A-ROA\ANCEL^- Omii^s nwmuv ef i^iafx acfucr (ixla. Umuv inicrram. -z^'B^^: ca^.)^ . ' EX LIBRIS William Harry Tiopkins PERKINS LIBRARY Uu Ke U ni verslty Kare Dooks Unveiling a Parallel. "iVt West COPYKIGHT 1893, BY ARENA rUBLISIlING COMTANV, All rights reserved. ^Rren^Pre^ U ^1 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. Chaptkr I. A Remakkahlk Acquaintance . :> " II. A "Woman 28 " in. Tiiic AcitouAs' Annual ... 59 " IV. Elodia 88 " V. The Vaporizer .... lOG " VI. Cupid's Gardens .... 124 " VII. New Friends 147 VIII. A Talk With Elodia . . .157 " IX. Journeying Upward . . . IDO " X. The Master 220 " XI. A Co.MPARISON .... 248 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Duke University Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/unveilingparalleOOjone (Tbaptcr U A REMAKKABLK ACQUAINTAJSTCE. "A new person is to me always a great event, and hinders me from sleep." — Emerson. You know how certain kinds of music will beat everything out of your conscious- ness except a wild delirium of joy; how love of a woman will take up every cranny of space in your being, — and fill the uni- verse beside, — so that people who are not en rapport with the strains that delight you, or with the beauty that enthralls you, seem pitiable creatures, not in touch with the Divine Harmon}^, with Stii^i-eme Lovehness. So it was with me, when I set my feet on Mars ! My soul leaped to its highest altitude and I had but one vast thought, — "I have triumphed; I am here! And I am alone; Earth is unconscious of the ghjry that is mine ! " 6 'Cinvcllino a iparallel. I shall iu)t weary you with an account of my voyage, since you are more interested in the story of my sojourn on the red planet than in the manner of my getting there. It is not literally red, by the way; that which makes it appear so at this distance is its atmosphere, — its "skj-," — which is of a soft roseate color, instead of being blue like ours. It is as beautiful as a blush. I Avill just say, that the time consumed in making the journey was incredibly brief. Having launched my aeroplane on the cur- rent of attraction which flows uninterrupt- edly between this world and that, traveling- was as swift as thought. My impression is that my speed was constantly accelerated until I neared my journey's end, when the planet's piuk envelop interposed its soft re- sistance to prevent a destructive landing. I settled down as gently as a dove alights, and the sensation .was the most ecstatic I have ever experienced. A\nicn I could distinguish trees, flowers, green fields, streams of water, and people moving about in the streets of a beautiful city, it was as if some hitherto imsuspected TUnvciling a iparallel. 7 chambers of my soul were flung open to let in now tides of feeling. IVIy coming had been discovered. A col- lege of astronomers in an observatory which stands on an elevation just outside the city, had their great telescope directed toward the Earth, — just as our telescopes were di- rected to Mai's at that time, — and they saw me and made me out when I was yet a great way off. They were able to determine the exact spot whereon I would land, al^out a mile distant from the o])servatory, and repaired thither with all possible speed, — and they have very perfect means of locomotion, superior even to our electrical contrivances. Before I had time to look about me, I found myself surrounded, and unmistak- ably friendly hands outheld to welcome me. Thei'e were eight or ten of the astrono- mers, — some young, some middle-aged, and one or two elderly men. All of them, in- cluding the youngest, who had not even the dawai of a beard upon his chin, and the old- est, whose hair was silky white, were strik- ingly handsome. Their features were 8 TUnvcillnfi a iParallcl. extraordinarily mobile and expressive. I never saw a more lively interest manifest on mortal conntenances than appeared on theirs, as they bent their glances npon me. But their curiosity was tempered by a dignified courtesy and self-respect. They spoke, but of course I could not understand their words, though it was easy enough to interpret the tones of their voices, their manner, and their graceful gestures. I set them doAvn for a people who had attained to a high state of culture and good- breeding. I suddenly felt myself growing faint, for, although I had not fasted long, a journey such as I had just accomplished is exhaust- ing. N^ear by stood a beautifid tree on which there was ripe fruit. Some one instantly interpreted the glance I involuntarily di- rected to it, and plucked a cluster of the large rich berries and gave them to me, first putting one in his own mouth to show me that it was a safe experiment. Wliile I ate, — I found the fruit exceed- ingly refreshing, — the company conferred Tllnvdlinfi a iparallel. 9 together, and presently one of the younger men approached and took me gently by the arm and Avalked me away toward the city. The others followed ns. We had not to go farther than the first suburb. My companion, whom tbey called Severnius, turned into a beautiful park, or grove, in the midst of which stood a superb mansion built of dazzling white stone. His friends w^aved us farewells Avith their hands, — we responding in like manner, — and pro- ceeded on down the street. I learned afterwards that the j)ark was laid out with scientific precision. But the design was intricate, and required study to follow the curves and angles. It seemed to me then like an exquisite mood of nature. The trees were of rare and beautiful var- ieties, and the shrubbeiy of the choicest. The flowers, whose colors could not declare themselves, — it being night, — fulfilled tbeir other delightful function and tinctured the balmy air with sweet odors. Paths were threaded like Avhite i-ibbons through the thick greensward. As we walked toward tlic mansion, I 10 TIlnvdHno « iParallcl. stoi3ped suddenly to listen to a most mu- sical and familiar and welcome sound, — the plash of water. My companion divined my thought. We turned aside, and a few steps brought us to a marble fountain. It was in the form of a chaste and lovely female fig- ure, from whose chiseled fingers a shower of glittering drops continually poured. Se- vernius took an alabaster cup from the base of the statue, filled it, and offered me a drink. The water was sparkling and in- tensely cold, and had the suggestion rather than the fact of sweetness. "Delicious ! " I exclaimed. He understood me, for he smiled and nodded his head, a gesture which seemed to say, " It gives me 23leasure to know that you find it good." I could not conceive of his expressing him- self in any other than the politest manner. We proceeded into the house. How shall I describe that house? Imagine a place which responds fully to every need of the highest culture and taste, without l)urden- ing the senses with oppressive luxury, and you have it! In a word, it was an ideal house and home. Both outside and inside. Illnvcirinij a parallel. 11 white predominated. But here and tliere were bits of color tlie most brilHant, hke jewels. I found that I had never under- stood the law of contrast, or of economy in art ; I knew nothing of " values," or of re- lationships in this wonderful realm, of which it may be truly said, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." I learned subsequently that all Marsians of taste are sparing of rich colors, as we are of gems, though certain classes mdulge in extravagant and gaudy displays, recog- nizing no law but that which pemiits them to have and to do whatsoever they like. I immediately discovered that tAvo lead- ing ideas were carried out in this house; massiveness and delicacy. There was ex- treme solidity in everything which had a right to be solid and stable; as the walls, and the sujiporting pillars, the staircases, the polished floors, and some pieces of stationary furniture, and the statuaiy, — the latter not too abundant. Each piece of statuary, by the way, had some special rea- son for being where it was; either it served some practical purpose, or it helped to carry 12 'dnvciling a parallel. out a poetical idea, — so that one was never taken aback as by an incongruity. Some of the flooi's were of marble, in ex- quisite mosaic-work, and others were of wood richly inlaid. The carpets were beautiful, but they were used sparingly. AVhen we sat down in a room a servant usu- ally brought a rug or a cushion for our feet. And Avhen we went out under the trees they spread carpets on the grass and put pillows on the rustic seats. The decorations inside the house were the most airy and graceful imaginable. The frescoes were like clouds penetrated by the rarest tints, — colors idealized, — cun- ningly wrought into surpassingly lovely pic- tures, which did not at once declare the artist's intention, but had to be studied. They were not only an indulgence to the eye, but a charming occupation for the thoughts. In fact, ahnost everything about the place appealed to the higher faculties as well as to the senses. There comes to us, from time to time, a feeling of disenchantment toward almost everything life has to offer us. It never TUnvciUng a parallel. 13 came to me with respect to Severn ins' house. It had for me an mterest and a fascination which I was never able to dis- sect, any more than you would be able to dissect the charm of the woman you love. With all its fine artistic elaborations, there was a simplicity about it which made it pos- sible for the smallest nature to measure its capacity there, as well as the greatest. The 2)roper sort of a yardstick for all uses has inch-marks. Severnius took me upstairs and placed a suite of rooms at my command, and indi- cated to me that he supposed I needed rest, which I did sorely. But I could not lie down until I had explored my territory. The room into which I had been ushered, and where Severnius left me, closing the noiseless door behind him, looked to me like a pretty woman's boudoir, — almost everything in it being of a light and del- icate color. The walls were cream-tinted, with a deep frieze of a little darker shade, re- lieved by pale green and brown decorations. The wood Avork was done in white enamel paint. The ceiling was sprinkled with 14 Tanreilitm a parallel. silver stars. Two or three exquisite water-colors were framed in silver, and the andirons, tongs and shovel, and the fender round the fire-place, and even the bedstead, were silver-jolated. The bed, which stood in an alcove, was curtained with silk, and had delicacies of lace also, as fine and subtle as Arachne's web. The table and a few of the chairs looked like our spindle-legged Chippendale things. And two or three large rugs might have been of Persian lamb's w^ool. A lux- urious couch was placed across one corner of the room and piled with down cushions. An immense easy chair, or lounging chair, stood oj^posite. The dressing table, of a peculiarly beauti- ful cream-colored w^ood, was prettily littered with toilet articles in carved ivory or silver mountings. Above it hung a large mirror. There was a set of shelves for books and bric-a-brac; a porphyiy lamp-stand with a lamp dressed in an exquisite pale-green shade; a chiffonier of marquetry. The mantel ornaments were vases of fine pottery and marble statuettes. A musical "ClnvciUim a iparallel. 1-^ iiistniment lay on a low bamboo stand. I could not play upon it, but the strings re- sponded sweetly to the touch. A little investigation revealed a luxurious bath-room. I felt the need of a bath, and turned on the water and plunged in. As I finished, a clock somewhere chmied the hour of midnight. Before lying down, I put by the window draperies and looked out. I was amazed at the extreme splendor of the familiar con- stellations. Owing to the peculiarity of the atmosphere of ]\Iars, the night there is al- most as luminous as our day. Every star stood out, not a mere twinkling eye, or little flat, silver disk, but a magnificent sphere, effulgent and supremely glorious. [NTotwithstanding that it was long before I slept, I awoke with the day. I think its peculiar light had something to do with my waking. I did not suppose such light was possible out of heaven! It did not dazzle me, however; it simply filled me, and gave me a sensation of peculiar buoyancy. I had a singular feeling when I first stepped out of bed, — that the floor was 16 "GlnvdUnfl a iparallel. not going to liold mc. It was as if I should presently be lifted up, as a feather is lifted by a slight current of air skimming along on the ground. But I soon found that this was not going to happen. INIy feet clung securely to the polished wood and the soft AYOol of the rug at the bedside. I laughed quietly to myself. In fact I was in the humor to laugh. I felt so happy. Happiness seemed to be a quality of the air, which at that hour was particularly chai'm- ing in its freshness and its pinkish tones. I had made my ablutions and Avas taking up my trousers to put them on, when there was a tap at the door and Severnius appeared with some soft white garments, such as he himself wore, thrown over his arm. In the most delicate manner possible, he conveyed the wish that I might feel disposed to put them on. I blushed, — they seemed such womanish thmgs. He misinterpreted my confusion. He assured me by every means in his power that I was entirely welcome to them, that it would give him untold jileasure to provide for my every want. I could not stand out TUnvdling a iparallcl. 