Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/165

 officials, were all very young. After a year or more at such light tasks, they were drafted to heavier labors in some other division of the world; regard being had, as far as possible, to the preferences of the young men. In order to give the zerdars the educational advantage of becoming familiar, in turn, with every great division of the world, its climate, and its productions, the various nations had established a sort of universal labor exchange, somewhat on the plan of the postal unions of the present. In this way, during his seven or eight years of service, each zerdar would visit every part of the world, and certainly gain an extensive knowledge of mankind; no impediment existing in the way of difference of language, or class feeling, to prevent free social or intellectual intercourse.

All this time, too, he was receiving good pay, and his education was carefully attended to. A certain portion of every day was assigned to advanced studies under teachers of the highest class. This, indeed, was the busiest and most hard-worked part of a man's life, the dangers of idleness being guarded against by almost constant occupation. This the young submitted to cheerfully, looking forward, as they did, to an assured life of comparative ease on the expiration of their period of service.

Most of them, too, were fortunate enough to be able to look forward to a happy rounding off of their life by a union with their other self, the fair complement of their otherwise incomplete personality. If not during the first year, yet, in the great majority of cases, during the remainder of their term of public service, they were happy in the