[Footnote 1:  See p. 279.]

The advent of “the fever wind,” which formerly blew disease amongst the people, now conduces to the healthfulness of those it would otherwise lay low.

The lightning, formerly destructive, impelled—­as was told in our legendary lore—­by the anger of the Fire God, is rendered innocuous, and collected for use.[2]

     [Footnote 2:  See Electricity, p. 54.]

The sun’s scorching force is compelled to minister to our delights, to assist in our arts and manufactures, to supply a power which cannot otherwise be obtained, and even to protect us from the sometimes too dangerous influence of his own rays.

The sunlight is powerful in our world beyond anything in your Indian or African climates; even the shades are not black, but of a reddish hue.

The sun, going down, leaves a red light, so that, except when at night this is completely shut out from the houses, there is ordinarily no darkness in your sense of the word.

At certain times, however, Montalluyah, both by day and night, is overspread with thick darkness.  Formerly, during this visitation, no man could see his neighbour; fear seized the people.  They believed it to be the reign of bad spirits, and so it seemed; few dared venture from their houses even to obtain food, and numbers died from terror and exhaustion.

Light is now made to displace darkness, and joyfulness to take the place of mourning.

My scientific men discovered a means by which the causes that produced the darkness are now used to remedy its inconveniences.

The City is made gloriously radiant.  Forms of trees, birds, vases of flowers and fruit, fountains, and other designs of many tints and great beauty are transparent with light, rendered more beautiful by combination with a peculiar electricity emitted by the earth—­an electricity which, be it observed, is the cause of the darkness.

The very birds by their warbling seem to greet the change, and the trees and flowers emit a more delicious perfume.

There is music and rejoicing everywhere in the City.  Many of the electrical amusements provided appear grander from the contrast with the darkness they are made to displace—­a contrast scarcely greater than that depicted by our “Nature Delineators” when, in allegory, they paint the present contrasted with past times; the later years of my reign contrasted with the beginning.

V.

CHARACTER-DIVERS.

Education.

     “Let none but skilful workmen elaborate precious material.”

Think not that the truly great Vyora was but little honoured by being appointed to an office connected with little children.[1]

     [Footnote 1:  Ante, p. 8.]

The character-divers were entrusted by me with grave duties, on the proper discharge of which depended the enduring success of my polity.