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Chromatistes； in alarm； attempted to step forward and address them。 But
he found himself encompassed with guards and forced to remain silent
while the Chief Circle in a few impassioned words made a final appeal to
the Women； exclaiming that； if the Colour Bill passed； no marriage would
henceforth be safe； no woman's honour secure； fraud； deception； hypocrisy
would pervade every household； domestic bliss would share the fate of the
Constitution and pass to speedy perdition。 〃Sooner than this；〃 he cried；
〃Come death。〃
At these words； which were the preconcerted signal for action； the
Isosceles Convicts fell on and transfixed the wretched Chromatistes； the
Regular Classes； opening their ranks； made way for a band of Women who；
under direction of the Circles； moved back foremost； invisibly and
unerringly upon the unconscious soldiers； the Artisans； imitating the
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example of their betters； also opened their ranks。 Meantime bands of
Convicts occupied every entrance with an impenetrable phalanx。
The battle； or rather carnage； was of short duration。 Under the skillful
generalship of the Circles almost every Woman's charge was fatal and very
many extracted their sting uninjured； ready for a second slaughter。 But no
second blow was needed； the rabble of the Isosceles did the rest of the
business for themselves。 Surprised； leader…less； attacked in front by
invisible foes； and finding egress cut off by the Convicts behind them；
they at once after their mannerlost all presence of mind； and raised the
cry of 〃treachery。〃 This sealed their fate。 Every Isosceles now saw and felt
a foe in every other。 In half an hour not one of that vast multitude was
living； and the fragments of seven score thousand of the Criminal Class
slain by one another's angles attested the triumph of Order。
The Circles delayed not to push their victory to the uttermost。 The
Working Men they spared but decimated。 The Militia of the Equilaterals
was at once called out； and every Triangle suspected of Irregularity on
reasonable grounds； was destroyed by Court Martial； without the formality
of exact measurement by the Social Board。 The homes of the Military and
Artisan classes were inspected in a course of visitation extending through
upwards of a year； and during that period every town； village； and hamlet
was systematically purged of that excess of the lower orders which had
been brought about by the neglect to pay the tribute of Criminals to the
Schools and University； and by the violation of other natural Laws of the
Constitution of Flatland。 Thus the balance of classes was again restored。
Needless to say that henceforth the use of Colour was abolished； and
its possession prohibited。 Even the utterance of any word denoting Colour；
except by the Circles or by qualified scientific teachers； was punished by a
severe penalty。 Only at our University in some of the very highest and
most esoteric classeswhich I myself have never been privileged to
attendit is understood that the sparing use of Colour is still sanctioned for
the purpose of illustrating some of the deeper problems of mathematics。
But of this I can only speak from hearsay。
Elsewhere in Flatland； Colour is no non…existent。 The art of making it
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is known to only one living person； the Chief Circle for the time being；
and by him it is handed down on his death…bed to none but his Successor。
One manufactory alone produces it； and； lest the secret should be betrayed；
the Workmen are annually consumed； and fresh ones introduced。 So great
is the terror with which even now our Aristocracy looks back to the far…
distant days of the agitation for the Universal Colour Bill。
SECTION 11 Concerning our Priests
It is high time that I should pass from these brief and discursive notes
about things in Flatland to the central event of this book； my initiation into
the mysteries of Space。 THAT is my subject； all that has gone before is
merely preface。
For this reason I must omit many matters of which the explanation
would not； I flatter myself； be without interest for my Readers： as for
example； our method of propelling and stopping ourselves； although
destitute of feet； the means by which we give fixity to structures of wood；
stone； or brick； although of course we have no hands； nor can we lay
foundations as you can； nor avail ourselves of the lateral pressure of the
earth； the manner in which the rain originates in the intervals between our
various zones； so that the northern regions do not intercept the moisture
falling on the southern； the nature of our hills and mines； our trees and
vegetables； our seasons and harvests； our Alphabet and method of writing；
adapted to our linear tablets； these and a hundred other details of our
physical existence I must pass over； nor do I mention them now except to
indicate to my readers that their omission proceeds not from forgetfulness
on the part of the author； but from his regard for the time of the Reader。
Yet before I proceed to my legitimate subject some few final remarks
will no doubt be expected by my Readers upon these pillars and mainstays
of the Constitution of Flatland； the controllers of our conduct and shapers
of our destiny； the objects of universal homage and almost of adoration：
need I say that I mean our Circles or Priests？
When I call them Priests； let me not be understood as meaning no
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more than the term denotes with you。 With us； our Priests are
Administrators of all Business； Art； and Science； Directors of Trade；
Commerce； Generalship； Architecture； Engineering； Education；
Statesmanship； Legislature； Morality； Theology； doing nothing themselves；
they are the Causes of everything worth doing； that is done by others。
Although popularly everyone called a Circle is deemed a Circle；