ing it o*en to ,urther kno)ledge- .ome o, the things )e had gro)n to acce*t as *er,ectly natural, or as belonging to our human limitations, they literally could not ha+e belie+ed9 and, as 6 ha+e said, )e had all o, us @oined in a tacit endea+or to conceal much o, the social status at home1Con,ound their grandmotherly mindsG5 2erry said- 1=, course they can8t understand a >an8s 4orldG 2hey aren8t human7they8re @ust a *ack o, Fe0Fe0FemalesG5 2his )as a,ter he had to admit their *arthenogenesis16 )ish our grand,atherly minds had managed as )ell,5 said "e,,- 1;o you really think it8s to our credit that )e ha+e muddled along )ith all our *o+erty and disease and the likeD 2hey ha+e *eace and *lenty, )ealth and beauty, goodness and intellect- Pretty good *eo*le, 6 thinkG5 13ou8ll ,ind they ha+e their ,aults too,5 2erry insisted9 and *artly in sel,0de,ense, )e all three began to look ,or those ,aults o, theirs- 4e had been +ery strong on this sub@ect be,ore )e got there 7in those baseless s*eculations o, ours1.u**ose there is a country o, )omen only,5 "e,, had *ut it, o+er and o+er- 14hat8ll they be likeD5 !nd )e had been cocksure as to the ine+itable limitations, the ,aults and +ices, o, a lot o, )omen- 4e had e/*ected them to be gi+en o+er to )hat )e called 1,eminine +anity571,rills and ,urbelo)s,5 and )e ,ound they had e+ol+ed a costume more *er,ect than the Chinese dress, richly beauti,ul )hen so desired, al)ays use,ul, o, un,ailing dignity and good taste4e had e/*ected a dull submissi+e monotony, and ,ound a daring social in+enti+eness ,ar beyond our o)n, and a mechanical and scienti,ic de+elo*ment ,ully eAual to ours4e had e/*ected *ettiness, and ,ound a social consciousness besides )hich our nations looked like Auarreling children7,eebleminded ones at that4e had e/*ected @ealousy, and ,ound a broad sisterly a,,ection, a ,air0minded intelligence, to )hich )e could *roduce no *arallel4e had e/*ected hysteria, and ,ound a standard o, health and +igor, a calmness o, tem*er, to )hich the habit o, *ro,anity, ,or instance, )as im*ossible to e/*lain7)e tried it!ll these things e+en 2erry had to admit, but he still insisted that )e should ,ind out the other side *retty soon16t stands to reason, doesn8t itD5 he argued- 12he )hole thing8s deuced unnatural768d say im*ossible i, )e )eren8t in it- !nd an unnatural condition8s sure to ha+e unnatural results- 3ou8ll ,ind some a),ul characteristics7see i, you don8tG For instance7)e don8t kno) yet )hat they do )ith their criminals7their de,ecti+es7their aged- 3ou notice )e ha+en8t seen anyG 2here8s got to be somethingG5 6 )as inclined to belie+e that there had to be something, so 6 took the bull by the horns7the co), 6 should sayG7and asked .omel16 )ant to ,ind some ,la) in all this *er,ection,5 6 told her ,latly- 16t sim*ly isn8t *ossible that

three million *eo*le ha+e no ,aults- 4e are trying our best to understand and learn7)ould you mind hel*ing us by saying )hat, to your minds, are the )orst Aualities o, this uniAue ci+iliFation o, yoursD5 4e )ere sitting together in a shaded arbor, in one o, those eating0gardens o, theirs- 2he delicious ,ood had been eaten, a *late o, ,ruit still be,ore us- 4e could look out on one side o+er a stretch o, o*en country, Auietly rich and lo+ely9 on the other, the garden, )ith tables here and there, ,ar a*art enough ,or *ri+acy- Bet me say right here that )ith all their care,ul 1balance o, *o*ulation5 there )as no cro)ding in this country- 2here )as room, s*ace, a sunny breeFy ,reedom e+ery)here.omel set her chin u*on her hand, her elbo) on the lo) )all beside her, and looked o,, o+er the ,air land1=, course )e ha+e ,aults7all o, us,5 she said- L6n one )ay you might say that )e ha+e more than )e used to7that is, our standard o, *er,ection seems to get ,arther and ,arther a)ay- <ut )e are not discouraged, because our records do sho) gain7considerable gainL4hen )e began7e+en )ith the start o, one *articularly noble mother7)e inherited the characteristics o, a long race0record behind her- !nd they cro**ed out ,rom time to time7 alarmingly- <ut it is7yes, Auite si/ hundred years since )e ha+e had )hat you call a 8criminal-8 14e ha+e, o, course, made it our ,irst business to train out, to breed out, )hen *ossible, the lo)est ty*es-5 1<reed outD5 6 asked- 1Ho) could you7)ith *arthenogenesisD5 16, the girl sho)ing the bad Aualities had still the *o)er to a**reciate social duty, )e a**ealed to her, by that, to renounce motherhood- .ome o, the ,e) )orst ty*es )ere, ,ortunately, unable to re*roduce- <ut i, the ,ault )as in a dis*ro*ortionate egotism7then the girl )as sure she had the right to ha+e children, e+en that hers )ould be better than others-5 16 can see that,5 6 said- 1!nd then she )ould be likely to rear them in the same s*irit-5 12hat )e ne+er allo)ed,5 ans)ered .omel Auietly1!llo)edD5 6 Aueried- 1!llo)ed a mother to rear her o)n childrenD5 1Certainly not,5 said .omel, 1unless she )as ,it ,or that su*reme task-5 2his )as rather a blo) to my *re+ious con+ictions1<ut 6 thought motherhood )as ,or each o, you75 1>otherhood7yes, that is, maternity, to bear a child- <ut education is our highest art, only allo)ed to our highest artists-5 1 ducationD5 6 )as *uFFled again- 16 don8t mean education- 6 mean by motherhood not only child0bearing, but the care o, babies-5 12he care o, babies in+ol+es education, and is entrusted only to the most ,it,5 she re*eated12hen you se*arate mother and childG5 6 cried in cold horror, something o, 2erry8s ,eeling cree*ing o+er me, that there must be something )rong among these many +irtues1:ot usually,5 she *atiently e/*lained- 13ou see, almost e+ery )oman +alues her maternity abo+e e+erything else- ach girl holds it close and dear, an e/Auisite @oy, a cro)ning honor, the most intimate, most *ersonal, most *recious thing- 2hat is, the child0rearing has come to be )ith us a culture so *ro,oundly studied, *racticed )ith such subtlety and skill, that the more )e lo+e our children the less )e are )illing to trust that *rocess to unskilled hands7e+en our o)n-5 1<ut a mother8s lo+e75 6 +entured.he studied my ,ace, trying to )ork out a means o, clear e/*lanation13ou told us about your dentists,5 she said, at length, 1those Auaintly s*ecialiFed *ersons )ho s*end their li+es ,illing little holes in other *ersons8 teeth7e+en in children8s teeth sometimes-5 13esD5 6 said, not getting her dri,t1;oes mother0lo+e urge mothers7)ith you7to ,ill their o)n children8s teethD =r to )ish toD5 14hy no7o, course not,5 6 *rotested- 1<ut that is a highly s*ecialiFed cra,t- .urely the care o, babies is o*en to any )oman7any motherG5 14e do not think so,5 she gently re*lied- 12hose o, us )ho are the most highly com*etent ,ul,ill that o,,ice9 and a ma@ority o, our girls eagerly try ,or it76 assure you )e ha+e the +ery best-5 1<ut the *oor mother7berea+ed o, her baby75

1=h noG5 she earnestly assured me- 1:ot in the least berea+ed- 6t is her baby still7it is )ith her 7she has not lost it- <ut she is not the only one to care ,or it- 2here are others )hom she kno)s to be )iser- .he kno)s it because she has studied as they did, *racticed as they did, and honors their real su*eriority- For the child8s sake, she is glad to ha+e ,or it this highest care-5 6 )as uncon+inced- <esides, this )as only hearsay9 6 had yet to see the motherhood o, HerlandHerland Cha*ter $ 2he Girls o, Herland !t last 2erry8s ambition )as realiFed- 4e )ere in+ited, al)ays courteously and )ith ,ree choice on our *art, to address general audiences and classes o, girls6 remember the ,irst time7and ho) care,ul )e )ere about our clothes, and our amateur barbering- 2erry, in *articular, )as ,ussy to a degree about the cut o, his beard, and so critical o, our combined e,,orts, that )e handed him the shears and told him to *lease himsel,- 4e began to rather *riFe those beards o, ours9 they )ere almost our sole distinction among those tall and sturdy )omen, )ith their cro**ed hair and se/less costume- <eing o,,ered a )ide selection o, garments, )e had chosen according to our *ersonal taste, and )ere sur*rised to ,ind, on meeting large audiences, that )e )ere the most highly decorated, es*ecially 2erryHe )as a +ery im*ressi+e ,igure, his strong ,eatures so,tened by the some)hat longer hair7 though he made me trim it as closely as 6 kne) ho)9 and he )ore his richly embroidered tunic )ith its broad, loose girdle )ith Auite a Henry ? air- "e,, looked more like7)ell, like a Huguenot Bo+er9 and 6 don8t kno) )hat 6 looked like, only that 6 ,elt +ery com,ortable- 4hen 6 got back to our o)n *added armor and its starched borders 6 realiFed )ith acute regret ho) com,ortable )ere those Herland clothes4e scanned that audience, looking ,or the three bright ,aces )e kne)9 but they )ere not to be seen- "ust a multitude o, girls: Auiet, eager, )atch,ul, all eyes and ears to listen and learn4e had been urged to gi+e, as ,ully as )e cared to, a sort o, syno*sis o, )orld history, in brie,, and to ans)er Auestions14e are so utterly ignorant, you see,5 >oadine had e/*lained to us- 14e kno) nothing but such science as )e ha+e )orked out ,or oursel+es, @ust the brain )ork o, one small hal,0country9 and you, )e gather, ha+e hel*ed one another all o+er the globe, sharing your disco+eries, *ooling your *rogress- Ho) )onder,ul, ho) su*remely beauti,ul your ci+iliFation must beG5 .omel ga+e a ,urther suggestion13ou do not ha+e to begin all o+er again, as you did )ith us- 4e ha+e made a sort o, digest o, )hat )e ha+e learned ,rom you, and it has been eagerly absorbed, all o+er the country- Perha*s you )ould like to see our outlineD5 4e )ere eager to see it, and dee*ly im*ressed- 2o us, at ,irst, these )omen, una+oidably ignorant o, )hat to us )as the basic common*lace o, kno)ledge, had seemed on the *lane o, children, or o, sa+ages- 4hat )e had been ,orced to admit, )ith gro)ing acAuaintance, )as that they )ere ignorant as Plato and !ristotle )ere, but )ith a highly de+elo*ed mentality Auite com*arable to that o, !ncient GreeceFar be it ,rom me to lumber these *ages )ith an account o, )hat )e so im*er,ectly stro+e to teach them- 2he memorable ,act is )hat they taught us, or some ,aint glim*se o, it- !nd at *resent, our ma@or interest )as not at all in the sub@ect matter o, our talk, but in the audienceGirls7hundreds o, them7eager, bright0eyed, attenti+e young ,aces9 cro)ding Auestions, and, 6 regret to say, an increasing inability on our *art to ans)er them e,,ecti+ely=ur s*ecial guides, )ho )ere on the *lat,orm )ith us, and sometimes aided in clari,ying a Auestion or, o,tener, an ans)er, noticed this e,,ect, and closed the ,ormal lecture *art o, the e+ening rather shortly1=ur young )omen )ill be glad to meet you,5 .omel suggested, 1to talk )ith you more *ersonally, i, you are )illingD5 4illingG 4e )ere im*atient and said as much, at )hich 6 sa) a ,lickering little smile cross

>oadine8s ,ace- +en then, )ith all those eager young things )aiting to talk to us, a sudden Auestion crossed my mind: 14hat )as their *oint o, +ie)D 4hat did they think o, usD5 4e learned that later2erry *lunged in among those young creatures )ith a sort o, ra*ture, some)hat as a glad s)immer takes to the sea- "e,,, )ith a ra*t look on his high0bred ,ace, a**roached as to a sacrament<ut 6 )as a little chilled by that last thought o, mine, and ke*t my eyes o*en- 6 ,ound time to )atch "e,,, e+en )hile 6 )as surrounded by an eager grou* o, Auestioners7as )e all )ere7and sa) ho) his )orshi**ing eyes, his gra+e courtesy, *leased and dre) some o, them9 )hile others, rather stronger s*irits they looked to be, dre) a)ay ,rom his grou* to 2erry8s or mine6 )atched 2erry )ith s*ecial interest, kno)ing ho) he had longed ,or this time, and ho) irresistible he had al)ays been at home- !nd 6 could see, @ust in snatches, o, course, ho) his sua+e and master,ul a**roach seemed to irritate them9 his too0intimate glances )ere +aguely resented, his com*liments *uFFled and annoyed- .ometimes a girl )ould ,lush, not )ith droo*ed eyelids and in+iting timidity, but )ith anger and a Auick li,t o, the head- Girl a,ter girl turned on her heel and le,t him, till he had but a small ring o, Auestioners, and they, +isibly, )ere the least 1girlish5 o, the lot6 sa) him looking *leased at ,irst, as i, he thought he )as making a strong im*ression9 but, ,inally, casting a look at "e,,, or me, he seemed less *leased7and less!s ,or me, 6 )as most agreeably sur*rised- !t home 6 ne+er )as 1*o*ular-5 6 had my girl ,riends, good ones, but they )ere ,riends7nothing else- !lso they )ere o, some)hat the same clan, not *o*ular in the sense o, s)arming admirers- <ut here, to my astonishment, 6 ,ound my cro)d )as the largest6 ha+e to generaliFe, o, course, rather telesco*ing many im*ressions9 but the ,irst e+ening )as a good sam*le o, the im*ression )e made- "e,, had a ,ollo)ing, i, 6 may call it that, o, the more sentimental7though that8s not the )ord 6 )ant- 2he less *ractical, *erha*s9 the girls )ho )ere artists o, some sort, ethicists, teachers7that kind2erry )as reduced to a rather combati+e grou*: keen, logical, inAuiring minds, not o+erly sensiti+e, the +ery kind he liked least9 )hile, as ,or me76 became Auite cocky o+er my general *o*ularity2erry )as ,urious about it- 4e could hardly blame him1GirlsG5 he burst ,orth, )hen that e+ening )as o+er and )e )ere by oursel+es once more- 1Call those G6EB.G5 1>ost delight,ul girls, 6 call them,5 said "e,,, his blue eyes dreamily contented14hat do 3=C call themD5 6 mildly inAuired1<oysG :othing but boys, most o, 8em- ! stando,,ish, disagreeable lot at that- Critical, im*ertinent youngsters- :o girls at all-5 He )as angry and se+ere, not a little @ealous, too, 6 think- !,ter)ard, )hen he ,ound out @ust )hat it )as they did not like, he changed his manner some)hat and got on better- He had to- For, in s*ite o, his criticism, they )ere girls, and, ,urthermore, all the girls there )ereG !l)ays e/ce*ting our threeG7)ith )hom )e *resently rene)ed our acAuaintance4hen it came to courtshi*, )hich it soon did, 6 can o, course best describe my o)n7and am least inclined to- <ut o, "e,, 6 heard some)hat9 he )as inclined to d)ell re+erently and admiringly, at some length, on the e/alted sentiment and measureless *er,ection o, his Celis9 and 2erry72erry made so many ,alse starts and met so many rebu,,s, that by the time he really settled do)n to )in !lima, he )as considerably )iser- !t that, it )as not smooth sailing- 2hey broke and Auarreled, o+er and o+er9 he )ould rush o,, to console himsel, )ith some other ,air one7the other ,air one )ould ha+e none o, him7and he )ould dri,t back to !lima, becoming more and more de+oted each time.he ne+er ga+e an inch- ! big, handsome creature, rather e/ce*tionally strong e+en in that race o, strong )omen, )ith a *roud head and s)ee*ing le+el bro)s that lined across abo+e her dark eager eyes like the )ide )ings o, a soaring ha)k6 )as good ,riends )ith all three o, them but best o, all )ith llador, long be,ore that ,eeling

changed, ,or both o, usFrom her, and ,rom .omel, )ho talked +ery ,reely )ith me, 6 learned at last something o, the +ie)*oint o, Herland to)ard its +isitorsHere they )ere, isolated, ha**y, contented, )hen the booming buFF o, our bi*lane tore the air abo+e them+erybody heard it7sa) it7,or miles and miles, )ord ,lashed all o+er the country, and a council )as held in e+ery to)n and +illage!nd this )as their ra*id determination: 1From another country- Probably men- +idently highly ci+iliFed- ;oubtless *ossessed o, much +aluable kno)ledge- >ay be dangerous- Catch them i, *ossible9 tame and train them i, necessary 2his may be a chance to re0establish a bi0se/ual state ,or our *eo*le-5 2hey )ere not a,raid o, us7three million highly intelligent )omen7or t)o million, counting only gro)n0u*s7)ere not likely to be a,raid o, three young men- 4e thought o, them as 14omen,5 and there,ore timid9 but it )as t)o thousand years since they had had anything to be a,raid o,, and certainly more than one thousand since they had outgro)n the ,eeling4e thought7at least 2erry did7that )e could ha+e our *ick o, them- 2hey thought7+ery cautiously and ,arsightedly7o, *icking us, i, it seemed )ise!ll that time )e )ere in training they studied us, analyFed us, *re*ared re*orts about us, and this in,ormation )as )idely disseminated all about the land:ot a girl in that country had not been learning ,or months as much as could be gathered about our country, our culture, our *ersonal characters- :o )onder their Auestions )ere hard to ans)er<ut 6 am sorry to say, )hen )e )ere at last brought out and7e/hibited (6 hate to call it that, but that8s )hat it )as), there )as no rush o, takers- Here )as *oor old 2erry ,ondly imagining that at last he )as ,ree to stray in 1a rosebud garden o, girls57and beholdG the rosebuds )ere all )ith keen a**raising eye, studying us2hey )ere interested, *ro,oundly interested, but it )as not the kind o, interest )e )ere looking ,or2o get an idea o, their attitude you ha+e to hold in mind their e/tremely high sense o, solidarity2hey )ere not each choosing a lo+er9 they hadn8t the ,aintest idea o, lo+e7se/0lo+e, that is- 2hese girls7to each o, )hom motherhood )as a lodestar, and that motherhood e/alted abo+e a mere *ersonal ,unction, looked ,or)ard to as the highest social ser+ice, as the sacrament o, a li,etime7 )ere no) con,ronted )ith an o**ortunity to make the great ste* o, changing their )hole status, o, re+erting to their earlier bi0se/ual order o, nature<eside this underlying consideration there )as the limitless interest and curiosity in our ci+iliFation, *urely im*ersonal, and held by an order o, mind beside )hich )e )ere like7 schoolboys6t )as small )onder that our lectures )ere not a success9 and none at all that our, or at least 2erry8s, ad+ances )ere so ill recei+ed- 2he reason ,or my o)n com*arati+e success )as at ,irst ,ar ,rom *leasing to my *ride14e like you the best,5 .omel told me, 1because you seem more like us-5 1>ore like a lot o, )omenG5 6 thought to mysel, disgustedly, and then remembered ho) little like 1)omen,5 in our derogatory sense, they )ere- .he )as smiling at me, reading my thought14e can Auite see that )e do not seem like7)omen7to you- =, course, in a bi0se/ual race the distincti+e ,eature o, each se/ must be intensi,ied- <ut surely there are characteristics enough )hich belong to Peo*le, aren8t thereD 2hat8s )hat 6 mean about you being more like us7more like Peo*le4e ,eel at ease )ith you-5 "e,,8s di,,iculty )as his e/alted gallantry- He idealiFed )omen, and )as al)ays looking ,or a chance to 1*rotect5 or to 1ser+e5 them- 2hese needed neither *rotection nor ser+ice- 2hey )ere li+ing in *eace and *o)er and *lenty9 )e )ere their guests, their *risoners, absolutely de*endent=, course )e could *romise )hatsoe+er )e might o, ad+antages, i, they )ould come to our country9 but the more )e kne) o, theirs, the less )e boasted2erry8s @e)els and trinkets they *riFed as curios9 handed them about, asking Auestions as to

