*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79536 *** [Illustration: PROFESSOR HENRY OLERICH ] --------------------- THE STORY OF THE WORLD A THOUSAND YEARS HENCE ------- An Interesting Scientific Forecast of The Important Progressive Changes That Will Likely Take Place On Our Earth During The Next Thousand Years BY PROFESSOR HENRY OLERICH Author of “A Cityless and Countryless World,” “Modern Thought,” etc. ------- OLERICH PUBLISHING CO., 2219 Larimore Avenue, Omaha, Nebr. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright 1923 by OLERICH PUBLISHING CO. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE STORY OF THE WORLD A THOUSAND YEARS HENCE --------------------------------------------------------- PREFACE IN this little volume, the Author puts the important science of Sociology in a nutshell. In less than fifteen thousand simple words and nine original illustrations, he tells the whole story of IDEAL CIVILIZATION so _clearly_ that any ordinary reader can easily understand it, and so _completely_ that few if any Readers can mention any important _good_ thing that refined people would want but what is in that ideal Society, and from which practically all our present bad things are eliminated. So far as the Writer is aware, “The Story of the World a Thousand Years Hence” is the most radical book ever written. No other writer has ever proposed so many fundamentally radical changes in Human Society. But there is no danger whatever. All its radicalism is on the side of health, peace, justice, refinement, sane freedom, sound naturalism, universal prosperity and friendly mutuality. It also seems to be the first book ever written which accords to women and children a fair deal in life. It clearly points out how every man, woman and child can live a free, easy, independent, happy life financially, industrially, domestically, socially and parentally. It clearly and definitely presents the first real glimpse of ideal civilization, a real heaven on earth, and is, therefore, the most important message ever delivered to struggling humanity. It serves the important twofold purposes of pleasantly educating the _immature_, and it also serves as a practical guide for harmonious industrial, domestic and parental co-operation on a large scale for the _matured_. As to the truth of these claims, the Author invites the intelligent, open-minded Readers to be the judges, but always on the assumption that it requires intelligent people to run a community or a world harmoniously. HENRY OLERICH, 2219 Larimore Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska. 1923. --------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents CHAPTER I FORETELLING THE FUTURE 9 CHAPTER II EVOLUTION 13 CHAPTER III OUTSIDE OWNERSHIP 15 CHAPTER IV CITYLESS AND COUNTRYLESS 18 CHAPTER V CO-OPERATIVE FARMS 23 CHAPTER VI CO-OPERATIVE MANSIONS 27 CHAPTER VII FLOOR IN MANSIONS 31 CHAPTER VIII COTTAGE SITES 35 CHAPTER IX ADJOINING PARADISES 39 CHAPTER X MOTIVE POWER 41 CHAPTER XI COMING ELECTRICITY 44 CHAPTER XII SOUND NATURALISM 46 CHAPTER XIII VEGETARIANISM 53 CHAPTER XIV HONEST MONEY 56 CHAPTER XV EDUCATION 59 CHAPTER XVI MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE 66 CHAPTER XVII SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS 77 CHAPTER XVIII SELF-GOVERNMENT 79 CHAPTER XIX ALUMINUM BUILDINGS 85 CHAPTER XX PASSING CRAZES 89 CHAPTER XXI SOCIAL UNIT 92 CHAPTER XXII GOOD AND BAD THINGS 96 CHAPTER XXIII IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT 103 CHAPTER XXIV CONCLUSION 116 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE STORY OF THE WORLD A THOUSAND YEARS HENCE --------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER I FORETELLING THE FUTURE IN this unique “Story of the World a Thousand Years Hence,” I shall endeavor to show by simple words and attractive illustrations how our much advanced posterity a thousand years hence will likely think, live, work, play, educate, court, dress, mate, cook, eat, drink, co-operate, raise and train children, build, pave, farm, manufacture, communicate, travel, invent, and do many other things too numerous to mention in a brief forecast of a thousand years. Foretelling the Future from the experiences of the Past is not such a difficult feat for a competent Sociologist as many seem to think. Prevision, looking into the future, is the only way that we can make use of our education. That is what the Astronomer does when he predicts eclipses; the Electrician when he installs a power station; the Housewife when she kneads her dough; the Author when he writes a book; the Farmer when he plows, sows and reaps his field. They all judge the Future by the experiences of the Past. This carefully deduced Forecast is, therefore, not intended as a mere _guess_ or random _prophecy_, but as cautiously formulated deductions drawn from the known Laws of Progress during the Past, and then extended a thousand years into the Future. Interpreting the Future by the Past is thus merely broad GENERALIZATION; a question of intelligent Foresight; a problem of knowing Natural Laws and their general operation. GEOLOGIC CHART (Fig. 1) [Illustration: Cenozoic Man Time Monkey Mesozoic Horse Time Bird Crocodile Frog Fish Bee Paleozoic Snail Time Worm Starfish Coral Sponge Amoeba Moneron Archaean Time This Chart shows a vertical column of stratified, sedimentary rocks twenty miles thick, with which the earth in an average is covered, and which required some 130,000,000 years in forming. ] --------------------------------------------------------- II EVOLUTION IT behooves us to take an optimistic view of human affairs no matter how cruel and discordant they may still seem from a present viewpoint. We are surely marching in the right direction, upward and onward, for every thoughtful observer is aware that we are living in a _Progressive_ World, a world in which we know more today than we did yesterday, and will know more tomorrow than we know today, a world of progressive culture and refinement. We are all aware that the progress of the world in many directions during the last thousand years has been remarkable, and we have every reason to believe, as I shall point out, that the progress of the next thousand years will vastly outstrip that of any previous ten centuries, for progress is itself progressing. As may be seen by the Geologic Chart, Fig. 1, Evolution has already been busy for millions of ages. In the organic world, it began its progressive development in accordance with the Law of the Survival of the Fittest way back of the single cell, and out of it slowly evolved the Plant and Animal Kingdoms with all their multiplicity of Forms and Functions with the present man as the crowning model of physical and mental development so far evolved, and that this Evolution will continue immeasurably further, there can be no doubt. Man as a distinct human being has likely existed and slowly developed in body and mind for more than a million years, so that we are now very much superior to our primitive ape-like ancestors, and posterity will also be vastly superior to our present generation. As the Reader may see by referring to the Geologic Chart, the fossil remains in their ascending scale are approximately indicated where they first successively appeared on Earth. There were no worms when the sponge first appeared, no birds when the fish was the dominant creature, and no Man when the bird first made its appearance. It required millions of ages to produce these progressive changes from the one to the other by the Laws of Slight Variations and the Survival of the Fittest. We must also bear in mind that every creature from the lowest to the highest must possess at least so much _mentality_, so much Mind, whether we call it Instinct or Reason, that it can procure (1) food, (2) some sort of protection and guidance, and (3) reproduce its kind. With less Mentality the species would have to become _extinct_. This shows that Body and Mind of all creatures, including man, work and develop together for their mutual benefit. If there were no Body to feed, guide and reproduce, there would seemingly be no use for Mind. --------------------------------------------------------- III OUTSIDE OWNERSHIP MOST people, even many posing Economists and Sociologists, seem to think that human society is necessarily so complex and so discordant that we can never hope to get it running harmoniously. They say the poor, the criminal, the courtesan, the profiteer, the superstitious, the gambler, the drunkard, the thief, the militarist, the scheming politician, the deceptive diplomat and the stupid, heartless rulers, we have always had and always will have. This erroneous idea, I desire to dispel by showing that the introduction and operation of ideal Civilization is real simple, easy and pleasant when the right persons use the right things in the right way, and the higher the civilization the simpler it becomes, as a result of unity of thought and action. The strife, discord and complexity of human affairs begin when one individual, group or nation strives to get or control something from another individual, group or nation by monopoly, superstition, special privilege or armed force. It is always a question of non-aggressive self-ownership or aggressive _outside_ ownership—liberty or compulsion. The strife and discord resulting from outside ownership creep in like this: The parents want to own and control the child until it is 21. Later the child objects to this outside ownership for it naturally wants to own and control itself. Then the battle between the parents and child begins. In like manner does the teacher claim to own and control the pupil; the minister the church members; the master his chattel slaves; the feudal lord his serfs; the employer his employees; the landlord his tenants; the gods their devotees; the compulsory government its subjects; and lastly but by no means least as the rapidly increasing number of divorces plainly indicates, under the give-and-take marriage regime, the husband claims to partly or wholly own the wife, and the wife the husband, instead of each owning himself or herself. In all such cases, the parties thus owned invariably object to this outside ownership unless the owned are very dull and stupid, and the more intelligent they become, the stronger grows the objection, for in the very nature of things, all self-respecting men, women and children are continually striving for complete SELF-OWNERSHIP instead of some sort of compulsory _outside_ Ownership, and the same is also true of Nations. As civilization advances do we realize more and more that the two great enemies of mankind are Superstition in its various forms, and Outside Ownership, that our beliefs should be founded on demonstrable facts, and that no one is good enough to own and control another; that a home that has a “head” or a “boss” in it is no longer a fit place for an intelligent person to live. We may thus see that reason, justice, liberty and friendly mutuality can easily remove all sociologic strife and discord, if the right persons use the right things in the right way, and how this may be done in a very pleasant and harmonious way forms the interesting story of the following Forecast. The whole problem is thus a question of further Education and Culture. But in order to interpret the future progress correctly, we must always make our predictions in accordance with the fundamental desires and wants for which living creatures are ever striving. In the case of Man, these fundamentals are: That we all naturally desire to be healthy, strong and handsome, to enjoy the widest range of liberty, abundant prosperity, a large store of mentality, congenial sociability, continuous new experiences, interesting discoveries, plenty of leisure for amusement and recreation and mutual freedom to love and be loved. In brief, to live the longest, happiest Life, and that we can do only when we live in harmony with Nature’s Laws which we should all learn to know and obey to the best of our ability, so as to get the most out of life worth living for. Evolve our heaven here on earth. --------------------------------------------------------- IV CITYLESS AND COUNTRYLESS THE World a Thousand Years Hence will be practically a _cityless_ and _countryless_ World. The people, instead of living in crowded, noisy, unhealthy and immoral cities and in lonely, isolated country homes, as we now do, will then live in social groups on large Landed Estates (Modern Paradises), where they are surrounded by beautiful flowers, pure air, fresh water, life-giving vegetation and a host of congenial Co-operators as equal partners, and all have their daily work in, or near their homes. There is no longer valid use for the existence of cities. Formerly when people had to wall themselves in for protection cities were useful, but that time is long past. Briefly stated, each group of refined men, women and children Co-operators lives in a beautiful Co-operative Mansion with public kitchen, dining room, laundry, nurseries, etc. All the members of the group are equal partners and co-operate industrially, domestically and also largely parentally in the way of raising and educating the children. Every man, woman and child worker (and every able-bodied person is a worker), whether married or single, also personally draws his or her own pay checks for the co-operative labor each performs for the Association or Co-partnership, whether that labor be industrial, domestic or exclusively parental. It is not difficult to see that such harmonious co-operation makes every man, woman and child free and independent financially, industrially, socially and parentally, and that each worker under such favorable conditions of industrial and domestic co-operation can easily produce at least $10 worth of wealth in a three-hour workday at pleasant self-employment of his or her own choice. The method of working in Modern Paradise is highly efficient and remarkably productive, but not _rushing_ as we now have it under the profit-grabbing wage-system. Men and women as equal owners work side by side, often as lovers, which turns work into delightful play. Intelligence, freedom, efficiency and universal prosperity are combined in the highest conceivable degree in Modern Paradise as we shall now further explain on the theory that the easy obtainment of material subsistence is the basic principle of human welfare and approximate contentment. CO-OPERATIVE LANDED ESTATE (Modern Paradise) (Fig. 2) [Illustration: This big Farm is crossed in the center by firmly-paved boulevards. The white strips on both sides of the boulevards are each a 1,000 feet wide, for garden, orchard, greenhouse, play-schools, nut-bearing forest, vine-clad trees, etc. It is the nucleus of Ideal Democracy. ] --------------------------------------------------------- V CO-OPERATIVE FARMS THIS large Co-operative Farm (see page 21) on which a group of 500 or more intelligent men, women and children live and work and play as equal partners is four miles square and contains about 10,000 