17 against sueli generosity. I reached for the things — swaddHng clothes I called them — and Severnius helped me to array myself in them. I happened to glance into the mirror, and I did not recognize myself. I had some sense of how a barbarian must feel in his first civilized suit. At my friend's suggestion I hung my own familiar apparel up in the closet, — you may imagine with what reluctance. But T may say, right here, that I grew rapidly to my new clothes. I soon liked them. There was something very graceful in the cut and style of them. They covered and adorned the body with- out disguising it. They left the limbs and muscles free and encouraged grace of pose and movement. The elegant folds in which the garments hung from the shoulders and the waist, the tassels and fringes and artistic dra])ery arrangements, while seemingly left to their own caprice, were as secure in their i)lace as the plumage of a bird, — which the wind may ruffle l)ut cannot displace. I suspect that it requires a great deal 18 tlnvcilino a Parallel. of skill to construct a Marsian costume, whether for male or female. They are not altogether dissimilar; the women's stuffs are of a little finer quality ordinarily, but their dress is not usually so elaborately trimmed as the men's garb, which struck me as very peculiar. Both sexes wear white, or a soft cream. The fabric is cither a sort of fine linen, or a mixture of silk and wool. After Severnius and I came to under- stand each other, as comrades and friends, he laughingly compared my dress, in which I had made my first appearance, to the saddle and housings of a horse. lie declared that he and his friends were not quite sure whether I was a man or a beast. But he was too polite to give me the remotest hint, during our early acquaintance, that he con- sidered my garb absurd. When, having completed my toilet, I in- dicated to him that I was ready for the next thing on the program, — which I sincerely hoped might be breakfast, — he approached me and taking my Jiand placed a gold ring on my finger. It was set with a superb TfluT'eiUng a parallel. 19 rubellite enhanced with i)earls. The stone was the only bit of color in my entire dress. Even my shoes w ere of white canvas. I thanked hiin as well as I Avas able for this especial mark of favor. I was pleased that he had given me a gem not only beauti- ful, but possessing remarkable qualities. I held it in a ray of sunlight and turned it this w^ay and that, to show him that I was capable of appreciating its beauties and its peculiar characteristics. He was delighted, and T had the satisfac- tion of feeling that I had made a good im- pression upon him. He led the w^ay down-stairs, and luckily into the breakfast room. We were served In' men dressed similarly to ourselves, though their clothing was without trinmiing and was of coarser mate- rial than ours. They moved about the room swiftly and noiselessly. Motion upon that jdanet seems so natural and so easy. There is very little ineitia to overcome. Our meal was rather odd ; it consisted of fruits, some curiously j^reparcd cereals, and a hot pMlatable drink. Xo meat. 20 •GlnreUino a iparallcl. After this light Init entirely satisfactory repast we ascended the grand stair^vay — a marvel of beauty in its elaborate carvings — and entered a lofty apartment occupying a large part of the last etage. I at first made out that it was a place de- voted to the fine arts. I had noticed a somewhat conspicuous absence, in the rooms below, of the sort of things with which rich people in our country crowd their houses. I understood now, they were all marshaled up here. There were exquisitely carved vessels of all descriptions, bronzes, marbles, royal paintings, precious minerals. Here also were the riches of color. The brilliant moi-ning light came through the most beautiful windows I have ever seen, even in our finest cathedrals. The large central stained glasses were studded round with prisms that played extraordinary pranks with the sunbeams, which, as they glanced from them, were splintered into a thousand scintillating Ijits, as splendid as jewels. AYe sat down, I filled — 1 do not know TUnveillnfl a parallel. 21 why — with a curious sense of expectancy that was half awe. Across one end of the great room was stretched a superb curtain of tapestry, — a mosaic in silk and wool. Severnius did not make any other sign or gesture to me except the one that bade me be seated. I watched him wonderingly but furtively. He seemed to be composing himself, as I have seen saintly peo2:)le compose themselves in church. ISTot that he was saintly; he did not strike me as being that kind of a man, though there was that about him which pro- claimed him to be a good man, whose friend- ship would be a valualjle acquisition. He folded his hands loosely in his lap and sat motionless, his glance resting serenely on one of the great windows for a time and then passing on to other objects equally beautiful. We were still enwrapped in this august silence when I became conscious that some- where, afar off, Ijcyond the tapestry cur- tain, there were stealing toward us strains of unusual, ineffal)le nuisic, tantalizingly sweet and vague. 22 TUnveiliiHi a parallel. Gradually the almost indistinguishable sounds detached themselves from, and rose above, the pulsing silence, — or that unap- preciable harmony we call silence, — and swelled up among the arches that ril)bed the lofty ceiling, and rolled and reverberated through the great dome above, and came reflected down to us in refined and sub- limated inidulations. Our souls — my soul, — in this new won- der and ecstasy 1 forgot Severnius, — awoke in responsive raptures, inconceivably thrill- ing and exalted. I did not need to be told that it was sacred music, it invoked the Divine Presence inimistakably. No influence that had ever before been trained upon my spiritual senses had so com})elled to adoration of the Supreme One Avho holds and rules all worlds. " He lifts me to the golden doors ; The flashes come and go ; All heaven bursts her starry floors, And strows her lights below, And deepens on and up ! the gates Roll back. * * * * " TUnvefltnd a iparaTlel. 23 This I murmured, and texts of our script- ures, and fragments of anthems. It was as if I brought my earthly tribute to lay on this Marsian shrine. The gates did roll back, the heavens were broken up, new spiritual heights were shown to me, u]:) which my spirit mounted. I looked at Severnius. His eyes were closed. His face, lighted as by an inner illumination, and his Avhole attitude, sug- gested a "waiting upon God," that "Intercourse divine, Which God permits, ordains, across the line." There stole insensibly upon the sound- burdened air, the hallowed perfume of burn- ing incense. I conjectured, and truly as I afterward learned, that I was in my friend's private sanctuary. It was his spiritual lavatory, in which he made daily ablutions. A service in which the soid lays aside the forms nec- essary in public worship and stands un- veiled before its God. It was a rare honor he paid nic, in per- mitting me to accompany him. And he 24 *Glnt>eilinfl a iparallel. repeated it every morning dnring my stay in his house, except on one or two occasions. It speedily became almost a necessity to me. You know how it is when you have fonned a habit of exercising your muscles in a gymnasium. If you leave it off, you are uncomfortable, you have a feeling that you have cheated your body out of its right. It was so with me, when for any reason I was obliged to forego this higher exercise. I was heavy in spirit, my conscience accused me of a wrong to one of the "selfs" in me, — for we have se^'eral selfs, I think. There was not always music. Sometimes a wonderful voice chanted psalms and praises, and recited poems that troubled the soul's deepest waters. At first I did not understand the words, of course, but the in- tonations s^Joke to me the same as music does. And I felt that I knew what the words expressed. Often there was nothing there but The Presence, which hushed our A^oices and set our souls in tune Avith heavenly things. 'No matter, I was fed and satisfied. "Glnvdllno a iparallel. 25 At the end of a sweet half-hour, the music died away, and we I'ose and passed out of the sacred place. I longed to question Severnius, but was powerless. He led the way down into the library, which was just off the wide entrance hall. Books were ranged round the walls on shelves, the same as we dispose om's. But they were all bound in white cloth or white leather. The lettering on the backs was gold. I took one in my hand and flipped its leaves to show Severnius that I knew what a book was. He was delighted. He asked me, in a language which he and I had speed- ily established between ourselves, if I would not like to learn the Marsian tongue. I re- plied that it was what I wished above all things to do. We set to work at once. His teaching was very simple and natural, and I quickly mastered several important pi'inciples. After a little a servant announced some visitors, and Severnius went out into the hall to receive them. He left the door open, and I saw that the visitors were the astron- 26 "dnreilinfi a parallel. omers I had met the night before. They asked to see me, and Severnius ushered them mto the hbrary. I stood up and shook hands wdth each one, as he advanced, and repeated their own formula for "How do you do! " which quite amused them. I sup- pose the words sounded very parrot-like, — I did not know where to put the accent. They congratulated me with many smiles and gesticulations on my determination to learn the. language, — Severnius ha^-ing ex- plained tliis fact to them. He also told them that I had perhaps better be left to myself and him until I had mastered it, when of course I should be much more interesting to them and they to me. They acquiesced, and with many bows and waves of the hand, withdrew. The language, I found, was not at all dif- ficult, — not so arbitrary as many of our modern languages. It was similar in form and construction to the ancient languages of southern Europe. The proper names had an almost familiar sound. That of the coun- try I was in was Paleveria. The city was called Thursia, and there was a river flow- ■GlnveiUtui a iparallel. 27 ing through it, — one portion of Severnius' groiiiids, at the back of the house, sloped to it, — named the Gyro. Cbaptcr 2» A WOMAN. "Her face so fair, as flesh it seemed not, But hevenly portrait of bright angels hew, Clear as the skye withouten blame or blot, Through goodly mixture of complexion's dew; And in her cheeks the vermeil red did shew Like roses in a bed of lillies shed, ****** In her faire eyes two living lamps did flame." — Spenser. Thus far, I had seen no women. I was curious on this point, and I was not kept long in suspense. Late in the afternoon of the day following my arrival, Severnius and I went out to walk about the grounds, and were returning through an avenue of eucalyptus trees, — of a variety more wide- spreading in their bi-anches than any I have seen in our country, — when a person ■dnvetllufl a parallel. 