they might concede that abstract perfection was not to be had on Mars any more than elsewhere in these lower worlds, and that in heaven possibly society might be able to dispense with that present firm support which it derived from the system of Accident.
The dinner, which, as I afterwards learnt, proved in its way an immense success, was attended by a good sprinkling of Accidents; for the New Party is by no means confined to the other class any more than the Old Party is exclusively composed of Accidents. Indeed, this latter party consists of Accident-supporting Principles even much more largely, numerically, than of Accidents. I was interested, not to say amused, at the dinner, to mark the deference paid to the Accidents, quite irrespective of anything personal. One of these, who was placed next to myself, as the seat of highest honour, I found to have hardly an idea in his head, and to be much in my way in conversing with other and better filled heads beyond him. And yet, with these odd Marsians, it would have been quite a breach of usual propriety and courtesy to have put this helpless Accident anywhere else.
This dinner made rather a memorable occasion. There was much mutual compliment flying about on all sides. New Party views were decidedly uppermost. But as some of the speechifying was considered rather extreme for average Marsian opinion, we were warned to prepare for a counterblast. This was to come from the leading journal of the planet, the famous
