The Coming Race | Page 9

road, were many forms similar to those I
had already seen. Some of the passers-by, on observing me, approached
my guide, evidently by their tones, looks, and gestures addressing to
him inquiries 18about myself. In a few moments a crowd collected
around us, examining me with great interest, as if I were some rare wild
animal. Yet even in gratifying their curiosity they preserved a grave
and courteous demeanour; and after a few words from my guide, who
seemed to me to deprecate obstruction in our road, they fell back with a
stately inclination of head, and resumed their own way with tranquil
indifference. Midway in this thoroughfare we stopped at a building that
differed from those we had hitherto passed, inasmuch as it formed three
sides of a vast court, at the angles of which were lofty pyramidal towers;
in the open space between the sides was a circular fountain of colossal
dimensions, and throwing up a dazzling spray of what seemed to me
fire. We entered the building through an open doorway and came into
an enormous hall, in which were several groups of children, all
apparently employed in work as at some great factory. There was a
huge engine in the wall which was in full play, with wheels and
cylinders resembling our own steam-engines, except that it was richly
ornamented with precious stones and metals, and appeared to emanate a
pale phosphorescent atmosphere of shifting light. Many of the children
were at some mysterious work on this machinery, others were seated
before tables. I was not allowed to linger long enough to examine into
the nature of their employment. Not one young voice was heard- not
one young face turned to gaze on us. They were all still and indifferent
as may be ghosts, through the midst of which pass unnoticed the forms
of the living.
Quitting this hall, my guide led me through a gallery richly painted in
compartments, with a barbaric mixture of gold in the colours, like
pictures by Louis Cranach. The subjects described on these walls
appeared to my glance as intended to illustrate events in the history of
the race amidst which I was admitted. In all there were figures, most of

them like the manlike creatures I had seen, but not all in the same
fashion of garb, nor all with wings. There were also the effigies of
19various animals and birds, wholly strange to me, with backgrounds
depicting landscapes or buildings. So far as my imperfect knowledge of
the pictorial art would allow me to form an opinion, these paintings
seemed very accurate in design and very rich in colouring, showing a
perfect knowledge of perspective, but their details not arranged
according to the rules of composition acknowledged by our artists-
wanting, as it were, a centre; so that the effect was vague, scattered,
confused, bewildering- they were like heterogeneous fragments of a
dream of art.
We now came into a room of moderate size, in which was assembled
what I afterwards knew to be the family of my guide, seated at a table
spread as for repast. The forms thus grouped were those of my guide's
wife, his daughter, and two sons. I recognised at once the difference
between the two sexes, though the two females were of taller stature
and ampler proportions than the males; and their countenances, if still
more symmetrical in outline and contour, were devoid of the softness
and timidity of expression which give charm to the face of woman as
seen on the earth above. The wife wore no wings, the daughter wore
wings longer than those of the males.
My guide uttered a few words, on which all the persons seated rose,
and with that peculiar mildness of look and manner which I have before
noticed, and which is, in truth, the common attribute of this formidable
race, they saluted me according to their fashion, which consists in
laying the right hand very gently on the head and uttering a soft sibilant
monosyllable- S.Si, equivalent to "Welcome."
The mistress of the house then seated me beside her, and heaped a
golden platter before me from one of the dishes.
While I ate (and though the viands were new to me, I marvelled more at
the delicacy than the strangeness of their flavour), my companions
conversed quietly, and, so far as I could detect, with polite avoidance of
any direct reference to myself, or any 20obtrusive scrutiny of my
appearance. Yet I was the first creature of that variety of the human

race to which I belong that they had ever beheld, and was consequently
regarded by them as a most curious and abnormal phenomenon. But all
rudeness is unknown to this people, and the youngest child is taught to
despise any vehement emotional demonstration.