acres of fine land. The big Farm is crossed in the center by firmly paved boulevards. The white strips on both sides of the boulevards are each a 1,000 feet wide for garden, orchard, nut-bearing forest, vine-clad trees and many other useful and artistic things. There is also a very large greenhouse covering acres of fertile land with non-breakable glass. This extensive greenhouse, with its beautiful flowers, rich vegetables and luscious fruit, keeps the summer right near the home, no matter how the snow flies and the wind blows outside. At the boulevard crossing in the center of the big Farm are the four large buildings: The Co-operative Mansion, in which the 500 or more Co-operators live. The Model Factory in which they do their manufacturing. The Universal Warehouse, in which they store their accumulated wealth of farm, garden, factory, orchard, greenhouse, etc. The Hydro-Electric Power Station with which they generate cheap electricity for heating, lighting, cooking, welding, running the factory, automobiles, trucks, tractors, ships and airplanes. As we shall see in future paragraphs, in the not distant future, it is almost certain that we shall discover how to generate abundant electricity automatically without the use of animal, fuel or water powers by the direct SOLAR ENERGY constantly streaming in vast quantities from the Sun to the Earth. CO-OPERATIVE MANSION (Fig. 3) [Illustration: This Co-operative Mansion is built on a new style of architecture. It is 400 feet square on the outside and has a 300-foot open court in the center, which makes every room a _front_ room having large outside windows. In the winter, it is heated with electricity. In the summer it is mechanically cooled and every department is thoroughly ventilated, night and day, winter and summer. ] --------------------------------------------------------- VI CO-OPERATIVE MANSIONS THE particular style of Co-operative Mansion shown on the preceding page is 400 feet square on the outside and has a 300-foot Open Court in the center. It is six stories high and comfortably accommodates about 100 families or 500 men, women and children, besides ample accommodations for visitors. The Mansion may, however, be of any size to accommodate a larger or smaller number of Co-operators. Part of the Co-operative Mansion is designed for public departments, such as a cheerful, public, electric kitchen, a beautiful dining room, an elegant hall or theater for all kinds of plays, concerts, lectures, movies, indoor prize contests, etc.; a large library, laboratory, physical and astronomical apparatus, printing and binding outfits, artistic art and photograph gallery, museum, conservatories, a large department store, various public parlors, billiard hall, ice and roller skating rinks, cold storage, the most convenient laundry ever installed, a first-class restaurant open all day and evening in which members and visitors can get any kind of meal and have it served in any way; have it even brought up in anyone’s private room, but a specially prepared meal in the restaurant always costs much more than a similar meal in the public dining room where many other like meals are served. If two or more want a private meal, they can retire to one of the alcoves in the dining room. Complete mail, water, elevator and phone systems. Sanitarium, public nurseries, kindergartens, instruction halls, public conversation rooms, commercial department and many other conveniences which a progressive Association might from time to time desire. Every member from the youngest to the oldest has also a large private apartment in the Mansion which affords the occupant the most seclusive privacy when desired. The Mansion is heated with electricity in the winter and mechanically cooled in the summer with a thorough system of ventilation, so that the future buildings will have no chimneys; and the apartments may be made as silent as the tomb, when the occupant wants complete quiet. FLOOR IN CO-OPERATIVE MANSION SHOWING PRIVATE APARTMENTS, ETC. (Fig. 4) [Illustration: (A) is the 300-foot open court; (B) private apartments; (C) 10-foot halls; (D) public nurseries; (E) public toilets; (F) self-running elevators; (G) suites of three and five room apartments; (H) large compartment for five roomers. Everybody can thus easily be accommodated in the matter of an individual or family home in the Co-operative Mansion. ] --------------------------------------------------------- VII FLOOR IN MANSIONS ALL the apartments of the Co-operative Mansion are elegantly furnished and equipped with sending and receiving radio sets, private bath and musical instruments, if the occupant desires them, and every man, woman and youth does the cleaning and housekeeping of his or her own apartment which makes for general domestic order and cleanliness. There are janitors for tending to the Public Departments. Every man, woman and child has thus a private apartment at which no one calls personally unless specially invited by the occupant. When the occupants feel socially inclined, they then either go down to the public parlors or other public gatherings or they invite congenial friends to call at their private apartment—their real home. There is also an ample supply of fine spare rooms and other elegant accommodations for visitors and sightseers who are permitted to visit a day or two at intervals. I believe that no habitation has ever before been designed which has so many elevating influences, so many high-class conveniences and such interesting and influential sociability as this unique Co-operative Mansion offers to every one of its inmates whether owner or visitor. As the Reader will notice, every room is really an _outside_ room having at least two large outside windows in it. It is, indeed, designed, built, and operated on the refined principle of complete SELF-OWNERSHIP IN IDEAL DEMOCRACY; on the basis of health, wealth, freedom and happiness. ONE HUNDRED COTTAGE SITES (Fig. 5) [Illustration: This drawing shows how the 500 members _could_ live in 100 family cottages on large residence lots located around a large public square instead of all living in one Co-operative Mansion. (A) is the large square on which the _public_ buildings—store, school, power station, playgrounds, swimming pool, theater, etc.—could be located; (B) boulevards; (C) walks; (D) 100 cottage sites; (E) public parks. The size of the public square would depend on the width of the residence lots. ] --------------------------------------------------------- VIII COTTAGE SITES BY referring to the drawing on page 33, we may see that such a village mode of living and working as equal owning partners could in most respects be immensely superior to that of our present co-operation as employers and employees. It would entirely dispense with the slums, skyscrapers, wage-system, exploiting commercialism, isolated country life, and would very largely, if not entirely, abolish vice and crime, but would fall far short of producing the same degree of efficiency, comforts, conveniences, personal liberty, means of education and congenial sociability of the Co-operative Mansion by a group of refined Co-operators. The 100 family cottages would have to have 100 kitchens, cookstoves, refrigerators; dining rooms, cellars, furnaces, parlors, libraries, etc. In the Co-operative Mansion, there would need to be only one of each of these. More than 100 cooks would have to work and drudge in the 100 kitchens. The cottage life would not only leave women and children as lonely kitchen, laundry and nursery toilers, but would also leave them financially dependent on the income and generosity of the man as now. If the husband dies or spends his income for booze and tobacco or elopes with another woman, the wife and children are usually in a lonely, precarious plight. No intelligent woman should any longer be satisfied with such a lonely, toilsome, precarious method of living and working as the family cottage inevitably imposes on women and children. With domestic co-operation, more than seventy-five of the cottage cooks and housekeepers could enter the fields of productive industries where they could become free and independent by personally drawing their own pay checks as equal partners of the association. This domestic co-operation of the Co-operative Mansion would not only cut the average workday in two, but would also greatly enhance the health, freedom and pleasures of cultured life by working side by side as personal friends or lovers in fine Co-operative Mansions instead of toiling early and late in family cottages and lonely country homes. TWELVE ADJOINING MODERN PARADISES EACH FOUR MILES SQUARE (Fig. 6) [Illustration: The heavy black lines passing through the center of each Paradise represent firmly-paved highways or boulevards. The four black squares at each boulevard crossing represent the four large buildings of each Modern Paradise. ] --------------------------------------------------------- IX ADJOINING PARADISES THE sketch on the foregoing page shows how any number of such Modern Paradises may be harmoniously joined, and that by the addition of every new one, all would derive far-reaching benefits by reason of further division of labor, extension of fine boulevards and by expanding the fields of trade, education, amusements and sociability. The whole country may in time be so blocked off as more and more of the people get ready for that higher and more harmonious life. Instead of having the country platted off into square-mile sections containing 640 acres and surrounded by usually poor dirt roads as we now have it, the Modern Paradisers will have the country divided off into blocks four miles square containing about 10,000 acres, and each crossed in the center by firmly-paved highways. I can visualize with my mind’s eye that long before the close of this Thousand Year Forecast the country will be criss-crossed with firmly-paved highways, beautifully fringed with orchards, gardens, lawns, parks, lakes, playgrounds, fountains, play schools, nut-bearing forest, and at every four-mile boulevard crossing there would be four artistic buildings where tourists, travelers, sight-seers and freighters can dine and lodge at cost of production the same as at home. The world is then run on the basis of mutual SERVICE instead of grasping Profit. When we live a really civilized life, everybody will then be strong, healthy, wealthy, free and happy, and all without resorting to exploitation by profit, interest, rent or taxes. Under such conditions of universal ownership, all the Modern Paradises would naturally vie with each other in the matter of producing the finest and most attractive scenery along their respective boulevards, so that the passers-by would continually see _new_, beautiful scenes as they passed along on foot, vehicles or airplanes. Every Modern Paradise keeps up its own eight miles of boulevards in fine shape. On these firmly-paved highways, electric automobiles, large busses, and convenient trucks of all kinds and sizes best suited for the particular traffic will almost entirely supersede the railroads, street cars and draught animals. Delightful pleasure and valuable information will then naturally result from travel and sight-seeing of all kinds. For a party of congenial friends to tour 10,000 miles in a large electric bus or other automobiles over firmly paved highways, would then be a mere incident of frequent occurrence, or for a couple to honeymoon for a month or two in a fine car when the bride pays her own bills would naturally be a great pleasure to both; for independence means pleasure and power. We may thus see that the present generation has not yet started to really live an intelligent cultured life, and what will it be a little later on when we know how to get our Motive Power for driving autos, trucks and airplanes as well as all other machinery with the direct power that continually comes from the Sun to the Earth in endless quantities. --------------------------------------------------------- X MOTIVE POWER A GLIMPSE over the History of the Past shows that the Motive Power, the mechanical energy, which Man uses at different ages for doing his work, is always a powerful determining factor of advancing Civilization. The Motive Power so far used by Man has been either _muscular_ or purely _mechanical_. The Muscular Power manifests itself when men or animals perform work; the Mechanical, when the steam and gasoline engines, the water wheel, the windmill and the electric current do work. But nowhere seems there to be a _creation_ of power or energy, only a _transformation_, and its original source practically all comes from the Sun, as we see it in the growth of plants, evaporation of moisture, the flow of rivers, the movements of animals, the atmospheric breezes, etc. The Muscular Power of Man or Beast comes from the food they eat, and the solar energy coming from the Sun causes the plant to grow. In like manner, does the steam engine derive its power from the fuel—wood, coal and crude oil—which it uses to heat the water into steam, and this heat is merely liberated _past_ sunbeams that came to the earth millions of ages ago. The same is also true of the gasoline engine. So with the water wheel and the windmill. The Sun evaporates the water into clouds, and later it again falls as rain or snow which feeds the running rivers and drives the water wheel. Again, the Sun heats the air unequally in different localities which causes a breeze, and this wind drives the windmill. All this is only TRANSMUTATION of one kind of Power into other kinds, with the Sun as its ultimate source. The Dynamo is a machine which generates Electricity which may be used for heating, lighting, welding, cooking, running automobiles, factories, trains, trucks, ships, tractors, lawn mowers, airplanes, etc. But the Dynamo merely converts or transforms the energy or power of the engine or water wheel into the rotating Dynamo which generates the electric current from the surrounding air. We may thus see that we are everywhere surrounded by millions of electric Horse Power which we have already discovered to generate at any spot on Earth by rapidly rotating a Dynamo, but to make the Dynamo rotate still requires costly fuel or scarce water power. But by looking over the progress of the Past, we have every reason to believe that some genius will, in the not distant future, stumble on to a method of generating Electric Current in abundance for almost nothing with some Chemico-Electric Generator automatically operated by the endless stream of solar energy which is continually pouring from the Sun to the Earth, day and night, winter and summer. We want to make our Chemico-Electric Generator work automatically in some such way as the green leaf of the growing plant or towering tree make use of the solar energy in organizing and building their tiny or huge bodies out of the soil, water and air with which they are surrounded. --------------------------------------------------------- XI COMING ELECTRICITY ELECTRICITY in some form will, no doubt, be the