)orkmanshi*, not in the least as to +alue9 and discussed not o)nershi*, but )hich museum to *ut them in4hen a man has nothing to gi+e a )oman, is de*endent )holly on his *ersonal attraction, his courtshi* is under limitations2hey )ere considering these t)o things: the ad+isability o, making the Great Change9 and the degree o, *ersonal ada*tability )hich )ould best ser+e that endHere )e had the ad+antage o, our small *ersonal e/*erience )ith those three ,leet ,orest girls9 and that ser+ed to dra) us together!s ,or llador: .u**ose you come to a strange land and ,ind it *leasant enough7@ust a little more than ordinarily *leasant7and then you ,ind rich ,armland, and then gardens, gorgeous gardens, and then *alaces ,ull o, rare and curious treasures7incalculable, ine/haustible, and then7 mountains7like the Himalayas, and then the sea6 liked her that day she balanced on the branch be,ore me and named the trio- 6 thought o, her most- !,ter)ard 6 turned to her like a ,riend )hen )e met ,or the third time, and continued the acAuaintance- 4hile "e,,8s ultra0de+otion rather *uFFled Celis, really *ut o,, their day o, ha**iness, )hile 2erry and !lima Auarreled and *arted, re0met and re0*arted, llador and 6 gre) to be close ,riends4e talked and talked- 4e took long )alks together- .he sho)ed me things, e/*lained them, inter*reted much that 6 had not understood- 2hrough her sym*athetic intelligence 6 became more and more com*rehending o, the s*irit o, the *eo*le o, Herland, more and more a**reciati+e o, its mar+elous inner gro)th as )ell as outer *er,ection6 ceased to ,eel a stranger, a *risoner- 2here )as a sense o, understanding, o, identity, o, *ur*ose- 4e discussed7e+erything- !nd, as 6 tra+eled ,arther and ,arther, e/*loring the rich, s)eet soul o, her, my sense o, *leasant ,riendshi* became but a broad ,oundation ,or such height, such breadth, such interlocked combination o, ,eeling as le,t me ,airly blinded )ith the )onder o, it!s 68+e said, 6 had ne+er cared +ery much ,or )omen, nor they ,or me7not 2erry0,ashion- <ut this one7 !t ,irst 6 ne+er e+en thought o, her 1in that )ay,5 as the girls ha+e it- 6 had not come to the country )ith any 2urkish0harem intentions, and 6 )as no )oman0)orshi**er like "e,,- 6 @ust liked that girl 1as a ,riend,5 as )e say- 2hat ,riendshi* gre) like a tree- .he )as .CCH a good s*ortG 4e did all kinds o, things together- .he taught me games and 6 taught her games, and )e raced and ro)ed and had all manner o, ,un, as )ell as higher comradeshi*2hen, as 6 got on ,arther, the *alace and treasures and sno)y mountain ranges o*ened u*- 6 had ne+er kno)n there could be such a human being- .o7great- 6 don8t mean talented- .he )as a ,orester7one o, the best7but it )as not that gi,t 6 mean- 4hen 6 say GE !2, 6 mean great7big, all through- 6, 6 had kno)n more o, those )omen, as intimately, 6 should not ha+e ,ound her so uniAue9 but e+en among them she )as noble- Her mother )as an =+er >other7and her grandmother, too, 6 heard later.o she told me more and more o, her beauti,ul land9 and 6 told her as much, yes, more than 6 )anted to, about mine9 and )e became inse*arable- 2hen this dee*er recognition came and gre)- 6 ,elt my o)n soul rise and li,t its )ings, as it )ere- Bi,e got bigger- 6t seemed as i, 6 understood7as 6 ne+er had be,ore7as i, 6 could ;o things7as i, 6 too could gro)7i, she )ould hel* me- !nd then 6t came7to both o, us, all at once! still day7on the edge o, the )orld, their )orld- 2he t)o o, us, gaFing out o+er the ,ar dim ,orestland belo), talking o, hea+en and earth and human li,e, and o, my land and other lands and )hat they needed and )hat 6 ho*ed to do ,or them7 16, you )ill hel* me,5 6 said.he turned to me, )ith that high, s)eet look o, hers, and then, as her eyes rested in mine and her hands too7then suddenly there blaFed out bet)een us a ,arther glory, instant, o+er)helming7Auite beyond any )ords o, mine to tellCelis )as a blue0and0gold0and0rose *erson9 !lma, black0and0)hite0and0red, a blaFing beautyllador )as bro)n: hair dark and so,t, like a seal coat9 clear bro)n skin )ith a healthy red in it9

bro)n eyes7all the )ay ,rom to*aF to black +el+et they seemed to range7s*lendid girls, all o, them2hey had seen us ,irst o, all, ,ar do)n in the lake belo), and ,lashed the tidings across the land e+en be,ore our ,irst e/*loring ,light- 2hey had )atched our landing, ,litted through the ,orest )ith us, hidden in that tree and76 shre)dly sus*ect7giggled on *ur*ose2hey had ke*t )atch o+er our hooded machine, taking turns at it9 and )hen our esca*e )as announced, had ,ollo)ed along0side ,or a day or t)o, and been there at the last, as described- 2hey ,elt a s*ecial claim on us7called us 1their men57and )hen )e )ere at liberty to study the land and *eo*le, and be studied by them, their claim )as recogniFed by the )ise leaders<ut 6 ,elt, )e all did, that )e should ha+e chosen them among millions, unerringly!nd yet 1the *ath o, true lo+e ne+er did run smooth59 this *eriod o, courtshi* )as ,ull o, the most unsus*ected *it,alls4riting this as late as 6 do, a,ter mani,old e/*eriences both in Herland and, later, in my o)n land, 6 can no) understand and *hiloso*hiFe about )hat )as then a continual astonishment and o,ten a tem*orary tragedy2he 1long suit5 in most courtshi*s is se/ attraction, o, course- 2hen gradually de+elo*s such comradeshi* as the t)o tem*eraments allo)- 2hen, a,ter marriage, there is either the establishment o, a slo)0gro)ing, )idely based ,riendshi*, the dee*est, tenderest, s)eetest o, relations, all lit and )armed by the recurrent ,lame o, lo+e9 or else that *rocess is re+ersed, lo+e cools and ,ades, no ,riendshi* gro)s, the )hole relation turns ,rom beauty to ashesHere e+erything )as di,,erent- 2here )as no se/0,eeling to a**eal to, or *ractically none- 2)o thousand years8 disuse had le,t +ery little o, the instinct9 also )e must remember that those )ho had at times mani,ested it as ata+istic e/ce*tions )ere o,ten, by that +ery ,act, denied motherhood3et )hile the mother *rocess remains, the inherent ground ,or se/0distinction remains also9 and )ho shall say )hat long0,orgotten ,eeling, +ague and nameless, )as stirred in some o, these mother hearts by our arri+alD 4hat le,t us e+en more at sea in our a**roach )as the lack o, any se/0tradition- 2here )as no acce*ted standard o, )hat )as 1manly5 and )hat )as 1)omanly-5 4hen "e,, said, taking the ,ruit basket ,rom his adored one, 1! )oman should not carry anything,5 Celis said, 14hyD5 )ith the ,rankest amaFement- He could not look that ,leet0,ooted, dee*0chested young ,orester in the ,ace and say, 1<ecause she is )eaker-5 .he )asn8t- =ne does not call a race horse )eak because it is +isibly not a cart horseHe said, rather lamely, that )omen )ere not built ,or hea+y )ork.he looked out across the ,ields to )here some )omen )ere )orking, building a ne) bit o, )all out o, large stones9 looked back at the nearest to)n )ith its )oman0built houses9 do)n at the smooth, hard road )e )ere )alking on9 and then at the little basket he had taken ,rom her16 don8t understand,5 she said Auite s)eetly- 1!re the )omen in your country so )eak that they could not carry such a thing as thatD5 16t is a con+ention,5 he said- 14e assume that motherhood is a su,,icient burden7that men should carry all the others-5 14hat a beauti,ul ,eelingG5 she said, her blue eyes shining1;oes it )orkD5 asked !lima, in her keen, s)i,t )ay- 1;o all men in all countries carry e+erythingD =r is it only in yoursD5 1;on8t be so literal,5 2erry begged laFily- 14hy aren8t you )illing to be )orshi**ed and )aited onD 4e like to do it-5 13ou don8t like to ha+e us do it to you,5 she ans)ered12hat8s di,,erent,5 he said, annoyed9 and )hen she said, 14hy is itD5 he Auite sulked, re,erring her to me, saying, 1?an8s the *hiloso*her-5 llador and 6 talked it all out together, so that )e had an easier e/*erience o, it )hen the real miracle time came- !lso, bet)een us, )e made things clearer to "e,, and Celis- <ut 2erry )ould not listen to reasonHe )as madly in lo+e )ith !lima- He )anted to take her by storm, and nearly lost her ,ore+er-

3ou see, i, a man lo+es a girl )ho is in the ,irst *lace young and ine/*erienced9 )ho in the second *lace is educated )ith a background o, ca+eman tradition, a middle0ground o, *oetry and romance, and a ,oreground o, uns*oken ho*e and interest all centering u*on the one +ent9 and )ho has, ,urthermore, absolutely no other ho*e or interest )orthy o, the name7)hy, it is a com*arati+ely easy matter to s)ee* her o,, her ,eet )ith a dashing attack- 2erry )as a *ast master in this *rocess- He tried it here, and !lima )as so a,,ronted, so re*elled, that it )as )eeks be,ore he got near enough to try again2he more coldly she denied him, the hotter his determination9 he )as not used to real re,usal2he a**roach o, ,lattery she dismissed )ith laughter, gi,ts and such 1attentions5 )e could not bring to bear, *athos and com*laint o, cruelty stirred only a reasoning inAuiry- 6t took 2erry a long time6 doubt i, she e+er acce*ted her strange lo+er as ,ully as did Celis and llador theirs- He had hurt and o,,ended her too o,ten9 there )ere reser+ations<ut 6 think !lima retained some ,aint +estige o, long0descended ,eeling )hich made 2erry more *ossible to her than to others9 and that she had made u* her mind to the e/*eriment and hated to renounce itHo)e+er it came about, )e all three at length achie+ed ,ull understanding, and solemnly ,aced )hat )as to them a ste* o, measureless im*ortance, a gra+e Auestion as )ell as a great ha**iness9 to us a strange, ne) @oy=, marriage as a ceremony they kne) nothing- "e,, )as ,or bringing them to our country ,or the religious and the ci+il ceremony, but neither Celis nor the others )ould consent14e can8t e/*ect them to )ant to go )ith us7yet,5 said 2erry sagely- 14ait a bit, boys- 4e8+e got to take 8em on their o)n terms7i, at all-5 2his, in rue,ul reminiscence o, his re*eated ,ailures1<ut our time8s coming,5 he added cheer,ully- 12hese )omen ha+e ne+er been mastered, you see75 2his, as one )ho had made a disco+ery13ou8d better not try to do any mastering i, you +alue your chances,5 6 told him seriously9 but he only laughed, and said, 1 +ery man to his tradeG5 4e couldn8t do anything )ith him- He had to take his o)n medicine6, the lack o, tradition o, courtshi* le,t us much at sea in our )ooing, )e ,ound oursel+es still more be)ildered by lack o, tradition o, matrimony!nd here again, 6 ha+e to dra) on later e/*erience, and as dee* an acAuaintance )ith their culture as 6 could achie+e, to e/*lain the gul,s o, di,,erence bet)een us2)o thousand years o, one continuous culture )ith no men- <ack o, that, only traditions o, the harem- 2hey had no e/act analogue ,or our )ord H=> , any more than they had ,or our Eoman0 based F!>6B32hey lo+ed one another )ith a *ractically uni+ersal a,,ection, rising to e/Auisite and unbroken ,riendshi*s, and broadening to a de+otion to their country and *eo*le ,or )hich our )ord P!2E6=26.> is no de,inition at allPatriotism, red hot, is com*atible )ith the e/istence o, a neglect o, national interests, a dishonesty, a cold indi,,erence to the su,,ering o, millions- Patriotism is largely *ride, and +ery largely combati+eness- Patriotism generally has a chi* on its shoulder2his country had no other country to measure itsel, by7sa+e the ,e) *oor sa+ages ,ar belo), )ith )hom they had no contact2hey lo+ed their country because it )as their nursery, *layground, and )orksho*7theirs and their children8s- 2hey )ere *roud o, it as a )orksho*, *roud o, their record o, e+er0increasing e,,iciency9 they had made a *leasant garden o, it, a +ery *ractical little hea+en9 but most o, all they +alued it7and here it is hard ,or us to understand them7as a cultural en+ironment ,or their children2hat, o, course, is the keynote o, the )hole distinction7their childrenFrom those ,irst breathlessly guarded, hal,0adored race mothers, all u* the ascending line, they had this dominant thought o, building u* a great race through the children!ll the surrendering de+otion our )omen ha+e *ut into their *ri+ate ,amilies, these )omen *ut into their country and race- !ll the loyalty and ser+ice men e/*ect o, )i+es, they ga+e, not singly to

men, but collecti+ely to one another!nd the mother instinct, )ith us so *ain,ully intense, so th)arted by conditions, so concentrated in *ersonal de+otion to a ,e), so bitterly hurt by death, disease, or barrenness, and e+en by the mere gro)th o, the children, lea+ing the mother alone in her em*ty nest7all this ,eeling )ith them ,lo)ed out in a strong, )ide current, unbroken through the generations, dee*ening and )idening through the years, including e+ery child in all the land4ith their united *o)er and )isdom, they had studied and o+ercome the 1diseases o, childhood57their children had none2hey had ,aced the *roblems o, education and so sol+ed them that their children gre) u* as naturally as young trees9 learning through e+ery sense9 taught continuously but unconsciously7 ne+er kno)ing they )ere being educated6n ,act, they did not use the )ord as )e do- 2heir idea o, education )as the s*ecial training they took, )hen hal, gro)n u*, under e/*erts- 2hen the eager young minds ,airly ,lung themsel+es on their chosen sub@ects, and acAuired )ith an ease, a breadth, a gras*, at )hich 6 ne+er ceased to )onder<ut the babies and little children ne+er ,elt the *ressure o, that 1,orcible ,eeding5 o, the mind that )e call 1education-5 =, this, more laterHerland Cha*ter 9 =ur Eelations and 2heirs 4hat 68m trying to sho) here is that )ith these )omen the )hole relationshi* o, li,e counted in a glad, eager gro)ing0u* to @oin the ranks o, )orkers in the line best lo+ed9 a dee*, tender re+erence ,or one8s o)n mother7too dee* ,or them to s*eak o, ,reely7and beyond that, the )hole, ,ree, )ide range o, sisterhood, the s*lendid ser+ice o, the country, and ,riendshi*s2o these )omen )e came, ,illed )ith the ideas, con+ictions, traditions, o, our culture, and undertook to rouse in them the emotions )hich7to us7seemed *ro*erHo)e+er much, or little, o, true se/0,eeling there )as bet)een us, it *hrased itsel, in their minds in terms o, ,riendshi*, the one *urely *ersonal lo+e they kne), and o, ultimate *arentage- ?isibly )e )ere not mothers, nor children, nor com*atriots9 so, i, they lo+ed us, )e must be ,riends2hat )e should *air o,, together in our courting days )as natural to them9 that )e three should remain much together, as they did themsel+es, )as also natural- 4e had as yet no )ork, so )e hung about them in their ,orest tasks9 that )as natural, too<ut )hen )e began to talk about each cou*le ha+ing 1homes5 o, our o)n, they could not understand it1=ur )ork takes us all around the country,5 e/*lained Celis- 14e cannot li+e in one *lace all the time-5 14e are together no),5 urged !lima, looking *roudly at 2erry8s stal)art nearness- (2his )as one o, the times )hen they )ere 1on,5 though *resently 1o,,5 again-) 16t8s not the same thing at all,5 he insisted- 1! man )ants a home o, his o)n, )ith his )i,e and ,amily in it-5 1.taying in itD !ll the timeD5 asked llador- 1:ot im*risoned, surelyG5 1=, course notG Bi+ing there7naturally,5 he ans)ered14hat does she do there7all the timeD5 !lima demanded- 14hat is her )orkD5 2hen 2erry *atiently e/*lained again that our )omen did not )ork7)ith reser+ations1<ut )hat do they do7i, they ha+e no )orkD5 she *ersisted12hey take care o, the home7and the children-5 1!t the same timeD5 asked llador14hy yes- 2he children *lay about, and the mother has charge o, it all- 2here are ser+ants, o, course-5 6t seemed so ob+ious, so natural to 2erry, that he al)ays gre) im*atient9 but the girls )ere honestly an/ious to understand-

