regard to obedience. And Tertullian agrees with the Glossary,
that the first Christians had everything in common except
wives.


Capt. These things I know little of. But this I saw among
the inhabitants of the City of the Sun, that they did not make
this exception. And they defend themselves by the opinion of
Socrates, of Cato, of Plato, and of St. Clement; but, as you say,
they misunderstand the opinions of these thinkers. And the
inhabitants of the solar city ascribe this to their want of educa-
tion, since they are by no means learned in philosophy. Never-
theless, they send abroad to discover the customs of nations,
and the best of these they always adopt. Practice makes the
women suitable for war and other duties. Thus they agree with
Plato, in whom I have read these same things. The reasoning
of our Cajetan does not convince me, and least of all that of
Aristotle. This thing, however, existing among them is ex-
cellent and worthy of imitation -- viz., that no physical defect
renders a man incapable of being serviceable except the decrepi-
tude of old age, since even the deformed are useful for consulta-
tion. The lame serve as guards, watching with the eyes which
they possess. The blind card wool with their hands, separating
the down from the hairs, with which latter they stuff the
couches and sofas; those who are without the use of eyes and
hands give the use of their ears or their voice for the conven-
ience of the State, and if one has only one sense he uses it in the
farms. And these cripples are well treated, and some become
spies, telling the officers of the State what they have heard.