written with all years, even from at in the beginhomely cottages ude timber that !roofs, thatched are cunningly stories one over e either of hard inner sides are roofs are plain laster that costs fire can injure of the weather their windows, n, or fine linen purposes; for by this means more light comes in, and the wind is better kept out. Agriculture is an occupation common to them all, both men and women, and they are all expert in it. In this they are all instructed even from their youth, partly in the schools by tradition and precept, and partly in the country near the city, where they are brought up to practise it, as a sort of play. Beside husbandry, every one of them learns one particular trade, as his own proper craft. Most commonly the craft is working on woollen or linen cloth, or masonry, or smith's work, or carpenter's work. For there is no other occupation in which any great number are employed. Their garments throughout the island are of one fashion, except that there is a difference between the men's garments and the women's, and between the clothing of the married and the unmarried. This one fashion continues forever unchanged; it is convenient and comely to the eye, and is fit for both winter and summer. Every family make their own garments. But every man and every woman learns one of the other crafts. The women, who are not so strong as the men, are put to the easier crafts, such as the working in wool and flax. The more toilsome trades are committed to the men. For the most part every man is brought up in his father's craft, since he is naturally inclined to it. But if a man prefers any other, he is put into a family of that occupation, by adoption. In fact, if any person when he has learned one trade wishes to learn another also, he is permitted to do so. The chief and almost the only office of the magistrates is to see to it that no man sits idle, but that every one works with earnest diligence at his own craft. And yet for all that, they are not to toil from early in the until late in the evening, like laboring beasts. is worse than the miserable and wretched cond bondmen. But they divide the day and the nig exactly twenty-four hours. Six of these hours pointed for work, three before dinner and thre About eight o'clock in the evening (counting t hour after noon as one o'clock) they go to bed, ar give eight hours to sleep. All the unoccupied time, between the hours of sleep, and eating, each man is allowed to spend prefers. Yet they are not to misspend this time ness or rioting, but are expected to devote the some proper occupation according to their liking. a solemn custom there to have readings every day in the morning, at which only those are compelled present who have been chosen to devote themsel learning. But a great multitude of every sort of also go to the readings, from their own choice. supper they give one hour to play; in summer in gardens, in winter in their common halls, where the and sup. There they exercise themselves in music honest and wholesome conversation. If any be desirous to visit their friends dwell another city, or to see the place itself, they easily license from the magistrates, unless there is some r able objection. No man goes out alone, but a comp sent forth together with letters which testify that the permission to go that journey, and which prescribe th of their return. A wagon is given them, with a co bondman, who drives the oxen and takes charge of But unless they have women in the company they the wagon home again. And though they carry no arly in the morning g beasts. For this ctched condition of and the night into hese hours are ap er and three after. (counting the first To to bed, and they the hours of work, ed to spend as he d this time in idlelevote the time to heir liking. It is is every day early e compelled to be te themselves to ry sort of people in choice. After summer in their where they dine s in music or in nds dwelling in ney easily obtain is some reason ut a company is y that they have escribe the day with a common harge of them. any they send carry nothing with them, yet in all their journey they lack nothing. For If they tarry wheresoever they come, they are at home. in a place longer than one day, every one of them falls to work at his own occupation, and is very kindly entertained by the workmen of the same craft. If any man on his own authority and without leave, walks out of his proper boundaries, he is taken and brought again for a fugitive or a runaway with great shame and rebuke, and is sharply punished. If he is taken in that fault again, he is punished with bondage. If any man wishes to walk abroad into the fields, or into the country that belongs to the same city that he dwells in, if he obtains the good-will of his father, and the consent of his wife, he is not prohibited. But into whatsoever part of the country he comes, he receives no meat until he has wrought out his forenoon's task, or despatched so much work as is usually accomplished before supper. Observing this law and condition, he may go wherever he will within the bounds of his own city. In the council of Amaurot, whither, as I have said, each city sends three men every year, pains are taken to know what things are plentiful in every place and also what things are lacking in any place; and the lack of one place is supplied from the abundance of another. But when they have made sufficient provision of store for themselves (and this they do not consider done, until they have provided for two years to come), then they carry forth into other countries a generous supply of those things of which they have an abundance, such as grain, honey, wool, flax, wood, wax, tallow, leather, and living beasts. And the seventh part of all these things they give frankly and freely to the poor of the neighboring country. The rest they sell at a reasonable and low price. By this traffic of merchandise they bring into th country, not only great plenty of gold and silver, such things as they lack at home, especially iron. not circulate the money among themselves, but gold and silver, of which money is made, in such a the very nature of the thing deserves. For they r as plainly far below iron in value, for men can no live without iron than without fire and water; gold and silver is put to no use that we may not we It is the folly of men that has set it in higher est because of its rareness. But Nature, as a most ten loving mother, has placed the best and most ne things where they are easy to find, as, for instan air, the water, and the earth itself, while she has h us vain and unprofitable things. Therefore, if these metals among them should locked up in some tower, it might be suspected t prince and the council intended to deceive the c people and to gain profit from it themselves. F more, if they should make from it plate, and suc and cunningly wrought articles, and if at any tin should have occasion to break it and melt it again their soldiers, they see very plainly that men would b to part from these things. To remedy all this the found a means, which is not at all in accordance w customs, since we value gold so highly and keep it fully. For while they eat and drink from earth glass vessels, they make their commonest utensil silver and gold. And of the same metals they mak chains and fetters with which they fasten their bo Finally, whosoever is convicted of any crime, has r gold hung in his ears and placed upon his fing wears a chain of gold about his neck. Thus by al pring into their own = a most tender and em should be fast at any time they hus by all possi ble means they bring silver and gold to reproach and infamy among them. cir'cuit (sir'kit), the space enclosed by | bul'wark, a defence. a curve. jeop'ard ous, perilous. hu man'i ty, culture. hus'band ry, farming. pre'cept, a teaching, or rule. in es'ti ma ble, above all price. u ten'sil, that which is used; especially a vessel used in a kitchen. SIR THOMAS MORE (1480-1535) was an eminent prose writer of the time of Henry VIII, whose friend and counsellor he was. His romance, "Utopia," describes life in an ideal commonwealth, where men have just social conditions. The name Utopia is from the Greek, and means "Nowhere." THE ROSE AND THE GARDENER AUSTIN DOBSON THE Rose in the garden slipped her bud, The full Rose waxed in the warm June air, But the breeze in the morning blew, and found AUSTIN DOBSON (1840-) is an English poet and critic. |