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I answer that though we cannot SEE angles； we can INFER them； and
this with great precision。 Our sense of touch； stimulated by necessity； and
developed by long training； enables us to distinguish angles far more
accurately than your sense of sight； when unaided by a rule or measure of
angles。 nor must I omit to explain that we have great natural helps。 It is
with us a Law of Nature that the brain of the Isosceles class shall begin at
half a degree； or thirty minutes； and shall increase （if it increases at all） by
half a degree in every generation until the goal of 60 degrees is reached；
when the condition of serfdom is quitted； and the freeman enters the class
of Regulars。
Consequently； Nature herself supplies us with an ascending scale or
Alphabet of angles for half a degree up to 60 degrees； Specimen of which
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are placed in every Elementary School throughout the land。 Owing to
occasional retrogressions； to still more frequent moral and intellectual
stagnation； and to the extraordinary fecundity of the Criminal and
Vagabond classes； there is always a vast superfluity of individuals of the
half degree and single degree class； and a fair abundance of Specimens up
to 10 degrees。 These are absolutely destitute of civil rights； and a great
number of them； not having even intelligence enough for the purposes of
warfare； are devoted by the States to the service of education。 Fettered
immovably so as to remove all possibility of danger； they are placed in the
classrooms of our Infant Schools； and there they are utilized by the Board
of Education for the purpose of imparting to the offspring of the Middle
Classes the tact and intelligence which these wretched creatures
themselves are utterly devoid。
In some States the Specimens are occasionally fed and suffered to
exist for several years； but in the more temperate and better regulated
regions； it is found in the long run more advantageous for the educational
interests of the young； to dispense with food； and to renew the Specimens
every monthwhich is about the average duration of the foodless
existence of the Criminal class。 In the cheaper schools； what is gained by
the longer existence of the Specimen is lost； partly in the expenditure for
food； and partly in the diminished accuracy of the angles； which are
impaired after a few weeks of constant 〃feeling。〃 Nor must we forget to
add； in enumerating the advantages of the more expensive system； that it
tends； though slightly yet perceptibly； to the diminution of the redundant
Isosceles population an object which every statesman in Flatland
constantly keeps in view。 On the whole thereforealthough I am not
ignorant that； in many popularly elected School Boards； there is a reaction
in favour of 〃the cheap system〃 as it is called I am myself disposed to
think that this is one of the many cases in which expense is the truest
economy。
But I must not allow questions of School Board politics to divert me
from my subject。 Enough has been said； I trust； to shew that Recognition
by Feeling is not so tedious or indecisive a process as might have been
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Flatland
supposed； and it is obviously more trustworthy than Recognition by
hearing。 Still there remains； as has been pointed out above； the objection
that this method is not without danger。 For this reason many in the Middle
and Lower classes； and all without exception in the Polygonal and Circular
orders； prefer a third method； the description of which shall be reserved
for the nextSECTION。
SECTION 6 Of Recognition by Sight
I am about to appear very inconsistent。 In the previousSECTIONs I
have said that all figures in Flatland present the appearance of a straight
line； and it was added or implied； that it is consequently impossible to
distinguish by the visual organ between individuals of different classes：
yet now I am about to explain to my Spaceland critics how we are able to
recognize one another by the sense of sight。
If however the Reader will take the trouble to refer to the passage in
which Recognition by Feeling is stated to be universal； he will find this
qualification〃among the lower classes。〃 It is only among the higher
classes and in our more temperate climates that Sight Recognition is
practised。
That this power exists in any regions and for any classes is the result
of Fog； which prevails during the greater part of the year in all parts save
the torrid zones。 That which is with you in Spaceland an unmixed evil；
blotting out the landscape； depressing the spirits； and enfeebling the health；
is by us recognized as a blessing scarcely inferior to air itself； and as the
Nurse of arts and Parent of sciences。 But let me explain my meaning；
without further eulogies on this beneficent Element。
If Fog were non…existent； all lines would appear equally and
indistinguishably clear； and this is actually the case in those unhappy
countries in which the atmosphere is perfectly dry and transparent。 But
wherever there is a rich supply of Fog； objects that are at a distance； say of
three feet； are appreciably dimmer than those at the distance of two feet
eleven inches； and the result is that by careful and constant experimental
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observation of comparative dimness and clearness； we are enabled to infer
with great exactness the configuration of the object observed。
An instance will do more than a volume of generalities to make my
meaning clear。
Suppose I see two individuals approaching whose rank I wish to
ascertain。 They are； we will suppose； a Merchant and a Physician； or in
other words； an Equilateral Triangle and a Pentagon； how am I to
distinguish them？
It will be obvious； to every child in Spaceland who has touched the
thresh