1Ho) many children do your )omen ha+eD5 !lima had her notebook out no), and a rather ,irm set o, li*- 2erry began to dodge12here is no set number, my dear,5 he e/*lained- 1.ome ha+e more, some ha+e less-5 1.ome ha+e none at all,5 6 *ut in mischie+ously2hey *ounced on this admission and soon )rung ,rom us the general ,act that those )omen )ho had the most children had the least ser+ants, and those )ho had the most ser+ants had the least children12hereG5 trium*hed !lima- 1=ne or t)o or no children, and three or ,our ser+ants- :o) )hat do those )omen ;=D5 4e e/*lained as best )e might- 4e talked o, 1social duties,5 disingenuously banking on their not inter*reting the )ords as )e did9 )e talked o, hos*itality, entertainment, and +arious 1interests-5 !ll the time )e kne) that to these large0minded )omen )hose )hole mental outlook )as so collecti+e, the limitations o, a )holly *ersonal li,e )ere inconcei+able14e cannot really understand it,5 llador concluded- 14e are only hal, a *eo*le- 4e ha+e our )oman0)ays and they ha+e their man0)ays and their both0)ays- 4e ha+e )orked out a system o, li+ing )hich is, o, course, limited- 2hey must ha+e a broader, richer, better one- 6 should like to see it-5 13ou shall, dearest,5 6 )his*ered12here8s nothing to smoke,5 com*lained 2erry- He )as in the midst o, a *rolonged Auarrel )ith !lima, and needed a sedati+e- 12here8s nothing to drink- 2hese blessed )omen ha+e no *leasant +ices- 6 )ish )e could get out o, hereG5 2his )ish )as +ain- 4e )ere al)ays under a certain degree o, )atch,ulness- 4hen 2erry burst ,orth to tram* the streets at night he al)ays ,ound a 1Colonel5 here or there9 and )hen, on an occasion o, ,ierce though tem*orary des*air, he had *lunged to the cli,, edge )ith some +ague +ie) to esca*e, he ,ound se+eral o, them close by- 4e )ere ,ree7but there )as a string to it12hey8+e no un*leasant ones, either,5 "e,, reminded him14ish they hadG5 2erry *ersisted- 12hey8+e neither the +ices o, men, nor the +irtues o, )omen 7they8re neutersG5 13ou kno) better than that- ;on8t talk nonsense,5 said 6, se+erely6 )as thinking o, llador8s eyes )hen they ga+e me a certain look, a look she did not at all realiFe"e,, )as eAually incensed- 16 don8t kno) )hat 8+irtues o, )omen8 you miss- .eems to me they ha+e all o, them-5 12hey8+e no modesty,5 sna**ed 2erry- 1:o *atience, no submissi+eness, none o, that natural yielding )hich is )oman8s greatest charm-5 6 shook my head *ityingly- 1Go and a*ologiFe and make ,riends again, 2erry- 3ou8+e got a grouch, that8s all- 2hese )omen ha+e the +irtue o, humanity, )ith less o, its ,aults than any ,olks 6 e+er sa)- !s ,or *atience7they8d ha+e *itched us o+er the cli,,s the ,irst day )e lit among 8em, i, they hadn8t that-5 12here are no7distractions,5 he grumbled- 1:o)here a man can go and cut loose a bit- 6t8s an e+erlasting *arlor and nursery-5 1!nd )orksho*,5 6 added- 1!nd school, and o,,ice, and laboratory, and studio, and theater, and 7home-5 1H=> G5 he sneered- 12here isn8t a home in the )hole *iti,ul *lace-5 12here isn8t anything else, and you kno) it,5 "e,, retorted hotly- 16 ne+er sa), 6 ne+er dreamed o,, such uni+ersal *eace and good )ill and mutual a,,ection-5 1=h, )ell, o, course, i, you like a *er*etual .unday school, it8s all +ery )ell- <ut 6 like .omething ;oing- Here it8s all done-5 2here )as something to this criticism- 2he years o, *ioneering lay ,ar behind them- 2heirs )as a ci+iliFation in )hich the initial di,,iculties had long since been o+ercome- 2he untroubled *eace, the unmeasured *lenty, the steady health, the large good )ill and smooth management )hich ordered e+erything, le,t nothing to o+ercome- 6t )as like a *leasant ,amily in an old established, *er,ectly

run country *lace6 liked it because o, my eager and continued interest in the sociological achie+ements in+ol+ed"e,, liked it as he )ould ha+e liked such a ,amily and such a *lace any)here2erry did not like it because he ,ound nothing to o**ose, to struggle )ith, to conAuer1Bi,e is a struggle, has to be,5 he insisted- 16, there is no struggle, there is no li,e7that8s all-5 13ou8re talking nonsense7masculine nonsense,5 the *eace,ul "e,, re*lied- He )as certainly a )arm de,ender o, Herland- 1!nts don8t raise their myriads by a struggle, do theyD =r the beesD5 1=h, i, you go back to insects7and )ant to li+e in an anthill7G 6 tell you the higher grades o, li,e are reached only through struggle7combat- 2here8s no ;rama here- Book at their *laysG 2hey make me sick-5 He rather had us there- 2he drama o, the country )as7to our taste7rather ,lat- 3ou see, they lacked the se/ moti+e and, )ith it, @ealousy- 2hey had no inter*lay o, )arring nations, no aristocracy and its ambitions, no )ealth and *o+erty o**osition6 see 6 ha+e said little about the economics o, the *lace9 it should ha+e come be,ore, but 68ll go on about the drama no)2hey had their o)n kind- 2here )as a most im*ressi+e array o, *ageantry, o, *rocessions, a sort o, grand ritual, )ith their arts and their religion broadly blended- 2he +ery babies @oined in it- 2o see one o, their great annual ,esti+als, )ith the massed and marching stateliness o, those great mothers, the young )omen bra+e and noble, beauti,ul and strong9 and then the children, taking *art as naturally as ours )ould ,rolic round a Christmas tree7it )as o+er*o)ering in the im*ression o, @oyous, trium*hant li,e2hey had begun at a *eriod )hen the drama, the dance, music, religion, and education )ere all +ery close together9 and instead o, de+elo*ing them in detached lines, they had ke*t the connectionBet me try again to gi+e, i, 6 can, a ,aint sense o, the di,,erence in the li,e +ie)7the background and basis on )hich their culture restedllador told me a lot about it- .he took me to see the children, the gro)ing girls, the s*ecial teachers- .he *icked out books ,or me to read- .he al)ays seemed to understand @ust )hat 6 )anted to kno), and ho) to gi+e it to me4hile 2erry and !lima struck s*arks and *arted7he al)ays madly dra)n to her and she to him 7she must ha+e been, or she8d ne+er ha+e stood the )ay he beha+ed7 llador and 6 had already a dee*, rest,ul ,eeling, as i, )e8d al)ays had one another- "e,, and Celis )ere ha**y9 there )as no Auestion o, that9 but it didn8t seem to me as i, they had the good times )e did4ell, here is the Herland child ,acing li,e7as llador tried to sho) it to me- From the ,irst memory, they kne) Peace, <eauty, =rder, .a,ety, Bo+e, 4isdom, "ustice, Patience, and Plenty- <y 1*lenty5 6 mean that the babies gre) u* in an en+ironment )hich met their needs, @ust as young ,a)ns might gro) u* in de)y ,orest glades and brook0,ed meado)s- !nd they en@oyed it as ,rankly and utterly as the ,a)ns )ould2hey ,ound themsel+es in a big bright lo+ely )orld, ,ull o, the most interesting and enchanting things to learn about and to do- 2he *eo*le e+ery)here )ere ,riendly and *olite- :o Herland child e+er met the o+erbearing rudeness )e so commonly sho) to children- 2hey )ere Peo*le, too, ,rom the ,irst9 the most *recious *art o, the nation6n each ste* o, the rich e/*erience o, li+ing, they ,ound the instance they )ere studying )iden out into contact )ith an endless range o, common interests- 2he things they learned )ere E B!2 ;, ,rom the ,irst9 related to one another, and to the national *ros*erity16t )as a butter,ly that made me a ,orester,5 said llador- 16 )as about ele+en years old, and 6 ,ound a big *ur*le0and0green butter,ly on a lo) ,lo)er- 6 caught it, +ery care,ully, by the closed )ings, as 6 had been told to do, and carried it to the nearest insect teacher576 made a note there to ask her )hat on earth an insect teacher )as7Lto ask her its name- .he took it ,rom me )ith a little cry o, delight- 8=h, you blessed child,8 she said- 8;o you like obernutsD8 =, course 6 liked obernuts, and said so- 6t is our best ,ood0nut, you kno)- 82his is a ,emale o, the obernut moth,8 she told me82hey are almost gone- 4e ha+e been trying to e/terminate them ,or centuries- 6, you had not caught this one, it might ha+e laid eggs enough to raise )orms enough to destroy thousands o, our nut trees

7thousands o, bushels o, nuts7and make years and years o, trouble ,or us-8 1 +erybody congratulated me- 2he children all o+er the country )ere told to )atch ,or that moth, i, there )ere any more- 6 )as sho)n the history o, the creature, and an account o, the damage it used to do and o, ho) long and hard our ,oremothers had )orked to sa+e that tree ,or us- 6 gre) a ,oot, it seemed to me, and determined then and there to be a ,orester-5 2his is but an instance9 she sho)ed me many- 2he big di,,erence )as that )hereas our children gro) u* in *ri+ate homes and ,amilies, )ith e+ery e,,ort made to *rotect and seclude them ,rom a dangerous )orld, here they gre) u* in a )ide, ,riendly )orld, and kne) it ,or theirs, ,rom the ,irst2heir child0literature )as a )onder,ul thing- 6 could ha+e s*ent years ,ollo)ing the delicate subtleties, the smooth sim*licities )ith )hich they had bent that great art to the ser+ice o, the child mind4e ha+e t)o li,e cycles: the man8s and the )oman8s- 2o the man there is gro)th, struggle, conAuest, the establishment o, his ,amily, and as much ,urther success in gain or ambition as he can achie+e2o the )oman, gro)th, the securing o, a husband, the subordinate acti+ities o, ,amily li,e, and a,ter)ard such 1social5 or charitable interests as her *osition allo)sHere )as but one cycle, and that a large one2he child entered u*on a broad o*en ,ield o, li,e, in )hich motherhood )as the one great *ersonal contribution to the national li,e, and all the rest the indi+idual share in their common acti+ities- +ery girl 6 talked to, at any age abo+e babyhood, had her cheer,ul determination as to )hat she )as going to be )hen she gre) u*4hat 2erry meant by saying they had no 1modesty5 )as that this great li,e0+ie) had no shady *laces9 they had a high sense o, *ersonal decorum, but no shame7no kno)ledge o, anything to be ashamed o,+en their shortcomings and misdeeds in childhood ne+er )ere *resented to them as sins9 merely as errors and mis*lays7as in a game- .ome o, them, )ho )ere *al*ably less agreeable than others or )ho had a real )eakness or ,ault, )ere treated )ith cheer,ul allo)ance, as a ,riendly grou* at )hist )ould treat a *oor *layer2heir religion, you see, )as maternal9 and their ethics, based on the ,ull *erce*tion o, e+olution, sho)ed the *rinci*le o, gro)th and the beauty o, )ise culture- 2hey had no theory o, the essential o**osition o, good and e+il9 li,e to them )as gro)th9 their *leasure )as in gro)ing, and their duty also4ith this background, )ith their sublimated mother0lo+e, e/*ressed in terms o, )idest social acti+ity, e+ery *hase o, their )ork )as modi,ied by its e,,ect on the national gro)th- 2he language itsel, they had deliberately clari,ied, sim*li,ied, made easy and beauti,ul, ,or the sake o, the children2his seemed to us a )holly incredible thing: ,irst, that any nation should ha+e the ,oresight, the strength, and the *ersistence to *lan and ,ul,ill such a task9 and second, that )omen should ha+e had so much initiati+e- 4e ha+e assumed, as a matter o, course, that )omen had none9 that only the man, )ith his natural energy and im*atience o, restriction, )ould e+er in+ent anythingHere )e ,ound that the *ressure o, li,e u*on the en+ironment de+elo*s in the human mind its in+enti+e reactions, regardless o, se/9 and ,urther, that a ,ully a)akened motherhood *lans and )orks )ithout limit, ,or the good o, the child2hat the children might be most nobly born, and reared in an en+ironment calculated to allo) the richest, ,reest gro)th, they had deliberately remodeled and im*ro+ed the )hole state6 do not mean in the least that they sto**ed at that, any more than a child sto*s at childhood- 2he most im*ressi+e *art o, their )hole culture beyond this *er,ect system o, child0rearing )as the range o, interests and associations o*en to them all, ,or li,e- <ut in the ,ield o, literature 6 )as most struck, at ,irst, by the child0moti+e2hey had the same gradation o, sim*le re*etiti+e +erse and story that )e are ,amiliar )ith, and the most e/Auisite, imaginati+e tales9 but )here, )ith us, these are the dribbled remnants o, ancient ,olk myths and *rimiti+e lullabies, theirs )ere the e/Auisite )ork o, great artists9 not only sim*le

and un,ailing in a**eal to the child0mind, but 2EC , true to the li+ing )orld about them2o sit in one o, their nurseries ,or a day )as to change one8s +ie)s ,ore+er as to babyhood- 2he youngest ones, rosy ,atlings in their mothers8 arms, or slee*ing lightly in the ,lo)er0s)eet air, seemed natural enough, sa+e that they ne+er cried- 6 ne+er heard a child cry in Herland, sa+e once or t)ice at a bad ,all9 and then *eo*le ran to hel*, as )e )ould at a scream o, agony ,rom a gro)n *ersonach mother had her year o, glory9 the time to lo+e and learn, li+ing closely )ith her child, nursing it *roudly, o,ten ,or t)o years or more- 2his *erha*s )as one reason ,or their )onder,ul +igor<ut a,ter the baby0year the mother )as not so constantly in attendance, unless, indeed, her )ork )as among the little ones- .he )as ne+er ,ar o,,, ho)e+er, and her attitude to)ard the co0mothers, )hose *roud child0ser+ice )as direct and continuous, )as lo+ely to see!s ,or the babies7a grou* o, those naked darlings *laying on short +el+et grass, clean0s)e*t9 or rugs as so,t9 or in shallo) *ools o, bright )ater9 tumbling o+er )ith bubbling @oyous baby laughter7it )as a +ie) o, in,ant ha**iness such as 6 had ne+er dreamed2he babies )ere reared in the )armer *art o, the country, and gradually acclimated to the cooler heights as they gre) older.turdy children o, ten and t)el+e *layed in the sno) as @oy,ully as ours do9 there )ere continuous e/cursions o, them, ,rom one *art o, the land to another, so that to each child the )hole country might be home6t )as all theirs, )aiting ,or them to learn, to lo+e, to use, to ser+e9 as our o)n little boys *lan to be 1a big soldier,5 or 1a co)boy,5 or )hate+er *leases their ,ancy9 and our little girls *lan ,or the kind o, home they mean to ha+e, or ho) many children9 these *lanned, ,reely and gaily )ith much ha**y chattering, o, )hat they )ould do ,or the country )hen they )ere gro)n6t )as the eager ha**iness o, the children and young *eo*le )hich ,irst made me see the ,olly o, that common notion o, ours7that i, li,e )as smooth and ha**y, *eo*le )ould not en@oy it!s 6 studied these youngsters, +igorous, @oyous, eager little creatures, and their +oracious a**etite ,or li,e, it shook my *re+ious ideas so thoroughly that they ha+e ne+er been re0established2he steady le+el o, good health ga+e them all that natural stimulus )e used to call 1animal s*irits57an odd contradiction in terms- 2hey ,ound themsel+es in an immediate en+ironment )hich )as agreeable and interesting, and be,ore them stretched the years o, learning and disco+ery, the ,ascinating, endless *rocess o, education!s 6 looked into these methods and com*ared them )ith our o)n, my strange uncom,ortable sense o, race0humility gre) a*acellador could not understand my astonishment- .he e/*lained things kindly and s)eetly, but )ith some amaFement that they needed e/*laining, and )ith sudden Auestions as to ho) )e did it that le,t me meeker than e+er6 betook mysel, to .omel one day, care,ully not taking llador- 6 did not mind seeming ,oolish to .omel7she )as used to it16 )ant a cha*ter o, e/*lanation,5 6 told her- 13ou kno) my stu*idities by heart, and 6 do not )ant to sho) them to llador7she thinks me so )iseG5 .he smiled delightedly- 16t is beauti,ul to see,5 she told me, 1this ne) )onder,ul lo+e bet)een you- 2he )hole country is interested, you kno)7ho) can )e hel* itG5 6 had not thought o, that- 4e say: 1!ll the )orld lo+es a lo+er,5 but to ha+e a cou*le o, million *eo*le )atching one8s courtshi*7and that a di,,icult one7)as rather embarrassing12ell me about your theory o, education,5 6 said- 1>ake it short and easy- !nd, to sho) you )hat *uFFles me, 68ll tell you that in our theory great stress is laid on the ,orced e/ertion o, the child8s mind9 )e think it is good ,or him to o+ercome obstacles-5 1=, course it is,5 she une/*ectedly agreed- 1!ll our children do that7they lo+e to-5 2hat *uFFled me again- 6, they lo+ed to do it, ho) could it be educationalD 1=ur theory is this,5 she )ent on care,ully- 1Here is a young human being- 2he mind is as natural a thing as the body, a thing that gro)s, a thing to use and en@oy- 4e seek to nourish, to

