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diff --git a/old/14770-h.zip b/old/14770-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c9084b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14770-h.zip diff --git a/old/14770-h/14770-h.htm b/old/14770-h/14770-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3152c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14770-h/14770-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6827 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Life in a Thousand Worlds, by William Shuler Harris</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; left: 12%; text-align: left;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Life in a Thousand Worlds, by William Shuler +Harris</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Life in a Thousand Worlds</p> +<p>Author: William Shuler Harris</p> +<p>Release Date: January 23, 2005 [eBook #14770]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE IN A THOUSAND WORLDS***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Steven desJardins<br /> + and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 414px;"> +<a name="IMG1" id="IMG1" /><img src="images/image-1.jpg" width="414" height="600" alt="REV. W. S. HARRIS" title="" /> +<b>REV. W. S. HARRIS</b> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<h1>Life in a Thousand Worlds</h1> + +<h2>By Rev. W. S. Harris.</h2> + + +<h4>AUTHOR OF <i>MR. WORLD AND MISS CHURCH-MEMBER</i>, +<i>MODERN FABLES AND PARABLES</i>, <i>SERMONS +BY THE DEVIL</i>, ETC., ETC.</h4> + +<h4>ILLUSTRATED.</h4> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h6>Published by +the Minter Company, +Harrisburg, Pa.</h6> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h4>1905</h4> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="center"> +<span>TO</span><br /> +<br /> +<span>MY MOTHER</span><br /> +<br /> +<span>WHO FOR MY GOOD COUNTED NONE OF<br /> +HER SACRIFICES TOO GREAT AND<br /> +WHO IS NOW RECEIVING HER<br /> +REWARD IN THE CELESTIAL<br /> +LIFE THIS VOLUME IS<br /> +LOVINGLY</span> +<br /> +<span>DEDICATED.</span> +</div> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/decorative.png" width="15%" alt="Decorative element" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h3>Illustrations.</h3> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='center'>1.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG1">Portrait of the Author</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>2.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG2">Gazing at the Starry Firmament</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>3.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG3">A City on the Moon</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>4.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG4">How a "Trust" Monopolizes Rain and Light on Mars</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>5.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG5">The Largest Telescope in the Universe</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>6.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG6">An Air Ship on Saturn</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>7.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG7">Living in Fire on a Fixed Star</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>8.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG8">Fishing for Land Animals</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>9.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG9">Monopolizing Liquid Air on Airess</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>10.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG10">Floating Cities of Plasden</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>11.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG11">A Captive on a Planet of Duhbe</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>12.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG12">The Millennial Dawn</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>13.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG13">Low-life Warfare on Scum</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>14.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG14">Battle Between "Flying Devils" in the Air</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>15.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG15">"Trusts" in the Diamond World</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>16.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG16">Tunnel Through Holen's Center</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>17.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG17">A Scene of Rejoicing in Brief</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>18.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG18">Beautiful Plume and Her Wings</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>19.</td><td align='left'><a href="#IMG19">A Glimpse of Heaven</a></td></tr> +</table> + + + +<h3>Contents.</h3> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#PREFACE">PREFACE.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></td><td align='left'>Are There More Worlds Than One?</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></td><td align='left'>A Visit to the Moon</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></td><td align='left'>A Visit to Mars</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></td><td align='left'>A Glimpse of Jupiter</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></td><td align='left'>Beautiful Saturn</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></td><td align='left'>The Nearest Fixed Star</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></td><td align='left'>The Water World Visited</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></td><td align='left'>Tor-tu</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></td><td align='left'>A Problem in Political Economy</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></td><td align='left'>Floating Cities</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a></td><td align='left'>A World of Ideal Cities</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></td><td align='left'>A World Enjoying Its Millennium</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></td><td align='left'>A World of High Medical Knowledge</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></td><td align='left'>A World of Low Life</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></td><td align='left'>A World of Highest Invention</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></td><td align='left'>A Singular Planet</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></td><td align='left'>The Diamond World</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td><td align='left'>Triumphant Feat of Orion</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></td><td align='left'>The Mute World</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></td><td align='left'>Brief</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a></td><td align='left'>The Life on Wings</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td><td align='left'>Heaven</td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Synopsis_of_Contents" id="Synopsis_of_Contents" />Synopsis of Contents.</h2> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>Are There More Worlds Than One?</h4> + +<p>Why are countless worlds swinging in the endless regions of space? +The author believes that thousands are inhabited by intelligent +beings.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>A Visit to the Moon.</h4> + +<p>Description of a novel city of over 60,000 Moonites. The +inhabitants of the Moon are described as dwarfs having no noses +because they live by eating solid air. Their odd houses, +expressive paintings, strange religion, wonderful history, novel +government, happy home life, etc., interestingly described.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>A Visit to Mars.</h4> + +<p>Marsites described as giants needing four arms. The ultimate +results of capitalistic oppression graphically portrayed by a +curtain system. The description of the Marsite curtain system +embodies a tremendous thrust at monopolistic trusts, and should be +read by Americans by the millions. The author captured by Marsmen. +Illustration.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>A Glimpse of Jupiter.</h4> + +<p>Jupiterites described as colossal giants averaging twenty-five +feet in height. Their language a marvel of simplicity far +surpassing the English language. What Jupiterites can see with +their powerful magnifying lenses. The author looked, through their +largest telescope and saw ships sailing in New York City harbor. +Illustration.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h4>Beautiful Saturn.</h4> + +<p>Physical features. Woman the ruling genius. Excursions in +airships. Illustration. Marvelous language-music. Churches on +Saturn far better than those on Earth.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h4>The Nearest Fixed Star.</h4> + +<p>The inhabitants of Alpha Centaurus live as comfortably in fire as +Earthites live in air or fishes in water. One of their aerial fire +carriages described. Illustration.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<h4>The Water World Visited.</h4> + +<p>On Stazza the people live in water about as fishes do on Earth. +Their homes and cities under water described. Fishing for land +animals. Illustration. Some of their inventions far surpass those +of our own world.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h4>Tortu.</h4> + +<p>A far more beautiful world than ours. The moral life of Tortu the +cleanest found in any world, and interesting reasons given.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XI</h3> + +<h4>A Problem in Political Economy.</h4> + +<p>On Airess the inhabitants live on liquid air, and hence have +neither noses nor lungs. Monopolists control liquid air on Airess +as petroleum is controlled on Earth. Illustration. Method of +breaking up the power of monopolies. This chapter is worth reading +by millions of American men and women.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<h4>Floating Cities.</h4> + +<p>Palaces and large cities built on water. Illustration. A number of +wonderful inventions described. Far surpass our world in reform +movements.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<h4>A World of Ideal Cities.</h4> + +<p>Inhabitants described. Author made captive. Rich and poor. Ideal +cities, how governed.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> + +<h4>A World Enjoying Its Millennium.</h4> + +<p>How the Millennium was ushered in. The conditions under which +millennial life is enjoyed.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> + +<h4>A World of High Medical Knowledge.</h4> + +<p>On Dorelyn four billions of inhabitants all enjoy perfect health. +The government controls the whole field of medical science just as +we do the post office department. No patent medicine on Dorelyn. +Many new ideas picked up in medicine and surgery.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> + +<h4>A World of Low Life.</h4> + +<p>On Scum exist the lowest conditions of life found in any stellar +world. "Notched Rod" language explained. Lizard like human forms. +No Scumite knows who is his father or mother. A big Scumite battle +witnessed. Illustration.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> + +<h4>A World of Highest Invention.</h4> + +<p>A fertilizer invented making possible the raising of six crops in +one of our years. A Tube Line for passenger and freight traffic. +Wonderful storage batteries. A telephone that not only carries +sound, but transmits the gestures and faces of the speakers. +Thought photography.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> + +<h4>A Singular Planet.</h4> + +<p>On Zik decisive battles between nations are not fought by armies +on land or navies on the sea, but by flying war ships called +Flying Devils sailing in the air. A battle witnessed. +Illustration. A practical way of settling the strife between +capital and labor. The art of maintaining youthful vigor in old +ago.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> + +<h4>The Diamond World.</h4> + +<p>On the brightest planets of the universe diamonds are as plenty as +soil is on our Earth, but soil is as scarce and valuable as +diamonds are in our world. The heart-rending oppression of the +"Soil Trust" in the Diamond World portrayed. Illustration. The +insatiable greed of "Trusts" follows the poor people into their +sepulchers.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> + +<h4>Triumphant Feat of Orion.</h4> + +<p>Description of a tunnel through the center of Holen, a globe 500 +miles in diameter. Illustration of passenger car used. Its +operation explained.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> + +<h4>The Mute World.</h4> + +<p>Muteites have no audible language. They converse by pure thought +transmission, and no one can conceal evil thoughts. When a Muteite +criminal is brought before a Court of Justice the doors of his +soul are unlocked so that all past thought-images, photographed on +the sensitive living plates of his mind, are thrown open to view. +No hypocrisy, no conventional lying.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XX.</h3> + +<h4>Brief.</h4> + +<p>The world of Brief sustains the shortest lived human beings of our +universe. What we in our world crowd into seventy or eighty years +of life the Briefites crowd into the narrow compass of about four +years of our time. Journalism, footwear, raiment, transportation, +public highways, business, religious life, etc., portrayed under +such mad-rush environments.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> + +<h4>The Life on Wings.</h4> + +<p>The inhabitants of Swift are charmingly beautiful, and many of +them can be seen gracefully moving on wings through the air. A +charming conversation with Plume, the most beautiful woman in the +universe. Illustration.</p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER XXII.</h3> + +<h4>Heaven.</h4> + +<p>Its greatness, permanency, inhabitants, degrees, seven typos of +intelligences, unity, employments, transportation, sexual +affinities, structural aspects, etc., uniquely portrayed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE" />PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>Any person having a reasonable education will admit that there are many +planetary worlds besides the one on which we live. But whether or not +they are inhabited is an open question with most people. We had been in +doubt on this point for many years, but now we are settled in our +conviction that human life exists in many different worlds of space. We +can give no proof of this except that we have just returned from the +greatest journey we ever took. We went from world to world over long +distances of space as easily as one could go from place to place on the +surface of our earth. <i>This was a journey of the soul</i>, for surely flesh +and bone could not have traveled such amazing distances. At times we +were lost to this world, being entirely absorbed in the glimpses of +other worlds that were flashing upon our view in happy succession.</p> + +<p>It can been seen without saying that this book contains no more than a +fragment of the things we saw and heard—the fragment that is most +easily understood by human creatures born under the rules and +regulations of this little dark world of ours.</p> + +<p>There are, in certain other worlds, such wide extremes of bodily +formation and mental capacities, that a picture of them in word or art +would only be unbearable and in some instances decidedly revolting, just +because we are trained here to one set of standards and chained to one +surface of world conditions. It will be different in the after-death +life to those who are wise enough to be pure and good in this world.</p> + +<p>To make the book as practical as possible we have given a picture of +some worlds where human life is inferior to ours, and of others where it +is vastly superior,—saying nothing of the millennial life which we +found in far off space.</p> + +<p>Comparisons are made throughout the book between the life, habits, and +customs of other worlds and our own. In picturing the low life of +certain worlds we are led to see what a highly favored and greatly +civilized people we are, and in describing the human achievements of +certain other worlds we are led to see how short a distance we have +traveled in the path of human glory and civilization.</p> + +<p>We have also endeavored to set forth in this humble volume the common +relation of all rational creatures of all worlds to one Infinite +Creator. We do not question the truth of this fact, and those who ask +for proof must wait to find it.</p> + +<p>We hope that this book will be inspiring to every thoughtful mind who +loves to learn more and more of the great system of intelligent life of +which the human creatures of this world form one link in the chain. If +the reading of this volume should open to your mind numberless +suggestions and compel you to ask a host of questions, perhaps you will +do as we have done,—spend a long time in training your wings to be +swift enough to take the journey yourself. If you will not do this, you +must patiently wait until the clods of clay are shaken off, so that your +free spirit may go out to live the life more vast in other worlds.</p> + +<p>We pray that the highest kind of good may result from the truths here +advanced. If this shall be accomplished, we shall have our best reward +for having given this book to the printing press.</p> + +<p>Truly yours,</p> + +<p><i>THE AUTHOR</i>.</p> + +<p><i>December, 1904</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION" />INTRODUCTION.</h2> + + +<p>It may seem like great exaggeration to say that this is one of the most +interesting and profitable books that has been placed upon the American +book market for many years. <i>It follows no old rut; it has found a new +path</i>, and the reader is permitted to walk in regions which he never saw +and of which he never read before. It is indeed a triumph of literary +genius to give a picture of intelligent life in other worlds upon a +scientific and philosophical basis. Other writers have attempted to give +a description of conditions on the Moon, Mars, or some other single +planet, but no one has succeeded in picturing the mysteries of life in a +number of star worlds with such a fascination as is here found.</p> + +<p>Some one may say that the book is only a work of imagination, but we +challenge any one to produce a book that gives more timely thrusts at +the evils of our present day life. By showing how the people of other +worlds have fallen into their sad conditions the author sounds a note of +warning to the people of this world, and by giving a glimpse of the +manner in which other worlds have reached their great triumphs, he gives +to the people of our world a spur to loftier ideals, to greater +inventions, and to a purer life.</p> + +<p>The publisher of this volume is proud to put upon the market a book of +such high value and dignity. It is quite unusual for the subscription +book market to see such a princely book come into its midst. Here we +have ten dollars worth of <i>new ideas</i>, packed into cream form, all for +one dollar, and we positively assert that nothing like it can be found +anywhere in literature. <i>Great books have no companions.</i></p> + +<p>The illustrations are from the masterly hands of an artist of special +merit for this class of work. He happily places himself into the midst +of other worlds in order to draw the beautiful pictures that illustrate +and adorn this volume. The illustrations are well worth careful +examination and when studied in connection with the reading matter they +are seen in their greatest beauty and value. <i>The Publishers</i></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<a name="IMG2" id="IMG2" /><img src="images/image-2.jpg" width="390" height="600" alt="Looking Towards a Thousand Worlds." title="" /> +<b>Looking Towards a Thousand Worlds.</b> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I" />CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>Are There More Worlds Than One?</h3> + + +<p>Our world is large enough to excite our interest and invite our study +until we close our eyes in death. Yet there are countless other orbs +scattered through the solar system and throughout the vast stretches of +the starry heavens. Some of these worlds are smaller than ours, but the +majority of them are hundreds or thousands of times larger.</p> + +<p>Looking away from our solar system, we find that each star is a sun, in +most instances the center of a group of worlds. So, for the lack of a +better phrase, we shall say that there are millions of solar systems +distributed through limitless space, each one serving its part in the +great universal plan.</p> + +<p>For what purpose are all these immense worlds shining and swinging in +the depths of immensity? Could it be possible that they are nothing more +than vast pieces of dead machinery, barren of all vegetable growth and +intelligent life, whereon desolation and solitude forever prevail?</p> + +<p>Our own Earth is inhabited by a large variety of living forms ranging +from the microscopic bacteria and animalcula to the glorious form of man +with all his superior endowments. The air, earth and water are teeming +with their billions of sensitive creatures; even a breath of air, a drop +of water, or a leaf on a tree often contains a miniature world of living +forms.</p> + +<p>Amidst all this confusing animation around us, is it not absurd to +suppose that other worlds, larger or smaller than our own, are barren of +all life, and that from them no songs of thanksgiving ever arise to the +Maker and Ruler of all things?</p> + +<p>Such a supposition not only gives us a strange view of the character and +attributes of God, but is at once repulsive to our instincts; anyone +wishing to accept it may do so, but as for me and for a large company of +my kind, we prefer to give a larger meaning to creation and a higher +glory to the Creator.</p> + +<p>Let no one doubt that the universe is full of intelligent life, in +myriad types of existence and infinite stages of development. Physically +speaking, one cannot imagine the countless variety of ways in which +flesh and bone may congregate around the human brain to make a sentient +and intelligent creature.</p> + +<p>Confined as we are to our little dark world, we know by sight of only +one way in which the brain conveys its messages and serves its ends, +namely, through a body of one hundred pounds or more of flesh and bone, +formed erect, and capable of rendering service upon a moment's notice. +Therefore some of us are conceited enough to believe that we are the +most perfect and beautiful beings of the universe, the highest +expression of creative art, and that all other creatures in a million +orbs take a secondary place.</p> + +<p>True enough, we occupy an honored position in the scale of creation, but +while the people of many worlds are beneath us, yet there are many more +planets whereon human genius has surpassed us, and we must be modest +enough to take our rightful place in the drama of the worlds.</p> + +<p>"How many planets, how many suns, how many milky ways are there?" you +ask in one breath. Speaking alone of our own universe, of which the +Milky Way is the backbone, I estimate that if we multiply the number of +stars by forty-nine, we shall have the approximate number of worlds that +are large enough to be classed with the family of inhabited planets.</p> + +<p>In our immediate universe there are at least one hundred million stars, +a number of which have over five hundred worlds revolving around them; +others have only six or ten. The average, as above stated, is estimated +at forty-nine. Then, also, far out in the depths of space, there are +nebulous spots visible only through the most searching lenses. These are +new systems of milky ways or new universes, so immensely distant that +our most powerful telescopes cannot even resolve them into stars.</p> + +<p>There are inhabited worlds so far from us that, if one could travel the +distance around our Earth in one second, he could proceed in one +direction, at this rate of speed, for twenty million years and yet see +far ahead of him the flickering lights of numberless other inviting +suns and worlds.</p> + +<p>We cannot possibly grasp an idea of such infinite distances, neither can +we form any adequate conception of the long, long stretches between star +and star, which is the same as saying, between solar system and solar +system. In our Milky Way the stars seem to be crushed together into a +whitish jelly, but the awful truth looms up before us with all sublimity +that, although these stars seem to lie one upon another, they are +millions and trillions of miles apart.</p> + +<p>In regard to our own solar system much speculation is rife as to the +existence of human creatures on the several larger planets. Theories of +all kinds have been advanced; some speculative or absurd, others so +plausible as to give rise to interesting questions, such as +communicating with Mars, and perhaps of taking a journey to the Moon. +These suggestions, while fanciful, awaken our interest and excite our +curiosity. Can any one predict the excitement that would prevail in our +world if a human creature from some other planet were suddenly to set +foot upon our soil? We would fling a thousand questions at him to learn +something of the strange realm from which he came.</p> + +<p>And how great would be our amazement if we were to have the exalted +privilege of journeying to other worlds, seeing the types of human +creatures living there, and witnessing a thousand other things too +strange and wonderful to mention?</p> + +<p>I invite you to listen as I tell a condensed story of a number of worlds +which I have visited, all within the boundary line of our own universe. +I cannot even tell a tithe of what I saw and heard, but must content +myself with giving a passing view of a thousand worlds, some of which +are situated in a very distant corner of our universe.</p> + +<p>Well you may ask: "How could you travel from world to world and see the +various forms of human life, and then remain alive to tell a part of the +marvelous tale?"</p> + +<p>If it is a mystery to you, it is also a mystery to me. I cannot describe +the pinions that carried me, nor tell whence came the strength that +moved my wings, any more than I can explain by what process I was +preserved alive in worlds of fire, in worlds of ice, and in worlds +without air. But the sight of all these things was as real to me as the +dreams of the night, and it must be admitted that dreams are often as +realistic as the acts of our wakeful moments.</p> + +<p>For many years I looked outward toward the starry firmament, and at +times a deep yearning possessed me to speed away to converse with the +inhabitants of other spheres.</p> + +<p>This hope I cherished so strongly that my thoughts completely +overpowered me, and ere I knew it I was living at the mercy of +indescribable emotions. All this continued during many revolutions of +the Earth on its axis. I felt as Columbus must have felt when he was +moving over strange waters. Then occurred the most notable event of my +life. In the twinkling of an eye I was caught away from the Earth and, +without any effort of my own, I was darting through space faster than a +sunbeam.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II" />CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>A Visit to the Moon.</h3> + + +<p>I was not prepared for the quick transit to our satellite, nor for the +views thrust upon me so suddenly. Before I could well collect my +thoughts I found myself in the immediate vicinity of the Moon and, +strange as it may seem, I was conscious of my surroundings and knew that +I had power to transport myself instantly to any place I might wish to +go.</p> + +<p>To see the Moon face to face gives a charming satisfaction which can +never be realized two hundred and forty thousand miles away. I was +conscious of my privilege and was determined to take all possible +advantage of it.</p> + +<p>Now how differently everything appeared from the views I had snatched +through the telescope while yet on the Earth. I could not see the "Man +in the Moon," whose grinning face had so often looked down upon me, but +from my first point of observation everything looked as if life had +never existed there and, consequently, I was about to conclude that no +human beings inhabit the Moon. This theory soon vanished, for after I +had traveled over a hundred miles I came to a thriving center of +population, the largest city on the sphere, inhabited by more than sixty +thousand rational beings.</p> + +<p>These creatures resemble us most strongly in their mental capacities, +though their bodies are out of harmony with ours, having three eyes and +no nose. The third eye is situated in the center of the forehead, and +the other two more toward the sides of the head.</p> + +<p>Life is not sustained by breathing a gaseous air as we do, so that the +sense of smell is performed by the protruded upper lip. At the voluntary +effort to catch scent the upper lip noticeably rolls upward into a +partial scroll.</p> + +<p>I was anxious to learn how the life of these Moonites is sustained +without breathing and, to my astonishment, I learned that they eat solid +air at intervals of about six hours. This is not taken in connection +with the regular food, but is eaten alone and carried into a separate +stomach wherein it is disintegrated by the chemical action of the +stomachic acids. The gases thus formed serve the same purpose as the air +we breathe into our lungs.</p> + +<p>According to the conjectures of some earthly astronomers I was expecting +to see a race of immense giants. On the contrary, I found that these +Moonites grow to only about one-fourth our height, but possess fully +three-fourths as much circumference of body. Notwithstanding that they +are so short and rotund, they are healthy and exceedingly quick in all +their bodily movements.</p> + +<p>No doubt I shall be chided for saying that these Moon-inhabitants are a +handsome people, but I was enabled to judge them by a universal standard +of beauty, and I looked upon them as a product of the same infinite +Creator who fashioned our mortal bodies with such marvelous adaptation +of means to end.</p> + +<p>One thing is sure, were a person from the Moon to set foot upon our +planet, he would estimate us to be as far out of harmony with his +standards of beauty as we should consider him to be out of harmony with +ours.</p> + +<p>As might be expected, these people are very peculiar in their habits. +There is a small percentage of the population who are bright stars +intellectually, while others are extremely indolent. When a person wins +a record for laziness, it is said of him: "He is too lazy to eat his +air."</p> + +<p>The large city to which I had come was indeed a novel sight. Its +buildings average in height one-third of ours, although they occupy +nearly as much ground space. They are composed almost totally of +non-combustible materials.</p> + +<p>The window panes are not made of a brittle substance like glass, but +resemble mica, except that they are more tough and durable. These +Moonites are wiser than we in roofing their houses. They have discovered +a mineral composition which in its plastic state is daubed over the +roof. This, upon hardening, is proof against all conditions of weather +and never needs replacing.</p> + +<p>There are many striking features in their architecture. In general, it +may be said that they are quite far advanced in constructive ability. +Some of their larger buildings look like soldiers' forts, others +resemble immense bee hives, while still others appear like odd-shaped +synagogues.</p> + +<p>We are their superiors in almost every line, especially in our knowledge +and use of electricity and photography, and also in our manufacturing +and scientific skill. However, they have decidedly surpassed us in +imitative and creative art.</p> + +<p>Their paintings express so accurately the emotions of the heart that I +found myself in tears as I saw their masterpieces. For a time I forgot +that I was on the Moon, so lost was I in elevated reflections all +suggested by their art creations. How I wished that I could have taken +some of these specimens with me!</p> + +<p>From the Moon our Earth looks like a large wagon-wheel hanging in the +heavens. It is amusing to learn of the various opinions and +superstitions that are held regarding this wagon-wheel world. Some of +the Moonites declare that it is a huge lantern, hung solely for their +benefit, and scoff at the idea that it might be a world inhabited by +civilized beings. More intelligent Moonites venture the theory that +human life could exist on the great wagon-wheel, but declare that this +is quite improbable, as the whole planet is enveloped by some thick, +smoky substance in which they believe it would be impossible for human +life to exist. Some look upon the Earth as the mother of the Moon, and +regard the Sun as the father. This sex idea runs through most of their +heathen religion, and there are more who worship the Earth and the Sun +than there are who worship the God who created these heavenly bodies.</p> + +<p>I prolonged my investigations without becoming visible, taking note of +numberless facts of interest which will ever be a source of pleasure and +value to me. At length, however, I concluded to take advantage of a +privilege and power I possessed and, becoming visible, I entered a quiet +room in the presence of a very distinguished man. He was by far the most +highly educated person on the Moon.</p> + +<p>I was more surprised than he, for I expected that he would be greatly +agitated at my unaccountable appearance. Imagine my surprise when he sat +motionless, gazing firmly into my face which to him was out of harmony +with all ideas of correct form.</p> + +<p>I was the first to speak, and although he had manifested outwardly such +self possession, I soon learned that it was a mere show of stoicism in +the presence of one whom he thought to be a spirit. In an incredibly +short time we were on easy speaking terms and I was gaining the object +of my visit.</p> + +<p>Among the many things of interest that I learned from this famous +character were facts concerning the history of the Moon. According to +the information he gave me, I figured that human life had existed on the +Moon thousands of years before its appearance on the Earth. +Scientifically I could not account for this on any other ground than +that the Moon, being a much smaller orb, cooled off sufficiently to +sustain life on its surface long before any form of life could exist on +our Earth.</p> + +<p>The Moonities of the old era were a prosperous and progressive people, +far outshining their successors who now occupy the sphere. After making +history for several thousand years, the human race had grown to one +hundred million in numbers, and civilization had reached a surprising +degree of perfection.</p> + +<p>In those long-ago ages the Moon was a much more fertile garden than now. +Luxury and refinement were enjoyed by the favored sons of that period, +and no one dreamed of the horrible fate that was to sweep practically +the whole race into the regions of death. My intelligent informer used +excessive language in trying to picture the unequaled catastrophe that +put an end to the old era.</p> + +<p>My interest was unbounded, and with awed breath I continued listening as +he described the cause of this great and terrible cataclysm.</p> + +<p>"It all occurred about five thousand years ago," he said. "The Moon was +shaken by subterraneous rumblings, followed by fiery ejections, covering +a period of nearly one and one-half wagon-wheel revolutions. Whole +cities were ruined, fertile valleys covered and human life was almost +annihilated."</p> + +<p>I knew what my informant meant by "one and one-half wagon-wheel +revolutions." This would be a period of about forty days and nights of +earthly time. Do you wonder that my mind flew back to the forty days and +nights of rain that destroyed, at one time, on our Earth, the whole +human family, except the few who were saved in the ark?</p> + +<p>"What are the evidences of this horrible world-ending?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"They are on every hand. Have you not yet seen the vast craters, the +mountains of barren cinder, the stumps of immense pillars, partly +excavated? All this, and very much more, silently unfolds a tale of +horror that can be faintly pictured only by the imagination. Think of a +holocaust so terrible that one hundred million human creatures are +thereby swept into death in the narrow compass of forty days! The +records that have been brought down to us by the few survivors indicate +the continual wails of horror rending the sky while the volcanic +disturbances continued. Thousands and millions ran from place to place +to find shelter from the storm of fire. At one place the surface would +open and at another the lava would run. Fate, with a merciless hand, +was dragging each one into one or another of the inevitable pits."</p> + +<p>"How many were saved?" I asked with deepening interest.</p> + +<p>"Parts of only eight families aggregating nineteen human beings."</p> + +<p>"And how many people are on the Moon now?"</p> + +<p>"Almost forty million."</p> + +<p>"How do you account for this slow growth?" I asked after I had explained +that on our globe a much larger number of inhabitants sprang from a +smaller number than nineteen in a shorter period of time.</p> + +<p>This allusion cost me much explanation, and, after I had selfishly +brushed his rising questions aside, I learned that large companies of +the Moonites had been swept into death by frequent volcanic outbursts +all along the line of the centuries.</p> + +<p>No one can estimate my interest as I continued the conversation. But +finally I decided to stroll through certain parts of the city and, +thinking it advisable to give no notice of my departure, I suddenly +vanished from his sight. However, before leaving the room, I observed +that my bewildered auditor conjectured for a long time and reached his +former conclusion that he had been in touch with an apparition.</p> + +<p>Again I resumed my visible form and walked along one of the principal +streets of the city. What novel sights greeted my eyes on every side! +One cannot well imagine what excitement I aroused. Citizens who first +saw me lifted their flabby arms in terror and ran to the city Bizen, a +place where every inhabitant, under oath, is obliged to carry special +news before communicating it elsewhere.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a name="IMG3" id="IMG3" /><img src="images/image-3.jpg" width="600" height="396" alt="Visiting a City on the Moon." title="" /> +<b>Visiting a City on the Moon.</b> +</div> + +<p>In a very short time the city Plins, or in our language, city +authorities, were coming toward me in their costly vehicles. They were +preceded, however, by what we would call a body guard. Imagine their +surprise to hear me shout at the top of my voice, which sounded to them +as thunder would to us: "You need not fear, I will do you no harm!"</p> + +<p>My voice had a magical effect on the assembling host of pigmies. They +looked at me with as much curiosity as I looked at them. I stepped over +their heads but was careful not to trample on the children who scampered +at my approach. If one could ship a car load of these children to the +Earth, they would make excellent dolls, for they range in size from only +six to ten inches. Finally, I sat on the roof of one of their lower +buildings to watch the gathering of the multitudes and study their +curious countenances.</p> + +<p>Some of the more educated, seeing that I was peacefully inclined, +ventured close to my knees and then looked the more intently into my +face, all of which was agreeable, as it enabled me to get a still closer +view of their faces.</p> + +<p>I saw that the whole city was turning out, and I wondered how the alarm +could have been given so speedily. Upon inquiry, a fine artist at my +side tremblingly explained that the Bizen wires had been touched for +block six. This meant that every house in the city had received notice +of an unusual occurrence in that section. I resolved to learn more of +this system and how it was operated without the aid of electricity.</p> + +<p>Now I was besieged by a pressing host. At once I commenced to speak in +Moon dialect. I told them whence I came, pointing to the large +wagon-wheel that hung in their heavens. After a short discourse, I +invited questions.</p> + +<p>One of their leaders stepped nearer to me and acted as the spokesman of +the crowd. His language and voice were of excellent quality and although +visibly agitated, he bore himself with commendable dignity. Let me here +translate our conversation into English.</p> + +<p>"How came you here?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"That I cannot explain."</p> + +<p>"Did you walk or run?"</p> + +<p>"I did neither."</p> + +<p>Surrendering this line of inquiry, he went on to ask the following +questions:</p> + +<p>"Are there more creatures than you where you came from?"</p> + +<p>"Large cities full of them."</p> + +<p>"Are they smaller than you?"</p> + +<p>"Their average height equals mine."</p> + +<p>"It must be a ponderous world of immense giants beyond the +comprehension of any inhabitant of our whole globe."</p> + +<p>"But just as I appear large to you, you appear unnaturally small to me," +I calmly added.</p> + +<p>"How came that lump in the middle of your face?"</p> + +<p>I knew the questioner referred to my nose. I took a good wholesome +laugh, and the large concourse of people watched my wrinkling face with +strange delight. The Moonites express all their emotions by exclamations +and almost infinite variations of the lower lip in conjunction with +their three eyes.</p> + +<p>I told the spokesman that the lump on my face was called "nose," using +our pronunciation, and that it grew there by nature and not by accident. +I also informed him that each person in our world had such a nose, at +which much merriment ensued. Lips twitched and quivered, as their eyes +blinked and rolled. It seemed to me like a hideous way to laugh, but no +doubt my nose seemed just as hideous to them.</p> + +<p>Then I explained all about our dense atmosphere, the part that air +played in our life, and what a fine convenience the nose is during +eating and speaking. Of course all this was unintelligible to them.</p> + +<p>I then busied myself in ascertaining the secret of their signal system. +I learned, much to my surprise, that with scarcely any knowledge of +electricity the Moonites had long ago discovered a means of +communication which is somewhat similar to our wireless telegraphy. From +central stations messages are transmitted to sensitive metal rods set up +on each house-top, somewhat like the lightning rods that decorate +house-tops on my own Earth. I also learned that a very thin atmosphere +is prevalent on the Moon, and that this rare medium is more suited to +their wireless telegraphy than our heavier atmosphere would be with its +different composition.</p> + +<p>I soon learned that great excitement was prevailing throughout the +adjacent villages. Wireless telegraphy carried the news, and from all +directions throngs were pressing toward the city. Furthermore I saw that +the noted personage with whom I had spent a quiet season was now making +his way toward me. Not wishing to hold further conversation with him, +and desiring to escape the ever-rising tide of curious questioners, I +once more became invisible and proceeded to study the physical phenomena +of the Moon.</p> + +<p>I now saw that everything bore evidence to the fearful havoc of volcanic +eruptions that had laid waste so large a portion of the Moon's surface. +The people live in the remaining fertile belts and patches of land which +are fortunately scattered in rich profusion over the greater portion of +the surface, reminding one of productive oases in the deserts of our +world.</p> + +<p>Here and there, in stately museums, are stored the relics of the old +glorious civilization. At a few of these places I tarried to study the +achievements of a people who flourished five thousand years ago, at a +time when the civilization of our world was yet young. What an interest +lay wrapped up in the time-worn relics! Naturally I thought of Pompeii +as I was viewing the antique treasures that had been brought to light +from their old graves of ashes, cinder and lava. In some of these +specimens I saw glimpses of inventions that have never been reproduced +on the Moon and never known on our Earth.</p> + +<p>Onward I moved to take my last views of the Moon. For ragged and jagged +cliffs of almost total barrenness, and yawning chasms lined with +intolerable precipices, the Moon outrivals the Earth. I took a passing +glimpse of the famous crater-mountains, called by our astronomers +Copernicus and Theophilus, the former situated in the eastern and the +latter in the western hemisphere of the Moon. The largest openings of +our Earth dwindle into insignificance compared with such stupendous +marvels of natural scenery.</p> + +<p>Many similar places I visited, but I spent my last hours on the Moon in +the presence of that gigantic chasm called Newton, where I was thrilled +with feelings of sublimity as never before. Outstretched lay the immense +opening, nearly one hundred and fifty miles long and about seventy miles +broad. It was fearful to gaze into it, for my eye stretched downward +mile after mile until it reached the blackness of darkness. It +frequently happens that a Moonite accidentally falls into this monster +Newtonian chasm. Nothing more is ever seen or heard of him.</p> + +<p>I shuddered as I peered into this gigantic opening whose gaping mouth +could swallow Pike's Peak so that its highest point would be many +thousands of feet below the surface. We have nothing on our Earth that +can compare with this terribly imposing sight, and as I was studying the +expansive waste I could more readily understand how large numbers of +human beings could be destroyed by such fabulous quantities of boiling +lava as were capable of being thrown from this pit. There is no doubt +that the lava and ashes hurled from this crater alone would send a +withering blast of death-dealing for many hundreds of miles around.</p> + +<p>If you have never been privileged to look upon this ponderous chasm face +to face, improve your first opportunity to get a glimpse of it through +as powerful a telescope as possible.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III" />CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>A Visit to Mars.</h3> + + +<p>I need not describe the manner of my flight. It is enough to say that, +to my delight, I reached our neighbor planet called Mars, and at once +proceeded to study its physical features and its human life.</p> + +<p>Everything was vastly different from what I had been long accustomed to +see and to imagine, and I felt quite assured that I was living in a +dream. But I knew of no way to convince myself as to my bearings, so I +concluded to make the best use of my time and opportunities, and leave +questionings to the future.</p> + +<p>As a physical world Mars bears a most striking resemblance to our Earth. +The length of its year is six hundred and eighty-seven of our days, and +the length of its day is twenty-four hours and thirty-seven minutes. Its +diameter is about one-half that of the Earth and its distance from the +Sun is 142,000,000 miles. Even from our own world we can discern +through a good telescope the changing colors of the planet, due to the +recurring seasons, each one of which is almost twice the length of ours.</p> + +<p>There is relatively much less water on Mars than is found on our Earth, +and gravity on its surface is only thirty-eight per cent. of terrestrial +gravity. Imagine, then, how light everything must be. This may account +somewhat for the physical proportions of its inhabitants, for they are +over twice our size, and in appearance resemble us but little. They have +four arms, two extra ones extending from a point just above the knees. +The two lower arms act as servants to the two higher. Thus are the four +used at one time in harmony.</p> + +<p>Mars is an older world than ours, and although it receives only one-half +as much heat from the sun yet it is almost of the same temperature, +owing to a peculiar condition of the atmosphere which we would call +"heat retentivity."</p> + +<p>Some scientists and philosophers will at once say that such atmospheric +conditions are contrary to reason and natural law, but they must be +informed that on Mars there are chemical elements and affinities not +known in our world. It requires but little change in the elementary +construction of the atmosphere to render it capable of strong +heat-retaining properties.</p> + +<p>Standing on the surface of this planet, my attention was easily +attracted by the two frisky moons called Deimos and Phobos, at the small +distance of 14,600 and 12,500 miles respectively. These two moons are +constantly flying around the planet, one in about thirty hours and the +other in seven and one-half hours.</p> + +<p>The astronomers of Mars have discovered unmistakable signs of human life +on the farthest of these two moons. They are hoping to be able some day +to cover the intervening distance and for the first time see their old +neighbors face to face.</p> + +<p>Before I had traveled over one-half the surface of this planet I was +thoroughly convinced that it was a rough, jagged world without lofty +mountain ranges or peaks. The many long and narrow fertile valleys, much +resembling the canons of our own Earth, absorbed my mind with more than +passing interest. Looking carefully into one of these canon depressions, +I saw a class of human beings in a low state of civilization; +nevertheless, they were expert in agriculture and seemed to labor +contentedly with a dull, plodding vigor beyond all reason.</p> + +<p>According to appearances there seemed to be no social relation or +connection between the inhabitants of one valley and those of another. +At first I was greatly puzzled at these peculiar conditions.</p> + +<p>Next I gave my attention to the highlands or wide barren ridges between +the valleys. On these elevations I saw a highly civilized race of people +living in great splendor. They enjoyed the privilege of traveling from +one highland to another and of exchanging courtesies. Their interests +were common, and their joys and sorrows were mutual.</p> + +<p>At once I became interested in these extremes of life as exhibited in +the valleys and on the highlands, and resolved that I would find the +cause for these differences.</p> + +<p>The authentic history of these Marsmen runs back through thousands of +years. I learned with interest the wonderful past life on this world.</p> + +<p>There was once a time when people all mingled together and cultivated +the valleys. Each one by doing his part made it lighter for all. But +after many years a few schemers combined and by their inventive genius +succeeded in erecting vast sliding curtains over the valleys. These +curtains were supported from the tops of the ridges on each side and, by +their manipulation, the operators could keep the sunlight from any +particular part of the valley.</p> + +<p>Then these shrewd Marsmen exacted tribute from the valley-toilers, +saying to them: "Give us a fifth part of your products, and we will give +you sunlight."</p> + +<p>So the toilers gave them tribute willingly, knowing that they could not +live without sunlight. Then it came to pass that these toilers were +burdened by reason of their taxes and they prayed to the rich that they +might have sunlight at a lower price, but the rich replied:</p> + +<p>"We cannot give you sunlight for less because it costs us much to keep +in repair our immense curtain systems across the valley." So the poor +toilers labored more and slept less, while the few rich on the +elevations built unto themselves more spacious homes and lived in +greater luxury all their days.</p> + +<p>In process of time some of the shrewdest highlanders devised an +attachment to the curtain system by which the rainfall could also be +distributed at the will of the operators. Then the rich Marsmen on the +elevations said to the toilers: "Give us one-fifth more of your +products, and we will give you your share of the rainfall."</p> + +<p>The poor laborers had no alternative; so they labored still more +diligently to pay their taxes for light and rain, and the burden became +so heavy that they could no longer bear it. So they sent up a petition +praying for sunlight and rain for a one-fifth instead of a two-fifths +tribute. The rich refused to listen to this prayer, whereat the toilers +refused to comply with these intolerable demands.</p> + +<p>Then did the rich magnates of the elevations draw their curtains to +keep both sunshine and rain from the valley. The laborers consumed all +they had until, in desperation, they asked again for sunlight and rain, +but the rich refused to give either unless the toilers would promise to +give a two-fifths tribute; to do this the toilers at length agreed. Then +the curtains were withdrawn, the sunlight once more kissed the valley, +the rain again fell upon the fields, and some of the poor, ignorant +people devoutly thanked their God for these gifts.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a name="IMG4" id="IMG4" /><img src="images/image-4.jpg" width="600" height="395" alt="Monopolizing Light and Rain on Mars." title="" /> +<b>Monopolizing Light and Rain on Mars.</b> +</div> + +<p>It occurred later that one of the many toilers, whom his Creator had +endowed with unusual wisdom, became the leader of the masses in +struggling for their rights. He traveled the whole length of the valley +and advocated that the people should unite, march to the summit of the +hill, destroy the fastenings that held these curtains and, as the +coverings would fall, destroy them with fire. This leader declared that +they were entitled to sunlight and rain without paying tribute to man. +Gradually the workers were won to his views. The rich, seeing that their +investments were threatened, hired a few brilliant orators and sent +them to the people to persuade them not to give heed to a man of one +idea. These orators argued that it would be a great crime to destroy the +property of others, and that their only way of securing happiness was to +toil on with patience and keep looking for brighter days. The people +listened to the specious sophistries and thus pushed aside their +redeemer, putting off forever the day of their deliverance.</p> + +<p>Similar troubles continued to arise in the valley, but the rich always +succeeded in quieting the people before they rose to determined action.</p> + +<p>Then the rich decided to put an end to these agitations among the +toilers. Accordingly they cut off all communication from valley to +valley, either by epistle or person, and refused longer to permit any +poor toiler, or his children, to pursue any study whatever. By this +method, in the course of a few hundred years, the valley dwellers lapsed +into ignorant slaves, not knowing, except by tradition, that there were +other people in other parts of Mars. Thus the rich continued to +flourish on all the highlands, for they had extended this same policy +until the toilers of the whole planet were practically galley slaves, +each consigned to his own narrow canon.</p> + +<p>After witnessing the wide extent of this slavery system, I appeared in +visible form to a rich dignitary on one of the most refined highlands.</p> + +<p>He was alone and, upon raising his eyes and seeing me before him, he was +greatly amazed. To see a little man with a hairy face and with the kind +of clothing I wore, was all too odd for him to take in at once. He acted +as if I were some unheard-of animal, but when I addressed him in his own +tongue and manifested a becomingly meek disposition, he accepted me as a +deformed creature afflicted with a mild form of lunacy. Then he +proceeded to examine my clothing and especially my knees, trying to +solve by what freak of nature I was cursed since I had no lower arms +such as he had. My small face, smooth forehead, and the short straight +hair on my head aroused in him no little wonder and merriment, so that, +all in all, I was the oddest freak he had ever seen. He soon showed by +his manner how thankful he was that gracious nature had formed him so +much more kindly than me.</p> + +<p>His questions soon poured out upon me and I answered as briefly and +intelligently as I could. He pressed me so hard as to the place of my +birth that I finally informed him that I came from another world, +whereat he was assured of my insanity and proceeded to fasten me by +force until he might summon certain of his friends. Knowing that all the +people of Mars could do me no ultimate harm and wishing to see what +might be their intentions, I offered very feeble resistance to his +course.</p> + +<p>In a very short time there was grouped around me a curious set of +people, all of whom seemed to me so horribly ugly that I felt well +satisfied that I had been born on the Earth. Among the company were some +eminent scholars who did no more than peer at one another and walk about +me, while they were waiting for some learned professors to arrive from a +distance. A long, tedious period ensued ere the company of judges or +examiners were gathered from several adjoining highlands.</p> + +<p>They took me into a large room where followed an indescribable +examination during which I purposely remained silent.</p> + +<p>The button and button holes of my clothing attracted as much attention +as my unnaturally shaped head. My collar and necktie were conundrums. +Not one of the learned scholars was able to advance a theory as to the +probable use of such a stiff piece under my head. I could not conceal my +smiles as I heard the flying theories as to the use of my cuffs. One +specialist decided that inasmuch as I had only two arms, I wore these to +make them appear larger. This was accepted as the most plausible +explanation.</p> + +<p>Several times they urged me to speak. The man to whom I had first +appeared had told them that I was expert in their language. But I would +not utter a word, being anxious to learn all I could by listening to +their conjectures.</p> + +<p>Some of my examiners were sure I belonged to a species of their animal +creation, who, in some unaccountable manner, had received the gift of +intelligence. But this opinion did not gain ground, as no one could +account for the manner of my clothing and especially for my pocket knife +and other accompaniments. No one believed that I came from another +world, and yet no one could see how or where I had originated on Mars.</p> + +<p>Finally one of the company struck upon a popular theory. He argued that +I belonged to a tribe of creatures that had developed far away in one of +their almost unending forests, and that I was the first of my kind that +had ever ventured so far from home.</p> + +<p>"But how did he learn our language?" queried one.</p> + +<p>"Any intelligent creature would by nature alone come to our language," +was the conceited explanation of another.</p> + +<p>Another gave a better theory which was at length accepted. He said that +no doubt I belonged to a company that had emigrated long, long ago from +one of the valleys.</p> + +<p>After all their pains I satisfied their ruling desire by speaking. They +knew not what to say as I gave them a general description of the world +from which I came.</p> + +<p>Purposely I used their most cultured forms of expression. At once I rose +to a high level in their estimation and they gradually accepted my words +as true. With absorbing interest they listened to every syllable and, +when I paused, their questions fell upon me in wild profusion. On my +account the schools were abandoned, all the leading teachers of five +elevations became my astonished auditors, and after every period of +sleep I was confronted by still other classes of specialists, some from +more distant elevations.</p> + +<p>Finally, feigning ignorance, I asked where they obtained their +sustenance, as I had not seen one field in cultivation. They told me the +whole history of the toilers in the valley as already recounted, and how +the curtain magnates received their tributes which were sufficient to +feed all the people of the elevations.</p> + +<p>"What right," I asked, "has any one to form a monopoly on sunlight or +rain which are free bounties from above?"</p> + +<p>"There can be nothing wrong about that," came the positive answer. "Any +man who was wise enough to think of such a splendid system of +valley-covers surely deserves all the benefit that can be secured from +it."</p> + +<p>"How did you succeed in getting the people to submit to such a system?"</p> + +<p>"It all came by force. At first they were unwilling enough, but we +withdrew their education and kept them isolated. With ignorance you can +conquer any people. Now they are our perfect servants, and in a short +time we need not use the curtains any more. A few masters can control +the whole valley. All we need to give them will be enough to eat, and +the remainder of their products we can send to the elevations."</p> + +<p>I was struck with horror at this revolting scheme, and expressed myself +in strong terms. I thought of the conditions of our world and felt +thankful that it had not gone so far that the laboring classes were +galley slaves to the rich; and I breathed my prayer that it might never +be so.</p> + +<p>My investigations on this planet were long extended. The educated +people gave me many new ideas, although they are ignorant of many +advantages which we enjoy. Their means of transportation are miserable +compared with ours, and when I was explaining to the Marsmen our methods +of travel they were surprised beyond measure. However their knowledge of +nature and forms of animal life is far superior to ours. There I solved +some of the complex questions of Biology which had long puzzled my mind +during my stay on the Earth.</p> + +<p>In their religion they worship the Source of Life, and look upon the Sun +as the place to which the spirit goes at death. In brief, the Sun is +their Heaven. They believe that the Sun's heat will be no barrier to the +spirit's complete happiness when liberated from the body. Phonetically +pronounced, they call the Sun Then-ka.</p> + +<p>I was indeed surprised at the simplicity of their devotions to their +unseen God. Even the untutored toilers of the valleys talk to the Source +of Life and are constantly looking forward to the time when their hard +lot will be over that they may enter the Then-ka life. I could not help +but think that their chances of Heaven were better than those of the +highland caste; but I will not judge lest I might err. Who can +understand the universal plans of Jehovah?</p> + +<p>Before I left the Marsmen I informed them that certain enthusiasts of my +world had been signaling to them for some time, and urged them to +improve their astronomical apparatus so that they might be able to +discern these signals and reply to them.</p> + +<p>On account of my thoughtlessness I made an error, for I failed, while I +was yet on Mars, to arrange a code of signals; hence I fear that there +will be considerable experimenting before we can hope to establish +communication with our neighbor world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV" />CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>A Glimpse of Jupiter.</h3> + + +<p>The next world I visited was Jupiter, the greatest orb in the solar +system, almost fourteen hundred times as large as our Earth. I found it +whirling on its axis so rapidly that it makes an entire revolution in +about ten hours of our time.</p> + +<p>This voluminous sphere is in great contrast to both the Moon and Mars. +Its physical constituency resembles a liquid more than a solid, and it +is quite hot but not luminous. It has cooled sufficiently to admit human +forms, although certain parts of the giant planet are void of all life, +owing to the more intense heat in those sections.</p> + +<p>The atmosphere is charged with thick clouds, never at rest and +continually forming into immense scrolls close to the surface of the +planet.</p> + +<p>The human life of Jupiter is found in certain belts where the crust of +the planet has been hardened for several thousand years. The people have +risen from rude, primitive conditions to a state of splendid +civilization. In size they are colossal giants, averaging twenty-five +feet in height. Their two powerful arms extend from what we would call +the hips, and no one would imagine with what facility these giants use +them. After extended observation, I was almost tempted to wonder why our +arms were placed so high on the body. These Jupiterites are more +handsome than the people on the Moon or Mars, and their faces shine with +a superior intelligence. Instead of hair on the head, they have +something unknown to our world, quite similar in appearance to wool.</p> + +<p>Their two eyes blaze like balls of fire, making one of the giants appear +like a fiersome though not repulsive monster. The most unusual feature +about the face is the peculiarity of the chin and forehead. Each is +covered with convolutions of an insensible, rubber-like membrane.</p> + +<p>The people of Jupiter excel in mechanical skill. They build houses, but +not by long, tedious days of painstaking labor. Such things as plaster +and paint are unknown. A Jupiterite can purchase, from one of the +mammoth structural factories, house sides, house ends, house floors or +partitions, after any general design he wishes, and have them trimmed in +any style his fancy suggests. The materials used are non-combustible and +water-proof, and will wear indefinitely.</p> + +<p>These houses can be put together in a few days and the trimmings +adjusted in less than two weeks, unless the structure is very elaborate. +Nearly all of their house furniture is also non-combustible, and no one +has ever conceived the idea of forming a fire insurance company, simply +because there is no need for one.</p> + +<p>As the people are so much larger than we, so are all things relatively +larger than we see them in our world. Wagons and carriages and cars +appear as if they were made for mastodons.</p> + +<p>I saw one of their largest bridges spanning a molten lake. Aside of it +the East River bridge would be a dwarf, either in height or length. It +is certainly thrilling to step into a world where all things are so +gigantic. At times a feeling of insignificance crept over me, but I took +courage when I thought that a man's greatness consists in his mental +powers and not in his physical bulk, for it is true that the fifty +ounces of brain in the skull of a Newton have accomplished more marvels +than the ten pounds of brain-matter found in the most cultured +Jupiterite.</p> + +<p>We must give the people of Jupiter credit for exercising a large amount +of common sense. In many ways they are more practical than we, and this +is quite as noticeable in their language as in any other respect. They +have one simple language for the whole globe and in its use they are all +agreed. Their vocabulary is small because they have not yet branched out +into the infinite varieties of manufacture and invention.</p> + +<p>Their words have a marvelous correspondence with the thought or the +action expressed, the manner of emphasizing syllables going a great +distance toward expressing the shade of emotion desired.</p> + +<p>I admired especially one thing on this bulky planet. They have but one +authority for language. Hence there is no Century, Webster, Worcester or +Standard, each rivaling the others for supremacy, to confuse the honest +student with diverse spellings and pronunciations.</p> + +<p>The words of the language of Jupiter are all embodied in one unique +dictionary which is revised at intervals by a board of official +educators; to this board all suggestions for inserting new words and +changing the classification of old ones must be given for their +consideration.</p> + +<p>This dictionary is printed by the government, and a copy of it is +furnished free to all public places and to each private family. When a +revision is made, a copy of all the changes is furnished to each +dictionary holder. The authority of this dictionary is final, and no one +is permitted to publish a conflicting work.</p> + +<p>The Jupiterites have displayed their highest genius in their +astronomical advancements. They know all about the Solar System, and +have made discoveries inside of Neptune's orbit which our astronomers +have never observed. I was thrilled with delight when I saw their +telescopes with the marvelous lenses that opened the locked doors of the +Milky Way. No wonder the astronomers of Jupiter have a more +comprehensive view of the universe than we have. Their lenses are so +powerful that they have seen the outlines of our rugged mountains, and +have discovered on our world unmistakable signs of human life. During my +visit thither the experts were working on a much larger lens, and it is +claimed that when this is finished human forms can be discerned on the +Earth and can be seen with more accuracy on Mars.</p> + +<p>The five moons that revolve around Jupiter have been studied with marked +interest. Two of these moons have displayed definite signs of human +life. It is promised also that the coming lens will unlock the doors of +the several moons and permit the astronomers of Jupiter to pry into the +secrets of their celestial neighbors.</p> + +<p>During the past one thousand years, the Jupiterites have made +numberless attempts to establish communication between these moons and +their planet, but all their efforts have failed. Either the Moonites are +too stupid, or the Jupiterites are not expert enough in throwing out +signals or in building air ships.</p> + +<p>For no one thing more than another did I envy the astronomers of Jupiter +than for their marvelous magnifying lenses. I knew that if we had such +lenses, or the material to make them, we could watch with ease the +inhabitants of the Moon or of Mars, and we could study the intelligent +life on Mercury and Venus, to say nothing of the great advantages we +should have in observing comets and all the numberless starry systems +scattered throughout illimitable space.</p> + +<p>The religious life of Jupiter proved to be intensely interesting to me. +They have a sacred book which corresponds to our Bible, and it has +always remained in its original form because there is but one language.</p> + +<p>Since I left my own world I had not felt so kindred a touch in spirit as +when I invisibly entered one of their great temples of worship, as we +might call it. No vocal music was there, but the mute beckoning of +several thousand arms, as if to implore the favor of the great Inzoork +or Creator, was impressively eloquent to me.</p> + +<p>I was thrilled with joy as I learned more of their religion. I found +that their love and service were akin to those of our planet, and that +these same bonds unite them one to another. My conceptions were +enlarging as I saw the family of God enlarging, and I felt that although +I was unlike them in the physical, yet I was their brother in spirit, +and that we all have one Father.</p> + +<p>Religious liberty was enjoyed until a few centuries ago when certain +restrictions were formulated. It was seen that some, in exercising their +liberty, proved to be a curse to the state, and consequently a sharp +battle ensued against the liberal element.</p> + +<p>The Church won the conflict and now the profession of atheism is not +allowed. If it can be shown that any sane person takes such a position, +he is given a certain period to recant. If recantation is not +forthcoming, he is placed in the public work-house until he +acknowledges the existence of Deity. Atheists are scarce under this +severe ruling.</p> + +<p>You may well know how I was startled to see such summary action taken in +regard to unbelievers. At first I prided myself that I belonged to a +world of free thought and free speech, but when I saw the magnetic +effect of these Jupiter regulations I was in doubt as to the superiority +of our religious and irreligious liberties.</p> + +<p>The soil of Jupiter yields abundantly. The animals are all large and of +species unknown to us. They have animals that resemble our elephant and +ox; these they use for food. Common birds, as large as geese or turkeys, +flourish in the extensive forests and furnish about one-third of the +food for the giants.</p> + +<p>The vegetation is after the order of our world, except that the curse of +weeds and thistles is only one-fourth as great. But the people of +Jupiter have learned more than we of the use of these weeds, and certain +of them are cultivated to a wide extent.</p> + +<p>I spent a long time on the planet. I saw the fiery lakes that are fed by +subterraneous streams of lava, and the geysers of blue flame darting +their immense tongues high in the air.</p> + +<p>As near as fifty miles to these fiery centers can be seen gardens of +vegetation and fields under cultivation. I yielded at last to a desire +that prompted me to make a personal appearance. So I stopped on a +thoroughfare and occupied a rustic seat at the roadside. I was dressed +in my earthly costume, and sat composedly awaiting developments.</p> + +<p>The first living creature that observed my presence was a passing +quadruped. It was larger than a wild goat, and was a small specimen +after its kind. For want of a better name I will call it a "dog."</p> + +<p>As soon as I was spied by this animal he set up a hideous howl and ran +at full speed. Knowing my own homeliness, I had all charity for the +animal and did not censure him for being so terribly frightened at my +appearance.</p> + +<p>Soon a full grown giant came along. He chanced to be a learned professor +out for an evening walk, as we would say. He seemed to be in deep +meditation and did not notice me until he was near my side. Then he +stood breathless, while a feeling of fear and surprise evidently +possessed him. I sat motionless, looking up into his eyes, and saw the +convolutions on his forehead and chin quivering quite perceptibly. He +evidently judged me to be some undeveloped species of Mon-go-din, an +animal of Jupiter bearing faint resemblance to our man-ape. To my +surprise, he suddenly grasped me and tightly held me fast in his +gigantic arms. I made no effort to free myself.</p> + +<p>His surprise was only intensified at my resignation. He expected a +struggle, but I neither made an outcry nor resisted capture. Like an +infant I lay in his arms, while he passed quick glances all over me. He +was baffled beyond all measure, and hurried away toward the great +college near by. Upon reaching the museum department, I was placed in a +strong cage and the doors were doubly secured.</p> + +<p>My captor ran from my presence and, in a few moments, returned with two +other professors. They peered into the cage in painful astonishment, +while I contented myself by taking my watch apart and occasionally +glancing at my select audience.</p> + +<p>Then commenced the jibbering consultation, all of which I well +understood. My captor related the full circumstances in connection with +his walk in the grove and the manner in which he captured me. He dwelt +particularly on the indifference I manifested in all his dealings with +me.</p> + +<p>"It is a baby Mon-go-din," suggested the one professor, while the other +advanced the theory that I was an abnormal child of some Jupiterite.</p> + +<p>My watch excited their curiosity. One reached his hand cautiously +through the bars and evinced by his actions what he wanted. I looked up +into his eyes and spoke my first words.</p> + +<p>"Patience, please, till I put the watch together, and you shall have +it."</p> + +<p>Not only did his arms fly away from the cage, but his whole body fell +prostrate to the floor, whether from fright or surprise, I knew not. His +two companions were also in a sorry plight. I pretended not to notice +their consternation, and kept myself busy in placing the parts of my +watch together.</p> + +<p>After a while I was addressed by a trembling questioner: "Where is your +home, my child?" I did not lift my eyes, but completed my little +self-appointed task, and at once raised the watch in fulfillment of my +promise.</p> + +<p>The timid professor ventured to accept it and, as he received it from my +hand, he again asked: "Where is your home?"</p> + +<p>"Farther away than the circumference of your world," I distinctly +answered.</p> + +<p>At this time the three agreed that I was an insane child, born out of +time, and that I satisfied my propensities by gathering to myself such +idiotic things as my watch and garments, including my hat and shoes.</p> + +<p>A quiet consultation followed, after which one of the professors retired +from the room and soon returned with certain morsels of food. Upon +handing them to me, I at once remarked: "Keep these morsels for +yourself; I have better food to eat, of which you know nothing."</p> + +<p>The other two professors had by this time observed that my watch was a +marvelous piece of mechanism beyond their most delicate accomplishments, +and they announced the fact to their other companion who again looked at +me in breathless surprise. "Where did you get this Fot-sil?" (or +plaything), he queried in one breath.</p> + +<p>"Farther away than the circumference of your world," was my evasive and, +to them, unsatisfactory reply.</p> + +<p>"Won't you tell us, child, how far away that is?" asked another with +subdued impatience.</p> + +<p>"Millions of miles." (Of course I spoke in terms of their linear +measurements).</p> + +<p>"How many millions?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes five hundred and sometimes six hundred millions."