Flatland

A Romance of Many Dimensions

With Illustrations
by the Author, A SQUARE
[Edin Abbott Abbott!
"#$%$&#'()*
"Fie, fie how franticly I square my talk!"
Second, re+ised edition, #$$,
-able of .ontents
[A Note on the Text]
Dedication
[Portrait of author]
Frontispiece
Preface to the Second and Revised Edition, 188, !"
the Editor [A!!ott]
/art #0 -his World
1# $f the Nature of F%at%and
&# $f the '%i(ate and )ouses in F%at%and
*# 'oncernin+ the ,nha!itants of F%at%and
# 'oncernin+ the -o(en
.# $f $ur /ethods of Reco+ni0in+ one another
1# $f Reco+nition !" Si+ht
2# 'oncernin+ ,rre+u%ar Fi+ures
8# $f the Ancient Practice of Paintin+
3# $f the 4niversa% 'o%our 5i%%
16# $f the Suppression of 'hro(atic Sedition
11# 'oncernin+ our Priests
1&# $f the Doctrine of our Priests
/art (0 1ther Worlds
1*# )o7 , had a 8ision of 9ine%and
1# )o7 , vain%" tried to exp%ain the nature of
F%at%and
1.# 'oncernin+ a Stran+er fro( Space%and
11# )o7 the Stran+er vain%" endeavored to revea%
to (e in 7ords the ("steries of Space%and
12# )o7 the Sphere, havin+ in vain tried 7ords,
resorted to deeds
18# )o7 , ca(e to Space%and and 7hat , sa7 there
13# )o7, thou+h the Sphere she7ed (e other
("steries of Space%and, , sti%% desired (ore:
and 7hat ca(e of it
&6# )o7 the Sphere encoura+ed (e in a 8ision
&1# )o7 , tried to teach the Theor" of Three
Di(ensions to (" ;randson, and 7ith 7hat
success
&&# )o7 , then tried to diffuse the Theor" of
Three Di(ensions !" other (eans, and of the
resu%t
Dedication
-o
-he Inhabitants of S/A.E I2 3E2ERA4
And 56.6 I2 /AR-I.U4AR
-his Wor7 is Dedicated
8y a 5umble 2ati+e of Flatland
In the 5o9e that
E+en as he as Initiated into the Mysteries
1f -5REE Dimensions
5a+in: been 9re+iously con+ersant
With 124; -W1
So the .iti<ens of that .elestial Re:ion
May as9ire yet hi:her and hi:her
-o the Secrets of F1UR FI=E 1R E=E2 SI> Dimensions
-hereby contributin:
-o the Enlar:ment of -5E IMA3I2A-I12
And the 9ossible De+elo9ment
1f that most and e?cellent 3ift of M1DES-;
Amon: the Su9erior Races
1f S14ID 5UMA2I-;
A 2ote on the -e?t
'op"<text for this )T/9 edition is the Princeton Science
9i!rar" edition of Flatland, ne7 (ateria% cop"ri+ht 1331 !"
Princeton 4niversit" Press, 1 -i%%ia( Street, Princeton, N#=#
68.6, a%% ri+hts reserved# -e do not reproduce an" of the
cop"ri+hted (ateria% here, for exa(p%e the exce%%ent
introduction !" Tho(as 5anchoff# This edition is a reprint of
the 1th edition !" Dover Pu!%ications, 13.*, ,S5N 6<131<
6&.&.<8, >A133#A1*, 1331, .*6#1?1<<dc&6, 36<&8&11# Since
so(e pa+e nu(!er references 7ere incorrect, 7e a%tered the(
to Section and para+raph %in@s instead#
This edition is a%so a corrected edition of the AS',, A,nternet
-iretap E%ectronic Edition of F9AT9AND, [Fifth Edition,
Revised], A Pu!%ic Do(ain Text, ,nstantiated !"
a%o"siusB7est#dar@side#co( in Nove(!er 1336, The ,nternet
-iretap, of 'upertino, 'a%ifornia,
+opherB7iretap#spies#co(#A -e have restored the
i%%ustrations !" A!!ott and the ta!%e of contents, as 7e%% as
corrected a +reat (an" (isprints in the -iretap edition#
-e have not atte(pted to provide notes for this edition# The
usua% introductions (a@e it c%ear that A!!ott intended a socia%
satire of 8ictorian En+%and?s societ", and an expression of his
efforts to advance the cause of education for 7o(en and
c%asses %o7er than the En+%ish aristocrac"# A!!ott 7as a
successfu% theo%o+ian, c%assics scho%ar, and Sha@espeare
expert C7hich exp%ains the Sha@espearean references in the
frontispiece and severa% Duotations in this !oo@E, as 7e%% as
proficient in (athe(atics# )e 7as head(aster of the 'it" of
9ondon Schoo%, a da" schoo% fro( 7hich he had +raduated#
Flatland has !een discovered 7ith de%i+ht !" each +eneration
since it 7as issued, and has re(ained in print since then#
,ntroductions have pointed out the app%ica!i%it" to (odern
art, &6th<centur" ph"sics, co(puter +raphics and (ode%in+,
and exp%orator" data ana%"sis# Readers (i+ht a%so enFo" a
seDue%, Sphereland, !" Dion"s 5ur+er, 131., as 7e%% as
/ade%eine 9?En+%e?s A Wrinkle in Time#
A nove% that has Fourth Di(ension e%e(ents can a%so !e
found on%ineG The ,nheritors, Foint%" authored !" =oseph
'onrad and Ford /adox )ueffer CFordE C1361E#
'o+itators of the fourth di(ension shou%d !e a7are that
Abbott is not talking about TIME# Ti(e is the fourth
di(ension in a three<di(ensiona% 7or%d, the fifth in a four<
di(ensiona% 7or%d, and so on# The di(ensions he refers to
are then of Aspace,A or sha%% 7e sa", Ah"perspace#A
Ed7in A!!ott A!!ott C18*8<13&1E
Frontis9iece
/reface
to the
Second and Re+ised
Edition, #$$,
8y the Editor
[E6 A6 Abbott!
,F (" poor F%at%and friend retained the vi+our of (ind 7hich
he enFo"ed 7hen he !e+an to co(pose these /e(oirs, ,
shou%d not no7 need to represent hi( in this preface, in
7hich he desires, fu%%", to return his than@s to his readers and
critics in Space%and, 7hose appreciation has, 7ith unexpected
ce%erit", reDuired a second edition of this 7or@: second%", to
apo%o+i0e for certain errors and (isprints Cfor 7hich,
ho7ever, he is not entire%" responsi!%eE: and, third%", to
exp%ain one or t7o (isconceptions# 5ut he is not the SDuare
he once 7as# Hears of i(prison(ent, and the sti%% heavier
!urden of +enera% incredu%it" and (oc@er", have co(!ined
7ith the thou+hts and notions, and (uch a%so of the
ter(ino%o+", 7hich he acDuired durin+ his short sta" in
Space%and# )e has, therefore, reDuested (e to rep%" in his
!eha%f to t7o specia% o!Fections, one of an inte%%ectua%, the
other of a (ora% nature#
The first o!Fection is, that a F%at%ander, seein+ a 9ine, sees
so(ethin+ that (ust !e thick to the e"e as 7e%% as long to the
e"e Cother7ise it 7ou%d not !e visi!%e, if it had not so(e
thic@nessE: and conseDuent%" he ou+ht Cit is ar+uedE to
ac@no7%ed+e that his countr"(en are not on%" %on+ and
!road, !ut a%so Cthou+h dou!t%ess to a ver" s%i+ht de+reeE
thick or high. This o!Fection is p%ausi!%e, and, to
Space%anders, a%(ost irresisti!%e, so that, , confess, 7hen ,
first heard it, , @ne7 not 7hat to rep%"# 5ut (" poor o%d
friend?s ans7er appears to (e co(p%ete%" to (eet it#
A, ad(it,A said he<<7hen , (entioned to hi( this o!Fection<<A,
ad(it the truth of "our critic?s facts, !ut , den" his
conc%usions# ,t is true that 7e have rea%%" in F%at%and a Third
unreco+ni0ed Di(ension ca%%ed ?hei+ht,? Fust as it a%so is true
that "ou have rea%%" in Space%and a Fourth unreco+ni0ed
Di(ension, ca%%ed !" no na(e at present, !ut 7hich , 7i%%
ca%% ?extra<hei+ht#? 5ut 7e can no (ore ta@e co+ni0ance of our
?hei+ht? than "ou can of "our ?extra<hei+ht#? Even ,<<7ho have
!een in Space%and, and have had the privi%e+e of
understandin+ for t7ent"<four hours the (eanin+ of ?hei+ht?<<
even , cannot no7 co(prehend it, nor rea%i0e it !" the sense
of si+ht or !" an" process of reason: , can !ut apprehend it !"
faith#
AThe reason is o!vious# Di(ension i(p%ied direction, i(p%ies
(easure(ent, i(p%ies the (ore and the %ess# No7, a%% our
%ines are equally and ininitesimally thic@ Cor hi+h, 7hichever
"ou %i@eE: conseDuent%", there is nothin+ in the( to %ead our
(inds to the conception of that Di(ension# No ?de%icate
(icro(eter?<<as has !een su++ested !" one too hast"
Space%and critic<<7ou%d in the %east avai% us: for 7e shou%d
not @no7 !hat to measure, nor in !hat direction. -hen 7e
see a 9ine, 7e see so(ethin+ that is %on+ and bright"
brightness, as 7e%% as %en+th, is necessar" to the existence of
a 9ine: if the !ri+htness vanishes, the 9ine is extin+uished#
)ence, a%% (" F%at%and friends<<7hen , ta%@ to the( a!out the
unreco+ni0ed Di(ension 7hich is so(eho7 visi!%e in a
9ine<<sa", ?Ah, "ou (ean brightness?G and 7hen , rep%", ?No, ,
(ean a rea% Di(ension,? the" at once retort, ?Then (easure it,
or te%% us in 7hat direction it extends?: and this si%ences (e,
for , can do neither# $n%" "esterda", 7hen the 'hief 'irc%e Cin
other 7ords our )i+h PriestE ca(e to inspect the State Prison
and paid (e his seventh annua% visit, and 7hen for the
seventh ti(e he put (e the Duestion, ?-as , an" !etterI? ,
tried to prove to hi( that he 7as ?hi+h,? as 7e%% as %on+ and
!road, a%thou+h he did not @no7 it# 5ut 7hat 7as his rep%"I
?Hou sa" , a( Ahi+hA: (easure (" Ahi+h<nessA and , 7i%%
!e%ieve "ou#? -hat cou%d , doI )o7 cou%d , (eet his
cha%%en+eI , 7as crushed: and he %eft the roo( triu(phant#
ADoes this sti%% see( stran+e to "ouI Then put "ourse%f in a
si(i%ar position# Suppose a person of the Fourth Di(ension,
condescendin+ to visit "ou, 7ere to sa", ?-henever "ou open
"our e"es, "ou see a P%ane C7hich is of T7o Di(ensionsE and
"ou iner a So%id C7hich is of ThreeE: !ut in rea%it" "ou a%so
see Cthou+h "ou do not reco+ni0eE a Fourth Di(ension,
7hich is not co%our nor !ri+htness nor an"thin+ of the @ind,
!ut a true Di(ension, a%thou+h , cannot point out to "ou its
direction, nor can "ou possi!%" (easure it#? -hat 7ou%d "ou
sa" to such a visitorI -ou%d not "ou have hi( %oc@ed upI
-e%%, that is (" fateG and it is as natura% for us F%at%anders to
%oc@ up a SDuare for preachin+ the Third Di(ension, as it is
for "ou Space%anders to %oc@ up a 'u!e for preachin+ the
Fourth# A%as, ho7 stron+ a fa(i%" %i@eness runs throu+h !%ind
and persecutin+ hu(anit" in a%% Di(ensionsJ Points, 9ines,
SDuares, 'u!es, Extra<'u!es<<7e are a%% %ia!%e to the sa(e
errors, a%% a%i@e the S%avers of our respective Di(ensiona%
preFudices, as one of our Space%and poets has said<<
?$ne touch of Nature (a@es a%% 7or%ds a@in#?A
[footnote 1]
$n this point the defence of the SDuare see(s to (e to !e
i(pre+na!%e# , 7ish , cou%d sa" that his ans7er to the second
Cor (ora%E o!Fection 7as eDua%%" c%ear and co+ent# ,t has !een
o!Fected that he is a 7o(an<hater: and as this o!Fection has
!een vehe(ent%" ur+ed !" those 7ho( Nature?s decree has
constituted the so(e7hat %ar+er ha%f of the Space%and race, ,
shou%d %i@e to re(ove it, so far as , can honest%" do so# 5ut
the SDuare is so unaccusto(ed to the use of the (ora%
ter(ino%o+" of Space%and that , shou%d !e doin+ hi( an
inFustice if , 7ere %itera%%" to transcri!e his defence a+ainst
this char+e# Actin+, therefore, as his interpreter and
su((ari0er, , +ather that in the course of an i(prison(ent of
seven "ears he has hi(se%f (odified his o7n persona% vie7s,
!oth as re+ards -o(en and as re+ards the ,sosce%es or 9o7er
'%asses# Persona%%", he no7 inc%ines to the opinion of the
Sphere [see Section 18] that the Strai+ht 9ines are in (an"
i(portant respects superior to the 'irc%es# 5ut, 7ritin+ as a
)istorian, he has identified hi(se%f Cperhaps too c%ose%"E 7ith
the vie7s +enera%%" adopted !" F%at%and, and Cas he has !een
infor(edE even !" Space%and, )istorians: in 7hose pa+es
Cunti% ver" recent ti(esE the destinies of -o(en and of the
(asses of (an@ind have se%do( !een dee(ed 7orth" of
(ention and never of carefu% consideration#
,n a sti%% (ore o!scure passa+e he no7 desires to disavo7 the
'ircu%ar or aristocratic tendencies 7ith 7hich so(e critics
have natura%%" credited hi(# -hi%e doin+ Fustice to the
inte%%ectua% po7er 7ith 7hich a fe7 'irc%es have for (an"
+enerations (aintained their supre(ac" over i((ense
(u%titudes of their countr"(en, he !e%ieves that the facts of
F%at%and, spea@in+ for the(se%ves 7ithout co((ent on his
part, dec%are that Revo%utions cannot a%7a"s !e suppressed !"
s%au+hter, and that Nature, in sentencin+ the 'irc%es to
infecundit", has conde(ned the( to u%ti(ate fai%ure<<Aand
herein,A he sa"s, A, see a fu%fi%(ent of the +reat 9a7 of a%%
7or%ds, that 7hi%e the 7isdo( of /an thin@s it is 7or@in+
one thin+, the 7isdo( of Nature constrains it to 7or@
another, and Duite a different and far !etter thin+#A For the
rest, he !e+s his readers not to suppose that ever" (inute
detai% in the dai%" %ife of F%at%and (ust needs correspond to
so(e other detai% in Space%and: and "et he hopes that, ta@en
as a 7ho%e, his 7or@ (a" prove su++estive as 7e%% as
a(usin+, to those Space%anders of (oderate and (odest
(inds 7ho<<spea@in+ of that 7hich is of the hi+hest
i(portance, !ut %ies !e"ond experience<<dec%ine to sa" on the
one hand, AThis can never !e,A and on the other hand, A,t
(ust needs !e precise%" thus, and 7e @no7 a%% a!out it#A
KKKKKKK
[Footnote 1#] The Author desires (e to add, that the
(isconceptions of so(e of his critics on this (atter has
induced hi( to insert [Section 11 and Section 13] in his
dia%o+ue 7ith the Sphere, certain re(ar@s 7hich have a
!earin+ on the point in Duestion and 7hich he had previous%"
o(itted as !ein+ tedious and unnecessar"#
/AR- #
-5IS W1R4D
Section #
1f the 2ature of Flatland
, 'A99 our 7or%d F%at%and, not !ecause 7e ca%% it so, !ut to
(a@e its nature c%earer to "ou, (" happ" readers, 7ho are
privi%e+ed to %ive in Space#
,(a+ine a vast sheet of paper on 7hich strai+ht 9ines,
Trian+%es, SDuares, Penta+ons, )exa+ons, and other fi+ures,
instead of re(ainin+ fixed in their p%aces, (ove free%" a!out,
on or in the surface, !ut 7ithout the po7er of risin+ a!ove or
sin@in+ !e%o7 it, ver" (uch %i@e shado7s<<on%" hard 7ith
%u(inous ed+es<<and "ou 7i%% then have a prett" correct
notion of (" countr" and countr"(en# A%as, a fe7 "ears a+o,
, shou%d have said A(" universeAG !ut no7 (" (ind has !een
opened to hi+her vie7s of thin+s#
,n such a countr", "ou 7i%% perceive at once that it is
i(possi!%e that there shou%d !e an"thin+ of 7hat "ou ca%% a
Aso%idA @ind: !ut , dare sa" "ou 7i%% suppose that 7e cou%d at
%east distin+uish !" si+ht the Trian+%es, SDuares, and other
fi+ures, (ovin+ a!out as , have descri!ed the(# $n the
contrar", 7e cou%d see nothin+ of the @ind, not at %east so as
to distin+uish one fi+ure fro( another# Nothin+ 7as visi!%e,
nor cou%d !e visi!%e, to us, except Strai+ht 9ines: and the
necessit" of this , 7i%% speedi%" de(onstrate#
P%ace a penn" on the (idd%e of one of "our ta!%es in Space:
and %eanin+ over it, %oo@ do7n upon it# ,t 7i%% appear a circ%e#
5ut no7, dra7%in+ !ac@ to the ed+e of the ta!%e, +radua%%"
%o7er "our e"e Cthus !rin+in+ "ourse%f (ore and (ore into
the condition of the inha!itants of F%at%andE, and "ou 7i%% find
the penn" !eco(in+ (ore and (ore ova% to "our vie7, and at
%ast 7hen "ou have p%aced "our e"e exact%" on the ed+e of the
ta!%e Cso that "ou are, as it 7ere, actua%%" a F%at%anderE the
penn" 7i%% then have ceased to appear ova% at a%%, and 7i%%
have !eco(e, so far as "ou can see, a strai+ht %ine#
The sa(e thin+ 7ou%d happen if "ou 7ere to treat in the sa(e
7a" a Trian+%e, or a SDuare, or an" other fi+ure cut out fro(
paste!oard# As soon as "ou %oo@ at it 7ith "our e"e on the
ed+e of the ta!%e, "ou 7i%% find that it ceases to appear to "ou
as a fi+ure, and that it !eco(es in appearance a strai+ht %ine#
Ta@e for exa(p%e an eDui%atera% Trian+%e<<7ho represents
7ith us a Trades(an of the respecta!%e c%ass# Fi+ure 1
represents the Trades(an as "ou 7ou%d see hi( 7hi%e "ou
7ere !endin+ over hi( fro( a!ove: fi+ures & and * represent
the Trades(an, as "ou 7ou%d see hi( if "our e"e 7ere c%ose
to the %eve%, or a%% !ut on the %eve% of the ta!%e: and if "our e"e
7ere Duite on the %eve% of the ta!%e Cand that is ho7 7e see
hi( in F%at%andE "ou 7ou%d see nothin+ !ut a strai+ht %ine#
-hen , 7as in Space%and , heard that "our sai%ors have ver"
si(i%ar experiences 7hi%e the" traverse "our seas and discern
so(e distant is%and or coast %"in+ on the hori0on# The far<off
%and (a" have !a"s, fore%ands, an+%es in and out to an"
nu(!er and extent: "et at a distance "ou see none of these
Cun%ess indeed "our sun shines !ri+ht upon the( revea%in+ the
proFections and retire(ents !" (eans of %i+ht and shadeE,
nothin+ !ut a +re" un!ro@en %ine upon the 7ater#
-e%%, that is Fust 7hat 7e see 7hen one of our trian+u%ar or
other acDuaintances co(es to7ards us in F%at%and# As there is
neither sun 7ith us, nor an" %i+ht of such a @ind as to (a@e
shado7s, 7e have none of the he%ps to the si+ht that "ou have
in Space%and# ,f our friend co(es c%oser to us 7e see his %ine
!eco(es %ar+er: if he %eaves us it !eco(es s(a%%er: !ut sti%% he
%oo@s %i@e a strai+ht %ine: !e he a Trian+%e, SDuare, Penta+on,
)exa+on, 'irc%e, 7hat "ou 7i%%<<a strai+ht 9ine he %oo@s and
nothin+ e%se#
Hou (a" perhaps as@ ho7 under these disadvanta+es
circu(stances 7e are a!%e to distin+uish our friends fro( one
anotherG !ut the ans7er to this ver" natura% Duestion 7i%% !e
(ore fit%" and easi%" +iven 7hen , co(e to descri!e the
inha!itants of F%at%and# For the present %et (e defer this
su!Fect, and sa" a 7ord or t7o a!out the c%i(ate and houses
in our countr"#
Section (
1f the .limate and 5ouses
in Flatland
AS -,T) "ou, so a%so 7ith us, there are four points of the
co(pass North, South, East, and -est#
There !ein+ no sun nor other heaven%" !odies, it is
i(possi!%e for us to deter(ine the North in the usua% 7a": !ut
7e have a (ethod of our o7n# 5" a 9a7 of Nature 7ith us,
there is a constant attraction to the South: and, a%thou+h in
te(perate c%i(ates this is ver" s%i+ht<<so that even a -o(an
in reasona!%e hea%th can Fourne" severa% fur%on+s north7ard
7ithout (uch difficu%t"<<"et the ha(perin+ effort of the
south7ard attraction is Duite sufficient to serve as a co(pass
in (ost parts of our earth# /oreover, the rain C7hich fa%%s at
stated interva%sE co(in+ a%7a"s fro( the North, is an
additiona% assistance: and in the to7ns 7e have the +uidance
of the houses, 7hich of course have their side<7a%%s runnin+
for the (ost part North and South, so that the roofs (a" @eep
off the rain fro( the North# ,n the countr", 7here there are no
houses, the trun@s of the trees serve as so(e sort of +uide#
A%to+ether, 7e have not so (uch difficu%t" as (i+ht !e
expected in deter(inin+ our !earin+s#
Het in our (ore te(perate re+ions, in 7hich the south7ard
attraction is hard%" fe%t, 7a%@in+ so(eti(es in a perfect%"
deso%ate p%ain 7here there have !een no houses nor trees to
+uide (e, , have !een occasiona%%" co(pe%%ed to re(ain
stationar" for hours to+ether, 7aitin+ ti%% the rain ca(e !efore
continuin+ (" Fourne"# $n the 7ea@ and a+ed, and especia%%"
on de%icate Fe(a%es, the force of attraction te%%s (uch (ore
heavi%" than on the ro!ust of the /a%e Sex, so that it is a
point of !reedin+, if "ou (eet a 9ad" on the street, a%7a"s to
+ive her the North side of the 7a"<<!" no (eans an eas"
thin+ to do a%7a"s at short notice 7hen "ou are in rude hea%th
and in a c%i(ate 7here it is difficu%t to te%% "our North fro(
"our South#
-indo7s there are none in our housesG for the %i+ht co(es to
us a%i@e in our ho(es and out of the(, !" da" and !" ni+ht,
eDua%%" at a%% ti(es and in a%% p%aces, 7hence 7e @no7 not# ,t
7as in o%d da"s, 7ith our %earned (en, an interestin+ and oft<
investi+ate Duestion, A-hat is the ori+in of %i+htIA and the
so%ution of it has !een repeated%" atte(pted, 7ith no other
resu%t than to cro7d our %unatic as"%u(s 7ith the 7ou%d<!e
so%vers# )ence, after fruit%ess atte(pts to suppress such
investi+ations indirect%" !" (a@in+ the( %ia!%e to a heav"
tax, the 9e+is%ature, in co(parative%" recent ti(es, a!so%ute%"
prohi!ited the(# ,<<a%as, , a%one in F%at%and<<@no7 no7 on%"
too 7e%% the true so%ution of this ("sterious pro!%e(: !ut ("
@no7%ed+e cannot !e (ade inte%%i+i!%e to a sin+%e one of ("
countr"(en: and , a( (oc@ed at<<,, the so%e possessor of the
truths of Space and of the theor" of the introduction of 9i+ht
fro( the 7or%d of three Di(ensions<<as if , 7ere the (addest
of the (adJ 5ut a truce to these painfu% di+ressionsG %et (e
return to our ho(es#
The (ost co((on for( for the construction of a house is
five<sided or penta+ona%, as in the annexed fi+ure# The t7o
Northern sides #$, $F, constitute the roof, and for the (ost
part have no doors: on the East is a s(a%% door for the
-o(en: on the -est a (uch %ar+er one for the /en: the
South side or f%oor is usua%%" door%ess#
SDuare and trian+u%ar houses are not a%%o7ed, and for this
reason# The an+%es of a SDuare Cand sti%% (ore those of an
eDui%atera% Trian+%e,E !ein+ (uch (ore pointed than those of
a Penta+on, and the %ines of inani(ate o!Fects Csuch as
housesE !ein+ di((er than the %ines of /en and -o(en, it
fo%%o7s that there is no %itt%e dan+er %est the points of a sDuare
of trian+u%ar house residence (i+ht do serious inFur" to an
inconsiderate or perhaps a!sent(inded trave%%er sudden%"
runnin+ a+ainst the(G and therefore, as ear%" as the e%eventh
centur" of our era, trian+u%ar houses 7ere universa%%"
for!idden !" 9a7, the on%" exceptions !ein+ fortifications,
po7der<(a+a0ines, !arrac@s, and other state !ui%din+s, 7hich
is not desira!%e that the +enera% pu!%ic shou%d approach
7ithout circu(spection#
At this period, sDuare houses 7ere sti%% ever"7here per(itted,
thou+h discoura+ed !" a specia% tax# 5ut, a!out three
centuries after7ards, the 9a7 decided that in a%% to7ns
containin+ a popu%ation a!ove ten thousand, the an+%e of a
Penta+on 7as the s(a%%est house<an+%e that cou%d !e a%%o7ed
consistent%" 7ith the pu!%ic safet"# The +ood sense of the
co((unit" has seconded the efforts of the 9e+is%ature: and
no7, even in the countr", the penta+ona% construction has
superseded ever" other# ,t is on%" no7 and then in so(e ver"
re(ote and !ac@7ard a+ricu%tura% district that an antiDuarian
(a" sti%% discover a sDuare house#
Section %
.oncernin: the Inhabitants
of Flatland
T)E ;REATEST %en+th or !readth of a fu%% +ro7n
inha!itant of F%at%and (a" !e esti(ated at a!out e%even of
"our inches# T7e%ve inches (a" !e re+arded as a (axi(u(#
$ur -o(en are Strai+ht 9ines#
$ur So%diers and 9o7est '%ass of -or@(en are Trian+%es
7ith t7o eDua% sides, each a!out e%even inches %on+, and a
!ase or third side so short Coften not exceedin+ ha%f an inchE
that the" for( at their vertices a ver" sharp and for(ida!%e
an+%e# ,ndeed 7hen their !ases are of the (ost de+raded t"pe
Cnot (ore than the ei+hth part of an inch in si0eE, the" can
hard%" !e distin+uished fro( Strai+ht %ines or -o(en: so
extre(e%" pointed are their vertices# -ith us, as 7ith "ou,
these Trian+%es are distin+uished fro( others !" !ein+ ca%%ed
,sosce%es: and !" this na(e , sha%% refer to the( in the
fo%%o7in+ pa+es#
$ur /idd%e '%ass consists of EDui%atera% or EDua%<Sided
Trian+%es#
$ur Professiona% /en and ;ent%e(en are SDuares Cto 7hich
c%ass , ("se%f !e%on+E and Five<Sided Fi+ures or Penta+ons#
Next a!ove these co(e the No!i%it", of 7ho( there are
severa% de+rees, !e+innin+ at Six<Sided Fi+ures, or
)exa+ons, and fro( thence risin+ in the nu(!er of their sides
ti%% the" receive the honoura!%e tit%e of Po%"+ona%, or (an"<
Sided# Fina%%" 7hen the nu(!er of the sides !eco(es so
nu(erous, and the sides the(se%ve so s(a%%, that the fi+ure
cannot !e distin+uished fro( a circ%e, he is inc%uded in the
'ircu%ar or Priest%" order: and this is the hi+hest c%ass of a%%#
,t is a 9a7 of Nature 7ith us that a (a%e chi%d sha%% have one
(ore side than his father, so that each +eneration sha%% rise Cas
a ru%eE one step in the sca%e of deve%op(ent and no!i%it"#
Thus the son of a SDuare is a Penta+on: the son of a
Penta+on, a )exa+on: and so on#
5ut this ru%e app%ies not a%7a"s to the Trades(an, and sti%%
%ess often to the So%diers, and to the -or@(en: 7ho indeed
can hard%" !e said to deserve the na(e of hu(an Fi+ures,
since the" have not a%% their sides eDua%# -ith the( therefore
the 9a7 of Nature does not ho%d: and the son of an ,sosce%es
Ci#e# a Trian+%e 7ith t7o sides eDua%E re(ains ,sosce%es sti%%#
Neverthe%ess, a%% hope is not such out, even fro( the
,sosce%es, that his posterit" (a" u%ti(ate%" rise a!ove his
de+raded condition# For, after a %on+ series of (i%itar"
successes, or di%i+ent and s@i%%fu% %a!ours, it is +enera%%"
found that the (ore inte%%i+ent a(on+ the Artisan and So%dier
c%asses (anifest a s%i+ht increase of their third side or !ase,
and a shrin@a+e of the t7o other sides# ,nter(arria+es
Carran+ed !" the PriestsE !et7een the sons and dau+hters of
these (ore inte%%ectua% (e(!ers of the %o7er c%asses
+enera%%" resu%t in an offsprin+ approxi(atin+ sti%% (ore to
the t"pe of the EDua%<Sided Trian+%e#
Rare%"<<in proportion to the vast nu(!ers of ,sosce%es !irths<<
is a +enuine and certifia!%e EDua%<Sided Trian+%e produced
fro( ,sosce%es parents [footnote 1]# Such a !irth reDuires, as
its antecedents, not on%" a series of carefu%%" arran+ed
inter(arria+es, !ut a%so a %on+<continued exercise of fru+a%it"
and se%f<contro% on the part of the 7ou%d<!e ancestors of the
co(in+ EDui%atera%, and a patient, s"ste(atic, and continuous
deve%op(ent of the ,sosce%es inte%%ect throu+h (an"
+enerations#
The !irth of a True EDui%atera% Trian+%e fro( ,sosce%es
parents is the su!Fect of reFoicin+ in our countr" for (an"
fur%on+s round# After a strict exa(ination conducted !" the
Sanitar" and Socia% 5oard, the infant, if certified as Re+u%ar,
is 7ith so%e(n cere(onia% ad(itted into the c%ass of
EDui%atera%s# )e is then i((ediate%" ta@en fro( his proud "et
sorro7in+ parents and adopted !" so(e chi%d%ess EDui%atera%,
7ho is !ound !" oath never to per(it the chi%d henceforth to
enter his for(er ho(e or so (uch as to %oo@ upon his
re%ations a+ain, for fear %est the fresh%" deve%oped or+anis(
(a", !" force of unconscious i(itation, fa%% !ac@ a+ain into
his hereditar" %eve%#
The occasiona% e(er+ence of an EDui%atera% fro( the ran@s of
his serf<!orn ancestors is 7e%co(ed, not on%" !" the poor
serfs the(se%ves, as a +%ea( of %i+ht and hope shed upon the
(onotonous sDua%or of their existence, !ut a%so !" the
Aristocrac" at %ar+e: for a%% the hi+her c%asses are 7e%% a7are
that these rare pheno(ena, 7hi%e the" do %itt%e or nothin+ to
vu%+ari0e their o7n privi%e+es, serve as a%(ost usefu% !arrier
a+ainst revo%ution fro( !e%o7#
)ad the acute<an+%ed ra!!%e !een a%%, 7ithout exception,
a!so%ute%" destitute of hope and of a(!ition, the" (i+ht have
found %eaders in so(e of their (an" seditious out!rea@s, so
a!%e as to render their superior nu(!ers and stren+th too
(uch even for the 7isdo( of the 'irc%es# 5ut a 7ise
ordinance of Nature has decreed that, in proportion as the
7or@in+<c%asses increase in inte%%i+ence, @no7%ed+e, and a%%
virtue, in that sa(e proportion their acute an+%e C7hich (a@es
the( ph"sica%%" terri!%eE sha%% increase a%so and approxi(ate
to their co(parative%" har(%ess an+%e of the EDui%atera%
Trian+%e# Thus, in the (ost !ruta% and for(ida!%e off the
so%dier c%ass<<creatures a%(ost on a %eve% 7ith 7o(en in their
%ac@ of inte%%i+ence<<it is found that, as the" 7ax in the (enta%
a!i%it" necessar" to e(p%o" their tre(endous penetratin+
po7er to advanta+e, so do the" 7ane in the po7er of
penetration itse%f#
)o7 ad(ira!%e is the 9a7 of 'o(pensationJ And ho7
perfect a proof of the natura% fitness and, , (a" a%(ost sa",
the divine ori+in of the aristocratic constitution of the States
of F%at%andJ 5" a Fuidicious use of this 9a7 of Nature, the
Po%"+ons and 'irc%es are a%(ost a%7a"s a!%e to stif%e sedition
in its ver" crad%e, ta@in+ advanta+e of the irrepressi!%e and
!ound%ess hopefu%ness of the hu(an (ind# Art a%so co(es to
the aid of 9a7 and $rder# ,t is +enera%%" found possi!%e<<!" a
%itt%e artificia% co(pression or expansion on the part of the
State ph"sicians<<to (a@e so(e of the (ore inte%%i+ent
%eaders of a re!e%%ion perfect%" Re+u%ar, and to ad(it the( at
once into the privi%e+ed c%asses: a (uch %ar+er nu(!er, 7ho
are sti%% !e%o7 the standard, a%%ured !" the prospect of !ein+
u%ti(ate%" enno!%ed, are induced to enter the State )ospita%s,
7here the" are @ept in honoura!%e confine(ent for %ife: one
or t7o a%one of the (ost o!stinate, foo%ish, and hope%ess%"
irre+u%ar are %ed to execution#
Then the 7retched ra!!%e of the ,sosce%es, p%an%ess and
%eader%ess, are ether transfixed 7ithout resistance !" the s(a%%
!od" of their !rethren 7ho( the 'hief 'irc%e @eeps in pa" for
e(er+encies of this @ind: or e%se (ore often, !" (eans of
Fea%ousies and suspicious s@i%%fu%%" fo(ented a(on+ the( !"