stimulate, to e/ercise the mind o, a child as )e do the body- 2here are the t)o main di+isions in education7you ha+e those o, courseD7the things it is necessary to kno), and the things it is necessary to do-5 12o doD >ental e/ercises, you meanD5 13es- =ur general *lan is this: 6n the matter o, ,eeding the mind, o, ,urnishing in,ormation, )e use our best *o)ers to meet the natural a**etite o, a healthy young brain9 not to o+er,eed it, to *ro+ide such amount and +ariety o, im*ressions as seem most )elcome to each child- 2hat is the easiest *art- 2he other di+ision is in arranging a *ro*erly graduated series o, e/ercises )hich )ill best de+elo* each mind9 the common ,aculties )e all ha+e, and most care,ully, the es*ecial ,aculties some o, us ha+e- 3ou do this also, do you notD5 16n a )ay,5 6 said rather lamely- 14e ha+e not so subtle and highly de+elo*ed a system as you, not a**roaching it9 but tell me more- !s to the in,ormation7ho) do you manageD 6t a**ears that all o, you kno) *retty much e+erything7is that rightD5 2his she laughingly disclaimed- 1<y no means- 4e are, as you soon ,ound out, e/tremely limited in kno)ledge- 6 )ish you could realiFe )hat a ,erment the country is in o+er the ne) things you ha+e told us9 the *assionate eagerness among thousands o, us to go to your country and learn7 learn7learnG <ut )hat )e do kno) is readily di+isible into common kno)ledge and s*ecial kno)ledge- 2he common kno)ledge )e ha+e long since learned to ,eed into the minds o, our little ones )ith no )aste o, time or strength9 the s*ecial kno)ledge is o*en to all, as they desire it- .ome o, us s*ecialiFe in one line only- <ut most take u* se+eral7some ,or their regular )ork, some to gro) )ith-5 12o gro) )ithD5 13es- 4hen one settles too close in one kind o, )ork there is a tendency to atro*hy in the disused *ortions o, the brain- 4e like to kee* on learning, al)ays-5 14hat do you studyD5 1!s much as )e kno) o, the di,,erent sciences- 4e ha+e, )ithin our limits, a good deal o, kno)ledge o, anatomy, *hysiology, nutrition7all that *ertains to a ,ull and beauti,ul *ersonal li,e4e ha+e our botany and chemistry, and so on7+ery rudimentary, but interesting9 our o)n history, )ith its accumulating *sychology-5 13ou *ut *sychology )ith history7not )ith *ersonal li,eD5 1=, course- 6t is ours9 it is among and bet)een us, and it changes )ith the succeeding and im*ro+ing generations- 4e are at )ork, slo)ly and care,ully, de+elo*ing our )hole *eo*le along these lines- 6t is glorious )ork7s*lendidG 2o see the thousands o, babies im*ro+ing, sho)ing stronger clearer minds, s)eeter dis*ositions, higher ca*acities7don8t you ,ind it so in your countryD5 2his 6 e+aded ,latly- 6 remembered the cheerless claim that the human mind )as no better than in its earliest *eriod o, sa+agery, only better in,ormed7a statement 6 had ne+er belie+ed14e try most earnestly ,or t)o *o)ers,5 .omel continued- 12he t)o that seem to us basically necessary ,or all noble li,e: a clear, ,ar0reaching @udgment, and a strong )ell0used )ill- 4e s*end our best e,,orts, all through childhood and youth, in de+elo*ing these ,aculties, indi+idual @udgment and )ill-5 1!s *art o, your system o, education, you meanD5 1 /actly- !s the most +aluable *art- 4ith the babies, as you may ha+e noticed, )e ,irst *ro+ide an en+ironment )hich ,eeds the mind )ithout tiring it9 all manner o, sim*le and interesting things to do, as soon as they are old enough to do them9 *hysical *ro*erties, o, course, come ,irst- <ut as early as *ossible, going +ery care,ully, not to ta/ the mind, )e *ro+ide choices, sim*le choices, )ith +ery ob+ious causes and conseAuences- 3ou8+e noticed the gamesD5 6 had- 2he children seemed al)ays *laying something9 or else, sometimes, engaged in *eace,ul researches o, their o)n- 6 had )ondered at ,irst )hen they )ent to school, but soon ,ound that they ne+er did7to their kno)ledge- 6t )as all education but no schooling14e ha+e been )orking ,or some si/teen hundred years, de+ising better and better games ,or children,5 continued .omel-

6 sat aghast- 1;e+ising gamesD5 6 *rotested- 1>aking u* ne) ones, you meanD5 1 /actly,5 she ans)ered- 1;on8t youD5 2hen 6 remembered the kindergarten, and the 1material5 de+ised by .ignora >ontessori, and guardedly re*lied: 12o some e/tent-5 <ut most o, our games, 6 told her, )ere +ery old7came do)n ,rom child to child, along the ages, ,rom the remote *ast1!nd )hat is their e,,ectD5 she asked- 1;o they de+elo* the ,aculties you )ish to encourageD5 !gain 6 remembered the claims made by the ad+ocates o, 1s*orts,5 and again re*lied guardedly that that )as, in *art, the theory1<ut do the children B6I itD5 6 asked- 1Ha+ing things made u* and set be,ore them that )ayD ;on8t they )ant the old gamesD5 13ou can see the children,5 she ans)ered- 1!re yours more contented7more interested7 ha**ierD5 2hen 6 thought, as in truth 6 ne+er had thought be,ore, o, the dull, bored children 6 had seen, )hining9 14hat can 6 do no)D59 o, the little grou*s and gangs hanging about9 o, the +alue o, some one strong s*irit )ho *ossessed initiati+e and )ould 1start something59 o, the children8s *arties and the onerous duties o, the older *eo*le set to 1amuse the children59 also o, that troubled ocean o, misdirected acti+ity )e call 1mischie,,5 the ,oolish, destructi+e, sometimes e+il things done by unoccu*ied children1:o,5 said 6 grimly- 16 don8t think they are-5 2he Herland child )as born not only into a )orld care,ully *re*ared, ,ull o, the most ,ascinating materials and o**ortunities to learn, but into the society o, *lenti,ul numbers o, teachers, teachers born and trained, )hose business it )as to accom*any the children along that, to us, im*ossible thing7the royal road to learning2here )as no mystery in their methods- <eing ada*ted to children it )as at least com*rehensible to adults- 6 s*ent many days )ith the little ones, sometimes )ith llador, sometimes )ithout, and began to ,eel a crushing *ity ,or my o)n childhood, and ,or all others that 6 had kno)n2he houses and gardens *lanned ,or babies had in them nothing to hurt7no stairs, no corners, no small loose ob@ects to s)allo), no ,ire7@ust a babies8 *aradise- 2hey )ere taught, as ra*idly as ,easible, to use and control their o)n bodies, and ne+er did 6 see such sure0,ooted, steady0handed, clear0headed little things- 6t )as a @oy to )atch a ro) o, toddlers learning to )alk, not only on a le+el ,loor, but, a little later, on a sort o, rubber rail raised an inch or t)o abo+e the so,t tur, or hea+y rugs, and ,alling o,, )ith shrieks o, in,ant @oy, to rush back to the end o, the line and try again- .urely )e ha+e noticed ho) children lo+e to get u* on something and )alk along itG <ut )e ha+e ne+er thought to *ro+ide that sim*le and ine/haustible ,orm o, amusement and *hysical education ,or the young4ater they had, o, course, and could s)im e+en be,ore they )alked- 6, 6 ,eared at ,irst the e,,ects o, a too intensi+e system o, culture, that ,ear )as dissi*ated by seeing the long sunny days o, *ure *hysical merriment and natural slee* in )hich these hea+enly babies *assed their ,irst years2hey ne+er kne) they )ere being educated- 2hey did not dream that in this association o, hilarious e/*eriment and achie+ement they )ere laying the ,oundation ,or that close beauti,ul grou* ,eeling into )hich they gre) so ,irmly )ith the years- 2his )as education ,or citiFenshi*Herland Cha*ter 1& 2heir Eeligions and =ur >arriages 6t took me a long time, as a man, a ,oreigner, and a s*ecies o, Christian76 )as that as much as anything7to get any clear understanding o, the religion o, Herland6ts dei,ication o, motherhood )as ob+ious enough9 but there )as ,ar more to it than that9 or, at least, than my ,irst inter*retation o, that6 think it )as only as 6 gre) to lo+e llador more than 6 belie+ed anyone could lo+e anybody, as 6 gre) ,aintly to a**reciate her inner attitude and state o, mind, that 6 began to get some glim*ses o, this ,aith o, theirs-

4hen 6 asked her about it, she tried at ,irst to tell me, and then, seeing me ,lounder, asked ,or more in,ormation about ours- .he soon ,ound that )e had many, that they +aried )idely, but had some *oints in common- ! clear methodical luminous mind had my llador, not only reasonable, but s)i,tly *erce*ti+e.he made a sort o, chart, su*erim*osing the di,,erent religions as 6 described them, )ith a *in run through them all, as it )ere9 their common basis being a ;ominant Po)er or Po)ers, and some .*ecial <eha+ior, mostly taboos, to *lease or *lacate- 2here )ere some common ,eatures in certain grou*s o, religions, but the one al)ays *resent )as this Po)er, and the things )hich must be done or not done because o, it- 6t )as not hard to trace our human imagery o, the ;i+ine Force u* through successi+e stages o, bloodthirsty, sensual, *roud, and cruel gods o, early times to the conce*tion o, a Common Father )ith its corollary o, a Common <rotherhood2his *leased her +ery much, and )hen 6 e/*atiated on the =mniscience, =mni*otence, =mni*resence, and so on, o, our God, and o, the lo+ing kindness taught by his .on, she )as much im*ressed2he story o, the ?irgin birth naturally did not astonish her, but she )as greatly *uFFled by the .acri,ice, and still more by the ;e+il, and the theory o, ;amnation4hen in an inad+ertent moment 6 said that certain sects had belie+ed in in,ant damnation7and e/*lained it7she sat +ery still indeed12hey belie+ed that God )as Bo+e7and 4isdom7and Po)erD5 13es7all o, that-5 Her eyes gre) large, her ,ace ghastly *ale1!nd yet that such a God could *ut little ne) babies to burn7,or eternityD5 .he ,ell into a sudden shuddering and le,t me, running s)i,tly to the nearest tem*le+ery smallest +illage had its tem*le, and in those gracious retreats sat )ise and noble )omen, Auietly busy at some )ork o, their o)n until they )ere )anted, al)ays ready to gi+e com,ort, light, or hel*, to any a**licantllador told me a,ter)ard ho) easily this grie, o, hers )as assuaged, and seemed ashamed o, not ha+ing hel*ed hersel, out o, it13ou see, )e are not accustomed to horrible ideas,5 she said, coming back to me rather a*ologetically- 14e ha+en8t any- !nd )hen )e get a thing like that into our minds it8s like7oh, like red *e**er in your eyes- .o 6 @ust ran to her, blinded and almost screaming, and she took it out so Auickly7so easilyG5 1Ho)D5 6 asked, +ery curious184hy, you blessed child,8 she said, 8you8+e got the )rong idea altogether- 3ou do not ha+e to think that there e+er )as such a God7,or there )asn8t- =r such a ha**ening7,or there )asn8t- :or e+en that this hideous ,alse idea )as belie+ed by anybody- <ut only this7that *eo*le )ho are utterly ignorant )ill belie+e anything7)hich you certainly kne) be,ore-85 1!nyho),5 *ursued llador, 1she turned *ale ,or a minute )hen 6 ,irst said it-5 2his )as a lesson to me- :o )onder this )hole nation o, )omen )as *eace,ul and s)eet in e/*ression7they had no horrible ideas1.urely you had some )hen you began,5 6 suggested1=h, yes, no doubt- <ut as soon as our religion gre) to any height at all )e le,t them out, o, course-5 From this, as ,rom many other things, 6 gre) to see )hat 6 ,inally *ut in )ords1Ha+e you no res*ect ,or the *astD For )hat )as thought and belie+ed by your ,oremothersD5 14hy, no,5 she said- 14hy should )eD 2hey are all gone- 2hey kne) less than )e do- 6, )e are not beyond them, )e are un)orthy o, them7and un)orthy o, the children )ho must go beyond us-5 2his set me thinking in good earnest- 6 had al)ays imagined7sim*ly ,rom hearing it said, 6 su**ose7that )omen )ere by nature conser+ati+e- 3et these )omen, Auite unassisted by any masculine s*irit o, enter*rise, had ignored their *ast and built daringly ,or the ,uturellador )atched me think- .he seemed to kno) *retty much )hat )as going on in my mind-

16t8s because )e began in a ne) )ay, 6 su**ose- !ll our ,olks )ere s)e*t a)ay at once, and then, a,ter that time o, des*air, came those )onder children7the ,irst- !nd then the )hole breathless ho*e o, us )as ,or 2H 6E children7i, they should ha+e them- !nd they didG 2hen there )as the *eriod o, *ride and trium*h till )e gre) too numerous9 and a,ter that, )hen it all came do)n to one child a*iece, )e began to really )ork7to make better ones-5 1<ut ho) does this account ,or such a radical di,,erence in your religionD5 6 *ersisted.he said she couldn8t talk about the di,,erence +ery intelligently, not being ,amiliar )ith other religions, but that theirs seemed sim*le enough- 2heir great >other .*irit )as to them )hat their o)n motherhood )as7only magni,ied beyond human limits- 2hat meant that they ,elt beneath and behind them an u*holding, un,ailing, ser+iceable lo+e7*erha*s it )as really the accumulated mother0lo+e o, the race they ,elt7but it )as a Po)er1"ust )hat is your theory o, )orshi*D5 6 asked her14orshi*D 4hat is thatD5 6 ,ound it singularly di,,icult to e/*lain- 2his ;i+ine Bo+e )hich they ,elt so strongly did not seem to ask anything o, them71any more than our mothers do,5 she said1<ut surely your mothers e/*ect honor, re+erence, obedience, ,rom you- 3ou ha+e to do things ,or your mothers, surelyD5 1=h, no,5 she insisted, smiling, shaking her so,t bro)n hair- 14e do things FE=> our mothers 7not F=E them- 4e don8t ha+e to do things F=E them7they don8t need it, you kno)- <ut )e ha+e to li+e on7s*lendidly7because o, them9 and that8s the )ay )e ,eel about God-5 6 meditated again- 6 thought o, that God o, <attles o, ours, that "ealous God, that ?engeance0is0 mine God- 6 thought o, our )orld0nightmare7Hell13ou ha+e no theory o, eternal *unishment then, 6 take itD5 llador laughed- Her eyes )ere as bright as stars, and there )ere tears in them, too- .he )as so sorry ,or me1Ho) could )eD5 she asked, ,airly enough- 14e ha+e no *unishments in li,e, you see, so )e don8t imagine them a,ter death-5 1Ha+e you := *unishmentsD :either ,or children nor criminals7such mild criminals as you ha+eD5 6 urged1;o you *unish a *erson ,or a broken leg or a ,e+erD 4e ha+e *re+enti+e measures, and cures9 sometimes )e ha+e to 8send the *atient to bed,8 as it )ere9 but that8s not a *unishment7it8s only *art o, the treatment,5 she e/*lained2hen studying my *oint o, +ie) more closely, she added: 13ou see, )e recogniFe, in our human motherhood, a great tender limitless u*li,ting ,orce7*atience and )isdom and all subtlety o, delicate method- 4e credit God7our idea o, God7)ith all that and more- =ur mothers are not angry )ith us7)hy should God beD5 1;oes God mean a *erson to youD5 2his she thought o+er a little- 14hy7in trying to get close to it in our minds )e *ersoni,y the idea, naturally9 but )e certainly do not assume a <ig 4oman some)here, )ho is God- 4hat )e call God is a Per+ading Po)er, you kno), an 6nd)elling .*irit, something inside o, us that )e )ant more o,- 6s your God a <ig >anD5 she asked innocently14hy7yes, to most o, us, 6 think- =, course )e call it an 6nd)elling .*irit @ust as you do, but )e insist that it is Him, a Person, and a >an7)ith )hiskers-5 14hiskersD =h yes7because you ha+e themG =r do you )ear them because He doesD5 1=n the contrary, )e sha+e them o,,7because it seems cleaner and more com,ortable-5 1;oes He )ear clothes7in your idea, 6 meanD5 6 )as thinking o+er the *ictures o, God 6 had seen7rash ad+ances o, the de+out mind o, man, re*resenting his =mni*otent ;eity as an old man in a ,lo)ing robe, ,lo)ing hair, ,lo)ing beard, and in the light o, her *er,ectly ,rank and innocent Auestions this conce*t seemed rather unsatis,ying6 e/*lained that the God o, the Christian )orld )as really the ancient Hebre) God, and that )e had sim*ly taken o+er the *atriarchal idea7that ancient one )hich Auite ine+itably clothed its thought o, God )ith the attributes o, the *atriarchal ruler, the grand,ather-

