Ihavetogeneralize，ofcourse，rathertelescopingmanyimpressions;butthefirsteveningwasagoodsampleoftheimpressionwemade。Jeffhadafollowing，ifImaycallitthat，ofthemoresentimental——thoughthat’snotthewordIwant。
　　Thelesspractical，perhaps;thegirlswhowereartistsofsomesort，ethicists，teachers——thatkind。
　　Terrywasreducedtoarathercombativegroup：keen，logical，inquiringminds，notoverlysensitive，theverykindhelikedleast;
　　while，asforme——Ibecamequitecockyovermygeneralpopularity。
　　Terrywasfuriousaboutit。Wecouldhardlyblamehim。
　　"Girls！"heburstforth，whenthateveningwasoverandwewerebyourselvesoncemore。"CallthoseGIRLS！"
　　"Mostdelightfulgirls，Icallthem，"saidJeff，hisblueeyesdreamilycontented。
　　"WhatdoYOUcallthem？"Imildlyinquired。
　　"Boys！Nothingbutboys，mostof’em。Astandoffish，disagreeablelotatthat。Critical，impertinentyoungsters。Nogirlsatall。"
　　Hewasangryandsevere，notalittlejealous，too，Ithink。
　　Afterward，whenhefoundoutjustwhatitwastheydidnotlike，hechangedhismannersomewhatandgotonbetter。Hehadto。
　　For，inspiteofhiscriticism，theyweregirls，and，furthermore，allthegirlstherewere！Alwaysexceptingourthree！——withwhomwepresentlyrenewedouracquaintance。
　　Whenitcametocourtship，whichitsoondid，Icanofcoursebestdescribemyown——andamleastinclinedto。ButofJeffI
　　heardsomewhat;hewasinclinedtodwellreverentlyandadmiringly，atsomelength，ontheexaltedsentimentandmeasurelessperfectionofhisCelis;andTerry——Terrymadesomanyfalsestartsandmetsomanyrebuffs，thatbythetimehereallysettleddowntowinAlima，hewasconsiderablywiser。Atthat，itwasnotsmoothsailing。
　　Theybrokeandquarreled，overandover;hewouldrushofftoconsolehimselfwithsomeotherfairone——theotherfaironewouldhavenoneofhim——andhewoulddriftbacktoAlima，becomingmoreandmoredevotedeachtime。
　　Shenevergaveaninch。Abig，handsomecreature，ratherexceptionallystrongeveninthatraceofstrongwomen，withaproudheadandsweepinglevelbrowsthatlinedacrossaboveherdarkeagereyeslikethewidewingsofasoaringhawk。
　　IwasgoodfriendswithallthreeofthembutbestofallwithEllador，longbeforethatfeelingchanged，forbothofus。
　　Fromher，andfromSomel，whotalkedveryfreelywithme，IlearnedatlastsomethingoftheviewpointofHerlandtowarditsvisitors。
　　Heretheywere，isolated，happy，contented，whentheboomingbuzzofourbiplanetoretheairabovethem。
　　Everybodyheardit——sawit——formilesandmiles，wordflashedalloverthecountry，andacouncilwasheldineverytownandvillage。
　　Andthiswastheirrapiddetermination：
　　"Fromanothercountry。Probablymen。Evidentlyhighlycivilized。
　　Doubtlesspossessedofmuchvaluableknowledge。Maybedangerous。
　　Catchthemifpossible;tameandtrainthemifnecessaryThismaybeachancetore—establishabi—sexualstateforourpeople。"
　　Theywerenotafraidofus——threemillionhighlyintelligentwomen——ortwomillion，countingonlygrown—ups——werenotlikelytobeafraidofthreeyoungmen。Wethoughtofthemas"Women，"andthereforetimid;butitwastwothousandyearssincetheyhadhadanythingtobeafraidof，andcertainlymorethanonethousandsincetheyhadoutgrownthefeeling。
　　Wethought——atleastTerrydid——thatwecouldhaveourpickofthem。
　　Theythought——verycautiouslyandfarsightedly——ofpickingus，ifitseemedwise。
　　Allthattimewewereintrainingtheystudiedus，analyzedus，preparedreportsaboutus，andthisinformationwaswidelydisseminatedallabouttheland。
　　Notagirlinthatcountryhadnotbeenlearningformonthsasmuchascouldbegatheredaboutourcountry，ourculture，ourpersonalcharacters。Nowondertheirquestionswerehardtoanswer。ButIamsorrytosay，whenwewereatlastbroughtoutand——exhibited（Ihatetocallitthat，butthat’swhatitwas），therewasnorushoftakers。HerewaspooroldTerryfondlyimaginingthatatlasthewasfreetostrayin"arosebudgardenofgirls"——andbehold！
　　therosebudswereallwithkeenappraisingeye，studyingus。
　　Theywereinterested，profoundlyinterested，butitwasnotthekindofinterestwewerelookingfor。
　　Togetanideaoftheirattitudeyouhavetoholdinmindtheirextremelyhighsenseofsolidarity。Theywerenoteachchoosingalover;theyhadn’tthefaintestideaoflove——sex—love，thatis。
　　Thesegirls——toeachofwhommotherhoodwasalodestar，andthatmotherhoodexaltedaboveamerepersonalfunction，lookedforwardtoasthehighestsocialservice，asthesacramentofalifetime——werenowconfrontedwithanopportunitytomakethegreatstepofchangingtheirwholestatus，ofrevertingtotheirearlierbi—sexualorderofnature。
　　Besidethisunderlyingconsiderationtherewasthelimitlessinterestandcuriosityinourcivilization，purelyimpersonal，andheldbyanorderofmindbesidewhichwewerelike——schoolboys。
　　Itwassmallwonderthatourlectureswerenotasuccess;andnoneatallthatour，oratleastTerry’s，advancesweresoillreceived。Thereasonformyowncomparativesuccesswasatfirstfarfrompleasingtomypride。
　　"Welikeyouthebest，"Someltoldme，"becauseyouseemmorelikeus。"
