Page:Diary of a Pilgrimage (1891).pdf/269

Rh hair cut the same length, we obviate, to a certain extent, the errors of Nature."

I said:

"Why black?"

He said he did not know, but that was the colour which had been decided upon.

"Who by?" I asked.

"By THE MAJORITY," he replied, raising his hat and lowering his eyes, as if in prayer.

We walked further, and passed more men. I said:

"Are there no women in this city?"

"Women!" exclaimed my guide. "Of course there are. We’ve passed hundreds of them!"

"I thought I knew a woman when I saw one," I observed; "but I can’t remember noticing any."

"Why, there go two, now," he said, drawing my attention to a couple of persons near to us, both dressed in the regulation grey trousers and tunics.

"How do you know they are women?" I asked.

"Why, you see the metal numbers that everybody wears on their collar?"

"Yes: I was just thinking what a number of policemen you had, and wondering where the other people were!"

"Well, the even numbers are women; the odd numbers are men."

"How very simple," I remarked. "I suppose after a little practice you can tell one sex from the other almost at a glance?"