16 see,5 she said eagerly, a,ter 6 had e/*lained the genesis and de+elo*ment o, our religious ideals- 12hey li+ed in se*arate grou*s, )ith a male head, and he )as *robably a little7 domineeringD5 1:o doubt o, that,5 6 agreed1!nd )e li+e together )ithout any 8head,8 in that sense7@ust our chosen leaders7that ;= . make a di,,erence-5 13our di,,erence is dee*er than that,5 6 assured her- 16t is in your common motherhood- 3our children gro) u* in a )orld )here e+erybody lo+es them- 2hey ,ind li,e made rich and ha**y ,or them by the di,,used lo+e and )isdom o, all mothers- .o it is easy ,or you to think o, God in the terms o, a similar di,,used and com*etent lo+e- 6 think you are ,ar nearer right than )e are-5 14hat 6 cannot understand,5 she *ursued care,ully, 1is your *reser+ation o, such a +ery ancient state o, mind- 2his *atriarchal idea you tell me is thousands o, years oldD5 1=h yes7,our, ,i+e, si/ thousand7e+ery so many-5 1!nd you ha+e made )onder,ul *rogress in those years7in other thingsD5 14e certainly ha+e- <ut religion is di,,erent- 3ou see, our religions come ,rom behind us, and are initiated by some great teacher )ho is dead- He is su**osed to ha+e kno)n the )hole thing and taught it, ,inally- !ll )e ha+e to do is belie+e7and obey-5 14ho )as the great Hebre) teacherD5 1=h7there it )as di,,erent- 2he Hebre) religion is an accumulation o, e/tremely ancient traditions, some ,ar older than their *eo*le, and gre) by accretion do)n the ages- 4e consider it ins*ired78the 4ord o, God-85 1Ho) do you kno) it isD5 1<ecause it says so-5 1;oes it say so in as many )ordsD 4ho )rote that inD5 6 began to try to recall some te/t that did say so, and could not bring it to mind1!*art ,rom that,5 she *ursued, 1)hat 6 cannot understand is )hy you kee* these early religious ideas so long- 3ou ha+e changed all your others, ha+en8t youD5 1Pretty generally,5 6 agreed- 1<ut this )e call 8re+ealed religion,8 and think it is ,inal- <ut tell me more about these little tem*les o, yours,5 6 urged- 1!nd these 2em*le >others you run to-5 2hen she ga+e me an e/tended lesson in a**lied religion, )hich 6 )ill endea+or to concentrate2hey de+elo*ed their central theory o, a Bo+ing Po)er, and assumed that its relation to them )as motherly7that it desired their )el,are and es*ecially their de+elo*ment- 2heir relation to it, similarly, )as ,ilial, a lo+ing a**reciation and a glad ,ul,illment o, its high *ur*oses- 2hen, being nothing i, not *ractical, they set their keen and acti+e minds to disco+er the kind o, conduct e/*ected o, them- 2his )orked out in a most admirable system o, ethics- 2he *rinci*le o, Bo+e )as uni+ersally recogniFed7and usedPatience, gentleness, courtesy, all that )e call 1good breeding,5 )as *art o, their code o, conduct- <ut )here they )ent ,ar beyond us )as in the s*ecial a**lication o, religious ,eeling to e+ery ,ield o, li,e- 2hey had no ritual, no little set o, *er,ormances called 1di+ine ser+ice,5 sa+e those religious *ageants 6 ha+e s*oken o,, and those )ere as much educational as religious, and as much social as either- <ut they had a clear established connection bet)een e+erything they did7 and God- 2heir cleanliness, their health, their e/Auisite order, the rich *eace,ul beauty o, the )hole land, the ha**iness o, the children, and abo+e all the constant *rogress they made7all this )as their religion2hey a**lied their minds to the thought o, God, and )orked out the theory that such an inner *o)er demanded out)ard e/*ression- 2hey li+ed as i, God )as real and at )ork )ithin them!s ,or those little tem*les e+ery)here7some o, the )omen )ere more skilled, more tem*eramentally inclined, in this direction, than others- 2hese, )hate+er their )ork might be, ga+e certain hours to the 2em*le .er+ice, )hich meant being there )ith all their lo+e and )isdom and trained thought, to smooth out rough *laces ,or anyone )ho needed it- .ometimes it )as a real grie,, +ery rarely a Auarrel, most o,ten a *er*le/ity9 e+en in Herland the human soul had its hours o, darkness- <ut all through the country their best and )isest )ere ready to gi+e hel*-

6, the di,,iculty )as unusually *ro,ound, the a**licant )as directed to someone more s*ecially e/*erienced in that line o, thoughtHere )as a religion )hich ga+e to the searching mind a rational basis in li,e, the conce*t o, an immense Bo+ing Po)er )orking steadily out through them, to)ard good- 6t ga+e to the 1soul5 that sense o, contact )ith the inmost ,orce, o, *erce*tion o, the uttermost *ur*ose, )hich )e al)ays cra+e- 6t ga+e to the 1heart5 the blessed ,eeling o, being lo+ed, lo+ed and C:; E.2==;- 6t ga+e clear, sim*le, rational directions as to ho) )e should li+e7and )hy- !nd ,or ritual it ga+e ,irst those trium*hant grou* demonstrations, )hen )ith a union o, all the arts, the re+i+i,ying combination o, great multitudes mo+ed rhythmically )ith march and dance, song and music, among their o)n noblest *roducts and the o*en beauty o, their gro+es and hills- .econd, it ga+e these numerous little centers o, )isdom )here the least )ise could go to the most )ise and be hel*ed16t is beauti,ulG5 6 cried enthusiastically- 16t is the most *ractical, com,orting, *rogressi+e religion 6 e+er heard o,- 3ou ;= lo+e one another7you ;= bear one another8s burdens7you ;= realiFe that a little child is a ty*e o, the kingdom o, hea+en- 3ou are more Christian than any *eo*le 6 e+er sa)- <ut7ho) about deathD !nd the li,e e+erlastingD 4hat does your religion teach about eternityD5 1:othing,5 said llador- 14hat is eternityD5 4hat indeedD 6 tried, ,or the ,irst time in my li,e, to get a real hold on the idea16t is7ne+er sto**ing-5 1:e+er sto**ingD5 .he looked *uFFled13es, li,e, going on ,ore+er-5 1=h7)e see that, o, course- Bi,e does go on ,ore+er, all about us-5 1<ut eternal li,e goes on 462H=C2 ;36:G-5 12he same *ersonD5 13es, the same *erson, unending, immortal-5 6 )as *leased to think that 6 had something to teach ,rom our religion, )hich theirs had ne+er *romulgated1HereD5 asked llador- 1:e+er to die7hereD5 6 could see her *ractical mind hea*ing u* the *eo*le, and hurriedly reassured her1=h no, indeed, not here7herea,ter- 4e must die here, o, course, but then )e 8enter into eternal li,e-8 2he soul li+es ,ore+er-5 1Ho) do you kno)D5 she inAuired16 )on8t attem*t to *ro+e it to you,5 6 hastily continued- 1Bet us assume it to be so- Ho) does this idea strike youD5 !gain she smiled at me, that adorable, dim*ling, tender, mischie+ous, motherly smile o, hers1.hall 6 be Auite, Auite honestD5 13ou couldn8t be anything else,5 6 said, hal, gladly and hal, a little sorry- 2he trans*arent honesty o, these )omen )as a ne+er0ending astonishment to me16t seems to me a singularly ,oolish idea,5 she said calmly- 1!nd i, true, most disagreeable-5 :o) 6 had al)ays acce*ted the doctrine o, *ersonal immortality as a thing established- 2he e,,orts o, inAuiring s*iritualists, al)ays seeking to )oo their belo+ed ghosts back again, ne+er seemed to me necessary- 6 don8t say 6 had e+er seriously and courageously discussed the sub@ect )ith mysel, e+en9 6 had sim*ly assumed it to be a ,act- !nd here )as the girl 6 lo+ed, this creature )hose character constantly re+ealed ne) heights and ranges ,ar beyond my o)n, this su*er)oman o, a su*erland, saying she thought immortality ,oolishG .he meant it, too14hat do you 4!:2 it ,orD5 she asked1Ho) can you :=2 )ant itG5 6 *rotested- 1;o you )ant to go out like a candleD ;on8t you )ant to go on and on7gro)ing and7and7being ha**y, ,ore+erD5 14hy, no,5 she said- 16 don8t in the least- 6 )ant my child7and my child8s child7to go on7and they )ill- 4hy should 6 )ant toD5 1<ut it means Hea+enG5 6 insisted- 1Peace and <eauty and Com,ort and Bo+e7)ith God-5 6 had ne+er been so eloAuent on the sub@ect o, religion- .he could be horri,ied at ;amnation, and Auestion the @ustice o, .al+ation, but 6mmortality7that )as surely a noble ,aith-

14hy, ?an,5 she said, holding out her hands to me- 14hy ?an7darlingG Ho) s*lendid o, you to ,eel it so keenly- 2hat8s )hat )e all )ant, o, course7Peace and <eauty, and Com,ort and Bo+e7 )ith GodG !nd Progress too, remember9 Gro)th, al)ays and al)ays- 2hat is )hat our religion teaches us to )ant and to )ork ,or, and )e doG5 1<ut that is H E ,5 6 said, 1only ,or this li,e on earth-5 14ellD !nd do not you in your country, )ith your beauti,ul religion o, lo+e and ser+ice ha+e it here, too7,or this li,e7on earthD5 :one o, us )ere )illing to tell the )omen o, Herland about the e+ils o, our o)n belo+ed land- 6t )as all +ery )ell ,or us to assume them to be necessary and essential, and to criticiFe7strictly among oursel+es7their all0too0*er,ect ci+iliFation, but )hen it came to telling them about the ,ailures and )astes o, our o)n, )e ne+er could bring oursel+es to do it>oreo+er, )e sought to a+oid too much discussion, and to *ress the sub@ect o, our a**roaching marriages"e,, )as the determined one on this score1=, course they ha+en8t any marriage ceremony or ser+ice, but )e can make it a sort o, Kuaker )edding, and ha+e it in the tem*le7it is the least )e can do ,or them-5 6t )as- 2here )as so little, a,ter all, that )e could do ,or them- Here )e )ere, *enniless guests and strangers, )ith no chance e+en to use our strength and courage7nothing to de,end them ,rom or *rotect them against14e can at least gi+e them our names,5 "e,, insisted2hey )ere +ery s)eet about it, Auite )illing to do )hate+er )e asked, to *lease us- !s to the names, !lima, ,rank soul that she )as, asked )hat good it )ould do2erry, al)ays irritating her, said it )as a sign o, *ossession- 13ou are going to be >rs:icholson,5 he said- 1>rs- 2- =- :icholson- 2hat sho)s e+eryone that you are my )i,e-5 14hat is a 8)i,e8 e/actlyD5 she demanded, a dangerous gleam in her eye1! )i,e is the )oman )ho belongs to a man,5 he began<ut "e,, took it u* eagerly: 1!nd a husband is the man )ho belongs to a )oman- 6t is because )e are monogamous, you kno)- !nd marriage is the ceremony, ci+il and religious, that @oins the t)o together78until death do us *art,85 he ,inished, looking at Celis )ith unutterable de+otion14hat makes us all ,eel ,oolish,5 6 told the girls, 1is that here )e ha+e nothing to gi+e you7 e/ce*t, o, course, our names-5 1;o your )omen ha+e no names be,ore they are marriedD5 Celis suddenly demanded14hy, yes,5 "e,, e/*lained- 12hey ha+e their maiden names7their ,ather8s names, that is-5 1!nd )hat becomes o, themD5 asked !lima12hey change them ,or their husbands8, my dear,5 2erry ans)ered her1Change themD ;o the husbands then take the )i+es8 8maiden names8D5 1=h, no,5 he laughed- 12he man kee*s his o)n and gi+es it to her, too-5 12hen she @ust loses hers and takes a ne) one7ho) un*leasantG 4e )on8t do thatG5 !lima said decidedly2erry )as good0humored about it- 16 don8t care )hat you do or don8t do so long as )e ha+e that )edding *retty soon,5 he said, reaching a strong bro)n hand a,ter !lima8s, Auite as bro)n and nearly as strong1!s to gi+ing us things7o, course )e can see that you8d like to, but )e are glad you can8t,5 Celis continued- 13ou see, )e lo+e you @ust ,or yoursel+es7)e )ouldn8t )ant you to7to *ay anything- 6sn8t it enough to kno) that you are lo+ed *ersonally7and @ust as menD5 nough or not, that )as the )ay )e )ere married- 4e had a great tri*le )edding in the biggest tem*le o, all, and it looked as i, most o, the nation )as *resent- 6t )as +ery solemn and +ery beauti,ul- .omeone had )ritten a ne) song ,or the occasion, nobly beauti,ul, about the :e) Ho*e ,or their *eo*le7the :e) 2ie )ith other lands7<rotherhood as )ell as .isterhood, and, )ith e+ident a)e, Fatherhood2erry )as al)ays resti+e under their talk o, ,atherhood- 1!nybody8d think )e )ere High Priests o,7o, Philo*rogeniti+enessG5 he *rotested- 12hese )omen think o, :=2H6:G but children, seems

to meG 4e8ll teach 8emG5 He )as so certain o, )hat he )as going to teach, and !lima so uncertain in her moods o, rece*tion, that "e,, and 6 ,eared the )orst- 4e tried to caution him7much good that did- 2he big handsome ,ello) dre) himsel, u* to his ,ull height, li,ted that great chest o, his, and laughed12here are three se*arate marriages,5 he said- 16 )on8t inter,ere )ith yours7nor you )ith mine-5 .o the great day came, and the countless cro)ds o, )omen, and )e three bridegrooms )ithout any su**orting 1best men,5 or any other men to back us u*, ,elt strangely small as )e came ,or)ard.omel and Ha+a and >oadine )ere on hand9 )e )ere thank,ul to ha+e them, too7they seemed almost like relati+es2here )as a s*lendid *rocession, )reathing dances, the ne) anthem 6 s*oke o,, and the )hole great *lace *ulsed )ith ,eeling7the dee* a)e, the s)eet ho*e, the )ondering e/*ectation o, a ne) miracle12here has been nothing like this in the country since our >otherhood beganG5 .omel said so,tly to me, )hile )e )atched the symbolic marches- 13ou see, it is the da)n o, a ne) era- 3ou don8t kno) ho) much you mean to us- 6t is not only Fatherhood7that mar+elous dual *arentage to )hich )e are strangers7the miracle o, union in li,e0gi+ing7but it is <rotherhood- 3ou are the rest o, the )orld- 3ou @oin us to our kind7to all the strange lands and *eo*les )e ha+e ne+er seen- 4e ho*e to kno) them7to lo+e and hel* them7and to learn o, them- !hG 3ou cannot kno)G5 2housands o, +oices rose in the soaring clima/ o, that great Hymn o, 2he Coming Bi,e- <y the great !ltar o, >otherhood, )ith its cro)n o, ,ruit and ,lo)ers, stood a ne) one, cro)ned as )ell<e,ore the Great =+er >other o, the Band and her ring o, High 2em*le Counsellors, be,ore that +ast multitude o, calm0,aced mothers and holy0eyed maidens, came ,or)ard our o)n three chosen ones, and )e, three men alone in all that land, @oined hands )ith them and made our marriage +o)sHerland Cha*ter 11 =ur ;i,,iculties 4e say, 1>arriage is a lottery59 also 1>arriages are made in Hea+en57but this is not so )idely acce*ted as the other4e ha+e a )ell0,ounded theory that it is best to marry 1in one8s class,5 and certain )ell0 grounded sus*icions o, international marriages, )hich seem to *ersist in the interests o, social *rogress, rather than in those o, the contracting *arties<ut no combination o, alien races, o, color, o, caste, or creed, )as e+er so basically di,,icult to establish as that bet)een us, three modern !merican men, and these three )omen o, Herland6t is all +ery )ell to say that )e should ha+e been ,rank about it be,orehand- 4e had been ,rank4e had discussed7at least llador and 6 had7the conditions o, 2he Great !d+enture, and thought the *ath )as clear be,ore us- <ut there are some things one takes ,or granted, su**oses are mutually understood, and to )hich both *arties may re*eatedly re,er )ithout e+er meaning the same thing2he di,,erences in the education o, the a+erage man and )oman are great enough, but the trouble they make is not mostly ,or the man9 he generally carries out his o)n +ie)s o, the case- 2he )oman may ha+e imagined the conditions o, married li,e to be di,,erent9 but )hat she imagined, )as ignorant o,, or might ha+e *re,erred, did not seriously matter6 can see clearly and s*eak calmly about this no), )riting a,ter a la*se o, years, years ,ull o, gro)th and education, but at the time it )as rather hard sledding ,or all o, us7es*ecially ,or 2erryPoor 2erryG 3ou see, in any other imaginable marriage among the *eo*les o, the earth, )hether the )oman )ere black, red, yello), bro)n, or )hite9 )hether she )ere ignorant or educated, submissi+e or rebellious, she )ould ha+e behind her the marriage tradition o, our general history2his tradition relates the )oman to the man- He goes on )ith his business, and she ada*ts hersel, to him and to it- +en in citiFenshi*, by some strange hocus0*ocus, that ,act o, birth and geogra*hy )as )a+ed aside, and the )oman automatically acAuired the nationality o, her husband-