Motive Power of the future for a long time to come unless some better Force is discovered. At present we have eight great Electric Inventions: The Dynamo, Automobile, Motor, Light, Range, Heater, Storage Battery and the Telephone. Some of these eight will undoubtedly become useless in the future and the remaining ones will be vastly improved, and many important new ones will also undoubtedly come in from time to time. If we succeed (which I think we undoubtedly will do) in inventing the suggested Chemico-Electric Generator which automatically applies the concentrated Solar Energy to machinery the same as the Dynamo and Electric Motor now apply the electric current to machinery, then we will no longer have use for the Dynamo, Electric Motor and Storage Battery Cell. Perhaps a small Chemico-Electric Generator will then always be automatically charged with Electricity by the impinging Solar Energy to the maximum limit to run an automobile, tractor, factory, heating plant or airplane indefinitely, so that an airplane can fly straight up and down and stay up for a day, a week or a month without landing and with a speed of likely more than 500 miles an hour. When the blizzard is coming, two or three hours’ flight toward the Equator will then bring us among the flowers again. Eat breakfast in Chicago at twenty degrees below at 9 a. m., and lunch at noon in Los Angeles, Cal., or St. Augustine, Fla. We will then fly around the Earth in any direction in less than 50 hours, and various colored lights and signals will serve as guides, but when day leisure and amusements are so plentiful, there will be little night work in Modern Paradise. A ship on mid-ocean will continue to receive its Motive Power from the Solar Energy as fast as it uses it without ever landing for fuel. But when the airplane is thus perfected, few if any ships will then remain, and seasickness will be unknown. The Automobile in its various forms and styles for riding, freighting and tractor farming will, no doubt, develop into one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all mechanical inventions. In 1896 there were only four automobiles in the United States. Now (1923) there are over 12,000,000, and in a few years there will likely be more than twice that number, and electricity in some form will undoubtedly be its future Motive Power. Some genius will also, no doubt, soon invent a cheap, durable, reliable TIRE. Then with all the paved highways, the perfected Tire and the self-charging Chemico-Electric Generator, the Automobile will be approximately perfect. All other inventions will also undoubtedly be vastly improved from time to time, and numerous new and better ones will continue to come in as the years pass. But mechanical Progress is not all GAIN. It also brings with it enormous waste, as the old is being superseded by the new as in the case of Motive Power. We have come from the dog kennel to the ox pen, from the ox pen to the livery stable, from the livery stable to the roundhouse, from the roundhouse to the power plant, from the power plant largely to the filling station, and from the filling station, we may at any time in the near future swing to the direct Solar Energy automatically generated perhaps by some Chemico-Electric Generator as I have suggested. --------------------------------------------------------- XII SOUND NATURALISM AS Civilization advances, will Naturalism continue to eliminate all forms of Superstitious Mysticism in the future as it has been doing in the recent past, and this will tend toward _uniformity_ of thought and conduct, for Science, unlike Superstitious Mysticism, is everywhere the same the whole world over. Hence, the more naturalism the more uniformity and harmony of thought and action. Science starts out with the postulate that the Universe (including everything that is as a whole) seems to be an _eternal, everactive, self-operating_ MECHANISM. That the Mind of all animal organisms including that of Man seems to be merely Brain (nervous system) Activity, which slowly evolved in accordance with the Law of the Survival of the Fittest, and apparently only for the sole purpose of guiding, protecting, reproducing and conducing to the welfare and happiness of the _physical_ Organism during its natural life here on Earth, the same as the heart evolved for the purpose of Circulation. That the physical death of all Creatures including that of Man seems to be nothing more or less than an _eternal sleep_ or endless suspension of individual consciousness. But the MIND (brain motion) as well as the ultimate particles of the Body of all animal beings including Man are nevertheless “immortal” in their _disintegrated elements_ of eternal and indestructible Matter, Energy and Motion. In that sense, Mind, whether of Man or other creatures, is as “immortal” as Body. That Nature in her operations seems to be neither wise nor ignorant, kind nor cruel, and seemingly without design or designer. That her Evolutionary Adaptations seem to be the _chance results_ (Fortuitism) of the operation of Natural Law rather than the outcome of _purposive_ adaptation. That this “orderly succession of events,” as we call it, seems to be itself a “chance result” of some endless chain of Cause and Effect. That Nature merely builds, thrills as love or hate, gives birth, kills, burns, ravages and destroys in a certain order which we call Nature’s Law with which we must learn to live in harmony in order to get the most out of life worth living for, for every violation of a natural function is a violation of a natural law, and every violation of a natural law is attended with pain, the very opposite for which all sentient Creatures are continually striving, for the chief aim of life is to live the _longest happiest_ LIFE. We are thus continually seeking to bring into consciousness _pleasurable_ SENSATIONS and keeping out _painful_ ones. Hence, the fundamental ethical standard is, that every act that is conducive to welfare is a _good_ act, and every act that detracts therefrom is a _bad_ act. Every act of all creatures from the lowest to the highest including Man is, therefore, always fundamentally selfish (egoistic) in compliance with SELF-PRESERVATION as the first Law of Nature. The term Altruism is not only a misnomer and confusing, but no world could be run harmoniously on altruistic principles; on principles that we would continually do more for others than for self. All that we need to know on this important point is that our highest _individual_ self-interest can not be attained without _all others_ are equally free, prosperous, intelligent and happy. We have thus partially learned that the pursuit of _self-interest_ results in the general benefit of _society_, and this mutual benefit resulting from promoting self-interest has evolved us into social beings. But we must still go much further. The posing Altruist is naturally a whiner. He wants to be thanked and repaid. The Egoist, on the other hand, says that the Recipient of his favors owes him nothing; that the giver has already received his reward in Pleasurable Sensations by the very act of giving to the needy, which eased the giver’s mind and therefore made the giver as well as the receiver happy, but the Egoist also says that we need justice instead of charity, because charity never goes to the root of the evil. Hence, in the future, everybody will be a firm believer in Evolution and the Mechanistic Theory of Life and Conduct; for a knowledge of Evolution makes one _wise_; it teaches how all things developed by natural Law. A thorough mental grasp of the Mechanistic Theory of Life and Conduct makes one _kind_. It teaches that all creatures including Man are mere living MACHINES operated by ancestral and personal ENVIRONMENT; that we are like musical instruments, as we are played upon so must we respond; that the old menacing theory of “free will” is not supported by a single fact. After we once thoroughly understand that important principle, we treat all creatures kindly, and when we want to change or improve them, either physically or mentally, we seek to change their _environment_, and with that well-adjusted environmental change will come that desired improvement, and not without that. As Mr. Herbert Spencer, the great philosopher, truly says, it is true that we can do as we desire, but we have nothing to say about the coming and going of our desires. They come and go without our bidding in accordance with our _previous make-up_ and our _present environment_. They are the inevitable _antecedents_ that impel the present and the future. No sane person can desire that he would rather be sick than well, poor than prosperous, miserable than happy. AUTHOR’S KITCHENETTE (Fig. 7) [Illustration: This is the Author’s combination kitchen, dining room and bedchamber in his bachelor’s suite of two rooms. In this room, he cooks, dines and sleeps. He also does all his own housekeeping, even his own house cleaning, and his rooms are always as neat, clean and orderly as any parlor; but bachelorhood of either man or woman is very far from being an ideal life. Domestic co-operation on a large scale is the only open road to freedom, economy, leisure, convenience, efficiency and sociability. ] --------------------------------------------------------- XIII VEGETARIANISM IN the future, Man will undoubtedly accustom himself to live exclusively on a vegetarian diet, because it is healthier, cheaper, much cleaner in and about the home and requires no killing, so that the clean, refined and sympathetic man and woman of the future will more and more adopt scientific VEGETARIANISM, living on the simple nutritious foods of grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc., and plenty of pure water at ordinary temperature as a wholesome drink to keep the bowels active and the system clean and vigorous. No Stimulants and Narcotics—opium, liquor, tobacco, tea and coffee as beverages—will be used. Posterity will then not make an opium den and a smoke house of their homes, workshops and public places, and not impair digestion and mar beauty with brain-stealing liquor and cups of deteriorating tea and coffee. There will also be much less cooking, and little or no _frying_, for _boiled_ food is much healthier and also much cleaner in the home than frying it. Much more of the foods will be eaten raw in the future which will go far toward preserving good digestion and sound, beautiful teeth. Many persons, especially children, will likely not come to the table in Modern Paradise for days at a time. They will frequently eat fresh raw fruits, vegetables, melons, nuts, etc., which they take from the garden, orchard and greenhouse whenever they get hungry, winter and summer. We may thus readily surmise that Man will be the only large land animal (perhaps a few large sea animals will likely always remain) on Earth in the future. Increase of population and advancing civilization has already crowded out practically all the _wild_ animals in all the leading countries of the world. In the cities, practically all the _domestic_ animals, except some of the horses, have also disappeared, and now comes the motor car, truck and tractor which rapidly supersede the lonely and much abused horse, and this decrease in the number and kind of animals will undoubtedly continue until Man will be the only large land animal on Earth. With the disappearance of the animals will also come the clearing away of the offensive stables, sties, roosts, pens and pastures, as well as the species of insects and parasites that live on animals and their offal. Think what our city streets would be if there were as many teams on the streets as there are now automobiles on them. Would not the dirt and offensive odor be intolerable? When the leaky and noisy steam and gasoline engines are superseded by electric power, will the streets, driveways and garages also be much cleaner, healthier and quieter. The only animals in my ideal Modern Paradise would be song birds, fowls for eggs and bees for honey. No hay and other feed for animals would have to be raised and no chores to do; only food for Man would then be produced, so that the world would then be much cleaner, healthier, easier, quieter and safer. We may also notice that the general sympathy and regard of Man for the welfare and lives of other creatures has already developed to such an extent that perhaps more than 75 per cent of the people would no longer eat meat, if they personally had to do the killing, especially the killing of the large animals, such as sheep, calves, hogs, deer and cattle, and that sympathy and kindness will continue to develop to such an extent that the hunter, fisher, butcher and hangman will become social outcasts. There is also no doubt, but what we can get better and much cheaper and cleaner substitutes as a diet from the vegetable kingdom than from the animals, as in the case of Mazola, a purely vegetable product made from corn, which is much better and cheaper than the best lard, tallow or even butter; so it will also be with meat, milk, hides, furs, feathers, wool and every other animal product. In time, they will, no doubt, all have better vegetable substitutes than the present animal products are, for there is no element in the animals that is also not first in the vegetable. --------------------------------------------------------- XIV HONEST MONEY THE money of the future will, no doubt, be Labor Checks, which every man, woman and child worker will personally draw for the co-operative labor each performs for the Association or Co-partnership, whether that labor be industrial, domestic or maternal. Such money is the only really _honest_ and convenient money, because it naturally flows into the hands of the men, women and children workers who produce the wealth which the money represents, and the basis of it is LABOR, the very thing which produces all wealth—food, raiment, shelter and luxuries. Small children and disabled persons receive pension money from the Association. Hence, every man, woman and child personally draws his or her own pay checks, and pays his or her own bills for meals, clothes, personal ornaments, etc. These denominational Labor Checks can be issued monthly or quarterly, but children should be paid immediately after the work is done, for they need an immediate stimulus for inducing them to work, when they want money. Anyone that has this _time_ money—minutes, hours, days and weeks, labor checks—can buy in the fine Department Store of the Co-operative Mansion at _cost_, but always for cash, the same as in our post office, and when the clerk in the Department Store receives the money, he or she immediately cancels it, the same as the postmaster cancels postage stamps, and the next payday new money (new labor checks) is issued, and the remuneration for labor is proportional to the distastefulness of the particular kind of labor performed. The harder and the more undesirable the labor the higher the pay, so that all can work where and when they wish; at easy jobs for less pay or at more undesirable jobs