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subterranean； the climate was like that of California； and citrus fruits； figs；
and olives grew abundantly。
What impressed me particularly was their scheme of fertilization。
Here was this little shut…in piece of land where one would have thought an
ordinary people would have been starved out long ago or reduced to an
annual struggle for life。 These careful culturists had worked out a perfect
scheme of refeeding the soil with all that came out of it。 All the scraps
and leavings of their food； plant waste from lumber work or textile
industry； all the solid matter from the sewage； properly treated and
combined everything which came from the earth went back to it。
The practical result was like that in any healthy forest； an
increasingly valuable soil was being built； instead of the progressive
impoverishment so often seen in the rest of the world。
When this first burst upon us we made such approving
comments that they were surprised that such obvious common sense
should be praised； asked what our methods were； and we had some
difficulty inwell； in diverting them； by referring to the extent of our own
land； and theadmittedcarelessness with which we had skimmed the
cream of it。
At least we thought we had diverted them。 Later I found that
besides keeping a careful and accurate account of all we told them； they
had a sort of skeleton chart； on which the things we said and the things we
palpably avoided saying were all set down and studied。 It really was
child's play for those profound educators to work out a painfully accurate
estimate of our conditions in some lines。 When a given line of
observation seemed to lead to some very dreadful inference they always
gave us the benefit of the doubt； leaving it open to further knowledge。
Some of the things we had grown to accept as perfectly natural； or as
belonging to our human limitations； they literally could not have believed；
and； as I have said； we had all of us joined in a tacit endeavor to conceal
much of the social status at home。
〃Confound their grandmotherly minds！〃 Terry said。 〃Of course
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they can't understand a Man's World！ They aren't human they're just a
pack of Fe…Fe…Females！〃 This was after he had to admit their
parthenogenesis。
〃I wish our grandfatherly minds had managed as well；〃 said Jeff。
〃Do you really think it's to our credit that we have muddled along with all
our poverty and disease and the like？ They have peace and plenty；
wealth and beauty； goodness and intellect。 Pretty good people； I think！〃
〃You'll find they have their faults too；〃 Terry insisted； and partly
in self…defense； we all three began to look for those faults of theirs。 We
had been very strong on this subject before we got therein those baseless
speculations of ours。
〃Suppose there is a country of women only；〃 Jeff had put it； over
and over。 〃What'll they be like？〃
And we had been cocksure as to the inevitable limitations； the
faults and vices； of a lot of women。 We had expected them to be given
over to what we called 〃feminine vanity〃〃frills and furbelows；〃 and we
found they had evolved a costume more perfect than the Chinese dress；
richly beautiful when so desired； always useful； of unfailing dignity and
good taste。
We had expected a dull submissive monotony； and found a
daring social inventiveness far beyond our own； and a mechanical and
scientific development fully equal to ours。
We had expected pettiness； and found a social consciousness
besides which our nations looked like quarreling children feebleminded
ones at that。
We had expected jealousy； and found a broad sisterly affection； a
fair…minded intelligence； to which we could produce no parallel。
We had expected hysteria； and found a standard of health and
vigor； a calmness of temper； to which the habit of profanity； for instance；
was impossible to explainwe tried it。
All these things even Terry had to admit； but he still insisted that
we should find out the other side pretty soon。
〃It stands to reason； doesn't it？〃 he argued。 〃The whole thing's
deuced unnaturalI'd say impossible if we weren't in it。 And an unnatural
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condition's sure to have unnatural results。 You'll find some awful
characteristicssee if you don't！ For instancewe don't know yet what
they do with their criminals their defectivestheir aged。 You notice we
haven't seen any！ There's got to be something！〃
I was inclined to believe that there had to be something； so I
took the bull by the hornsthe cow； I should say！and asked Somel。
〃I want to find some flaw in all this perfection；〃 I told her flatly。
〃It simply isn't possible that three million people have no faults。 We are
trying our best to understand and learnwould you mind helping us by
saying what； to your minds； are the worst qualities of this unique
civilization of yours？〃
We were sitting together in a shaded arbor； in one of those
eating…gardens of theirs。 The delicious food had been eaten； a plate of
fruit still before us。 We could look out on one side over a stretch of open
country； quietly rich and lovely； on the other； the garden； with tables here
and there； far apart enough for privacy。 Let me say right here that with
all their careful 〃balance of population〃 there was no crowding in this
country。 There was room； space； a sunny breezy freedom everywhere。
Somel set her chin upon her hand； her elbow on the low wall
beside her； and looked off over the fair land。
〃Of course we have faultsall of us；〃 she said。 〃In one way
you might say that we have more than we used tothat is； our standard of
perfection seems to get farther and farther away。 But we are not
discouraged； because our records do show gain considerable gain。
〃When we beganeven with the start of one particularly noble
motherwe inherited the characteristics of a long race… record behind her。
And they cropped out from time to time alarmingly。 But it isyes；
quite six hundred years since we have had what you call a ‘criminal。'
〃We have； of course； made it our first business to train out； to
breed out； when possible； the lowest types。〃
〃Breed out？〃 I asked。 〃How could youwith
parthenogenesis？〃
〃If the girl showing the bad qualities had still the power to
appreciate social duty； we appealed to her； by that； to renounce
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motherhood。 Some of the few worst types were； fortunately； unable to
reproduce。 But if the fault was in a disproportionate egotismthen the
girl was sure she had the right to have children； even that hers would be
better than others。〃
〃I can see that；〃 I said。 〃And then she would be likely to rear
them in the same spirit。〃
〃That we never allowed；〃 answered Somel quietly。
〃Allowed？〃 I queried。 〃Allowed a mother to rear her own
children？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 said Somel； 〃unless she was fit for that supreme
task。〃
This was rather a blow to my previous convictions。
〃But I thought motherhood was for each of you〃
〃Motherhoodyes； that is； maternity； to bear a child。 But
education is our highest art； only allowed to our highest artists。〃
〃Education？〃