29 alighted from a carriage in the parte cochere and, instead of entering the house, came to meet us. It was a woman. Though it was not left to her dress, nor her stature, — she was nearly as tall as m^^self ,— to proclaim that fiict; her grace and carriage would have determined her sex, if her beautiful face had not. She advanced swiftly, with long, free steps. Her white dress, similar in cut and style to ours, was relieved only by a girdle studded with gems. She car- ried a little white parasol A\ith a gold fringe, and wore no head-gear to crush down her beautifully massed hair. I felt myself growing red under her lively gaze, and attributed it to my clothes. I was not accustomed to them yet, and I felt as you would to appear before a beautiful woman in your night shirt. Especially if you fancied you saw something in her eyes which made you suspect that slio thought you cut a ludicrous figure. Of course that was my imagination, my apparel, in her eyes, must have been correct, since it was selected from among his best by my new friend, who was unmistakably a man of taste. 30 'Onveilini) a parallel. Her face, which Avas indescribably lovely, was also keenly intelligent, — that sort of intelligence which lets nothing escape, which is as quick to grasp a humorous sit- uation as a sublime truth. It Avas a face of power and of passion, — of, I might say, manly self-restraint, — but yet so soft ! I now observed for the fii-st time the effect of the pinkish atmosphere on the com- plexion. You have seen ladies in a room where the light came through crimson hang- ings or glass stained red. So it was here. Severnius smiled, spoke, and gave her his hand. The glance they bestowed upon eacli other established their relationship in my mind instantly. I had seen that glance a thousand times, without suspecting it had ever made so strong an impression upon me that in a case like this I shoidd accept its evidence without other testimony. They were brother and sister. I was glad of that, for the reason, I suppose, that every immarried man is glad to find a beautiful woman unmarried, — there are seductive possibilities in the situation. TllnveUing a iparallel. 31 Sevcrniiis did his best to introduce us. He called her Elodia. I learned afterwards that ladies and gentlemen in that country have no perfunctoiy titk\s, like Mrs., or Mr., they support their dignity without that. It woidd have seemed belittling to say "Miss " Elodia. I had a feeling that she did not attach nuicli importance to me, that she was half amused at the idea of me; a peculiar tilting- up of her eyebrows told me so, and I was piqued. It seemed unfair that, sim})ly be- cause she could not account for me, she should set me d(^wn as inferior, or impos- sible, or ridiculous, whichever was in her mind. She regarded me as I have some- times regarded un-English foreigners in the streets of ^ew York. She indulged her curiosity al)out me only for a moment, asking a few questions I in- ferred, and then passed me over as though she had more weighty matters in hand. I knew, later on, that she waived me as a topic of conversation wlieu her lirotlier in- sisted ui)()n talking about me, saying half im])atiently, "Wait till he can talk and ex- 32 "ClnveilinG a B>araUel. l)laiii himself, Sevcrnius, — since you say lie is going to learn our speech." I studied her ivith deep mterest as we walked along, and no movement or accent of hers Avas lost upon nie. Once she raised her hand — her wide sleeve slipped back and bared a lovely arm — to break off a long scimeter-shaped leaf from a bough over- head. Quicker than thought I sprang at the bough and snapped off the leaf in ad- vance of her, and presented it with a low obeisance. She drew herself up with a look of indignant surprise, but instantly relented as though to a person Avhose eccentricities, for some reason or other, might better be excused. She did not, however, take the leaf, — it fluttered to the ground. She was not like any other Avoman, — any Avoman I had CA^er seen before. You could not accuse her of hauteur, yet she bore her- self like a royal personage, though Avith no suggestion of affecting that sort of an air. You had to take her as seriously as you Avould the Czar. I saw this in her brother's attitude toAvard her. There Avas none of that condescension in his manner that there often "dnveiling a iparallel. 33 is in our iiiaiUKT toward tlie woincn of our houweliolds. I Ix'ij^au io Avondcr Avliotlici'sliL' iniglitiiot )je IIrmjuccu of tliu realm! IJiit .she Avas not. She was siiui)ly a private citizen. She sat at tlie dinner ta])le with us, and divided the honors ecjually with Severnin-s. T wish 1 could give you an idea of that diinier, — the dining'-room, the service, the whole thing! It surpassed my finest con- ce])tions of taste and elegance. AYe sat down not mei'cly to eat, — thougli I Avas lunigry enongli ! — but to enjoy our- selves in other ways. Tliere was everything lor the eye to de- light in. The room was i-ich in artistic decorations npon which the rarest talent must have Ijcen employed. The taljle ar- rangements were superb; gold and silver, crystal, fine china, embroidered linen, flow^- ers. And the food, served in many courses, was a hap])y conil)ination of the sul)stantial and the delicate. There was music — not too near — of a bright and lively character. Music enters largely into the life of these people. It seemed to me that something beat time to almost everything w^e did. 34 lanvciling a parallel. The coiiver.sation caiTicd on ]>c'tween the brother and sister — in which I coukl take no more part than a deaf-mute — was, I felt sure, extremely entertaining if not impor- tant. My eyes served me well, — for one sense is quick to assume the Inu'dens of anothei", — and I knew that the talk Avas not mere banter, nor Avas it simi)ly the nec- essary exchange of words and oj)inions about e\'eryday matters which nmst take place in famihes periodically, concerning fuel, and j)r<)visions, and servants, and water-tax, and the like. It took a nmch higher range. The faces of both were an- imated, their eyes beamed Ijrightly upon each other. It was clear that the brother did n(jt talk down to her miderstanding, rather he talked up to it, — or no, they were on a level with each other, the highest level of both, for they held each other up to their best. However, Elodia had been away for a couple of days, I learned, and absence gives a bloom of ncAvness which it is de- lightful to brush off. I did not detect any of the quality we call chivalry in Severnius' pose, ntjr of its com- TUnvdlliui a parallel. 35 plemciil ill hers. Though one would hardly expeet that hetween brothers and sisters anywhere. Still, we have a way with our near Avomen relations which never ignores the distinction between the sexes ; we humor them, 2)atr(mize them, tyramiize over them. And they defer to, and exalt us, and usually acknowledge our superiority. It was not so Avith this ])air. Tliey re- spected and honored each other equally. And there was a charming camaraderie between them, the same as if they had both been men — or women, if you single out the right kind. They held widely different o[)iiii()iis upon mau}^ subjects, but they never crowded them upon each other. Their tastes were dis- similai'. For one thing, Elodia had not her brother's line religious sense. She seldom entered the sanctuary, though once or twice 1 saAV her there, seated far apart from Se- vern i us and myself. Sthnulated by the hope of some day being able to talk with her, and of convincing her that I Avas a person not altogether beneath her intelligence, I devoted myself, mind and 36 "GlnveilinG a iPavallel. soul, to the l^aU'vcriaii l;m,L;iia<;'o. In six weeks I could i"ead and write it fairly well Severnius was untiring' in his teaehinjj;'; and every day strengtheneil niy regard for him as a man. lie Avas an aeeomplished scholar, and he was as cK'an-souled as a child, — l)ut not weakly or ignorantly so. lie knew evil as well as good; but he re- nounced the one and accepted the other He was a man "api)ointed l)y Almighty God to stand for a fact." And I ncNcr knew him to weaken his position l)y defending it. Often we spent hours in the observatory together. It was a glorious thing to me to watch the splendid fleet of asteroids saihng between Jupiter and Mars, and to single out the variously colored moons of Jupiter, and to distinguish with extraordinary clear- ness a thousand other wonders but dindy seen from the Earth. Even to study the moons of Mars, the lesser one whirling roinid the })lanet with such astonishing velocity, was a world of entertainment to me. I had bes-g-ed Severnius not to ask me to see any visitors at all until I could acquit my- TUnvcillng a iparallel. 37 self creditably in eonversation. lie agreed, and I saw no one. I l)elieYe that in those Aveelvs of quiet stnd\% observation, and close conipanionshi]) of one noble man, my soul was cleared of much dross. I lived with books, Severnius, and the stars. At last, I no longer feared to trust my- self to speak, even to Elodia. It was a great surprise to her, and evidently a ]ileas- ure too. My fn-st brilliant attempt was at the din- ner table. Severnius adroith^ drew me into a conversation about our world. Elodia turned her delightful gaze upon me so fi-ankly and approvingly that I felt myself blushing like a boy whom his pretty Sab- l)ath-school teacher praises with her smile when he says his text. Up to that time, although she had been polite to me, — so entirely polite that I never for a moment felt myself an intruder in her home, — she api)arently took no givat in- terest in me. But now she voluntai-ily ad- dressed me whenever we met, and took pains to draw me out. ^^ TUnvciling a ffiarallel. Once she glanced at a book I was read- ing, a rather heavy work, and smiled. ** You have made astonishing progress," she said. "I have had the best of instructors," Ire- plied. " Ah, yes ; Severnius has great patience. And besides, he likes 3 on. And then of course he is not wholly disinterested, he wants to hear about your planet." "And do you? " I asked foolishly. I wanted somehow to get the conversation to running in a personal channel. " O, of course," she retiu-ned indifferently, " though I am not an astronomer. I should like to hear something about your people." I took that cue joyfully, and soon we were on very sociable terms with each other. She listened to my stories and descriptions with a most flattering interest, and I soon found myself worshiping her as a goddess. Yes, as a goddess, not a woman. Her entire lack of coquetry prevented me from making love to her, or would have prevented me if I had dared to have such a thought. If there could have been anything tender between us, TUnvdUno a iparallel. 39 I think slic must liave made tlic advances. But this is foolish. I am merely trying to give you some idea of the kind of woman she was. But 1 know that I cannot do that; the quality of a woman must be felt to be understood. There was a great deal of social gnyety in Thursia. We went out frequently, to opera, to concert, and to crowded gatherings in splendid homes. I observed that Elodia im- mediately became the centre of interest wherever she ajipcared. She gave fresh zest to every amusement or conversation. She seemed to dignify with her presence what- ever happened to be going on, and made it worth while. Not that she distinguished herself in speech or act; she had the effect of being infinitely greater than anything she did or said and one was always looking out for manifestations of that. Slie ke])t one's interest in her \ip to the highest ])itch. I often asked myself, " AVhy is it that we are always looking at her with a kind of in<|niry in our glances? — what is it that ^^e i.