was gained, they not infrequently improved it to the utter destruction of all who had taken part in the attack.  Whichever side were most to blame in the feud, no quarter was given by either.  It was an internecine war of numbers, ignorance, and anarchy against science and order.  On both sides there still remained much of the spirit generated in times when life was less precious than the valour by which alone it could be held, and preserved through milder ages by the belief that death was not annihilation—­enough to give to both parties courage to sacrifice their lives for the victory of their cause and the destruction of their enemies.  But after a few crushing defeats, the Communists were compelled to sue for peace, and to cede a large part of their richest territory.  Driven back into their own chaotic misery, deterred by merciless punishment from further invasion of their neighbours’ dominions, they had leisure to contrast their wretched condition with that of those who prospered under the restored system of private ownership, family interest, strong, orderly, permanent government, material and intellectual civilisation.  Machinery did for the new State, into which the seceding societies were consolidated by the necessity of self-defence, much more than it had done before Communism declared war on it.  The same envy which, if war had been any longer possible, would have urged the Communists again and again to plunder the wealth that contrasted so forcibly their own increasing poverty, now humbled them to admire and covet the means which had produced it.  At last, after bitter intestine struggles, they voluntarily submitted to the rule of their rivals, and entreated the latter to accept them as subjects and pupils.  Thus in the 39th century order and property were once more established throughout the planet.

“But, as I have said, what you call religion had altogether disappeared—­had ceased, at least as an avowed principle, to affect the ideas and conduct of society or of individuals.  The re-establishment of peace and order concentrated men’s energies on the production of material wealth and the achievement of physical comfort and ease.  Looking forward to nothing after death, they could only make the best of the short life permitted to them and do their utmost to lengthen it.  In the assurance of speedy separation, affection became a source of much more anxiety and sorrow than happiness.  All ties being precarious and their endurance short, their force became less and less; till the utmost enjoyment of the longest possible life for himself became the sole, or almost the sole, animating motive, the one paramount interest, of each individual.  The equality which logic had established between the sexes dissolved the family tie.  It was impossible for law to dictate the conditions on which two free and equal individuals should live together, merely because they differed in sex.  All the State could do it did; it insisted on a provision for the children.