Flatland
5
in our homes and out of them, by day and by night, equally at all times and
in all places, whence we know not. It was in old days, with our learned
men, an interesting and oft-investigate question, "What is the origin of
light?" and the solution of it has been repeatedly attempted, with no other
result than to crowd our lunatic asylums with the would-be solvers. Hence,
after fruitless attempts to suppress such investigations indirectly by
making them liable to a heavy tax, the Legislature, in comparatively recent
times, absolutely prohibited them. I--alas, I alone in Flatland--know now
only too well the true solution of this mysterious problem; but my
knowledge cannot be made intelligible to a single one of my countrymen;
and I am mocked at --I, the sole possessor of the truths of Space and of the
theory of the introduction of Light from the world of three Dimensions--as
if I were the maddest of the mad! But a truce to these painful digressions:
let me return to our homes.
The most common form for the construction of a house is five-sided or
pentagonal, as in the annexed figure. The two Northern sides RO, OF,
constitute the roof, and for the most part have no doors; on the East is a
small door for the Women; on the West a much larger one for the Men; the
South side or floor is usually doorless.
Square and triangular houses are not allowed, and for this reason. The
angles of a Square (and still more those of an equilateral Triangle,) being
much more pointed than those of a Pentagon, and the lines of inanimate
objects (such as houses) being dimmer than the lines of Men and Women,
it follows that there is no little danger lest the points of a square of
triangular house residence might do serious injury to an inconsiderate or
perhaps absentminded traveller suddenly running against them: and
therefore, as early as the eleventh century of our era, triangular houses
were universally forbidden by Law, the only exceptions being
fortifications, powder-magazines, barracks, and other state buildings,
which is not desirable that the general public should approach without
circumspection.
At this period, square houses were still everywhere permitted, though
discouraged by a special tax. But, about three centuries afterwards, the
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