s compared with the more robust intellect of our
ancestors three hundred years ago. I say nothing of the possible
danger if a Woman should ever surreptitiously learn to read and convey
to her Sex the result of her perusal of a single popular volume; nor of
the possibility that the indiscretion or disobedience of some infant
Male might reveal to a Mother the secrets of the logical dialect. On
the simple ground of the enfeebling of the Male intellect, I rest this
humble appeal to the highest Authorities to reconsider the regulations
of Female education.

PART II: OTHER WORLDS

"O brave new worlds, that have such people in them!"

Section 13. How I had a Vision of Lineland

It was the last day but one of the 1999th year of our era, and the
first day of the Long Vacation. Having amused myself till a late hour
with my favourite recreation of Geometry, I had retired to rest with an
unsolved problem in my mind. In the night I had a dream.

I saw before me a vast multitude of small Straight Lines (which I
naturally assumed to be Women) interspersed with other Beings still
smaller and of the nature of lustrous points--all moving to and fro in
one and the same Straight Line, and, as nearly as I could judge, with
the same velocity.

A noise of confused, multitudinous chirping or twittering issued from
them at intervals as long as they were moving; but sometimes they
ceased from motion, and then all was silence.

Approaching one of the largest of what I thought to be Women, I
accosted her, but received no answer. A second and a third appeal on
my part were equally ineffectual. Losing patience at what appeared to
me intolerable rudeness, I brought my mouth into a position full in
front of her mouth so as to intercept her motion, and loudly repeated
my question, "Woman, what signifies this concourse, and this strange
and confused chirping, and this monotonous motion to and fro in one and
the same Straight Line?"

[Illustration 6]

[ASCII approximation follows]

My view of Lineland

---------
| |
| Myself|
| |
My eye o--------

Women A boy Men The KING Men A boy Women
+ + + + - --- -- -- -- -- (>----<) -- -- -- -- --- - + + + +