unknown. Grafting doth it not; it
mendeth the fruit or doubleth the flowers, etc.; but it
hath not the power to make a new kind. For the scion
ever over-ruleth the stock."--_Bacon's_ 'Sylva
Sylvarum.']

XXXVIII.

PAPER.

"...A handmaid and messenger of Memory.
A recorder of the aspirations of Genius."

There is a peculiarity in the leaf of the Allmanyuka which I will now
mention; but, to make myself intelligible, I must give you some few
facts about our paper, of which we have an unlimited supply, and which
is made from the leaves of nearly every kind of tree, gathered just
before they begin to fade, but whilst still green. Dead leaves are used
for other purposes.

The leaves of some trees make finer paper than others, and, though every
kind of leaf is available, one kind only at a time is used to make paper
of the finest quality. Mixed leaves are used to make paper of a common
and coarser kind.

All papers, when dried in the sun, have a glossy surface, and none can
be torn, or ignited by the application of fire; the paper will smoulder,
but not burst into flame. Our paper is transparent, and is besides so
very light, soft, and pliable, that in warm weather it is used for
children's dresses. Very pretty it is to see the graceful movements of
the little creatures' limbs through the pellucid costumes, which are
made complete without a seam, the material being most beautifully fine,
like one of the silk gauzes of your India.

In our world it was well known that paper could be made from rags, but
this material was not as plentiful as leaves, and we discovered,
moreover, that it was injurious to the workmen, whilst the manufacture
from leaves not only produces a paper far superior to that made with
rags, but is a most healthful occupation.

Our trees are, I believe, more numerous than yours; but you have many
trees even in Europe from the leaves of which excellent paper of a kind
similar to ours could be made, as, for instance, the ho

Another World

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