\"Wehavebeenworkingforsomesixteenhundredyears，devisingbetterandbettergamesforchildren，\"continuedSomel。
Isataghast。\"Devisinggames？\"Iprotested。\"Makingupnewones，youmean？\"
\"Exactly，\"sheanswered。\"Don’tyou？\"
ThenIrememberedthekindergarten，andthe\"material\"
devisedbySignoraMontessori，andguardedlyreplied：\"Tosomeextent。\"Butmostofourgames，Itoldher，wereveryold——camedownfromchildtochild，alongtheages，fromtheremotepast。
\"Andwhatistheireffect？\"sheasked。\"Dotheydevelopthefacultiesyouwishtoencourage？\"
AgainIrememberedtheclaimsmadebytheadvocatesof\"sports，\"
andagainrepliedguardedlythatthatwas，inpart，thetheory。
\"ButdothechildrenLIKEit？\"Iasked。\"Havingthingsmadeupandsetbeforethemthatway？Don’ttheywanttheoldgames？\"
\"Youcanseethechildren，\"sheanswered。\"Areyoursmorecontented——moreinterested——happier？\"
ThenIthought，asintruthIneverhadthoughtbefore，ofthedull，boredchildrenIhadseen，whining;\"WhatcanIdonow？\";
ofthelittlegroupsandgangshangingabout;ofthevalueofsomeonestrongspiritwhopossessedinitiativeandwould\"startsomething\";
ofthechildren’spartiesandtheonerousdutiesoftheolderpeoplesetto\"amusethechildren\";alsoofthattroubledoceanofmisdirectedactivitywecall\"mischief，\"thefoolish，destructive，sometimesevilthingsdonebyunoccupiedchildren。
\"No，\"saidIgrimly。\"Idon’tthinktheyare。\"
TheHerlandchildwasbornnotonlyintoaworldcarefullyprepared，fullofthemostfascinatingmaterialsandopportunitiestolearn，butintothesocietyofplentifulnumbersofteachers，teachersbornandtrained，whosebusinessitwastoaccompanythechildrenalongthat，tous，impossiblething——theroyalroadtolearning。
Therewasnomysteryintheirmethods。Beingadaptedtochildrenitwasatleastcomprehensibletoadults。Ispentmanydayswiththelittleones，sometimeswithEllador，sometimeswithout，andbegantofeelacrushingpityformyownchildhood，andforallothersthatIhadknown。
Thehousesandgardensplannedforbabieshadinthemnothingtohurt——nostairs，nocorners，nosmalllooseobjectstoswallow，nofire——justababies’paradise。Theyweretaught，asrapidlyasfeasible，touseandcontroltheirownbodies，andneverdidI
seesuchsure—footed，steady—handed，clear—headedlittlethings。
Itwasajoytowatcharowoftoddlerslearningtowalk，notonlyonalevelfloor，but，alittlelater，onasortofrubberrailraisedaninchortwoabovethesoftturforheavyrugs，andfallingoffwithshrieksofinfantjoy，torushbacktotheendofthelineandtryagain。Surelywehavenoticedhowchildrenlovetogetuponsomethingandwalkalongit！Butwehaveneverthoughttoprovidethatsimpleandinexhaustibleformofamusementandphysicaleducationfortheyoung。
Watertheyhad，ofcourse，andcouldswimevenbeforetheywalked。IfIfearedatfirsttheeffectsofatoointensivesystemofculture，thatfearwasdissipatedbyseeingthelongsunnydaysofpurephysicalmerrimentandnaturalsleepinwhichtheseheavenlybabiespassedtheirfirstyears。Theyneverknewtheywerebeingeducated。Theydidnotdreamthatinthisassociationofhilariousexperimentandachievementtheywerelayingthefoundationforthatclosebeautifulgroupfeelingintowhichtheygrewsofirmlywiththeyears。Thiswaseducationforcitizenship。
CHAPTER10
TheirReligionsandOurMarriagesIttookmealongtime，asaman，aforeigner，andaspeciesofChristian——Iwasthatasmuchasanything——togetanyclearunderstandingofthereligionofHerland。
Itsdeificationofmotherhoodwasobviousenough;buttherewasfarmoretoitthanthat;or，atleast，thanmyfirstinterpretationofthat。
IthinkitwasonlyasIgrewtoloveElladormorethanI
believedanyonecouldloveanybody，asIgrewfaintlytoappreciateherinnerattitudeandstateofmind，thatIbegantogetsomeglimpsesofthisfaithoftheirs。
WhenIaskedheraboutit，shetriedatfirsttotellme，andthen，seeingmeflounder，askedformoreinformationaboutours。
Shesoonfoundthatwehadmany，thattheyvariedwidely，buthadsomepointsincommon。AclearmethodicalluminousmindhadmyEllador，notonlyreasonable，butswiftlyperceptive。
Shemadeasortofchart，superimposingthedifferentreligionsasIdescribedthem，withapinrunthroughthemall，asitwere;theircommonbasisbeingaDominantPowerorPowers，andsomeSpecialBehavior，mostlytaboos，topleaseorplacate。
Thereweresomecommonfeaturesincertaingroupsofreligions，buttheonealwayspresentwasthisPower，andthethingswhichmustbedoneornotdonebecauseofit。ItwasnothardtotraceourhumanimageryoftheDivineForceupthroughsuccessivestagesofbloodthirsty，sensual，proud，andcruelgodsofearlytimestotheconceptionofaCommonFatherwithitscorollaryofaCommonBrotherhood。
