diff options
Diffstat (limited to '7814-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 7814-0.txt | 12918 |
1 files changed, 12918 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/7814-0.txt b/7814-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..97026cf --- /dev/null +++ b/7814-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12918 @@ +Project Gutenberg’s Daybreak: A Romance of an Old World, by James Cowan + +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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Daybreak: A Romance of an Old World + +Author: James Cowan + + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7814] +This file was first posted on May 19, 2003 +Last Updated: November 3, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAYBREAK *** + + + + +Produced by Anne Soulard, Suzanne Shell, William Craig, +Robert Laporte, Steen Christensen and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + +DAYBREAK + +A ROMANCE OF AN OLD WORLD + + +By James Cowan + + +[Illustration: “HE MADE THE STARS ALSO”] + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. AN ASTRONOMER ROYAL. + +CHAPTER II. A FALLEN SATELLITE. + +CHAPTER III. TWO MEN IN THE MOON. + +CHAPTER IV. AND ONE WOMAN. + +CHAPTER V. OUR INTRODUCTION TO MARS. + +CHAPTER VI. A REMARKABLE PEOPLE. + +CHAPTER VII. RAPID TRANSIT ON MARS. + +CHAPTER VIII. THORWALD PUZZLED. + +CHAPTER IX. THORWALD AS A PROPHET. + +CHAPTER X. MORE WORLDS THAN TWO. + +CHAPTER XI MARS AS IT IS. + +CHAPTER XII. WE REACH THORWALD’S HOME. + +CHAPTER XIII. A MORNING TALK. + +CHAPTER XIV. PROCTOR SHOWS US THE EARTH. + +CHAPTER XV. A NIGHT ADVENTURE. + +CHAPTER XVI. AN UNLIKELY STORY. + +CHAPTER XVII. THE DOCTOR IS CONVINCED. + +CHAPTER XVIII. STRUCK BY A COMET. + +CHAPTER XIX. I DISCOVER THE SINGER. + +CHAPTER XX. A WONDERFUL REVELATION. + +CHAPTER XXI. A LITTLE ANCIENT HISTORY. + +CHAPTER XXII. AGAIN THE MOON. + +CHAPTER XXIII. WE SEARCH FOR MONA. + +CHAPTER XXIV. THE PICTURE TELEGRAPH. + +CHAPTER XXV. AN UNSATISFACTORY LOVER. + +CHAPTER XXVI. AN ENVIABLE CONDITION. + +CHAPTER XXVII. THE CHILDREN’S DAY. + +CHAPTER XXVIII. BUSINESS ETHICS. + +CHAPTER XXIX. THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM. + +CHAPTER XXX. ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. + +CHAPTER XXXI. WINE-DRINKING IN MARS. + +CHAPTER XXXII. A GENUINE ACCIDENT. + +CHAPTER XXXIII. THE EMANCIPATION OF WOMAN. + +CHAPTER XXXIV. THE EMANCIPATION OF MAN. + +CHAPTER XXXV. AN EXALTED THEME. + +CHAPTER XXXVI. VANQUISHED AGAIN BY A VOICE. + +CHAPTER XXXVII. UNTIL THE DAY BREAK. + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY. + +CHAPTER XXXIX. A SUDDEN RETURN TO THE EARTH. + +POSTSCRIPT. + + + + +DAYBREAK: + +A ROMANCE OF AN OLD WORLD + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +AN ASTRONOMER ROYAL. + + +It was an evening in early autumn in the last year of the nineteenth +century. We were nearing the close of a voyage as calm and peaceful as +our previous lives. + +Margaret had been in Europe a couple of years and I had just been over +to bring her home, and we were now expecting to reach New York in a day +or two. + +Margaret and I were the best of friends. Indeed, we had loved each other +from our earliest recollection. No formal words of betrothal had ever +passed between us, but for years we had spoken of our future marriage as +naturally as if we were the most regularly engaged couple in the world. + +“Walter,” asked Margaret in her impulsive way, “at what temperature does +mercury melt?” + +“Well, to hazard a guess,” I replied, “I should say about one degree +above its freezing point. Why, do you think of making an experiment?” + +“Yes, on you. And I am going to begin by being very frank with you. You +have made me a number of hurried visits during my stay in Europe, but we +have seen more of each other in the course of this voyage than for two +long years. I trust you will not be offended when I say I hoped to find +you changed. I have never spoken to you about this, even in my letters, +and it is only because I am a little older now, and because my love for +you has increased with every day of life, that I have the courage to +frame these words.” + +“Do tell me what it is,” I exclaimed, thoroughly alarmed at her serious +manner. “Let me know how I have disappointed you and I will make what +amends I can. Tell me the nature of the change you have been looking for +and I will begin the transformation at once, before my character becomes +fixed.” + +“Alas! and if it should be already fixed,” she replied, without a smile. +“Perhaps it is unreasonable in me to expect it in you as a man, when you +had so little of it as a boy; but I used to think it was only shyness +then, and always hoped you would outgrow that and gradually become an +ideal lover. You have such a multitude of other perfections, however, +that it may be nature has denied you this so that I may be reminded that +you are human. If the choice had been left with me I think I should +have preferred to leave out some other quality in the make-up of your +character, good as they all are.” + +“What bitter pill is this,” I asked, “that you are sugar-coating to such +an extent? Don’t you see that I am aching to begin the improvement in my +manners, as soon as you point out the direction?” + +“You must know what I mean from my first abrupt question,” she answered. +“To make an extreme comparison, frozen mercury is warm beside you, +Walter. If you are really to be loyal knight of mine I must send you on +a quest for your heart.” + +“Ah, I supposed it was understood that I had given it to you.” + +“I have never seen it,” she continued, “and you have never before said +as much as is contained in those last words. Here we are, talking of +many things we shall do after we are married, and yet you have nothing +to say of all that wonderful and beautiful world of romance that ought +to come before marriage. Is this voyage to come to an end and mean no +more to us than to these hundreds of passengers around us, who seem only +intent to get back to their work at the earliest possible moment? And is +our wedding day to approach and pass and be looked upon merely as part +of the necessary and becoming business of our lives? In short, am I +never to hear a real love note?” + +“Margaret, I have a sister. You know something of the depth of my +affection for her. When I meet her in New York to-morrow or next day, +if I should throw my arms around her neck and exclaim, in impassioned +tones, ‘My sister, I love you,’ what would she think of me?” + +“She would think you had left your senses on the other side,” replied +Margaret, laughing. “But I decline to accept the parallel. I have not +given up my heart to your keeping these many years to be only a sister +to you at last.” + +“But my mother! Is it possible for me to love you more than my mother +loved me? And yet I never heard her speak one word on the subject, and, +now that I think of it, I am not sure but words would have cheapened her +affection in my mind. You do not doubt me, Margaret?” + +“No more than you doubted your mother, although she never told her +love. No, it is not so serious as that; but I wish you were more +demonstrative, Walter.” + +“What, in words? Isn’t there something that speaks louder than words?” + +“Yes, but let us hear the words, too. There is a beautiful proverb in +India which says, ‘Words are the daughters of earth and deeds are the +sons of heaven.’ That is true, but let us not try to pass through life +without enjoying the company of some of the ‘daughters of earth.’” + +“I will confess this much, Margaret, that your words are one of your +principal charms.” + +“Oh, do you really think so? I consider that a great compliment from +you, for I have often tried to repress myself, fearing that my impulsive +and sometimes passionate speech would offend your taste, you who are +outwardly so cold. Do you know, I have a whole vocabulary of endearing +terms ready to be poured into your ears as soon as you begin to give me +encouragement?” + +“Then teach me how to encourage you, and I will certainly begin at once. +Shall we seek some retired spot, where we can be free from observation, +and then shall I seize your hand, fall on my knees, and, in vehement and +extravagant words, declare a passion which you already know I have, just +as well as you know I am breathing at this moment?” + +“Good!” cried Margaret. “That’s almost as fine as the real scene. So you +have a passion for me. I really think you are improving.” + +Before going on with this conversation, let me tell you a little more +about Margaret and my relations to her. + +There was good cause for her complaint. I was at that time a sort +of animated icicle, as far as my emotional nature was concerned. But +although I could not express my feelings to Margaret in set phrase, I do +not mind saying to you that I loved her dearly, or thought I did, which +was the same thing for the time being. I loved her as well as I was +capable of loving anybody. What I lacked Margaret more than made up, for +she was the warmest-hearted creature in all the world. If I should begin +to enumerate her perfections of person and character I should never care +to stop. + +Her educational advantages had been far above the average, and she had +improved them in a manner to gratify her friends and create for herself +abundant mental resources. She had taken the full classical course at +Harvard, carrying off several of the high prizes, had then enjoyed two +years of post-graduate work at Clark, and finally spent two more years +in foreign travel and study. As has been intimated, I had been over for +her, and we were now on our way home, expecting to land on the morrow or +the day after. + +If you imagine that Margaret had lost anything by her education or +was less fitted to make a good home, it is because you never knew +her. Instead of being stunted in her growth, broken in constitution, +round-shouldered, pale-faced and weak-eyed, the development of her body +had kept pace with the expansion of her mind, and she was now in the +perfect flower of young womanhood, with body and soul both of generous +mold. Her marvelous beauty had been refined and heightened by her +intellectual culture, and even her manners, so charming before, were +now more than ever the chaste and well-ordered adornments of a noble +character. She was as vivacious and sparkling as if she had never +known the restraints of school, but without extravagance of any kind to +detract from her self-poise. In short, she was a symphony, a grand and +harmonious composition, and still human enough to love a mortal like me. +Such was the woman who was trying to instill into my wooing a little of +the warmth and sympathy of her delightful nature. As for myself, it will +be necessary to mention only a single characteristic. I had a remarkably +good ear, as we say. Not only was my sense of hearing unusually acute, +but I had an almost abnormal appreciation of musical sounds. Although +without the ability to sing or play and without the habit of application +necessary to learn these accomplishments, I was, from my earliest years, +a great lover of music. People who are born without the power of nicely +discriminating between sounds often say they enjoy music, but these +excellent people do not begin to understand the intense pleasure with +which one listens, whose auricular nerves are more highly developed. But +this rare and soul-stirring enjoyment is many times accompanied, as in +my case, with acute suffering whenever the tympanum is made to resound +with the slightest discord. The most painful moments of my life, +physically speaking, have been those in which I have been forced to +listen to diabolical noises. A harsh, rasping sound has often given me a +pang more severe than neuralgia, while even an uncultivated voice or an +instrument out of tune has jarred on my sensitive nerves for hours. + +My musical friends all hated me in their hearts, for my peculiarity made +me a merciless critic; and the most serious youthful quarrel between +Margaret and myself arose from the same cause. Nature had given Margaret +a voice of rare sweetness and a fine musical taste, and her friends +had encouraged her in singing from her youth. One day, before she had +received much instruction, she innocently asked me to listen to a song +she was studying, when I was cruel enough to laugh at her and ridicule +the idea of her ever learning to sing correctly. This rudeness made such +an impression on her girlish mind that, although she forgave the offense +and continued to love the offender, she could never be induced again to +try her vocal powers before me. All through her school and college days +she devoted some attention to music, and while I heard from others much +about her advancement and the extraordinary quality of her voice, she +always declared she would never sing for me until she was sure she could +put me to shame for my early indiscretion, so painfully present in her +memory. This became in time quite a feature of our long courtship, for +I was constantly trying to have her break her foolish resolution and +let me hear her. Although unsuccessful, the situation was not without a +pleasurable interest for me, for I knew it must end some time, and in +a way, no doubt, to give me great enjoyment, judging from the accounts +which came to my ears. Margaret, too, was well satisfied to let the +affair drift along indefinitely, while she anticipated with delight the +surprise she was preparing for me. + +During the years she had just been spending abroad a good share of her +time had been given to her musical studies, principally vocal culture, +and in her letters she provokingly quoted, for my consideration, the +flattering comments of her instructors and other acquaintances. She +did this as part of my punishment, trying to make me realize how much +pleasure I was losing. Each time I crossed the ocean to visit her I +expected she would relent, but I was as often disappointed; and now this +homeward voyage had almost come to an end, and I had never heard her +voice in song since she was a child. Open and unreserved as she was by +nature, in this particular she had schooled herself to be as reticent +and undemonstrative as she accused me of being. + +Our talk on the subject of my shortcomings, that evening on shipboard, +had not continued much longer before I acknowledged in plain language +that I knew my fault and was ready to cooperate in any scheme that could +be suggested to cure it. + +“What you need,” said Margaret, “is some violent sensation, some +extraordinary experience to stir your soul.” + +“Yes,” I answered, “my humdrum life, my wealth, which came to me without +any effort of my own, and the hitherto almost unruffled character of my +relations with you have all conspired to make me satisfied with an easy +and rather indolent existence. I realize I need a shaking up. I want +to forget myself in some novel experience, which shall engross all my +attention for a time and draw upon my sympathies if I have any.” + +“But what can one do in ‘this weak piping time of peace’? There are no +maidens to be rescued from the enchantments of the wizard, and it is no +longer the fashion to ride forth with sword and halberd to murder in the +name of honor all who oppose themselves. No more dark continents wait +to be explored, neither is there novelty left in searching the ocean’s +depths nor in sailing the sky above us. Civilized warfare itself, the +only field remaining where undying fame may be purchased, seems likely +to lose its hold on men, and soon the arbitrator will everywhere replace +the commander-in-chief and the noble art of war will degenerate into the +ignoble lawsuit. So even universal peace may have its drawbacks.” + +“That is quite sufficient in that line,” said Margaret. “Now let us come +down to something practicable.” + +“Well, I might bribe the pilot to sink the steamer when we are going up +the bay, so that I could have the opportunity of saving your life.” + +“It would be almost worth the trial if it were not for the other +people,” she returned. “Such a role would become you immensely.” + +“I regret that I cannot accommodate you,” I said. “But I have thought +of something which would be rather safer for you. How would you like to +have me fall desperately in love with some pretty girl?” + +“Just the thing,” exclaimed Margaret, laughing and clapping her hands, +“if you can only be sure she will not return your passion.” + +“Small chance of that,” I answered. “So you approve the plan, do you?” + +“Certainly, if you care to try it. Lady never held knight against his +will. But have you forgotten that, after the resources of this planet +are exhausted, as you seem to think they are soon likely to be, you +and I have other worlds to conquer? Perhaps in that work you may find +diversion powerful enough to draw you out of yourself and, possibly, +opportunities for some heart culture.” + +I must explain that this was a reference to a plan of life we were +marking out for ourselves. Margaret was an enthusiast on the subject +of astronomy. I would include myself in the same remark, only the word +enthusiast did not fit my temperament at that time. But our tastes +agreed perfectly in that matter, and we had always read with avidity +everything we could find on the subject. Margaret, however, was the +student, and as she had developed great proficiency in mathematics, she +had decided to make astronomy her profession. + +It was understood that I was to perform the easier part of furnishing +the money for an observatory and instruments of our own, and I was +determined to keep pace with Margaret in her studies as well as I could +in an amateurish way, so that she might be able to retain me as an +assistant. We were to be married at sunrise sharp, on the first day of +the next century, and to lay the corner-stone of our observatory at +the exact moment of the summer solstice of the same year. These were +Margaret’s suggestions, but even I was not averse to letting my friends +see I had a little sentiment. + +That night I dreamed of almost everything we had been talking about, but +lay awake at intervals, wondering if I could, by force of will, work out +the reform in my character which Margaret desired. The night passed, +and it was just as I was rising that a thought flashed upon me which +I determined to put into execution at the first opportunity. This came +early the next evening. As we expected to reach our wharf soon, we had +finished our packing, and were now sitting alone in a retired spot on +deck on the starboard side. As soon as we were comfortably arranged I +said to my companion: + +“Margaret, as this is the last evening of this voyage, it makes an epoch +in our lives. Your school days are now over, and henceforth we hope +to be together. Would not this be a most appropriate time for me to be +introduced to a voice with which I propose to spend the rest of my life? +Last night you were anxious to think of something which would arouse my +dormant heart and draw out in more passionate expression my too obscure +affections. Your words haunted my sleeping and waking thoughts until +it fortunately occurred to me that you yourself had the very means for +accomplishing my reformation. You know how impressionable I am to every +wave of sound. Who knows but your voice, which I am sure will be the +sweetest in the world to me, may be the instrument destined to stir +my drowsy soul, to loose my halting tongue, and even to force my proud +knees to bend before you? In short, why not adopt my suggestion, break +your long-kept resolution, and sing for me this moment? Is the possible +result not worth the trial?” To this long address, which was a great +effort for me, Margaret answered: + +“You surprise me already, Walter. If the mere thought of hearing me sing +can prompt such a sentimental speech as that, what would the song itself +do? Perhaps it would drive you to the other extreme, and you would +become gushing. Just think of that. But, seriously, I am afraid you +would laugh at my voice and send me back to Germany. When you were +talking I thought I could detect an undercurrent of fun in your words.” + +“I assure you I was never more in earnest in my life, and I am sorry you +will not sing. Is your answer final?” + +“I think I will wait a little longer. We are liable to be disturbed +here. And now that you have made a start, perhaps you will improve in +manners becoming a lover without any more help.” + +“No, I shall relapse and be worse than ever. Now is your time to help me +find my heart.” + +Without answering, Margaret sprang up impulsively, exclaiming: + +“There! I have forgotten that book the professor borrowed. Men never +return anything. I must go and get it, and put it into my bag. And I had +better run down and see if auntie wants anything. You stay right here; +don’t move, and I’ll be back in just three minutes.” + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A FALLEN SATELLITE. + + +I promised, and then settled myself more comfortably into my steamer +chair to await Margaret’s return. The three minutes passed, and she did +not come. Evidently it was hard to find the professor, or perhaps he +was holding her, against her will, for a discussion of the book. At any +rate, I could do nothing but sit there, in that easy, half-reclining +position, and watch the full moon, which had just risen, and was shining +square in my face, if that could be said of an object that looked so +round. + +I fell into a deep reverie. My mind was filled with contending emotions, +and such opposing objects as rolling worlds and lovely maidens flitted +in dim images across my mental vision. I loved the best woman on the +earth, and I wondered if any of those other globes contained her equal. +If so, then perhaps some other man was as fortunate as myself. I was +drowsy, but determined to keep awake and pursue this fancy. I remember +feeling confident that I could not sleep if I only kept my eyes open, +and so I said I would keep them fixed on the bright face of the moon. +But how large it looked. Surely something must be wrong with it, or was +it my memory that was at fault? I thought the moon generally appeared +smaller as it rose further above the horizon, but now it was growing +bigger every minute. It was coming nearer, too. Nearer, larger--why, it +was monstrous. I could not turn my eyes away now, and everything else +was forgotten, swallowed up in that one awful sight. How fast it grew. +Now it fills half the sky and makes me tremble with fear. Part of it is +still lighted by the sun, and part is in dark, threatening shadow. I +see pale faces around me. Others are gazing, awe-stricken, at the same +object. We are in the open street, and some have glasses, peering into +the deep craters and caverns of the surface. + +I seemed to be a new-comer on the scene, and could not help remarking to +my nearest neighbor: + +“This is a strange sight. Do you think it is real, or are we all bereft +of our senses?” + +“Strange indeed, but true,” he answered. + +“But what does it mean?” And then, assuming a gayety I did not feel, +I asked further: “Does the moon, too, want to be annexed to the United +States?” + +“You speak lightly, young man,” my neighbor said, “and do not appear to +realize the seriousness of our situation. Where have you been, that you +have not heard this matter discussed, and do not understand that the +moon is certain to come into collision with the earth in a very short +time?” + +He seemed thoroughly alarmed, and I soon found that all the people +shared his feeling. The movement of the earth carried us out of sight +of the moon in a few hours, but after a brief rest everybody was on the +watch again at the next revolution. The excitement over the behavior of +our once despised moon increased rapidly from this time. Nothing else +was talked of, business was well-nigh suspended, and the newspapers +neglected everything else to tell about the unparalleled natural +phenomenon. Speculation was rife as to what would be the end, and what +effect would follow a union of the earth with its satellite. + +While this discussion was going on, the unwelcome visitor was +approaching with noticeable rapidity at every revolution of the earth, +and the immense dark shadow which it now made, as it passed beneath the +sun, seemed ominous of an ill fate to our world and its inhabitants. It +was a time to try the stoutest hearts, and, of course, the multitude of +the people were overwhelmed with alarm. As no one could do anything to +ward off what seemed a certain catastrophe, the situation was all the +more dreadful. Men could only watch the monster, speculate as to the +result, and wait, with horrible suspense, for the inevitable. The circle +of revolution was now becoming so small that the crisis was hourly +expected. Men everywhere left their houses and sought the shelterless +fields, and it was well they did so, for there came a day when the earth +received a sudden and awful shock. After it had passed, people looked +at each other wonderingly to find themselves alive, and began +congratulating each other, thinking the worst was over. But the dreadful +anxiety returned when, after some hours, the moon again appeared, a +little tardy this time, but nearer and more threatening than ever. The +news was afterwards brought that it had struck the high mountain peaks +of Central Asia, tearing down their sides with the power of a thousand +glaciers and filling the valleys below with ruin. + +It was now felt that the end must soon come, and this was true, for at +the earth’s very next revolution the tired and feeble satellite, once +the queen of the sky and the poet’s glory, scraped across the continent +of South America, received the death blow in collision with the Andes, +careened, and fell at last into the South Pacific Ocean. The shock given +to the earth was tremendous, but no other result was manifest except +that the huge mass displaced water enough to submerge many islands and +to reconstruct the shore lines of every continent. There was untold loss +of life and property, of course, but it is astonishing how easily those +who were left alive accepted the new state of things, when it was found +that the staid earth, in spite of the enormous wart on her side, was +making her daily revolution almost with her accustomed regularity. + +The lovers of science, however, were by no means indifferent to +the new-comer. To be able at last to solve all the problems of the +constitution and geography of the moon was enough to fill them with the +greatest enthusiasm. But, while thousands were ready to investigate +the mysterious visitor, one great difficulty stood in the way of all +progress. It seemed impossible to get a foothold on the surface. The +great globe rose from the waves on all sides at such an angle on account +of its shape that a lodgment could not easily be made. Ships sailed +under the overhanging sides, and in a calm sea they would send out their +boats, which approached near enough to secure huge specimens. These were +broken into fragments and were soon sold on the streets of every city. + +The first to really set foot on the dead satellite were some adventurous +advertisers, who shot an arrow and cord over a projecting crag, pulled a +rope after it, and finally drew themselves up, and soon the lunar cliffs +were put to some practical use, blazoning forth a few staring words. +These men could not go beyond their narrow standing place, for the +general curve of the surface, although broken up by many irregularities, +presented no opportunities for the most skillful climbing. + +But it was impossible that, with the moon so near, the problem of +reaching it could long remain unsolved. Dr. Schwartz, an eminent +scientist, was the first to suggest that it must be approached in a +balloon, and at the same time he announced that he would be one of two +men, if another could be found, to undertake to effect a landing in that +way. Here, I saw, was my opportunity. I had often dreamed of visiting +the moon and other heavenly bodies, and now here was a chance to go +in reality. I had some acquaintance with Dr. Schwartz, and my prompt +application for the vacant place in the proposed expedition was +successful. The doctor kindly wrote me that my enthusiasm in the cause +was just what he was looking for, and he was sure I would prove a plucky +and reliable companion. The matter attracted so much attention that the +United States Government, moved to action by the public nature of +the enterprise, took it up and offered to bear all the expense of +the equipment and carrying out of the expedition. Encouraged by this +assistance, the doctor began his plans at once. All recognized that one +great object was to settle the question as to the existence of life on +the other side of the moon; for, in spite of its rude collisions with +mountains and continents before it rested as near the heart of the earth +as it could get, it had insisted, with an almost knowing perversity, in +keeping its old, familiar face next to us. To solve this problem might +take much time, and so we determined to go so well prepared that, if we +once reached the upper surface of the moon, we could stay as long as our +errand demanded. + +It was decided to make the ascent from a town near the coast of the +southern part of Chile, and thither we went with our balloon, some +scientific apparatus, and a large quantity of dried provisions. We +took with us also papers from the State Department showing that we were +accredited agents from our Government to the inhabitants of the moon, if +we should find any. Our arrangements were speedily made, and on a still, +bright morning we bade adieu to our friends who had accompanied us thus +far, mounted our car, and set sail. + +We left the earth with light hearts, excited with the novel and +interesting character of the enterprise, and but little realizing its +difficulty and danger. Ordinary balloon journeys had become frequent, +and the evolution of the air ship had almost passed beyond the +experimental stage, but nothing like our present undertaking had ever +been attempted. + +Our starting place was far enough from the resting point of the moon +to enable us to clear the rounded side, but in order to reach the +equatorial line of the fallen globe we would be obliged to ascend over a +thousand miles. + +The fact that we were not appalled by the mere thought of rising to such +a height shows how thoroughly we were carried away with the excitement. +But we were better prepared for a lofty flight than might be supposed. +For among the recent wonders of science had been the invention of an +air-condensing machine, by which the rarefied atmosphere of the upper +regions could be converted into good food for the lungs. These machines +had been successfully tested more than once by voyagers of the air, but +the present occasion promised to give them a much more severe trial than +they had yet received. And, indeed, it is impossible to imagine how +we could have survived without them. Another important aid to science +rendered by this air-condensing apparatus is that in the process of +condensation water is produced in sufficient quantities to drink. Our +little car was tightly inclosed, and we took enough surplus gas with us +to keep it comfortably warm. So, with plenty of food, air, water, and +fuel, we were pretty well prepared for a long journey. + +Our instruments, placed just outside the glass sides of the car, told +us how fast we were rising and what height we had reached from time +to time, and as we left the denser atmosphere of the earth we were +gratified to find that we continued to rise rapidly. On one side of +us we could see the rugged surface of the moon, now, on account of its +rounded form, drawing nearer to us every hour as we approached the point +where we hoped to land. We thought it best to try to pass the center and +land, if possible, somewhere on the upper hemisphere, which was the +part of the monstrous object that we wanted to investigate. But when +at length we thought we were about to fly past the moon’s equator +successfully, an unexpected thing happened. + +If we suppose the moon was resting, at the bottom of the ocean, on one +of its poles, we were going toward the equatorial line, and we thought +we should not be able to retain a foothold anywhere below that line +certainly. But now, what was our surprise to find ourselves under some +mysterious influence. Our balloon refused to obey us as heretofore, and +in spite of rudder and sail we were drifting about, and appeared to be +going toward the moon’s surface sooner than we had intended. + +In scientific emergencies I deferred to my companion, and now asked +for an explanation of this erratic behavior of our balloon. Instead of +replying at once, the doctor stooped and cut a fine wire, which released +one of the sand bags suspended for ballast from the bottom of our car, +and told me to watch it. We both watched it, and instead of starting +with rapidity for the center of the earth, as all well-conducted sand +bags have done from the beginning of the world, it seemed to hesitate +and float around a minute, as though it were no more than a handful of +feathers. And then, slowly at first, but soon more and more swiftly, +forgetting its birthplace and its old mother earth, it fell unblushingly +toward the moon. + +Intent on watching the fickle sand bag, we did not at first notice that +our whole conveyance was practicing the same unhandsome maneuver. But +we soon became aware that we had changed allegiance also. We had started +with the earth at our feet and the moon looming up on one side of us, +but here we were now riding with the moon under us and the earth away +off at our side. + +My fellow in this strange experience now found his voice. + +“You doubtless realize,” said he, “what has taken place. We are now so +far from the earth that its attraction is very weak and the nearer mass +of the moon is drawing us.” + +“That is quite evident,” I said, “but you seem as unconcerned about it +as if such a trip as this were an everyday affair with you.” + +“I am not at all indifferent to the wonderful character of this +journey,” he replied, “but its scientific value swallows up all personal +considerations.” + +I believed this to be true, and I will say right here that in all our +future experiences the doctor showed the same indifference to everything +like fear, and seemed content to go to any length in the interest of +science. + +We were now able to govern our movements by the ordinary methods of +ballooning, and after sailing over the surface of the moon a few hours, +studying its rugged outlines, we began to think of selecting a place +for landing. There was no water to be seen and no forests nor other +vegetation, but everywhere were huge mountains and deep valleys, all as +bare and uninviting as it is possible to imagine. + +But it would not do to turn a cold shoulder to her now, and so we +descended gracefully to make her close acquaintance, cast out our +anchor, and were soon on the moon in reality. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TWO MEN IN THE MOON. + + +“Well, Doctor,” said I, as soon as our feet touched the ground, “the +moon is inhabited now if never before.” + +“Yes, yes,” he answered, “and I am glad to find the inhabitants are of +such a lively disposition.” + +“Oh, who can help being light-hearted,” I rejoined, “when one’s body is +so light?” + +For as soon as we left our car we began to have the queerest sensations +of lightness. We felt as if we were standing on springs, which the least +motion would set off and up we would go toward the sky. Everything we +handled had but a small fraction of the weight it would possess on the +earth, and our great air-condensing machines we carried about with ease. +But however high we might jump we always returned to the ground, and +whether we were on top of the moon or on the bottom of it, it was pretty +certain that we could not fall off, any more than we could have fallen +off the earth before we voluntarily but so rashly left it. + +My exhilaration of spirit did not last, for I could not help thinking of +our condition. The law of gravitation surely held us, although with less +force than we had been accustomed to, on account of the smaller size of +the moon; and how were we to get away from it? + +I again appealed to my companion. + +“I do not like the idea of spending the rest of our lives on the moon, +Doctor, but can you tell me how we are to prevent it? Can we ever get +back within the earth’s attraction again?” + +“I have been pondering the subject myself,” he replied, “and I think I +can give you some hope of seeing home once more. If our old measurements +of the moon are correct, and if we are, as I suppose, somewhere near +the equator, we must be about fifteen hundred miles from the earth, +following the curve of the moon’s surface. Now, after we have finished +our investigations here, we can start for home on foot. We can cover a +good many miles a day, since walking can be no burden here, and we can +easily tow our balloon along. As we approach the earth, my impression +is that we shall become more and more light-footed, for we shall be +gradually getting back to the earth’s attraction. Somewhere between this +point and our planet there must be a spot where the attraction of both +bodies will be equal, and we can stay on the moon or drop off and return +to the earth in our balloon as we please.” + +“What a curious idea,” I answered; “and yet, considering the strange +behavior of our sand bag, I don’t know but you are right. And I have +only one suggestion to make; that is, that we start earthward at once +and try the experiment. Let the investigations go. If there are any +inhabitants here they will never miss us, since we haven’t made their +acquaintance yet. Science or no science, I object to remaining any +longer than necessary in this uncertainty in regard to our future. +You know very well we couldn’t live long in this temperature and with +nothing for our lungs but what comes through these horrid machines. And +what good would come of our discoveries if we are never to get back to +the earth again? I profess to have as much courage left as the ordinary +mortal would have, but in the present circumstances I believe no one +would blame us for wanting to settle this question at once.” + +“It would seem a trifle ridiculous,” said the doctor in reply to this +harangue, “for us to return to our planet without any further effort +to accomplish our errand. But I will not deny that I share something of +your feeling, and I will start with you right away, on condition that +you will return here if we find that I am correct in believing we can +leave the moon at our pleasure.” + +“Agreed,” I cried, and we were soon on our way. + +So far we had been exposed to the sun and were almost scorched by the +intensity of its rays. We had never experienced anything like such heat +and would not have supposed the human body could endure it. But now, +soon after we had started to find the place where the moon would let +go of us, the sun set and, with scarcely a minute’s warning, we were +plunged into darkness and cold. The darkness was relieved by the +exceedingly brilliant appearance of the stars, the sky fairly blazing +with them, but the cold was almost unendurable even for the few moments +in which we were exposed to it. We secured our car as speedily as +possible, climbed into it, and got a little warmth from our gas heater. + +These extremes of temperature convinced us that no life such as we were +acquainted with could exist a great while on the moon. + +We found we could make no progress at all by night. We could only shut +ourselves up and wait for the sun to come. In trying to keep warm we +would work our air-condensers harder than usual, and the water thus +produced we would freeze in little cakes, and have them to help mitigate +the burning heat a short time the next day. + +The country through which we were traveling was made up of bold mountain +peaks and deep ravines. There was no sign of vegetation and not even +the soil for it to grow in, but everywhere only hard, metallic rock that +showed unmistakably the action of fire. + +And so it was with the greatest difficulty that we made our way +earthward, although there was so little effort needed in walking. As I +pondered the doctor’s idea, it seemed to me more and more that he +must be right. We were certainly held to the moon where we were by +gravitation. It was just as true that near the surface of the earth its +superior attraction would draw all objects to itself. Accordingly, if +we kept on our way, why should we not in time come to a place where we +could throw ourselves once more under the influence of the old earth, +now becoming very dear to us? + +Thinking chiefly of this subject and talking of it every day, we labored +on, and finally were wonderfully encouraged with the belief that we were +actually walking easier and everything was becoming lighter. Soon this +belief became a certainty, and, since leaping was no effort, we leaped +with joy and hope. + +And now how shall I describe our sensations as we went bounding along, +hardly touching the ground, until we finally came to the place where it +was not necessary to touch the ground at all? Now we knew that by going +only a little further we should be able to mount our car and set sail +for the earth again. But with this knowledge we lost at once much of +our desire, and thought we would not hasten our departure. Here we were, +absolutely floating in the air, and it maybe believed that the feeling +was as delicious as it was unique. Using our hands as fins we could with +the slightest effort sail around at pleasure, resting in any position we +chose to take, truly a most luxurious experience. + +“How shall we make our friends believe all this when we try to tell them +about it, Doctor?” said I. + +“The best way to make them believe it,” he replied, “is to bring them +up here and let them try it for themselves. I propose to organize an +expedition on our return and bring up a large party. We could manage to +land somewhere in this vicinity, I think, instead of going up as far as +you and I did. What