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as to form six leafy arches; and among the trees, bushes of myrtle.

"Will, these rows of trees serve two purposes. They increase the strength of the new levee, and greatly beautify the river front. Such scenes can be enjoyed all along the river front, which is the place where the people come in the afternoon, after work is over, to take a walk and enjoy the cool river breeze. It is our favorite promenade."

"You are indeed fortunate. But the steamships-where do they cast anchor? Their smoke does not seem to spoil this beautiful promenade."

"Not at all. They increase the beauty of it; especially in the evening when they are illuminated. You forget that we no more have steamships, but electric ships, and they, as our new generation of men, do not smoke."

"I did not think of that."

"Down the river we have four big storehouses for the loading of cargoes. That work is almost entirely done by electric machines."

"Are the same methods of generating used as in the old times ?"

"The problem attacked in our times by Dr. Borchers, of Duisburg, of cold combustion of the gaseous products of coal and oil in a gas battery, and its direct conversion into electrical energy has been solved; and the utilization of coal without the wasteful intervention of the steam engine is to-day an accomplished fact."

"Let us go and see Canal street. If you have beautified all the streets I can fancy what Canal street must be."

"It is indeed one of our most beautiful thoroughfares. But it is no more called Canal street; it is Washington Boulevard now. Let us take the automobile just passing. It will carry us to the part of the boulevard which you will most admire."

While smoothly gliding along at a rate of twenty miles an hour we passed one of the sub-departments for the delivery of commodities.

"Doctor, all these beautiful squares! All these splendid restaurants and shops! What-”

"Have a little patience. I will explain everything to you at the right time."

People in the automobile were looking at my old friend with deep curiosity as he asked me questions. In a few minutes we reached the most beautiful square, where Dewey boulevard crosses Washington boulevard. To describe the astonishment of Will when he found himself confronting the marvelous Dewey Memorial Arch is quite impossible. And really, the handsome square, in the middle of which stands our masterpiece of modern architecture, the vista down the two avenues, and the whole enchanting panorama of the city is worthy of any one's admiration. I never go there without being impressed to the degree of solemnity. Washington and Dewey Boulevards, the latter (once Claiborne avenue) prolonged in a straight line to opposite sides of the city, are doubtless two of the most beautiful boulevards in the world. And this is not because of the magnificent public buildings and beautiful cottages; not because of the lovely gardens and groves; not because of their great length which makes them appear unending; but because of all these things combined, and, above all, those rows of chinaberry trees, alternated with magnolias, which, with their evergreen leaves, for miles give those streets the appearance of drives through tropical forests. Visiting Europeans speak of this as New Orleans' greatest attraction.

"Doctor, I cannot find words to express my sense of the beauty of this place. Why did I remain away so long?

St. Charles avenue, how handsome it must be, judging from what I have seen of the city."

"You mean Bellamy Boulevard. Yes, it is also one of our most beautiful avenues."

“Oh, you named it in honor of the author of 'Looking Backward,' did you not? I remember reading the book before going to Persia."

"Yes, I wish that he might have lived to witness this realization of his hopes."

"What symmetry marks the city as a whole! New Orleans seems lost among trees and flowers."

"Yes, according to the plan drawn by the commission of engineers and upon the request of both physicians and landscape artists, in every street were planted trees; and of the entire area of the city more than one-sixth was transformed into gardens. Every variety of tree and flower which Louisiana can produce was made to grow."

"But is this display of trees and flowers not almost too luxurious ?"

"We physicians said that every city must be in the midst of a wood. Oxygen is to the lungs what wholesome food is to the stomach. It was a very strange thing in our past social disorder. Efforts were made to keep trees, but not where they were most necessary. Is this not too luxurious? you say. Why, it cannot be so. Are flowers not nature's dress of love? Does not nature, when in full bloom, look like a bride? Is there any vision that can surpass her in beauty? Can you conceive an Eden without flowers? Can there be anything else which can so increase the happiness of a people? This display of colors, this glorious beauty, this delicious variety of odors, are the true elixir which makes men live and dream and love."

CHAPTER II.

We descended. My old friend showed in his face the satisfaction he felt in seeing his dear birthplace transformed into an Eden. He exclaimed:

"Yes, doctor, I was and am a Socialist; but to tell you the truth, at that epoch I never thought that under a Socialist administration men could have achieved such wonders! Oh! father! Why are you not living? You thought that Socialism would lead to anarchy. What are all the luxuries of the Persian court, which you liked so much, compared to what I now see?"

Look

"But you have seen very little of our city and us." "Very little, you say! What more can I see?" “Well, until now, you have seen barely the beginning, I should say, of what medical science has achieved. at the houses. I regret that I forgot to have you look at mine, but any way, I shall describe to you how they are built; and this evening you will see the inside of one with your own eyes. You notice that every house is isolated and has many windows. Thus the air circulates constantly through every room, and when all the windows are open in the morning the air is entirely renewed. Closets are removed from the houses. New inventions, coupled with stringent municipal regulations, have entirely removed this constant danger to health under the old régime. A modern bathroom is near the sleeping rooms. Every room is provided with a heating apparatus corresponding to the necessities of hygiene, and with which, in winter time, when necessary, we warm the rooms at our pleasure. Electric

fans are placed in every part of the house in summer time. Now, there seems to be a new discovery through which liquid air will be utilized to cool our dwellings. Electricity is used for illumination."

"And the kitchen ?"

"There are no kitchens in the houses."

"Do you eat no more, or have you discovered some wonderful elixir of life which keeps men alive without eating? I tell you that anything of the kind would not meet my approval, because I would not renounce for anything in the world our delicious lunches and dinners."

"Even the meals prepared from the meat touched by that young man we saw in the shop, and cooked by the consumptive person ?"

"Please do not force me to see that again. You have no idea how my mind was troubled for a long time after that day; you made me almost tired of living.'

"Do not fear. Even if I would, I could not. You will understand later. But now I can assure you that you shall have a breakfast and afterward a dinner such as you have never eaten in New Orleans, at Teheran with the Shahinshah, nor in any European capital of the old time. Do you feel hungry?"

"Not yet; it is early for breakfast. And beside, I know nothing of your new restaurant system and its schedules. So I will leave it with you. When the time for breakfast comes you will please tell me. Now I am more than anxious to understand all about the new life. Though I studied Socialist ecenomics I did not fancy half of what I see, and I have seen but very little, you say. You will remember that in those days there were many problems suggested by our adversaries for which we could find no clear solution; above all, those concerning the 'intellectuals.' I never was able to understand perfectly how doctors could

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