for higher pay. This time money—labor checks—could be put up in neat, convenient little booklets, something like postage stamp booklets, so that the different denominations of minutes, hours, days and weeks can be paid out conveniently. No valuable metals will then be stamped into cumbrous coins. In Modern Paradise, children feel proud of supporting themselves at the age of 8 or 10 years. Before that age, children live on _pension_ money issued by the Modern Paradise at large to the mother for the support of the child before the child is born, on the theory that we have all received care, nurture and support during _our_ infancy, and that we in turn should do as much for some other infants no matter whether we are parents or not. We owe that bill to the rising generation, and if we do not pay that bill in a similar manner to other infants and helpless children, we die shirks and slackers. Such a system of Money which always flows into the hands of the men, women and children that produce the wealth is not only honest, cheap and convenient, but also justifies the husband to draw a sigh of great relief that he is once for all rid of paying the bills of his wife and children _personally_, and the wife is even more pleased with the privilege of drawing her own pay checks for the labor she performs instead of begging her pittance from her “hard up” husband, and the children are also joyous for having always a rich, open opportunity to earn in an easy way at any time all the spending money they want instead of trying to beg it from usually poor, reluctant and often abusive parents. As before intimated, begging, whether for money or jobs, is always humiliating to refined men, women and children, and charity never goes to the root of the evil; for charity, even at its best, is only a necessary evil in a discordant world. For righting things, we need JUSTICE. Such a system of money is not only honest, cheap, stable and convenient, but also makes every man, woman and child completely free and independent financially, industrially, domestically, socially and parentally; and any system of money that does not do these desirable things is not a good system of money for an intelligent people. --------------------------------------------------------- XV EDUCATION IN the future, Man will be educated to the highest standard of intelligence and refinement, for all sociologic harmony and efficiency depend on proper education. The essential aims of all real Education and Culture are: (1) to develop a strong, healthy, handsome Body; (2) a sound, active Mind; (3) a skillful Hand, and (4) a noble Character. At birth the Mind of the human infant is a substantial BLANK. It must learn practically everything by _personal_ Education, so that Instinct and Heredity play but an insignificant part in the development of Mind and the formation of Character in Man. If the _personal_ Environment is good, the pupil can not be bad; while the habits and sentiments of all the species of animals below Man are almost entirely due to Instinct and Heredity. But the _physical_ “make-up” of all creatures including Man is almost entirely due to Heredity. Successful Teaching must be _indirect_, and so simple that the pupil, whether young or old, does not realize that he is being taught. It must be conducted on the humane principles of Interest, Kindness and Freedom. Again, we can not hope to develop strong, healthy, handsome Bodies as long as we confine the pupils in schoolrooms, for youth is ever active when left free to the healthful promptings of Nature. Free activity is absolutely essential for the best development of Body and Mind of all ages, but particularly so during childhood and youth. To put pupils in _classes_ where the brightest have to wait for the dullest, like we do in our modern professional schools, can not produce a race of brilliant Thinkers and clever Actors. It puts a brake on genius. Our professional schools also do very little or nothing for the proper development of a skillful Hand, and still less for the formation of a noble Character; and the worst of all is, that to be constantly under the direction and control of professional Teachers stunts initiative and originality in the Pupil. It tends to make the Pupil a mere _imitator_ instead of a brilliant _originator_, and the teacher a haughty commander instead of a kind requester. Hence, in Modern Paradise are no schoolhouses, churches and universities in which pupils, whether young or old, are confined and few if any professional teachers. There, Froebelism and Montessorianism—play lessons—for young and old are carried to their logical conclusion, because there they so charmingly fit in, and form a part of, the sane system of industrialism in the form of domestic and parental Co-operation so harmoniously evolved in Modern Paradise, where everybody is an _incidental_ Teacher and a free, independent student for life. There is no Graduation, which usually diverts further learning and research. For the physical development, there would be the swimming pools, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, athletic games, calisthenics, home-talent stage, instructive rambles, healthful promenades, pleasant dancing and skating intermixed with a healthful amount of self-employed labor as equal partners of the Co-operating group. For the successive stages of Intellectual Education, there are the well-equipped nurseries, kindergarten, playschools for old and young, a splendid library, commercial department, all kinds of mathematical work, reading circles, lyceum, lectures, debates, concerts, works of art, literature, science, philosophy, music, the stage and talking movies that display objects in their natural colors. In the future, movies will be great factors in Education, because they amuse and instruct at the same time. As mere babies, children will also learn how to eat and drink in a clean, healthful way; how to dress themselves and how to help others dress; how to button, hook, tie and pin and how to bathe and swim. In the future, children will wear very simple, comfortable clothes and sometimes none. There would also be every inducement and opportunity to do original research work with the microscope, telescope, spectroscope and work in the laboratory, inventor’s shop as well as many other places, and always with a view to help the child to help itself. For the harmonious development of the Industrial and Domestic Sentiments, there would be the garden, orchard, field, electric kitchen, dining room, cafe, public nurseries, barber shop where men, women and children are served by men and women barbers. Future women will undoubtedly adopt the easy and sanitary method of shingling their hair in some artistic style. In Modern Paradise, children begin to work when they are six or eight years old, at such easy work (which is play to them) as picking berries, fruit, weeding, etc., at piecework. They receive the same pay for the same work as adults do. But they are never asked to work, but they are taught that a certain amount of useful work is honorable and healthful. Children work when they want spending money (labor checks); and they feel proud of supporting themselves at the age of eight or ten for it requires only a little labor for individual support in Modern Paradise. In this useful and practical way, they learn to work, to earn and to handle money, all at the same time in a practical way and at a remarkably young age. The Ethical Sentiments would be evolved by continually living and working in close contact with justice and kind treatment of others by talks on Ethical Topics and by seeing equal justice meted out to every man, woman and child regardless of sex, color, age or nationality. There would be no cadets and scouts to instill militarism, imperialism and gun-patriotism, into the rising generations. In fact, the adults merely live the life which they want the children to imitate and the children unconsciously follow their examples; and they learn all these things as easily and as naturally as they learn to walk and talk. The Parental Phase of Education would be carried on by learning the structure and function of Body and Mind, by giving clean, simple and practical instructions in sex-hygiene and scientific eugenics, and how parents and others can raise and train children to the best advantage and with the least amount of effort. In most cases, parents, especially mothers, are not the best nurses and educators of their own children. As a rule, parents meddle far too much with their babies and older children. Their frequent meddling invariably makes ill-tempered, nervous whiners and cry-babies of their spoiled children. Many parents still often use harsh language toward their children, and some even believe in the old, cruel doctrine “Spare the rod and spoil the child.” It is, therefore, much better for both parents and children to be apart much of the time. The lavishment of too much Paternalism, whether as supposed kindness or harshness, is bound to spoil any child. Give mothers plenty of opportunity for rest, amusement and pleasant work while the babies and older children are in the public nurseries much of the time. When that is well done, babies will then not have to be bottle-fed like millions now have to be. In Modern Paradise, there would then be a complete all-round EDUCATION—a strong, healthy, handsome Body; a sound, active Mind; a clever, industrious Hand, and a noble Personality—all acquired in a free, pleasant way, and at a very young age and without ever confining pupils in dreary schoolrooms and churches compelling them to study in a formal manner dull and largely antiquated books that teach only a very small part of the important, practical affairs of daily life which every child should know, and an immense amount of comparatively useless material which the child seldom or never uses in later life. But until we live and work right, we need the professional schools. It is, however, a pity that we have no better system of Education. In the United States, there are over 20,000,000 school children enrolled. When they are in the schools, they are arbitrarily confined and largely instructed in the ways of learning how to put the value of the _dollar_ above the value of the Man. When they are out of school, they have no jobs. As idlers, they likely loaf and visit questionable resorts which tends to lead to vice and crime. Every child as well as every adult should always have a free, open opportunity for a good job of self-employed labor and receive the full fruit of his or her effort. Any system that does not provide these means is fundamentally defective and can not produce a harmonious world. Such will undoubtedly be the trend of progress in future Education, so that posterity in the not distant future will look upon the present schoolhouse and church as juvenile prisons and the professional Teachers and Ministers as haughty, self-imposed rulers. --------------------------------------------------------- XVI MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE SELF-PRESERVATION, the desire to live the longest, happiest life; NUTRITION, the desire for plenty of good food and other material things; LIBERTY, the desire for the widest range of personal freedom; and REPRODUCTION, the strong desire to love and be loved seem to be the four deepest SENTIMENTS in all animal creatures. Hence, from what has already been said, we can plainly see that future Marriage and Divorce will be very simple and harmonious, based entirely on the important fundamental principle of complete SELF-OWNERSHIP IN IDEAL DEMOCRACY. The History of the Past plainly shows that woman has so far been treated very largely either as a pampered doll, largely kept for the purpose of ministering to the whimsical and passionate wants of the man, or as a domestic and maternal drudge, and such is still largely her lot, and must always remain her subordinate and dependent condition as long as the family-cottage and servant-kept mansion methods of living and working are continued; that long she must expect to remain the dependent subordinate. Nothing but _domestic_ and _parental co-operation_ will really emancipate her, and that the intelligent woman will more and more demand, and the considerate man more and more grant. Marriage and Divorce—human mating—in some form is undoubtedly as old as the human race, likely more than a million years. But like all other human institutions, they progressed from time to time. At first the husband captured his mate. Later suitors purchased her from her father for so many head of cattle or other property. Her consent was then not solicited, so that it was a forced marriage on her part. The present give-and-take Marriage was then not yet practiced. It was then all _take_ by the husband and all _give_ by the wife. Still later the parents largely manipulated the marriage of their children to suit the parents’ whims, and to some extent that is still sometimes the case, but the modern children now usually follow their own choice. Formerly it was also obligatory to have the marriage solemnized by the church. Marriage was then regarded as a holy sacrament and binding for life no matter how discordant it later became. There was then no legal Divorce as now. Later it became optional with the contracting parties to have either the church or the state “tie the knot.” As we all know, it is no longer obligatory to have the Church perform the marriage ceremony. Millions of couples now annually marry without any religious ceremonies, but the State still insists to have the marriage ceremony performed either by a clergyman or by some state official. Under the Common Law, the husband and the wife are supposed to be “one” and the husband who was the lawmaker and physically the stronger claimed to be the “one.” That is a very one-sided and unjust affair. Of recent years, that has been modified to quite an extent; but the woman when she marries still not only drops her own name, but also her economic independence and her social freedom. As a rule, the wife is still the dependent subordinate and is also invariably judged by a different moral standard. The foregoing progressive steps in Marriage and Divorce show that the rapid trend of advancing Civilization is toward the freedom, independence and private judgment of the mating parties, and that freedom and personal judgment of the contracting parties will, no doubt, continue until Marriage and Divorce will be regarded as a mere contract or partnership, like any other contract or partnership, and the mating parties to have the sole say as to when, where and how long that contract shall continue, or when it shall be discontinued. There will then be no interference of parents, church or state in the matters of Marriage and Divorce, for no one knows as well as the mated parties whether the conjugal partnership shall continue or be terminated. Hence, they should be the sole judges in these vital matters. Again, we all know that motherhood involves much more danger, worry, responsibility and care in the