　　"Morelikealotofwomen！"Ithoughttomyselfdisgustedly，andthenrememberedhowlittlelike"women，"inourderogatorysense，theywere。Shewassmilingatme，readingmythought。
　　"Wecanquiteseethatwedonotseemlike——women——toyou。
　　Ofcourse，inabi—sexualracethedistinctivefeatureofeachsexmustbeintensified。ButsurelytherearecharacteristicsenoughwhichbelongtoPeople，aren’tthere？That’swhatImeanaboutyoubeingmorelikeus——morelikePeople。Wefeelateasewithyou。"
　　Jeff’sdifficultywashisexaltedgallantry。Heidealizedwomen，andwasalwayslookingforachanceto"protect"orto"serve"them。Theseneededneitherprotectionnorservice。Theywerelivinginpeaceandpowerandplenty;weweretheirguests，theirprisoners，absolutelydependent。
　　Ofcoursewecouldpromisewhatsoeverwemightofadvantages，iftheywouldcometoourcountry;butthemoreweknewoftheirs，thelessweboasted。
　　Terry’sjewelsandtrinketstheyprizedascurios;handedthemabout，askingquestionsastoworkmanship，notintheleastastovalue;
　　anddiscussednotownership，butwhichmuseumtoputthemin。
　　Whenamanhasnothingtogiveawoman，isdependentwhollyonhispersonalattraction，hiscourtshipisunderlimitations。
　　Theywereconsideringthesetwothings：theadvisabilityofmakingtheGreatChange;andthedegreeofpersonaladaptabilitywhichwouldbestservethatend。
　　Herewehadtheadvantageofoursmallpersonalexperiencewiththosethreefleetforestgirls;andthatservedtodrawustogether。
　　AsforEllador：Supposeyoucometoastrangelandandfinditpleasantenough——justalittlemorethanordinarilypleasant——
　　andthenyoufindrichfarmland，andthengardens，gorgeousgardens，andthenpalacesfullofrareandcurioustreasures——
　　incalculable，inexhaustible，andthen——mountains——liketheHimalayas，andthenthesea。
　　Ilikedherthatdayshebalancedonthebranchbeforemeandnamedthetrio。Ithoughtofhermost。AfterwardIturnedtoherlikeafriendwhenwemetforthethirdtime，andcontinuedtheacquaintance。WhileJeff’sultra—devotionratherpuzzledCelis，reallyputofftheirdayofhappiness，whileTerryandAlimaquarreledandparted，re—metandre—parted，ElladorandIgrewtobeclosefriends。
　　Wetalkedandtalked。Wetooklongwalkstogether。Sheshowedmethings，explainedthem，interpretedmuchthatIhadnotunderstood。ThroughhersympatheticintelligenceIbecamemoreandmorecomprehendingofthespiritofthepeopleofHerland，moreandmoreappreciativeofitsmarvelousinnergrowthaswellasouterperfection。
　　Iceasedtofeelastranger，aprisoner。Therewasasenseofunderstanding，ofidentity，ofpurpose。Wediscussed——everything。
　　And，asItraveledfartherandfarther，exploringtherich，sweetsoulofher，mysenseofpleasantfriendshipbecamebutabroadfoundationforsuchheight，suchbreadth，suchinterlockedcombinationoffeelingasleftmefairlyblindedwiththewonderofit。
　　AsI’vesaid，Ihadnevercaredverymuchforwomen，northeyforme——notTerry—fashion。Butthisone——
　　AtfirstInevereventhoughtofher"inthatway，"asthegirlshaveit。IhadnotcometothecountrywithanyTurkish—haremintentions，andIwasnowoman—worshipperlikeJeff。Ijustlikedthatgirl"asafriend，"aswesay。Thatfriendshipgrewlikeatree。
　　ShewasSUCHagoodsport！Wedidallkindsofthingstogether。
　　ShetaughtmegamesandItaughthergames，andweracedandrowedandhadallmanneroffun，aswellashighercomradeship。
　　Then，asIgotonfarther，thepalaceandtreasuresandsnowymountainrangesopenedup。Ihadneverknowntherecouldbesuchahumanbeing。So——great。Idon’tmeantalented。Shewasaforester——oneofthebest——butitwasnotthatgiftImean。
　　WhenIsayGREAT，Imeangreat——big，allthrough。IfIhadknownmoreofthosewomen，asintimately，Ishouldnothavefoundhersounique;butevenamongthemshewasnoble。HermotherwasanOverMother——andhergrandmother，too，Iheardlater。
　　Soshetoldmemoreandmoreofherbeautifulland;andItoldherasmuch，yes，morethanIwantedto，aboutmine;andwebecameinseparable。Thenthisdeeperrecognitioncameandgrew。
　　Ifeltmyownsoulriseandliftitswings，asitwere。
　　Lifegotbigger。ItseemedasifIunderstood——asIneverhadbefore——
　　asifIcouldDothings——asifItoocouldgrow——ifshewouldhelpme。
　　AndthenItcame——tobothofus，allatonce。
　　Astillday——ontheedgeoftheworld，theirworld。Thetwoofus，gazingoutoverthefardimforestlandbelow，talkingofheavenandearthandhumanlife，andofmylandandotherlandsandwhattheyneededandwhatIhopedtodoforthem——
　　"Ifyouwillhelpme，"Isaid。
　　Sheturnedtome，withthathigh，sweetlookofhers，andthen，ashereyesrestedinmineandherhandstoo——thensuddenlythereblazedoutbetweenusafartherglory，instant，overwhelming——quitebeyondanywordsofminetotell。
　　Celiswasablue—and—gold—and—roseperson;Alma，black—
　　and—white—and—red，ablazingbeauty。Elladorwasbrown：hairdarkandsoft，likeasealcoat;clearbrownskinwithahealthyredinit;browneyes——allthewayfromtopaztoblackvelvettheyseemedtorange——splendidgirls，allofthem。
