herland(她乡)-第21节
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honored。）
〃But what I do not understand； naturally； is how you prevent it。 I
gathered that each woman had five。 You have no tyrannical husbands to
hold in checkand you surely do not destroy the unborn〃
The look of ghastly horror she gave me I shall never forget。 She
started from her chair； pale； her eyes blazing。
〃Destroy the unborn！〃 she said in a hard whisper。 〃Do men do
that in your country？〃
〃Men！〃 I began to answer； rather hotly； and then saw the gulf
before me。 None of us wanted these women to think that OUR women；
of whom we boasted so proudly； were in any way inferior to them。 I am
ashamed to say that I equivocated。 I told her of certain criminal types of
womenperverts； or crazy； who had been known to commit infanticide。 I
told her； truly enough； that there was much in our land which was open to
criticism； but that I hated to dwell on our defects until they understood us
and our conditions better。
And； making a wide detour； I scrambled back to my question of
how they limited the population。
As for Somel； she seemed sorry； a little ashamed even； of her too
clearly expressed amazement。 As I look back now； knowing them better；
I am more and more and more amazed as I appreciate the exquisite
courtesy with which they had received over and over again statements and
admissions on our part which must have revolted them to the soul。
She explained to me； with sweet seriousness； that as I had
supposed； at first each woman bore five children； and that； in their eager
desire to build up a nation； they had gone on in that way for a few
centuries； till they were confronted with the absolute need of a limit。
This fact was equally plain to allall were equally interested。
They were now as anxious to check their wonderful power as
they had been to develop it； and for some generations gave the matter their
most earnest thought and study。
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〃We were living on rations before we worked it out；〃 she said。
〃But we did work it out。 You see； before a child comes to one of us there
is a period of utter exaltationthe whole being is uplifted and filled with a
concentrated desire for that child。 We learned to look forward to that
period with the greatest caution。 Often our young women； those to
whom motherhood had not yet come； would voluntarily defer it。 When
that deep inner demand for a child began to be felt she would deliberately
engage in the most active work； physical and mental； and even more
important； would solace her longing by the direct care and service of the
babies we already had。〃
She paused。 Her wise sweet face grew deeply； reverently
tender。
〃We soon grew to see that mother…love has more than one
channel of expression。 I think the reason our children are soso fully
loved； by all of us； is that we neverany of ushave enough of our own。〃
This seemed to me infinitely pathetic； and I said so。 〃We have
much that is bitter and hard in our life at home；〃 I told her； 〃but this seems
to me piteous beyond wordsa whole nation of starving mothers！〃
But she smiled her deep contented smile； and said I quite
misunderstood。
〃We each go without a certain range of personal joy；〃 she said；
〃but rememberwe each have a million children to love and serveOUR
children。〃
It was beyond me。 To hear a lot of women talk about 〃our
children〃！ But I suppose that is the way the ants and bees would talkdo
talk； maybe。
That was what they did； anyhow。
When a woman chose to be a mother； she allowed the child…
longing to grow within her till it worked its natural miracle。 When she did
not so choose she put the whole thing out of her mind； and fed her heart
with the other babies。
Let me seewith us； childrenminors； that isconstitute about
three…fifths of the population； with them only about one… third； or less。
And precious！ No sole heir to an empire's throne； no solitary
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millionaire baby； no only child of middle…aged parents； could compare as
an idol with these Herland children。
But before I start on that subject I must finish up that little
analysis I was trying to make。
They did effectually and permanently limit the population in
numbers； so that the country furnished plenty for the fullest； richest life for
all of them： plenty of everything； including room； air； solitude even。
And then they set to work to improve that population in quality
since they were restricted in quantity。 This they had been at work on；
uninterruptedly； for some fifteen hundred years。 Do you wonder they
were nice people？
Physiology； hygiene； sanitation； physical cultureall that line of
work had been perfected long since。 Sickness was almost wholly
unknown among them； so much so that a previously high development in
what we call the 〃science of medicine〃 had become practically a lost art。
They were a clean…bred； vigorous lot； having the best of care； the most
perfect living conditions always。
When it came to psychologythere was no one thing which left
us so dumbfounded； so really awed； as the everyday working knowledge
and practicethey had in this line。 As we learned more and more of it；
we learned to appreciate the exquisite mastery with which we ourselves；
strangers of alien race； of unknown opposite sex； had been understood and
provided for from the first。
With this wide； deep； thorough knowledge； they had met and
solved the problems of education in ways some of which I hope to make
clear later。 Those nation…loved children of theirs compared with the
average in our country as the most perfectly cultivated； richly developed
roses compare withtumbleweeds。 Yet they did not SEEM 〃cultivated〃 at
allit had all become a natural condition。
And this people； steadily developing in mental capacity； in will
power； in social devotion； had been playing with the arts and sciencesas
far as they knew themfor a good many centuries now with inevitable
success。
Into this quiet lovely land； among these wise； sweet； strong
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women； we； in our easy assumption of superiority； had suddenly arrived；
and now； tamed and trained to a degree they considered safe； we were at
last brought out to see the country； to know the people。
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CHAPTER 7
Our Growing Modesty
Being at last considered sufficiently tamed and trained to be trusted
with scissors； we barbered ourselves as best we could。 A close…trimmed
beard is certainly more comfortable than a full one。 Razors； naturally；
they could not supply。
〃With so many old women you'd think there'd be some razors；〃
sneered Terry。 Whereat Jeff pointed out that he never before had seen
such complete absence of facial hair on women。
〃Looks to me as if the absence of men made them more
feminine in that regard； anyhow；〃 he suggested。
〃Well； it's the only one then；〃 Terry reluctantly agreed。 〃A less
feminine lot I never saw。 A child apiece doesn't seem to be enough to
develop what I call motherliness。〃
Terry's idea of motherliness was the usual one； involving a baby
in arms； or 〃a little flock about her knees；〃 and the complete absorption of
the mother in said baby or flock。 A motherliness which dominated
society； whi