the 'ircu%ar part", the" are stirred to (utua% 7arfare, and
perish !" one another?s an+%es# No %ess than one hundred and
t7ent" re!e%%ions are recorded in our anna%s, !esides (inor
out!rea@s nu(!ered at t7o hundred and thirt"<five: and the"
have a%% ended thus#
[Footnote 1]# A-hat need of a certificateIA a Space%and critic
(a" as@G A,s not the procreation of a SDuare Son a certificate
fro( Nature herse%f, provin+ the EDua%<sidedness of the
FatherIA , rep%" that no 9ad" of an" position 7i%% (arr" an
uncertified Trian+%e# SDuare offsprin+ has so(eti(es resu%ted
fro( a s%i+ht%" ,rre+u%ar Trian+%e: !ut in a%(ost ever" such
case the ,rre+u%arit" of the first +eneration is visited on the
third: 7hich either fai%s to attain the Penta+ona% ran@, or
re%apses to the Trian+u%ar#
Section ,
.oncernin: the Women
,F $4R hi+h%" pointed Trian+%es of the So%dier c%ass are
for(ida!%e, it (a" !e readi%" inferred that far (ore
for(ida!%e are our -o(en# For, if a So%dier is a 7ed+e, a
-o(an is a need%e: !ein+, so to spea@, all point, at %east at
the t7o extre(ities# Add to this the po7er of (a@in+ herse%f
practica%%" invisi!%e at 7i%%, and "ou 7i%% perceive that a
Fe(a%e, in F%at%and, is a creature !" no (eans to !e trif%ed
7ith#
5ut here, perhaps, so(e of (" "oun+er Readers (a" as@ ho!
a 7o(an in F%at%and can (a@e herse%f invisi!%e# This ou+ht, ,
thin@, to !e apparent 7ithout an" exp%anation# )o7ever, a
fe7 7ords 7i%% (a@e it c%ear to the (ost unref%ectin+#
P%ace a need%e on the ta!%e# Then, 7ith "our e"e on the %eve%
of the ta!%e, %oo@ at it side<7a"s, and "ou see the 7ho%e
%en+th of it: !ut %oo@ at it end<7a"s, and "ou see nothin+ !ut
a point, it has !eco(e practica%%" invisi!%e# =ust so is it 7ith
one of our -o(en# -hen her side is turned to7ards us, 7e
see her as a strai+ht %ine: 7hen the end containin+ her e"e or
(outh<<for 7ith us these t7o or+ans are identica%<<is the part
that (eets our e"e, then 7e see nothin+ !ut a hi+h%" %ustrous
point: !ut 7hen the !ac@ is presented to our vie7, then<<!ein+
on%" su!<%ustrous, and, indeed, a%(ost as di( as an inani(ate
o!Fect<<her hinder extre(it" serves her as a @ind of ,nvisi!%e
'ap#
The dan+ers to 7hich 7e are exposed fro( our -o(en (ust
no7 !e (anifest to the (eanest capacit" of Space%and# ,f
even the an+%e of a respecta!%e Trian+%e in the (idd%e c%ass is
not 7ithout its dan+ers: if to run a+ainst a -or@in+ /an
invo%ves a +ash: if co%%ision 7ith an $fficer of the (i%itar"
c%ass necessitates a serious 7ound: if a (ere touch fro( the
vertex of a Private So%dier !rin+s 7ith it dan+er of death:<<
7hat can it !e to run a+ainst a 7o(an, except a!so%ute and
i((ediate destructionI And 7hen a -o(an is invisi!%e, or
visi!%e on%" as a di( su!<%ustrous point, ho7 difficu%t (ust it
!e, even for the (ost cautious, a%7a"s to avoid co%%isionJ
/an" are the enact(ents (ade at different ti(es in the
different States of F%at%and, in order to (ini(i0e this peri%:
and in the Southern and %ess te(perate c%i(ates, 7here the
force of +ravitation is +reater, and hu(an !ein+s (ore %ia!%e
to casua% and invo%untar" (otions, the 9a7s concernin+
-o(en are natura%%" (uch (ore strin+ent# 5ut a +enera%
vie7 of the 'ode (a" !e o!tained fro( the fo%%o7in+
su((ar"G<<
1# Ever" house sha%% have one entrance on the Eastern side,
for the use of Fe(a%es on%": !" 7hich a%% fe(a%es sha%% enter
Ain a !eco(in+ and respectfu% (annerA [footnote 1] and not
!" the /en?s or -estern door#
&# No Fe(a%e sha%% 7a%@ in an" pu!%ic p%ace 7ithout
continua%%" @eepin+ up her Peace<cr", under pena%t" of death#
*# An" Fe(a%e, du%" certified to !e sufferin+ fro( St# 8itus?s
Dance, fits, chronic co%d acco(panied !" vio%ent snee0in+, or
an" disease necessitatin+ invo%untar" (otions, sha%% !e
instant%" destro"ed#
,n so(e of the States there is an additiona% 9a7 for!iddin+
Fe(a%es, under pena%t" of death, fro( 7a%@in+ or standin+ in
an" pu!%ic p%ace 7ithout (ovin+ their !ac@s constant%" fro(
ri+ht to %eft so as to indicate their presence to those !ehind
the(: other o!%i+e a -o(an, 7hen trave%%in+, to !e fo%%o7ed
!" one of her sons, or servants, or !" her hus!and: others
confine -o(en a%to+ether in their houses except durin+ the
re%i+ious festiva%s# 5ut it has !een found !" the 7isest of our
'irc%es or States(en that the (u%tip%ication of restrictions on
Fe(a%es tends not on%" to the de!i%itation and di(inution of
the race, !ut a%so to the increase of do(estic (urders to such
an extent that a State %oses (ore than it +ains !" a too
prohi!itive 'ode#
For 7henever the te(per of the -o(en is thus exasperated
!" confine(ent at ho(e or ha(perin+ re+u%ations a!road,
the" are apt to vent their sp%een upon their hus!ands and
chi%dren: and in the %ess te(perate c%i(ates the 7ho%e (a%e
popu%ation of a vi%%a+e has !een so(eti(es destro"ed in one
or t7o hours of a si(u%taneous fe(a%e out!rea@# )ence the
Three 9a7s, (entioned a!ove, suffice for the !etter re+u%ated
States, and (a" !e accepted as a rou+h exe(p%ification of our
Fe(a%e 'ode#
After a%%, our principa% safe+uard is found, not in 9e+is%ature,
!ut in the interests of the -o(en the(se%ves# For, a%thou+h
the" can inf%ict instantaneous death !" a retro+rade
(ove(ent, "et un%ess the" can at once disen+a+e their
stin+in+ extre(it" fro( the stru++%in+ !od" of their victi(,
their o7n frai% !odies are %ia!%e to !e shattered#
The po7er of Fashion is a%so on our side# , pointed out that in
so(e %ess civi%i0ed States no fe(a%e is suffered to stand in
an" pu!%ic p%ace 7ithout s7a"in+ her !ac@ fro( ri+ht to %eft#
This practice has !een universa% a(on+ %adies of an"
pretensions to !reedin+ in a%% 7e%%<+overned States, as far
!ac@ as the (e(or" of Fi+ures can reach# ,t is considered a
dis+race to an" state that %e+is%ation shou%d have to enforce
7hat ou+ht to !e, and is in ever" respecta!%e fe(a%e, a natura%
instinct# The rh"th(ica% and, if , (a" so sa", 7e%%<(odu%ated
undu%ation of the !ac@ in our %adies of 'ircu%ar ran@ is envied
and i(itated !" the 7ife of a co((on EDui%atera%, 7ho can
achieve nothin+ !e"ond a (ere (onotonous s7in+, %i@e the
tic@in+ of a pendu%u(: and the re+u%ar tic@ of the EDui%atera%
is no %ess ad(ired and copied !" the 7ife of the pro+ressive
and aspirin+ ,sosce%es, in the fe(a%es of 7hose fa(i%" no
A!ac@<(otionA of an" @ind has !eco(e as "et a necessit" of
%ife# )ence, in ever" fa(i%" of position and consideration,
A!ac@ (otionA is as preva%ent as ti(e itse%f: and the hus!ands
and sons in these househo%ds enFo" i((unit" at %east fro(
invisi!%e attac@s#
Not that it (ust !e for a (o(ent supposed that our -o(en
are destitute of affection# 5ut unfortunate%" the passion of the
(o(ent predo(inates, in the Frai% Sex, over ever" other
consideration# This is, of course, a necessit" arisin+ fro(
their unfortunate confor(ation# For as the" have no
pretensions to an an+%e, !ein+ inferior in this respect to the
ver" %o7est of the ,sosce%es, the" are conseDuent%" 7ho%%"
devoid of !rainpo7er, and have neither ref%ection, Fud+(ent
nor forethou+ht, and hard%" an" (e(or"# )ence, in their fits
of fur", the" re(e(!er no c%ai(s and reco+ni0e no
distinctions# , have actua%%" @no7n a case 7here a -o(an
has exter(inated her 7ho%e househo%d, and ha%f an hour
after7ards, 7hen her ra+e 7as over and the fra+(ents s7ept
a7a", has as@ed 7hat has !eco(e of her hus!and and
chi%dren#
$!vious%" then a -o(an is not to !e irritated as %on+ as she
is in a position 7here she can turn round# -hen "ou have
the( in their apart(ents<<7hich are constructed 7ith a vie7
to den"in+ the( that po7er<<"ou can sa" and do 7hat "ou
%i@e: for the" are then 7ho%%" i(potent for (ischief, and 7i%%
not re(e(!er a fe7 (inutes hence the incident for 7hich
the" (a" !e at this (o(ent threatenin+ "ou 7ith death, nor
the pro(ises 7hich "ou (a" have found it necessar" to (a@e
in order to pacif" their fur"#
$n the 7ho%e 7e +ot on prett" s(ooth%" in our do(estic
re%ations, except in the %o7er strata of the /i%itar" '%asses#
There the 7ant of tact and discretion on the part of the
hus!ands produces at ti(es indescri!a!%e disasters# Re%"in+
too (uch on the offensive 7eapons of their acute an+%es
instead of the defensive or+ans of +ood sense and seasona!%e
si(u%ations, these rec@%ess creatures too often ne+%ect the
prescri!ed construction of the 7o(en?s apart(ents, or irritate
their 7ives !" i%%<advised expressions out of doors, 7hich
the" refuse i((ediate%" to retract# /oreover a !%unt and
sto%id re+ard for %itera% truth indisposes the( to (a@e those
%avish pro(ises !" 7hich the (ore Fudicious 'irc%e can in a
(o(ent pacif" his consort# The resu%t is (assacre: not,
ho7ever, 7ithout its advanta+es, as it e%i(inates the (ore
!ruta% and trou!%eso(e of the ,sosce%es: and !" (an" of our
'irc%es the destructiveness of the Thinner Sex is re+arded as
one a(on+ (an" providentia% arran+e(ents for suppressin+
redundant popu%ation, and nippin+ Revo%ution in the !ud#
Het even in our !est re+u%ated and (ost approxi(ate%"
'ircu%ar fa(i%ies , cannot sa" that the idea% of fa(i%" %ife is so
hi+h as 7ith "ou in Space%and# There is peace, in so far as the
a!sence of s%au+hter (a" !e ca%%ed !" that na(e, !ut there is
necessari%" %itt%e har(on" of tastes or pursuits: and the
cautious 7isdo( of the 'irc%es has ensured safet" at the cost
of do(estic co(fort# ,n ever" 'ircu%ar or Po%"+ona%
househo%d it has !een a ha!it fro( ti(e i((e(oria%<<and
no7 has !eco(e a @ind of instinct a(on+ the 7o(en of our
hi+her c%asses<<that the (others and dau+hters shou%d
constant%" @eep their e"es and (ouths to7ards their hus!and
and his (a%e friends: and for a %ad" in a fa(i%" of distinction
to turn her !ac@ upon her hus!and 7ou%d !e re+arded as a
@ind of portent, invo%vin+ %oss of status. 5ut, as , sha%% soon
she7, this custo(, thou+h it has the advanta+e of safet", is
not 7ithout disadvanta+es#
,n the house of the -or@in+ /an or respecta!%e Trades(an<<
7here the 7ife is a%%o7ed to turn her !ac@ upon her hus!and,
7hi%e pursuin+ her househo%d avocations<<there are at %east
interva%s of Duiet, 7hen the 7ife is neither seen nor heard,
except for the hu((in+ sound of the continuous Peace<cr":
!ut in the ho(es of the upper c%asses there is too often no
peace# There the vo%u!%e (outh and !ri+ht penetratin+ e"e are
ever directed to7ard the /aster of the househo%d: and %i+ht
itse%f is not (ore persistent than the strea( of Fe(inine
discourse# The tact and s@i%% 7hich suffice to avert a -o(an?s
stin+ are uneDua% to the tas@ of stoppin+ a -o(an?s (outh:
and as the 7ife has a!so%ute%" nothin+ to sa", and a!so%ute%"
no constraint of 7it, sense, or conscience to prevent her fro(
sa"in+ it, not a fe7 c"nics have !een found to aver that the"
prefer the dan+er of the death<dea%in+ !ut inaudi!%e stin+ to
the safe sonorousness of a -o(an?s other end#
To (" readers in Space%and the condition of our -o(en (a"
seen tru%" dep%ora!%e, and so indeed it is# A /a%e of the
%o7est t"pe of the ,sosce%es (a" %oo@ for7ard to so(e
i(prove(ent of his an+%e, and to the u%ti(ate e%evation of the
7ho%e of his de+raded caste: !ut no -o(an can entertain
such hopes for her sex# A$nce a -o(an, a%7a"s a -o(anA is
a Decree of Nature: and the ver" 9a7s of Evo%ution see(
suspended in her disfavour# Het at %east 7e can ad(ire the
7ise Prearran+e(ent 7hich has ordained that, as the" have
no hopes, so the" sha%% have no (e(or" to reca%%, and no
forethou+ht to anticipate, the (iseries and hu(i%iations 7hich
are at once a necessit" of their existence and the !asis of the
constitution of F%at%and#
KKKKKKK
[Footnote 1]# -hen , 7as in Space%and , understood that
so(e of "our Priest%" circ%es have in the sa(e 7a" a separate
entrance for 8i%%a+ers, Far(ers and Teachers of 5oard
Schoo%s CSpectator, Sept# 188, p# 1&..E that the" (a"
Aapproach in a !eco(in+ and respectfu% (anner#A
Section @
1f our Methods of
Reco:ni<in: one another
H$4, -)$ are !%essed 7ith shade as 7e%% as %i+ht, "ou,
7ho are +ifted 7ith t7o e"es, endo7ed 7ith a @no7%ed+e of
perspective, and char(ed 7ith the enFo"(ent of various
co%ours, "ou, 7ho can actua%%" see an an+%e, and conte(p%ate
the co(p%ete circu(ference of a 'irc%e in the happ" re+ion of
the Three Di(ensions<<ho7 sha%% , (a@e it c%ear to "ou the
extre(e difficu%t" 7hich 7e in F%at%and experience in
reco+ni0in+ one another?s confi+urationI
Reca%% 7hat , to%d "ou a!ove# A%% !ein+s in F%at%and, ani(ate
and inani(ate, no (atter 7hat their for(, present to our %ie!
the sa(e, or near%" the sa(e, appearance, vi0# that of a
strai+ht 9ine# )o7 then can one !e distin+uished fro(
another, 7here a%% appear the sa(eI
The ans7er is threefo%d# The first (eans of reco+nition is the
sense of hearin+: 7hich 7ith us is far (ore hi+h%" deve%oped
than 7ith "ou, and 7hich ena!%es us not on%" to distin+uish
!" the voice of our persona% friends, !ut even to discri(inate
!et7een different c%asses, at %east so far as concerns the three
%o7est orders, the EDui%atera%, the SDuare, and the Penta+on<<
for the ,sosce%es , ta@e no account# 5ut as 7e ascend the
socia% sca%e, the process of discri(inatin+ and !ein+
discri(inated !" hearin+ increases in difficu%t", part%"
!ecause voices are assi(i%ated, part%" !ecause the facu%t" of
voice<discri(ination is a p%e!eian virtue not (uch deve%oped
a(on+ the Aristocrac"# And 7herever there is an" dan+er of
i(posture 7e cannot trust to this (ethod# A(on+st our
%o7est orders, the voca% or+ans are deve%oped to a de+ree
(ore than correspondent 7ith those of hearin+, so that an
,sosce%es can easi%" fei+n the voice of a Po%"+on, and, 7ith
so(e trainin+, that of a 'irc%e hi(se%f# A second (ethod is
therefore (ore co((on%" resorted to#
Feeling is, a(on+ our -o(en and %o7er c%asses<<a!out our
upper c%asses , sha%% spea@ present%"<<the principa% test of
reco+nition, at a%% events !et7een stran+ers, and 7hen the
Duestion is, not as to the individua%, !ut as to the c%ass# -hat
therefore AintroductionA is a(on+ the hi+her c%asses in
Space%and, that the process of Afee%in+A is 7ith us# APer(it
(e to as@ "ou to fee% and !e fe%t !" (" friend /r# So<and<
soA<<is sti%%, a(on+ the (ore o%d<fashioned of our countr"
+ent%e(en in districts re(ote fro( to7ns, the custo(ar"
for(u%a for a F%at%and introduction# 5ut in the to7ns, and
a(on+ (en of !usiness, the 7ords A!e fe%t !"A are o(itted
and the sentence is a!!reviated to, A9et (e as@ "ou to fee%
/r# So<and<soA: a%thou+h it is assu(ed, of course, that the
Afee%in+A is to !e reciproca%# A(on+ our sti%% (ore (odern
and dashin+ "oun+ +ent%e(en<<7ho are extre(e%" averse to
superf%uous effort and supre(e%" indifferent to the purit" of
their native %an+ua+e<<the for(u%a is sti%% further curtai%ed !"
the use of Ato fee%A in a technica% sense, (eanin+, Ato
reco((end<for<the<purposes<of<fee%in+<and<!ein+<fe%tA: and
at this (o(ent the As%an+A of po%ite or fast societ" in the
upper c%asses sanctions such a !ar!aris( as A/r# S(ith,
per(it (e to fee% /r# =ones#A
9et not (" Reader ho7ever suppose that Afee%in+A is 7ith us
the tedious process that it 7ou%d !e 7ith "ou, or that 7e find
it necessar" to fee% ri+ht round a%% the sides of ever"
individua% !efore 7e deter(ine the c%ass to 7hich he !e%on+s#
9on+ practice and trainin+, !e+un in the schoo%s and
continued in the experience of dai%" %ife, ena!%e us to
discri(inate at once !" the sense of touch, !et7een the
an+%es of an eDua%<sided Trian+%e, SDuare, and Penta+on: and
, need not sa" that the !rain%ess vertex of an acute<an+%ed
,sosce%es is o!vious to the du%%est touch# ,t is therefore not
necessar", as a ru%e, to do (ore than fee% a sin+%e an+%e of an
individua%: and this, once ascertained, te%%s us the c%ass of the
person 7ho( 7e are addressin+, un%ess indeed he !e%on+s to
the hi+her sections of the no!i%it"# There the difficu%t" is
(uch +reater# Even a /aster of Arts in our 4niversit" of
-ent!rid+e has !een @no7n to confuse a ten<sided 7ith a
t7e%ve<sided Po%"+on: and there is hard%" a Doctor of Science
in or out of that fa(ous 4niversit" 7ho cou%d pretend to
decide pro(pt%" and unhestitatin+%" !et7een a t7ent"<sided
and a t7ent"<four sided (e(!er of the Aristocrac"#
Those of (" readers 7ho reca%% the extracts , +ave a!ove
fro( the 9e+is%ative code concernin+ -o(en, 7i%% readi%"
perceive that the process of introduction !" contact reDuires
so(e care and discretion# $ther7ise the an+%es (i+ht inf%ict
on the un7ar" Fee%in+ irrepara!%e inFur"# ,t is essentia% for the
safet" of the Fee%er that the Fe%t shou%d stand perfect%" sti%%# A
start, a fid+et" shiftin+ of the position, "es, even a vio%ent
snee0e, has !een @no7n !efore no7 to prove fata% to the
incautious, and to nip in the !ud (an" a pro(isin+
friendship# Especia%%" is this true a(on+ the %o7er c%asses of
the Trian+%es# -ith the(, the e"e is situated so far fro( their
vertex that the" can scarce%" ta@e co+ni0ance of 7hat +oes on
at that extre(it" of their fra(e# The" are, (oreover, of a
rou+h coarse nature, not sensitive to the de%icate touch of the
hi+h%" or+ani0ed Po%"+on# -hat 7onder then if an
invo%untar" toss of the head has ere no7 deprived the State of
a va%ua!%e %ifeJ
, have heard that (" exce%%ent ;randfather<<one of the %east
irre+u%ar of his unhapp" ,sosce%es c%ass, 7ho indeed o!tained,
short%" !efore his decease, four out of seven votes fro( the
Sanitar" and Socia% 5oard for passin+ hi( into the c%ass of
the EDua%<sided<<often dep%ored, 7ith a tear in his venera!%e
e"e, a (iscarria+e of this @ind, 7hich had occurred to his
+reat<+reat<+reat<;randfather, a respecta!%e -or@in+ /an
7ith an an+%e or !rain of .3 de+rees *6 (inutes# Accordin+ to
his account, (" unfortunate%" Ancestor, !ein+ aff%icted 7ith
rheu(atis(, and in the act of !ein+ fe%t !" a Po%"+on, !" one
sudden start accidenta%%" transfixed the ;reat /an throu+h
the dia+ona% and there!", part%" in conseDuence of his %on+
i(prison(ent and de+radation, and part%" !ecause of the
(ora% shoc@ 7hich pervaded the 7ho%e of (" Ancestor?s
re%ations, thre7 !ac@ our fa(i%" a de+ree and a ha%f in their
ascent to7ards !etter thin+s# The resu%t 7as that in the next
+eneration the fa(i%" !rain 7as re+istered at on%" .8 de+rees,
and not ti%% the %apse of five +enerations 7as the %ost +round
recovered, the fu%% 16 de+rees attained, and the Ascent fro(
the ,sosce%es fina%%" achieved# And a%% this series of
ca%a(aties fro( one %itt%e accident in the process of Fee%in+#
As this point , thin@ , hear so(e of (" !etter educated
readers exc%ai(, A)o7 cou%d "ou in F%at%and @no7 an"thin+
a!out an+%es and de+rees, or (inutesI -e see an an+%e,
!ecause 7e, in the re+ion of Space, can see t7o strai+ht %ines
inc%ined to one another: !ut "ou, 7ho can see nothin+ !ut on
strai+ht %ine at a ti(e, or at a%% events on%" a nu(!er of !its of
strai+ht %ines a%% in one strai+ht %ine,<<ho7 can "ou ever
discern an an+%e, and (uch %ess re+ister an+%es of different
si0esIA
, ans7er that thou+h 7e cannot see an+%es, 7e can iner the(,
and this 7ith +reat precision# $ur sense of touch, sti(u%ated
!" necessit", and deve%oped !" %on+ trainin+, ena!%es us to
distin+uish an+%es far (ore accurate%" than "our sense of
si+ht, 7hen unaided !" a ru%e or (easure of an+%es# nor (ust
, o(it to exp%ain that 7e have +reat natura% he%ps# ,t is 7ith us
a 9a7 of Nature that the !rain of the ,sosce%es c%ass sha%%
!e+in at ha%f a de+ree, or thirt" (inutes, and sha%% increase Cif
it increases at a%%E !" ha%f a de+ree in ever" +eneration unti%
the +oa% of 16 de+rees is reached, 7hen the condition of
serfdo( is Duitted, and the free(an enters the c%ass of
Re+u%ars#
'onseDuent%", Nature herse%f supp%ies us 7ith an ascendin+
sca%e or A%pha!et of an+%es for ha%f a de+ree up to 16 de+rees,
Speci(ens of 7hich are p%aced in ever" E%e(entar" Schoo%
throu+hout the %and# $7in+ to occasiona% retro+ressions, to
sti%% (ore freDuent (ora% and inte%%ectua% sta+nation, and to
the extraordinar" fecundit" of the 'ri(ina% and 8a+a!ond
c%asses, there is a%7a"s a vast superf%uit" of individua%s of the
ha%f de+ree and sin+%e de+ree c%ass, and a fair a!undance of
Speci(ens up to 16 de+rees# These are a!so%ute%" destitute of
civi% ri+hts: and a +reat nu(!er of the(, not havin+ even
inte%%i+ence enou+h for the purposes of 7arfare, are devoted
!" the States to the service of education# Fettered i((ova!%"
so as to re(ove a%% possi!i%it" of dan+er, the" are p%aced in
the c%assroo(s of our ,nfant Schoo%s, and there the" are
uti%i0ed !" the 5oard of Education for the purpose of
i(partin+ to the offsprin+ of the /idd%e '%asses the tact and
inte%%i+ence 7hich these 7retched creatures the(se%ves are
utter%" devoid#
,n so(e States the Speci(ens are occasiona%%" fed and
suffered to exist for severa% "ears: !ut in the (ore te(perate
and !etter re+u%ated re+ions, it is found in the %on+ run (ore
advanta+eous for the educationa% interests of the "oun+, to
dispense 7ith food, and to rene7 the Speci(ens ever"
(onth<<7hich is a!out the avera+e duration of the food%ess
existence of the 'ri(ina% c%ass# ,n the cheaper schoo%s, 7hat
is +ained !" the %on+er existence of the Speci(en is %ost,
part%" in the expenditure for food, and part%" in the
di(inished accurac" of the an+%es, 7hich are i(paired after a
fe7 7ee@s of constant Afee%in+#A Nor (ust 7e for+et to add,
in enu(eratin+ the advanta+es of the (ore expensive s"ste(,
that it tends, thou+h s%i+ht%" "et percepti!%", to the di(inution
of the redundant ,sosce%es popu%ation<<an o!Fect 7hich ever"
states(an in F%at%and constant%" @eeps in vie7# $n the 7ho%e
therefore<<a%thou+h , a( not i+norant that, in (an" popu%ar%"
e%ected Schoo% 5oards, there is a reaction in favour of Athe
cheap s"ste(A as it is ca%%ed<<, a( ("se%f disposed to thin@
that this is one of the (an" cases in 7hich expense is the
truest econo("#
5ut , (ust not a%%o7 Duestions of Schoo% 5oard po%itics to
divert (e fro( (" su!Fect# Enou+h has !een said, , trust, to
she7 that Reco+nition !" Fee%in+ is not so tedious or
indecisive a process as (i+ht have !een supposed: and it is
o!vious%" (ore trust7orth" than Reco+nition !" hearin+#
Sti%% there re(ains, as has !een pointed out a!ove, the
o!Fection that this (ethod is not 7ithout dan+er# For this
reason (an" in the /idd%e and 9o7er c%asses, and a%% 7ithout
exception in the Po%"+ona% and 'ircu%ar orders, prefer a third
(ethod, the description of 7hich sha%% !e reserved for the
next section#
Section )
1f Reco:nition by Si:ht
, A/ A5$4T to appear ver" inconsistent# ,n the previous
sections , have said that a%% fi+ures in F%at%and present the
appearance of a strai+ht %ine: and it 7as added or i(p%ied,
that it is conseDuent%" i(possi!%e to distin+uish !" the visua%
or+an !et7een individua%s of different c%assesG "et no7 , a(
a!out to exp%ain to (" Space%and critics ho7 7e are a!%e to
reco+ni0e one another !" the sense of si+ht#
,f ho7ever the Reader 7i%% ta@e the trou!%e to refer to the
passa+e in 7hich Reco+nition !" Fee%in+ is stated to !e
universa%, he 7i%% find this Dua%ification<<Aa(on+ the %o7er
c%asses#A ,t is on%" a(on+ the hi+her c%asses and in our (ore
te(perate c%i(ates that Si+ht Reco+nition is practised#
That this po7er exists in an" re+ions and for an" c%asses is
the resu%t of Fo+: 7hich prevai%s durin+ the +reater part of the
"ear in a%% parts save the torrid 0ones# That 7hich is 7ith "ou
in Space%and an un(ixed evi%, !%ottin+ out the %andscape,
depressin+ the spirits, and enfee!%in+ the hea%th, is !" us
reco+ni0ed as a !%essin+ scarce%" inferior to air itse%f, and as
the Nurse of arts and Parent of sciences# 5ut %et (e exp%ain
(" (eanin+, 7ithout further eu%o+ies on this !eneficent
E%e(ent#
,f Fo+ 7ere non<existent, a%% %ines 7ou%d appear eDua%%" and
indistin+uisha!%" c%ear: and this is actua%%" the case in those
unhapp" countries in 7hich the at(osphere is perfect%" dr"
and transparent# 5ut 7herever there is a rich supp%" of Fo+,
o!Fects that are at a distance, sa" of three feet, are apprecia!%"
di((er than those at the distance of t7o feet e%even inches:
and the resu%t is that !" carefu% and constant experi(enta%
o!servation of co(parative di(ness and constant
experi(enta% o!servation of co(parative di(ness and
c%earness, 7e are ena!%ed to infer 7ith +reat exactness the
confi+uration of the o!Fect o!served#
An instance 7i%% do (ore than a vo%u(e of +enera%ities to
(a@e (" (eanin+ c%ear#
Suppose , see t7o individua%s approachin+ 7hose ran@ , 7ish
to ascertain# The" are, 7e 7i%% suppose, a /erchant and a
Ph"sician, or in other 7ords, an EDui%atera% Trian+%e and a
Penta+on: ho7 a( , to distin+uish the(I
,t 7i%% !e o!vious, to ever" chi%d in Space%and 7ho has
touched the thresho%d of ;eo(etrica% Studies, that, if , can
!rin+ (" e"e so that its +%ance (a" !isect an an+%e CAE of the
approachin+ stran+er, (" vie7 7i%% %ie as it 7ere even%"
!et7een the t7o sides that are next to (e Cvi0# 'A and A5E,
so that , sha%% conte(p%ate the t7o i(partia%%", and !oth 7i%%
appear of the sa(e si0e#
No7 in the case of C1E the /erchant, 7hat sha%% , seeI , sha%%
see a strai+ht %ine DAE, in 7hich the (idd%e point CAE 7i%% !e
ver" !ri+ht !ecause it is nearest to (e: !ut on either side the
%ine 7i%% shade a7a" rapidly to dimness, !ecause the sides A'
and A5 recede rapidly into the og and 7hat appear to (e as
the /erchant?s extre(ities, vi0# D and E, 7i%% !e %ery dim
indeed.
