A Few Hours in a Far-Off Age/Chapter 7

by Henrietta Dugdale

CHAPTER VII.

INSENSIBLY my spirit had flown to what these truly noble people call the "Age of Blood." A delicious feeling of rest, safety and trust comes into my aching heart as I find myself return to happier surroundings. And the great pain some memories had brought vanished with my entrance into the alcove facing the case of fashionable simpletons.

Here are two lovely girls, between 16 and 17 years old, expressing their objection to evolution. They are cousins. The mother of one instructs them. Judging by the flashes of indignation in their sweet eyes, and the expression of their truthful mouths, this lady has no easy task.

They are looking at two models labelled "Slaves Civilized and Uncivilized." Of these models one has too much clothing over part of her, and absolutely none over the most delicate portion of her body. She is our benightened, dedizened, bare-shouldered bare-breasted, ball-room simpleton. Too well I recognize you! Years ago I have watched you with my young mind full of wonderment and pity. Thoughtless girl! worse than thoughtless mother! cover yourselves. If your sense of decency is not sufficient, at least, do so for protection of your lungs, and in mercy for the unborn.

The other a beautiful half-caste is rather more naked—but oh, how much more graceful is her form, which has never been distorted by rib-squeezers! and her face so modest with its expression of despairing shame—while she undergoes this cruel exposure at her brutal master's bidding.

One of the students opens the volume of explanations. Her mother is evidently reluctant to give the first instruction, for she says: "Read aloud, my Consuelo."

The girl obeys:—

"Two women decked for sale—the bondwoman compulsorily, the civilized lady voluntarily displaying charms of person for men's purchase."

She can read no further. Her face and throat are crimson with indignation. A tone of mingled pain and sympathy is in her rich voice as site exclaims: "Base and shameful! Oh, dear mother, could such monstrous wrongs have been?" And the other, a grand-looking girl, having eyes promising great power of thought, adds: "My loved and most good aunt, I like not this revolting study—if we are to believe these bestial beings belonged to our species. I do really think they could not have been human. Certainly there is a caricaturing resemblance, but they are not shaped like ourselves."

At these suggestive words Consuelo looks hopefully at her mother, saying: "Ah, yes; might there not have been some mistake made by the old scientists in deciphering the records? Do you really believe we have ascended from such frightful beings?"

Looking very steadfastly at her niece, now at her daughter, she replies:—

"Certainly, my sceptics. No one now doubts evolution. A few thousands of years ago, there yet remained some whose egotism would not allow them even to examine the knowledge. But, in our age, intelligence shines unclouded by that dense ignorance which deferred progress for so great a length of time. In the present, only some unthinking children rebel against the reception of all these grand truths—the accumulation of discoveries, the outcome of brain-work which has continued more than two millions of years. When it is considered how small are the reason, thought and consequent judgment of young minds it is not surprising. I often think we older heads are much too exacting in expecting our dear young students to receive instruction patiently as we impart it."

The girls whose expression had been gradually changing to one of affectionate attention, are about to speak when she continues:—

"No, my birdies, you shall not excuse yourselves for being truthful. You must always give me your opinions, that I may know what knowledge you have attained, and what remains for me to do—though it would conduce more quickly to your improvement if you sometimes reflected before giving them. While entreating you to think, I forget not the immense difficulties so placed before you. I know your powers are yet feeble; but habit strengthens. Never forget the old maxim, 'Think or Sink.'"

'Certain 'tis, one of those two
All human kind must do.'

"Now is spring. By close of autumn we shall have run through all the ages of which we have record. Then we will ascend this marvellous ladder of life, and study each step more closely. By the time we reach our own brightly happy era, both my dear student will acknowledge that there is no degradation, but an indisputable wisdom, in evolution; giving loving confidence in the Infinite, and an elevating assurance of still greater advancement in future ages—towards which we work when we think honestly and act conscientiously. You are inclined to believe the poor creatures in that case not human models, because their forms are unlike our own. This will teach you how balefully lasting is the effect of ignorance. They purposely distorted their bodies from laudable desire to become graceful and beautiful. (The girls glance scornfully at the nineteenth century fashionables.) It was then the custom all over the earth to try and beautify nature by deformity. To effect this, some slit their lips, others elongated the head by pressure, seamed the skin, injured the nose, hung jewels in it, crippled the feet, and much besides! The most civilized changed the natural appearance of the human body by pressing the ribs into the interior, altered the shape of their feet, painted in red and black; and, by attaching metal weights to them, lengthened their ears, as if in deference to some of their four-legged relatives. All this seems highly reprehensible to you, as I read by that unwelcome glance of scorn. Now ask yourselves what would be your own beauty, or that of your children's, if scorn should become a feeling in you—and for whom? For the early beings of our species, who, in crudeness of thought bore all that enervating suffering in daily performance of what they had been taught was their duty! Think, and you will see all these past errors arose from an intuition of a higher state of beauty, and they only acted in accordance with their small understandings. They had not learnt that mind—the mind increasing from era to era—alone can bring the really beautiful. They had little but ignorant vanity to guide them. The unfortunate result of which is this day to raise a falsely happy hope in my dear students that all the wonderful truth we are studying should prove to be a mistake!—Accompany me to the torture department, I will there show you the wretched implement with which those poor women so caricatured the human form."

They move towards another alcove at the extreme end of the gallery. Most womanly women are these! I know not which most to admire—the wisdom, tenderness and benevolence of the instructress, the earnest love and respect of Consuelo, or the resolute, fearless, truth-seeking, affectionate deference of Syra. A noble mind, grandly expressed in her dazzling countenance, has this girl. Though so immature now, she will rule herself and mount in knowledge until she become one of the foremost philosophers of her century. Her words will show many hitherto hidden truths with lightning clearness, and so she will add much new knowledge to the old.

In that coming time, you and I, reader, will recognize Syra Kaido:—and, amidst curiously fading memories, will perhaps wonder where we first heard the name.