Another World: Fragments from the Star City of MontalluyahLumley, Benjamin
Science
Another World: Fragments from the Star City of Montalluyah
Lumley, Benjamin
Utopias
This is an interesting picture. It exhibits the gallery, with the
different playthings and amusements, toys, musical instruments, live
birds, small animals, flowers, and other objects. Amid these are shown
the interest and delight of the little ones, happy groups of merry
faces, the joy and gratitude of the mothers, the Tootmanyoso's
satisfaction in contemplating his work, and the intent observation of
the "Character-Divers," and "Overlookers," with other varied and
interesting features.[1]
[Footnote 1: See p. 202.]
III. MAN.
Man is shown as he was before, and as he had become after I as
Tootmanyoso had reigned about one hundred of your years. Man's life had
been lengthened from your average age to one which before the employment
of the means enjoined and carried out in my reign would have been
considered impossible.
The different stages of man's life during both eras are here contrasted
in every gradation. Thus we have the child as he was, the child as he
is, commencing his education, and his entry into manhood; the coxcomb
and dissipated man of former times, and the man of the present era,
following the road leading to his own happiness and the good of others;
middle age--the man struggling to draw the load up the hill with painful
efforts, the other man engaged in congenial occupation; lastly, the
disappointed and the happy old age.
IV. WOMAN.
In like manner we have a series of pictures showing woman's former
state; her present education, in the representation of which episodes
are given of her progress in her own sphere to the level and
companionship of man. Reference is made to the means of increasing her
beauty, and employing her charms for her own and man's happiness;[1] the
gentleness of her nature in softening man's lot, whilst she is supported
and defended by him; woman as a mother, her devotion to her children,
and her joy and gratitude in contemplating the development of their
strength and beauty through the means enjoined and practised in my
reign.
[Footnote 1: See p. 94.]
One picture, let me add, represents the mode of choosing a husband,[2]
and another represents ceremonies used in the preparations for
marriage.[3]
[Footnote 2: See p. 104.]
[Footnote 3: See p. 120.]
V. MARRIED LIFE.
In the picture relating to this subject we first show marriage as it
was. The wife and husband are rarely by each other's side; when they
meet they are in common attire, and receive each other with frowns; the
wife, in grand costume, smiles on strangers, and so on with other
episodes of former married life.
With this state of things is then contrasted, in every detail, the
happiness of the married state as it now exists.
VI. FLOCKS AND HERDS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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