　　Theyhadseenusfirstofall，fardowninthelakebelow，andflashedthetidingsacrossthelandevenbeforeourfirstexploringflight。
　　Theyhadwatchedourlanding，flittedthroughtheforestwithus，hiddeninthattreeand——Ishrewdlysuspect——giggledonpurpose。
　　Theyhadkeptwatchoverourhoodedmachine，takingturnsatit;andwhenourescapewasannounced，hadfollowedalong—
　　sideforadayortwo，andbeenthereatthelast，asdescribed。
　　Theyfeltaspecialclaimonus——calledus"theirmen"——andwhenwewereatlibertytostudythelandandpeople，andbestudiedbythem，theirclaimwasrecognizedbythewiseleaders。
　　ButIfelt，wealldid，thatweshouldhavechosenthemamongmillions，unerringly。
　　Andyet"thepathoftrueloveneverdidrunsmooth";thisperiodofcourtshipwasfullofthemostunsuspectedpitfalls。
　　WritingthisaslateasIdo，aftermanifoldexperiencesbothinHerlandand，later，inmyownland，Icannowunderstandandphilosophizeaboutwhatwasthenacontinualastonishmentandoftenatemporarytragedy。
　　The"longsuit"inmostcourtshipsissexattraction，ofcourse。
　　Thengraduallydevelopssuchcomradeshipasthetwotemperamentsallow。Then，aftermarriage，thereiseithertheestablishmentofaslow—growing，widelybasedfriendship，thedeepest，tenderest，sweetestofrelations，alllitandwarmedbytherecurrentflameoflove;orelsethatprocessisreversed，lovecoolsandfades，nofriendshipgrows，thewholerelationturnsfrombeautytoashes。
　　Hereeverythingwasdifferent。Therewasnosex—feelingtoappealto，orpracticallynone。Twothousandyears’disusehadleftverylittleoftheinstinct;alsowemustrememberthatthosewhohadattimesmanifesteditasatavisticexceptionswereoften，bythatveryfact，deniedmotherhood。
　　Yetwhilethemotherprocessremains，theinherentgroundforsex—distinctionremainsalso;andwhoshallsaywhatlong—
　　forgottenfeeling，vagueandnameless，wasstirredinsomeofthesemotherheartsbyourarrival？
　　Whatleftusevenmoreatseainourapproachwasthelackofanysex—tradition。Therewasnoacceptedstandardofwhatwas"manly"andwhatwas"womanly。"
　　WhenJeffsaid，takingthefruitbasketfromhisadoredone，"Awomanshouldnotcarryanything，"Celissaid，"Why？"withthefrankestamazement。Hecouldnotlookthatfleet—footed，deep—chestedyoungforesterinthefaceandsay，"Becausesheisweaker。"Shewasn’t。Onedoesnotcallaracehorseweakbecauseitisvisiblynotacarthorse。
　　Hesaid，ratherlamely，thatwomenwerenotbuiltforheavywork。
　　Shelookedoutacrossthefieldstowheresomewomenwereworking，buildinganewbitofwalloutoflargestones;lookedbackatthenearesttownwithitswoman—builthouses;downatthesmooth，hardroadwewerewalkingon;andthenatthelittlebaskethehadtakenfromher。
　　"Idon’tunderstand，"shesaidquitesweetly。"Arethewomeninyourcountrysoweakthattheycouldnotcarrysuchathingasthat？"
　　"Itisaconvention，"hesaid。"Weassumethatmotherhoodisasufficientburden——thatmenshouldcarryalltheothers。"
　　"Whatabeautifulfeeling！"shesaid，herblueeyesshining。
　　"Doesitwork？"askedAlima，inherkeen，swiftway。"Doallmeninallcountriescarryeverything？Orisitonlyinyours？"
　　"Don’tbesoliteral，"Terrybeggedlazily。"Whyaren’tyouwillingtobeworshippedandwaitedon？Weliketodoit。"
　　"Youdon’tliketohaveusdoittoyou，"sheanswered。
　　"That’sdifferent，"hesaid，annoyed;andwhenshesaid，"Whyisit？"hequitesulked，referringhertome，saying，"Van’sthephilosopher。"
　　ElladorandItalkeditallouttogether，sothatwehadaneasierexperienceofitwhentherealmiracletimecame。Also，betweenus，wemadethingsclearertoJeffandCelis。ButTerrywouldnotlistentoreason。
　　HewasmadlyinlovewithAlima。Hewantedtotakeherbystorm，andnearlylostherforever。
　　Yousee，ifamanlovesagirlwhoisinthefirstplaceyoungandinexperienced;whointhesecondplaceiseducatedwithabackgroundofcavemantradition，amiddle—groundofpoetryandromance，andaforegroundofunspokenhopeandinterestallcenteringupontheoneEvent;andwhohas，furthermore，absolutelynootherhopeorinterestworthyofthename——
　　why，itisacomparativelyeasymattertosweepheroffherfeetwithadashingattack。Terrywasapastmasterinthisprocess。
　　Hetriedithere，andAlimawassoaffronted，sorepelled，thatitwasweeksbeforehegotnearenoughtotryagain。
　　Themorecoldlyshedeniedhim，thehotterhisdetermination;
　　hewasnotusedtorealrefusal。Theapproachofflatteryshedismissedwithlaughter，giftsandsuch"attentions"wecouldnotbringtobear，pathosandcomplaintofcrueltystirredonlyareasoninginquiry。IttookTerryalongtime。
　　IdoubtifsheeveracceptedherstrangeloverasfullyasdidCelisandElladortheirs。Hehadhurtandoffendedhertoooften;
　　therewerereservations。
　　ButIthinkAlimaretainedsomefaintvestigeoflong—
　　descendedfeelingwhichmadeTerrymorepossibletoherthantoothers;andthatshehadmadeuphermindtotheexperimentandhatedtorenounceit。
　　Howeveritcameabout，weallthreeatlengthachievedfullunderstanding，andsolemnlyfacedwhatwastothemastepofmeasurelessimportance，agravequestionaswellasagreathappiness;
　　tousastrange，newjoy。