Thispleasedherverymuch，andwhenIexpatiatedontheOmniscience，Omnipotence，Omnipresence，andsoon，ofourGod，andofthelovingkindnesstaughtbyhisSon，shewasmuchimpressed。
ThestoryoftheVirginbirthnaturallydidnotastonishher，butshewasgreatlypuzzledbytheSacrifice，andstillmorebytheDevil，andthetheoryofDamnation。
WheninaninadvertentmomentIsaidthatcertainsectshadbelievedininfantdamnation——andexplainedit——shesatverystillindeed。
\"TheybelievedthatGodwasLove——andWisdom——andPower？\"
\"Yes——allofthat。\"
Hereyesgrewlarge，herfaceghastlypale。
\"AndyetthatsuchaGodcouldputlittlenewbabiestoburn——foreternity？\"Shefellintoasuddenshudderingandleftme，runningswiftlytothenearesttemple。
Everysmallestvillagehaditstemple，andinthosegraciousretreatssatwiseandnoblewomen，quietlybusyatsomeworkoftheirownuntiltheywerewanted，alwaysreadytogivecomfort，light，orhelp，toanyapplicant。
Elladortoldmeafterwardhoweasilythisgriefofherswasassuaged，andseemedashamedofnothavinghelpedherselfoutofit。
\"Yousee，wearenotaccustomedtohorribleideas，\"shesaid，comingbacktomeratherapologetically。\"Wehaven’tany。Andwhenwegetathinglikethatintoourmindsit’slike——oh，likeredpepperinyoureyes。SoIjustrantoher，blindedandalmostscreaming，andshetookitoutsoquickly——soeasily！\"
\"How？\"Iasked，verycurious。
\"`Why，youblessedchild，’shesaid，`you’vegotthewrongideaaltogether。YoudonothavetothinkthatthereeverwassuchaGod——fortherewasn’t。Orsuchahappening——fortherewasn’t。
Noreventhatthishideousfalseideawasbelievedbyanybody。
Butonlythis——thatpeoplewhoareutterlyignorantwillbelieveanything——whichyoucertainlyknewbefore。’\"
\"Anyhow，\"pursuedEllador，\"sheturnedpaleforaminutewhenIfirstsaidit。\"
Thiswasalessontome。Nowonderthiswholenationofwomenwaspeacefulandsweetinexpression——theyhadnohorribleideas。
\"Surelyyouhadsomewhenyoubegan，\"Isuggested。
\"Oh，yes，nodoubt。Butassoonasourreligiongrewtoanyheightatallweleftthemout，ofcourse。\"
Fromthis，asfrommanyotherthings，IgrewtoseewhatI
finallyputinwords。
\"Haveyounorespectforthepast？Forwhatwasthoughtandbelievedbyyourforemothers？\"
\"Why，no，\"shesaid。\"Whyshouldwe？Theyareallgone。
Theyknewlessthanwedo。Ifwearenotbeyondthem，weareunworthyofthem——andunworthyofthechildrenwhomustgobeyondus。\"
Thissetmethinkingingoodearnest。Ihadalwaysimagined——simplyfromhearingitsaid，Isuppose——thatwomenwerebynatureconservative。Yetthesewomen，quiteunassistedbyanymasculinespiritofenterprise，hadignoredtheirpastandbuiltdaringlyforthefuture。
Elladorwatchedmethink。Sheseemedtoknowprettymuchwhatwasgoingoninmymind。
\"It’sbecausewebeganinanewway，Isuppose。Allourfolksweresweptawayatonce，andthen，afterthattimeofdespair，camethosewonderchildren——thefirst。AndthenthewholebreathlesshopeofuswasforTHEIRchildren——iftheyshouldhavethem。Andtheydid！Thentherewastheperiodofprideandtriumphtillwegrewtoonumerous;andafterthat，whenitallcamedowntoonechildapiece，webegantoreallywork——tomakebetterones。\"
\"Buthowdoesthisaccountforsucharadicaldifferenceinyourreligion？\"Ipersisted。
Shesaidshecouldn’ttalkaboutthedifferenceveryintelligently，notbeingfamiliarwithotherreligions，butthattheirsseemedsimpleenough。TheirgreatMotherSpiritwastothemwhattheirownmotherhoodwas——onlymagnifiedbeyondhumanlimits。
Thatmeantthattheyfeltbeneathandbehindthemanupholding，unfailing，serviceablelove——perhapsitwasreallytheaccumulatedmother—loveoftheracetheyfelt——butitwasaPower。
\"Justwhatisyourtheoryofworship？\"Iaskedher。
\"Worship？Whatisthat？\"
Ifounditsingularlydifficulttoexplain。ThisDivineLovewhichtheyfeltsostronglydidnotseemtoaskanythingofthem——\"anymorethanourmothersdo，\"shesaid。
\"Butsurelyyourmothersexpecthonor，reverence，obedience，fromyou。Youhavetodothingsforyourmothers，surely？\"
\"Oh，no，\"sheinsisted，smiling，shakinghersoftbrownhair。
\"WedothingsFROMourmothers——notFORthem。Wedon’thavetodothingsFORthem——theydon’tneedit，youknow。Butwehavetoliveon——splendidly——becauseofthem;andthat’sthewaywefeelaboutGod。\"
Imeditatedagain。IthoughtofthatGodofBattlesofours，thatJealousGod，thatVengeance—is—mineGod。Ithoughtofourworld—nightmare——Hell。
\"Youhavenotheoryofeternalpunishmentthen，Itakeit？\"
Elladorlaughed。Hereyeswereasbrightasstars，andthereweretearsinthem，too。Shewassosorryforme。
\"Howcouldwe？\"sheasked，fairlyenough。\"Wehavenopunishmentsinlife，yousee，sowedon’timaginethemafterdeath。\"