$n the other hand in the case of C&E the Ph"sician, thou+h ,
sha%% here a%so see a %ine CD?A?E?E 7ith a !ri+ht centre CA?E, "et
it 7i%% shade a7a" less rapidly to di(ness, !ecause the sides
CA?'?, A?5?E recede less rapidly into the og& and 7hat appear
to (e the Ph"sician?s extre(ities, vi0# D? and E?, 7i%% not !e
not so dim as the extre(ities of the /erchant#
The Reader 7i%% pro!a!%" understand fro( these t7o
instances ho7<<after a ver" %on+ trainin+ supp%e(ented !"
constant experience<<it is possi!%e for the 7e%%<educated
c%asses a(on+ us to discri(inate 7ith fair accurac" !et7een
the (idd%e and %o7est orders, !" the sense of si+ht# ,f ("
Space%and Patrons have +rasped this +enera% conception, so
far as to conceive the possi!i%it" of it and not to reFect ("
account as a%to+ether incredi!%e<<, sha%% have attained a%% ,
can reasona!%" expect# -ere , to atte(pt further detai%s ,
shou%d on%" perp%ex# Het for the sa@e of the "oun+ and
inexperienced, 7ho (a" perchance infer<<fro( the t7o
si(p%e instances , have +iven a!ove, of the (anner in 7hich ,
shou%d reco+ni0e (" Father and (" Sons << that Reco+nition
!" si+ht is an eas" affair, it (a" !e needfu% to point out that in
actua% %ife (ost of the pro!%e(s of Si+ht Reco+nition are far
(ore su!t%e and co(p%ex#
,f for exa(p%e, 7hen (" Father, the Trian+%e, approaches (e,
he happens to present his side to (e instead of his an+%e,
then, unti% , have as@ed hi( to rotate, or unti% , have ed+ed
(" e"e around hi(, , a( for the (o(ent dou!tfu% 7hether he
(a" not !e a Strai+ht 9ine, or, in other 7ords, a -o(an#
A+ain, 7hen , a( in the co(pan" of one of (" t7o
hexa+ona% ;randsons, conte(p%atin+ one of his sides CA5E
fu%% front, it 7i%% !e evident fro( the acco(pan"in+ dia+ra(
that , sha%% see one 7ho%e %ine CA5E in co(parative !ri+htness
Cshadin+ off hard%" at a%% at the endsE and t7o s(a%%er %ines
C'A and 5DE di( throu+hout and shadin+ a7a" into +reater
di(ness to7ards the extre(ities ' and D#
5ut , (ust not +ive 7a" to the te(ptation of en%ar+in+ on
these topics# The (eanest (athe(atician in Space%and 7i%%
readi%" !e%ieve (e 7hen , assert that the pro!%e(s of %ife,
7hich present the(se%ves to the 7e%%<educated<<7hen the"
are the(se%ves in (otion, rotatin+, advancin+ or retreatin+,
and at the sa(e ti(e atte(ptin+ to discri(inate !" the sense
of si+ht !et7een a nu(!er of Po%"+ons of hi+h ran@ (ovin+
in different directions, as for exa(p%e in a !a%%<roo( or
conversa0ione<<(ust !e of a nature to tas@ the an+u%arit" of
the (ost inte%%ectua%, and a(p%" Fustif" the rich endo7(ents
of the 9earned Professors of ;eo(etr", !oth Static and
Linetic, in the i%%ustrious 4niversit" of -ent!rid+e, 7here the
Science and Art of Si+ht Reco+nition are re+u%ar%" tau+ht to
%ar+e c%asses of the 'lite of the States#
,t is on%" a fe7 of the scions of our no!%est and 7ea%thiest
houses, 7ho are a!%e to +ive the ti(e and (one" necessar"
for the thorou+h prosecution of this no!%e and va%ua!%e Art#
Even to (e, a /athe(atician of no (ean standin+, and the
;randfather of t7o (ost hopefu% and perfect%" re+u%ar
)exa+ons, to find ("se%f in the (idst of a cro7d of rotatin+
Po%"+ons of the hi+her c%asses, is occasiona%%" ver"
perp%exin+# And of course to a co((on Trades(an, or Serf,
such a si+ht is a%(ost as uninte%%i+i!%e as it 7ou%d !e to "ou,
(" Reader, 7ere "ou sudden%" transported to (" countr"#
,n such a cro7d "ou cou%d see on a%% sides of "ou nothin+ !ut
a 9ine, apparent%" strai+ht, !ut of 7hich the parts 7ou%d var"
irre+u%ar%" and perpetua%%" in !ri+htness or di(ness# Even if
"ou had co(p%eted "our third "ear in the Penta+ona% and
)exa+ona% c%asses in the 4niversit", and 7ere perfect in the
theor" of the su!Fect, "ou 7ou%d sti%% find there 7as need of
(an" "ears of experience, !efore "ou cou%d (ove in a
fashiona!%e cro7d 7ithout Fost%in+ a+ainst "our !etters,
7ho( it is a+ainst etiDuette to as@ to Afee%,A and 7ho, !" their
superior cu%ture and !reedin+, @no7 a%% a!out "our
(ove(ents, 7hi%e "ou @no7 ver" %itt%e or nothin+ a!out
theirs# in a 7ord, to co(port onese%f 7ith perfect propriet" in
Po%"+ona% societ", one ou+ht to !e a Po%"+on onese%f# Such at
%east is the painfu% teachin+ of (" experience#
,t is astonishin+ ho7 (uch the Art<<or , (a" a%(ost ca%% it
instinct<<of Si+ht Reco+nition is deve%oped !" the ha!itua%
practice of it and !" the avoidance of the custo( of
AFee%in+#A =ust as, 7ith "ou, the deaf and du(!, if once
a%%o7ed to +esticu%ate and to use the hand<a%pha!et, 7i%%
never acDuire the (ore difficu%t !ut far (ore va%ua!%e art of
%ip<speech and %ip<readin+, so it is 7ith us as re+ards ASeein+A
and AFee%in+#A None 7ho in ear%" %ife resort to AFee%in+A 7i%%
ever %earn ASeein+A in perfection#
For this reason, a(on+ our )i+her '%asses, AFee%in+A is
discoura+ed or a!so%ute%" for!idden# Fro( the crad%e their
chi%dren, instead of +oin+ to the Pu!%ic E%e(entar" schoo%s
C7here the art of Fee%in+ is tau+ht,E are sent to hi+her
Se(inaries of an exc%usive character: and at our i%%ustrious
4niversit", to Afee%A is re+arded as a (ost serious fau%t,
invo%vin+ Rustication for the first offence, and Expu%sion for
the second#
5ut a(on+ the %o7er c%asses the art of Si+ht Reco+nition is
re+arded as an unattaina!%e %uxur"# A co((on Trades(an
cannot afford to %et his sun spend a third of his %ife in a!stract
studies# The chi%dren of the poor are therefore a%%o7ed to
Afee%A fro( their ear%iest "ears, and the" +ain there!" a
precocit" and an ear%" vivacit" 7hich contrast at first (ost
favoura!%" 7ith the inert, undeve%oped, and %ist%ess !ehaviour
of the ha%f<instructed "ouths of the Po%"+ona% c%ass: !ut 7hen
the %atter have at %ast co(p%eted their 4niversit" course, and
are prepared to put their theor" into practice, the chan+e that
co(es over the( (a" a%(ost !e descri!ed as a ne7 !irth, and
in ever" art, science, and socia% pursuit the" rapid%" overta@e
and distance their Trian+u%ar co(petitors#
$n%" a fe7 of the Po%"+ona% '%ass fai% to pass the Fina% Test
or 9eavin+ Exa(ination at the 4niversit"# The condition of
the unsuccessfu% (inorit" is tru%" pitia!%e# ReFected fro( the
hi+her c%ass,, the" are a%so despised !" the %o7er# The" have
neither the (atured and s"ste(atica%%" trained po7ers of the
Po%"+ona% 5ache%ors and /asters of Arts, nor "et the native
precocit" and (ercuria% versati%it" of the "outhfu% Trades(an#
The professions, the pu!%ic services, are c%osed a+ainst the(,
and thou+h in (ost States the" are not actua%%" de!arred fro(
(arria+e, "et the" have the +reatest difficu%t" in for(in+
suita!%e a%%iances, as experience she7s that the offsprin+ of
such unfortunate and i%%<endo7ed parents is +enera%%" itse%f
unfortunate, if not positive%" ,rre+u%ar#
,t is fro( these speci(ens of the refuse of our No!i%it" that
the +reat Tu(u%ts and Seditions of past a+es have +enera%%"
derived their %eaders: and so +reat is the (ischief thence
arisin+ that an increasin+ (inorit" of our (ore pro+ressive
States(en are of opinion that true (erc" 7ou%d dictate their
entire suppression, !" enactin+ that a%% 7ho fai% to pass the
Fina% Exa(ination of the 4niversit" shou%d !e either
i(prisoned for %ife, or extin+uished !" a pain%ess death#
5ut , find ("se%f di+ressin+ into the su!Fect of ,rre+u%arities,
a (atter of such vita% interest that it de(ands a separate
section#
Section A
.oncernin: Irre:ular
Fi:ures
T)R$4;)$4T the previous pa+es , have !een assu(in+<<
7hat perhaps shou%d have !een %aid do7n at the !e+innin+ as
a distinct and funda(enta% proposition<<that ever" hu(an
!ein+ in F%at%and is a Re+u%ar Fi+ure, that is to sa" of re+u%ar
construction# 5" this , (ean that a -o(an (ust not on%" !e a
%ine, !ut a strai+ht %ine: that an Artisan or So%dier (ust have
t7o of his sides eDua%: that Trades(en (ust have three sides
eDua%: 9a7"ers Cof 7hich c%ass , a( a hu(!%e (e(!erE, four
sides eDua%, and, +enera%%", that in ever" Po%"+on, a%% the sides
(ust !e eDua%#
The si0es of the sides 7ou%d of course depend upon the a+e of
the individua%# A Fe(a%e at !irth 7ou%d !e a!out an inch %on+,
7hi%e a ta%% adu%t -o(an (i+ht extend to a foot# As to the
/a%es of ever" c%ass, it (a" !e rou+h%" said that the %en+th of
an adu%t?s si0e, 7hen added to+ether, is t7o feet or a %itt%e
(ore# 5ut the si0e of our sides is not under consideration# ,
a( spea@in+ of the equality of sides, and it does not need
(uch ref%ection to see that the 7ho%e of the socia% %ife in
F%at%and rests upon the funda(enta% fact that Nature 7i%%s a%%
Fi+ures to have their sides eDua%#
,f our sides 7ere uneDua% our an+%es (i+ht !e uneDua%#
,nstead of its !ein+ sufficient to fee%, or esti(ate !" si+ht, a
sin+%e an+%e in order to deter(ine the for( of an individua%, it
7ou%d !e necessar" to ascertain each an+%e !" the experi(ent
of Fee%in+# 5ut %ife 7ou%d !e too short for such a tedious
+ropin+# The 7ho%e science and art of Si+ht Reco+nition
7ou%d at once perish: Fee%in+, so far as it is an art, 7ou%d not
%on+ survive: intercourse 7ou%d !eco(e peri%ous or
i(possi!%e: there 7ou%d !e an end to a%% confidence, a%%
forethou+ht: no one 7ou%d !e safe in (a@in+ the (ost si(p%e
socia% arran+e(ents: in a 7ord, civi%i0ation (i+ht re%apse into
!ar!aris(#
A( , +oin+ too fast to carr" (" Readers 7ith (e to these
o!vious conc%usionsI Sure%" a (o(ent?s ref%ection, and a
sin+%e instance fro( co((on %ife, (ust convince ever" one
that our socia% s"ste( is !ased upon Re+u%arit", or EDua%it"
of An+%es# Hou (eet, for exa(p%e, t7o or three Trades(en in
the street, 7ho( "our reco+ni0e at once to !e Trades(an !" a
+%ance at their an+%es and rapid%" !edi((ed sides, and "ou
as@ the( to step into "our house to %unch# This "ou do at
present 7ith perfect confidence, !ecause ever"one @no7s to
an inch or t7o the area occupied !" an adu%t Trian+%eG !ut
i(a+ine that "our Trades(an dra+s !ehind his re+u%ar and
respecta!%e vertex, a para%%e%o+ra( of t7e%ve or thirteen
inches in dia+ona%G<<7hat are "ou to do 7ith such a (onster
stic@in+ fast in "our house doorI
5ut , a( insu%tin+ the inte%%i+ence of (" Readers !"
accu(u%atin+ detai%s 7hich (ust !e patent to ever"one 7ho
enFo"s the advanta+es of a Residence in Space%and#
$!vious%" the (easure(ents of a sin+%e an+%e 7ou%d no
%on+er !e sufficient under such portentous circu(stances:
one?s 7ho%e %ife 7ou%d !e ta@en up in fee%in+ or surve"in+ the
peri(eter of one?s acDuaintances# A%read" the difficu%ties of
avoidin+ a co%%ision in a cro7d are enou+h to tax the sa+acit"
of even a 7e%%<educated SDuare: !ut if no one cou%d ca%cu%ate
the Re+u%arit" of a sin+%e fi+ure in the co(pan", a%% 7ou%d !e
chaos and confusion, and the s%i+htest panic 7ou%d cause
serious inFuries, or<<if there happened to !e an" -o(en or
So%diers present<<perhaps considera!%e %oss of %ife#
Expedienc" therefore concurs 7ith Nature in sta(pin+ the
sea% of its approva% upon Re+u%arit" of confor(ationG nor has
the 9a7 !een !ac@7ard in secondin+ their efforts#
A,rre+u%arit" of Fi+ureA (eans 7ith us the sa(e as, or (ore
than, a co(!ination of (ora% o!%iDuit" and cri(ina%it" 7ith
"ou, and is treated accordin+%"# There are not 7antin+, it is
true, so(e pro(u%+ators of paradoxes 7ho (aintain that
there is no necessar" connection !et7een +eo(etrica% and
(ora% ,rre+u%arit"# AThe ,rre+u%ar,A the" sa", Ais fro( his !irth
scouted !" his o7n parents, derided !" his !rothers and
sisters, ne+%ected !" the do(estics, scorned and suspected !"
societ", and exc%uded fro( a%% posts of responsi!i%it", trust,
and usefu% activit"# )is ever" (ove(ent is Fea%ous%" 7atched
!" the po%ice ti%% he co(es of a+e and presents hi(se%f for
inspection: then he is either destro"ed, if he is found to
exceed the fixed (ar+in of deviation, or e%se i((ured in a
;overn(ent $ffice as a c%er@ of the seventh c%ass, prevented
fro( (arria+e: forced to drud+e at an uninterestin+
occupation for a (isera!%e stipend: o!%i+ed to %ive and !oard
at the office, and to ta@e even his vacation under c%ose
supervision: 7hat 7onder that hu(an nature, even in the !est
and purest, is e(!ittered and perverted !" such
surroundin+sJA
A%% this ver" p%ausi!%e reasonin+ does not convince (e, as it
has not convinced the 7isest of our States(en, that our
ancestors erred in %a"in+ it do7n as an axio( of po%ic" that
the to%eration of ,rre+u%arit" is inco(pati!%e 7ith the safet" of
the State# Dou!t%ess, the %ife of an ,rre+u%ar is hard: !ut the
interests of the ;reater Nu(!er reDuire that it sha%% !e hard# ,f
a (an 7ith a trian+u%ar front and a po%"+ona% !ac@ 7ere
a%%o7ed to exist and to propa+ate a sti%% (ore ,rre+u%ar
posterit", 7hat 7ou%d !eco(e of the arts of %ifeI Are the
houses and doors and churches in F%at%and to !e a%tered in
order to acco((odate such (onstersI Are our tic@et<
co%%ectors to !e reDuired to (easure ever" (an?s peri(eter
!efore the" a%%o7 hi( to enter a theatre, or to ta@e his p%ace in
a %ecture roo(I ,s an ,rre+u%ar to !e exe(pted fro( the
(i%itiaI And if not, ho7 is he to !e prevented fro( carr"in+
deso%ation into the ran@s of his co(radesI A+ain, 7hat
irresisti!%e te(ptations to fraudu%ent i(postures (ust needs
!eset such a creatureJ )o7 eas" for hi( to enter a shop 7ith
his po%"+ona% front fore(ost, and to order +oods to an" extent
fro( a confidin+ trades(anJ 9et the advocates of a fa%se%"
ca%%ed Phi%anthrop" p%ead as the" (a" for the a!ro+ation of
the ,rre+u%ar Pena% 9a7s, , for (" part have never @no7n an
,rre+u%ar 7ho 7as not a%so 7hat Nature evident%" intended
hi( to !e<<a h"pocrite, a (isanthropist, and, up to the %i(its
of his po7er, a perpetrator of a%% (anner of (ischief#
Not that , shou%d !e disposed to reco((end Cat presentE the
extre(e (easures adopted !" so(e States, 7here an infant
7hose an+%e deviates !" ha%f a de+ree fro( the correct
an+u%arit" is su((ari%" destro"ed at !irth# So(e of our
hi+hest and a!%est (en, (en of rea% +enius, have durin+ their
ear%iest da"s %a!oured under deviations as +reat as, or even
+reater than fort"<five (inutesG and the %oss of their precious
%ives 7ou%d have !een an irrepara!%e inFur" to the State# The
art of hea%in+ a%so has achieved so(e of its (ost +%orious
triu(phs in the co(pressions, extensions, trepannin+s,
co%%i+ations, and other sur+ica% or diaetetic operations !"
7hich ,rre+u%arit" has !een part%" or 7ho%%" cured#
Advocatin+ therefore a (ia Media, , 7ou%d %a" do7n no fixed
or a!so%ute %ine of de(arcation: !ut at the period 7hen the
fra(e is Fust !e+innin+ to set, and 7hen the /edica% 5oard
has reported that recover" is i(pro!a!%", , 7ou%d su++est that
the ,rre+u%ar offsprin+ !e pain%ess%" and (ercifu%%"
consu(ed#
Section $
1f the Ancient /ractice of
/aintin:
,F /H Readers have fo%%o7ed (e 7ith an" attention up to
this point, the" 7i%% not !e surprised to hear that %ife is
so(e7hat du%% in F%at%and# , do not, of course, (ean that
there are not !att%es, conspiracies, tu(u%ts, factions, and a%%
those other pheno(ena 7hich are supposed to (a@e )istor"
interestin+: nor 7ou%d , den" that the stran+e (ixture of the
pro!%e(s of %ife and the pro!%e(s of /athe(atics,
continua%%" inducin+ conFecture and +ivin+ an opportunit" of
i((ediate verification, i(parts to our existence a 0est 7hich
"ou in Space%and can hard%" co(prehend# , spea@ no7 fro(
the aesthetic and artistic point of vie7 7hen , sa" that %ife
7ith us is du%%: aesthetica%%" and artistica%%", ver" du%% indeed#
)o7 can it !e other7ise, 7hen a%% one?s prospect, a%% one?s
%andscapes, historica% pieces, portraits, f%o7ers, sti%% %ife, are
nothin+ !ut a sin+%e %ine, 7ith no varieties except de+rees of
!ri+htness and o!scurit"I
,t 7as not a%7a"s thus# 'o%our, if Tradition spea@s the truth,
once for the space of ha%f a do0en centuries or (ore, thre7 a
transient sp%endour over the %ives of our ancestors in the
re(otest a+es# So(e private individua%<<a Penta+on 7hose
na(e is various%" reported<<havin+ casua%%" discovered the
constituents of the si(p%er co%ours and a rudi(entar" (ethod
of paintin+, is said to have !e+un !" decoratin+ first his
house, then his s%aves, then his Father, his Sons, and
;randsons, %ast%" hi(se%f# The convenience as 7e%% as the
!eaut" of the resu%ts co((ended the(se%ves to a%%# -herever
'hro(atistes,<<for !" that na(e the (ost trust7orth"
authorities concur in ca%%in+ hi(,<<turned his varie+ated
fra(e, there he at once excited attention, and attracted
respect# No one no7 needed to Afee%A hi(: no one (istoo@ his
front for his !ac@: a%% his (ove(ents 7ere readi%" ascertained
!" his nei+h!ours 7ithout the s%i+htest strain on their po7ers
of ca%cu%ation: no one Fost%ed hi(, or fai%ed to (a@e 7a" for
hi(: his voice 7as saved the %a!our of that exhaustin+
utterance !" 7hich 7e co%our%ess SDuares and Penta+ons are
often forced to proc%ai( our individua%it" 7hen 7e (ove
a(id a cro7d of i+norant ,sosce%es#
The fashion spread %i@e 7i%dfire# 5efore a 7ee@ 7as over,
ever" SDuare and Trian+%e in the district had copied the
exa(p%e of 'hro(atistes, and on%" a fe7 of the (ore
conservative Penta+ons sti%% he%d out# A (onth or t7o found
even the Dodeca+ons infected 7ith the innovation# A "ear had
not e%apsed !efore the ha!it had spread to a%% !ut the ver"
hi+hest of the No!i%it"# Need%ess to sa", the custo( soon
(ade its 7a" fro( the district of 'hro(atistes to surroundin+
re+ions: and 7ithin t7o +enerations no one in a%% F%at%and
7as co%our%ess except the -o(en and the Priests#
)ere Nature herse%f appeared to erect a !arrier, and to p%ead
a+ainst extendin+ the innovations to these t7o c%asses# /an"<
sidedness 7as a%(ost essentia% as a pretext for the ,nnovators#
ADistinction of sides is intended !" Nature to i(p%"
distinction of co%oursA<<such 7as the sophis( 7hich in those
da"s f%e7 fro( (outh to (outh, convertin+ 7ho%e to7ns at a
ti(e to a ne7 cu%ture# 5ut (anifest%" to our Priests and
-o(en this ada+e did not app%"# The %atter had on%" one side,
and therefore<<p%ura%%" and pedantica%%" spea@in+<<no sides.
The for(er<<if at %east the" 7ou%d assert their c%ai( to !e
readi%" and tru%" 'irc%es, and not (ere hi+h<c%ass Po%"+ons,
7ith an infinite%" %ar+e nu(!er of infinitesi(a%%" s(a%%
sides<<7ere in the ha!it of !oastin+ C7hat -o(en confessed
and dep%oredE that the" a%so had no sides, !ein+ !%essed 7ith
a peri(eter of on%" one %ine, or, in other 7ords, a
'ircu(ference# )ence it ca(e to pass that these t7o '%asses
cou%d see no force in the so<ca%%ed axio( a!out ADistinction
of Sides i(p%"in+ Distinction of 'o%our:A and 7hen a%% others
had succu(!ed to the fascinations of corpora% decoration, the
Priests and the -o(en a%one sti%% re(ained pure fro( the
po%%ution of paint#
,((ora%, %icentious, anarchica%, unscientific<<ca%% the( !"
7hat na(ed "ou 7i%%<<"et, fro( an aesthetic point of vie7,
those ancient da"s of the 'o%our Revo%t 7ere the +%orious
chi%dhood of Art in F%at%and<<a chi%dhood, a%as, that never
ripened into (anhood, nor even reached the !%osso( of
"outh# To %ive then in itse%f a de%i+ht, !ecause %ivin+ i(p%ied
seein+# Even at a s(a%% part", the co(pan" 7as a p%easure to
!eho%d: the rich%" varied hues of the asse(!%" in a church or
theatre are said to have (ore than once proved too distractin+
fro( our +reatest teachers and actors: !ut (ost ravishin+ of
a%% is said to have !een the unspea@a!%e (a+nificence of a
(i%itar" revie7#
The si+ht of a %ine of !att%e of t7ent" thousand ,sosce%es
sudden%" facin+ a!out, and exchan+in+ the so(!re !%ac@ of
their !ases for the oran+e of the t7o sides inc%udin+ their
acute an+%e: the (i%itia of the EDui%atera% Trian+%es
trico%oured in red, 7hite, and !%ue: the (auve, u%tra<(arine,
+a(!o+e, and !urnt u(!er of the SDuare arti%%er"(en rapid%"
rotatin+ near their ver(i%%ion +uns: the dashin+ and f%ashin+
of the five<co%oured and six<co%oured Penta+ons and
)exa+ons careerin+ across the fie%d in their offices of
sur+eons, +eo(etricians and aides<de<ca(p<<a%% these (a"
7e%% have !een sufficient to render credi!%e the fa(ous stor"
ho7 an i%%ustrious 'irc%e, overco(e !" the artistic !eaut" of
the forces under his co((and, thre7 aside his (arsha%?s
!aton and his ro"a% cro7n, exc%ai(in+ that he henceforth
exchan+ed the( for the artist?s penci%# )o7 +reat and
+%orious the sensuous deve%op(ent of these da"s (ust have
!een is in part indicated !" the ver" %an+ua+e and voca!u%ar"
of the period# The co((onest utterances of the co((onest
citi0ens in the ti(e of the 'o%our Revo%t see( to have !een
suffused 7ith a richer tin+e of 7ord or thou+ht: and to that
era 7e are even no7 inde!ted for our finest poetr" and for
7hatever rh"th( sti%% re(ains in the (ore scientific utterance
of those (odern da"s#
Section '
1f the Uni+ersal .olour 8ill
54T /EAN-),9E the inte%%ectua% Arts 7ere fast deca"in+#
The Art of Si+ht Reco+nition, !ein+ no %on+er needed, 7as
no %on+er practised: and the studies of ;eo(etr", Statics,
Linetics, and other @indred su!Fects, ca(e soon to !e
considered superf%uous, and fee% into disrespect and ne+%ect
even at our 4niversit"# The inferior Art of Fee%in+ speedi%"
experienced the sa(e fate at our E%e(entar" Schoo%s# Then
the ,sosce%es c%asses, assertin+ that the Speci(ens 7ere no
%on+er used nor needed, and refusin+ to pa" the custo(ar"
tri!ute fro( the 'ri(ina% c%asses to the service of Education,
7axed dai%" (ore nu(erous and (ore inso%ent on the
stren+th of their i((unit" fro( the o%d !urden 7hich had
for(er%" exercised the t7ofo%d 7ho%eso(e effect of at once
ta(in+ their !ruta% nature and thinnin+ their excessive
nu(!ers#
Hear !" "ear the So%diers and Artisans !e+an (ore
vehe(ent%" to assert<<and 7ith increasin+ truth<<that there
7as no +reat difference !et7een the( and the ver" hi+hest
c%ass of Po%"+ons, no7 that the" 7ere raised to an eDua%it"
7ith the %atter, and ena!%ed to +rapp%e 7ith a%% the difficu%ties
and so%ve a%% the pro!%e(s of %ife, 7hether Statica% or
Linetica%, !" the si(p%e process of 'o%our Reco+nition# Not
content 7ith the natura% ne+%ect into 7hich Si+ht Reco+nition
7as fa%%in+, the" !e+an !o%d%" to de(and the %e+a%
prohi!ition of a%% A(onopo%i0in+ and aristocratic ArtsA and
the conseDuent a!o%ition of a%% endo7(ents for the studies of
Si+ht Reco+nition, /athe(atics, and Fee%in+# Soon, the"
!e+an to insist that inas(uch as 'o%our, 7hich 7as a second
Nature, had destro"ed the need of aristocratic distinctions, the
9a7 shou%d fo%%o7 in the sa(e path, and that henceforth a%%
individua%s and a%% c%asses shou%d !e reco+ni0ed as a!so%ute%"
eDua% and entit%ed to eDua% ri+hts#
Findin+ the hi+her $rders 7averin+ and undecided, the
%eaders of the Revo%ution advanced sti%% further in their
reDuire(ents, and at %ast de(anded that a%% c%asses a%i@e, the
Priests and the -o(en not excepted, shou%d do ho(a+e to
'o%our !" su!(ittin+ to !e painted# -hen it 7as o!Fected
that Priests and -o(en had no sides, the" retorted that
Nature and Expedienc" concurred in dictatin+ that the front
ha%f of ever" hu(an !ein+ Cthat is to sa", the ha%f containin+
his e"e and (outhE shou%d !e distin+uisha!%e fro( his hinder
ha%f# The" therefore !rou+ht !efore a +enera% and
extraordinar" Asse(!%" of a%% the States of F%at%and a 5i%%
proposin+ that in ever" -o(an the ha%f containin+ the e"e
and (outh shou%d !e co%oured red, and the other ha%f +reen#
The Priests 7ere to !e painted in the sa(e 7a", red !ein+
app%ied to that se(icirc%e in 7hich the e"e and (outh for(ed
the (idd%e point: 7hi%e the other or hinder se(icirc%e 7as to
!e co%oured +reen#
There 7as no %itt%e cunnin+ in this proposa%, 7hich indeed
e(anated not fro( an" ,sosce%es<<for no !ein+ so de+raded
7ou%d have an+u%arit" enou+h to appreciate, (uch %ess to
devise, such a (ode% of state<craft<<!ut fro( an ,rre+u%ar
'irc%e 7ho, instead of !ein+ destro"ed in his chi%dhood, 7as
reserved !" a foo%ish indu%+ence to !rin+ deso%ation on his
countr" and destruction on ("riads of fo%%o7ers#
$n the one hand the proposition 7as ca%cu%ated to !rin+ the
-o(en in a%% c%asses over to the side of the 'hro(atic
,nnovation# For !" assi+nin+ to the -o(en the sa(e t7o
co%ours as 7ere assi+ned to the Priests, the Revo%utionists
there!" ensured that, in certain positions, ever" -o(an
7ou%d appear as a Priest, and !e treated 7ith correspondin+
respect and deference<<a prospect that cou%d not fai% to attract
the Fe(a%e Sex in a (ass#
5ut !" so(e of (" Readers the possi!i%it" of the identica%
appearance of Priests and -o(en, under a ne7 9e+is%ation,
(a" not !e reco+ni0ed: if so, a 7ord or t7o 7i%% (a@e it
o!vious#
,(a+ine a 7o(an du%" decorated, accordin+ to the ne7 'ode:
7ith the front ha%f Ci.e., the ha%f containin+ the e"e and
(outhE red, and 7ith the hinder ha%f +reen# 9oo@ at her fro(
one side# $!vious%" "ou 7i%% see a strai+ht %ine, hal red, hal
green.
