herland(她乡)-第17节
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implements of the time； and a most fertile land to work in。
There were a handful of the younger matrons who had escaped
slaughter； and a few babies were born after the cataclysm but only two
boys； and they both died。
For five or ten years they worked together； growing stronger and
wiser and more and more mutually attached； and then the miracle
happenedone of these young women bore a child。 Of course they all
thought there must be a man somewhere； but none was found。 Then they
decided it must be a direct gift from the gods； and placed the proud mother
in the Temple of Maaia their Goddess of Motherhoodunder strict watch。
And there； as years passed； this wonder…woman bore child after child； five
of themall girls。
I did my best； keenly interested as I have always been in
sociology and social psychology； to reconstruct in my mind the real
position of these ancient women。 There were some five or six hundred of
them； and they were harem…bred； yet for the few preceding generations
they had been reared in the atmosphere of such heroic struggle that the
stock must have been toughened somewhat。 Left alone in that terrific
orphanhood； they had clung together； supporting one another and their
little sisters； and developing unknown powers in the stress of new
necessity。 To this pain…hardened and work…strengthened group； who had
lost not only the love and care of parents； but the hope of ever having
children of their own； there now dawned the new hope。
Here at last was Motherhood； and though it was not for all of
them personally； it mightif the power was inheritedfound here a new
race。
It may be imagined how those five Daughters of Maaia；
Children of the Temple； Mothers of the Futurethey had all the titles that
love and hope and reverence could givewere reared。 The whole little
nation of women surrounded them with loving service； and waited；
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between a boundless hope and an equally boundless despair； to see if they；
too； would be mothers。
And they were！ As fast as they reached the age of twenty…five
they began bearing。 Each of them； like her mother； bore five daughters。
Presently there were twenty…five New Women； Mothers in their own right；
and the whole spirit of the country changed from mourning and mere
courageous resignation to proud joy。 The older women； those who
remembered men； died off； the youngest of all the first lot of course died
too； after a while； and by that time there were left one hundred and fifty…
five parthenogenetic women； founding a new race。
They inherited all that the devoted care of that declining band of
original ones could leave them。 Their little country was quite safe。 Their
farms and gardens were all in full production。 Such industries as they
had were in careful order。 The records of their past were all preserved；
and for years the older women had spent their time in the best teaching
they were capable of； that they might leave to the little group of sisters and
mothers all they possessed of skill and knowledge。
There you have the start of Herland！ One family； all descended
from one mother！ She lived to a hundred years old； lived to see her
hundred and twenty…five great…granddaughters born； lived as Queen…
Priestess…Mother of them all； and died with a nobler pride and a fuller joy
than perhaps any human soul has ever knownshe alone had founded a
new race！
The first five daughters had grown up in an atmosphere of holy
calm； of awed watchful waiting； of breathless prayer。 To them the
longed…for motherhood was not only a personal joy； but a nation's hope。
Their twenty…five daughters in turn； with a stronger hope； a richer； wider
outlook； with the devoted love and care of all the surviving population；
grew up as a holy sisterhood； their whole ardent youth looking forward to
their great office。 And at last they were left alone； the white…haired First
Mother was gone； and this one family； five sisters； twenty…five first
cousins； and a hundred and twenty…five second cousins； began a new race。
Here you have human beings； unquestionably； but what we were
slow in understanding was how these ultra…women； inheriting only from
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women； had eliminated not only certain masculine characteristics； which
of course we did not look for； but so much of what we had always thought
essentially feminine。
The tradition of men as guardians and protectors had quite died
out。 These stalwart virgins had no men to fear and therefore no need of
protection。 As to wild beaststhere were none in their sheltered land。
The power of mother…love； that maternal instinct we so highly
laud； was theirs of course； raised to its highest power； and a sister…love
which； even while recognizing the actual relationship； we found it hard to
credit。
Terry； incredulous； even contemptuous； when we were alone；
refused to believe the story。 〃A lot of traditions as old as Herodotusand
about as trustworthy！〃 he said。 〃It's likely women just a pack of
womenwould have hung together like that！ We all know women can't
organizethat they scrap like anything are frightfully jealous。〃
〃But these New Ladies didn't have anyone to be jealous of；
remember；〃 drawled Jeff。
〃That's a likely story；〃 Terry sneered。
〃Why don't you invent a likelier one？〃 I asked him。 〃Here ARE
the womennothing but women； and you yourself admit there's no trace of
a man in the country。〃 This was after we had been about a good deal。
〃I'll admit that；〃 he growled。 〃And it's a big miss； too。
There's not only no fun without 'emno real sportno competition； but
these women aren't WOMANLY。 You know they aren't。〃
That kind of talk always set Jeff going； and I gradually grew to
side with him。 〃Then you don't call a breed of women whose one
concern is motherhoodwomanly？〃 he asked。
〃Indeed I don't；〃 snapped Terry。 〃What does a man care for
motherhoodwhen he hasn't a ghost of a chance at fatherhood？ And
besideswhat's the good of talking sentiment when we are just men
together？ What a man wants of women is a good deal more than all this
‘motherhood'！〃
We were as patient as possible with Terry。 He had lived about
nine months among the 〃Colonels〃 when he made that outburst； and with
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no chance at any more strenuous excitement than our gymnastics gave us
save for our escape fiasco。 I don't suppose Terry had ever lived so long
with neither Love； Combat； nor Danger to employ his superabundant
energies； and he was irritable。 Neither Jeff nor I found it so wearing。 I
was so much interested intellectually that our confinement did not wear on
me； and as for Jeff； bless his heart！he enjoyed the society of that tutor of
his almost as much as if she had been a girlI don't know but more。
As to Terry's criticism； it was true。 These women； whose
essential distinction of motherhood was the dominant note of their whole
culture； were strikingly deficient in what we call 〃femininity。〃 This led
me very promptly to the conviction that those 〃feminine charms〃 we are
so fond of are not feminine at all； but mere reflected masculinity
developed to please us because they had to please us； and in no way
essential to the real fulfillment of their great