a place this would be for summer vacations! The moon +is a fixture now; it cannot get away. I am sure of that, for the law of +gravitation will never release it. So we may as well make what use of +it we can, and these delightful sensations will no doubt form the +most important discovery that we shall ever make on this dried-up and +worn-out satellite. You know many people are willing to put themselves +to much inconvenience and to undergo many hardships for the sake of a +change from the monotony of home life. If we can induce them to come +up here for a few weeks, and if they can endure this rather erratic +climate, they will find change enough to break up the monotony for one +year, I think.” + +After enjoying this rare exercise to our content, we began preparing +for the night which was now coming on. The doctor had reminded me of my +promise to return to our former position on the moon, and we agreed to +set out the next day. Having fastened our car securely to the ground, +so that we might not drift off toward the earth, we entered it and made +ourselves as comfortable as possible. + +Our resting place was near the center of what seemed to be an immense +crater, and some time before morning we were roused by a violent shaking +of the ground beneath us, which startled us beyond expression. + +“What’s that?” I exclaimed. + +“That feels very much like a moon-quake,” replied my companion. + +I was terribly frightened, but resolved to follow the doctor’s example +and make light of what we could not help. + +So I said: + +“But I thought the lunar volcanoes were all dead ages ago. I hope we +haven’t camped in the crater of one that is likely to go off again.” + +“My opinion is,” answered the doctor, “that there is still water inside +the moon which is gradually freezing. That operation would sometimes +crack the surface, and this has probably caused the quaking that we have +felt.” + +While we were talking the wind began to blow, and soon, although it was +long before time for the sun to rise, we suddenly emerged from darkness +into bright sunlight. We sprang up instinctively to look about us and +try to discover what this could mean, when what was our consternation to +find ourselves adrift! + +There, in full view of our wondering eyes, was the whole, round earth, +hanging in space, and where were we? Then we began to realize gradually +that the trembling of the ground was the grating of the moon against +the earth as it left its resting place, and the wind was caused by our +motion. + +The novelty of the situation took away for a time the sense of fear, and +I exclaimed: + +“Another scientific certainty gone to smash! I thought you said the moon +could never get away from the earth. What are we going to do now?” + +“Well,” replied the doctor, “this is certainly something I never dreamed +of in my philosophy. I didn’t see how the moon could be drawn away from +the earth when once actually attached to it, but I suppose the sun +and planets all happen to be pulling in one direction just now and are +proving too much for the earth’s attraction. But what concerns us more +at this time is covered by your question, ‘What are we going to do now?’ +And I will answer that I think we will stick to the moon for a while. +You can see for yourself that we are held here much more firmly than +when we were disporting ourselves in the air yesterday, and the earth +is now too far away for us to throw ourselves and our balloon within its +attraction.” + +I knew by the feeling of increasing weight that what my companion said +must be true, but we could not then appreciate the dreadful nature +of our condition, so wrapped up were we in the grandeur of the object +before our eyes. To those who have never been on the moon in such +circumstances it will be impossible to adequately describe our feelings +as we gazed upon our late home and knew that we were fast drifting away +from it. + +There the round globe hung, as I had often pictured it in my +imagination--oceans and continents, mountains, lakes, and rivers, all +spread out before us--the greatest object lesson ever seen by the eye +of man. As we studied it, recognizing feature after feature, lands +and waters that we knew by their familiar shape, the doctor broke our +reverie with these words, evidently with the endeavor to keep up my +spirits: + +“That looks as natural as a map, doesn’t it? You have seen globes with +those divisions pictured on them, but there is the globe itself. If +our summer tourists could take in this experience also, it would make a +vacation worth having. Isn’t it grand? I see you are thinking about our +personal peril, but I think I know men who would take the risk and put +themselves in our place for the sake of this magnificent view.” + +“If you know of any way to send for one of those friends, I wish you +would do so,” I replied. “I would willingly give him my place.” + +It may be believed that we were all this time anxiously watching +the earth, and it did not lessen our anxiety to realize that we were +traveling very rapidly away from it. I had reached a point now where I +did not place much dependence upon the doctor’s science, but to get some +expression of his thoughts I said to him: + +“Well, have you any opinion about our fate? Are we doomed to pass the +remainder of our lives circling around our dear old earth, looking upon +her face day by day but never to approach her again?” + +“I think you have stated the case about as it is,” said he, “if, +indeed, this rate of speed does not carry us entirely beyond the earth’s +attraction, out into illimitable space.” + +The thought of such an additional catastrophe silenced me, especially +as I could not deny its possibility. Life on the moon, if we could only +keep the earth in sight even, seemed almost endurable now, beside the +idea that we might be cast out to shift for ourselves, without a +tie save such as the universal law of gravitation might find for us +somewhere. + +It must not be imagined that our conversation was carried on with ease +or that we were half enjoying our novel situation. We were simply trying +to make the best of a very bad matter. Not long after we had started the +wind had taken away the balloon part of our air ship, and now threatened +every moment to tear the car from its moorings and end our unhappy +career at once. Besides this impending catastrophe, it was with the +greatest difficulty that we could get air enough to fill our lungs, but +the cold was so intense whenever our side of the moon was turned away +from the sun that we needed the severe labor on our condensers to keep +us from freezing. + +Meantime, our speed increasing every hour, the planet that had once been +our home was growing smaller before our eyes. At length we were flying +through space at such a rate that we could not suppress our fears that +the terrible suggestion of the doctor’s would be realized. We had both +made a mental calculation as to how large the earth ought to look from +the moon at its normal distance, and as it approached that size we could +not hide our anxiety from each other. Without a word from the doctor I +could see by his face that hope was fast leaving him, and as we were now +going more rapidly than ever I felt that we had nothing to do but accept +our fate. + +In regard to such intensity of feeling at this stage of our experience, +it maybe objected that our condition was hopeless anyway, and it could +make no difference whether we remained within the earth’s influence +or not. But in spite of our desperate situation we had some sentiment +remaining. The earth was the only home we had ever known, and I am not +ashamed to say that we did not like to lose sight of it; especially +as there was not the slightest possibility that we should ever see it +again, unless, indeed, our moon should turn into a comet with eccentric +orbit, and so bring us back at some future day--a very unlikely +occurrence, as all will admit who know anything about moons and comets. + +Our speed did not lessen but rather increased as we gradually broke away +from the earth’s attraction, and the dear old earth was fast becoming +a less significant object in our sky. If our situation was lonesome +before, it was now desolation itself. + +“Doctor,” said I, when I could control my emotions enough to speak, +“where now?” + +“Well,” he replied, with a grim attempt at a smile, “my opinion is not +worth much in our present strange circumstances, but it seems to me we +are on our way either to the sun or one of the large planets.” + +I did not reply, and we both soon found it wise to expend no unnecessary +breath in talking. The ether was now so thin that it took oceans of it, +literally, to make enough air to keep us alive. + +Our provisions were nearly exhausted, our strength was failing, and +I really believe we would not have lived many days had not something +occurred to divert our minds and to relieve some of our physical +discomforts. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AND ONE WOMAN. + + +At the time we tied our car to the rocks, to prevent us from drifting +away from the earth, we did not anticipate that the fastenings would +receive any very severe strain, but now the velocity of the wind was +such that there was great danger of our breaking away. The moon was not +a very hospitable place, to be sure, as we had thus far found it, but +still we preferred it to the alternative of flying off into space in our +glass car and becoming a new species of meteor. + +And yet it seemed to be courting instant death to attempt to leave the +car and seek for other shelter. We could not decide which course to +take. Both were so full of peril that there seemed to be no possible +safety in either. + +As I review our situation now, and think of us spinning along on that +defunct world we knew not whither, with no ray of light to illumine the +darkness of our future or show us the least chance of escape from our +desperate plight, it is astonishing to me that we did not give up all +hope and lie down and die at once. It only shows what the human body +can endure and of what stuff our minds are made. I think it would not be +making a rash statement to say that no man ever found himself in a worse +situation and survived. + +But help was nearer than we supposed. From what we had seen of the +moon we could not have imagined a more unexpected thing than that +which happened to us then. Suddenly, above the roar of the wind and the +thumping of our car on the rocks, even above the tumult of our spirits, +there came to us the strains of more than earthly music. Whether it was +from voice or instrument we could not tell, and in its sweetness and +power it was absolutely indescribable. At first we did not try to +discover its source but were content to sit and quietly enjoy it, as it +fell gently upon us, pervading our whole being and so filling us with +courage and strength that we seemed to be transformed into new men. + +Then, wondering if we could discover from whence the notes came, we +turned and looked about us, when there was revealed to us a vision of +beauty which filled and satisfied the sense of sight as completely as +our ears had been enchanted with the angelic music. + +Not far from our car, with her flowing garments nearly torn from her in +the fierceness of the gale, was a young girl, stretching out her hands +imploringly toward us and pouring forth her voice in that exquisite +song. We soon discovered it was not for herself that she was anxious, +but for us; for when she observed that she had attracted our attention +she smiled and turned to go back the way she had come, beckoning us +with hand and eye to follow her, and still singing her sweet but +unintelligible words. Perhaps I flattered myself, but I thought she +was looking at me more than at my companion, and I began with great +eagerness to unfasten the door of the car. + +“Wait!” cried the doctor. “Where are you going?” + +I could not stop an instant, but answered with feeling: + +“Going? I am going wherever she is going. I’ll follow her to the end of +the moon if necessary, though the surface be everywhere as bleak as our +own north pole.” + +“Well,” he replied, “if it is such a desperate case as that, I’ll have +to go along to take care of you.” + +I found that when such a woman beckons and such a voice calls there is +but one thing to do. The sirens were not to be mentioned in comparison. +Twenty thousand hurricanes could not have prevented me from attempting +to follow where she led as long as I had breath. + +We reached the ground in safety, and with the greatest difficulty made +our way in the footsteps of our guide, leaving all our possessions +behind us, to the doctor’s murmured regret. And now the words of +the singer seemed to take on a joyous meaning, and we could almost +distinguish her invitation to follow her to a place where the wind did +not blow and where our present troubles would be over. She kept well in +the lead but walked only as fast as our strength would allow, looking +back constantly to encourage us with her smile and ravishing one heart +at least with the melody of her song. + +Presently we came to the edge of an immense crater, hundreds of feet +deep and as empty and cold as all the others we had seen on the moon. +Instead of going around this, our leader chose a narrow ravine and took +us down the steep side to the bottom of the crater. We supposed she did +this just to give us protection from the wind, and we were very much +sheltered, but she did not stop here. Entering one of the many fissures +in the rocks, she led us into a narrow passage whose floor descended +so rapidly and whose solid roof shut out the light so quickly that in +ordinary circumstances we would have hesitated about proceeding. +But, although it was soon absolutely dark, we kept on, guided by that +marvelous voice, now our sole inspiration. + +“Come, come, fear no harm,” it seemed to say, and we were content to +follow blindly, even the doctor no longer objecting. + +[Illustration: “POURING FORTH HER VOICE IN THAT EXQUISITE SONG.”] + +How many hours we proceeded in this way, going down, down, all the +time, toward the center of the globe, I have no means of telling; but I +distinctly remember that we began, after a time, to find, to our great +joy, that the air was becoming denser and we could breathe quite freely. +This gave us needed strength and justified the faith with which our +mysterious deliverer had filled us. + +At length we were gladdened by a glimmer of light ahead of us, which +increased until our path was all illumined with a beautiful soft haze. +Soon the way broadened and grew still brighter, and then we were led +forth into an open street, which seemed to be part of a small village. +There were but few houses, and even these, although they showed signs +of a former grandeur, were sadly in need of care. Not a creature of any +kind was stirring, and in our hasty review the whole place looked as +if it might have been deserted by its inhabitants for a hundred years. +There was one spot, however, so retired as to be entirely hidden from +our view at first, which had anything but a deserted appearance. The +house was small, but it was a perfect bower of beauty, half-concealed +with a mass of flowers and vines. Here our journey ended, for our guide +led us to the door and, entering, turned and invited us to follow her. + +The doctor and I were tired enough to accept with eagerness her +hospitality, and soon we were all seated in a pleasant room, which was +filled with the evidences of a refined taste. Now we had a much better +opportunity to observe the resplendent beauty of our new friend, and we +found, also, that her manners were as captivating as her other personal +qualities. At intervals, all through our long walk, her song had ceased +and we expected she would make some attempt to speak to us; but being +disappointed in this, it struck me after we had entered the house that +I ought to end the embarrassment by addressing her. The circumstances +of our meeting were peculiar, to say the least, and, of all the thousand +things I might have appropriately said, nothing could have been more +meaningless or have better shown the vacant condition of my mind than +the words I chose. + +“It’s a fine day,” I said, looking square in her eyes and trying to +speak pleasantly. + +In answer she gave me a smile which almost deprived me of what little +wit remained, and at the same time emitted one exquisite note. + +I was now at the end of my resources. I had always thought I could talk +on ordinary topics as well as the average man, but in the presence of +this girl, with everything in the world unsaid, I could not think of one +word to say. The doctor soon saw my predicament and hastened to +assist me, and the remark which he selected shows again his wonderful +self-possession in the midst of overwhelming difficulties. He waved his +hand gently toward me to attract her attention and said: + +“My friend and I are from the United States and have come to make you a +visit. This is your home, I suppose, away down here in the middle of the +moon? It is very kind of you to bring us here. I hope you will excuse me +for my rudeness, but what time do you have supper?” + +This time three little notes of the same quality as before and then +a little trill, and the whole accompanied by a smile so sweet that I +suddenly began to wish the doctor had been blown off the top of the +moon. It was a wicked thought and I put it away from me as quickly +as possible, being assisted by the recollection that the doctor had a +charming wife already, who was no doubt thinking of him at this very +moment. + +We were not making much progress in opening conversation, but our +charming hostess seemed to understand either the doctor’s words or his +looks, for, stepping into another room, she called us presently to sit +down to a table well supplied with plain but substantial food. She soon +made us feel quite at home, just by her easy and agreeable ways. We did +not once hear her voice in ordinary speech, and at length we began to +suspect, what we afterward learned to be true, that she talked as the +birds talk, only in song. Whether she used her language or ours she +would always sing or chant her words, and every expression was perfect +in rhythm and melody. + +The doctor and I hesitated to say much to each other, out of deference +to the feelings of this fair lunarian, but he took occasion to remark to +me quietly that as she could not tell us her name just yet he proposed +to call her Mona [Footnote: _Mona_ is old Saxon for _moon_.] for the +present. I assented easily, as it made little difference to me what we +called her, if she would only remain with us. + +It happened that the doctor, who knew everything, was well acquainted +with dactylology and the latest sign language, used in the instruction +of deaf mutes, and as it seemed likely that our stay in our present +abode might be a prolonged one, he told me he would try to teach Mona to +converse with us. I could not object, although I secretly wished I could +have taken the place of instructor. But it soon occurred to me that I +must be a fellow pupil, if we were all to talk in that way; and so, +with this bond of sympathy established between us, Mona and I began our +lessons. + +During the closing years of the century great progress had been made, on +the earth, in the method of talking by arbitrary signs and motions. +The movements of the body and limbs and the great variety of facial +expressions were all so well adapted to the ideas to be represented that +it was comparatively easy for an intelligent person to learn to make +known many of his thoughts. As our studies progressed day after day +it began to dawn on me that Mona, in spite of the disadvantage of not +knowing our spoken language, was learning faster than I was. I was +somewhat chagrined at this at first, but it finally turned out to my +advantage, for the doctor announced one day that Mona had acquired all +he knew and could thenceforth teach me if I pleased. Here was a bond +of sympathy that I had not looked for, but I was glad enough to avail +myself of it, and delighted to find that Mona was also pleased with +the plan. With her for a teacher it did not take me long to finish. +Her graceful movements made poetry of the language, and the web she was +weaving around my heart was strengthened every hour. + +As Mona gradually learned to express herself to our comprehension we +began to ask her questions about herself and her history. The doctor, +being less under the spell of her charms than I was, showed a greater +curiosity, and one of the first things he asked was: + +“When do you expect the other members of your family home?” + +Mona was at first puzzled, but saw his meaning as soon as the motions +were repeated, and answered with a few simple signs: + +“I have no friends to come home. I am alone.” + +The expression we put into our faces told her of our sorrow and sympathy +better than any words, and the doctor continued: + +“But these other houses! Surely they are not all empty?” + +“Yes,” she replied, “their inmates are all gone. I am the