No7 i(a+ine a Priest, 7hose (outh is at /, and 7hose front
se(icirc%e CA/5E is conseDuent%" co%oured red, 7hi%e his
hinder se(icirc%e is +reen: so that the dia(eter A5 divides
the +reen fro( the red# ,f "ou conte(p%ate the ;reat /an so
as to have "our e"e in the sa(e strai+ht %ine as his dividin+
dia(eter CA5E, 7hat "ou 7i%% see 7i%% !e a strai+ht %ine
C'5DE, of 7hich one hal C'5E !ill be red, and the other
C5DE green. The 7ho%e %ine C'DE 7i%% !e rather shorter
perhaps than that of a fu%%<si0ed -o(an, and 7i%% shade off
(ore rapid%" to7ards its extre(ities: !ut the identit" of the
co%ours 7ou%d +ive "ou an i((ediate i(pression of identit"
in '%ass, (a@in+ "ou ne+%ectfu% of other detai%s# 5ear in (ind
the deca" of Si+ht Reco+nition 7hich threatened societ" at
the ti(e of the 'o%our revo%t: add too the certaint" that
-o(an 7ou%d speedi%" %earn to shade off their extre(ities so
as to i(itate the 'irc%es: it (ust then !e sure%" o!vious to
"ou, (" dear Reader, that the 'o%our 5i%% p%aced us under a
+reat dan+er of confoundin+ a Priest 7ith a "oun+ -o(an#
)o7 attractive this prospect (ust have !een to the Frai% Sex
(a" readi%" !e i(a+ined# The" anticipated 7ith de%i+ht the
confusion that 7ou%d ensue# At ho(e the" (i+ht hear
po%itica% and ecc%esiastica% secrets intended not for the( !ut
for their hus!ands and !rothers, and (i+ht even issue so(e
co((ands in the na(e of a priest%" 'irc%e: out of doors the
stri@in+ co(!ination of red and +reen 7ithout addition of an"
other co%ours, 7ou%d !e sure to %ead the co((on peop%e into
end%ess (ista@es, and the -o(an 7ou%d +ain 7hatever the
'irc%es %ost, in the deference of the passers !"# As for the
scanda% that 7ou%d !efa%% the 'ircu%ar '%ass if the frivo%ous
and unsee(%" conduct of the -o(en 7ere i(puted to the(,
and as to the conseDuent su!version of the 'onstitution, the
Fe(a%e Sex cou%d not !e expected to +ive a thou+ht to these
considerations# Even in the househo%ds of the 'irc%es, the
-o(en 7ere a%% in favour of the 4niversa% 'o%our 5i%%#
The second o!Fect ai(ed at !" the 5i%% 7as the +radua%
de(ora%i0ation of the 'irc%es the(se%ves# ,n the +enera%
inte%%ectua% deca" the" sti%% preserved their pristine c%earness
and stren+th of understandin+# Fro( their ear%iest chi%dhood,
fa(i%iari0ed in their 'ircu%ar househo%ds 7ith the tota%
a!sence of 'o%our, the No!%es a%one preserved the Sacred Art
of Si+ht Reco+nition, 7ith a%% the advanta+es that resu%t fro(
that ad(ira!%e trainin+ of the inte%%ect# )ence, up to the date
of the introduction of the 4niversa% 'o%our 5i%%, the 'irc%es
had not on%" he%d their o7n, !ut even increased their %ead of
the other c%asses !" a!stinence fro( the popu%ar fashion#
No7 therefore the artfu% ,rre+u%ar 7ho( , descri!ed a!ove as
the rea% author of this dia!o%ica% 5i%%, deter(ined at one !%o7
to %o7er the status of the )ierarch" !" forcin+ the( to su!(it
to the po%%ution of 'o%our, and at the sa(e ti(e to destro"
their do(estic opportunities of trainin+ in the Art of Si+ht
Reco+nition, so as to enfee!%e their inte%%ects !" deprivin+
the( of their pure and co%our%ess ho(es# $nce su!Fected to
the chro(atic taint, ever" parenta% and ever" chi%dish 'irc%e
7ou%d de(ora%i0e each other# $n%" in discernin+ !et7een the
Father and the /other 7ou%d the 'ircu%ar infant find
pro!%e(s for the exercise of his understandin+<<pro!%e(s too
often %i@e%" to !e corrupted !" (aterna% i(postures 7ith the
resu%t of sha@in+ the chi%d?s faith in a%% %o+ica% conc%usions#
Thus !" de+rees the inte%%ectua% %ustre of the Priest%" $rder
7ou%d 7ane, and the road 7ou%d then %ie open for a tota%
destruction of a%% Aristocratic 9e+is%ature and for the
su!version of our Privi%e+ed '%asses#
Section #B
1f the Su99ression of the
.hromatic Sedition
T)E A;,TAT,$N for the 4niversa% 'o%our 5i%% continued
for three "ears: and up to the %ast (o(ent of that period it
see(ed as thou+h Anarch" 7ere destined to triu(ph#
A 7ho%e ar(" of Po%"+ons, 7ho turned out to fi+ht as private
so%diers, 7as utter%" annihi%ated !" a superior force of
,sosce%es Trian+%es<<the SDuares and Penta+ons (ean7hi%e
re(ainin+ neutra%# -orse than a%%, so(e of the a!%est 'irc%es
fe%% a pre" to conFu+a% fur"# ,nfuriated !" po%itica% ani(osit",
the 7ives in (an" a no!%e househo%d 7earied their %ords 7ith
pra"ers to +ive up their opposition to the 'o%our 5i%%: and
so(e, findin+ their entreaties fruit%ess, fe%% on and s%au+htered
their innocent chi%dren and hus!and, perishin+ the(se%ves in
the act of carna+e# ,t is recorded that durin+ that triennia%
a+itation no %ess than t7ent"<three 'irc%es perished in
do(estic discord#
;reat indeed 7as the peri%# ,t see(ed as thou+h the Priests
had no choice !et7een su!(ission and exter(ination: 7hen
sudden%" the course of events 7as co(p%ete%" chan+ed !"
one of those picturesDue incidents 7hich States(en ou+ht
never to ne+%ect, often to anticipate, and so(eti(es perhaps
to ori+inate, !ecause of the a!surd%" disproportionate po7er
7ith 7hich the" appear to the s"(pathies of the popu%ace#
,t happened that an ,sosce%es of a %o7 t"pe, 7ith a !rain %itt%e
if at a%% a!ove four de+rees<<accidenta%%" da!!%in+ in the
co%ours of so(e Trades(an 7hose shop he had p%undered<<
painted hi(se%f, or caused hi(se%f to !e painted Cfor the stor"
variesE 7ith the t7e%ve co%ours of a Dodeca+on# ;oin+ into
the /ar@et P%ace he accosted in a fei+ned voice a (aiden, the
orphan dau+hter of a no!%e Po%"+on, 7hose affection in
for(er da"s he had sou+ht in vain: and !" a series of
deceptions<<aided, on the one side, !" a strin+ of %uc@"
accidents too %on+ to re%ate, and, on the other, !" an a%(ost
inconceiva!%e fatuit" and ne+%ect of ordinar" precautions on
the part of the re%ations of the !ride<<he succeeded in
consu((atin+ the (arria+e# The unhapp" +ir% co((itted
suicide on discoverin+ the fraud to 7hich she had !een
su!Fected#
-hen the ne7s of this catastrophe spread fro( State to State
the (inds of the -o(en 7ere vio%ent%" a+itated# S"(path"
7ith the (isera!%e victi( and anticipations of si(i%ar
deceptions for the(se%ves, their sisters, and their dau+hters,
(ade the( no7 re+ard the 'o%our 5i%% in an entire%" ne7
aspect# Not a fe7 open%" avo7ed the(se%ves converted to
anta+onis(: the rest needed on%" a s%i+ht sti(u%us to (a@e a
si(i%ar avo7a%# Sei0in+ this favoura!%e opportunit", the
'irc%es hasti%" convened an extraordinar" Asse(!%" of the
States: and !esides the usua% +uard of 'onvicts, the" secured
the attendance of a %ar+e nu(!er of reactionar" -o(en#
A(idst an unprecedented concourse, the 'hief 'irc%e of
those da"s<<!" na(e Pantoc"c%us<<arose to find hi(se%f
hissed and hooted !" a hundred and t7ent" thousand
,sosce%es# 5ut he secured si%ence !" dec%arin+ that henceforth
the 'irc%es 7ou%d enter on a po%ic" of 'oncession: "ie%din+ to
the 7ishes of the (aForit", the" 7ou%d accept the 'o%our 5i%%#
The uproar !ein+ at once converted to app%ause, he invited
'hro(atistes, the %eader of the Sedition, into the centre of the
ha%%, to receive in the na(e of his fo%%o7ers the su!(ission of
the )ierarch"# Then fo%%o7ed a speech, a (asterpiece of
rhetoric, 7hich occupied near%" a da" in the de%iver", and to
7hich no su((ar" can do Fustice#
-ith a +rave appearance of i(partia%it" he dec%ared that as
the" 7ere no7 fina%%" co((ittin+ the(se%ves to Refor( or
,nnovation, it 7as desira!%e that the" shou%d ta@e one %ast
vie7 of the peri(eter of the 7ho%e su!Fect, its defects as 7e%%
as its advanta+es# ;radua%%" introduction the (ention of the
dan+ers to the Trades(en, the Professiona% '%asses and the
;ent%e(en, he si%enced the risin+ (ur(urs of the ,sosce%es
!" re(indin+ the( that, in spite of a%% these defects, he 7as
7i%%in+ to accept the 5i%% if it 7as approved !" the (aForit"#
5ut it 7as (anifest that a%%, except the ,sosce%es, 7ere (oved
!" his 7ords and 7ere either neutra% or averse to the 5i%%#
Turnin+ no7 to the -or@(en he asserted that their interests
(ust not !e ne+%ected, and that, if the" intended to accept the
'o%our 5i%%, the" ou+ht at %east to do so 7ith fu%% vie7 of the
conseDuences# /an" of the(, he said, 7ere on the point of
!ein+ ad(itted to the c%ass of the Re+u%ar Trian+%es: others
anticipated for their chi%dren a distinction the" cou%d not hope
for the(se%ves# That honoura!%e a(!ition 7ou%d not have to
!e sacrificed# -ith the universa% adoption of 'o%our, a%%
distinctions 7ou%d cease: Re+u%arit" 7ou%d !e confused 7ith
,rre+u%arit": deve%op(ent 7ou%d +ive p%ace to retro+ression:
the -or@(an 7ou%d in a fe7 +enerations !e de+raded to the
%eve% of the /i%itar", or even the 'onvict '%ass: po%itica%
po7er 7ou%d !e in the hands of the +reatest nu(!er, that is to
sa" the 'ri(ina% '%asses, 7ho 7ere a%read" (ore nu(erous
than the -or@(en, and 7ou%d soon out<nu(!er a%% the other
'%asses put to+ether 7hen the usua% 'o(pensative 9a7s of
Nature 7ere vio%ated#
A su!dued (ur(ur of assent ran throu+h the ran@s of the
Artisans, and 'hro(atistes, in a%ar(, atte(pted to step
for7ard and address the(# 5ut he found hi(se%f
enco(passed 7ith +uards and forced to re(ain si%ent 7hi%e
the 'hief 'irc%e in a fe7 i(passioned 7ords (ade a fina%
appea% to the -o(en, exc%ai(in+ that, if the 'o%our 5i%%
passed, no (arria+e 7ou%d henceforth !e safe, no 7o(an?s
honour secure: fraud, deception, h"pocris" 7ou%d pervade
ever" househo%d: do(estic !%iss 7ou%d share the fate of the
'onstitution and pass to speed" perdition# ASooner than this,A
he cried, A'o(e death#A
At these 7ords, 7hich 7ere the preconcerted si+na% for
action, the ,sosce%es 'onvicts fe%% on and transfixed the
7retched 'hro(atistes: the Re+u%ar '%asses, openin+ their
ran@s, (ade 7a" for a !and of -o(en 7ho, under direction
of the 'irc%es, (oved !ac@ fore(ost, invisi!%" and unerrin+%"
upon the unconscious so%diers: the Artisans, i(itatin+ the
exa(p%e of their !etters, a%so opened their ran@s# /eanti(e
!ands of 'onvicts occupied ever" entrance 7ith an
i(penetra!%e pha%anx#
The !att%e, or rather carna+e, 7as of short duration# 4nder the
s@i%%fu% +enera%ship of the 'irc%es a%(ost ever" -o(an?s
char+e 7as fata% and ver" (an" extracted their stin+
uninFured, read" for a second s%au+hter# 5ut no second !%o7
7as needed: the ra!!%e of the ,sosce%es did the rest of the
!usiness for the(se%ves# Surprised, %eader<%ess, attac@ed in
front !" invisi!%e foes, and findin+ e+ress cut off !" the
'onvicts !ehind the(, the" at once<<after their (anner<<%ost
a%% presence of (ind, and raised the cr" of Atreacher"#A This
sea%ed their fate# Ever" ,sosce%es no7 sa7 and fe%t a foe in
ever" other# ,n ha%f an hour not one of that vast (u%titude 7as
%ivin+: and the fra+(ents of seven score thousand of the
'ri(ina% '%ass s%ain !" one another?s an+%es attested the
triu(ph of $rder#
The 'irc%es de%a"ed not to push their victor" to the utter(ost#
The -or@in+ /en the" spared !ut deci(ated# The /i%itia of
the EDui%atera%s 7as at once ca%%ed out, and ever" Trian+%e
suspected of ,rre+u%arit" on reasona!%e +rounds, 7as
destro"ed !" 'ourt /artia%, 7ithout the for(a%it" of exact
(easure(ent !" the Socia% 5oard# The ho(es of the /i%itar"
and Artisan c%asses 7ere inspected in a course of visitation
extendin+ throu+h up7ards of a "ear: and durin+ that period
ever" to7n, vi%%a+e, and ha(%et 7as s"ste(atica%%" pur+ed of
that excess of the %o7er orders 7hich had !een !rou+ht a!out
!" the ne+%ect to pa" the tri!ute of 'ri(ina%s to the Schoo%s
and 4niversit", and !" the vio%ation of other natura% 9a7s of
the 'onstitution of F%at%and# Thus the !a%ance of c%asses 7as
a+ain restored#
Need%ess to sa" that henceforth the use of 'o%our 7as
a!o%ished, and its possession prohi!ited# Even the utterance
of an" 7ord denotin+ 'o%our, except !" the 'irc%es or !"
Dua%ified scientific teachers, 7as punished !" a severe
pena%t"# $n%" at our 4niversit" in so(e of the ver" hi+hest
and (ost esoteric c%asses<<7hich , ("se%f have never !een
privi%e+ed to attend<<it is understood that the sparin+ use of
'o%our is sti%% sanctioned for the purpose of i%%ustratin+ so(e
of the deeper pro!%e(s of (athe(atics# 5ut of this , can on%"
spea@ fro( hearsa"#
E%se7here in F%at%and, 'o%our is no non<existent# The art of
(a@in+ it is @no7n to on%" one %ivin+ person, the 'hief
'irc%e for the ti(e !ein+: and !" hi( it is handed do7n on
his death<!ed to none !ut his Successor# $ne (anufactor"
a%one produces it: and, %est the secret shou%d !e !etra"ed, the
-or@(en are annua%%" consu(ed, and fresh ones introduced#
So +reat is the terror 7ith 7hich even no7 our Aristocrac"
%oo@s !ac@ to the far<distant da"s of the a+itation for the
4niversa% 'o%our 5i%%#
Section ##
.oncernin: our /riests
,T ,S hi+h ti(e that , shou%d pass fro( these !rief and
discursive notes a!out thin+s in F%at%and to the centra% event
of this !oo@, (" initiation into the ("steries of Space# That is
(" su!Fect: a%% that has +one !efore is (ere%" preface#
For this reason , (ust o(it (an" (atters of 7hich the
exp%anation 7ou%d not, , f%atter ("se%f, !e 7ithout interest for
(" ReadersG as for exa(p%e, our (ethod of prope%%in+ and
stoppin+ ourse%ves, a%thou+h destitute of feet: the (eans !"
7hich 7e +ive fixit" to structures of 7ood, stone, or !ric@,
a%thou+h of course 7e have no hands, nor can 7e %a"
foundations as "ou can, nor avai% ourse%ves of the %atera%
pressure of the earth: the (anner in 7hich the rain ori+inates
in the interva%s !et7een our various 0ones, so that the
northern re+ions do not intercept the (oisture fa%%in+ on the
southern: the nature of our hi%%s and (ines, our trees and
ve+eta!%es, our seasons and harvests: our A%pha!et and
(ethod of 7ritin+, adapted to our %inear ta!%ets: these and a
hundred other detai%s of our ph"sica% existence , (ust pass
over, nor do , (ention the( no7 except to indicate to ("
readers that their o(ission proceeds not fro( for+etfu%ness on
the part of the author, !ut fro( his re+ard for the ti(e of the
Reader#
Het !efore , proceed to (" %e+iti(ate su!Fect so(e fe7 fina%
re(ar@s 7i%% no dou!t !e expected !" (" Readers upon these
pi%%ars and (ainsta"s of the 'onstitution of F%at%and, the
contro%%ers of our conduct and shapers of our destin", the
o!Fects of universa% ho(a+e and a%(ost of adorationG need ,
sa" that , (ean our 'irc%es or PriestsI
-hen , ca%% the( Priests, %et (e not !e understood as
(eanin+ no (ore than the ter( denotes 7ith "ou# -ith us,
our Priests are Ad(inistrators of a%% 5usiness, Art, and
Science: Directors of Trade, 'o((erce, ;enera%ship,
Architecture, En+ineerin+, Education, States(anship,
9e+is%ature, /ora%it", Theo%o+": doin+ nothin+ the(se%ves,
the" are the 'auses of ever"thin+ 7orth doin+, that is done
!" others#
A%thou+h popu%ar%" ever"one ca%%ed a 'irc%e is dee(ed a
'irc%e, "et a(on+ the !etter educated '%asses it is @no7n that
no 'irc%e is rea%%" a 'irc%e, !ut on%" a Po%"+on 7ith a ver"
%ar+e nu(!er of ver" s(a%% sides# As the nu(!er of the sides
increases, a Po%"+on approxi(ates to a 'irc%e: and, 7hen the
nu(!er is ver" +reat indeed, sa" for exa(p%e three or four
hundred, it is extre(e%" difficu%t for the (ost de%icate touch
to fee% an" po%"+ona% an+%es# 9et (e sa" rather it !ould !e
difficu%tG for, as , have sho7n a!ove, Reco+nition !" Fee%in+
is un@no7n a(on+ the hi+hest societ", and to eel a 'irc%e
7ou%d !e considered a (ost audacious insu%t# This ha!it of
a!stention fro( Fee%in+ in the !est societ" ena!%es a 'irc%e
the (ore easi%" to sustain the vei% of ("ster" in 7hich, fro(
his ear%iest "ears, he is 7ont to en7rap the exact nature of his
Peri(eter or 'ircu(ference# Three feet !ein+ the avera+e
Peri(eter it fo%%o7s that, in a Po%"+on of three hundred sides
each side 7i%% !e no (ore than the hundredth part of a foot in
%en+th, or %itt%e (ore than the tenth part of an inch: and in a
Po%"+on of six or seven hundred sides the sides are %itt%e
%ar+er than the dia(eter of a Space%and pin<head# ,t is a%7a"s
assu(ed, !" courtes", that the 'hief 'irc%e for the ti(e !ein+
has ten thousand sides#
The ascent of the posterit" of the 'irc%es in the socia% sca%e is
not restricted, as it is a(on+ the %o7er Re+u%ar c%asses, !" the
9a7 of Nature 7hich %i(its the increase of sides to one in
each +eneration# ,f it 7ere so, the nu(!er of sides in the
'irc%e 7ou%d !e a (ere Duestion of pedi+ree and arith(etic,
and the four hundred and ninet"<seventh descendant of an
EDui%atera% Trian+%e 7ou%d necessari%" !e a po%"+on -ith five
hundred sides# 5ut this is not the case# Nature?s 9a7
prescri!es t7o anta+onistic decrees affectin+ 'ircu%ar
propa+ation: first, that as the race c%i(!s hi+her in the sca%e
of deve%op(ent, so deve%op(ent sha%% proceed at an
acce%erated pace: second, that in the sa(e proportion, the race
sha%% !eco(e %ess ferti%e# 'onseDuent%" in the ho(e of a
Po%"+on of four or five hundred sides it is rare to find a son:
(ore than one is never seen# $n the other hand the son of a
five<hundred<sided Po%"+on has !een @no7n to possess five
hundred and fift", or even six hundred sides#
Art a%so steps in to he%p the process of hi+her Evo%ution# $ur
ph"sicians have discovered that the s(a%% and tender sides of
an infant Po%"+on of the hi+her c%ass can !e fractured, and his
7ho%e fra(e re<set, 7ith such exactness that a Po%"+on of t7o
or three hundred sides so(eti(es<<!" no (eans a%7a"s, for
the process is attended 7ith serious ris@<<!ut so(eti(es
over%eaps t7o or three hundred +enerations, and as it 7ere
dou!%e at a stro@e, the nu(!er of his pro+enitors and the
no!i%it" of his descent#
/an" a pro(isin+ chi%d is sacrificed in this 7a"# Scarce%"
one out of ten survives# Het so stron+ is the parenta% a(!ition
a(on+ those Po%"+ons 7ho are, as it 7ere, on the frin+e of
the 'ircu%ar c%ass, that it is ver" rare to find the No!%e(an of
that position in societ", 7ho has ne+%ected to p%ace his first<
!orn in the 'ircu%ar Neo<Therapeutic ;"(nasiu( !efore he
has attained the a+e of a (onth#
$ne "ear deter(ines success or fai%ure# At the end of that
ti(e the chi%d has, in a%% pro!a!i%it", added one (ore to the
to(!stones that cro7d the Neo<Therapeutic 'e(eter": !ut on
rare occasions a +%ad procession !ears !ac@ the %itt%e one to
his exu%tant parents, no %on+er a Po%"+on, !ut a 'irc%e, at
%east !" courtes"G and a sin+%e instance of so !%essed a resu%t
induces (u%titudes of Po%"+ona% parents to su!(it to si(i%ar
do(estic sacrifice, 7hich have a dissi(i%ar issue#
Section #(
1f the Doctrine of our
/riests
AS T$ the doctrine of the 'irc%es it (a" !rief%" !e su((ed
up in a sin+%e (axi(, AAttend to "our 'onfi+uration#A
-hether po%itica%, ecc%esiastica%, or (ora%, a%% their teachin+
has for its o!Fect the i(prove(ent of individua% and
co%%ective 'onfi+uration<<7ith specia% reference of course to
the 'onfi+uration of the 'irc%es, to 7hich a%% other o!Fects are
su!ordinated#
,t is the (erit of the 'irc%es that the" have effectua%%"
suppressed those ancient heresies 7hich %ed (en to 7aste
ener+" and s"(path" in the vain !e%ief that conduct depends
upon 7i%%, effort, trainin+, encoura+e(ent, praise, or an"thin+
e%se !ut 'onfi+uration# ,t 7as Pantoc"c%us<<the i%%ustrious
'irc%e (entioned a!ove, as the Due%%er of the 'o%our Revo%t<<
7ho first convinced (an@ind that 'onfi+uration (a@es the
(an: that if, for exa(p%e, "ou are !orn an ,sosce%es 7ith t7o
uneven sides, "ou 7i%% assured%" +o 7ron+ un%ess "ou have
the( (ade even<<for 7hich purpose "ou (ust +o to the
,sosce%es )ospita%: si(i%ar%", if "ou are a Trian+%e, or SDuare,
or even a Po%"+on, !orn 7ith an" ,rre+u%arit", "ou (ust !e
ta@en to one of the Re+u%ar )ospita%s to have "our disease
cured: other7ise "ou 7i%% end "our da"s in the State Prison or
!" the an+%e of the State Executioner#
A%% fau%ts or defects, fro( the s%i+htest (isconduct to the
(ost f%a+itious cri(e, Pantoc"c%us attri!uted to so(e
deviation fro( perfect Re+u%arit" in the !odi%" fi+ure, caused
perhaps Cif not con+enita%E !" so(e co%%ision in a cro7d: !"
