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Chapter 24 — The Natural History of the Selenites
Andyet,sounreasonableareevenscientificallytrainedminds,Istilldonotlikethememoryofthoseprostrateformsamidstthosequiet,luminousarcadesoffleshygrowth,andIavoidthatshortcutinspiteoftheinconveniencesofthelonger,morenoisy,andmorecrowdedalternative.
“Myalternativeroutetakesmeroundbyahuge,shadowycavern,verycrowdedandclamorous,andhereitisIseepeeringoutofthehexagonalopeningsofasortofhoneycombwall,orparadingalargeopenspacebehind,orselectingthetoysandamuletsmadetopleasethembythedainty-tentacledjewellerswhoworkinkennelsbelow,themothersofthemoonworld—thequeenbees,asitwere,ofthehive.Theyarenoble-lookingbeings,fantasticallyandsometimesquitebeautifullyadorned,withaproudcarriage,and,savefortheirmouths,almostmicroscopicheads.
“Oftheconditionofthemoonsexes,marryingandgivinginmarriage,andofbirthandsoforthamongtheSelenites,Ihaveasyetbeenabletolearnverylittle.WiththesteadyprogressofPhi-ooinEnglish,however,myignorancewillnodoubtassteadilydisappear.Iamofopinionthat,aswiththeantsandbees,thereisalargemajorityofthemembersinthiscommunityoftheneutersex.Ofcourseonearthinourcitiestherearenowmanywhoneverlivethatlifeofparentagewhichisthenaturallifeofman