　　Ofmarriageasaceremonytheyknewnothing。Jeffwasforbringingthemtoourcountryforthereligiousandthecivilceremony，butneitherCelisnortheotherswouldconsent。
　　"Wecan’texpectthemtowanttogowithus——yet，"saidTerrysagely。
　　"Waitabit，boys。We’vegottotake’emontheirownterms——ifatall。"
　　This，inruefulreminiscenceofhisrepeatedfailures。
　　"Butourtime’scoming，"headdedcheerfully。"Thesewomenhaveneverbeenmastered，yousee——"This，asonewhohadmadeadiscovery。
　　"You’dbetternottrytodoanymasteringifyouvalueyourchances，"Itoldhimseriously;butheonlylaughed，andsaid，"Everymantohistrade！"
　　Wecouldn’tdoanythingwithhim。Hehadtotakehisownmedicine。
　　Ifthelackoftraditionofcourtshipleftusmuchatseainourwooing，wefoundourselvesstillmorebewilderedbylackoftraditionofmatrimony。
　　Andhereagain，Ihavetodrawonlaterexperience，andasdeepanacquaintancewiththeircultureasIcouldachieve，toexplainthegulfsofdifferencebetweenus。
　　Twothousandyearsofonecontinuousculturewithnomen。
　　Backofthat，onlytraditionsoftheharem。TheyhadnoexactanalogueforourwordHOME，anymorethantheyhadforourRoman—basedFAMILY。
　　Theylovedoneanotherwithapracticallyuniversalaffection，risingtoexquisiteandunbrokenfriendships，andbroadeningtoadevotiontotheircountryandpeopleforwhichourwordPATRIOTISM
　　isnodefinitionatall。
　　Patriotism，redhot，iscompatiblewiththeexistenceofaneglectofnationalinterests，adishonesty，acoldindifferencetothesufferingofmillions。Patriotismislargelypride，andverylargelycombativeness。Patriotismgenerallyhasachiponitsshoulder。
　　Thiscountryhadnoothercountrytomeasureitselfby——savethefewpoorsavagesfarbelow，withwhomtheyhadnocontact。
　　Theylovedtheircountrybecauseitwastheirnursery，playground，andworkshop——theirsandtheirchildren’s。Theywereproudofitasaworkshop，proudoftheirrecordofever—increasingefficiency;theyhadmadeapleasantgardenofit，averypracticallittleheaven;butmostofalltheyvaluedit——andhereitishardforustounderstandthem——asaculturalenvironmentfortheirchildren。
　　That，ofcourse，isthekeynoteofthewholedistinction——
　　theirchildren。
　　Fromthosefirstbreathlesslyguarded，half—adoredracemothers，alluptheascendingline，theyhadthisdominantthoughtofbuildingupagreatracethroughthechildren。
　　Allthesurrenderingdevotionourwomenhaveputintotheirprivatefamilies，thesewomenputintotheircountryandrace。
　　Alltheloyaltyandservicemenexpectofwives，theygave，notsinglytomen，butcollectivelytooneanother。
　　Andthemotherinstinct，withussopainfullyintense，sothwartedbyconditions，soconcentratedinpersonaldevotiontoafew，sobitterlyhurtbydeath，disease，orbarrenness，andevenbythemeregrowthofthechildren，leavingthemotheraloneinheremptynest——allthisfeelingwiththemflowedoutinastrong，widecurrent，unbrokenthroughthegenerations，deepeningandwideningthroughtheyears，includingeverychildinalltheland。
　　Withtheirunitedpowerandwisdom，theyhadstudiedandovercomethe"diseasesofchildhood"——theirchildrenhadnone。
　　Theyhadfacedtheproblemsofeducationandsosolvedthemthattheirchildrengrewupasnaturallyasyoungtrees;learningthrougheverysense;taughtcontinuouslybutunconsciously——
　　neverknowingtheywerebeingeducated。
　　Infact，theydidnotusethewordaswedo。Theirideaofeducationwasthespecialtrainingtheytook，whenhalfgrownup，underexperts。Thentheeageryoungmindsfairlyflungthemselvesontheirchosensubjects，andacquiredwithanease，abreadth，agrasp，atwhichIneverceasedtowonder。
　　Butthebabiesandlittlechildrenneverfeltthepressureofthat"forciblefeeding"ofthemindthatwecall"education。"Ofthis，morelater。
　　CHAPTER9
　　OurRelationsandTheirsWhatI’mtryingtoshowhereisthatwiththesewomenthewholerelationshipoflifecountedinaglad，eagergrowing—uptojointheranksofworkersinthelinebestloved;adeep，tenderreverenceforone’sownmother——toodeepforthemtospeakoffreely——andbeyondthat，thewhole，free，widerangeofsisterhood，thesplendidserviceofthecountry，andfriendships。
　　Tothesewomenwecame，filledwiththeideas，convictions，traditions，ofourculture，andundertooktorouseinthemtheemotionswhich——tous——seemedproper。
　　Howevermuch，orlittle，oftruesex—feelingtherewasbetweenus，itphraseditselfintheirmindsintermsoffriendship，theonepurelypersonallovetheyknew，andofultimateparentage。Visiblywewerenotmothers，norchildren，norcompatriots;so，iftheylovedus，wemustbefriends。
　　Thatweshouldpairofftogetherinourcourtingdayswasnaturaltothem;thatwethreeshouldremainmuchtogether，astheydidthemselves，wasalsonatural。Wehadasyetnowork，sowehungaboutthemintheirforesttasks;thatwasnatural，too。
　　Butwhenwebegantotalkabouteachcouplehaving"homes"ofourown，theycouldnotunderstandit。
　　"Ourworktakesusallaroundthecountry，"explainedCelis。
　　"Wecannotliveinoneplaceallthetime。"
