Part 28 (1/2)
THE MONKEYS.
On the other hand, some of our electric exhibitions produce mirth. For instance, the effect of electricity on the monkeys in Montalluyah--who are very sagacious, having faces white like a human being, and talking like parrots--is ludicrous in the extreme. When engaged in chewing and eating their favourite nuts, they find themselves, in spite of their cunning, raised to a great height, without seeing the man underneath their pedestal, who impels them upwards with antipathetic electricity.
When they are thus in the air, and, in spite of all efforts, unable to descend, their antics are of the drollest kind. They, in turn, threaten and entreat the audience, but are soon rea.s.sured and liberally rewarded for the parts they have played in amusing the public.
Apart from the contemplation of electrical effects, these amus.e.m.e.nts may appear somewhat puerile. It should therefore be observed that our people generally retain to the last an almost child-like freshness of feeling, which renders them keenly susceptible to the most innocent pleasures.
The tragic drama is for us extinct. Towards the middle of my reign, plays based upon crime ceased to be heard with pleasure, as the new generation, trained under the wholesome influence of my laws, could scarcely understand a plot relating to pa.s.sions entirely foreign to their nature. The writers for our theatres, properly so called, have since that period confined themselves to subjects ill.u.s.trative of country life in plain and mountain, and to incidents which, though happening at a distance, are known to occur.
No accidents arise. Our professors are very skilful, knowing the exact quant.i.ties of electricity required for a given time, and at what rate its power will decrease. Electricity in all its variations is thoroughly understood by our electricians.
Electricity, indeed, now forms part of the studies of youth in general, and its leading features form part of the early knowledge taught to both girls and boys.
There are races and public games of all kinds, and, besides the fetes and amus.e.m.e.nts given by private persons, there are b.a.l.l.s and social reunions given by the districts.
Even children have their parties and b.a.l.l.s, to which they are taken from four years of age and upwards. The labouring people, or poor, have theirs. They go to work more cheerfully when they know that amus.e.m.e.nts are to follow, and return to their labours with redoubled energy. They are now contented and happy.
Old people, although allowed to attend the soirees of the young, have parties of their own, to which none who have not pa.s.sed a certain age are admitted.
One day in the week is set apart for amus.e.m.e.nts of all kinds.
To the reunions given by the districts, all who have pa.s.sed a certain age are invited, every seven days, until the age of forty; after forty, once in three weeks; after sixty, once in every six weeks. All who have not pa.s.sed their fortieth year are expected to attend these reunions.
Those who have pa.s.sed forty may attend as often as they please.
INTRODUCTION OF STRANGERS.
Amongst these reunions there are b.a.l.l.s and parties given on certain days in every month, for the introduction of strangers coming from other parts, who are received in a separate room by the Master of the Ceremonies, or, as we say, ”Introducer of Strangers.” Having satisfied himself of the status of the strangers, this officer announces the name of the eldest and conducts him round the great room, where all the company are a.s.sembled, which duty performed, he conducts the guest back to the strangers' room, and then, having returned into the a.s.sembly-room, asks if any one wished to make objection to the stranger's reception. If none is made, the visitor is escorted back and presented to the whole company, and the most distinguished amongst them are expected to take him by the hand and seat him by their side.
This ceremony over, the stranger is allowed to visit every person present at their residences, where he is received with great hospitality.
When, however, in answer to the Introducer's question, any one says, ”I do object to be introduced to that person,” he is required to state his reasons, which the ”Introducer” writes down, and which the objector is required to read and sign.
The ”Introducer” then proceeds to the strangers' room, and says to the proposed guest, ”We find it will not be agreeable to terminate the presentation to-night, so we reserve it for another day,” which is fixed accordingly.
On the following day, the most effective means are taken to test the validity of the objections, and it has been found that the few cases of objection that have been raised have been almost invariably based on error, or on exaggerated trifles, which would scarcely bear a moment's examination.
As a record of every one's career is faithfully kept, we have ready means of making ourselves acquainted with every one's antecedents and, consequently, of testing the validity of the ”objections.”
The objections being removed, the stranger is received with a hearty welcome. When conducted into the a.s.sembly-room, the person who made the objections having been pointed out to him, he is addressed as follows:--”In all this great a.s.sembly, this is the only person who urged anything against you, and we find that all he imagined arose from misconception [or as the case may be]. This we have taken every pains to rectify, and we leave to you to do what may be pleasing to yourself, in order to convince him still more completely of his error; and you have our best wishes that unity, harmony, and peace may exist between you.”
This done, the newly-received guest is seated between the princ.i.p.al personages, and is treated with, if possible, more kindness and consideration than if no objection had been made. In each cla.s.s we follow the same custom, which we find works admirably well. It is peculiarly adapted to our system.
THE ATTRACTING-MACHINE.
I have spoken above of our sympathetic attracting-machine, and I may mention here that by means of certain acids acted on by the sun's rays, a person can be compelled to move even from a great distance towards a given point in the way willed by the operator. It is, however, necessary to discover, first; the particular acids that have most affinity with the person to be attracted. To ascertain these with certainty, there is a little instrument with many separate cells, all communicating by means of its tube with one little ball, and each containing a different acid.