4ell7here )ere )e, three aliens in this land o, )omen- 6t )as small in area, and the e/ternal di,,erences )ere not so great as to astound us- 4e did not yet a**reciate the di,,erences bet)een the race0mind o, this *eo*le and ours6n the ,irst *lace, they )ere a 1*ure stock5 o, t)o thousand uninterru*ted years- 4here )e ha+e some long connected lines o, thought and ,eeling, together )ith a )ide range o, di,,erences, o,ten irreconcilable, these *eo*le )ere smoothly and ,irmly agreed on most o, the basic *rinci*les o, their li,e9 and not only agreed in *rinci*le, but accustomed ,or these si/ty0odd generations to act on those *rinci*les2his is one thing )hich )e did not understand7had made no allo)ance ,or- 4hen in our *re0 marital discussions one o, those dear girls had said: 14e understand it thus and thus,5 or 14e hold such and such to be true,5 )e men, in our o)n dee*0seated con+ictions o, the *o)er o, lo+e, and our easy +ie)s about belie,s and *rinci*les, ,ondly imagined that )e could con+ince them other)ise- 4hat )e imagined, be,ore marriage, did not matter any more than )hat an a+erage innocent young girl imagines- 4e ,ound the ,acts to be di,,erent6t )as not that they did not lo+e us9 they did, dee*ly and )armly- <ut there are you again7)hat they meant by 1lo+e5 and )hat )e meant by 1lo+e5 )ere so di,,erentPerha*s it seems rather cold0blooded to say 1)e5 and 1they,5 as i, )e )ere not se*arate cou*les, )ith our se*arate @oys and sorro)s, but our *ositions as aliens dro+e us together constantly- 2he )hole strange e/*erience had made our ,riendshi* more close and intimate than it )ould e+er ha+e become in a ,ree and easy li,etime among our o)n *eo*le- !lso, as men, )ith our masculine tradition o, ,ar more than t)o thousand years, )e )ere a unit, small but ,irm, against this ,ar larger unit o, ,eminine tradition6 think 6 can make clear the *oints o, di,,erence )ithout a too *ain,ul e/*licitness- 2he more e/ternal disagreement )as in the matter o, 1the home,5 and the housekee*ing duties and *leasures )e, by instinct and long education, su**osed to be inherently a**ro*riate to )omen6 )ill gi+e t)o illustrations, one a)ay u*, and the other a)ay do)n, to sho) ho) com*letely disa**ointed )e )ere in this regardFor the lo)er one, try to imagine a male ant, coming ,rom some state o, e/istence )here ants li+e in *airs, endea+oring to set u* housekee*ing )ith a ,emale ant ,rom a highly de+elo*ed anthill2his ,emale ant might regard him )ith intense *ersonal a,,ection, but her ideas o, *arentage and economic management )ould be on a +ery di,,erent scale ,rom his- :o), o, course, i, she )as a stray ,emale in a country o, *airing ants, he might ha+e had his )ay )ith her9 but i, he )as a stray male in an anthill7G For the higher one, try to imagine a de+oted and im*assioned man trying to set u* housekee*ing )ith a lady angel, a real )ings0and0har*0and0halo angel, accustomed to ,ul,illing di+ine missions all o+er interstellar s*ace- 2his angel might lo+e the man )ith an a,,ection Auite beyond his *o)er o, return or e+en o, a**reciation, but her ideas o, ser+ice and duty )ould be on a +ery di,,erent scale ,rom his- =, course, i, she )as a stray angel in a country o, men, he might ha+e had his )ay )ith her9 but i, he )as a stray man among angels7G 2erry, at his )orst, in a black ,ury ,or )hich, as a man, 6 must ha+e some sym*athy, *re,erred the ant simile- >ore o, 2erry and his s*ecial troubles later- 6t )as hard on 2erry"e,,7)ell, "e,, al)ays had a streak that )as too good ,or this )orldG He8s the kind that )ould ha+e made a saintly *riest in *arentagearlier times- He acce*ted the angel theory, s)allo)ed it )hole, tried to ,orce it on us7)ith +arying e,,ect- He so )orshi**ed Celis, and not only Celis, but )hat she re*resented9 he had become so dee*ly con+inced o, the almost su*ernatural ad+antages o, this country and *eo*le, that he took his medicine like a76 cannot say 1like a man,5 but more as i, he )asn8t one;on8t misunderstand me ,or a moment- ;ear old "e,, )as no milkso* or molly0coddle either- He )as a strong, bra+e, e,,icient man, and an e/cellent ,ighter )hen ,ighting )as necessary- <ut there )as al)ays this angel streak in him- 6t )as rather a )onder, 2erry being so di,,erent, that he really lo+ed "e,, as he did9 but it ha**ens so sometimes, in s*ite o, the di,,erence7*erha*s because o, it!s ,or me, 6 stood bet)een- 6 )as no such gay Bothario as 2erry, and no such Galahad as "e,,-

<ut ,or all my limitations 6 think 6 had the habit o, using my brains in regard to beha+ior rather more ,reAuently than either o, them- 6 had to use brain0*o)er no), 6 can tell you2he big *oint at issue bet)een us and our )i+es )as, as may easily be imagined, in the +ery nature o, the relation14i+esG ;on8t talk to me about )i+esG5 stormed 2erry- 12hey don8t kno) )hat the )ord means-5 4hich is e/actly the ,act7they didn8t- Ho) could theyD <ack in their *rehistoric records o, *olygamy and sla+ery there )ere no ideals o, )i,ehood as )e kno) it, and since then no *ossibility o, ,orming such12he only thing they can think o, about a man is F!2H EH==;G5 said 2erry in high scorn1F!2H EH==;G !s i, a man )as al)ays )anting to be a F!2H EG5 2his also )as correct- 2hey had their long, )ide, dee*, rich e/*erience o, >otherhood, and their only *erce*tion o, the +alue o, a male creature as such )as ,or Fatherhood!side ,rom that, o, course, )as the )hole range o, *ersonal lo+e, lo+e )hich as "e,, earnestly *hrased it 1*asseth the lo+e o, )omenG5 6t did, too- 6 can gi+e no idea7either no), a,ter long and ha**y e/*erience o, it, or as it seemed then, in the ,irst measureless )onder7o, the beauty and *o)er o, the lo+e they ga+e us+en !lima7)ho had a more stormy tem*erament than either o, the others, and )ho, hea+en kno)s, had ,ar more *ro+ocation7e+en !lima )as *atience and tenderness and )isdom *ersoni,ied to the man she lo+ed, until he7but 6 ha+en8t got to that yet2hese, as 2erry *ut it, 1alleged or so0called )i+es5 o, ours, )ent right on )ith their *ro,ession as ,oresters- 4e, ha+ing no s*ecial learnings, had long since Auali,ied as assistants- 4e had to do something, i, only to *ass the time, and it had to be )ork7)e couldn8t be *laying ,ore+er2his ke*t us out o, doors )ith those dear girls, and more or less together7too much together sometimes2hese *eo*le had, it no) became clear to us, the highest, keenest, most delicate sense o, *ersonal *ri+acy, but not the ,aintest idea o, that .=B62C; ! ; CM )e are so ,ond o,- 2hey had, e+ery one o, them, the 1t)o rooms and a bath5 theory realiFed- From earliest childhood each had a se*arate bedroom )ith toilet con+eniences, and one o, the marks o, coming o, age )as the addition o, an outer room in )hich to recei+e ,riendsBong since )e had been gi+en our o)n t)o rooms a*iece, and as being o, a di,,erent se/ and race, these )ere in a se*arate house- 6t seemed to be recogniFed that )e should breathe easier i, able to ,ree our minds in real seclusionFor ,ood )e either )ent to any con+enient eating0house, ordered a meal brought in, or took it )ith us to the )oods, al)ays and eAually good- !ll this )e had become used to and en@oyed7in our courting days!,ter marriage there arose in us a some)hat une/*ected urge o, ,eeling that called ,or a se*arate house9 but this ,eeling ,ound no res*onse in the hearts o, those ,air ladies14e !E alone, dear,5 llador e/*lained to me )ith gentle *atience- 14e are alone in these great ,orests9 )e may go and eat in any little summer0house7@ust )e t)o, or ha+e a se*arate table any)here7or e+en ha+e a se*arate meal in our o)n rooms- Ho) could )e be alonerD5 2his )as all +ery true- 4e had our *leasant mutual solitude about our )ork, and our *leasant e+ening talks in their a*artments or ours9 )e had, as it )ere, all the *leasures o, courtshi* carried right on9 but )e had no sense o,7*erha*s it may be called *ossession1>ight as )ell not be married at all,5 gro)led 2erry- 12hey only got u* that ceremony to *lease us7*lease "e,,, mostly- 2hey8+e no real idea o, being married-5 6 tried my best to get llador8s *oint o, +ie), and naturally 6 tried to gi+e her mine- =, course, )hat )e, as men, )anted to make them see )as that there )ere other, and as )e *roudly said 1higher,5 uses in this relation than )hat 2erry called 1mere *arentage-5 6n the highest terms 6 kne) 6 tried to e/*lain this to llador1!nything higher than ,or mutual lo+e to ho*e to gi+e li,e, as )e didD5 she said- 1Ho) is it higherD5

16t de+elo*s lo+e,5 6 e/*lained- 1!ll the *o)er o, beauti,ul *ermanent mated lo+e comes through this higher de+elo*ment-5 1!re you sureD5 she asked gently- 1Ho) do you kno) that it )as so de+elo*edD 2here are some birds )ho lo+e each other so that they mo*e and *ine i, se*arated, and ne+er *air again i, one dies, but they ne+er mate e/ce*t in the mating season- !mong your *eo*le do you ,ind high and lasting a,,ection a**earing in *ro*ortion to this indulgenceD5 6t is a +ery a)k)ard thing, sometimes, to ha+e a logical mind=, course 6 kne) about those monogamous birds and beasts too, that mate ,or li,e and sho) e+ery sign o, mutual a,,ection, )ithout e+er ha+ing stretched the se/ relationshi* beyond its original range- <ut )hat o, itD 12hose are lo)er ,orms o, li,eG5 6 *rotested- 12hey ha+e no ca*acity ,or ,aith,ul and a,,ectionate, and a**arently ha**y7but oh, my dearG my dearG7)hat can they kno) o, such a lo+e as dra)s us togetherD 4hy, to touch you7to be near you7to come closer and closer7to lose mysel, in you7surely you ,eel it too, do you notD5 6 came nearer- 6 seiFed her handsHer eyes )ere on mine, tender radiant, but steady and strong- 2here )as something so *o)er,ul, so large and changeless, in those eyes that 6 could not s)ee* her o,, her ,eet by my o)n emotion as 6 had unconsciously assumed )ould be the case6t made me ,eel as, one might imagine, a man might ,eel )ho lo+ed a goddess7not a ?enus, thoughG .he did not resent my attitude, did not re*el it, did not in the least ,ear it, e+idently- 2here )as not a shade o, that timid )ithdra)al or *retty resistance )hich are so7*ro+ocati+e13ou see, dearest,5 she said, 1you ha+e to be *atient )ith us- 4e are not like the )omen o, your country- 4e are >others, and )e are Peo*le, but )e ha+e not s*ecialiFed in this line-5 14e5 and 1)e5 and 1)e57it )as so hard to get her to be *ersonal- !nd, as 6 thought that, 6 suddenly remembered ho) )e )ere al)ays criticiFing =CE )omen ,or < 6:G so *ersonal2hen 6 did my earnest best to *icture to her the s)eet intense @oy o, married lo+ers, and the result in higher stimulus to all creati+e )ork1;o you mean,5 she asked Auite calmly, as i, 6 )as not holding her cool ,irm hands in my hot and rather Aui+ering ones, 1that )ith you, )hen *eo*le marry, they go right on doing this in season and out o, season, )ith no thought o, children at allD5 12hey do,5 6 said, )ith some bitterness- 12hey are not mere *arents- 2hey are men and )omen, and they lo+e each other-5 1Ho) longD5 asked llador, rather une/*ectedly1Ho) longD5 6 re*eated, a little dashed- 14hy as long as they li+e-5 12here is something +ery beauti,ul in the idea,5 she admitted, still as i, she )ere discussing li,e on >ars- 12his climactic e/*ression, )hich, in all the other li,e0,orms, has but the one *ur*ose, has )ith you become s*ecialiFed to higher, *urer, nobler uses- 6t has76 @udge ,rom )hat you tell me7 the most ennobling e,,ect on character- Peo*le marry, not only ,or *arentage, but ,or this e/Auisite interchange7and, as a result, you ha+e a )orld ,ull o, continuous lo+ers, ardent, ha**y, mutually de+oted, al)ays li+ing on that high tide o, su*reme emotion )hich )e had su**osed to belong only to one season and one use- !nd you say it has other results, stimulating all high creati+e )ork- 2hat must mean ,loods, oceans o, such )ork, blossoming ,rom this intense ha**iness o, e+ery married *airG 6t is a beauti,ul ideaG5 .he )as silent, thinking.o )as 6.he sli**ed one hand ,ree, and )as stroking my hair )ith it in a gentle motherly )ay- 6 bo)ed my hot head on her shoulder and ,elt a dim sense o, *eace, a rest,ulness )hich )as +ery *leasant13ou must take me there someday, darling,5 she )as saying- 16t is not only that 6 lo+e you so much, 6 )ant to see your country7your *eo*le7your mother75 she *aused re+erently- 1=h, ho) 6 shall lo+e your motherG5 6 had not been in lo+e many times7my e/*erience did not com*are )ith 2erry8s- <ut such as 6 had )as so di,,erent ,rom this that 6 )as *er*le/ed, and ,ull o, mi/ed ,eelings: *artly a gro)ing

sense o, common ground bet)een us, a *leasant rested calm ,eeling, )hich 6 had imagined could only be attained in one )ay9 and *artly a be)ildered resentment because )hat 6 ,ound )as not )hat 6 had looked ,or6t )as their con,ounded *sychologyG Here they )ere )ith this *ro,ound highly de+elo*ed system o, education so bred into them that e+en i, they )ere not teachers by *ro,ession they all had a general *ro,iciency in it7it )as second nature to them!nd no child, stormily demanding a cookie 1bet)een meals,5 )as e+er more subtly di+erted into an interest in house0building than )as 6 )hen 6 ,ound an a**arently im*erati+e demand had disa**eared )ithout my noticing it!nd all the time those tender mother eyes, those keen scienti,ic eyes, noting e+ery condition and circumstance, and learning ho) to 1take time by the ,orelock5 and a+oid discussion be,ore occasion arose6 )as amaFed at the results- 6 ,ound that much, +ery much, o, )hat 6 had honestly su**osed to be a *hysiological necessity )as a *sychological necessity7or so belie+ed- 6 ,ound, a,ter my ideas o, )hat )as essential had changed, that my ,eelings changed also- !nd more than all, 6 ,ound this7 a ,actor o, enormous )eight7these )omen )ere not *ro+ocati+e- 2hat made an immense di,,erence2he thing that 2erry had so com*lained o, )hen )e ,irst came7that they )eren8t 1,eminine,5 they lacked 1charm,5 no) became a great com,ort- 2heir +igorous beauty )as an aesthetic *leasure, not an irritant- 2heir dress and ornaments had not a touch o, the 1come0and0,ind0me5 element+en )ith my o)n llador, my )i,e, )ho had ,or a time un+eiled a )oman8s heart and ,aced the strange ne) ho*e and @oy o, dual *arentage, she a,ter)ard )ithdre) again into the same good comrade she had been at ,irst- 2hey )ere )omen, PBC., and so much *lus that )hen they did not choose to let the )omanness a**ear, you could not ,ind it any)here6 don8t say it )as easy ,or me9 it )asn8t- <ut )hen 6 made a**eal to her sym*athies 6 came u* against another immo+able )all- .he )as sorry, honestly sorry, ,or my distresses, and made all manner o, thought,ul suggestions, o,ten Auite use,ul, as )ell as the )ise ,oresight 6 ha+e mentioned abo+e, )hich o,ten sa+ed all di,,iculty be,ore it arose9 but her sym*athy did not alter her con+ictions16, 6 thought it )as really right and necessary, 6 could *erha*s bring mysel, to it, ,or your sake, dear9 but 6 do not )ant to7not at all- 3ou )ould not ha+e a mere submission, )ould youD 2hat is not the kind o, high romantic lo+e you s*oke o,, surelyD 6t is a *ity, o, course, that you should ha+e to ad@ust your highly s*ecialiFed ,aculties to our uns*ecialiFed ones-5 Con,ound itG 6 hadn8t married the nation, and 6 told her so- <ut she only smiled at her o)n limitations and e/*lained that she had to 1think in )e8s-5 Con,ound it againG Here 68d ha+e all my energies ,ocused on one )ish, and be,ore 6 kne) it she8d ha+e them dissi*ated in one direction or another, some sub@ect o, discussion that began @ust at the *oint 6 )as talking about and ended miles a)ay6t must not be imagined that 6 )as @ust re*elled, ignored, le,t to cherish a grie+ance- :ot at all>y ha**iness )as in the hands o, a larger, s)eeter )omanhood than 6 had e+er imagined- <e,ore our marriage my o)n ardor had *erha*s blinded me to much o, this- 6 )as madly in lo+e )ith not so much )hat )as there as )ith )hat 6 su**osed to be there- :o) 6 ,ound an endlessly beauti,ul undisco+ered country to e/*lore, and in it the s)eetest )isdom and understanding- 6t )as as i, 6 had come to some ne) *lace and *eo*le, )ith a desire to eat at all hours, and no other interests in *articular9 and as i, my hosts, instead o, merely saying, 13ou shall not eat,5 had *resently aroused in me a li+ely desire ,or music, ,or *ictures, ,or games, ,or e/ercise, ,or *laying in the )ater, ,or running some ingenious machine9 and, in the multitude o, my satis,actions, 6 ,orgot the one *oint )hich )as not satis,ied, and got along +ery )ell until mealtime=ne o, the cle+erest and most ingenious o, these tricks )as only clear to me many years a,ter, )hen )e )ere so )holly at one on this sub@ect that 6 could laugh at my o)n *redicament then- 6t )as this: 3ou see, )ith us, )omen are ke*t as di,,erent as *ossible and as ,eminine as *ossible- 4e men ha+e our o)n )orld, )ith only men in it9 )e get tired o, our ultra0maleness and turn gladly to

