Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/290

 surroundings of the house, in their customary high condition of neatness. On my expressing some surprise at the comparative absence of weeds, Utis explained,—

"By care continued through long ages, mankind have succeeded in extirpating the most noxious weeds. Of that you have seen an example in the case of the thistle. It makes an enormous difference in the amount of labor requisite for cultivation."

On a subsequent occasion, when expressing some apprehension in respect to the probable appearance of the mosquito to interfere with our enjoyment of the summer evenings, he had been somewhat amused at the idea. It was much as if some visitor among us from the Orient should take it for granted that fleas and similar insects are as naturally to be expected as denizens of our sleeping apartments, as they are in those of his native land. The appearance of mosquitoes in a district would have been regarded as reflecting quite as great discredit on the population, as would among us the appearance of the above-mentioned denizens in a house.

"We regard them as a not unuseful little pest," said he; "since they indicate the existence of some undesirable sanitary conditions, that must be discovered and put an end to."

On descending to breakfast, I found that Reva had returned home, summoned by her father, who announced the reported approach of a great storm from the West.

"I wish I had known this earlier," remarked Utis.

"We need not have worked quite so vigorously as we did, seeing that we have a day of vigorous exertion before us."