</p> + +<p>Without giving them a chance for asking me another question I offered to +let them see my home if they would permit me to use the most powerful +telescope in their observatory.</p> + +<p>My listeners were indeed amazed and were about to pour upon me a volley +of interrogations. I assured them that I would answer no more questions +until I knew whether my request would be granted.</p> + +<p>This necessitated a consultation with the chief astronomer who, upon +learning of my peculiar request and of my unnatural formation, hastened +to the museum to see the monstrosity.</p> + +<p>I knew from what I had previously learned that this gentleman was the +greatest living astronomer on Jupiter. He peered at me in the cage and +was dumfounded. He exchanged a few sentences with the professor and +again turned to me:</p> + +<p>"At what time do you want the telescope?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Immediately."</p> + +<p>"You shall have it, just to satisfy our curiosity," he said as he +hastened from the room.</p> + +<p>I heard the professor caution him strictly to tell no one of my +presence, so as to avoid a rush from the student ranks.</p> + +<p>In less than an hour I stood at the side of the largest telescope in our +Solar System, watching the deepening shadows of night as they fell upon +Jupiter.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 387px;"> +<a name="IMG5" id="IMG5" /><img src="images/image-5.jpg" width="387" height="600" alt="Viewing Our Earth from Jupiter." title="" /> +<b>Viewing Our Earth from Jupiter.</b> +</div> + +<p>I spent another hour examining the ponderous machinery that was +required to swing this mammoth instrument and to adjust it when scanning +the heavens.</p> + +<p>By this time my four companions were convinced that I was not an idiot, +and I could see by their strange manner that they were regarding me as a +spirit.</p> + +<p>I gave my directions to the astronomer, and beheld the cylinder, +two-hundred feet in length and twenty feet in diameter, swing around +until it pointed toward a little flickering light that shone like a +distant star.</p> + +<p>I looked into the eye-piece, managed to get the tube pointed accurately, +and then requested the astronomer to focus the lenses so as to bear upon +the planetary light in range.</p> + +<p>He knew at once the planet I had singled out. He called it Zo-ide. After +the focusing was completed, I looked and, behold, I could readily +discern many of the physical features of my own world.</p> + +<p>"That is my homeland," I cried triumphantly. "I live on Zo-ide, or +Earth, as we call it."</p> + +<p>Of course my listeners were incredulous, but I proceeded to explain to +them as I looked through the telescope:</p> + +<p>"That dark ridge to the left is called 'the Rocky and Andes Mountain +Systems'. The shining belt on the central portion is the 'Mississippi +River'. The rough ridge to the right is 'the Allegheny System' of +mountains." Then I indicated the location of our larger cities. As I +pointed to New York, I saw a mere speck moving. I was convinced that it +was one of our large steamships, and as I so explained the astronomer +looked at me with absorbing interest.</p> + +<p>He informed me that he had often seen the moving of the spots, and +thought they were some cloud formations peculiar to our world. But I +insisted on the steamship explanation and proceeded to describe an ocean +liner, for these Jupiterites are not familiar with oceans of cold water +on which float numerous craft.</p> + +<p>I was then a royal guest, and passed a most felicitous night with these +four celebrities. We talked of the more powerful telescope that the +government of Jupiter was manufacturing, and of the still greater views +it promised to reveal.</p> + +<p>Then I informed them of our system of science. They were astonished at +the great civilization extant on Zo-ide, or our Earth.</p> + +<p>I told them that a subtile power lay dormant in the atoms and molecules +of matter, which could be released and utilized, and that we in our +world called it "electricity."</p> + +<p>During the night I learned that the convolutions on the chin and +forehead of a Jupiterite served the purpose of a new sense. By the aid +of these convolutions any person of Jupiter can tell in daylight or +darkness the nature of any surrounding substance, whether it be hard or +soft, combustible or non-combustible, good for food or not. I confess +that I was unable to grasp the idea intelligently. So the people on the +Moon had the same difficulty in understanding the use of my nose.</p> + +<p>Before morning dawned I informed my appreciative quartette that I would +see them no more, that I had paused at Jupiter station long enough, and +that I must be off on my vast excursion trip.</p> + +<p>They earnestly entreated me to remain so that the college students and +representative persons could get a glimpse of me; but I refused all +their entreaties. When they found that I had power to leave them +instantly, they besought me to remain for a few last words.</p> + +<p>"Shall we not see you again?" affectingly asked the astronomer.</p> + +<p>I told them that I expected to spend eternity in the kingdom of our God +who made all the stars and worlds, and holds each in its respective +place. "If you are pure in heart to Him," I continued, "there can be no +doubt but that we shall see one another again in that happy celestial +center where our eyes will be our telescopes, where our pure hearts will +assent to the Fatherhood of God, and where our souls will be quickened +at the universal fountain of Love."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V" />CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>Beautiful Saturn.</h3> + + +<p>A delightfully busy world next met my gaze. Saturn, supreme in love, +with its mysterious rings and its eight moons, now held my attention and +won my admiration.</p> + +<p>This world is almost as large as Jupiter, and its soil is more fertile. +The inhabitants resemble us in physical appearance, except that they are +twice our size.</p> + +<p>Like Jupiter, it is enveloped in thick semi-liquid clouds which are +never at rest. This changing atmosphere causes continual friction of +particles, and this serves to produce sufficient heat to counteract the +frigid blasts that would otherwise freeze out the whole planet. These +atmospheric conditions attracted my attention to a great degree. I +estimated as best I could, and ascertained that Saturn receives as much +heat from this peculiar atmosphere as our Earth receives from the Sun.</p> + +<p>As I found it on Jupiter, so I found it here. The human eye is so +constructed that it seems to have more than an X-ray power, for it can +look through this atmosphere as readily as we can peer through ours.</p> + +<p>The air of Saturn, being so thick, contains much natural nourishment, +and the inhabitants are sustained largely by breathing. This reminded me +of the manner in which our fish flourish in the waters of our globe.</p> + +<p>Marvelous indeed are the possibilities of life. I now had before me new +problems to solve, for natural laws have but a limited expression in our +own world. Here science puts on new garments, but they are all cut in +harmony with universal laws.</p> + +<p>Woman is the ruling genius of this planet. Being untrammeled for a few +thousand years, she has attained a higher glory than her sex has reached +in any world of our Solar System.</p> + +<p>As you scan the honor rolls of Saturn, reading the list of the eminent +leaders in science, art and philosophy, you will readily observe that +woman has forged to the front. She also sits upon the principal thrones +of temporal power.</p> + +<p>Woman's beauty on Saturn is surpassing. It reaches a higher degree of +perfection than any of the myriad types of beauty on this enchanting +world. When I first opened my eyes on these scenes, I imagined that I +had reached Heaven, but, to my chagrin, I soon found the black marks of +sin that stain the whole planet.</p> + +<p>The illustrious inventors of Saturn, living and dead, make a long list, +which is headed by the name of Veorda, a woman of marvelous intellect. +She looked into the mysteries of nature with a shrewd, wizard eye, but, +unfortunately, lost her life early in a bold experiment with explosives. +However, before she reached her much-lamented end, she had won enough +honor to outshine all inventors in the whole history of Saturn.</p> + +<p>She was the sole inventor of all explosives, and she had learned how to +operate them without making any noise or smoke. This proved a valuable +aid to factories and quarries, and particularly in the handling of fire +arms, of which Saturn has a very strange collection.</p> + +<p>Before Veorda was born the flying machine had been invented and used. +But aerial travel was soon abandoned owing to some terrible accidents +that had occurred. During the earlier part of her career Veorda labored +assiduously until she overcame a few difficulties and thereby perfected +the flying machine.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<a name="IMG6" id="IMG6" /><img src="images/image-6.jpg" width="406" height="600" alt="An Air Ship on Saturn." title="" /> +<b>An Air Ship on Saturn.</b> +</div> + +<p>It was a day of international rejoicing when her perfected machine +sailed over the governments of Saturn. The invention stood every test +and at once air traffic was resumed and maintained. When this woman died +the governments erected to her memory the finest and costliest monument +that now stands on the whole world of Saturn. Of course, I went to see +it. As I stood studying the poetry of the pillars, I looked overhead and +saw one of the immense aerial ships carrying a pleasure party to a +distant point. I cannot describe my feelings as I lingered in the +presence of the sleeping dust and saw the imperishable influence of her +thoughts still working for her, in a carnal sense, "a more exceeding +and eternal weight of glory."</p> + +<p>Yet with all this homage paid to Veorda, I cannot believe that she is +more illustrious than the present living wizard of our world, the +notable Edison.</p> + +<p>Veorda lived and died a devoted worshipper of "The Great Influence," or +God, and it is delightful to think that we shall associate with such +great minds in our eternal abode in that Broader Life where the pure of +all spheres gather. Will I do wrong if I quote that sublime beatitude, +making it applicable to all worlds? "Blessed are the pure in heart, for +they shall see God."</p> + +<p>The written language of Saturn resembles the Chinese character language, +only it is much more smooth and more complete.</p> + +<p>The Shakespeare of that planet is a woman called Ziek-dod who has been +dead twelve hundred years. Her writings have been quoted and esteemed as +masterpieces all through these ages. Her style is singular, resembling +the proverbs of Solomon, with a little more ornament in the language.</p> + +<p>As to the subject matter, her epigrammatic sentences are grouped and +classified with an accuracy that is both pleasing and popular. At +intervals the reader is treated with a sprinkling of alliterative +sentences.</p> + +<p>Ziek-dod shines as an eternal star among the great names of her world. +Like Veorda, she was pure-hearted and possessed fine moral and spiritual +qualities. She passed out into that Broader Life where language is +sweeter and thoughts are more holy.</p> + +<p>In music I noticed the most radical departures. The popular home +instrument is larger than our organ and has nearly one hundred keys +arranged somewhat like the keyboard of a typewriter.</p> + +<p>These keys and their combinations are capable of rendering sounds to +correspond with every syllable found in their words. A proper +familiarity with these sounds is a part of every child's training on +Saturn.</p> + +<p>When one plays on this instrument every sound struck on the keys +represents a certain vowel-consonant sound. Thus the listener hears the +sounds more distinctly than we hear the words of a phonograph.</p> + +<p>Under such conditions a musician is capable of interpreting his exact +feelings when manipulating the keys. He talks to his listeners with +organ sounds. The great poet musicians can breathe out their +inspirations in rapturous melodies. On special occasions famous +musicians are employed to render original selections. Addresses and +lectures are also given in this manner with very pleasing results.</p> + +<p>The Saturnites know nothing of the Telephone, Telegraph, or Phonograph. +But for carrying messages they have a signal system by which +intelligence is flashed from one point to another with great rapidity.</p> + +<p>Saturn has eight moons and is surrounded with the rings which have made +it famous from the time the planet was first seen through the telescope. +These rings and moons are inhabited by a type of human beings altogether +different from those that live on the planet, and are distinctly visible +to the dwellers of Saturn by means of powerful telescopes.</p> + +<p>The human beings on the rings are not able to watch their neighbors in +space, having no instruments to carry their vision beyond the +boundaries of their own peculiar abodes.</p> + +<p>The most picturesque sight of all the Solar System is seen as you stand +on Saturn, and watch the rings and the eight moons chasing one another +in the heavens above you.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of this beautiful world believe that the soul of each +God-adorer at death passes out into the spirit life on the rings where +it will continue in a blissful existence until the final judgment.</p> + +<p>The religious life of Saturn is officially controlled by men. There are +many creeds, each with its own devoted followers. The leading church of +this world was not organized until seven thousand years after religious +life took a distinctive form. Then a man named Trique, who was a shrewd +student of the times, after a careful study of the weaknesses found in +existing religious bodies, and after amassing enormous wealth in +business, founded a new church on a neat, practical business plan which +may thus be briefly described in terms and figures of our own language.</p> + +<p>Trique had a fortune of two hundred millions which, by investment, +netted him twenty millions annually. These net earnings he used to +establish his new denomination. He commenced operations simultaneously +at the capitol of each of the four governments of Saturn, and at each +place built two magnificent churches, costing one million dollars +apiece. It took over three years of our time to build these eight +churches. Before one year had expired he had started fifty other +churches in the centers of Saturn's population. These churches averaged +in cost three hundred thousand dollars each. Thus the plan continued, +ever starting new structures until all Saturn was decorated with the +churches of Trique, even village edifices costing from ten to +twenty-five thousand dollars. So much for the mere outward part of the +church which anybody might create if he had recourse to such enormous +wealth.</p> + +<p>Before Trique commenced any one of his buildings, he canvassed the whole +community for charter members of his church. These were composed of two +classes, spiritual and connected. This canvassing was done by the +finest scholars that Trique could employ. Each one was supposed to be +the pastor of the community he canvassed. The conditions of the charter +membership were easy to meet. All that was required for connected +membership was a good moral life and a lip confession of the faith.</p> + +<p>On account of the superior advantages offered by the Trique church it +grew steadily from the beginning. I will here append a few +characteristics of the organization:</p> + +<p>1. The church takes care of all its members during sickness, furnishing +a physician and all necessary medicines free of charge. The church owns +drug stores and graduates its own physicians.</p> + +<p>2. The church has its own salaried undertakers, and defrays all funeral +expenses.</p> + +<p>3. The church supplies a moral and spiritual education to all the +children of its members. This school does a work similar to our +Sunday-school, only it is held daily and is under a trained corps of +paid teachers.</p> + +<p>For all these advantages each member is required to give to the church +one-eleventh of his earnings and to attend the services of the church +and co-operate with the pastor in the advancement of all spiritual work.</p> + +<p>The church keeps a perpetual record of the attendance and the work done +by each member.</p> + +<p>It required a man of large business capacity to launch such a church +with its radically new principles. But Trique's immense wealth was a +powerful force when utilized in this manner. He made every church a +strong business center commanding the respect of the whole community. +Discipline was rigidly enforced. No member cared to be expelled from +such a church. It meant a going out from under a warm cover at the +approach of winter.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, Trique was a clean, spiritual man and strongly urged a +spiritual ministry and membership.</p> + +<p>It can be seen why this church grew so rapidly. In fifty years it became +so powerful that it could control, if it wished, the legislation in +nearly all the sections of the planet.</p> + +<p>I have given but a brief picture of this ruling church. It must suffice. +I may add that one must not imagine the church services and forms in +Saturn to be like our worship. All things are so different that it would +take much space and time to describe them.</p> + +<p>For beauty of natural scenery, Saturn surpasses all the Solar System. +Its air is of a different composition from ours, and its sky puts on +various tints as the day passes, which is a little over ten hours of our +time, but it takes nearly thirty of our years to make one on Saturn.</p> + +<p>The immense mountain ranges present a picture of unusual beauty. The +leaves of trees are rich in velvety varieties and the undergrowth +appears as if trimmed by skilled hands. This is a desirable place to +live. But I learned that the inhabitants of Saturn do not appreciate all +this wealth of beauty, in its atmosphere or on its earth, a whit more +than the people of our world appreciate the sin cursed scenery which +greets their eyes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI" />CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>The Nearest Fixed Star.</h3> + + +<p>All that was required on my part was a mere act of the mind, and I went +where I wished. I visited Uranus and Neptune, after which I stretched my +swift wings for the great flight, away from our Solar System, over +billions of miles of space. I alighted on the burning star nearest to +our Earth. This star is called, by our astronomers, Alpha Centaurus, and +it is said to be 20,000,000,000,000 miles away. This star is much +greater than our Sun and is the center of a system of worlds larger and +more numerous than those that compose our Solar System.</p> + +<p>You cannot imagine my surprise when I reached Alpha Centaurus and found +that it was inhabited by a class of human creatures who were created to +live and flourish in fire. Their customs and habits are so strange that +I am not capable of giving an intelligent description of them. I know +that it is inconceivable to us how life can be developed and sustained +in the midst of a burning sun, and I found that these beings in turn +could not conceive how life can exist in a cold world like ours.</p> + +<p>These creatures have no digestive organs. They live, in part, on the +chemical action produced by fire breathing. The hotter the fire, the +more easily is life sustained. If they were to get away from the heat, +this chemical action would cease and therefore death would be as certain +to them as being enveloped in fire would spell death to us.</p> + +<p>In our eyes, their bodies are misshapen, composed of elements most of +which are not found in our world. There are many cold places, or sun +spots, on Alpha Centaurus, but these are shunned by the people as death +traps. However, the centers of population gather on the more solid +sections, most of which lie around the sun spots.</p> + +<p>You could scarcely believe your eyes were you to look upon the durable +works of architecture built by these strangely shaped mortals.</p> + +<p>Still more wonderful are the seas of boiling fire which are sometimes +comparatively quiet, and then again, in all madness, their majestic +flames shoot upward thousands of miles.</p> + +<p>When the sea is quiet, life is oppressive in the centers of population +just as it is in our world when the air is still and the summer sun is +pouring down upon us. Breathing is easier and life is quickened when the +molten sea boils furiously. These terrible heat blasts are most +exhilarating and refreshing to the inhabitants living near enough to +receive the benefit of them.</p> + +<p>You may imagine that these people of Alpha Centaurus are idlers, being +fed by the ceaseless heat waves that beat upon them. Such a conception +is totally false, for I saw that industry was plainly evident, and labor +had its reward in securing the necessaries and luxuries of life.</p> + +<p>These life-sustaining foods are composed of elements which can be +appropriated into muscle and bone (if you will permit me to use these +terms), and are obtained by reuniting and re-combining spent forces. +This explanation is somewhat mystical, but I can do no better in +describing the food production and assimilation in a pure fire-world +like this one on which I had arrived.</p> + +<p>To imagine and believe that fertility can be possible in a seething +world-furnace, is too far beyond our philosophy to be conceivable. Alpha +Centaurus is so large a sun that although it has a population ten times +greater than our globe, yet its surface is sparsely settled.</p> + +<p>The oceans of fire occupy the greater part of the surface of this +wonderful sphere. In these great red-hot seas live the monsters of the +deep, as well as a motley variety of other species, veritable +salamanders, some grotesquely hideous, others surpassingly beautiful in +form and hue.</p> + +<p>On this sphere man is extraordinarily intelligent. He is almost totally +ignorant of anything akin to astronomy, although some of the greater +scholars have ventured the theory that there might be other worlds +containing human life, providing there be fire enough to sustain them.</p> + +<p>In some other particulars, these star-creatures have made astonishing +progress. They believe that the time is coming when the fires of their +world will be blown out and all life become extinct. This they would +call, in our language, the coming Judgment when every human being that +ever lived will receive his just recompense of reward.</p> + +<p>With interest I studied the manner of government, and the admirable +system of education which is the secret of their progress.</p> + +<p>I made a special effort to ascertain whence this sun receives its +continued supply of fuel. The question had often perplexed my mind when +I gazed toward our Sun from the shores of our world. None of the +theories advanced by our scientists and astronomers fully satisfied my +mind. And now I looked and studied in vain. Although the awful burnings +had been in progress for thousands of years, I could see no fuel that +was added to the flames. Hence I was driven to believe that Alpha +Centaurus was on fire and was gradually being consumed; this must be +true of all the stars that bedeck the canopy of Heaven.</p> + +<p>The inconstancy of this star's surface is the greatest menace to its +inhabitants. At times the solid crusts break in the contracting of the +surface. All this makes terrible havoc, but the new generations take +fresh courage and pluckily restore the fallen habitations.</p> + +<p>One of the luxuries enjoyed by these fire beings at certain times is to +get where the chemical action of heat is at a low ebb. That has a +similar effect upon them as calming our nerves has upon us.</p> + +<p>One of the great inventions consists in an instrument that neutralizes +this chemical action of heat even where it is most intense. It is a +common sight to see creatures basking under one of these instruments in +a somewhat comatose state. The inventor of this instrument is worshiped +almost as a god.</p> + +<p>One of the most startling inventions of all is a machine that +counteracts gravity. This, to my mind, is the greatest invention I had +yet seen, and, strange to say, these fire creatures know nothing about +means of propulsion except by hand power. If you were able to stand on +the seething furnace of Alpha Centaurus, you would see these machines +rise far into the shooting fire and beyond, as far as occupants can go +without freezing to death. Then at a reverse of the lever you would see +the mysterious car descend.</p> + +<p>These star residents have enjoyed this invention so long that they no +longer appreciate its marvels. You ask me if I tried to get the secret. +I saw the whole apparatus and the more I studied it, the more I was +convinced that its storage battery contained heat energy. So I concluded +to solve the mystery. I learned that there was a certain element found +only in combination. When this element is set loose by chemical process, +it will rise at once toward a large planet that revolves around this +sun. This planet draws that particular element with six times more force +than it is held by Alpha Centaurus. The brilliant chemists, when they +first made this discovery, separated enough of this element to carry a +man upward from the sun's surface. Later on they made a counter +discovery of equal value.</p> + +<p>They found a substance that would destroy this attraction if it was +placed between the element and the planet. The discovery enabled a +person to rise as high as he wished and then, by swinging the plate in +position, the aerial carriage would either stand still or descend +according to the wish of the operator.</p> + +<p>What a boon it would be to our world if we had such an element for which +Jupiter or the Sun would have so much fondness! Then with our superior +knowledge of propulsion we could forever settle the perplexing problem +of aerial navigation.</p> + +<p>These exceptional people, living in such terrible fire, wear pieces of +garments made of the finest texture. The hair-like threads are composed +of metallic substances far more enduring than gold or platinum.</p> + +<p>Of all the unthinkable things on this star none are so extreme as the +manner in which these people hold conversation. They have no organs to +produce vocal sounds.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<a name="IMG7" id="IMG7" /><img src="images/image-7.jpg" width="406" height="600" alt="Fire Life on a Fixed Star." title="" /> +<b>Fire Life on a Fixed Star.</b> +</div> + +<p>They convey their ideas one to another by a vibration of the +conversation flaps. Either the air waves, or substantial emissions, +excite the sensitive face of the listener so that the thought +intended can be accurately received.</p> + +<p>Having a strong curiosity, I remained and studied this fire life. It +opened to me new channels of thought and illustrated more emphatically +than ever that all things are possible with Him who created the universe +and upholds it by the word of His power.</p> + +<p>Finally, I left this strange abode and proceeded to visit some of the +eighteen worlds that revolve around Alpha Centaurus.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII" />CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>The Water World Visited.</h3> + + +<p>As I lingered in the region of the constellation of Centaurus I was more +and more profoundly impressed with the magnitude and variety of created +worlds.</p> + +<p>Among the eighteen planets that revolve around Alpha Centaurus, only six +are inhabited. One of these is a sinless world, or a world whereon sin +never inaugurated its blighting reign; but I will say nothing of this +orb as I did not have the choice opportunity of visiting it aright. I +saw its beauty only through a glass darkly.</p> + +<p>I then fixed my mind on Polaris, commonly called the North Star. In +journeying thither from Centaurus I passed thousands of Solar Systems +scattered in space all around me. As I was thus darting through +immensity I glanced toward our own Solar System and could see nothing +but a flickering star which was our Sun. Not the faintest sign could I +see of our world or of Jupiter.</p> + +<p>A strange feeling passed over me when I began to realize how far I was +from home. I sped onward until I reached the North Star. It is a burning +sun, but not inhabited.</p> + +<p>Polaris is the center of a magnificent system. If a certain few of its +worlds could be seen through a telescope, they would be picturesque in +the extreme, somewhat resembling our beautiful Saturn. Moons play like +frisky lambs around some of its worlds, and many comets dance through +the length of the whole system in richer confusion than we have ever +beheld in the range of our telescopic vision.</p> + +<p>Counting the worlds of larger size only, there are nearly one hundred +that fly through their orbits around Polaris, some with amazing +velocity. Within the bounds of this solar system I spent considerable +time.</p> + +<p>The third world I visited I will call Stazza. It is two hundred millions +of miles from Polaris and is four hundred and fifty times as large as +our world.</p> + +<p>I was amazed at the new turn of life-manifestation that I found there. +To me it was unusually interesting because its temperature is quite +similar to ours; but the order of life is reversed so completely that +the human beings inhabit the water, and the long narrow strips of earth +are infested with numerous species of land animals. It may seem +incredible that the depths of the ocean should be the seat of +intelligence rivaling our own.</p> + +<p>The human creatures of Stazza average a trifle larger in size than we, +but they travel horizontally in water like a large fish. The limbs +support the body in rest, and in traveling are used like the hind legs +of a frog, only more gracefully. The arms closely resemble ours and have +an infinite variety of uses. In addition, there are four fin-like arms +that fold into the body when at rest, but are spread for service when +traveling. In all it must be admitted that these Stazza people are +capable of traveling more rapidly, and covering longer distances with +much less fatigue than are we. They can also carry greater burdens with +more ease. They wear no garments except one or two small pieces made of +a tough species of sea grass.</p> + +<p>Five-sixths of Stazza are covered with water and its depth at a few +points is very great. Throughout all the water regions there are many +kinds of animal life, more than can be found in our oceans. Thousands of +human lives have been lost in conflict with the fiercer kinds of these +water animals, with which the people of Stazza entered upon a war of +extermination over one thousand years ago, and while intelligence is +slowly winning the battle, yet the warfare is likely to continue many +centuries to come, owing to the fact that these hostile fish occupy the +soundless depths even as deep as four or five hundred miles according to +our measurement. Horned fish rising from these depths are a horrible +menace to excursion parties or caravans, as well as to settlers on what +we would call the frontier.</p> + +<p>The homes of Stazza are made of metallic substances. There are a few +minerals very plentiful, resembling brass, and it is a common sight to +see polished buildings fantastic in their arrangement, shining through +the pellucid water like gold.</p> + +<p>The cities are built on gentle inclines in the deeper waters and +present a picturesque scene. They look more like a cluster of giant +fairy abodes than like New York or London. Nothing in all the world of +Stazza resembles a product of our manufacture more than the fine +screening that protects every human dwelling from an invasion of small +water animals. It reminded me of the mosquito netting as a safe-guard +against flies and other insects in our world. But the mosquito baffles +our genius, for he seems to be able to get through as small an opening +as air can. Likewise, the pestiferous water animals seem to invade the +homes of Stazza, notwithstanding all efforts at prevention.</p> + +<p>The cities have no continuous streets or lanes. The principal travel is +in the water over the city. The main entrance to the home is on the +housetop. In the center of large buildings there is a shaft running up +and down, through which the people go with greater ease than we can +climb or descend our stairways. It must not be forgotten that water to +them is the same as air to us, and in their domestic life the people +are annoyed by cloudy and muddy currents of water just as we are by +clouds of dust in the air, on the streets, or in our homes.</p> + +<p>The wear and tear caused by the chemical action of water on houses and +furniture is not as great as the injury in our world caused by the +chemical action of air, heat and moisture.</p> + +<p>The educational systems of Stazza are quite as perfect for that world as +our own systems are for ours. They have an alphabet, covering their +needs in language, consisting of a series of strokes, curves and angles, +somewhat resembling our shorthand systems. This language is identical in +print or script, and is superior to our method of expresssing thought by +handwriting.</p> + +<p>The experts of Stazza have learned the art of slicing metallic blocks +into sheets of any desired thickness. These sheets serve the same +purpose for them as paper does for us, and are furnished at an +insignificant cost of labor. We have the very elements in our Earth to +produce these metallic blocks if we knew the combination, which might be +easily found if we had as much need for them as the people of this +water world.</p> + +<p>The metallic blocks are used for a great variety of purposes. There are +some high class artists who have immortalized themselves by their +master-pieces, one of which I saw on a five-cornered metallic sheet +measuring about eight feet in diameter.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the most surprising feature of the educational advancement of +these water spirits is their knowledge of astronomy. To them, under the +water, the stars have always looked beautiful, and from an early date in +their history a study of them has engaged the attention of their +scholars. No one could tell the style of their telescopes if he should +go to guessing for a week. Let me give you a brief description of one.</p> + +<p>They build a metallic pipe about ten feet in diameter and from a point +some two hundred feet below the surface of the water. The pipe is built +until it extends a few feet above water. Inside of this pipe is a series +of transparent ovals of various sizes. These ovals are so arranged that +the upper one throws its light to the lower one, down through the +immense cylinder. Around each oval is built a series of fin protectors, +which is the only part about the telescope I could not fully understand. +They seemed to counteract the refraction of the water, and yet the water +must be in the pipe to obtain proper results.</p> + +<p>Imagine an astronomer at the base of this huge metallic structure, +having at his finger's ends a dozen wire strings intricately connected +with the oval system, and by the proper use of which he can increase or +decrease the magnifying power of the ponderous telescope. The highest +magnifying power of a telescope of this size is so great that the Milky +Way is penetrated and its solar systems revealed. What an accomplishment +it would be if a telescope of this magnitude could be mounted, a thing +that these creatures never attempted to do. But they have built +telescopes of various inclinations, all stationary. You can form an idea +of the patience and endurance of these people when you learn that it +required over fifty years of our time for them to perfect one of these +large instruments.</p> + +<p>Give human brains to any animal under water or over water, and it will +grasp for larger views of its Creator and of the things He made. These +people are thoroughly convinced that intelligent life can be found in +any world where there is enough water to sustain it.</p> + +<p>In the waters of Stazza there are many under-currents similar to our +Gulf Stream. These are used by the inhabitants for transportation. They +construct little hammock cars so that when they are filled with human +freight they float in the water. A simple device which we might call a +fin propeller is used to force the car in one direction or another as +necessity may require. It is possible to enter one of these +under-streams and thus travel over two thousand miles; then, by rowing +only five miles, enter the return current and move homeward. A car of +special design is furnished by each community in which each bridal pair +spends the Wedlock Ride, or the Honey-Moon, as we would call it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a name="IMG8" id="IMG8" /><img src="images/image-8.jpg" width="600" height="393" alt="Fishing for Land Animals on a Planet of the Pole Star." title="" /> +<b>Fishing for Land Animals on a Planet of the Pole Star.</b> +</div> + +<p>There is nothing more interesting about this race of beings than the +manner in which they pluck land fruit and catch land animals, and yet +when you compare this with our world, it is the same to them as fishing +is to us.</p> + +<p>In all my inter-stellar journeys perhaps there was nothing so amusing to +me as to see a company of these water creatures fishing for land +animals. They would creep up near shore and throw out their wire lines +with various kinds of bait, according to what they wished to catch. Then +followed the inevitable waiting until some innocent Jullep or Petzel +would grasp the tempting morsel on the hook. A skillful jerk fastened +the victim, and instead of pulling him in the water, the fisherman held +his breath and rushed out of the water to get his prize. This has been +found to be a safer method than trying to pull the prize into the water.</p> + +<p>These water dwellers relish certain land animals more than we do fish.</p> + +<p>Of course the land strips are not inhabited by human beings, but +vegetation is abundant, similar to that found in our tropical regions. +Many kinds of fruit, growing on the land, are sought after by the +masters of the water. In the season when certain fruits are ripe whole +expeditions go out to gather them. But how can they live away from the +great body of water while plucking these fruits? Let me tell you how +they manage it. They have what we would call water-wagons, very wide and +short, and equipped with buckets. At the rear of one of these strangely +shaped carriages stand four or six men abreast immersing their heads in +the water of the wagon for a fresh breath as often as necessity +requires. Thus they are enabled to travel over land to any desired +locality, always being careful to keep near enough the water to cover +any emergency.</p> + +<p>When they arrive at the fruit each man takes his bucket of water and +proceeds to work. He plucks fruit or berries for about thirty seconds +and then ducks his head into his bucket of water for a fresh breath. +Then he proceeds as before. When the water is no longer fit for +breathing, he carries his fruit and water bucket to the wagon. Here he +unloads his fruit and refills his bucket from the wagon, proceeding as +before. At intervals the wagon must be refilled with water. During a day +a few men can gather a large quantity of fruit in this manner, and it +can be preserved for over four seasons.</p> + +<p>On Stazza there has been developed a fine variety of water flowers, and +no gardens are more beautiful than those that can be seen there. The +higher classes of these people live a very refined life and have their +homes surrounded with an endless variety of water grasses and flowers. +You would scarcely believe your eyes if you could direct your gaze to a +few of these homes.</p> + +<p>In their religious life these Stazzans are eminently devoted. They have +no bunch of creeds from which to take their choice, but follow the +teachings of "The Great Interpreter," a man who once lived and reigned +amongst them and who wrote his laws in what we would call, by +interpretation, "The Book of Gold." The leaves of this book are made +from an element costly and rare, more precious to them than gold is to +us. From this book all their sacred books are copied. The civil powers +also accept this book as their authority, and enforce its teachings.</p> + +<p>Sin there, as here, is the withering blast of the planet, the destroyer +of the harvest fields of purity and truth. An invisible spirit of evil +holds his force in disciplined command, and the man who wishes to have a +pure heart on Stazza must reach it through conflicts long and sharp. The +path to moral and spiritual purity is quite the same throughout the +whole universe.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII" />CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>Tor-tu.</h3> + + +<p>After I had finished my interesting tour of Stazza I visited in quick +succession a score or more of worlds that also revolve around Polaris at +varying distances. I found the majority of these planets barren of all +life, owing principally to their molten condition.</p> + +<p>Some unthinkable types of human existence are occupying the worlds that +can be inhabited. I marveled aloud as I viewed a few more links of the +endless chain of intelligent creation. On one of these worlds, which I +have christened Tor-tu, I found human beings that resemble us more than +any others in the entire solar bounds of Polaris.</p> + +<p>Tor-tu dashes along in its unceasing course at a distance of eight +hundred millions of miles from Polaris. It is much larger than our +world, and is accompanied by three moons and a set of rings which +faintly suggested our picturesque Saturn.</p> + +<p>The poles of Tor-tu are inclined at an angle of thirty-three degrees to +the plane of its orbit. This accounts for its temperature being quite +similar to ours, although its year is eight times longer.</p> + +<p>When I first reached this world I was impressed with its wealth of +natural scenery. Flowers of charming texture and color grew abundantly +over the wide expanses. The cultivated gardens contained specimens of +unusual beauty, surpassing the finest products of our Earth.</p> + +<p>When I examined the leaves of the many kinds of trees, I found none +similar to the foliage of our planet, except in one or two fruit-bearing +trees. The sky, instead of appearing blue, wears a greenish tinge, and +the birds are robed in a variety of colors that would put to naught our +arching rainbows.</p> + +<p>In fine, it must be admitted that Tor-tu is a much more beautiful world +than ours. I saw colors there that we could not produce because we have +not the proper elements.</p> + +<p>This delightful world is densely populated. Its history is much older +than ours. Sin is firmly rooted in the whole planet and its curse is +just as blighting and withering as it is in our world, although it is +fought more successfully and overcome more effectually in the home and +in the nation.</p> + +<p>I observed that the ecclesiastical system is similar to ours, and there +is a great profusion of creeds. To my surprise I noted, in my long +journey, that such a variety did not interfere with true progress, but +was compatible with the purest kind of life and the highest order of +civilization. The people are deeply devoted to their unseen God, and +their sacrifices are astonishing. Their places of worship are the finest +structures of the world. They believe it to be wrong to construct any +building greater in beauty and value than the temples of God. Their +music would sound quite weird to us, although it is sweet harmony to the +people of Tor-tu.</p> + +<p>The home life of Tor-tu is most beautiful. The moral life of the home +and of the nations is the cleanest of any world in the whole system of +Polaris. Naturally I investigated to learn the secret of this happy +condition. Then I found to my joy that the relation between parents and +children is very noteworthy. The fine respect manifested by the latter +for the former evoked the blush of shame as I thought of the prevailing +conditions in my own world.</p> + +<p>You may think it absurd when I describe a certain system that was a +stepping stone to such splendid results. Were this peculiar system to be +named, we should likely call it: "The Human Seal System."</p> + +<p>Each person born into the world of Tor-tu is officially sealed or +tattooed on the forehead and on the arm. It is done by the township +book-keeper, whose duty it is to keep a correct record of all births, +devoting a new ledger page to each infant.</p> + +<p>This seal is a life-long mark, and must not be interfered with under any +circumstances. In case the stamp is disturbed by accident, the person +must report to the township book-keeper either in person or by proxy, +and the stamp must be replaced on some conspicuous part of the head.</p> + +<p>There are eighteen governments of Tor-tu that united on this scheme. It +is so arranged that no two persons of all these millions have identical +marks. Each government has its seal of different designs from all the +others.</p> + +<p>Circles, ellipses and rectangles, with various modifications, compose +the eighteen forms in use. The most powerful of the eighteen governments +has for its seal the following design, which I have filled out as +completely as I could, using our own figures instead of their numerals +which would, of course, be unintelligible to us.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/seal.png" width="20%" alt="Tor-tu seal" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>This is the actual size of the design as it appears on the forehead.</p> + +<p>13 represents the number of the state.</p> + +<p>21 represents the number of the county.</p> + +<p>10 represents the number of the township.</p> + +<p>12 represents the color of the person.</p> + +<p>352, in the center, represents the individual's number.</p> + +<p>This same mark is the individual's signature for life. It cannot be +changed, although the person is allowed to have a metallic or rubber cut +of his own design, provided he writes the individual number by hand, for +any one else doing this would be a forger.</p> + +<p>The township clerk is also the collector of the public funds. To him +each person born in that township is compelled to render an annual +report of his residence, occupation, and certain other facts relating to +his life in general.</p> + +<p>If any minor or adult commits a criminal act upon which the civil court +has passed, this finding is recorded in the township record on the +individual's page and, when the criminal has served his sentence, this +fact is also recorded. This is a severe law for the criminal, but it is +a great stimulus to a law-abiding career.</p> + +<p>It is also customary for public courts to confer on worthy persons +special marks of honor for extraordinary deeds or acts. A record of such +rendering is also kept.</p> + +<p>In presenting annual reports to the clerk each father reports for his +minor children. This puts the father on a rightful plane of dignity +before his children, and the parent who makes a wise use of these +provisions can and does reach far better results than can otherwise be +done.</p> + +<p>No child can run away from home without falling into much more trouble +then he imagined he had before. At once his seal number is sent to all +the countries and into every sub-division. Any one aiding or abetting +such a person is severely punished. When the runaway is captured, the +system of reprimand is of such a nature that the minor will be glad to +remain under the directions of his parents until his maturity.</p> + +<p>If it can be shown that a parent or guardian uses inhuman methods of +punishing children, the act is criminal and is dealt with accordingly.</p> + +<p>There are no tramps parading periodically over the countries of Tor-tu.</p> + +<p>There is an international law that each township must care for its own +paupers. Every man's forehead seal tells his birthplace and there is no +escaping from it.</p> + +<p>When a person is suspected of crime in a foreign land, the foreign +officials can tell not only where the individual was born, but they can +also obtain an official record of his life by applying officially to the +clerk and paying a nominal fee.</p> + +<p>Any stranger making a serious effort to cover his forehead is looked +upon with suspicion. It is a current phrase of honor among the +Tor-tuites: "I am not ashamed to show my forehead."</p> + +<p>A few hundred years after this "Human Seal Law" went into operation, no +one, except the criminally inclined, would think of returning to the old +reckless way, although the system was scorned and ridiculed by many +Tor-tuites for about fifty years after its advent.</p> + +<p>In considering the character of an individual, the courts and the people +place tremendous stress upon the township record. Each son and daughter +early learns the value of a stainless page and strives to keep his +record clean.</p> + +<p>The township, through the state, gives to each child at maturity a civil +inheritance, provided his record meets the requirements of the law.</p> + +<p>All these customs and regulations are powerful incentives to the youth +to lead a good moral life and naturally tend to a respectful demeanor of +children toward their parents.</p> + +<p>This world is not only notable for its moral atmosphere, but for the +remarkable progress its inhabitants have made in political economy.</p> + +<p>They know a few things about laws, but not enough to make them so +complicated that no one can understand their meaning. In law, the poor +man usually has the same chance as the rich. Money has no weight in the +Tor-tu scale of justice. The facts in the case are the only things that +have weight, although bribery is possible and is sometimes practiced.</p> + +<p>The laws of Tor-tu relating to deeds and titles are the most simple and +yet the most effective that have yet come to my attention.</p> + +<p>All the land in each county of Tor-tu is divided into lots, and each lot +is numbered on an immense diagram at the county seat. This diagram is a +miniature relief outline of the county with each lot and plot in the +county designated, and, according to our measurements, it averages +almost eighteen by twenty-four feet, varying according to the size of +the county.</p> + +<p>When you buy land you buy from the county only. If you wish to purchase +a lot or plot from another party who is willing to sell, the two parties +concerned go to the chief real estate agent who is an official of the +county and has charge of the county diagram. The former owner or +title-holder, upon establishing his identity, releases to the county his +claims and surrenders his title on condition that he receives the sum +agreed upon between the two parties.</p> + +<p>The county agent then issues a new title to the new purchaser. It is a +simple common-sense document completely describing the new owner, his +relatives and his station. Thus each purchaser has his own title from +the county and it is guaranteed. Under this admirably simple system +disputes as to titles are rare and can scarcely occur; but if any should +arise, the county takes the defense and bears all expense of litigation.</p> + +<p>No counter claim is even heard after a title is five years old. Thus it +is impossible to resurrect an old buried claim and rob an innocent owner +who purchased and paid for his ground in good faith.</p> + +<p>In transferring real estate no lawyers are required. Several persons, +however, must witness the execution of the deed.</p> + +<p>The county publishes a journal, monthly, stating the owner of each lot +or plot number in the county. This is furnished free to each land owner.</p> + +<p>All credit to Tor-tu for these common-sense regulations! Our laws +covering this field are heathenish compared with the statutes of this +far distant world. There no man loses his real estate by the awakening +of a sleeping title, and if this could happen he would be fully +reimbursed by the county.</p> + +<p>In our world some titles are as clear as mud. Often we pay a large sum +to have the records examined and even then a purchaser has no assurance +of non-interference. Here it is even possible to buy a lot, build a +home, and five or fifty years afterward have it sold by some one who +proves a prior claim on the land. No such foolishness, or child-play in +the guise of legal dignity, is countenanced in Tor-tu.</p> + +<p>The whole civil system of this sphere is superior to ours. A person who +violates the law is not treated to free boarding and lodging in a well +heated and lighted building, as is quite prevalent in our world, but is +compelled to enter profitable labor under strict surveillance. Any +prisoner becoming rebellious and refusing to work is dealt with +severely. If he is still insubordinate, he is placed on the revolving +wheel of death until his stubborn will is broken, or he falls fatigued +into the jaws of steel.</p> + +<p>This convict labor does not compete with the regular ranks of honest +toil. The main work of criminals is farming, and the products of these +farms support not only the criminals, but their families as well. What +is produced beyond that is sold at market price and the proceeds are +applied to current expenses of the county.</p> + +<p>In our world the honest man must pay to support the dishonest; the +law-abiding must care for the law breaker. How much longer this will +continue no one has prophesied.</p> + +<p>The manner of choosing officials in Tor-tu is both new and surprising. +All the officers, from the highest to lowest, are chosen by lot instead +of by popular ballot or hereditary claim. They who are thus elected +remain in office during competency and good behavior.</p> + +<p>1. Their record must be stainless during the preceding ten years.</p> + +<p>2. They must have been graduated from the law department of the public +schools.</p> + +<p>3. They must be at least thirty-one years old.</p> + +<p>For the highest officials the conditions are more rigid.</p> + +<p>The teachers in all public schools are selected in the same manner from +among the number who apply, and who have been graduated in rank high +enough for the school in question.</p> + +<p>At first this lot system seemed very foolish to me indeed, bordering +upon absurdity, but the more I studied its simplicity and observed its +results, the more I became impressed with its good sense and +efficiency. There are no political parties fomenting discord in a +country under a spoils system; no upheavals every few years and +hilarious campaigns; and no idiotic caricatures of public officials to +work unbridled mischief in the hearts of the most dangerous citizens.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX" />CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>A Problem in Political Economy.</h3> + + +<p>After I had left the world of Tor-tu I still lingered in the heavens +around the planet and examined a few of its moons. While enjoying this +pleasing diversion, I learned that not far away, less than one billion +miles, there was a world without an atmosphere. This peculiar condition +was not new to me, for I had seen, during my never-to-be-forgotten +journey, many worlds without gaseous air.</p> + +<p>I would not have gone thither had it not been for an unaccountable +desire impelling me. Obedient to my impulse, I soon found myself on this +odd planet which I have named Airess.</p> + +<p>I at once observed that the people are formed without nose or lungs. The +nose is substituted by an opening into which liquid air is received and +through which it passes to a bodily reservoir of two lobes in the +vicinity of the heart. When I saw how these people were obliged to fill +their living vessels with this air-supplying liquid, I at once thought +of the manner in which we in our world fill our lamps with oil to +furnish light and heat.</p> + +<p>Now it is true that nature supplies this liquid air in reasonable +abundance, and no doubt all the people would have been happy until now +had it not been for the unjust scheming of a few unprincipled men.</p> + +<p>The strange story of the air problem on this distant world is so similar +to the food problem of ours that I have time to describe it briefly.</p> + +<p>There were certain men in Airess, shrewd above their fellows, who +secretly combined to secure a controlling interest in all the land +producing liquid air.</p> + +<p>In course of time these shrewd schemers, who are known as monopolists, +gathered this liquid air into large tanks and warehouses, and put an +exorbitant price upon it. The business flourished greatly because +everybody was daily in need of liquid air.</p> + +<p>The many sources of air-supply were guarded and men were employed to +carry the liquid from the raw springs to the private tanks of the +monopolists. Not long after this, when the monopolists saw that they +controlled all the liquid air of the country, they had rigid laws passed +forbidding the importation of air from any other country. Then when all +preliminaries were arranged, the magnates raised the price of their +commodity.</p> + +<p>The burden fell most heavily on the persons of limited means, for some +were compelled to give half of their earnings for air.</p> + +<p>The monopolists grew richer and richer, while the poor became still +poorer, until a cry went up for cheaper living. Then the +generous-hearted magnates decided to build new and larger storehouses, +thus giving employment to the large army of impoverished workmen. Thus +did the poor feel very grateful for the privilege of earning enough to +satisfy their hungry stomachs.</p> + +<p>With the larger storehouses now in operation the magnates were enabled +to conduct this air business on a scale more economical, and so it +resulted that the profits of their business were constantly increasing.</p> + +<p>Many who were unable to work became sorely distressed insomuch that +some died raving for liquid air. Others were more fortunate and were +helped by charitably inclined citizens. When a few poor comrades clubbed +together and contributed out of their mites, then the magnates sold air, +but if the sufferers had no money, they could have no air.</p> + +<p>A growing discontent possessed the people. They appealed to the +legislative bodies, but the magnates had grown so immensely wealthy that +they controlled all the law-making assemblies and gave the members air +free of charge, an act of kindness indeed.</p> + +<p>So the law turned a deaf ear to the cries of the people and many riots +followed. But these were all quelled by the standing army which was also +supplied with free air for the good service they were capable of +rendering to the monopolists.</p> + +<p>The multitude of laboring people could do as they chose, that is, work +like slaves and live, or refuse to tolerate the monopoly and die.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a name="IMG9" id="IMG9" /><img src="images/image-9.jpg" width="600" height="399" alt="Monopolizing Liquid Air on Airess." title="" /> +<b>Monopolizing Liquid Air on Airess.</b> +</div> + +<p>Many were the pitiful scenes witnessed in all parts of the land. Men, +women and children gathered around one or another of the large tanks +brimming full of the life sustaining liquid. It was heart-breaking to +see children with half-opened mouths dying for air. Of course none of +the magnates were within hearing or seeing distance. The tanks were in +charge of underlings who were bound to give no air except for the +exorbitant market price.</p> + +<p>This state of affairs continued for many generations, nor did relief +come until one named Agitator went forth strongly set in his +convictions. He was a natural-born orator, a lover of justice, one who +believed in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.</p> + +<p>As long as he went about speaking and praying, the monopolists gave no +heed. But when he began organizing the masses into sworn legions, then +did the magnates bestir themselves, seeing danger in the gathering +clouds of humanity.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" cried they one to another.</p> + +<p>"Bribe Agitator," suggested one.</p> + +<p>"A happy hit," cried they all.</p> + +<p>One was chosen to do the work. A description of the meeting and +conversation of these two great leaders is a choice bit of literature of +the world of Airess. I will translate it as nearly as possible into +English.</p> + +<p>Magnate and his companion met Agitator three hours after sun-rise. +Neither one had ever seen the other before, and naturally Agitator did +not suspect the purpose for which Magnate had come.</p> + +<p>"We are here," said Magnate, "to place into your hands one million +dollars to be used for the education of poor children. We have +confidence in your judgment and integrity, and if you will accept the +money on our conditions, we will gladly arrange all papers and place the +money at your disposal."</p> + +<p>"A magnanimous offer indeed. But what are the conditions," hurriedly +asked the blushing Agitator.</p> + +<p>"The conditions are easy to meet.</p> + +<p>"1. You are to train and appoint sub-teachers and give your influence to +the building up of these schools.</p> + +<p>"2. You are to spend your time in this noble work and receive as salary +ten thousand dollars annually.</p> + +<p>"3. Of course you will be glad to put your whole heart and time into +this enterprise and encourage all workmen to show their appreciation of +this generous movement in behalf of the oppressed."</p> + +<p>"But what would become of my other great work?" asked Agitator, as a +well-defined interrogation point covered his face.</p> + +<p>"This new enterprise will solve the whole question. Is it not true that +ignorance is the cause of nearly all the discontent in the world? If you +scatter the clouds of ignorance, with them the darkness of nearly all +our woes will fly, and you will stand at the head of a new race, +educated, refined, and capable of understanding and securing their +rights ten-fold more surely and more intelligently than now."</p> + +<p>Agitator was a man of quick mind. He was, however, almost caught in the +fine network spun around him. He bowed his head a moment in quietness.</p> + +<p>"There is a tinge of truth in your words," admitted Agitator. "If I can +avoid it however," he continued, "the people now living will not suffer +for a whole generation in hope of imaginary relief. Your scheme is a +worthy one, but you must seek elsewhere for a leader. I have sworn in my +soul to bend my every effort to break the strong arm of the Monopoly."</p> + +<p>Magnate was a cool man, and held his dignity in a pleasing manner. He +carelessly changed his attitude and spoke with decision "If you will not +lead this educational enterprise, the whole offer will be withdrawn and +it will be advertised to the world that the leader of the poor people +has refused the most magnificent offer of the age for the uplifting of +the masses."</p> + +<p>"Ah," quickly replied Agitator, "if the offer be sincere, why should it +go by default on my simple refusal to be turned from my present course? +Let some other one, better qualified than I, attend to the management of +this noble cause."</p> + +<p>Magnate advanced a step and with emphatic gesture gave his ultimatum:</p> + +<p>"You are the recognized leader of the masses, the idol of all the poor +and of the so-called oppressed. In you the very persons whom we hope to +benefit have unbounded confidence, and naturally you are the only man +who can make wisest and most efficient use of this large sum of money. +We have no other choice and I ask you once more, for the sake of +suffering humanity, to accept the leadership of this worthy cause which +will do more for the people than all other reform movements combined. +You can make no mistake in accepting our offer. This is the only right +thing for you to do."</p> + +<p>Agitator took no time to study his reply. His words were born on the +occasion for the occasion. He spoke with marked power in his voice and +fiery electricity in his eye:</p> + +<p>"I have made my final decision. I am married to my reform movement and +seek no divorce. I want all people to have free air as they have free +sunlight. I am determined that neither favor nor force, neither Magnate +nor money, shall swerve me from my course. The people of my time shall +see their liberty, or I shall see my death!"</p> + +<p>This reply of Agitator is most memorable. It is quoted more than the +famous words of Patrick Henry of our world: "Give me liberty, or give me +death!"</p> + +<p>Agitator pushed his cause with remarkable skill. Soon his movements +reached such proportions that great men courted his favor. The masses +clung to him with truest loyalty. He took full advantage of the +situation and gained control of the legislative bodies.</p> + +<p>Then followed the great enactment. All the air of the world was declared +to be free, and any one attempting to buy or sell this natural and +indispensable product was guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by fines +and heavy bonds.</p> + +<p>The celebration of this victory was extreme. The most wonderful +jubilations were held at the air tanks. Famous speeches were made and +the tanks were sold by permission of their owners. One enthusiastic +person bought a tank, declared that he would sell it in small pieces for +relics, and use the proceeds for educating poor children. The scene that +followed beggars description. Everybody knew that this was a cut at +Magnate, and the buying of relics was carried on in an unprecedented +manner. The amount of money netted by this sale was so large that +several schools were erected and an endowment provided for their +maintenance.</p> + +<p>All this happened long ago on the world of Airess. But the memory of +these unusual times will never die. They have an annual day of +celebration much resembling, in its festivities, our Fourth of July.</p> + +<p>The most peculiar human condition of Airess, according to my view, is +the manner in which these people sleep. They do not lie down and +gradually drift into unconsciousness, but they lie motionless and still +retain full consciousness. The rest comes from the quietness of the +bodily members. It is not even possible for these creatures to become +mentally insensible to their surroundings, except by an accident or +through medical treatment.</p> + +<p>I was most impressed, however, as I learned of the powerful eyesight +which these people enjoy. Their eyes are indeed little telescopes, +capable of examining heavenly bodies with as much accuracy as we are +enabled to do with the aid of magnifying glasses.</p> + +<p>Then comes the surprising statement that these same people have never +invented anything similar to a spy glass or a telescope. Imagine how far +they could peer into the depth of space if their own gifted eyesight +were augmented by good magnifying glasses.</p> + +<p>I spent a little longer time on Airess than on some other planets +because I found that I could more easily understand the philosophy of +their attainments.</p> + +<p>The last moments of my stay were spent in the largest structure of this +whole world, the central building of education. From this structure +endless lines of power and influence are maintained all through the +territorial divisions of Airess.</p> + +<p>I studied this unusual plan of education and viewed with delight the +ponderous portion of this imposing edifice. At last I bid farewell to +all these mute instructors and, looking skyward, fixed my mind on the +shores of another world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X" />CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>Floating Cities.</h3> + + +<p>Almost everyone is familiar with Ursa Major, or the Great Dipper, that +lies in such bold relief in the region of the northern heavens, and that +apparently revolves around Polaris, the North Star.</p> + +<p>The nearer of the two stars that help to form this famous Dipper and +that point toward Polaris, is called Dubhe by our astronomers. This star +and its interesting solar system next claimed my attention.</p> + +<p>From Earth I had often looked with admiring wonder at the starry +firmament, and during many an evening I had drawn the imaginary lines +from star to star outlining the Great Dipper, commencing with the end of +the handle and finishing with the star just named at the outer edge, or +rim.</p> + +<p>As I came near to Dubhe, I scanned the surrounding skies and was +surprised to find that the whole semblance of my dipper was lost. +Instead of lying in a plane, these stars were widely separated, so far +that a billion miles gives no fair hint of the distance.</p> + +<p>Many new stars, previously invisible, now shone in great glory so that +the whole celestial field presented new aspects. Far away I looked +toward our Sun; it sparkled like a tiny star, and none of the planets of +our Solar System were visible.</p> + +<p>I paused not at Dubhe, but sped onward to one of the busy worlds that +revolve around it, which I shall call Plasden. This is two hundred times +as large as our world, and "slin" covers seven-eighths of its surface. +Slin is a liquid much resembling water and serves practically the same +purpose.</p> + +<p>Plasden is truly a wonderful water world. Its inhabitants are not +confined to the under-water life like those found in Stazza, neither are +they strictly compelled to remain in the atmosphere, although that is +their normal condition. The Plasdenites can sustain life under water, +but only with discomfort. They have three times as many ribs as we +possess, and between them are openings into which air or water enters +for life sustentation. These flabby ribs slowly rise and fall +continuously and involuntarily.</p> + +<p>I would describe the upper portion of their bodies, but they would seem +so contrary to our ideas of beauty that I will pass on by saying that to +my eye, now trained in the larger school of interstellar harmonies, +these Plasdenites are lovely and lovable human creatures. They have +reached a high state of civilization and, being gifted with the spirit +life, they are still forging ahead toward perfection, unconsciously +competing with their fellow spirits in millions of worlds.</p> + +<p>Plasden is an old planet. Human beings have lived thereon for thirty +thousand years, and consequently, ages ago, the land area became so +densely populated that there was not enough room to accommodate the +increasing millions. This perplexing problem was solved in a very +peculiar manner by an experiment on the part of a wealthy Plasdenite, +who, seven thousand years ago, took advantage of the extremely light +mineral products of this world and built for himself a floating mansion +which covered about ten acres according to our measurements.</p> + +<p>This fairy palace was floated on the great oceans from one continent to +another, propelled by the wind and controlled by a series of motors.</p> + +<p>After a few years he returned to his native shore and conceived the idea +of building around his palace a water village. All foundations were made +of strong aluminum-like substance mixed with molten granite which, upon +hardening, formed a compound of marvelous lightness and durability. With +painstaking care and unceasing energy the water village was transformed +from a fanciful dream into a tangible reality, and in process of time +one section after another was added until a veritable city floated on +the bosom of the deep.</p> + +<p>But this is only a brief description of a marvelous accomplishment. I +did not pause to mention the factories and mills that were attached to +this city, nor have I told you that in less than one thousand years +after this first water city was finished, there were floating, on the +oceans of Plasden, no less than two hundred cities of various sizes, +each a manufacturing center devoted to one or more lines of industry.</p> + +<p>The majority of these cities moved in harmony in a world-wide course, +requiring about one year or four hundred of our days to complete a +single circuit. As was their prototype, so they were propelled by a +series of motors and a splendid sail system. At times the wind did the +greater part of the work, and again the full force of the motors was +required.</p> + +<p>Let me ask you to get on board one of these cities, and take one year's +journey in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>For instance, take one of the vehicle cities, composed of one hundred +factory buildings and three thousand dwellings, all built of +non-combustible materials.</p> + +<p>The city is now in the harbor of a great port, and all the merchantmen +who live nearest to this port have been informed that the vehicle city +would arrive about midweek and remain four days. What a busy time +follows after the floating city is fastened to its moorings! Inhabitants +go on solid ground to do their trading. Dealers make large purchases and +place extensive orders.</p> + +<p>It should be stated that the mail and telegraph systems between the +continents and all these floating cities are well nigh perfect. Fast +lines of mail steamers follow one another around the same course pursued +by these floating cities, and passengers can go to or from any of these +moving abodes to any part of any continent whenever they wish; so that +if a dealer wishes a vehicle of special design, he can send his order by +mail to any one of the six vehicle cities and have it completed by the +time the floating city arrives at his port. If the community receiving +the order cannot complete the work in time, the order is sent with one +of the mail steamers to the next vehicle city in line.</p> + +<p>The massive city starts its journey and in one day it floats to the +coaling stations. Here it takes on board an ample supply of fuel and +proceeds along the regular course, making no stops until it reaches the +mineral station where it takes a new supply of the various kinds of +metals necessary for manufacturing and for all other purposes.</p> + +<p>Then perchance it passes a city or two that is lying in dock for trade +purposes. The next stop will be at one of the several tropical stations +where a fresh supply of fruits is purchased and a number of vehicles +sold or delivered.</p> + +<p>After this the city passes several apparel cities moored to an immense +dock, taking on board large bales of a cotton-like substance used in +making texture.</p> + +<p>So continues the interesting journey along a safe route mapped out +centuries before. Storms arise, of course, but what harm can they do +except to send the ponderous waves dashing against the bulwarks of the +city and rock it gently, all of which becomes so familiar that no one +thinks of these things as serious barriers to the floating-city life.</p> + +<p>Perhaps in one tour of four hundred days thirty stops are made. You may +wonder how these huge floats are stopped and started. This is +accomplished by a series of border propellors which can be put into +service at any time if speed is desired or contrary winds are +encountered.</p> + +<p>These cities have done much to civilize the darker races of Plasden. The +manufacturing floats, coming into contact with the shores of all lands, +naturally have an uplifting influence on its peoples, some of whom go on +board to learn trades.</p> + +<p>The latest novelty of Plasden is a music city owned by one man and built +most beautifully. Its size is comparatively small and it is equipped +with motors of double power enabling it to proceed with considerable +speed as compared with the cumbersome, heavier floats. This city is +built for business as well as for pleasure.</p> + +<p>These Plasdenites enjoy an invention in the form of a machine that +renders music when acted upon by air, and, at certain times, also by +water. It is inspiring to listen to these Siren strains as the music +city passes another floating abode.</p> + +<p>Excursion parties go on this music city and remain at one or another of +its famous hotels as long as they wish.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 750px;"> +<a name="IMG10" id="IMG10" /><img src="images/image-10.jpg" width="750" height="500" alt="A Floating Palace and a Floating City." title="" /> +<b>A Floating Palace and a Floating City.</b> +</div> + +<p>The most refined feature of this water life is seen in the floating +mansions, of which there are many thousands. These are built in such a +manner that the wildest storms of the ocean can do no more than set the +mansion a rocking, for the structures that venture far away from +shore are very large, and surrounded by many acres of attachments.</p> + +<p>It is delightful to live in one of these water mansions, go to any +chosen harbor, remain as long as desired and, taking your choice of +countries, dwell among the icebergs or in the tropical regions. People +of delicate health can shift to any climate and change location as often +as desired. This style of retired life is now the most popular of all in +this peculiar world of Plasden.</p> + +<p>The educated people are a very bright class; they have made great +progress in manufacturing. This implies a long list of notable +inventions in every branch of industry. It is strange that these +brilliant inventors never paid attention to air travel. However, they +have perfected submarine navigation to a nicety that would be teasing to +the infant efforts that we have thus far made.</p> + +<p>The people of this far away orb have greatly surpassed us in controlling +and utilizing the three distinct forces which are quite similar to +electricity, and these are the wizard forces that furnish the power used +to drive the motors and engines, not only of the floating cities, but +also of the fixed abodes.