\"HaveyouNOpunishments？Neitherforchildrennorcriminals——
suchmildcriminalsasyouhave？\"Iurged。
\"Doyoupunishapersonforabrokenlegorafever？Wehavepreventivemeasures，andcures;sometimeswehaveto`sendthepatienttobed，’asitwere;butthat’snotapunishment——it’sonlypartofthetreatment，\"sheexplained。
Thenstudyingmypointofviewmoreclosely，sheadded：
\"Yousee，werecognize，inourhumanmotherhood，agreattenderlimitlessupliftingforce——patienceandwisdomandallsubtletyofdelicatemethod。WecreditGod——ourideaofGod——withallthatandmore。Ourmothersarenotangrywithus——whyshouldGodbe？\"
\"DoesGodmeanapersontoyou？\"
Thisshethoughtoveralittle。\"Why——intryingtogetclosetoitinourmindswepersonifytheidea，naturally;butwecertainlydonotassumeaBigWomansomewhere，whoisGod。
WhatwecallGodisaPervadingPower，youknow，anIndwellingSpirit，somethinginsideofusthatwewantmoreof。IsyourGodaBigMan？\"sheaskedinnocently。
\"Why——yes，tomostofus，Ithink。OfcoursewecallitanIndwellingSpiritjustasyoudo，butweinsistthatitisHim，aPerson，andaMan——withwhiskers。\"
\"Whiskers？Ohyes——becauseyouhavethem！OrdoyouwearthembecauseHedoes？\"
\"Onthecontrary，weshavethemoff——becauseitseemscleanerandmorecomfortable。\"
\"DoesHewearclothes——inyouridea，Imean？\"
IwasthinkingoverthepicturesofGodIhadseen——rashadvancesofthedevoutmindofman，representinghisOmnipotentDeityasanoldmaninaflowingrobe，flowinghair，flowingbeard，andinthelightofherperfectlyfrankandinnocentquestionsthisconceptseemedratherunsatisfying。
IexplainedthattheGodoftheChristianworldwasreallytheancientHebrewGod，andthatwehadsimplytakenoverthepatriarchalidea——thatancientonewhichquiteinevitablyclotheditsthoughtofGodwiththeattributesofthepatriarchalruler，thegrandfather。
\"Isee，\"shesaideagerly，afterIhadexplainedthegenesisanddevelopmentofourreligiousideals。\"Theylivedinseparategroups，withamalehead，andhewasprobablyalittle——domineering？\"
\"Nodoubtofthat，\"Iagreed。
\"Andwelivetogetherwithoutany`head，’inthatsense——justourchosenleaders——thatDOESmakeadifference。\"
\"Yourdifferenceisdeeperthanthat，\"Iassuredher。\"Itisinyourcommonmotherhood。Yourchildrengrowupinaworldwhereeverybodylovesthem。Theyfindlifemaderichandhappyforthembythediffusedloveandwisdomofallmothers。SoitiseasyforyoutothinkofGodinthetermsofasimilardiffusedandcompetentlove。Ithinkyouarefarnearerrightthanweare。\"
\"WhatIcannotunderstand，\"shepursuedcarefully，\"isyourpreservationofsuchaveryancientstateofmind。Thispatriarchalideayoutellmeisthousandsofyearsold？\"
\"Ohyes——four，five，sixthousand——everysomany。\"
\"Andyouhavemadewonderfulprogressinthoseyears——inotherthings？\"
\"Wecertainlyhave。Butreligionisdifferent。Yousee，ourreligionscomefrombehindus，andareinitiatedbysomegreatteacherwhoisdead。Heissupposedtohaveknownthewholethingandtaughtit，finally。Allwehavetodoisbelieve——andobey。\"
\"WhowasthegreatHebrewteacher？\"
\"Oh——thereitwasdifferent。TheHebrewreligionisanaccumulationofextremelyancienttraditions，somefarolderthantheirpeople，andgrewbyaccretiondowntheages。Weconsideritinspired——`theWordofGod。’\"
\"Howdoyouknowitis？\"
\"Becauseitsaysso。\"
\"Doesitsaysoinasmanywords？Whowrotethatin？\"
Ibegantotrytorecallsometextthatdidsayso，andcouldnotbringittomind。
\"Apartfromthat，\"shepursued，\"whatIcannotunderstandiswhyyoukeeptheseearlyreligiousideassolong。Youhavechangedallyourothers，haven’tyou？\"
\"Prettygenerally，\"Iagreed。\"Butthiswecall`revealedreligion，’
andthinkitisfinal。Buttellmemoreabouttheselittletemplesofyours，\"Iurged。
\"AndtheseTempleMothersyourunto。\"
Thenshegavemeanextendedlessoninappliedreligion，whichIwillendeavortoconcentrate。
TheydevelopedtheircentraltheoryofaLovingPower，andassumedthatitsrelationtothemwasmotherly——thatitdesiredtheirwelfareandespeciallytheirdevelopment。Theirrelationtoit，similarly，wasfilial，alovingappreciationandagladfulfillmentofitshighpurposes。Then，beingnothingifnotpractical，theysettheirkeenandactivemindstodiscoverthekindofconductexpectedofthem。Thisworkedoutinamostadmirablesystemofethics。
TheprincipleofLovewasuniversallyrecognized——andused。
Patience，gentleness，courtesy，allthatwecall\"goodbreeding，\"