matter of giving birth and nurture to offspring than fatherhood does, and for that reason should woman have the just right to enjoy _all_ the Rights and Privileges that the man enjoys and ONE MORE. That _one more_ is, that _she_ and not _he_ be accorded the initial step in the important function of parenthood; that she be the solicitor in love affairs, the principal director of her child in so far as she desires that, and that the child bear _her_ name instead of the _father’s_. Rights and privileges should be commensurate with dangers, burdens and responsibilities. When every marriageable boy and girl, man and woman, inherits a fine home, a life-long $10-a-day job as equal partner, and is thoroughly educated on all practical affairs of life, including sex-hygiene and scientific eugenics as well as in the best methods of raising and training children, like young and old in the future will be, no harm can then result from leaving all questions of Marriage and Divorce to the best judgment of the mating parties, whether young or old. No conjugal evil can then befall anyone, and motherhood will then for the first time in the history of the human race stand elevated to its proper dignity, freedom and independence. When free and independent woman is accorded the initial step in courtship and parenthood, there will then be few if any unwelcomed children born and the present deteriorating sexual excesses both in and out of wedlock will then, no doubt, be gradually normalized. This will also do away with the danger, support and worry of millions of parents over their grown-up boys and girls in keeping them on the present conventional course of shiftless life. Millions of parents now frequently lie awake nights thinking where is my boy and still more so where is my girl. Will their conduct bring ruin and disgrace on me and them. In the future, all this parental worry, strife and support will be practically eliminated by leaving all questions of Marriage and Divorce solely to the best judgment of the home-owning and highly educated and refined mating parties, whether young or old. “Moral Squads” and meddling Chaperons will then no longer be necessary. Under the give-and-take marriage regime, millions of husbands and wives are practically cloistered nuns and monks, when their mates are absent on visits or business. That makes life to both lonely, dependent and burdensome. Complete self-ownership at all times is the only remedy for this wide-spread evil. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Rev. Thomas Robert Malthus, an English political economist, frightened the world with his ideas of _overpopulation_. He advocated that Population increases faster than the means of subsistence can be increased; and that by this ever-increasing Population wide-spread famine and wholesale death will in time be produced. For some time, many believed his reasoning, and some careless thinkers still believe it. But, in reality, everything now seems to point the other way. We can readily see that in order to prevent the present Population of the world from decreasing, every fertile adult female has to give birth, in an average, of at least three or more children. Two children must be born to every couple to supplant the two parents, and quite a number more, because many children die before they become adults. We must also bear in mind that quite an increasing per cent of the intelligent females as well as the males already refuse to marry under our present distressing conditions of living and working. Other females and males are naturally barren, and still many others that do not want children resort to birth control. Then there are at present some 10,000,000 more females in the world than males. Under our present monogamous marriage regime, these 10,000,000 excess females can not become mothers unless they become intimate with some other woman’s husband. From all this, we can plainly see that all the fertile females that have mates have to average three or more children in order to prevent race suicide. Will the refined women of the future who are free and independent and who know all about birth control do that unless motherhood is elevated to the very highest standard? On the point of national population, I may suggest that the population of a number of the leading Nations is already decreasing instead of increasing. Among these decreasing Nations may be mentioned France, England, Germany, Russia, Greece and others. Even in the United States, the birth rate of 1922 was nearly two less per 1,000 than it was in 1921. In view of these facts, there seems to be much more probability for race suicide than for the Malthusian scarecrow of starvation by over-population. But after motherhood receives the proper dignity, care and assistance by sane domestic co-operation, will the healthy, strong, sturdy women of the future, no doubt, see to it that the proper number of babies are born, no more, no less. The “naughty” marriage and divorce problem will then be completely settled, and all without sensational gossip and spectacular scandal. The Reader may thus see that a good system of Money, Education, Marriage and Divorce, etc., can not come in without an all-round sane method of Thinking, Living and Working. They must evolve together, and all this depends on the intelligence and refinement of the people. Human Institutions are invariably about as good as the contemporaries of any age can appreciate them. In our present competitive system of thinking, living and working, we still invariably offer the premium on the bad instead of the good. The lawyer is interested in having the people quarrel and fight, the doctor in disease and accidents; the dentist in decaying teeth; the insurance agent in having houses burn; the minister, priest and rabbi in keeping the people superstitious; the militarist in war; some wives to have the husband die to get the big insurance. In Modern Paradise all this is just the opposite. There the premiums naturally goes to the GOOD instead of the BAD. We may thus see that refined posterity will discard practically all our present institutions, habits and customs, no matter how sacred we now regard them, but for every OLD one they discard, they will substitute a much better NEW one. AUTHOR’S HOME STUDY (Fig. 8) [Illustration: In this Study the Author does his literary, artistic, scientific and research work, and entertains his friends and callers. It is one of the two rooms of his bachelor’s suite, 2219 Larimore Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska, in which many of the big world problems are frequently discussed and put to writing. ] --------------------------------------------------------- XVII SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS IT is a well-known fact that Sports and Amusements change and shift with the age of the individual and also with the development and culture of the race. The babe wants different Amusement than the adult, and the savage different than the civilized. In Modern Paradise will be all kinds of interesting as well as useful sports, games, amusements and recreations. Everybody will there have abundant leisure, money, liberty and a wide circle of congenial associates. Outdoor sports and amusements would include motoring and bicycle riding, airplaning, skating, swimming, field games, numerous athletic and gymnastic exercises, also many walks and long promenades to keep the feet and legs in vigorous condition, so that the Modern Paradisers will not always ride in cars or fly in airplanes. There would be no end to the variety and scope of indoor sports, games, play-lessons and other interesting and useful amusements. In the grand hall, theater and ballroom would frequently be concerts, dancing, debates, lectures, round-table meetings, cards, reading circles, home-talent and other plays, wonderful movies, scientific and educational experiments, exhibitions of new inventions and discoveries as well as countless new diversions which yield pleasure and useful information. There would also be frequent prize contests—Olympic games. To stimulate ambition and make life useful and happy, prizes could be awarded for such accomplishments as being the best inventor, the most useful discoverer, the best designer and illustrator, the neatest housekeeper, the neatest and most comfortable and artistic male and female dresser; to the daintiest cook, the cleverest dining room manager, the speediest restaurant worker, the most industrious child and adult, the leading artist, musician, athlete, gymnast, reader, writer, humorist, promoter, typist, stenographer, vocalist, the most charming conversationalist, as well as many other worthy accomplishments; in fact, life in Modern Paradise would be little else than a continuous thrill of health and happiness. With sane sports, games, amusements and recreation, it is the same as with all other human affairs. Nature builds and operates on the plan of endless _variety_. Everywhere we meet with a wilderness of _diversity_ in one grand _unity_, so that everywhere “variety is the spice of life,” and the higher the civilization and refinement the stronger is this inborn urge for new and varied experiences. In order to realize the variety to the fullest extent, we travel for new scenery, visit with new associates, read new books, make new styles of dress, raise new varieties of crops, build new homes, make new constitutions and new ethics. In time we outgrow our homes, our clothes, our vehicles, our food, our furniture, amusements and even our associates, so that every progressive man, woman and child is ever consciously or unconsciously on the alert for _new_ varieties of life’s activities. The _old_ and frequently experienced naturally, in time, becomes commonplace, and that seems to apply, in general, to companions and love as well as to other matters of human well-being. That inherent urge for variety is also one of the two deep-seated causes for the rapid increase of divorces whether we like it or not. The other fundamental cause is the discordant outside ownership of the give-and-take marriage regime. The only remedy is self-ownership instead of outside ownership. --------------------------------------------------------- XVIII SELF-GOVERNMENT THE Government of Modern Paradise is practically the same as that of a refined family, only larger. State and national boundaries become obsolete as race and national prejudices die out by advancing civilization, as we already notice between the States of the United States where we travel across the continent from one State into another without paying any attention to State Lines. The same will also, no doubt, become true in time of the _national_ boundary lines. As Man becomes really civilized, and the population sanely distributed in co-operating groups over the country, all the armies, navies, police forces, diplomats, rulers, politicians, officials and chaperons of the world will be disbanded and shifted more and more into fields of useful production instead of brutal destruction and discordant meddling as now. No guns and weapons of war of any kind will then be manufactured and sold, and the present _compulsory_ laws will undoubtedly be superseded by refined SELF-GOVERNMENT; government which emanates from _within outward_; instead of from _without inward_; a government which regards the rights and wishes of the _non-invasive_ INDIVIDUAL _superior_ to the dictates of SOCIETY; for we can not have a good Society before we have good Individuals to compose it, so that every restriction and constraint placed on non-invasive—harmless—individuals is an impediment to their fullest development and, therefore, a retarding brake on social Progress. As the Modern Paradisers are all equal partners, no one can there be a commanding “boss” as the bosses and employers are under chattel slavery, serfdom, the wage-system and the give-and-take marriage regime. There would undoubtedly be recognized managers in the various professions and occupations, but they could only _request_ their equal Partners, the same as a refined husband or wife would request instead of command their respective helpmates. All such kind treatment, unimpaired liberty and mutual helpfulness naturally promote friendly mutuality instead of arousing hatred and discord as the “boss” practice invariably does. During the summer most of the men, women and children work in the field, orchard and garden; in the winter in the factory and large greenhouse. In this way labor can easily be shifted from farm to factory and back again, so that everybody can always be busy when they want to work their short day’s work. Every Modern Paradise manufactures one or more staple articles besides the smaller things for exclusive home use. To keep the Universal Warehouse and Department store in the Co-operative Mansion well filled is all the Modern Paradisers have to do. Men, women and children work side by side in practically all occupations, and as before intimated, often as congenial lovers. Some women run tractors in the field and garden, and some men are cooks in the electric kitchen. Most men, women and youths are highly skillful in a dozen or more occupations. This variety and change of indoor and outdoor work and play keeps them all healthy, sturdy, strong and happy. The Modern Paradise Transportation of freight, mail and passengers on the firmly-paved highways and in perfected airplanes is mere play. If one Modern Paradise produces more of any particular kind of goods than it needs for its own consumption, it exchanges or sells the surplus to others the same as we now do. But the Transportation would be vastly reduced, because most of the commodities raised, manufactured and mined in the various Modern Paradises are used and consumed on the very estates or near by, where they are produced, instead of shipping them back and forth from the distant farms to the big cities for hundreds or thousands of miles. The Population will then be quite evenly distributed over the land, so that there is no crowding of people and vehicles like we now have in the congested cities and overpopulated districts. There will then be abundant room for parking and airplane landing, and no crowded highways, so that motoring and truck freighting will always be pleasures, and very few accidents. As before suggested, there is high efficiency, but no strenuous rush as we now have it under the profit-grabbing wage-system, a tendency which is rapidly undermining the good health and natural development of the human race. After the country is blocked off into Modern Paradises four miles square and the population of the nation is sanely distributed over the arable land, motoring over all the fine boulevards will be real pleasure. The intersections will then be four miles apart, so that the driver needs to look ahead only. In the future, Manners, Customs and Dress will be in conformity with health, welfare and happiness rather than with tradition or ancient precedent. Under this free and struggleless mode of Thinking, Living and Working, crime, insanity, disease