　　"Wearetogethernow，"urgedAlima，lookingproudlyatTerry’sstalwartnearness。（Thiswasoneofthetimeswhentheywere"on，"thoughpresently"off"again。）
　　"It’snotthesamethingatall，"heinsisted。"Amanwantsahomeofhisown，withhiswifeandfamilyinit。"
　　"Stayinginit？Allthetime？"askedEllador。"Notimprisoned，surely！"
　　"Ofcoursenot！Livingthere——naturally，"heanswered。
　　"Whatdoesshedothere——allthetime？"Alimademanded。
　　"Whatisherwork？"
　　ThenTerrypatientlyexplainedagainthatourwomendidnotwork——withreservations。
　　"Butwhatdotheydo——iftheyhavenowork？"shepersisted。
　　"Theytakecareofthehome——andthechildren。"
　　"Atthesametime？"askedEllador。
　　"Whyyes。Thechildrenplayabout，andthemotherhaschargeofitall。Thereareservants，ofcourse。"
　　Itseemedsoobvious，sonaturaltoTerry，thathealwaysgrewimpatient;butthegirlswerehonestlyanxioustounderstand。
　　"Howmanychildrendoyourwomenhave？"Alimahadhernotebookoutnow，andaratherfirmsetoflip。Terrybegantododge。
　　"Thereisnosetnumber，mydear，"heexplained。"Somehavemore，somehaveless。"
　　"Somehavenoneatall，"Iputinmischievously。
　　Theypouncedonthisadmissionandsoonwrungfromusthegeneralfactthatthosewomenwhohadthemostchildrenhadtheleastservants，andthosewhohadthemostservantshadtheleastchildren。
　　"There！"triumphedAlima。"Oneortwoornochildren，andthreeorfourservants。NowwhatdothosewomenDO？"
　　Weexplainedasbestwemight。Wetalkedof"socialduties，"
　　disingenuouslybankingontheirnotinterpretingthewordsaswedid;
　　wetalkedofhospitality，entertainment，andvarious"interests。"
　　Allthetimeweknewthattotheselarge—mindedwomenwhosewholementaloutlookwassocollective，thelimitationsofawhollypersonallifewereinconceivable。
　　"Wecannotreallyunderstandit，"Elladorconcluded。"Weareonlyhalfapeople。Wehaveourwoman—waysandtheyhavetheirman—waysandtheirboth—ways。Wehaveworkedoutasystemoflivingwhichis，ofcourse，limited。Theymusthaveabroader，richer，betterone。Ishouldliketoseeit。"
　　"Youshall，dearest，"Iwhispered。
　　"There’snothingtosmoke，"complainedTerry。HewasinthemidstofaprolongedquarrelwithAlima，andneededasedative。
　　"There’snothingtodrink。Theseblessedwomenhavenopleasantvices。Iwishwecouldgetoutofhere！"
　　Thiswishwasvain。Wewerealwaysunderacertaindegreeofwatchfulness。WhenTerryburstforthtotrampthestreetsatnighthealwaysfounda"Colonel"hereorthere;andwhen，onanoccasionoffiercethoughtemporarydespair，hehadplungedtothecliffedgewithsomevagueviewtoescape，hefoundseveralofthemcloseby。Wewerefree——buttherewasastringtoit。
　　"They’venounpleasantones，either，"Jeffremindedhim。
　　"Wishtheyhad！"Terrypersisted。"They’veneitherthevicesofmen，northevirtuesofwomen——they’reneuters！"
　　"Youknowbetterthanthat。Don’ttalknonsense，"saidI，severely。
　　IwasthinkingofEllador’seyeswhentheygavemeacertainlook，alookshedidnotatallrealize。
　　Jeffwasequallyincensed。"Idon’tknowwhat`virtuesofwomen’youmiss。Seemstometheyhaveallofthem。"
　　"They’venomodesty，"snappedTerry。"Nopatience，nosubmissiveness，noneofthatnaturalyieldingwhichiswoman’sgreatestcharm。"
　　Ishookmyheadpityingly。"Goandapologizeandmakefriendsagain，Terry。You’vegotagrouch，that’sall。Thesewomenhavethevirtueofhumanity，withlessofitsfaultsthananyfolksIeversaw。Asforpatience——they’dhavepitchedusoverthecliffsthefirstdaywelitamong’em，iftheyhadn’tthat。"
　　"Thereareno——distractions，"hegrumbled。"Nowhereamancangoandcutlooseabit。It’saneverlastingparlorandnursery。"
　　"andworkshop，"Iadded。"Andschool，andoffice，andlaboratory，andstudio，andtheater，and——home。"
　　"HOME！"hesneered。"Thereisn’tahomeinthewholepitifulplace。"
　　"Thereisn’tanythingelse，andyouknowit，"Jeffretortedhotly。"Ineversaw，Ineverdreamedof，suchuniversalpeaceandgoodwillandmutualaffection。"
　　"Oh，well，ofcourse，ifyoulikeaperpetualSundayschool，it’sallverywell。ButIlikeSomethingDoing。Hereit’salldone。"
　　Therewassomethingtothiscriticism。Theyearsofpioneeringlayfarbehindthem。Theirswasacivilizationinwhichtheinitialdifficultieshadlongsincebeenovercome。Theuntroubledpeace，theunmeasuredplenty，thesteadyhealth，thelargegoodwillandsmoothmanagementwhichorderedeverything，leftnothingtoovercome。Itwaslikeapleasantfamilyinanoldestablished，perfectlyruncountryplace。
　　Ilikeditbecauseofmyeagerandcontinuedinterestinthesociologicalachievementsinvolved。Jefflikeditashewouldhavelikedsuchafamilyandsuchaplaceanywhere。
　　Terrydidnotlikeitbecausehefoundnothingtooppose，tostrugglewith，toconquer。
　　"Lifeisastruggle，hastobe，"heinsisted。"Ifthereisnostruggle，thereisnolife——that’sall。"
　　"You’retalkingnonsense——masculinenonsense，"thepeacefulJeffreplied。HewascertainlyawarmdefenderofHerland。"Antsdon’traisetheirmyriadsbyastruggle，dothey？Orthebees？"
　　"Oh，ifyougobacktoinsects——andwanttoliveinananthill——！