ne+%ect to ta@e exercise, or !" ta@in+ too (uch of it: or even
!" a sudden chan+e of te(perature, resu%tin+ in a shrin@a+e
or expansion in so(e too suscepti!%e part of the fra(e#
Therefore, conc%uded that i%%ustrious Phi%osopher, neither
+ood conduct nor !ad conduct is a fit su!Fect, in an" so!er
esti(ation, for either praise or !%a(e# For 7h" shou%d "ou
praise, for exa(p%e, the inte+rit" of a SDuare 7ho faithfu%%"
defends the interests of his c%ient, 7hen "ou ou+ht in rea%it"
rather to ad(ire the exact precision of his ri+ht an+%esI $r
a+ain, 7h" !%a(e a %"in+, thievish ,sosce%es, 7hen "ou ou+ht
rather to dep%ore the incura!%e ineDua%it" of his sidesI
Theoretica%%", this doctrine is unDuestiona!%e: !ut it has
practica% dra7!ac@s# ,n dea%in+ 7ith an ,sosce%es, if a rasca%
p%eads that he cannot he%p stea%in+ !ecause of his unevenness,
"ou rep%" that for that ver" reason, !ecause he cannot he%p
!ein+ a nuisance to his nei+h!ours, "ou, the /a+istrate,
cannot he%p sentencin+ hi( to !e consu(ed<<and there?s an
end of the (atter# 5ut in %itt%e do(estic difficu%ties, 7hen the
pena%t" of consu(ption, or death, is out of the Duestion, this
theor" of 'onfi+uration so(eti(es co(es in a7@7ard%": and
, (ust confess that occasiona%%" 7hen one of (" o7n
)exa+ona% ;randsons p%eads as an excuse for his
diso!edience that a sudden chan+e of te(perature has !een
too (uch for his Peri(eter, and that , ou+ht to %a" the !%a(e
not on hi( !ut on his 'onfi+uration, 7hich can on%" !e
stren+thened !" a!undance of the choicest s7eet(eats, ,
neither see (" 7a" %o+ica%%" to reFect, nor practica%%" to
accept, his conc%usions#
For (" o7n part, , find it !est to assu(e that a +ood sound
sco%din+ or casti+ation has so(e %atent and stren+thenin+
inf%uence on (" ;randson?s 'onfi+uration: thou+h , o7n that
, have no +rounds for thin@in+ so# At a%% events , a( not
a%one in (" 7a" of extricatin+ ("se%f fro( this di%e((a: for
, find that (an" of the hi+hest 'irc%es, sittin+ as =ud+es in
%a7 courts, use praise and !%a(e to7ards Re+u%ar and
,rre+u%ar Fi+ures: and in their ho(es , @no7 !" experience
that, 7hen sco%din+ their chi%dren, the" spea@ a!out Ari+htA
and A7ron+A as vehe(ent%" and passionate%" as if the"
!e%ieve that these na(es represented rea% existence, and that a
hu(an Fi+ure is rea%%" capa!%e of choosin+ !et7een the(#
'onstant%" carr"in+ out their po%ic" of (a@in+ 'onfi+uration
the %eadin+ idea in ever" (ind, the 'irc%es reverse the nature
of that 'o((and(ent 7hich in Space%and re+u%ates the
re%ations !et7een parents and chi%dren# -ith "ou, chi%dren are
tau+ht to honour their parents: 7ith us<<next to the 'irc%es,
7ho are the chief o!Fect of universa% ho(a+e<<a (an is tau+ht
to honour his ;randson, if he has one: or, if not, his Son# 5"
Ahonour,A ho7ever, is !" no (eans (ean Aindu%+ence,A !ut a
reverent re+ard for their hi+hest interestsG and the 'irc%es
teach that the dut" of fathers is to su!ordinate their o7n
interests to those of posterit", there!" advancin+ the 7e%fare
of the 7ho%e State as 7e%% as that of their o7n i((ediate
descendants#
The 7ea@ point in the s"ste( of the 'irc%es<<if a hu(!%e
SDuare (a" venture to spea@ of an"thin+ 'ircu%ar as
containin+ an" e%e(ent of 7ea@ness<<appears to (e to !e
found in their re%ations 7ith -o(en#
As it is of the ut(ost i(portance for Societ" that ,rre+u%ar
!irths shou%d !e discoura+ed, it fo%%o7s that no -o(an 7ho
has an" ,rre+u%arities in her ancestr" is a fit partner for one
7ho desires that his posterit" shou%d rise !" re+u%ar de+rees
in the socia% sca%e#
No7 the ,rre+u%arit" of a /a%e is a (atter of (easure(ent:
!ut as a%% -o(en are strai+ht, and therefore visi!%" Re+u%ar
so to spea@, one has to device so(e other (eans of
ascertainin+ 7hat , (a" ca%% their invisi!%e ,rre+u%arit", that is
to sa" their potentia% ,rre+u%arities as re+ards possi!%e
offsprin+# This is effected !" carefu%%"<@ept pedi+rees, 7hich
are preserved and supervised !" the State: and 7ithout a
certified pedi+ree no -o(an is a%%o7ed to (arr"#
No7 it (i+ht have !een supposed the a 'irc%e<<proud of his
ancestr" and re+ardfu% for a posterit" 7hich (i+ht possi!%"
issue hereafter in a 'hief 'irc%e<<7ou%d !e (ore carefu% than
an" other to choose a 7ife 7ho had no !%ot on her
escutcheon# 5ut it is not so# The care in choosin+ a Re+u%ar
7ife appears to di(inish as one rises in the socia% sca%e#
Nothin+ 7ou%d induce an aspirin+ ,sosce%es, 7ho has hopes
of +eneratin+ an EDui%atera% Son, to ta@e a 7ife 7ho rec@oned
a sin+%e ,rre+u%arit" a(on+ her Ancestors: a SDuare or
Penta+on, 7ho is confident that his fa(i%" is steadi%" on the
rise, does not inDure a!ove the five<hundredth +eneration: a
)exa+on or Dodeca+on is even (ore care%ess of the 7ife?s
pedi+ree: !ut a 'irc%e has !een @no7n de%i!erate%" to ta@e a
7ife 7ho has had an ,rre+u%ar ;reat<;randfather, and a%%
!ecause of so(e s%i+ht superiorit" of %ustre, or !ecause of the
char(s of a %o7 voice<<7hich, 7ith us, even (ore than 7ith
"ou, is thou+ht Aan exce%%ent thin+ in a -o(an#A
Such i%%<Fud+ed (arria+es are, as (i+ht !e expected, !arren,
if the" do not resu%t in positive ,rre+u%arit" or in di(inution
of sides: !ut none of these evi%s have hitherto proved
sufficient%" deterrent# The %oss of a fe7 sides in a hi+h%"<
deve%oped Po%"+on is not easi%" noticed, and is so(eti(es
co(pensated !" a successfu% operation in the Neo<
Therapeutic ;"(nasiu(, as , have descri!ed a!ove: and the
'irc%es are too (uch disposed to acDuiesce in infecundit" as a
%a7 of the superior deve%op(ent# Het, if this evi% !e not
arrested, the +radua% di(inution of the 'ircu%ar c%ass (a"
soon !eco(e (ore rapid, and the ti(e (a" not !e far distant
7hen, the race !ein+ no %on+er a!%e to produce a 'hief
'irc%e, the 'onstitution of F%at%and (ust fa%%#
$ne other 7ord of 7arnin+ su++est itse%f to (e, thou+h ,
cannot so easi%" (ention a re(ed": and this a%so refers to our
re%ations 7ith -o(en# A!out three hundred "ears a+o, it 7as
decreed !" the 'hief 'irc%e that, since 7o(en are deficient in
Reason !ut a!undant in E(otion, the" ou+ht no %on+er to !e
treated as rationa%, nor receive an" (enta% education# The
conseDuence 7as that the" 7ere no %on+er tau+ht to read, nor
even to (aster Arith(etic enou+h to ena!%e the( to count the
an+%es of their hus!and or chi%dren: and hence the" sensi!%"
dec%ined durin+ each +eneration in inte%%ectua% po7er# And
this s"ste( of fe(a%e non<education or Duietis( sti%% prevai%s#
/" fear is that, 7ith the !est intentions, this po%ic" has !een
carried so far as to react inFurious%" on the /a%e Sex#
For the conseDuence is that, as thin+s no7 are, 7e /a%es
have to %ead a @ind of !i<%in+ua%, and , (a" a%(ost sa"
!i(enta%, existence# -ith -o(en, 7e spea@ of A%ove,A Adut",A
Ari+ht,A A7ron+,A Apit",A Ahope,A and other irrationa% and
e(otiona% conceptions, 7hich have no existence, and the
fiction of 7hich has no o!Fect except to contro% fe(inine
exu!erances: !ut a(on+ ourse%ves, and in our !oo@s, 7e have
an entire%" different voca!u%ar" and , (a" a%so sa", idion#
A9oveA the( !eco(es Athe anticipation of !enefitsA: Adut"A
!eco(es Anecessit"A or AfitnessA: and other 7ords are
correspondin+%" trans(uted# /oreover, a(on+ -o(en, 7e
use %an+ua+e i(p%"in+ the ut(ost deference for their Sex:
and the" fu%%" !e%ieve that the 'hief 'irc%e )i(se%f is not
(ore devout%" adored !" us than the" areG !ut !ehind their
!ac@s the" are !oth re+arded and spo@en of<<!" a%% !ut the
ver" "oun+<<as !ein+ %itt%e !etter than A(ind%ess or+anis(s#A
$ur Theo%o+" a%so in the -o(en?s cha(!ers is entire%"
different fro( our Theo%o+" e%se7here#
No7 (" hu(!%e fear is that this dou!%e trainin+, in %an+ua+e
as 7e%% as in thou+ht, i(poses so(e7hat too heav" a !urden
upon the "oun+, especia%%" 7hen, at the a+e of three "ears
o%d, the" are ta@en fro( the (aterna% care and tau+ht to
un%earn the o%d %an+ua+e<<except for the purpose of repeatin+
it in the presence of the /others and Nurses<<and to %earn the
voca!u%ar" and idio( of science# A%read" (ethin@s , discern
a 7ea@ness in the +rasp of (athe(atica% truth at the present
ti(e as co(pared 7ith the (ore ro!ust inte%%ect of our
ancestors three hundred "ears a+o# , sa" nothin+ of the
possi!%e dan+er if a -o(an shou%d ever surreptitous%" %earn
to read and conve" to her Sex the resu%t of her perusa% of a
sin+%e popu%ar vo%u(ne: nor of the possi!i%it" that the
indiscretion or diso!edience of so(e infant /a%e (i+ht
revea% to a /other the secrets of the %o+ica% dia%ect# $n the
si(p%e +round of the enfee!%in+ of the (a%e inte%%ect, , rest
this hu(!%e appea% to the hi+hest Authorities to reconsider the
re+u%ations of Fe(a%e education#
/AR- II
1-5ER W1R4DS
Section #%
5o I had a =ision of
4ineland
)$ bra%e ne! !orlds,
That ha%e such people in them*)
,T 7as the %ast da" !ut one of the 1333th "ear of our era, and
the first da" of the 9on+ 8acation# )avin+ a(used ("se%f ti%%
a %ate hour 7ith (" favourite recreation of ;eo(etr", , had
retired to rest 7ith an unso%ved pro!%e( in (" (ind# ,n the
ni+ht , had a drea(#
, sa7 !efore (e a vast (u%titude of s(a%% Strai+ht 9ines
C7hich , natura%%" assu(ed to !e -o(enE interspersed 7ith
other 5ein+s sti%% s(a%%er and of the nature of %ustrous
points<<a%% (ovin+ to and fro in one and the sa(e Strai+ht
9ine, and, as near%" as , cou%d Fud+e, 7ith the sa(e ve%ocit"#
A noise of confused, (u%titudinous chirpin+ or t7itterin+
issued fro( the( at interva%s as %on+ as the" 7ere (ovin+:
!ut so(eti(es the" ceased fro( (otion, and then a%% 7as
si%ence#
Approachin+ one of the %ar+est of 7hat , thou+ht to !e
-o(en, , accosted her, !ut received no ans7er# A second and
third appea% on (" part 7ere eDua%%" ineffectua%# 9osin+
patience at 7hat appeared to (e into%era!%e rudeness, ,
!rou+ht (" (outh to a position fu%% in front of her (outh so
as to intercept her (otion, and %oud%" repeated (" Duestion,
A-o(an, 7hat si+nifies this concourse, and this stran+e and
confused chirpin+, and this (onotonous (otion to and fro in
one and the sa(e Strai+ht 9ineIA
A, a( no -o(an,A rep%ied the s(a%% 9ineG A, a( the /onarch
of the 7or%d# 5ut thou, 7hence intrudest thou into (" rea%(
of 9ine%andIA Receivin+ this a!rupt rep%", , !e++ed pardon if
, had in an" 7a" start%ed or (o%ested his Ro"a% )i+hness: and
descri!in+ ("se%f as a stran+er , !esou+ht the Lin+ to +ive
(e so(e account of his do(inions# 5ut , had the +reatest
possi!%e difficu%t" in o!tainin+ an" infor(ation on points that
rea%%" interested (e: for the /onarch cou%d not refrain fro(
constant%" assu(in+ that 7hatever 7as fa(i%iar to hi( (ust
a%so !e @no7n to (e and that , 7as si(u%atin+ i+norance in
Fest# )o7ever, !" preservin+ Duestions , e%icited the
fo%%o7in+ factsG ,t see(ed that this poor i+norant /onarch<<
as he ca%%ed hi(se%f<<7as persuaded that the Strai+ht 9ine
7hich he ca%%ed his Lin+do(, and in 7hich he passed his
existence, constituted the 7ho%e of the 7or%d, and indeed the
7ho%e of Space# Not !ein+ a!%e either to (ove or to see, save
in his Strai+ht 9ine, he had no conception of an"thin+ out of
it# Thou+h he had heard (" voice 7hen , first addressed hi(,
the sounds had co(e to hi( in a (anner so contrar" to his
experience that he had (ade no ans7er, Aseein+ no (an,A as
he expressed it, Aand hearin+ a voice as it 7ere fro( (" o7n
intestines#A 4nti% the (o(ent 7hen , p%aced (" (outh in his
-or%d, he had neither seen (e, nor heard an"thin+ except
confused sounds !eatin+ a+ainst, 7hat , ca%%ed his side, !ut
7hat he ca%%ed his inside or stomach: nor had he even no7
the %east conception of the re+ion fro( 7hich , had co(e#
$utside his -or%d, or 9ine, a%% 7as a !%an@ to hi(: na", not
even a !%an@, for a !%an@ i(p%ies Space: sa", rather, a%% 7as
non<existent#
)is su!Fects<<of 7ho( the s(a%% 9ines 7ere (en and the
Points -o(en<<7ere a%% a%i@e confined in (otion and
e"esi+ht to that sin+%e Strai+ht 9ine, 7hich 7as their -or%d#
,t need scarce%" !e added that the 7ho%e of their hori0on 7as
%i(ited to a Point: nor cou%d an" one ever see an"thin+ !ut a
Point# /an, 7o(an, chi%d, thin+<<each as a Point to the e"e of
a 9ine%ander# $n%" !" the sound of the voice cou%d sex or a+e
!e distin+uished# /oreover, as each individua% occupied the
7ho%e of the narro7 path, so to spea@, 7hich constituted his
4niverse, and no one cou%d (ove to the ri+ht or %eft to (a@e
7a" for passers !", it fo%%o7ed that no 9ine%ander cou%d ever
pass another# $nce nei+h!ours, a%7a"s nei+h!ours#
Nei+h!ourhood 7ith the( 7as %i@e (arria+e 7ith us#
Nei+h!ours re(ained nei+h!ours ti%% death did the( part#
Such a %ife, 7ith a%% vision %i(ited to a Point, and a%% (otion
to a Strai+ht 9ine, see(ed to (e inexpressi!%" drear": and ,
7as surprised to note that vivacit" and cheerfu%ness of the
Lin+# -onderin+ 7hether it 7as possi!%e, a(id
circu(stances so unfavoura!%e to do(estic re%ations, to enFo"
the p%easures of conFu+a% union, , hesitated for so(e ti(e to
Duestion his Ro"a% )i+hness on so de%icate a su!Fect: !ut at
%ast , p%un+ed into it !" a!rupt%" inDuirin+ as to the hea%th of
his fa(i%"# A/" 7ives and chi%dren,A he rep%ied, Aare 7e%% and
happ"#A
Sta++ered at this ans7er<<for in the i((ediate proxi(it" of
the /onarch Cas , had noted in (" drea( !efore , entered
9ine%andE there 7ere none !ut /en<<, ventured to rep%",
APardon (e, !ut , cannot i(a+ine ho7 "our Ro"a% )i+hness
can at an" ti(e either see or approach their /aFesties, 7hen
there at %east ha%f a do0en intervenin+ individua%s, 7ho( "ou
can neither see throu+h, nor pass !"I ,s it possi!%e that in
9ine%and proxi(it" is not necessar" for (arria+e and for the
+eneration of chi%drenIA
A)o7 can "ou as@ so a!surd a DuestionIA rep%ied the
/onarch# A,f it 7ere indeed as "ou su++est, the 4niverse
7ou%d soon !e depopu%ated# No, no: nei+h!ourhood is
need%ess for the union of hearts: and the !irth of chi%dren is
too i(portant a (atter to have !een a%%o7ed to depend upon
such an accident as proxi(it"# Hou cannot !e i+norant of this#
Het since "ou are p%eased to affect i+norance, , 7i%% instruct
"ou as if "ou 7ere the veriest !a!" in 9ine%and# Lno7, then,
that (arria+es are consu((ated !" (eans of the facu%t" of
sound and the sense of hearin+#
AHou are of course a7are that ever" /an has t7o (ouths or
voices<<as 7e%% as t7o e"es<<a !ass at one and a tenor at the
other of his extre(ities# , shou%d not (ention this, !ut that ,
have !een una!%e to distin+uish "our tenor in the course of
our conversation#A , rep%ied that , had !ut one voice, and that
, had not !een a7are that his Ro"a% )i+hness had t7o# AThat
confir(s !" i(pression,A said the Lin+, Athat "ou are not a
/an, !ut a fe(inine /onstrosit" 7ith a !ass voice, and an
utter%" uneducated ear# 5ut to continue#
ANature havin+ herse%f ordained that ever" /an shou%d 7ed
t7o 7ives <<A A-h" t7oIA as@ed ,# AHou carr" "our affected
si(p%icit" too far,A he cried# A)o7 can there !e a co(p%ete%"
har(onious union 7ithout the co(!ination of the Four in
$ne, vi0# the 5ass and Tenor of the /an and the Soprano and
'ontra%to of the t7o -o(enIA A5ut supposin+,A said ,, Athat
a (an shou%d prefer one 7ife or threeIA A,t is i(possi!%e,A he
said: Ait is as inconceiva!%e as that t7o and one shou%d (a@e
five, or that the hu(an e"e shou%d see a Strai+ht 9ine#A ,
7ou%d have interrupted hi(: !ut he proceeded as fo%%o7sG
A$nce in the (idd%e of each 7ee@ a 9a7 of Nature co(pe%s
us to (ove to and fro 7ith a rh"th(ic (otion of (ore than
usua% vio%ence, 7hich continues for the ti(e "ou 7ou%d ta@e
to count a hundred and one# ,n the (idst of this chora% dance,
at the fift"<first pu%sation, the inha!itants of the 4niverse
pause in fu%% career, and each individua% sends forth his
richest, fu%%est, s7eetest strain# ,t is in this decisive (o(ent
that a%% our (arria+es are (ade# So exDuisite is the adaptation
of 5ass and Tre!%e, of Tenor to 'ontra%to, that oftenti(es the
9oved $nes, thou+h t7ent" thousand %ea+ues a7a",
reco+ni0e at once the responsive note of their destined 9over:
and, penetratin+ the pa%tr" o!stac%es of distance, 9ove unites
the three# The (arria+e in that instance consu((ated resu%ts
in a threefo%d /a%e and Fe(a%e offsprin+ 7hich ta@es its
p%ace in 9ine%and#A
A-hatJ A%7a"s threefo%dIA said ,# A/ust one 7ife then
a%7a"s have t7insIA
A5ass<voice /onstrosit"J "es,A rep%ied the Lin+# A)o7 e%se
cou%d the !a%ance of the Sexes !e (aintained, if t7o +ir%s
7ere not !orn for ever" !o"I -ou%d "ou i+nore the ver"
A%pha!et of NatureIA )e ceased, speech%ess for fur": and
so(e ti(e e%apsed !efore , cou%d induce hi( to resu(e his
narrative#
AHou 7i%% not, of course, suppose that ever" !ache%or a(on+
us finds his (ates at the first 7ooin+ in this universa%
/arria+e 'horus# $n the con+trar", the process is !" (ost of
us (an" ti(es repeated# Fe7 are the hearts 7hose happ" %ot
is at once to reco+ni0e in each other?s voice the partner
intended for the( !" Providence, and to f%" into a reciproca%
and perfect%" har(onious e(!race# -ith (ost of us the
courtship is of %on+ duration# The -ooer?s voices (a"
perhaps accord 7ith one of the future 7ives, !ut not 7ith
!oth: or not, at first, 7ith either: or the Soprano and 'ontra%to
(a" not Duite har(oni0e# ,n such cases Nature has provided
that ever" 7ee@%" 'horus sha%% !rin+ the three 9overs into
c%oser har(on"# Each tria% of voice, each fresh discover" of
discord, a%(ost i(percepti!%" induces the %ess perfect to
(odif" his or her voca% utterance so as to approxi(ate to the
(ore perfect# And after (an" tria%s and (an"
approxi(ations, the resu%t is at %ast achieved# There co(es a
da" at %ast 7hen, 7hi%e the 7onted /arria+e 'horus +oes
forth fro( universa% 9ine%and, the three far<off 9overs
sudden%" find the(se%ves in exact har(on", and, !efore the"
are a7are, the 7edded Trip%et is rapt voca%%" into a dup%icate
e(!race: and Nature reFoices over one (ore (arria+e and
over three (ore !irths#A
Section #,
5o I +ainly tried to e?9lain
the nature of Flatland
T),NL,N; that it 7as ti(e to !rin+ do7n the /onarch
fro( his raptures to the %eve% of co((on sense, , deter(ined
to endeavour to open up to hi( so(e +%i(pses of the truth,
that is to sa" of the nature of thin+s in F%at%and# So , !e+an
thusG A)o7 does "our Ro"a% )i+hness distin+uish the shapes
and positions of his su!FectsI , for (" part noticed !" the
sense of si+ht, !efore , entered "our Lin+do(, that so(e of
"our peop%e are %ines and others Points: and that so(e of the
%ines are %ar+er<<A AHou spea@ of an i(possi!i%it",A interrupted
the Lin+: A"ou (ust have seen a vision: for to detect the
difference !et7een a 9ine and a Point !" the sense of si+ht is,
as ever" one @no7s, in the nature of thin+s, i(possi!%e: !ut it
can !e detected !" the sense of hearin+, and !" the sa(e
(eans (" shape can !e exact%" ascertained# 5eho%d (e<<, a(
a 9ine, the %on+est in 9ine%and, over six inches of Space <<A
A$f 9en+th,A , ventured to su++est# AFoo%,A said he, ASpace is
9en+th# ,nterrupt (e a+ain, and , have done#A
, apo%o+i0ed: !ut he continued scornfu%%", ASince "ou are
i(pervious to ar+u(ent, "ou sha%% hear 7ith "our ears ho7
!" (eans of (" t7o voices , revea% (" shape to (" -ives,
7ho are at this (o(ent six thousand (i%es sevent" "ards t7o
feet ei+ht inches a7a", the one to the North, the other to the
South# 9isten, , ca%% to the(#A
)e chirruped, and then co(p%acent%" continuedG A/" 7ives
at this (o(ent receivin+ the sound of one of (" voice,
c%ose%" fo%%o7ed !" the other, and perceivin+ that the %atter
reaches the( after an interva% in 7hich sound can traverse
1#.2 inches, infer that one of (" (ouths is 1#.2 inches
further fro( the( than the other, and accordin+%" @no7 ("
shape to !e 1#.2 inches# 5ut "ou 7i%% of course understand
that (" 7ives do not (a@e this ca%cu%ation ever" ti(e the"
hear (" t7o voices# The" (ade it, once for a%%, !efore 7e
7ere (arried# 5ut the" could (a@e it at an" ti(e# And in the
sa(e 7a" , can esti(ate the shape of an" of (" /a%e
su!Fects !" the sense of sound#A
A5ut ho7,A said ,, Aif a /an fei+ns a -o(an?s voice 7ith one
of his t7o voices, or so dis+uises his Southern voice that it
cannot !e reco+ni0ed as the echo of the NorthernI /a" not
such deceptions cause +reat inconvenienceI And have "ou no
(eans of chec@in+ frauds of this @ind !" co((andin+ "our
nei+h!ourin+ su!Fects to fee% one anotherIA This of course
7as a ver" stupid Duestion, for fee%in+ cou%d not have
ans7ered the purpose: !ut , as@ed 7ith the vie7 of irritatin+
the /onarch, and , succeeded perfect%"#
A-hatJA cried he in horror, Aexp%ain "our (eanin+#A AFee%,
touch, co(e into contact,A , rep%ied## A,f "ou (ean !"
eeling,A said the Lin+, Aapproachin+ so c%ose as to %eave no
space !et7een t7o individua%s, @no7, Stran+er, that this
offence is punisha!%e in (" do(inions !" death# And the
reason is o!vious# The frai% for( of a -o(an, !ein+ %ia!%e to
!e shattered !" such an approxi(ation, (ust !e preserved !"
the State: !ut since -o(en cannot !e distin+uished !" the
sense of si+ht fro( /en, the 9a7 ordains universa%%" that
neither /an nor -o(an sha%% !e approached so c%ose%" as to
destro" the interva% !et7een the approxi(ator and the
approxi(ated#
AAnd indeed 7hat possi!%e purpose 7ou%d !e served !" this
i%%e+a% and unnatura% excess of approxi(ation 7hich "ou ca%%
touching, 7hen a%% the ends of so !ruta% and course a process
are attained at once (ore easi%" and (ore exact%" !" the
sense of hearin+I As to "our su++ested dan+er of deception, it
is non<existentG for the 8oice, !ein+ the essence of one?s
5ein+, cannot !e thus chan+ed at 7i%%# 5ut co(e, suppose
that , had the po7er of passin+ throu+h so%id thin+s, so that ,
cou%d penetrate (" su!Fects, one after another, even to the
nu(!er of a !i%%ion, verif"in+ the si0e and distance of each !"
the sense of eeling& )o7 (uch ti(e and ener+" 7ou%d !e
7asted in this c%u(s" and inaccurate (ethodJ -hereas no7,
in one (o(ent of audition, , ta@e as it 7ere the census and
statistics, %oca%, corporea%, (enta% and spiritua%, of ever"
%ivin+ !ein+ in 9ine%and# )ar@, on%" har@JA
So sa"in+ he paused and %istened, as if in an ecstas", to a
sound 7hich see(ed to (e no !etter than a tin" chirpin+
fro( an innu(era!%e (u%titude of %i%%iputian +rasshoppers#
ATru%",A rep%ied ,, A"our sense of hearin+ serves "ou in +ood
stead, and fi%%s up (an" of "our deficiencies# 5ut per(it (e
to point out that "our %ife in 9ine%and (ust !e dep%ora!%"
du%%# To see nothin+ !ut a PointJ Not even to !e a!%e to
conte(p%ate a Strai+ht 9ineJ Na", not even to @no7 7hat a
Strai+ht 9ine isJ To see, "et to !e cut off fro( those 9inear
prospects 7hich are vouchsafed to us in F%at%andJ 5etter
sure%" to have no sense of si+ht at a%% than to see so %itt%eJ ,
+rant "ou , have not "our discri(inative facu%t" of hearin+:
for the concert of a%% 9ine%and 7hich +ives "ou such intense
p%easure, is to (e no !etter than a (u%titudinous t7itterin+ or
chirpin+# 5ut at %east , can discern, !" si+ht, a 9ine fro( a
Point# And %et (e prove it# =ust !efore , ca(e into "our
@in+do(, , sa7 "ou dancin+ fro( %eft to ri+ht, and then fro(
ri+ht to %eft, 7ith Seven /en and a -o(an in "our
i((ediate proxi(it" on the %eft, and ei+ht /en and t7o
-o(en on "our ri+ht# ,s not this correctIA
A,t is correct,A said the Lin+, Aso far as the nu(!ers and sexes
are concerned, thou+h , @no7 no7 7hat "ou (ean !" ?ri+ht?
and ?%eft#? 5ut , den" that "ou sa7 these thin+s# For ho7 cou%d
"ou see the 9ine, that is to sa" the inside, of an" /anI 5ut
"ou (ust have heard these thin+s, and then drea(ed that "ou
sa7 the(# And %et (e as@ 7hat "ou (ean !" those 7ords
?%eft? and ?ri+ht#? , suppose it is "our 7a" of sa"in+ North7ard
and South7ard#A
ANot so,A rep%ied ,: A!esides "our (otion of North7ard and
South7ard, there is another (otion 7hich , ca%% fro( ri+ht to
%eft#A
+ing. Exhi!it to (e, if "ou p%ease, this (otion fro( %eft to
ri+ht#
I. Na", that , cannot do, un%ess "ou cou%d step out of "our
9ine a%to+ether#
+ing. $ut of (" 9ineI Do "ou (ean out of the 7or%dI $ut of
SpaceI
I. -e%%, "es# $ut of your 7or%d# $ut of your Space# For "our
Space is not the true Space# True Space is a P%ane: !ut "our
Space is on%" a 9ine#
+ing. ,f "ou cannot indicate this (otion fro( %eft to ri+ht !"