\])ect her to do?" It was a gieal ])art of her charm that she 40 "GlnrdUnfl a iParallcl. was not hlase. She was full of interest in all about her, she was keenly and delig-ht- fully alive. Her manners were perfect, and yet she seemed careless of etiquette and conventions. Pier good manners wei'e a ])ai't of herself, as her ret Ihcii- pi-opcrty, perliap.s? '^ "Of course not." "Do you tell mo that you tax jiroperty, to whatever amount, and l's, — they are angels." I was carried away in th(3 heat of resent- ment, and knew that what I had said was half cant. "I beg your 2)ardonI " said Severnius ■QlnvclUnfl a (Parnllcl. •'>•"• quickly; "I got a wrong imj)i'esssioii iVoin your statements. I fear I am very stupid. Are they all angels? " I gave him a fiu'tive glauee aud saw that he was in earnest. His brows were drawn together with a puzzled look. I had a sudden vision of a scene in Five Points; several gTouj)s of fVowslcd, ])etti- coated beings, laughing, joking, swearing, quarreling, figliting, and drinking beer from dirty mugs. "No, not all of them,"" I replied, smiling. "That was a figure of speech. There are so many classes." "Let us confine (mr discussion to one, then," he returned. " To tlie women wlio might be of your own family; that will sim- plify matters. And now tell me, please, how this state of things came abont, this subjection of a part of your people. I can- not understand it, — these subjects being of your own flesh and blood. I should think it would bi"eed domestic discontent, where some of the members of a family wield a power and enjo}' a privilege denied to tiic 54 Tllnvdlino a parallel. others. Fancy my shalving a l)allot over Eloclia's head ! " " O, Elodia ! " I said, and was immediately conscious that my accent was traitorous to my countrywomen. I made haste to add, "Your sister is — incomparable. She is unusual even here. I have seen none others like her." " How do 3^ou mean ? " " I mean that she is as responsible as a man; she is not inconsequent." "Are your women inconsequent?" " They have been called so, and we think it rather adds to their attractiveness. You see they have always been relieved of responsibility, and I assure you the large majority of them have no desire to assume it, — I mean in the matter of government and politics." "Yes?" I dislike an interrogative "yes," and I made no reply. Severnius added, "T su})pose they have lost the faculty which you say they lack, — the faculty that makes people responsible, — through disuse. I have seen the same thing in countries on "GlnvdKnfl a Parallel. 55 the other side of our glol)e, where races have been held as nhaves for several centu- ries. They seem to have no ideas about personal rights, or liberties, as pertaining to themselves, and no inclination in that direc- ton. It always struck me as being the most pathetic feature of their condition that they and everybody else accepted it as a matter of course, as they would a law of nature. In the place of strength and self- assertion there has come to them a dumb patience, or an unquestioning acquiescence like that of people born blind. Are your women happy?" "You should see them! " I exclaimed, with certain ball-room memories rusliing upon me, and visions of fair faces i-adiaut with the joy of living. But these were quickly followed by other pictm'cs, and I felt bound to add, "Of late, a restless spirit has developed in certain circles, — " "The working circles, I suppose," iuter- rupted Severnius. "You spoke of the ^\<> ris- ing women getting into the ])rofessions." "Xot those exclusively. I]ven the women of leisure are not so satisiied as they used •''^ "UlnvciUng a parallel. to be. There has ])een, for a great many years, more or less chatHiig ahoiit women's rights, but now they are beginning to take tlie matter seriously." "Ah, they are waking up, perhaps ?" "Yes, some of them are waking up, — a good many of them. It is a little ridic- ulous, when one thinks of it, seeing they have no power to enforce their ^rights', and can never attain them except through the condescension of men. Tell me, Sevemius, when did your women wake up ? " Sevcrnius smiled. "My dear sir, I think they have never been asleep ! " We stalked along silently for a time; the subject passed out of my mind, or was driven out by the beauties of the landscape about us. I was especially impressed with the magnificence of the trees that hedged every little patch of farm land, and threw their protecting arms around houses and cottages, big and little; and with the many pellucid streams flowing naturally, or divided like strands of silk and guided in new courses, to lave the r(jots of trees or ■QltUKilinG n Iparallcl. 57 run through pasture lands whci'c hords were feeding". A tree is sometliing to ])e pi'oiid of in Paleveria, more than a fine residence ; more even than ancient furniture and cracked china. Perhaps because the people sit out luider their trees a great deal, and the shade of them has protected the heads of many generations, and they have become hallowed through sacred memories and traditions. In Paleveria they have tree doctors, whose business it is to ward off disease, heal wounded or broken boughs, and extermi- nate destructive insects. Severnius startled mc; suddenly with an- other question: "What, may I ask, is your theory of Man's creaticm?" "God made IMan, and from one of his ribs fashioned woman,"' I replied catechct- ically. "Ours is different," said he. "It is this: A ])air of creatures, male and female, sprang simultaneously from an enchanted lake in the mountain region of a countiy called C'askia, in the northern part of this ^>^ "GlnvciUnci a ipamllcl. continent. They were only animals, Init they were beautiful and innocent. God breathed a Sou] into them and they were Man and Woman, equals in all things." "A charming legend! " said I. Later on I learned the full breadth of the meaning of the equality he spoke of. At that time it was impossible for me to com- ]irehend it, and I can only convey it to you in a complete accoimt of my further expe- riences on that wonderful planet. Cbaptcr 3» THE AUROKAS' AJSTNTTAL. It was Avintcr, and snow was on the groimd; white and sparkling', and as light as eider-down. Elodia kept a fine stal)k'. Four magnificent white horses were har- nessed to her sleigh, which was in the form of an immense swan, ^\^th a head and neck of frosted silver. The body of it was pad- ded outside Avith white varnished leather, and inside with velvet of the color of a dove's breast. The robes were enormous skins of polar bears, lined with a soft, warm fabric of wool and silk. The harness Avas l)estrung with little silver bells of most musical and merry tone; and all the trappings and ac- coutrements were superb. Elodia had lux- urious tastes, and indulged them. Every day Avejook an exhilarating drive. The two deep, comfortable seats faced each 60 TllnveiUnci a parallel. other like seats in a hnulau. Sevcrnius and I occupied one, and Elodia tlie other; so that I liad the pleasure of looking at her whenever I chose, and of meeting- her eyes in conversation now and then, which was no small part of my enjoyment. 'J^he mere sight of iier roused the imagination and quickened the pulse. Jler e}es were un- usually dark, Init they had blue rays, and were as clear and beautiful as agates held under water. In fact they seemed to swim in an invisible liquid. Iler complexion had the effect of alabaster through which a pink light shines, — deepest in the cheeks, as though they were more transparent than the rest of her face. Iler head, crowned with a fascinating little cap, rose above her soft furs like a regal llower. She was so beautiful that I wondered at m3'self that I could bear the sight of her. Strange to say, the weather Avas not cold, it was simply bracing, — hardly severe enough to make the ears tingle. The roads were perfect ever3^where, and we often drove into the country. The horses *Glnrc(lnui a (parallel. 61 llcw over the wide white stretches at an incredible sjDced. One afternoon when, at the usual hour, the coachman rang- the bell and announced that he was ready, I was greatly disap- pointed to find that we were not to have Elodia. But I said nothing, for I was shy about mentioning her name. AYhen we were seated, Severnius gave directions to the driver. "Time yourself, Giddo, so that you will be at the Public Square at precisely three o'clock," said he, and turned to me. " We shall want to see the parade." "What parade? " I inquired. "Oh! has not Elodia told you? This is The Auroras' Annual, — a gi'cat day. The parade will be worth seeing." In the excitement of the drive, and in my disappointment about not having Elodia Avith us, I had almost foi-gotten about The Auroras' Annual, when three o'clock came. I had seen pai'ades in I^cw York City, until the spectacle had calloused my sense of the magnificent, and I vciy nuich d()ii])ted G2 llnvcillim a parallel. wliether ]Mans had anything new to offer me in that line. Punctual to tlie minute, Giddo fetched up at the Square, — among a thousand or so of other turnouts, — with such a flourish as all Jehus love. We were not a second too soon. There Avas a sudden burst of music, infinitely mellowed by distance; and as far up the street as the eye could Avell reach there appeared a mounted procession, ad- vancing slowly. Every charger was snow white, with crimped mane and tail, long and flowing, and with trappings of various colors magnificent in silver blazonry. The nuisicians only were on foot. They were beating n])()u drums and blowing transcendent airs thi'ough silver wind in- struments. I do not know Avhether it was some quality of the atmosphere that made the strains so ravishing, but they swept OA'cr one's soid with a raptiu-e that Avas al- most painful. I could hardly sit still, but I was held down by the thought that if I should get np I Avould not know Avhat to do. It is a ])ecidiar sensation. On came the resplendent column Avith TUnvcilinii a parallel. 63 slow, majestic movement; and I iincoii- sciously kept time with the drmns, with Brownin^-'s stately lines on my tong'ue, but unspoken: " Steady they step adowii the slope, Steady they climb the hill." There Avas no liill, but a very slight de- scent. As they drew nearer the splendor of the varions imiCorms dazzled my eyes. You will remember that everything about us was Avhite; the buildings all of Avhite stone or brick, the ground covered witli snow, and the crowds of people lining the streets all dressed in the national coh>i-, or no- color. There were several companies in the procession, and each company w(M'e distin- guishing badges and carried Hags and banners peculiar to itself. The housings on the horses of the first brigade Avei'e of yellow, and all the decora- tions of the riders corresponded; of the second pale blue, and of the third sky-piid<. The uniforms of the I'iders were inconct'iv- ably splendid; fantastic and gorgeous head- 64 "ClnveilinG a Parallel. gear, glittering belts, silken scarfs and sashes, badges and medals flashing with gems, and brilliant colors twisted into strange and cnrious devices. As the first division was about to pass, I lost my gri}) on myself and half started to my feet Avith a smothered exclamation, "Elodia!" Severnins pnt out his hand as though he were afraid I was going to leap out of the sleigh, or do something unusual. "What is it?" he cried, and following my gaze he added, " Yes, that is Elodia in front; she is the Sui)reme Sorceress of the Order of the Auroras." "The — zo/ia/5.^" "Don't be frightened," he laughed; "the word means nothing, — it is only a title." I could not believe him when I looked at the advancing figure of Elodia. She sat her horse splendidly erect. Her fair head was crowned with a superb diadem of gold and topazes, with a diamond star in the cen- tre, shooting rays like the sun. Her ex- pression was grave and lofty; she glanced neither to right nor left, but gazed straight ■Qlnveiling a parallel. 65 ahead — at nothing, or at ,s<)niethin<^ infin- itely beyond nioi'tal viyion. ITer hoi-se champed its bits, arched its beautiful neck, and stepped with conscious pride; dangling' the gold fringe on its slieeny yellow satin saddle-cloth, until one could hardly bear the sight. " The words mean nothing!" I repeated to myself. "It is not so; Severnius has de- ceived me. His sister is a sorceress; a — I don't know what! But no woman could preserve that majestic mien, that proud solenmity of countenanc-e, if she were sim- })ly — playing! There is a mysteiy here." I scrutinized every rider as they passed. There w^as not a man among them,- — all women. Their faces had all borrowed, or had tried to borrow, Elodia's queenly look. Many of them only burlesqued it. I^one were as beautiful as she. ^Ylien it was all over, and the mnsic had died away in the distance, we drove off, — Giddo threading his way with consnnnnate skill, which redounded much to his gloiy in certain circles he cared for, through the crowded thoroughfares. 