and accidents will be reduced to the minimum and envy, jealousy and suicide will be practically unknown; for the causes that produce them are almost entirely removed. Posterity will also, no doubt, learn the biological cause of SEX, so that prospective parents can have either male or female as they desire. On this important question, our present science is still entirely in the dark. With the abundant leisure of the future, Literature and Art will develop much more along the lines of the Useful and Artistic with substantially all frivolous fiction and meaningless poetry eliminated and little or no advertising. There will be much less sensational writing and empty gossip and much more good doing. As before suggested, there will be no soldiers, policemen, cadets, scouts, war veterans, chaperons and secret societies; no superstitious mysticism nor compulsory government, but the physical and mental attainments will be vastly superior to those of the present, and astounding scientific revelations will be made by advancing civilization. The world will be full of inventive wizards like Edison, Ford, Burbank, Steinmetz, Marconi, Wright Bros. and scores of other inventors and discoverers. In the future, when every man, woman and youth has a $10-a-day job, bequests, and insurance and alimony will be things of the Past, and cremation will be the disposition of the dead. In the future, when the human Body will be a model of health, grace and beauty in form and function, when the Mind is clean in thought and purely natural and when Grundyism has died out, men, women and children will live closer to Nature and wear much less clothes and sometimes none. At times, men, women and children will commingle at swimming contests, art galleries and other places, wearing little or no raiment of any kind. As the power of the dollar, the craving for aristocracy, shallow royalty, superstitious mysticism, extravagant attire, etc., continue to grow in disrepute will the future Topics of Conversation be more and more along the lines of universal welfare and happiness founded on the basis of natural ETHICS. Physical beauty, sexual attraction, intellectual attainments, industrial skill, congenial habits, obliging conduct, inventive genius, personal liberty, striking originality, pleasing humor and noble personality will, no doubt, always remain valuable assets for personal popularity and admiration, no matter how far posterity may advance. --------------------------------------------------------- XIX ALUMINUM BUILDINGS AS Domestic Co-operation continues to become more and more extensive and universal as it certainly will, Buildings will become fewer, larger, more sanitary, convenient, artistic, and will be constructed of Metal and greatly improved Glass, instead of wood and other rapidly decaying materials. It is estimated that at least 7 per cent of the Earth’s crust is ALUMINUM. Every claybank in the world is an Aluminum mine and on account of its abundance and extremely suitable qualities for architectural, mechanical, electrical, artistic and culinary purposes, will Aluminum rapidly become the building, machinery, furniture, electrical and culinary material of the world, and will also perhaps become an important element in paving. A large Co-operative Mansion (see Mansion page 25), well constructed of Aluminum and improved Glass, and securely bolted to a well-grounded concrete foundation, will withstand almost any flood, storm, earthquake and even lightning itself. Such a Building will endure “the ravages of time” for scores of centuries. In 1855 a pound of Aluminum cost $90. Today it can be produced for a few cents a pound, and this reduction in the actual cost of production will certainly continue until a pound will cost less than one cent. Then all the buildings, tools, machinery, furniture, culinary utensils, etc., will be made of aluminum or some alloy of it. Iron, wood, brick, plaster, nails, wallpaper, tin and also perhaps lead, silver and copper will then have little or no commercial and industrial values, and the same will apply to the forest, coal mines, oil wells and wind and water powers after we learn how to utilize the direct solar Energy as it continually streams from the Sun to the Earth. When our Aluminum buildings will last for thousands of years, and when few if any other metals are used, building, mining and commercialism will become very much less, and agriculture and industrialism correspondingly more. Experience shows that political, creed, race and national Hatreds, Prejudices, Envies and Jealousies die out as intelligence and refined culture advance. We may thus see that the only permanent and harmonious solution of the “naughty race and nationality questions” can be the free and indiscriminate intermarriage of the various races and nationalities. This future kind and friendly mutuality between the various races, nations and languages will thus surely usher in the true cosmopolitan brotherhood and sisterhood of the human family. This will naturally produce a rapidly growing tendency toward one race, one country, one language—a cosmopolitan language that is very much simplified in grammatical construction and has neither substitutes, silent letters nor diacritical marks; one industrialism, one ethical and moral standard, one philosophy, one sound naturalism, and one highly evolved HUMANITY; a human race that will be neither white, black, yellow nor red, but will have all the past, present and future shades of the individuals and species harmoniously blended into _one_ color evolved by the Law of the Survival of the Fittest. With toil, worry, cruelty, superstition, envy, jealousy (pretended outside ownership is the cause of jealousy), immorality and poverty substantially eliminated, beauty of face and grace of form and function will, no doubt, develop to a remarkable degree; and the better adjustment of the sex-relations which will undoubtedly result from the complete self-ownership of both men and women will produce beneficial EUGENIC results which will be the pride of future generations. Everybody will then be handsome, intelligent, skillful and congenial and after the total work of the world including the reproduction of the race will be equitably divided between the men and the women, the women will then gradually become as tall and strong as the men; and with these beneficial improvements well established, will the span of human life likely double or treble its present duration. --------------------------------------------------------- XX PASSING CRAZES EVERY Age has its special Crazes as the History of the Past plainly shows, as the Age of “bloody burnt offerings,” ghosts, witches, gladiatorial combats, bull fights, chivalry, crusades, flagellation, religion, penance, politics, profit grabbing, divine right of kings, chattel slavery, serfdom, wage-system, majority rule, woman suffrage, prohibition, and numerous others. They all come and go with advancing Civilization. The four big CRAZES of the present age which still keep the world in such a chaotic condition are: (1) the Mystical (religious) craze; (2) the Dollar craze; (3) the Compulsory Force craze; and (4) the Sex craze. But these four Crazes, like all the rest of them, can all be harmoniously adjusted, if we go at it in the right manner. Superstitious Mysticism of every sort with all its horrid fears of a future life of some kind can very easily be entirely rooted out by a sane study of Nature which produces unified NATURALISM; a belief in the Uniformity of Nature and the Universality of natural Law which millions of the thoughtful men and women have already attained. Abundant opportunity for remunerative Self-employment for all as equal partners, and the full right of every man, woman and child to draw his or her own pay checks, and pay his or her own personal bills, like the Modern Paradisers do, will entirely eliminate the Dollar craze. The full recognition of complete Self-ownership on the truly democratic basis that the Rights and Wishes of the non-invasive Individual are paramount to the general dictates of Society will do away with the many grave evils of _outside_ ownership or compulsory Force. Making women Free and Independent economically and every other way will undoubtedly _gradually_ bring about healthful Sex sentiments and habits, both in and out of wedlock. Much is being said, written and preached about sexual indulgence without that meaningless official marriage ceremony, but practically nothing is ever said about all the grave sexual excesses that are undermining health, fading beauty and are bringing into the world millions of weak and unwelcomed babies, _after_ the official or religious ceremony has been performed. Should not a word of warning on this important point be given to the rising generation, especially to the unsophisticated newlyweds? Do not many couples love far too much? Throughout this book as well as in all my other writings, I have pointed out that women and children have so far not been justly treated by the man. In fact, I contend that this book is the first and only literary production that accords to women and children a fair deal in life. All other literature always has been and still is written on the false assumption that the man is the important independent superior, the indispensable supporter, protector and director; and woman the _dependent subordinate_. That is an unwarranted reflection on the ability and character of the women which every intelligent woman and man should resent. But that does not mean that the woman has always been right and the man always wrong. There are thousands of so-called society women including royalty and aristocracy that think of little else than fine clothes, speedy automobiles, expensive meal tickets, extravagant jewelry, frivolous fiction, an idle life and maids to serve them. As a rule, they know but little about the important affairs of practical life, and are thus a menace rather than a blessing to Humanity. They should learn to take care of themselves; to work and become useful members of Society, for as long as they are idlers, they are undesirable social parasites living on the labor of others. Future society will not tolerate that. But these society idlers, men, women and children, are not individually to “blame” for their dull, useless life. They just happen to grow up in a perverted environment. The man that grows up among cannon will be a militarist, the companion of gamblers will likely develop into a gambler. Change the environment and they all become useful and honorable members of refined society. They need a little more brain and a little more regard for the just rights of others. They lack real DEMOCRACY. --------------------------------------------------------- XXI SOCIAL UNIT LET us keep in mind that in Sociology the same as in Biology, Evolution always starts in with the simple UNIT. In Biology, Evolution began its progressive development with the protoplasm of the single cell, and by countless additional cells mutually co-operating with the first cell slowly evolved the INDIVIDUALS, high and low, of the Plant and Animal Kingdoms. The same is also true in Sociology. First some lone Individual happens to conceive of an improved plan, program or method of Thinking, Living and Working. This pioneer individual Thinker then makes his advanced ideas known to a few others. Then a comparatively small group of these matured social Individuals forms the first nucleus of a family, a tribe, a nation; all at first run largely on the basis of _superstition_ and _physical force_, but later turn more and more to SANE NATURALISM AND IDEAL DEMOCRACY, perhaps a Modern Paradise. The Reader can plainly see that the Modern Paradise Plan of social and industrial organization is VOLUNTARY CO-OPERATION. Hence, there is no compulsory Law to evade, no opposing Minority to fight and subdue, and no _armed force_ to contend against. With free, _voluntary_ Co-operation (Co-operative Individualism), everybody naturally glides into that position where he or she fits in best, and where each prefers to be. So far Sociologists have almost universally regarded the man-made _Family_ instead of the biological _Individual_ as the ultimate UNIT of human Society. But this primitive theory that husband and wife are _one_ can never produce real social and industrial harmony as the rapidly increasing number of divorces and numerous other sociologic discords indicates, because every self-respecting INDIVIDUAL—man, woman and child—naturally strives to be free and independent, and that can be accomplished _only_ when the Individual instead of the Family is regarded and recognized as the SOCIAL UNIT. With the aid of these Modern Paradise Plans and Specifications as given in this book, any two or more Individuals that have a little brain and material wealth can build and furnish the first Modern Paradise as their ideal Home right now. After they have it all finished and furnished, they can invite the 500 or more refined Co-operators to come in and live and work with them as equal Partners. All the invited men, women and children need to furnish is their clothes and their ability to live a harmonious co-operative life; merely be able to do some useful work and mind their own business and let others do the same. There is no _charity_ connected with the transactions. The Builders absolutely need the 500 or more invited Co-operators as _equal partners_ to complete their ideal home, a home where they are immediately surrounded by a group of free, independent, congenial men, women and children, as equal partners, and the success of the first Modern Paradise depends almost entirely on the proper selection of the Charter Members. With ample funds on hand the first Modern Paradise could be built and furnished in less than two years. In selecting these Charter Members, we want to bear in mind that only a very small per cent of the people are as yet matured for a model Co-operative Life. The vast majority still use the weapon of Force of some kind instead of Reason to fight their battles of life and that _force method_ whether used by individuals, groups or nations always produces strife and discordant results, misery instead of happiness. If the first Modern Paradise Association makes good, others will, no doubt, rapidly follow along similar lines as soon as more and more of the people develop for that higher and cleaner life, so that in time the whole Nation will be blocked off in large Landed Estates or Modern Paradises; and all by pleasant _voluntary_ CO-OPERATION as equal Partners. Visitors from all over the world would undoubtedly come and personally see and examine the Form and Operation of the first Modern Paradise, and the pioneers that make the realization of such an important progressive measure possible, will, no doubt, be hailed by all future generations as the greatest benefactors of Humanity. To accomplish all the important things that have been suggested in the foregoing pages, of making a heaven on earth, only _three_ things are