　　Itellyouthehighergradesoflifearereachedonlythroughstruggle——combat。There’snoDramahere。Lookattheirplays！
　　Theymakemesick。"
　　Heratherhadusthere。Thedramaofthecountrywas——toourtaste——ratherflat。Yousee，theylackedthesexmotiveand，withit，jealousy。Theyhadnointerplayofwarringnations，noaristocracyanditsambitions，nowealthandpovertyopposition。
　　IseeIhavesaidlittleabouttheeconomicsoftheplace;itshouldhavecomebefore，butI’llgoonaboutthedramanow。
　　Theyhadtheirownkind。Therewasamostimpressivearrayofpageantry，ofprocessions，asortofgrandritual，withtheirartsandtheirreligionbroadlyblended。Theverybabiesjoinedinit。
　　Toseeoneoftheirgreatannualfestivals，withthemassedandmarchingstatelinessofthosegreatmothers，theyoungwomenbraveandnoble，beautifulandstrong;andthenthechildren，takingpartasnaturallyasourswouldfrolicroundaChristmastree——itwasoverpoweringintheimpressionofjoyous，triumphantlife。
　　Theyhadbegunataperiodwhenthedrama，thedance，music，religion，andeducationwereallveryclosetogether;andinsteadofdevelopingthemindetachedlines，theyhadkepttheconnection。Letmetryagaintogive，ifIcan，afaintsenseofthedifferenceinthelifeview——thebackgroundandbasisonwhichtheirculturerested。
　　Elladortoldmealotaboutit。Shetookmetoseethechildren，thegrowinggirls，thespecialteachers。Shepickedoutbooksformetoread。ShealwaysseemedtounderstandjustwhatIwantedtoknow，andhowtogiveittome。
　　WhileTerryandAlimastrucksparksandparted——healwaysmadlydrawntoherandshetohim——shemusthavebeen，orshe’dneverhavestoodthewayhebehaved——ElladorandIhadalreadyadeep，restfulfeeling，asifwe’dalwayshadoneanother。
　　JeffandCeliswerehappy;therewasnoquestionofthat;
　　butitdidn’tseemtomeasiftheyhadthegoodtimeswedid。
　　Well，hereistheHerlandchildfacinglife——asElladortriedtoshowittome。Fromthefirstmemory，theyknewPeace，Beauty，Order，Safety，Love，Wisdom，Justice，Patience，andPlenty。
　　By"plenty"Imeanthatthebabiesgrewupinanenvironmentwhichmettheirneeds，justasyoungfawnsmightgrowupindewyforestgladesandbrook—fedmeadows。Andtheyenjoyeditasfranklyandutterlyasthefawnswould。
　　Theyfoundthemselvesinabigbrightlovelyworld，fullofthemostinterestingandenchantingthingstolearnaboutandtodo。
　　Thepeopleeverywherewerefriendlyandpolite。NoHerlandchildevermettheoverbearingrudenesswesocommonlyshowtochildren。TheywerePeople，too，fromthefirst;themostpreciouspartofthenation。
　　Ineachstepoftherichexperienceofliving，theyfoundtheinstancetheywerestudyingwidenoutintocontactwithanendlessrangeofcommoninterests。ThethingstheylearnedwereRELATED，fromthefirst;relatedtooneanother，andtothenationalprosperity。
　　"Itwasabutterflythatmademeaforester，"saidEllador。
　　"Iwasaboutelevenyearsold，andIfoundabigpurple—and—greenbutterflyonalowflower。Icaughtit，verycarefully，bytheclosedwings，asIhadbeentoldtodo，andcarriedittothenearestinsectteacher"——Imadeanotetheretoaskherwhatonearthaninsectteacherwas——"toaskheritsname。Shetookitfrommewithalittlecryofdelight。`Oh，youblessedchild，’shesaid。`Doyoulikeobernuts？’OfcourseIlikedobernuts，andsaidso。Itisourbestfood—nut，youknow。`Thisisafemaleoftheobernutmoth，’shetoldme。`Theyarealmostgone。Wehavebeentryingtoexterminatethemforcenturies。Ifyouhadnotcaughtthisone，itmighthavelaideggsenoughtoraisewormsenoughtodestroythousandsofournuttrees——thousandsofbushelsofnuts——andmakeyearsandyearsoftroubleforus。’
　　"Everybodycongratulatedme。Thechildrenalloverthecountryweretoldtowatchforthatmoth，iftherewereanymore。
　　Iwasshownthehistoryofthecreature，andanaccountofthedamageitusedtodoandofhowlongandhardourforemothershadworkedtosavethattreeforus。Igrewafoot，itseemedtome，anddeterminedthenandtheretobeaforester。"
　　Thisisbutaninstance;sheshowedmemany。Thebigdifferencewasthatwhereasourchildrengrowupinprivatehomesandfamilies，witheveryeffortmadetoprotectandsecludethemfromadangerousworld，heretheygrewupinawide，friendlyworld，andknewitfortheirs，fromthefirst。
　　Theirchild—literaturewasawonderfulthing。Icouldhavespentyearsfollowingthedelicatesubtleties，thesmoothsimplicitieswithwhichtheyhadbentthatgreatarttotheserviceofthechildmind。
　　Wehavetwolifecycles：theman’sandthewoman’s。Tothemanthereisgrowth，struggle，conquest，theestablishmentofhisfamily，andasmuchfurthersuccessingainorambitionashecanachieve。
　　Tothewoman，growth，thesecuringofahusband，thesubordinateactivitiesoffamilylife，andafterwardsuch"social"orcharitableinterestsasherpositionallows。
　　Herewasbutonecycle，andthatalargeone。
　　Thechildentereduponabroadopenfieldoflife，inwhichmotherhoodwastheonegreatpersonalcontributiontothenationallife，andalltheresttheindividualshareintheircommonactivities。
　　EverygirlItalkedto，atanyageabovebabyhood，hadhercheerfuldeterminationastowhatshewasgoingtobewhenshegrewup。