"ourse%f (ovin+ in it, then , !e+ "ou to descri!e it to (e in
7ords#
I. ,f "ou cannot te%% "our ri+ht side fro( "our %eft, , fear that
no 7ords of (ine can (a@e (" (eanin+ c%earer to "ou# 5ut
sure%" "ou cannot !e i+norant of so si(p%e a distinction#
+ing. , do not in the %east understand "ou#
I. A%asJ )o7 sha%% , (a@e it c%earI -hen "ou (ove strai+ht
on, does it not so(eti(es occur to "ou that "ou could (ove
in so(e other 7a", turnin+ "our e"e round so as to %oo@ in the
direction to7ards 7hich "our side is no7 frontin+I ,n other
7ords, instead of a%7a"s (ovin+ in the direction of one of
"our extre(ities, do "ou never fee% a desire to (ove in the
direction, so to spea@, of "our sideI
+ing. Never# And 7hat do "ou (eanI )o7 can a (an?s inside
AfrontA in an" directionI $r ho7 can a (an (ove in the
direction of his insideI
I. -e%% then, since 7ords cannot exp%ain the (atter, , 7i%% tr"
deeds, and 7i%% (ove +radua%%" out of 9ine%and in the
direction 7hich , desire to indicate to "ou#
At the 7ord , !e+an to (ove (" !od" out of 9ine%and# As
%on+ as an" part of (e re(ained in his do(inion and in his
vie7, the Lin+ @ept exc%ai(in+, A, see "ou, , see "ou sti%%:
"ou are not (ovin+#A 5ut 7hen , had at %ast (oved ("se%f
out of his 9ine, he cried in his shri%%est voice, AShe is
vanished: she is dead#A A, a( not dead,A rep%ied ,: A, a(
si(p%" out of 9ine%and, that is to sa", out of the Strai+ht 9ine
7hich "ou ca%% Space, and in the true Space, 7here , can see
thin+s as the" are# And at this (o(ent , can see "our 9ine, or
side<<or inside as "ou are p%eased to ca%% it: and , can see a%so
the /en and -o(en on the North and South of "ou, 7ho( ,
7i%% no7 enu(erate, descri!in+ their order, their si0e, and the
interva% !et7een each#A
-hen , had done this at +reat %en+th, , cried triu(phant%",
ADoes that at %ast convince "ouIA And, 7ith that, , once (ore
entered 9ine%and, ta@in+ up the sa(e position as !efore#
5ut the /onarch rep%ied, A,f "ou 7ere a /an of sense<<
thou+h, as "ou appear to have on%" one voice , have %itt%e
dou!t "ou are not a /an !ut a -o(an<<!ut, if "ou had a
partic%e of sense, "ou 7ou%d %isten to reason# Hou as@ (e to
!e%ieve that there is another 9ine !esides that 7hich ("
senses indicate, and another (otion !esides that of 7hich ,
a( dai%" conscious# ,, in return, as@ "ou to descri!e in 7ords
or indicate !" (otion that other 9ine of 7hich "ou spea@#
,nstead of (ovin+, "ou (ere%" exercise so(e (a+ic art of
vanishin+ and returnin+ to si+ht: and instead of an" %ucid
description of "our ne7 -or%d, "ou si(p%" te%% (e the
nu(!ers and si0es of so(e fort" of (" retinue, facts @no7n
to an" chi%d in (" capita%# 'an an"thin+ !e (ore irrationa% or
audaciousI Ac@no7%ed+e "our fo%%" or depart fro( ("
do(inions#A
Furious at his perversit", and especia%%" indi+nant that he
professed to !e i+norant of (" sex, , retorted in no (easured
ter(s, A5esotted 5ein+J Hou thin@ "ourse%f the perfection of
existence, 7hi%e "ou are in rea%it" the (ost i(perfect and
i(!eci%e# Hou profess to see, 7hereas "ou see nothin+ !ut a
PointJ Hou p%u(e "ourse%f on inferrin+ the existence of a
Strai+ht 9ine: !ut , can see Strai+ht 9ines, and infer the
existence of An+%es, Trian+%es, SDuares, Penta+ons,
)exa+ons, and even 'irc%es# -h" 7aste (ore 7ordsI Suffice
it that , a( the co(p%etion of "our inco(p%ete se%f# Hou are a
9ine, !ut , a( a 9ine of 9ines ca%%ed in (" countr" a SDuareG
and even ,, infinite%" superior thou+h , a( to "ou, a( of %itt%e
account a(on+ the +reat no!%es of F%at%and, 7hence , have
co(e to visit "ou, in the hope of en%i+htenin+ "our
i+norance#A
)earin+ these 7ords the Lin+ advanced to7ards (e 7ith a
(enacin+ cr" as if to pierce (e throu+h the dia+ona%: and in
that sa(e (ove(ent there arose fro( ("riads of his su!Fects
a (u%titudinous 7ar<cr", increasin+ in vehe(ence ti%% at %ast
(ethou+ht it riva%%ed the roar of an ar(" of a hundred
thousand ,sosce%es, and the arti%%er" of a thousand Penta+ons#
Spe%%<!ound and (otion%ess, , cou%d neither spea@ nor (ove
to avert the i(pendin+ destruction: and sti%% the noise +re7
%ouder, and the Lin+ ca(e c%oser, 7hen , a7o@e to find the
!rea@fast<!e%% reca%%in+ (e to the rea%ities of F%at%and#
Section #@
.oncernin: a Stran:er from
S9aceland
FR$/ DREA/S , proceed to facts#
,t 7as the %ast da" of our 1333th "ear of our era# The
patternin+ of the rain had %on+ a+o announced ni+htfa%%: and ,
7as sittin+ [footnote 1] in the co(pan" of (" 7ife, (usin+
on the events of the past and the prospects of the co(in+
"ear, the co(in+ centur", the co(in+ /i%%enniu(#
/" four Sons and t7o orphan ;randchi%dren had retired to
their severa% apart(ents: and (" 7ife a%one re(ained 7ith
(e to see the o%d /i%%enniu( out and the ne7 one in#
, 7as rapt in thou+ht, ponderin+ in (" (ind so(e 7ords that
had casua%%" issued fro( the (outh of (" "oun+est
;randson, a (ost pro(isin+ "oun+ )exa+on of unusua%
!ri%%ianc" and perfect an+u%arit"# )is unc%es and , had !een
+ivin+ hi( his usua% practica% %esson in Si+ht Reco+nition,
turnin+ ourse%ves upon our centres, no7 rapid%", no7 (ore
s%o7%", and Duestionin+ hi( as to our positions: and his
ans7ers had !een so satisfactor" that , had !een induced to
re7ard hi( !" +ivin+ hi( a fe7 hints on Arith(etic, as
app%ied to ;eo(etr"#
Ta@in+ nine SDuares, each an inch ever" 7a", , had put the(
to+ether so as to (a@e one %ar+e SDuare, 7ith a side of three
inches, and , had hence proved to (" %itt%e ;randson that<<
thou+h it 7as i(possi!%e for us to see the inside of the
SDuare<<"et 7e (i+ht ascertain the nu(!er of sDuare inches
in a SDuare !" si(p%" sDuarin+ the nu(!er of inches in the
sideG Aand thus,A said ,, A7e @no7 that three<to<the<second, or
nine, represents the nu(!er of sDuare inches in a SDuare
7hose side is three inches %on+#A
The %itt%e )exa+on (editated on this a 7hi%e and then said to
(e: A5ut "ou have !een teachin+ (e to raise nu(!ers to the
third po7erG , suppose three<to<the<third (ust (ean
so(ethin+ in ;eo(etr": 7hat does it (eanIA ANothin+ at
a%%,A rep%ied ,, Anot at %east in ;eo(etr": for ;eo(etr" has
on%" T7o Di(ensions#A And then , !e+an to she7 the !o"
ho7 a Point !" (ovin+ throu+h a %en+th of three inches
(a@es a 9ine of three inches, 7hich (a" !e represented !"
three: and ho7 a 9ine of three inches, (ovin+ para%%e% to
itse%f throu+h a %en+th of three inches, (a@es a SDuare of
three inches ever" 7a", 7hich (a" !e represented !" three<
to<the<second#
4pon this, (" ;randson, a+ain returnin+ to his for(er
su++estion, too@ (e up rather sudden%" and exc%ai(ed, A-e%%,
then, if a Point !" (ovin+ three inches, (a@es a 9ine of three
inches represented !" three: and if a strai+ht 9ine of three
inches, (ovin+ para%%e% to itse%f, (a@es a SDuare of three
inches ever" 7a", represented !" three<to<the<second: it (ust
!e that a SDuare of three inches ever" 7a", (ovin+ so(eho7
para%%e% to itse%f C!ut , don?t see ho7E (ust (a@e So(ethin+
e%se C!ut , don?t see 7hatE of three inches ever" 7a"<<and this
(ust !e represented !" three<to<the<third#A
A;o to !ed,A said ,, a %itt%e ruff%ed !" this interruptionG Aif "ou
7ou%d ta%@ %ess nonsense, "ou 7ou%d re(e(!er (ore sense#A
So (" ;randson had disappeared in dis+race: and there , sat
!" (" -ife?s side, endeavourin+ to for( a retrospect of the
"ear 1333 and of the possi!i%ities of the "ear &666: !ut not
Duite a!%e to sha@e of the thou+hts su++ested !" the pratt%e of
(" !ri+ht %itt%e )exa+on# $n%" a fe7 sands no7 re(ained in
the ha%f<hour +%ass# Rousin+ ("se%f fro( (" reverie , turned
the +%ass North7ard for the %ast ti(e in the o%d /i%%enniu(:
and in the act, , exc%ai(ed a%oud, AThe !o" is a foo%#A
Strai+ht7a" , !eca(e conscious of a Presence in the roo(,
and a chi%%in+ !reath thri%%ed throu+h (" ver" !ein+# A)e is
no such thin+,A cried (" -ife, Aand "ou are !rea@in+ the
'o((and(ents in thus dishonourin+ "our o7n ;randson#A
5ut , too@ no notice of her# 9oo@in+ around in ever" direction
, cou%d see nothin+: "et sti%% , elt a Presence, and shivered as
the co%d 7hisper ca(e a+ain# , started up# A-hat is the
(atterIA said (" -ife, Athere is no drau+ht: 7hat are "ou
%oo@in+ forI There is nothin+#A There 7as nothin+: and ,
resu(ed (" seat, a+ain exc%ai(in+, AThe !o" is a foo%, , sa":
three<to<the<third can have no (eanin+ in ;eo(etr"#A At once
there ca(e a distinct%" audi!%e rep%", AThe !o" is not a foo%:
and three<to<the<third has an o!vious ;eo(etrica% (eanin+#A
/" -ife as 7e%% as ("se%f heard the 7ords, a%thou+h she did
not understand their (eanin+, and !oth of us spran+ for7ard
in the direction of the sound# -hat 7as our horror 7hen 7e
sa7 !efore us a Fi+ureJ At the first +%ance it appeared to !e a
-o(an, seen side7a"s: !ut a (o(ent?s o!servation she7ed
(e that the extre(ities passed into di(ness too rapid%" to
represent one of the Fe(a%e Sex: and , shou%d have thou+ht it
a 'irc%e, on%" that it see(ed to chan+e its si0e in a (anner
i(possi!%e for a 'irc%e or for an" re+u%ar Fi+ure of 7hich ,
had had experience#
5ut (" -ife had not (" experience, nor the coo%ness
necessar" to note these characteristics# -ith the usua%
hastiness and unreasonin+ Fea%ous" of her Sex, she f%e7 at
once to the conc%usion that a -o(an had entered the house
throu+h so(e s(a%% aperture# A)o7 co(es this person hereIA
she exc%ai(ed, A"ou pro(ised (e, (" dear, that there shou%d
!e no venti%ators in our ne7 house#A ANor are the" an",A said
,: A!ut 7hat (a@es "ou thin@ that the stran+er is a -o(anI ,
see !" (" po7er of Si+ht Reco+nition <<A A$h, , have no
patience 7ith "our Si+ht Reco+nition,A rep%ied she, A?Fee%in+
is !e%ievin+? and ?A Strai+ht 9ine to the touch is 7orth a
'irc%e to the si+ht?A<<t7o Prover!s, ver" co((on 7ith the
Frai%er Sex in F%at%and#
A-e%%,A said ,, for , 7as afraid of irritatin+ her, Aif it (ust !e
so, de(and an introduction#A Assu(in+ her (ost +racious
(anner, (" -ife advanced to7ards the Stran+er, APer(it (e,
/ada( to fee% and !e fe%t !"<<A then, sudden%" recoi%in+,
A$hJ it is not a -o(an, and there are no an+%es either, not a
trace of one# 'an it !e that , have so (is!ehaved to a perfect
'irc%eIA
A, a( indeed, in a certain sense a 'irc%e,A rep%ied the 8oice,
Aand a (ore perfect 'irc%e than an" in F%at%and: !ut to spea@
(ore accurate%", , a( (an" 'irc%es in one#A Then he added
(ore (i%d%", A, have a (essa+e, dear /ada(, to "our
hus!and, 7hich , (ust not de%iver in "our presence: and, if
"ou 7ou%d suffer us to retire for a fe7 (inutes<<A 5ut ("
7ife 7ou%d not %isten to the proposa% that our au+ust 8isitor
shou%d so inco((ode hi(se%f, and assurin+ the 'irc%e that
the hour of her o7n retire(ent had %on+ passed, 7ith (an"
reiterated apo%o+ies for her recent indiscretion, she at %ast
retreated to her apart(ent#
, +%anced at the ha%f<hour +%ass# The %ast sands had fa%%en# The
third /i%%enniu( had !e+un#
KKKKKK
[Footnote 1#] -hen , sa" Asittin+,A of course , do not (ean
an" chan+e of attitude such as "ou in Space%and si+nif" !"
that 7ord: for as 7e have no feet, 7e can no (ore AsitA nor
AstandA Cin "our sense of the 7ordE than one of "our so%es or
f%ounders#
Neverthe%ess, 7e perfect%" 7e%% reco+ni0e the different
(enta% states of vo%ition i(p%ied !" A%"in+,A Asittin+,A and
Astandin+,A 7hich are to so(e extent indicated to a !eho%der
!" a s%i+ht increase of %ustre correspondin+ to the increase of
vo%ition#
5ut on this, and a thousand other @indred su!Fects, ti(e
for!ids (e to d7e%%#
Section #)
5o the Stran:er +ainly
endea+oured to re+eal to me
in ords the mysteries of
S9aceland
AS S$$N AS the sound of the Peace<cr" of (" departin+
-ife had died a7a", , !e+an to approach the Stran+er 7ith
the intention of ta@in+ a nearer vie7 and of !iddin+ hi( !e
seatedG !ut his appearance struc@ (e du(! and (otion%ess
7ith astonish(ent# -ithout the s%i+htest s"(pto(s of
an+u%arit" he neverthe%ess varied ever" instant 7ith
+raduations of si0e and !ri+htness scarce%" possi!%e for an"
Fi+ure 7ithin the scope of (" experience# The thou+ht
f%ashed across (e that , (i+ht have !efore (e a !ur+%ar or
cut<throat, so(e (onstrous ,rre+u%ar ,sosce%es, 7ho, !"
fei+nin+ the voice of a 'irc%e, had o!tained ad(ission
so(eho7 into the house, and 7as no7 preparin+ to sta! (e
7ith his acute an+%e#
,n a sittin+<roo(, the a!sence of Fo+ Cand the season
happened to !e re(ar@a!%" dr"E, (ade it difficu%t for (e to
trust to Si+ht Reco+nition, especia%%" at the short distance at
7hich , 7as standin+# Desperate 7ith fear, , rushed for7ard
7ith an uncere(onious, AHou (ust per(it (e, Sir <<A and fe%t
hi(# /" -ife 7as ri+ht# There 7as not the trace of an an+%e,
not the s%i+htest rou+hness or ineDua%it"G never in (" %ife had
, (et 7ith a (ore perfect 'irc%e# )e re(ained (otion%ess
7hi%e , 7a%@ed around hi(, !e+innin+ fro( his e"e and
returnin+ to it a+ain# 'ircu%ar he 7as throu+hout, a perfect%"
satisfactor" 'irc%e: there cou%d not !e a dou!t of it# Then
fo%%o7ed a dia%o+ue, 7hich , 7i%% endeavour to set do7n as
near as , can reco%%ect it, o(ittin+ on%" so(e of (" profuse
apo%o+ies<<for , 7as covered 7ith sha(e and hu(i%iation that
,, a SDuare, shou%d have !een +ui%t" of the i(pertinence of
fee%in+ a 'irc%e# ,t 7as co((enced !" the Stran+er 7ith
so(e i(patience at the %en+thiness of (" introductor"
process#
Stranger. )ave "ou fe%t (e enou+h !" this ti(eI Are "ou not
introduced to (e "etI
I. /ost i%%ustrious Sir, excuse (" a7@7ardness, 7hich arises
not fro( i+norance of the usa+es of po%ite societ", !ut fro( a
%itt%e surprise and nervousness, conseDuent on this so(e7hat
unexpected visit# And , !eseech "ou to revea% (" indiscretion
to no one, and especia%%" not to (" -ife# 5ut !efore "our
9ordship enters into further co((unications, 7ou%d he dei+n
to satisf" the curiosit" of one 7ho 7ou%d +%ad%" @no7
7hence his visitor ca(eI
Stranger. Fro( Space, fro( Space, SirG 7hence e%seI
I. Pardon (e, (" 9ord, !ut is not "our 9ordship a%read" in
Space, "our 9ordship and his hu(!%e servant, even at this
(o(entI
Stranger. PoohJ 7hat do "ou @no7 of SpaceI Define Space#
I. Space, (" 9ord, is hei+ht and !readth indefinite%"
pro%on+ed#
Stranger. Exact%"G "ou see "ou do not even @no7 7hat Space
is# Hou thin@ it is of T7o Di(ensions on%": !ut , have co(e
to announce to "ou a Third<<hei+ht, !readth, and %en+th#
I. Hour 9ordship is p%eased to !e (err"# -e a%so spea@ of
%en+th and hei+ht, or !readth and thic@ness, thus denotin+
T7o Di(ensions !" four na(es#
Stranger. 5ut , (ean not on%" three na(es, !ut Three
Di(ensions#
I. -ou%d "our 9ordship indicate or exp%ain to (e in 7hat
direction is the Third Di(ension, un@no7n to (eI
Stranger. , ca(e fro( it# ,t is up a!ove and do7n !e%o7#
I. /" 9ord (eans see(in+%" that it is North7ard and
South7ard#
Stranger. , (ean nothin+ of the @ind# , (ean a direction in
7hich "ou cannot %oo@, !ecause "ou have no e"e in "our side#
I. Pardon (e, (" 9ord, a (o(ent?s inspection 7i%% convince
"our 9ordship that , have a perfect%" %u(inar" at the Functure
of (" t7o sides#
Stranger. HesG !ut in order to see into Space "ou ou+ht to
have an e"e, not on "our Peri(eter, !ut on "our side, that is,
on 7hat "ou 7ou%d pro!a!%" ca%% "our inside: !ut 7e in
Space%and shou%d ca%% it "our side#
I. An e"e in (" insideJ An e"e in (" sto(achJ Hour 9ordship
Fests#
Stranger. , a( in no Festin+ hu(our# , te%% "ou that , co(e
fro( Space, or, since "ou 7i%% not understand 7hat Space
(eans, fro( the 9and of Three Di(ensions 7hence , !ut
%ate%" %oo@ed do7n upon "our P%ane 7hich "ou ca%% Space
forsooth# Fro( that position of advanta+e , discerned a%% that
"ou spea@ of as solid C!" 7hich "ou (ean Aenc%osed on four
sidesAE, "our houses, "our churches, "our ver" chests and
safes, "es even "our insides and sto(achs, a%% %"in+ open and
exposed to (" vie7#
I. Such assertions are easi%" (ade, (" 9ord#
Stranger. 5ut not easi%" proved, "ou (ean# 5ut , (ean to
prove (ine#
-hen , descended here, , sa7 "our four Sons, the Penta+ons,
each in his apart(ent, and "our t7o ;randsons the
)exa+ons: , sa7 "our "oun+est )exa+on re(ain a 7hi%e 7ith
"ou and then retire to his roo(, %eavin+ "ou and "our -ife
a%one# , sa7 "our ,sosce%es servants, three in nu(!er, in the
@itchen at supper, and the %itt%e Pa+e in the scu%%er"# Then ,
ca(e here, and ho7 do "ou thin@ , ca(eI
I. Throu+h the roof, , suppose#
Stranger. Not so# Hour roof, as "ou @no7 ver" 7e%%, has !een
recent%" repaired, and has no aperture !" 7hich even a
-o(an cou%d penetrate# , te%% "ou , co(e fro( Space# Are
"ou not convinced !" 7hat , have to%d "ou of "our chi%dren
and househo%dI
I. Hour 9ordship (ust !e a7are that such facts touchin+ the
!e%on+in+s of his hu(!%e servant (i+ht !e easi%" ascertained
!" an" one of the nei+h!ourhood possessin+ "our 9ordship?s
a(p%e (eans of infor(ation#
Stranger. CTo himsel.E -hat (ust , doI Sta": one (ore
ar+u(ent su++ests itse%f to (e# -hen "ou see a Strai+ht
9ine<<"our 7ife, for exa(p%e<<ho7 (an" Di(ensions do "ou
attri!ute to herI
I. Hour 9ordship 7ou%d treat (e as if , 7ere one of the vu%+ar
7ho, !ein+ i+norant of /athe(atics, suppose that a -o(an
is rea%%" a Strai+ht 9ine, and on%" of $ne Di(ension# No, no,
(" 9ord: 7e SDuares are !etter advised, and are as 7e%%
a7are of "our 9ordship that a -o(an, thou+h popu%ar%"
ca%%ed a Strai+ht 9ine, is, rea%%" and scientifica%%", a ver" thin
Para%%e%o+ra(, possessin+ T7o Di(ensions, %i@e the rest of
us, vi0#, %en+th and !readth Cor thic@nessE#
Stranger. 5ut the ver" fact that a 9ine is visi!%e i(p%ies that it
possesses "et another Di(ension#
I. /" 9ord, , have Fust ac@no7%ed+e that a -o(an is !road
as 7e%% as %on+# -e see her %en+th, 7e infer her !readth:
7hich, thou+h ver" s%i+ht, is capa!%e of (easure(ent#
Stranger. Hou do not understand (e# , (ean that 7hen "ou
see a -o(an, "ou ou+ht<<!esides inferrin+ her !readth<<to
see her %en+th, and to see 7hat 7e ca%% her height: a%thou+h
the %ast Di(ension is infinitesi(a% in "our countr"# ,f a 9ine
7ere (ere %en+th 7ithout Ahei+ht,A it 7ou%d cease to occup"
Space and 7ou%d !eco(e invisi!%e# Sure%" "ou (ust
reco+ni0e thisI
I. , (ust indeed confess that , do not in the %east understand
"our 9ordship# -hen 7e in F%at%and see a 9ine, 7e see %en+th
and brightness. ,f the !ri+htness disappears, the 9ine is
extin+uished, and, as "ou sa", ceases to occup" Space# 5ut
a( , to suppose that "our 9ordship +ives the !ri+htness the
tit%e of a Di(ension, and that 7hat 7e ca%% A!ri+htA "ou ca%%
Ahi+hAI
Stranger. No, indeed# 5" Ahei+htA , (ean a Di(ension %i@e
"our %en+thG on%", 7ith "ou, Ahei+htA is not so easi%"
percepti!%e, !ein+ extre(e%" s(a%%#
I. /" 9ord, "our assertion is easi%" put to the test# Hou sa" ,
have a Third Di(ension, 7hich "ou ca%% Ahei+ht#A No7,
Di(ension i(p%ies direction and (easure(ent# Do !ut
(easure (" Ahei+ht,A or (ere%" indicate to (e the direction
in 7hich (" Ahei+htA extends, and , 7i%% !eco(e "our
convert# $ther7ise, "our 9ordship?s o7n understand (ust
ho%d (e excused#
Stranger. CTo himsel.E , can do neither# )o7 sha%% , convince
hi(I Sure%" a p%ain state(ent of facts fo%%o7ed !" ocu%ar
de(onstration ou+ht to suffice#<<No7, Sir: %isten to (e#
Hou are %ivin+ on a P%ane# -hat "ou st"%e F%at%and is the vast
%eve% surface of 7hat , (a" ca%% a f%uid, or in, the top of 7hich
"ou and "our countr"(en (ove a!out, 7ithout risin+ a!ove
or fa%%in+ !e%o7 it# , a( not a p%ane Fi+ure, !ut a So%id# Hou
ca%% (e a 'irc%e: !ut in rea%it" , a( not a 'irc%e, !ut an
infinite nu(!er of 'irc%es, of si0e var"in+ fro( a Point to a
'irc%e of thirteen inches in dia(eter, one p%aced on the top of
the other# -hen , cut throu+h "our p%ane as , a( no7 doin+, ,
(a@e in "our p%ane a section 7hich "ou, ver" ri+ht%", ca%% a
'irc%e# For even a Sphere<<7hich is (" proper na(e in ("
o7n countr"<<if he (anifest hi(se%f at a%% to an inha!itant of
F%at%and<<(ust needs (anifest hi(se%f as a 'irc%e#
Do "ou not re(e(!er<<for ,, 7ho see a%% thin+s, discerned
%ast ni+ht the phantas(a% vision of 9ine%and 7ritten upon
"our !rain<<do "ou not re(e(!er, , sa", ho7 7hen "ou
entered the rea%( of 9ine%and, "ou 7ere co(pe%%ed to
(anifest "ourse%f to the Lin+, not as a SDuare, !ut as a 9ine,
!ecause that 9inear Rea%( had not Di(ensions enou+h to
represent the 7ho%e of "ou, !ut on%" a s%ice or section of "ouI
,n precise%" the sa(e 7a", "our countr" of T7o Di(ensions
is not spacious enou+h to represent (e, a !ein+ of Three, !ut
can on%" exhi!it a s%ice or section of (e, 7hich is 7hat "ou
ca%% a 'irc%e#
The di(inished !ri+htness of "our e"e indicates incredu%it"#
5ut no7 prepare to receive proof positive of the truth of ("
assertions# Hou cannot indeed see (ore than one of ("
sections, or 'irc%es, at a ti(e: for "ou have no po7er to raise
"our e"e out of the p%ane of F%at%and: !ut "ou can at %east see
that, as , rise in Space, so (" sections !eco(e s(a%%er# See
no7, , 7i%% rise: and the effect upon "our e"e 7i%% !e that ("
'irc%e 7i%% !eco(e s(a%%er and s(a%%er ti%% it d7ind%es to a
point and fina%%" vanishes#
There 7as no Arisin+A that , cou%d see: !ut he di(inished and
fina%%" vanished# , 7in@ed once or t7ice to (a@e sure that ,
7as not drea(in+# 5ut it 7as no drea(# For fro( the depths
of no7here ca(e forth a ho%%o7 voice<<c%ose to (" heart it
see(ed<<AA( , Duite +oneI Are "ou convinced no7I -e%%,
no7 , 7i%% +radua%%" return to F%at%and and "ou sha%% see ("
section !eco(e %ar+er and %ar+er#A
Ever" reader in Space%and 7i%% easi%" understand that ("
("sterious ;uest 7as spea@in+ the %an+ua+e of truth and
even of si(p%icit"# 5ut to (e, proficient thou+h , 7as in
F%at%and /athe(atics, it 7as !" no (eans a si(p%e (atter#
The rou+h dia+ra( +iven a!ove 7i%% (a@e it c%ear to an"
Space%and chi%d that the Sphere, ascendin+ in the three
positions indicated there, (ust needs have (anifested hi(se%f
to (e, or to an" F%at%ander, as a 'irc%e, at first of fu%% si0e,
then s(a%%, and at %ast ver" s(a%% indeed, approachin+ to a
Point# 5ut to (e, a%thou+h , sa7 the facts !efore (e, the
causes 7ere as dar@ as ever# A%% that , cou%d co(prehend 7as,
that the 'irc%e had (ade hi(se%f s(a%%er and vanished, and
that he had no7 re<appeared and 7as rapid%" (a@in+ hi(se%f
%ar+er#
-hen he re+ained his ori+ina% si0e, he heaved a deep si+h: for
he perceived !" (" si%ence that , had a%to+ether fai%ed to
co(prehend hi(# And indeed , 7as no7 inc%inin+ to the
!e%ief that he (ust !e no 'irc%e at a%%, !ut so(e extre(e%"
c%ever Fu++%er: or e%se that the o%d 7ives? ta%es 7ere true, and
that after a%% there 7ere such peop%e as Enchanters and
/a+icians#
After a %on+ pause he (uttered to hi(se%f, A$ne resource
a%one re(ains, if , a( not to resort to action# , (ust tr" the
(ethod of Ana%o+"#A Then fo%%o7ed a sti%% %on+er si%ence,
after 7hich he continued our dia%o+ue#
Sphere. Te%% (e, /r# /athe(atician: if a Point (oves
North7ard, and %eaves a %u(inous 7a@e, 7hat na(e 7ou%d
"ou +ive to the 7a@eI
I. A strai+ht 9ine#
Sphere. And a strai+ht 9ine has ho7 (an" extre(itiesI
I. T7o#
Sphere. No7 conceive the North7ard strai+ht 9ine (ovin+
para%%e% to itse%f, East and -est, so that ever" point in it
%eaves !ehind it the 7a@e of a strai+ht 9ine# -hat na(e 7i%%
"ou +ive to the Fi+ure there!" for(edI -e 7i%% suppose that
it (oves throu+h a distance eDua% to the ori+ina% strai+ht %ine#
<<< -hat na(e, , sa"I
I. A sDuare#
Sphere. And ho7 (an" sides has a SDuareI )o7 (an"
an+%esI
I. Four sides and four an+%es#
Sphere. No7 stretch "our i(a+ination a %itt%e, and conceive a
SDuare in F%at%and, (ovin+ para%%e% to itse%f up7ard#
I. -hatI North7ardI
Sphere. No, not North7ard: up7ard: out of F%at%and
a%to+ether#
,f it (oved North7ard, the Southern points in the SDuare
7ou%d have to (ove throu+h the positions previous%"
occupied !" the Northern points# 5ut that is not (" (eanin+#
, (ean that ever" Point in "ou<<for "ou are a SDuare and 7i%%
serve the purpose of (" i%%ustration<<ever" Point in "ou, that
is to sa" in 7hat "ou ca%% "our inside, is to pass up7ards
throu+h Space in such a 7a" that no Point sha%% pass throu+h
the position previous%" occupied !" an" other Point: !ut each
Point sha%% descri!e a strai+ht 9ine of its o7n# This is a%% in
accordance 7ith Ana%o+": sure%" it (ust !e c%ear to "ou#
Restrainin+ (" i(patience<<for , 7as no7 under a stron+
te(ptation to rush !%ind%" at (" 8isitor and to precipitate hi(
into Space, or out of F%at%and, an"7here, so that , cou%d +et
rid of hi(<< , rep%iedG<<
AAnd 7hat (a" !e the nature of the Fi+ure 7hich , a( to
shape out !" this (otion 7hich "ou are p%eased to denote !"
the 7ord ?up7ard?I , presu(e it is descri!a!%e in the %an+ua+e
of F%at%and#A
Sphere. $h, certain%"# ,t is a%% p%ain and si(p%e, and in strict
accordance 7ith Ana%o+"<<on%", !" the 7a", "ou (ust not
spea@ of the resu%t as !ein+ a Fi+ure, !ut as a So%id# 5ut , 7i%%
descri!e it to "ou# $r rather not ,, !ut Ana%o+"#
-e !e+an 7ith a sin+%e Point, 7hich of course<<!ein+ itse%f a
Point<<has on%" one ter(ina% Point#
$ne Point produces a 9ine 7ith t!o ter(ina% Points#
$ne 9ine produces a SDuare 7ith our ter(ina% Points#
No7 "ou can +ive "ourse%f the ans7er to "our o7n DuestionG
1, &, , are evident%" in ;eo(etrica% Pro+ression# -hat is the
next nu(!erI
I. Ei+ht#
Sphere. Exact%"# The one SDuare produces a Something,
!hich,you, do,not,as,yet,kno!,a,name,or, but,!hich,!e,
call,a,-ube 7ith eight ter(ina% Points# No7 are "ou
convincedI
I. And has this 'reature sides, as 7e%% as An+%es or 7hat "ou
ca%% Ater(ina% PointsAI
Sphere. $f course: and a%% accordin+ to Ana%o+"# 5ut, !" the
7a", not 7hat you ca%% sides, !ut 7hat !e ca%% sides# Hou
7ou%d ca%% the( solids.
