The wealthy, now having the reins of power in their own hands, took the initiative and called for a consultation between the heads of the government and the chief leaders of labor.

This proved to be a wise political move and, as a result, a new system of laws relating to all trades and occupations was enacted.  The following conditions still prevail: 

1.  A day’s work consists of one-fourth less hours.

2.  A minimum scale of wages is adopted for each trade.  This scale is based upon the price of certain staple articles, and within a certain limit it rises or falls with the price of these necessities.

3.  All regular citizens must be supplied with work if they desire it.  If they cannot get employment from some firm or corporation, the government officials represented locally must supply it or its equivalent in money.  The government controls enough of the business to employ two-thirds of the male population.  This enables the government to take so great a responsibility and bear it with satisfactory results.

4.  Any man through negligence failing to support his family is put to the government penitentiary service, and his family is thereafter supported from the public treasury.

5.  A widow or orphan is cared for by regular authorities.  The by-laws of this fifth article regulate the work of women.

6.  No credit is allowed except on a government credit-slip signed by the local representative of the state.  If the bill is not paid by the one making the debt, the amount of which is always stipulated, the government will pay it and proceed to collect it in one of three ways.  The last resort is according to article four.

There are several other sections governing private ownership of property, land and business.  These new laws have had a very good effect.  The number of persons getting immensely wealthy gradually decreased, and the average wealth of the laborers increased.  The government has the power at any time to form a trust or combination of any line of business by paying liberally to those already engaged in it.  This assists the government in carrying its heavy financial burdens, and every family is assured of support if the soil produces enough to feed the people.

And now if I knew how to describe elements that have no resemblance to anything in our world, I would proceed to tell a story of interest to chemists.  These Zikites have formed gases and solids unknown to us, and naturally they are capable of performing experiments more wonderful than anything ever known in our world.  When I saw their wizard-like performances I thought that the marvelous feats of the Orient were being performed on a scale more mysterious and magnificent.

To see a man play with red hot irons and dance in a seething furnace, makes one believe that his eyes are deceiving him.