ruck upon a popular theory. He argued that
I belonged to a tribe of creatures that had developed far away in one of
their almost unending forests, and that I was the first of my kind that
had ever ventured so far from home.

"But how did he learn our language?" queried one.

"Any intelligent creature would by nature alone come to our language,"
was the conceited explanation of another.

Another gave a better theory which was at length accepted. He said that
no doubt I belonged to a company that had emigrated long, long ago from
one of the valleys.

After all their pains I satisfied their ruling desire by speaking. They
knew not what to say as I gave them a general description of the world
from which I came.

Purposely I used their most cultured forms of expression. At once I rose
to a high level in their estimation and they gradually accepted my words
as true. With absorbing interest they listened to every syllable and,
when I paused, their questions fell upon me in wild profusion. On my
account the schools were abandoned, all the leading teachers of five
elevations became my astonished auditors, and after every period of
sleep I was confronted by still other classes of specialists, some from
more distant elevations.

Finally, feigning ignorance, I asked where they obtained their
sustenance, as I had not seen one field in cultivation. They told me the
whole history of the toilers in the valley as already recounted, and how
the curtain magnates received their tributes which were sufficient to
feed all the people of the elevations.

"What right," I asked, "has any one to form a monopoly on sunlight or
rain which are free bounties from above?"

"There can be nothing wrong about that," came the positive answer. "Any
man who was wise enough to think of such a splendid system of
valley-covers surely deserves all the benefit that can be secured from
it."

"How did you succeed in getting the people to submit to such a system?"

"It all came by force. At first they were unwilling enough, but we
withdrew their education and kept them isolated. With ignorance you can
conquer any people. Now they are our perfect servants, and in a short
time we need not use the curtains any more. A few masters can control
the whole valley. All we need to give them will be enough to eat, and
the remainder of their products we can send to the elevations."

I was struck with horror at this revolting scheme, and expressed myself
in strong