only +inhabitant left.” + +And then she told us from time to time that there were no other villages +anywhere in the moon and that she was absolutely the last of her race. +Our method of conversation was not free enough to allow her to tell us +how she had discovered the truth of this astounding information, and +there were a thousand other questions for whose answers we were obliged +to wait, but not forever. + +The doctor and I talked freely to each other now, and playfully said +a great many things to Mona, who, though she did not understand them, +laughed with us and gave us much pleasure with her easy, unembarrassed +manner and piquant ways. And she not only jabbered away with hands and +face in the manner we had taught her, but she did not cease also to make +life bright for us by repaying us in our own coin and talking to us in +her natural, delicious way. With such music in the house life could not +be dull. + +My infatuation increased as the days went by, and I began to seek every +possible occasion to be alone with Mona. I often encouraged the doctor +to go out and learn what he could of our surroundings, excusing myself +from bearing him company on the ground that I did not think it safe to +leave Mona alone. Or if Mona wanted to go out I would suggest to the +doctor that I needed the exercise also, and that he really ought to +be writing down our experiences while he had leisure, as there was no +telling how soon the moon would land us somewhere. + +I did not then know whether the doctor saw through my designs or not. +I thought not, for I did not suppose he was ever so deeply in love as +I was. But if he did he was good enough to take my little hints and say +nothing. + +On these occasions, whether Mona and I remained in the house or walked +abroad, I wasted no time in asking her more questions about the moon or +such trivial matters, but spent all my efforts in trying to establish +closer personal relations between us. While she was exceedingly pleasant +and agreeable, she did not seem to understand my feeling exactly, +although I tried in every way to show her my heart. She was not +coquettish, but perfectly unaffected, and simply did not realize my +meaning. For once the sign language did not prove adequate; and so, as +my feelings would not be controlled, I was fain to resort to my natural +tongue, and poured forth my love to my own satisfaction if not to her +comprehension. I did not stint the words, astonishing myself at the +fullness of my vocabulary, and hoping that the fervor of my manner and +the passion exhibited in my voice would make the right impression on my +companion. + +Day after day, as opportunity offered, I returned to the same theme. +Mona was sympathetic in her own charming way, but apparently not +affected in the manner I was looking for. And still, “I love you, I love +you,” was repeated in her ears a thousand times. The fact that she did +not understand the words made me all the more voluble, and I lavished my +affectionate terms upon her without restraint. + +One day, after this had been going on for some time, the doctor came in +from a walk and found us together as usual. He had a rare blossom in +his hand, and stepping to Mona’s side he offered it to her with some +gallantry. She accepted it with a beaming countenance which set my +heart to thumping, and then she burst forth in a strain so sweet that +it thrilled my whole being and roused in me again that jealous fear that +Mona was learning to care more for the doctor than for me. But how +shall I describe my emotions when she suddenly blended syllables of +our language with the accents of her song, and, still looking into the +doctor’s eyes, closed her entrancing melody with the burning words, “I +love you”? + +I wonder how other men have borne such a shock as that. It seemed to me +that by simply living during the next few minutes I was proving myself +stronger than others. And I was able to think, too. It occurred to me +that perhaps Mona was merely a parrot, repeating, with no perception of +their meaning, words which she had so often heard from me. But this idea +passed swiftly away when I remembered the warmth of her expression and +the ardor of her manner, both of which, alas, she had also learned from +me. + +As I recovered somewhat from the effects of the blow I found Mona’s eyes +were fixed on me, and she looked so innocent, so entirely unconscious +of wrong, that if I had any anger in my heart it melted away and left +me more her slave than ever. There was something in her behavior which +I could not comprehend, and it was evident that she had not yet acquired +any particular fondness for me, but these were not sufficient reasons +to make me cease to care for her. My love was too strong to give her up, +even after I had just heard her declare, in such a passionate way, her +love for another. These thoughts passed through my mind as she beamed +upon me in her radiant beauty, smiling as sweetly as ever, as if to +encourage me still to live and hope. + +But how did the doctor receive this remarkable love-song? Like the +philosopher he was. Being astonished beyond measure at what he had +heard, he sat and pondered the subject for some minutes. What chiefly +interested him was not the personal element in Mona’s words, which was +so vital a point to me, but the fact that she could make use of any +words of our language. The possibilities which this fact opened up to +him were of the greatest moment. If Mona could learn to talk freely +she would be able to give us much information that would be of great +scientific value. After he had pursued these thoughts a while it +suddenly struck him that the expression she had used was a singular one +to begin with, and he turned to me and laughingly said: + +“You must have taught her those words. I did not.” + +“I shall have to acknowledge it,” I replied, “but I assure you I did not +influence her to make such use of them.” + +“No, I suppose not; but that question is of small account beside the +knowledge that Mona has begun to learn our speech. Now let us give all +our attention to her instruction.” + +We did so from that hour, the doctor from high motives of philosophy and +philanthropy, while I was actuated by more selfish reasons. Although +I had learned that I had been too hasty in my attempt to gain Mona’s +affections I did not despair of success. I should have to take time and +approach the citadel of her untutored heart with more caution. In the +pleasant task of teaching her the intricacies of the English language +I anticipated many delightful opportunities of leading her into the +Elysian fields of romance. If she could learn to understand fully my +intense feeling for her I had no doubt she would return my passion. With +such a hopeful spirit does the love god inspire his happy victims. + +In order to assist in the realization of these rosy fore-thoughts, I +suggested to the doctor that each of us should take his turn in Mona’s +instruction, so as to make it as easy and informal for her as possible. +He had no objections to make, and we began a task which proved to be +much simpler than we had imagined. Mona had heard us talk so much +that she had half-learned a great many words and expressions, and her +remarkable quickness of intellect helped her to pick up their meaning +rapidly as soon as we gave her systematic aid. Hence it was not long +before she began to converse with considerable freedom. + +From the first the doctor and I had been curious to know if she +would give up the musical tone and simply talk as we did, and we were +pleasantly surprised to find that her song was not interrupted by the +form of words she used. Whatever the phrase she wanted to employ she +turned it into verse on the instant and chanted it forth in perfect +melody. So spontaneous was every expression that her very thoughts +seemed to be framed in harmony. Her voice was not obtrusive nor +monotonous and generally not loud, but was always well adapted to the +sense of what she was singing. The tones mostly used in conversation +were low and sweet, like rippling water, but these were constantly +varied by the introduction of notes of greater power and range. + +To have such use made of our rugged speech was a revelation to us, and +words, as we employ them, are inadequate to express our enjoyment of +Mona’s song, when to its former beauty was added the clear enunciation +of language that we could understand. + +It was through this rare medium that the doctor and I learned, from day +to day, something of the history of Mona’s race. The surface of the moon +had once been peopled, as we supposed, but as the day of decay and death +approached the outside of the globe became too inhospitable to longer +support life. The interior had cooled and contracted, and as the solid +crust was rigid enough to keep its place, great, sublunar caverns had +been formed. Into these rushed the water and the atmosphere, accompanied +by the few remaining inhabitants. The conditions were not favorable, in +such places, to the continuation of the race, although their advanced +knowledge in every direction prevented them from melting away suddenly. + +Settlements had been formed in many different sections of the moon, +and interior communication was established between them. As the people +gradually passed away, those who remained naturally drew nearer together +until at last the remnant of the population of the globe were all +gathered in the little village where we were now living. Here the +process still went on, and year after year saw a constantly diminishing +number. A few years before our arrival Mona’s last companion, a girl +of her own age, had died, and ever since then this tuneful creature, +possessed of the most sunny disposition we had ever known, had lived +alone, with the knowledge that there was not another living being in all +the moon. + +“So you see,” she sang, “I was as glad to find you as you were to hear +me.” + +“But,” asked the doctor, “how did you know we were out there, nearly +ready to be blown off into space?” + +“I didn’t know it till I saw you. I went out to try to discover what +was the matter with my old world. For some time I had had the queerest +sensations imaginable. I was accustomed to being out of doors a great +deal, and I first began to notice that I could walk and run more easily +than before. I was becoming rather sprightly for one who was so soon +to pass off this deserted stage. Then everything I took up seemed to +be growing marvelously light, and I began to have a feeling that I must +hold on to all my movable possessions, to keep them from getting away. +After this unaccountable state of things had existed for a while, there +came, one day, a terrible shock, which threatened to crack the moon’s +skull and rattle its fragments down upon my head. This was followed at +intervals by similar or lighter shocks, and it was all so exceedingly +unusual that I became very curious to know what was happening. Then all +was quiet for many days, but when at length the quakings began again my +natural instinct of self-preservation told me I ought not to take the +risk of another such siege, and so I started to make my way to the +surface by a well-known path. The trouble did not continue as I feared, +but I kept on, fortunately for you as well as for myself, and found +the outside world too uncomfortable a place for any of us to remain in +longer than necessary.” + +This halting prose represents the meaning of what Mona said, but it +gives a feeble idea of the beauty of her poetic expressions, chanted in +melodious phrase and in ever-changing, ever-joyous tune. + +We replied by explaining to her what had happened to her disjointed +world, expressing our gratitude also for her kindness in bringing us to +her sheltered home. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +OUR INTRODUCTION TO MARS. + + +Ever since the doctor had been inside of the moon he had not ceased +to regret that we had left all our goods in the car of our balloon. He +mourned the loss of the instruments and other apparatus which had +cost him so much care, and then there were our official papers. Our +introduction to Mona had been rather too informal, and we thought +we might stand better with her if we could show her our credentials, +though, to be sure, she could not read them. + +Several times the doctor proposed to me that we should go out and bring +in what we could carry if, perchance, we should find the wind had left +us anything. But I had my own reasons for preferring to remain where we +were. I was happy and was expecting every day to be happier still, and +so I put the doctor off by reminding him that the weather was very bad +outside and that we had been glad enough to get in with our lives. + +I think he would have agreed with me and would have been contented to +stay if the question had been left entirely to ourselves. But Mona heard +us talking it over one day and said we could go without much risk if we +cared to try it, and she would go with us to take care of us. + +Although it would be difficult to tell how Mona could help us when we +were outside, this idea sounded so assuring that the doctor determined +to make the attempt. I was obliged to acquiesce, fearing, in my +ignorance of all that was to happen to us, that the trip would keep me +too much from Mona’s side. + +After due preparation we started, and reached the upper end of the long +passage without incident. But as we emerged we noticed that the light +had a peculiar tinge of red, quite different from its usual tone. +Meditating on this phenomenon, and speaking to each other as we could +find breath, we ascended the side of the crater, when there burst upon +our view a magnificent world, apparently but a little way off. Its ruddy +face showed us plainly what had caused the red light, and the doctor +made haste to exclaim: + +“Aha! let me introduce you to the planet Mars.” + +“Yes,” I replied, “and we may become too well acquainted before a great +while if our rapid flight is not checked.” + +We soon found our car just as we had left it, and were glad to take +advantage of its shelter. In the new danger which loomed up before us +so threateningly, we all agreed that it would be rash to return into +the interior of the moon, to be crushed to death in the shock of the +impending collision; and yet, in remaining where we were, the doctor and +I felt that no reputable insurance company would call our lives a very +good risk. + +But now was our opportunity to witness some of the depths of Mona’s +character. What was there in her nature so entirely different from +anything we had ever known? We had seen persons of cheerful disposition +before, and had heard of many exhibitions of courage and indifference +to danger, but here we had the very personification of fearlessness and +contentment. She talked freely of our situation and of what was likely +to happen, but appeared to be as light-hearted as ever, and her song was +just as cheerful as it had been in her quiet home. When we asked her +if she were not afraid, she replied that there was no such word in her +language and she could not appreciate its meaning. + +“Fear,” said the doctor, “is a feeling excited by the apprehension of +danger.” + +“I think I know about the danger we are in,” she answered, “but I have +not the feeling you are trying to describe. When I was alone in my +underground village and thought the roof was about to fall down and bury +me there, I had no fear, as you say. I know that whatever has come to me +or to any of my race has always been for our good, and I am sure it +will be so in the future. I have but a short time to remain as the sole +inhabitant of this now useless globe, and the manner of my taking off is +not of the slightest moment. This old world’s day is now passed, and +I realize in that fact the reason for its unseemly behavior, first +knocking its toughened crust so rudely against the earth and then +coquetting in this manner with Mars. It certainly no longer shows any +respect for the race it has nourished, and hence I see that my day, too, +will soon be over. Whatever may be your fate you will doubtless see no +more of me after this excursion is ended.” + +In the light of history this seemed extremely probable, and yet Mona +was not half as concerned about it as I was. I thought she ought to have +shown more anxiety about her future for my sake if not for her own, and +I ventured to say, although in a rather doleful tone: + +“I hope, Mona, if the doctor and I are freed from this peril that you +will escape with us. If I thought there was no hope of that, I am sure +I should propose that we return at once to the middle of the moon and be +buried together.” + +She laughed aloud as she sang out in joyous notes: + +“Your mournful voice, my ardent friend, makes me think you would not be +very happy with the last alternative. But cheer up, we will all stand by +each other to the last.” It was in her abounding good nature and in her +faculty for inspiring us with her own hopeful disposition that we found +Mona fulfilling her promise to take care of us. + +But now our attention could not be diverted from the planet which was +rapidly growing before our eyes. As we approached nearer and nearer +every minute, flying at such a terrific rate and aimed, apparently, for +a direct collision, it may be imagined that the doctor and I, in spite +of Mona’s presence, began to be exceedingly anxious lest our journey and +our lives should meet an abrupt and common end. + +Unless such excursions as ours become more frequent in the future, it +will probably always remain a mystery how this one came to a close. +I can only relate our experience during the time that we retained our +consciousness, and leave the imagination to picture the rest. As we +entered the atmosphere of the planet, the rush of air increased till it +seemed as if a hundred Niagaras were sounding in our ears. I remember +having a dim feeling of satisfaction in the belief that such a violent +contact with the atmosphere must impede the moon’s progress, and offer +us some chance of landing in safety. Then I was bereft of all sense, and +when I regained consciousness I was lying in the bottom of our car in +perfect quiet and apparently unharmed. + +I called aloud for the doctor, but no voice replied. Rising, I looked +about me and found I was afloat on a ruddy sea, alone, as far as my +senses could inform me, alone in a new world. Such a sensation of +homesickness came over me, such a longing for human fellowship, that our +former lonesome condition on the moon seemed like a paradise compared to +my present wretchedness. + +So this was Mars, which we had studied with our telescopes and about +whose condition and history we had so often speculated. And now, as I +leaned my elbows on the edge of the car and gazed off over the deep, I +wondered, with more interest than I had ever before possessed, if the +world I had discovered were inhabited. Perhaps because it was such a +vital question with me, my naturally hopeful disposition began to find +reasons for a cheerful view. There were certainly favorable evidences +all about me. I was breathing an atmosphere evidently made for lungs +like mine. The air was soft and pleasant, and though I was drenched with +water by my fall I was not uncomfortable. I tasted the water and, oh! +joyful reminder of home, it was salt. The sun shed a beautiful light +around me, and as I glanced upward to see how bright and cheerful the +sky was, my reverie was suddenly broken off, for directly over my head, +poised as quietly as if it had always been there, was our old moon. It +seemed but a few miles away and I gazed at it with mixed feelings, with +thankfulness that I had escaped from its inhospitable surface with +my life, and with scorn for its present behavior. For there it was, +apparently perfectly at home and ready to bear the torch for Mars as +faithfully as it always had for the earth, its rightful mistress. + +“Inconstancy,” I cried, “thy name is Luna.” + +[Illustration: THORWALD DISCOVERS ONE OF THE EARTH-DWELLERS.] + +When the novelty of this sensational discovery was gone, my mind +returned to the contemplation of myself, and my situation seemed to me +so unique as to remove some of the natural feeling of fear. When one is +shipwrecked in the ordinary way his anxiety is caused by the uncertainty +that anyone will come to his rescue; while in my case I did not even +know there was anyone to come. But when I looked up at the moon and +remembered its erratic climate and our wild, unearthly journey, I could +not suppress a feeling of satisfaction with my changed condition. If +the doctor had only been with me we would have been able to extract +considerable comfort from our surroundings. But, as it was, I was very +lonesome, and whatever consolation I got from my reasoning about the +planet’s habitability was increased a thousand fold by seeing a speck +upon the horizon, which I hoped might prove to be a sail. I watched +it with intense interest, and was not disappointed. I will not try to +describe my feelings as this ship of Mars approached me, while I sat +wondering