Another World | Page 2

most of his communications, and invites consideration of the fragments, as suggestive of much that concerns the welfare of mankind, the question as to their source being provisionally left open. The man of science, the poet, the metaphysician, the philanthropist, the musician, the observer of manners, even the general reader who merely seeks to be amused, will, it is hoped, find something interesting in the following pages. Let all, therefore, taste the fruit and judge of its flavour, though they do not behold the tree; profit by the diamonds, though they know not how they were extracted from the mine; accept what is found to be wholesome and fortifying in the waters, though the source of the river is unknown.
Lest, in thus expatiating on the value of his communications, the Editor should be thought to have overstepped the bounds of good taste, he would have it perfectly understood that he is not speaking of his own productions, and that whatever the merit of the fragments may be, that merit does not belong to himself. He is an Editor and an Editor only; and he therefore feels himself as much at liberty to express his opinion of the contents of the following pages as the most impartial critic.
He will even admit that he is not blind to their defects and shortcomings. If the fragments had been less fragmentary, and fuller information had been offered on the various subjects which fall under consideration, he would have been better satisfied. Nevertheless, he reflects that it would be hardly reasonable to expect in facts made known under exceptional circumstances, that fulness of detail which we have a right to demand, when on our own planet we essay to make discoveries at the cost only of labour and research. He looks upon the fragments as "intellectual aerolites," which have dropped here, uninfluenced by the will of man; as varied pieces detached from the mass of facts which constitute the possessions of another planet, and rather as thrown by nature into rugged heaps than as having been symmetrically arranged by the hand of an artist. Want of unity under these circumstances is surely excusable.
One observation as to a matter of mere detail. Words, in the language of the Star, are occasionally given in letters which represent the sounds only, and will often be found to resemble words in some of our ancient and modern languages. The very name of the City "Montalluyah," to which all the fragments refer, is apparently compounded of heterogeneous roots, one of Aryan the other of Semitic origin. These seeming accidents, if such they be, must not be attributed to either carelessness or design on the part of the Editor; nor does he attempt to explain them. The reader may, if he please, account for the causes of resemblance by considering that the number of articulate sounds is limited, and that, therefore, the variety of words cannot be altogether boundless; or he may take higher ground, and assume that in whatever planet spoken, all languages have the Same Divine Origin.
In conclusion: When these revelations or others derived from the same source have succeeded in establishing a confidence between the Editor and his readers, it is more than probable that the secret of the source itself will be disclosed. That disclosure made in due season will bring to light some unprecedented, but most interesting facts, and will establish the important truth, that the soul of man is IMMATERIAL and IMMORTAL.

CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION Page xxiii
I.--MONTALLTUYAH.
One of the Star worlds--Strangeness of its customs--The Narrator and his aspirations--Former state of Montalluyah--Wars--Increase of population and decrease of supplies--Can man be brought to seek knowledge as ardently as money?--The Narrator's meditations, labours, and advancement--Faith
II.--VYORA.
The beggar seeks admission to the Palace--The incident which brings him to the Narrator--Some account of Vyora--Appointed Chief of the Character-divers--Reflection
III--PERSEVERANCE.
Maturing plans--How received by the Counsellors--Narrator's resolution--Prepares for death--His triumph--Subjects of Legislation
IV.--LIGHT FROM DARKNESS.
Secret powers in Nature--Effectually wielded by the Good only--False Prophets--Narrator carries out his plans without bloodshed--Great feature of the System--Mighty consequences--Evils forced to contribute to Good--Examples--Insects--Hippopotami--The Fever Wind--Lightning--The Sun--Seasons of Darkness--Fears of the People--Darkness changed to Light--The City radiant--Music and rejoicing
V.--CHARACTER-DIVERS--EDUCATION.
Grave duties entrusted to them--Stronghold of evils to be eradicated--Men of Genius following antipathetic occupations--Early eradication of faults and development of qualities--Visits to Schools--Defects--One routine for all characters--Neglecting minor qualities in Boys of Genius--Precept-cramming--Bad habits--Character-divers created--Sole occupation to discover Child's early tendencies--Duties distinct from those of Preceptors or Fathers of Knowledge--Germ of evils destroyed
VI.--CORRECTION OF FAULTS.
Remedies employed vary with characteristics--Absence of violent punishment--Children to be raised, not degraded--Animals not corrected by blows--Example--Pupil not corrected by the imposition of tasks--Child encouraged to regard study as a privilege--Correction effected by gentleness--Time, labour, &c., bestowed unsparingly--Even when fault seems eradicated fresh tests applied--Adult offenders--Child of genius watched with reference to superior refinement--Economy of sparing nothing in educating