The next day Paulus with his two visitors walked about the city. He described and explained the many deeply interesting scenes, and answered the numerous questions directed to him. The foreigners did not fail to note the wonderful advances made in the arts and sciences and their practical application to everyday affairs. They had thought their own country not behind in improvements, but here their own were far surpassed.
"We will ride out on the ether-line to one of our schools," remarked Paulus. "You will be pleased with the children."
"This is an improvement on electricity," said their director, as seated in an elegant car, they were carried through the city without noise or jostle. "This line is rather crude yet. I was reading in the newspaper the other day that some very important improvements were shortly to be made. You have noticed, ere this, our method of heating and lighting. Don't you think it is an advancement on the old way?"
"It certainly is, though we use some steam and considerable electricity yet in our country."
"I suppose so—but here we are."
Although nothing in the city was cramped or crowded for room, the place where they now alighted was planned on an unusually large scale. Immense buildings stood upon a large tract of land, planted with trees, grass, and flowers. Here were breathing room and playground. A number of streams of clear water flowed through the grounds, and small ponds were alive with fish and swimming birds. Fountains played, and statues of marble gleamed through the foliage.
"See, what is that?" exclaimed Remand, as he caught sight of a huge, shaggy beast lying under a tree.
"Just a brown bear," said Paulus. "We have some lions and few of the rarest animals on these grounds—but I am forgetting that these scenes must be strange to you. In Poland you have not wholly shaken off the old world and its way. It takes time of course."
"Well," replied Remand, "although the enmity between man and beast is nearly gone, we have not yet adopted bears and lions as pets for our children to play with."
"Well, we have, you perceive."