The First Men In The Moon


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of the minds of the intellectual class is rendered possible by the absence  
of any bony skull in the lunar anatomy, that strange box of bone that  
clamps about the developing brain of man, imperiously insisting 'thus far  
and no farther' to all his possibilities. They fall into three main  
classes differing greatly in influence and respect. There are  
administrators, of whom Phi-oo is one, Selenites of considerable  
initiative and versatility, responsible each for a certain cubic content  
of the moon's bulk; the experts like the football-headed thinker, who are  
trained to perform certain special operations; and the erudite, who are  
the repositories of all knowledge. To the latter class belongs Tsi-puff,  
the first lunar professor of terrestrial languages. With regard to these  
latter, it is a curious little thing to note that the unlimited growth of  
the lunar brain has rendered unnecessary the invention of all those  
mechanical aids to brain work which have distinguished the career of man.  
There are no books, no records of any sort, no libraries or inscriptions.  
All knowledge is stored in distended brains much as the honey-ants of  
Texas store honey in their distended abdomens. The lunar Somerset House  
and the lunar British Museum Library are collections of living brains...  
"
The less specialised administrators, I note, do for the most part take a  
very lively interest in me whenever they encounter me. They will come out  
of the way and stare at me and ask questions to which Phi-oo will reply. I  
see them going hither and thither with a retinue of bearers, attendants,  
shouters, parachute-carriers, and so forth--queer groups to see. The  
experts for the most part ignore me completely, even as they ignore each  
other, or notice me only to begin a clamorous exhibition of their  
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Page
271 272 273 274 275

Quick Jump
1 76 152 227 303