Another World: Fragments from the Star City of MontalluyahLumley, Benjamin
Science
Another World: Fragments from the Star City of Montalluyah
Lumley, Benjamin
Utopias
As soon as the child has acquired the knowledge of the motion, and his
limbs are strong enough to support the weight of the body without
injury, these machines are put aside, and the fourth contrivance is
used. In this, the mechanism consists of a framework with very light and
soft bandages, made with the plumage and down of birds. With these
bandages the child's head, knees, elbows, wrists, shoulders, and loins
are gently bound. The framework to which the bandages are attached has a
projection from every point, on which the child, in case of accident,
can possibly fall, and he is thus effectually protected; for, as the
projection allows of his falling only slightly out of the perpendicular,
the concussion is but slight, and the young one is only pressed gently
on the soft down.
As the child increases in strength, the projections are removed at
intervals, one by one, commencing with those corresponding to the knees,
the last removed being those protecting the head, which are retained for
a long time. Even when they have been removed, the head is still guarded
by a light turban with inside springs, made so as to yield gently to a
blow, and thus save the head; so important is it considered to protect
this superior portion of the human frame.
When the bandages are first removed from the knees, the child has
perhaps some falls; but these, the head and other parts being protected,
are not attended with any serious consequences; and if the child
actually falls, the sensation of pain he may experience may teach him to
be more careful in future. Such lessons would, indeed, be valuable at
all times; but they would be purchased at too great a cost if learned at
the price of injury to body and mind.
The use of these four instruments was followed by remarkable results;
and they are thought of such great value to the community that the
districts supply them gratuitously to the poor. Those thus charitably
bestowed are less ornamental than the others, but equally efficient.
THE TEETH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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