66 IllnreUinii a parallel. I could not speak I'oi- many niimites, and Severnins was a man npon Avliom Hilence always fell at the rii^lit time. I never kncAV him to l^i'cak in n[)on another's mood for his own entertainment. ]S'or did he spy iip(m yonr thoughts; he left you free. By-and-by, I appealed to him: " Tell me, Severnins, what does it mean? " " This celebration V " returned he. " With pleasure. Giddo, yim may drive round for half an hoiu*, and then take us to the Auroras' Temple, — it is open to visitors to-day." We drew the robes closely, and settled ourselves moi'e comfortably, as we cleared the skirts of the crowd. It was grooving late and the air was filled with fine arrows of frost, touched by the last sunbeams, — their sharp little points stinging om* faces as we were borne along at our usual lively speed. "This society of the Auroras," said Se- vernins, "originated several centuries ago, in the time of a great famine. In those days the people were poor and im])rovident, and a single failure in their cro])s left them in a ■Qlnvdlinfl a parallel. 67 sorry condition. Some of the wealthiest women of the country banded themselves together and worked systematically for the relief of tiie sufferers. 'J'lieir faces a})peared so beautiful, and beamed with such a light of salvation as they Avent about from hut to hut, that they got the name of ^auroras' among the simple poor. And the}^ banished want and hunger so magically, that they were also called ^sorcerers'." "O, then, it is a charitable organization?"' I exclaimed, much relieved. "It was," replied Severnius. "It was in active oj^eration for a hundred or so years. Finally, when there was no more need of it, the State having imderlaken tlie care of its poor, it passed, into a sentiment, such as you have seen to-day." " A very costly and elaborate sentiment," I retorted. "Yes, audit is growing more so, all the time," said he. "I sometimes Avonder where it is going to stop! For those who, like Elodia, have plenty of money, it does not matter; but some of the Avomen Ave saAv in those costly rol3es and ornaments can ill af- 68 1Hnvcilin0 a parallel. I'oi'd llu-in, — lluy ]iK';iii less of coinloit in Iheir lionu'S and less of culture to their children." " I should think their hushands Avould not allow such a waste of money," I said, forgetting the social economy of Mars. "It does not cost any more than member- ship in the orders to which the hnsbands themselves belong," returned he. "They argue, of course, that they need the recrea- tion, and also that membership in such high- toned clnljs gives them and their children a better standing and greater influence in society." Severnius did not foi'get his usual cor- ollary, — the question with which he topped out every explanation he made about his country and people. " Have you nothing of the sort on the Earth?" he asked. "Among the Avomen? — we have not," I answered. " I did not specify," he said. " O, Avell, the men have, " I admitted ; " I belong to one such organization myself, — the City Guards." TUnvclUna a Iparallel. C9 '■ And 3'on g-iinrd llic city?" "Xo: there is iiothinji: to i>'iiai-(I it .li^ainst at jH'GScnit. It's a ' sentiment,' as yon say." '^And do yon ])ai-ade?" "Yes, of conrse, ni)on occasion, — there are certain g'reat amiiversaries in our na- tion's histoiy when we a])pear." ^'And wliy not yonr AvomenV" I smiled to myself, as I tried to fancy some oC the I^ew York ladies I knew, arrayed in gorgeous habiliments for an eqnestrian exhibition on Broadway. I re- plied, ^^Keally, Severnins, the idea is entirely new to me. I think they would regard it as highly absurd.'' "Do they regard you as absurd?" he asked, in that way of his Avhich I was often in doubt al)out, not knowing" whether he Avas in earnest or not. "I'm sure I do not know," I said. "They ma}, — our women have a keen I'elish for the ludicrous. Still, I cannot think that they do; they aj)pear to look upou us with t)i'i(le. And they ])ivsent us Avitli au clal)- orate silken ])anner about once a year, 70 innvdling a iparallcl. stitched together l^y tlieir own fair fingers and paid for ont of their oAvn pocket money. That does not look as tliongh they weva Laughing at us exactly." I said this as much to convince nl3^self as Severnius. The half-hour was up and Ave were at the Temple gate. The building, somewhat iso- lated, reared itself before us, a gi-and con- ception in chiseled marble, glinting in the l^rilliant lights shot upon it fi'om various high points. Already it was dai'k beyond the radius of these lights, — neither of the moons having yet appeared. Severnius dismissed the sleigh, saying that we would walk home, — the distance was not flu", — and we entered the grounds and proceeded to mount the flight of broad steps leading up to the magnificent arched entrance. The great carved doors, — the carvings were emblematic, — sAA^uig back and admitted us. The Temple was splendidl}' illuminated withm, and imagination c(mld not picture anything more imposing than the great central hall and winding stairs, visible all the way up to the dome. TUnvefUnfl a iparallel. 71 Below, on one side of tliis lofty liall, there were extensive and luxurious bntlis. Se- vernius said the meml)ers of the Order were fond of congregating here, — and. I did not wonder at that; nothing that ap- pertains to such an cstal)lishment was laelving. Chairs and sofas that we would call ''" Turkisli,'' tliick, soft rugs and carpets, pictures, statuaiy, mirrors, growing plants, rare flowers, Ixxd^s, nnisical iustruuients. And Severn i us told me the waters were delightful for bathing. The second story consisted of a series of spacious roouis divided from each otlier by costly j)ortieres, into which the various emblems and devices were woven in their pro])er tinctures. All of these I'ooms were as sumptuously furnished as those counected witli the baths ; and the decoi-atious, I tliought, wei-e even more beautiful, of a little higher or finer order. In one of the rooms a lady was playing upon an instrument resembling a harj). She di'o])ped hvv hands from the strings and came forward graciously. 72 "Qlnpeiliiui n parallel. "Perliaps avc are intruding?" said So- vernius. "Ah, no, indeed," she laughed, pleasantly; " no one could be more welcome hei-e than the brother of our Supreme Sorceress !" "IIa])py the man who has a disthiguished sister! " returned he. "I am unfortunate," she answered with a slight blush. " Severnius is always wel- come for his own sake." lie acknowledged tlie ccmipliment, and with a certain reluctance, I thought, said, "AVill you allow me, Claris, to introduce my friend — from another ])lnnet?" She took a smft step toward iiie and lield out her hand. " I have long had a great curiosity to meet you, sir," she said. I bowed low over her hand and nmniuired that her curiosity could not possibly equal the pleasure 1 felt in meeting her. She gjive Severnius a quick, questioning lo(dv. I believe she thouglit he had lold me something about her. lie let her think what she liked. "How is it vou ai-e here?" he asked. TUnvcUliHi a pnrallel. "-^ '*You mean instead of l)eiii^ with the others?" she retiuvued. "I have not been well lately, and I thought — or my hnsband thonglil — I had hetter not join the proces- sion. 1 am awaiting them here." As she s])oke, I noticed that .she was ratlier delicate looking. She was tall and slight, with large, bright eyes, and a trans[)Mi'ent comi)lexion. If l']lodia had not filled all s]jace in my consciousness I tliink T shoidd have been consideral)ly interested in her. I liked her frank, direct w^ay of meeting ns and talking to ns. We soon left her and continued onr explorations. I wanted to ask Severnins something about her, but I thought he avoided tlu! subject, lie told me, hoAvevei-, that her husband, Massiiia, was one of his closest friends. And then he added, ^'I wonder that she took his advice! " "Why so," I asked; ^'do not Avomen here cA'er take their hnsbands' advice?" "Claris is not in the hal)it of doing so," he returned with, I thought, some severity. And then he innnediately s])oke of some- thing else quite foreign to her. 74 'Clnvcilino a parallel. The third and last story comprised an im- mense hall or assembly room, and rows of dt't'p closets for the robes and paraphernalia of the members of the Order. In one of these closets a skeleton was suspendcnl from the ceiling and underneath it stood a cofhn. On a shelf w^'re three skulls wnth their ac- companying cross-bones, and several cruel- looking weapons. Severnius said he supposed these hid- eous tokens were employed in the initia- tion of new members. It seemed incredible. I thought that, if it were so, the JVIarsian women must have stronger nerves than ours. A great many beautiful marble columns and pillars sui)])orted the roof of the hall, and the walls had a curiously lluted appear- ance. There was a great deal of scTd])lure, not only figures, but flowers, vines, and all manner of decorations, — even di-aperies chiseled in marble that looked like frozen lace, with an awfid stillness in their ghostly folds. Thci-e was a magnificent cano])ied tin-one on an elevation like an old-fashioned pul})it, and scats for satellites on eitlier side, TUnvcfUnfl a parallel. 7o and at the base. If I had been alone, I wonkl liave gone np and knelt down before the throne, — for of conrsc that was whei-e Elodia 8at, — and I w^ould have kissed the yellow cushion on which her feet were w ont to rest when she wielded her jew^eled sce])- ter. The scepter, I observed, lay on the throne-chair. There was an orchestra, and there were "stations" for the various officials, and the walls w^ere adorned wdth innumerable cabal- istic insignia. I asked Severnins if he laiew^ the meaning of any of them. "How should I know^V " he replied in sur- prise. "Only the initiates understand those things." " Then these women keep their secrets," said I. " Yes, to be sure they do," he replied. The apartment to the right, on the entrance floor, opposite the baths, was the last we looked into, and w^as a magnifi- cent banrpiet hall. A servant Avho stood near the door opened it as though it liad been the door of a sln-ine, and no wondei"! It was a noble rooui in its dimensions and 76 TUnveilinii a parallel. ill all its unparalleled adoniiiK'iil.s and ap- l)iiitenancc's. The walls and ceiling' bristled with caii- delal)ra all alight. The tables, net for a baii- qnet, held everything that could charm the eye or tempt the api)etite in siieli a place. I observed a gi*eat many inverted stem- glasses of various exquisite styles and ])at- terns, including the thin,flaiMng goblets, as delicate as a lily-cup, Avhicli mean the same thing to IVIarsians as to us. " Do these women drink champagne at their banquets?" I asked, with a frown. ^'O, yes," replied Severnius. "A banquet Avoidd be rather tame without, woukbrt it? The Aiu'oras are not nnich given to drink, ordinarily, l)ut on occasions like this they are liable to indulge pretty freely." "Is it possible!" I could say no more than this, and Severnius went on: " The Aiu'oras, you see, are the cream of our society, — the elite, — jind costly drinks are ty])ical, in a way, of the highest refinement. Do you peo])le never drink Avine at your social gatherings?" ^^The men do, of course, but not the •mnvctlituT a Iparallcl. 