</p> + +<p>By a comparative study I ascertained that we have over six thousand +inventions for which they have no parallel, and Plasden has nearly +twenty thousand to which we have nothing similar. What an inspiring +study all these facts furnished! But my space forbids enlargement. I +believe, however, that if our world remains a few thousand years more, +we will have learned more secrets than the experts of Plasden know +to-day, although they have had a start of many thousand years over us.</p> + +<p>There are very few worlds where the devotional spirit has reached a +higher level than in Plasden. The truths of the Creator are preached and +practised with a far more pleasing result than is prevalent on Earth.</p> + +<p>Satan has found his way to this planet and has organized his forces into +sworn legions against whom the armies of righteousness are waging +relentless warfare.</p> + +<p>The main secret of Plasden's high morality is found in the fact that +the civil governments insist on moral laws and a careful observance of +them. One blushes with shame at the looseness and laxity with which the +greater municipalities of our Earth are governed, and all this under the +shadow of our schools and church spires.</p> + +<p>Centuries ago the good people of Plasden learned how to co-operate when +they desired to win in a struggle against iniquity. I would give my +life-blood if I could transport this secret in such a way as to make it +effective on the Earth.</p> + +<p>In our world we have before us a most humiliating spectacle. If an +effort is made to extirpate some form of sin that has taken audacious +root in the soil of our moral life, one reform element or denomination +fights with the other until the hoe is so broken that there is nothing +left wherewith to dig out the miserable roots of the obnoxious weed. +Thus do we spend our energies opposing one another instead of fighting +the Devil.</p> + +<p>O, for the Plasden power of unity, before which any species of +corruption can be crushed out that is opposed by the forces of +righteousness!</p> + +<p>We have succeeded, to a bitter extreme, in getting the church and state +separated from each other so far that the latter scarcely ever gets a +glimpse of the former, and we stand by priding ourselves in the absolute +divorce. Then we have also succeeded in getting the different creeds +separated by chasms so wide that it is impossible to make a combined +attack against a common foe. However, these separations between sects +are gradually disappearing, and over the lessening gaps the hands of a +more Christian fellowship are being extended.</p> + +<p>The Devil, wiser in his generation than the children of light, long ago +united his trained forces in defense of his iniquitous schemes, and thus +he is permitted for a season to sit on the throne of power and wield his +black wand over the civil realm, thereby licensing iniquity, protecting +vice, and spreading his dark designs over the commonwealths of the +world.</p> + +<p>We look forward to the time when the moral and spiritual forces of our +world will reach the Plasden unity. May this be accomplished without +struggling along for another century!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI" />CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A World of Ideal Cities.</h3> + + +<p>After I had finished my brief stay at Plasden, I again rose high in air +and looked over the oceans with their floating cities. This was one of +the most charming views I ever had of any world.</p> + +<p>I paid a passing visit to a few worlds where human life had never risen +to a great height of civilization, nor can I forget the lessons I there +learned of the power of sin. All this one can clearly see who visits the +three worlds lying next in order to Plasden, but I will forbear the sad +and sickening recital of the depth to which a world is carried by sin +when once it gains a haughty ascendency.</p> + +<p>The next orb that attracted my attention also lay in the solar system of +Dubhe, and very much resembles our own world in both size and climate. +The people, who are not half our stature, are so differently formed that +I could scarcely believe my own senses.</p> + +<p>A description of them would appear only ludicrous, so I shall content +myself with saying that they are refined in their manners and highly +educated in all branches of human knowledge, which does not imply that +their studies are identical with ours.</p> + +<p>I was surprised at the splendid arrangement of their cities and the +sensible laws governing them. One can scarcely believe that we are +guilty of so much lost labor in the management of our cities, in our own +way of living, and in providing for our families, until he sets his eyes +on a city of another world that has notably distanced us in this +respect.</p> + +<p>These people, though small of stature, are endowed with powerful +muscular systems and, through their intelligence, they have become +masters of the seas and of the land, for the forests give away and +savage tribes fall back before the onward march of the God-directed +conqueror, man.</p> + +<p>I then appeared in visible form and walked into one of the largest +cities on this world. I had not passed one-fourth of the way toward the +city's center before I was surrounded by a curious crowd which so +blocked my path that I could make no further progress. You may imagine +their surprise to see a giant, as I appeared to them, with a strangely +shaped head and with a soft, flabby skin, for they at first regarded my +clothing as my skin.</p> + +<p>No one could conjecture what sort of an animal I was. I remained mute +and watched the rising tide of excitement. Before anyone could venture +to touch me, I saw a band of officers in double-quick march hastening +toward me with their curiously shaped weapons unfolded.</p> + +<p>I stood motionless as the soldiers surrounded me. As soon as the circle +was formed the leader of the squad stepped toward me with a show of +bravery, but I saw that he secretly trembled. It was his oath-bound duty +in such a case to lay hands on me and, if necessary, use force to take +me to the central office.</p> + +<p>I offered no resistance and went, as I was directed, till I stood in the +odd looking room where all offenders of their law are taken for a +hearing.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 422px;"> +<a name="IMG11" id="IMG11" /><img src="images/image-11.jpg" width="422" height="600" alt="Planet of Dubhe." title="" /> +<b>Planet of Dubhe.</b> +</div> + +<p>The news of my appearance and arrest had by this time spread to all +parts of the city and a motley crowd were gathering, but only a small +portion of the people were able to gain entrance into the building where +I had been taken.</p> + +<p>The high officials and educators, hearing of the wonderful giant at the +city hall, hastened thither with all speed. Then I saw an interesting +spectacle. As these higher classes of people arrived, the lower classes +were compelled to leave. The room being full, no laborer was allowed to +remain if a person of nobility wished to occupy his seat. This peculiar +custom or law applies to all public places and assemblies.</p> + +<p>In a short time all the lower classes were compelled to leave the hall +to make room for the unprecedented rush of nobility. Nothing so tempted +me to speak as when I saw this partial rule in operation.</p> + +<p>During all this gathering the officers stood in a circle around me and +held their weapons ready for instant service. Not hearing what I was or +what I might do, they were ordered to maintain this strict attitude.</p> + +<p>Every eye was fastened on me. Some of the nobility were pale with fear; +others were busy inquiring whence I came and where I had been captured.</p> + +<p>At length the chief official made a gutteral sound. This must have been +a call for order and the signal for the opening of the court, for at +once the wild confusion gave way to order as much as could be expected +under the circumstances.</p> + +<p>The brief formalities of opening the court were ridiculous to me. This +being done, all official attention was given to me. I saw that +everything was under the charge of this presiding official. He first +ordered that I should be bound and, accordingly, my hands and feet were +tied. Then a very heavy chain-like rope was fastened to my body and I +was tied to the criminal's post.</p> + +<p>The officers were then released and retired to their special part of the +room.</p> + +<p>The chief then stepped toward me and peered into my face with a puzzled +look of great anxiety. I returned his glances calmly, but uttered not a +word.</p> + +<p>There was a breathless suspense as the chief lifted up his hands, +touched my face, and felt my mustache and whiskers. The hair was perhaps +the strangest feature of my whole head, since there is nothing on their +human or animal species that resembles hair.</p> + +<p>The chief then called for a certain professor who was an expert in +zoology. This intelligent man quickly came to my side and, at the +request of the chief, commenced to examine me carefully.</p> + +<p>My manner of breathing confused him most of all. He watched my chest +rising and falling and my sides increasing and decreasing with every +breath, until he was mystified beyond all power of explanation.</p> + +<p>When the dignitaries saw that I could be touched with safety, numerous +messages were flying to the chief, each one asking for the privilege of +a closer inspection of me.</p> + +<p>The presiding officer was cool-headed and firmly followed his own cause. +He waited until the professor had finished his examination and was +prepared to report, whereupon he announced to the bewildered audience +that heed should now be given to the conclusion of the zoologist.</p> + +<p>The professor mounted a throne-like elevation from which all expert +opinion is submitted. A painful silence ensued as this learned man +proceeded with his report.</p> + +<p>Of course I pretended that I could not understand their language and +that I was oblivious to all these occurrences, but you may be assured +that I was careful not to miss a word that fell from the lips of this +noted specialist who conducted himself with a dignity both pleasing and +fascinating.</p> + +<p>"I pronounce this creature an enigma," commenced the professor as he +pointed his bony finger toward me, "and declare him to be the strangest +problem of my life. How, and whence, and why he came to us are all alike +shrouded in impenetrable mystery."</p> + +<p>"This perplexing specimen is totally different from any species of our +animal creation. He resembles a man more closely than any beast. +However, he cannot belong to any family of our world for he is possessed +with bodily functions unknown to us. His clothes are not the result of +any natural growth, and are far beyond our finest manufacture. Each +piece of his apparel gives positive evidence that it was made with +hands more skillful than ours."</p> + +<p>"The most pleasing part of this perplexity is the face, which bears +indisputable marks of intelligence. It would be eminently satisfying to +us if we could communicate with him and receive some light on this +living marvel."</p> + +<p>He quickly stepped from the throne and the chief then invited four +philosophers to examine me conjointly. They hurriedly responded to the +invitation, for they were delighted at the honor and privilege conferred +upon them.</p> + +<p>What a peculiar experience followed! Four men touched my hands and +ankles, my arms and limbs, and more particularly every piece of my +apparel. Accidentally one found my purse, but could not open it. As he +was faithfully pursuing his task, I felt that the time had come for me +to speak.</p> + +<p>"Twist at the two knobs," I said in their vernacular.</p> + +<p>If lightning had struck into that room, it would not have caused more +consternation. The four philosophers fell to the floor, the chief was +terrified, the audience looked on in abject terror, while the officers +rushed from their post with drawn weapons. All this occurred instantly, +and I realized that my words never before had such an effect. In a +moment the chief was at my side and, looking into my face, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Who are you and why have you remained silent?"</p> + +<p>"I am a human being," I replied.</p> + +<p>"From what part of our world?"</p> + +<p>"I was not born on this world."</p> + +<p>"On what world then?" he further asked with increasing surprise.</p> + +<p>"On a world called Earth that revolves around a star called Sun." As I +was answering these questions many wild sensations were sweeping over +the hearts of the assembled nobility.</p> + +<p>"How came you to our world?" continued the chief with abated breath.</p> + +<p>"On wings invisible."</p> + +<p>"For what purpose came you hither?"</p> + +<p>"To see your manner of life."</p> + +<p>"Will you stay with us forever?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot."</p> + +<p>"Have you come to harm us?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least."</p> + +<p>The chief in a high state of excitement ordered that I should be +unbound.</p> + +<p>I smiled and said that I would spare them that trouble. I snapped the +bands with such ease that a new fear possessed all of those around me.</p> + +<p>I then gave them positive assurance that I would harm no one and urged +that all should be silent as I wished to speak a few words to them.</p> + +<p>Never before had I a more attentive audience. I addressed them in a +natural manner, informing them that I desired to become familiar with a +few of their forms and customs of life. I then proceeded to give them a +description of the world whence I had come. My audience became +enthusiastic and I decided to cease speaking.</p> + +<p>The chief, although greatly agitated, still kept his hand on the +throttle of the occasion. He waved the surging crowd back, demanded +order and at once sent his arrowed questions at me again.</p> + +<p>"Are you not a god?" cried he.</p> + +<p>"I am only human."</p> + +<p>"How could you have such power as to reach our world?"</p> + +<p>"That I cannot explain."</p> + +<p>"How many people live on your world?"</p> + +<p>"One and one-half billion," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Are they all pure-minded?"</p> + +<p>I answered that I was pained to inform them that many of our inhabitants +are wicked.</p> + +<p>My listeners were still incredulous as to my identity. They were +positive that I was a visiting spirit on a mission of evil or good, and +they urged that I should disclose the purpose of my commission.</p> + +<p>I re-affirmed my past utterances and, turning to the chief more +directly, I informed him that he would see me no more. Then, without +pausing another moment, I vanished. As I went, I looked backward to see +the mystified countenances of all who were in the room, and then +proceeded to visit the surrounding city to examine the system under +which it is governed.</p> + +<p>I found that the bulk of the trade is controlled by the city, one class +of goods being kept at one place in suitable store houses. The city owns +a full line of vehicles resembling our automobiles. These are very +spacious. Each one is supplied with certain lines of merchandise and +passes over an unalterable rail route at its own fixed period.</p> + +<p>Thus all parts of the city are reached with the necessaries of life. +Those who prefer can go to the trade centers, but no special orders are +delivered except by the regular cars and at the regular time.</p> + +<p>For instance, one can go to the trade centers for meats and vegetables, +and purchase what he wishes or give his order. At the time corresponding +to six o'clock of our time in the morning the meat and vegetable cars +start on their respective routes, while the trade centers are open for +personal callers. Marketing goes on at the market center while the cars +are selling throughout the city. At nine o'clock the delivery cars leave +the trade centers.</p> + +<p>Similar to the manner of our world, each home is numbered in such a way +that no two houses have the same designation. By this arrangement the +delivery of goods is facilitated.</p> + +<p>Everything in this busy metropolis goes like clock work, and everybody +knows the schedule, which is simple enough to be understood almost at a +glance.</p> + +<p>All the trade centers lie along the freight and passenger railroad. This +saves a tremendous amount of labor, for the goods are all transferred +directly from the cars to the store-houses.</p> + +<p>There is no Fire Department, for there is no need of one. It appears +that only a few worlds in the universe use inflammable materials for +structural purposes, and we are one of them.</p> + +<p>There is a Finance Department and a Law Department, although I cannot +give space for their description.</p> + +<p>The Sanitary and Police Departments are under systems absolutely +different from any that are known in our world. Their sanitary methods +are no more effective than ours, perhaps less so. But the Police +Department is greatly superior. This is largely due to the fact that +this city has a department gloriously ahead of any city in which I have +ever lived. This department is called the Moral Department. It is +managed by twenty-one men and women, one-third of whom are selected +annually from a list of nominees.</p> + +<p>Each church, meeting certain requirements, is entitled to make one +nomination. The seven of these nominees receiving the largest number of +votes are elected for three years.</p> + +<p>This Moral Department is no mincing and begging institution. It has, at +its disposal, the entire military battery. No mayor holds a whip handle +over it. I must confess I was happy as I witnessed the blessed effect of +this Moral Department. All evil is not extirpated, neither is all +lawlessness overcome, but there is no brazen iniquity, no public +immorality and heartless brutality such as is seen on every hand in one +of our larger municipalities.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII" />CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>A World Enjoying Its Millennium.</h3> + + +<p>What expansive views of creation were afforded me in my universal +journey! I saw all conceivable types of human life, many of which I +alone could never have conceived.</p> + +<p>With a happy soul I alighted on another world in the solar system of +Dubhe where sin had been banished, and the believers, or children of +God, were passing through a period of time which we would call the +Millennium.</p> + +<p>A wide contrast was now presented to my view. I had seen world after +world in the tribulation of sin. Now I had come to one under the sway of +righteousness, and I wish that I had power to describe what I saw and +experienced.</p> + +<p>I suddenly thought of the Queen of Sheba, who, upon seeing the greatness +of Solomon's wisdom, exclaimed, "Behold, the half was not told me." I +had often imagined what the condition of our world would be when it +smiles under the light of the Millennium, but I minimized the glory that +is yet to come to us, judging by what I saw on this delightfully +charming planet. I have no assurance, however, that the coming +Millennium of our world will be altogether similar to the one I saw.</p> + +<p>This glorious Millennium was ushered in about six hundred years ago, and +I readily learned the general particulars of its commencement. The world +had been very wicked prior to the dawn of this new age. The majority of +the people disregarded all spiritual truths, causing the darkness of sin +to hang like a heavy pall over the nations of this planet.</p> + +<p>There were earnest devotees who lived in the light and love of God, and +who preached and pleaded with the thoughtless and the indifferent. +Notwithstanding all the efforts put forth on the part of the righteous, +the generations of this distant world became more and more wicked until +the Millennial dawn.</p> + +<p>In the fullness of time the Millennium was ushered in by the appearance +of the chief angel who came with several hundred thousand attending +spirits. At the approach of these celestial regiments the atmosphere far +above the planet was darkened by ominous clouds through which the +approaching legions shone with unearthly brightness. All this occurred +in the twinkling of an eye, even before the busy millions could look +upward. Then the chief angel and his magnificent host circled in the +air, singing the resurrection song, which was augmented by ten thousand +trumpeters, while the forked and sheet lightnings flashed in unison with +the imposing waves of music, and heavy thunders contributed the bass +intonations.</p> + +<p>The celestial choir continued during one revolution of the planet. The +vast throng sang in the air as the planet revolved on its axis. As each +section of the globe came beneath the long extended line of melodious +angels, the marvelous change took place for that section. The sleeping +saints came forth from their graves and, with the living saints, were +caught up into the air. This continued until this most eventful day was +finished.</p> + +<p>The scenes that occurred with the ungodly during this awful day beggar +all description, so much so that I shall not attempt to describe the +remorseful wails of horror that rent the air, only to be drowned by the +ever-singing choir. It was the day of triumph for the saints, and their +ears were not disturbed by the cries of terror, nor were their hearts +distracted by the opening of the earth to receive the wicked.</p> + +<p>As the saints were caught up, the wicked fell into pits and have not +been seen since. The flames that issued from the rending globe set +everything on fire. Who can select language sufficiently graphic to +portray such a lurid dissolution of a planet, and the gathering of the +faithful, quick and dead?</p> + +<p>Thus was this large world purified by fire while the saints were +gloriously enraptured. After the fury of this burning was passed, the +great Creator of the universe made a new world whereon righteousness +dwelled.</p> + +<p>The saints became the possessors and rulers of this whole sphere, living +in joy and peace unprecedented. It has been the happiest six hundred +years since the beginning of this planet. How long this period will +continue no one seems to know, and but few are conjecturing, for each +soul is completely happy and congenially employed.</p> + +<p>The time will come, however, when this blissful period will be at an +end, only to give way to a state of existence infinitely greater and +more glorious, which in our language would be called Heaven.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 399px;"> +<a name="IMG12" id="IMG12" /><img src="images/image-12.jpg" width="399" height="600" alt="Beginning of the Millennium." title="" /> +<b>Beginning of the Millennium.</b> +</div> + +<p>I will briefly describe a few characteristics of this Millennial life as +I saw it and as it is now existing.</p> + +<p>1. The saints are living in spiritual bodies. They are not cumbered with +a fleshy body, and are capable of traveling through the air at a speed +far beyond that attained by the swiftest winged creature of any world in +the whole universe.</p> + +<p>Their spiritual bodies are highly organized and sensitive to a fine +degree. At will they are capable of rendering themselves visible or +invisible, as we comprehend these terms.</p> + +<p>As the perfectly formed flower, blushing in its wealth of color, is +called beautiful, so we would designate these symmetrical +spirit-creatures, moving in the glory of their higher endowment and +shaded with the living tints of Heaven.</p> + +<p>2. These inhabitants know nothing of fatigue. Their strength of body and +vitality of mind are unabating. What a contrast between the creatures of +our Earth and those of the Millennial world on whom the passing of +centuries has no ill effect.</p> + +<p>3. There is nothing on this purified world to generate disease; hence +these favored people never suffer any pain of body or of mind. The long +line of sin-shadows has all vanished from this redeemed planet, and the +atmosphere is all aglow with the mellowed light of peace and love.</p> + +<p>4. Jealousy and all kindred feelings are unknown. These roots were all +destroyed by the fire at the beginning of the Millennium. No one can +imagine how enrapturing life is in the absence of stings of malice and +thorns of envy.</p> + +<p>5. The social and spiritual relationships are all harmoniously blended. +No one feels himself beneath or above another, and no one feels +embarrassed in the presence of a superior human intelligence.</p> + +<p>6. Thus it follows that the fellowship is inexpressibly sweet. You can +only imagine the dignity and glory one must feel as he mingles with the +righteous dead of all ages, and gathers from them a glimpse of the +trials and triumphs of ten thousand years under the old reign.</p> + +<p>7. Some of the spirits are employed in dressing and keeping the gardens +in which grow the luxurious food on which redeemed creatures subsist: +not cereals, fruits, or nuts, but the kind that creates the most +heavenly sensations as it wastes away in perfume at the will of the +user. The nearest imitation of this food ever known on earth was eaten +by Christ's spirit when Mary broke the alabaster box of ointment on his +head.</p> + +<p>8. Some spirits of this Millennial life seemed to be more rapturously +happy than the others. I learned that they had passed through the +darkness of continual disappointments or suffered under the mis-mating +of matrimonial union. Others fought through the fires of persecution and +torture, and still others passed through martyrdom for their Master's +sake. All of these patiently endured all hardships leading down to the +end of their mortal days.</p> + +<p>9. The affinity between sexes is clearly marked. No love but pure love +burns on the altar of any soul, and any one who wishes may stop to +kindle the fires or warm himself thereat. There is no bodily contact, no +decay, no weakening. This love is enrapturing, uplifting, ever drawing +the lover and the loved nearer to the fountain.</p> + +<p>In language most intelligible to us, I would say that the intercourse +between sexes is one of refined telepathy, soul-connection by thought +transmission, a thousand-fold more charming than the low plane of +intercourse in the flesh life, with none of its attendant weakening +results. This strange felicity is as indescribable as it is glorious. +Each nature seeks its real complement, and enjoys the most absolute +liberty, for there is not a single barrier to prevent it, as no one +desires to do wrong.</p> + +<p>This most inviting life had its charms for me, but I well knew that I +could not tarry. I lingered at a thousand fountains to catch the +life-giving spray and studied, as far as I possibly could, the faces of +these favored creatures.</p> + +<p>The whole vegetable world is a long extended floral garden. Where +formerly deserts lay waste and wild, now the blooming roses and +expansive lawns can be seen. Is it possible to picture to your mind's +eye a line of lofty mountains whose sides are dressed in living colors +and trimmed with rare flowers? If you cannot paint this picture, then +you must not endeavor to form the faintest conception of the natural +features of this Millennial world.</p> + +<p>Being still filled with the lingering memories of this happy sphere, and +looking forward to the coming golden age of our own world, I read with +pleasure a few stanzas contemplating Christ's second coming.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"A SONG OF HIS COMING."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>See the virgins at midnight yearning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To behold the face of the Groom.<br /></span> +<span>Their lamps are all trimmed and burning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As they peer through the misty gloom.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"He will come," is the shout of voices,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which have sung in a thousand ways;<br /></span> +<span>For the heart of the saint rejoices,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">At the thought of the coming days.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>When the war of creeds will be over,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And our King descends from above,<br /></span> +<span>Only they shall witness His crowning,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who have lived in the light of love.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Then the Christ shall reign in his glory<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On the throne of his sovereign might:<br /></span> +<span>And the theme of Redemption's story<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Will be sung with perfect delight.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And our minds will dazzle with brightness,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As our thoughts forever aspire,<br /></span> +<span>For a mantle of perfect whiteness,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Shall cover the youth and the sire;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Then we know that none will be jealous,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And no one will envy our lot.<br /></span> +<span>For against the one who is zealous,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Not a soul will contrive or plot.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And our actions will chime in pleasure,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All refined from malice and sting.<br /></span> +<span>We shall all reach the perfect measure,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the reign of this conquering King.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>We will have everything we can use,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In those beautiful realms of light;<br /></span> +<span>There the people will do as they choose,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For each one will choose to do right.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>We will sail through the seas of beauty,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And return to the shores we please;<br /></span> +<span>Far away from the callings of duty,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the shade of undying trees.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>All the riches of Christ will be ours,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Tis a wealth without guilt or pain.<br /></span> +<span>There will be no 'Contention of Powers',<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor the marks of official stain.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>As I look from this earthly station,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I exclaim again and again—<br /></span> +<span>O what an eternal vacation!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come quickly, Lord Jesus, Amen.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII" />CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>A World of High Medical Knowledge.</h3> + + +<p>I spent a long and profitable season in the vicinity of the Great +Dipper, witnessing the almost infinite variations of human life as found +from world to world, and looking upon the wild wastes of the many +planets that are not inhabited.</p> + +<p>Finally I again spread my swift wings, reached the beautiful star +Arcturus and noticed among the worlds that revolve around it a few that +are sinless. I was tempted to pause at one or another of these +exceptional stations, but I knew that I could not tarry until I had +reached the far distant constellation of Scorpio.</p> + +<p>In this wide flight I traveled a distance so great that I will not weary +the mind with mentioning the trillions of miles. Now I was in the direct +path of the Milky Way and my imagination staggered as I saw the +endlessness of stars and solar systems, as far out beyond me as my +assisted eyes could reach.</p> + +<p>The star at which I arrived is one of the largest suns that blaze in the +depths of immensity. It is so wonderfully great that if twelve hundred +million worlds as large as ours were all crushed into one great ball, it +would not make one sphere as immense as this star or sun, around which +revolve about five hundred worlds or planets, many of which are greater +than our Jupiter. With abounding interest I visited all the inhabited +worlds of this vast system. How long it took I have no way of knowing. I +did not count time by hours or heart throbs, for I was so wrapt in my +observations that all else was as nothing to me.</p> + +<p>Some of these worlds sustain a low order of human creatures, while on +others there are races that have reached a high degree in the scale of +advancement. Of these five hundred worlds nearly one-half are barren of +all life, and of those that are inhabited some twenty are sinless worlds +and thirty are now passing through an intermediate period between the +probationary life and the final judgment, a period toward which we are +anxiously looking and which we designate as the Millennium.</p> + +<p>Of all this ponderous solar system there is one world that excels all +the others in its medical attainments, and of this one first I will give +a flying notice.</p> + +<p>I have named this world Dore-lyn. It is fifty times as large as our +Earth and of greater specific gravity.</p> + +<p>Its human creatures are delightfully formed and are in ruddy health and +refined happiness. In shape these Dore-lynites differ somewhat from us, +but long before I had reached this planet I learned something of the +universal standards of symmetry and ascertained that creatures could be +beautiful without resembling us whatever.</p> + +<p>Here I found four billions of people and there is room for twenty +billions more. So if you are in ill health, and have run the round of +our medical fraternity without success, I would advise you to go to +Dore-lyn, if you know how to reach it.</p> + +<p>These Dore-lynites are almost three times our size and they are subject +to most of our ills and many more. From an early date the head +government of this world paid particular attention to hygiene, keeping +all medical work under its own care.</p> + +<p>The government controls the whole field of medical science just as we do +the post-office department.</p> + +<p>There are no conflicting schools of medicines such as Allopathic, +Homeopathic, Hydropathic, Eclectic and Osteopathic. The government gives +handsome rewards to any one who furnishes a new discovery or gives +additional light. Everything is duly tested and proved to be a success +by a corps of experts before it is given to the practicing fraternity. +The government holds certain rights in experimenting that no physician +or medical school would think of having in our world. The government +medical schools of Dore-lyn are marvels indeed. Nothing is spared that +money or talent can furnish. The full graduates of these schools are +only "the survival of the fittest." Others take a secondary degree and +can act as assistants or retire from the list. The government has a +series of institutions that do a work similar to our hospitals and have +a corps of full graduates supplying the stations. This entire system is +so arranged that every family or individual receives all necessary +treatment free.</p> + +<p>The cost of carrying on this vast system is one of the items of national +expense. I will now mention some of the medical achievements of these +Dore-lynites.</p> + +<p>When a physician suspects that the blood is poisoned he at once proceeds +to a chemical analysis, and if certain kinds of poison are found, the +blood is filtered by the use of a fine instrument. A blood vessel is +exposed and cut, and the two ends fastened to the delicate filter. Thus +the blood is cleansed by passing through this instrument. Those +acquainted with the manner in which the blood circulates can readily see +how all the blood of the body can be reached in a short time. This +method is very successful in the treatment of all bites of poisonous +insects and reptiles, and all types of hydrophobia, which are ten-fold +more numerous in Dore-lyn than in our world.</p> + +<p>There are no patent medicines in Dore-lyn. The few medicines they have +are manufactured only by government authority and everybody receives the +purest that can be compounded, no distinction being made between rich +and poor. One thousand years ago the medical aspects of Dore-lyn were +similar to those which are seen in our world to-day. People were +compelled to take all manner of poisons and opiates even from skilled +hands. But in Dore-lyn those days of darkness and misery are past and +the people enjoy the benefit of a medical skill one thousand years ahead +of us. They look back to the practice of the old physicians with +ludicrous feelings just as we do when reading the prescriptions that +were used in the first century of our dispensation.</p> + +<p>We call your attention to some of the antiquated remedies of our world +as related by Geike and copied from a medical journal of our own +country. Following is a list:</p> + +<p>"Ashes of wolf's skull, stag's horn, the heads of mice, the eyes of +crabs, owl's brains, liver of frogs, viper's fat, grasshoppers, bats, +etc., these supplied the alkalis which were prescribed. Physicians were +accustomed to order doses of the gall of wild swine. It is presumed the +tame hog was not sufficiently efficacious. There were other choice +prescriptions such as horse's foam, woman's milk, laying a serpent on +the afflicted part, urine of cows, bear fat, still recommended as a hair +restorative, juice of boiled buck horn, etc. For colic, powdered horse's +teeth, dung of swine, asses' kidneys, mice excretion made into a +plaster, and other equally vile and unsavory compounds. Colds in the +head were cured by kissing the nose of a mule. For sore throat, snail +slime was a favorite prescription, and mouse flesh was considered +excellent for disease of the lungs. Boiled snails and powdered bats were +prescribed for intestinal disorders."</p> + +<p>When we read such a list of remedies we can scarcely believe that they +were ever popular, but according to the history of Dore-lyn the time +will come when many of our present medicines will be out of date, and +only mentioned in the old medical works.</p> + +<p>The people of Dore-lyn have suffered in past ages innumerable woes on +account of intemperance. Alcohol is unknown to them, but they have had a +two-thousand year's battle against three liquids that affect them as +opium affects us. Strange to say that these terrible liquids were the +bases of many of their medicines just like the anodyne medicines of our +present day. Thus in Dore-lyn the old kinds of medicines created many +drunkards. Since the dawn of the brighter age, a strict law prevails +regarding the use of all narcotics in medicines. Then came gradually +into use the many methods of treating disease without medicine, except +the materials used to sustain life regularly.</p> + +<p>Being interested in these things, I examined more closely into their +past medical history, and saw more clearly the present folly of a +certain part of our medicinal practice. How we are struggling with +alcohol, especially as found in so many of our patent medicines, and how +helpless we are in trying to abolish the sale of these medicines by +reason of our unbounded liberty! In our world, a man may concoct any +alcoholic medicine and sell it without liquor license, for people +become verily mad for the bottled stuff. Our nation may some day become +wise enough to keep its own hand on the business that is determining the +health and happiness of millions of its inhabitants.</p> + +<p>But let me cease this digression and get back once more to Dore-lyn.</p> + +<p>One of the most noted medical achievements on this world consists in the +manner of rendering a person unconscious of pain. The anatomy of a +Dore-lynite is, in general, the same as our anatomy. Their bones are +arranged a little differently and the sections of the backbone have a +quite different formation. When a surgeon of that world wishes to +perform an operation and therefore render the patient unconscious, he +presses the tough cartilagenous part of a section of the backbone with a +screw device fastened to the body of the patient. This simple act +renders the spinal cord insensitive, which condition may be maintained +for hours without injuring the patient. Of course any point above the +screw device is sensitive, and for this reason it is more difficult to +render a person unconscious in the parts about the head.</p> + +<p>Many ages ago the world of microbes was laid bare, but not before these +people were masters of the microscope or an instrument serving the same +purposes, although formed on a partly different principle.</p> + +<p>These Dore-lynites have brought to light the numerous varieties of +parasite broods that cause fermentations and diseases, both infectious +and otherwise.</p> + +<p>A diseased body is looked upon as being in possession of a certain brood +of microbes which are destroyed either by the blood filter or the +"Vaccine bath, or injection." (I know no better name by which to call +it.) A few diseases are treated by doses of medicines given in a manner +similar to the prescription system of our country.</p> + +<p>The "Food Treatment" is also very popular in Dore-lyn. This is merely a +hygienic selection of foods given to people of declining health, instead +of having them swallow ten or twenty dollars' worth of strong medicines.</p> + +<p>Abnormal appetites crave for a class of foods injurious to the system. +In Dore-lyn they have discovered a novel method of turning the diseased +appetite from its cravings toward the things needed by the system.</p> + +<p>In performing operations, the experts of Dore-lyn have reached a +marvelous degree of perfection. They have learned to make a false eye so +that one can see with it. It took three and one-half thousand years of +continual experimenting on this delicate creation before it was +pronounced satisfactory.</p> + +<p>The false eye is not of flesh but one of manufacture. It is placed in +sensitive connection with the optic nerve, on which images are thrown by +the delicate mechanism of the false eye. The sight thus obtained is +almost one-half as distinct as that which is enjoyed by the normal eye.</p> + +<p>These medical wizards also make artificial ears which are about as +satisfactory as the natural ears. In certain lines of surgery we are +equal to these Dore-lynites, but we cannot register with them in the +whole category of surgical achievements. They have simply distanced us +by five hundred years. That is, I believe that in five hundred years we +can reach the fields of glory which they now occupy.</p> + +<p>Think of laying bare a human lung and treating it with a special +preparation for extreme cases of lung diseases, and also treating it +with a "baking" for department cases of a disease similar to pneumonia. +Perhaps the most wonderful class of operations is performed on the heart +and the brain.</p> + +<p>The heart is laid bare under a sheet of thermal rays. Fatty tissues are +removed and other obstructions eradicated during the regular heart +beats.</p> + +<p>The government grants certain privileges of experimenting on her lowest +class of criminals, and it is well nigh incredible what has been +accomplished by cerebrum operations.</p> + +<p>Certain murderers of vile propensities have been so changed by an +operation on the cerebrum that they have no power of recalling their +past life and are incapable of uttering an oath. And what is more +strange, they are intent on leading an upright life and being intensely +religious withal.</p> + +<p>I am compelled to crowd a world of glorious life into a few paragraphs, +but I hope that I have given such as will be for our good.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV" />CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>A World of Low Life.</h3> + + +<p>When one witnesses an exhibition he must, of necessity, look upon the +poorer parts of it. This was my experience in my universal journey, for +on some worlds which I visited I found that human civilization was at a +low ebb. One of the most notable of this class is the world next beyond +Dore-lyn.</p> + +<p>This sphere is one thousand times as large as ours, and the beastly +creatures that inhabit it are four times our size.</p> + +<p>The toilers in the deep valleys of Mars are favorably intelligent +compared with these specimens of humanity. For convenience, I will call +this world Scum. Its people are so constituted that their two arms can +be used as legs; so it is quite common to see these Scumites travel over +their planet like the more graceful of our quadrupeds. Their walking, +however, is principally after our fashion, and they can change about at +pleasure. Either way of travel seems as natural as the other. When they +walk on two limbs, the body is erect, presenting a stature of such +gigantic proportions as to over-awe a representative of our world.</p> + +<p>According to the universal standards of symmetry, these giants have an +animal beauty that is anything but handsome, and they also lack those +facial expressions of higher intelligence that come only through +generations of cultured thinking. Their health is quite perfect and they +live to a great age.</p> + +<p>These Scumites have a language singularly their own. It is so totally +different from any of our conceptions of speech that I can scarcely find +words to describe it.</p> + +<p>The medium of conversation is the Notched Rod. It is about twelve feet +long with various kinds of notches cut along the two sides. Such a stick +is possessed by every Scumite who expects to hold extended or +descriptive conversations. It is usually held by a skin strung around +the neck. While one of these persons is talking, two or three of his +fingers pass from notch to notch along the rod. These indentures of the +rod represent, in their language, certain kinds of sounds and are used +to assist the vocal organs in expressing the more intricate combinations +of ideas. Naturally, the listener watches the fingers more than the +mouth.</p> + +<p>It is amusing to see a Scumite busily engaged in delivering a speech to +a few of his fellow creatures. It would remind you of a person playing a +fife or violin without producing any sound.</p> + +<p>The children of Scum learn this rod language just the same as our +children at first learn to speak our language by observation and +practice.</p> + +<p>The face of a Scumite does not resemble a human face of our planet. The +mouth and jaws are at right angles to ours and this arrangement seems to +be just as convenient to these Scumites as the formation of our mouth is +to us. The nose lies above the mouth, but is relatively much higher, its +point coming between the two eyes which are situated more toward the +sides of the head.</p> + +<p>The startling fact about this world is that at one time in its past +history fair intelligence reigned on a few parts of the planet. These +intelligent sections were working their way upward on the measureless +incline of progress and had won some distinctions in their sciences, as +well as their religious devotions. These bright spots on the surface of +this large orb were surrounded with large black patches of war-like +humanity and, between these two extremes, a warfare of subjection or +extermination raged without any hope or peace.</p> + +<p>The educated Scumites had a few advantages in methods of war, but with +all this they were not able to withstand the vast hordes that swept down +upon them. Brute force won the battle and the accumulated light of four +thousand years flickered until it was no more.</p> + +<p>It was a fatal day for Scum when its mad inhabitants blew out the last +of the candles that had promised to give them light.</p> + +<p>When this sad and blighting victory was accomplished, these uncivilized +tribes rejoiced more hilariously than at one time our Indians rejoiced +when celebrating their victories in the wild scalp dances.</p> + +<p>Thus the dark shadows fell on this huge world. The captured educated +classes made a heroic effort to continue their cultured manners and +religious life, but the prejudice against them and their ways was so +great that they were compelled to live in the lower strata or suffer the +pain of death. In process of time, the wild woods flourished where once +the temples of science and pure religion reared their imposing pillars.</p> + +<p>What can we expect of such a race of people who have drifted from the +light of civilization for so long a period? As I looked at their customs +and their ways, I was reminded of a garden that has run wild. Here and +there I could see traces of the once thrifty life now almost choked out +by the overpowering crop of weeds.</p> + +<p>Gradually the people became worse and worse. Sin played havoc and built +carnal fires around which these children of men gathered. Sensuality +became the ruling passion and, in less than five hundred years of our +time, the last family observance had died away and these creatures +wallowed in the quagmire of fleshly lusts, compared with which the brute +life of our world is highly respectable. "Free Love" was rampant and +human offspring was cared for by mothers, or at least by such as were +willing to assume the task. No one was supposed to know who was his +father.</p> + +<p>I saw this sad and sickening spectacle against which my instincts +revolted with horror. It is true that if man is left totally unbridled, +he sinks to a depth which it would be impossible for any species of the +animal creation to reach.</p> + +<p>As I continued looking on this low life with its horrors too numerous +and too dreadful to mention, my thoughts flew back to the world whence I +came, and to America where I was born, and I remembered of some who +advocated "Free Love." "Let their arms be withered," I cried, rather +than have such a thistle fasten itself in the soil of our social life.</p> + +<p>Let the libertine of our world go to the world of Scum where he belongs, +or rise to the dignity of man whose image he bears.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a name="IMG13" id="IMG13" /><img src="images/image-13.jpg" width="600" height="397" alt="Great Battle between Low Tribes on Scum." title="" /> +<b>Great Battle between Low Tribes on Scum.</b> +</div> + +<p>Compared with our world, the physical features of Scum are all +fashioned on a much larger scale, and the mountains, rivers and +vegetation are five times greater than ours; so are also the many +varieties of wild and domestic animals.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of Scum are divided into many warring tribes, and it is +fearful to see the conflicts that take place. During my brief stay I +witnessed one of the big battles between two of the stronger tribes. One +hundred and fifty thousand men went dashing into an enemy of greater +numbers. It was a foot ball melee on a vast scale. Weapons were all of +the hand-to-hand type, except the spear wagons which were indeed clumsy +weapons of war.</p> + +<p>Nothing is known of surrender or a flag of truce, so the conflict raged +horribly to a bitter end until eighty thousand bruised victors +participated in the jubilant feast that followed. Over two hundred +thousand Scumites lay dead on the field and along the mountain ridges. +According to past history, another such great battle is not liable to +occur for another generation.</p> + +<p>The past religion of these giants is not even on a par with idolatry. +There are many saints sleeping in their graves, bright remnants of the +time of the old civilization and religion.</p> + +<p>Amidst all this present moral wreck of humanity, there are a few +indications that point to better times. The nobler people of Scum are +banding together with the avowed purpose of bringing back the light of +culture and refinement. But it will require several thousand years of +determined effort to climb to the height from whence their ancestors +were cruelly and thoughtlessly dragged.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV" />CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>A World of Highest Invention.</h3> + + +<p>After my profitable stay in this immense solar system in the Milky Way, +I crossed the vast dome of the heavens and lighted on Sirius, the +brightest star in all the canopy of night. Here I found the fire life of +Alpha Centaurus repeated, but I did not pause to study the odd phases +presented to my view.</p> + +<p>Onward I moved to survey the remarkable systems of worlds that revolve +around Sirius. It is a veritable medley of planets, large and small, +inhabited and barren, sinless, sinful and millennial. A little universe +packed in a nutshell, figuratively speaking.</p> + +<p>The orb of this group that first held my attention is very notable +indeed. I have labeled it "High Invention," and it is still entitled to +that distinction. It revolves around Sirius at a distance of seven +million miles and is thirty-three times as large as our world, with +physical features and climate quite dissimilar.</p> + +<p>Here, in this world of ours, we are proud of the wonderful genius +displayed by our inventors, and is not this conceit pardonable?</p> + +<p>If this world should stand and inventive genius continue at its present +compound rate of progress, what may we expect to see a hundred or a +thousand years hence? Now imagine yourself looking down upon a world +where the highest inventive skill is found. Such was my privilege at +this time in the course of my universal journey.</p> + +<p>This surprising world is inhabited by a persevering race of human +beings, among whom are a large number of illustrious characters who walk +in the light of ten thousand years of human achievements.</p> + +<p>It need not be said that I was intensely interested in the study of this +phenomenal world which I will call Ploid. I went from one portion of the +planet to another, continually remaining invisible. After I had +witnessed the unequaled sights, I paused to complete my memoranda and +now, as I review my jottings, I am at a loss to know what few things I +should select to try to make intelligible to my fellow-men who live on +this infinitesimal speck which is our world. First, let me call +attention to:</p> + + +<h3>THEIR TRIUMPHS IN THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM.</h3> + +<p>The people of Ploid have in their possession a remarkable line of +fertilizers, not in the form of ground bones, but acidulous juices. +These juices were improved for three thousand years until there was a +particular liquid suited to each separate class of vegetables.</p> + +<p>As used at the present time, a certain amount of the growth-acid is +poured directly about the seed at the time of planting. This acid has a +magical effect upon the soil and it is possible, by repeated +fertilizing, to raise in two weeks a crop of zoftas, a vegetable similar +to our potatoes. For raising a crop in two weeks the fertilizer costs +one-half the value of the zoftas, and for maturing a crop in four weeks +the fertilizer costs about three-eighths of the value of the zoftas.</p> + +<p>Thus it is possible to raise six of these crops in one of our years. +This law obtains throughout the whole vegetable creation. However, in +ordinary circumstances, the stimulating acid is used in very light +quantities. The people have learned by experience that vegetables have a +better flavor when they have been brought to maturity by the slower +processes.</p> + +<p>These wonderful fertilizers are a blessed boon in the time of "crop +failures," for then the same crop can be grown anew from the seed and +hurried to maturity before the close of the season.</p> + +<p>The curse of the vegetable worms has been reduced to a minimum on this +world of Ploid. The chemists have labored patiently for one thousand +years to produce a substance that will not destroy vegetable seed and at +the same time kill all forms of parasites. The results have been +gratifying, and with considerable pleasure I viewed a garden of the +various odd-shaped vegetables that are grown, without being repulsed at +the sight of such crawling specimens as tomato and cabbage worms.</p> + +<p>The happiest result of this worm-killing substance is seen in the work +it accomplishes on fruit and nut trees. There is triple the variety of +nuts on Ploid, and they are used for food more generally than in our +world. There is no such an animal as a hog and no lard is used. The +substitute is found in four varieties of nut oil, the result of a sweet +and clean vegetable growth. Nuts are raised in great abundance, for they +also supply the base for a spread just as appetizing and more economical +than butter.</p> + + +<h3>THEIR MODES OF TRAVEL.</h3> + +<p>The Ploidites have been traveling in the air for twenty-five hundred +years, but they cannot control their air-ships sufficiently in all kinds +of weather. The atmosphere of Ploid is relatively lighter than ours, +which has made aerial travel more difficult to perfect than it would be +in our world.</p> + +<p>The main traffic, both passenger and freight, is carried on by the Tube +Line, a wonderful system perfected through thousands of years of +painstaking labor.</p> + +<p>Two immense tubes, lying side by side, each ten feet in diameter, made +of a substance more durable than steel, form the road bed of this +lightning system of travel. The cigar-shaped cars have hard +rubber-wheels and fit over raised bars all around on the inside of the +immense Tube.</p> + +<p>The motor power is called Sky-rallic, and is communicated throughout the +whole Tube Line by Brosis, a porous metal running in thin narrow bands.</p> + +<p>This Tube Line runs without a curve from one division of the road to +another, except in rare cases where a bend is absolutely necessary. In a +mountainous region I noticed a stretch of Tube Line without a bend +running sixty miles, according to our measurement. On prairies, the +unbroken stretches are much longer.</p> + +<p>The cars in this Tube Line travel with fearful rapidity. It requires two +or three miles to reach dashing speed, after which a run of fifty miles +is made in eight or ten minutes. No precaution need be taken by the +motorman as nothing can get into the tube and only one train is allowed +in a section at one time. Certain hours are given to passenger traffic +and others to freight traffic. An immense amount of freight can thus be +carried in one hour. It is possible to send a through freight car two +thousand miles in ten or twelve hours. Express cars are never connected +with passengers cars. They are run on their own schedule and sometimes +attached to freight cars.</p> + +<p>This immense Tube Line was built by the government at great expense, but +it is proving very satisfactory. No storms or floods interfere. No +grade-crossings and no flying dust are known in this Tube Line which has +brought the ends of Ploid together. Think of a person crossing a vast +continent in a day, for the cars in this Tube Line run with frightful +speed across the long stretches of level. They make as high as a +three-hundred mile run in forty minutes, without stopping.</p> + +<p>The signal and telegraph stations are fifty miles apart, sometimes more. +In these long runs the motorman stops only when a signal is turned +against him or if by accident he discerns a train in the Tube ahead of +him.</p> + +<p>The Tube Line is lighted by oval transparencies, in size and shape +resembling an egg, soldered in specially prepared holes of the Tube. +The cars are not supplied with air from the tube. Fresh air is obtained +from the evaporation of a semi-solid.</p> + +<p>On the top of this Tube Line there is a double railroad used for local +travel, both passenger and freight.</p> + + +<h3>THEIR STORAGE BATTERIES.</h3> + +<p>Compared with our world, the fuel of Ploid is very scarce, but less is +required to supply the industries. Nearly all power is obtained from the +winds, running water and the sun's energy.</p> + +<p>The winds are harnessed so that they blow not in vain. Almost every home +of ordinary intelligence owns one of the many kinds of storage batteries +used in this world. These batteries are usually located beneath the +lowest floor of the house, and they constitute the reservoir whence is +obtained the necessary power for lighting, heating and cooling the +apartments of the home.</p> + +<p>People who live along streams of water utilize these streams for similar +purposes. It is now conceded in Ploid that the storage batteries of the +home can be supplied as economically and effectively by winds and the +sun's heat as by running streams; hence it is a common sight to see +residences throwing out the old water machinery and introducing the +latest design of wind-employers or sun-harnessers.</p> + +<p>There are certain emergencies when the storage batteries fail to work or +when the power is exhausted; this happens when there is a very slight +wind for several days or a heavy drain of power. In such cases fuel is +used for heating and lighting.</p> + + +<h3>PALACES OF PLOID.</h3> + +<p>The palaces of Ploid are dreams of beauty and convenience, outshining +and surpassing by far the finest mansions on the face of our globe. In +these abodes the sum total of glory and convenience converges, flowing +from almost numberless discoveries during the last one hundred years. In +round numbers, there have been five hundred thousand patents issued in +the United States in the nineteenth century, but the Ploidites excel us +by double that number for a similar territorial limit.</p> + + +<h3>THE REWARD OF INVENTORS.</h3> + +<p>Patents are not issued in Ploid. The government gives liberal rewards to +each inventor or discoverer. The applicant appears personally before the +District Committee on Inventions. If this Committee considers the +invention worthy of a reward, the applicant is recommended to one of the +Central Committees at the seat of the government.</p> + +<p>This Central Committee carefully considers the invention or discovery, +places on it an estimate as to its local or governmental value, and +fills out papers in accordance with its findings. This paper must be +signed by the Chief Inventor, and the applicant at once receives his +first installment which is continued, in some instances, during natural +life. In the case of some extraordinary invention, the immediate +relatives of the inventor are pensioned for five or ten years in his +honor.</p> + +<p>Naturally, under this system, the government owns all inventions, and +reaps a heavy return from them, enough to pay all the installments to +the inventors and the officers employed to carry on this branch of the +government work.</p> + + +<h3>SOME PARTICULAR INVENTIONS.</h3> + +<p>One of the most convenient inventions I saw on this planet of Ploid was +the carrying of a photograph or image along a wire. The people of Ploid +cannot only talk to one another many miles apart, but they can also see +each other while they are talking.</p> + +<p>This wonderful attachment to their telephones, by which the human face +is also carried over the wire, was perfected over one thousand years +ago. I herewith give a few uses to which this invention is applied.</p> + +<p>1. Office men have photograph wires connected with their homes, and they +can thus talk to and see any one of the family at their pleasure.</p> + +<p>2. It can be so arranged that the wife in the home can, by touching a +little knob, see into her husband's office with which the wire is +connected, or the husband in the office can see into the room of the +house with which the connection is made. At either end of the wire, the +vision can be obstructed by drawing a curtain over the sensitive plate.</p> + +<p>3. The foreman of an industrial work shop can see from his home the men +under his charge.</p> + +<p>4. The superintendent of any large works can, at his will, peer into any +apartment he wishes from his head office. The advantages of this +arrangement can be easily seen.</p> + +<p>5. A minister can see from his study the nature of his audience before +he leaves home.</p> + +<p>6. Farmers can watch their cattle and their fruits without leaving the +house or barn, according to where the connections are made.</p> + +<p>7. Persons can be in bed at night, and if they imagine they hear a +robber in any room they can first turn on the photograph current and +then the light flash. In this way one can look, without leaving his bed, +into each room of the house.</p> + +<p>Having given a few illustrations of this marvelous invention, the reader +can readily see the variety of uses which it will serve.</p> + +<p>Their latest discovery in light is a decided improvement over our +electric light. I know of no sensible name to give it, but the name that +comes nearest to describing it, according to our terms, would be +Phosphorous Light. It gives a mild but yet positive radiance, and +closely resembles diffused sunlight.</p> + + +<h3>THE AGES OF PLOID.</h3> + +<p>One of the strangest theories of the whole universe I found on this +cultured world of Ploid. They divide time into three general periods of +ages:</p> + +<p>1. Age of Fire.</p> + +<p>2. Temperate Age.</p> + +<p>3. Age of Ice.</p> + +<p>The people teach that there was a race of human beings who inhabited +their world when it was yet in a molten state and that, as their earth +cooled off, the race became extinct.</p> + +<p>This age, they claim, was followed by the Temperate Age, or the age in +which they are now living.</p> + +<p>It is also claimed that, when their earth cools and the frigid blasts +freeze out the world, there will gradually commence the Age of Ice, or +the age in which human species will exist by reason of the earth's stiff +coldness.</p> + +<p>I had no way of learning the truth or falsity of this theory.</p> + + +<h3>THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.</h3> + +<p>These Ploidites have distanced us in the study of the nervous system, +including the intricate problems of the cerebrum and cerebellum. They +have ascertained, by long ages of observation and experimenting, the +exact effect of every kind of impulse on the brain matter. The experts +are able to tell, at a post-mortem examination, what kinds of thinking +were most prevalent during the subject's life, just as easily as we can +judge the great or little use of the arm by an examination of its +muscles.</p> + +<p>But more wonderful, a thousand fold, is their ability to follow the +course of thought in a living cerebrum after the brain has been made +visible by a light more potent than the X ray. After this exposure the +operator, with his wizard magnifying lens, watches the tiny tremulous +brain cells in their infinitesimal quivering, as they carry messages +from the soul to the world of sense and being.</p> + +<p>The voluntary nerve action is distinguished from the involuntary, and +there is no escape from the conclusions formed by an expert observer. +The parts of the brain at work must of necessity determine the nature of +the thought, and amplified experiments have been made to prove the +correctness of these processes.</p> + +<p>This scientific mind reading impressed me as the highest expression of +inventive skill that had come to my attention in any world of space, and +gave me new light on some of the old mysteries of mind and matter.</p> + +<p>I tarried as long as possible on this instructive planet and have not +yet forgotten many of the valuable hints of inventions that can be +reproduced in my own world. Surely we are far enough away from Ploid to +escape any charge of infringement, should we proceed to patent some of +their inventions.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI" />CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>A Singular Planet.</h3> + + +<p>I visited the other seventy worlds that revolve around Sirius. Among +them is one of note, called Zik, which is forty-two hundred millions of +miles from its sun, and is slightly smaller than our world. It is +inhabited by a race of pigmies which I will call Zikites. Wonderful +indeed is the intelligence of these creatures, although their form is +out of symmetry according to our standards. I will therefore avoid a +description of their physical features, lest it might mar the picture of +their accomplishments.</p> + +<p>The air of Zik is heavy and the sky is opal in its effects. The chemists +have thus far found in nature ninety elementary substances, and it is +partly due to this large variety that the Zikites have surpassed their +fellow men in thousands of worlds.</p> + +<p>As you study the past events of this unusual planet, you are reminded +of our own history. On Zik there are heathen tribes and all grades of +conflicting civilized nations.</p> + +<p>War has reddened this distant world for several thousand years, and as +yet there is no peace. Notwithstanding all this unceasing upheaval, the +tide of human progress has steadily risen. It does appear that the +highest light of intellect is generated like electric light through +sharp friction.</p> + +<p>The Zikites have had their Men of War, vessels of mighty strength and +death-dealing in their action. But all such defense has been abandoned +over five hundred years ago, and it came about in a natural manner. One +of the many illustrious inventors perfected the submarine boat and the +flying-machine at about the same time. Their flying-machine might +appropriately be called in our language, the Flying Devil, for such it +is if you consider its destroying power. One of these ominous looking +machines is capable of destroying a whole navy as fast as it can move +high in the air from one vessel to another.</p> + +<p>It can also tear to pieces an enemy's camp that lies in the open field. +All this is accomplished by dropping shells composed partly of some +elements not found in our world. These shells are made in such a way +that they explode as soon as they touch any substance, and the +concussion is much more terrible than is caused by our most powerful +explosives. Because no ship could hold together under such destructive +shells, the nations abandoned their navies and devoted their energy to +devising a safe camp for soldiers and to building these air-vessels with +additional improvements.</p> + +<p>It was found that the only way to protect a camp was to cover it with a +water proof shed, so constructed that nine or ten inches of water would +remain on the roof. Then a wide shallow trench was dug around the shed +and kept filled with water. These shells will not explode if they fall +in that depth of water, but will explode in water of greater depth. You +can see at a glance how difficult it is to manage an army under these +circumstances. The only redeeming feature is that the enemy also is +compelled to resort to the same protection. An international law +forbids the destruction of homes in times of war.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a name="IMG14" id="IMG14" /><img src="images/image-14.jpg" width="600" height="402" alt='The Battle of the "Flying Devils."' title='' /> +<b>The Battle of the "Flying Devils."</b> +</div> + +<p>Wars are of short duration. Usually the decisive conflict is fought in +the air, and is the most terrible of them all. Imagine two of these +Flying Devils approaching one another far above the surface of Zik. Each +vessel is set in action long before it is in range of the other in the +hope of firing the first effective shot. Each party of the conflict +knows that the air vessel first struck will be at an end forever, for it +will be blown to pieces and every life on board will be shattered into +shapeless masses, while the wreckage falls amidst the burning of the +combustibles. What a horrible ending of a short battle!</p> + +<p>The wisest of the Zikites have proposed many plans to settle +international differences but, like us, they have failed to suggest any +plan that has proved to be practicable.</p> + +<p>The largest nation of Zik has advanced far ahead of us on the labor +question, but this was not reached until the contest between capital and +labor had left its blood-marks through many centuries.</p> + +<p>A brief description of the manner in which the industrial problem was +solved will not be out of place. I will waste no words n showing the +many points of difference between our customs and those of Zik.</p> + +<p>After hundreds of years of painful struggling, the many laborers of this +largest nation completed a solid organization and thereby gained control +of the whole government. Then, in their zeal to legislate in favor of +the laboring classes, the ruling element stepped to the other extreme by +passing many unreasonable laws. Things passed along in this unsettled +condition until a certain few of the labor leaders, having become +wealthy themselves, yielded to a heavy bribe and amended the laws so as +to favor the wealthy minority. The magnates of capital shrewdly took +advantage of this traitorship and, in the following campaign, won the +national election.</p> + +<p>The wealthy, now having the reins of power in their own hands, took the +initiative and called for a consultation between the heads of the +government and the chief leaders of labor.</p> + +<p>This proved to be a wise political move and, as a result, a new system +of laws relating to all trades and occupations was enacted. The +following conditions still prevail:</p> + +<p>1. A day's work consists of one-fourth less hours.</p> + +<p>2. A minimum scale of wages is adopted for each trade. This scale is +based upon the price of certain staple articles, and within a certain +limit it rises or falls with the price of these necessities.</p> + +<p>3. All regular citizens must be supplied with work if they desire it. If +they cannot get employment from some firm or corporation, the government +officials represented locally must supply it or its equivalent in money. +The government controls enough of the business to employ two-thirds of +the male population. This enables the government to take so great a +responsibility and bear it with satisfactory results.</p> + +<p>4. Any man through negligence failing to support his family is put to +the government penitentiary service, and his family is thereafter +supported from the public treasury.</p> + +<p>5. A widow or orphan is cared for by regular authorities. The by-laws +of this fifth article regulate the work of women.</p> + +<p>6. No credit is allowed except on a government credit-slip signed by the +local representative of the state. If the bill is not paid by the one +making the debt, the amount of which is always stipulated, the +government will pay it and proceed to collect it in one of three ways. +The last resort is according to article four.</p> + +<p>There are several other sections governing private ownership of +property, land and business. These new laws have had a very good effect. +The number of persons getting immensely wealthy gradually decreased, and +the average wealth of the laborers increased. The government has the +power at any time to form a trust or combination of any line of business +by paying liberally to those already engaged in it. This assists the +government in carrying its heavy financial burdens, and every family is +assured of support if the soil produces enough to feed the people.</p> + +<p>And now if I knew how to describe elements that have no resemblance to +anything in our world, I would proceed to tell a story of interest to +chemists. These Zikites have formed gases and solids unknown to us, and +naturally they are capable of performing experiments more wonderful than +anything ever known in our world. When I saw their wizard-like +performances I thought that the marvelous feats of the Orient were being +performed on a scale more mysterious and magnificent.</p> + +<p>To see a man play with red hot irons and dance in a seething furnace, +makes one believe that his eyes are deceiving him.</p> + +<p>I saw a man draw the birds from heaven and dormant reptiles from the +soil, but ask me not to tell how. A few of these Zikites have discovered +some wonderful secrets of nature and will not disclose them except to +certain ones of their own lineage. One of these secrets is the art of +embalming the dead so perfectly that human features are retained forever +unless destroyed by fire or human effort. The embalming fluid contains +some of the elements not found in our world, but this is not the total +secret. The body must lie in an air-tight receptacle into which a +secret gas is pumped. The dead body, lying in this receptacle for two +hours, absorbs certain parts of the gas which enters the pores and +touches those parts of the dead body not reached by the injected fluid. +By this process no part of the body is subject to putrefaction and the +muscles all retain their rigidity, so that one hundred years after +burial the features are full, although discolored.</p> + +<p>Not many of the common people are thus embalmed. But the bodies of +prominent men and women are thus treated at government expense and +unborn generations can look upon the full contour of their faces.</p> + +<p>Another secret held by these experts is the art of maintaining youthful +vigor in old age. This is a very expensive method and the government +prohibits any one securing this treatment who has not won special honor +in one or another particular channel. One of the highest distinctions +bestowed upon any citizen of Zik is to grant him the "Angel's Honor," +which entitles him to receive the Vigor Treatment during the balance of +his natural life. This one thing, more than any other, is the secret of +Zik having so long a list of illustrious characters. It is the ambition +of each boy or girl to make progress and some day win the "Angel's +Honor."