I. And ho7 (an" so%ids or sides 7i%% appertain to this 5ein+
7ho( , a( to +enerate !" the (otion of (" inside in an
Aup7ardA direction, and 7ho( "ou ca%% a 'u!eI
Sphere. )o7 can "ou as@I And "ou a (athe(aticianJ The
side of an"thin+ is a%7a"s, if , (a" so sa", one Di(ension
!ehind the thin+# 'onseDuent%", as there is no Di(ension
!ehind a Point, a Point has 6 sides: a 9ine, if , (a" so sa",
has & sides Cfor the points of a 9ine (a" !e ca%%ed !"
courtes", its sidesE: a SDuare has sides: 6, &, : 7hat
Pro+ression do "ou ca%% thatI
I. Arith(etica%#
Sphere. And 7hat is the next nu(!erI
I. Six#
Sphere. Exact%"# Then "ou see "ou have ans7ered "our o7n
Duestion# The 'u!e 7hich "ou 7i%% +enerate 7i%% !e !ounded
!" six sides, that is to sa", six of "our insides# Hou see it a%%
no7, ehI
A/onster,A , shrie@ed, A!e thou Fu++%er, enchanter, drea(, or
devi%, no (ore 7i%% , endure th" (oc@eries# Either thou or ,
(ust perish#A And sa"in+ these 7ords , precipitated ("se%f
upon hi(#
Section #A
5o the S9here, ha+in: in
+ain tried ords, resorted to
deeds
,T -AS ,N 8A,N# , !rou+ht (" hardest ri+ht an+%e into
vio%ent co%%ision 7ith the Stran+er, pressin+ on hi( 7ith a
force sufficient to have destro"ed an" ordinar" 'irc%eG !ut ,
cou%d fee% hi( s%o7%" and unarresta!%" s%ippin+ fro( ("
contact: not ed+in+ to the ri+ht nor to the %eft, !ut (ovin+
so(eho7 out of the 7or%d, and vanishin+ into nothin+# Soon
there 7as a !%an@# 5ut sti%% , heard the ,ntruder?s voice#
Sphere. -h" 7i%% "ou refuse to %isten to reasonI , had hoped
to find in "ou<<as !ein+ a (an of sense and an acco(p%ished
(athe(atician<<a fit apost%e for the ;ospe% of the Three
Di(ensions, 7hich , a( a%%o7ed to preach once on%" in a
thousand "earsG !ut no7 , @no7 not ho7 to convince "ou#
Sta", , have it# Deeds, and not 7ords, sha%% proc%ai( the truth#
9isten, (" friend#
, have to%d "ou , can see fro( (" position in Space the inside
of a%% thin+s that "ou consider c%osed# For exa(p%e, , see in
"onder cup!oard near 7hich "ou are standin+, severa% of
7hat "ou ca%% !oxes C!ut %i@e ever"thin+ e%se in F%at%and, the"
have no tops or !otto(E fu%% of (one": , see a%so t7o ta!%ets
of accounts# , a( a!out to descend into that cup!oard and to
!rin+ "ou one of those ta!%ets# , sa7 "ou %oc@ the cup!oard
ha%f an hour a+o, and , @no7 "ou have the @e" in "our
possession# 5ut , descend fro( Space: the doors, "ou see,
re(ain un(oved# No7 , a( in the cup!oard and a( ta@in+
the ta!%et# No7 , have it# No7 , ascend 7ith it#
, rushed to the c%oset and dashed the door open# $ne of the
ta!%ets 7as +one# -ith a (oc@in+ %au+h, the Stran+er
appeared in the other corner of the roo(, and at the sa(e
ti(e the ta!%et appeared upon the f%oor# , too@ it up# There
cou%d !e no dou!t<<it 7as the (issin+ ta!%et#
, +roaned 7ith horror, dou!tin+ 7hether , 7as not out of ("
sense: !ut the Stran+er continuedG ASure%" "ou (ust no7 see
that (" exp%anation, and no other, suits the pheno(ena# -hat
"ou ca%% So%id thin+s are rea%%" superficia%: 7hat "ou ca%%
Space is rea%%" nothin+ !ut a +reat P%ane# , a( in Space, and
%oo@ do7n upon the insides of the thin+s of 7hich "ou on%"
see the outsides# Hou cou%d %eave the P%ane "ourse%f, if "ou
cou%d !ut su((on up the necessar" vo%ition# A s%i+ht up7ard
or do7n7ard (otion 7ou%d ena!%e "ou to see a%% that , can
see#
AThe hi+her , (ount, and the further , +o fro( "our P%ane,
the (ore , can see, thou+h of course , see it on a s(a%%er
sca%e# For exa(p%e, , a( ascendin+: no7 , can see "our
nei+h!our the )exa+on and his fa(i%" in their severa%
apart(ents: no7 , see the inside of the Theatre, ten doors off,
fro( 7hich the audience is on%" Fust departin+: and on the
other side a 'irc%e in his stud", sittin+ at his !oo@s# No7 ,
sha%% co(e !ac@ to "ou# And, as a cro7nin+ proof, 7hat do
"ou sa" to (" +ivin+ "ou a touch, Fust the %east touch, in "our
sto(achI ,t 7i%% not serious%" inFure "ou, and the s%i+ht pain
"ou (a" suffer cannot !e co(pared 7ith the (enta% !enefit
"ou 7i%% receive#A
5efore , cou%d utter a 7ord of re(onstrance, , fe%t a shootin+
pain in (" inside, and a de(oniaca% %au+h see(ed to issue
fro( 7ithin (e# A (o(ent after7ards the sharp a+on" had
ceased, %eavin+ nothin+ !ut a du%% ache !ehind, and the
Stran+er !e+an to reappear, sa"in+, as he +radua%%" increased
in si0e, AThere, , have not hurt "ou (uch, have ,I ,f "ou are
not convinced no7, , don?t @no7 7hat 7i%% convince "ou#
-hat sa" "ouIA
/" reso%ution 7as ta@en# ,t see(ed into%era!%e that , shou%d
endure existence su!Fect to the ar!itrar" visitations of a
/a+ician 7ho cou%d thus p%a" tric@s 7ith one?s ver" sto(ach#
,f on%" , cou%d in an" 7a" (ana+e to pin hi( a+ainst the 7a%%
ti%% he%p ca(eJ
$nce (ore , dashed (" hardest an+%e a+ainst hi(, at the
sa(e ti(e a%ar(in+ the 7ho%e househo%d !" (" cries for aid#
, !e%ieve, at the (o(ent of (" onset, the Stran+er had sun@
!e%o7 our P%ane, and rea%%" found difficu%t" in risin+# ,n an"
case he re(ained (otion%ess, 7hi%e ,, hearin+, as , thou+ht,
the sound of so(e he%p approachin+, pressed a+ainst hi(
7ith redou!%ed vi+or, and continued to shout for assistance#
A convu%sive shudder ran throu+h the Sphere# AThis (ust not
!e,A , thou+ht , heard hi( sa"G Aeither he (ust %isten to
reason, or , (ust have recourse to the %ast resource of
civi%i0ation#A Then, addressin+ (e in a %ouder tone, he
hurried%" exc%ai(ed, A9istenG no stran+er (ust 7itness 7hat
"ou have 7itnessed# Send "our -ife !ac@ at once, !efore she
enters the apart(ent# The ;ospe% of Three Di(ensions (ust
not !e thus frustrated# Not thus (ust the fruits of one
thousand "ears of 7aitin+ !e thro7n a7a"# , hear her co(in+#
5ac@J !ac@J A7a" fro( (e, or "ou (ust +o 7ith (e<<7hither
"ou @no7 not<<into the 9and of Three Di(ensionsJA
AFoo%J /ad(anJ ,rre+u%arJA , exc%ai(ed: Anever 7i%% , re%ease
thee: thou sha%t pa" the pena%t" of thine i(postures#A
A)aJ ,s it co(e to thisIA thundered the Stran+erG Athen (eet
"our fateG out of "our P%ane "ou +o# $nce, t7ice, thriceJ ?Tis
doneJA
Section #$
5o I came to S9aceland,
and hat I sa there
AN 4NSPEALA59E )$RR$R sei0ed (e# There 7as a
dar@ness: then a di00", sic@enin+ sensation of si+ht that 7as
not %i@e seein+: , sa7 a 9ine that 7as no 9ine: Space that 7as
not SpaceG , 7as ("se%f, and not ("se%f# -hen , cou%d find
voice, , shrie@ed %oud in a+on", AEither this is (adness or it is
)e%%#A A,t is neither, ca%(%" rep%ied the voice of the Sphere, Ait
is Lno7%ed+e: it is Three Di(ensionsG open "our e"e once
a+ain and tr" to %oo@ steadi%"#A
, %oo@ed, and, !eho%d, a ne7 7or%dJ There stood !efore (e,
visi!%" incorporate, a%% that , had !efore inferred, conFectured,
drea(ed, of perfect 'ircu%ar !eaut"# -hat see(ed the centre
of the Stran+er?s for( %a" open to (" vie7G "et , cou%d see no
heart, %un+s, nor arteries, on%" a !eautifu% har(onious
So(ethin+<<for 7hich , had no 7ords: !ut "ou, (" Readers
in Space%and, 7ou%d ca%% it the surface of the Sphere#
Prostratin+ ("se%f (enta%%" !efore (" ;uide, , cried, A)o7
it is,, $ divine idea% of consu((ate %ove%iness and 7isdo(
that , see th" inside, and "et cannot discern th" heart, th"
%un+s, th" arteries, th" %iverIA A-hat "ou thin@ "ou see, "ou
see not,A he rep%ied: Ait is not +ivin+ to "ou, nor to an" other
5ein+, to !eho%d (" interna% parts# , a( of a different order
of 5ein+s fro( those in F%at%and# -here , a 'irc%e, "ou cou%d
discern (" intestines, !ut , a( a 5ein+, co(posed as , to%d
"ou !efore, of (an" 'irc%es, the /an" in the $ne, ca%%ed in
this countr" a Sphere# And, Fust as the outside of a 'u!e is a
SDuare, so the outside of a Sphere represents the appearance
of a 'irc%e#A
5e7i%dered thou+h , 7as !" (" Teacher?s eni+(atic
utterance, , no %on+er chafed a+ainst it, !ut 7orshipped hi(
in si%ent adoration# )e continued, 7ith (ore (i%dness in his
voice# ADistress not "ourse%f if "ou cannot at first understand
the deeper ("steries of Space%and# 5" de+rees the" 7i%% da7n
upon "ou# 9et us !e+in !" castin+ !ac@ a +%ance at the re+ion
7hence "ou ca(e# Return 7ith (e a 7hi%e to the p%ains of
F%at%and and , 7i%% she7 "ou that 7hich "ou have often
reasoned and thou+ht a!out, !ut never seen 7ith the sense of
si+ht<<a visi!%e an+%e#A A,(possi!%eJA , cried: !ut, the Sphere
%eadin+ the 7a", , fo%%o7ed as if in a drea(, ti%% once (ore his
voice arrested (eG A9oo@ "onder, and !eho%d "our o7n
Penta+ona% house, and a%% its in(ates#A
, %oo@ed !e%o7, and sa7 7ith (" ph"sica% e"e a%% that
do(estic individua%it" 7hich , had hitherto (ere%" inferred
7ith the understandin+# And ho7 poor and shado7" 7as the
inferred conFecture in co(parison 7ith the rea%it" 7hich ,
no7 !eho%dJ /" four Sons ca%(%" as%eep in the North<
-estern roo(s, (" t7o orphan ;randsons to the South: the
Servants, the 5ut%er, (" Dau+hter,, a%% in their severa%
apart(ents# $n%" (" affectionate -ife, a%ar(ed !" ("
continued a!sence, had Duitted her roo( and 7as rovin+ up
and do7n in the )a%%, anxious%" a7aitin+ (" return# A%so the
Pa+e, aroused !" (" cries, had %eft his roo(, and under
pretext of ascertainin+ 7hether , had fa%%en so(e7here in a
faint, 7as pr"in+ into the ca!inet in (" stud"# A%% this , cou%d
no7 see, not (ere%" infer: and as 7e ca(e nearer and nearer,
, cou%d discern even the contents of (" ca!inet, and the t7o
chests of +o%d, and the ta!%ets of 7hich the Sphere had (ade
(ention#
Touched !" (" -ife?s distress, , 7ou%d have sprun+
do7n7ard to reassure her, !ut , found ("se%f incapa!%e of
(otion# ATrou!%e not "ourse%f a!out "our -ife,A said ("
;uideG Ashe 7i%% not !e %on+ %eft in anxiet": (eanti(e, %et us
ta@e a surve" of F%at%and#A
$nce (ore , fe%t ("se%f risin+ throu+h space# ,t 7as even as
the Sphere had said# The further 7e receded fro( the o!Fect
7e !ehe%d, the %ar+er !eca(e the fie%d of vision# /" native
cit", 7ith the interior of ever" house and ever" creature
therein, %a" open to (" vie7 in (iniature# -e (ounted
hi+her, and %o, the secrets of the earth, the depths of the (ines
and in(ost caverns of the hi%%s, 7ere !ared !efore (e#
A7estruc@ at the si+ht of the ("steries of the earth, thus
unvei%ed !efore (" un7orth" e"e, , said to (" 'o(panion,
A5eho%d, , a( !eco(e as a ;od# For the 7ise (en in our
countr" sa" that to see a%% thin+s, or as the" express it,
omni%idence, is the attri!ute of ;od a%one#A There 7as
so(ethin+ of scorn in the voice of (" Teacher as he (ade
ans7erG Ait is so indeedI Then the ver" pic@<poc@ets and cut<
throats of (" countr" are to !e 7orshipped !" "our 7ise (en
as !ein+ ;odsG for there is not one of the( that does not see
as (uch as "ou see no7# 5ut trust (e, "our 7ise (en are
7ron+#A
I. Then is o(nividence the attri!ute of others !esides ;odsI
Sphere. , do not @no7# 5ut, if a pic@<poc@et or a cut<throat of
our countr" can see ever"thin+ that is in "our countr", sure%"
that is no reason 7h" the pic@<poc@et or cut<throat shou%d !e
accepted !" "ou as a ;od# This o(nividence, as "ou ca%% it<<it
is not a co((on 7ord in Space%and<<does it (a@e "ou (ore
Fust, (ore (ercifu%, %ess se%fish, (ore %ovin+I Not in the
%east# Then ho7 does it (a@e "ou (ore divineI
I. A/ore (ercifu%, (ore %ovin+JA 5ut these are the Dua%ities of
7o(enJ And 7e @no7 that a 'irc%e is a hi+her 5ein+ than a
Strai+ht 9ine, in so far as @no7%ed+e and 7isdo( are (ore to
!e estee(ed than (ere affection#
Sphere. ,t is not for (e to c%assif" hu(an facu%ties accordin+
to (erit# Het (an" of the !est and 7isest in Space%and thin@
(ore of the affections than of the understandin+, (ore of
"our despised Strai+ht 9ines than of "our !e%auded 'irc%es#
5ut enou+h of this# 9oo@ "onder# Do "ou @no7 that !ui%din+I
, %oo@ed, and afar off , sa7 an i((ense Po%"+ona% structure,
in 7hich , reco+ni0ed the ;enera% Asse(!%" )a%% of the
States of F%at%and, surrounded !" dense %ines of Penta+ona%
!ui%din+s at ri+ht an+%es to each other, 7hich , @ne7 to !e
streets: and , perceived that , 7as approachin+ the +reat
/etropo%is#
A)ere 7e descend,A said (" ;uide# ,t 7as no7 (ornin+, the
first hour of the first da" of the t7o thousandth "ear of our
era# Actin+, as 7as their 7ont, in strict accordance 7ith
precedent, the hi+hest 'irc%es of the rea%( 7ere (eetin+ in
so%e(n conc%ave, as the" had (et on the first hour of the first
da" of the "ear 1666, and a%so on the first hour of the first da"
of the "ear 6#
The (inutes of the previous (eetin+s 7ere no7 read !" one
7ho( , at once reco+ni0ed as (" !rother, a perfect%"
S"((etrica% SDuare, and the 'hief '%er@ of the )i+h
'ounci%# ,t 7as found recorded on each occasion thatG
A-hereas the States had !een trou!%ed !" divers i%%<
intentioned persons pretendin+ to have received reve%ations
fro( another -or%d, and professin+ to produce
de(onstrations 7here!" the" had insti+ated to fren0" !oth
the(se%ves and others, it had !een for this cause unani(ous%"
reso%ved !" the ;rand 'ounci% that on the first da" of each
(i%%enar", specia% inFunctions !e sent to the Prefects in the
severa% districts of F%at%and, to (a@e strict search for such
(is+uided persons, and 7ithout for(a%it" of (athe(atica%
exa(i(ation, to destro" a%% such as 7ere ,sosce%es of an"
de+ree, to scour+e and i(prison an" re+u%ar Trian+%e, to
cause an" SDuare or Penta+on to !e sent to the district
As"%u(, and to arrest an" one of hi+her ran@, sendin+ hi(
strai+ht7a" to the 'apita% to !e exa(ined and Fud+ed !" the
'ounci%#A
AHou hear "our fate,A said the Sphere to (e, 7hi%e the
'ounci% 7as passin+ for the third ti(e the for(a% reso%ution#
ADeath or i(prison(ent a7aits the Apost%e of the ;ospe% of
Three Di(ensions#A ANot so,A rep%ied ,, Athe (atter is no7 so
c%ear to (e, the nature of rea% space so pa%pa!%e, that
(ethin@s , cou%d (a@e a chi%d understand it# Per(it (e !ut to
descend at this (o(ent and en%i+hten the(#A ANot "et,A said
(" ;uide, Athe ti(e 7i%% co(e for that# /eanti(e , (ust
perfor( (" (ission# Sta" thou there in th" p%ace#A Sa"in+
these 7ords, he %eaped 7ith +reat dexterit" into the sea Cif ,
(a" so ca%% itE of F%at%and, ri+ht in the (idst of the rin+ of
'ounse%%ors# A, co(e,A said he, Ato proc%ai( that there is a
%and of Three Di(ensions#A
, cou%d see (an" of the "oun+er 'ounse%%ors start !ac@ in
(anifest horror, as the Sphere?s circu%ar section 7idened
!efore the(# 5ut on a si+n fro( the presidin+ 'irc%e<<7ho
she7ed not the s%i+htest a%ar( or surprise<<six ,sosce%es of a
%o7 t"pe fro( six different Duarters rushed upon the Sphere#
A-e have hi(,A the" cried: ANo: "es: 7e have hi( sti%%J he?s
+oin+J he?s +oneJA
A/" 9ords,A said the President to the =unior 'irc%es of the
'ounci%, Athere is not the s%i+htest need for surprise: the
secret archives, to 7hich , a%one have access, te%% (e that a
si(i%ar occurrence happened on the %ast t7o (i%%ennia%
co((ence(ents# Hou 7i%%, of course, sa" nothin+ of these
trif%es outside the 'a!inet#A
Raisin+ his voice, he no7 su((oned the +uards# AArrest the
po%ice(en: +a+ the(# Hou @no7 "our dut"#A After he had
consi+ned to their fate the 7retched po%ice(en<<i%%<fated and
un7i%%in+ 7itnesses of a State<secret 7hich the" 7ere not to
!e per(itted to revea%<<he a+ain addressed the 'ounse%%ors#
A/" 9ords, the !usiness of the 'ounci% !ein+ conc%uded, ,
have on%" to 7ish "ou a happ" Ne7 Hear#A 5efore departin+,
he expressed, at so(e %en+th, to the '%er@, (" exce%%ent !ut
(ost unfortunate !rother, his sincere re+ret that, in
accordance 7ith precedent and for the sa@e of secrec", he
(ust conde(n hi( to perpetua% i(prison(ent, !ut added his
satisfaction that, un%ess so(e (ention 7ere (ade !" hi( of
that da"?s incident, his %ife 7ou%d !e spared#
Section #'
5o, thou:h the S9here
sheed me other mysteries
of S9aceland, I still desire
moreC and hat came of it
-)EN , sa7 (" poor !rother %ed a7a" to i(prison(ent, ,
atte(pted to %eap do7n into the 'ounci% 'ha(!er, desirin+ to
intercede on his !eha%f, or at %east !id hi( fare7e%%# 5ut ,
found that , had no (otion of (" o7n# , a!so%ute%" depended
on the vo%ition of (" ;uide, 7ho said in +%oo(" tones,
A)eed not th" !rother: hap%" thou sha%t have a(p%e ti(e
hereafter to condo%e 7ith hi(# Fo%%o7 (e#A
$nce (ore 7e ascended into space# A)itherto,A said the
Sphere, A, have she7n "ou nau+ht save P%ane Fi+ures and
their interiors# No7 , (ust introduce "ou to So%ids, and
revea% to "ou the p%an upon 7hich the" are constructed#
5eho%d this (u%titude of (ovea!%e sDuare cards# See, , put on
on another, not, as "ou supposed, North7ard of the other, !ut
on the other# No7 a second, no7 a third# See, , a( !ui%din+
up a So%id !" a (u%titude of SDuares para%%e% to one another#
No7 the So%id is co(p%ete, !ein+ as hi+h as it is %on+ and
!road, and 7e ca%% it a 'u!e#A
APardon (e, (" 9ord,A rep%ied ,: A!ut to (" e"e the
appearance is as of an ,rre+u%ar Fi+ure 7hose inside is %aid
open to vie7: in other 7ords, (ethin@s , see no So%id, !ut a
P%ane such as 7e infer in F%at%and: on%" of an ,rre+u%arit"
7hich !eto@ens so(e (onstrous cri(ina%, so that the ver"
si+ht of it is painfu% to (" e"es#A
ATrue,A said the Sphere: Ait appears to "ou a P%ane, !ecause
"ou are not accusto(ed to %i+ht and shade and perspective:
Fust as in F%at%and a )exa+on 7ou%d appear a Strai+ht 9ine to
one 7ho has not the Art of Si+ht Reco+nition# 5ut in rea%it" it
is a So%id, as "ou sha%% %earn !" the sense of Fee%in+#A
)e then introduced (e to the 'u!e, and , found that this
(arve%%ous 5ein+ 7as indeed no P%ane, !ut a So%id: and that
he 7as endo7ed 7ith six p%ane sides and ei+ht ter(ina%
points ca%%ed so%id an+%es: and , re(e(!ered the sa"in+ of the
Sphere that Fust such a 'reature as this 7ou%d !e for(ed !"
the SDuare (ovin+, in Space, para%%e% to hi(se%fG and ,
reFoiced to thin@ that so insi+nificant a 'reature as , cou%d in
so(e sense !e ca%%ed the Pro+enitor of so i%%ustrious an
offsprin+#
5ut sti%% , cou%d not fu%%" understand the (eanin+ of 7hat ("
Teacher had to%d (e concernin+ A%i+htA and AshadeA and
AperspectiveA: and , did not hesitate to put (" difficu%ties
!efore hi(#
-ere , to +ive the Sphere?s exp%anation of these (atters,
succinct and c%ear thou+h it 7as, it 7ou%d !e tedious to an
inha!itant of Space, 7ho @no7s these thin+s a%read"# Suffice
it, that !" his %ucid state(ents, and !" chan+in+ the position
of o!Fects and %i+hts, and !" a%%o7in+ (e to fee% the severa%
o!Fects and even his o7n sacred Person, he at %ast (ade a%%
thin+s c%ear to (e, so that , cou%d no7 readi%" distin+uish
!et7een a 'irc%e and a Sphere, a P%ane Fi+ure and a So%id#
This 7as the '%i(ax, the Paradise, of (" stran+e eventfu%
)istor"# )enceforth , have to re%ate the stor" of (" (isera!%e
Fa%%G<<(ost (isera!%e, "et sure%" (ost undeservedJ For 7h"
shou%d the thirst for @no7%ed+e !e aroused, on%" to !e
disappointed and punishedI /" vo%ition shrin@s fro( the
painfu% tas@ of reca%%in+ (" hu(i%iation: "et, %i@e a second
Pro(etheus, , 7i%% endure this and 7orse, if !" an" (eans ,
(a" arouse in the interiors of P%ane and So%id )u(anit" a
spirit of re!e%%ion a+ainst the 'onceit 7hich 7ou%d %i(it our
Di(ensions to T7o or Three or an" nu(!er short of ,nfinit"#
A7a" then 7ith a%% persona% considerationsJ 9et (e continue
to the end, as , !e+an, 7ithout further di+ressions or
anticipations, pursuin+ the p%ain path of dispassionate
)istor"# The exact facts, the exact 7ords,<<and the" are !urnt
in upon (" !rain,<<sha%% !e set do7n 7ithout a%teration of an
iota: and %et (" Readers Fud+e !et7een (e and Destin"#
The Sphere 7ou%d 7i%%in+%" have continued his %essons !"