waspartoftheircodeofconduct。Butwheretheywentfarbeyonduswasinthespecialapplicationofreligiousfeelingtoeveryfieldoflife。Theyhadnoritual，nolittlesetofperformancescalled\"divineservice，\"savethosereligiouspageantsIhavespokenof，andthosewereasmucheducationalasreligious，andasmuchsocialaseither。Buttheyhadaclearestablishedconnectionbetweeneverythingtheydid——andGod。Theircleanliness，theirhealth，theirexquisiteorder，therichpeacefulbeautyofthewholeland，thehappinessofthechildren，andabovealltheconstantprogresstheymade——allthiswastheirreligion。
TheyappliedtheirmindstothethoughtofGod，andworkedoutthetheorythatsuchaninnerpowerdemandedoutwardexpression。
TheylivedasifGodwasrealandatworkwithinthem。
Asforthoselittletempleseverywhere——someofthewomenweremoreskilled，moretemperamentallyinclined，inthisdirection，thanothers。These，whatevertheirworkmightbe，gavecertainhourstotheTempleService，whichmeantbeingtherewithalltheirloveandwisdomandtrainedthought，tosmoothoutroughplacesforanyonewhoneededit。Sometimesitwasarealgrief，veryrarelyaquarrel，mostoftenaperplexity;eveninHerlandthehumansoulhaditshoursofdarkness。Butallthroughthecountrytheirbestandwisestwerereadytogivehelp。
Ifthedifficultywasunusuallyprofound，theapplicantwasdirectedtosomeonemorespeciallyexperiencedinthatlineofthought。
Herewasareligionwhichgavetothesearchingmindarationalbasisinlife，theconceptofanimmenseLovingPowerworkingsteadilyoutthroughthem，towardgood。Itgavetothe\"soul\"
thatsenseofcontactwiththeinmostforce，ofperceptionoftheuttermostpurpose，whichwealwayscrave。Itgavetothe\"heart\"
theblessedfeelingofbeingloved，lovedandUNDERSTOOD。Itgaveclear，simple，rationaldirectionsastohowweshouldlive——andwhy。
Andforritualitgavefirstthosetriumphantgroupdemonstrations，whenwithaunionofallthearts，therevivifyingcombinationofgreatmultitudesmovedrhythmicallywithmarchanddance，songandmusic，amongtheirownnoblestproductsandtheopenbeautyoftheirgrovesandhills。Second，itgavethesenumerouslittlecentersofwisdomwheretheleastwisecouldgotothemostwiseandbehelped。
\"Itisbeautiful！\"Icriedenthusiastically。\"Itisthemostpractical，comforting，progressivereligionIeverheardof。YouDO
loveoneanother——youDObearoneanother’sburdens——youDOrealizethatalittlechildisatypeofthekingdomofheaven。YouaremoreChristianthananypeopleIeversaw。But——howaboutdeath？
Andthelifeeverlasting？Whatdoesyourreligionteachabouteternity？\"
\"Nothing，\"saidEllador。\"Whatiseternity？\"
Whatindeed？Itried，forthefirsttimeinmylife，togetarealholdontheidea。
\"Itis——neverstopping。\"
\"Neverstopping？\"Shelookedpuzzled。
\"Yes，life，goingonforever。\"
\"Oh——weseethat，ofcourse。Lifedoesgoonforever，allaboutus。\"
\"ButeternallifegoesonWITHOUTDYING。\"
\"Thesameperson？\"
\"Yes，thesameperson，unending，immortal。\"IwaspleasedtothinkthatIhadsomethingtoteachfromourreligion，whichtheirshadneverpromulgated。
\"Here？\"askedEllador。\"Nevertodie——here？\"Icouldseeherpracticalmindheapingupthepeople，andhurriedlyreassuredher。
\"Ohno，indeed，nothere——hereafter。Wemustdiehere，ofcourse，butthenwe`enterintoeternallife。’Thesoullivesforever。\"
\"Howdoyouknow？\"sheinquired。
\"Iwon’tattempttoproveittoyou，\"Ihastilycontinued。\"Letusassumeittobeso。Howdoesthisideastrikeyou？\"
Againshesmiledatme，thatadorable，dimpling，tender，mischievous，motherlysmileofhers。\"ShallIbequite，quitehonest？\"
\"Youcouldn’tbeanythingelse，\"Isaid，halfgladlyandhalfalittlesorry。Thetransparenthonestyofthesewomenwasanever—endingastonishmenttome。
\"Itseemstomeasingularlyfoolishidea，\"shesaidcalmly。
\"Andiftrue，mostdisagreeable。\"
NowIhadalwaysacceptedthedoctrineofpersonalimmortalityasathingestablished。Theeffortsofinquiringspiritualists，alwaysseekingtowootheirbelovedghostsbackagain，neverseemedtomenecessary。Idon’tsayIhadeverseriouslyandcourageouslydiscussedthesubjectwithmyselfeven;Ihadsimplyassumedittobeafact。AndherewasthegirlIloved，thiscreaturewhosecharacterconstantlyrevealednewheightsandrangesfarbeyondmyown，thissuperwomanofasuperland，sayingshethoughtimmortalityfoolish！Shemeantit，too。
\"WhatdoyouWANTitfor？\"sheasked。
\"HowcanyouNOTwantit！\"Iprotested。\"Doyouwanttogooutlikeacandle？Don’tyouwanttogoonandon——growingand——and——beinghappy，forever？\"
\"Why，no，\"shesaid。\"Idon’tintheleast。Iwantmychild——
andmychild’schild——togoon——andtheywill。Whyshould_I_wantto？\"
\"ButitmeansHeaven！\"Iinsisted。\"PeaceandBeautyandComfortandLove——withGod。\"Ihadneverbeensoeloquentonthesubjectofreligion。ShecouldbehorrifiedatDamnation，andquestionthejusticeofSalvation，butImmortality——thatwassurelyanoblefaith。