</p> + +<p>The religious life of these Zikites is unusually intense. Their language +is much more cumbersome than ours. They have a small book which contains +a list of great truths whose authors claim to have been influenced by +the All-Powerful, or the same as our God. This book has had a remarkable +history, and has moulded the life and character of millions. Every +person is left to his own notions in religion, and we see here the same +picture that confronts us on our own planet, the very good and the very +bad in the same house and neighborhood. They build but few churches, but +here and there a home of a believer is the center of a worshiping +company. On special occasions the worshipers rent or secure large public +buildings and have an enthusiastic time.</p> + +<p>At many places their Bible speaks of a place where the departed go after +death, beyond the Zik life. These worshipers are linked to their God by +the same kind of love-chords that bind Christians to their Master in +our world.</p> + +<p>You cannot imagine my interest and my joy as I learned that the Zikites +are looking forward to a period of time corresponding to our Millennium. +Their religious literature is full of references to this coming golden +age, and many poetical compositions point to it with rapturous melody of +language.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII" />CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>The Diamond World.</h3> + + +<p>When one reads of the size and population of our world he is thrilled +with the idea of its greatness. But when he travels over land and sea, +visiting the many points of interest, he is impressed four-fold with the +magnitude of the Earth and the vast numbers that populate it.</p> + +<p>It is infinitely more so in regard to the many suns and planets that +compose the universe. I had read of the distances of space and of the +number of celestial bodies that are scattered throughout these +measureless expanses, and I was profoundly impressed with the vastness +of created things and the eternal revolutions of the countless spheres. +But when I took my continued flight away from the solar system of Sirius +and was privileged to get a passing glimpse of many other solar systems, +I was overawed a thousand-fold at the myriad motions of the myriad +worlds, each serving its little part through the passing cycles to +carry out the plan of the Infinite Mind.</p> + +<p>My next pause was at the glorious constellation of Orion on the star +Rigel. This brilliant orb is not inhabited, but more than one-half of +the worlds revolving around it sustain human life.</p> + +<p>After I had taken a passing glimpse of a few worlds belonging to this +system, I proceeded to visit another world that revolves around Rigel at +a distance of sixteen hundred million miles. It is a trifle larger than +our world and is inhabited by only about one-tenth as many people.</p> + +<p>This is the brightest planet I had ever seen, for it dazzled and +sparkled like pearls of ice in the sun, and yet it gave forth no light +of its own.</p> + +<p>I soon learned the secret of all this scintillation. I had come to a +world that seemed to be covered with diamonds and precious stones. The +mountains were barren of all vegetation and glistened with all the glory +of a hundred rainbows.</p> + +<p>I presumed that I had come to immense beds of quartz, but the rare +brilliancy of the whole scene set me to work to ascertain the value of +these stones. To my astonishment, I found that the shining mountains and +valleys were filled with genuine diamonds and precious stones, some of +which are very rare according to our classification. I was dazed at the +sight, first because of its brilliancy and beauty, and next because of +the fabulous fortunes that were lying at my feet.</p> + +<p>Then I transported myself to another part of the planet that I might get +a view of its living fields of vegetation. Alas, I again met the shining +of countless gems, set by nature in ledges of rock and massed in +confused heaps all around me.</p> + +<p>"What a rich world!" I inwardly murmured. "How can people live on +diamonds?"</p> + +<p>As I was thus musing I sped onward to one of the soil centers of this +world. Here I found a small city built of diamonds and choice stones of +which the people thought no more than we do of the stones brought down +from our quarries.</p> + +<p>The soil was almost worshiped. Only the wealthiest could afford to have +it in their homes for the growth of flowers. Fortunately, the soil is +very productive and, by reason of its scarcity, it has received such +careful attention that all worthless weeds have been actually choked out +several thousand years ago.</p> + +<p>Thus, the soil being so desirable and staple an article, it was eagerly +sought after by all who lived on this shining world. Yea, some +sacrificed their all that they might obtain a goodly portion of the +soil. This desire was so great that it became the ruling passion of many +people to accumulate soil all the days of their life, and many died of +grief because they could not succeed in satisfying their ambitions.</p> + +<p>Now when the speculators saw that the soil was so indispensable and much +desired by the people, and that out of it were the issues of life, the +wealthier and more crafty of them said among themselves:</p> + +<p>"Come, let us buy all the soil, we and our brethren in all the soil +centers, and let us call ourselves a Trust, signifying that we will +trust one another to the secrets of our enterprise."</p> + +<p>And behold this saying seemed good in the eyes of these wise men, and +they labored diligently until, in the passing of a few years, they had +secured unto themselves full possession of all the soil of the Diamond +World.</p> + +<p>And it was so in the course of time that these corporations held a great +meeting and they said:</p> + +<p>"Barns we will build to store products of the soil, and behold we will +sell from these storehouses to our workmen for the labor that they may +render unto us."</p> + +<p>This scheme was pleasing to all the capitalists and they rejoiced in the +bright prospect of the future. So they built great barns and thus laid +away the products of the soil. Then they appointed agents to sell +whatsoever the people wished.</p> + +<p>And it came to pass, as the seasons came and went, that these +capitalists gave the laborers less for their toil, and charged them more +for food at the supply stations. Thus the conditions became so severe +that a man could work from the rising of the Sun to the setting thereof, +and they earn scarcely enough to keep his family alive.</p> + +<p>After this manner the land owners grew more and more wealthy, built +unto themselves handsome little villages, and lived in happiness and +refinement. They also erected for themselves select schools and reserved +beautiful plots for their luxury and amusement.</p> + +<p>Then did the members of this Trust, in order to protect themselves from +all possible trouble, pass a civil law forbidding any laborer to own an +inch of soil. Thus it was very easy to convict a man of theft if soil +could be found upon his person or premises.</p> + +<p>Now, behold, there were many little spots of vegetation scattered here +and there over this whole world. But the agents of the Trust sent out +numerous expeditions to gather up all the loose earth that could be +found and carry it to the soil centers. This work was so completely done +that every nook and corner yielded its accumulated dust to enlarge the +gardens at the soil centers and thereby increase the riches of the +Trust.</p> + +<p>Now, as time passed on, the children of the laborers were also employed +to assist in earning bread, and in the course of a few hundred years +the school houses in the district of the laborers were torn down, as it +was impossible for these children to receive an education, since they +must needs work for their sustenance.</p> + +<p>After many ages the members of the Trust had become so hardened that +they no longer regarded the wishes of the laboring people, but pushed +everything to increase their own selfish gain, insomuch that they +succeeded in securing the passage of certain laws making the burdens of +the laborers still more heavy.</p> + +<p>And now, when the capitalists saw that the people did not rebel, they +again counseled among themselves on this wise:</p> + +<p>"Why should there be so much labor lost in continually quarrying new +sepulchers in our diamond ridges, and why should there be so much dust +lying idle in the old graves? Come, let us have a law that the dust in +all graves over one hundred years old shall be sold at auction, unless +the graves are redeemed by a certain amount of soil. Then these empty +tombs can be again filled with the dead of our servants and their +children. Thus let it be continued throughout coming generations +forever. Each year this auction shall be held to dispose of the dust +remaining in one-hundred-year-old sepulchers."</p> + +<p>These suggestions found favor in the eyes of the Trust who proceeded at +once to take the necessary steps to incorporate these regulations into +the laws of the commonwealth. The laborers stoutly opposed the adoption +of these partial measures, but they were powerless because the Trust +bribed enough of the legislators to carry their point.</p> + +<p>All this happened many centuries ago, so that when I was there I saw the +full program of one of these spectral auctions and was chilled with +horror at the proceedings.</p> + +<p>Every year this peculiar auction is held at each soil center. The +wealthy are able to redeem their sepulchers, but the poor, having no +soil, cannot satisfy the law; so the dust of their ancestors must be +sold. Laborers are sent out to open the one-hundred-year-old sepulchers +along the diamond ridges and carry the coffins to one place. Here they +are publicly opened and the bones and dust gathered into one +receptacle after which the weird auction begins. No one can compete with +the corporations and no one tries.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 750px;"> +<a name="IMG15" id="IMG15" /><img src="images/image-15.jpg" width="750" height="496" alt="The Most Horrible Auction in Our Universe." title="" /> +<b>The Most Horrible Auction in Our Universe.</b> +</div> + +<p>The legal form of the auction is soon over and the half ton or ton of +dust is legally bought by the corporations whose officers order it to be +sprinkled over the gardens. It serves the same purpose as phosphate in +our fields. This awful process is repeated each year. The sepulchers, +emptied thus, are open for new burials. So you can see that with all the +gruesomeness of this whole business, there is an economic side to it, +and the people have come to view it all in a philosophical manner.</p> + +<p>When this wretched custom was first inaugurated a bitter wail ascended +from the ranks of the laboring classes, for they well knew whose graves +would be opened. Never was there such a stir among the working classes +of people. They held mass meetings and grew loudly indignant until the +Trust became alarmed at the uprising.</p> + +<p>Then did some of these rich sharpsters, who were best gifted in speech, +go out to meet their servants, addressing them thus:</p> + +<p>"Let your hearts be at peace, my fellow creatures. This new law that we +have just passed is a boon to every toiler, for we seek to lighten your +burdens by utilizing the idle dust from the tombs. Hereafter we propose +to give, free of charge, a sepulcher to every toiler in which he may +take his rest for one hundred years. These graves shall be for you and +your children forever. Is it not a precious thought that one hundred +years after you are dead, your bodies shall again mingle with the soil +and, without voluntary effort or pain, help to support your kindred yet +unborn?</p> + +<p>"If our present silly customs should prevail, the time will come when +half our soil will have been carried to the sepulchers, and therefore +your tasks would be more severe."</p> + +<p>After this manner spake the glib-tongued fellows and, behold, their +speeches were as oil on the troubled waters. Under their sophistries the +laborers were content and peacefully went to their tasks again after +three months of unrest.</p> + +<p>Then did the members of the corporations consult again and spake among +themselves in this fashion:</p> + +<p>"For our protection let us gather, from the laborers, the youthful and +the strong, have them taught in tactics of war, and make it unlawful for +any to carry deadly weapons, except these trained men, whom we will call +our Soil Defenders, and if any of the laborers should ask: 'Wherefore +are we called to do this work?' we will say to them, 'For the defense of +the soil and the defense of our families are ye called, therefore quit +yourselves nobly.'</p> + +<p>"And it shall come to pass that when the laborers commence a foolish +struggle for their own selfish gain, we can use these trained soldiers +to keep them in peace, and thus we need not spend so much of our breath +by way of persuasion."</p> + +<p>Behold this thing seemed reasonable and seasonable in the eyes of the +Trust. They did according to these suggestions and gathered unto +themselves, in the name of the civil law, the strongest of the youth and +trained them in all the ways of war. Thus did these workmen lose all +their liberties by slow degrees, until they were no more troublesome, +but labored like slaves to get the wherewithal to live.</p> + +<p>As I witnessed this sad picture resulting from the inhumanity of man to +man, I was at once reminded of what I had seen on Mars, and of the +struggle now pending in my own world. Once more I breathed a silent +prayer to the Ruler of all worlds in behalf of the crushed hands and +bleeding hearts that are bruised in order that certain men may make +their thousands in a day.</p> + +<p>I studied the social life of the refined villagers and learned, with +much interest, that the word they use for soil, is used in the same +esteemed connection in which we use the word gold or diamond.</p> + +<p>Preachers, teachers and orators make endless references to the soil. +Finally I approached, in a visible form, a few professors who were +engaged in a special discussion.</p> + +<p>They were alarmed at my sudden appearance, not knowing whence I came nor +what sort of an animal I might be. I quickly calmed their troubled minds +by using language they easily understood, and explained that I was +neither a ghost nor a spirit, but a mere citizen of another world, +having, for a limited period, a free excursion ticket to a thousand +worlds, and that I chose their planet as one whereon to spend a fleeting +period.</p> + +<p>Not having been accustomed to such visitants, they were at first +skeptical and thoroughly overawed at my presence.</p> + +<p>I purposely became as familiar as possible and cautioned them to remain +in the selfsame room and spread no notice of my presence. To this +request they reluctantly consented.</p> + +<p>After my nonplused auditors gained their senses somewhat they ventured +to reply to my coaxing questions; these finally led to the following +interrogations on their part:</p> + +<p>"How large is your world?" came a question from one.</p> + +<p>"Not quite so large as this one," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Have you much soil there?"</p> + +<p>"A million times more than you have here."</p> + +<p>"What a wonderfully rich world! The people must be gloriously happy +with such fabulous wealth around them."</p> + +<p>"The bulk of my fellow-men there are not happy," I sighed. "So many +spend their lives looking for diamonds and gold, the most of whom are +doomed to disappointment."</p> + +<p>An incredulous smile crept over the faces of my newly-made friends, and +by it I read the doubt that was arising in their hearts as to the truth +of my utterance.</p> + +<p>"My words are sincere," I insisted. "If you could take one bushel of +your diamonds to the world where I live, you could get more soil for +them than you have on your whole globe."</p> + +<p>"That world is heaven," exclaimed a few of my hearers at once. "A world +of such abundant soil cannot be any other place." Then I learned that +their conception of Heaven is not a place of gold-paved streets, but a +place where soil is freely distributed even on the sides of the streets.</p> + +<p>I continued speaking, telling them how diamonds were considered in our +world. These professors were astonished beyond measure at my +description, and each one seemed to crave for the knowledge to transport +a large consignment of their diamonds to our Earth and return with acres +of soil to the Diamond World.</p> + +<p>I spent a felicitous period with these queer-shaped scholars of the +Diamond World. They prayed and begged that I should remain and appear +before the corporations. Their spirits drooped when I told them that if +I had any more time to spend visibly on their world I would prefer to +comfort the laborers and their suffering families who had been so long +deprived of the fair treatment they deserved.</p> + +<p>My hearers became ashen with fear, now feeling doubly assured that I was +a forerunner of some terrible curse that was about to fall upon the +Trusts and corporations whom those professors were serving so +assiduously, without ever speaking a word of protest in favor of the +human slaves around them.</p> + +<p>Once more I related my station. But I spoke in most convincing terms of +the eternal curse with which the Infinite would visit the guilty of all +worlds.</p> + +<p>As I left them I saw that my last words brought no relief to their +faces and, after a long silence, they nervously discussed the whole +affair, not being able to account for the exceptional experience through +which they had just passed.</p> + +<p>I visited, in a form invisible, the mansions of the rich and found that +the most choice ornaments on their parlor shelves consisted of vials of +soil or dirt, and in the homes of the most wealthy only I saw flowering +plants.</p> + +<p>It chanced that I visited this world at the graduating period of the +greater schools. This gave me privilege to hear an oration on "The Soil +and the Diamond," a synopsis of which I will translate as correctly as I +can. It will be remembered that I must use terms and style suitable to +our language.</p> + +<p>"O beautiful soil! Thou art but a type of thy maker invisible. Thou dost +give birth to countless forms and nursest them all from thy own bosom. +From the atom thou bringest the oak, and all its children fall back into +thy arms for succor. From thy own heart spring the infinite types of +vegetable beauty, all painted and frescoed by thy own exquisite +touches.</p> + +<p>"O mysterious soil! Wrapped in thy bosom lie a thousand secrets which, +if I could but read, I might interpret and thus learn anew of my +Creator. Thou holdest the ashes of the millions slain, and the dust of +all our forefathers.</p> + +<p>"O silent soil! How thou workest without the flying shuttle, or the hum +of the busy bees. Thou doest thy greatest deeds without the sounding of +a trumpet. Silently thy atoms take their places to serve in higher +forms. O teach me thy mute language that I may live and sacrifice for +others without my crying and my sighing.</p> + +<p>"O humble soil! Thy elements, when formed into man, or fruit, or any +kind of food, return again without complaint when touched by death. May +I, like thee, take all my condescension in the spirit of humility.</p> + +<p>"O modest soil! Thou are not gaudy like the diamond, sparkling and +dazzling in a brilliant show and living for nothing higher than display. +But thou dost lay aside thy feathery tips, leaving the sun of heaven do +the shining. Thou permittest water crystals to give the rainbow hues, +whilst thou in thy own modest way, continuest to yield sustenance for +man and bird and beast.</p> + +<p>"O instructive soil! Wilt thou not, in thy own wise way, speak to the +thoughtless man who feels content to grovel with the miserable diamond, +who takes his lessons from the dead, dead rock, and feeds his soul upon +such flinty food. Open his ears to hear thy words of life and light, and +may he see in thee the brighter mirror reflecting the God of all."</p> + +<p>This one oration condensed is a fair sample of the others. I listened to +the whole program and then proceeded once more to view the diamond +splendors before I left this world where I was well paid for my +tarrying.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII" />CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>Triumphant Feat of Orion.</h3> + + +<p>As I continued ranging among the planets of the constellation of Orion, +I felt an indescribable desire to pause at a very small orb which +revolves around Saiph, a star of the third magnitude.</p> + +<p>Here I found, to my surprise, a gem of a world which I will call Holen. +It is five hundred miles in diameter, and inhabited by a refined race of +human beings, radically different from us in physical contour, but +remarkably similar to us in their mental aspirations.</p> + +<p>As a race they greatly excel us in mechanical engineering. Many +evidences of their skill might be given, but we will be content to give +a description of their monumental engineering feat.</p> + +<p>Long ages ago Holen had cooled to the center, and it became the ruling +passion of her most intelligent inhabitants to communicate from one +side of the globe to the other through an opening of five hundred miles +almost directly through the center of their earth, or more accurately +speaking, through the center of gravity.</p> + +<p>After forty-five hundred years of experimenting the marvelous feat was +accomplished.</p> + +<p>Of all the worlds in the constellation of Orion, large or small, Holen +is the only one that has succeeded in this astounding feat, although it +has been and is being tried on more than a dozen worlds.</p> + +<p>This wonderful opening through Holen's center of gravity is lined with +sections of ribbed metal which cost the governments fabulous sums. This +vast tube was finished thirteen hundred years ago according to our time.</p> + +<p>Many lives were sacrificed in the hazardous work of tunneling. Were it +not for the ribbed metal which afforded protection with its shelving +flanges, the tube could never have been finished.</p> + +<p>At the present time the tube is used for commercial purposes and for +passenger traffic. Air tight cars of special design are used, and only +one car is allowed in the tube at one time.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 399px;"> +<a name="IMG16" id="IMG16" /><img src="images/image-16.jpg" width="399" height="600" alt="The Gravity-Car of Holen." title="" /> +<b>The Gravity-Car of Holen.</b> +</div> + +<p>You cannot imagine the frightful velocity of the ride, but the passenger +is not as conscious of this as you might think. The first fifty miles of +the descent is controlled by the exterior or surface engines. The speed +is gradually increased until it reaches that of the falling body. Then +the motorman releases the wizard car and the speed is steady and +terrible until the car dashes past the center of gravity, after which +the speed slackens at a regular rate. The car of its own momentum forces +its way far toward the opposite surface of their earth.</p> + +<p>Just as the carriage comes to a stop, the engineer or motorman, as we +would call him, pulls his lever, thereby fastening the car to the ribbed +side of the tube. At once a signal is given and the long, thin but +strong rope descends to draw the carriage to the surface.</p> + +<p>A perfect system of communication is established from one end of the +ponderous tube to the other. It frequently happens when an attempt is +made to fasten the car that the clamps fail to work and consequently the +carriage commences its second journey toward the center. Another effort +is made to hold the carriage when it again comes to a stop; but if this +is not successful, then comes the most peculiar experience of all. The +carriage of its own momentum continues dashing backward and forward +until it comes to rest at the center of gravity. Then the engineer, by +communicating with the surface, gets the longest stretch of rope and is +drawn two hundred and fifty miles to the surface.</p> + +<p>This world has no atmosphere and life is not sustained by breathing, +neither by the process found on the Moon.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants get their sustenance from the soil with which they must +be connected, directly or indirectly over one-half the time, or they +will suffer in a manner similar to us when we are suffocating.</p> + +<p>From this faint glimpse of their life, it can be seen that the people of +Holen in their habits are totally incongruous to all our conceptions, +and if one of them were to make a visit to our world, everything he +would here see would appear just as ridiculous and unthinkable to him as +the things on their globe did to me.</p> + +<p>As I surveyed this world, everything evidenced the fact that these +people are born engineers. Our Eiffel Tower and Ferris Wheel would be +mere playthings compared with the sky-scraping structures that adorn the +various parts of this little world. It appears that the international +mind runs in this one direction more than in any other, and while they +surpass us in this respect, they are inferior to us in the limitless +field of science and philosophy as well as in the variety of +manufacturing plants.</p> + +<p>In their religion, the Holenites have developed to a high degree. They +have no sacred book akin to our Bible. Their whole authority comes from +the lips of the Divine Family, as we would term it. This family serves +for religion the same purpose as the Royal Family does for the civil +realm in some countries of our world. The Divine Family are genuinely +descended from their sacred ancestors who were, by a visible show of +omnipotent power, appointed and consecrated to the sacred work of +dispensing truth and officiating in all sacraments. The ordination of +all the ministers of Holen must be held by a member of this Divine +Family. By reason of this one source of authority, there is, therefore, +no confliction of creeds. The great battle of the Church is with the +several infidel organizations that give no heed to the genuine religion.</p> + +<p>This Sacred Family received a code of laws which they have held from the +beginning and, strange to say, no one is allowed to copy these laws in +written or printed form. To do so is a type of blasphemy for which a +severe penalty is imposed. Some of the infidel organizations find +delight to print all or a part of these laws and scatter them secretly +among the people. Such documents fall with as much pain on the premises +of a believer as oaths do in our world on the ear of a delicately +trained soul.</p> + +<p>If an infidel wishes to insult a godly pilgrim, he can do it no more +effectively than by secretly fastening to the believer's residence a +piece of material on which is inscribed one or more of these sacred +laws.</p> + +<p>Every believer is required to commit to memory this code of laws by +hearing them from the lips of the minister. It is therefore necessary to +keep in constant touch with the church service so as to be a continual +hearer of these laws, a part of which is repeated every worship day.</p> + +<p>The minister does not preach in the same sense that we understand +preaching. His work comes nearer filling the office of a priest under +the old Jewish church. There is much more form and ceremony than is +found in our system under the Mediator, Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>The civil law has absolutely nothing to say on the marriage question. +All this is held in the domain of the Church. In truth, the Divine +Family has always regulated this question. If the legality of a marriage +is called in question, all that the civil authorities try to determine +is whether the marriage ceremony was performed in accordance with the +laws of the Divine Family. If this point can be established, the +marriage is declared legal; if not, it is declared to be null and void. +This one subject of matrimony has caused more friction between the +Church and the infidels than all other issues combined. The infidels are +bitterly opposed to take their marriage vows before the minister, yet +this must be done to make their marriage legal. Divorce laws are +unknown, although, in rare cases, papers of separation are granted by +authority and under seal of the Divine Family.</p> + +<p>The religious devotees of Holen look forward to a happier existence when +their mortal life is ended. Their ideas of this future life are quite +similar to our cherished ideas of Heaven.</p> + +<p>In their moral life they have reached a higher plane than we. This is +due to the fact that the Divine Family wield an influence in the civil +realm that cannot be broken.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX" />CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>The Mute World.</h3> + + +<p>I proceeded on my journey until I had reached Alcyone in the famous +constellation of Taurus. On one of the planets revolving around Alcyone, +I found a distinctive class of human beings faintly resembling creatures +that I had seen in several other constellations, but of which I have, as +yet, made no special mention.</p> + +<p>Among these people no audible language is used as a means of +communication. One might think that high civilization would be +impossible without such a vehicle of thought. But on this Mute world +humanity has pushed far along in the great interstellar race for +supremacy.</p> + +<p>A description of the physical features of these Muteites would not only +seem absurd, but would be distorting. Can you imagine a beautiful person +without ears and void of vocal sound, having a head totally out of +shape compared with ours, and with a bodily framework ridiculously new +to us? Such would be a brief word sketch of these far-away mortals of +unusual intelligence.</p> + +<p>These people hold all their conversation by pure thought transmission. +The sense-perception is almost infinitely keen, and gestures play no +part in emphasizing thought. It is amazing to see with what facility +these beings express their ideas one to another.</p> + +<p>In our life one may conceal his thoughts from the most searching human +eye, but this cannot be done on Mute. As a consequence each one can read +the character of his comrades, and the normal citizen well knows what +necessary allowance to make for the impure thoughts that flit through +the mind of his neighbor.</p> + +<p>I studied, with absorbing interest, the many phases of this mental +telepathy, or mind talking, between two or more persons even though +widely separated. Imagine how glorious it must be to have real +fellowship with a friend whose face you cannot see and whose hand you +cannot touch.</p> + +<p>There are limitations to this delightsome way of talking. A person can +hold conversation with only one absent friend at a time and then only +when each one concentrates his thoughts on the other. What wireless +telegraphy is to our world, this mental conversation is to the world of +Mute, and it is possible that we may reach a higher degree of +proficiency in this direction after we become still better acquainted +with the laws of the human mind.</p> + +<p>When I think of the many unaccountable heart-thrills that send their +emotions of joy and hatred into our passing life, I am somewhat +persuaded that we speak this tongueless language more than we imagine. +Some day we may learn the secrets that are now so heavily veiled and +thereby put to naught the glory of our present modes of communication. +Until then we will plod along with the telegraph, telephone, wireless +telegraphy and our ever-changing knowledge of telepathic intercourse.</p> + +<p>I will give the philosophy of this perfect means of expressing thought +as clearly as I can.</p> + +<p>As sound waves are created in our atmosphere by actual vibration, so +are thought waves created on Mute by mental activity focused in any one +point of the brain. Our way of expressing thought by audible words is +not conceivable to these people. If one of their inhabitants were to +visit our Earth, he would be at a loss to account for our movements of +mouth and gestures of body when we are in the act of conversation.</p> + +<p>The social life of Mute is marked with many peculiarities. Males and +females seldom ever associate together, and social purity sends its +sweet influences over the whole planet.</p> + +<p>A science which is similar to Phrenology plays an important part in all +the social customs of this sphere. It decides the marital destiny of +each person, and no two are recommended to join in wedlock until they +have been pronounced physical and mental mates by the official +psychologists.</p> + +<p>On this interesting world I found the most summary punishment for +adulterers and fornicators. When these crimes are clearly proven, the +guilty parties are put to death after a lingering sentence. This is a +most terrible punishment, but it has proven that, although a few must +suffer this penalty, the general good of the whole population is thereby +much increased.</p> + +<p>I was much amazed at the construction and possibilities of the human +mind when I observed the manner in which certain suspected criminals +were examined in order to prove or disprove the crime of which they were +charged. The doors of the soul were unlocked and the past +thought-images, with their mental impressions, were thrown open to view. +How can a Muteite deny the crime which is photographed on the sensitive +living plates of his own mind! This reproducing can be effected only by +a very special process and is never done against a person's will unless +ordered by civil authority.</p> + +<p>When I saw, on this world of Mute, the possibility of uncovering the +past records of the mind, it at once suggested to me the possible nature +of the final Judgment of our world when each one will stand face to face +with the record of his own deeds, brought before him vividly under the +light of eternity. In such an event who would think of showing a bold +front to deny the accuracy of such a direct reproduction of himself in +the flesh!</p> + +<p>Possibly the human mind may be likened to a phonograph into which we can +speak while the cylinder of thought revolves; at any time afterward +every syllable may be reproduced accurately.</p> + +<p>Another striking feature of these mortals is their lack of hypocrisy. +Only a small degree of it is found among all the inhabitants of this +peculiar planet. No doubt hypocrisy would be greatly lessened in our own +social life if we could no longer hide our real thoughts. In Mute it is +very unsafe to practice deception, for as soon as the deceived one +appears personally he can readily conjecture, by the mental state of the +deceiver, the nature of the thought that had transpired.</p> + +<p>Can you realize what a refreshing moral atmosphere exists in a world +where conventional lying is almost unknown? In our life the daily sin of +the millions is the white, or the blue lie. Think of how many we tell in +our regular routine of life! We generally give false excuses instead of +the real ones. We very seldom blame ourselves for errors, but rather +think diligently to study out a way to shift responsibility. Nearly the +whole brood of our apologies is hatched from the serpent's egg, and then +we ignorantly or hypocritically manifest surprise that our own offspring +should develop an inclination to deceive or misrepresent!</p> + +<p>Here I saw, in wide contrast to our own social order, the results +springing from sincerity that has thrived through a long line of +generations. Such blessings are as a breath of Heaven, rare and +beautiful.</p> + +<p>One might think, when considering this strange manner of conversation, +that it would be difficult for the people to express their ideas +clearly. It is just the opposite from this, for it is almost impossible +for them to express themselves vaguely. They talk from the headquarters +of one mind directly to the headquarters of another, instead of through +a medium of cumbersome words which in our life are so often +misunderstood. Thus we must admit that we have a ten-fold greater +struggle than they to be perspicuous in language.</p> + +<p>I was charmed at this most superior mode of conversation and saw in it +a higher glimpse of the Heaven language than in any other type that had +yet met my observation in all the worlds of space.</p> + +<p>The Muteites are rapid thinkers, and although they have no sense of +hearing, yet they are ultra-sensitive to substantial emissions of +vibrating bodies. According to all I could see, these people were not +hampered by this lack of senses. They live as conveniently in their +flesh life as we do, and in their mind or spirit life they are much more +refined than we are.</p> + +<p>Their earth is so different from ours in chemical combinations that the +soil is almost transparent and in general has the appearance of glass. +Their homes are built mostly under surface, owing to the terrific +cyclonic storms that follow one another in very uncertain succession.</p> + +<p>The average length of life is two hundred of our years. They reach their +maximum energy of mind at about one hundred years, and among the +brighter of the inhabitants can be found a glorious order of intellect. +Some of these mental celebrities outshine the brightest creatures of +all the solar systems of that region of the heavens.</p> + +<p>After some hesitancy, I yielded to a desire to appear in a visible form +before an assembled company of Muteite philosophers who were gathered in +one of the under-surface halls of architectural beauty for consultation.</p> + +<p>As I entered the vast hall in my natural manner I attracted unusual +attention. It was amusing to see how all eyes were fastened upon me as I +calmly walked toward the front of the audience. Here I had one of the +hardest tasks of all my journey, to converse in a soundless language. I +lacked faith at first to make the attempt, but this delay was but for a +moment, for I first fixed my mind upon what I wished to communicate, and +instantly a dozen or more Muteites signified that they were in sensitive +touch with my thought.</p> + +<p>I will give a small portion of the mental telepathic conversation +between myself and my auditors, although I must relate it as if words +were actually spoken, or it would be totally unintelligible to the +people of my own likeness.</p> + +<p>"Let no one be alarmed," I hurriedly addressed them, as a thousand +giant forms were trembling at my appearance. "My mission is one of +peace. I have come to help rather than harm," I continued.</p> + +<p>"From what section of our world have you come?" came a hundred thought +flashes in wild confusion.</p> + +<p>"I am not from your world, but from another," I answered with closed +mouth as best I could.</p> + +<p>Then I learned an important feature of this mind language. A hundred or +more interrogations came flying at me in thick confusion. At once the +chairman or leader of the meeting gave restrictive orders which actually +prohibited my audience from further communication with me, although I +might address them. The chairman bid me commune with him and he +thereafter acted as the spokesman of the whole assembly. It was no more +difficult for these philosophers to keep their minds closed to me than +it is for us to keep our mouths closed in an excitable meeting or +debate.</p> + +<p>The chairman, looking with increasing curiosity at my strangely shaped +face and head, interrogated me thus:</p> + +<p>"Are you an angel of light, or one of darkness?"</p> + +<p>"I am neither."</p> + +<p>"What then can you be?"</p> + +<p>"I am a created being from a far-off region of space. I was born on a +world which revolves around a star untold millions of miles distant."</p> + +<p>"If you are not a spirit, how could you have traveled such incredible +distances?"</p> + +<p>"That is yet a mystery to me," I admitted. "The power of my flight is +much like the mode of your communication, for each is alike mysterious +to me."</p> + +<p>By this time the excitement was intense. No one attempted to grasp me or +even approach toward me. I saw by the perplexing mental atmosphere of +the chairman that he was being besieged by a host of questions and +suggestions; so I relieved the situation by continuing my words:</p> + +<p>"No one need consider my appearance as an evil omen. I am not empowered +to curse or bless your world except by what may flow from my immediate +conversation with you."</p> + +<p>In these sentences I thoughtlessly gestured with my arms; this set my +audience wild with mingled merriment and curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Are all as small as you whence you came?" queried the chairman.</p> + +<p>"They are all after my pattern with some variations."</p> + +<p>"Pray, tell me, what are those gummy flabs at the sides of your head?"</p> + +<p>"Those are my ears," I said with grinning face. "They grew there for a +purpose."</p> + +<p>"And what can that purpose be?" further questioned the puzzled chairman.</p> + +<p>"They are for the purpose of hearing," I quickly replied.</p> + +<p>Then followed a curious scientific dialogue in which I endeavored to +explain the sense of hearing. From this I described the manner of +conversation in our world, and showed what an important part hearing +played. But all this was beyond the comprehension of my auditors.</p> + +<p>After a lengthy and most interesting discussion upon the philosophy of +sound, the next point of interest centered on my mouth and vocal +organs. It was pleasing to consider these subjects because my listeners +were such eager questioners and surprised hearers. No wonder that they +were unable to grasp such a crude system of conversation as ours!</p> + +<p>Then the chairman verily begged me to explain the mystery of my mission +and of my unprecedented itinerary. How could I have fully satisfied his +mind, even if I had endeavored to do so!</p> + +<p>After all this came the most pleasing communion thus far of all my +journey. I learned much by the interchange of ideas. Nature's vast book +opened to me some new and charming pages.</p> + +<p>Toward the close of my stay the affinity between us grew to a marked +degree. Although we were widely apart in physical aspect, yet we were +supping from the same bowl of affection and, with this happy turn, we +talked of our permanent companionship.</p> + +<p>"But I cannot abide with you," I reluctantly answered.</p> + +<p>"Ah, torment us not with such a thought," affectingly pressed the +chairman.</p> + +<p>"I have other worlds to visit, and must hasten away. Touch me not," I +cried as the chairman unconsciously moved toward me in an urgent appeal.</p> + +<p>"How soon shall we see you again?"</p> + +<p>"No more forever, unless you see me in that widest expanse of life which +in our world we call Heaven. There the pure of all worlds will gather +and commingle in delightsome fellowship forever."</p> + +<p>I was then urged beyond all etiquette to tarry a short period and visit +certain parts of their world. But I informed them that I had seen more +of their world than they imagined, and that the object of my visit had +been reached.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX" />CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>Brief.</h3> + + +<p>One of the medium sized worlds that revolve around Alcyone sustains the +shortest lived human beings of our universe. It is seldom that any of +the creatures reach more than four years of age according to our +standards of time. They are nearly as large as we and relatively much +lighter in weight. All the periods of physical growth are +correspondingly decreased. Children walk four or five weeks after birth, +and are capable of receiving regular instruction at the age of five +months.</p> + +<p>Strange as it may seem, this sphere, which for convenience we will call +Brief, revolves very slowly on its axis, so that our world makes fifteen +times as many revolutions as this planet.</p> + +<p>It requires but little arithmetic to figure out that the people of Brief +do not see the sun rise very often. When it does appear in the morning +sky, all the public signals blow and the people appear in one or +another of their places of worship. This beautiful custom has been in +practice for over three thousand years. The worship is not sun worship, +but a genuine service of thanksgiving to Him who ruleth over the sun and +supplies it with fuel to burn. It appears that on all worlds everything +is regulated in accordance with the length of human life. On this world, +of Brief all vegetables mature in periods so short that one marvels when +he hears it. Think of cereals reaching maturity in seven or eight of our +days, or during one day of Brief. Early in the morning certain crops are +planted and are harvested at night. Two or more days are required for +maturing other crops. Actually the people of Brief raise their crops +with less labor than is required amongst us.</p> + +<p>If you were permitted to look upon the public and private life of this +incredible world, your first sensation would be dizziness, not to +mention the weirdness of all sights that would confront you at every +turn. People would seem to be in a mad rush, and it would appear that +all business is done with insane rapidity.</p> + +<p>Furrows of care and trouble begin to deepen on the faces of these +Briefites as they approach an age of what we would call three years, and +if by lease of strength they pass on toward an age of four years, it is +but an evidence of their exceptional vitality. It seems to be true that +the experiences of a long life of sixty or eighty years is crowded into +a narrow compass of four years by a miracle of spheres not comprehended +by finite minds.</p> + +<p>No doubt a detailed description of this whirling and dashing life would +be of interest to us slow, deliberate creatures. But I can give only a +passing glimpse.</p> + + +<h3>JOURNALISM.</h3> + +<p>Things happen in such quick succession that the news is hustled out at +all hours of the day and night; not on sheets of paper, but through +automatic news-receivers, machines somewhat akin to our telegraph +instruments.</p> + +<p>The state supplies each home with an automatic news-receiver. Thus a +record is kept in each home of all messages received so that they can +be read at leisure. To speak in a manner more easily understood, I will +say that the news is telegraphed to each home as soon as possible after +the events transpire. But compared to our customs, the news is very +scarce. There being no competition, no time or space is required for +sensational trash. Thus, if nothing of importance occurs, nothing need +be transmitted. The official news-censors decide as to the relative +importance of occurrences. There need not be a certain amount of news +telegraphed each hour. The government verifies, as much as possible, all +reports before they are transmitted. There are indeed some advantages in +the government being in constant touch with each home under its care. +The advertising department pays nearly all expenses of this whole system +of journalism. Announcements for private gain are paid at a regular +rate. It costs more to advertise at certain periods than at other times, +all regulated by the customs of the people.</p> + +<p>Under these regulations everybody receives the news, and only the +essential news, except advertisements which must come in batches at +certain intervals. Of course, people take their choice as to reading +advertisements.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 393px;"> +<a name="IMG17" id="IMG17" /><img src="images/image-17.jpg" width="393" height="600" alt="Sunrise Signal in Brief." title="" /> +<b>Sunrise Signal in Brief.</b> +</div> + + +<h3>THEIR FOOTWEAR.</h3> + +<p>The soles of the feet of these Briefites are composed of a substance +most nearly resembling hoof material. They never think of covering the +feet under any change of climate. If one of the Briefites were to step +upon the shores of our rugged Earth and see the cotton or wool and +leather that lies around our feet, it would appear to him as the most +ridiculous thing imaginable, and no doubt his shapely feet of ivory cast +would be of more than passing interest to us.</p> + + +<h3>THEIR RAIMENT.</h3> + +<p>Their raiment is altogether after new models. Neither the men, women, +nor children seem to seek this means for self-beautifying. They seem to +think that beauty of character has a radiance more to be desired than +the flash of opals or the luster of silks. Their garments partake of the +loose flowing order. For instance, a strong fabric of chosen shade is +fastened at the neck, hip, knee and ankle, and lies carelessly over the +parts between. The females never graduated to the corset degree, and +while they do not cut a scientific figure, yet they surely develop a +more ruddy waist after the model intended by the Designor of the body.</p> + + +<h3>TRANSPORTATION.</h3> + +<p>The methods of traveling are so contrary to our conceptions and +practices that I almost forbear to attempt any description. Yet I was +entertained and instructed as I witnessed the moving of humanity along a +street of a busy city. Have you ever noticed how quarters of beef are +carried from a car to an elevator or refrigerator on steel rods +connected with wheels running in a groove or on a specially prepared +track? In a city of Brief, overhead tracks after such an order run along +all business streets and certain residence streets. Spare me a detailed +description of this peculiar traveling system. Suffice it to say that a +person, in lightning rapidity of motion, rushes from a store, springs +upon a passing seat and is hurled away by the power of an overhead +cable system. When an exchange of seats is necessary, it is all done so +easily and so quickly that you would wonder why we tolerate trolley +cars.</p> + +<p>In traveling from city to city, a system is in use that I will call the +Toboggan Slide System, although the cars run on wheels. The car is +raised in a shaft about one hundred feet and then by gravity it dashes +two or more miles according to the lay of the land traversed. Then +another rise more or less than one hundred feet is experienced, and then +another wild dash. I have no words of praise for this system, although +the Briefites can cover considerable territory in an hour. They look +upon this gravity system as a wonderful achievement, for it has not been +in operation for more than three hundred years.</p> + +<p>The power of steam has never been utilized. No genius of all this active +world of Brief ever conceived the idea that almost unlimited power lies +wrapped up in thin vapory water. But they have discovered what we would +call gaseous oil, and have learned to put it to work, so that it is the +main force employed in hoisting and all other purposes where power is +required.</p> + +<p>Nothing like a traveling locomotive has ever been made, although I +learned that a bright wizard was experimenting and that he prophesied +great changes when his gas-propelled vehicle was perfected.</p> + +<p>Think of how much value an ordinary citizen of our world would be to +these Briefites, if he could step upon their world and communicate with +them concerning the magic wonders of steam and the manner of +constructing stationary and movable engines, to say nothing of the +hidden wonders of electricity. Quadrupeds that take the place of our +horses are used for drayage, although nothing except the two-wheeled +class of vehicles was ever used until some eighty-seven years ago.</p> + + +<h3>PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.</h3> + +<p>These interesting people excel us in their style and manner of +home-building, fencing and making public highways. We are heathenish in +our progress along the line of road making especially. In all my vast +journey among the worlds I found only a few, comparatively, whereon the +roads were inferior to ours.</p> + +<p>In the world of Brief the state prescribes the manner of public highways +and each citizen must contribute his share to their creation and +maintenance.</p> + +<p>These Briefites excel us in more than a score of ways. They are much +purer in morals, more refined in manner, more harmonious in government, +and unusually bright in mathematics. Very intricate and elaborate +problems are solved by these people of a few years. They are inferior to +us in a hundred ways. In the broad fields of manufacture and invention +they lag a long distance in the rear. This is principally due to their +lack of time.</p> + + +<h3>RELIGIOUS LIFE.</h3> + +<p>The religious life of the people of Brief is, on an average, of a higher +type than is found in our world. Their belief in immortality has run +parallel with their existence as a people, and their devotion to their +Creator is marked with unusual fervor.</p> + +<p>Their Redeemer is worshiped quite separately from God, and with +distinctive adorations. The name of their Redeemer, phonetically +rendered, is Kerm-Cher. The most faithful translation of this word into +our language would be God-affluence.</p> + +<p>Kerm-Cher, or God-breath, appeared upon Brief full grown, and pronounced +his benediction on the race, declaring his origin, and the purpose of +his coming. Similar to Christ, he confirmed his identity by unanswerable +miracles.</p> + +<p>Many, however, disbelieved in Kerm-Cher, and held to the old axiomatic +truths. Thus creeds were prevalent and they remain until now, only there +is much less variety than is found amongst us.</p> + +<p>Kerm-Cher set up a new reign, and accepted a temporal throne for a +season. He finally announced that his ambassadorship would soon cease +and that his followers would lose the throne of civil power, that they +would be tested for a season in the valley of humiliation and by the +fires of terrible persecution, and that they who would endure unto the +end would be glorified.</p> + +<p>These religious features are remarkably similar to the system under +which the Christian religion of our globe is fostered.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI" />CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>The Life on Wings.</h3> + + +<p>As I darted from world to world, I was not then fully conscious of the +vast stretches of space that I had covered. No mortal nor angel tongue +can even commence to describe the vastness of created things and the +trackless oceans of space in which the ponderous suns and planets +revolve.</p> + +<p>According to the classification of our astronomers I next found myself +in the constellation of Perseus, and was again convinced of the weakness +of our most powerful telescopes, for I now saw thousands of immense +stars, hitherto invisible to me. Not one of these stars is within a +trillion miles of any other.</p> + +<p>In this distant system of our universe I saw that the same plan of +creation obtained. Around a majority of the stars a group of various +sized worlds revolves. On many of these worlds human life abounds in +endless degrees of development and in a countless variety of +manifestations. I marveled anew as I saw the endlessness of the Infinite +Mind, supporting not only the conscious life of this whole +constellation, but also of all the constellations of our universe, and +of all the universes scattered at large throughout the unending depths +of space.</p> + +<p>I paused at a star of variable magnitude in the Milky Way, but took only +a passing glance at the physical wonders of this great sun, compared +with which our own Sun is a mere pigmy. Onward I hastened to one of the +larger worlds of this solar system which, for my convenience, I will +call Swift.</p> + +<p>Here new wonders opened wide to my view. Human beings, charmingly +beautiful, moved over the face of the planet or on wings through the air +at pleasure and with great ease. These creatures are about three-fourths +of our size, and are most gracefully formed. Their whole physical +appearance is more similar to a bird than to a human being of our Earth. +They are relatively much lighter than we, and are covered with nothing +akin to feathers.</p> + +<p>If you were to see them standing in their erect posture and walking +with man-like dignity, you would at once feel that they are the lords of +the creation on their world, and so indeed they are.</p> + +<p>These ethereal creatures have the loveliest eyes of any human beings I +ever beheld in any world. They sparkle with the brilliancy of a diamond +and move with the quickness of electricity. The head is small but +symmetrical and all physical proportions are most harmoniously adapted +even to a nicety that would be pleasing to the most refined tastes of +our world.</p> + +<p>At first I could not understand how these people of Swift could travel +so conveniently in the air, for their wings are very small and the +exertion when flying is very limited. But the lightness of the body, the +heaviness of the air, and the unusual strength of the Swiftites, each +conduces its share to the fortunate result.</p> + +<p>In my thoughtlessness I envied these gifted people and wished that when +I would return to my world, I could enjoy such privileges of flight. I +soon checked this rising covetousness, and again contentment flung over +me its white mantle.</p> + +<p>The bodies of these Swiftites are covered by nature with a clean growth +of soft, silken hair. They change their garments with the seasons, but +at all times dress very sparingly and neatly. They are so easily clothed +that all their apparel occasions them no more trouble than the more +seasonable covering of the head gives to our women.</p> + +<p>The average length of life is nearly four hundred years of our time. +There are very few worlds in space where the general health of its +inhabitants is as perfect as is found on this beautiful planet. There +are but few doctors because there is but little demand for them. Those +who are engaged are under government service, and all persons who are +unfortunate enough to become ill receive at least all medicine and +professional attention free.</p> + +<p>We are quite an exceptional world in our medical system. In all my +journey I saw comparatively only a few worlds that have the private +system of medical treatment. Have we not noted the laboring husband +bending at his toil for eight or ten hours to pay the physician who +calls for a few minutes? In some cases this program is continued for +weeks, until the honest toiler finds himself confronted with a doctor's +bill and medicine bill to haunt him until the debt is either forgiven or +paid at great sacrifice.</p> + +<p>On the world of Swift and in the vast majority of civilized worlds in +space, the community or government furnishes a salaried physician within +reasonable reach of every home. The doctors of Swift are not expected to +work night and day. They have shifts to divide the toil equally.</p> + +<p>In architecture this distant planet excels us by far. I improved the +opportunity and went to witness a magnificent temple of worship which +has been in process of erection for over two hundred years. Any conceit +that I previously had on account of the large structures of my own world +quickly vanished at the sight of this imposing edifice. During my visit +the winged workers were laboring on the upper stories and I watched them +with great wonderment as they descended from the clouds to carry +materials to the higher stories. Can you imagine the picture of workmen +flying in all directions with tools, each one busily employed? It is +promised that the present generation of employees will live to see the +completion of this notable structure.</p> + +<p>This vast building is the national religious center of the Swiftites. +Each government has such a central station, and from it all temples of +worship are controlled. Here the church and the state are yet married, +and the state maintains its religious departments with careful scrutiny. +The chief ambition of each government has always been to outshine the +others in the glory and magnificence of its central temple which, of +course, is fire proof and almost time proof.</p> + +<p>One may wonder as he gazes upon this extensive structure why there are +seventy thousand sleeping rooms and dining halls built after such +extensive plans as to entertain, at one time, twenty-five thousand +guests. All this is to accommodate the vast throngs that take their +sacred pilgrimage once in a year under an arrangement by which one tenth +of the able-bodied go each thirty-nine days, which corresponds to our +month.</p> + +<p>The most notable feature of this central temple is the main service +room, built at fabulous cost and capable of accommodating one hundred +thousand pilgrims at one time. The most costly sections of this one room +are guarded night and day by armed government soldiers.</p> + +<p>The religion of these Swiftites is of a very pure kind. The ministers of +this national church are fully equipped before entering upon their +office. The training schools for ministers attracted my closest +attention. Fortunately, these people have no language complications as +we have, so that a prospective minister can spend some of his time +studying the Book of God's Revelation instead of spending a great +portion of his training period in learning the languages in which the +book had once been written.</p> + +<p>A minister's training consists as much in voice culture and the many +branches of elocution as it does in acquiring a correct knowledge of +God. But in illustrative teaching Swift leads us by far. I was +profitably entertained in the main temple as I listened to one of the +famous orators discoursing to an audience of eighty thousand. Not only +did his canary-like voice penetrate to all parts of the large room, but +his objective illustrations clinched the truth remarkably well.</p> + +<p>A series of special services is held at the close of each month. The +most wonderful of all these exercises, or renditions, is called "The +Mediator Service." This is one of the most spectacular and impressive +exercises outside of Heaven. Even the famous Passion Play of +Oberammergau (our world) with the less glorious exhibitions at Horitz +and Selzach, all dwindle into insignificance compared with "The Mediator +Service" on the world of Swift.</p> + +<p>During my visit I witnessed the full program of this sublime rendition. +The music was inexpressibly grand as rendered by the vested Mediator +Choir. Naturally the Swiftites have sweet, bird-like voices. Can you +conceive the effect of a triple choir of these human warblers all +trained in perfect harmony and unison?</p> + +<p>When you consider that nearly the whole population witnesses these +special exhibitions at least once a year, you can the better understand +why the spiritual condition of the people has reached a high very level.</p> + +<p>I investigated the many interesting features of this inviting world and +found that in some respects we are inferior to these human bird +creatures, although in many other respects we are superior. Electricity +is known in their world, but they have not yet harnessed it; hence they +are ignorant of telegraphy and a long list of similar inventions which +we enjoy.</p> + +<p>In agriculture the Swiftites are ahead of us. They raise their crops +with less labor relatively than we. All things considered it is easier +to live on Swift than here.</p> + +<p>Knowing that my time was limited, I decided to secure some nuggets of +truth by a personal interview; so I concluded to appear to the wisest +person on the planet, who was a woman of wonderful mental acquirements. +In addition to her superior intellect she was also bewitchingly +beautiful.</p> + +<p>I waited for the best opportunity and came near to her as she was about +to spread her wings for a morning flight from the beautiful summit +near her summer home. Not wishing to cause her undue alarm, I at first +spoke softly, remaining invisible and watching her rare eyes send their +glances toward the palmy trees around me, as her wings were relaxing +quietly at her side. She was positive of having heard a voice, and as +she still further scanned the immediate surroundings I saw that +perplexity was furrowing marks upon her face.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a name="IMG18" id="IMG18" /><img src="images/image-18.jpg" width="600" height="396" alt="Beautiful Plume on the World of Swift." title="" /> +<b>Beautiful Plume on the World of Swift.</b> +</div> + +<p>"Hast thou time to spend with a friend from another world?" I calmly +inquired as I was still unseen by her.</p> + +<p>She was nervously agitated, but being of strong fibre she quickly +rallied with her answer, "Where art thou and who art thou?"</p> + +<p>"I am on a peace mission from a far distant world," I quietly said as I +slowly became visible to my audience of one.</p> + +<p>Naturally she was alarmed at my appearance, and consequently I drew +gradually farther and farther away until she gained more self-possession +and turned interestingly toward me.</p> + +<p>"Ah! how can you be a spirit without wings?" were her first unexpected +words.</p> + +<p>"But I am no spirit," I said assuringly.</p> + +<p>"You cannot be otherwise," she insisted.</p> + +<p>"Believe what you wish, we have no time for parley. I am delighted to +visit your world and I desire, if possible, to have some mysteries +solved. Can you help me?"</p> + +<p>Plume, for that is the name I called her, was much unsettled. She +scanned my form with wild curiosity and I feared that she would at once +use her wings at their swiftest.</p> + +<p>"Pray do not fly hence," I quickly urged. "I will never harm you, even +though we could converse together forever. Believe me true, and rest +your wings and heart in peace."</p> + +<p>My words had some effect toward calming her mind and with more placid +features she still looked at me half shrinkingly.</p> + +<p>"Are you not happy that you have wings with which fly?" I continued, +hoping to create a more natural familiarity.</p> + +<p>"Happy? No more than for my feet, my ears, or my life," she answered in +a more composed manner. "You say that you are from another world. Where +can that be?" was her welcome query.</p> + +<p>Then I pointed my finger in the direction of our world and remarked:</p> + +<p>"If you could travel in that direction on swift wings day and night for +a few millions of years, you would still be far, far away from the world +where I live."</p> + +<p>"And is that world inhabited by sensible creatures?"</p> + +<p>"It is."</p> + +<p>"But how could you have traversed so great a distance?"</p> + +<p>"Never can I explain that mystery to you. Be content that I am here."</p> + +<p>"Are you in the image of the other human creatures in that far away +world?"</p> + +<p>"In general they are all fashioned as I am."</p> + +<p>"No one having wings?" she added with surprise.</p> + +<p>"Not one."</p> + +<p>"How can that be true?"</p> + +<p>"Because we were made without them."</p> + +<p>"And have you no way of moving through the air at pleasure?"</p> + +<p>"Not without artificial machinery."</p> + +<p>"Artificial machinery?" she repeated. "What can you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>Of course they have no word for balloon or flying machine, and I found +it difficult to describe the shape and explain the philosophy of these +things. I did the best I could in her language, and after I had finished +my description she for the first time smiled and said:</p> + +<p>"That sort of a construction would be a fine thing for the indolents of +our world who, through misuse or lack of use of their wings, have no +more ability to fly."</p> + +<p>This was interesting to me and I closely inquired as to the cause of +this loss of the wing power. Plume grew more and more familiar in her +address and in a long conversation told me of the many conditions that +make people unfit to fly. I deduce from our conversation a few of these +causes.</p> + +<p>1. Simple neglect.</p> + +<p>2. Gluttonous life.</p> + +<p>3. Sensuality of a low and heavy life.</p> + +<p>4. Pride. Some yield to a superstitious notion that it is honorable to +make but little display of themselves, and allow their wings to be bound +or partly clipped.</p> + +<p>5. Certain kinds of sickness render the wing-chords inoperative.</p> + +<p>I learned that altogether nearly one-half of the population are unable +to fly. How my mind flew back to our own life as I was learning of these +sad conditions. There is a sort of a life on wings in our world, +although the wings are invisible. But on account of the low, mean lives +so many are living, they never rise above the miasmic contagion of the +sin and self level. These unseen wings are either paralyzed or clipped.</p> + +<p>Plume now actually stepped toward me. What a graceful tread. She was +indeed the most charming creature I had met outside of my own world. She +seated herself near me on the rustic bend of a tree unlike any in our +world and hurried her questions at me as if she realized that I would +not tarry long. At length she gratefully said:</p> + +<p>"I am beginning to believe that you are really a son of another world, +or else I am reveling in a day dream."</p> + +<p>"Happy am I that I can learn from you some of the truths after which I +am seeking," was my evasive reply. "Tell me, Plume, something about your +faith religiously."</p> + +<p>"I worship the God who made all things and am hoping to live in the +wider life after my mortal days are ended."</p> + +<p>"Do you expect to meet, in that wider life, representatives from other +worlds?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! I have often thought that it might be so," she answered, as her +face brightened in poetic fervor, and her eyes sparkled with seraphic +luster.</p> + +<p>"It shall all be so, and much more," I declared. "In that life you can +fly without wings and mingle with the pure from the unnumbered worlds of +space."</p> + +<p>"What an incentive to a pure life," she quickly added.</p> + +<p>"Talking of wings, do you object if I see more closely the cut and style +of your wings? I never saw before a human creature possessing a pair."</p> + +<p>After a moment's hesitancy she raised her right arm and with it the one +wing unfolded. I ventured near enough to see the intricate network of +muscle and bone woven around the arm and filling the space between the +raised arm and the side of Plume's body. She was surprised at the +interest I manifested in the human wing. After this she offered to +furnish an able escort to conduct me to several points of interest.</p> + +<p>All this I declined and informed my talented friend that I must hasten +away to another world.</p> + +<p>"Let me go with you," she strongly insisted.</p> + +<p>"Your wings are not of the right kind," I replied hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"They are strong enough to bear us both," were her inviting words.</p> + +<p>"But not beyond the atmosphere of this world," I explained.</p> + +<p>I quietly arose, scanned once more the beautiful valley before me, and +indicated that I was about to wane into the invisible. Then did her +womanly nature assert its supremacy and she, for the first time, touched +my hand imploringly:</p> + +<p>"Have I been dreaming, or do my eyes deceive me? How can all this be +true? Your hand is sensible to my touch. I implore you to remain until I +speak to you more about the sciences of your world."</p> + +<p>In all my journey I never yielded to persuasion before. But somehow I +consented to spend a season longer of most charming fellowship, talking +of the elements in nature, their chemical affinities, and the laws of +matter and mind. Plume was unusually bright in the philosophies, and I +gathered from her many truths which had always before been hidden to me.</p> + +<p>Finally I became rigid in my determination to leave, for I knew that I +could not stay.</p> + +<p>"Grant me one request," she begged.</p> + +<p>"Let me hear it."</p> + +<p>"Promise me that you will return."</p> + +<p>"Impossible, impossible!"</p> + +<p>The parting that followed was indeed memorable. Without any further +notice I suddenly vanished, but still tarried invisibly in close +proximity.</p> + +<p>Plume was now left in deep bewilderment, and I could not even +conjecture the details of her warring thoughts. Finally I saw that for +which I had tarried. Plume lifted her wings and flew skyward as +beautifully and gracefully as any bird of our earthly air.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII" />CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>Heaven.</h3> + + +<p>After my ambition to visit one thousand worlds had been realised, and I +was darting toward the confines of our own little Solar System, +instinctively I looked out once more over the vast stretches of space. +All around me, at amazing distances, loomed up the millions of spheres +which I had not visited by reason of my limited time. I felt like some +one who, after gaining his first thousand dollars, has a wild craving to +accumulate ten or one hundred thousand more.</p> + +<p>Still I scanned the heavens while deeper longings pervaded my soul. +While in this mood the most unusual vision flashed upon my eyes. +Suddenly I forgot whither I was going and in wild astonishment I drank +in the first view of Heaven. Inwardly I marveled that I had not seen at +least a part of it before.</p> + +<p>Heaven is fashioned on a transcendently large scale. It is not a single +sphere, but a universal chain of vast and luminous star-groups, +scattered harmoniously throughout the infinite regions of space, so that +a part of it lies suspended preciously near to our own Solar System. +Heaven is more real and substantial than the suns and planets of the +universe, although not one of its numberless parts can be detected by +the human eye, or discerned through a telescope. These luminous orbs +that constitute Heaven control the movements of the planets, suns and +systems which we call material. They are whiter than snow and shine with +a luster not dazzling, but restful to the eye capable of seeing them.</p> + +<p>How this glimpse put to naught all my former crude conceptions of +Heaven, and if I found myself unable to describe the wonders of many a +dark world which I have visited, how much less could I portray the +vastly superior beauties of Heaven which are so far beyond the glory of +dark, rugged worlds that I felt an inexpressible desire to take up my +abode there at once and to remain forever.</p> + +<p>Inwardly I shouted for joy as this new light illumined my face, and I +loathed to think of proceeding on my journey to any sin-cursed world of +the universe, for the ties of kinship, friendship, and earthship all +vanished at the sight of such resplendent spheres.</p> + + +<h3>THE GREATNESS OF HEAVEN.</h3> + +<p>There is no language to be employed that can fitly describe the parts of +Heaven I saw, and I know that the greater glory was curtained from my +view. But the size of the lustrous orbs is not equaled by the large +material suns that blaze in the depth of immensity. Heaven's diamond +splendor extended as far as my unassisted eyes could reach, and +according to the way it appeared it must extend without limit.</p> + +<p>It would require one hundred millions of years for a child of God to +take one excursion trip to the physical worlds of our universe. Then +there are millions of such universes, (I know of no better name to use) +each one occupying its own immense stretches of space. These universes +average about sixteen hundred millions of worlds each.</p> + +<p>Heaven is infinitely greater than this whole material fabric, so that if +a spirit is inclined to travel, he will need all eternity to study the +works of God as displayed in the glorious abodes of Heaven and in the +changing aspects of created worlds.</p> + +<p>Let us give a deeper meaning to the stanza of the poet by substituting +"million" for "thousand."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>When I've been there ten million years,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bright, shining as the sun,<br /></span> +<span>I've no less days to sing God's praise,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Than when I first begun.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Compared with this life more vast, does it not appear that our own +insignificant existence on our tiny Earth is as the creeping of a mere +insect on the leaf of a giant oak?</p> + + +<h3>PERMANENCY OF HEAVEN.</h3> + +<p>The only permanent or imperishable feature of our universe is the Heaven +part of it. The created or visible worlds are mere dark appendages of +the real spheres, and are serving their parts in bringing fruit to +their Maker.</p> + +<p>Sin-cursed and sinless worlds are coming to an end continually, and as +rapidly are new ones flung out or old ones re-peopled to serve as garden +plots to bear fruit in the form of created intelligences who serve and +admire God through choice.</p> + +<p>Heaven is indestructible. It has already been in existence since the +morning of time. In all my journey, no angel or mortal could tell me how +many cycles ago that was. But it must be said that Heaven does not +always present the same aspect. Mansions are built for the reception of +new arrivals, or for the vast delegations from millennial worlds.</p> + + +<h3>THE INHABITANTS OF HEAVEN.</h3> + +<p>They come from all parts of the universe, from millions of spheres. The +righteous of any world, at death, are suddenly transported to that part +of Heaven lying nearest to their world. This is the Abraham's bosom +where the spirit is happy until it takes up its abode with its own +spiritualized body in a millennial reign, after which, by a decree of +the Final Judgment, it is given its credentials to the illimitable life +of all Heaven.</p> + +<p>This is Paul's third heaven. Oh! what unlimited expansion! What +incomprehensible principles, to move at large in quest of universal +truths as seen in the seven types of Heaven's spiritual intelligences, +and in the unending manifestations of God's work and love as displayed +in all heaven and in all the peopled planets of space!