What is Rand alluding to when she mentions the dust? What does she mean by hid great secrets and perhaps great evils? What has Equality begun to understand about the people from which he comes?

In Chapter Ten, Rand mention dust in relation to a few articles.... all archaic, namely, clothing. The great secrets and evils are those things which are mysterious.... the things they're not supposed to know about, let alone study or gain wisdom from. Equality begins to understand that the people from which he comes are free thinkers.... knowledgeable men.