77 women,"' I i-('])lic'(l in ;i toiu' which the whole coiiiinoiiweahh of Paleveria iniglit liave taken as a i"el)nke. "Ah, I feai- 1 shall never l)e able to i\u- derstand! " said he. "It is very coni'nsing- to my mind, this having* two codes — social as well as political — to apply separately to members of an identical commnnity. I don't see how you can draw the line so shar})ly. It is like having two distinct currents in a river-bed. ])on't the waters ever get mixed?" "You are facetious," I returned, coldly. "ISTo, really, I am in earnest," said he. "Do no women in your country ever do these things, — i)arade and drink wine, and the like, — which you say you men are not above doing?" I replied with considerable energy: " I have never before to-day seen women of any sort dress themselves up in conspic- uous uniforms and exhil)it themselves ])ul)- licly for the avowed purpose of being seen and making a sensation, except in circuses. And cii'cus Avomen, — well, they don't count. And of course we have a class of women 78 "Ulnvcilinii a iparallcl. Avho cnifk chainpagne bottles and even quaff other fiery liquors as freely as men, but I do not need to tell you what kind of creatures those ai'e." At that moment there Avei-e sounds of trami)ing' feet outside, and the oi'ehestra filed in at the farther end of the in as well as women; neither are at their best under such conditious. I think," he went on, "that I begin to uuderstand the distinc- tion Avhich you have curiou sly mi staken for a radical difference. Yoiu' women, you say, "Glnvdlfno a iparaUel. ^-'^ have alway.s been in a state of scmi-siibjee- tion— " "No, no," T ciied, "T never said so! On the conti-nry, they liold the very highest place "with ns; they are honored Avitli chiv- alrous devotion, cared for with the tenderest consideration. AYe men are their slaves, in reality, though they call us their lords; we work for them, endure hardships for them, give them all that we can of wealth, luxury, ease. And we defend them from danger and save them every annoyance in our power. They are the queens of our hearts and homes." "That may all be," he replied coolly, "but 3^ou admit that they have always been denied their political rights, and it follows that their social rights should be similarly limited. Long abstiuence from the indulgences which you regard as purely masculine, has re- sulted iu a habit merely, not a change in their nature." "Then thank hea\'en for their absti- nence!" T exclaimed. '"'' Tliat is all very well," he ])ersisted, "but you must concede that in the first place it 8C IllnvdUng a Iparallel. was forced upon them, and that was an in- justice, because tliey were intelligent beings and yonr e(iuals." "They ought to thank us for the injustice, then," I retoi'ted. "I beg your pardon! they ought not. IS^o doubt they are very lovely and innocent beings, and that your a\ orld is the better for them. But they, being restricted in other wa} s by man's authority, or his wishes, or by fear of his disfavor perhai)s, have acquired these gentle qualities at the expense of — or in the place of — others more essential to the foundation of character; I mean sti-ength, dignity, self-i'espect, and that which you once attributed to my sister, — responsi- bility." I was bursting with indignant things which T kinged to say, but my position was delicate, and I bit my tongue and was silent. I will tell you one thing, my heai't Avarmcd toward ni}^ gentle countiy women ! AYith all their follies and frivolities, Avith all theii- in- consistencies and iniaccountable Ava^-s, their whimsical fancies and petty tempers, their emotions and their suscej^tibiUty to new •Ulnvcilino a parallel. ^' isms and religions, they still reja-esented my highest and best ideals. And 1 thought of Elodia, sick npstairs from her last night's carousal, with contempt. (Tbaptcr 4. ELODIA. "If to her lot some female errors fall, Look to her face and you'll forget them all." — Pope. My contempt for Elodia vanished at the liivst intimation of lier ])re.senee. I had expected to meet her with an air of cokl superiority, but wlien she entered the din- ing-room that evening Avith lier usual care- less aphjuih, tlie ghmce with which she favored me rechiced me to my customary attitude toward her, — that of unquestioning admiration. Oiu* ])liysical natiuv is Aveak, and this Avoman dominated my senses com- })letely, Avith her 1)eauty, Avith her meh)dious voice, her singular magnetic attraction, and every casual expression of her face. On that particular CAcning, her dress AA^as more than ordinarily becoming, I thought. XHnvdlinG a (parallel. 89 She had left off some of the draperies she usually wore a])out her shoulders, and her round, perfeet waist was more fully disclosed iu outline. She was somewhat pale, and her eyes seemed larger and darker than their wont, and had deeper shadows. And a cer- tain air of languor that hung about her was an added gi*ace. She had, however, re- covered sufKciently from the dissipations of the day before to make herself uncommonly agreeable, and I never felt in a greater degree the charm and stinuilus of her presence and conversation. After dinner she ])receded us into the parlor, — which Avas unusual, for she was always too sparing of her society, and the most we saw of her was at dinner or luueheon time, — and crossed over to an alcove where stood a large and costly harp whose strings she knew well how to thrum. "Elodia, you have never sung for our friend,'' said Severnius. V She shook her head, and letting her eyes rest upon me half-unconsciously — almost as if I were not there in fact, for she had a peculiar way of looking at yon without act- 90 innveHind a parallel. iially seein^' yoii, — she went on picking ont the air she had started to j)hiy. I subjoined a l)eseeching look toiler l)rother's .sug'g'estive remark, bnt was not sure she noted it. But presently she began to sing and I dropped into a chair and sat spell-lxunid. Her voice was sweet, with a quality that stirred un- wonted feelings; but it was not that alone. As she stood there in the majesty of her gracious womanhood, her exquisite figure showing at its best, her eyes uplifted and a something that meant power radiating from her whole being, I felt that, do what she might, she Avas still the grandest civatui-e in that world to me! Soon after she had finished her song, while I was still in the thrall of it, a servant entered the room with a packet for Sever- nius, who opened and read it with evident surprise and delight. "Elodia ! " he cried, "those friends of mine, those Caskians from Liniismar, are coming to make ns a visit." *" Indeed ! " she answered, without much enthusiasm, and Severnius turned to me. "It is on your account, my friend, that I "lanvcilina a iParallcl. ••! am to be indebted to lliein for tliis great pleasure," he explained. "On my account?" said I. "Yes, they have heard about you, and are extremely anxious to make your acquaint- ance?" "They must be," said Elodia, "to cai-e to travel a thousand miles or so in order to do it." "Who are they, pray?" I asked. "They are a people so extraordinarily good," she said with a laugh, " so refined and sublimated, that they cast no shadow in the sun." Severnius gave her a look ot mild protest. "They are a race exactly like ourselves, outwardl} ," he said, "who inhabit a moun- tainous and very ])icturesque country called Caskia, in the northern ])art of this con- tinent." "O, that is where the Perfect Pair came from," I rejoined, remembering what he had told me al)out Man's origin on Mars. Elodia smiled. "Has Sevei'uius l)een en- tertaining you with our religious fables? " she asked. I glanced at him and saw that 92 "mnvcilino a parallel. he hud not lieaid; lie Avas finisliing liis letter. "You will be interested in these Caskians," he said to me animatedly as he folded it up; "I was. I spent some months in Limismar, their capital, once, studying. They have rare facilities for reading the heavens there, — I mean of their own contrivance, — beside their natural advantages; their high altitude and the clearness of the air." ^'And they name themselves after the planetoids and other heavenly bodies," interjected Elodia, "because they live so near the stars. What is the name of the superlative creature } on were so charmed with, Severnius ? " "I suppose 3 ou mean my friend Calypso's wife, Clytia," returned he. "O, yes, I remembei', — Clytia. Is she to fjivor us?" "Yes, and her husband and several others." "Any other women?" " One or two, I think." "And how are we to conduct ourselves during the \isitatiouy" Tnnvciling a iparallcl. 93 ^'As we ahvays do; you will not find that they will })ut any eon^^trai^t upon yon." "No, hardly," said Elodia, with a slight curl of the lip. I was ea<>er to hear more about these singidar 2^plc, — the more eager, perhaps, because the thought of them seemed to arouse Elodia to an unwonted degree of feeling and interest. Her eyes glowed intensely, and the color flamed brightly in her cheeks. I pressed a question or two upon Sever- nius, and he responded : '"'According to the traditions and annals of the Caskians, they began many thousiinds of years ago to train themselves toward the highest culture and most perfect develo])- ment of which mankind is capable. Their aim was nothing shoi-t of the Ideal, and they believed that the ideal Avas ]K)ssible. It took many centuries to counteract and finally to ci'adicate hereditary evils, bnt their courage and persc;verance did not give way, and they triniuphcd. They have dro])])ed tlie baser natural i)ro])ensities — " "As, in the course of evolution, it is said. 94 llnvciliiHi a iparallcl. certain species of animals dro])})ed their tails to become Man," internpted Elodia. She rose from the divan on which she had g-racefnlly disposed herself when she qnit playing, and glided from the room, sweep- ing a bow to lis as she vanished, before Sev- ernins or T could interpose an objection to her leaving ns. Althongh there Avas never any appearance of haste in her mannei", she had a swift celerity of movement which made it impossible to anticipate her intention. Severnins, however, did not care to inter- pose an objection, I think. He felt some- Avhat hurt by her sarcastic comments npon his friends, and he expanded more after she had gone. " Yon must certainly visit Lnnismar before yon leave Mars," he said. ^- You will feel well repaid for the trouble. It is a beautiful city, wonderful in its cleanness, in its dearth of i)overty and scpialor, and in the purity and elevation of its social tone. I think you will wish }ou might live thci"e always." There seemed to be a regret in his voice, and I asked: "dnveiling a parallel. 95 "Why (lid not you remain there? " "Because of my sister," he answered. "But she will many, doubtless." For some occult reason I hung upon his reply to this. He shook his head. ■^"I do not think she will," he said. "And she and I are all that are left of our family." "She does not like, — or she does not believe in these Caskians?" I hoped he Avould contradict me, and he did. I had come to found my judgments of people and of tilings upon Elodia's, even against the testimony of my reason. If she disap- proved of her brother's extraordinary friends and thought them an impossible people, why, then, I knew I should have misgivings of them, too; and I wanted to believe in them, not only on Severnius' accoinit, but because they pi-esented a curious study in psychology. "O, yes, she docs," he said. "She thinks that their })i-inciples ami their lives are all i-ight for themselves, Init would not be for her — or for us; and oiu* adoption of them would be simply a[)ish. She is genuine, and she detests imitation. She accepts herself — as 96 "Glnvciliim a ipaiaUd. she puts it — as slio found lu'i'self. God, Avbo niadt' all things, civated her upon a cer- tain plane of life, and with certain tastes, faculties, passions and pro])ensities, and that it is not her olHce to distiu'b or distort the order of His economy." "She does not argue thus in earnest," I depi'ecated. "It is difficult to tell when Elodia is in earnest," he replied. " She thinks my sanc- tuary in the top story of the house here, is a kind of weakness, because I brought the idea from Lunismar." " O, then, it is not common here in Thur- sia for people to have things of that sort in their homes ! " I said in surprise. " Yes, it has gotten to be rather common," he I'eplied. " Since you ])ut in yours? " He admitted that to be the case. "You must think that you have done your country a great good," I 1)egan enthusiasli- cally, "in introducing so beautiful an innova- tion, and — " "Y^ou are mislaken," he interrupted, ""I Ihink the contrary; because our ivich people, Tllnveiliiui a parallel. 