what manner of men I should see. The first thing that struck +me was the enormous size of the craft, and as it drew near I could see +that it was manned by beings proportionately large. I now began to fear +I should be run down, but soon I noticed one of the passengers or crew +who seemed to be looking at me through a glass. In a little while the +vessel slowed up, and a boat was put off in which a number of giants, +including the man with the glass, rowed toward me. When they had nearly +reached me I heard the latter say to the others: + +“Yes, this is surely the little fellow we are searching for.” + +I could not imagine what he meant by this, although it occurred to me +that it was a pleasant thing to have him speak good, plain English; but +the other circumstances were so entirely novel that, instead of opening +the conversation with some conventional remark, like a sensible person, +I burst out with: + +“But Proctor says Mars has passed its life-bearing period.” + +I hardly knew what I said, but it proved that they were just the words +to commend me to my new friend, for as he reached over and lifted me +into the boat he said: + +“Why, how did you know Proctor? You must have misunderstood him, for he +would never say such a thing as that.” + +While I was puzzling over this strange speech he continued: + +“I think we have some one in the ship whom you will be glad to see.” + +I began to fear I should not get on very well in Mars if all the +inhabitants talked in such riddles, but I said, as politely as I could: + +“I am sure I need not wait to get to the ship to be pleased. I am +delighted to see you and your companions here.” + +While we were returning to the vessel I gave Thorwald, for such I found +to be his name, a brief account of our journey on the moon and of my +mysterious arrival on their planet. I expatiated on the merits of the +doctor, and told Thorwald that he was probably still on the moon or else +at the bottom of their ocean. + +I was thinking that Thorwald did not show much sympathy with me, when, +our boat having nearly reached the ship’s side, I looked up and saw the +doctor himself standing on the deck, a pigmy among giants. I was soon by +his side, and we embraced before our new-found friends without a blush. + +“Where’s Mona?” were the first words he said. + +“Mona!” I replied. “Who’s Mona?” + +“Who’s Mona?” he returned. “Well, you have recovered pretty rapidly.” + +I now discovered that, although I had found the body of my friend, the +best part of him was missing. In the fall from the moon he had evidently +lost his wits. I thought I would not let him know too suddenly what was +the matter, and so I merely said: + +“Yes, I went into the water, but was not much hurt. When I came to my +senses I found myself in our car still. Tell me how you escaped.” + +“Oh, I happened to fall near this ship, fortunately, and they picked me +up, and then, at my request, they set out to search for you and Mona.” + +“Well,” said I, “you found me, and I am very thankful for it, but Mona I +fear you will never see.” + +“What was the last you saw of her?” he asked. + +I had great difficulty in keeping myself from laughing in the doctor’s +face at his odd fancy, but the thought came to me with some force that I +must not let his mental condition become known to the men of Mars around +us; and so, instead of replying to his question, I turned to Thorwald +and asked him if he could tell us how the moon had landed us so easily +on their planet. + +In answer he gave it as his opinion that as the moon came rushing toward +them so swiftly it compressed the air in its path to such a degree +that it acted as a cushion, preventing a collision and sending the moon +bounding back over the path by which it had come. Probably at the moment +when it was nearest the surface, we had fallen off into the ocean. +The rebound, he supposed, was not sufficient to carry it beyond the +attraction of the planet, and so it poised itself and began to make a +revolution around Mars in its old-fashioned way. + +Thorwald told us we had taken the best possible time to visit them, for +Mars had not been so near the earth before in a great while. + +Our new acquaintances were from nine to ten feet tall and +proportionately large every other way, so that they appeared quite +monstrous to us. But they were agile and even graceful in their +movements, while in manner they were so gentle and pleasing that we +recognized at once their high culture. + +The vessel was soon under way and made rapid progress, and though our +voyage was not very long, it proved to be an exceedingly profitable one +to the doctor and me, for we learned more, through conversation with our +new friends, about the history and condition of Mars than we could have +gained in any other way. The men were all kind to us and seemed to be +all equally able to impart information, but most of our intercourse was +with Thorwald. He gave us much of his time, at intervals as he could be +spared from work, for every man helped at the service of the ship. There +seemed to be no system of leadership, but all appeared to know what was +to be done, and did it without orders and without clashing. + +As we entered into conversation about the earth and Mars, I was +surprised to find the doctor taking his full share in it with his usual +intelligence. His questions and answers were all so pertinent that I +should have supposed his mind was entirely unaffected, had I not known +to the contrary. When I saw he could hold his own so well, I determined +to take the first opportunity when we were alone to ask him again who +Mona was. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A REMARKABLE PEOPLE. + + +The conversation with our new friends was not all on one side, for we +had many questions to answer about the earth, the Martian mind showing +as great a thirst for knowledge as ours. One of the first things +Thorwald said after we had settled down to a good talk was: + +“But, Doctor, your little head is so full of thought that it seems to me +you ought not to have been surprised to find us so large here. You knew +before you came that Mars is much smaller than the earth and, therefore, +the attraction of gravitation being less, that everything can grow more +easily. Things may as well be one size as another if only they are well +adapted to each other, and we would never have known we were large or +that you were small had we not been brought together. In the sight of +Him who made both the earth and Mars, and fashioned one for you and the +other for us, we are neither great nor small. In fact, size is never +absolute but only relative.” + +“That is very clear to us now,” said the doctor, “and I promise not to +be surprised again, even when I walk the streets of your cities and see +you in your houses.” + +“Then, Doctor,” said I, “if we had found inhabitants on the moon what +great folks they must have seemed to us.” + +This was an exceedingly foolish remark for me to make, for it resulted +in the doctor’s almost betraying his condition to our friends. + +Of course Thorwald was interested in what I said, and eagerly inquired: + +“So you found no inhabitants in the moon?” + +“Just one,” spoke up the doctor quickly. + +“What! you found one and left him there?” + +“It was a woman,” said the doctor. + +This talk had been so rapid that I had not had a chance to interfere, +but I saw that I must stop it now for the doctor’s sake. When I could +see him alone I could tell him his memory was playing him a trick and he +must avoid that subject. So, before Thorwald could speak again, I said: + +“Let me suggest, Thorwald, that we let the moon rest till we have heard +more of Mars, which I am sure is of greater importance. We have told you +many things in regard to our planet, and are willing to answer all the +questions you may please to ask from time to time, but now we would like +to listen a while.” + +“Yes,” said the doctor, “we started on this expedition to add to our +scientific knowledge, and we seem in a fair way to accomplish our +purpose; so that, if you will find a way to send us back to the earth +some time, I think our friends will admit that we have been successful. +But first we want to learn all we can about this wonderful world. How +long has your race existed? Our astronomers tell us Mars is too old +to be inhabited, and, considering some of my own recent experiences in +finding my science unreliable, it rather consoles me to discover that +they are mistaken.” + +“They are right,” Thorwald answered, “in believing that Mars is very +old, and so our race is nearing its maturity. It is impossible to +judge accurately of the age of the planet itself, but we know it is +exceedingly old from the evidences of changes that have taken place on +its surface. Neither can we tell when our race was born, though we have +legends and traditions dating back fifty thousand years, and authentic +history for nearly half that time.” + +The doctor and myself now began to realize that we had indeed something +to learn from these people, and I remarked: + +“These figures astonish us, Thorwald, and you can hardly understand how +interested we are. But please continue. From what little I have seen +I should think you are much farther advanced in everyway than the +inhabitants of the earth.” + +“We believe,” replied the Martian, “that our planet is much older +than the earth, and if we are right in that it is but natural that our +civilization should be older also. If the tendency of mind is toward +perfection, if in your experience you have found that, in the main, men +look upward more than downward, what would you expect to find in a world +so beautiful as this and where life has existed so long? From what we +know of our own history and from what we have learned of the worlds +around us, we believe the life-bearing period of Mars has long since +passed its middle point, and that both our planet and our race have +passed through convulsions and changes to which other worlds, perhaps +the earth, are now subjected.” + +This appeared so reasonable that I said to him: + +“We must believe that Mars is an afternoon planet. And now we want to +hear whatever you may choose to tell us about your civilization.” + +“That is a broad subject,” replied Thorwald, “but it is something I like +to talk about. If I judge rightly of what you have already told me of +the earth and its people, I think we were in just about your situation +ages ago and that we have merely matured. That is, the causes now +at work on the earth are having in us their legitimate effect. These +processes are slow but sure. To the Infinite time is of no more +importance in itself than is size. + +“I know of no better topic to begin with,” continued Thorwald, “than the +matter of government. You wondered at the peculiar discipline on board +this ship. It is but a type of what you will find on land. We have +no government in its strict sense, for there is no one that needs +governing. We have organization for mutual help in many ways, but no +rulers nor legislators. The only government is that of the family. Here +character is formed so that when the children go forth into the world no +one desires to wrong his neighbor. We know from our histories of all +the struggles our ancestors passed through before the days of universal +peace and brotherhood. Now we go and come as we please, with no fear of +harm. We are all one nation because all national boundaries have +been obliterated, and we have a common language. There are no laws +of compulsion or restraint, for all do by instinct what is best for +themselves and their neighbors.” + +“Oh, happy Mars!” here broke in the usually prosaic doctor. “That sounds +like a story. And yet what is it,” he continued, addressing me, “but +the effect of perfect obedience to our golden rule? If men should really +learn to do to others as they would have others do to them, what a +transformation it would accomplish.” + +“So that is what you call the golden rule, is it?” asked Thorwald. “And +are you all trying to live by it?” + +“Well,” I replied, “that is what many of us profess to be doing, but I +must say we fall far, very far short of the mark. I do not know a single +inhabitant of the earth, with the possible exception of my companion +here, who fully obeys that command.” + +The doctor’s smile was not lost on Thorwald, who replied: + +“It was rather too bad of you to bring so far away from the earth the +only good man the planet contained; but I am glad to know the golden +rule, as you may well call it, has been given to men. We have had +the same here, and, oh! if I could make you realize something of the +struggle our race has had in working it into life and practice, you +would gain some hope for the people of the earth. I mean, the result of +this struggle would give you hope, for I am not ashamed to say that +we are now living up to the full requirements of this law, and if you +should spend the remainder of your lives with us I am sure you would not +find my statement untrue. It is only by actually loving our neighbors +as ourselves that we are able to live as we do. The law of love has +replaced the law of force. It is well for you to understand this at +the beginning, for it is the secret of our wonderful success in all the +higher forms of civilization.” + +“It must have helped you greatly,” said I, “in the matter of which you +have just been speaking, that of government.” + +“Yes, it has,” he replied. “In our histories we have full accounts of +the long course of events when we were divided into hundreds of nations, +each with its own pride and ambition, and each striving to build up +itself upon the misfortunes or the ruins of its neighbors. You can +perhaps imagine what a mass of material we have for reading and study.” + +“We can,” spoke up the student doctor, “and it fairly makes my mouth +water. But tell us briefly, Thorwald, how you ever passed from those +troublous times to the blissful state in which we now find you.” + +“The transition was exceedingly slow; it seemed, in fact, impossible +that such a change could ever be effected. But it began with the +establishment of universal peace, which was demanded by the growing +spirit of brotherly love, and assisted by commercial reciprocity and a +world language. Gradually national boundaries were found to be only an +annoyance, and in time--a long time, of course--we became one nation +and finally no nation. For now no one exercises any authority over his +neighbors, since the need for all artificial distinctions has long since +passed away.” + +“Then,” said I, “you have no doubt lost all fear and anxiety over the +conflicting interests of capital and labor.” + +“Yes,” replied Thorwald, “for we have no such distinctions in society as +rich and poor, workingmen and capitalists. We all work as we please, +but there is so little to do that no one is burdened, and one cannot be +richer than another because all the material bounties of nature and art +are common to all, being as free as the air. I suppose, as this seems to +be strange talk to you, that you cannot realize what it is to belong to +a society where everyone considers the interests of his neighbor as much +as his own. You will find when you reach that point that most of your +troubles will be gone, as ours are.” + +“Our troubles!” said the doctor. “Many of our troubles, to be sure, +arise from our passions and appetites--in other words, from our +selfishness--and these will no doubt disappear when we reach that +blessed state of which you have spoken, a condition prayed for and +dimly expected by many of our race. But other troubles of ours come from +sickness and severe toil, from accidents, famines, and the convulsions +of nature. How, for example, can you have escaped the latter, unless, +indeed, God has helped those who have so wisely helped themselves?” + +“Your last thought is right,” answered our friend. “Nature has certainly +assisted us. While the crust of the planet was thin we know the central +fires heaved and shook the ground and burst forth from the mountains, +causing great destruction and keeping the world in fear. We do not know +how thick the crust of the planet now is, but nothing has been felt of +those inner convulsions for many ages. One of our feats of engineering +has been to see how far we could penetrate into the surface of the +globe. A well of vast size has been dug, the temperature being carefully +noted and observations made of the many different substances passed +through--water, coal, gas, oil, and all kinds of mineral deposits. The +work has progressed from one generation to another, and no one can tell +when it will be called finished, as it is determined to dig toward the +center of the planet as fast as our ever-increasing skill will permit.” + +“Did you find out how thick the crust is?” I asked. + +“No,” he answered, “we are not much nearer the solution of that question +than before, but we have made valuable discoveries as to what the crust +is composed of. The temperature has gradually, though slowly, increased, +and we believe the time will come when the work will have to be +abandoned on account of the heat. We have gone far enough to know that +when the fuel on the surface of our globe is all used up we shall only +have to tap the center to get all the heat we want.” + +“What a capital idea that will be,” I interrupted, “to throw at some of +our pessimistic friends on the earth, Doctor.” + +“We see now, Thorwald,” my companion said, “that your planet is too old +to give you any more trouble from earthquake and volcano, but how about +other natural phenomena, the tempest and cyclone for example?” + +“Well,” replied Thorwald, “we have a theory that time, the great healer, +has cured these evils also. Let me ask, Doctor, if the earth ever +receives any accretions of matter from outside its own atmosphere?” + +“Yes, we have the fall of meteorites, foreign substances which we +believe the earth encounters in its path around the sun.” + +“I supposed such must be the case,” Thorwald continued. “And now, when +you consider the great age of Mars, perhaps you will not be surprised +to learn that this new matter, coming to us from the outside, was +sufficient to increase the weight of our globe and gradually decrease +the rate of speed at which we were traveling through space.” + +“I am surprised, though,” said the doctor, “because the accumulation of +meteorolites on the surface of the earth is so exceedingly slow that +it would take millions of years, at the present rate, to increase its +diameter one inch.” + +“But perhaps they came much faster in past ages. Let me ask you, Doctor, +if it is not a fact that the rate of revolution of Mars around the sun +is slower than the earth’s? I suppose you are far enough advanced in +astronomical science to answer that.” + +“Yes,” replied the doctor, “you are correct. I believe the earth speeds +along at nineteen miles a second, while Mars travels only sixteen miles +in the same time.” + +“We know by our computations that our speed is much less than it once +was, and our theory is that this has in some way hushed those terrible +storms and winds which we know were formerly so frequent.” + +Here the doctor thought he saw a chance to make a point, and spoke as +follows: + +“If the meteorites come in quantities sufficient to have caused such +changes, it seems to me their fall must be as great a menace to your +peace as the evils they have cured. They do not strike the earth in +large numbers, but still we have a record of a shower of meteoric stones +which devastated a whole village. I suppose all parts of your globe +are by this time well populated, and how can you be entirely free from +trouble when you are living in constant danger of the downfall of these +great masses of rock?” + +“But we don’t have meteorites now,” replied Thorwald. + +“Oh, you don’t?” + +“No, they ceased falling long ago. Mars is going slow enough for the +present.” + +“Very kind of them, I am sure, to stop when you didn’t need them any +longer,” said the doctor; “and I suppose you have some plausible reason +to give for their disappearance.” + +“Yes, we believe that the interplanetary space was well filled +with these small bodies, circling around the sun, and when their +multitudinous and eccentric orbits intercepted the orbits of the +planets, they came within the attraction of these larger masses. Mars +has merely, in the course of time, cleared for itself a broad path +in its yearly journey and is now encountering no more straggling +fragments.” + +“There, Doctor,” said I, “you are well answered. And now, Thorwald, tell +us how you have escaped other evils, famine and fire for instance.” + +“Fire,” continued our friend, “was one of the first foes subdued. We +quite early learned to make our habitations and everything about us of +fireproof materials, and, if I mistake not, you on the earth will not +long endure an enemy which can be so easily put down. You will find all +materials can be so treated with chemicals as to be absolutely safe from +the flames. We have fire only when and where we desire it. + +“When you speak of famines you touch a more difficult