Dosch. “It is better that he should be left to draw his own inferences from our example and teachings, as words of reason will prove futile to disabuse him of his bead ritualism. Possibly, Corycæus may have yielded overmuch to his humor from the obstinacy of the padre’s infatuations.”
Corcyra (wife of Corycæus). “With permission, it would please me to suggest in behalf of our auramental labors with the padre, that we had not the power of controlling him with the privilege of exampled pleadings, so we were obliged to have recourse to stratagem to rescue him from the toils of Fraile Gallagato and his own weakness.”
Padre (gaspingly). “Wa-wa-was—”
Corcyra. “Yes, we always attend our husbands, as our bonds of affection are inseparable, and independent of bodily duality. But you need not be so much alarmed, although we are free to acknowledge that we were greatly shocked to see your kindly nature self-betrayed for its own degradation, in a manner so revolting to our impressions of purity.”
The padre bowed his head to conceal his face, flushed with shameful self-reproaches. The Dosch diverted attention from the padre by introducing Codecio, who proposed to give a synoptical description of the advantages imparted from their system of education, which would be exemplified by a visit to the Heraclean schools.
“In rendering our homage of grateful affection to Inovatus Desiderata for the inestimable boon of an educated power of self-control over the body’s instincts, founded upon unselfish reciprocation, we also with equal fervency correspond with Analogius, his successor, who perfected the founder’s system with the censor’s safeguard.
“The Censor’s duty commences immediately after birth, at the completion of the nurse’s midwife assistance rendered to the mother, as upon her this aid naturally devolves. In no instance has there ever occurred the necessity of man’s intervention with this function, which innate delicacy declares repugnant to modest purity. The censor then in conjunction with the nurse, who remains as a constant guard, directs the parents for the adaptation of affectionate solicitation for the welfare of the child. With constant study the natural inclinations of the child are led and trained for the healthy reciprocation of purity and goodness; also for the recognition of cause and effect in progressive degree sufficient for the enlistment of truthful confidence. But a few generations passed after the censorship was matured by Analogius before the querulous whimperings of infancy had ceased altogether. When at the close of the second year they entered the nursery department of the national schools, the children were as self-capable and independent of aid for the adjustment of dress to their persons as though they had been to the manner born. In like respect their practical appreciation of cleanliness was as actively demonstrated in purity of intention, as with their more experienced elders. Your people have been taught to believe from precedental prejudice, founded upon the selfish arrogance of ancient exemplars, that the word censor signifies an arbitrary agent for the restriction of liberty under the rulings of tyrannical power. But as with the tribunes of Heraclea, who act as censors under the direction of the prætor, our privileges extend in an advisorial capacity through all the gradations of life, from the child to parents, and in their collective capacity, styled the people. As the censor’s vocation is to study and cultivate, for good, the mental and physical capacity of the child from birth, you will readily understand the advantage we obtain for direction in all that pertains to health and the unselfish display of goodness and purity. From the same source in reciprocation our cultivated knowledge obtains a clue to the predilections of instinct for vocations and variations of employment necessary for the supply of food, and the sustaining comforts in currency for the reciprocation of affection. But, above all, we are enabled to perfect the union of the marriage ties by the selection of compatible respondents. You will, however, better comprehend the method of attainment by the rehearsal of our process of education.
“Our Manatitlan System of Education commences at birth, in giving direction to the dawning perceptions of the nursling, that its desires may be toned to its healthy requirements. For the achievement of this important object the exaggerated and inconsiderate fondness of the parents requires the close attention of the nurse and censor, that the material attractions may be strictly adapted for the development of the child’s real necessities, in direction for its future mental and physical welfare. At the age of two years the child is placed in the infantile department of the national school, but still continues under the special care of its nurse and parental censor. When the child reaches the age of five years full matriculation takes place, as with the expiration of the infantile term, self-care as well as self-control have become sufficiently impressed for emulous improvement under the exampled lead of their elders. With the full accomplishment of ten years, the youthful term commences, with an easy initiation into the life sustaining responsibilities of community association. But from the earliest stage the children are familiarized with the pastime labors of vocation. These never assume the repugnant features of tasks, but are adopted as useful amusements, from choice, as compulsion and disciplined correction have no part in our exampled system of education. This electic plan of imitation enables them in after life to render needed assistance in association, without no-vitiation, which would embarrass the continued uniformity of household regulations, rather than aid in their easy dispensation. Within the inclosures, of both the male and female schools, all the appliances required in the pursuits of vocation, and the conduction of domestic affairs, are self-supplied after the first installment of foundation. Indeed, from youthful invention in the school departments we are often indebted for the enhanced comforts of affection. As the mercenary selfishness of morbid craving is unknown, there is an affectionate solicitude with each for the others’ welfare in joyous reciprocation. Our grade distinctions of giantesco, medium, and tit, which are usually determined in the seventeenth year, although in premonition from the age of ten, are those of confiding reliance and mutual aid, in freedom from instinctive envy and arrogance.
“At the age of twenty-three the male graduates from the school inclosure into the active degrees of life’s associate coöperation. In premonition, the connubial censors have studied and kept a record of instinctive traits, and characteristic blendings of affection, of the male and female matriculants, for comparison and the selection of coaptives in the unity of predisposition for the fulfillment of marriage intention. On the morning of the day that accomplishes the full term of school graduation, the man is introduced to his future wife, who has been returned to her parent’s charge for the three month’s probationary test of full compatibility, during which her intended enjoys their hospitality. The adjudged unity of these marriage selections has been so perfect in conception, that there has not been a single instance of misapprehension, or one that failed in fulfilling the complete assimilation of affection for sole representation, independent of attaint from the lustful vagrancy of desire. A day of visitation for each school is set apart for the monthly reunion of parents and children. The happiness imparted in anticipation and realization from these visits exceeds by far the utmost capacity of word description; but once enjoyed they give maturity to conception for the full assurance of an affectionate immortality.
“After your visit to the Heraclean schools, we feel assured that ‘argument’ will not be required to establish the all powerful efficiency of the system in securing affectionate coöperation for the perfection of self-legislation. Your governments for the compulsion of untutored instinct, by arbitrary enactments surprised from the impulsive vagaries begot from excessive indulgence, will then appear self condemned as lunatic monstrosities conjured from and transmitted by hereditary indigestion.”