97 and Home ^vlio arc not i"ich ])iit only ani1)i- tioiis, took it u[) as a fad, and I Lt'licNC it has really worked e^ il. It is considered ai"is- toci'atic to have one's own private shrine, and not to go to cluireli at all except in con- descension, to ])atronize the masses. Elodia saw clearly jnst how it W(Jiild be, before I began to carry out my plan. She has a log- ical mind, and her thought travels from one sequence to the next with unfailing accu- racy. I recall her saying' that one cannot superinduce the customs and habits of one society upon another of a different ordei-, without alTectaticm; and that you cannot put on a new religion, like a new garment, and feel yourself free in it." "Does she not believe, then, in progress, development?" "Only along the familiar lines. She thinks you can reach outward and uj)ward from yoin* natiu'al environment, but you must not tear yourself out of it with vio- lence. However, she admitted that my sanctuaiy was well enough for me, because of my having lived among the Caskians and studied their sublime ethics until I 98 Tllnvdlinfl' a IParallcl. grew into tlie meanings of them. But no person can take them second-hand from me, becanse I could not bi'ing away with me the inexpressible something which holds those people together in a perfect Unit. I can go to Caskia and catch the spirit of their religion, but I cannot bring Caskia here. It was a mistake in so far as my neigh- bors are concerned, since they only see in it, as I have said, a new fashion, a new diver- sion for their ennuied thoughts." " What is there peculiar about the religion of those i^eople?" I asked. "The most peculiar thing about it is that they live it, rather than profess it," he replied. "I don't think I understand," said T, and after a moment's consideration of the mat- ter in his own mind, he tried to make his meaning clear to me. " Do you often hear an upi'ight man pro- fessing his honesty? It is a part of himself. He is so free of the law which enjoins honesty that he never gives it a thought. So with the man who is truly religious, he has flung off the harness and no longer TUnveilino a parallel. 99 needs to guide himself by bit and rein, or measure liis conduct by the written code. My friends, the Caskians, have emancipated themselves from the thraldom of the law by absorbing its principles into themselves. It was like seed sown in the ground, the germs burst from the husk and shot npward; they are enio3'ing the flower and the fruit. That which all nations and peoples, and all individuals, prize and desire above every- thing else in life, is liberty. But I have seen few here in Palevei-ia who have any conception of the vast spiritual meanings of the word. AYe limit it to the physical ; we say ^personal' liberty, as though that were all. You admire the man of high courage, because in that one thing he is free. So with all the virtues, named and nnnamable; he is greatest who has loosed himself the most, who weighs anchor and sails away triumphant and free. But this is but a general picture of the Caskians; let me par- ticularize: we are forbidden to steal, by both our civil and religious canons, — the coarse- ness of such a command would offend them as much as a direct chai-ge of theft would 100 'Glnvcilino a parallel. oi'feiul you or iiiy.scir, ko exquisite is their sense of the rights of others, not only in the matter of property l)ut in a thousand subtle ways. Robbei-y in any form is impossible with them. They would think it a crying sin for one to take the slightest advantage of another, — nay, to neglect an opportimily to assist another in the acconii)lishment of his rightful pur})ose would be criminal. We, here on Mars, and you upon the Earth, have discovered very sensitive ek'ments in nature; they have discovered the same in their own souls. Their 2)erceptions are sin- gularly acute, their touch upon each other's lives finely delicate. Tn this res[)e(rt we compare witli them as the rude l)lacksmith compares Avilh the worker in precious metals." "Uut do tlie)- also c(mcern themselves with science?" J asked. "Assuredly," he answered. "Their in- ventions are remarkal)le, their methods infiniti'ly superior t(^ oui's. They believe in the triple nature, — the spiritual, the in- tellectual, and the physical, — and take equal pains in the development and culture of all." TUnvcilini^ a (parallel. 101 "How wonderCul!" I said, remcmheriiig that upon tlio Earth we have waves of ciil- tiii*e ])realvini;- over the laiul from time to time, spasmodic, and never the same; to-day it may he physical, to-morrow intellectnal, and l)y-and-hy a sn])erline s])iritnal ])h)om. l>ut, wliiehever it is, it saei'ifiees the oilier two and makes itself sni)reme. Sevei"nins Avent on. As he ])roceeded, I was strnek hy the fact that the ])rineiples of our Christian civilization formed the basis of Paleverian law. ^'I wanted to give yon some other in- stances," he said, ■'''of the ^pecnliarities' of the Caskians, as we started out with calling' them. There is a law with ns against bear- ing false witness; they hold each other in such honoi" and in such tendei'iiess, that the command is an idle hreatli. There is noth- ing mawkish or sentimental about this, however; thc}^ in fact, make no Airtne of it, any more than 3'on or I make a virtue of the things we do habitually — i)erha])s from imanalyzed motives of ])olicy. Von would not strike a man it' V'>'i knew he would iiit 1)aek and liuil you worse than he himself 102 ■Ulnvcilino a parallel. was Inii't; well, these people have Feiisil)ili- lies so finely devel()})ed, that a wrong done to another reacts npon themselves with ex- (piisile snffering-. The law and its penalties ai*e both unseen forces, operating on an in- ternal not an extei'nal ])lane. With ns, the authority which declares, ^Thou shalt not connnit adultery,' becomes powerless at the threshold of marriage. Like other such laws which hold ns together in an outwai'd appearance of decency and good order, it is a dead letter to them np to the point where we drop and trample ii])on it; here they take it ii]) and carry it into their inmost lives and thoughts in a way almost too fine for ns to comprehend. Because we have never so much as dreamed of catching the sj)irit of that law."" "What do you mean?"" I demanded, with a wide stai-e. ^'Why, that marriage does not sanction hist. The Caskians hold that the exercise of the procreative faculty is a divine func- tion, and should never be debased to mere animal indulgence. It has been said upon Divine Authority — as we believe — that if TUnvefUno a iparallel. 103 a mail look upon a woman to lust after her, he has committed adultery in his heart. The Caskians interpret that to mean a man's wife, the same as any other woman, because — they hold — one who owes his being to lust and passion naturally inherits the evil and the curse, just as surely as though wedlock had not concealed the crime. Their children are conceived in immaculate purity." My look of prolonged amazement called out the usual question: " Have you no such chiss in any of your highly civilized countries?" "Xo, I think not. With us, children do not come in answer to an intelligent desire for their existence, but are too often simply the result of indulgence, and so unwelcome that their ])re-natal life is over- shadowed by soi-row and crime." "^Well," said he, "it is the same here; our people believe that conce])tion with- out lust is an imjjossibility in nature, and that instances of it are supernatural. And certainly it is incredible unless your mind can grasp the problem, or rather the 104 'Clnvcilinci a parallel. f»-i'eat fact, of a ])e()ple engaged for centuries in eliminating tlie purel}" animal instincts fi'oni their consciousness." After a moment he added : " In Caskia it would be considered shock- ing if a i^air contemj)laling marriage were to provide themselves with only one suite of rooms, to l)e shared together day and night. Even the hnml)lest i)e()ple have their respective apartments; they think such sep- arateness is a])S()lutely essential to the per- fect development of the indivichial, — for in the main we eac-h must stand alone, — and to the preservation of moial dignity, and the line sentiment and nuilal res])ect which are almost certain to be h)st in the hiwless- ness of undue familiarit}'. The relation between my friend Cal^'pso and his wife is the tinest thing I evei' saw; they are lovers on the highest plane. It would be an impossibility i'or either of them to say or do a coarse or impi"()])er thing in the ()th('i'\s ])resence, or to ])resume, in any of the imui- nu'rable ways you and I are familiar with in our obser\'atious of husbands and wives, upon the marriage bond existing between "dnvdlinci a ipaiallel. lOr. them. Tills matter of animal passion," be went on, after a little pause, "has been at the bottom of nntold crimes, and unnum- bered miseries, in our land. I doubt if any other one thing has been prolific of more or greater evils, — even the greed of wealth. Men, and women, too, have sacrificed king- doms for it, have bartered their souls for it. Countless homes have been desolated be- cause of it, countless lives and hearts have been laid on its guilty altar. We ostracize the bastard; he is no more hnpui'e than the offspring of legalized licentiousness, and the law Aviiich protects the one and despises the other, cannot disci'iminate in the matter of aftereffects, cannot annul or enforce the curse of hei-edity. With these people the law of chastity is gi'aven in the inmost heart, and in this matter, as iu all others, each generation acknowledges its obligation to the next."' Chapter 5» THE VAPORIZER. "Portable ecstasies corkeil up in a pint bottle." — Dk Quincicv. I was glad when spring came, when the ti'ees began to bud, the grass to grow, the Mowers to bloom; for, of all the seas(ms, I like it best, — this wonderful resurrection of life and sweetness! Thursia is a fine city, — not only in its costly and arcliitecturally and aesthetically perfect buildings, ]Miblic and private, but in its shaded a\'c'uues, its parks, laAvns, gardens, fountains, its idyllic statues, and its monu- ments to greatness. Severnius took pains to exhil)it all its attractions to me, driving Avith me slowly through the beautiful streets, and ]X)inting out one conspicuous feature and another. 106 ■Clnvcilino a iparallel. 1^7 Of course tlic'i-c were some streets which were not beautiful, but he avoided those as much as possible, — as I have done myseli' when I have had friends visiting me in Kew York. It is a compliment to your guest to show him the best there is aud to spare him the worst. But often, too, we took long walks through fields and woods. When Elodia accompanied us, w^hich she did a few times, the whole ftice of nature smiled, and I thought Paleveria the most incomparal)ly charming country I had ever seen. Her presence gave importance to everything, — the song of a bird, the opening of a hmnble little flower, the babbling of water. But other things absorbed most of her tune, — we only got the scraps, the remnants. When she w^as with us she relaxed, as though we were in some sort a recreation. She amused herself with us just as I have seen a busy father amuse himself with his family Ibr an hour or so of an I'vening. Aud I think we really ])lanned our little theatri- cals of evening convei-sation for her, — at least I did. I saved up whatever came to 108 •Clnvcilino a parallel. me of thought or ineiclciit to give to her at the dinner table. And slie apprechited it; her mind bristled with keen points, nj^on whieh any ideas let loose were eanght in a Hash. The sudden illumination of her countenanee when a new thing, or even an (jld thing in a new di'ess, was presented to her, was of sueli value to me that I found myself lading traps for it, inventing stories and ineideuts to toueh her faney. Besides her banking interests, over whieh she kept a close surveillanee, she had a great many other matters that required to be looked after. As soon as the weather was fine enough, and business aetivities in the city began to be redoubled, especially in the matter of real estate, she made a point of driving about by herself to inspect one piece of propei'ty and auother, and to make plans and see that they were carried out according to her ideas. And she was just as conscientious in the discharge of her official duties. She was constantly devising means for the betterment of the schools, both as to buildings and methods of in- struction. 1 believe she knew every teacher tlnvciliuG a iparallel. 