Hence all facilities for improvement, books, papers, scientific
instruments and instruction were not only free, but the use of them
was regarded as a valuable service to society. The pupil attended
school, got his or her evidence of labor performed, which entitled the
holder to food, shelter, clothing, etc., the same as the teacher,--as
both were alike serving society. The pupils, in training themselves
for lives of usefulness, were regarded as benefiting the community
as well as themselves, and hence the community was in duty bound to
provide them with all the essentials for their highest development of
body and mind, in harmony with the demands of an advanced or advancing
civilization.
These lessons concerning this inner world civilization, derived from
conversations with MacNair, Iola and others who could converse in
English, and confirmed by our own observations as far as they had gone
were intensely interesting, and we never tired of asking questions,
which were always answered courteously and in a satisfactory manner.
But I soon reached the point where I began to feel the need of more
comprehensive sources of information. I wanted to be able to speak the
language of the country, converse with all the people, attend lectures
and make the fullest use practicable of the extensive libraries and
numerous publications which contained the current literature of the
times, so that I could enter into the spirit and purpose of this
wonderful civilisation, which seemed to be far more attractive than the
most entrancing picture of Utopia. Feeling thus, I was prepared for
what was to follow.
One morning after we had somewhat familiarized ourselves with our new
surroundings, and we felt inclined to rest and think, rather than to
roam around, MacNair asked:
"How do you like your new home since you have had time to look around
and get acquainted?"
"So far as I am concerned," I replied, "I am delighted with the country
and the treatment I receive wherever I go. But there is so much to
learn, that I feel overwhelmed. If I were able to converse with the
people, and enter into the spirit of their daily life, I would be more
at home. I want to be able to utilize all the sources of learning which
are contained in your literature and I think that the time has come
when the best thing we can do is to settle down in earnest to the study
of the language."
"I knew that you would soon come to that conclusion," said MacNair,
"but what you have seen is a necessary step in your education. We must
soon go to our classes and you can go with us and take your first
lesson. In order to facilitate your studies, you have been assigned
apartments adjoining the Library and Lecture room."
We assented and were at once conducted to our apartments. Iola
presented each of us with just such a bookcase and library as Polaris
had shown us, on her airship. As she opened one of these cases and
displayed the contents, she said:
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