　　WhatTerrymeantbysayingtheyhadno"modesty"wasthatthisgreatlife—viewhadnoshadyplaces;theyhadahighsenseofpersonaldecorum，butnoshame——noknowledgeofanythingtobeashamedof。
　　Eventheirshortcomingsandmisdeedsinchildhoodneverwerepresentedtothemassins;merelyaserrorsandmisplays——
　　asinagame。Someofthem，whowerepalpablylessagreeablethanothersorwhohadarealweaknessorfault，weretreatedwithcheerfulallowance，asafriendlygroupatwhistwouldtreatapoorplayer。
　　Theirreligion，yousee，wasmaternal;andtheirethics，basedonthefullperceptionofevolution，showedtheprincipleofgrowthandthebeautyofwiseculture。Theyhadnotheoryoftheessentialoppositionofgoodandevil;lifetothemwasgrowth;theirpleasurewasingrowing，andtheirdutyalso。
　　Withthisbackground，withtheirsublimatedmother—love，expressedintermsofwidestsocialactivity，everyphaseoftheirworkwasmodifiedbyitseffectonthenationalgrowth。Thelanguageitselftheyhaddeliberatelyclarified，simplified，madeeasyandbeautiful，forthesakeofthechildren。
　　Thisseemedtousawhollyincrediblething：first，thatanynationshouldhavetheforesight，thestrength，andthepersistencetoplanandfulfillsuchatask;andsecond，thatwomenshouldhavehadsomuchinitiative。Wehaveassumed，asamatterofcourse，thatwomenhadnone;thatonlytheman，withhisnaturalenergyandimpatienceofrestriction，wouldeverinventanything。
　　Herewefoundthatthepressureoflifeupontheenvironmentdevelopsinthehumanminditsinventivereactions，regardlessofsex;
　　andfurther，thatafullyawakenedmotherhoodplansandworkswithoutlimit，forthegoodofthechild。
　　Thatthechildrenmightbemostnoblyborn，andrearedinanenvironmentcalculatedtoallowtherichest，freestgrowth，theyhaddeliberatelyremodeledandimprovedthewholestate。
　　Idonotmeanintheleastthattheystoppedatthat，anymorethanachildstopsatchildhood。Themostimpressivepartoftheirwholeculturebeyondthisperfectsystemofchild—rearingwastherangeofinterestsandassociationsopentothemall，forlife。
　　ButinthefieldofliteratureIwasmoststruck，atfirst，bythechild—motive。
　　Theyhadthesamegradationofsimplerepetitiveverseandstorythatwearefamiliarwith，andthemostexquisite，imaginativetales;
　　butwhere，withus，thesearethedribbledremnantsofancientfolkmythsandprimitivelullabies，theirsweretheexquisiteworkofgreatartists;notonlysimpleandunfailinginappealtothechild—mind，butTRUE，truetothelivingworldaboutthem。
　　Tositinoneoftheirnurseriesforadaywastochangeone’sviewsforeverastobabyhood。Theyoungestones，rosyfatlingsintheirmothers’arms，orsleepinglightlyintheflower—sweetair，seemednaturalenough，savethattheynevercried。IneverheardachildcryinHerland，saveonceortwiceatabadfall;andthenpeoplerantohelp，aswewouldatascreamofagonyfromagrownperson。
　　Eachmotherhadheryearofglory;thetimetoloveandlearn，livingcloselywithherchild，nursingitproudly，oftenfortwoyearsormore。Thisperhapswasonereasonfortheirwonderfulvigor。
　　Butafterthebaby—yearthemotherwasnotsoconstantlyinattendance，unless，indeed，herworkwasamongthelittleones。
　　Shewasneverfaroff，however，andherattitudetowardtheco—mothers，whoseproudchild—servicewasdirectandcontinuous，waslovelytosee。
　　Asforthebabies——agroupofthosenakeddarlingsplayingonshortvelvetgrass，clean—swept;orrugsassoft;orinshallowpoolsofbrightwater;tumblingoverwithbubblingjoyousbabylaughter——
　　itwasaviewofinfanthappinesssuchasIhadneverdreamed。
　　Thebabieswererearedinthewarmerpartofthecountry，andgraduallyacclimatedtothecoolerheightsastheygrewolder。
　　Sturdychildrenoftenandtwelveplayedinthesnowasjoyfullyasoursdo;therewerecontinuousexcursionsofthem，fromonepartofthelandtoanother，sothattoeachchildthewholecountrymightbehome。
　　Itwasalltheirs，waitingforthemtolearn，tolove，touse，toserve;asourownlittleboysplantobe"abigsoldier，"or"acowboy，"orwhateverpleasestheirfancy;andourlittlegirlsplanforthekindofhometheymeantohave，orhowmanychildren;
　　theseplanned，freelyandgailywithmuchhappychattering，ofwhattheywoulddoforthecountrywhentheyweregrown。
　　Itwastheeagerhappinessofthechildrenandyoungpeoplewhichfirstmademeseethefollyofthatcommonnotionofours——thatiflifewassmoothandhappy，peoplewouldnotenjoyit。
　　AsIstudiedtheseyoungsters，vigorous，joyous，eagerlittlecreatures，andtheirvoraciousappetiteforlife，itshookmypreviousideassothoroughlythattheyhaveneverbeenre—established。
　　Thesteadylevelofgoodhealthgavethemallthatnaturalstimulusweusedtocall"animalspirits"——anoddcontradictioninterms。
　　Theyfoundthemselvesinanimmediateenvironmentwhichwasagreeableandinteresting，andbeforethemstretchedtheyearsoflearninganddiscovery，thefascinating，endlessprocessofeducation。
　　AsIlookedintothesemethodsandcomparedthemwithourown，mystrangeuncomfortablesenseofrace—humilitygrewapace。
