The body of Dr. Baāhar appeared in the rear of this hungry ejaculation, enveloped in flowers and cuttings bestowed by the teachers from the garden growths cultivated by the pupils. In a moment the carols of the kitchen celestas ceased, and sidelong glances were directed to the hedge to detect the intruder whose guttural accents betrayed the profanity of his petition. The effect produced by this interruption may be truthfully likened to the hush imposed upon the twilight warblings of the water- thrush, swayed in tuneful measure upon the spray by the evening zephyr, and the rippling accompaniment of a flowing stream, when its evening carols are suddenly checked and silenced, for the night, by the croaking heralds of darkness from the sedgy confines of a neighboring bog. Even the padre, whose stomach had many a time and oft remonstrated with indigestive harshness against the introduction of crab salad,—saur- kraut’s English and American cousin,—egg-nogs, brandy smashes, and like poetical compounds for its disposal, stood aghast at this profanation of the divinities’ edible incantations. Finding himself unexpectedly subjected to an array of admonitory glances, his eyes sought through the openings in the hedge the cause of his cool reception, and with its revelation became aware of his invocation’s apostate grossness. As he stood peering through the leafy screen, forgetful of his flowery decorations, he looked like a satyr wood-god of ancient devisement, in orchidean envelope, regaling his sight with a surreptitious view of the grove nymphs while adorning their persons for the festal mysteries.
Correliana, who came with the teachers to escort us to the refectory colonnade, with the desire of the scholars that we would test the relish of their food preparations, aided in disrobing the doctor of his flowery dress; this accomplished we joined the parents and children who were waiting to receive us in the vestibule. The tables were covered with cloths of tinted white interwoven from the fibres of the plantain and tree silk-floss, which produced a novel effect. This cloth was styled Tapalmtræ, a web of lighter texture being used for raiment. When seated, the Dosch addressing us from the platform of the tympano-microscope, which had been transferred from the prætor’s table for the day, asked us to bestow our critical attention upon the cloth, to detect its conservative peculiarities for cleanly protection and rejection of corrupt attaint. The brightness, purity, and softness of the fabric, had not only attracted our attention as consonant with the characteristics of Correliana, on the occasion of our first interview, although reduced for the supply of others’ necessities, to the limits of modesty, in extremity, but had with the scientific zest of curiosity been the subject of speculative investigation after our arrival in Heraclea. But since our introduction to the Manatitlans, it had only attracted our attention, feeling well assured that all in accruance for mutual benefit would in season be made known. “Its apparent peculiarities, in their partial perfection, we have been enabled to bestow upon the Heracleans,” explained the Dosch, “for their advantage during the trials of the siege. Although, from the lack of material, and means of elaboration, imperfect in comparison with our attainments in its illimitable adaptation for the fulfillment of all material requirements for protection, it has subserved with them for the supply of a protective agent to their textile fabrics, conservative in transmissible durability and sanitary purity. Its special adaptative qualities are the extremes of mobility and immobility, and imponderability in degree sufficient for relieving the impressions of weight. These, together with a non-adhesive surface, with a capability for rendering it elastic and non-elastic to either extreme, and indestructible from exposure to the elements, have served as invaluable aids for comfort and their preservation. As an effective aid for increasing the durability of textile fabrics, you can judge when I state that the garments and cloths are heir-looms of centuries’ transmission as well with the Heracleans as with our race; an electrical current keeping them repulsively free from impurity, they are to all intents new to each succeeding generation.”