the ultra0,emaleness- !lso, in kee*ing our )omen as ,eminine as *ossible, )e see to it that )hen )e turn to them )e ,ind the thing )e )ant al)ays in e+idence- 4ell, the atmos*here o, this *lace )as anything but seducti+e- 2he +ery numbers o, these human )omen, al)ays in human relation, made them anything but alluring- 4hen, in s*ite o, this, my hereditary instincts and race0traditions made me long ,or the ,eminine res*onse in llador, instead o, )ithdra)ing so that 6 should )ant her more, she deliberately ga+e me a little too much o, her society-7al)ays de0,eminiFed, as it )ere- 6t )as a),ully ,unny, reallyHere )as 6, )ith an 6deal in mind, ,or )hich 6 hotly longed, and here )as she, deliberately obtruding in the ,oreground o, my consciousness a Fact7a ,act )hich 6 coolly en@oyed, but )hich actually inter,ered )ith )hat 6 )anted- 6 see no) clearly enough )hy a certain kind o, man, like .ir !lmroth 4right, resents the *ro,essional de+elo*ment o, )omen- 6t gets in the )ay o, the se/ ideal9 it tem*orarily co+ers and e/cludes ,emininity=, course, in this case, 6 )as so ,ond o, llador my ,riend, o, llador my *ro,essional com*anion, that 6 necessarily en@oyed her society on any terms- =nly7)hen 6 had had her )ith me in her de0,eminine ca*acity ,or a si/teen0hour day, 6 could go to my o)n room and slee* )ithout dreaming about her2he )itchG 6, e+er anybody )orked to )oo and )in and hold a human soul, she did, great su*er)oman that she )as- 6 couldn8t then hal, com*rehend the skill o, it, the )onder- <ut this 6 soon began to ,ind: that under all our culti+ated attitude o, mind to)ard )omen, there is an older, dee*er, more 1natural5 ,eeling, the rest,ul re+erence )hich looks u* to the >other se/.o )e gre) together in ,riendshi* and ha**iness, llador and 6, and so did "e,, and Celis4hen it comes to 2erry8s *art o, it, and !lima8s, 68m sorry7and 68m ashamed- =, course 6 blame her some)hat- .he )asn8t as ,ine a *sychologist as llador, and )hat8s more, 6 think she had a ,ar0 descended ata+istic trace o, more marked ,emaleness, ne+er a**arent till 2erry called it out- <ut )hen all is said, it doesn8t e/cuse him- 6 hadn8t realiFed to the ,ull 2erry8s character76 couldn8t, being a man2he *osition )as the same as )ith us, o, course, only )ith these distinctions- !lima, a shade more alluring, and se+eral shades less able as a *ractical *sychologist9 2erry, a hundred,old more demanding7and *ro*ortionately less reasonable2hings gre) strained +ery soon bet)een them- 6 ,ancy at ,irst, )hen they )ere together, in her great ho*e o, *arentage and his keen @oy o, conAuest7that 2erry )as inconsiderate- 6n ,act, 6 kno) it, ,rom things he said13ou needn8t talk to me,5 he sna**ed at "e,, one day, @ust be,ore our )eddings- 12here ne+er )as a )oman yet that did not en@oy being >!.2 E ;- !ll your *retty talk doesn8t amount to a hill o8beans76 I:=4-5 !nd 2erry )ould hum: 68+e taken my ,un )here 6 ,ound it68+e rogued and 68+e ranged in my time, and 2he things that 6 learned ,rom the yello) and black, 2hey 8a+e hel*ed me a 8ea* )ith the )hite"e,, turned shar*ly and le,t him at the time- 6 )as a bit disAuieted mysel,Poor old 2erryG 2he things he8d learned didn8t hel* him a hea* in Herland- His idea )as to take 7he thought that )as the )ay- He thought, he honestly belie+ed, that )omen like it- :ot the )omen o, HerlandG :ot !limaG 6 can see her no)7one day in the +ery ,irst )eek o, their marriage, setting ,orth to her day8s )ork )ith long determined strides and hard0set mouth, and sticking close to llador- .he didn8t )ish to be alone )ith 2erry7you could see that<ut the more she ke*t a)ay ,rom him, the more he )anted her7naturallyHe made a tremendous ro) about their se*arate establishments, tried to kee* her in his rooms, tried to stay in hers- <ut there she dre) the line shar*lyHe came a)ay one night, and stam*ed u* and do)n the moonlit road, s)earing under his breath- 6 )as taking a )alk that night too, but 6 )asn8t in his state o, mind- 2o hear him rage you8d

not ha+e belie+ed that he lo+ed !lima at all7you8d ha+e thought that she )as some Auarry he )as *ursuing, something to catch and conAuer6 think that, o)ing to all those di,,erences 6 s*oke o,, they soon lost the common ground they had at ,irst, and )ere unable to meet sanely and dis*assionately- 6 ,ancy too7this is *ure con@ecture 7that he had succeeded in dri+ing !lima beyond her best @udgment, her real conscience, and that a,ter that her o)n sense o, shame, the reaction o, the thing, made her bitter *erha*s2hey Auarreled, really Auarreled, and a,ter making it u* once or t)ice, they seemed to come to a real break7she )ould not be alone )ith him at all- !nd *erha*s she )as a bit ner+ous, 6 don8t kno), but she got >oadine to come and stay ne/t door to her- !lso, she had a sturdy assistant detailed to accom*any her in her )ork2erry had his o)n ideas, as 68+e tried to sho)- 6 daresay he thought he had a right to do as he didPerha*s he e+en con+inced himsel, that it )ould be better ,or her- !nyho), he hid himsel, in her bedroom one nightN 2he )omen o, Herland ha+e no ,ear o, men- 4hy should they ha+eD 2hey are not timid in any sense- 2hey are not )eak9 and they all ha+e strong trained athletic bodies- =thello could not ha+e e/tinguished !lima )ith a *illo), as i, she )ere a mouse2erry *ut in *ractice his *et con+iction that a )oman lo+es to be mastered, and by sheer brute ,orce, in all the *ride and *assion o, his intense masculinity, he tried to master this )oman6t did not )ork- 6 got a *retty clear account o, it later ,rom llador, but )hat )e heard at the time )as the noise o, a tremendous struggle, and !lima calling to >oadine- >oadine )as close by and came at once9 one or t)o more strong gra+e )omen ,ollo)ed2erry dashed about like a madman9 he )ould cheer,ully ha+e killed them7he told me that, himsel,7but he couldn8t- 4hen he s)ung a chair o+er his head one s*rang in the air and caught it, t)o thre) themsel+es bodily u*on him and ,orced him to the ,loor9 it )as only the )ork o, a ,e) moments to ha+e him tied hand and ,oot, and then, in sheer *ity ,or his ,utile rage, to anesthetiFe him!lima )as in a cold ,ury- .he )anted him killed7actually2here )as a trial be,ore the local =+er >other, and this )oman, )ho did not en@oy being mastered, stated her case6n a court in our country he )ould ha+e been held Auite 1)ithin his rights,5 o, course- <ut this )as not our country9 it )as theirs- 2hey seemed to measure the enormity o, the o,,ense by its e,,ect u*on a *ossible ,atherhood, and he scorned e+en to re*ly to this )ay o, *utting itHe did let himsel, go once, and e/*lained in de,inite terms that they )ere inca*able o, understanding a man8s needs, a man8s desires, a man8s *oint o, +ie)- He called them neuters, e*icenes, bloodless, se/less creatures- He said they could o, course kill him7as so many insects could7but that he des*ised them nonetheless!nd all those stern gra+e mothers did not seem to mind his des*ising them, not in the least6t )as a long trial, and many interesting *oints )ere brought out as to their +ie)s o, our habits, and a,ter a )hile 2erry had his sentence- He )aited, grim and de,iant- 2he sentence )as: 13ou must go homeG5 Herland Cha*ter 1O /*elled 4e had all meant to go home again- 6ndeed )e had :=2 meant7not by any means7to stay as long as )e had- <ut )hen it came to being turned out, dismissed, sent a)ay ,or bad conduct, )e none o, us really liked it2erry said he did- He *ro,essed great scorn o, the *enalty and the trial, as )ell as all the other characteristics o, 1this miserable hal,0country-5 <ut he kne), and )e kne), that in any 1)hole5 country )e should ne+er ha+e been as ,orgi+ingly treated as )e had been here16, the *eo*le had come a,ter us according to the directions )e le,t, there8d ha+e been Auite a di,,erent storyG5 said 2erry- 4e ,ound out later )hy no reser+e *arty had arri+ed- !ll our care,ul

directions had been destroyed in a ,ire- 4e might ha+e all died there and no one at home ha+e e+er kno)n our )hereabouts2erry )as under guard no), all the time, kno)n as unsa,e, con+icted o, )hat )as to them an un*ardonable sinHe laughed at their chill horror- 1Parcel o, old maidsG5 he called them- 12hey8re all old maids7 children or not- 2hey don8t kno) the ,irst thing about .e/-5 4hen 2erry said . M, se/ )ith a +ery large ., he meant the male se/, naturally9 its s*ecial +alues, its *ro,ound con+iction o, being 1the li,e ,orce,5 its cheer,ul ignoring o, the true li,e *rocess, and its inter*retation o, the other se/ solely ,rom its o)n *oint o, +ie)6 had learned to see these things +ery di,,erently since li+ing )ith llador9 and as ,or "e,,, he )as so thoroughly HerlandiFed that he )asn8t ,air to 2erry, )ho ,retted shar*ly in his ne) restraint>oadine, gra+e and strong, as sadly *atient as a mother )ith a degenerate child, ke*t steady )atch on him, )ith enough other )omen close at hand to *re+ent an outbreak- He had no )ea*ons, and )ell kne) that all his strength )as o, small a+ail against those grim, Auiet )omen4e )ere allo)ed to +isit him ,reely, but he had only his room, and a small high0)alled garden to )alk in, )hile the *re*arations ,or our de*arture )ere under )ay2hree o, us )ere to go: 2erry, because he must9 6, because t)o )ere sa,er ,or our ,lyer, and the long boat tri* to the coast9 llador, because she )ould not let me go )ithout her6, "e,, had elected to return, Celis )ould ha+e gone too7they )ere the most absorbed o, lo+ers9 but "e,, had no desire that )ay14hy should 6 )ant to go back to all our noise and dirt, our +ice and crime, our disease and degeneracyD5 he demanded o, me *ri+ately- 4e ne+er s*oke like that be,ore the )omen- 16 )ouldn8t take Celis there ,or anything on earthG5 he *rotested- 1.he8d dieG .he8d die o, horror and shame to see our slums and hos*itals- Ho) can you risk it )ith lladorD 3ou8d better break it to her gently be,ore she really makes u* her mind-5 "e,, )as right- 6 ought to ha+e told her more ,ully than 6 did, o, all the things )e had to be ashamed o,- <ut it is +ery hard to bridge the gul, o, as dee* a di,,erence as e/isted bet)een our li,e and theirs- 6 tried to1Book here, my dear,5 6 said to her- 16, you are really going to my country )ith me, you8+e got to be *re*ared ,or a good many shocks- 6t8s not as beauti,ul as this7the cities, 6 mean, the ci+iliFed *arts7o, course the )ild country is-5 16 shall en@oy it all,5 she said, her eyes starry )ith ho*e- 16 understand it8s not like ours- 6 can see ho) monotonous our Auiet li,e must seem to you, ho) much more stirring yours must be- 6t must be like the biological change you told me about )hen the second se/ )as introduced7a ,ar greater mo+ement, constant change, )ith ne) *ossibilities o, gro)th-5 6 had told her o, the later biological theories o, se/, and she )as dee*ly con+inced o, the su*erior ad+antages o, ha+ing t)o, the su*eriority o, a )orld )ith men in it14e ha+e done )hat )e could alone9 *erha*s )e ha+e some things better in a Auiet )ay, but you ha+e the )hole )orld7all the *eo*le o, the di,,erent nations7all the long rich history behind you7all the )onder,ul ne) kno)ledge- =h, 6 @ust can8t )ait to see itG5 4hat could 6 doD 6 told her in so many )ords that )e had our unsol+ed *roblems, that )e had dishonesty and corru*tion, +ice and crime, disease and insanity, *risons and hos*itals9 and it made no more im*ression on her than it )ould to tell a .outh .ea 6slander about the tem*erature o, the !rctic Circle- .he could intellectually see that it )as bad to ha+e those things9 but she could not F B it4e had Auite easily come to acce*t the Herland li,e as normal, because it )as normal7none o, us make any outcry o+er mere health and *eace and ha**y industry- !nd the abnormal, to )hich )e are all so sadly )ell acclimated, she had ne+er seen2he t)o things she cared most to hear about, and )anted most to see, )ere these: the beauti,ul relation o, marriage and the lo+ely )omen )ho )ere mothers and nothing else9 beyond these her keen, acti+e mind hungered eagerly ,or the )orld li,e168m almost as an/ious to go as you are yoursel,,5 she insisted, 1and you must be des*erately

homesick-5 6 assured her that no one could be homesick in such a *aradise as theirs, but she )ould ha+e none o, it1=h, yes76 kno)- 6t8s like those little tro*ical islands you8+e told me about, shining like @e)els in the big blue sea76 can8t )ait to see the seaG 2he little island may be as *er,ect as a garden, but you al)ays )ant to get back to your o)n big country, don8t youD +en i, it is bad in some )aysD5 llador )as more than )illing- <ut the nearer it came to our really going, and to my ha+ing to take her back to our 1ci+iliFation,5 a,ter the clean *eace and beauty o, theirs, the more 6 began to dread it, and the more 6 tried to e/*lain=, course 6 had been homesick at ,irst, )hile )e )ere *risoners, be,ore 6 had llador- !nd o, course 6 had, at ,irst, rather idealiFed my country and its )ays, in describing it- !lso, 6 had al)ays acce*ted certain e+ils as integral *arts o, our ci+iliFation and ne+er d)elt on them at all- +en )hen 6 tried to tell her the )orst, 6 ne+er remembered some things7)hich, )hen she came to see them, im*ressed her at once, as they had ne+er im*ressed me- :o), in my e,,orts at e/*lanation, 6 began to see both )ays more keenly than 6 had be,ore9 to see the *ain,ul de,ects o, my o)n land, the mar+elous gains o, this6n missing men )e three +isitors had naturally missed the larger *art o, li,e, and had unconsciously assumed that they must miss it too- 6t took me a long time to realiFe72erry ne+er did realiFe7ho) little it meant to them- 4hen )e say > :, >!:, >!:B3, >!:H==;, and all the other masculine deri+ati+es, )e ha+e in the background o, our minds a huge +ague cro)ded *icture o, the )orld and all its acti+ities- 2o gro) u* and 1be a man,5 to 1act like a man57the meaning and connotation is )ide indeed- 2hat +ast background is ,ull o, marching columns o, men, o, changing lines o, men, o, long *rocessions o, men9 o, men steering their shi*s into ne) seas, e/*loring unkno)n mountains, breaking horses, herding cattle, *loughing and so)ing and rea*ing, toiling at the ,orge and ,urnace, digging in the mine, building roads and bridges and high cathedrals, managing great businesses, teaching in all the colleges, *reaching in all the churches9 o, men e+ery)here, doing e+erything71the )orld-5 !nd )hen )e say 4=> :, )e think F >!B 7the se/<ut to these )omen, in the unbroken s)ee* o, this t)o0thousand0year0old ,eminine ci+iliFation, the )ord 4=>!: called u* all that big background, so ,ar as they had gone in social de+elo*ment9 and the )ord >!: meant to them only >!B 7the se/=, course )e could 2 BB them that in our )orld men did e+erything9 but that did not alter the background o, their minds- 2hat man, 1the male,5 did all these things )as to them a statement, making no more change in the *oint o, +ie) than )as made in ours )hen )e ,irst ,aced the astounding ,act7to us7that in Herland )omen )ere 1the )orld-5 4e had been li+ing there more than a year- 4e had learned their limited history, )ith its straight, smooth, u*reaching lines, reaching higher and going ,aster u* to the smooth com,ort o, their *resent li,e- 4e had learned a little o, their *sychology, a much )ider ,ield than the history, but here )e could not ,ollo) so readily- 4e )ere no) )ell used to seeing )omen not as ,emales but as *eo*le9 *eo*le o, all sorts, doing e+ery kind o, )ork2his outbreak o, 2erry8s, and the strong reaction against it, ga+e us a ne) light on their genuine ,emininity- 2his )as gi+en me )ith great clearness by both llador and .omel- 2he ,eeling )as the same7sick re+ulsion and horror, such as )ould be ,elt at some climactic blas*hemy2hey had no ,aintest a**roach to such a thing in their minds, kno)ing nothing o, the custom o, marital indulgence among us- 2o them the one high *ur*ose o, motherhood had been ,or so long the go+erning la) o, li,e, and the contribution o, the ,ather, though kno)n to them, so distinctly another method to the same end, that they could not, )ith all their e,,ort, get the *oint o, +ie) o, the male creature )hose desires Auite ignore *arentage and seek only ,or )hat )e eu*honiously term 1the @oys o, lo+e-5 4hen 6 tried to tell llador that )omen too ,elt so, )ith us, she dre) a)ay ,rom me, and tried hard to gras* intellectually )hat she could in no )ay sym*athiFe )ith13ou mean7that )ith you7lo+e bet)een man and )oman e/*resses itsel, in that )ay7

