A NEW EARTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5665, 12 August 1905, Page 15

A NEW EARTH

”A J Vu,p GG By 11. G. "Wells. T. K idler Gnu in, London. Manj‘ {sociological essays hare been written recmi! iy i»y learned author'd iC'. .Mr M ells has just issued the last or three distimzu shed efforts. His first was “.Vniicipati* ns.’* his secoiiu ■ Mankind in the Matin.;." and now \\ e hare ‘*.\ Modern HlOjua.'’ it is not unlike Bellamy's. W.ookinp; Backward, ’ out it is more hypothetical in its char-

a/'K-r, and the narrative is at times tercel ten. Thieo who love to dream ihe dreams of dreamers, will delight in mu author's ■'.Modern ’’topia.” Me cannot imagine, however, that it wall suit the av<*i“ae(* render of novels who lov<Vi to lx‘ excited and enterliined ;i- the same time, but it will please t-hc student of social science, while it w U enliven his imagination with the glories of a future state. On Uic other hand some will regard .Mr Wells’s '’.Modern Gtopia” as utterly impracticable and far-feU'hcd ; yet ;us a speculative treat isse, and as a description of what society nuglil yet attain to, the book is worth reading Those who .are sat'-fMd that this world is the best of all worlds, and that social problems are impu-Mblo of .solution, will nut read M>* Wells’s pages with relish, hut the optimist and the dreamer w II follow our auihor through all Ins theories, ami will virtually endorse all the conclusions at which he arrives.

Mr 'Wells docs not reduce has scientific romance to a farce. Ho makes hi* earth-born pair perform no more

.aicoulh .mnc than that of forging i-iioir iiifli-'x-31un! , ..0vs in llio visitors' bonk at the first hotel they reach on their tv ay down from the mountain in .Switxei'i.md. Tiny are visitors Iron) Utopia, a world like our own, lying on tho outskirts of tlie nnivorso. They seek out their eounlerparts on ea-’ii irid they find that the ladies of iheir '.Unctions have Uecoina enamoured ef others. It is not. however, with the slight and ineffectual love story that tho general render of Mr Wells’s a ork will take interest. It is the novelty if the laws and methods of Utopiam that will attract him most. An important institution in Utopia, is what onr author deser bes as the “voluntary no bihty or samurai,” doubtless so uirncd as a compliment to onr Japanese allies, who are also largely vegetarians. There are no slaughter-houses in Utopia, M.d no meat is eaten, but fish is allowed as a food. Any male over twenty-five anti any iuralo over twenty-one, who has passed medical and educational examinations, and is willing to take the vows 01 abstinence and performance, can color this voluntary nobilty. There are many rules and regulations which have to be observed by candidates, and the nso of tobacco and alcohol, gambling, sports, the taking of interest t )r money lent, engaging in trade, keening -cr,ants, or being a servant, are all included among the prohibitions •!' the .Samurai. There are to be low baclie lor.s or oVI maids among the (it in Utcpia. Tho male samurai must marry within tho order, if he marries at all, ulit the female samurai may marry either within or outside of tho voluntary nobility. “Women samurai who are married must bear children—if they arc to remain married as-well as in me order—before the second period fnt terminating a childless marriage ts exhausted.” The position of woman in this Utopia is different from what it is on earth. A married woman. Cor instance. receives a wage from the State for tho performance of her maternal functions, and in that way is pocu'iarly independent of her husband. Mercenary marriages on this account are never dreamed of in Utopia, and marriages there are always matters of love and affection. Peace reigns in all this delightful land. War has been abolished. Domestic difficulties are few. Laboursaving machines have solved many social and industrial problems; ano eworiono in employment is paid an adequate remuneration. Money is not banished from Utopia, but when the taking of interest is denied, its use is confined merely to facilitate exchange in commodities. Crime has not been altogether banished, but those who become addicted to vice are transported to islands where, among themselves, they are allowed a certain liberty and self-government. There is a freshness and a vigour about Mr Wells’s treatment of these absorbing social topics, and his book forms pleasant, if dreamy reading.