“Everything in our ‘big-house’ is quiet and orderly. All one hears on ordinary occasions is a soft, pleasing tone of conversation, and oftentimes music intermingled with songs and mirthful laughs. We do not delight in such noisy, boisterous conduct as is often practiced by a collection of your people, who think they can not enjoy themselves without freely indulging in the use of intoxicating liquor and tobacco. This pernicious practice often puts the drinker under the influence of liquor, and the smoker poisons the air his companions have to breathe. We have learned that we can reap the greatest amount of happiness ourselves by not infringing upon the equal rights of others. With but one invader in the world, the world is not as good as with no invader in it. “You see we are never all doing the same thing at once except, perhaps, eating and sleeping. The cook does his work in the kitchen, the barber in his shop, the engineer in the engine-house, the duster in the parlor, the clerk in the store, the waiter in the dining-hall and restaurant, the farmer in the field, the miner in the mine, etc. Some are spending their leisure time in walking, some in the parlors, some in riding on trains and motors, some by visiting, some in riding bicycles, some in plays and games, some in their private apartment, and some in countless other engagements. Some of the children are in one nursery and some are in another; some are in the house and some are out doors; some are bathing and some are playing; some are at mental study, others at physical work, and so on in endless variety. There is a rush nowhere, for there is plenty of room everywhere.” “How grand, and yet how simple, does all this appear after we hear it, father!” exclaimed Viola. “It seems that the inhabitants of all worlds ought to have sufficient intelligence to live such kind, free, rich lives. Is it not wonderful, mother?” “It is, indeed, wonderful,” said Mrs. Uwins. “I think it is now time for retiring,” said Mr. Midith. “To-morrow evening I shall give you an explanation, as you have already requested me, of the _exterior_ of the big-house--the out-door surroundings. I can assure you they are as grand to look upon as the _interior_. Thrifty, clean, straight, orderly, symmetrical. Everything is in charge of experts, who pride themselves in the agreeable taste and arrangement they effect by their skill and labor.” CHAPTER IX. HAPPINESS AND TRUTH. The next evening, when we were all seated together in the cool, refreshing shade of a large tree which was planted by the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Uwins during their honeymoon some twenty years before, we requested Mr. Midith to proceed with his explanation of the exterior of the “big-house.” But before Mr. Midith had an opportunity to begin, Rev. Dudley requested permission to ask Mr. Midith a question. “Certainly,” said Mr. Midith. “It is one of our principles that we allow all persons to ask all the questions they desire to ask.”