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embraced for the last time. Their two children pressed them
apart. Elevating their hands in a crossed clasp they gave way,
and the children passed through, preceding a most holy image
which was borne by a priest and priestess between them. Then they
parted, and each was severally congratulated and embraced by any
of the others who chose, and the priest and priestess then,
exalting the image and setting it in a suitable shrine, closed
the ceremony by the command "To work" and adding force to the
same by their example.
The education of the children was another important matter in
which their ideas were wholly opposed to our own. It ceased
altogether at the age of puberty, which was sometimes as early as
six, never later than fourteen. Were it so delayed, the
delinquent was crowned in mockery with a square black cap,
sometimes tasselated, and sent among the serviles to instruct
them in religion and similar branches of learning, and never
permitted to return to Atlas. The ignorance and superstition of
the plains was thus kept at a proper height.
The method of education was indeed singular. Certain
Atlanteans who made it their study would place the various
articles in the hands of the infants, and observe what use they
made of them. In the course of a few months the experts had
accurately mapped the psychology of the child, and it was led in
accordance therewith. The marriage customs of Atlas allowed no
too rapid growth in numbers, and it was therefore easy to give
each child attention. The method of opposition was again employed
in education, the child's natural wish being constantly
stimulated by a parallel training in the contrary subject.
Children were also shewn a series of ordered facts, and an
explanation given. But not the least pains was taken to ascertain
whether the child had retained those instructions; they were left
as impressions on the mind. The brain was not injured by the
strain of being constantly forced to bring up its stores from the
subconscious. It was found in practice that every child learnt
everything that it was shown, and that this learning was always
ready for use, while the consciousness was never wearied or
overcrowded. It was also found that those whose memories were
what we call good were precisely those who failed to develop in
other ways more useful to society.
The most peculiar of their methods was the search for genius.
It was the business of the experts to pay the most serious and
reverent attention to all that a child did, and whenever they
failed to understand the workings of its mind, to place it under
the charge of a special guardian, who did his utmost to
comprehend sufficiently to be able to encourage it to become yet
more unintelligible.
Apud eos membrum virile membrano lucido erat; ob quod qualis
circumscisio die nativitatis facta erat. Vix credere dignum est,
tanquam verum, feminarum montes venereales similutidine facies
fuere, facies demonicae, sardonicae, Satyricae, cujus os erat os
vulvae, res horribiles atque ridiculosa. Ferunt similia de
virorum membris, quae fingunt sicut imagines homunculorum fuere.
Lege--Judice--Tace.
Many of the men had ossified extensions of the frontal process
which amounted to horns, and the formation was occasionally found
in the higher types of women. Curiously carven head-dresses of
gold were worn by both sexes, and those of priestly rank adorned
these with living serpents, and the high priests yet further with
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