\"Why，Van，\"shesaid，holdingoutherhandstome。\"WhyVan——darling！Howsplendidofyoutofeelitsokeenly。That’swhatweallwant，ofcourse——PeaceandBeauty，andComfortandLove——withGod！AndProgresstoo，remember;Growth，alwaysandalways。Thatiswhatourreligionteachesustowantandtoworkfor，andwedo！\"
\"ButthatisHERE，Isaid，\"onlyforthislifeonearth。\"
\"Well？Anddonotyouinyourcountry，withyourbeautifulreligionofloveandservicehaveithere，too——forthislife——onearth？\"
NoneofuswerewillingtotellthewomenofHerlandabouttheevilsofourownbelovedland。Itwasallverywellforustoassumethemtobenecessaryandessential，andtocriticize——
strictlyamongourselves——theirall—too—perfectcivilization，butwhenitcametotellingthemaboutthefailuresandwastesofourown，wenevercouldbringourselvestodoit。
Moreover，wesoughttoavoidtoomuchdiscussion，andtopressthesubjectofourapproachingmarriages。
Jeffwasthedeterminedoneonthisscore。
\"Ofcoursetheyhaven’tanymarriageceremonyorservice，butwecanmakeitasortofQuakerwedding，andhaveitinthetemple——itistheleastwecandoforthem。\"
Itwas。Therewassolittle，afterall，thatwecoulddoforthem。
Herewewere，pennilessguestsandstrangers，withnochanceeventouseourstrengthandcourage——nothingtodefendthemfromorprotectthemagainst。
\"Wecanatleastgivethemournames，\"Jeffinsisted。
Theywereverysweetaboutit，quitewillingtodowhateverweasked，topleaseus。Astothenames，Alima，franksoulthatshewas，askedwhatgooditwoulddo。
Terry，alwaysirritatingher，saiditwasasignofpossession。
\"YouaregoingtobeMrs。Nicholson，\"hesaid。\"Mrs。T。O。
Nicholson。Thatshowseveryonethatyouaremywife。\"
\"Whatisa`wife’exactly？\"shedemanded，adangerousgleaminhereye。
\"Awifeisthewomanwhobelongstoaman，\"hebegan。
ButJefftookitupeagerly：\"Andahusbandisthemanwhobelongstoawoman。Itisbecausewearemonogamous，youknow。Andmarriageistheceremony，civilandreligious，thatjoinsthetwotogether——`untildeathdouspart，’\"
hefinished，lookingatCeliswithunutterabledevotion。
\"Whatmakesusallfeelfoolish，\"Itoldthegirls，\"isthatherewehavenothingtogiveyou——except，ofcourse，ournames。\"
\"Doyourwomenhavenonamesbeforetheyaremarried？\"
Celissuddenlydemanded。
\"Why，yes，\"Jeffexplained。\"Theyhavetheirmaidennames——theirfather’snames，thatis。\"
\"Andwhatbecomesofthem？\"askedAlima。
\"Theychangethemfortheirhusbands’，mydear，\"Terryansweredher。
\"Changethem？Dothehusbandsthentakethewives’`maidennames’？\"
\"Oh，no，\"helaughed。\"Themankeepshisownandgivesittoher，too。\"
\"Thenshejustloseshersandtakesanewone——howunpleasant！
Wewon’tdothat！\"Alimasaiddecidedly。
Terrywasgood—humoredaboutit。\"Idon’tcarewhatyoudoordon’tdosolongaswehavethatweddingprettysoon，\"hesaid，reachingastrongbrownhandafterAlima’s，quiteasbrownandnearlyasstrong。
\"Astogivingusthings——ofcoursewecanseethatyou’dliketo，butwearegladyoucan’t，\"Celiscontinued。\"Yousee，weloveyoujustforyourselves——wewouldn’twantyouto——topayanything。
Isn’titenoughtoknowthatyouarelovedpersonally——andjustasmen？\"
Enoughornot，thatwasthewayweweremarried。Wehadagreattripleweddinginthebiggesttempleofall，anditlookedasifmostofthenationwaspresent。Itwasverysolemnandverybeautiful。Someonehadwrittenanewsongfortheoccasion，noblybeautiful，abouttheNewHopefortheirpeople——theNewTiewithotherlands——BrotherhoodaswellasSisterhood，and，withevidentawe，Fatherhood。
Terrywasalwaysrestiveundertheirtalkoffatherhood。
\"Anybody’dthinkwewereHighPriestsof——ofPhiloprogenitiveness！\"
heprotested。\"ThesewomenthinkofNOTHINGbutchildren，seemstome！
We’llteach’em！\"
Hewassocertainofwhathewasgoingtoteach，andAlimasouncertaininhermoodsofreception，thatJeffandIfearedtheworst。Wetriedtocautionhim——muchgoodthatdid。Thebighandsomefellowdrewhimselfuptohisfullheight，liftedthatgreatchestofhis，andlaughed。
\"Therearethreeseparatemarriages，\"hesaid。\"Iwon’tinterferewithyours——noryouwithmine。\"
Sothegreatdaycame，andthecountlesscrowdsofwomen，andwethreebridegroomswithoutanysupporting\"bestmen，\"oranyothermentobackusup，feltstrangelysmallaswecameforward。
SomelandZavaandMoadinewereonhand;wewerethankfultohavethem，too——theyseemedalmostlikerelatives。
Therewasasplendidprocession，wreathingdances，thenewanthemIspokeof，andthewholegreatplacepulsedwithfeeling——thedeepawe，thesweethope，thewonderingexpectationofanewmiracle。
