What struck me at once was the small number of students, not exceeding a hundred to each separate college; the uniformity of the type and the air of extreme seriousness in all their contacts. “Acquilla told me New York consisted of fifty thousand inhabitants,” I said turning to Doctrina in surprise. “But from what I see, there are only a tenth of that number.” “This represents only the higher University. The industrial city is across the river and residential New York of course, extends a hundred miles in every direction.” “And these students I see, what age can they possibly be?” “As a rule a girl enters here at the age of twelve and completes her preliminary general education in two years, when she is allotted her caste group number according to her capabilities. She then pursues her higher studies for from five to ten years returning for six months every fifth year until the age of thirty. At that time if she is of the Minervene caste she is privileged to return for two hours a day for the rest of her existence.” “The University then is not simply the political symbol of the state, but its social centre as well?” “Exactly, and there are of course, according to her attainments, inner circles to which she is privileged to enter. But I have promised to bring you, Bogardus, to the Academy and we must not be late.” We had been flying gently over the ground as Doctrina had been demonstrating the organization of the buildings and now came to light near one of the charming groves of red woods which lay between the points of the star. A score of magnificent trees fully one hundred and fifty feet in height blotted out the warmth of the noonday sun and made a Parnassian retreat. “How is it possible,” I exclaimed, “to produce such trees in less than two centuries?” “Oh, there have been discoveries in horticulture that will surprise you,” said Doctrina, enjoying my astonishment. “It is now just as easy to stimulate the growth of a tree, as it is that of a human being. These trees you see are not more than fifty years old. But that is child’s play to what has been done. An acre of farmland now produces five crops a year by the use of the new nitrates and intensified cultivation under water. We’ll leave the car here.” We descended and walked toward the grove. My appearance as usual, created a commotion and instantly the air above was clouded over by hundreds of small aeroplanes which hovered over us like the migration of birds. “Curious how excited people are over your coming,” said Doctrina, acidly. “I suppose it is because you are over a hundred and fifty years older than anyone who has yet come to us.”