10-^ personally, — and tbei'c must have been sev- eral thousand, — and her relations with all of them were cordial and friendly. Her approbation was a thing they strove for and valued, — not because of her official position and the authority she held in her hands, but because of a power which was innate in herself and that made her a leader and a protector. But I was too selfish to yield my small right to her society, — the right only of a guest hi her house, — to these greater claims with absolute sweetness and patience. " Why does she take all these things upon herself?" I asked of Severnius. "Because she has a taste for them," he replied. " Or, as she would say, a need of them. Tt is an internal hunger. It is her natui'e to exert herself in these ways." "I cannot believe it is her nature; it is no woman's nature," 1 retorted. '"'" Ft is a habit which she has cultivated until it has got the mastery of her." " Perhaps," returned Severnius, who was never much disposed to argue about his sis- ter's vagaries — as they seemed tome. 110 'ClnvcUlno a ipavallcl. "All this is manni.sh," I went on. "There are other things for women to do. Why does she not give her time and attention to the softer graces, to feminine occupations?" "I see," he laughed; "you w^ant her to drop these weighty matters and devote her- self to amusing us! and you call that ^ feminine.' " I joined in his laugh ruefully. "Perhaps I am narrow, and selfish, too," I admitted; "but she is so charming, she brings so much into our conversations when- ever we can entice her to spend a moment with us." "Yes, that is true," he answered. "She gleans her ideas from a large and varied field." " I do not mean her ideas, so much as — well, as the delicious flavor of her presence and personality." "Her presence and her personality would not have much flavor, my friend, if she had no ideas, I am thinking." "O, yes, they would," I insisted. "They are the ether in which our own thoughts ex- TUnvciUng a iParallcl. l ' ' pand and take shape and color. They are the essence of her supreme beauty." He shook his head. " Beauty is nothing without intelligence. What is the camellia beside the rose? Elodia is the rose. She has several pleasing qualities that appeal to you at one and the same time." This was rather pretty, but a man's praises of his sister always sound tame to me. " She is adorable ! " I cried "with f er- voi'. We were walking toward a depot connected with a great railway. For the first time I was to try the speed of a Mars- ian train. Severnius wanted me to visit the city of Frambesco, some two hundred miles from Thursia, in another state. After a short, ruminating silence I broke out again : " We don't even have her comi)any even- ings, to any extent. What does she do with her evenings?" "Who? O, Elodia! Why, she goes to her club. For reci-eation, you knoAV." " That is complimentary to you and me," I said coolly. 112 "Glnvcilino a parallel. J Iv brought his spectacles to bear upon me somewhat sharply. " Don't you thmk you arc a little imrea- souable? " he demanded. "You have curi- ous ideas about individual liberty! N^ow, we hold that every soul shall be absolutely free, — that is, in its relations to other souls ; it shall not be coerced by any other. It is as though souls were stars suspended in space, each mo\ing' in its appointed orbit. No one has the right to disturb the poise and equilibrium of another, not even the one nearest it. That is a Caskian idea, by the way ; about the only one Elodia is enamored of. These souls, or si)heres, are extremely sensitive; and they may, and do, exert a tre- mendous influence, one upon another, — but Avithout violence." " Your meaning is clear," 1 said coldly. "My powers of attraction in this case are feeble. Is the club you speak of composed entirely of women?" " Certainly." " Do not the men here have clubs? " "O, 3^es; I belong to one, though I do not often attend. I will take you to visit it, — TUnvcilino a iparallel. 113 T woiuler I had not thought of it before! But those things are disturbing; we scien- tists hke to keep our minds clear, hke tlie lenses of our telescopes." "Is Elodia's club a literary one?" I asked, though I was almost sui-e it was not. "O, no; it is for recreation jiurely, as I said. The same kind of a club, I suppose, that you men have. Of course, they have the current literature, which they skim over and discuss, so as to keep themselves in- formed about what is going on in the woi'ld. It is the only way you can keep up with the times, I think, for no one can read everything. They have games and various diversions. Elodia's clul)liouse is furnislied witli elegant baths, for women have an exti'aordinary fondness for bathing. And they have a gynmasium, — you notice what splendid figures most of our women have! — and of course a wine cellar." '"'"Severnius!" 1 cried. " Ycm don't mean to tell me that these women have wines in their clubhouse?" "Why, yes," said he. 114 TUnvcUiiui a iparallcl. "And it is tolci-atecl, allowed, nobody objects?" " O, yes, there are plenty of objectors," he replied. "There is a very strong anti- intoxicant element here, but it lias no actual force and exerts but little influence in — in our circles." Severnius was too modest a man to boast of belonging to the up])er class of society, but that was what "our circles" meant. "But do not the male relatives of these women ' object, — their husbands, fathers, brothers?" "No, indeed, why shoidd they? We do the same things they do, without demur from them." "But they should be looking after their domestic affairs, their children, their homes." "My dear sir! they have servants to attend to those matters." It seemed useless to discuss these things with Severnius, his point of view concei'uing the woman question was so different from mine. Nevertheless, I persisted. "Tell me, Severnius, do women on this planet do everything that men do?" "Unveiling a iParallcl. 115 " They have that Uberty," he repHed, ^'hnt there is sometimes a difference of tastes." "I am glad to hear it! " "For instance, they do not smoke. By the way, have a cigar?" lie passed me his case and we both fired np. There is a peculiarly delightful flavor in Marsian tobacco. " They have a substitute though," he added, removing the fragrant weed from his lips to explain. " They vaporize." "Theyivhat?" "They have a small cup, a little larger than a common tobacco pipe, which they fill with alcohol and pulverized valerian root. This mixture when lighted diffuses a kiud of vapor, a po]-tion of which they inhale through the cii])-stem, a slender, tortuous tube attached to the cup. The mcjst of it, however, goes into the general air." " Good heavens ! " I cried, ^' valerian ! the most infernal, diabolical smell that was ever emitted from any known or unknown substance." " It is said io Ijc soothing to the nerves," he replied. 116 llnrcilini} a iparallcl. "But do you not Hud it lK)i'ril)ly disagree- able, uubearable?" I suddeuly recollected that, in passing through the ui)per hall of the house, I had once or twice detected this nauseating odoi*, in the neighborhood of Elodia'.s suite of rooms. "Yes, I do," he answered, " when I happen to come in contact with it, which is seldoui. They are careful not to offeud others to Avhom the vai)6r is luipleasaut. Elodia is very delicate in these matters; she is fond of the vapor hal)it, but she allows no suggestion of it to cliug to her garments or vitiate her breath." " It must be a great care to deodorize herself," I returned, with ill-concealed contempt. "That is her maid's business," said he. "Is it not injurious to health?" I asked. "Quite so; it often induces frightful diseases, and is sometimes fatal to life even, "And yet they ])ersist in it! I should think you would interfere in your sister's case." "Well," said he, "the evils which attend it are reall}^ no greater than those that wait ■mnvcUino a parallel. 117 upon the tobacco hal)it; and, as I smolv(>, T can't advise witli a very g'ood grace. I liave a sort of blind faith that these good cigars of mine are not going to do me any harm, — though I know tliey liave harmed others; and I suppose Elodia reasons in the same friendly way with her vapor cup." The train stood on the track ready to start. I was about to S])ring up the steps of the last car when Severnius stopped me. ''^ot that one," he said; ''that is the woman's special." I stepi)ed back, and ]-ead the word Vapor- izer, — j)i-inted in large gilt letters, — bent like a bow on the side of the car. " Do yon mean to tell me, Severnius," I exclaimed, "that the railroad company devotes one of these magnificent coaches exclusively to the use of persons addicted to the obnoxious ha1)it we have been speak- ing of ? " "That is al)out the size of it," he retui'ued, — he borrowed the ])hrase from me. '' Come, make haste, or we shall be left; the next car is the smoker; we'll step into that and 118 "mnvcilimi a parallel. finish those cigars, after ^vliieh I'll show you what sumptuous i)arl()r eoachos we have." As we uiouuted to the ])hitform I could not resist glancing into the Ycqyorizer. There Avere only two or thi'ce ladies there, and one of them held in her ungloved hand the little cup with the tortuous stem which my fi'iend had desci-ihed to me. From it there issued a pale l)lue smoke or vapor, and oh ! the smell of it ! I held nw breath and hurried after Severnius. " That is the most outrageous, abominable thing* I ever heard of! "I declared, as we entered the smoker and took our seats. " O, it is nothing," he returned, smiling ; "you are a very fastidious fellow. I saw you look into that car; did you observe the lady in blue?" " I should think I did ! she was in the act," I replied. "And I recognized her, too; she is that Madam Claris you introduced me to in the Auroras' Temple, is she not?" "Yes; but did you notice her cup?" " T^ot particularly." " It is carved out of the rarest wood we have, — wood that hardens like stone with ■mnvcilinc? a parallel. 1^9 age, — and has an in(lL'structil)lo lining and is Htndded with costly gems; the thing is celelirated, an heirloom in Claris' family. They like to si)ort those things, the owners of them do. They are a mark of distinction, — or, as they might say in some of your countries, a patent of nobility." " I suppose, then, that only the rich and the ai'istocratic ^ vaporize ' ? " "By no means; Avhatever the aristocracy do, humble folk essay to imitate. These vapor cups are made in great quantities, of the commonest clay, and sold for a penny apiece." " Then it must be a natural taste, among your women?" said I. "T^o, no more than smoking is among men. They say it is nauseating in the extreme, at first, and requires great courage and persist- ence to continue in it up to the point of lik- ing. Thei'e is no doubt that it becomes very agreeable to them in the end, and that it is almost impossible to break the habit when once it is fixed." "And what do they do with their cups, — 120 TUnvellinfl a parallel. I mean, how do tlic}^ cany them about when they arc not using them?" I asked. "Puttliein in a morocco case, tlie same as yon would a meerschamn, and drop them into a fancifnl little bag which they wear on the arm, suspended by a chain or ri])l)on." Frambesco could not comj^are with Thur- sia either in size or beauty; and it had a totally different air, a kind of swagger, you might say. I felt the mercury in my moi'al barometer drop down several degrees as we Avalked al)out the streets amid much filth, and i'oul odors, and unsightly sjjcctacles. I made the natural comments to my friend, and he replied that neither Frambesco nor any other city on the continent could hold a candle to Thiu-sia, where the best of every thing was centered. AVe observed a great many enormous ])la- cards j^osted about conspicuously, announc- ing a game of fisticuffs to take place that afternoon in an amphitheatre devoted to such purposes; and Ave decided to look in upon it. I think it was [ who suggested it, for I had no little curiosity about the " tac- tics" of the manlv nrt in that counti-y, hav- "mnveiUno a iparallcl. 121 mg; seen Sulllvau and several other I'ainous liitters in onr own. Severnins had considerable dilVienlty in ])i'oein'iii.<;- tickets, and finally paid a fabidons ])i-iee to a specnlator foi' convenient seats, ^riu' g-reat cost of admission of conrse kept out the rabble, and, in a way, it was an em- inently respectable throng that was assem- bled, — r mean in so far as money and rich clotbes make for respectability. Bnt there was an numistakal)le coarseness in most of the I'accs, or if not thai, a curiosity which l)ordered ou coarseness. I was amazed to see wouien in the andicnce; but this was nothing to the horror that qnivered Ihrough me like a deadly wonnd, when the couibat- ants sprang- into the arena and s(|uared off for action. For they, too, were women, — women with tender, i"osy flesh ; Avith splen- did dark eyes gleaming with high excite- ment, ^riieir long, fail' h;iir was braided and twisted into a hard knot on loj) of the head. '^^I^h^'y wore no gloves. All, a woman's hands are soft enough without padding! — I thought. They went at it in scientific fashi