subject, but here, +too, time and skill have wrought wonderful changes. In our histories we +read of the time when the weather was chiefly noted for its fickleness, +and when some parts of our globe were mere desert wastes, where rain +was unknown and no life could exist. And in the inhabited portions one +section would often be deluged with too much rain while another would +have none, both conditions leading to a failure in agriculture and much +consequent suffering. A long time was spent in gathering statistics, +which finally proved that if the rainfall were distributed there would +be just about enough to water sufficiently the whole surface of the +globe. Nature provided rain enough, but it did not always fall where and +when it was most needed. It seemed to be left with us to find a remedy +for this apparent evil. When I say ‘us’ in this way I mean our race as a +whole, for most of these changes took place many ages ago. + +“Our philosophers had seen so many difficulties removed and improvements +made in things supposed to be fixed that they began, once upon a time, +to assert that rain and snow and the weather in general ought to +be subject to our will. They said that in the advanced state of +civilization toward which we were progressing it would seem to be +an anomalous thing that we should continue to be subjected to the +annoyances of so changeable a tyrant as the weather. We seemed destined +to gain control of so many of the forces of nature that our future +mastery in this department looked to them reasonable. For a long time +these views appeared fanciful to the many, but this did not deter a few +enthusiasts from study and experiment. As knowledge and skill increased +we began, little by little, to gain control of the elements; but do not +imagine it was anything less than a slow and laborious work. + +“First, as we learned something of the laws which control the +precipitation of the moisture suspended in the atmosphere, we discovered +a way to produce rain by mechanical means. As this discovery was +gradually developed we found we had really solved the problem. For, as +there was only a certain amount of moisture taken up into the air, the +quantity of rain could not be increased nor diminished, and so when we +made it rain in one place it was always at the expense of the rainfall +somewhere else. + +“Since those early days vast improvement has been made, until now these +laws, once so mysterious and so perplexing, are obedient to our service. +The whole face of our planet has been reclaimed, and drouth and famine +on the one hand and floods on the other are entirely unknown. Each +section of country is given rain or snow or sunshine just as it needs +it, and there is no uncertainty in the matter.” + +When Thorwald had reached this point my curiosity prompted me to ask him +to tell us in a few words how they could make it rain when they pleased, +and he answered that he would be glad to give us details of all these +matters if we insisted on it, but he thought it would be better for him +to present a general view of the state of their society, leaving it for +us to see with our own eyes how things were done, after we had reached +our destination. + +I readily acquiesced, with an apology for my interruption, and Thorwald +resumed: + +“The doctor spoke of accidents, sickness, and severe toil as among the +sources of your troubles. With us, at the present day, all natural +laws are so well understood and so faithfully obeyed that there are no +accidents. Machinery and appliances of all kinds are perfect; nothing is +left to chance, but everything is governed by law. And as we follow that +law in every instance nothing can ever happen, in the old sense of that +word. To take a homely example, you have of course learned that it is +not well to put your hand into the fire, and so, though you use a good +deal of fire you keep your hands out of it. You know what the law is, +and you do not tempt it. By our long experience we have learned the +operation of all laws, and in every position in life we simply avoid +putting our hand into the fire. To be sure, we have been assisted in +this by superior skill and by our general steadiness and ripeness of +character. If I read history aright accidents were caused by ignorance +or neglect of law, and I am sure the people of the earth, when they +begin to realize fully how unnecessary they are, will soon outgrow them. + +“As for sickness, you cannot understand how strange the word sounds to +me. Just think for a moment how useless, how out of place, such a +thing as sickness is. Like the subject just spoken of, it comes from +disobedience to law, and although I know we were a long time in ridding +ourselves of it, it seems to me now that it must be one of the easiest +of your troubles to remove. With us the science of medicine became so +perfect that it accomplished a great deal of the reform, but more was +done by each individual acquiring full knowledge of himself and acting +up to that knowledge. In learning to love our neighbors we did not +forget to foster a proper love for ourselves. In fact, our creed +teaches that self-love is one of our most important duties. When one is +instructed to love his neighbor as himself it is presupposed that his +affection for himself is of that high quality that will always lead +him to do the very best he can for every part of his being. So, as our +development continued, we came in time to love ourselves too well to +despise or abuse or neglect the bodies we lived in. We studied how +best to nurture and care for those bodies, and when that lesson was +thoroughly learned we found that sickness and pain were gone, and with +them, also, all fear of death. For now we die when our days are fully +ended. The span of our life has been doubled since we began to know +and care for ourselves, and, at the close, death is anticipated and +recognized as a friend.” + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +RAPID TRANSIT ON MARS. + + +Here Thorwald paused and said he should be obliged to leave us a short +time to attend to some duty in the management of the vessel. When he +returned I remarked that neither he nor his companions seemed to have to +work very hard. + +“That,” he answered, “is just the thought I want to speak of next, as +the doctor has said many earthly troubles arise from severe labor. Here +there is no hard work for us. It is all done by some kind of mechanism. +Look at the handling of this ship, in which, as you say, no one is +burdened. The hard and disagreeable parts of the work are taken out +of our hands and are put into the hand of machinery, which in its +perfection is almost intelligent. It is so in all departments of work. +Inventions looking toward the saving of labor have closely followed each +other for so many years that their object is about accomplished, and all +the pain and sorrow accompanying daily toil are things of the dead past. +Even our animals are relieved from distressing labor and share with +us the blessings of an advanced civilization, every heavy weight being +raised and every burdensome load being drawn by an arm of steel or +aluminum, which neither tires nor feels. We do not need to pity a +machine. Why should flesh and blood, whether of dumb beasts or of more +intelligent beings, suffer the agony of labor when the work can be +better done by mechanical means? + +“While speaking of the lower animals I may as well say here that we have +no wild beasts. All have been tamed; not merely brought into subjection, +but made the friends and companions in a sense of our higher race. Every +animal, large and small, has lost its power and will to harm us. The +wasp has lost its sting, the serpent its poison, and the tiger its +desire to tear. And not only is their enmity to us all gone, but they no +longer prey upon each other. Perfect peace reigns in this realm also.” + +“What has brought about this highly interesting condition?” I asked. +“Was there a natural tendency toward perfection on the part of the +beasts?” + +“No,” replied Thorwald, “I think not. The change has been accomplished +by us. Nothing that has life could help being uplifted by contact with +our ever-expanding civilization. We believe the chief factor in working +this great betterment in the animal creation has been our success in +entirely eliminating flesh as an article of food. We early came to see +it was not necessary for ourselves and that without it we were much +better prepared to assume the higher duties belonging to our advanced +life. We then began to experiment with the animals nearest us. It was +a slow and discouraging task at first, but finally we obtained results +that gave us hope of success. We found in the course of many years that +the digestive organs of the animals on which we were experimenting were +gradually becoming accustomed to a vegetable diet. We continued the +work, extending it to one class of animals after another, until in time +all carnivorous instincts disappeared.” + +This interested the doctor exceedingly, and he remarked that he should +think there would have been some kinds of animals that would resist all +efforts to work such a change in them; but Thorwald answered: + +“I have never read of such cases, but if there were any the species must +have become extinct, for now, in all this world, no conscious life is +taken to support another life. No blood is let for our refreshment and +no minutest creature is pursued and slain to appease the appetite of its +stronger neighbor.” + +“Does this condition extend even to the fish of the sea?” inquired the +doctor. + +“Even to the fish of the sea,” answered the Martian. + +“Now that you discover,” he continued, “what improvement has been +wrought in the lower animals, you can understand that their comfort is +an object of our solicitude, and that we take great pleasure in knowing +that they are relieved from all hard labor.” + +“But you haven’t told us,” said I, “what is the source of the power that +does all your work.” + +“Let me ask,” replied Thorwald, “if you have begun to use electricity +yet?” + +“Yes,” I answered, “we are trying to harness it, but it is still far +from obedient to us.” + +“I perceive,” said our friend, “from this and other things you have +told me, that your development is going on in about the order which has +prevailed on Mars. Do not be discouraged in your efforts to bring that +mysterious and wonderful agent, electricity, into complete subjection. +You will find it your most useful servant, and in connection with +aluminum it will enable you to solve numerous problems and remove many +difficulties from your path of progress. + +“Here we have made full use of both of these valuable helps. Electricity +enters into every department of life. + +“It runs our errands, takes us from place to place, builds our houses, +cooks our food, and even is applied to the growth of our food when we +are in haste for any article. Its laws are so well understood that there +is no fear of personal injury from its use, and I will show you how +familiar an aid it is to us. Here,” he continued, taking from his +pocket a brightly polished case of metal, “is a compact storage battery, +containing, not electricity itself, of course, but elements so prepared +that a simple touch will start into motion a powerful current, able to +perform almost any task I may ask of it. This case, you see, is so small +and light that it is no burden, and yet it contains power enough to +serve me for many days. Of course, all our work of a fixed character +has appliances with the power permanently attached, and these portable +reservoirs are carried about with us only for detached and unexpected +tasks.” + +To my experienced eye the doctor’s face looked a little skeptical at +this last remark, and he said: + +“But how can the power be applied in these emergencies? Suppose, for +example, it were necessary for you to go from here to the other end of +this vessel in half a second, how would the electricity in your box help +you do it?” + +“If I really thought, Doctor, you wanted to be rid of me I would be +tempted to try it; but, as I told your companion just now, you had +better learn all you can of our history before you begin to see what we +can do. + +“I haven’t told you half of the wonders performed by this marvelous +power. It has long been our chief reliance for rapid traveling. You find +us in this ship; but, although navigation is a perfected science, this +mode of traveling is tedious, and ships are used only for pleasure and +such out-of-the-way trips as this. Journeys from place to place over +established routes are made in large tubes, in which the cars are +propelled by electricity. These tubes run both on land and water, being +suspended in the latter a little way below the surface. Both tubes and +cars are air-tight, and the adjustment is so perfect that the cars slide +along with the greatest ease. Riding in an air-tight chamber would not +be pleasant if much time were to be occupied in that way, but the cars +are propelled so swiftly that the time from one station to another is +hardly appreciable. At every stop the cars are opened and apparatus set +in motion which changes the air completely almost in a moment. Where the +tubes run under water shafts for air are put in at the stations. There +is always a double line, one tube for each direction. No chance is left +for accidents. + +“Of course we navigate the air, swiftly and safely. If not in too much +haste we always take the aerial passage, and often on a pleasant day the +sky over a great city will be as full of air ships, or balloons as we +still sometimes call them, as its harbor is of pleasure boats. In this +department inventors had a fruitful field, the use of aluminum offering +abundant opportunity for the greatest variety of devices, and the +development of the flying machine was one of the most interesting +features in the march toward our present high civilization. Perhaps the +presence of so many electrical machines in the air and the utilization +of so much electricity on land and water have, after thousands of years, +done much toward freeing us from the thunderstorm, with its deadly +lightning. We have fairly robbed the clouds of their electricity and +taught it to do our work. + +“Swift and economical as our modern electric cars are, there is one +mode of traveling sometimes adopted which is more rapid still, and +the cheapest and in some respects the easiest way of getting over the +surface of the globe ever dreamed of. It was discovered by accident, +just before accidents entirely ceased, in the following manner: + +“A couple of scientific enthusiasts, of the kind we call cranks--I don’t +know what you call them on the earth--conceived the idea that they +could find something better to take the place of the highly purified and +buoyant gases which we used in our flying machines. They observed, in +the lofty flights they were accustomed to make into the air, that as +they ascended the atmosphere grew lighter, and this led them to think +they might go far into the upper regions, collect large quantities of +rarefied air, bring it down, and use it for floating flying machines. Of +course, they understood that any vessel this thin air was put into must +be strong enough to prevent being collapsed by the weight of the denser +atmosphere on the surface. But they thought small spherical vessels of +very thin metal could be made that would withstand this pressure and +still hold enough to float and carry some weight besides. They had a +large number of these hollow balls made and started on a trial trip, +expecting to bring down only a small quantity each time. But, in their +endeavor to obtain the very best quality of lifting material possible, +they went much higher than they intended, although this did not cause +them as much inconvenience as might have been expected, since they were +provided with the latest improved breathing apparatus. The result of +their adventure, however, was a discovery of such magnitude that it +drove from their minds all thought of their real errand and we never +again heard of that project. After remaining at an extreme height a few +hours, the surface of the planet being hidden by clouds, they began +to descend, and when they were near enough to see the features of the +country below them, everything looked strange and unknown. They could +not account for this, but continued their fall, fully persuaded that it +must be their own world and not some other which they were approaching. +But even if they had not been correct in that, they could hardly have +been more surprised than they were to find, on landing, that they were +almost exactly on the opposite side of the globe from the place where +they made the ascent. They seemed to have traveled half way around the +world in that incredibly short space of time, when in reality they had +remained stationary and the world had traveled around them. The fact is, +they had risen above all the denser portion of the planet’s atmosphere, +and had reached a stratum of extremely rarefied air, which, it seems, +does not accompany the globe in its revolution. Of course, the facts +were at once heralded to the four quarters of the world, and the two +aerial travelers found themselves famous. But they did not wish to +let such an astounding discovery rest upon the results of a single +experiment, and so they proved themselves worthy of their new fame +by going home the way they came. That is, they mounted their flying +machine, rose again to the same lofty height, remained there about the +same time as before, descended, and were near their home.” + +Here the doctor asked: + +“And has this singular mode of traveling become popular, Thorwald?” + +“For long distances east and west it is often resorted to. But I presume +you are asking yourself whether you could introduce it on the earth. +When you return and begin to think it over you will probably see so many +practical difficulties in the way that you will not attempt it. You must +have patience. All these things will come to your race in time.” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THORWALD PUZZLED. + + +“I fear,” continued Thorwald, “that I am wearying you with this long +talk.” + +We assured him we were enjoying it too much to think of being tired, and +hoped he would not stop. But he said he had some duties to attend to, +and would take us to his room and leave us by ourselves for a while. + +As soon as we were alone the doctor looked at me with a smile and said: + +“Why did you act so queerly when I spoke of Mona?” + +“Why did you speak so?” I asked in reply. “And how could you tell +Thorwald we found one inhabitant on the moon?” + +“Did you want to have me tell him a falsehood?” + +“Of course not. I tried to catch your eye and keep you from saying any +thing on the subject till we could consult in regard to it. If we are +going to color our narrative in order to make it more marvelous we must +at least make our stories agree.” + +“My friend,” said the doctor, “I am now confirmed in my suspicion that +your brain was affected by your fall from the moon.” + +I saw by this time that I need not hesitate further to tell the doctor +the truth. I disliked the task, but I saw it would not be safe to leave +him any longer in ignorance of his condition. There as no telling what +other preposterous tales he might invent. So I said to him gently: + +“Doctor, your last remark makes it easier for me to tell you that the +first words you said to me on this vessel showed me that you were not +right. I kept it from our new friends here, and I thought I had better +tell you how you are, so you can be a little cautious. You talk all +right on most subjects, but you will do well to avoid the moon as a +topic of conversation. If the others ask any more questions about the +moon, you can just let me answer them.” + +I said all this seriously enough, but the doctor laughed boisterously as +he answered: + +“Well, if this isn’t a joke. You think I am crazy, and I know you are +crazy, and I can prove it. I will just ask you one question, which +please answer truthfully. Don’t you remember Mona?” + +“Oh, there is Mona again! Don’t you see that only proves your own +madness? No, I don’t remember Mona, and you don’t either.” + +“I must say,” returned the doctor, “I never expected to see you get over +your infatuation so quickly.” + +“What direction did my infatuation, as you call it, take?” + +“Marriage, I should say.” + +“Now you interest me,” I returned, “and you must tell me more. Is +this Mona of yours the sole resident of the moon, of whom you spoke to +Thorwald?” + +“Certainly she is, but you surely must be out of your head to call her +my Mona--I want no stronger proof.” + +“How so?” I asked. + +“Why, because but yesterday you scarce wanted to have me speak to her. +You tried to keep your jealousy from me, but there was not room enough +in all the moon to hide it.” + +“This is very laughable,” I exclaimed. + +“You did not think so then. But let me try to bring it all back to you +by another question. Don’t you remember her voice?” + +“Most truly I do not. Why, what was the matter with her voice? Was +it loud and harsh, or was it squeaky? I cannot imagine anything very +pleasant in the way of a voice in such a wild and withered home as the +moon would make.” + +“True,” answered the doctor, “as to the outside, but you forget our +visit to the interior.” + +“There it is again,” said I. “Now, Doctor, the sooner you get rid of +these strange notions the better So tell me your recollections of our +stay in the moon, and I will let you know where you are wrong.” + +“Very well. You remember, of course, when we found ourselves rushing +away from the earth so swiftly.” + +“Yes, and then we remained shut up in the car day after day, more dead +than alive I think, until, fortunately, we were spilled out upon this +more favored globe.” + +“You seem to be sincere,” said the doctor, “but if you are, then you +forget the most interesting part of our experience. Just as we were +about to be overwhelmed with our troubles we heard exquisite music, +which we soon found proceeded from a lovely maiden. You fell desperately +in love with her at first sight and never recovered till you were +plunged in the ocean of Mars. You insisted on following her nod, and she +led us at once through a narrow path down into the center of the moon. +Here, in her quiet home, we taught her to sing in our language--her only +speech was song--and the first words she used were to say she loved me. +She did not understand what the words meant, of course, but you looked +as if you wished I had been blown away before Mona had discovered us. +After that I helped you in your wooing all I could, but although your +passion increased every day your suit did not seem to prosper. One day I +expressed the wish that I had some of the things we had left in the car, +whereupon she led us out to the surface again, where we arrived just in +time to be thrown upon this planet. Here we are, you and I, all safe, +but where is poor Mona?” + +“I am sure it would take a wise man to answer that question,” I replied. +“And now let me show you, Doctor, how wrong you are. If you will only +try to exercise a little of that good judgment for which you are noted, +you will be convinced that this is only a pretty little fairy tale which +has somehow taken possession of a corner of your brain. Now that the +fairy is gone you must try to forget the rest. Just think how unlikely +the whole story is. Think of a delicate girl living in such surroundings +as we found there; and then, how could we exist down in the center of +the moon?” + +“Why, don’t you remember Mona told us the water and atmosphere had +all run down there, making it the only habitable part of the decaying +globe?” + +“Oh, that’s only one of your scientific notions, probably as true as the +others that we have disproved. Too much science has turned your head, +and I will prove it to you again by showing you how impossible is +the part which I play in your romance. I will tell you now, what you +doubtless do not know, that I am engaged to be married to the best woman +in all the earth, excepting your own good wife, of course.” + +“Is that a fact?” asked the doctor. “And do you love her?” + +“To be sure I do. I love her very dearly, and if I ever see her again I +shall tell her so in a manner to make her understand it.” + +“Why, doesn’t she understand it now?” + +“Yes, I think so, but she thought I didn’t show heart enough in my +wooing.” + +“Well, if she could see you with Mona she would learn that you have +plenty of heart when the right one appears to make it spring into life.” + +“You speak as if you thought I did not love Margaret. You do not know +her. Why, I wouldn’t once look at another woman anywhere, not even in +Mars, and most certainly not in that puckered-up old world that we have +just left, happily for us.” + +“Do you know what I think about you?” asked the doctor. + +“No.” + +“I think you have an exceedingly poor memory. First, you forgot Margaret +as soon as the voice of that fair singer fell on your ear, and now you +have forgotten the singer again the moment we have lost her. I await +with much interest your first introduction to a daughter of Mars.” + +“You will be disappointed,” said I, “if you think I shall be more than +civil to her.” + +“If she be handsome and can turn a tune moderately well, I shall be +willing to wager a fair young planet against the moon that you will +propose to her in a week.” + +“I have done nothing to give you so poor an opinion of me. It is only +your own diseased imagination, and I do not seem to be curing it very +fast. I suppose, because your mind is naturally so strong, it is the +more difficult to destroy such an hallucination as has taken possession +of you.” + +“I would give it up,” said the doctor. “The story is all true, and not +a work of my imagination. Isn’t it more reasonable to believe that you +could forget the circumstances I have related than that I could invent +such a tale?” + +“Oh, I never could forget it if I had been false to Margaret. You do not +know me. If your vagaries had taken any other direction I might possibly +be brought to think you were right.” + +By this time we both began to realize that the conversation was not +proving a great success in the way we had hoped, and so, after some +pleasant words and a hearty laugh over the situation, we found our +way to the deck again. Here there were various things to attract our +attention, different members of the crew being eager to show us about. +The doctor asked some question in regard to the system of steering the +vessel, and when one of the men had taken him back toward the stern to +explain the point, I found Thorwald and quietly explained to him the +mental condition of my companion. + +“The doctor is all right,” I said, “on every subject but one. His head +must have been injured a little in his fall, and he imagines and asserts +with positiveness that we found a young woman in the moon, the last of +her race--a ridiculous idea, is it not?” + +“And did you find any inhabitants at all?” asked Thorwald. + +“Certainly not. No one could live in such a place. It is indeed +marvelous how we existed long enough to get here. The doctor calls this +creature of his brain Mona, says she was a great beauty, and plainly +intimates that I was rather too attentive to her. You will see what a +convincing proof this is of his unsound condition when I tell you I am +engaged to the best woman on the earth, and so of course could not show +any marked preference for another. I have told you about the doctor +so that you may pass over unnoticed any allusion he makes to these +subjects.” + +Thorwald thanked me and said he would be careful not to embarrass us in +the matter. And so I flattered myself that in the future Thorwald and +I would sympathize with each other in commiserating the doctor. But I +afterward learned that the doctor, about this time, had also sought an +interview with Thorwald and had confided the following secret to him: + +“My friend,” said he, “is a fine young fellow, but his head must have +been injured in his fall. He has entirely forgotten the best of our +experience in the moon. Queer, too, for he fell in love with the only +and last inhabitant of that globe, a beautiful, sweet-voiced maiden +named Mona, who never talked but she sang.” + +Thorwald then made the doctor tell him the whole story, and at the close +he promised he would not pay much attention to anything I might say on +the subject in future conversation. + +So it was quite a puzzle to Thorwald to tell which of his visitors from +the earth was of unsettled mind and which in his normal condition. He +decided to hold the question open and wait for further evidence. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THORWALD AS A PROPHET. + + +As maybe supposed, the doctor and I were anxious to hear more about +Mars, and it was not long before we were all seated together again, when +Thorwald resumed his instructive talk. + +“What further can I tell you of our condition and achievements? Every +science has made mighty progress in bestowing its own benefit upon us. +New arts have been discovered in the course of our development, about +which you would understand nothing. The aim and result of all science +have been to add to our comfort and happiness--our true happiness, which +consists in improvement and the constant uplifting of character. The +evils that once vexed our world, both those occasioned by natural +phenomena and those brought about by our own ignorance and sin, have, as +you have heard, almost completely disappeared. Even mental troubles are +gone, and no corroding care destroys our peace, for there is nothing +for us to dread; no dark future, filled with unknown evils, awaits our +unwilling feet, and no superstitious or unnatural fear disturbs the +peaceful quiet of our sleep.” + +“And are we to understand, Thorwald,” I asked, “that you believe all +this rest from trouble and wrongdoing is coming to the earth, too?” + +“Before replying directly to your question,” answered Thorwald, “let +me ask you if there is any tendency in that direction. Look back to +the earliest days of your history and compare the state of things then +existing with that of your own times. Has your world made any progress? +Is there any less violence? Are men learning to live without fighting? +Are the dark corners of the earth coming to the light?” + +“In these and many other directions,” I answered, “I think we can see +improvement.” + +“Then,” continued Thorwald, “it seems to me you must believe with me +that your world will one day come to the condition in which you find us. +Have not your holy prophets foretold a time of universal peace both for +man and beast, a time when a higher law than selfishness shall govern +all hearts and the earth be filled with the spirit of love?” + +“They have,” I replied, “but most of us are so engrossed in the struggle +for existence that we think lightly or not at all of such things. +These prophecies have never impressed me as they do now when I see your +condition, and reflect that similar words may have been spoken and then +fulfilled here.” + +“Let me assure you,” Thorwald made haste to say, “that the earth is +still young. I can see by all you say that your age is one of unusual +vitality and progress. A firm faith that victory will come and that +the golden age is before you will be a great help in your struggle with +evil. Lay hold of that faith. It is yours. It needs no prophet to tell +you that your race will one day reach our blessed state. First will +come the spirit of peace, and as I am sure war must be repugnant to such +minds as yours, you will readily learn to put it away from you. Then +will begin to cease all bitterness between man and man, and you will be +started on the road that leads to brotherly kindness. A world of sorrows +will fall away with the passing of individual and national strife, not +only the horror of the battlefield and the misery that follows it, but +also the more secret and world-wide unhappiness that comes from the +petty conflicts over the so-called rights of person and property. +Selfishness, that monstrous source of evil, must be dethroned, and then +the rights of each will be cared for by all. This will usher in for you +a new era. + +“And now, when the mighty energy that has been expended in learning and +practicing the science of war, the skill that has been given to the art +of killing, the treasures of money and blood, the time, the brain +and the activities that have been employed in carrying out plans of +aggression, large and small, of neighbor against neighbor--when these +have all been turned toward the betterment of your condition and the +salvation of men from degradation and sin, then will the arts of peace +flourish and your day begin. Then will nature herself come to your +assistance, molding her laws to your convenience and comfort. It will +doubtless be a long time before a man can love and consider his neighbor +as himself, and before all of God’s creatures on your planet can dwell +together in perfect peace, but, believe me, the earth will live to see +that time.” + +“Thorwald,” spoke the doctor, “your words are so inspiring that I almost +wish my life could have waited some thousands of years for that bright +day you so confidently promise for the earth, but I cannot help asking +myself if it is altogether a misfortune to live in the midst of the +conflict, with something ahead to strive for. Will you pardon my +presumption if I ask you practically the same question? You have told us +of your wonderful history and that you have now reached a condition of +peace and quiet. With no sickness or sorrow in your lives, with no evil +passions to rise and throw you, with nothing to fear from without or +within, yours must be a blissful condition. But still, is there always +content? In our imperfect state we are striving and learning. Our +happiness largely consists in the pursuit of happiness. If, some day, +we should find all difficulties removed, no obstacles left to contend +against, no evil in ourselves or others to overcome, not even our bodily +wants to provide for, it seems to me life would lose its zest and become +a burden hardly worth the carrying. Can you remove this unhandsome +doubt?” + +“I will try,” answered Thorwald. “I suppose if the people of the +earth, with their present capacities and aspirations, should be brought +suddenly to such a state of civilization as ours, it would be as you +say. As your development continues, your minds and souls will expand and +you will be prepared to take up new duties and occupations as they +come. I cannot tell you what these are, for at present you would not +understand me. You mistake if you think we have ceased to learn. The +mind is ever reaching forward to new attainments, and the things which +chiefly occupy us now would have been beyond our comprehension in our +earlier days. Can you not find an illustration on the earth? Suppose +the untutored savage were suddenly required to throw away his spear and +arrow and engage in your pursuits, Doctor. Would he be happy? Your +mind is full of thoughts that he cannot grasp, your life is made up of +experiences and aspirations of which he has no conception. You can see +your superiority to the savage. Let me help you to look forward and see +your inferiority to the coming man, who, I assure you, will never tire +of life while anything that God has made remains to be studied. As +the mind expands, new wonders and new beauties in creation will unfold +themselves and your race will learn to look back with pity upon your +present age, with its mean and trivial occupations.” + +“But, Thorwald,” I asked, “can you not tell us something of these higher +pursuits?” + +“But very little,” he answered. “I might give you one or two hints +of some things which I think lie nearest you, if indeed you have not +already begun to consider them. I need hardly speak of astronomy, which, +from the nature of the case, is the earliest of all sciences wherever +there is intelligent life to view the works of creation. You will find +great profit in advancing in this study as rapidly as possible. We have +not yet ceased to pursue it, and I think it is one branch of knowledge +which will never be exhausted, in the present life at least. Our +achievements in astronomy have been marvelous. + +“Do not neglect to look in the other direction also for evidences of +God’s power and wisdom. The microscope will almost keep pace with the +telescope in revealing the wonders of creation. It will greatly assist +you in many of your higher employments. + +“One thing that you will doubtless soon undertake is the study of the +speech of animals, which will go hand in hand with the development of +their intelligence. Both of these will claim much attention, but very +inadequate results will be obtained until after you have tamed and +domesticated the various species. You will want to discover how far +animals can be educated and whether their intelligence can ever be +developed into mind. As you progress in this study you will feel the +necessity of understanding their conversation and you will learn what +you can of their language. These tasks will seem of more importance to +you when the lower animals are all reclaimed and become the companions +and friends of man. You will try to discover the particular purpose for +which each species was created, and you will even be led to inquire, by +a long series of experiments, whether they possess the faintest shadow +of moral perceptions. + +“Then there is the great subject of plant life. Does the sensitiveness +of plants ever amount to sensibility or feeling? If so, is it a feeling +you are bound to respect? That is, should a wounded and bleeding tree +excite in you even the slightest shade of that sympathy you feel with +a distressed animal? These are inquiries which you doubtless think of +little moment now, but we have spent many years pursuing them. + +“These are only a few faint indications of the multitude of questions +which lie before you for study. In every investigation which you follow, +whether connected with the mysteries of your own complex being or with +the unexplored depths of creation around you, a chief source of interest +will be the constant discovery of a perfect adaptation in the works +of God. Of course you know something of it already, but you will never +cease to wonder at the unfolding of this truth, as you come to realize +more and more fully that creation is one, and is moved and ruled by one +intelligence. + +“Oh, do not imagine that in the ages to come there will be nothing +to make life interesting. As your civilization advances and you are +released gradually from trouble and care, and from those petty affairs +which now so occupy you, your minds and souls will grow, and you will +see far more ahead of you worth striving for than you now do. Your +happiness can still consist largely in the pursuit of happiness.” + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MORE WORLDS THAN TWO. + + +It was now so late in the day that further conversation was postponed, +and after a plain but exceedingly enjoyable supper we were shown +to luxurious rooms, where we spent our first night in Mars in great +comfort. + +In the morning Thorwald told us we would reach our port in a few hours, +and so we sat down as early as we could after breakfast for a short +talk. + +The doctor furnished the text by opening the conversation with this +remark: + +“It is wonderful to think we should find on this planet a race of people +so advanced, when so little thought is given, on the earth, to the idea +of life in other worlds.” + +“What has been the general opinion among you on that subject?” asked +Thorwald. + +“The subject has not had standing enough to call forth much opinion,” + the doctor answered. “There is an almost universal indifference in +regard to the matter. I think the common notion is that the earth is +about all there is in the universe worth considering.” + +“But what are your own views, Doctor?” + +“I have been one of those,” he replied, “who believed the notion of +life outside the earth to be a beautiful theory without one shred of +scientific basis. We knew the earth was inhabited and the moon was not, +and there we stopped. We did not know, and thought we never could know, +anything that could be called evidence pointing to the existence of +life in the other planets or elsewhere, and we held that there was no +advantage in speculation. We thought it unwise to spend much time or +thought on a subject about which we could know nothing. On coming here +and finding you I have learned that Mars is inhabited, but I do not know +any more about the other planets or stars.” + +“Does not the mere knowledge that there are two life-bearing bodies lead +you to believe that there are more, among the vast numbers of worlds +which you have not visited?” + +“I don’t see why it should. How can we believe anything without +evidence? No one has ever come to us from those distant globes, and they +are too far away for us to see what is taking place on their surface.” + +“It seems strange, Doctor, to hear you reason in that way, but I suppose +some of our race were just as narrow, if you will pardon me for using +that word, as you are, before our wonderful successes in astronomy. I +believe you have not properly considered the subject, for it seems to me +you had knowledge enough, before you left the earth, to justify you in +holding to a strong probability of life beyond your own globe. + +“Let us see what some of that knowledge is. You know, to begin with, +that one world is inhabited. Then if you should find other bodies as +large as the earth and bearing any resemblance to it, there would be no +improbability in the thought that they or some of them were filled with +life. The improbability is certainly taken away by the knowledge that +one such body, the earth, is inhabited. + +“You start, then, without prejudice, on a voyage of discovery, aided by +your telescope and your reasoning faculties. + +“First you find, within distances that you can easily measure, a small +group of dark bodies, which you have called