the coming race(一个即临种族)-第7节
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American Republic； in which Europe enviously seeks its model and
tremblingly foresees its doom。 Selecting for an example of the social life
of the United States that city in which progress advances at the fastest rate；
I indulged in an animated description of the moral habits of New York。
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Mortified to see； by the faces of my listeners； that I did not make the
favourable impression I had anticipated； I elevated my theme； dwelling on
the excellence of democratic institutions； their promotion of tranquil
happiness by the government of party； and the mode in which they
diffused such happiness throughout the community by preferring； for the
exercise of power and the acquisition of honours； the lowliest citizens in
point of property； education； and character。 Fortunately recollecting the
peroration of a speech； on the purifying influences of American
democracy and their destined spread over the world； made by a certain
eloquent senator （for whose vote in the Senate a Railway Company； to
which my two brothers belonged； had just paid 20；000 dollars）； I wound
up by repeating its glowing predictions of the magnificent future that
smiled upon mankind… when the flag of freedom should float over an
entire continent； and two hundred millions of intelligent citizens；
accustomed from infancy to the daily use of revolvers； should apply to a
cowering universe the doctrine of the Patriot Monroe。
When I had concluded； my host gently shook his head； and fell into a
musing study； making a sign to me and his daughter to remain silent while
he reflected。 And after a time he said； in a very earnest and solemn tone；
〃If you think as you say； that you； though a stranger； have received
kindness at the hands of me and mine； I adjure you to reveal nothing to
any other of our people respecting the world from which you came； unless；
on consideration； I give you permission to do so。 Do you consent to this
request？〃
28〃Of course I pledge my word； to it；〃 said I； somewhat amazed； and I
extended my right hand to grasp his。 But he placed my hand gently on
his forehead and his own right hand on my breast； which is the custom
amongst this race in all matters of promise or verbal obligations。 Then
turning to his daughter； he said； 〃And you； Zee； will not repeat to any one
what the stranger has said； or may say； to me or to you； of a world other
than our own。〃 Zee rose and kissed her father on the temples； saying； with
a smile； 〃A Gy's tongue is wanton； but love can fetter it fast。 And if； my
father； you fear lest a chance word from me or yourself could expose our
community to danger； by a desire to explore a world beyond us； will not a
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wave of the 'vril；' properly impelled； wash even the memory of what we
have heard the stranger say out of the tablets of the brain？〃
〃What is the vril？〃 I asked。
Therewith Zee began to enter into an explanation of which I
understood very little； for there is no word in any language I know which
is an exact synonym for vril。 I should call it electricity； except that it
comprehends in its manifold branches other forces of nature； to which； in
our scientific nomenclature； differing names are assigned； such as
magnetism； galvanism； &c。 These people consider that in vril they have
arrived at the unity in natural energetic agencies； which has been
conjectured by many philosophers above ground； and which Faraday thus
intimates under the more cautious term of correlation：…
〃I have long held an opinion；〃 says that illustrious experimentalist；
〃almost amounting to a conviction； in common； I believe； with many other
lovers of natural knowledge； that the various forms under which the forces
of matter are made manifest； have one common origin； or； in other words；
are so directly related and mutually dependent that they are convertible； as
it were into one another； and possess equivalents of power in their action。〃
29These subterranean philosophers assert that by one operation of vril；
which Faraday would perhaps call 'atmospheric magnetism；' they can
influence the variations of temperature… in plain words； the weather； that
by operations； akin to those ascribed to mesmerism； electro…biology； odic
force； &c。； but applied scientifically； through vril conductors； they can
exercise influence over minds； and bodies animal and vegetable； to an
extent not surpassed in the romances of our mystics。 To all such agencies
they give the common name of vril。 Zee asked me if； in my world； it was
not known that all the faculties of the mind could be quickened to a degree
unknown in the waking state； by trance or vision； in which the thoughts of
one brain could be transmitted to another； and knowledge be thus rapidly
interchanged。 I replied； that there were amongst us stories told of such
trance or vision； and that I had heard much and seen something in
mesmeric clairvoyance； but that these practices had fallen much into
disuse or contempt； partly because of the gross impostures to which they
had been made subservient； and partly because； even where the effects
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upon certain abnormal constitutions were genuinely produced； the effects
when fairly examined and analysed； were very unsatisfactory… not to be
relied upon for any systematic truthfulness or any practical purpose； and
rendered very mischievous to credulous persons by the superstitions they
tended to produce。 Zee received my answers with much benignant
attention； and said that similar instances of abuse and credulity had been
familiar to their own scientific experience in the infancy of their
knowledge； and while the properties of vril were misapprehended； but that
she reserved further discussion on this subject till I was more fitted to
enter into it。 She contented herself with adding； that it was through the
agency of vril； while I had been placed in the state of trance； that I had
been made acquainted with the rudiments of their language； and that she
and her father； who alone of the family； 30took the pains to watch the
experiment； had acquired a greater proportionate knowledge of my
language than I of their own； partly because my language was much
simpler than theirs； comprising far less of complex ideas； and partly
because their organisation was； by hereditary culture； much more ductile
and more readily capable of acquiring knowledge than mine。 At this I
secretly demurred； and having had in the course of a practical life； to
sharpen my wits； whether at home or in travel； I could not allow that my
cerebral organisation could possibly be duller than that of people who had
lived all their lives by lamplight。 However； while I was thus thinking；
Zee quietly pointed her forefinger at my forehead； and sent me to sleep。
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CHAPTER VIII。
When I once more awoke I saw by my bed…side the child who had
brought the rope and grappling…hooks to the house in which I had been
first received； and which； as I afterwards learned； was the residence of the
chief magistrate of the tribe。 The child； whose name was Taee
（pronounced Tar…ee）； was the magistrate's eldest son。 I found that during
my last sleep or trance I had made still greater advance in the language of
the country； and could converse with comparative ease and fluency。
This c