\"TherehasbeennothinglikethisinthecountrysinceourMotherhoodbegan！\"Somelsaidsoftlytome，whilewewatchedthesymbolicmarches。\"Yousee，itisthedawnofanewera。Youdon’tknowhowmuchyoumeantous。ItisnotonlyFatherhood——thatmarvelousdualparentagetowhichwearestrangers——themiracleofunioninlife—giving——butitisBrotherhood。Youaretherestoftheworld。Youjoinustoourkind——toallthestrangelandsandpeopleswehaveneverseen。Wehopetoknowthem——toloveandhelpthem——andtolearnofthem。Ah！Youcannotknow！\"
ThousandsofvoicesroseinthesoaringclimaxofthatgreatHymnofTheComingLife。BythegreatAltarofMotherhood，withitscrownoffruitandflowers，stoodanewone，crownedaswell。
BeforetheGreatOverMotheroftheLandandherringofHighTempleCounsellors，beforethatvastmultitudeofcalm—
facedmothersandholy—eyedmaidens，cameforwardourownthreechosenones，andwe，threemenaloneinallthatland，joinedhandswiththemandmadeourmarriagevows。
CHAPTER11
OurDifficultiesWesay，\"Marriageisalottery\";also\"MarriagesaremadeinHeaven\"——butthisisnotsowidelyacceptedastheother。
Wehaveawell—foundedtheorythatitisbesttomarry\"inone’sclass，\"andcertainwell—groundedsuspicionsofinternationalmarriages，whichseemtopersistintheinterestsofsocialprogress，ratherthaninthoseofthecontractingparties。
Butnocombinationofalienraces，ofcolor，ofcaste，orcreed，waseversobasicallydifficulttoestablishasthatbetweenus，threemodernAmericanmen，andthesethreewomenofHerland。
Itisallverywelltosaythatweshouldhavebeenfrankaboutitbeforehand。Wehadbeenfrank。Wehaddiscussed——atleastElladorandIhad——theconditionsofTheGreatAdventure，andthoughtthepathwasclearbeforeus。Buttherearesomethingsonetakesforgranted，supposesaremutuallyunderstood，andtowhichbothpartiesmayrepeatedlyreferwithoutevermeaningthesamething。
Thedifferencesintheeducationoftheaveragemanandwomanaregreatenough，butthetroubletheymakeisnotmostlyfortheman;hegenerallycarriesouthisownviewsofthecase。
Thewomanmayhaveimaginedtheconditionsofmarriedlifetobedifferent;butwhatsheimagined，wasignorantof，ormighthavepreferred，didnotseriouslymatter。
Icanseeclearlyandspeakcalmlyaboutthisnow，writingafteralapseofyears，yearsfullofgrowthandeducation，butatthetimeitwasratherhardsleddingforallofus——especiallyforTerry。PoorTerry！Yousee，inanyotherimaginablemarriageamongthepeoplesoftheearth，whetherthewomanwereblack，red，yellow，brown，orwhite;whethershewereignorantoreducated，submissiveorrebellious，shewouldhavebehindherthemarriagetraditionofourgeneralhistory。Thistraditionrelatesthewomantotheman。Hegoesonwithhisbusiness，andsheadaptsherselftohimandtoit。Evenincitizenship，bysomestrangehocus—pocus，thatfactofbirthandgeographywaswavedaside，andthewomanautomaticallyacquiredthenationalityofherhusband。
Well——herewerewe，threealiensinthislandofwomen。Itwassmallinarea，andtheexternaldifferenceswerenotsogreatastoastoundus。Wedidnotyetappreciatethedifferencesbetweentherace—mindofthispeopleandours。
Inthefirstplace，theywerea\"purestock\"oftwothousanduninterruptedyears。Wherewehavesomelongconnectedlinesofthoughtandfeeling，togetherwithawiderangeofdifferences，oftenirreconcilable，thesepeopleweresmoothlyandfirmlyagreedonmostofthebasicprinciplesoftheirlife;andnotonlyagreedinprinciple，butaccustomedforthesesixty—oddgenerationstoactonthoseprinciples。
Thisisonethingwhichwedidnotunderstand——hadmadenoallowancefor。Wheninourpre—maritaldiscussionsoneofthosedeargirlshadsaid：\"Weunderstanditthusandthus，\"or\"Weholdsuchandsuchtobetrue，\"wemen，inourowndeep—seatedconvictionsofthepoweroflove，andoureasyviewsaboutbeliefsandprinciples，fondlyimaginedthatwecouldconvincethemotherwise。Whatweimagined，beforemarriage，didnotmatteranymorethanwhatanaverageinnocentyounggirlimagines。
Wefoundthefactstobedifferent。
Itwasnotthattheydidnotloveus;theydid，deeplyandwarmly。Butthereareyouagain——whattheymeantby\"love\"
andwhatwemeantby\"love\"weresodifferent。
Perhapsitseemsrathercold—bloodedtosay\"we\"and\"they，\"
asifwewerenotseparatecouples，withourseparatejoysandsorrows，butourpositionsasaliensdroveustogetherconstantly。
Thewholestrangeexperiencehadmadeourfriendshipmorecloseandintimatethanitwouldeverhavebecomeinafreeandeasylifetimeamongourownpeople。Also，asmen，withourmasculinetraditionoffarmorethantwothousandyears，wewereaunit，smallbutfirm，againstthisfarlargerunitoffemininetradition。