　　Elladorcouldnotunderstandmyastonishment。Sheexplainedthingskindlyandsweetly，butwithsomeamazementthattheyneededexplaining，andwithsuddenquestionsastohowwediditthatleftmemeekerthanever。
　　IbetookmyselftoSomeloneday，carefullynottakingEllador。
　　IdidnotmindseemingfoolishtoSomel——shewasusedtoit。
　　"Iwantachapterofexplanation，"Itoldher。"Youknowmystupiditiesbyheart，andIdonotwanttoshowthemtoEllador——shethinksmesowise！"
　　Shesmileddelightedly。"Itisbeautifultosee，"shetoldme，"thisnewwonderfullovebetweenyou。Thewholecountryisinterested，youknow——howcanwehelpit！"
　　Ihadnotthoughtofthat。Wesay："Alltheworldlovesalover，"
　　buttohaveacoupleofmillionpeoplewatchingone’scourtship——andthatadifficultone——wasratherembarrassing。
　　"Tellmeaboutyourtheoryofeducation，"Isaid。"Makeitshortandeasy。And，toshowyouwhatpuzzlesme，I’lltellyouthatinourtheorygreatstressislaidontheforcedexertionofthechild’smind;wethinkitisgoodforhimtoovercomeobstacles。"
　　"Ofcourseitis，"sheunexpectedlyagreed。"Allourchildrendothat——theyloveto。"
　　Thatpuzzledmeagain。Iftheylovedtodoit，howcoulditbeeducational？
　　"Ourtheoryisthis，"shewentoncarefully。"Hereisayounghumanbeing。Themindisasnaturalathingasthebody，athingthatgrows，athingtouseandenjoy。Weseektonourish，tostimulate，toexercisethemindofachildaswedothebody。
　　Therearethetwomaindivisionsineducation——youhavethoseofcourse？——thethingsitisnecessarytoknow，andthethingsitisnecessarytodo。"
　　"Todo？Mentalexercises，youmean？"
　　"Yes。Ourgeneralplanisthis：Inthematteroffeedingthemind，offurnishinginformation，weuseourbestpowerstomeetthenaturalappetiteofahealthyyoungbrain;nottooverfeedit，toprovidesuchamountandvarietyofimpressionsasseemmostwelcometoeachchild。Thatistheeasiestpart。Theotherdivisionisinarrangingaproperlygraduatedseriesofexerciseswhichwillbestdevelopeachmind;thecommonfacultiesweallhave，andmostcarefully，theespecialfacultiessomeofushave。
　　Youdothisalso，doyounot？"
　　"Inaway，"Isaidratherlamely。"Wehavenotsosubtleandhighlydevelopedasystemasyou，notapproachingit;buttellmemore。
　　Astotheinformation——howdoyoumanage？Itappearsthatallofyouknowprettymucheverything——isthatright？"
　　Thisshelaughinglydisclaimed。"Bynomeans。Weare，asyousoonfoundout，extremelylimitedinknowledge。Iwishyoucouldrealizewhatafermentthecountryisinoverthenewthingsyouhavetoldus;thepassionateeagernessamongthousandsofustogotoyourcountryandlearn——learn——learn！Butwhatwedoknowisreadilydivisibleintocommonknowledgeandspecialknowledge。Thecommonknowledgewehavelongsincelearnedtofeedintothemindsofourlittleoneswithnowasteoftimeorstrength;thespecialknowledgeisopentoall，astheydesireit。Someofusspecializeinonelineonly。Butmosttakeupseveral——somefortheirregularwork，sometogrowwith。"
　　"Togrowwith？"
　　"Yes。Whenonesettlestoocloseinonekindofworkthereisatendencytoatrophyinthedisusedportionsofthebrain。
　　Weliketokeeponlearning，always。"
　　"Whatdoyoustudy？"
　　"Asmuchasweknowofthedifferentsciences。Wehave，withinourlimits，agooddealofknowledgeofanatomy，physiology，nutrition——allthatpertainstoafullandbeautifulpersonallife。
　　Wehaveourbotanyandchemistry，andsoon——veryrudimentary，butinteresting;ourownhistory，withitsaccumulatingpsychology。"
　　"Youputpsychologywithhistory——notwithpersonallife？"
　　"Ofcourse。Itisours;itisamongandbetweenus，anditchangeswiththesucceedingandimprovinggenerations。Weareatwork，slowlyandcarefully，developingourwholepeoplealongtheselines。
　　Itisgloriouswork——splendid！Toseethethousandsofbabiesimproving，showingstrongerclearerminds，sweeterdispositions，highercapacities——
　　don’tyoufinditsoinyourcountry？"
　　ThisIevadedflatly。Irememberedthecheerlessclaimthatthehumanmindwasnobetterthaninitsearliestperiodofsavagery，onlybetterinformed——astatementIhadneverbelieved。
　　"Wetrymostearnestlyfortwopowers，"Somelcontinued。
　　"Thetwothatseemtousbasicallynecessaryforallnoblelife：
　　aclear，far—reachingjudgment，andastrongwell—usedwill。Wespendourbestefforts，allthroughchildhoodandyouth，indevelopingthesefaculties，individualjudgmentandwill。"
　　"Aspartofyoursystemofeducation，youmean？"
　　"Exactly。Asthemostvaluablepart。Withthebabies，asyoumayhavenoticed，wefirstprovideanenvironmentwhichfeedsthemindwithouttiringit;allmannerofsimpleandinterestingthingstodo，assoonastheyareoldenoughtodothem;physicalproperties，ofcourse，comefirst。Butasearlyaspossible，goingverycarefully，nottotaxthemind，weprovidechoices，simplechoices，withveryobviouscausesandconsequences。You’venoticedthegames？"
　　Ihad。Thechildrenseemedalwaysplayingsomething;orelse，sometimes，engagedinpeacefulresearchesoftheirown。Ihadwonderedatfirstwhentheywenttoschool，butsoonfoundthattheyneverdid——
　　totheirknowledge。Itwasalleducationbutnoschooling。