Telegram-herald., 1890-03-25
AN EQUAL STATE.
As Seen In = Dream satura is the
Place


Place.
So far as the Saturnians can be said
to have any pride IN anything, II Is IN
the absolute level which characterizes
their political and social order. They
profess to be the only true republicans
IN the solar system. The fundamental
articles of their constitution are these:
Ali men are born equal, live equal,
and die equal.
All men are born free-free, that Is to
obey the rules laid down for the regula-
ton OF their conduct, pursuits, and
opinions, free TO be married TO the per-
son selected for them by the pbyslo-
logical section of the government, and
free TO die at such proper period of life
as may best suit the convenience and
general welfare of the community.
The one great industrial product of
Saturn is the bread-root. The Saturni-
ans find this wholesome and paiatable
enough; and it is well they do, as they
have no other vegetable. 1t Is what |
should call most uninteresting kind
of eatable, but it serves as food and
they get along without water. They
have tough, dry grass, which, matted
together, furnishes them with clothes
sufficiently warm for their cold-blOOded
constitutions, and more than sufficient
ly ugly.
A piece of ground large enough to
furnish bread-root for ten persons is
allotted to each head of household,
oil l. ha., hA 10
increase of families. This, however, is
not a very important consideration, as
the Saturnians are not prolific race.
The great object of life being the pro-
duct of the largest possible quantity of
bread-roots, and women not being so
capable IN the fields as the stronger
sex, females are considered an undeslr-
able addition to society. The one thing
the Saturnians dread and abhor is inc
quality. The whole object of their
laws and customs is to maintain the
strictest equality in everything social
relations, property, so far as they can
be said to have anything which can be
so called, mode of living, dress, and all
other matters. 1t is their boast that
nobody ever starved under their gov
ernment. Nobody goes in rags, for the
coarse tibTed grass from which they
tabrlcate their clothes is very durable.
II confess | wondered how woman
could live in Saturn. They have no
looking glasses. There Is no such ar
tlcle as ribbon known among them.
All their clothes were Of one
pattern. | noticed that there were
no pockets in any of their garments,
and learned that pocket would be
considered primd fdcie evidence OF theft,
AS no honest person would have use for
such a secret receptacle). Before the
revolution which established the great
law of absolute and lifelong equality,
the inhabitants used to feed at their
own private tables. Since the regener-
alton of society all meals are taken IN
common. The last relic of barbarism
was the use Of plates,-one or even
more to each individual. This "odious
relic of an effete civilization" as they
called it, has long been superseded
by oblong hollow receptacles, one Of
which is allotted to each twelve per-
sons. A great riot took place when an
attempt was made by some fastIdiOus
and exclusive egotists 10 introduce par
titiOns which should partially divide one
portion OF these receptacles into indl-
vidual compartments. The Saturnians
boast that they have no paupers, no
thieves, none of those fictitious values
called mOney,-sll which things, they
hear, are known in that small Saturn
nearer the sun than the great planet
which is their dwelling place.
81 suppose that now they have lev
eled everything they are quiet and con-
tented. Have they any of those uneasy
people called reformers7"
Indeed they have" said my attend
ant. They are the Orthobrachians,
who deolaim against the shameful abuse
of the left arm and hand, and insist on
restoring their perfect equality with
the right. Then there are IsOpodic So
cIeties, which insiston bringing back the
original equality Of the upper and
lower limbs. II you can believe II,
they actually practise gong on all fours
generally in private way, few Of
them together, but hoping to bring the
world round to them IN the near
future"
Here 7 had to stop and laugh
81 should think life might be little
dull IN Saturn" | said.
ct : Liable to that accusation" she
answered. do you notice how many
people y0u meet with their mouths
stretched vide open?'
Yes, I ssld. and 7 do not know
what TO make Of g I should think
every fourth CT fifth person had his
mouth open IN that vav"
"Theysre suffering from the endemic
disease Of their planet. prolonged and
nveterste gaping or yaWnInE, whIca
has ended IA tne dIslocstCn Of the
lower Jaw. After a time this becomes
fixed, and requires dihcult surgical
operation % restore 10 q its place.
Il struck ne that. II spite u their
boast thst they have no paupers. 10
thieves. no money. they we're = MEAN
cnoly looking set II beings.
w rat sTe thelT alnuse11 eDts2 /
Asked
"Iatoxicaton ard suicide sTs their
chef recrestlons- Ihey have Way q
mIxinz the oxvEsn Ehich issues =
sr1sll lets from ceriaia natural spTlE.zs,
WITH her atr1osr rher5c nitrogen, n ne
r,--~ -v>--r~-~ - f..-~4 - -.r~ -r-t w-rr-