IthinkIcanmakeclearthepointsofdifferencewithoutatoopainfulexplicitness。Themoreexternaldisagreementwasinthematterof\"thehome，\"andthehousekeepingdutiesandpleasureswe，byinstinctandlongeducation，supposedtobeinherentlyappropriatetowomen。
Iwillgivetwoillustrations，oneawayup，andtheotherawaydown，toshowhowcompletelydisappointedwewereinthisregard。
Forthelowerone，trytoimagineamaleant，comingfromsomestateofexistencewhereantsliveinpairs，endeavoringtosetuphousekeepingwithafemaleantfromahighlydevelopedanthill。Thisfemaleantmightregardhimwithintensepersonalaffection，butherideasofparentageandeconomicmanagementwouldbeonaverydifferentscalefromhis。Now，ofcourse，ifshewasastrayfemaleinacountryofpairingants，hemighthavehadhiswaywithher;butifhewasastraymaleinananthill——！
Forthehigherone，trytoimagineadevotedandimpassionedmantryingtosetuphousekeepingwithaladyangel，arealwings—and—harp—and—haloangel，accustomedtofulfillingdivinemissionsalloverinterstellarspace。Thisangelmightlovethemanwithanaffectionquitebeyondhispowerofreturnorevenofappreciation，butherideasofserviceanddutywouldbeonaverydifferentscalefromhis。Ofcourse，ifshewasastrayangelinacountryofmen，hemighthavehadhiswaywithher;butifhewasastraymanamongangels——！
Terry，athisworst，inablackfuryforwhich，asaman，Imusthavesomesympathy，preferredtheantsimile。MoreofTerryandhisspecialtroubleslater。ItwashardonTerry。
Jeff——well，Jeffalwayshadastreakthatwastoogoodforthisworld！He’sthekindthatwouldhavemadeasaintlypriestinparentagearliertimes。Heacceptedtheangeltheory，swalloweditwhole，triedtoforceitonus——withvaryingeffect。HesoworshippedCelis，andnotonlyCelis，butwhatsherepresented;hehadbecomesodeeplyconvincedofthealmostsupernaturaladvantagesofthiscountryandpeople，thathetookhismedicinelikea——Icannotsay\"likeaman，\"butmoreasifhewasn’tone。
Don’tmisunderstandmeforamoment。DearoldJeffwasnomilksopormolly—coddleeither。Hewasastrong，brave，efficientman，andanexcellentfighterwhenfightingwasnecessary。Buttherewasalwaysthisangelstreakinhim。Itwasratherawonder，Terrybeingsodifferent，thathereallylovedJeffashedid;butithappenssosometimes，inspiteofthedifference——perhapsbecauseofit。
Asforme，Istoodbetween。IwasnosuchgayLotharioasTerry，andnosuchGalahadasJeff。ButforallmylimitationsI
thinkIhadthehabitofusingmybrainsinregardtobehaviorrathermorefrequentlythaneitherofthem。Ihadtousebrain—
powernow，Icantellyou。
Thebigpointatissuebetweenusandourwiveswas，asmayeasilybeimagined，intheverynatureoftherelation。
\"Wives！Don’ttalktomeaboutwives！\"stormedTerry。\"Theydon’tknowwhatthewordmeans。\"
Whichisexactlythefact——theydidn’t。Howcouldthey？Backintheirprehistoricrecordsofpolygamyandslaverytherewerenoidealsofwifehoodasweknowit，andsincethennopossibilityofformingsuch。
\"TheonlythingtheycanthinkofaboutamanisFATHERHOOD！\"
saidTerryinhighscorn。\"FATHERHOOD！\"AsifamanwasalwayswantingtobeaFATHER！\"
Thisalsowascorrect。Theyhadtheirlong，wide，deep，richexperienceofMotherhood，andtheironlyperceptionofthevalueofamalecreatureassuchwasforFatherhood。
Asidefromthat，ofcourse，wasthewholerangeofpersonallove，lovewhichasJeffearnestlyphrasedit\"passeththeloveofwomen！\"Itdid，too。Icangivenoidea——eithernow，afterlongandhappyexperienceofit，orasitseemedthen，inthefirstmeasurelesswonder——ofthebeautyandpowerofthelovetheygaveus。
EvenAlima——whohadamorestormytemperamentthaneitheroftheothers，andwho，heavenknows，hadfarmoreprovocation——
evenAlimawaspatienceandtendernessandwisdompersonifiedtothemansheloved，untilhe——butIhaven’tgottothatyet。
These，asTerryputit，\"allegedorso—calledwives\"ofours，wentrightonwiththeirprofessionasforesters。We，havingnospeciallearnings，hadlongsincequalifiedasassistants。Wehadtodosomething，ifonlytopassthetime，andithadtobework——wecouldn’tbeplayingforever。
Thiskeptusoutofdoorswiththosedeargirls，andmoreorlesstogether——toomuchtogethersometimes。
Thesepeoplehad，itnowbecamecleartous，thehighest，keenest，mostdelicatesenseofpersonalprivacy，butnotthefaintestideaofthatSOLITUDEADEUXwearesofondof。Theyhad，everyoneofthem，the\"tworoomsandabath\"theoryrealized。
Fromearliestchildhoodeachhadaseparatebedroomwithtoiletconveniences，andoneofthemarksofcomingofagewastheadditionofanouterroominwhichtoreceivefriends。
Longsincewehadbeengivenourowntworoomsapiece，andasbeingofadifferentsexandrace，thesewereinaseparatehouse。Itseemedtoberecognizedthatweshouldbreatheeasierifabletofreeourmindsinrealseclusion。
