If our highly pointed Triangles of the Soldier class are formidable, it may be readily
inferred that far more formidable are our Women. For if a Soldier is a wedge, a Woman
is a needle; being, so to speak, ALL point, at least at the two extremities. Add to this the
power of making herself practically invisible at will, and you will perceive that a Female,
in Flatland, is a creature by no means to be trifled with.
But here, perhaps, some of my younger Readers may ask HOW a woman in Flatland can
make herself invisible. This ought, I think, to be apparent without any explanation.
However, a few words will make it clear to the most unreflecting.
Place a needle on a table. Then, with your eye on the level of the table, look at it side-
ways, and you see the whole length of it; but look at it end-ways, and you see nothing but
a point, it has become practically invisible. Just so is it with one of our Women. When
her side is turned towards us, we see her as a straight line; when the end containing her
eye or mouth -- for with us these two organs are identical -- is the part that meets our eye,
then we see nothing but a highly lustrous point; but when the back is presented to our
view, then -- being only sub-lustrous, and, indeed, almost as dim as an inanimate object --
her hinder extremity serves her as a kind of Invisible Cap.
The dangers to which we are exposed from our Women must now be manifest to the
meanest capacity in Spaceland. If even the angle of a respectable Triangle in the middle
class is not without its dangers; if to run against a Working Man involves a gash; if
collision with an officer of the military class necessitates a serious wound; if a mere
touch from the vertex of a Private Soldier brings with it danger of death; -- what can it be
to run against a Woman, except absolute and immediate destruction? And when a
Woman is invisible, or visible only as a dim sub-lustrous point, how difficult must it be,
even for the most cautious, always to avoid collision!
Many are the enactments made at different times in the different States of Flatland, in
order to minimize this peril; and in the Southern and less temperate climates where the
force of gravitation is greater, and human beings more liable to casual and involuntary
motions, the Laws concerning Women are naturally much more stringent. But a general
view of the Code may be obtained from the following summary: --
1. Every house shall have one entrance in the Eastern side, for the use of Females only;
by which all females shall enter "in a becoming and respectful manner" and not by the
Men's or Western door. [Note: When I was in Spaceland I understood that some of your
Priestly circles have in the same way a separate entrance for Villagers, Farmers and
Teachers of Board Schools (`Spectator', Sept. 1884, p. 1255) that they may "approach in
a becoming and respectful manner."]
2. No Female shall walk in any public place without continually keeping up her Peace-
cry, under penalty of death.
