Our coming world

by Alfred Charles Michaud

"Because of our system, we don't need homes for the aged, where every day some of the inmates die, and where they talk of death and plan and prepare for it years in advance. We give them a full life. They do not sit around stagnating. They are carefully watched by our medical department. Our aim is to have them live the longest possible time and not get tired of it. Thus, most of them live longer than they would otherwise, and die in harness. Our love and respect for them intensify our desire to have our aged parents, relations, and all others live their full life span. They are no burden to us, and we have nothing to gain by their early death. We are not like some of you on Earth, eagerly looking forward to their demise to inherit their fortune. All soft jobs, as you call them, such as employment bureaus, government and municipal libraries, museums, and other public offices are exclusively directed and staffed by them. These appointments are made on a merit basis only. To the contrary, in your country; so many high and low positions are filled from the ranks of the politically faithful.

"We on Mars are wondering why your government has created what you call the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance, through your Social Security Boards, for your old people; and then provide them with such a small pension. Not only are the old people neglected, it seems to us, but money which could help them is lavishly spent on sumptuous Social Security Board offices staffed by young, and high salaried officials."

By this time my mind was alert. I listened even more carefully as she summed up her argument.

"We know you have many healthy, self-respecting, sagacious old people who would fill all those positions better and, I dare say, more efficiently. At the same time, while thus employed, they would save your Social Security Board a great deal in old age security payments."

We were thus absorbed in our conversation at the pavilion. Now she arose and asked me if I were ready to take a brisk ten mile walk to the center of the city. "We all walk at least five or ten miles a day, rain or shine."

I was surprised. "Don't you find taking such long walks harmful to your feet?"

"Oh, no," she said, "on the contrary, it makes them stronger. It's exhilarating and invigorating to walk and breathe fresh air. We enjoy our walks because our shoes are comfortable and soft inside, and do not deform our feet. They are made to order from lasts of perfect molds of our feet and fit their functional requirements in motion. In fact, with few exceptions, all our garments are and must be soft and loose, so as not to create pressure, or friction to our skin. We believe in plenty of exercise. Our women do not need, or use your corsets and your other body torturing contraptions.

"While we walk, I shall try my best to explain to you the layout of our city. This city, between its east and west rivers, is a little more than twenty-five terrestrial miles wide. Let us call the pathways running east and west, streets, and those running north and south, avenues. They run parallel and at equal distances from each other. All our communities cover equal surface space, a square fifteen hundred by fifteen hundred terrestrial feet or 2,250,000 square feet. All the communities except those adjoining the center oval are bordered into exact squares by hedges, even though the buildings within may be laid out in different shapes, so as to make the entire plan symmetrical and harmonious.

"In the exact center of the city we have a large oval running north and south. This oval is about five miles wide at the center and narrows down at both ends to less than a mile; its full length is twenty miles. The center part is the active spot. I know what you are thinking—factories, office buildings, business houses. Oh, no. A few of our manufacturing plants are across the rivers, but all of them are located on our planet nearest to their natural sources of production, as you already have been told."

We were so intent in our conversation that I was surprised when she told me that we had reached the center. I have seldom on earth covered such a distance in such a short time. I did not feel tired; it was a pleasure to walk on the resilient pavements.