indoctrinatin+ (e in the confor(ation of a%% re+u%ar So%ids,
'"%inders, 'ones, P"ra(ids, Pentahedrons, )exahedrons,
Dodecahedrons, and SpheresG !ut , ventured to interrupt hi(#
Not that , 7as 7earied of @no7%ed+e# $n the contrar", ,
thirsted for "et deeper and fu%%er drau+hts than he 7as
offerin+ to (e#
APardon (e,A said ,, A$ Thou -ho( , (ust no %on+er address
as the Perfection of a%% 5eaut": !ut %et (e !e+ thee to
vouchsafe th" servant a s%i+ht of thine interior#A
Sphere# /" 7hatI
I. Thine interiorG th" sto(ach, th" intestines#
Sphere# -hence this i%%<ti(ed i(pertinent reDuestI And 7hat
(ean "ou !" sa"in+ that , a( no %on+er the Perfection of a%%
5eaut"I
I. /" 9ord, "our o7n 7isdo( has tau+ht (e to aspire to $ne
even (ore +reat, (ore !eautifu%, and (ore c%ose%"
approxi(ate to Perfection than "ourse%f# As "ou "ourse%f,
superior to a%% F%at%and for(s, co(!ine (an" 'irc%es in $ne,
so dou!t%ess there is $ne a!ove "ou 7ho co(!ines (an"
Spheres in $ne Supre(e Existence, surpassin+ even the
So%ids of Space%and# And even as 7e, 7ho are no7 in Space,
%oo@ do7n on F%at%and and see the insides of a%% thin+s, so of
a certaint" there is "et a!ove us so(e hi+her, purer re+ion,
7hither thou dost sure%" purpose to %ead (e<<$ Thou -ho( ,
sha%% a%7a"s ca%%, ever"7here and in a%% Di(ensions, ("
Priest, Phi%osopher, and Friend<<so(e "et (ore spacious
Space, so(e (ore di(ensiona!%e Di(ensiona%it", fro( the
vanta+e<+round of 7hich 7e sha%% %oo@ do7n to+ether upon
the revea%ed insides of So%id thin+s, and 7here thine o7n
intestines, and those of th" @indred Spheres, 7i%% %ie exposed
to the vie7 of the poor 7anderin+ exi%e fro( F%at%and, to
7ho( so (uch has a%read" !een vouchsafed#
Sphere# PoohJ StuffJ Enou+h of this trif%in+J The ti(e is
short, and (uch re(ains to !e done !efore "ou are fit to
proc%ai( the ;ospe% of Three Di(ensions to "our !%ind
!eni+hted countr"(en in F%at%and#
I. Na", +racious Teacher, den" (e not 7hat , @no7 it is in th"
po7er to refor(# ;rant (e !ut one +%i(pse of thine interior,
and , a( satisfied for ever, re(ainin+ henceforth th" doci%e
pupi%, th" une(ancipa!%e s%ave, read" to receive a%% th"
teachin+s and to feed upon the 7ords that fa%% fro( th" %ips#
Sphere# -e%%, then, to content and si%ence "ou, %et (e sa" at
once, , 7ou%d she7 "ou 7hat "ou 7ish if , cou%d: !ut ,
cannot# -ou%d "ou have (e turn (" sto(ach inside out to
o!%i+e "ouI
I. 5ut (" 9ord has she7n (e the intestines of a%% ("
countr"(en in the 9and of T7o Di(ensions !" ta@in+ (e
7ith hi( into the 9and of Three# -hat therefore (ore eas"
than no7 to ta@e his servant on a second Fourne" into the
!%essed re+ion of the Fourth Di(ension, 7here , sha%% %oo@
do7n 7ith hi( once (ore upon this %and of Three
Di(ensions, and see the inside of ever" three<di(ensioned
house, the secrets of the so%id earth, the treasures of the (ines
of Space%and, and the intestines of ever" so%id %ivin+ creature,
even the no!%e and adora!%e Spheres#
Sphere# 5ut 7here is this %and of Four Di(ensionsI
I. , @no7 notG !ut dou!t%ess (" Teacher @no7s#
Sphere# Not I. There is no such %and# The ver" idea of it is
utter%" inconceiva!%e#
I. Not inconceiva!%e, (" 9ord, to (e, and therefore sti%% %ess
inconceiva!%e to (" /aster# Na", , despair not that, even
here, in this re+ion of Three Di(ensions, "our 9ordship?s art
(a" (a@e the Fourth Di(ension visi!%e to (e: Fust as in the
9and of T7o Di(ensions (" Teacher?s s@i%% 7ou%d fain have
opened the e"es of his !%ind servant to the invisi!%e presence
of a Third Di(ension, thou+h , sa7 it not#
9et (e reca%% the past# -as , not tau+ht !e%o7 that 7hen ,
sa7 a 9ine and inferred a P%ane, , in rea%it" sa7 a Third
unreco+ni0ed Di(ension, not the sa(e as !ri+htness, ca%%ed
Ahei+htAI And does it not no7 fo%%o7 that, in this re+ion,
7hen , see a P%ane and infer a So%id, , rea%%" see a Fourth
unreco+ni0ed Di(ension, not the sa(e as co%our, !ut existent,
thou+h infinitesi(a% and incapa!%e of (easure(entI
And !esides this, there is the Ar+u(ent fro( Ana%o+" of
Fi+ures#
Sphere# Ana%o+"J NonsenseG 7hat ana%o+"I
I. Hour 9ordship te(pts his servant to see 7hether he
re(e(!ers the reve%ations i(parted to hi(# Trif%e not 7ith
(e, (" 9ord: , crave, , thirst, for (ore @no7%ed+e# Dou!t%ess
7e cannot see that other hi+her Space%and no7, !ecause 7e
7e have no e"e in our sto(achs# 5ut, Fust as there !as the
rea%( of F%at%and, thou+h that poor pun" 9ine%and /onarch
cou%d neither turn to %eft nor ri+ht to discern it, and Fust as
there !as c%ose at hand, and touchin+ (" fra(e, the %and of
Three Di(ensions, thou+h ,, !%ind sense%ess 7retch, had no
po7er to touch it, no e"e in (" interior to discern it, so of a
suret" there is a Fourth Di(ension, 7hich (" 9ord perceives
a 7ith the inner e"e of thou+ht# And that it (ust exist ("
9ord hi(se%f has tau+ht (e# $r can he have for+otten 7hat he
hi(se%f i(parted to his servantI
,n $ne Di(ension, did not a (ovin+ Point produce a 9ine
7ith t!o ter(ina% pointsI
,n T7o Di(ensions, did not a (ovin+ 9ine produce a SDuare
7ith our ter(ina% pointsI
,n Three Di(ensions, did not a (ovin+ SDuare produce<<did
not this e"e of (ine !eho%d it<<that !%essed 5ein+, a 'u!e,
7ith eight ter(ina% pointsI
And in Four Di(ensions sha%% not a (ovin+ 'u!e<<a%as, for
Ana%o+", and a%as for the Pro+ress of Truth, if it !e not so<<
sha%% not, , sa", the (otion of a divine 'u!e resu%t in a sti%%
(ore divine $r+ani0ation 7ith si.teen ter(ina% pointsI
5eho%d the infa%%i!%e confir(ation of the Series, &, , 8, 11G is
not this a ;eo(etrica% Pro+ressionI ,s not this<<if , (i+ht
Duote (" 9ord?s o7n 7ords<<Astrict%" accordin+ to Ana%o+"AI
A+ain, 7as , not tau+ht !" (" 9ord that as in a 9ine there are
t!o !oundin+ Points, and in a SDuare there are our !oundin+
9,nes, so in a 'u!e there (ust !e si. !oundin+ SDuaresI
5eho%d once (ore the confir(in+ Series, &, , 1G is not this an
Arithe(tica% Pro+ressionI And conseDuent%" does it not of
necessit" fo%%o7 that the (ore divine offsprin+ of the divine
'u!e in the 9and of Four Di(ensions, (ust have 8 !oundin+
'u!esG and is not this a%so, as (" 9ord has tau+ht (e to
!e%ieve, Astrict%" accordin+ to Ana%o+"AI
$, (" 9ord, (" 9ord, !eho%d, , cast ("se%f in faith upon
conFecture, not @no7in+ the facts: and , appea% to "our
9ordship to confir( or den" (" %o+ica% anticipations# ,f , a(
7ron+, , "ie%d, and 7i%% no %on+er de(and a Fourth
Di(ension: !ut, if , a( ri+ht, (" 9ord 7i%% %isten to reason#
, as@ therefore, is it, or is it not, the fact, that ere no7 "our
countr"(en a%so have 7itnessed the descent of 5ein+s of a
hi+her order than their o7n, enterin+ c%osed roo(s, even as
"our 9ordship entered (ine, 7ithout the openin+ of doors or
7indo7s, and appearin+ and vanishin+ at 7i%%I $n the rep%"
to this Duestion , a( read" to sta@e ever"thin+# Den" it, and ,
a( henceforth si%ent# $n%" vouchsafe an ans7er#
Sphere Cater a pauseE# ,t is reported so# 5ut (en are divided
in opinion as to the facts# And even +rantin+ the facts, the"
exp%ain the( in different 7a"s# And in an" case, ho7ever
+reat (a" !e the nu(!er of different exp%anations, no one has
adopted or su++ested the theor" of a Fourth Di(ension#
Therefore, pra" have done 7ith this trif%in+, and %et us return
to !usiness#
I. , 7as certain of it# , 7as certain that (" anticipations 7ou%d
!e fu%fi%%ed# And no7 have patience 7ith (e and ans7er (e
"et one (ore Duestion, !est of TeachersJ Those 7ho have
thus appeared<<no one @no7s 7hence<<and have returned<<no
one @no7s 7hither<<have the" a%so contracted their sections
and vanished so(eho7 into that (ore Spacious Space,
7hither , no7 entreat "ou to conduct (eI
Sphere CmoodilyE# The" have vanished, certain%"<<if the" ever
appeared# 5ut (ost peop%e sa" that these visions arose fro(
the thou+ht<<"ou 7i%% not understand (e<<fro( the !rain:
fro( the pertur!ed an+u%arit" of the Seer#
I. Sa" the" soI $h, !e%ieve the( not# $r if it indeed !e so,
that this other SPace is rea%%" Thou+ht%and, then ta@e (e to
that !%essed Re+ion 7here , in Thou+ht sha%% see the insides
of a%% so%id thin+s# There, !efore (" ravished e"e, a 'u!e
(ovin+ in so(e a%to+ether ne7 direction, !ut strict%"
accordin+ to Ana%o+", so as to (a@e ever" partic%e of his
interior pass throu+h a ne7 @ind of Space, 7ith a 7a@e of its
o7n<<sha%% create a sti%% (ore perfect perfection than hi(se%f,
7ith sixteen ter(ina% Extra<so%id an+%es, and Ei+ht so%id
'u!es for his Peri(eter# And once there, sha%% 7e sta" our
up7ard courseI ,n that !%essed re+ion of Four Di(ensions,
sha%% 7e %in+er at the thresho%d of the Fifth, and not enter
thereinI Ah, noJ 9et us rather reso%ve that our a(!ition sha%%
soar 7ith our corpora% ascent# Then, "ie%din+ to our
inte%%ectua% onset, the +ates of the Six Di(ension sha%% f%"
open: after that a Seventh, and then an Ei+hth<<
)o7 %on+ , shou%d have continued , @no7 not# ,n vain did the
Sphere, in his voice of thunder, reiterate his co((and of
si%ence, and threaten (e 7ith the direst pena%ties if ,
persisted# Nothin+ cou%d ste( the f%ood of (" ecstatic
aspirations# Perhaps , 7as to !%a(e: !ut indeed , 7as
intoxicated 7ith the recent drau+hts of Truth to 7hich he
hi(se%f had introduced (e# )o7ever, the end 7as not %on+ in
co(in+# /" 7ords 7ere cut short !" a crash outside, and a
si(u%taneous crash inside (e, 7hich i(pe%%ed (e throu+h
space 7ith a ve%ocit" that prec%uded speech# Do7nJ do7nJ
do7nJ , 7as rapid%" descendin+: and , @ne7 that return to
F%at%and 7as (" doo(# $ne +%i(pse, one %ast and never<to<
!e<for+otten +%i(pse , had of that du%% %eve% 7i%derness<<
7hich 7as no7 to !eco(e (" 4niverse a+ain<<spread out
!efore (" e"e# Then a dar@ness# Then a fina%, a%%<
consu((atin+ thunder<pea%: and, 7hen , ca(e to ("se%f, ,
7as once (ore a co((on creepin+ SDuare, in (" Stud" at
ho(e, %istenin+ to the Peace<'r" of (" approachin+ -ife#
Section (B
5o the S9here encoura:ed
me in a =ision
A9T)$4;) , had %ess than a (inute for ref%ection, , fe%t,
!" a @ind of instinct, that , (ust concea% (" experiences fro(
(" -ife# Not that , apprehended, at the (o(ent, an" dan+er
fro( her divu%+in+ (" secret, !ut , @ne7 that to an" -o(an
in F%at%and the narrative of (" adventures (ust needs !e
uninte%%i+i!%e# So , endeavoured to reassure her !" so(e
stor", invented for the occasion, that , had accidenta%%" fa%%en
throu+h the trap<door of the ce%%ar, and had there %ain stunned#
The South7ard attraction in our countr" is so s%i+ht that even
to a -o(an (" ta%e necessari%" appeared extraordinar" and
7e%%<ni+h incredi!%e: !ut (" -ife, 7hose +ood sense far
exceeds that of the avera+e of her Sex, and 7ho perceived
that , 7as unusua%%" excited, did not ar+ue 7ith (e on the
su!Fect, !ut insisted that , 7as 7i%% and reDuired repose# , 7as
+%ad of an excuse for retirin+ to (" cha(!er to thin@ Duiet%"
over 7hat had happened# -hen , 7as at %ast !" ("se%f, a
dro7s" sensation fe%% on (e: !ut !efore (" e"es c%osed ,
endeavoured to reproduce the Third Di(ension, and
especia%%" the process !" 7hich a 'u!e is constructed
throu+h the (otion of a SDuare# ,t 7as not so c%ear as , cou%d
have 7ished: !ut , re(e(!ered that it (ust !e A4p7ard, and
"et not North7ard,A and , deter(ined steadfast%" to retain
these 7ords as the c%ue 7hich, if fir(%" +rasped, cou%d not
fai% to +uide (e to the so%ution# So (echanica%%" repeatin+,
%i@e a char(, the 7ords, A4p7ard, "et not North7ard,A , fe%%
into a sound refreshin+ s%eep#
Durin+ (" s%u(!er , had a drea(# , thou+ht , 7as once (ore
!" the side of the Sphere, 7hose %ustrous hue !eto@ened that
he had exchan+ed his 7rath a+ainst (e for perfect%"
p%aca!i%it"# -e 7ere (ovin+ to+ether to7ards a !ri+ht !ut
infinitesi(a%%" s(a%% Point, to 7hich (" /aster directed ("
attention# As 7e approached, (ethou+ht there issued fro( it a
s%i+ht hu((in+ noise as fro( one of "our Space%and
!%ue!ott%es, on%" %ess resonant !" far, so s%i+ht indeed that
even in the perfect sti%%ness of the 8acuu( throu+h 7hich 7e
soared, the sound reached not our ears ti%% 7e chec@ed our
f%i+ht at a distant fro( it of so(ethin+ under t7ent" hu(an
dia+ona%s#
A9oo@ "onder,A said (" ;uide, Ain F%at%and thou hast %ived:
of 9ine%and thou hast received a vision: thou hast soared 7ith
(e to the hei+hts of Space%and: no7,, in order to co(p%ete the
ran+e of th" experience, , conduct thee do7n7ard to the
%o7est depth of existence, even to the rea%( of Point%and, the
A!"ss of No di(ensions#
A5eho%d "on (isera!%e creature# That Point is a 5ein+ %i@e
ourse%ves, !ut confined to the non<di(ensiona% ;u%f# )e is
hi(se%f his o7n -or%d, his o7n 4niverse: of an" other than
hi(se%f he can for( no conception: he @no7s not 9en+th, nor
5readth, nor )ei+ht, for he has had no experience of the(: he
has no co+ni0ance even of the nu(!er T7o: nor has he a
thou+ht of P%ura%it": for he is hi(se%f his $ne and A%%, !ein+
rea%%" Nothin+# Het (ar@ his perfect se%f<content(ent, and
hence %earn his %esson, that to !e se%f<contented is to !e vi%e
and i+norant, and that to aspire is !etter than to !e !%ind%" and
i(potent%" happ"# No7 %isten#A
)e ceased: and there arose fro( the %itt%e !u00in+ creature a
tin", %o7, (onotonous, !ut distinct tin@%in+, as fro( one of
"our Space%and phono+raphs, fro( 7hich , cau+ht these
7ords, A,nfinite !eatitude of existenceJ ,t is: and there is
nothin+ e%se !eside ,t#A
A-hat,A said ,, Adoes the pun" creature (ean !" ?it?IA A)e
(eans hi(se%f,A said the SphereG Ahave "ou not noticed
!efore no7, that !a!ies and !a!"ish peop%e 7ho cannot
distin+uish the(se%ves fro( the 7or%d, spea@ of the(se%ves
in the Third PersonI 5ut hushJA
A,t fi%%s a%% Space,A continued the %itt%e so%i%oDui0in+ 'reature,
Aand 7hat ,t fi%%s, ,t is# -hat ,t thin@s, that ,t utters: and 7hat
,t utters, that ,t hears: and ,t itse%f is Thin@er, 4tterer, )earer,
T)ou+ht, -ord, Audition: it is the $ne, and "et the A%% in A%%#
Ah, the happiness, ah, the happiness of 5ein+JA
A'an "ou not start%e the %itt%e thin+ out of its co(p%acenc"IA
said ,# ATe%% it 7hat it rea%%" is, as "ou to%d (e: revea% to it the
narro7 %i(itations of Point%and, and %ead it up to so(ethin+
hi+her#A AThat is no eas" tas@,A said (" /aster: Atr" "ou#A
)ereon, raisin+ !" voice to the utter(ost, , addressed the
Point as fo%%o7sG
ASi%ence, si%ence, conte(pti!%e 'reature# Hou ca%% "ourse%f the
A%% in A%%, !ut "ou are the Nothin+G "our so<ca%%ed 4niverse is
a (ere spec@ in a 9ine, and a 9ine is a (ere shado7 as
co(pared 7ith<<A A)ush, hush, "ou have said enou+h,A
interrupted the Sphere, Ano7 %isten, and (ar@ the effect of
"our haran+ue on the Lin+ of Point%and#A
The %ustre of the /onarch, 7ho !ea(ed (ore !ri+ht%" than
ever upon hearin+ (" 7ords, she7ed c%ear%" that he retained
his co(p%acenc": and , had hard%" ceased 7hen he too@ up
his strain a+ain# AAh, the Fo", ah, the Fo" of Thou+htJ -hat
can ,t not achieve !" thin@in+J ,ts o7n Thou+ht co(in+ to
,tse%f, su++estive of ,ts dispara+e(ent, there!" to enhance ,ts
happinessJ S7eet re!e%%ion stirred up to resu%t in triu(phJ Ah,
the divine creative po7er of the A%% in $neJ Ah, the Fo", the
Fo" of 5ein+JA
AHou see,A said (" Teacher, Aho7 %itt%e "our 7ords have
done# So far as the /onarch understand the( at a%%, he
accepts the( as his o7n<<for he cannot conceive of an" other
except hi(se%f<<and p%u(es hi(se%f upon the variet" of ?,ts
Thou+ht? as an instance of creative Po7er# 9et us %eave this
;od of Point%and to the i+norant fruition of his o(nipresence
and o(niscienceG nothin+ that "ou or , can do can rescue hi(
fro( his se%f<satisfaction#A
After this, as 7e f%oated +ent%" !ac@ to F%at%and, , cou%d hear
the (i%d voice of (" 'o(panion pointin+ the (ora% of ("
vision, and sti(u%atin+ (e to aspire, and to teach others to
aspire# )e had !een an+ered at first<<he confessed<<!" ("
a(!ition to soar to Di(ensions a!ove the Third: !ut, since
then, he had received fresh insi+ht, and he 7as not too proud
to ac@no7%ed+e his error to a Pupi%# Then he proceeded to
initiate (e into ("steries "et hi+her than those , had
7itnessed, she7in+ (e ho7 to construct Extra<So%ids !" the
(otion of So%ids, and Dou!%e Extra<So%ids !" the (otion of
Extra<So%ids, and a%% Astrict%" accordin+ to Ana%o+",A a%% !"
(ethods so si(p%e, so eas", as to !e patent even to the
Fe(a%e Sex#
Section (#
5o I tried to teach the
-heory of -hree Dimensions
to my 3randson, and ith
hat success
, A-$LE reFoicin+, and !e+an to ref%ect on the +%orious
career !efore (e# , 7ou%d +o forth, (ethou+ht, at once, and
evan+e%i0e the 7ho%e of F%at%and# Even to -o(en and
So%diers shou%d the ;ospe% of Three Di(ensions !e
proc%ai(ed# , 7ou%d !e+in 7ith (" -ife#
=ust as , had decided on the p%an of (" operations, , heard the
sound of (an" voices in the street co((andin+ si%ence# Then
fo%%o7ed a %ouder voice# ,t 7as a hera%d?s proc%a(ation#
9istenin+ attentive%", , reco+ni0ed the 7ords of the
Reso%ution of the 'ounci%, enFoinin+ the arrest,
i(prison(ent, or execution of an" one 7ho shou%d pervert
the (inds of peop%e !" de%usions, and !" professin+ to have
received reve%ations fro( another -or%d#
, ref%ected# This dan+er 7as not to !e trif%ed 7ith# ,t 7ou%d !e
!etter to avoid it !" o(ittin+ a%% (ention of (" Reve%ation,
and !" proceedin+ on the path of De(onstration<<7hich after
a%%, see(ed so si(p%e and so conc%usive that nothin+ 7ou%d
!e %ost !" discardin+ the for(er (eans# A4p7ard, not
North7ardA<<7as the c%ue to the 7ho%e proof# ,t had see(ed
to (e fair%" c%ear !efore , fe%% as%eep: and 7hen , first a7o@e,
fresh fro( (" drea(, it had appeared as patent as Arith(etic:
!ut so(eho7 it did not see( to (e Duite so o!vious no7#
Thou+h (" -ife entered the roo( opportune%" at Fust that
(o(ent, , decided, after 7e had exchan+ed a fe7 7ords of
co((onp%ace conversation, not to !e+in 7ith her#
/" Penta+ona% Sons 7ere (en of character and standin+, and
ph"sicians of no (ean reputation, !ut not +reat in
(athe(atics, and, in that respect, unfit for (" purpose# 5ut it
occurred to (e that a "oun+ and doci%e )exa+on, 7ith a
(athe(atica% turn, 7ou%d !e a (ost suita!%e pupi%# -h"
therefore not (a@e (" first experi(ent 7ith (" %itt%e
precocious ;randson, 7hose casua% re(ar@s on the (eanin+
of three<to<the<third had (et 7ith the approva% of the SphereI
Discussin+ the (atter 7ith hi(, a (ere !o", , shou%d !e in
perfect safet": for he 7ou%d @no7 nothin+ of the
Proc%a(ation of the 'ounci%: 7hereas , cou%d not fee% sure
that (" Sons<<so +reat%" did their patriotis( and reverence
for the 'irc%es predo(inate over (ere !%ind affection<<(i+ht
not fee% co(pe%%ed to hand (e over to the Prefect, if the"
found (e serious%" (aintainin+ the seditious heres" of the
Third Di(ension#
5ut the first thin+ to !e done 7as to satisf" in so(e 7a" the
curiosit" of (" -ife, 7ho natura%%" 7ished to @no7
so(ethin+ of the reasons for 7hich the 'irc%e had desired that
("sterious intervie7, and of the (eans !" 7hich he had
entered the house# -ithout enterin+ into the detai%s of the
e%a!orate account , +ave her,<<an account, , fear, not Duite so
consistent 7ith truth as (" Readers in Space%and (i+ht
desire,<<, (ust !e content 7ith sa"in+ that , succeeded at %ast
in persuadin+ her to return Duite%" to her househo%d duties
7ithout e%icitin+ fro( (e an" reference to the -or%d of Three
Di(ensions# This done, , i((ediate%" sent for (" ;randson:
for, to confess the truth, , fe%t that a%% that , had seen and
heard 7as in so(e stran+e 7a" s%ippin+ a7a" fro( (e, %i@e
the i(a+e of a ha%f<+rasped, tanta%i0in+ drea(, and , %on+ed
to essa" (" s@i%% in (a@in+ a first discip%e#
-hen (" ;randson entered the roo( , carefu%%" secured the
door# Then, sittin+ do7n !" his side and ta@in+ our
(athe(atica% ta!%ets,<<or, as "ou 7ou%d ca%% the(, 9ines<<,
to%d hi( 7e 7ou%d resu(e the %esson of "esterda"# , tau+ht
hi( once (ore ho7 a Point !" (otion in $ne Di(ension
produces a 9ine, and ho7 a strai+ht 9ine in T7o Di(ensions
produces a SDuare# After this, forcin+ a %au+h, , said, AAnd
no7, "ou sca(p, "ou 7anted to (a@e !e%ieve that a SDuare
(a" in the sa(e 7a" !" (otion ?4p7ard, not North7ard?
produce another fi+ure, a sort of extra sDuare in Three
Di(ensions# Sa" that a+ainn, "ou "oun+ rasca%#A
At this (o(ent 7e heard once (ore the hera%d?s A$ "esJ $
"esJA outside in the street proc%ai(in+ the Reso%ution of the
'ounci%# Houn+ thou+h he 7as, (" ;randson<<7ho 7as
unusua%%" inte%%i+ent for his a+e, and !red up in perfect
reverence for the authorit" of the 'irc%es<<too@ in the
situation 7ith an acuteness for 7hich , 7as Duite unprepared#
)e re(ained si%ent ti%% the %ast 7ords of the Proc%a(ation had
died a7a", and then, !urstin+ into tears, ADear ;randpapa,A
he said, Athat 7as on%" (" fun, and of course , (eant nothin+
at a%% !" it: and 7e did not @no7 an"thin+ then a!out the ne7
9a7: and , don?t thin@ , said an"thin+ a!out the Third
Di(ension: and , a( sure , did not sa" one 7ord a!out
?4p7ard, not North7ard,? for that 7ou%d !e such nonsense,
"ou @no7# )o7 cou%d a thin+ (ove 4p7ard, and not
North7ardI 4p7ard and not North7ardJ Even if , 7ere a
!a!", , cou%d not !e so a!surd as that# )o7 si%%" it isJ )aJ haJ
haJA
ANot at a%% si%%",A said ,, %osin+ (" te(per: Ahere for exa(p%e,
, ta@e this SDuare,A and, at the 7ord, , +rasped a (ovea!%e
SDuare, 7hich 7as %"in+ at hand<<Aand , (ove it, "ou see, not
North7ard !ut<<"es, , (ove it 4p7ard<<that is to sa",
North7ard !ut , (ove it so(e7here<<not exact%" %i@e this,
!ut so(eho7 <<A )ere , !rou+ht (" sentence to an inane
conc%usion, sha@in+ the SDuare a!out in a purpose%ess
(anner, (uch to the a(use(ent of (" ;randson, 7ho !urst
out %au+hin+ %ouder than ever, and dec%ared that , 7as not
teachin+ hi(, !ut Fo@in+ 7ith hi(: and so sa"in+ he un%oc@ed
the door and ran out of the roo(# Thus ended (" first atte(pt
to convert a pupi% to the ;ospe% of Three Di(ensions#
Section ((
5o I then tried to diffuse
the -heory of -hree
Dimensions by other means,
and of the result
/H FA,94RE 7ith (" ;randson did not encoura+e (e to
co((unicate (" secret to others of (" househo%d: "et
neither 7as , %ed !" it to despair of success# $n%" , sa7 that ,
(ust not 7ho%%" re%" on the catch<phrase, A4p7ard, not
North7ard,A !ut (ust rather endeavour to see@ a
de(onstration !" settin+ !efore the pu!%ic a c%ear vie7 of the
7ho%e su!Fect: and for this purpose it see(ed necessar" to
resort to 7ritin+#
So , devoted severa% (onths in privac" to the co(position of
a treatise on the ("steries of Three Di(ensions# $n%", 7ith
the vie7 of evadin+ the 9a7, if possi!%e, , spo@e not of a
ph"sica% Di(ension, !ut of a Thou+ht%and 7hence, in theor",
a Fi+ure cou%d %oo@ do7n upon F%at%and and see
si(u%taneous%" the insides of a%% thin+s, and 7here it 7as
possi!%e that there (i+ht !e supposed to exist a Fi+ure
environed, as it 7ere, 7ith six SDuares, and containin+ ei+ht
ter(ina% Points# 5ut in 7ritin+ this !oo@ , found ("se%f sad%"
ha(pered !" the i(possi!i%it" of dra7in+ such dia+ra(s as
7ere necessar" for (" purposeG for of course, in our countr"
of F%at%and, there are no ta!%ets !ut 9ines, and no dia+ra(s
!ut 9ines, a%% in one strai+ht 9ine and on%" distin+uisha!%e !"
difference of si0e and !ri+htness: so that, 7hen , had finished
(" treatise C7hich , entit%ed, AThrou+h F%at%and to
Thou+ht%andAE , cou%d not fee% certain that (an" 7ou%d
understand (" (eanin+#
/ean7hi%e (" 7ife 7as under a c%oud# A%% p%easures pa%%ed
upon (e: a%% si+hts tanta%i0ed and te(pted (e to outspo@e
treason, !ecause , cou%d not co(pare 7hat , sa7 in T7o
Di(ensions 7ith 7hat it rea%%" 7as if seen in Three, and
cou%d hard%" refrain fro( (a@in+ (" co(parisons a%oud# ,
ne+%ected (" c%ients and (" o7n !usiness to +ive ("se%f to
the conte(p%ation of the ("steries 7hich , had once !ehe%d,
"et 7hich , cou%d i(part to no one, and found dai%" (ore
difficu%t to reproduce even !efore (" o7n (enta% vision#
$ne da", a!out e%even (onths after (" return fro(
Space%and, , tried to see a 'u!e 7ith (" e"e c%osed, !ut
fai%ed: and thou+h , succeeded after7ards, , 7as not then
Duite certain Cnor have , !een ever after7ardsE that , had
exact%" rea%i0ed the ori+ina%# This (ade (e (ore (e%ancho%"
than !efore, and deter(ined (e to ta@e so(e step: "et 7hat, ,
@ne7 not# , fe%t that , 7ou%d have !een 7i%%in+ to sacrifice ("
%ife for the 'ause, if there!" , cou%d have produced
conviction# 5ut if , cou%d not convince (" ;randson, ho7
cou%d , convince the hi+hest and (ost deve%oped 'irc%es in
the %andI
And "et at ti(es (" spirit 7as too stron+ for (e, and , +ave
vent to dan+erous utterances# A%read" , 7as considered
heterodox if not treasona!%e, and , 7as @een%" a%ive to the
dan+er of (" position: neverthe%ess , cou%d not at ti(es
refrain fro( !urstin+ out into suspicious or ha%f<seditious
utterances, even a(on+ the hi+hest Po%"+ona% or 'ircu%ar
societ"# -hen, for exa(p%e, the Duestion arose a!out the
treat(ent of those %unatics 7ho said that the" had received
the po7er of seein+ the insides of thin+s, , 7ou%d Duote the
sa"in+ of an ancient 'irc%e, 7ho dec%ared that prophets and
inspired peop%e are a%7a"s considered !" the (aForit" to !e
(ad: and , cou%d not he%p occasiona%%" droppin+ such
expressions as Athe e"e that discerns the interiors of thin+s,A
and Athe a%%<seein+ %andA: once or t7ice , even %et fa%% the
for!idden ter(s Athe Third and Fourth Di(ensions#A At %ast,
to co(p%ete a series of (inor indiscretions, at a (eetin+ of
our 9oca% Specu%ative Societ" he%d at the pa%ace of the
Prefect hi(se%f,<<so(e extre(e%" si%%" person havin+ read an
e%a!orate paper exhi!itin+ the precise reasons 7h"
Providence has %i(ited the nu(!er of Di(ensions to T7o,
and 7h" the attri!ute of o(nividence is assi+ned to the
Supre(e a%one<<, so far for+ot ("se%f as to +ive an exact
account of the 7ho%e of (" vo"a+e 7ith the Sphere into
Space, and to the Asse(!%" )a%% in our /etropo%is, and then
to Space a+ain, and of (" return ho(e, and of ever"thin+ that
, had seen and heard in fact or vision# At first, indeed, ,
pretended that , 7as descri!in+ the i(a+inar" experiences of
a fictitious person: !ut (" enthusias( soon forced (e to
thro7 off a%% dis+uise, and fina%%", in a fervent peroration, ,
exhorted a%% (" hearers to divest the(se%ves of preFudice and
to !eco(e !e%ievers in the Third Di(ension#
Need , sa" that , 7as at once arrested and ta@en !efore the
'ounci%I
Next (ornin+, standin+ in the ver" p%ace 7here !ut a ver"
fe7 (onths a+o the Sphere had stood in (" co(pan", , 7as
a%%o7ed to !e+in and to continue (" narration unDuestioned
and uninterrupted# 5ut fro( the first , foresa7 (" fate: for
the President, notin+ that a +uard of the !etter sort of
Po%ice(en 7as in attendance, of an+u%arit" %itt%e, if at a%%,
under .. de+rees, ordered the( to !e re%ieved !efore , !e+an
(" defence, !" an inferior c%ass of & or * de+rees# , @ne7
on%" too 7e%% 7hat that (eant# , 7as to !e executed or
i(prisoned, and (" stor" 7as to !e @ept secret fro( the
7or%d !" the si(u%taneous destruction of the officia%s 7ho
had heard it: and, this !ein+ the case, the President desired to
su!stitute the cheaper for the (ore expensive victi(s#
After , had conc%uded (" defence, the President, perhaps
perceivin+ that so(e of the Funior 'irc%es had !een (oved !"
evident earnestness, as@ed (e t7o DuestionsG<<
1# -hether , cou%d indicate the direction 7hich , (eant 7hen
, used the 7ords A4p7ard, not North7ardAI
&# -hether , cou%d !" an" dia+ra(s or descriptions Cother
than the enu(eration of i(a+inar" sides and an+%esE indicate
the Fi+ure , 7as p%eased to ca%% a 'u!eI
, dec%ared that , cou%d sa" nothin+ (ore, and that , (ust
co((it ("se%f to the Truth, 7hose cause 7ou%d sure%"
prevai% in the end#
The President rep%ied that he Duite concurred in ("
senti(ent, and that , cou%d not do !etter# , (ust !e sentenced
to perpetua% i(prison(ent: !ut if the Truth intended that ,
shou%d e(er+e fro( prison and evan+e%i0e the 7or%d, the
Truth (i+ht !e trusted to !rin+ that resu%t to pass# /ean7hi%e
, shou%d !e su!Fected to no disco(fort that 7as not necessar"
to prec%ude escape, and, un%ess , forfeited the privi%e+e !"
(isconduct, , shou%d !e occasiona%%" per(itted to see ("
!rother 7ho had preceded (e to (" prison#
Seven "ears have e%apsed and , a( sti%% a prisoner, and<<if ,
except the occasiona% visits of (" !rother<<de!arred fro( a%%
co(panionship save that of (" Fai%ers# /" !rother is one of
the !est of SDuares, Fust sensi!%e, cheerfu%, and not 7ithout
fraterna% affection: "et , confess that (" 7ee@%" intervie7s, at
%east in one respect, cause (e the !itterest pain# )e 7as
present 7hen the Sphere (anifested hi(se%f in the 'ounci%
'ha(!er: he sa7 the Sphere?s chan+in+ sections: he heard the
exp%anation of the pheno(ena then +ive to the 'irc%es# Since
that ti(e, scarce%" a 7ee@ has passed durin+ seven 7ho%e
"ears, 7ithout his hearin+ fro( (e a repetition of the part ,
p%a"ed in that (anifestation, to+ether 7ith a(p%e descriptions
of a%% the pheno(ena in Space%and, and the ar+u(ents for the
existence of So%id thin+s deriva!%e fro( Ana%o+"# Het<<, ta@e
sha(e to !e forced to confess it<<(" !rother has not "et
+rasped the nature of Three Di(ensions, and fran@%" avo7s
his dis!e%ief in the existence of a Sphere#
)ence , a( a!so%ute%" destitute of converts, and, for au+ht
that , can see, the (i%%ennia% Reve%ation has !een (ade to (e
for nothin+# Pro(etheus up in Space%and 7as !ound for
!rin+in+ do7n fire for (orta%s, !ut ,<<poor F%at%and
Pro(etheus<<%ie here in prison for !rin+in+ do7n nothin+ to
(" countr"(en# Het , exist in the hope that these (e(oirs, in
so(e (anner, , @no7 not ho7, (a" find their 7a" to the
(inds of hu(anit" in So(e Di(ension, and (a" stir up a
race of re!e%s 7ho sha%% refuse to !e confined to %i(ited
Di(ensiona%it"#
That is the hope of (" !ri+hter (o(ents# A%as, it is not
a%7a"s so# )eavi%" 7ei+hts on (e at ti(es the !urdenso(e
ref%ection that , cannot honest%" sa" , a( confident as to the
exact shape of the once<seen, oft<re+retted 'u!e: and in ("
ni+ht%" visions the ("sterious precept, A4p7ard, not
North7ard,A haunts (e %i@e a sou%<devourin+ Sphinx# ,t is
part of the (art"rdo( 7hich , endure for the cause of Truth
that there are seasons of (enta% 7ea@ness, 7hen 'u!es and
Spheres f%it a7a" into the !ac@+round of scarce<possi!%e
existences: 7hen the 9and of Three Di(ensions see(s
a%(ost as visionar" as the 9and of $ne or None: na", 7hen
even this hard 7a%% that !ars (e fro( (" freedo(, these ver"
ta!%ets on 7hich , a( 7ritin+, and a%% the su!stantia% rea%ities
of F%at%and itse%f, appear no !etter than the offsprin+ of a
diseased i(a+ination, or the !ase%ess fa!ric of a drea(#