A Princess of Mars

They were not their families, nor their wives, nor their servants; the

relationship was peculiar, and so unlike anything known to us that it

is most difficult to describe. All property among the green Martians

is owned in common by the community, except the personal weapons,

ornaments and sleeping silks and furs of the individuals. These alone

can one claim undisputed right to, nor may he accumulate more of these

than are required for his actual needs. The surplus he holds merely as

custodian, and it is passed on to the younger members of the community

as necessity demands.

The women and children of a man's retinue may be likened to a military

unit for which he is responsible in various ways, as in matters of

instruction, discipline, sustenance, and the exigencies of their

continual roamings and their unending strife with other communities and

with the red Martians. His women are in no sense wives. The green

Martians use no word corresponding in meaning with this earthly word.

Their mating is a matter of community interest solely, and is directed

without reference to natural selection. The council of chieftains of

each community control the matter as surely as the owner of a Kentucky

racing stud directs the scientific breeding of his stock for the

improvement of the whole.

In theory it may sound well, as is often the case with theories, but

the results of ages of this unnatural practice, coupled with the

community interest in the offspring being held paramount to that of the

mother, is shown in the cold, cruel creatures, and their gloomy,

loveless, mirthless existence.

It is true that the green Martians are absolutely virtuous, both men

and women, with the exception of such degenerates as Tal Hajus; but

better far a finer balance of human characteristics even at the expense

of a slight and occasional loss of chastity.

Finding that I must assume responsibility for these creatures, whether

I would or not, I made the best of it and directed them to find

quarters on the upper floors, leaving the third floor to me. One of

the girls I charged with the duties of my simple cuisine, and directed

the others to take up the various activities which had formerly

constituted their vocations. Thereafter I saw little of them, nor did

I care to.