)ithout regard to motherhoodD 2o *arentage, 6 mean,5 she added care,ully13es, surely- 6t is lo+e )e think o,7the dee* s)eet lo+e bet)een t)o- =, course )e )ant children, and children come7but that is not )hat )e think about-5 1<ut7but7it seems so against natureG5 she said- 1:one o, the creatures )e kno) do that- ;o other animals7in your countryD5 14e are not animalsG5 6 re*lied )ith some shar*ness- 1!t least )e are something more7 something higher- 2his is a ,ar nobler and more beauti,ul relation, as 6 ha+e e/*lained be,ore- 3our +ie) seems to us rather7shall 6 say, *racticalD ProsaicD >erely a means to an endG 4ith us7oh, my dear girl7cannot you seeD Cannot you ,eelD 6t is the last, s)eetest, highest consummation o, mutual lo+e-5 .he )as im*ressed +isibly- .he trembled in my arms, as 6 held her close, kissing her hungrily<ut there rose in her eyes that look 6 kne) so )ell, that remote clear look as i, she had gone ,ar a)ay e+en though 6 held her beauti,ul body so close, and )as no) on some sno)y mountain regarding me ,rom a distance16 ,eel it Auite clearly,5 she said to me- 16t gi+es me a dee* sym*athy )ith )hat you ,eel, no doubt more strongly still- <ut )hat 6 ,eel, e+en )hat you ,eel, dearest, does not con+ince me that it is right- Cntil 6 am sure o, that, o, course 6 cannot do as you )ish-5 llador, at times like this, al)ays reminded me o, *ictetus- 16 )ill *ut you in *risonG5 said his master- 1>y body, you mean,5 re*lied *ictetus calmly- 16 )ill cut your head o,,,5 said his master1Ha+e 6 said that my head could not be cut o,,D5 ! di,,icult *erson, *ictetus4hat is this miracle by )hich a )oman, e+en in your arms, may )ithdra) hersel,, utterly disa**ear till )hat you hold is as inaccessible as the ,ace o, a cli,,D 1<e *atient )ith me, dear,5 she urged s)eetly- 16 kno) it is hard ,or you- !nd 6 begin to see7a little7ho) 2erry )as so dri+en to crime-5 1=h, come, that8s a *retty hard )ord ,or it- !,ter all, !lima )as his )i,e, you kno),5 6 urged, ,eeling at the moment a sudden burst o, sym*athy ,or *oor 2erry- For a man o, his tem*erament7 and habits7it must ha+e been an unbearable situation<ut llador, ,or all her )ide intellectual gras*, and the broad sym*athy in )hich their religion trained them, could not make allo)ance ,or such7to her7sacrilegious brutality6t )as the more di,,icult to e/*lain to her, because )e three, in our constant talks and lectures about the rest o, the )orld, had naturally a+oided the seamy side9 not so much ,rom a desire to decei+e, but ,rom )ishing to *ut the best ,oot ,oremost ,or our ci+iliFation, in the ,ace o, the beauty and com,ort o, theirs- !lso, )e really thought some things )ere right, or at least una+oidable, )hich )e could readily see )ould be re*ugnant to them, and there,ore did not discuss- !gain there )as much o, our )orld8s li,e )hich )e, being used to it, had not noticed as anything )orth describing!nd still ,urther, there )as about these )omen a colossal innocence u*on )hich many o, the things )e did say had made no im*ression )hate+er6 am thus e/*licit about it because it sho)s ho) une/*ectedly strong )as the im*ression made u*on llador )hen she at last entered our ci+iliFation.he urged me to be *atient, and 6 )as *atient- 3ou see, 6 lo+ed her so much that e+en the restrictions she so ,irmly established le,t me much ha**iness- 4e )ere lo+ers, and there is surely delight enough in that;o not imagine that these young )omen utterly re,used 1the Great :e) Ho*e,5 as they called it, that o, dual *arentage- For that they had agreed to marry us, though the marrying *art o, it )as a concession to our *re@udices rather than theirs- 2o them the *rocess )as the holy thing7and they meant to kee* it holy<ut so ,ar only Celis, her blue eyes s)imming in ha**y tears, her heart li,ted )ith that tide o, race0motherhood )hich )as their su*reme *assion, could )ith ine,,able @oy and *ride announce that she )as to be a mother- 12he :e) >otherhood5 they called it, and the )hole country kne)2here )as no *leasure, no ser+ice, no honor in all the land that Celis might not ha+e had- !lmost like the breathless re+erence )ith )hich, t)o thousand years ago, that d)indling band o, )omen had )atched the miracle o, +irgin birth, )as the dee* a)e and )arm e/*ectancy )ith )hich they

greeted this ne) miracle o, union!ll mothers in that land )ere holy- 2o them, ,or long ages, the a**roach to motherhood has been by the most intense and e/Auisite lo+e and longing, by the .u*reme ;esire, the o+ermastering demand ,or a child- +ery thought they held in connection )ith the *rocesses o, maternity )as o*en to the day, sim*le yet sacred- +ery )oman o, them *laced motherhood not only higher than other duties, but so ,ar higher that there )ere no other duties, one might almost say- !ll their )ide mutual lo+e, all the subtle inter*lay o, mutual ,riendshi* and ser+ice, the urge o, *rogressi+e thought and in+ention, the dee*est religious emotion, e+ery ,eeling and e+ery act )as related to this great central Po)er, to the Ei+er o, Bi,e *ouring through them, )hich made them the bearers o, the +ery .*irit o, God=, all this 6 learned more and more7,rom their books, ,rom talk, es*ecially ,rom llador- .he )as at ,irst, ,or a brie, moment, en+ious o, her ,riend7a thought she *ut a)ay ,rom her at once and ,ore+er16t is better,5 she said to me- 16t is much better that it has not come to me yet7to us, that is- For i, 6 am to go )ith you to your country, )e may ha+e 8ad+entures by sea and land,8 as you say Pand as in truth )e didQ, and it might not be at all sa,e ,or a baby- .o )e )on8t try again, dear, till it is sa,e7 )ill )eD5 2his )as a hard saying ,or a +ery lo+ing husband1Cnless,5 she )ent on, 1i, one is coming, you )ill lea+e me behind- 3ou can come back, you kno)7and 6 shall ha+e the child-5 2hen that dee* ancient chill o, male @ealousy o, e+en his o)n *rogeny touched my heart168d rather ha+e you, llador, than all the children in the )orld- 68d rather ha+e you )ith me7on your o)n terms7than not to ha+e you-5 2his )as a +ery stu*id saying- =, course 6 )ouldG For i, she )asn8t there 6 should )ant all o, her and ha+e none o, her- <ut i, she )ent along as a sort o, sublimated sister7only much closer and )armer than that, really7)hy 6 should ha+e all o, her but that one thing- !nd 6 )as beginning to ,ind that llador8s ,riendshi*, llador8s comradeshi*, llador8s sisterly a,,ection, llador8s *er,ectly sincere lo+e7none the less dee* that she held it back on a de,inite line o, reser+e7)ere enough to li+e on +ery ha**ily6 ,ind it Auite beyond me to describe )hat this )oman )as to me- 4e talk ,ine things about )omen, but in our hearts )e kno) that they are +ery limited beings7most o, them- 4e honor them ,or their ,unctional *o)ers, e+en )hile )e dishonor them by our use o, it9 )e honor them ,or their care,ully en,orced +irtue, e+en )hile )e sho) by our o)n conduct ho) little )e think o, that +irtue9 )e +alue them, sincerely, ,or the *er+erted maternal acti+ities )hich make our )i+es the most com,ortable o, ser+ants, bound to us ,or li,e )ith the )ages )holly at our o)n decision, their )hole business, outside o, the tem*orary duties o, such motherhood as they may achie+e, to meet our needs in e+ery )ay- =h, )e +alue them, all right, 1in their *lace,5 )hich *lace is the home, )here they *er,orm that mi/ture o, duties so ably described by >rs- "ose*hine ;odge ;askam <acon, in )hich the ser+ices o, 1a mistress5 are care,ully s*eci,ied- .he is a +ery clear )riter, >rs"- ;- ;- <acon, and understands her sub@ect7,rom her o)n *oint o, +ie)- <ut7that combination o, industries, )hile con+enient, and in a )ay economical, does not arouse the kind o, emotion commanded by the )omen o, Herland- 2hese )ere )omen one had to lo+e 1u*,5 +ery high u*, instead o, do)n- 2hey )ere not *ets- 2hey )ere not ser+ants- 2hey )ere not timid, ine/*erienced, )eak!,ter 6 got o+er the @ar to my *ride ()hich "e,,, 6 truly think, ne+er ,elt7he )as a born )orshi**er, and )hich 2erry ne+er got o+er7he )as Auite clear in his ideas o, 1the *osition o, )omen5), 6 ,ound that lo+ing 1u*5 )as a +ery good sensation a,ter all- 6t ga+e me a Aueer ,eeling, )ay do)n dee*, as o, the stirring o, some ancient dim *rehistoric consciousness, a ,eeling that they )ere right someho)7that this )as the )ay to ,eel- 6t )as like7coming home to mother- 6 don8t mean the under,lannels0and0doughnuts mother, the ,ussy *erson that )aits on you and s*oils you and doesn8t really kno) you- 6 mean the ,eeling that a +ery little child )ould ha+e, )ho had been lost7,or e+er so long- 6t )as a sense o, getting home9 o, being clean and rested9 o, sa,ety and yet

,reedom9 o, lo+e that )as al)ays there, )arm like sunshine in >ay, not hot like a sto+e or a ,eatherbed7a lo+e that didn8t irritate and didn8t smother6 looked at llador as i, 6 hadn8t seen her be,ore- 16, you )on8t go,5 6 said, 168ll get 2erry to the coast and come back alone- 3ou can let me do)n a ro*e- !nd i, you )ill go7)hy you blessed )onder0)oman76 )ould rather li+e )ith you all my li,e7like this7than to ha+e any other )oman 6 e+er sa), or any number o, them, to do as 6 like )ith- 4ill you comeD5 .he )as keen ,or coming- .o the *lans )ent on- .he8d ha+e liked to )ait ,or that >ar+el o, Celis8s, but 2erry had no such desire- He )as craFy to be out o, it all- 6t made him sick, he said, .6CI9 this e+erlasting mother0mother0mothering- 6 don8t think 2erry had )hat the *hrenologists call 1the lum* o, *hilo*rogeniti+eness5 at all )ell de+elo*ed1>orbid one0sided cri**les,5 he called them, e+en )hen ,rom his )indo) he could see their s*lendid +igor and beauty9 e+en )hile >oadine, as *atient and ,riendly as i, she had ne+er hel*ed !lima to hold and bind him, sat there in the room, the *icture o, )isdom and serene strength1.e/less, e*icene, unde+elo*ed neutersG5 he )ent on bitterly- He sounded like .ir !lm)roth 4right4ell7it )as hard- He )as madly in lo+e )ith !lima, really9 more so than he had e+er been be,ore, and their tem*estuous courtshi*, Auarrels, and reconciliations had ,anned the ,lame- !nd then )hen he sought by that su*reme conAuest )hich seems so natural a thing to that ty*e o, man, to ,orce her to lo+e him as her master7to ha+e the sturdy athletic ,urious )oman rise u* and master him7she and her ,riends7it )as no )onder he ragedCome to think o, it, 6 do not recall a similar case in all history or ,iction- 4omen ha+e killed themsel+es rather than submit to outrage9 they ha+e killed the outrager9 they ha+e esca*ed9 or they ha+e submitted7sometimes seeming to get on +ery )ell )ith the +ictor a,ter)ard- 2here )as that ad+enture o, 1,alse .e/tus,5 ,or instance, )ho 1,ound Bucrese combing the ,leece, under the midnight lam*-5 He threatened, as 6 remember, that i, she did not submit he )ould slay her, slay a sla+e and *lace him beside her and say he ,ound him there- ! *oor de+ice, it al)ays seemed to me6, >r- Bucretius had asked him ho) he came to be in his )i,e8s bedroom o+erlooking her morals, )hat could he ha+e saidD <ut the *oint is Bucrese submitted, and !lima didn8t1.he kicked me,5 con,ided the embittered *risoner7he had to talk to someone- 16 )as doubled u* )ith the *ain, o, course, and she @um*ed on me and yelled ,or this old har*y P>oadine couldn8t hear himQ and they had me trussed u* in no time- 6 belie+e !lima could ha+e done it alone,5 he added )ith reluctant admiration- 1.he8s as strong as a horse- !nd o, course a man8s hel*less )hen you hit him like that- :o )oman )ith a shade o, decency75 6 had to grin at that, and e+en 2erry did, sourly- He )asn8t gi+en to reasoning, but it did strike him that an assault like his rather )ai+ed considerations o, decency168d gi+e a year o, my li,e to ha+e her alone again,5 he said slo)ly, his hands clenched till the knuckles )ere )hite<ut he ne+er did- .he le,t our end o, the country entirely, )ent u* into the ,ir0,orest on the highest slo*es, and stayed there- <e,ore )e le,t he Auite des*erately longed to see her, but she )ould not come and he could not go- 2hey )atched him like lyn/es- (;o lyn/es )atch any better than mousing cats, 6 )onderG) 4ell7)e had to get the ,lyer in order, and be sure there )as enough ,uel le,t, though 2erry said )e could glide all right, do)n to that lake, once )e got started- 4e8d ha+e gone gladly in a )eek8s time, o, course, but there )as a great to0do all o+er the country about llador8s lea+ing them- .he had inter+ie)s )ith some o, the leading ethicists7)ise )omen )ith still eyes, and )ith the best o, the teachers- 2here )as a stir, a thrill, a dee* e/citement e+ery)here=ur teaching about the rest o, the )orld has gi+en them all a sense o, isolation, o, remoteness, o, being a little outlying sam*le o, a country, o+erlooked and ,orgotten among the ,amily o, nations4e had called it 1the ,amily o, nations,5 and they liked the *hrase immensely2hey )ere dee*ly aroused on the sub@ect o, e+olution9 indeed, the )hole ,ield o, natural science dre) them irresistibly- !ny number o, them )ould ha+e risked e+erything to go to the strange unkno)n lands and study9 but )e could take only one, and it had to be llador, naturally-

4e *lanned greatly about coming back, about establishing a connecting route by )ater9 about *enetrating those +ast ,orests and ci+iliFing7or e/terminating7the dangerous sa+ages- 2hat is, )e men talked o, that last7not )ith the )omen- 2hey had a de,inite a+ersion to killing things<ut mean)hile there )as high council being held among the )isest o, them all- 2he students and thinkers )ho had been gathering ,acts ,rom us all this time, collating and relating them, and making in,erences, laid the result o, their labors be,ore the councilBittle had )e thought that our care,ul e,,orts at concealment had been so easily seen through, )ith ne+er a )ord to sho) us that they sa)- 2hey had ,ollo)ed u* )ords o, ours on the science o, o*tics, asked innocent Auestions about glasses and the like, and )ere a)are o, the de,ecti+e eyesight so common among us4ith the lightest touch, di,,erent )omen asking di,,erent Auestions at di,,erent times, and *utting all our ans)ers together like a *icture *uFFle, they had ,igured out a sort o, skeleton chart as to the *re+alence o, disease among us- +en more subtly )ith no sho) o, horror or condemnation, they had gathered something7,ar ,rom the truth, but something *retty clear7about *o+erty, +ice, and crime- 2hey e+en had a goodly number o, our dangers all itemiFed, ,rom asking us about insurance and innocent things like that2hey )ere )ell *osted as to the di,,erent races, beginning )ith their *oison0arro) nati+es do)n belo) and )idening out to the broad racial di+isions )e had told them about- :e+er a shocked e/*ression o, the ,ace or e/clamation o, re+olt had )arned us9 they had been e/tracting the e+idence )ithout our kno)ing it all this time, and no) )ere studying )ith the most de+out earnestness the matter they had *re*ared2he result )as rather distressing to us- 2hey ,irst e/*lained the matter ,ully to llador, as she )as the one )ho *ur*osed +isiting the Eest o, the 4orld- 2o Celis they said nothing- .he must not be in any )ay distressed, )hile the )hole nation )aited on her Great 4orkFinally "e,, and 6 )ere called in- .omel and Ha+a )ere there, and llador, )ith many others that )e kne)2hey had a great globe, Auite ,airly ma**ed out ,rom the small section ma*s in that com*endium o, ours- 2hey had the di,,erent *eo*les o, the earth roughly outlined, and their status in ci+iliFation indicated- 2hey had charts and ,igures and estimates, based on the ,acts in that traitorous little book and )hat they had learned ,rom us.omel e/*lained: 14e ,ind that in all your historic *eriod, so much longer than ours, that )ith all the inter*lay o, ser+ices, the e/change o, in+entions and disco+eries, and the )onder,ul *rogress )e so admire, that in this )ides*read =ther 4orld o, yours, there is still much disease, o,ten contagious-5 4e admitted this at once1!lso there is still, in +arying degree, ignorance, )ith *re@udice and unbridled emotion-5 2his too )as admitted14e ,ind also that in s*ite o, the ad+ance o, democracy and the increase o, )ealth, that there is still unrest and sometimes combat-5 3es, yes, )e admitted it all- 4e )ere used to these things and sa) no reason ,or so much seriousness1!ll things considered,5 they said, and they did not say a hundredth *art o, the things they )ere considering, L)e are un)illing to e/*ose our country to ,ree communication )ith the rest o, the )orld7as yet- 6, llador comes back, and )e a**ro+e her re*ort, it may be done later7but not yet1.o )e ha+e this to ask o, you gentlemen Pthey kne) that )ord )as held a title o, honor )ith usQ, that you *romise not in any )ay to betray the location o, this country until *ermission7a,ter llador8s return-5 "e,, )as *er,ectly satis,ied- He thought they )ere Auite right- He al)ays did- 6 ne+er sa) an alien become naturaliFed more Auickly than that man in Herland6 studied it a)hile, thinking o, the time they8d ha+e i, some o, our contagions got loose there, and concluded they )ere right- .o 6 agreed2erry )as the obstacle- 16ndeed 6 )on8tG5 he *rotested- 12he ,irst thing 68ll do is to get an

e/*edition ,i/ed u* to ,orce an entrance into >a0land-5 12hen,5 they said Auite calmly, 1he must remain an absolute *risoner, al)ays-5 1!nesthesia )ould be kinder,5 urged >oadine1!nd sa,er,5 added Ha+a1He )ill *romise, 6 think,5 said llador!nd he did- 4ith )hich agreement )e at last le,t Herland-