necessary. First, Material Wealth, of which we already have $200,000,000,000 worth in the United States. Second, Plans and Specifications for building and operating the Modern Paradise. This illustrated book will adequately serve this purpose; and Third, intelligent men, women and children as refined members to occupy and harmoniously operate the Modern Paradise as equal Partners. We may thus see that the first two essential factors—Wealth and Plans—we already have to the required extent; and of the third—refined Co-operators—we also have some, but not very many, perhaps 10,000 or a 100,000 or possibly a 1,000,000 in the United States, but this number is now rapidly increasing, and this increase will, no doubt, continue until all will be model subjects desiring to live a free, clean, healthful, prosperous, happy life; the only life really worth living for a refined person. --------------------------------------------------------- XXII GOOD AND BAD THINGS NOW let us see how many of the _good_ things that we still need so much would automatically come in with the Modern Paradise program of Thinking, Living and Working; and how many of the present _bad_ things it would eliminate. Among the many _good_ things may be mentioned that every member would have an equal equity in the Land, a fine home as soon as born and a full supply of fine tools and machinery, all of which would be inherited from generation to generation, the same as we now inherit the schoolhouses, post office, etc. A life-long job of self-employment, yielding the full fruit of his or her labor as equal owning Partners, and every man, woman and child worker, whether married or single, personally draws his or her own pay checks for the co-operative labor each performs, whether that labor be industrial, domestic or maternal, and everybody also pays his or her own bills for meals, clothes, personal ornaments, amusements, etc. The average workday would likely be less than three hours daily, the daily work would be right in, or near the home, and the average remuneration of every man, woman and youth worker for a day’s labor would likely average more than $10 worth of wealth. Everybody would also have the exclusive use of a large private apartment in the Mansion with fine furniture, musical instruments and private bath, if desired; full access to all the public departments of all the Buildings; excellent home-raised and prepared meals for a few cents; fine comfortable clothes; a large circle of congenial men, women and children as companions and co-laborers; the most interesting and effective System of Education ever suggested; live in the finest Mansion located in a beautiful park; have all the means of amusements right at home or in some other Modern Paradise as visitors; the use of all kinds of cars, busses and airplanes; and every non-invasive Individual enjoys unimpaired LIBERTY in conduct, eating, dress, mating, etc., based on complete Self-ownership in Ideal Democracy. They together own and operate a clean, well-filled Department Store where members can buy everything at cost with the first and only honest, stable and efficient System of Money that has yet been proposed; extensive fields and productive gardens; large, modern machinery run at first with cheap Electricity abundantly generated with water power, and later, no doubt, operated with the direct Solar Energy which is continually streaming from the Sun to the Earth in endless quantities; large garden, orchard and nut-bearing forest; thousands of miles of firmly-paved highways; the buildings constructed of Aluminum and Glass; electric heating, lighting, cooking and mechanical ventilation, and in the summer mechanical cooling as well as many other good things too numerous to mention. But the Modern Paradise plan of Co-operative Living and Working does not only usher in the desired _good_ things, but also eliminates practically all existing _evils_ that are now so heavily burdening the people of every land. There would be no noisy, congested, immoral Cities and no isolated country homes. No cottages and servant-kept mansions in which women and children eke out a crude, lonely life as kitchen, nursery and laundry drudges. No slums and questionable resorts. No landlords and tenants to quarrel and fight; no strikes and lockouts to starve and freeze the Public; no compulsory majority rule to stifle the best thoughts and plans of minorities. No need for armies, navies, police forces and chaperons and no use for meddlesome Grundyism; no impediments of free speech, free press, free assembly and free non-invasive conduct. No breweries and slaughter houses. No stimulants and narcotics—opium, liquor, tobacco, tea and coffee—to steal the good sense and impair the good health. No masters and servants. No “red light districts.” No compulsory education and no involuntary child labor. No monopoly and special privilege. No graft and profiteering and no high cost of living. There is no extravagant and idle aristocracy to live on the labor of others. No royal palaces and gaudy cathedrals to build and support, and little, if any, use for insane asylums. And after people know enough to stop quarreling and “sinning” there will be no need for lawyers, ministers and judicial judges. No dependent aged parents to be discordantly supported by their children. No worry of parents over their children whether babe or grown-up. No dependent women and begging children. No army of extravagantly salaried rulers and officials on the one hand, and millions of jobless on the other. No heartless multi-millionaires and pauperized beggars. No scheming diplomats and deceiving politicians, and no exploiting commercialism of any kind. These as well as many other progressive changes in human affairs will undoubtedly be more and more realized by refined posterity long before the close of this Thousand Year Forecast, and many of them will even be approximately attained before the end of the present Century. We may thus at least partly visualize the many grand things posterity will enjoy in the future. Posterity will look upon our present doings as we look upon the crude doings of the people of the Stone Age. Not _all_ the Modern Paradises will at first be operated on such high ideals as I have depicted in the foregoing pages. Some will, no doubt, still stick to the pipe, bottle and cup for a while. Others will see the great benefits of industrial, domestic and parental co-operation, but will not feel at ease without churches, professional schools and some form of boss-ship. Still others will want animals and slaughterhouses to kill them, etc. But all this unnecessary, unclean, unsanitary, unhealthy and wasteful work will greatly lengthen their average workday and reduce the comforts and conveniences of life in such immature Modern Paradises. But the members will nevertheless reap much of the great benefits from their industrial, domestic and parental co-operation, no matter how crude and superstitious it might be at the beginning. The Survival of the Fittest will, no doubt, soon prevail among the Modern Paradises the same as among individuals. It must all be settled by intelligence. We may thus see that under the Modern Paradise regime of thinking, living and working, there are at first all grades of civilization from the ideal Modern Paradise down to the Indian wigwam, so that everybody can find a suitable place in the wide-open field of sociologic progress where each can feel at ease whether crude or refined. At the top of the social structure is the ideal Modern Paradise before depicted. The next step down are the Modern Paradises that have many good things, but also have still many bad ones; such as the opium den, smoke house, booze bottle, give-and-take marriage, superstitious mysticism, coffee cup, gambling table, social parasites, scheming politicians, etc. Below those partially developed Modern Paradises can be the group that are fairly able to co-operate _industrially_, but are still unable to co-operate _domestically_. They can live in family cottages like those located on large residence lots as shown in Figure 5, page 33, but not in a Co-operative Mansion. They are still scrappers and fighters. Their average workday is at least twice as long as the workday in an ideal Modern Paradise. Their women and children are also dependent subordinates, and their liberty, comforts and conveniences of life are also very much below the ideal standard, but it fits their sentiments and backward habits, and, therefore, they should have it, even if they have to pay dear for it. Those that are still unable to co-operate on any agreeable basis, but want to see improvements made on our present chaotic conditions of the world as it is now run under the wage-system can work along the progressive lines suggested in Chapter XXIII, page 103; and so on down, until we reach the Indian wigwam. Hence, everybody can find a suitable niche in which each fits best in accordance with the degree of his or her development, and all by voluntary adjustment. Every Reader should ask himself or herself, “Where do I belong in this graduated scale of development? How far am I still from the top of the social ideals?” --------------------------------------------------------- XXIII IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT WE are, however, not yet all matured to live that co-operative life which I have depicted in the foregoing pages. Most people have still too much of the tiger element in them to live harmoniously in any Modern Paradise whether crude or ideal. They are still haters, meddlers, quarrelers and fighters. They invariably try to fleece and dominate over others instead of developing and refining themselves and minding their own business. As long as we do that we lack culture and due regard for the just rights of others, and in that way curtail our own welfare and happiness. We are all aware that just now the world is in a very chaotic condition. We find hatred, strife, war and bankruptcy practically everywhere. But all this strife and discord can easily be removed, if the people go at it in the right way. How, I believe, this can easily and speedily be done by immediate practical means I shall now very briefly suggest in this Topic. There are still two great classes of discords—National and International strifes and discords. The International strife, discord and war result where one or more Nations exploit, rob or dominate over other Nations; and that strife and war will continue as long as there are _mandates_ and _dependent_ Nations; for it is natural for all self-respecting peoples to strive for national freedom and independence the same as we did in 1776. The _National_ discords result where one Individual or Class exploits other Individuals or Classes by monopoly and special privilege of some sort, and that strife and discord will continue to intensify as intelligent conduct advances. For the purpose of establishing and maintaining _International_ Peace, Friendly Mutuality and General Prosperity, let the two opposing sides—the Victors and the Vanquished—of the late World War: (1) Impartially appoint a _neutral_ commission to ascertain the _cause_ of the war, “who started it” and why it was so brutally fought to the bitter end without ever trying to make peace on the basis of reason instead of armed force. The sane people of the world want to know that from an impartial tribunal, because both sides contend that the opposing side started the war, and that causes the hatred on both sides. (2) Scrap the unjust, autocratic and disreputable Versailles Peace Treaty handed to the world by the self-appointed militaristic “Big Four;” who cut up more than a dozen Nations and bartered away some of their people without the slightest regard for the consent of the governed. (3) Let this neutral Commission also ascertain what Nations are justly entitled to war indemnity, how much, and what Nations should pay it. (4) Convene a truly _democratic_ Peace and Disarmament Conference at which every Nation, large and small, independent and dependent has an equal voice, the same as our States have in the Senate. (5) Have this Peace Conference adopt UNIVERSAL DISARMAMENT for all international war purposes. (6) Let the Nations in this Conference agree to cancel all the war debts, personal and national, so as to make it possible, once more, to begin with a clean slate and a noble purpose. To pay war tax and still worse to shift this war tax on future generations yet unborn is a discredit to the people of any nation. The contributors of the war funds on both sides of the brutal conflict, who kept the war going, should now pay the penalty of having all the war loans canceled to make the world once more peaceful, prosperous and really democratic. (7) Accord to the people of every Nation full Self-determination and the sole right of adjusting and conducting their own _internal_ affairs. (8) Restore to every Nation the territory and inhabitants of which it was robbed by the late war. Turkey already took them back by force and all the other dozen or more divided nations will likely do the same at their first opportunity, and this will keep up the hatred, strife and war for centuries to come, if this restoration is not made. (9) Adopt a real _democratic_ instead of the present _autocratic_ League of Nations on the basis of reason and civic justice, and for the only one purpose of maintaining the _international_ Peace of the world, and from which any Nation can withdraw at any time and for any cause it sees fit to do so. Come in and go out at any time. That leaves every Nation completely free from any “entangling alliance.” There is no more real need for the use of armies and navies among Nations than there is between the several States of a Nation. (10) Liberate all prisoners of war and accord to all individuals and nations full equal freedom of the sea and air for all non-aggressive purposes. (11) Every Nation should be proud of according full freedom of speech, the press and assembly in order to get at the truth and promote progress during peace or war. (12) Every citizen that migrates to a foreign country should go there at his _own risk_ and adjustment. For a Government to protect a citizen in a foreign country usually causes strife and often war. Many a citizen from a powerful Nation is too liable to carry a chip on his shoulder and “dares” the foreign Nation by questionable means to knock it off. That method is also very unjust to the little Nations that can not protect their citizens in foreign lands by _armed force_ from unjust treatment by big Nations. Let every immigrant to a foreign country protect himself by just treatment of the natives and the laws of the land to which he migrates. If that does not seem safe to him, he should not venture there. The full and impartial application of these twelve democratic points will undoubtedly remove practically all the present international discords which are now bringing so much hardship and misery on the human race, and this misery and depression will continue for centuries unless international