the coming race(一个即临种族)-第19章
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of burden； and the dog was no longer wanted either for protection or the
chase； as it had been when the ancestors of the Vril…ya feared the
aggressions of their own kind； or hunted the lesser animals for food。
Indeed； however； so far as the horse was concerned； this region was so
rocky that a horse could have been； there； of little use either for pastime or
burden。 The only creature they use for the latter purpose is a kind of
large goat which is much employed on farms。 The nature of the
surrounding soil in these districts may be said to have first suggested the
invention of wings and air…boats。 The largeness of space in proportion to
the space occupied by the city； was occasioned by the custom of
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surrounding every house with a separate garden。 The broad main street；
in which Aph…Lin dwelt； expanded into a vast square； in which were
62placed the College of Sages and all the public offices； a magnificent
fountain of the luminous fluid which I call naptha （I am ignorant of its real
nature） in the centre。 All these public edifices have a uniform character
of massiveness and solidity。 They reminded me of the architectural
pictures of Martin。 Along the upper stories of each ran a balcony； or
rather a terraced garden； supported by columns； filled with flowering
plants； and tenanted by many kinds of tame birds。 》From the square
branched several streets； all broad and brilliantly lighted； and ascending up
the eminence on either side。 In my excursions in the town I was never
allowed to go alone； Aph…Lin or his daughter was my habitual companion。
In this community the adult Gy is seen walking with any young An as
familiarly as if there were no difference of sex。
The retail shops are not very numerous； the persons who attend on a
customer are all children of various ages； and exceedingly intelligent and
courteous； but without the least touch of importunity or cringing。 The
shopkeeper himself might or might not be visible； when visible； he seemed
rarely employed on any matter connected with his professional business；
and yet he had taken to that business from special liking for it； and quite
independently of his general sources of fortune。
The Ana of the community are； on the whole； an indolent set of beings
after the active age of childhood。 Whether by temperament or
philosophy； they rank repose among the chief blessings of life。 Indeed；
when you take away from a human 63being the incentives to action which
are found in cupidity or ambition； it seems to me no wonder that he rests
quiet。
In their ordinary movements they prefer the use of their feet to that of
their wings。 But for their sports or （to indulge in a bold misuse of terms）
their public 'promenades；' they employ the latter； also for the aerial dances
I have described； as well as for visiting their country places； which are
mostly placed on lofty heights； and； when still young； they prefer their
wings for travel into the other regions of the Ana； to vehicular
conveyances。
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Those who accustom themselves to flight can fly； if less rapidly than
some birds； yet from twenty…five to thirty miles an hour； and keep up that
rate for five or six hours at a stretch。 But the Ana generally； on reaching
middle age； are not fond of rapid movements requiring violent exercise。
Perhaps for this reason； as they hold a doctrine which our own physicians
will doubtless approve… viz。； that regular transpiration through the pores of
the skin is essential to health； they habitually use the sweating…baths to
which we give the name Turkish or Roman； succeeded by douches of
perfumed waters。 They have great faith in the salubrious virtue of certain
perfumes。
It is their custom also； at stated but rare periods； perhaps four times a…
year when in health； to use a bath charged with vril。*
* I once tried the effect of the vril bath。 It was very similar in its
invigorating powers to that of the baths at Gastein； the virtues of which are
ascribed by many physicians to electricity； but though similar； the effect of
the vril bath was more lasting。 They consider that this fluid； sparingly
used； is a great sustainer of life； but used in excess； when in the normal
state of health； rather tends to reaction and exhausted vitality。 For nearly
all their diseases； however； they resort to it as the chief assistant to nature
in throwing off their complaint。
In their own way they are the most luxurious of people； but all their
luxuries are innocent。 They may be said to dwell in an atmosphere of
music and fragrance。 Every room has its 64mechanical contrivances for
melodious sounds； usually tuned down to soft…murmured notes； which
seem like sweet whispers from invisible spirits。 They are too accustomed
to these gentle sounds to find them a hindrance to conversation； nor； when
alone； to reflection。 But they have a notion that to breathe an air filled
with continuous melody and perfume has necessarily an effect at once
soothing and elevating upon the formation of character and the habits of
thought。 Though so temperate； and with total abstinence from other
animal food than milk； and from all intoxicating drinks； they are delicate
and dainty to an extreme in food and beverage； and in all their sports even
the old exhibit a childlike gaiety。 Happiness is the end at which they aim；
not as the excitement of a moment； but as the prevailing condition of the
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entire existence； and regard for the happiness of each other is evinced by
the exquisite amenity of their manners。
Their conformation of skull has marked differences from that of any
known races in the upper world； though I cannot help thinking it a
development； in the course of countless ages of the Brachycephalic type of
the Age of Stone in Lyell's 'Elements of Geology；' C。 X。； p。 113； as
compared with the Dolichocephalic type of the beginning of the Age of
Iron； correspondent with that now so prevalent amongst us； and called the
Celtic type。 It has the same comparative massiveness of forehead； not
receding like the Celtic… the same even roundness in the frontal organs； but
it is far loftier in the apex； and far less pronounced in the hinder cranial
hemisphere where phrenologists place the animal organs。 To speak as a
phrenologist； the cranium common to the Vril…ya has the organs of weight；
number； tune； form； order； causality； very largely developed； that of
construction much more pronounced than that of ideality。 Those which
are called the moral organs； such as conscientiousness and benevolence；
are amazingly
