Part 10 (1/2)
”I am entranced, Thorwald,” said the doctor, ”with everything I see. But I would like to ask if you own this comfortable carriage and had it sent to the wharf to meet you.”
”I own it,” our friend replied, ”just as I own the street we are riding over or the house I live in. I own this or any other vehicle whenever I desire to use it. You saw a great number of carriages near the wharf, and there are several over on that corner. Anyone is at perfect liberty to appropriate one to his own use at any time, and when he is through he merely leaves it at a convenient place by the roadside for some one else to take.”
”I should think they would be stolen,” said I.
Thorwald laughed at my ignorance and answered: ”Why, who is there to steal when everybody, either friend or stranger, can use them as often and as long as he likes?”
The talk promised to grow more interesting still, but now our attention was turned to the delightful scene through which we were pa.s.sing. It will be utterly impossible to describe the beauty of the landscape, where nature and art seemed to be striving to outdo each other. Before reaching land I had imagined that the houses, if they were to be proportioned to the inhabitants, must pierce the sky. But we were surprised to find that they were all comparatively low, of not more than two or three stories. And all, even those near the wharf, were surrounded with ample grounds. Some of the houses were larger than others, some more ornate than their neighbors, and the architecture varied as much as the size and arrangement of the grounds. But all were beautiful beyond description. One thing that appeared very strange to us was that the prevailing color of the vegetation was red, although that shade did not predominate as much as green does on the earth. For instance, after we had admired a stretch of lawn brilliant as a crimson sky, we would come to another which would surprise and please us with a lovely shade of blue. Still another was green, and then one glowed with a variety of colors, whose combination showed a most refined taste. As with the gra.s.s, so it was with the foliage of the trees. The richest tints of our autumnal forests were here present in permanence, but with a much greater wealth of coloring. Flowers, too, of every hue and form were to be seen on all sides, and their appearance was so perfectly natural that if they had been set with design then the art itself had concealed the art of their arrangement.
With all this ma.s.s of color there were no unpleasant contrasts, no discordant tones. As, amid the bustle of the landing place, our ears had not been shocked with rude noises, so now we received through our eyes only a delightful sense of quiet beauty.
Riding, now slowly and now more rapidly, through such a scene, we could think of nothing better to question our friend about, so the doctor found his voice and said:
”This far surpa.s.ses our antic.i.p.ations, Thorwald, and I am sure this place must be exceptional, even on Mars. I suppose it is a resort where some of your wealthy people have built themselves homes in which to enjoy their leisure months.”
”Nothing of the kind,” replied Thorwald. ”These people live here all the year, they are not wealthy, and there is nothing to distinguish this city above others.”
”Why, this seems more like a private park than a city. Where are your crowded streets and houses for the poor?”
”After all I have told you of our high civilization, Doctor, do you not understand that we have long since abolished poverty?”
”Yes,” answered the doctor, ”I understand that in a general way; but I did not suppose everybody was rich, as it is certain everybody must be to own such palaces as these.”
”You are still wrong,” said Thorwald. ”We have no such distinctions as rich and poor. All our cities are of this character, only there is great variety in the residences and in the way in which the streets and lots are laid out. These places that we are pa.s.sing are inferior to many, but no houses are built that are at all mean or uncomfortable. Indeed, I think we have to-day pa.s.sed some of the poorest that I know of. As to the word city, we use it only as a convenient expression. It really means nothing more than a certain locality, for, as I told you at the beginning of our conversation, we have no need of government of any kind. In some sections one city runs into another, so that the whole country is filled with the beauty and delight of the landscape which you see about you.”
”But,” asked the doctor, ”with the population spread out in this marvelous way, is there room for everybody?”
”Oh, yes,” answered Thorwald. ”All the surface of our planet is brought into use; the waste places are reclaimed, and there is abundant room for all. And now, as this pleasant air and easy motion seem to be agreeable to you, we may as well ride slowly for a while longer.
”In your intercourse with us you will find it is never necessary for us to hurry when, for any good reason, we choose to loiter, and, therefore, if you care to hear me talk, I will take the time to correct another wrong impression you seem to have.
”You spoke, Doctor, about the people owning these houses. No one owns them.”
”Do they belong to the state?” asked the doctor.
”There is no state.”
”Well, this is a curious condition of affairs,” resumed the doctor.
”Here is valuable property belonging to no one and no government to claim it. I should think anyone that happened along could take possession.”
”Now you are right,” said Thorwald. ”That is just the state of the case.
It is with houses and all other property as I told you it was with this carriage. All the right one has to any object is the right to use it.
Everything that has been produced by art and skill is just as free as the bounties of nature, such as air and water and land, which of course no one would ever dream of subjecting to private owners.h.i.+p.”
The doctor winced as he heard Thorwald include land among these free bounties of nature, and the expression of his face did not escape the quick eye of the Martian, who exclaimed:
”So you earth-dwellers are still in the habit of buying and selling land, are you?”