justice is meted out to all nations, large and small, independent and dependent. But there are also many _national_ evils which must also be adjusted before we can expect all-round Peace, Harmony and General Prosperity. The first and most important _national_ move should be to abolish Land Monopoly. To open up the Natural Resources—soil, mines, forest, oil wells, waterfalls, etc., which provide the only unlimited sources of remunerative employment. This can readily be done by properly limiting the personal ownership of land, mines, etc. To get cheaper tools and machinery, the _monopolistic_ features of the Patent Laws should be removed. To remove the gamble element out of the Money System, the Banking business should be combined with the Post Office Department as a Government function the same as the mail and parcel post. Practically every Post Office should also become a Government Bank, and the money issued by the Government. This can almost completely stabilize the average purchasing power of the dollar and fully secure every depositor against loss, as I fully explain in my recent Essay, “How to Awaken the Sleeping Mummy.” For cheaper and more efficient Transportation and Communication, there should be _unified_ GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION of railroads, telegraph and other monopolized and watered public utilities for the general benefit of the Public instead of for private gain on the basis of charging “all the traffic will bear.” Government ownership and operation of Public Utilities is desirable, because it will do away: (1) with billions of watered stock; (2) billions of annual dividends; (3) will unify operations which will greatly reduce operating expense; (4) with unified operation, the operating force could be very much reduced; and (5) the _unified service_ would be much more convenient to the Public. Such efficient, unified Government Ownership and Operation would undoubtedly reduce Transportation rates one-third if not one-half. Government ownership and operation of coal mines and oil wells would also, no doubt, cut the present profiteering price of coal, oil and gasoline in half. As to whether the people should own and operate the public utilities as public property as they do the post office, public schools, parcel post, weather bureau, etc., or whether they shall be owned and operated by private enterprise as now, depends on the viewpoint of the critic. Those who want them operated primarily for the special benefit of a comparatively small group of dividend-taking stockholders, naturally favor private ownership. On the other hand, those who want them run for the best interest of all the people want public ownership, if they have thoroughly and impartially investigated the question. To combat Commercial Profiteering, cities should also own and operate in competition with private owners such basic industries as coal yards, ice plants, water and gas plants, lumber yards, street cars, and the finest Municipal Department Store that sell at cost of production everything from a pin to a modern threshing outfit and farm tractor. That will abolish commercial profiteering, and if these competing unified Public Industries are efficiently operated, that will reduce the cost of living to the minimum, make the average workday the shortest and easiest, remunerative jobs most plentiful, the purchasing power of the dollar most stable and factious competition, excessive exportation and extravagant waste least. We may thus see that real Democracy founded on justice, kindness and liberty is the only solution of Humanity’s ills. That as long as the Victors rule over the Vanquished by armed force, and the powerful Independent Nations as Mandataries dominate over the weaker Nations, there can be no _International_ Peace and friendly Mutuality; and as long as Plutocracy lives on the toil of the producing Masses, there can be no _National_ Peace and general Prosperity. Flagrant Wrongs like France’s invasion of the Ruhr in Germany for not fulfilling a _forced_ contract in the making of which Germany had no voice will bring nothing but hatred, deception, poverty, war and ruin all-round, because it is the cave man’s method of treatment. Such harmonious national and international adjustments on the basis of reason and civic justice as I have suggested in this brief Topic will surely go a long, long way toward Peace, friendly Mutuality and general Prosperity, but the conditions at the very best would still be very far from being an ideal Modern Paradise. We would still have the noisy, immoral, congested cities and the isolated country homes, the dependent women and begging children eking out a lonely, toilsome life in family cottages and servant-kept mansions; the masters and the servants, the millions of school children confined in stuffy schoolrooms; the give-and-take marriage regime, as well as many other unnecessary impediments against rational life, liberty and the pursuit of health and happiness. We may thus see that the Ideal toward which advancing civilization is undoubtedly tending is in the direction of extensive VOLUNTARY CO-OPERATION on large Landed Estates with shops and factories by groups of intelligent men, women and children as equal Industrial and Domestic Co-operators and Owners of Modern Paradises. Hence, our primary aim should be to bring the people in social and economic groups back to the healthful Land from which all wealth must be directly or indirectly produced by the hand and brain of labor. Every national Government is still run fundamentally on the strife-provoking basis of MILITARISM and EXPLOITING COMMERCIALISM; on the basis of Force instead of Reason and the Dollar above the Man. These destructive and unjust sentiments can not produce a good world to anyone, rich or poor. Hence, the two most important transitional steps toward the Ideal for the people to take immediately are (1) to elect Pacifists instead of Militarists as their Rulers and Officials; men and women who know enough to settle international differences without plunging the world into brutal wars; (2) to run Nations on the just and humane basis of the “Man Above the Dollar.” We are still doing just the opposite. Everything that produces DOLLARS still goes. War, prostitution, graft, profiteering, selling booze and death-dealing armaments and commercial gambling of all kinds go, when they have Dollars whether honest or dishonest in them. We have far too much Commercialism. At least 75 per cent of the world’s present Commercialists and professionalists should be shifted into the useful fields of Industrialism. That would make the average workday very much shorter and easier and the total commodities much more in keeping with the modern standard of living. We, therefore, need many more useful producers and many less commercial gamblers; shorter workdays and more play-days; for as long as superstitious mysticism and armed Force are held above Reason, and the dollar above Man, we can not hope to have a harmonious world. Every Reader, after thoughtfully reading this small book, can plainly see that the Modern Paradise plan of Thinking, Living and Working produces the highest Efficiency of Production, Equitable Distribution, Wise Accumulation, Economical Consumption and Harmonious Association; all resting on the sound sociologic principle of COMPLETE SELF-OWNERSHIP IN IDEAL DEMOCRACY. I am also confident that the Remedies which I have suggested in this Topic for speedily adjusting the present National and International discordances will, of course, not turn the world into Modern Paradises at once, but will bring much immediate relief to the starving and war-burdened people of every land, if they only rise to the emergency of adopting such measures in a free and peaceful way. But all such improvements can be attained only by sound EDUCATION and further REFINEMENT. We can not hope to usher in a good world without having good people to run it harmoniously. It just requires only ordinary people that know how to do some useful work, that are free from superstition, that have clean, healthful habits and that know how to tend to their own affairs and let others do the same. For building, operating and peopling these Modern Paradises, whether one or a million, I have called in nothing new, strange or mystical (except the suggestion of the Chemico-Electric Generator mentioned on page 43 which is not yet in operation, but will likely come in the near future). Everything for living that ideal life is already here in separate parts, but the various parts—land, buildings, machinery, refined co-operators, etc.—have so far never been combined in a free and harmonious way for producing all-round ideal results. Is not this illustrated book, “The Story of the World a Thousand Years Hence” the first adequate program descriptive of an ideal method of Thinking, Living and Working? Does the Reader know of any other? But the ideal life is really so simple and so uniformly in accord with the peaceable and healthful laws of Nature that almost any live architect and builder can design, build and furnish a Modern Paradise from the drawings and suggestions contained in this small book, and also visualize the successive transitional steps that gradually lead up to that evolutionary IDEAL. And all this is in complete accord with Herbert Spencer’s sound announcement when he says: “The particular kind of further evolution which Man is hereafter to undergo, is one in which, more than any other, may be expected to cause a decline in the power of reproduction; in the end, therefore, the obtainment of subsistence and the discharge of all parental and social duties, will require just that kind and that amount of action needful to health and happiness.” --------------------------------------------------------- XXIV CONCLUSION IN conclusion permit me to say that some of my Readers will perhaps regard these carefully deduced Conclusions with fear and trembling. But as the History of the Past clearly shows, this opposition to Progress is nothing new or strange. Every page of History is replete with indisputable facts that the timid, superstitious Standpatters and Force Advocates have always feared and opposed advanced methods of Thinking, Living and Working. Their alarm and opposition have, however, seldom if ever been due to any serious defects of the proposed progressive methods, but rather to their own comparatively undeveloped Minds; primarily to their inability to make comprehensive GENERALIZATIONS in the matter of human conduct. Liberty, Equality of Opportunity, Friendly Mutuality and Sound Naturalism have apparently always appeared dangerous and gruesome to this timid and unprogressive class of Humanity. They are not purposely bent on doing wrong; they merely lack in modern intellectual light, and for this reason have they invariably been willing to sacrifice Truth and arrest Progress in order to preserve the ancient and the antiquated rather than join the ranks of Progress. But despite all designed opposition, will the march of Progress continue with increasing rapidity, and the writer is only too willing to leave the Truth or Error of these carefully deduced Conclusions to the best judgment of the Coming Generations. (Can the Reader think of any _good_ thing which this IDEAL CIVILIZATION does not have in it, or of any of the present _bad_ things which is not eliminated therefrom? If so, will the Reader kindly report the same to the author, 2219 Larimore Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska, for it is the author’s earnest desire to get all the possible _good_ and remove all the _bad_.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transcriber’s Notes ▪ Note: Printer’s errors and apparent misspellings have been changed and are noted below. ▪ Note: Hyphenation and capitalization have been standardized in cases noted below, where there is a predominant form in the text. ▪ Note: The original text did not have chapter headings as such. Instead each chapter had a description in the page header. In this eBook, we have incorporated this description into the chapter headings. ▪ Note: For the reader’s convenience, a Table of Contents has been created for this eBook, and is grated to the public domain. ▪ Pg. 9: Corrected typo: ‘FORTELLING THE FUTURE’ to ‘FORETELLING’ ▪ Pg. 9: Corrected half-title: ‘A STORY OF THE WORLD A THOUSAND YEARS HENCE’ to ‘THE STORY’ ▪ Pg. 11: Corrected typo: ‘Ameba’ to ‘Amoeba’ ▪ Pg. 15: Corrected typo: ‘in the right way,and’ to ‘way, and’ ▪ Pg. 23: Removed hyphen: ‘... orchard, green-house, etc.’ to ‘greenhouse’—Unhyphenated elsewhere ▪ Pg. 25: Removed extra comma: ‘... heated with electricity in the winter, and mechanically cooled in the summer’ to ‘winter and’ ▪ Pg. 28: Corrected typo: ‘There are also an ample supply’ to ‘There is’ ▪ Pg. 31: Corrected typo: ‘interesting and influential socialbility’ to ‘sociability’ ▪ Pg. 33: Added missing space: ‘(Fig.5)’ to ‘(Fig. 5)’ ▪ Pg. 37: Corrected typo: ‘in a large electric buss’ to ‘bus’ ▪ Pg. 37: Corrected typo: ‘firmly-paved highways or bulevards’ to ‘boulevard’ ▪ Pg. 43: Corrected typo: ‘... the enless stream of solar energy’ to ‘endless’ ▪ Pg. 48: Added missing comma: ‘... this “orderly succession of events” as we call it’ to ‘events,” as we call it’ ▪ Pg. 51: Added parentheses: ‘Fig. 7’ to ‘(Fig. 7)’—Figure markings within parentheses elsewhere ▪ Pg. 54: Added space: ‘... the same as in our postoffice’ to ‘post office’—Spaced out elsewhere ▪ Pg. 58: Added missing comma: ‘There Froebelism and Montessorianism’ to ‘There, Froebelism’ ▪ Pg. 60: Corrected typo: ‘... a race of billiant Thinkers and clever Actors’ to ‘brilliant’ ▪ Pg. 62: Added missing comma: ‘... science, philosophy music’ to ‘philosphy, music’ ▪ Pg. 70: Added missing comma: ‘... commensurate with dangers burdens and responsibilities.’ to ‘dangers, burdens’ ▪ Pg. 75: Added parentheses: ‘Fig. 8’ to ‘(Fig. 8)’—Figure markings within parentheses elsewhere ▪ Pg. 80: Corrected typo: ‘... government which emantes’ to ‘emanates’ ▪ Pg. 94: Added space: ‘... the schoolhouses, post office’ to ‘post office’—Spaced out elsewhere ▪ Pg. 106: Added missing comma: ‘... make it possible, once more to’ to ‘once more, to’ ▪ Pg. 106: Seemingly missing word inserted: ‘The contributors of the war funds on both sides of the brutal conflict kept the war going’ to ‘the brutal conflict, who kept the war going’ ▪ Pg. 106: Added missing comma: ‘... once more peaceful prosperous and really democratic’ to ‘peaceful, prosperous’ ▪ Pg. 112: Removed space: ‘... confined in stuffy school rooms’ to ‘schoolrooms’—Compounded elsewhere ▪ Pg. 115: Removed parentheses: ‘... mentioned on page (43)’ to ‘page 43’—without parentheses elsewhere ▪ Pg. 114: Removed extraneous word: ‘But despite of all designed opposition’ to ‘But despite all’ ▪ Pg. 115: Added close-parentheses: ‘... but will likely come in the near future.’ to ‘future).’ ▪ Pg. 117: Removed extra question mark: ‘... and remove all the _bad_?’ to ‘all the _bad_.’ *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79536 ***