</p> + +<p>Not one of these blessed inhabitants ever grows old or suffers fatigue. +They are capable of moving with tireless energy from one part of +Heaven's vast domains to any other portion.</p> + + +<h3>DEGREES OF HEAVEN.</h3> + +<p>In space there are many sinless worlds where human species are +propagated, not as the result of any sexual affinities, but in a manner +totally unintelligible to a finite mind. They who reach Heaven from such +a world cannot drink in the same kind of enjoyment as those who come up +out of great tribulations from the spheres of a sin-cursed world, and +who have struggled for mastery and forged their way to the sky through +armies of aliens.</p> + +<p>But these creatures are perfectly contented, for they have no way of +realizing the glory resulting from the victory over the world, the flesh +and the Devil.</p> + +<p>Then there are degrees of glory among those who come from a sin-cursed +world. Some have many treasures laid up in Heaven, while others centered +their affections too much upon the transitory things of time and sense.</p> + +<p>There are also various orders or degrees of glory among the seven types +of intelligences of which Heaven's multitudes are composed. Some of +these may be suggested to your mind when you read more of this sevenfold +life.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a name="IMG19" id="IMG19" /><img src="images/image-19.jpg" width="600" height="404" alt="A Glimpse of Blissful Life in Heaven." title="" /> +<b>A Glimpse of Blissful Life in Heaven.</b> +</div> + + +<h3>SEVEN TYPES OF INTELLIGENCES.</h3> + +<p>1. The first class of beings is composed of those whom we comprehend as +the Trinity, whose highest glory is expressed in the Mediatorial +personage who can be seen at will by any of Heaven's hosts from any +world.</p> + +<p>2. The cherubim and seraphim, or the highest order of spirits, who +have always been pure and holy. They constitute the next rank of the +celestial host.</p> + +<p>3. The third class is composed of the general host of angels who also +have been holy from eternity, and who serve as ambassadors to various +points of the limitless creation.</p> + +<p>4. The spirits of those who have risen from sinful worlds by virtue of a +God-approved and God-appointed Mediator. To join the ranks of this class +we, who serve God, are hastening. This is no low order or caste in +Heaven, but they who belong to it vie with higher angels, and taste +sweetness beyond the capacity of those who, in other respects, are our +peers. The angels desire to look into the deep mystery of salvation's +plan.</p> + +<p>5. The matured and maturing spirits of those who left sinful worlds +before God held them accountable for their deeds. To this class belong +our children who precede us into the final abode.</p> + +<p>6. The spirits of those who have risen from sinless worlds to take +their infinitely higher degrees in this Heaven life.</p> + +<p>7. The matured and maturing spirits of those who left the sinless worlds +before sense perception was duly developed. They form a distinct class +of spirits and have their distinctive marks.</p> + + +<h3>UNITY OF HEAVEN.</h3> + +<p>Redemption's plan for each sinful world is somewhat similar to ours, so +that there is a oneness in the whole family of the redeemed. This is one +main factor that makes the bond of unity perfect and renders the +fellowship of the celestial hosts absolutely without a flaw.</p> + +<p>True enough, each of the seven classes of intelligences is a mystery and +a glory to the others. But there is no friction, no jar. Each one is +perfect in himself and happy in spirit.</p> + +<p>Although each one of the vast companies carries the distinctive impress +and the spiritual peculiarities of his own planet, yet they are all now +fashioned after the symmetry of the Heaven life, and no one bears a +single repellant feature, but rather each spiritual body is beautiful +to the eyes of all the others, and each one breathes the same atmosphere +of purity and converses in the self-same language of love.</p> + + +<h3>A HOME-LIKE PLACE.</h3> + +<p>No feature of Heaven is more beautiful than its home-like atmosphere. +The soul is not chilled by the two-thousand-mile-cube cities, or by the +long, long stretches of Divine masonry. God is as a real father, and all +his subjects are as our blood-relations. We feel it, and the inspiration +of these truths takes a deep hold of Heaven's vast populace.</p> + + +<h3>EMPLOYMENT.</h3> + +<p>Now and then large excursion parties visit various points of our own +universe and frequently span the incredible distances in order to study +the works and life of other universes.</p> + +<p>Each soul is occupied in gratifying its own master passion, and lives in +the delightsome fellowship of the saints.</p> + + +<h3>TRANSPORTATION.</h3> + +<p>There are no vehicles or cars of any kind. Actual wings are unknown +except as used by certain birds of Heaven. Spirits travel as rapidly as +desired by a mere submissive connection with the universal system of +power filaments, all of which center in God. More refined power than +electricity is transmitted over these substantial filaments to any point +of any world. The fleshly body is not sensitive to this spiritual power, +but the pure soul, when free from the body, is at once sensitive to +these chords of power and is carried swifter than a current of +electricity to Abraham's bosom, where it is entitled forever to a free +use of this perfect power without being subject to any kind of taxation.</p> + + +<h3>SEXUAL AFFINITIES OF HEAVEN.</h3> + +<p>Contrary to some of my former ideas I saw that the inhabitants of Heaven +are not all of one sex. The male and female are clearly distinguishable, +and they bear relations one to another still more refined than was +manifest in the Millennial World.</p> + +<p>The most holy affinity exists between the several types of +intelligences. Here the glorious fires of love burn never to reach a +climax. Lovers have been drinking from perennial fountains for a million +years, and their ecstacies are rising still. Pure love is as endless and +infinite as time and space, and its mystery is deep to these shining +throngs of Heaven who look into one another's faces with untrammeled +emotions. Think of falling in love with the inhabitants of other worlds +and of having the capacity and right to foster a thousand or more types +of affinity, each one differing from the others!</p> + +<p>These relations are so highly refined and so gloriously developed that +one must not think of reducing them by comparison to the level of the +flesh life.</p> + + +<h3>STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF HEAVEN.</h3> + +<p>I would not attempt to describe the structural glory of Heaven, for I +know not where nor how to begin. Seemingly all things are transparent +even to the center of vast orbs. Magnificent cities apparently lie +suspended far under the indefinite surface of the orbs composing +Heaven, and free passage ways of phantastical design ramify throughout +all the glorious under-surface regions.</p> + +<p>Architectural greatness here finds its unmatched examples. Seven-mile +diamond arches are common-places, and towers of two thousand miles in +height and one thousand miles in diameter, as the corner stone of a +city, are nothing unusual, although many cities are built on a smaller +plan. Nothing needs repairing, and nothing is mortgaged. The wealth of +unnumbered trillions is easily represented in one orb of Heaven's +empire.</p> + +<p>I now saw a thousand-fold more clearly than ever before the absolute +folly of fixing our affections on the perishing things of the mortal +life in our dark and dusty world.</p> + +<p>While my eyes were still feasting on the sublime picture before me I +began to realize that my privilege would be of short duration, as the +vision was fast waning. I looked intently until the last curtain fell, +and reluctantly I continued my journey toward my own little world. I now +felt that, if the whole Earth were my own property, I would gladly push +it all aside if I could be a mere door keeper in one of the heavenly +cities of my God.</p> + +<p>And very often since that time I have cast my longing eyes skyward, +hoping to catch another glimpse of that fair scene.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>How I long for that restful picture,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A vision of Heaven, once more;<br /></span> +<span>With its trillion orbs of beauty,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And its wealth of endless store.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>There are saints from unnumbered planets,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where they lived in a million ways.<br /></span> +<span>Now they mingle in perfect glory,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Through the length of eternal days.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>There the poor are wealthy forever,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For the beggar sits down with the King.<br /></span> +<span>The man who never knew music<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Will vie with angels to sing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Here the hopeful student, progressing,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">After failing does often grieve;<br /></span> +<span>But in Heaven each lesson is perfect,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No theory to blind or deceive.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>Here the runner, in breathless struggle,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sees the other in touch of the goal;<br /></span> +<span>But Heaven gives each one the laurel,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To be crowned while the ages roll.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>There they have no light of a candle,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For there are no shadows of night.<br /></span> +<span>There the flash of unnumbered opals<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Sparkles on in their wealth of light.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>In that home-like palace of Heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where these myriad trillions are,<br /></span> +<span>There the Lord is the self-same Master,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And Love is the self-same star.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE IN A THOUSAND WORLDS***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 14770-h.txt or 14770-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/7/14770">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/7/7/14770</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Life in a Thousand Worlds + +Author: William Shuler Harris + +Release Date: January 23, 2005 [eBook #14770] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE IN A THOUSAND WORLDS*** + + +E-text prepared by Steven desJardins and Project Gutenberg Distributed +Proofreaders + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 14770-h.htm or 14770-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/7/14770/14770-h/14770-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/7/14770/14770-h.zip) + + + + + +LIFE IN A THOUSAND WORLDS + +by + +REV. W. S. HARRIS. + +Author of _Mr. World and Miss Church-Member_, _Modern Fables and +Parables_, _Sermons by the Devil_, etc., etc. + +Illustrated + +Published by +The Minter Company, +Harrisburg, Pa. + +1905 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: REV. W. S. HARRIS] + + + + + TO + + MY MOTHER + +WHO FOR MY GOOD COUNTED NONE OF + HER SACRIFICES TOO GREAT AND + WHO IS NOW RECEIVING HER + REWARD IN THE CELESTIAL + LIFE THIS VOLUME IS + LOVINGLY + + DEDICATED. + + + +[Illustration: Decorative element] + + + +Illustrations. + + + 1. Portrait of the Author + 2. Gazing at the Starry Firmament + 3. A City on the Moon + 4. How a "Trust" Monopolizes Rain and Light on Mars + 5. The Largest Telescope in the Universe + 6. An Air Ship on Saturn + 7. Living in Fire on a Fixed Star + 8. Fishing for Land Animals + 9. Monopolizing Liquid Air on Airess +10. Floating Cities of Plasden +11. A Captive on a Planet of Duhbe +12. The Millennial Dawn +13. Low-life Warfare on Scum +14. Battle Between "Flying Devils" in the Air +15. "Trusts" in the Diamond World +16. Tunnel Through Holen's Center +17. A Scene of Rejoicing in Brief +18. Beautiful Plume and Her Wings +19. A Glimpse of Heaven + + + +Contents. + + + 1. Are There More Worlds Than One? + 2. A Visit to the Moon + 3. A Visit to Mars + 4. A Glimpse of Jupiter + 5. Beautiful Saturn + 6. The Nearest Fixed Star + 7. The Water World Visited + 8. Tor-tu + 9. A Problem in Political Economy +10. Floating Cities +11. A World of Ideal Cities +12. A World Enjoying Its Millennium +13. A World of High Medical Knowledge +14. A World of Low Life +15. A World of Highest Invention +16. A Singular Planet +17. The Diamond World +18. Triumphant Feat of Orion +19. The Mute World +20. Brief +21. The Life on Wings +22. Heaven + + + + +Synopsis of Contents. + + +CHAPTER I. + +Are There More Worlds Than One? + +Why are countless worlds swinging in the endless regions of space? +The author believes that thousands are inhabited by intelligent +beings. + + +CHAPTER II. + +A Visit to the Moon. + +Description of a novel city of over 60,000 Moonites. The +inhabitants of the Moon are described as dwarfs having no noses +because they live by eating solid air. Their odd houses, +expressive paintings, strange religion, wonderful history, novel +government, happy home life, etc., interestingly described. + + +CHAPTER III. + +A Visit to Mars. + +Marsites described as giants needing four arms. The ultimate +results of capitalistic oppression graphically portrayed by a +curtain system. The description of the Marsite curtain system +embodies a tremendous thrust at monopolistic trusts, and should be +read by Americans by the millions. The author captured by Marsmen. +Illustration. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A Glimpse of Jupiter. + +Jupiterites described as colossal giants averaging twenty-five +feet in height. Their language a marvel of simplicity far +surpassing the English language. What Jupiterites can see with +their powerful magnifying lenses. The author looked, through their +largest telescope and saw ships sailing in New York City harbor. +Illustration. + + +CHAPTER V. + +Beautiful Saturn. + +Physical features. Woman the ruling genius. Excursions in +airships. Illustration. Marvelous language-music. Churches on +Saturn far better than those on Earth. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +The Nearest Fixed Star. + +The inhabitants of Alpha Centaurus live as comfortably in fire as +Earthites live in air or fishes in water. One of their aerial fire +carriages described. Illustration. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +The Water World Visited. + +On Stazza the people live in water about as fishes do on Earth. +Their homes and cities under water described. Fishing for land +animals. Illustration. Some of their inventions far surpass those +of our own world. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Tortu. + +A far more beautiful world than ours. The moral life of Tortu the +cleanest found in any world, and interesting reasons given. + + +CHAPTER XI + +A Problem in Political Economy. + +On Airess the inhabitants live on liquid air, and hence have +neither noses nor lungs. Monopolists control liquid air on Airess +as petroleum is controlled on Earth. Illustration. Method of +breaking up the power of monopolies. This chapter is worth reading +by millions of American men and women. + + +CHAPTER X. + +Floating Cities. + +Palaces and large cities built on water. Illustration. A number of +wonderful inventions described. Far surpass our world in reform +movements. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A World of Ideal Cities. + +Inhabitants described. Author made captive. Rich and poor. Ideal +cities, how governed. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A World Enjoying Its Millennium. + +How the Millennium was ushered in. The conditions under which +millennial life is enjoyed. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A World of High Medical Knowledge. + +On Dorelyn four billions of inhabitants all enjoy perfect health. +The government controls the whole field of medical science just as +we do the post office department. No patent medicine on Dorelyn. +Many new ideas picked up in medicine and surgery. + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A World of Low Life. + +On Scum exist the lowest conditions of life found in any stellar +world. "Notched Rod" language explained. Lizard like human forms. +No Scumite knows who is his father or mother. A big Scumite battle +witnessed. Illustration. + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A World of Highest Invention. + +A fertilizer invented making possible the raising of six crops in +one of our years. A Tube Line for passenger and freight traffic. +Wonderful storage batteries. A telephone that not only carries +sound, but transmits the gestures and faces of the speakers. +Thought photography. + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A Singular Planet. + +On Zik decisive battles between nations are not fought by armies +on land or navies on the sea, but by flying war ships called +Flying Devils sailing in the air. A battle witnessed. +Illustration. A practical way of settling the strife between +capital and labor. The art of maintaining youthful vigor in old +ago. + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +The Diamond World. + +On the brightest planets of the universe diamonds are as plenty as +soil is on our Earth, but soil is as scarce and valuable as +diamonds are in our world. The heart-rending oppression of the +"Soil Trust" in the Diamond World portrayed. Illustration. The +insatiable greed of "Trusts" follows the poor people into their +sepulchers. + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Triumphant Feat of Orion. + +Description of a tunnel through the center of Holen, a globe 500 +miles in diameter. Illustration of passenger car used. Its +operation explained. + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +The Mute World. + +Muteites have no audible language. They converse by pure thought +transmission, and no one can conceal evil thoughts. When a Muteite +criminal is brought before a Court of Justice the doors of his +soul are unlocked so that all past thought-images, photographed on +the sensitive living plates of his mind, are thrown open to view. +No hypocrisy, no conventional lying. + + +CHAPTER XX. + +Brief. + +The world of Brief sustains the shortest lived human beings of our +universe. What we in our world crowd into seventy or eighty years +of life the Briefites crowd into the narrow compass of about four +years of our time. Journalism, footwear, raiment, transportation, +public highways, business, religious life, etc., portrayed under +such mad-rush environments. + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +The Life on Wings. + +The inhabitants of Swift are charmingly beautiful, and many of +them can be seen gracefully moving on wings through the air. A +charming conversation with Plume, the most beautiful woman in the +universe. Illustration. + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Heaven. + +Its greatness, permanency, inhabitants, degrees, seven typos of +intelligences, unity, employments, transportation, sexual +affinities, structural aspects, etc., uniquely portrayed. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Any person having a reasonable education will admit that there are many +planetary worlds besides the one on which we live. But whether or not +they are inhabited is an open question with most people. We had been in +doubt on this point for many years, but now we are settled in our +conviction that human life exists in many different worlds of space. We +can give no proof of this except that we have just returned from the +greatest journey we ever took. We went from world to world over long +distances of space as easily as one could go from place to place on the +surface of our earth. _This was a journey of the soul_, for surely flesh +and bone could not have traveled such amazing distances. At times we +were lost to this world, being entirely absorbed in the glimpses of +other worlds that were flashing upon our view in happy succession. + +It can been seen without saying that this book contains no more than a +fragment of the things we saw and heard--the fragment that is most +easily understood by human creatures born under the rules and +regulations of this little dark world of ours. + +There are, in certain other worlds, such wide extremes of bodily +formation and mental capacities, that a picture of them in word or art +would only be unbearable and in some instances decidedly revolting, just +because we are trained here to one set of standards and chained to one +surface of world conditions. It will be different in the after-death +life to those who are wise enough to be pure and good in this world. + +To make the book as practical as possible we have given a picture of +some worlds where human life is inferior to ours, and of others where it +is vastly superior,--saying nothing of the millennial life which we +found in far off space. + +Comparisons are made throughout the book between the life, habits, and +customs of other worlds and our own. In picturing the low life of +certain worlds we are led to see what a highly favored and greatly +civilized people we are, and in describing the human achievements of +certain other worlds we are led to see how short a distance we have +traveled in the path of human glory and civilization. + +We have also endeavored to set forth in this humble volume the common +relation of all rational creatures of all worlds to one Infinite +Creator. We do not question the truth of this fact, and those who ask +for proof must wait to find it. + +We hope that this book will be inspiring to every thoughtful mind who +loves to learn more and more of the great system of intelligent life of +which the human creatures of this world form one link in the chain. If +the reading of this volume should open to your mind numberless +suggestions and compel you to ask a host of questions, perhaps you will +do as we have done,--spend a long time in training your wings to be +swift enough to take the journey yourself. If you will not do this, you +must patiently wait until the clods of clay are shaken off, so that your +free spirit may go out to live the life more vast in other worlds. + +We pray that the highest kind of good may result from the truths here +advanced. If this shall be accomplished, we shall have our best reward +for having given this book to the printing press. + +Truly yours, + +THE AUTHOR. + +December, 1904. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +It may seem like great exaggeration to say that this is one of the most +interesting and profitable books that has been placed upon the American +book market for many years. _It follows no old rut; it has found a new +path_, and the reader is permitted to walk in regions which he never saw +and of which he never read before. It is indeed a triumph of literary +genius to give a picture of intelligent life in other worlds upon a +scientific and philosophical basis. Other writers have attempted to give +a description of conditions on the Moon, Mars, or some other single +planet, but no one has succeeded in picturing the mysteries of life in a +number of star worlds with such a fascination as is here found. + +Some one may say that the book is only a work of imagination, but we +challenge any one to produce a book that gives more timely thrusts at +the evils of our present day life. By showing how the people of other +worlds have fallen into their sad conditions the author sounds a note of +warning to the people of this world, and by giving a glimpse of the +manner in which other worlds have reached their great triumphs, he gives +to the people of our world a spur to loftier ideals, to greater +inventions, and to a purer life. + +The publisher of this volume is proud to put upon the market a book of +such high value and dignity. It is quite unusual for the subscription +book market to see such a princely book come into its midst. Here we +have ten dollars worth of _new ideas_, packed into cream form, all for +one dollar, and we positively assert that nothing like it can be found +anywhere in literature. _Great books have no companions._ + +The illustrations are from the masterly hands of an artist of special +merit for this class of work. He happily places himself into the midst +of other worlds in order to draw the beautiful pictures that illustrate +and adorn this volume. The illustrations are well worth careful +examination and when studied in connection with the reading matter they +are seen in their greatest beauty and value. _The Publishers_ + +[Illustration: Looking Towards a Thousand Worlds.] + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +Are There More Worlds Than One? + + +Our world is large enough to excite our interest and invite our study +until we close our eyes in death. Yet there are countless other orbs +scattered through the solar system and throughout the vast stretches of +the starry heavens. Some of these worlds are smaller than ours, but the +majority of them are hundreds or thousands of times larger. + +Looking away from our solar system, we find that each star is a sun, in +most instances the center of a group of worlds. So, for the lack of a +better phrase, we shall say that there are millions of solar systems +distributed through limitless space, each one serving its part in the +great universal plan. + +For what purpose are all these immense worlds shining and swinging in +the depths of immensity? Could it be possible that they are nothing more +than vast pieces of dead machinery, barren of all vegetable growth and +intelligent life, whereon desolation and solitude forever prevail? + +Our own Earth is inhabited by a large variety of living forms ranging +from the microscopic bacteria and animalcula to the glorious form of man +with all his superior endowments. The air, earth and water are teeming +with their billions of sensitive creatures; even a breath of air, a drop +of water, or a leaf on a tree often contains a miniature world of living +forms. + +Amidst all this confusing animation around us, is it not absurd to +suppose that other worlds, larger or smaller than our own, are barren of +all life, and that from them no songs of thanksgiving ever arise to the +Maker and Ruler of all things? + +Such a supposition not only gives us a strange view of the character and +attributes of God, but is at once repulsive to our instincts; anyone +wishing to accept it may do so, but as for me and for a large company of +my kind, we prefer to give a larger meaning to creation and a higher +glory to the Creator. + +Let no one doubt that the universe is full of intelligent life, in +myriad types of existence and infinite stages of development. Physically +speaking, one cannot imagine the countless variety of ways in which +flesh and bone may congregate around the human brain to make a sentient +and intelligent creature. + +Confined as we are to our little dark world, we know by sight of only +one way in which the brain conveys its messages and serves its ends, +namely, through a body of one hundred pounds or more of flesh and bone, +formed erect, and capable of rendering service upon a moment's notice. +Therefore some of us are conceited enough to believe that we are the +most perfect and beautiful beings of the universe, the highest +expression of creative art, and that all other creatures in a million +orbs take a secondary place. + +True enough, we occupy an honored position in the scale of creation, but +while the people of many worlds are beneath us, yet there are many more +planets whereon human genius has surpassed us, and we must be modest +enough to take our rightful place in the drama of the worlds. + +"How many planets, how many suns, how many milky ways are there?" you +ask in one breath. Speaking alone of our own universe, of which the +Milky Way is the backbone, I estimate that if we multiply the number of +stars by forty-nine, we shall have the approximate number of worlds that +are large enough to be classed with the family of inhabited planets. + +In our immediate universe there are at least one hundred million stars, +a number of which have over five hundred worlds revolving around them; +others have only six or ten. The average, as above stated, is estimated +at forty-nine. Then, also, far out in the depths of space, there are +nebulous spots visible only through the most searching lenses. These are +new systems of milky ways or new universes, so immensely distant that +our most powerful telescopes cannot even resolve them into stars. + +There are inhabited worlds so far from us that, if one could travel the +distance around our Earth in one second, he could proceed in one +direction, at this rate of speed, for twenty million years and yet see +far ahead of him the flickering lights of numberless other inviting +suns and worlds. + +We cannot possibly grasp an idea of such infinite distances, neither can +we form any adequate conception of the long, long stretches between star +and star, which is the same as saying, between solar system and solar +system. In our Milky Way the stars seem to be crushed together into a +whitish jelly, but the awful truth looms up before us with all sublimity +that, although these stars seem to lie one upon another, they are +millions and trillions of miles apart. + +In regard to our own solar system much speculation is rife as to the +existence of human creatures on the several larger planets. Theories of +all kinds have been advanced; some speculative or absurd, others so +plausible as to give rise to interesting questions, such as +communicating with Mars, and perhaps of taking a journey to the Moon. +These suggestions, while fanciful, awaken our interest and excite our +curiosity. Can any one predict the excitement that would prevail in our +world if a human creature from some other planet were suddenly to set +foot upon our soil? We would fling a thousand questions at him to learn +something of the strange realm from which he came. + +And how great would be our amazement if we were to have the exalted +privilege of journeying to other worlds, seeing the types of human +creatures living there, and witnessing a thousand other things too +strange and wonderful to mention? + +I invite you to listen as I tell a condensed story of a number of worlds +which I have visited, all within the boundary line of our own universe. +I cannot even tell a tithe of what I saw and heard, but must content +myself with giving a passing view of a thousand worlds, some of which +are situated in a very distant corner of our universe. + +Well you may ask: "How could you travel from world to world and see the +various forms of human life, and then remain alive to tell a part of the +marvelous tale?" + +If it is a mystery to you, it is also a mystery to me. I cannot describe +the pinions that carried me, nor tell whence came the strength that +moved my wings, any more than I can explain by what process I was +preserved alive in worlds of fire, in worlds of ice, and in worlds +without air. But the sight of all these things was as real to me as the +dreams of the night, and it must be admitted that dreams are often as +realistic as the acts of our wakeful moments. + +For many years I looked outward toward the starry firmament, and at +times a deep yearning possessed me to speed away to converse with the +inhabitants of other spheres. + +This hope I cherished so strongly that my thoughts completely +overpowered me, and ere I knew it I was living at the mercy of +indescribable emotions. All this continued during many revolutions of +the Earth on its axis. I felt as Columbus must have felt when he was +moving over strange waters. Then occurred the most notable event of my +life. In the twinkling of an eye I was caught away from the Earth and, +without any effort of my own, I was darting through space faster than a +sunbeam. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A Visit to the Moon. + + +I was not prepared for the quick transit to our satellite, nor for the +views thrust upon me so suddenly. Before I could well collect my +thoughts I found myself in the immediate vicinity of the Moon and, +strange as it may seem, I was conscious of my surroundings and knew that +I had power to transport myself instantly to any place I might wish to +go. + +To see the Moon face to face gives a charming satisfaction which can +never be realized two hundred and forty thousand miles away. I was +conscious of my privilege and was determined to take all possible +advantage of it. + +Now how differently everything appeared from the views I had snatched +through the telescope while yet on the Earth. I could not see the "Man +in the Moon," whose grinning face had so often looked down upon me, but +from my first point of observation everything looked as if life had +never existed there and, consequently, I was about to conclude that no +human beings inhabit the Moon. This theory soon vanished, for after I +had traveled over a hundred miles I came to a thriving center of +population, the largest city on the sphere, inhabited by more than sixty +thousand rational beings. + +These creatures resemble us most strongly in their mental capacities, +though their bodies are out of harmony with ours, having three eyes and +no nose. The third eye is situated in the center of the forehead, and +the other two more toward the sides of the head. + +Life is not sustained by breathing a gaseous air as we do, so that the +sense of smell is performed by the protruded upper lip. At the voluntary +effort to catch scent the upper lip noticeably rolls upward into a +partial scroll. + +I was anxious to learn how the life of these Moonites is sustained +without breathing and, to my astonishment, I learned that they eat solid +air at intervals of about six hours. This is not taken in connection +with the regular food, but is eaten alone and carried into a separate +stomach wherein it is disintegrated by the chemical action of the +stomachic acids. The gases thus formed serve the same purpose as the air +we breathe into our lungs. + +According to the conjectures of some earthly astronomers I was expecting +to see a race of immense giants. On the contrary, I found that these +Moonites grow to only about one-fourth our height, but possess fully +three-fourths as much circumference of body. Notwithstanding that they +are so short and rotund, they are healthy and exceedingly quick in all +their bodily movements. + +No doubt I shall be chided for saying that these Moon-inhabitants are a +handsome people, but I was enabled to judge them by a universal standard +of beauty, and I looked upon them as a product of the same infinite +Creator who fashioned our mortal bodies with such marvelous adaptation +of means to end. + +One thing is sure, were a person from the Moon to set foot upon our +planet, he would estimate us to be as far out of harmony with his +standards of beauty as we should consider him to be out of harmony with +ours. + +As might be expected, these people are very peculiar in their habits. +There is a small percentage of the population who are bright stars +intellectually, while others are extremely indolent. When a person wins +a record for laziness, it is said of him: "He is too lazy to eat his +air." + +The large city to which I had come was indeed a novel sight. Its +buildings average in height one-third of ours, although they occupy +nearly as much ground space. They are composed almost totally of +non-combustible materials. + +The window panes are not made of a brittle substance like glass, but +resemble mica, except that they are more tough and durable. These +Moonites are wiser than we in roofing their houses. They have discovered +a mineral composition which in its plastic state is daubed over the +roof. This, upon hardening, is proof against all conditions of weather +and never needs replacing. + +There are many striking features in their architecture. In general, it +may be said that they are quite far advanced in constructive ability. +Some of their larger buildings look like soldiers' forts, others +resemble immense bee hives, while still others appear like odd-shaped +synagogues. + +We are their superiors in almost every line, especially in our knowledge +and use of electricity and photography, and also in our manufacturing +and scientific skill. However, they have decidedly surpassed us in +imitative and creative art. + +Their paintings express so accurately the emotions of the heart that I +found myself in tears as I saw their masterpieces. For a time I forgot +that I was on the Moon, so lost was I in elevated reflections all +suggested by their art creations. How I wished that I could have taken +some of these specimens with me! + +From the Moon our Earth looks like a large wagon-wheel hanging in the +heavens. It is amusing to learn of the various opinions and +superstitions that are held regarding this wagon-wheel world. Some of +the Moonites declare that it is a huge lantern, hung solely for their +benefit, and scoff at the idea that it might be a world inhabited by +civilized beings. More intelligent Moonites venture the theory that +human life could exist on the great wagon-wheel, but declare that this +is quite improbable, as the whole planet is enveloped by some thick, +smoky substance in which they believe it would be impossible for human +life to exist. Some look upon the Earth as the mother of the Moon, and +regard the Sun as the father. This sex idea runs through most of their +heathen religion, and there are more who worship the Earth and the Sun +than there are who worship the God who created these heavenly bodies. + +I prolonged my investigations without becoming visible, taking note of +numberless facts of interest which will ever be a source of pleasure and +value to me. At length, however, I concluded to take advantage of a +privilege and power I possessed and, becoming visible, I entered a quiet +room in the presence of a very distinguished man. He was by far the most +highly educated person on the Moon. + +I was more surprised than he, for I expected that he would be greatly +agitated at my unaccountable appearance. Imagine my surprise when he sat +motionless, gazing firmly into my face which to him was out of harmony +with all ideas of correct form. + +I was the first to speak, and although he had manifested outwardly such +self possession, I soon learned that it was a mere show of stoicism in +the presence of one whom he thought to be a spirit. In an incredibly +short time we were on easy speaking terms and I was gaining the object +of my visit. + +Among the many things of interest that I learned from this famous +character were facts concerning the history of the Moon. According to +the information he gave me, I figured that human life had existed on the +Moon thousands of years before its appearance on the Earth. +Scientifically I could not account for this on any other ground than +that the Moon, being a much smaller orb, cooled off sufficiently to +sustain life on its surface long before any form of life could exist on +our Earth. + +The Moonities of the old era were a prosperous and progressive people, +far outshining their successors who now occupy the sphere. After making +history for several thousand years, the human race had grown to one +hundred million in numbers, and civilization had reached a surprising +degree of perfection. + +In those long-ago ages the Moon was a much more fertile garden than now. +Luxury and refinement were enjoyed by the favored sons of that period, +and no one dreamed of the horrible fate that was to sweep practically +the whole race into the regions of death. My intelligent informer used +excessive language in trying to picture the unequaled catastrophe that +put an end to the old era. + +My interest was unbounded, and with awed breath I continued listening as +he described the cause of this great and terrible cataclysm. + +"It all occurred about five thousand years ago," he said. "The Moon was +shaken by subterraneous rumblings, followed by fiery ejections, covering +a period of nearly one and one-half wagon-wheel revolutions. Whole +cities were ruined, fertile valleys covered and human life was almost +annihilated." + +I knew what my informant meant by "one and one-half wagon-wheel +revolutions." This would be a period of about forty days and nights of +earthly time. Do you wonder that my mind flew back to the forty days and +nights of rain that destroyed, at one time, on our Earth, the whole +human family, except the few who were saved in the ark? + +"What are the evidences of this horrible world-ending?" I asked. + +"They are on every hand. Have you not yet seen the vast craters, the +mountains of barren cinder, the stumps of immense pillars, partly +excavated? All this, and very much more, silently unfolds a tale of +horror that can be faintly pictured only by the imagination. Think of a +holocaust so terrible that one hundred million human creatures are +thereby swept into death in the narrow compass of forty days! The +records that have been brought down to us by the few survivors indicate +the continual wails of horror rending the sky while the volcanic +disturbances continued. Thousands and millions ran from place to place +to find shelter from the storm of fire. At one place the surface would +open and at another the lava would run. Fate, with a merciless hand, +was dragging each one into one or another of the inevitable pits." + +"How many were saved?" I asked with deepening interest. + +"Parts of only eight families aggregating nineteen human beings." + +"And how many people are on the Moon now?" + +"Almost forty million." + +"How do you account for this slow growth?" I asked after I had explained +that on our globe a much larger number of inhabitants sprang from a +smaller number than nineteen in a shorter period of time. + +This allusion cost me much explanation, and, after I had selfishly +brushed his rising questions aside, I learned that large companies of +the Moonites had been swept into death by frequent volcanic outbursts +all along the line of the centuries. + +No one can estimate my interest as I continued the conversation. But +finally I decided to stroll through certain parts of the city and, +thinking it advisable to give no notice of my departure, I suddenly +vanished from his sight. However, before leaving the room, I observed +that my bewildered auditor conjectured for a long time and reached his +former conclusion that he had been in touch with an apparition. + +Again I resumed my visible form and walked along one of the principal +streets of the city. What novel sights greeted my eyes on every side! +One cannot well imagine what excitement I aroused. Citizens who first +saw me lifted their flabby arms in terror and ran to the city Bizen, a +place where every inhabitant, under oath, is obliged to carry special +news before communicating it elsewhere. + +[Illustration: Visiting a City on the Moon.] + +In a very short time the city Plins, or in our language, city +authorities, were coming toward me in their costly vehicles. They were +preceded, however, by what we would call a body guard. Imagine their +surprise to hear me shout at the top of my voice, which sounded to them +as thunder would to us: "You need not fear, I will do you no harm!" + +My voice had a magical effect on the assembling host of pigmies. They +looked at me with as much curiosity as I looked at them. I stepped over +their heads but was careful not to trample on the children who scampered +at my approach. If one could ship a car load of these children to the +Earth, they would make excellent dolls, for they range in size from only +six to ten inches. Finally, I sat on the roof of one of their lower +buildings to watch the gathering of the multitudes and study their +curious countenances. + +Some of the more educated, seeing that I was peacefully inclined, +ventured close to my knees and then looked the more intently into my +face, all of which was agreeable, as it enabled me to get a still closer +view of their faces. + +I saw that the whole city was turning out, and I wondered how the alarm +could have been given so speedily. Upon inquiry, a fine artist at my +side tremblingly explained that the Bizen wires had been touched for +block six. This meant that every house in the city had received notice +of an unusual occurrence in that section. I resolved to learn more of +this system and how it was operated without the aid of electricity. + +Now I was besieged by a pressing host. At once I commenced to speak in +Moon dialect. I told them whence I came, pointing to the large +wagon-wheel that hung in their heavens. After a short discourse, I +invited questions. + +One of their leaders stepped nearer to me and acted as the spokesman of +the crowd. His language and voice were of excellent quality and although +visibly agitated, he bore himself with commendable dignity. Let me here +translate our conversation into English. + +"How came you here?" asked he. + +"That I cannot explain." + +"Did you walk or run?" + +"I did neither." + +Surrendering this line of inquiry, he went on to ask the following +questions: + +"Are there more creatures than you where you came from?" + +"Large cities full of them." + +"Are they smaller than you?" + +"Their average height equals mine." + +"It must be a ponderous world of immense giants beyond the +comprehension of any inhabitant of our whole globe." + +"But just as I appear large to you, you appear unnaturally small to me," +I calmly added. + +"How came that lump in the middle of your face?" + +I knew the questioner referred to my nose. I took a good wholesome +laugh, and the large concourse of people watched my wrinkling face with +strange delight. The Moonites express all their emotions by exclamations +and almost infinite variations of the lower lip in conjunction with +their three eyes. + +I told the spokesman that the lump on my face was called "nose," using +our pronunciation, and that it grew there by nature and not by accident. +I also informed him that each person in our world had such a nose, at +which much merriment ensued. Lips twitched and quivered, as their eyes +blinked and rolled. It seemed to me like a hideous way to laugh, but no +doubt my nose seemed just as hideous to them. + +Then I explained all about our dense atmosphere, the part that air +played in our life, and what a fine convenience the nose is during +eating and speaking. Of course all this was unintelligible to them. + +I then busied myself in ascertaining the secret of their signal system. +I learned, much to my surprise, that with scarcely any knowledge of +electricity the Moonites had long ago discovered a means of +communication which is somewhat similar to our wireless telegraphy. From +central stations messages are transmitted to sensitive metal rods set up +on each house-top, somewhat like the lightning rods that decorate +house-tops on my own Earth. I also learned that a very thin atmosphere +is prevalent on the Moon, and that this rare medium is more suited to +their wireless telegraphy than our heavier atmosphere would be with its +different composition. + +I soon learned that great excitement was prevailing throughout the +adjacent villages. Wireless telegraphy carried the news, and from all +directions throngs were pressing toward the city. Furthermore I saw that +the noted personage with whom I had spent a quiet season was now making +his way toward me. Not wishing to hold further conversation with him, +and desiring to escape the ever-rising tide of curious questioners, I +once more became invisible and proceeded to study the physical phenomena +of the Moon. + +I now saw that everything bore evidence to the fearful havoc of volcanic +eruptions that had laid waste so large a portion of the Moon's surface. +The people live in the remaining fertile belts and patches of land which +are fortunately scattered in rich profusion over the greater portion of +the surface, reminding one of productive oases in the deserts of our +world. + +Here and there, in stately museums, are stored the relics of the old +glorious civilization. At a few of these places I tarried to study the +achievements of a people who flourished five thousand years ago, at a +time when the civilization of our world was yet young. What an interest +lay wrapped up in the time-worn relics! Naturally I thought of Pompeii +as I was viewing the antique treasures that had been brought to light +from their old graves of ashes, cinder and lava. In some of these +specimens I saw glimpses of inventions that have never been reproduced +on the Moon and never known on our Earth. + +Onward I moved to take my last views of the Moon. For ragged and jagged +cliffs of almost total barrenness, and yawning chasms lined with +intolerable precipices, the Moon outrivals the Earth. I took a passing +glimpse of the famous crater-mountains, called by our astronomers +Copernicus and Theophilus, the former situated in the eastern and the +latter in the western hemisphere of the Moon. The largest openings of +our Earth dwindle into insignificance compared with such stupendous +marvels of natural scenery. + +Many similar places I visited, but I spent my last hours on the Moon in +the presence of that gigantic chasm called Newton, where I was thrilled +with feelings of sublimity as never before. Outstretched lay the immense +opening, nearly one hundred and fifty miles long and about seventy miles +broad. It was fearful to gaze into it, for my eye stretched downward +mile after mile until it reached the blackness of darkness. It +frequently happens that a Moonite accidentally falls into this monster +Newtonian chasm. Nothing more is ever seen or heard of him. + +I shuddered as I peered into this gigantic opening whose gaping mouth +could swallow Pike's Peak so that its highest point would be many +thousands of feet below the surface. We have nothing on our Earth that +can compare with this terribly imposing sight, and as I was studying the +expansive waste I could more readily understand how large numbers of +human beings could be destroyed by such fabulous quantities of boiling +lava as were capable of being thrown from this pit. There is no doubt +that the lava and ashes hurled from this crater alone would send a +withering blast of death-dealing for many hundreds of miles around. + +If you have never been privileged to look upon this ponderous chasm face +to face, improve your first opportunity to get a glimpse of it through +as powerful a telescope as possible. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A Visit to Mars. + + +I need not describe the manner of my flight. It is enough to say that, +to my delight, I reached our neighbor planet called Mars, and at once +proceeded to study its physical features and its human life. + +Everything was vastly different from what I had been long accustomed to +see and to imagine, and I felt quite assured that I was living in a +dream. But I knew of no way to convince myself as to my bearings, so I +concluded to make the best use of my time and opportunities, and leave +questionings to the future. + +As a physical world Mars bears a most striking resemblance to our Earth. +The length of its year is six hundred and eighty-seven of our days, and +the length of its day is twenty-four hours and thirty-seven minutes. Its +diameter is about one-half that of the Earth and its distance from the +Sun is 142,000,000 miles. Even from our own world we can discern +through a good telescope the changing colors of the planet, due to the +recurring seasons, each one of which is almost twice the length of ours. + +There is relatively much less water on Mars than is found on our Earth, +and gravity on its surface is only thirty-eight per cent. of terrestrial +gravity. Imagine, then, how light everything must be. This may account +somewhat for the physical proportions of its inhabitants, for they are +over twice our size, and in appearance resemble us but little. They have +four arms, two extra ones extending from a point just above the knees. +The two lower arms act as servants to the two higher. Thus are the four +used at one time in harmony. + +Mars is an older world than ours, and although it receives only one-half +as much heat from the sun yet it is almost of the same temperature, +owing to a peculiar condition of the atmosphere which we would call +"heat retentivity." + +Some scientists and philosophers will at once say that such atmospheric +conditions are contrary to reason and natural law, but they must be +informed that on Mars there are chemical elements and affinities not +known in our world. It requires but little change in the elementary +construction of the atmosphere to render it capable of strong +heat-retaining properties. + +Standing on the surface of this planet, my attention was easily +attracted by the two frisky moons called Deimos and Phobos, at the small +distance of 14,600 and 12,500 miles respectively. These two moons are +constantly flying around the planet, one in about thirty hours and the +other in seven and one-half hours. + +The astronomers of Mars have discovered unmistakable signs of human life +on the farthest of these two moons. They are hoping to be able some day +to cover the intervening distance and for the first time see their old +neighbors face to face. + +Before I had traveled over one-half the surface of this planet I was +thoroughly convinced that it was a rough, jagged world without lofty +mountain ranges or peaks. The many long and narrow fertile valleys, much +resembling the canons of our own Earth, absorbed my mind with more than +passing interest. Looking carefully into one of these canon depressions, +I saw a class of human beings in a low state of civilization; +nevertheless, they were expert in agriculture and seemed to labor +contentedly with a dull, plodding vigor beyond all reason. + +According to appearances there seemed to be no social relation or +connection between the inhabitants of one valley and those of another. +At first I was greatly puzzled at these peculiar conditions. + +Next I gave my attention to the highlands or wide barren ridges between +the valleys. On these elevations I saw a highly civilized race of people +living in great splendor. They enjoyed the privilege of traveling from +one highland to another and of exchanging courtesies. Their interests +were common, and their joys and sorrows were mutual. + +At once I became interested in these extremes of life as exhibited in +the valleys and on the highlands, and resolved that I would find the +cause for these differences. + +The authentic history of these Marsmen runs back through thousands of +years. I learned with interest the wonderful past life on this world. + +There was once a time when people all mingled together and cultivated +the valleys. Each one by doing his part made it lighter for all. But +after many years a few schemers combined and by their inventive genius +succeeded in erecting vast sliding curtains over the valleys. These +curtains were supported from the tops of the ridges on each side and, by +their manipulation, the operators could keep the sunlight from any +particular part of the valley. + +Then these shrewd Marsmen exacted tribute from the valley-toilers, +saying to them: "Give us a fifth part of your products, and we will give +you sunlight." + +So the toilers gave them tribute willingly, knowing that they could not +live without sunlight. Then it came to pass that these toilers were +burdened by reason of their taxes and they prayed to the rich that they +might have sunlight at a lower price, but the rich replied: + +"We cannot give you sunlight for less because it costs us much to keep +in repair our immense curtain systems across the valley." So the poor +toilers labored more and slept less, while the few rich on the +elevations built unto themselves more spacious homes and lived in +greater luxury all their days. + +In process of time some of the shrewdest highlanders devised an +attachment to the curtain system by which the rainfall could also be +distributed at the will of the operators. Then the rich Marsmen on the +elevations said to the toilers: "Give us one-fifth more of your +products, and we will give you your share of the rainfall." + +The poor laborers had no alternative; so they labored still more +diligently to pay their taxes for light and rain, and the burden became +so heavy that they could no longer bear it. So they sent up a petition +praying for sunlight and rain for a one-fifth instead of a two-fifths +tribute. The rich refused to listen to this prayer, whereat the toilers +refused to comply with these intolerable demands. + +Then did the rich magnates of the elevations draw their curtains to +keep both sunshine and rain from the valley. The laborers consumed all +they had until, in desperation, they asked again for sunlight and rain, +but the rich refused to give either unless the toilers would promise to +give a two-fifths tribute; to do this the toilers at length agreed. Then +the curtains were withdrawn, the sunlight once more kissed the valley, +the rain again fell upon the fields, and some of the poor, ignorant +people devoutly thanked their God for these gifts. + +[Illustration: Monopolizing Light and Rain on Mars.] + +It occurred later that one of the many toilers, whom his Creator had +endowed with unusual wisdom, became the leader of the masses in +struggling for their rights. He traveled the whole length of the valley +and advocated that the people should unite, march to the summit of the +hill, destroy the fastenings that held these curtains and, as the +coverings would fall, destroy them with fire. This leader declared that +they were entitled to sunlight and rain without paying tribute to man. +Gradually the workers were won to his views. The rich, seeing that their +investments were threatened, hired a few brilliant orators and sent +them to the people to persuade them not to give heed to a man of one +idea. These orators argued that it would be a great crime to destroy the +property of others, and that their only way of securing happiness was to +toil on with patience and keep looking for brighter days. The people +listened to the specious sophistries and thus pushed aside their +redeemer, putting off forever the day of their deliverance. + +Similar troubles continued to arise in the valley, but the rich always +succeeded in quieting the people before they rose to determined action. + +Then the rich decided to put an end to these agitations among the +toilers. Accordingly they cut off all communication from valley to +valley, either by epistle or person, and refused longer to permit any +poor toiler, or his children, to pursue any study whatever. By this +method, in the course of a few hundred years, the valley dwellers lapsed +into ignorant slaves, not knowing, except by tradition, that there were +other people in other parts of Mars. Thus the rich continued to +flourish on all the highlands, for they had extended this same policy +until the toilers of the whole planet were practically galley slaves, +each consigned to his own narrow canon. + +After witnessing the wide extent of this slavery system, I appeared in +visible form to a rich dignitary on one of the most refined highlands. + +He was alone and, upon raising his eyes and seeing me before him, he was +greatly amazed. To see a little man with a hairy face and with the kind +of clothing I wore, was all too odd for him to take in at once. He acted +as if I were some unheard-of animal, but when I addressed him in his own +tongue and manifested a becomingly meek disposition, he accepted me as a +deformed creature afflicted with a mild form of lunacy. Then he +proceeded to examine my clothing and especially my knees, trying to +solve by what freak of nature I was cursed since I had no lower arms +such as he had. My small face, smooth forehead, and the short straight +hair on my head aroused in him no little wonder and merriment, so that, +all in all, I was the oddest freak he had ever seen. He soon showed by +his manner how thankful he was that gracious nature had formed him so +much more kindly than me. + +His questions soon poured out upon me and I answered as briefly and +intelligently as I could. He pressed me so hard as to the place of my +birth that I finally informed him that I came from another world, +whereat he was assured of my insanity and proceeded to fasten me by +force until he might summon certain of his friends. Knowing that all the +people of Mars could do me no ultimate harm and wishing to see what +might be their intentions, I offered very feeble resistance to his +course. + +In a very short time there was grouped around me a curious set of +people, all of whom seemed to me so horribly ugly that I felt well +satisfied that I had been born on the Earth. Among the company were some +eminent scholars who did no more than peer at one another and walk about +me, while they were waiting for some learned professors to arrive from a +distance. A long, tedious period ensued ere the company of judges or +examiners were gathered from several adjoining highlands. + +They took me into a large room where followed an indescribable +examination during which I purposely remained silent. + +The button and button holes of my clothing attracted as much attention +as my unnaturally shaped head. My collar and necktie were conundrums. +Not one of the learned scholars was able to advance a theory as to the +probable use of such a stiff piece under my head. I could not conceal my +smiles as I heard the flying theories as to the use of my cuffs. One +specialist decided that inasmuch as I had only two arms, I wore these to +make them appear larger. This was accepted as the most plausible +explanation. + +Several times they urged me to speak. The man to whom I had first +appeared had told them that I was expert in their language. But I would +not utter a word, being anxious to learn all I could by listening to +their conjectures. + +Some of my examiners were sure I belonged to a species of their animal +creation, who, in some unaccountable manner, had received the gift of +intelligence. But this opinion did not gain ground, as no one could +account for the manner of my clothing and especially for my pocket knife +and other accompaniments. No one believed that I came from another +world, and yet no one could see how or where I had originated on Mars. + +Finally one of the company struck upon a popular theory. He argued that +I belonged to a tribe of creatures that had developed far away in one of +their almost unending forests, and that I was the first of my kind that +had ever ventured so far from home. + +"But how did he learn our language?" queried one. + +"Any intelligent creature would by nature alone come to our language," +was the conceited explanation of another. + +Another gave a better theory which was at length accepted. He said that +no doubt I belonged to a company that had emigrated long, long ago from +one of the valleys. + +After all their pains I satisfied their ruling desire by speaking. They +knew not what to say as I gave them a general description of the world +from which I came. + +Purposely I used their most cultured forms of expression. At once I rose +to a high level in their estimation and they gradually accepted my words +as true. With absorbing interest they listened to every syllable and, +when I paused, their questions fell upon me in wild profusion. On my +account the schools were abandoned, all the leading teachers of five +elevations became my astonished auditors, and after every period of +sleep I was confronted by still other classes of specialists, some from +more distant elevations. + +Finally, feigning ignorance, I asked where they obtained their +sustenance, as I had not seen one field in cultivation. They told me the +whole history of the toilers in the valley as already recounted, and how +the curtain magnates received their tributes which were sufficient to +feed all the people of the elevations. + +"What right," I asked, "has any one to form a monopoly on sunlight or +rain which are free bounties from above?" + +"There can be nothing wrong about that," came the positive answer. "Any +man who was wise enough to think of such a splendid system of +valley-covers surely deserves all the benefit that can be secured from +it." + +"How did you succeed in getting the people to submit to such a system?" + +"It all came by force. At first they were unwilling enough, but we +withdrew their education and kept them isolated. With ignorance you can +conquer any people. Now they are our perfect servants, and in a short +time we need not use the curtains any more. A few masters can control +the whole valley. All we need to give them will be enough to eat, and +the remainder of their products we can send to the elevations." + +I was struck with horror at this revolting scheme, and expressed myself +in strong terms. I thought of the conditions of our world and felt +thankful that it had not gone so far that the laboring classes were +galley slaves to the rich; and I breathed my prayer that it might never +be so. + +My investigations on this planet were long extended. The educated +people gave me many new ideas, although they are ignorant of many +advantages which we enjoy. Their means of transportation are miserable +compared with ours, and when I was explaining to the Marsmen our methods +of travel they were surprised beyond measure. However their knowledge of +nature and forms of animal life is far superior to ours. There I solved +some of the complex questions of Biology which had long puzzled my mind +during my stay on the Earth. + +In their religion they worship the Source of Life, and look upon the Sun +as the place to which the spirit goes at death. In brief, the Sun is +their Heaven. They believe that the Sun's heat will be no barrier to the +spirit's complete happiness when liberated from the body. Phonetically +pronounced, they call the Sun Then-ka. + +I was indeed surprised at the simplicity of their devotions to their +unseen God. Even the untutored toilers of the valleys talk to the Source +of Life and are constantly looking forward to the time when their hard +lot will be over that they may enter the Then-ka life. I could not help +but think that their chances of Heaven were better than those of the +highland caste; but I will not judge lest I might err. Who can +understand the universal plans of Jehovah? + +Before I left the Marsmen I informed them that certain enthusiasts of my +world had been signaling to them for some time, and urged them to +improve their astronomical apparatus so that they might be able to +discern these signals and reply to them. + +On account of my thoughtlessness I made an error, for I failed, while I +was yet on Mars, to arrange a code of signals; hence I fear that there +will be considerable experimenting before we can hope to establish +communication with our neighbor world. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A Glimpse of Jupiter. + + +The next world I visited was Jupiter, the greatest orb in the solar +system, almost fourteen hundred times as large as our Earth. I found it +whirling on its axis so rapidly that it makes an entire revolution in +about ten hours of our time. + +This voluminous sphere is in great contrast to both the Moon and Mars. +Its physical constituency resembles a liquid more than a solid, and it +is quite hot but not luminous. It has cooled sufficiently to admit human +forms, although certain parts of the giant planet are void of all life, +owing to the more intense heat in those sections. + +The atmosphere is charged with thick clouds, never at rest and +continually forming into immense scrolls close to the surface of the +planet. + +The human life of Jupiter is found in certain belts where the crust of +the planet has been hardened for several thousand years. The people have +risen from rude, primitive conditions to a state of splendid +civilization. In size they are colossal giants, averaging twenty-five +feet in height. Their two powerful arms extend from what we would call +the hips, and no one would imagine with what facility these giants use +them. After extended observation, I was almost tempted to wonder why our +arms were placed so high on the body. These Jupiterites are more +handsome than the people on the Moon or Mars, and their faces shine with +a superior intelligence. Instead of hair on the head, they have +something unknown to our world, quite similar in appearance to wool. + +Their two eyes blaze like balls of fire, making one of the giants appear +like a fiersome though not repulsive monster. The most unusual feature +about the face is the peculiarity of the chin and forehead. Each is +covered with convolutions of an insensible, rubber-like membrane. + +The people of Jupiter excel in mechanical skill. They build houses, but +not by long, tedious days of painstaking labor. Such things as plaster +and paint are unknown. A Jupiterite can purchase, from one of the +mammoth structural factories, house sides, house ends, house floors or +partitions, after any general design he wishes, and have them trimmed in +any style his fancy suggests. The materials used are non-combustible and +water-proof, and will wear indefinitely. + +These houses can be put together in a few days and the trimmings +adjusted in less than two weeks, unless the structure is very elaborate. +Nearly all of their house furniture is also non-combustible, and no one +has ever conceived the idea of forming a fire insurance company, simply +because there is no need for one. + +As the people are so much larger than we, so are all things relatively +larger than we see them in our world. Wagons and carriages and cars +appear as if they were made for mastodons. + +I saw one of their largest bridges spanning a molten lake. Aside of it +the East River bridge would be a dwarf, either in height or length. It +is certainly thrilling to step into a world where all things are so +gigantic. At times a feeling of insignificance crept over me, but I took +courage when I thought that a man's greatness consists in his mental +powers and not in his physical bulk, for it is true that the fifty +ounces of brain in the skull of a Newton have accomplished more marvels +than the ten pounds of brain-matter found in the most cultured +Jupiterite. + +We must give the people of Jupiter credit for exercising a large amount +of common sense. In many ways they are more practical than we, and this +is quite as noticeable in their language as in any other respect. They +have one simple language for the whole globe and in its use they are all +agreed. Their vocabulary is small because they have not yet branched out +into the infinite varieties of manufacture and invention. + +Their words have a marvelous correspondence with the thought or the +action expressed, the manner of emphasizing syllables going a great +distance toward expressing the shade of emotion desired. + +I admired especially one thing on this bulky planet. They have but one +authority for language. Hence there is no Century, Webster, Worcester or +Standard, each rivaling the others for supremacy, to confuse the honest +student with diverse spellings and pronunciations. + +The words of the language of Jupiter are all embodied in one unique +dictionary which is revised at intervals by a board of official +educators; to this board all suggestions for inserting new words and +changing the classification of old ones must be given for their +consideration. + +This dictionary is printed by the government, and a copy of it is +furnished free to all public places and to each private family. When a +revision is made, a copy of all the changes is furnished to each +dictionary holder. The authority of this dictionary is final, and no one +is permitted to publish a conflicting work. + +The Jupiterites have displayed their highest genius in their +astronomical advancements. They know all about the Solar System, and +have made discoveries inside of Neptune's orbit which our astronomers +have never observed. I was thrilled with delight when I saw their +telescopes with the marvelous lenses that opened the locked doors of the +Milky Way. No wonder the astronomers of Jupiter have a more +comprehensive view of the universe than we have. Their lenses are so +powerful that they have seen the outlines of our rugged mountains, and +have discovered on our world unmistakable signs of human life. During my +visit thither the experts were working on a much larger lens, and it is +claimed that when this is finished human forms can be discerned on the +Earth and can be seen with more accuracy on Mars. + +The five moons that revolve around Jupiter have been studied with marked +interest. Two of these moons have displayed definite signs of human +life. It is promised also that the coming lens will unlock the doors of +the several moons and permit the astronomers of Jupiter to pry into the +secrets of their celestial neighbors. + +During the past one thousand years, the Jupiterites have made +numberless attempts to establish communication between these moons and +their planet, but all their efforts have failed. Either the Moonites are +too stupid, or the Jupiterites are not expert enough in throwing out +signals or in building air ships. + +For no one thing more than another did I envy the astronomers of Jupiter +than for their marvelous magnifying lenses. I knew that if we had such +lenses, or the material to make them, we could watch with ease the +inhabitants of the Moon or of Mars, and we could study the intelligent +life on Mercury and Venus, to say nothing of the great advantages we +should have in observing comets and all the numberless starry systems +scattered throughout illimitable space. + +The religious life of Jupiter proved to be intensely interesting to me. +They have a sacred book which corresponds to our Bible, and it has +always remained in its original form because there is but one language. + +Since I left my own world I had not felt so kindred a touch in spirit as +when I invisibly entered one of their great temples of worship, as we +might call it. No vocal music was there, but the mute beckoning of +several thousand arms, as if to implore the favor of the great Inzoork +or Creator, was impressively eloquent to me. + +I was thrilled with joy as I learned more of their religion. I found +that their love and service were akin to those of our planet, and that +these same bonds unite them one to another. My conceptions were +enlarging as I saw the family of God enlarging, and I felt that although +I was unlike them in the physical, yet I was their brother in spirit, +and that we all have one Father. + +Religious liberty was enjoyed until a few centuries ago when certain +restrictions were formulated. It was seen that some, in exercising their +liberty, proved to be a curse to the state, and consequently a sharp +battle ensued against the liberal element. + +The Church won the conflict and now the profession of atheism is not +allowed. If it can be shown that any sane person takes such a position, +he is given a certain period to recant. If recantation is not +forthcoming, he is placed in the public work-house until he +acknowledges the existence of Deity. Atheists are scarce under this +severe ruling. + +You may well know how I was startled to see such summary action taken in +regard to unbelievers. At first I prided myself that I belonged to a +world of free thought and free speech, but when I saw the magnetic +effect of these Jupiter regulations I was in doubt as to the superiority +of our religious and irreligious liberties. + +The soil of Jupiter yields abundantly. The animals are all large and of +species unknown to us. They have animals that resemble our elephant and +ox; these they use for food. Common birds, as large as geese or turkeys, +flourish in the extensive forests and furnish about one-third of the +food for the giants. + +The vegetation is after the order of our world, except that the curse of +weeds and thistles is only one-fourth as great. But the people of +Jupiter have learned more than we of the use of these weeds, and certain +of them are cultivated to a wide extent. + +I spent a long time on the planet. I saw the fiery lakes that are fed by +subterraneous streams of lava, and the geysers of blue flame darting +their immense tongues high in the air. + +As near as fifty miles to these fiery centers can be seen gardens of +vegetation and fields under cultivation. I yielded at last to a desire +that prompted me to make a personal appearance. So I stopped on a +thoroughfare and occupied a rustic seat at the roadside. I was dressed +in my earthly costume, and sat composedly awaiting developments. + +The first living creature that observed my presence was a passing +quadruped. It was larger than a wild goat, and was a small specimen +after its kind. For want of a better name I will call it a "dog." + +As soon as I was spied by this animal he set up a hideous howl and ran +at full speed. Knowing my own homeliness, I had all charity for the +animal and did not censure him for being so terribly frightened at my +appearance. + +Soon a full grown giant came along. He chanced to be a learned professor +out for an evening walk, as we would say. He seemed to be in deep +meditation and did not notice me until he was near my side. Then he +stood breathless, while a feeling of fear and surprise evidently +possessed him. I sat motionless, looking up into his eyes, and saw the +convolutions on his forehead and chin quivering quite perceptibly. He +evidently judged me to be some undeveloped species of Mon-go-din, an +animal of Jupiter bearing faint resemblance to our man-ape. To my +surprise, he suddenly grasped me and tightly held me fast in his +gigantic arms. I made no effort to free myself. + +His surprise was only intensified at my resignation. He expected a +struggle, but I neither made an outcry nor resisted capture. Like an +infant I lay in his arms, while he passed quick glances all over me. He +was baffled beyond all measure, and hurried away toward the great +college near by. Upon reaching the museum department, I was placed in a +strong cage and the doors were doubly secured. + +My captor ran from my presence and, in a few moments, returned with two +other professors. They peered into the cage in painful astonishment, +while I contented myself by taking my watch apart and occasionally +glancing at my select audience. + +Then commenced the jibbering consultation, all of which I well +understood. My captor related the full circumstances in connection with +his walk in the grove and the manner in which he captured me. He dwelt +particularly on the indifference I manifested in all his dealings with +me. + +"It is a baby Mon-go-din," suggested the one professor, while the other +advanced the theory that I was an abnormal child of some Jupiterite. + +My watch excited their curiosity. One reached his hand cautiously +through the bars and evinced by his actions what he wanted. I looked up +into his eyes and spoke my first words. + +"Patience, please, till I put the watch together, and you shall have +it." + +Not only did his arms fly away from the cage, but his whole body fell +prostrate to the floor, whether from fright or surprise, I knew not. His +two companions were also in a sorry plight. I pretended not to notice +their consternation, and kept myself busy in placing the parts of my +watch together. + +After a while I was addressed by a trembling questioner: "Where is your +home, my child?" I did not lift my eyes, but completed my little +self-appointed task, and at once raised the watch in fulfillment of my +promise. + +The timid professor ventured to accept it and, as he received it from my +hand, he again asked: "Where is your home?" + +"Farther away than the circumference of your world," I distinctly +answered. + +At this time the three agreed that I was an insane child, born out of +time, and that I satisfied my propensities by gathering to myself such +idiotic things as my watch and garments, including my hat and shoes. + +A quiet consultation followed, after which one of the professors retired +from the room and soon returned with certain morsels of food. Upon +handing them to me, I at once remarked: "Keep these morsels for +yourself; I have better food to eat, of which you know nothing." + +The other two professors had by this time observed that my watch was a +marvelous piece of mechanism beyond their most delicate accomplishments, +and they announced the fact to their other companion who again looked at +me in breathless surprise. "Where did you get this Fot-sil?" (or +plaything), he queried in one breath. + +"Farther away than the circumference of your world," was my evasive and, +to them, unsatisfactory reply. + +"Won't you tell us, child, how far away that is?" asked another with +subdued impatience. + +"Millions of miles." (Of course I spoke in terms of their linear +measurements). + +"How many millions?" + +"Sometimes five hundred and sometimes six hundred millions." + +Without giving them a chance for asking me another question I offered to +let them see my home if they would permit me to use the most powerful +telescope in their observatory. + +My listeners were indeed amazed and were about to pour upon me a volley +of interrogations. I assured them that I would answer no more questions +until I knew whether my request would be granted. + +This necessitated a consultation with the chief astronomer who, upon +learning of my peculiar request and of my unnatural formation, hastened +to the museum to see the monstrosity. + +I knew from what I had previously learned that this gentleman was the +greatest living astronomer on Jupiter. He peered at me in the cage and +was dumfounded. He exchanged a few sentences with the professor and +again turned to me: + +"At what time do you want the telescope?" he asked. + +"Immediately." + +"You shall have it, just to satisfy our curiosity," he said as he +hastened from the room. + +I heard the professor caution him strictly to tell no one of my +presence, so as to avoid a rush from the student ranks. + +In less than an hour I stood at the side of the largest telescope in our +Solar System, watching the deepening shadows of night as they fell upon +Jupiter. + +[Illustration: Viewing Our Earth from Jupiter.] + +I spent another hour examining the ponderous machinery that was +required to swing this mammoth instrument and to adjust it when scanning +the heavens. + +By this time my four companions were convinced that I was not an idiot, +and I could see by their strange manner that they were regarding me as a +spirit. + +I gave my directions to the astronomer, and beheld the cylinder, +two-hundred feet in length and twenty feet in diameter, swing around +until it pointed toward a little flickering light that shone like a +distant star. + +I looked into the eye-piece, managed to get the tube pointed accurately, +and then requested the astronomer to focus the lenses so as to bear upon +the planetary light in range. + +He knew at once the planet I had singled out. He called it Zo-ide. After +the focusing was completed, I looked and, behold, I could readily +discern many of the physical features of my own world. + +"That is my homeland," I cried triumphantly. "I live on Zo-ide, or +Earth, as we call it." + +Of course my listeners were incredulous, but I proceeded to explain to +them as I looked through the telescope: + +"That dark ridge to the left is called 'the Rocky and Andes Mountain +Systems'. The shining belt on the central portion is the 'Mississippi +River'. The rough ridge to the right is 'the Allegheny System' of +mountains." Then I indicated the location of our larger cities. As I +pointed to New York, I saw a mere speck moving. I was convinced that it +was one of our large steamships, and as I so explained the astronomer +looked at me with absorbing interest. + +He informed me that he had often seen the moving of the spots, and +thought they were some cloud formations peculiar to our world. But I +insisted on the steamship explanation and proceeded to describe an ocean +liner, for these Jupiterites are not familiar with oceans of cold water +on which float numerous craft. + +I was then a royal guest, and passed a most felicitous night with these +four celebrities. We talked of the more powerful telescope that the +government of Jupiter was manufacturing, and of the still greater views +it promised to reveal. + +Then I informed them of our system of science. They were astonished at +the great civilization extant on Zo-ide, or our Earth. + +I told them that a subtile power lay dormant in the atoms and molecules +of matter, which could be released and utilized, and that we in our +world called it "electricity." + +During the night I learned that the convolutions on the chin and +forehead of a Jupiterite served the purpose of a new sense. By the aid +of these convolutions any person of Jupiter can tell in daylight or +darkness the nature of any surrounding substance, whether it be hard or +soft, combustible or non-combustible, good for food or not. I confess +that I was unable to grasp the idea intelligently. So the people on the +Moon had the same difficulty in understanding the use of my nose. + +Before morning dawned I informed my appreciative quartette that I would +see them no more, that I had paused at Jupiter station long enough, and +that I must be off on my vast excursion trip. + +They earnestly entreated me to remain so that the college students and +representative persons could get a glimpse of me; but I refused all +their entreaties. When they found that I had power to leave them +instantly, they besought me to remain for a few last words. + +"Shall we not see you again?" affectingly asked the astronomer. + +I told them that I expected to spend eternity in the kingdom of our God +who made all the stars and worlds, and holds each in its respective +place. "If you are pure in heart to Him," I continued, "there can be no +doubt but that we shall see one another again in that happy celestial +center where our eyes will be our telescopes, where our pure hearts will +assent to the Fatherhood of God, and where our souls will be quickened +at the universal fountain of Love." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +Beautiful Saturn. + + +A delightfully busy world next met my gaze. Saturn, supreme in love, +with its mysterious rings and its eight moons, now held my attention and +won my admiration. + +This world is almost as large as Jupiter, and its soil is more fertile. +The inhabitants resemble us in physical appearance, except that they are +twice our size. + +Like Jupiter, it is enveloped in thick semi-liquid clouds which are +never at rest. This changing atmosphere causes continual friction of +particles, and this serves to produce sufficient heat to counteract the +frigid blasts that would otherwise freeze out the whole planet. These +atmospheric conditions attracted my attention to a great degree. I +estimated as best I could, and ascertained that Saturn receives as much +heat from this peculiar atmosphere as our Earth receives from the Sun. + +As I found it on Jupiter, so I found it here. The human eye is so +constructed that it seems to have more than an X-ray power, for it can +look through this atmosphere as readily as we can peer through ours. + +The air of Saturn, being so thick, contains much natural nourishment, +and the inhabitants are sustained largely by breathing. This reminded me +of the manner in which our fish flourish in the waters of our globe. + +Marvelous indeed are the possibilities of life. I now had before me new +problems to solve, for natural laws have but a limited expression in our +own world. Here science puts on new garments, but they are all cut in +harmony with universal laws. + +Woman is the ruling genius of this planet. Being untrammeled for a few +thousand years, she has attained a higher glory than her sex has reached +in any world of our Solar System. + +As you scan the honor rolls of Saturn, reading the list of the eminent +leaders in science, art and philosophy, you will readily observe that +woman has forged to the front. She also sits upon the principal thrones +of temporal power. + +Woman's beauty on Saturn is surpassing. It reaches a higher degree of +perfection than any of the myriad types of beauty on this enchanting +world. When I first opened my eyes on these scenes, I imagined that I +had reached Heaven, but, to my chagrin, I soon found the black marks of +sin that stain the whole planet. + +The illustrious inventors of Saturn, living and dead, make a long list, +which is headed by the name of Veorda, a woman of marvelous intellect. +She looked into the mysteries of nature with a shrewd, wizard eye, but, +unfortunately, lost her life early in a bold experiment with explosives. +However, before she reached her much-lamented end, she had won enough +honor to outshine all inventors in the whole history of Saturn. + +She was the sole inventor of all explosives, and she had learned how to +operate them without making any noise or smoke. This proved a valuable +aid to factories and quarries, and particularly in the handling of fire +arms, of which Saturn has a very strange collection. + +Before Veorda was born the flying machine had been invented and used. +But aerial travel was soon abandoned owing to some terrible accidents +that had occurred. During the earlier part of her career Veorda labored +assiduously until she overcame a few difficulties and thereby perfected +the flying machine. + +[Illustration: An Air Ship on Saturn.] + +It was a day of international rejoicing when her perfected machine +sailed over the governments of Saturn. The invention stood every test +and at once air traffic was resumed and maintained. When this woman died +the governments erected to her memory the finest and costliest monument +that now stands on the whole world of Saturn. Of course, I went to see +it. As I stood studying the poetry of the pillars, I looked overhead and +saw one of the immense aerial ships carrying a pleasure party to a +distant point. I cannot describe my feelings as I lingered in the +presence of the sleeping dust and saw the imperishable influence of her +thoughts still working for her, in a carnal sense, "a more exceeding +and eternal weight of glory." + +Yet with all this homage paid to Veorda, I cannot believe that she is +more illustrious than the present living wizard of our world, the +notable Edison. + +Veorda lived and died a devoted worshipper of "The Great Influence," or +God, and it is delightful to think that we shall associate with such +great minds in our eternal abode in that Broader Life where the pure of +all spheres gather. Will I do wrong if I quote that sublime beatitude, +making it applicable to all worlds? "Blessed are the pure in heart, for +they shall see God." + +The written language of Saturn resembles the Chinese character language, +only it is much more smooth and more complete. + +The Shakespeare of that planet is a woman called Ziek-dod who has been +dead twelve hundred years. Her writings have been quoted and esteemed as +masterpieces all through these ages. Her style is singular, resembling +the proverbs of Solomon, with a little more ornament in the language. + +As to the subject matter, her epigrammatic sentences are grouped and +classified with an accuracy that is both pleasing and popular. At +intervals the reader is treated with a sprinkling of alliterative +sentences. + +Ziek-dod shines as an eternal star among the great names of her world. +Like Veorda, she was pure-hearted and possessed fine moral and spiritual +qualities. She passed out into that Broader Life where language is +sweeter and thoughts are more holy. + +In music I noticed the most radical departures. The popular home +instrument is larger than our organ and has nearly one hundred keys +arranged somewhat like the keyboard of a typewriter. + +These keys and their combinations are capable of rendering sounds to +correspond with every syllable found in their words. A proper +familiarity with these sounds is a part of every child's training on +Saturn. + +When one plays on this instrument every sound struck on the keys +represents a certain vowel-consonant sound. Thus the listener hears the +sounds more distinctly than we hear the words of a phonograph. + +Under such conditions a musician is capable of interpreting his exact +feelings when manipulating the keys. He talks to his listeners with +organ sounds. The great poet musicians can breathe out their +inspirations in rapturous melodies. On special occasions famous +musicians are employed to render original selections. Addresses and +lectures are also given in this manner with very pleasing results. + +The Saturnites know nothing of the Telephone, Telegraph, or Phonograph. +But for carrying messages they have a signal system by which +intelligence is flashed from one point to another with great rapidity. + +Saturn has eight moons and is surrounded with the rings which have made +it famous from the time the planet was first seen through the telescope. +These rings and moons are inhabited by a type of human beings altogether +different from those that live on the planet, and are distinctly visible +to the dwellers of Saturn by means of powerful telescopes. + +The human beings on the rings are not able to watch their neighbors in +space, having no instruments to carry their vision beyond the +boundaries of their own peculiar abodes. + +The most picturesque sight of all the Solar System is seen as you stand +on Saturn, and watch the rings and the eight moons chasing one another +in the heavens above you. + +The inhabitants of this beautiful world believe that the soul of each +God-adorer at death passes out into the spirit life on the rings where +it will continue in a blissful existence until the final judgment. + +The religious life of Saturn is officially controlled by men. There are +many creeds, each with its own devoted followers. The leading church of +this world was not organized until seven thousand years after religious +life took a distinctive form. Then a man named Trique, who was a shrewd +student of the times, after a careful study of the weaknesses found in +existing religious bodies, and after amassing enormous wealth in +business, founded a new church on a neat, practical business plan which +may thus be briefly described in terms and figures of our own language. + +Trique had a fortune of two hundred millions which, by investment, +netted him twenty millions annually. These net earnings he used to +establish his new denomination. He commenced operations simultaneously +at the capitol of each of the four governments of Saturn, and at each +place built two magnificent churches, costing one million dollars +apiece. It took over three years of our time to build these eight +churches. Before one year had expired he had started fifty other +churches in the centers of Saturn's population. These churches averaged +in cost three hundred thousand dollars each. Thus the plan continued, +ever starting new structures until all Saturn was decorated with the +churches of Trique, even village edifices costing from ten to +twenty-five thousand dollars. So much for the mere outward part of the +church which anybody might create if he had recourse to such enormous +wealth. + +Before Trique commenced any one of his buildings, he canvassed the whole +community for charter members of his church. These were composed of two +classes, spiritual and connected. This canvassing was done by the +finest scholars that Trique could employ. Each one was supposed to be +the pastor of the community he canvassed. The conditions of the charter +membership were easy to meet. All that was required for connected +membership was a good moral life and a lip confession of the faith. + +On account of the superior advantages offered by the Trique church it +grew steadily from the beginning. I will here append a few +characteristics of the organization: + +1. The church takes care of all its members during sickness, furnishing +a physician and all necessary medicines free of charge. The church owns +drug stores and graduates its own physicians. + +2. The church has its own salaried undertakers, and defrays all funeral +expenses. + +3. The church supplies a moral and spiritual education to all the +children of its members. This school does a work similar to our +Sunday-school, only it is held daily and is under a trained corps of +paid teachers. + +For all these advantages each member is required to give to the church +one-eleventh of his earnings and to attend the services of the church +and co-operate with the pastor in the advancement of all spiritual work. + +The church keeps a perpetual record of the attendance and the work done +by each member. + +It required a man of large business capacity to launch such a church +with its radically new principles. But Trique's immense wealth was a +powerful force when utilized in this manner. He made every church a +strong business center commanding the respect of the whole community. +Discipline was rigidly enforced. No member cared to be expelled from +such a church. It meant a going out from under a warm cover at the +approach of winter. + +Fortunately, Trique was a clean, spiritual man and strongly urged a +spiritual ministry and membership. + +It can be seen why this church grew so rapidly. In fifty years it became +so powerful that it could control, if it wished, the legislation in +nearly all the sections of the planet. + +I have given but a brief picture of this ruling church. It must suffice. +I may add that one must not imagine the church services and forms in +Saturn to be like our worship. All things are so different that it would +take much space and time to describe them. + +For beauty of natural scenery, Saturn surpasses all the Solar System. +Its air is of a different composition from ours, and its sky puts on +various tints as the day passes, which is a little over ten hours of our +time, but it takes nearly thirty of our years to make one on Saturn. + +The immense mountain ranges present a picture of unusual beauty. The +leaves of trees are rich in velvety varieties and the undergrowth +appears as if trimmed by skilled hands. This is a desirable place to +live. But I learned that the inhabitants of Saturn do not appreciate all +this wealth of beauty, in its atmosphere or on its earth, a whit more +than the people of our world appreciate the sin cursed scenery which +greets their eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +The Nearest Fixed Star. + + +All that was required on my part was a mere act of the mind, and I went +where I wished. I visited Uranus and Neptune, after which I stretched my +swift wings for the great flight, away from our Solar System, over +billions of miles of space. I alighted on the burning star nearest to +our Earth. This star is called, by our astronomers, Alpha Centaurus, and +it is said to be 20,000,000,000,000 miles away. This star is much +greater than our Sun and is the center of a system of worlds larger and +more numerous than those that compose our Solar System. + +You cannot imagine my surprise when I reached Alpha Centaurus and found +that it was inhabited by a class of human creatures who were created to +live and flourish in fire. Their customs and habits are so strange that +I am not capable of giving an intelligent description of them. I know +that it is inconceivable to us how life can be developed and sustained +in the midst of a burning sun, and I found that these beings in turn +could not conceive how life can exist in a cold world like ours. + +These creatures have no digestive organs. They live, in part, on the +chemical action produced by fire breathing. The hotter the fire, the +more easily is life sustained. If they were to get away from the heat, +this chemical action would cease and therefore death would be as certain +to them as being enveloped in fire would spell death to us. + +In our eyes, their bodies are misshapen, composed of elements most of +which are not found in our world. There are many cold places, or sun +spots, on Alpha Centaurus, but these are shunned by the people as death +traps. However, the centers of population gather on the more solid +sections, most of which lie around the sun spots. + +You could scarcely believe your eyes were you to look upon the durable +works of architecture built by these strangely shaped mortals. + +Still more wonderful are the seas of boiling fire which are sometimes +comparatively quiet, and then again, in all madness, their majestic +flames shoot upward thousands of miles. + +When the sea is quiet, life is oppressive in the centers of population +just as it is in our world when the air is still and the summer sun is +pouring down upon us. Breathing is easier and life is quickened when the +molten sea boils furiously. These terrible heat blasts are most +exhilarating and refreshing to the inhabitants living near enough to +receive the benefit of them. + +You may imagine that these people of Alpha Centaurus are idlers, being +fed by the ceaseless heat waves that beat upon them. Such a conception +is totally false, for I saw that industry was plainly evident, and labor +had its reward in securing the necessaries and luxuries of life. + +These life-sustaining foods are composed of elements which can be +appropriated into muscle and bone (if you will permit me to use these +terms), and are obtained by reuniting and re-combining spent forces. +This explanation is somewhat mystical, but I can do no better in +describing the food production and assimilation in a pure fire-world +like this one on which I had arrived. + +To imagine and believe that fertility can be possible in a seething +world-furnace, is too far beyond our philosophy to be conceivable. Alpha +Centaurus is so large a sun that although it has a population ten times +greater than our globe, yet its surface is sparsely settled. + +The oceans of fire occupy the greater part of the surface of this +wonderful sphere. In these great red-hot seas live the monsters of the +deep, as well as a motley variety of other species, veritable +salamanders, some grotesquely hideous, others surpassingly beautiful in +form and hue. + +On this sphere man is extraordinarily intelligent. He is almost totally +ignorant of anything akin to astronomy, although some of the greater +scholars have ventured the theory that there might be other worlds +containing human life, providing there be fire enough to sustain them. + +In some other particulars, these star-creatures have made astonishing +progress. They believe that the time is coming when the fires of their +world will be blown out and all life become extinct. This they would +call, in our language, the coming Judgment when every human being that +ever lived will receive his just recompense of reward. + +With interest I studied the manner of government, and the admirable +system of education which is the secret of their progress. + +I made a special effort to ascertain whence this sun receives its +continued supply of fuel. The question had often perplexed my mind when +I gazed toward our Sun from the shores of our world. None of the +theories advanced by our scientists and astronomers fully satisfied my +mind. And now I looked and studied in vain. Although the awful burnings +had been in progress for thousands of years, I could see no fuel that +was added to the flames. Hence I was driven to believe that Alpha +Centaurus was on fire and was gradually being consumed; this must be +true of all the stars that bedeck the canopy of Heaven. + +The inconstancy of this star's surface is the greatest menace to its +inhabitants. At times the solid crusts break in the contracting of the +surface. All this makes terrible havoc, but the new generations take +fresh courage and pluckily restore the fallen habitations. + +One of the luxuries enjoyed by these fire beings at certain times is to +get where the chemical action of heat is at a low ebb. That has a +similar effect upon them as calming our nerves has upon us. + +One of the great inventions consists in an instrument that neutralizes +this chemical action of heat even where it is most intense. It is a +common sight to see creatures basking under one of these instruments in +a somewhat comatose state. The inventor of this instrument is worshiped +almost as a god. + +One of the most startling inventions of all is a machine that +counteracts gravity. This, to my mind, is the greatest invention I had +yet seen, and, strange to say, these fire creatures know nothing about +means of propulsion except by hand power. If you were able to stand on +the seething furnace of Alpha Centaurus, you would see these machines +rise far into the shooting fire and beyond, as far as occupants can go +without freezing to death. Then at a reverse of the lever you would see +the mysterious car descend. + +These star residents have enjoyed this invention so long that they no +longer appreciate its marvels. You ask me if I tried to get the secret. +I saw the whole apparatus and the more I studied it, the more I was +convinced that its storage battery contained heat energy. So I concluded +to solve the mystery. I learned that there was a certain element found +only in combination. When this element is set loose by chemical process, +it will rise at once toward a large planet that revolves around this +sun. This planet draws that particular element with six times more force +than it is held by Alpha Centaurus. The brilliant chemists, when they +first made this discovery, separated enough of this element to carry a +man upward from the sun's surface. Later on they made a counter +discovery of equal value. + +They found a substance that would destroy this attraction if it was +placed between the element and the planet. The discovery enabled a +person to rise as high as he wished and then, by swinging the plate in +position, the aerial carriage would either stand still or descend +according to the wish of the operator. + +What a boon it would be to our world if we had such an element for which +Jupiter or the Sun would have so much fondness! Then with our superior +knowledge of propulsion we could forever settle the perplexing problem +of aerial navigation. + +These exceptional people, living in such terrible fire, wear pieces of +garments made of the finest texture. The hair-like threads are composed +of metallic substances far more enduring than gold or platinum. + +Of all the unthinkable things on this star none are so extreme as the +manner in which these people hold conversation. They have no organs to +produce vocal sounds. + +[Illustration: Fire Life on a Fixed Star.] + +They convey their ideas one to another by a vibration of the +conversation flaps. Either the air waves, or substantial emissions, +excite the sensitive face of the listener so that the thought +intended can be accurately received. + +Having a strong curiosity, I remained and studied this fire life. It +opened to me new channels of thought and illustrated more emphatically +than ever that all things are possible with Him who created the universe +and upholds it by the word of His power. + +Finally, I left this strange abode and proceeded to visit some of the +eighteen worlds that revolve around Alpha Centaurus. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +The Water World Visited. + + +As I lingered in the region of the constellation of Centaurus I was more +and more profoundly impressed with the magnitude and variety of created +worlds. + +Among the eighteen planets that revolve around Alpha Centaurus, only six +are inhabited. One of these is a sinless world, or a world whereon sin +never inaugurated its blighting reign; but I will say nothing of this +orb as I did not have the choice opportunity of visiting it aright. I +saw its beauty only through a glass darkly. + +I then fixed my mind on Polaris, commonly called the North Star. In +journeying thither from Centaurus I passed thousands of Solar Systems +scattered in space all around me. As I was thus darting through +immensity I glanced toward our own Solar System and could see nothing +but a flickering star which was our Sun. Not the faintest sign could I +see of our world or of Jupiter. + +A strange feeling passed over me when I began to realize how far I was +from home. I sped onward until I reached the North Star. It is a burning +sun, but not inhabited. + +Polaris is the center of a magnificent system. If a certain few of its +worlds could be seen through a telescope, they would be picturesque in +the extreme, somewhat resembling our beautiful Saturn. Moons play like +frisky lambs around some of its worlds, and many comets dance through +the length of the whole system in richer confusion than we have ever +beheld in the range of our telescopic vision. + +Counting the worlds of larger size only, there are nearly one hundred +that fly through their orbits around Polaris, some with amazing +velocity. Within the bounds of this solar system I spent considerable +time. + +The third world I visited I will call Stazza. It is two hundred millions +of miles from Polaris and is four hundred and fifty times as large as +our world. + +I was amazed at the new turn of life-manifestation that I found there. +To me it was unusually interesting because its temperature is quite +similar to ours; but the order of life is reversed so completely that +the human beings inhabit the water, and the long narrow strips of earth +are infested with numerous species of land animals. It may seem +incredible that the depths of the ocean should be the seat of +intelligence rivaling our own. + +The human creatures of Stazza average a trifle larger in size than we, +but they travel horizontally in water like a large fish. The limbs +support the body in rest, and in traveling are used like the hind legs +of a frog, only more gracefully. The arms closely resemble ours and have +an infinite variety of uses. In addition, there are four fin-like arms +that fold into the body when at rest, but are spread for service when +traveling. In all it must be admitted that these Stazza people are +capable of traveling more rapidly, and covering longer distances with +much less fatigue than are we. They can also carry greater burdens with +more ease. They wear no garments except one or two small pieces made of +a tough species of sea grass. + +Five-sixths of Stazza are covered with water and its depth at a few +points is very great. Throughout all the water regions there are many +kinds of animal life, more than can be found in our oceans. Thousands of +human lives have been lost in conflict with the fiercer kinds of these +water animals, with which the people of Stazza entered upon a war of +extermination over one thousand years ago, and while intelligence is +slowly winning the battle, yet the warfare is likely to continue many +centuries to come, owing to the fact that these hostile fish occupy the +soundless depths even as deep as four or five hundred miles according to +our measurement. Horned fish rising from these depths are a horrible +menace to excursion parties or caravans, as well as to settlers on what +we would call the frontier. + +The homes of Stazza are made of metallic substances. There are a few +minerals very plentiful, resembling brass, and it is a common sight to +see polished buildings fantastic in their arrangement, shining through +the pellucid water like gold. + +The cities are built on gentle inclines in the deeper waters and +present a picturesque scene. They look more like a cluster of giant +fairy abodes than like New York or London. Nothing in all the world of +Stazza resembles a product of our manufacture more than the fine +screening that protects every human dwelling from an invasion of small +water animals. It reminded me of the mosquito netting as a safe-guard +against flies and other insects in our world. But the mosquito baffles +our genius, for he seems to be able to get through as small an opening +as air can. Likewise, the pestiferous water animals seem to invade the +homes of Stazza, notwithstanding all efforts at prevention. + +The cities have no continuous streets or lanes. The principal travel is +in the water over the city. The main entrance to the home is on the +housetop. In the center of large buildings there is a shaft running up +and down, through which the people go with greater ease than we can +climb or descend our stairways. It must not be forgotten that water to +them is the same as air to us, and in their domestic life the people +are annoyed by cloudy and muddy currents of water just as we are by +clouds of dust in the air, on the streets, or in our homes. + +The wear and tear caused by the chemical action of water on houses and +furniture is not as great as the injury in our world caused by the +chemical action of air, heat and moisture. + +The educational systems of Stazza are quite as perfect for that world as +our own systems are for ours. They have an alphabet, covering their +needs in language, consisting of a series of strokes, curves and angles, +somewhat resembling our shorthand systems. This language is identical in +print or script, and is superior to our method of expresssing thought by +handwriting. + +The experts of Stazza have learned the art of slicing metallic blocks +into sheets of any desired thickness. These sheets serve the same +purpose for them as paper does for us, and are furnished at an +insignificant cost of labor. We have the very elements in our Earth to +produce these metallic blocks if we knew the combination, which might be +easily found if we had as much need for them as the people of this +water world. + +The metallic blocks are used for a great variety of purposes. There are +some high class artists who have immortalized themselves by their +master-pieces, one of which I saw on a five-cornered metallic sheet +measuring about eight feet in diameter. + +Perhaps the most surprising feature of the educational advancement of +these water spirits is their knowledge of astronomy. To them, under the +water, the stars have always looked beautiful, and from an early date in +their history a study of them has engaged the attention of their +scholars. No one could tell the style of their telescopes if he should +go to guessing for a week. Let me give you a brief description of one. + +They build a metallic pipe about ten feet in diameter and from a point +some two hundred feet below the surface of the water. The pipe is built +until it extends a few feet above water. Inside of this pipe is a series +of transparent ovals of various sizes. These ovals are so arranged that +the upper one throws its light to the lower one, down through the +immense cylinder. Around each oval is built a series of fin protectors, +which is the only part about the telescope I could not fully understand. +They seemed to counteract the refraction of the water, and yet the water +must be in the pipe to obtain proper results. + +Imagine an astronomer at the base of this huge metallic structure, +having at his finger's ends a dozen wire strings intricately connected +with the oval system, and by the proper use of which he can increase or +decrease the magnifying power of the ponderous telescope. The highest +magnifying power of a telescope of this size is so great that the Milky +Way is penetrated and its solar systems revealed. What an accomplishment +it would be if a telescope of this magnitude could be mounted, a thing +that these creatures never attempted to do. But they have built +telescopes of various inclinations, all stationary. You can form an idea +of the patience and endurance of these people when you learn that it +required over fifty years of our time for them to perfect one of these +large instruments. + +Give human brains to any animal under water or over water, and it will +grasp for larger views of its Creator and of the things He made. These +people are thoroughly convinced that intelligent life can be found in +any world where there is enough water to sustain it. + +In the waters of Stazza there are many under-currents similar to our +Gulf Stream. These are used by the inhabitants for transportation. They +construct little hammock cars so that when they are filled with human +freight they float in the water. A simple device which we might call a +fin propeller is used to force the car in one direction or another as +necessity may require. It is possible to enter one of these +under-streams and thus travel over two thousand miles; then, by rowing +only five miles, enter the return current and move homeward. A car of +special design is furnished by each community in which each bridal pair +spends the Wedlock Ride, or the Honey-Moon, as we would call it. + +[Illustration: Fishing for Land Animals on a Planet of the Pole Star.] + +There is nothing more interesting about this race of beings than the +manner in which they pluck land fruit and catch land animals, and yet +when you compare this with our world, it is the same to them as fishing +is to us. + +In all my inter-stellar journeys perhaps there was nothing so amusing to +me as to see a company of these water creatures fishing for land +animals. They would creep up near shore and throw out their wire lines +with various kinds of bait, according to what they wished to catch. Then +followed the inevitable waiting until some innocent Jullep or Petzel +would grasp the tempting morsel on the hook. A skillful jerk fastened +the victim, and instead of pulling him in the water, the fisherman held +his breath and rushed out of the water to get his prize. This has been +found to be a safer method than trying to pull the prize into the water. + +These water dwellers relish certain land animals more than we do fish. + +Of course the land strips are not inhabited by human beings, but +vegetation is abundant, similar to that found in our tropical regions. +Many kinds of fruit, growing on the land, are sought after by the +masters of the water. In the season when certain fruits are ripe whole +expeditions go out to gather them. But how can they live away from the +great body of water while plucking these fruits? Let me tell you how +they manage it. They have what we would call water-wagons, very wide and +short, and equipped with buckets. At the rear of one of these strangely +shaped carriages stand four or six men abreast immersing their heads in +the water of the wagon for a fresh breath as often as necessity +requires. Thus they are enabled to travel over land to any desired +locality, always being careful to keep near enough the water to cover +any emergency. + +When they arrive at the fruit each man takes his bucket of water and +proceeds to work. He plucks fruit or berries for about thirty seconds +and then ducks his head into his bucket of water for a fresh breath. +Then he proceeds as before. When the water is no longer fit for +breathing, he carries his fruit and water bucket to the wagon. Here he +unloads his fruit and refills his bucket from the wagon, proceeding as +before. At intervals the wagon must be refilled with water. During a day +a few men can gather a large quantity of fruit in this manner, and it +can be preserved for over four seasons. + +On Stazza there has been developed a fine variety of water flowers, and +no gardens are more beautiful than those that can be seen there. The +higher classes of these people live a very refined life and have their +homes surrounded with an endless variety of water grasses and flowers. +You would scarcely believe your eyes if you could direct your gaze to a +few of these homes. + +In their religious life these Stazzans are eminently devoted. They have +no bunch of creeds from which to take their choice, but follow the +teachings of "The Great Interpreter," a man who once lived and reigned +amongst them and who wrote his laws in what we would call, by +interpretation, "The Book of Gold." The leaves of this book are made +from an element costly and rare, more precious to them than gold is to +us. From this book all their sacred books are copied. The civil powers +also accept this book as their authority, and enforce its teachings. + +Sin there, as here, is the withering blast of the planet, the destroyer +of the harvest fields of purity and truth. An invisible spirit of evil +holds his force in disciplined command, and the man who wishes to have a +pure heart on Stazza must reach it through conflicts long and sharp. The +path to moral and spiritual purity is quite the same throughout the +whole universe. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Tor-tu. + + +After I had finished my interesting tour of Stazza I visited in quick +succession a score or more of worlds that also revolve around Polaris at +varying distances. I found the majority of these planets barren of all +life, owing principally to their molten condition. + +Some unthinkable types of human existence are occupying the worlds that +can be inhabited. I marveled aloud as I viewed a few more links of the +endless chain of intelligent creation. On one of these worlds, which I +have christened Tor-tu, I found human beings that resemble us more than +any others in the entire solar bounds of Polaris. + +Tor-tu dashes along in its unceasing course at a distance of eight +hundred millions of miles from Polaris. It is much larger than our +world, and is accompanied by three moons and a set of rings which +faintly suggested our picturesque Saturn. + +The poles of Tor-tu are inclined at an angle of thirty-three degrees to +the plane of its orbit. This accounts for its temperature being quite +similar to ours, although its year is eight times longer. + +When I first reached this world I was impressed with its wealth of +natural scenery. Flowers of charming texture and color grew abundantly +over the wide expanses. The cultivated gardens contained specimens of +unusual beauty, surpassing the finest products of our Earth. + +When I examined the leaves of the many kinds of trees, I found none +similar to the foliage of our planet, except in one or two fruit-bearing +trees. The sky, instead of appearing blue, wears a greenish tinge, and +the birds are robed in a variety of colors that would put to naught our +arching rainbows. + +In fine, it must be admitted that Tor-tu is a much more beautiful world +than ours. I saw colors there that we could not produce because we have +not the proper elements. + +This delightful world is densely populated. Its history is much older +than ours. Sin is firmly rooted in the whole planet and its curse is +just as blighting and withering as it is in our world, although it is +fought more successfully and overcome more effectually in the home and +in the nation. + +I observed that the ecclesiastical system is similar to ours, and there +is a great profusion of creeds. To my surprise I noted, in my long +journey, that such a variety did not interfere with true progress, but +was compatible with the purest kind of life and the highest order of +civilization. The people are deeply devoted to their unseen God, and +their sacrifices are astonishing. Their places of worship are the finest +structures of the world. They believe it to be wrong to construct any +building greater in beauty and value than the temples of God. Their +music would sound quite weird to us, although it is sweet harmony to the +people of Tor-tu. + +The home life of Tor-tu is most beautiful. The moral life of the home +and of the nations is the cleanest of any world in the whole system of +Polaris. Naturally I investigated to learn the secret of this happy +condition. Then I found to my joy that the relation between parents and +children is very noteworthy. The fine respect manifested by the latter +for the former evoked the blush of shame as I thought of the prevailing +conditions in my own world. + +You may think it absurd when I describe a certain system that was a +stepping stone to such splendid results. Were this peculiar system to be +named, we should likely call it: "The Human Seal System." + +Each person born into the world of Tor-tu is officially sealed or +tattooed on the forehead and on the arm. It is done by the township +book-keeper, whose duty it is to keep a correct record of all births, +devoting a new ledger page to each infant. + +This seal is a life-long mark, and must not be interfered with under any +circumstances. In case the stamp is disturbed by accident, the person +must report to the township book-keeper either in person or by proxy, +and the stamp must be replaced on some conspicuous part of the head. + +There are eighteen governments of Tor-tu that united on this scheme. It +is so arranged that no two persons of all these millions have identical +marks. Each government has its seal of different designs from all the +others. + +Circles, ellipses and rectangles, with various modifications, compose +the eighteen forms in use. The most powerful of the eighteen governments +has for its seal the following design, which I have filled out as +completely as I could, using our own figures instead of their numerals +which would, of course, be unintelligible to us. + +[Illustration: Tor-tu seal] + +This is the actual size of the design as it appears on the forehead. + +13 represents the number of the state. + +21 represents the number of the county. + +10 represents the number of the township. + +12 represents the color of the person. + +352, in the center, represents the individual's number. + +This same mark is the individual's signature for life. It cannot be +changed, although the person is allowed to have a metallic or rubber cut +of his own design, provided he writes the individual number by hand, for +any one else doing this would be a forger. + +The township clerk is also the collector of the public funds. To him +each person born in that township is compelled to render an annual +report of his residence, occupation, and certain other facts relating to +his life in general. + +If any minor or adult commits a criminal act upon which the civil court +has passed, this finding is recorded in the township record on the +individual's page and, when the criminal has served his sentence, this +fact is also recorded. This is a severe law for the criminal, but it is +a great stimulus to a law-abiding career. + +It is also customary for public courts to confer on worthy persons +special marks of honor for extraordinary deeds or acts. A record of such +rendering is also kept. + +In presenting annual reports to the clerk each father reports for his +minor children. This puts the father on a rightful plane of dignity +before his children, and the parent who makes a wise use of these +provisions can and does reach far better results than can otherwise be +done. + +No child can run away from home without falling into much more trouble +then he imagined he had before. At once his seal number is sent to all +the countries and into every sub-division. Any one aiding or abetting +such a person is severely punished. When the runaway is captured, the +system of reprimand is of such a nature that the minor will be glad to +remain under the directions of his parents until his maturity. + +If it can be shown that a parent or guardian uses inhuman methods of +punishing children, the act is criminal and is dealt with accordingly. + +There are no tramps parading periodically over the countries of Tor-tu. + +There is an international law that each township must care for its own +paupers. Every man's forehead seal tells his birthplace and there is no +escaping from it. + +When a person is suspected of crime in a foreign land, the foreign +officials can tell not only where the individual was born, but they can +also obtain an official record of his life by applying officially to the +clerk and paying a nominal fee. + +Any stranger making a serious effort to cover his forehead is looked +upon with suspicion. It is a current phrase of honor among the +Tor-tuites: "I am not ashamed to show my forehead." + +A few hundred years after this "Human Seal Law" went into operation, no +one, except the criminally inclined, would think of returning to the old +reckless way, although the system was scorned and ridiculed by many +Tor-tuites for about fifty years after its advent. + +In considering the character of an individual, the courts and the people +place tremendous stress upon the township record. Each son and daughter +early learns the value of a stainless page and strives to keep his +record clean. + +The township, through the state, gives to each child at maturity a civil +inheritance, provided his record meets the requirements of the law. + +All these customs and regulations are powerful incentives to the youth +to lead a good moral life and naturally tend to a respectful demeanor of +children toward their parents. + +This world is not only notable for its moral atmosphere, but for the +remarkable progress its inhabitants have made in political economy. + +They know a few things about laws, but not enough to make them so +complicated that no one can understand their meaning. In law, the poor +man usually has the same chance as the rich. Money has no weight in the +Tor-tu scale of justice. The facts in the case are the only things that +have weight, although bribery is possible and is sometimes practiced. + +The laws of Tor-tu relating to deeds and titles are the most simple and +yet the most effective that have yet come to my attention. + +All the land in each county of Tor-tu is divided into lots, and each lot +is numbered on an immense diagram at the county seat. This diagram is a +miniature relief outline of the county with each lot and plot in the +county designated, and, according to our measurements, it averages +almost eighteen by twenty-four feet, varying according to the size of +the county. + +When you buy land you buy from the county only. If you wish to purchase +a lot or plot from another party who is willing to sell, the two parties +concerned go to the chief real estate agent who is an official of the +county and has charge of the county diagram. The former owner or +title-holder, upon establishing his identity, releases to the county his +claims and surrenders his title on condition that he receives the sum +agreed upon between the two parties. + +The county agent then issues a new title to the new purchaser. It is a +simple common-sense document completely describing the new owner, his +relatives and his station. Thus each purchaser has his own title from +the county and it is guaranteed. Under this admirably simple system +disputes as to titles are rare and can scarcely occur; but if any should +arise, the county takes the defense and bears all expense of litigation. + +No counter claim is even heard after a title is five years old. Thus it +is impossible to resurrect an old buried claim and rob an innocent owner +who purchased and paid for his ground in good faith. + +In transferring real estate no lawyers are required. Several persons, +however, must witness the execution of the deed. + +The county publishes a journal, monthly, stating the owner of each lot +or plot number in the county. This is furnished free to each land owner. + +All credit to Tor-tu for these common-sense regulations! Our laws +covering this field are heathenish compared with the statutes of this +far distant world. There no man loses his real estate by the awakening +of a sleeping title, and if this could happen he would be fully +reimbursed by the county. + +In our world some titles are as clear as mud. Often we pay a large sum +to have the records examined and even then a purchaser has no assurance +of non-interference. Here it is even possible to buy a lot, build a +home, and five or fifty years afterward have it sold by some one who +proves a prior claim on the land. No such foolishness, or child-play in +the guise of legal dignity, is countenanced in Tor-tu. + +The whole civil system of this sphere is superior to ours. A person who +violates the law is not treated to free boarding and lodging in a well +heated and lighted building, as is quite prevalent in our world, but is +compelled to enter profitable labor under strict surveillance. Any +prisoner becoming rebellious and refusing to work is dealt with +severely. If he is still insubordinate, he is placed on the revolving +wheel of death until his stubborn will is broken, or he falls fatigued +into the jaws of steel. + +This convict labor does not compete with the regular ranks of honest +toil. The main work of criminals is farming, and the products of these +farms support not only the criminals, but their families as well. What +is produced beyond that is sold at market price and the proceeds are +applied to current expenses of the county. + +In our world the honest man must pay to support the dishonest; the +law-abiding must care for the law breaker. How much longer this will +continue no one has prophesied. + +The manner of choosing officials in Tor-tu is both new and surprising. +All the officers, from the highest to lowest, are chosen by lot instead +of by popular ballot or hereditary claim. They who are thus elected +remain in office during competency and good behavior. + +1. Their record must be stainless during the preceding ten years. + +2. They must have been graduated from the law department of the public +schools. + +3. They must be at least thirty-one years old. + +For the highest officials the conditions are more rigid. + +The teachers in all public schools are selected in the same manner from +among the number who apply, and who have been graduated in rank high +enough for the school in question. + +At first this lot system seemed very foolish to me indeed, bordering +upon absurdity, but the more I studied its simplicity and observed its +results, the more I became impressed with its good sense and +efficiency. There are no political parties fomenting discord in a +country under a spoils system; no upheavals every few years and +hilarious campaigns; and no idiotic caricatures of public officials to +work unbridled mischief in the hearts of the most dangerous citizens. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A Problem in Political Economy. + + +After I had left the world of Tor-tu I still lingered in the heavens +around the planet and examined a few of its moons. While enjoying this +pleasing diversion, I learned that not far away, less than one billion +miles, there was a world without an atmosphere. This peculiar condition +was not new to me, for I had seen, during my never-to-be-forgotten +journey, many worlds without gaseous air. + +I would not have gone thither had it not been for an unaccountable +desire impelling me. Obedient to my impulse, I soon found myself on this +odd planet which I have named Airess. + +I at once observed that the people are formed without nose or lungs. The +nose is substituted by an opening into which liquid air is received and +through which it passes to a bodily reservoir of two lobes in the +vicinity of the heart. When I saw how these people were obliged to fill +their living vessels with this air-supplying liquid, I at once thought +of the manner in which we in our world fill our lamps with oil to +furnish light and heat. + +Now it is true that nature supplies this liquid air in reasonable +abundance, and no doubt all the people would have been happy until now +had it not been for the unjust scheming of a few unprincipled men. + +The strange story of the air problem on this distant world is so similar +to the food problem of ours that I have time to describe it briefly. + +There were certain men in Airess, shrewd above their fellows, who +secretly combined to secure a controlling interest in all the land +producing liquid air. + +In course of time these shrewd schemers, who are known as monopolists, +gathered this liquid air into large tanks and warehouses, and put an +exorbitant price upon it. The business flourished greatly because +everybody was daily in need of liquid air. + +The many sources of air-supply were guarded and men were employed to +carry the liquid from the raw springs to the private tanks of the +monopolists. Not long after this, when the monopolists saw that they +controlled all the liquid air of the country, they had rigid laws passed +forbidding the importation of air from any other country. Then when all +preliminaries were arranged, the magnates raised the price of their +commodity. + +The burden fell most heavily on the persons of limited means, for some +were compelled to give half of their earnings for air. + +The monopolists grew richer and richer, while the poor became still +poorer, until a cry went up for cheaper living. Then the +generous-hearted magnates decided to build new and larger storehouses, +thus giving employment to the large army of impoverished workmen. Thus +did the poor feel very grateful for the privilege of earning enough to +satisfy their hungry stomachs. + +With the larger storehouses now in operation the magnates were enabled +to conduct this air business on a scale more economical, and so it +resulted that the profits of their business were constantly increasing. + +Many who were unable to work became sorely distressed insomuch that +some died raving for liquid air. Others were more fortunate and were +helped by charitably inclined citizens. When a few poor comrades clubbed +together and contributed out of their mites, then the magnates sold air, +but if the sufferers had no money, they could have no air. + +A growing discontent possessed the people. They appealed to the +legislative bodies, but the magnates had grown so immensely wealthy that +they controlled all the law-making assemblies and gave the members air +free of charge, an act of kindness indeed. + +So the law turned a deaf ear to the cries of the people and many riots +followed. But these were all quelled by the standing army which was also +supplied with free air for the good service they were capable of +rendering to the monopolists. + +The multitude of laboring people could do as they chose, that is, work +like slaves and live, or refuse to tolerate the monopoly and die. + +[Illustration: Monopolizing Liquid Air on Airess.] + +Many were the pitiful scenes witnessed in all parts of the land. Men, +women and children gathered around one or another of the large tanks +brimming full of the life sustaining liquid. It was heart-breaking to +see children with half-opened mouths dying for air. Of course none of +the magnates were within hearing or seeing distance. The tanks were in +charge of underlings who were bound to give no air except for the +exorbitant market price. + +This state of affairs continued for many generations, nor did relief +come until one named Agitator went forth strongly set in his +convictions. He was a natural-born orator, a lover of justice, one who +believed in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. + +As long as he went about speaking and praying, the monopolists gave no +heed. But when he began organizing the masses into sworn legions, then +did the magnates bestir themselves, seeing danger in the gathering +clouds of humanity. + +"What shall we do?" cried they one to another. + +"Bribe Agitator," suggested one. + +"A happy hit," cried they all. + +One was chosen to do the work. A description of the meeting and +conversation of these two great leaders is a choice bit of literature of +the world of Airess. I will translate it as nearly as possible into +English. + +Magnate and his companion met Agitator three hours after sun-rise. +Neither one had ever seen the other before, and naturally Agitator did +not suspect the purpose for which Magnate had come. + +"We are here," said Magnate, "to place into your hands one million +dollars to be used for the education of poor children. We have +confidence in your judgment and integrity, and if you will accept the +money on our conditions, we will gladly arrange all papers and place the +money at your disposal." + +"A magnanimous offer indeed. But what are the conditions," hurriedly +asked the blushing Agitator. + +"The conditions are easy to meet. + +"1. You are to train and appoint sub-teachers and give your influence to +the building up of these schools. + +"2. You are to spend your time in this noble work and receive as salary +ten thousand dollars annually. + +"3. Of course you will be glad to put your whole heart and time into +this enterprise and encourage all workmen to show their appreciation of +this generous movement in behalf of the oppressed." + +"But what would become of my other great work?" asked Agitator, as a +well-defined interrogation point covered his face. + +"This new enterprise will solve the whole question. Is it not true that +ignorance is the cause of nearly all the discontent in the world? If you +scatter the clouds of ignorance, with them the darkness of nearly all +our woes will fly, and you will stand at the head of a new race, +educated, refined, and capable of understanding and securing their +rights ten-fold more surely and more intelligently than now." + +Agitator was a man of quick mind. He was, however, almost caught in the +fine network spun around him. He bowed his head a moment in quietness. + +"There is a tinge of truth in your words," admitted Agitator. "If I can +avoid it however," he continued, "the people now living will not suffer +for a whole generation in hope of imaginary relief. Your scheme is a +worthy one, but you must seek elsewhere for a leader. I have sworn in my +soul to bend my every effort to break the strong arm of the Monopoly." + +Magnate was a cool man, and held his dignity in a pleasing manner. He +carelessly changed his attitude and spoke with decision "If you will not +lead this educational enterprise, the whole offer will be withdrawn and +it will be advertised to the world that the leader of the poor people +has refused the most magnificent offer of the age for the uplifting of +the masses." + +"Ah," quickly replied Agitator, "if the offer be sincere, why should it +go by default on my simple refusal to be turned from my present course? +Let some other one, better qualified than I, attend to the management of +this noble cause." + +Magnate advanced a step and with emphatic gesture gave his ultimatum: + +"You are the recognized leader of the masses, the idol of all the poor +and of the so-called oppressed. In you the very persons whom we hope to +benefit have unbounded confidence, and naturally you are the only man +who can make wisest and most efficient use of this large sum of money. +We have no other choice and I ask you once more, for the sake of +suffering humanity, to accept the leadership of this worthy cause which +will do more for the people than all other reform movements combined. +You can make no mistake in accepting our offer. This is the only right +thing for you to do." + +Agitator took no time to study his reply. His words were born on the +occasion for the occasion. He spoke with marked power in his voice and +fiery electricity in his eye: + +"I have made my final decision. I am married to my reform movement and +seek no divorce. I want all people to have free air as they have free +sunlight. I am determined that neither favor nor force, neither Magnate +nor money, shall swerve me from my course. The people of my time shall +see their liberty, or I shall see my death!" + +This reply of Agitator is most memorable. It is quoted more than the +famous words of Patrick Henry of our world: "Give me liberty, or give me +death!" + +Agitator pushed his cause with remarkable skill. Soon his movements +reached such proportions that great men courted his favor. The masses +clung to him with truest loyalty. He took full advantage of the +situation and gained control of the legislative bodies. + +Then followed the great enactment. All the air of the world was declared +to be free, and any one attempting to buy or sell this natural and +indispensable product was guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by fines +and heavy bonds. + +The celebration of this victory was extreme. The most wonderful +jubilations were held at the air tanks. Famous speeches were made and +the tanks were sold by permission of their owners. One enthusiastic +person bought a tank, declared that he would sell it in small pieces for +relics, and use the proceeds for educating poor children. The scene that +followed beggars description. Everybody knew that this was a cut at +Magnate, and the buying of relics was carried on in an unprecedented +manner. The amount of money netted by this sale was so large that +several schools were erected and an endowment provided for their +maintenance. + +All this happened long ago on the world of Airess. But the memory of +these unusual times will never die. They have an annual day of +celebration much resembling, in its festivities, our Fourth of July. + +The most peculiar human condition of Airess, according to my view, is +the manner in which these people sleep. They do not lie down and +gradually drift into unconsciousness, but they lie motionless and still +retain full consciousness. The rest comes from the quietness of the +bodily members. It is not even possible for these creatures to become +mentally insensible to their surroundings, except by an accident or +through medical treatment. + +I was most impressed, however, as I learned of the powerful eyesight +which these people enjoy. Their eyes are indeed little telescopes, +capable of examining heavenly bodies with as much accuracy as we are +enabled to do with the aid of magnifying glasses. + +Then comes the surprising statement that these same people have never +invented anything similar to a spy glass or a telescope. Imagine how far +they could peer into the depth of space if their own gifted eyesight +were augmented by good magnifying glasses. + +I spent a little longer time on Airess than on some other planets +because I found that I could more easily understand the philosophy of +their attainments. + +The last moments of my stay were spent in the largest structure of this +whole world, the central building of education. From this structure +endless lines of power and influence are maintained all through the +territorial divisions of Airess. + +I studied this unusual plan of education and viewed with delight the +ponderous portion of this imposing edifice. At last I bid farewell to +all these mute instructors and, looking skyward, fixed my mind on the +shores of another world. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +Floating Cities. + + +Almost everyone is familiar with Ursa Major, or the Great Dipper, that +lies in such bold relief in the region of the northern heavens, and that +apparently revolves around Polaris, the North Star. + +The nearer of the two stars that help to form this famous Dipper and +that point toward Polaris, is called Dubhe by our astronomers. This star +and its interesting solar system next claimed my attention. + +From Earth I had often looked with admiring wonder at the starry +firmament, and during many an evening I had drawn the imaginary lines +from star to star outlining the Great Dipper, commencing with the end of +the handle and finishing with the star just named at the outer edge, or +rim. + +As I came near to Dubhe, I scanned the surrounding skies and was +surprised to find that the whole semblance of my dipper was lost. +Instead of lying in a plane, these stars were widely separated, so far +that a billion miles gives no fair hint of the distance. + +Many new stars, previously invisible, now shone in great glory so that +the whole celestial field presented new aspects. Far away I looked +toward our Sun; it sparkled like a tiny star, and none of the planets of +our Solar System were visible. + +I paused not at Dubhe, but sped onward to one of the busy worlds that +revolve around it, which I shall call Plasden. This is two hundred times +as large as our world, and "slin" covers seven-eighths of its surface. +Slin is a liquid much resembling water and serves practically the same +purpose. + +Plasden is truly a wonderful water world. Its inhabitants are not +confined to the under-water life like those found in Stazza, neither are +they strictly compelled to remain in the atmosphere, although that is +their normal condition. The Plasdenites can sustain life under water, +but only with discomfort. They have three times as many ribs as we +possess, and between them are openings into which air or water enters +for life sustentation. These flabby ribs slowly rise and fall +continuously and involuntarily. + +I would describe the upper portion of their bodies, but they would seem +so contrary to our ideas of beauty that I will pass on by saying that to +my eye, now trained in the larger school of interstellar harmonies, +these Plasdenites are lovely and lovable human creatures. They have +reached a high state of civilization and, being gifted with the spirit +life, they are still forging ahead toward perfection, unconsciously +competing with their fellow spirits in millions of worlds. + +Plasden is an old planet. Human beings have lived thereon for thirty +thousand years, and consequently, ages ago, the land area became so +densely populated that there was not enough room to accommodate the +increasing millions. This perplexing problem was solved in a very +peculiar manner by an experiment on the part of a wealthy Plasdenite, +who, seven thousand years ago, took advantage of the extremely light +mineral products of this world and built for himself a floating mansion +which covered about ten acres according to our measurements. + +This fairy palace was floated on the great oceans from one continent to +another, propelled by the wind and controlled by a series of motors. + +After a few years he returned to his native shore and conceived the idea +of building around his palace a water village. All foundations were made +of strong aluminum-like substance mixed with molten granite which, upon +hardening, formed a compound of marvelous lightness and durability. With +painstaking care and unceasing energy the water village was transformed +from a fanciful dream into a tangible reality, and in process of time +one section after another was added until a veritable city floated on +the bosom of the deep. + +But this is only a brief description of a marvelous accomplishment. I +did not pause to mention the factories and mills that were attached to +this city, nor have I told you that in less than one thousand years +after this first water city was finished, there were floating, on the +oceans of Plasden, no less than two hundred cities of various sizes, +each a manufacturing center devoted to one or more lines of industry. + +The majority of these cities moved in harmony in a world-wide course, +requiring about one year or four hundred of our days to complete a +single circuit. As was their prototype, so they were propelled by a +series of motors and a splendid sail system. At times the wind did the +greater part of the work, and again the full force of the motors was +required. + +Let me ask you to get on board one of these cities, and take one year's +journey in a few minutes. + +For instance, take one of the vehicle cities, composed of one hundred +factory buildings and three thousand dwellings, all built of +non-combustible materials. + +The city is now in the harbor of a great port, and all the merchantmen +who live nearest to this port have been informed that the vehicle city +would arrive about midweek and remain four days. What a busy time +follows after the floating city is fastened to its moorings! Inhabitants +go on solid ground to do their trading. Dealers make large purchases and +place extensive orders. + +It should be stated that the mail and telegraph systems between the +continents and all these floating cities are well nigh perfect. Fast +lines of mail steamers follow one another around the same course pursued +by these floating cities, and passengers can go to or from any of these +moving abodes to any part of any continent whenever they wish; so that +if a dealer wishes a vehicle of special design, he can send his order by +mail to any one of the six vehicle cities and have it completed by the +time the floating city arrives at his port. If the community receiving +the order cannot complete the work in time, the order is sent with one +of the mail steamers to the next vehicle city in line. + +The massive city starts its journey and in one day it floats to the +coaling stations. Here it takes on board an ample supply of fuel and +proceeds along the regular course, making no stops until it reaches the +mineral station where it takes a new supply of the various kinds of +metals necessary for manufacturing and for all other purposes. + +Then perchance it passes a city or two that is lying in dock for trade +purposes. The next stop will be at one of the several tropical stations +where a fresh supply of fruits is purchased and a number of vehicles +sold or delivered. + +After this the city passes several apparel cities moored to an immense +dock, taking on board large bales of a cotton-like substance used in +making texture. + +So continues the interesting journey along a safe route mapped out +centuries before. Storms arise, of course, but what harm can they do +except to send the ponderous waves dashing against the bulwarks of the +city and rock it gently, all of which becomes so familiar that no one +thinks of these things as serious barriers to the floating-city life. + +Perhaps in one tour of four hundred days thirty stops are made. You may +wonder how these huge floats are stopped and started. This is +accomplished by a series of border propellors which can be put into +service at any time if speed is desired or contrary winds are +encountered. + +These cities have done much to civilize the darker races of Plasden. The +manufacturing floats, coming into contact with the shores of all lands, +naturally have an uplifting influence on its peoples, some of whom go on +board to learn trades. + +The latest novelty of Plasden is a music city owned by one man and built +most beautifully. Its size is comparatively small and it is equipped +with motors of double power enabling it to proceed with considerable +speed as compared with the cumbersome, heavier floats. This city is +built for business as well as for pleasure. + +These Plasdenites enjoy an invention in the form of a machine that +renders music when acted upon by air, and, at certain times, also by +water. It is inspiring to listen to these Siren strains as the music +city passes another floating abode. + +Excursion parties go on this music city and remain at one or another of +its famous hotels as long as they wish. + +[Illustration: A Floating Palace and a Floating City.] + +The most refined feature of this water life is seen in the floating +mansions, of which there are many thousands. These are built in such a +manner that the wildest storms of the ocean can do no more than set the +mansion a rocking, for the structures that venture far away from +shore are very large, and surrounded by many acres of attachments. + +It is delightful to live in one of these water mansions, go to any +chosen harbor, remain as long as desired and, taking your choice of +countries, dwell among the icebergs or in the tropical regions. People +of delicate health can shift to any climate and change location as often +as desired. This style of retired life is now the most popular of all in +this peculiar world of Plasden. + +The educated people are a very bright class; they have made great +progress in manufacturing. This implies a long list of notable +inventions in every branch of industry. It is strange that these +brilliant inventors never paid attention to air travel. However, they +have perfected submarine navigation to a nicety that would be teasing to +the infant efforts that we have thus far made. + +The people of this far away orb have greatly surpassed us in controlling +and utilizing the three distinct forces which are quite similar to +electricity, and these are the wizard forces that furnish the power used +to drive the motors and engines, not only of the floating cities, but +also of the fixed abodes. + +By a comparative study I ascertained that we have over six thousand +inventions for which they have no parallel, and Plasden has nearly +twenty thousand to which we have nothing similar. What an inspiring +study all these facts furnished! But my space forbids enlargement. I +believe, however, that if our world remains a few thousand years more, +we will have learned more secrets than the experts of Plasden know +to-day, although they have had a start of many thousand years over us. + +There are very few worlds where the devotional spirit has reached a +higher level than in Plasden. The truths of the Creator are preached and +practised with a far more pleasing result than is prevalent on Earth. + +Satan has found his way to this planet and has organized his forces into +sworn legions against whom the armies of righteousness are waging +relentless warfare. + +The main secret of Plasden's high morality is found in the fact that +the civil governments insist on moral laws and a careful observance of +them. One blushes with shame at the looseness and laxity with which the +greater municipalities of our Earth are governed, and all this under the +shadow of our schools and church spires. + +Centuries ago the good people of Plasden learned how to co-operate when +they desired to win in a struggle against iniquity. I would give my +life-blood if I could transport this secret in such a way as to make it +effective on the Earth. + +In our world we have before us a most humiliating spectacle. If an +effort is made to extirpate some form of sin that has taken audacious +root in the soil of our moral life, one reform element or denomination +fights with the other until the hoe is so broken that there is nothing +left wherewith to dig out the miserable roots of the obnoxious weed. +Thus do we spend our energies opposing one another instead of fighting +the Devil. + +O, for the Plasden power of unity, before which any species of +corruption can be crushed out that is opposed by the forces of +righteousness! + +We have succeeded, to a bitter extreme, in getting the church and state +separated from each other so far that the latter scarcely ever gets a +glimpse of the former, and we stand by priding ourselves in the absolute +divorce. Then we have also succeeded in getting the different creeds +separated by chasms so wide that it is impossible to make a combined +attack against a common foe. However, these separations between sects +are gradually disappearing, and over the lessening gaps the hands of a +more Christian fellowship are being extended. + +The Devil, wiser in his generation than the children of light, long ago +united his trained forces in defense of his iniquitous schemes, and thus +he is permitted for a season to sit on the throne of power and wield his +black wand over the civil realm, thereby licensing iniquity, protecting +vice, and spreading his dark designs over the commonwealths of the +world. + +We look forward to the time when the moral and spiritual forces of our +world will reach the Plasden unity. May this be accomplished without +struggling along for another century! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A World of Ideal Cities. + + +After I had finished my brief stay at Plasden, I again rose high in air +and looked over the oceans with their floating cities. This was one of +the most charming views I ever had of any world. + +I paid a passing visit to a few worlds where human life had never risen +to a great height of civilization, nor can I forget the lessons I there +learned of the power of sin. All this one can clearly see who visits the +three worlds lying next in order to Plasden, but I will forbear the sad +and sickening recital of the depth to which a world is carried by sin +when once it gains a haughty ascendency. + +The next orb that attracted my attention also lay in the solar system of +Dubhe, and very much resembles our own world in both size and climate. +The people, who are not half our stature, are so differently formed that +I could scarcely believe my own senses. + +A description of them would appear only ludicrous, so I shall content +myself with saying that they are refined in their manners and highly +educated in all branches of human knowledge, which does not imply that +their studies are identical with ours. + +I was surprised at the splendid arrangement of their cities and the +sensible laws governing them. One can scarcely believe that we are +guilty of so much lost labor in the management of our cities, in our own +way of living, and in providing for our families, until he sets his eyes +on a city of another world that has notably distanced us in this +respect. + +These people, though small of stature, are endowed with powerful +muscular systems and, through their intelligence, they have become +masters of the seas and of the land, for the forests give away and +savage tribes fall back before the onward march of the God-directed +conqueror, man. + +I then appeared in visible form and walked into one of the largest +cities on this world. I had not passed one-fourth of the way toward the +city's center before I was surrounded by a curious crowd which so +blocked my path that I could make no further progress. You may imagine +their surprise to see a giant, as I appeared to them, with a strangely +shaped head and with a soft, flabby skin, for they at first regarded my +clothing as my skin. + +No one could conjecture what sort of an animal I was. I remained mute +and watched the rising tide of excitement. Before anyone could venture +to touch me, I saw a band of officers in double-quick march hastening +toward me with their curiously shaped weapons unfolded. + +I stood motionless as the soldiers surrounded me. As soon as the circle +was formed the leader of the squad stepped toward me with a show of +bravery, but I saw that he secretly trembled. It was his oath-bound duty +in such a case to lay hands on me and, if necessary, use force to take +me to the central office. + +I offered no resistance and went, as I was directed, till I stood in the +odd looking room where all offenders of their law are taken for a +hearing. + +[Illustration: Planet of Dubhe.] + +The news of my appearance and arrest had by this time spread to all +parts of the city and a motley crowd were gathering, but only a small +portion of the people were able to gain entrance into the building where +I had been taken. + +The high officials and educators, hearing of the wonderful giant at the +city hall, hastened thither with all speed. Then I saw an interesting +spectacle. As these higher classes of people arrived, the lower classes +were compelled to leave. The room being full, no laborer was allowed to +remain if a person of nobility wished to occupy his seat. This peculiar +custom or law applies to all public places and assemblies. + +In a short time all the lower classes were compelled to leave the hall +to make room for the unprecedented rush of nobility. Nothing so tempted +me to speak as when I saw this partial rule in operation. + +During all this gathering the officers stood in a circle around me and +held their weapons ready for instant service. Not hearing what I was or +what I might do, they were ordered to maintain this strict attitude. + +Every eye was fastened on me. Some of the nobility were pale with fear; +others were busy inquiring whence I came and where I had been captured. + +At length the chief official made a gutteral sound. This must have been +a call for order and the signal for the opening of the court, for at +once the wild confusion gave way to order as much as could be expected +under the circumstances. + +The brief formalities of opening the court were ridiculous to me. This +being done, all official attention was given to me. I saw that +everything was under the charge of this presiding official. He first +ordered that I should be bound and, accordingly, my hands and feet were +tied. Then a very heavy chain-like rope was fastened to my body and I +was tied to the criminal's post. + +The officers were then released and retired to their special part of the +room. + +The chief then stepped toward me and peered into my face with a puzzled +look of great anxiety. I returned his glances calmly, but uttered not a +word. + +There was a breathless suspense as the chief lifted up his hands, +touched my face, and felt my mustache and whiskers. The hair was perhaps +the strangest feature of my whole head, since there is nothing on their +human or animal species that resembles hair. + +The chief then called for a certain professor who was an expert in +zoology. This intelligent man quickly came to my side and, at the +request of the chief, commenced to examine me carefully. + +My manner of breathing confused him most of all. He watched my chest +rising and falling and my sides increasing and decreasing with every +breath, until he was mystified beyond all power of explanation. + +When the dignitaries saw that I could be touched with safety, numerous +messages were flying to the chief, each one asking for the privilege of +a closer inspection of me. + +The presiding officer was cool-headed and firmly followed his own cause. +He waited until the professor had finished his examination and was +prepared to report, whereupon he announced to the bewildered audience +that heed should now be given to the conclusion of the zoologist. + +The professor mounted a throne-like elevation from which all expert +opinion is submitted. A painful silence ensued as this learned man +proceeded with his report. + +Of course I pretended that I could not understand their language and +that I was oblivious to all these occurrences, but you may be assured +that I was careful not to miss a word that fell from the lips of this +noted specialist who conducted himself with a dignity both pleasing and +fascinating. + +"I pronounce this creature an enigma," commenced the professor as he +pointed his bony finger toward me, "and declare him to be the strangest +problem of my life. How, and whence, and why he came to us are all alike +shrouded in impenetrable mystery." + +"This perplexing specimen is totally different from any species of our +animal creation. He resembles a man more closely than any beast. +However, he cannot belong to any family of our world for he is possessed +with bodily functions unknown to us. His clothes are not the result of +any natural growth, and are far beyond our finest manufacture. Each +piece of his apparel gives positive evidence that it was made with +hands more skillful than ours." + +"The most pleasing part of this perplexity is the face, which bears +indisputable marks of intelligence. It would be eminently satisfying to +us if we could communicate with him and receive some light on this +living marvel." + +He quickly stepped from the throne and the chief then invited four +philosophers to examine me conjointly. They hurriedly responded to the +invitation, for they were delighted at the honor and privilege conferred +upon them. + +What a peculiar experience followed! Four men touched my hands and +ankles, my arms and limbs, and more particularly every piece of my +apparel. Accidentally one found my purse, but could not open it. As he +was faithfully pursuing his task, I felt that the time had come for me +to speak. + +"Twist at the two knobs," I said in their vernacular. + +If lightning had struck into that room, it would not have caused more +consternation. The four philosophers fell to the floor, the chief was +terrified, the audience looked on in abject terror, while the officers +rushed from their post with drawn weapons. All this occurred instantly, +and I realized that my words never before had such an effect. In a +moment the chief was at my side and, looking into my face, exclaimed: + +"Who are you and why have you remained silent?" + +"I am a human being," I replied. + +"From what part of our world?" + +"I was not born on this world." + +"On what world then?" he further asked with increasing surprise. + +"On a world called Earth that revolves around a star called Sun." As I +was answering these questions many wild sensations were sweeping over +the hearts of the assembled nobility. + +"How came you to our world?" continued the chief with abated breath. + +"On wings invisible." + +"For what purpose came you hither?" + +"To see your manner of life." + +"Will you stay with us forever?" + +"I cannot." + +"Have you come to harm us?" + +"Not in the least." + +The chief in a high state of excitement ordered that I should be +unbound. + +I smiled and said that I would spare them that trouble. I snapped the +bands with such ease that a new fear possessed all of those around me. + +I then gave them positive assurance that I would harm no one and urged +that all should be silent as I wished to speak a few words to them. + +Never before had I a more attentive audience. I addressed them in a +natural manner, informing them that I desired to become familiar with a +few of their forms and customs of life. I then proceeded to give them a +description of the world whence I had come. My audience became +enthusiastic and I decided to cease speaking. + +The chief, although greatly agitated, still kept his hand on the +throttle of the occasion. He waved the surging crowd back, demanded +order and at once sent his arrowed questions at me again. + +"Are you not a god?" cried he. + +"I am only human." + +"How could you have such power as to reach our world?" + +"That I cannot explain." + +"How many people live on your world?" + +"One and one-half billion," I answered. + +"Are they all pure-minded?" + +I answered that I was pained to inform them that many of our inhabitants +are wicked. + +My listeners were still incredulous as to my identity. They were +positive that I was a visiting spirit on a mission of evil or good, and +they urged that I should disclose the purpose of my commission. + +I re-affirmed my past utterances and, turning to the chief more +directly, I informed him that he would see me no more. Then, without +pausing another moment, I vanished. As I went, I looked backward to see +the mystified countenances of all who were in the room, and then +proceeded to visit the surrounding city to examine the system under +which it is governed. + +I found that the bulk of the trade is controlled by the city, one class +of goods being kept at one place in suitable store houses. The city owns +a full line of vehicles resembling our automobiles. These are very +spacious. Each one is supplied with certain lines of merchandise and +passes over an unalterable rail route at its own fixed period. + +Thus all parts of the city are reached with the necessaries of life. +Those who prefer can go to the trade centers, but no special orders are +delivered except by the regular cars and at the regular time. + +For instance, one can go to the trade centers for meats and vegetables, +and purchase what he wishes or give his order. At the time corresponding +to six o'clock of our time in the morning the meat and vegetable cars +start on their respective routes, while the trade centers are open for +personal callers. Marketing goes on at the market center while the cars +are selling throughout the city. At nine o'clock the delivery cars leave +the trade centers. + +Similar to the manner of our world, each home is numbered in such a way +that no two houses have the same designation. By this arrangement the +delivery of goods is facilitated. + +Everything in this busy metropolis goes like clock work, and everybody +knows the schedule, which is simple enough to be understood almost at a +glance. + +All the trade centers lie along the freight and passenger railroad. This +saves a tremendous amount of labor, for the goods are all transferred +directly from the cars to the store-houses. + +There is no Fire Department, for there is no need of one. It appears +that only a few worlds in the universe use inflammable materials for +structural purposes, and we are one of them. + +There is a Finance Department and a Law Department, although I cannot +give space for their description. + +The Sanitary and Police Departments are under systems absolutely +different from any that are known in our world. Their sanitary methods +are no more effective than ours, perhaps less so. But the Police +Department is greatly superior. This is largely due to the fact that +this city has a department gloriously ahead of any city in which I have +ever lived. This department is called the Moral Department. It is +managed by twenty-one men and women, one-third of whom are selected +annually from a list of nominees. + +Each church, meeting certain requirements, is entitled to make one +nomination. The seven of these nominees receiving the largest number of +votes are elected for three years. + +This Moral Department is no mincing and begging institution. It has, at +its disposal, the entire military battery. No mayor holds a whip handle +over it. I must confess I was happy as I witnessed the blessed effect of +this Moral Department. All evil is not extirpated, neither is all +lawlessness overcome, but there is no brazen iniquity, no public +immorality and heartless brutality such as is seen on every hand in one +of our larger municipalities. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A World Enjoying Its Millennium. + + +What expansive views of creation were afforded me in my universal +journey! I saw all conceivable types of human life, many of which I +alone could never have conceived. + +With a happy soul I alighted on another world in the solar system of +Dubhe where sin had been banished, and the believers, or children of +God, were passing through a period of time which we would call the +Millennium. + +A wide contrast was now presented to my view. I had seen world after +world in the tribulation of sin. Now I had come to one under the sway of +righteousness, and I wish that I had power to describe what I saw and +experienced. + +I suddenly thought of the Queen of Sheba, who, upon seeing the greatness +of Solomon's wisdom, exclaimed, "Behold, the half was not told me." I +had often imagined what the condition of our world would be when it +smiles under the light of the Millennium, but I minimized the glory that +is yet to come to us, judging by what I saw on this delightfully +charming planet. I have no assurance, however, that the coming +Millennium of our world will be altogether similar to the one I saw. + +This glorious Millennium was ushered in about six hundred years ago, and +I readily learned the general particulars of its commencement. The world +had been very wicked prior to the dawn of this new age. The majority of +the people disregarded all spiritual truths, causing the darkness of sin +to hang like a heavy pall over the nations of this planet. + +There were earnest devotees who lived in the light and love of God, and +who preached and pleaded with the thoughtless and the indifferent. +Notwithstanding all the efforts put forth on the part of the righteous, +the generations of this distant world became more and more wicked until +the Millennial dawn. + +In the fullness of time the Millennium was ushered in by the appearance +of the chief angel who came with several hundred thousand attending +spirits. At the approach of these celestial regiments the atmosphere far +above the planet was darkened by ominous clouds through which the +approaching legions shone with unearthly brightness. All this occurred +in the twinkling of an eye, even before the busy millions could look +upward. Then the chief angel and his magnificent host circled in the +air, singing the resurrection song, which was augmented by ten thousand +trumpeters, while the forked and sheet lightnings flashed in unison with +the imposing waves of music, and heavy thunders contributed the bass +intonations. + +The celestial choir continued during one revolution of the planet. The +vast throng sang in the air as the planet revolved on its axis. As each +section of the globe came beneath the long extended line of melodious +angels, the marvelous change took place for that section. The sleeping +saints came forth from their graves and, with the living saints, were +caught up into the air. This continued until this most eventful day was +finished. + +The scenes that occurred with the ungodly during this awful day beggar +all description, so much so that I shall not attempt to describe the +remorseful wails of horror that rent the air, only to be drowned by the +ever-singing choir. It was the day of triumph for the saints, and their +ears were not disturbed by the cries of terror, nor were their hearts +distracted by the opening of the earth to receive the wicked. + +As the saints were caught up, the wicked fell into pits and have not +been seen since. The flames that issued from the rending globe set +everything on fire. Who can select language sufficiently graphic to +portray such a lurid dissolution of a planet, and the gathering of the +faithful, quick and dead? + +Thus was this large world purified by fire while the saints were +gloriously enraptured. After the fury of this burning was passed, the +great Creator of the universe made a new world whereon righteousness +dwelled. + +The saints became the possessors and rulers of this whole sphere, living +in joy and peace unprecedented. It has been the happiest six hundred +years since the beginning of this planet. How long this period will +continue no one seems to know, and but few are conjecturing, for each +soul is completely happy and congenially employed. + +The time will come, however, when this blissful period will be at an +end, only to give way to a state of existence infinitely greater and +more glorious, which in our language would be called Heaven. + +[Illustration: Beginning of the Millennium.] + +I will briefly describe a few characteristics of this Millennial life as +I saw it and as it is now existing. + +1. The saints are living in spiritual bodies. They are not cumbered with +a fleshy body, and are capable of traveling through the air at a speed +far beyond that attained by the swiftest winged creature of any world in +the whole universe. + +Their spiritual bodies are highly organized and sensitive to a fine +degree. At will they are capable of rendering themselves visible or +invisible, as we comprehend these terms. + +As the perfectly formed flower, blushing in its wealth of color, is +called beautiful, so we would designate these symmetrical +spirit-creatures, moving in the glory of their higher endowment and +shaded with the living tints of Heaven. + +2. These inhabitants know nothing of fatigue. Their strength of body and +vitality of mind are unabating. What a contrast between the creatures of +our Earth and those of the Millennial world on whom the passing of +centuries has no ill effect. + +3. There is nothing on this purified world to generate disease; hence +these favored people never suffer any pain of body or of mind. The long +line of sin-shadows has all vanished from this redeemed planet, and the +atmosphere is all aglow with the mellowed light of peace and love. + +4. Jealousy and all kindred feelings are unknown. These roots were all +destroyed by the fire at the beginning of the Millennium. No one can +imagine how enrapturing life is in the absence of stings of malice and +thorns of envy. + +5. The social and spiritual relationships are all harmoniously blended. +No one feels himself beneath or above another, and no one feels +embarrassed in the presence of a superior human intelligence. + +6. Thus it follows that the fellowship is inexpressibly sweet. You can +only imagine the dignity and glory one must feel as he mingles with the +righteous dead of all ages, and gathers from them a glimpse of the +trials and triumphs of ten thousand years under the old reign. + +7. Some of the spirits are employed in dressing and keeping the gardens +in which grow the luxurious food on which redeemed creatures subsist: +not cereals, fruits, or nuts, but the kind that creates the most +heavenly sensations as it wastes away in perfume at the will of the +user. The nearest imitation of this food ever known on earth was eaten +by Christ's spirit when Mary broke the alabaster box of ointment on his +head. + +8. Some spirits of this Millennial life seemed to be more rapturously +happy than the others. I learned that they had passed through the +darkness of continual disappointments or suffered under the mis-mating +of matrimonial union. Others fought through the fires of persecution and +torture, and still others passed through martyrdom for their Master's +sake. All of these patiently endured all hardships leading down to the +end of their mortal days. + +9. The affinity between sexes is clearly marked. No love but pure love +burns on the altar of any soul, and any one who wishes may stop to +kindle the fires or warm himself thereat. There is no bodily contact, no +decay, no weakening. This love is enrapturing, uplifting, ever drawing +the lover and the loved nearer to the fountain. + +In language most intelligible to us, I would say that the intercourse +between sexes is one of refined telepathy, soul-connection by thought +transmission, a thousand-fold more charming than the low plane of +intercourse in the flesh life, with none of its attendant weakening +results. This strange felicity is as indescribable as it is glorious. +Each nature seeks its real complement, and enjoys the most absolute +liberty, for there is not a single barrier to prevent it, as no one +desires to do wrong. + +This most inviting life had its charms for me, but I well knew that I +could not tarry. I lingered at a thousand fountains to catch the +life-giving spray and studied, as far as I possibly could, the faces of +these favored creatures. + +The whole vegetable world is a long extended floral garden. Where +formerly deserts lay waste and wild, now the blooming roses and +expansive lawns can be seen. Is it possible to picture to your mind's +eye a line of lofty mountains whose sides are dressed in living colors +and trimmed with rare flowers? If you cannot paint this picture, then +you must not endeavor to form the faintest conception of the natural +features of this Millennial world. + +Being still filled with the lingering memories of this happy sphere, and +looking forward to the coming golden age of our own world, I read with +pleasure a few stanzas contemplating Christ's second coming. + + "A SONG OF HIS COMING." + + See the virgins at midnight yearning, + To behold the face of the Groom. + Their lamps are all trimmed and burning, + As they peer through the misty gloom. + + "He will come," is the shout of voices, + Which have sung in a thousand ways; + For the heart of the saint rejoices, + At the thought of the coming days. + + When the war of creeds will be over, + And our King descends from above, + Only they shall witness His crowning, + Who have lived in the light of love. + + Then the Christ shall reign in his glory + On the throne of his sovereign might: + And the theme of Redemption's story + Will be sung with perfect delight. + + And our minds will dazzle with brightness, + As our thoughts forever aspire, + For a mantle of perfect whiteness, + Shall cover the youth and the sire; + + Then we know that none will be jealous, + And no one will envy our lot. + For against the one who is zealous, + Not a soul will contrive or plot. + + And our actions will chime in pleasure, + All refined from malice and sting. + We shall all reach the perfect measure, + In the reign of this conquering King. + + We will have everything we can use, + In those beautiful realms of light; + There the people will do as they choose, + For each one will choose to do right. + + We will sail through the seas of beauty, + And return to the shores we please; + Far away from the callings of duty, + In the shade of undying trees. + + All the riches of Christ will be ours, + 'Tis a wealth without guilt or pain. + There will be no 'Contention of Powers', + Nor the marks of official stain. + + As I look from this earthly station, + I exclaim again and again-- + O what an eternal vacation! + Come quickly, Lord Jesus, Amen. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A World of High Medical Knowledge. + + +I spent a long and profitable season in the vicinity of the Great +Dipper, witnessing the almost infinite variations of human life as found +from world to world, and looking upon the wild wastes of the many +planets that are not inhabited. + +Finally I again spread my swift wings, reached the beautiful star +Arcturus and noticed among the worlds that revolve around it a few that +are sinless. I was tempted to pause at one or another of these +exceptional stations, but I knew that I could not tarry until I had +reached the far distant constellation of Scorpio. + +In this wide flight I traveled a distance so great that I will not weary +the mind with mentioning the trillions of miles. Now I was in the direct +path of the Milky Way and my imagination staggered as I saw the +endlessness of stars and solar systems, as far out beyond me as my +assisted eyes could reach. + +The star at which I arrived is one of the largest suns that blaze in the +depths of immensity. It is so wonderfully great that if twelve hundred +million worlds as large as ours were all crushed into one great ball, it +would not make one sphere as immense as this star or sun, around which +revolve about five hundred worlds or planets, many of which are greater +than our Jupiter. With abounding interest I visited all the inhabited +worlds of this vast system. How long it took I have no way of knowing. I +did not count time by hours or heart throbs, for I was so wrapt in my +observations that all else was as nothing to me. + +Some of these worlds sustain a low order of human creatures, while on +others there are races that have reached a high degree in the scale of +advancement. Of these five hundred worlds nearly one-half are barren of +all life, and of those that are inhabited some twenty are sinless worlds +and thirty are now passing through an intermediate period between the +probationary life and the final judgment, a period toward which we are +anxiously looking and which we designate as the Millennium. + +Of all this ponderous solar system there is one world that excels all +the others in its medical attainments, and of this one first I will give +a flying notice. + +I have named this world Dore-lyn. It is fifty times as large as our +Earth and of greater specific gravity. + +Its human creatures are delightfully formed and are in ruddy health and +refined happiness. In shape these Dore-lynites differ somewhat from us, +but long before I had reached this planet I learned something of the +universal standards of symmetry and ascertained that creatures could be +beautiful without resembling us whatever. + +Here I found four billions of people and there is room for twenty +billions more. So if you are in ill health, and have run the round of +our medical fraternity without success, I would advise you to go to +Dore-lyn, if you know how to reach it. + +These Dore-lynites are almost three times our size and they are subject +to most of our ills and many more. From an early date the head +government of this world paid particular attention to hygiene, keeping +all medical work under its own care. + +The government controls the whole field of medical science just as we do +the post-office department. + +There are no conflicting schools of medicines such as Allopathic, +Homeopathic, Hydropathic, Eclectic and Osteopathic. The government gives +handsome rewards to any one who furnishes a new discovery or gives +additional light. Everything is duly tested and proved to be a success +by a corps of experts before it is given to the practicing fraternity. +The government holds certain rights in experimenting that no physician +or medical school would think of having in our world. The government +medical schools of Dore-lyn are marvels indeed. Nothing is spared that +money or talent can furnish. The full graduates of these schools are +only "the survival of the fittest." Others take a secondary degree and +can act as assistants or retire from the list. The government has a +series of institutions that do a work similar to our hospitals and have +a corps of full graduates supplying the stations. This entire system is +so arranged that every family or individual receives all necessary +treatment free. + +The cost of carrying on this vast system is one of the items of national +expense. I will now mention some of the medical achievements of these +Dore-lynites. + +When a physician suspects that the blood is poisoned he at once proceeds +to a chemical analysis, and if certain kinds of poison are found, the +blood is filtered by the use of a fine instrument. A blood vessel is +exposed and cut, and the two ends fastened to the delicate filter. Thus +the blood is cleansed by passing through this instrument. Those +acquainted with the manner in which the blood circulates can readily see +how all the blood of the body can be reached in a short time. This +method is very successful in the treatment of all bites of poisonous +insects and reptiles, and all types of hydrophobia, which are ten-fold +more numerous in Dore-lyn than in our world. + +There are no patent medicines in Dore-lyn. The few medicines they have +are manufactured only by government authority and everybody receives the +purest that can be compounded, no distinction being made between rich +and poor. One thousand years ago the medical aspects of Dore-lyn were +similar to those which are seen in our world to-day. People were +compelled to take all manner of poisons and opiates even from skilled +hands. But in Dore-lyn those days of darkness and misery are past and +the people enjoy the benefit of a medical skill one thousand years ahead +of us. They look back to the practice of the old physicians with +ludicrous feelings just as we do when reading the prescriptions that +were used in the first century of our dispensation. + +We call your attention to some of the antiquated remedies of our world +as related by Geike and copied from a medical journal of our own +country. Following is a list: + +"Ashes of wolf's skull, stag's horn, the heads of mice, the eyes of +crabs, owl's brains, liver of frogs, viper's fat, grasshoppers, bats, +etc., these supplied the alkalis which were prescribed. Physicians were +accustomed to order doses of the gall of wild swine. It is presumed the +tame hog was not sufficiently efficacious. There were other choice +prescriptions such as horse's foam, woman's milk, laying a serpent on +the afflicted part, urine of cows, bear fat, still recommended as a hair +restorative, juice of boiled buck horn, etc. For colic, powdered horse's +teeth, dung of swine, asses' kidneys, mice excretion made into a +plaster, and other equally vile and unsavory compounds. Colds in the +head were cured by kissing the nose of a mule. For sore throat, snail +slime was a favorite prescription, and mouse flesh was considered +excellent for disease of the lungs. Boiled snails and powdered bats were +prescribed for intestinal disorders." + +When we read such a list of remedies we can scarcely believe that they +were ever popular, but according to the history of Dore-lyn the time +will come when many of our present medicines will be out of date, and +only mentioned in the old medical works. + +The people of Dore-lyn have suffered in past ages innumerable woes on +account of intemperance. Alcohol is unknown to them, but they have had a +two-thousand year's battle against three liquids that affect them as +opium affects us. Strange to say that these terrible liquids were the +bases of many of their medicines just like the anodyne medicines of our +present day. Thus in Dore-lyn the old kinds of medicines created many +drunkards. Since the dawn of the brighter age, a strict law prevails +regarding the use of all narcotics in medicines. Then came gradually +into use the many methods of treating disease without medicine, except +the materials used to sustain life regularly. + +Being interested in these things, I examined more closely into their +past medical history, and saw more clearly the present folly of a +certain part of our medicinal practice. How we are struggling with +alcohol, especially as found in so many of our patent medicines, and how +helpless we are in trying to abolish the sale of these medicines by +reason of our unbounded liberty! In our world, a man may concoct any +alcoholic medicine and sell it without liquor license, for people +become verily mad for the bottled stuff. Our nation may some day become +wise enough to keep its own hand on the business that is determining the +health and happiness of millions of its inhabitants. + +But let me cease this digression and get back once more to Dore-lyn. + +One of the most noted medical achievements on this world consists in the +manner of rendering a person unconscious of pain. The anatomy of a +Dore-lynite is, in general, the same as our anatomy. Their bones are +arranged a little differently and the sections of the backbone have a +quite different formation. When a surgeon of that world wishes to +perform an operation and therefore render the patient unconscious, he +presses the tough cartilagenous part of a section of the backbone with a +screw device fastened to the body of the patient. This simple act +renders the spinal cord insensitive, which condition may be maintained +for hours without injuring the patient. Of course any point above the +screw device is sensitive, and for this reason it is more difficult to +render a person unconscious in the parts about the head. + +Many ages ago the world of microbes was laid bare, but not before these +people were masters of the microscope or an instrument serving the same +purposes, although formed on a partly different principle. + +These Dore-lynites have brought to light the numerous varieties of +parasite broods that cause fermentations and diseases, both infectious +and otherwise. + +A diseased body is looked upon as being in possession of a certain brood +of microbes which are destroyed either by the blood filter or the +"Vaccine bath, or injection." (I know no better name by which to call +it.) A few diseases are treated by doses of medicines given in a manner +similar to the prescription system of our country. + +The "Food Treatment" is also very popular in Dore-lyn. This is merely a +hygienic selection of foods given to people of declining health, instead +of having them swallow ten or twenty dollars' worth of strong medicines. + +Abnormal appetites crave for a class of foods injurious to the system. +In Dore-lyn they have discovered a novel method of turning the diseased +appetite from its cravings toward the things needed by the system. + +In performing operations, the experts of Dore-lyn have reached a +marvelous degree of perfection. They have learned to make a false eye so +that one can see with it. It took three and one-half thousand years of +continual experimenting on this delicate creation before it was +pronounced satisfactory. + +The false eye is not of flesh but one of manufacture. It is placed in +sensitive connection with the optic nerve, on which images are thrown by +the delicate mechanism of the false eye. The sight thus obtained is +almost one-half as distinct as that which is enjoyed by the normal eye. + +These medical wizards also make artificial ears which are about as +satisfactory as the natural ears. In certain lines of surgery we are +equal to these Dore-lynites, but we cannot register with them in the +whole category of surgical achievements. They have simply distanced us +by five hundred years. That is, I believe that in five hundred years we +can reach the fields of glory which they now occupy. + +Think of laying bare a human lung and treating it with a special +preparation for extreme cases of lung diseases, and also treating it +with a "baking" for department cases of a disease similar to pneumonia. +Perhaps the most wonderful class of operations is performed on the heart +and the brain. + +The heart is laid bare under a sheet of thermal rays. Fatty tissues are +removed and other obstructions eradicated during the regular heart +beats. + +The government grants certain privileges of experimenting on her lowest +class of criminals, and it is well nigh incredible what has been +accomplished by cerebrum operations. + +Certain murderers of vile propensities have been so changed by an +operation on the cerebrum that they have no power of recalling their +past life and are incapable of uttering an oath. And what is more +strange, they are intent on leading an upright life and being intensely +religious withal. + +I am compelled to crowd a world of glorious life into a few paragraphs, +but I hope that I have given such as will be for our good. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A World of Low Life. + + +When one witnesses an exhibition he must, of necessity, look upon the +poorer parts of it. This was my experience in my universal journey, for +on some worlds which I visited I found that human civilization was at a +low ebb. One of the most notable of this class is the world next beyond +Dore-lyn. + +This sphere is one thousand times as large as ours, and the beastly +creatures that inhabit it are four times our size. + +The toilers in the deep valleys of Mars are favorably intelligent +compared with these specimens of humanity. For convenience, I will call +this world Scum. Its people are so constituted that their two arms can +be used as legs; so it is quite common to see these Scumites travel over +their planet like the more graceful of our quadrupeds. Their walking, +however, is principally after our fashion, and they can change about at +pleasure. Either way of travel seems as natural as the other. When they +walk on two limbs, the body is erect, presenting a stature of such +gigantic proportions as to over-awe a representative of our world. + +According to the universal standards of symmetry, these giants have an +animal beauty that is anything but handsome, and they also lack those +facial expressions of higher intelligence that come only through +generations of cultured thinking. Their health is quite perfect and they +live to a great age. + +These Scumites have a language singularly their own. It is so totally +different from any of our conceptions of speech that I can scarcely find +words to describe it. + +The medium of conversation is the Notched Rod. It is about twelve feet +long with various kinds of notches cut along the two sides. Such a stick +is possessed by every Scumite who expects to hold extended or +descriptive conversations. It is usually held by a skin strung around +the neck. While one of these persons is talking, two or three of his +fingers pass from notch to notch along the rod. These indentures of the +rod represent, in their language, certain kinds of sounds and are used +to assist the vocal organs in expressing the more intricate combinations +of ideas. Naturally, the listener watches the fingers more than the +mouth. + +It is amusing to see a Scumite busily engaged in delivering a speech to +a few of his fellow creatures. It would remind you of a person playing a +fife or violin without producing any sound. + +The children of Scum learn this rod language just the same as our +children at first learn to speak our language by observation and +practice. + +The face of a Scumite does not resemble a human face of our planet. The +mouth and jaws are at right angles to ours and this arrangement seems to +be just as convenient to these Scumites as the formation of our mouth is +to us. The nose lies above the mouth, but is relatively much higher, its +point coming between the two eyes which are situated more toward the +sides of the head. + +The startling fact about this world is that at one time in its past +history fair intelligence reigned on a few parts of the planet. These +intelligent sections were working their way upward on the measureless +incline of progress and had won some distinctions in their sciences, as +well as their religious devotions. These bright spots on the surface of +this large orb were surrounded with large black patches of war-like +humanity and, between these two extremes, a warfare of subjection or +extermination raged without any hope or peace. + +The educated Scumites had a few advantages in methods of war, but with +all this they were not able to withstand the vast hordes that swept down +upon them. Brute force won the battle and the accumulated light of four +thousand years flickered until it was no more. + +It was a fatal day for Scum when its mad inhabitants blew out the last +of the candles that had promised to give them light. + +When this sad and blighting victory was accomplished, these uncivilized +tribes rejoiced more hilariously than at one time our Indians rejoiced +when celebrating their victories in the wild scalp dances. + +Thus the dark shadows fell on this huge world. The captured educated +classes made a heroic effort to continue their cultured manners and +religious life, but the prejudice against them and their ways was so +great that they were compelled to live in the lower strata or suffer the +pain of death. In process of time, the wild woods flourished where once +the temples of science and pure religion reared their imposing pillars. + +What can we expect of such a race of people who have drifted from the +light of civilization for so long a period? As I looked at their customs +and their ways, I was reminded of a garden that has run wild. Here and +there I could see traces of the once thrifty life now almost choked out +by the overpowering crop of weeds. + +Gradually the people became worse and worse. Sin played havoc and built +carnal fires around which these children of men gathered. Sensuality +became the ruling passion and, in less than five hundred years of our +time, the last family observance had died away and these creatures +wallowed in the quagmire of fleshly lusts, compared with which the brute +life of our world is highly respectable. "Free Love" was rampant and +human offspring was cared for by mothers, or at least by such as were +willing to assume the task. No one was supposed to know who was his +father. + +I saw this sad and sickening spectacle against which my instincts +revolted with horror. It is true that if man is left totally unbridled, +he sinks to a depth which it would be impossible for any species of the +animal creation to reach. + +As I continued looking on this low life with its horrors too numerous +and too dreadful to mention, my thoughts flew back to the world whence I +came, and to America where I was born, and I remembered of some who +advocated "Free Love." "Let their arms be withered," I cried, rather +than have such a thistle fasten itself in the soil of our social life. + +Let the libertine of our world go to the world of Scum where he belongs, +or rise to the dignity of man whose image he bears. + +[Illustration: Great Battle between Low Tribes on Scum.] + +Compared with our world, the physical features of Scum are all +fashioned on a much larger scale, and the mountains, rivers and +vegetation are five times greater than ours; so are also the many +varieties of wild and domestic animals. + +The inhabitants of Scum are divided into many warring tribes, and it is +fearful to see the conflicts that take place. During my brief stay I +witnessed one of the big battles between two of the stronger tribes. One +hundred and fifty thousand men went dashing into an enemy of greater +numbers. It was a foot ball melee on a vast scale. Weapons were all of +the hand-to-hand type, except the spear wagons which were indeed clumsy +weapons of war. + +Nothing is known of surrender or a flag of truce, so the conflict raged +horribly to a bitter end until eighty thousand bruised victors +participated in the jubilant feast that followed. Over two hundred +thousand Scumites lay dead on the field and along the mountain ridges. +According to past history, another such great battle is not liable to +occur for another generation. + +The past religion of these giants is not even on a par with idolatry. +There are many saints sleeping in their graves, bright remnants of the +time of the old civilization and religion. + +Amidst all this present moral wreck of humanity, there are a few +indications that point to better times. The nobler people of Scum are +banding together with the avowed purpose of bringing back the light of +culture and refinement. But it will require several thousand years of +determined effort to climb to the height from whence their ancestors +were cruelly and thoughtlessly dragged. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A World of Highest Invention. + + +After my profitable stay in this immense solar system in the Milky Way, +I crossed the vast dome of the heavens and lighted on Sirius, the +brightest star in all the canopy of night. Here I found the fire life of +Alpha Centaurus repeated, but I did not pause to study the odd phases +presented to my view. + +Onward I moved to survey the remarkable systems of worlds that revolve +around Sirius. It is a veritable medley of planets, large and small, +inhabited and barren, sinless, sinful and millennial. A little universe +packed in a nutshell, figuratively speaking. + +The orb of this group that first held my attention is very notable +indeed. I have labeled it "High Invention," and it is still entitled to +that distinction. It revolves around Sirius at a distance of seven +million miles and is thirty-three times as large as our world, with +physical features and climate quite dissimilar. + +Here, in this world of ours, we are proud of the wonderful genius +displayed by our inventors, and is not this conceit pardonable? + +If this world should stand and inventive genius continue at its present +compound rate of progress, what may we expect to see a hundred or a +thousand years hence? Now imagine yourself looking down upon a world +where the highest inventive skill is found. Such was my privilege at +this time in the course of my universal journey. + +This surprising world is inhabited by a persevering race of human +beings, among whom are a large number of illustrious characters who walk +in the light of ten thousand years of human achievements. + +It need not be said that I was intensely interested in the study of this +phenomenal world which I will call Ploid. I went from one portion of the +planet to another, continually remaining invisible. After I had +witnessed the unequaled sights, I paused to complete my memoranda and +now, as I review my jottings, I am at a loss to know what few things I +should select to try to make intelligible to my fellow-men who live on +this infinitesimal speck which is our world. First, let me call +attention to: + + +THEIR TRIUMPHS IN THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. + +The people of Ploid have in their possession a remarkable line of +fertilizers, not in the form of ground bones, but acidulous juices. +These juices were improved for three thousand years until there was a +particular liquid suited to each separate class of vegetables. + +As used at the present time, a certain amount of the growth-acid is +poured directly about the seed at the time of planting. This acid has a +magical effect upon the soil and it is possible, by repeated +fertilizing, to raise in two weeks a crop of zoftas, a vegetable similar +to our potatoes. For raising a crop in two weeks the fertilizer costs +one-half the value of the zoftas, and for maturing a crop in four weeks +the fertilizer costs about three-eighths of the value of the zoftas. + +Thus it is possible to raise six of these crops in one of our years. +This law obtains throughout the whole vegetable creation. However, in +ordinary circumstances, the stimulating acid is used in very light +quantities. The people have learned by experience that vegetables have a +better flavor when they have been brought to maturity by the slower +processes. + +These wonderful fertilizers are a blessed boon in the time of "crop +failures," for then the same crop can be grown anew from the seed and +hurried to maturity before the close of the season. + +The curse of the vegetable worms has been reduced to a minimum on this +world of Ploid. The chemists have labored patiently for one thousand +years to produce a substance that will not destroy vegetable seed and at +the same time kill all forms of parasites. The results have been +gratifying, and with considerable pleasure I viewed a garden of the +various odd-shaped vegetables that are grown, without being repulsed at +the sight of such crawling specimens as tomato and cabbage worms. + +The happiest result of this worm-killing substance is seen in the work +it accomplishes on fruit and nut trees. There is triple the variety of +nuts on Ploid, and they are used for food more generally than in our +world. There is no such an animal as a hog and no lard is used. The +substitute is found in four varieties of nut oil, the result of a sweet +and clean vegetable growth. Nuts are raised in great abundance, for they +also supply the base for a spread just as appetizing and more economical +than butter. + + +THEIR MODES OF TRAVEL. + +The Ploidites have been traveling in the air for twenty-five hundred +years, but they cannot control their air-ships sufficiently in all kinds +of weather. The atmosphere of Ploid is relatively lighter than ours, +which has made aerial travel more difficult to perfect than it would be +in our world. + +The main traffic, both passenger and freight, is carried on by the Tube +Line, a wonderful system perfected through thousands of years of +painstaking labor. + +Two immense tubes, lying side by side, each ten feet in diameter, made +of a substance more durable than steel, form the road bed of this +lightning system of travel. The cigar-shaped cars have hard +rubber-wheels and fit over raised bars all around on the inside of the +immense Tube. + +The motor power is called Sky-rallic, and is communicated throughout the +whole Tube Line by Brosis, a porous metal running in thin narrow bands. + +This Tube Line runs without a curve from one division of the road to +another, except in rare cases where a bend is absolutely necessary. In a +mountainous region I noticed a stretch of Tube Line without a bend +running sixty miles, according to our measurement. On prairies, the +unbroken stretches are much longer. + +The cars in this Tube Line travel with fearful rapidity. It requires two +or three miles to reach dashing speed, after which a run of fifty miles +is made in eight or ten minutes. No precaution need be taken by the +motorman as nothing can get into the tube and only one train is allowed +in a section at one time. Certain hours are given to passenger traffic +and others to freight traffic. An immense amount of freight can thus be +carried in one hour. It is possible to send a through freight car two +thousand miles in ten or twelve hours. Express cars are never connected +with passengers cars. They are run on their own schedule and sometimes +attached to freight cars. + +This immense Tube Line was built by the government at great expense, but +it is proving very satisfactory. No storms or floods interfere. No +grade-crossings and no flying dust are known in this Tube Line which has +brought the ends of Ploid together. Think of a person crossing a vast +continent in a day, for the cars in this Tube Line run with frightful +speed across the long stretches of level. They make as high as a +three-hundred mile run in forty minutes, without stopping. + +The signal and telegraph stations are fifty miles apart, sometimes more. +In these long runs the motorman stops only when a signal is turned +against him or if by accident he discerns a train in the Tube ahead of +him. + +The Tube Line is lighted by oval transparencies, in size and shape +resembling an egg, soldered in specially prepared holes of the Tube. +The cars are not supplied with air from the tube. Fresh air is obtained +from the evaporation of a semi-solid. + +On the top of this Tube Line there is a double railroad used for local +travel, both passenger and freight. + + +THEIR STORAGE BATTERIES. + +Compared with our world, the fuel of Ploid is very scarce, but less is +required to supply the industries. Nearly all power is obtained from the +winds, running water and the sun's energy. + +The winds are harnessed so that they blow not in vain. Almost every home +of ordinary intelligence owns one of the many kinds of storage batteries +used in this world. These batteries are usually located beneath the +lowest floor of the house, and they constitute the reservoir whence is +obtained the necessary power for lighting, heating and cooling the +apartments of the home. + +People who live along streams of water utilize these streams for similar +purposes. It is now conceded in Ploid that the storage batteries of the +home can be supplied as economically and effectively by winds and the +sun's heat as by running streams; hence it is a common sight to see +residences throwing out the old water machinery and introducing the +latest design of wind-employers or sun-harnessers. + +There are certain emergencies when the storage batteries fail to work or +when the power is exhausted; this happens when there is a very slight +wind for several days or a heavy drain of power. In such cases fuel is +used for heating and lighting. + + +PALACES OF PLOID. + +The palaces of Ploid are dreams of beauty and convenience, outshining +and surpassing by far the finest mansions on the face of our globe. In +these abodes the sum total of glory and convenience converges, flowing +from almost numberless discoveries during the last one hundred years. In +round numbers, there have been five hundred thousand patents issued in +the United States in the nineteenth century, but the Ploidites excel us +by double that number for a similar territorial limit. + + +THE REWARD OF INVENTORS. + +Patents are not issued in Ploid. The government gives liberal rewards to +each inventor or discoverer. The applicant appears personally before the +District Committee on Inventions. If this Committee considers the +invention worthy of a reward, the applicant is recommended to one of the +Central Committees at the seat of the government. + +This Central Committee carefully considers the invention or discovery, +places on it an estimate as to its local or governmental value, and +fills out papers in accordance with its findings. This paper must be +signed by the Chief Inventor, and the applicant at once receives his +first installment which is continued, in some instances, during natural +life. In the case of some extraordinary invention, the immediate +relatives of the inventor are pensioned for five or ten years in his +honor. + +Naturally, under this system, the government owns all inventions, and +reaps a heavy return from them, enough to pay all the installments to +the inventors and the officers employed to carry on this branch of the +government work. + + +SOME PARTICULAR INVENTIONS. + +One of the most convenient inventions I saw on this planet of Ploid was +the carrying of a photograph or image along a wire. The people of Ploid +cannot only talk to one another many miles apart, but they can also see +each other while they are talking. + +This wonderful attachment to their telephones, by which the human face +is also carried over the wire, was perfected over one thousand years +ago. I herewith give a few uses to which this invention is applied. + +1. Office men have photograph wires connected with their homes, and they +can thus talk to and see any one of the family at their pleasure. + +2. It can be so arranged that the wife in the home can, by touching a +little knob, see into her husband's office with which the wire is +connected, or the husband in the office can see into the room of the +house with which the connection is made. At either end of the wire, the +vision can be obstructed by drawing a curtain over the sensitive plate. + +3. The foreman of an industrial work shop can see from his home the men +under his charge. + +4. The superintendent of any large works can, at his will, peer into any +apartment he wishes from his head office. The advantages of this +arrangement can be easily seen. + +5. A minister can see from his study the nature of his audience before +he leaves home. + +6. Farmers can watch their cattle and their fruits without leaving the +house or barn, according to where the connections are made. + +7. Persons can be in bed at night, and if they imagine they hear a +robber in any room they can first turn on the photograph current and +then the light flash. In this way one can look, without leaving his bed, +into each room of the house. + +Having given a few illustrations of this marvelous invention, the reader +can readily see the variety of uses which it will serve. + +Their latest discovery in light is a decided improvement over our +electric light. I know of no sensible name to give it, but the name that +comes nearest to describing it, according to our terms, would be +Phosphorous Light. It gives a mild but yet positive radiance, and +closely resembles diffused sunlight. + + +THE AGES OF PLOID. + +One of the strangest theories of the whole universe I found on this +cultured world of Ploid. They divide time into three general periods of +ages: + +1. Age of Fire. + +2. Temperate Age. + +3. Age of Ice. + +The people teach that there was a race of human beings who inhabited +their world when it was yet in a molten state and that, as their earth +cooled off, the race became extinct. + +This age, they claim, was followed by the Temperate Age, or the age in +which they are now living. + +It is also claimed that, when their earth cools and the frigid blasts +freeze out the world, there will gradually commence the Age of Ice, or +the age in which human species will exist by reason of the earth's stiff +coldness. + +I had no way of learning the truth or falsity of this theory. + + +THOUGHT PHOTOGRAPHY. + +These Ploidites have distanced us in the study of the nervous system, +including the intricate problems of the cerebrum and cerebellum. They +have ascertained, by long ages of observation and experimenting, the +exact effect of every kind of impulse on the brain matter. The experts +are able to tell, at a post-mortem examination, what kinds of thinking +were most prevalent during the subject's life, just as easily as we can +judge the great or little use of the arm by an examination of its +muscles. + +But more wonderful, a thousand fold, is their ability to follow the +course of thought in a living cerebrum after the brain has been made +visible by a light more potent than the X ray. After this exposure the +operator, with his wizard magnifying lens, watches the tiny tremulous +brain cells in their infinitesimal quivering, as they carry messages +from the soul to the world of sense and being. + +The voluntary nerve action is distinguished from the involuntary, and +there is no escape from the conclusions formed by an expert observer. +The parts of the brain at work must of necessity determine the nature of +the thought, and amplified experiments have been made to prove the +correctness of these processes. + +This scientific mind reading impressed me as the highest expression of +inventive skill that had come to my attention in any world of space, and +gave me new light on some of the old mysteries of mind and matter. + +I tarried as long as possible on this instructive planet and have not +yet forgotten many of the valuable hints of inventions that can be +reproduced in my own world. Surely we are far enough away from Ploid to +escape any charge of infringement, should we proceed to patent some of +their inventions. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A Singular Planet. + + +I visited the other seventy worlds that revolve around Sirius. Among +them is one of note, called Zik, which is forty-two hundred millions of +miles from its sun, and is slightly smaller than our world. It is +inhabited by a race of pigmies which I will call Zikites. Wonderful +indeed is the intelligence of these creatures, although their form is +out of symmetry according to our standards. I will therefore avoid a +description of their physical features, lest it might mar the picture of +their accomplishments. + +The air of Zik is heavy and the sky is opal in its effects. The chemists +have thus far found in nature ninety elementary substances, and it is +partly due to this large variety that the Zikites have surpassed their +fellow men in thousands of worlds. + +As you study the past events of this unusual planet, you are reminded +of our own history. On Zik there are heathen tribes and all grades of +conflicting civilized nations. + +War has reddened this distant world for several thousand years, and as +yet there is no peace. Notwithstanding all this unceasing upheaval, the +tide of human progress has steadily risen. It does appear that the +highest light of intellect is generated like electric light through +sharp friction. + +The Zikites have had their Men of War, vessels of mighty strength and +death-dealing in their action. But all such defense has been abandoned +over five hundred years ago, and it came about in a natural manner. One +of the many illustrious inventors perfected the submarine boat and the +flying-machine at about the same time. Their flying-machine might +appropriately be called in our language, the Flying Devil, for such it +is if you consider its destroying power. One of these ominous looking +machines is capable of destroying a whole navy as fast as it can move +high in the air from one vessel to another. + +It can also tear to pieces an enemy's camp that lies in the open field. +All this is accomplished by dropping shells composed partly of some +elements not found in our world. These shells are made in such a way +that they explode as soon as they touch any substance, and the +concussion is much more terrible than is caused by our most powerful +explosives. Because no ship could hold together under such destructive +shells, the nations abandoned their navies and devoted their energy to +devising a safe camp for soldiers and to building these air-vessels with +additional improvements. + +It was found that the only way to protect a camp was to cover it with a +water proof shed, so constructed that nine or ten inches of water would +remain on the roof. Then a wide shallow trench was dug around the shed +and kept filled with water. These shells will not explode if they fall +in that depth of water, but will explode in water of greater depth. You +can see at a glance how difficult it is to manage an army under these +circumstances. The only redeeming feature is that the enemy also is +compelled to resort to the same protection. An international law +forbids the destruction of homes in times of war. + +[Illustration: The Battle of the "Flying Devils."] + +Wars are of short duration. Usually the decisive conflict is fought in +the air, and is the most terrible of them all. Imagine two of these +Flying Devils approaching one another far above the surface of Zik. Each +vessel is set in action long before it is in range of the other in the +hope of firing the first effective shot. Each party of the conflict +knows that the air vessel first struck will be at an end forever, for it +will be blown to pieces and every life on board will be shattered into +shapeless masses, while the wreckage falls amidst the burning of the +combustibles. What a horrible ending of a short battle! + +The wisest of the Zikites have proposed many plans to settle +international differences but, like us, they have failed to suggest any +plan that has proved to be practicable. + +The largest nation of Zik has advanced far ahead of us on the labor +question, but this was not reached until the contest between capital and +labor had left its blood-marks through many centuries. + +A brief description of the manner in which the industrial problem was +solved will not be out of place. I will waste no words n showing the +many points of difference between our customs and those of Zik. + +After hundreds of years of painful struggling, the many laborers of this +largest nation completed a solid organization and thereby gained control +of the whole government. Then, in their zeal to legislate in favor of +the laboring classes, the ruling element stepped to the other extreme by +passing many unreasonable laws. Things passed along in this unsettled +condition until a certain few of the labor leaders, having become +wealthy themselves, yielded to a heavy bribe and amended the laws so as +to favor the wealthy minority. The magnates of capital shrewdly took +advantage of this traitorship and, in the following campaign, won the +national election. + +The wealthy, now having the reins of power in their own hands, took the +initiative and called for a consultation between the heads of the +government and the chief leaders of labor. + +This proved to be a wise political move and, as a result, a new system +of laws relating to all trades and occupations was enacted. The +following conditions still prevail: + +1. A day's work consists of one-fourth less hours. + +2. A minimum scale of wages is adopted for each trade. This scale is +based upon the price of certain staple articles, and within a certain +limit it rises or falls with the price of these necessities. + +3. All regular citizens must be supplied with work if they desire it. If +they cannot get employment from some firm or corporation, the government +officials represented locally must supply it or its equivalent in money. +The government controls enough of the business to employ two-thirds of +the male population. This enables the government to take so great a +responsibility and bear it with satisfactory results. + +4. Any man through negligence failing to support his family is put to +the government penitentiary service, and his family is thereafter +supported from the public treasury. + +5. A widow or orphan is cared for by regular authorities. The by-laws +of this fifth article regulate the work of women. + +6. No credit is allowed except on a government credit-slip signed by the +local representative of the state. If the bill is not paid by the one +making the debt, the amount of which is always stipulated, the +government will pay it and proceed to collect it in one of three ways. +The last resort is according to article four. + +There are several other sections governing private ownership of +property, land and business. These new laws have had a very good effect. +The number of persons getting immensely wealthy gradually decreased, and +the average wealth of the laborers increased. The government has the +power at any time to form a trust or combination of any line of business +by paying liberally to those already engaged in it. This assists the +government in carrying its heavy financial burdens, and every family is +assured of support if the soil produces enough to feed the people. + +And now if I knew how to describe elements that have no resemblance to +anything in our world, I would proceed to tell a story of interest to +chemists. These Zikites have formed gases and solids unknown to us, and +naturally they are capable of performing experiments more wonderful than +anything ever known in our world. When I saw their wizard-like +performances I thought that the marvelous feats of the Orient were being +performed on a scale more mysterious and magnificent. + +To see a man play with red hot irons and dance in a seething furnace, +makes one believe that his eyes are deceiving him. + +I saw a man draw the birds from heaven and dormant reptiles from the +soil, but ask me not to tell how. A few of these Zikites have discovered +some wonderful secrets of nature and will not disclose them except to +certain ones of their own lineage. One of these secrets is the art of +embalming the dead so perfectly that human features are retained forever +unless destroyed by fire or human effort. The embalming fluid contains +some of the elements not found in our world, but this is not the total +secret. The body must lie in an air-tight receptacle into which a +secret gas is pumped. The dead body, lying in this receptacle for two +hours, absorbs certain parts of the gas which enters the pores and +touches those parts of the dead body not reached by the injected fluid. +By this process no part of the body is subject to putrefaction and the +muscles all retain their rigidity, so that one hundred years after +burial the features are full, although discolored. + +Not many of the common people are thus embalmed. But the bodies of +prominent men and women are thus treated at government expense and +unborn generations can look upon the full contour of their faces. + +Another secret held by these experts is the art of maintaining youthful +vigor in old age. This is a very expensive method and the government +prohibits any one securing this treatment who has not won special honor +in one or another particular channel. One of the highest distinctions +bestowed upon any citizen of Zik is to grant him the "Angel's Honor," +which entitles him to receive the Vigor Treatment during the balance of +his natural life. This one thing, more than any other, is the secret of +Zik having so long a list of illustrious characters. It is the ambition +of each boy or girl to make progress and some day win the "Angel's +Honor." + +The religious life of these Zikites is unusually intense. Their language +is much more cumbersome than ours. They have a small book which contains +a list of great truths whose authors claim to have been influenced by +the All-Powerful, or the same as our God. This book has had a remarkable +history, and has moulded the life and character of millions. Every +person is left to his own notions in religion, and we see here the same +picture that confronts us on our own planet, the very good and the very +bad in the same house and neighborhood. They build but few churches, but +here and there a home of a believer is the center of a worshiping +company. On special occasions the worshipers rent or secure large public +buildings and have an enthusiastic time. + +At many places their Bible speaks of a place where the departed go after +death, beyond the Zik life. These worshipers are linked to their God by +the same kind of love-chords that bind Christians to their Master in +our world. + +You cannot imagine my interest and my joy as I learned that the Zikites +are looking forward to a period of time corresponding to our Millennium. +Their religious literature is full of references to this coming golden +age, and many poetical compositions point to it with rapturous melody of +language. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +The Diamond World. + + +When one reads of the size and population of our world he is thrilled +with the idea of its greatness. But when he travels over land and sea, +visiting the many points of interest, he is impressed four-fold with the +magnitude of the Earth and the vast numbers that populate it. + +It is infinitely more so in regard to the many suns and planets that +compose the universe. I had read of the distances of space and of the +number of celestial bodies that are scattered throughout these +measureless expanses, and I was profoundly impressed with the vastness +of created things and the eternal revolutions of the countless spheres. +But when I took my continued flight away from the solar system of Sirius +and was privileged to get a passing glimpse of many other solar systems, +I was overawed a thousand-fold at the myriad motions of the myriad +worlds, each serving its little part through the passing cycles to +carry out the plan of the Infinite Mind. + +My next pause was at the glorious constellation of Orion on the star +Rigel. This brilliant orb is not inhabited, but more than one-half of +the worlds revolving around it sustain human life. + +After I had taken a passing glimpse of a few worlds belonging to this +system, I proceeded to visit another world that revolves around Rigel at +a distance of sixteen hundred million miles. It is a trifle larger than +our world and is inhabited by only about one-tenth as many people. + +This is the brightest planet I had ever seen, for it dazzled and +sparkled like pearls of ice in the sun, and yet it gave forth no light +of its own. + +I soon learned the secret of all this scintillation. I had come to a +world that seemed to be covered with diamonds and precious stones. The +mountains were barren of all vegetation and glistened with all the glory +of a hundred rainbows. + +I presumed that I had come to immense beds of quartz, but the rare +brilliancy of the whole scene set me to work to ascertain the value of +these stones. To my astonishment, I found that the shining mountains and +valleys were filled with genuine diamonds and precious stones, some of +which are very rare according to our classification. I was dazed at the +sight, first because of its brilliancy and beauty, and next because of +the fabulous fortunes that were lying at my feet. + +Then I transported myself to another part of the planet that I might get +a view of its living fields of vegetation. Alas, I again met the shining +of countless gems, set by nature in ledges of rock and massed in +confused heaps all around me. + +"What a rich world!" I inwardly murmured. "How can people live on +diamonds?" + +As I was thus musing I sped onward to one of the soil centers of this +world. Here I found a small city built of diamonds and choice stones of +which the people thought no more than we do of the stones brought down +from our quarries. + +The soil was almost worshiped. Only the wealthiest could afford to have +it in their homes for the growth of flowers. Fortunately, the soil is +very productive and, by reason of its scarcity, it has received such +careful attention that all worthless weeds have been actually choked out +several thousand years ago. + +Thus, the soil being so desirable and staple an article, it was eagerly +sought after by all who lived on this shining world. Yea, some +sacrificed their all that they might obtain a goodly portion of the +soil. This desire was so great that it became the ruling passion of many +people to accumulate soil all the days of their life, and many died of +grief because they could not succeed in satisfying their ambitions. + +Now when the speculators saw that the soil was so indispensable and much +desired by the people, and that out of it were the issues of life, the +wealthier and more crafty of them said among themselves: + +"Come, let us buy all the soil, we and our brethren in all the soil +centers, and let us call ourselves a Trust, signifying that we will +trust one another to the secrets of our enterprise." + +And behold this saying seemed good in the eyes of these wise men, and +they labored diligently until, in the passing of a few years, they had +secured unto themselves full possession of all the soil of the Diamond +World. + +And it was so in the course of time that these corporations held a great +meeting and they said: + +"Barns we will build to store products of the soil, and behold we will +sell from these storehouses to our workmen for the labor that they may +render unto us." + +This scheme was pleasing to all the capitalists and they rejoiced in the +bright prospect of the future. So they built great barns and thus laid +away the products of the soil. Then they appointed agents to sell +whatsoever the people wished. + +And it came to pass, as the seasons came and went, that these +capitalists gave the laborers less for their toil, and charged them more +for food at the supply stations. Thus the conditions became so severe +that a man could work from the rising of the Sun to the setting thereof, +and they earn scarcely enough to keep his family alive. + +After this manner the land owners grew more and more wealthy, built +unto themselves handsome little villages, and lived in happiness and +refinement. They also erected for themselves select schools and reserved +beautiful plots for their luxury and amusement. + +Then did the members of this Trust, in order to protect themselves from +all possible trouble, pass a civil law forbidding any laborer to own an +inch of soil. Thus it was very easy to convict a man of theft if soil +could be found upon his person or premises. + +Now, behold, there were many little spots of vegetation scattered here +and there over this whole world. But the agents of the Trust sent out +numerous expeditions to gather up all the loose earth that could be +found and carry it to the soil centers. This work was so completely done +that every nook and corner yielded its accumulated dust to enlarge the +gardens at the soil centers and thereby increase the riches of the +Trust. + +Now, as time passed on, the children of the laborers were also employed +to assist in earning bread, and in the course of a few hundred years +the school houses in the district of the laborers were torn down, as it +was impossible for these children to receive an education, since they +must needs work for their sustenance. + +After many ages the members of the Trust had become so hardened that +they no longer regarded the wishes of the laboring people, but pushed +everything to increase their own selfish gain, insomuch that they +succeeded in securing the passage of certain laws making the burdens of +the laborers still more heavy. + +And now, when the capitalists saw that the people did not rebel, they +again counseled among themselves on this wise: + +"Why should there be so much labor lost in continually quarrying new +sepulchers in our diamond ridges, and why should there be so much dust +lying idle in the old graves? Come, let us have a law that the dust in +all graves over one hundred years old shall be sold at auction, unless +the graves are redeemed by a certain amount of soil. Then these empty +tombs can be again filled with the dead of our servants and their +children. Thus let it be continued throughout coming generations +forever. Each year this auction shall be held to dispose of the dust +remaining in one-hundred-year-old sepulchers." + +These suggestions found favor in the eyes of the Trust who proceeded at +once to take the necessary steps to incorporate these regulations into +the laws of the commonwealth. The laborers stoutly opposed the adoption +of these partial measures, but they were powerless because the Trust +bribed enough of the legislators to carry their point. + +All this happened many centuries ago, so that when I was there I saw the +full program of one of these spectral auctions and was chilled with +horror at the proceedings. + +Every year this peculiar auction is held at each soil center. The +wealthy are able to redeem their sepulchers, but the poor, having no +soil, cannot satisfy the law; so the dust of their ancestors must be +sold. Laborers are sent out to open the one-hundred-year-old sepulchers +along the diamond ridges and carry the coffins to one place. Here they +are publicly opened and the bones and dust gathered into one +receptacle after which the weird auction begins. No one can compete with +the corporations and no one tries. + +[Illustration: The Most Horrible Auction in Our Universe.] + +The legal form of the auction is soon over and the half ton or ton of +dust is legally bought by the corporations whose officers order it to be +sprinkled over the gardens. It serves the same purpose as phosphate in +our fields. This awful process is repeated each year. The sepulchers, +emptied thus, are open for new burials. So you can see that with all the +gruesomeness of this whole business, there is an economic side to it, +and the people have come to view it all in a philosophical manner. + +When this wretched custom was first inaugurated a bitter wail ascended +from the ranks of the laboring classes, for they well knew whose graves +would be opened. Never was there such a stir among the working classes +of people. They held mass meetings and grew loudly indignant until the +Trust became alarmed at the uprising. + +Then did some of these rich sharpsters, who were best gifted in speech, +go out to meet their servants, addressing them thus: + +"Let your hearts be at peace, my fellow creatures. This new law that we +have just passed is a boon to every toiler, for we seek to lighten your +burdens by utilizing the idle dust from the tombs. Hereafter we propose +to give, free of charge, a sepulcher to every toiler in which he may +take his rest for one hundred years. These graves shall be for you and +your children forever. Is it not a precious thought that one hundred +years after you are dead, your bodies shall again mingle with the soil +and, without voluntary effort or pain, help to support your kindred yet +unborn? + +"If our present silly customs should prevail, the time will come when +half our soil will have been carried to the sepulchers, and therefore +your tasks would be more severe." + +After this manner spake the glib-tongued fellows and, behold, their +speeches were as oil on the troubled waters. Under their sophistries the +laborers were content and peacefully went to their tasks again after +three months of unrest. + +Then did the members of the corporations consult again and spake among +themselves in this fashion: + +"For our protection let us gather, from the laborers, the youthful and +the strong, have them taught in tactics of war, and make it unlawful for +any to carry deadly weapons, except these trained men, whom we will call +our Soil Defenders, and if any of the laborers should ask: 'Wherefore +are we called to do this work?' we will say to them, 'For the defense of +the soil and the defense of our families are ye called, therefore quit +yourselves nobly.' + +"And it shall come to pass that when the laborers commence a foolish +struggle for their own selfish gain, we can use these trained soldiers +to keep them in peace, and thus we need not spend so much of our breath +by way of persuasion." + +Behold this thing seemed reasonable and seasonable in the eyes of the +Trust. They did according to these suggestions and gathered unto +themselves, in the name of the civil law, the strongest of the youth and +trained them in all the ways of war. Thus did these workmen lose all +their liberties by slow degrees, until they were no more troublesome, +but labored like slaves to get the wherewithal to live. + +As I witnessed this sad picture resulting from the inhumanity of man to +man, I was at once reminded of what I had seen on Mars, and of the +struggle now pending in my own world. Once more I breathed a silent +prayer to the Ruler of all worlds in behalf of the crushed hands and +bleeding hearts that are bruised in order that certain men may make +their thousands in a day. + +I studied the social life of the refined villagers and learned, with +much interest, that the word they use for soil, is used in the same +esteemed connection in which we use the word gold or diamond. + +Preachers, teachers and orators make endless references to the soil. +Finally I approached, in a visible form, a few professors who were +engaged in a special discussion. + +They were alarmed at my sudden appearance, not knowing whence I came nor +what sort of an animal I might be. I quickly calmed their troubled minds +by using language they easily understood, and explained that I was +neither a ghost nor a spirit, but a mere citizen of another world, +having, for a limited period, a free excursion ticket to a thousand +worlds, and that I chose their planet as one whereon to spend a fleeting +period. + +Not having been accustomed to such visitants, they were at first +skeptical and thoroughly overawed at my presence. + +I purposely became as familiar as possible and cautioned them to remain +in the selfsame room and spread no notice of my presence. To this +request they reluctantly consented. + +After my nonplused auditors gained their senses somewhat they ventured +to reply to my coaxing questions; these finally led to the following +interrogations on their part: + +"How large is your world?" came a question from one. + +"Not quite so large as this one," I replied. + +"Have you much soil there?" + +"A million times more than you have here." + +"What a wonderfully rich world! The people must be gloriously happy +with such fabulous wealth around them." + +"The bulk of my fellow-men there are not happy," I sighed. "So many +spend their lives looking for diamonds and gold, the most of whom are +doomed to disappointment." + +An incredulous smile crept over the faces of my newly-made friends, and +by it I read the doubt that was arising in their hearts as to the truth +of my utterance. + +"My words are sincere," I insisted. "If you could take one bushel of +your diamonds to the world where I live, you could get more soil for +them than you have on your whole globe." + +"That world is heaven," exclaimed a few of my hearers at once. "A world +of such abundant soil cannot be any other place." Then I learned that +their conception of Heaven is not a place of gold-paved streets, but a +place where soil is freely distributed even on the sides of the streets. + +I continued speaking, telling them how diamonds were considered in our +world. These professors were astonished beyond measure at my +description, and each one seemed to crave for the knowledge to transport +a large consignment of their diamonds to our Earth and return with acres +of soil to the Diamond World. + +I spent a felicitous period with these queer-shaped scholars of the +Diamond World. They prayed and begged that I should remain and appear +before the corporations. Their spirits drooped when I told them that if +I had any more time to spend visibly on their world I would prefer to +comfort the laborers and their suffering families who had been so long +deprived of the fair treatment they deserved. + +My hearers became ashen with fear, now feeling doubly assured that I was +a forerunner of some terrible curse that was about to fall upon the +Trusts and corporations whom those professors were serving so +assiduously, without ever speaking a word of protest in favor of the +human slaves around them. + +Once more I related my station. But I spoke in most convincing terms of +the eternal curse with which the Infinite would visit the guilty of all +worlds. + +As I left them I saw that my last words brought no relief to their +faces and, after a long silence, they nervously discussed the whole +affair, not being able to account for the exceptional experience through +which they had just passed. + +I visited, in a form invisible, the mansions of the rich and found that +the most choice ornaments on their parlor shelves consisted of vials of +soil or dirt, and in the homes of the most wealthy only I saw flowering +plants. + +It chanced that I visited this world at the graduating period of the +greater schools. This gave me privilege to hear an oration on "The Soil +and the Diamond," a synopsis of which I will translate as correctly as I +can. It will be remembered that I must use terms and style suitable to +our language. + +"O beautiful soil! Thou art but a type of thy maker invisible. Thou dost +give birth to countless forms and nursest them all from thy own bosom. +From the atom thou bringest the oak, and all its children fall back into +thy arms for succor. From thy own heart spring the infinite types of +vegetable beauty, all painted and frescoed by thy own exquisite +touches. + +"O mysterious soil! Wrapped in thy bosom lie a thousand secrets which, +if I could but read, I might interpret and thus learn anew of my +Creator. Thou holdest the ashes of the millions slain, and the dust of +all our forefathers. + +"O silent soil! How thou workest without the flying shuttle, or the hum +of the busy bees. Thou doest thy greatest deeds without the sounding of +a trumpet. Silently thy atoms take their places to serve in higher +forms. O teach me thy mute language that I may live and sacrifice for +others without my crying and my sighing. + +"O humble soil! Thy elements, when formed into man, or fruit, or any +kind of food, return again without complaint when touched by death. May +I, like thee, take all my condescension in the spirit of humility. + +"O modest soil! Thou are not gaudy like the diamond, sparkling and +dazzling in a brilliant show and living for nothing higher than display. +But thou dost lay aside thy feathery tips, leaving the sun of heaven do +the shining. Thou permittest water crystals to give the rainbow hues, +whilst thou in thy own modest way, continuest to yield sustenance for +man and bird and beast. + +"O instructive soil! Wilt thou not, in thy own wise way, speak to the +thoughtless man who feels content to grovel with the miserable diamond, +who takes his lessons from the dead, dead rock, and feeds his soul upon +such flinty food. Open his ears to hear thy words of life and light, and +may he see in thee the brighter mirror reflecting the God of all." + +This one oration condensed is a fair sample of the others. I listened to +the whole program and then proceeded once more to view the diamond +splendors before I left this world where I was well paid for my +tarrying. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Triumphant Feat of Orion. + + +As I continued ranging among the planets of the constellation of Orion, +I felt an indescribable desire to pause at a very small orb which +revolves around Saiph, a star of the third magnitude. + +Here I found, to my surprise, a gem of a world which I will call Holen. +It is five hundred miles in diameter, and inhabited by a refined race of +human beings, radically different from us in physical contour, but +remarkably similar to us in their mental aspirations. + +As a race they greatly excel us in mechanical engineering. Many +evidences of their skill might be given, but we will be content to give +a description of their monumental engineering feat. + +Long ages ago Holen had cooled to the center, and it became the ruling +passion of her most intelligent inhabitants to communicate from one +side of the globe to the other through an opening of five hundred miles +almost directly through the center of their earth, or more accurately +speaking, through the center of gravity. + +After forty-five hundred years of experimenting the marvelous feat was +accomplished. + +Of all the worlds in the constellation of Orion, large or small, Holen +is the only one that has succeeded in this astounding feat, although it +has been and is being tried on more than a dozen worlds. + +This wonderful opening through Holen's center of gravity is lined with +sections of ribbed metal which cost the governments fabulous sums. This +vast tube was finished thirteen hundred years ago according to our time. + +Many lives were sacrificed in the hazardous work of tunneling. Were it +not for the ribbed metal which afforded protection with its shelving +flanges, the tube could never have been finished. + +At the present time the tube is used for commercial purposes and for +passenger traffic. Air tight cars of special design are used, and only +one car is allowed in the tube at one time. + +[Illustration: The Gravity-Car of Holen.] + +You cannot imagine the frightful velocity of the ride, but the passenger +is not as conscious of this as you might think. The first fifty miles of +the descent is controlled by the exterior or surface engines. The speed +is gradually increased until it reaches that of the falling body. Then +the motorman releases the wizard car and the speed is steady and +terrible until the car dashes past the center of gravity, after which +the speed slackens at a regular rate. The car of its own momentum forces +its way far toward the opposite surface of their earth. + +Just as the carriage comes to a stop, the engineer or motorman, as we +would call him, pulls his lever, thereby fastening the car to the ribbed +side of the tube. At once a signal is given and the long, thin but +strong rope descends to draw the carriage to the surface. + +A perfect system of communication is established from one end of the +ponderous tube to the other. It frequently happens when an attempt is +made to fasten the car that the clamps fail to work and consequently the +carriage commences its second journey toward the center. Another effort +is made to hold the carriage when it again comes to a stop; but if this +is not successful, then comes the most peculiar experience of all. The +carriage of its own momentum continues dashing backward and forward +until it comes to rest at the center of gravity. Then the engineer, by +communicating with the surface, gets the longest stretch of rope and is +drawn two hundred and fifty miles to the surface. + +This world has no atmosphere and life is not sustained by breathing, +neither by the process found on the Moon. + +The inhabitants get their sustenance from the soil with which they must +be connected, directly or indirectly over one-half the time, or they +will suffer in a manner similar to us when we are suffocating. + +From this faint glimpse of their life, it can be seen that the people of +Holen in their habits are totally incongruous to all our conceptions, +and if one of them were to make a visit to our world, everything he +would here see would appear just as ridiculous and unthinkable to him as +the things on their globe did to me. + +As I surveyed this world, everything evidenced the fact that these +people are born engineers. Our Eiffel Tower and Ferris Wheel would be +mere playthings compared with the sky-scraping structures that adorn the +various parts of this little world. It appears that the international +mind runs in this one direction more than in any other, and while they +surpass us in this respect, they are inferior to us in the limitless +field of science and philosophy as well as in the variety of +manufacturing plants. + +In their religion, the Holenites have developed to a high degree. They +have no sacred book akin to our Bible. Their whole authority comes from +the lips of the Divine Family, as we would term it. This family serves +for religion the same purpose as the Royal Family does for the civil +realm in some countries of our world. The Divine Family are genuinely +descended from their sacred ancestors who were, by a visible show of +omnipotent power, appointed and consecrated to the sacred work of +dispensing truth and officiating in all sacraments. The ordination of +all the ministers of Holen must be held by a member of this Divine +Family. By reason of this one source of authority, there is, therefore, +no confliction of creeds. The great battle of the Church is with the +several infidel organizations that give no heed to the genuine religion. + +This Sacred Family received a code of laws which they have held from the +beginning and, strange to say, no one is allowed to copy these laws in +written or printed form. To do so is a type of blasphemy for which a +severe penalty is imposed. Some of the infidel organizations find +delight to print all or a part of these laws and scatter them secretly +among the people. Such documents fall with as much pain on the premises +of a believer as oaths do in our world on the ear of a delicately +trained soul. + +If an infidel wishes to insult a godly pilgrim, he can do it no more +effectively than by secretly fastening to the believer's residence a +piece of material on which is inscribed one or more of these sacred +laws. + +Every believer is required to commit to memory this code of laws by +hearing them from the lips of the minister. It is therefore necessary to +keep in constant touch with the church service so as to be a continual +hearer of these laws, a part of which is repeated every worship day. + +The minister does not preach in the same sense that we understand +preaching. His work comes nearer filling the office of a priest under +the old Jewish church. There is much more form and ceremony than is +found in our system under the Mediator, Jesus Christ. + +The civil law has absolutely nothing to say on the marriage question. +All this is held in the domain of the Church. In truth, the Divine +Family has always regulated this question. If the legality of a marriage +is called in question, all that the civil authorities try to determine +is whether the marriage ceremony was performed in accordance with the +laws of the Divine Family. If this point can be established, the +marriage is declared legal; if not, it is declared to be null and void. +This one subject of matrimony has caused more friction between the +Church and the infidels than all other issues combined. The infidels are +bitterly opposed to take their marriage vows before the minister, yet +this must be done to make their marriage legal. Divorce laws are +unknown, although, in rare cases, papers of separation are granted by +authority and under seal of the Divine Family. + +The religious devotees of Holen look forward to a happier existence when +their mortal life is ended. Their ideas of this future life are quite +similar to our cherished ideas of Heaven. + +In their moral life they have reached a higher plane than we. This is +due to the fact that the Divine Family wield an influence in the civil +realm that cannot be broken. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +The Mute World. + + +I proceeded on my journey until I had reached Alcyone in the famous +constellation of Taurus. On one of the planets revolving around Alcyone, +I found a distinctive class of human beings faintly resembling creatures +that I had seen in several other constellations, but of which I have, as +yet, made no special mention. + +Among these people no audible language is used as a means of +communication. One might think that high civilization would be +impossible without such a vehicle of thought. But on this Mute world +humanity has pushed far along in the great interstellar race for +supremacy. + +A description of the physical features of these Muteites would not only +seem absurd, but would be distorting. Can you imagine a beautiful person +without ears and void of vocal sound, having a head totally out of +shape compared with ours, and with a bodily framework ridiculously new +to us? Such would be a brief word sketch of these far-away mortals of +unusual intelligence. + +These people hold all their conversation by pure thought transmission. +The sense-perception is almost infinitely keen, and gestures play no +part in emphasizing thought. It is amazing to see with what facility +these beings express their ideas one to another. + +In our life one may conceal his thoughts from the most searching human +eye, but this cannot be done on Mute. As a consequence each one can read +the character of his comrades, and the normal citizen well knows what +necessary allowance to make for the impure thoughts that flit through +the mind of his neighbor. + +I studied, with absorbing interest, the many phases of this mental +telepathy, or mind talking, between two or more persons even though +widely separated. Imagine how glorious it must be to have real +fellowship with a friend whose face you cannot see and whose hand you +cannot touch. + +There are limitations to this delightsome way of talking. A person can +hold conversation with only one absent friend at a time and then only +when each one concentrates his thoughts on the other. What wireless +telegraphy is to our world, this mental conversation is to the world of +Mute, and it is possible that we may reach a higher degree of +proficiency in this direction after we become still better acquainted +with the laws of the human mind. + +When I think of the many unaccountable heart-thrills that send their +emotions of joy and hatred into our passing life, I am somewhat +persuaded that we speak this tongueless language more than we imagine. +Some day we may learn the secrets that are now so heavily veiled and +thereby put to naught the glory of our present modes of communication. +Until then we will plod along with the telegraph, telephone, wireless +telegraphy and our ever-changing knowledge of telepathic intercourse. + +I will give the philosophy of this perfect means of expressing thought +as clearly as I can. + +As sound waves are created in our atmosphere by actual vibration, so +are thought waves created on Mute by mental activity focused in any one +point of the brain. Our way of expressing thought by audible words is +not conceivable to these people. If one of their inhabitants were to +visit our Earth, he would be at a loss to account for our movements of +mouth and gestures of body when we are in the act of conversation. + +The social life of Mute is marked with many peculiarities. Males and +females seldom ever associate together, and social purity sends its +sweet influences over the whole planet. + +A science which is similar to Phrenology plays an important part in all +the social customs of this sphere. It decides the marital destiny of +each person, and no two are recommended to join in wedlock until they +have been pronounced physical and mental mates by the official +psychologists. + +On this interesting world I found the most summary punishment for +adulterers and fornicators. When these crimes are clearly proven, the +guilty parties are put to death after a lingering sentence. This is a +most terrible punishment, but it has proven that, although a few must +suffer this penalty, the general good of the whole population is thereby +much increased. + +I was much amazed at the construction and possibilities of the human +mind when I observed the manner in which certain suspected criminals +were examined in order to prove or disprove the crime of which they were +charged. The doors of the soul were unlocked and the past +thought-images, with their mental impressions, were thrown open to view. +How can a Muteite deny the crime which is photographed on the sensitive +living plates of his own mind! This reproducing can be effected only by +a very special process and is never done against a person's will unless +ordered by civil authority. + +When I saw, on this world of Mute, the possibility of uncovering the +past records of the mind, it at once suggested to me the possible nature +of the final Judgment of our world when each one will stand face to face +with the record of his own deeds, brought before him vividly under the +light of eternity. In such an event who would think of showing a bold +front to deny the accuracy of such a direct reproduction of himself in +the flesh! + +Possibly the human mind may be likened to a phonograph into which we can +speak while the cylinder of thought revolves; at any time afterward +every syllable may be reproduced accurately. + +Another striking feature of these mortals is their lack of hypocrisy. +Only a small degree of it is found among all the inhabitants of this +peculiar planet. No doubt hypocrisy would be greatly lessened in our own +social life if we could no longer hide our real thoughts. In Mute it is +very unsafe to practice deception, for as soon as the deceived one +appears personally he can readily conjecture, by the mental state of the +deceiver, the nature of the thought that had transpired. + +Can you realize what a refreshing moral atmosphere exists in a world +where conventional lying is almost unknown? In our life the daily sin of +the millions is the white, or the blue lie. Think of how many we tell in +our regular routine of life! We generally give false excuses instead of +the real ones. We very seldom blame ourselves for errors, but rather +think diligently to study out a way to shift responsibility. Nearly the +whole brood of our apologies is hatched from the serpent's egg, and then +we ignorantly or hypocritically manifest surprise that our own offspring +should develop an inclination to deceive or misrepresent! + +Here I saw, in wide contrast to our own social order, the results +springing from sincerity that has thrived through a long line of +generations. Such blessings are as a breath of Heaven, rare and +beautiful. + +One might think, when considering this strange manner of conversation, +that it would be difficult for the people to express their ideas +clearly. It is just the opposite from this, for it is almost impossible +for them to express themselves vaguely. They talk from the headquarters +of one mind directly to the headquarters of another, instead of through +a medium of cumbersome words which in our life are so often +misunderstood. Thus we must admit that we have a ten-fold greater +struggle than they to be perspicuous in language. + +I was charmed at this most superior mode of conversation and saw in it +a higher glimpse of the Heaven language than in any other type that had +yet met my observation in all the worlds of space. + +The Muteites are rapid thinkers, and although they have no sense of +hearing, yet they are ultra-sensitive to substantial emissions of +vibrating bodies. According to all I could see, these people were not +hampered by this lack of senses. They live as conveniently in their +flesh life as we do, and in their mind or spirit life they are much more +refined than we are. + +Their earth is so different from ours in chemical combinations that the +soil is almost transparent and in general has the appearance of glass. +Their homes are built mostly under surface, owing to the terrific +cyclonic storms that follow one another in very uncertain succession. + +The average length of life is two hundred of our years. They reach their +maximum energy of mind at about one hundred years, and among the +brighter of the inhabitants can be found a glorious order of intellect. +Some of these mental celebrities outshine the brightest creatures of +all the solar systems of that region of the heavens. + +After some hesitancy, I yielded to a desire to appear in a visible form +before an assembled company of Muteite philosophers who were gathered in +one of the under-surface halls of architectural beauty for consultation. + +As I entered the vast hall in my natural manner I attracted unusual +attention. It was amusing to see how all eyes were fastened upon me as I +calmly walked toward the front of the audience. Here I had one of the +hardest tasks of all my journey, to converse in a soundless language. I +lacked faith at first to make the attempt, but this delay was but for a +moment, for I first fixed my mind upon what I wished to communicate, and +instantly a dozen or more Muteites signified that they were in sensitive +touch with my thought. + +I will give a small portion of the mental telepathic conversation +between myself and my auditors, although I must relate it as if words +were actually spoken, or it would be totally unintelligible to the +people of my own likeness. + +"Let no one be alarmed," I hurriedly addressed them, as a thousand +giant forms were trembling at my appearance. "My mission is one of +peace. I have come to help rather than harm," I continued. + +"From what section of our world have you come?" came a hundred thought +flashes in wild confusion. + +"I am not from your world, but from another," I answered with closed +mouth as best I could. + +Then I learned an important feature of this mind language. A hundred or +more interrogations came flying at me in thick confusion. At once the +chairman or leader of the meeting gave restrictive orders which actually +prohibited my audience from further communication with me, although I +might address them. The chairman bid me commune with him and he +thereafter acted as the spokesman of the whole assembly. It was no more +difficult for these philosophers to keep their minds closed to me than +it is for us to keep our mouths closed in an excitable meeting or +debate. + +The chairman, looking with increasing curiosity at my strangely shaped +face and head, interrogated me thus: + +"Are you an angel of light, or one of darkness?" + +"I am neither." + +"What then can you be?" + +"I am a created being from a far-off region of space. I was born on a +world which revolves around a star untold millions of miles distant." + +"If you are not a spirit, how could you have traveled such incredible +distances?" + +"That is yet a mystery to me," I admitted. "The power of my flight is +much like the mode of your communication, for each is alike mysterious +to me." + +By this time the excitement was intense. No one attempted to grasp me or +even approach toward me. I saw by the perplexing mental atmosphere of +the chairman that he was being besieged by a host of questions and +suggestions; so I relieved the situation by continuing my words: + +"No one need consider my appearance as an evil omen. I am not empowered +to curse or bless your world except by what may flow from my immediate +conversation with you." + +In these sentences I thoughtlessly gestured with my arms; this set my +audience wild with mingled merriment and curiosity. + +"Are all as small as you whence you came?" queried the chairman. + +"They are all after my pattern with some variations." + +"Pray, tell me, what are those gummy flabs at the sides of your head?" + +"Those are my ears," I said with grinning face. "They grew there for a +purpose." + +"And what can that purpose be?" further questioned the puzzled chairman. + +"They are for the purpose of hearing," I quickly replied. + +Then followed a curious scientific dialogue in which I endeavored to +explain the sense of hearing. From this I described the manner of +conversation in our world, and showed what an important part hearing +played. But all this was beyond the comprehension of my auditors. + +After a lengthy and most interesting discussion upon the philosophy of +sound, the next point of interest centered on my mouth and vocal +organs. It was pleasing to consider these subjects because my listeners +were such eager questioners and surprised hearers. No wonder that they +were unable to grasp such a crude system of conversation as ours! + +Then the chairman verily begged me to explain the mystery of my mission +and of my unprecedented itinerary. How could I have fully satisfied his +mind, even if I had endeavored to do so! + +After all this came the most pleasing communion thus far of all my +journey. I learned much by the interchange of ideas. Nature's vast book +opened to me some new and charming pages. + +Toward the close of my stay the affinity between us grew to a marked +degree. Although we were widely apart in physical aspect, yet we were +supping from the same bowl of affection and, with this happy turn, we +talked of our permanent companionship. + +"But I cannot abide with you," I reluctantly answered. + +"Ah, torment us not with such a thought," affectingly pressed the +chairman. + +"I have other worlds to visit, and must hasten away. Touch me not," I +cried as the chairman unconsciously moved toward me in an urgent appeal. + +"How soon shall we see you again?" + +"No more forever, unless you see me in that widest expanse of life which +in our world we call Heaven. There the pure of all worlds will gather +and commingle in delightsome fellowship forever." + +I was then urged beyond all etiquette to tarry a short period and visit +certain parts of their world. But I informed them that I had seen more +of their world than they imagined, and that the object of my visit had +been reached. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +Brief. + + +One of the medium sized worlds that revolve around Alcyone sustains the +shortest lived human beings of our universe. It is seldom that any of +the creatures reach more than four years of age according to our +standards of time. They are nearly as large as we and relatively much +lighter in weight. All the periods of physical growth are +correspondingly decreased. Children walk four or five weeks after birth, +and are capable of receiving regular instruction at the age of five +months. + +Strange as it may seem, this sphere, which for convenience we will call +Brief, revolves very slowly on its axis, so that our world makes fifteen +times as many revolutions as this planet. + +It requires but little arithmetic to figure out that the people of Brief +do not see the sun rise very often. When it does appear in the morning +sky, all the public signals blow and the people appear in one or +another of their places of worship. This beautiful custom has been in +practice for over three thousand years. The worship is not sun worship, +but a genuine service of thanksgiving to Him who ruleth over the sun and +supplies it with fuel to burn. It appears that on all worlds everything +is regulated in accordance with the length of human life. On this world, +of Brief all vegetables mature in periods so short that one marvels when +he hears it. Think of cereals reaching maturity in seven or eight of our +days, or during one day of Brief. Early in the morning certain crops are +planted and are harvested at night. Two or more days are required for +maturing other crops. Actually the people of Brief raise their crops +with less labor than is required amongst us. + +If you were permitted to look upon the public and private life of this +incredible world, your first sensation would be dizziness, not to +mention the weirdness of all sights that would confront you at every +turn. People would seem to be in a mad rush, and it would appear that +all business is done with insane rapidity. + +Furrows of care and trouble begin to deepen on the faces of these +Briefites as they approach an age of what we would call three years, and +if by lease of strength they pass on toward an age of four years, it is +but an evidence of their exceptional vitality. It seems to be true that +the experiences of a long life of sixty or eighty years is crowded into +a narrow compass of four years by a miracle of spheres not comprehended +by finite minds. + +No doubt a detailed description of this whirling and dashing life would +be of interest to us slow, deliberate creatures. But I can give only a +passing glimpse. + + +JOURNALISM. + +Things happen in such quick succession that the news is hustled out at +all hours of the day and night; not on sheets of paper, but through +automatic news-receivers, machines somewhat akin to our telegraph +instruments. + +The state supplies each home with an automatic news-receiver. Thus a +record is kept in each home of all messages received so that they can +be read at leisure. To speak in a manner more easily understood, I will +say that the news is telegraphed to each home as soon as possible after +the events transpire. But compared to our customs, the news is very +scarce. There being no competition, no time or space is required for +sensational trash. Thus, if nothing of importance occurs, nothing need +be transmitted. The official news-censors decide as to the relative +importance of occurrences. There need not be a certain amount of news +telegraphed each hour. The government verifies, as much as possible, all +reports before they are transmitted. There are indeed some advantages in +the government being in constant touch with each home under its care. +The advertising department pays nearly all expenses of this whole system +of journalism. Announcements for private gain are paid at a regular +rate. It costs more to advertise at certain periods than at other times, +all regulated by the customs of the people. + +Under these regulations everybody receives the news, and only the +essential news, except advertisements which must come in batches at +certain intervals. Of course, people take their choice as to reading +advertisements. + +[Illustration: Sunrise Signal in Brief.] + + +THEIR FOOTWEAR. + +The soles of the feet of these Briefites are composed of a substance +most nearly resembling hoof material. They never think of covering the +feet under any change of climate. If one of the Briefites were to step +upon the shores of our rugged Earth and see the cotton or wool and +leather that lies around our feet, it would appear to him as the most +ridiculous thing imaginable, and no doubt his shapely feet of ivory cast +would be of more than passing interest to us. + + +THEIR RAIMENT. + +Their raiment is altogether after new models. Neither the men, women, +nor children seem to seek this means for self-beautifying. They seem to +think that beauty of character has a radiance more to be desired than +the flash of opals or the luster of silks. Their garments partake of the +loose flowing order. For instance, a strong fabric of chosen shade is +fastened at the neck, hip, knee and ankle, and lies carelessly over the +parts between. The females never graduated to the corset degree, and +while they do not cut a scientific figure, yet they surely develop a +more ruddy waist after the model intended by the Designor of the body. + + +TRANSPORTATION. + +The methods of traveling are so contrary to our conceptions and +practices that I almost forbear to attempt any description. Yet I was +entertained and instructed as I witnessed the moving of humanity along a +street of a busy city. Have you ever noticed how quarters of beef are +carried from a car to an elevator or refrigerator on steel rods +connected with wheels running in a groove or on a specially prepared +track? In a city of Brief, overhead tracks after such an order run along +all business streets and certain residence streets. Spare me a detailed +description of this peculiar traveling system. Suffice it to say that a +person, in lightning rapidity of motion, rushes from a store, springs +upon a passing seat and is hurled away by the power of an overhead +cable system. When an exchange of seats is necessary, it is all done so +easily and so quickly that you would wonder why we tolerate trolley +cars. + +In traveling from city to city, a system is in use that I will call the +Toboggan Slide System, although the cars run on wheels. The car is +raised in a shaft about one hundred feet and then by gravity it dashes +two or more miles according to the lay of the land traversed. Then +another rise more or less than one hundred feet is experienced, and then +another wild dash. I have no words of praise for this system, although +the Briefites can cover considerable territory in an hour. They look +upon this gravity system as a wonderful achievement, for it has not been +in operation for more than three hundred years. + +The power of steam has never been utilized. No genius of all this active +world of Brief ever conceived the idea that almost unlimited power lies +wrapped up in thin vapory water. But they have discovered what we would +call gaseous oil, and have learned to put it to work, so that it is the +main force employed in hoisting and all other purposes where power is +required. + +Nothing like a traveling locomotive has ever been made, although I +learned that a bright wizard was experimenting and that he prophesied +great changes when his gas-propelled vehicle was perfected. + +Think of how much value an ordinary citizen of our world would be to +these Briefites, if he could step upon their world and communicate with +them concerning the magic wonders of steam and the manner of +constructing stationary and movable engines, to say nothing of the +hidden wonders of electricity. Quadrupeds that take the place of our +horses are used for drayage, although nothing except the two-wheeled +class of vehicles was ever used until some eighty-seven years ago. + + +PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. + +These interesting people excel us in their style and manner of +home-building, fencing and making public highways. We are heathenish in +our progress along the line of road making especially. In all my vast +journey among the worlds I found only a few, comparatively, whereon the +roads were inferior to ours. + +In the world of Brief the state prescribes the manner of public highways +and each citizen must contribute his share to their creation and +maintenance. + +These Briefites excel us in more than a score of ways. They are much +purer in morals, more refined in manner, more harmonious in government, +and unusually bright in mathematics. Very intricate and elaborate +problems are solved by these people of a few years. They are inferior to +us in a hundred ways. In the broad fields of manufacture and invention +they lag a long distance in the rear. This is principally due to their +lack of time. + + +RELIGIOUS LIFE. + +The religious life of the people of Brief is, on an average, of a higher +type than is found in our world. Their belief in immortality has run +parallel with their existence as a people, and their devotion to their +Creator is marked with unusual fervor. + +Their Redeemer is worshiped quite separately from God, and with +distinctive adorations. The name of their Redeemer, phonetically +rendered, is Kerm-Cher. The most faithful translation of this word into +our language would be God-affluence. + +Kerm-Cher, or God-breath, appeared upon Brief full grown, and pronounced +his benediction on the race, declaring his origin, and the purpose of +his coming. Similar to Christ, he confirmed his identity by unanswerable +miracles. + +Many, however, disbelieved in Kerm-Cher, and held to the old axiomatic +truths. Thus creeds were prevalent and they remain until now, only there +is much less variety than is found amongst us. + +Kerm-Cher set up a new reign, and accepted a temporal throne for a +season. He finally announced that his ambassadorship would soon cease +and that his followers would lose the throne of civil power, that they +would be tested for a season in the valley of humiliation and by the +fires of terrible persecution, and that they who would endure unto the +end would be glorified. + +These religious features are remarkably similar to the system under +which the Christian religion of our globe is fostered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +The Life on Wings. + + +As I darted from world to world, I was not then fully conscious of the +vast stretches of space that I had covered. No mortal nor angel tongue +can even commence to describe the vastness of created things and the +trackless oceans of space in which the ponderous suns and planets +revolve. + +According to the classification of our astronomers I next found myself +in the constellation of Perseus, and was again convinced of the weakness +of our most powerful telescopes, for I now saw thousands of immense +stars, hitherto invisible to me. Not one of these stars is within a +trillion miles of any other. + +In this distant system of our universe I saw that the same plan of +creation obtained. Around a majority of the stars a group of various +sized worlds revolves. On many of these worlds human life abounds in +endless degrees of development and in a countless variety of +manifestations. I marveled anew as I saw the endlessness of the Infinite +Mind, supporting not only the conscious life of this whole +constellation, but also of all the constellations of our universe, and +of all the universes scattered at large throughout the unending depths +of space. + +I paused at a star of variable magnitude in the Milky Way, but took only +a passing glance at the physical wonders of this great sun, compared +with which our own Sun is a mere pigmy. Onward I hastened to one of the +larger worlds of this solar system which, for my convenience, I will +call Swift. + +Here new wonders opened wide to my view. Human beings, charmingly +beautiful, moved over the face of the planet or on wings through the air +at pleasure and with great ease. These creatures are about three-fourths +of our size, and are most gracefully formed. Their whole physical +appearance is more similar to a bird than to a human being of our Earth. +They are relatively much lighter than we, and are covered with nothing +akin to feathers. + +If you were to see them standing in their erect posture and walking +with man-like dignity, you would at once feel that they are the lords of +the creation on their world, and so indeed they are. + +These ethereal creatures have the loveliest eyes of any human beings I +ever beheld in any world. They sparkle with the brilliancy of a diamond +and move with the quickness of electricity. The head is small but +symmetrical and all physical proportions are most harmoniously adapted +even to a nicety that would be pleasing to the most refined tastes of +our world. + +At first I could not understand how these people of Swift could travel +so conveniently in the air, for their wings are very small and the +exertion when flying is very limited. But the lightness of the body, the +heaviness of the air, and the unusual strength of the Swiftites, each +conduces its share to the fortunate result. + +In my thoughtlessness I envied these gifted people and wished that when +I would return to my world, I could enjoy such privileges of flight. I +soon checked this rising covetousness, and again contentment flung over +me its white mantle. + +The bodies of these Swiftites are covered by nature with a clean growth +of soft, silken hair. They change their garments with the seasons, but +at all times dress very sparingly and neatly. They are so easily clothed +that all their apparel occasions them no more trouble than the more +seasonable covering of the head gives to our women. + +The average length of life is nearly four hundred years of our time. +There are very few worlds in space where the general health of its +inhabitants is as perfect as is found on this beautiful planet. There +are but few doctors because there is but little demand for them. Those +who are engaged are under government service, and all persons who are +unfortunate enough to become ill receive at least all medicine and +professional attention free. + +We are quite an exceptional world in our medical system. In all my +journey I saw comparatively only a few worlds that have the private +system of medical treatment. Have we not noted the laboring husband +bending at his toil for eight or ten hours to pay the physician who +calls for a few minutes? In some cases this program is continued for +weeks, until the honest toiler finds himself confronted with a doctor's +bill and medicine bill to haunt him until the debt is either forgiven or +paid at great sacrifice. + +On the world of Swift and in the vast majority of civilized worlds in +space, the community or government furnishes a salaried physician within +reasonable reach of every home. The doctors of Swift are not expected to +work night and day. They have shifts to divide the toil equally. + +In architecture this distant planet excels us by far. I improved the +opportunity and went to witness a magnificent temple of worship which +has been in process of erection for over two hundred years. Any conceit +that I previously had on account of the large structures of my own world +quickly vanished at the sight of this imposing edifice. During my visit +the winged workers were laboring on the upper stories and I watched them +with great wonderment as they descended from the clouds to carry +materials to the higher stories. Can you imagine the picture of workmen +flying in all directions with tools, each one busily employed? It is +promised that the present generation of employees will live to see the +completion of this notable structure. + +This vast building is the national religious center of the Swiftites. +Each government has such a central station, and from it all temples of +worship are controlled. Here the church and the state are yet married, +and the state maintains its religious departments with careful scrutiny. +The chief ambition of each government has always been to outshine the +others in the glory and magnificence of its central temple which, of +course, is fire proof and almost time proof. + +One may wonder as he gazes upon this extensive structure why there are +seventy thousand sleeping rooms and dining halls built after such +extensive plans as to entertain, at one time, twenty-five thousand +guests. All this is to accommodate the vast throngs that take their +sacred pilgrimage once in a year under an arrangement by which one tenth +of the able-bodied go each thirty-nine days, which corresponds to our +month. + +The most notable feature of this central temple is the main service +room, built at fabulous cost and capable of accommodating one hundred +thousand pilgrims at one time. The most costly sections of this one room +are guarded night and day by armed government soldiers. + +The religion of these Swiftites is of a very pure kind. The ministers of +this national church are fully equipped before entering upon their +office. The training schools for ministers attracted my closest +attention. Fortunately, these people have no language complications as +we have, so that a prospective minister can spend some of his time +studying the Book of God's Revelation instead of spending a great +portion of his training period in learning the languages in which the +book had once been written. + +A minister's training consists as much in voice culture and the many +branches of elocution as it does in acquiring a correct knowledge of +God. But in illustrative teaching Swift leads us by far. I was +profitably entertained in the main temple as I listened to one of the +famous orators discoursing to an audience of eighty thousand. Not only +did his canary-like voice penetrate to all parts of the large room, but +his objective illustrations clinched the truth remarkably well. + +A series of special services is held at the close of each month. The +most wonderful of all these exercises, or renditions, is called "The +Mediator Service." This is one of the most spectacular and impressive +exercises outside of Heaven. Even the famous Passion Play of +Oberammergau (our world) with the less glorious exhibitions at Horitz +and Selzach, all dwindle into insignificance compared with "The Mediator +Service" on the world of Swift. + +During my visit I witnessed the full program of this sublime rendition. +The music was inexpressibly grand as rendered by the vested Mediator +Choir. Naturally the Swiftites have sweet, bird-like voices. Can you +conceive the effect of a triple choir of these human warblers all +trained in perfect harmony and unison? + +When you consider that nearly the whole population witnesses these +special exhibitions at least once a year, you can the better understand +why the spiritual condition of the people has reached a high very level. + +I investigated the many interesting features of this inviting world and +found that in some respects we are inferior to these human bird +creatures, although in many other respects we are superior. Electricity +is known in their world, but they have not yet harnessed it; hence they +are ignorant of telegraphy and a long list of similar inventions which +we enjoy. + +In agriculture the Swiftites are ahead of us. They raise their crops +with less labor relatively than we. All things considered it is easier +to live on Swift than here. + +Knowing that my time was limited, I decided to secure some nuggets of +truth by a personal interview; so I concluded to appear to the wisest +person on the planet, who was a woman of wonderful mental acquirements. +In addition to her superior intellect she was also bewitchingly +beautiful. + +I waited for the best opportunity and came near to her as she was about +to spread her wings for a morning flight from the beautiful summit +near her summer home. Not wishing to cause her undue alarm, I at first +spoke softly, remaining invisible and watching her rare eyes send their +glances toward the palmy trees around me, as her wings were relaxing +quietly at her side. She was positive of having heard a voice, and as +she still further scanned the immediate surroundings I saw that +perplexity was furrowing marks upon her face. + +[Illustration: Beautiful Plume on the World of Swift.] + +"Hast thou time to spend with a friend from another world?" I calmly +inquired as I was still unseen by her. + +She was nervously agitated, but being of strong fibre she quickly +rallied with her answer, "Where art thou and who art thou?" + +"I am on a peace mission from a far distant world," I quietly said as I +slowly became visible to my audience of one. + +Naturally she was alarmed at my appearance, and consequently I drew +gradually farther and farther away until she gained more self-possession +and turned interestingly toward me. + +"Ah! how can you be a spirit without wings?" were her first unexpected +words. + +"But I am no spirit," I said assuringly. + +"You cannot be otherwise," she insisted. + +"Believe what you wish, we have no time for parley. I am delighted to +visit your world and I desire, if possible, to have some mysteries +solved. Can you help me?" + +Plume, for that is the name I called her, was much unsettled. She +scanned my form with wild curiosity and I feared that she would at once +use her wings at their swiftest. + +"Pray do not fly hence," I quickly urged. "I will never harm you, even +though we could converse together forever. Believe me true, and rest +your wings and heart in peace." + +My words had some effect toward calming her mind and with more placid +features she still looked at me half shrinkingly. + +"Are you not happy that you have wings with which fly?" I continued, +hoping to create a more natural familiarity. + +"Happy? No more than for my feet, my ears, or my life," she answered in +a more composed manner. "You say that you are from another world. Where +can that be?" was her welcome query. + +Then I pointed my finger in the direction of our world and remarked: + +"If you could travel in that direction on swift wings day and night for +a few millions of years, you would still be far, far away from the world +where I live." + +"And is that world inhabited by sensible creatures?" + +"It is." + +"But how could you have traversed so great a distance?" + +"Never can I explain that mystery to you. Be content that I am here." + +"Are you in the image of the other human creatures in that far away +world?" + +"In general they are all fashioned as I am." + +"No one having wings?" she added with surprise. + +"Not one." + +"How can that be true?" + +"Because we were made without them." + +"And have you no way of moving through the air at pleasure?" + +"Not without artificial machinery." + +"Artificial machinery?" she repeated. "What can you mean by that?" + +Of course they have no word for balloon or flying machine, and I found +it difficult to describe the shape and explain the philosophy of these +things. I did the best I could in her language, and after I had finished +my description she for the first time smiled and said: + +"That sort of a construction would be a fine thing for the indolents of +our world who, through misuse or lack of use of their wings, have no +more ability to fly." + +This was interesting to me and I closely inquired as to the cause of +this loss of the wing power. Plume grew more and more familiar in her +address and in a long conversation told me of the many conditions that +make people unfit to fly. I deduce from our conversation a few of these +causes. + +1. Simple neglect. + +2. Gluttonous life. + +3. Sensuality of a low and heavy life. + +4. Pride. Some yield to a superstitious notion that it is honorable to +make but little display of themselves, and allow their wings to be bound +or partly clipped. + +5. Certain kinds of sickness render the wing-chords inoperative. + +I learned that altogether nearly one-half of the population are unable +to fly. How my mind flew back to our own life as I was learning of these +sad conditions. There is a sort of a life on wings in our world, +although the wings are invisible. But on account of the low, mean lives +so many are living, they never rise above the miasmic contagion of the +sin and self level. These unseen wings are either paralyzed or clipped. + +Plume now actually stepped toward me. What a graceful tread. She was +indeed the most charming creature I had met outside of my own world. She +seated herself near me on the rustic bend of a tree unlike any in our +world and hurried her questions at me as if she realized that I would +not tarry long. At length she gratefully said: + +"I am beginning to believe that you are really a son of another world, +or else I am reveling in a day dream." + +"Happy am I that I can learn from you some of the truths after which I +am seeking," was my evasive reply. "Tell me, Plume, something about your +faith religiously." + +"I worship the God who made all things and am hoping to live in the +wider life after my mortal days are ended." + +"Do you expect to meet, in that wider life, representatives from other +worlds?" + +"Ah! I have often thought that it might be so," she answered, as her +face brightened in poetic fervor, and her eyes sparkled with seraphic +luster. + +"It shall all be so, and much more," I declared. "In that life you can +fly without wings and mingle with the pure from the unnumbered worlds of +space." + +"What an incentive to a pure life," she quickly added. + +"Talking of wings, do you object if I see more closely the cut and style +of your wings? I never saw before a human creature possessing a pair." + +After a moment's hesitancy she raised her right arm and with it the one +wing unfolded. I ventured near enough to see the intricate network of +muscle and bone woven around the arm and filling the space between the +raised arm and the side of Plume's body. She was surprised at the +interest I manifested in the human wing. After this she offered to +furnish an able escort to conduct me to several points of interest. + +All this I declined and informed my talented friend that I must hasten +away to another world. + +"Let me go with you," she strongly insisted. + +"Your wings are not of the right kind," I replied hurriedly. + +"They are strong enough to bear us both," were her inviting words. + +"But not beyond the atmosphere of this world," I explained. + +I quietly arose, scanned once more the beautiful valley before me, and +indicated that I was about to wane into the invisible. Then did her +womanly nature assert its supremacy and she, for the first time, touched +my hand imploringly: + +"Have I been dreaming, or do my eyes deceive me? How can all this be +true? Your hand is sensible to my touch. I implore you to remain until I +speak to you more about the sciences of your world." + +In all my journey I never yielded to persuasion before. But somehow I +consented to spend a season longer of most charming fellowship, talking +of the elements in nature, their chemical affinities, and the laws of +matter and mind. Plume was unusually bright in the philosophies, and I +gathered from her many truths which had always before been hidden to me. + +Finally I became rigid in my determination to leave, for I knew that I +could not stay. + +"Grant me one request," she begged. + +"Let me hear it." + +"Promise me that you will return." + +"Impossible, impossible!" + +The parting that followed was indeed memorable. Without any further +notice I suddenly vanished, but still tarried invisibly in close +proximity. + +Plume was now left in deep bewilderment, and I could not even +conjecture the details of her warring thoughts. Finally I saw that for +which I had tarried. Plume lifted her wings and flew skyward as +beautifully and gracefully as any bird of our earthly air. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Heaven. + + +After my ambition to visit one thousand worlds had been realised, and I +was darting toward the confines of our own little Solar System, +instinctively I looked out once more over the vast stretches of space. +All around me, at amazing distances, loomed up the millions of spheres +which I had not visited by reason of my limited time. I felt like some +one who, after gaining his first thousand dollars, has a wild craving to +accumulate ten or one hundred thousand more. + +Still I scanned the heavens while deeper longings pervaded my soul. +While in this mood the most unusual vision flashed upon my eyes. +Suddenly I forgot whither I was going and in wild astonishment I drank +in the first view of Heaven. Inwardly I marveled that I had not seen at +least a part of it before. + +Heaven is fashioned on a transcendently large scale. It is not a single +sphere, but a universal chain of vast and luminous star-groups, +scattered harmoniously throughout the infinite regions of space, so that +a part of it lies suspended preciously near to our own Solar System. +Heaven is more real and substantial than the suns and planets of the +universe, although not one of its numberless parts can be detected by +the human eye, or discerned through a telescope. These luminous orbs +that constitute Heaven control the movements of the planets, suns and +systems which we call material. They are whiter than snow and shine with +a luster not dazzling, but restful to the eye capable of seeing them. + +How this glimpse put to naught all my former crude conceptions of +Heaven, and if I found myself unable to describe the wonders of many a +dark world which I have visited, how much less could I portray the +vastly superior beauties of Heaven which are so far beyond the glory of +dark, rugged worlds that I felt an inexpressible desire to take up my +abode there at once and to remain forever. + +Inwardly I shouted for joy as this new light illumined my face, and I +loathed to think of proceeding on my journey to any sin-cursed world of +the universe, for the ties of kinship, friendship, and earthship all +vanished at the sight of such resplendent spheres. + + +THE GREATNESS OF HEAVEN. + +There is no language to be employed that can fitly describe the parts of +Heaven I saw, and I know that the greater glory was curtained from my +view. But the size of the lustrous orbs is not equaled by the large +material suns that blaze in the depth of immensity. Heaven's diamond +splendor extended as far as my unassisted eyes could reach, and +according to the way it appeared it must extend without limit. + +It would require one hundred millions of years for a child of God to +take one excursion trip to the physical worlds of our universe. Then +there are millions of such universes, (I know of no better name to use) +each one occupying its own immense stretches of space. These universes +average about sixteen hundred millions of worlds each. + +Heaven is infinitely greater than this whole material fabric, so that if +a spirit is inclined to travel, he will need all eternity to study the +works of God as displayed in the glorious abodes of Heaven and in the +changing aspects of created worlds. + +Let us give a deeper meaning to the stanza of the poet by substituting +"million" for "thousand." + + When I've been there ten million years, + Bright, shining as the sun, + I've no less days to sing God's praise, + Than when I first begun. + +Compared with this life more vast, does it not appear that our own +insignificant existence on our tiny Earth is as the creeping of a mere +insect on the leaf of a giant oak? + + +PERMANENCY OF HEAVEN. + +The only permanent or imperishable feature of our universe is the Heaven +part of it. The created or visible worlds are mere dark appendages of +the real spheres, and are serving their parts in bringing fruit to +their Maker. + +Sin-cursed and sinless worlds are coming to an end continually, and as +rapidly are new ones flung out or old ones re-peopled to serve as garden +plots to bear fruit in the form of created intelligences who serve and +admire God through choice. + +Heaven is indestructible. It has already been in existence since the +morning of time. In all my journey, no angel or mortal could tell me how +many cycles ago that was. But it must be said that Heaven does not +always present the same aspect. Mansions are built for the reception of +new arrivals, or for the vast delegations from millennial worlds. + + +THE INHABITANTS OF HEAVEN. + +They come from all parts of the universe, from millions of spheres. The +righteous of any world, at death, are suddenly transported to that part +of Heaven lying nearest to their world. This is the Abraham's bosom +where the spirit is happy until it takes up its abode with its own +spiritualized body in a millennial reign, after which, by a decree of +the Final Judgment, it is given its credentials to the illimitable life +of all Heaven. + +This is Paul's third heaven. Oh! what unlimited expansion! What +incomprehensible principles, to move at large in quest of universal +truths as seen in the seven types of Heaven's spiritual intelligences, +and in the unending manifestations of God's work and love as displayed +in all heaven and in all the peopled planets of space! + +Not one of these blessed inhabitants ever grows old or suffers fatigue. +They are capable of moving with tireless energy from one part of +Heaven's vast domains to any other portion. + + +DEGREES OF HEAVEN. + +In space there are many sinless worlds where human species are +propagated, not as the result of any sexual affinities, but in a manner +totally unintelligible to a finite mind. They who reach Heaven from such +a world cannot drink in the same kind of enjoyment as those who come up +out of great tribulations from the spheres of a sin-cursed world, and +who have struggled for mastery and forged their way to the sky through +armies of aliens. + +But these creatures are perfectly contented, for they have no way of +realizing the glory resulting from the victory over the world, the flesh +and the Devil. + +Then there are degrees of glory among those who come from a sin-cursed +world. Some have many treasures laid up in Heaven, while others centered +their affections too much upon the transitory things of time and sense. + +There are also various orders or degrees of glory among the seven types +of intelligences of which Heaven's multitudes are composed. Some of +these may be suggested to your mind when you read more of this sevenfold +life. + +[Illustration: A Glimpse of Blissful Life in Heaven.] + + +SEVEN TYPES OF INTELLIGENCES. + +1. The first class of beings is composed of those whom we comprehend as +the Trinity, whose highest glory is expressed in the Mediatorial +personage who can be seen at will by any of Heaven's hosts from any +world. + +2. The cherubim and seraphim, or the highest order of spirits, who +have always been pure and holy. They constitute the next rank of the +celestial host. + +3. The third class is composed of the general host of angels who also +have been holy from eternity, and who serve as ambassadors to various +points of the limitless creation. + +4. The spirits of those who have risen from sinful worlds by virtue of a +God-approved and God-appointed Mediator. To join the ranks of this class +we, who serve God, are hastening. This is no low order or caste in +Heaven, but they who belong to it vie with higher angels, and taste +sweetness beyond the capacity of those who, in other respects, are our +peers. The angels desire to look into the deep mystery of salvation's +plan. + +5. The matured and maturing spirits of those who left sinful worlds +before God held them accountable for their deeds. To this class belong +our children who precede us into the final abode. + +6. The spirits of those who have risen from sinless worlds to take +their infinitely higher degrees in this Heaven life. + +7. The matured and maturing spirits of those who left the sinless worlds +before sense perception was duly developed. They form a distinct class +of spirits and have their distinctive marks. + + +UNITY OF HEAVEN. + +Redemption's plan for each sinful world is somewhat similar to ours, so +that there is a oneness in the whole family of the redeemed. This is one +main factor that makes the bond of unity perfect and renders the +fellowship of the celestial hosts absolutely without a flaw. + +True enough, each of the seven classes of intelligences is a mystery and +a glory to the others. But there is no friction, no jar. Each one is +perfect in himself and happy in spirit. + +Although each one of the vast companies carries the distinctive impress +and the spiritual peculiarities of his own planet, yet they are all now +fashioned after the symmetry of the Heaven life, and no one bears a +single repellant feature, but rather each spiritual body is beautiful +to the eyes of all the others, and each one breathes the same atmosphere +of purity and converses in the self-same language of love. + + +A HOME-LIKE PLACE. + +No feature of Heaven is more beautiful than its home-like atmosphere. +The soul is not chilled by the two-thousand-mile-cube cities, or by the +long, long stretches of Divine masonry. God is as a real father, and all +his subjects are as our blood-relations. We feel it, and the inspiration +of these truths takes a deep hold of Heaven's vast populace. + + +EMPLOYMENT. + +Now and then large excursion parties visit various points of our own +universe and frequently span the incredible distances in order to study +the works and life of other universes. + +Each soul is occupied in gratifying its own master passion, and lives in +the delightsome fellowship of the saints. + + +TRANSPORTATION. + +There are no vehicles or cars of any kind. Actual wings are unknown +except as used by certain birds of Heaven. Spirits travel as rapidly as +desired by a mere submissive connection with the universal system of +power filaments, all of which center in God. More refined power than +electricity is transmitted over these substantial filaments to any point +of any world. The fleshly body is not sensitive to this spiritual power, +but the pure soul, when free from the body, is at once sensitive to +these chords of power and is carried swifter than a current of +electricity to Abraham's bosom, where it is entitled forever to a free +use of this perfect power without being subject to any kind of taxation. + + +SEXUAL AFFINITIES OF HEAVEN. + +Contrary to some of my former ideas I saw that the inhabitants of Heaven +are not all of one sex. The male and female are clearly distinguishable, +and they bear relations one to another still more refined than was +manifest in the Millennial World. + +The most holy affinity exists between the several types of +intelligences. Here the glorious fires of love burn never to reach a +climax. Lovers have been drinking from perennial fountains for a million +years, and their ecstacies are rising still. Pure love is as endless and +infinite as time and space, and its mystery is deep to these shining +throngs of Heaven who look into one another's faces with untrammeled +emotions. Think of falling in love with the inhabitants of other worlds +and of having the capacity and right to foster a thousand or more types +of affinity, each one differing from the others! + +These relations are so highly refined and so gloriously developed that +one must not think of reducing them by comparison to the level of the +flesh life. + + +STRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF HEAVEN. + +I would not attempt to describe the structural glory of Heaven, for I +know not where nor how to begin. Seemingly all things are transparent +even to the center of vast orbs. Magnificent cities apparently lie +suspended far under the indefinite surface of the orbs composing +Heaven, and free passage ways of phantastical design ramify throughout +all the glorious under-surface regions. + +Architectural greatness here finds its unmatched examples. Seven-mile +diamond arches are common-places, and towers of two thousand miles in +height and one thousand miles in diameter, as the corner stone of a +city, are nothing unusual, although many cities are built on a smaller +plan. Nothing needs repairing, and nothing is mortgaged. The wealth of +unnumbered trillions is easily represented in one orb of Heaven's +empire. + +I now saw a thousand-fold more clearly than ever before the absolute +folly of fixing our affections on the perishing things of the mortal +life in our dark and dusty world. + +While my eyes were still feasting on the sublime picture before me I +began to realize that my privilege would be of short duration, as the +vision was fast waning. I looked intently until the last curtain fell, +and reluctantly I continued my journey toward my own little world. I now +felt that, if the whole Earth were my own property, I would gladly push +it all aside if I could be a mere door keeper in one of the heavenly +cities of my God. + +And very often since that time I have cast my longing eyes skyward, +hoping to catch another glimpse of that fair scene. + + How I long for that restful picture, + A vision of Heaven, once more; + With its trillion orbs of beauty, + And its wealth of endless store. + + There are saints from unnumbered planets, + Where they lived in a million ways. + Now they mingle in perfect glory, + Through the length of eternal days. + + There the poor are wealthy forever, + For the beggar sits down with the King. + The man who never knew music + Will vie with angels to sing. + + Here the hopeful student, progressing, + After failing does often grieve; + But in Heaven each lesson is perfect, + No theory to blind or deceive. + + Here the runner, in breathless struggle, + Sees the other in touch of the goal; + But Heaven gives each one the laurel, + To be crowned while the ages roll. + + There they have no light of a candle, + For there are no shadows of night. + There the flash of unnumbered opals + Sparkles on in their wealth of light. + + In that home-like palace of Heaven, + Where these myriad trillions are, + There the Lord is the self-same Master, + And Love is the self-same star. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE IN A THOUSAND WORLDS*** + + +******* This file should be named 14770.txt or 14770.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/7/14770 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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