Forfoodweeitherwenttoanyconvenienteating—house，orderedamealbroughtin，ortookitwithustothewoods，alwaysandequallygood。Allthiswehadbecomeusedtoandenjoyed——inourcourtingdays。
Aftermarriagetherearoseinusasomewhatunexpectedurgeoffeelingthatcalledforaseparatehouse;butthisfeelingfoundnoresponseintheheartsofthosefairladies。
\"WeAREalone，dear，\"Elladorexplainedtomewithgentlepatience。\"Wearealoneinthesegreatforests;wemaygoandeatinanylittlesummer—house——justwetwo，orhaveaseparatetableanywhere——orevenhaveaseparatemealinourownrooms。
Howcouldwebealoner？\"
Thiswasallverytrue。Wehadourpleasantmutualsolitudeaboutourwork，andourpleasanteveningtalksintheirapartmentsorours;wehad，asitwere，allthepleasuresofcourtshipcarriedrighton;butwehadnosenseof——perhapsitmaybecalledpossession。
\"Mightaswellnotbemarriedatall，\"growledTerry。\"Theyonlygotupthatceremonytopleaseus——pleaseJeff，mostly。
They’venorealideaofbeingmarried。
ItriedmybesttogetEllador’spointofview，andnaturallyItriedtogivehermine。Ofcourse，whatwe，asmen，wantedtomakethemseewasthattherewereother，andasweproudlysaid\"higher，\"usesinthisrelationthanwhatTerrycalled\"mereparentage。\"
InthehighesttermsIknewItriedtoexplainthistoEllador。
\"Anythinghigherthanformutuallovetohopetogivelife，aswedid？\"shesaid。\"Howisithigher？\"
\"Itdevelopslove，\"Iexplained。\"Allthepowerofbeautifulpermanentmatedlovecomesthroughthishigherdevelopment。\"
\"Areyousure？\"sheaskedgently。\"Howdoyouknowthatitwassodeveloped？Therearesomebirdswholoveeachothersothattheymopeandpineifseparated，andneverpairagainifonedies，buttheynevermateexceptinthematingseason。
Amongyourpeopledoyoufindhighandlastingaffectionappearinginproportiontothisindulgence？\"
Itisaveryawkwardthing，sometimes，tohavealogicalmind。
OfcourseIknewaboutthosemonogamousbirdsandbeaststoo，thatmateforlifeandshoweverysignofmutualaffection，withouteverhavingstretchedthesexrelationshipbeyonditsoriginalrange。Butwhatofit？
\"Thosearelowerformsoflife！\"Iprotested。\"Theyhavenocapacityforfaithfulandaffectionate，andapparentlyhappy——
butoh，mydear！mydear！——whatcantheyknowofsuchaloveasdrawsustogether？Why，totouchyou——tobenearyou——tocomecloserandcloser——tolosemyselfinyou——surelyyoufeelittoo，doyounot？\"
Icamenearer。Iseizedherhands。
Hereyeswereonmine，tenderradiant，butsteadyandstrong。Therewassomethingsopowerful，solargeandchangeless，inthoseeyesthatIcouldnotsweepheroffherfeetbymyownemotionasIhadunconsciouslyassumedwouldbethecase。
Itmademefeelas，onemightimagine，amanmightfeelwholovedagoddess——notaVenus，though！Shedidnotresentmyattitude，didnotrepelit，didnotintheleastfearit，evidently。
Therewasnotashadeofthattimidwithdrawalorprettyresistancewhichareso——provocative。
\"Yousee，dearest，\"shesaid，\"youhavetobepatientwithus。
Wearenotlikethewomenofyourcountry。WeareMothers，andwearePeople，butwehavenotspecializedinthisline。\"
\"We\"and\"we\"and\"we\"——itwassohardtogethertobepersonal。And，asIthoughtthat，IsuddenlyrememberedhowwewerealwayscriticizingOURwomenforBEINGsopersonal。
ThenIdidmyearnestbesttopicturetoherthesweetintensejoyofmarriedlovers，andtheresultinhigherstimulustoallcreativework。
\"Doyoumean，\"sheaskedquitecalmly，asifIwasnotholdinghercoolfirmhandsinmyhotandratherquiveringones，\"thatwithyou，whenpeoplemarry，theygorightondoingthisinseasonandoutofseason，withnothoughtofchildrenatall？\"
\"Theydo，\"Isaid，withsomebitterness。\"Theyarenotmereparents。Theyaremenandwomen，andtheyloveeachother。\"
\"Howlong？\"askedEllador，ratherunexpectedly。
\"Howlong？\"Irepeated，alittledashed。\"Whyaslongastheylive。\"
\"Thereissomethingverybeautifulintheidea，\"sheadmitted，stillasifshewerediscussinglifeonMars。\"Thisclimacticexpression，which，inalltheotherlife—forms，hasbuttheonepurpose，haswithyoubecomespecializedtohigher，purer，nobleruses。Ithas——
Ijudgefromwhatyoutellme——themostennoblingeffectoncharacter。
Peoplemarry，notonlyforparentage，butforthisexquisiteinterchange——and，asaresult，youhaveaworldfullofcontinuouslovers，ardent，happy，mutuallydevoted，alwayslivingonthathightideofsupremeemotionwhichwehadsupposedtobelongonlytooneseasonandoneuse。
Andyousayithasotherresults，stimulatingallhighcreativework。
Thatmustmeanfloods，oceansofsuchwork，blossomingfromthisintensehappinessofeverymarriedpair！Itisabeautifulidea！\"
Shewassilent，thinking。