planets, all apparently +governed by a common law, in obedience to which they are circling around +a large body of quite different character, which gives them light and +heat. Of these dark bodies, which shine in the sky only by reflected +light, the earth is one, and, you are surprised to find, not the most +important one, judging from all you can discover. Some of the others are +much larger and are attended by more satellites. In fact, the earth is +indistinguishable in this little group. While it is not the largest, +neither is it the smallest. It is not the farthest from the sun nor the +nearest to it. It is merely one among the number. And how much alike +the members of this family are. Your telescopes do not point out any +material differences, although each has its individual characteristics. +Let us enumerate some of the many points of resemblance. They all turn +on themselves as well as revolve around the sun. All see the night +follow the day, and in most of them there must occur the regular +succession of seasons. To each one the sun is the source of light and +heat, many of them have moons, and all can see the stars. Nor does +the resemblance stop here. For you have discovered that one has an +atmosphere, another is surrounded with clouds, while on the surface of +our own globe you see the polar snows increase in winter and melt away +in summer. Is it not probable that if you could get nearer to these +globes you would find still closer resemblances? And if they are like +the earth in so many ways, is it at all unlikely that they may, at some +period of their existence, be the abode of intelligent life? For what +other purpose were they made, Doctor?” + +“They make very pretty objects for us to look at,” replied my companion. + +“Yes, those that can be seen,” said Thorwald; “but is that all? Were +those great worlds, some of them hundreds of times larger than your own +globe, created merely to add a little variety to your sky, and to give +you the pleasant task of watching their movements under the pretty title +of morning and evening star?” + +“Speaking from the knowledge I had when I left the earth,” the doctor +answered, “I can say I never heard that they were put to any other use. +No one ever came down to us from any of them to tell us they were +inhabited.” + +“And do you think,” asked Thorwald, “that the myriads of stars were also +made simply to delight the eye of man?” + +“How do I know that they were not?” the doctor asked in reply. + +“Because of the absolute unreasonableness of the thought, if for no +other reason,” answered Thorwald. “But now let me recall to your mind +more of the knowledge possessed by the inhabitants of the earth. I +think I know about what that knowledge is, from my acquaintance with +the present state of your development. Astronomy has been our master +science, and I can remember fairly well the extent of our knowledge +when we had reached your stage. If I should fall into the error of +attributing to you more than you have already discovered you can easily +correct me. + +“If, now, you leave the little group of dark bodies which are so like +the earth, and go out still further into space, what do you find? +At distances so great that only the speed of light can be used as a +measuring line, you discover vast numbers of self-luminous bodies, which +you call stars. Your natural eye can tell but a small fraction of +their number. For example, look at the constellation you have named the +Pleiades and you see six or seven stars. View it through a three-inch +telescope and you can count perhaps three hundred. Now attach a +photographic plate to the telescope, and with an exposure of four hours +the light coming from that small patch of sky falls upon the sensitive +film with a cumulative effect until you have a picture of more than two +thousand three hundred stars.” + +“Yes,” broke in the doctor, “you are gauging correctly the state of our +knowledge. Our largest telescopes reveal in the entire sky, it is said, +one hundred million stars.” + +“Then,” answered Thorwald, “if the glories of the heavens were made +merely to delight the eye of man, why was not the eye created of +sufficient power to behold them? As it is, only a small proportion of +the stars can be seen without the aid of instruments too costly and too +delicate for general use. + +“But have you the means of establishing any likeness between the +earth and those distant bodies? You have discovered that the law of +gravitation is universal and that the motions of the stars resemble +those of the solar system. Have you made any discoveries tending to +prove the existence of other systems like our own?” + +“Yes,” replied the doctor, “our recent investigations of the periods of +some of the variable stars show irregularities in brightness, period, +and proper motion. A close study of these irregularities has convinced +some of our astronomers that there are invisible bodies near them, +evidently planets circling around a central sun. The theory is that the +dark bodies cause slight perturbations in the star, which account for +the irregularities in period, motion, etc. So Neptune was discovered +by the effect it had upon the observed movements of Uranus. This is the +first evidence we have had tending to prove that there are other groups +of worlds like ours, and it is considered quite significant.” + +“I can readily believe it,” said Thorwald, “and I know how helpful every +bit of evidence is, in your search for knowledge. But if I mistake not +you have the aid of another instrument, which is destined to play an +important part in your future studies. You get much nearer those distant +orbs when a spectroscope is placed at the end of the telescope, and +the ray of light coming from sun and star is widened out into a band +of color, which tells a marvelous story. That light, that has been for +years, and perhaps for centuries, on its way to you, now discloses the +very nature of the substances which compose those fiery globes. And what +are those substances? It must have been a startling truth to the man +who first read from the spectrum of the star he was studying, that it +contained matter with which he was familiar, materials of which the +earth itself is made. By this science you have learned beyond doubt that +many of the commonest elements of the earth’s crust exist also in other +worlds, and, what is of great significance, that the materials most +closely connected with living organisms on the earth, such as hydrogen, +sodium, magnesium, and iron, are the very ones which are found most +widely diffused among the stars. I think I am not wrong in assuming that +you are somewhat acquainted with the spectroscope and have made these +discoveries.” + +“You are quite right,” said the doctor. “This branch of scientific +investigation has already been carried so far with us, and the results +of the experiments are so constant and uniform, that when it is +asserted, for example, that such and such a metal is present in a state +of vapor in the sun’s atmosphere, it is estimated that the chances in +favor of the correctness of the assertion are as 300,000,000 to 1.” + +“You are helping my argument, Doctor,” resumed Thorwald. “But now let +me call your attention to another field of inquiry, in our search for +evidence to establish a likeness between the earth and the other parts +of the universe. You told me, a while ago, that you have the fall of +meteorites on your globe. Have you considered the striking evidence they +bring you? Let us imagine we have a meteoric fragment here. Take it in +your hand and think of it a moment. You have few things on your earth as +interesting as this piece of metallic stone. What a world of questions +it starts! What is its composition? Whence comes it? Once it was in +existence, but not here. Where, then, was its home? Out, out in the +depths of space, where burning suns roll and comets have their dwelling +place. The stars have fallen indeed, and here is one of the pieces. +Before it came to us as a messenger from the sky did it have an +independent existence, or is it a fragment of a shattered world? How +long has it been whirling in its unknown orbit, and what story has it +for us from its distant birthplace? If we can discover whence meteorites +come, and of what they are composed, I think you will agree with me that +they furnish valuable testimony in our inquiry. You have no doubt had +many theories as to their origin.” + +I was just about to make answer to this implied question, when Thorwald +rose and eagerly scanned the horizon. After a moment he exclaimed: + +“We shall have to break off our conversation for a time, as we are +nearing our port. I knew by other means that land must soon appear, and +now I can see it.” + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MARS AS IT IS. + + +The doctor and I looked in the direction indicated and speedily realized +that the superiority of the dwellers on Mars extended to the sense of +sight, for we could see nothing. But we were sailing so swiftly that the +shore we were approaching was before very long brought within our vision +also, and among the alert crew, who were now preparing to bring the +vessel into its harbor, there could be none so interested in what was to +come as the doctor and myself. We were to see what had been accomplished +by a race of whose perfections we had been hearing so much. + +As we effected a landing and walked up the streets of the city, we were +not nearly so much impressed with the size and beauty of the buildings +and the appearance of the people as we were by the spirit of absolute +peace and quiet which prevailed. With perfect skill, and without noise +or bustle, the ship was brought to its dock and the crew went ashore. +The screams and calls, the rattle of vehicles and the babel of sounds we +had been accustomed to on such occasions, were all missing. The silence +and order were almost oppressive because they were so strange. But there +was no lack of activity among the immense creatures who thronged around +us. Everyone was busy, knowing apparently just what to do without +direction from others, and just the best way to do it. Beings with lungs +powerful enough to wake the mountain echoes went about with mild and +tuneful voices, and, though each one seemed possessed of a giant’s +strength, no severe labor was required of any. + +The streets and walks were paved with a soft material, yielding slightly +to pressure, but so firm and tough that it showed no sign of wear, an +ideal pavement, over which the wheels rolled as noiselessly as they +would over a velvet carpet. It was, moreover, laid in beautiful patterns +of the most varied colors. The vehicles, of which there were many kinds +for different uses, were so faultlessly made that they moved with the +utmost quiet and apparent ease, the power that propelled them being +invisible. There were no tracks or wires, but all were guided in any +direction and with any speed at the pleasure of the riders. + +Thorwald led me from the vessel, and another stalwart son of Mars took +charge of the doctor. After walking a few steps up the street we all +stepped into an empty carriage without saying as much as “by your +leave,” Thorwald touched a button, and we were off. + +“This,” said Thorwald, “is one of the best illustrations of the manner +in which we are applying electricity. You saw them also unloading the +heavy freight from the boat by the same power. So all our work is done. +No fleshly limb is strained, no conscious life is burdened, by any +of the labor of our complex society. This subtle force is so well +controlled and its laws are so thoroughly understood that it is equal to +every demand.” + +“I am entranced, Thorwald,” said the doctor, “with everything I see. But +I would like to ask if you own this comfortable carriage and had it sent +to the wharf to meet you.” + +“I own it,” our friend replied, “just as I own the street we are riding +over or the house I live in. I own this or any other vehicle whenever +I desire to use it. You saw a great number of carriages near the wharf, +and there are several over on that corner. Anyone is at perfect liberty +to appropriate one to his own use at any time, and when he is through he +merely leaves it at a convenient place by the roadside for some one else +to take.” + +“I should think they would be stolen,” said I. + +Thorwald laughed at my ignorance and answered: “Why, who is there to +steal when everybody, either friend or stranger, can use them as often +and as long as he likes?” + +The talk promised to grow more interesting still, but now our attention +was turned to the delightful scene through which we were passing. It +will be utterly impossible to describe the beauty of the landscape, +where nature and art seemed to be striving to outdo each other. Before +reaching land I had imagined that the houses, if they were to be +proportioned to the inhabitants, must pierce the sky. But we were +surprised to find that they were all comparatively low, of not more +than two or three stories. And all, even those near the wharf, were +surrounded with ample grounds. Some of the houses were larger than +others, some more ornate than their neighbors, and the architecture +varied as much as the size and arrangement of the grounds. But all were +beautiful beyond description. One thing that appeared very strange to us +was that the prevailing color of the vegetation was red, although +that shade did not predominate as much as green does on the earth. For +instance, after we had admired a stretch of lawn brilliant as a crimson +sky, we would come to another which would surprise and please us with a +lovely shade of blue. Still another was green, and then one glowed with +a variety of colors, whose combination showed a most refined taste. As +with the grass, so it was with the foliage of the trees. The richest +tints of our autumnal forests were here present in permanence, but with +a much greater wealth of coloring. Flowers, too, of every hue and form +were to be seen on all sides, and their appearance was so perfectly +natural that if they had been set with design then the art itself had +concealed the art of their arrangement. + +With all this mass of color there were no unpleasant contrasts, no +discordant tones. As, amid the bustle of the landing place, our ears had +not been shocked with rude noises, so now we received through our eyes +only a delightful sense of quiet beauty. + +Riding, now slowly and now more rapidly, through such a scene, we could +think of nothing better to question our friend about, so the doctor +found his voice and said: + +“This far surpasses our anticipations, Thorwald, and I am sure this +place must be exceptional, even on Mars. I suppose it is a resort where +some of your wealthy people have built themselves homes in which to +enjoy their leisure months.” + +“Nothing of the kind,” replied Thorwald. “These people live here all +the year, they are not wealthy, and there is nothing to distinguish this +city above others.” + +“Why, this seems more like a private park than a city. Where are your +crowded streets and houses for the poor?” + +“After all I have told you of our high civilization, Doctor, do you not +understand that we have long since abolished poverty?” + +“Yes,” answered the doctor, “I understand that in a general way; but I +did not suppose everybody was rich, as it is certain everybody must be +to own such palaces as these.” + +“You are still wrong,” said Thorwald. “We have no such distinctions as +rich and poor. All our cities are of this character, only there is great +variety in the residences and in the way in which the streets and lots +are laid out. These places that we are passing are inferior to many, +but no houses are built that are at all mean or uncomfortable. Indeed, +I think we have to-day passed some of the poorest that I know of. As +to the word city, we use it only as a convenient expression. It really +means nothing more than a certain locality, for, as I told you at the +beginning of our conversation, we have no need of government of any +kind. In some sections one city runs into another, so that the whole +country is filled with the beauty and delight of the landscape which you +see about you.” + +“But,” asked the doctor, “with the population spread out in this +marvelous way, is there room for everybody?” + +“Oh, yes,” answered Thorwald. “All the surface of our planet is brought +into use; the waste places are reclaimed, and there is abundant room for +all. And now, as this pleasant air and easy motion seem to be agreeable +to you, we may as well ride slowly for a while longer. + +“In your intercourse with us you will find it is never necessary for us +to hurry when, for any good reason, we choose to loiter, and, therefore, +if you care to hear me talk, I will take the time to correct another +wrong impression you seem to have. + +“You spoke, Doctor, about the people owning these houses. No one owns +them.” + +“Do they belong to the state?” asked the doctor. + +“There is no state.” + +“Well, this is a curious condition of affairs,” resumed the doctor. +“Here is valuable property belonging to no one and no government +to claim it. I should think anyone that happened along could take +possession.” + +“Now you are right,” said Thorwald. “That is just the state of the case. +It is with houses and all other property as I told you it was with this +carriage. All the right one has to any object is the right to use it. +Everything that has been produced by art and skill is just as free as +the bounties of nature, such as air and water and land, which of course +no one would ever dream of subjecting to private ownership.” + +The doctor winced as he heard Thorwald include land among these free +bounties of nature, and the expression of his face did not escape the +quick eye of the Martian, who exclaimed: + +“So you earth-dwellers are still in the habit of buying and selling +land, are you?” + +“That was the practice when we left home,” replied the doctor. “And I +cannot understand how we can do differently. Your views of property are +so strange to us that I am sure my companion will join me in asking you +to explain them more fully.” + +“I certainly do,” I said. + +“Property,” began Thorwald, “we do not have, but we have many of the +rights of proprietorship in the things we use from time to time. And +what other benefit than the free use of what we need could be derived +from the possession of things? Suppose I, for example, owned a thousand +acres of land and a hundred fine mansions. I could cultivate but a small +part of the land and occupy but one house at a time, and of what value +would the remainder be?” + +“Would not such palaces as these on this beautiful street bring a good +rent?” I inquired. + +“Don’t be stupid,” replied Thorwald good-naturedly. “You must know +by this time that we are not a race of self-seekers, each one taking +advantage of the necessity of his neighbor. But I suppose it is +difficult for you to appreciate a state of society in which each +individual considers the feelings and needs of others as much as his +own. With us this principle is not preached any more, but it is actually +practiced in all our affairs.” + +“I will try to keep that in mind,” I said, “although it is a fact I can +hardly realize. But about this matter of houses I want to make another +inquiry. After you have become established in a beautiful home to which +you have no more right than anyone else, what is to prevent some other +man (I use the word for convenience) coming forward and asking you to +give it up to him?” + +“Nothing,” answered Thorwald. “In such a case I should immediately move +out and let him have it, knowing he must be entirely unselfish in the +matter and that there must be some sufficient reason for the request.” + +“But would you go to all the trouble of moving without even knowing his +reason?” + +“Yes, I would do it to accommodate him, but then the trouble would be +nothing. We would merely have to go out and take another house.” + +“But would you not have to move all the furniture?” + +“Oh, no. We could take anything we pleased, of course, but it is not +usual to make radical changes. Another house would contain all that was +desirable. As a matter of fact, however, such removals are by no means +frequent. We usually remain in one place and acquire all the tender +associations of home which could be possible under any system. But if +a family should increase so that it would be better for them to take a +larger house, they could easily find one, or if not they would ask those +who are fond of that work to build one to their taste. The moment a +thing is made or produced it belongs to the general store, to be used by +any and all who need it.” + +“Under such conditions,” said I, “what we call the eighth commandment +would be superfluous.” + +“If that refers to theft,” answered Thorwald, “you are certainly right, +for it is impossible to steal where everything is free. + +“It will be well for you to understand how happily we have solved this +question of property, but of course we could not have found such a +solution until we had first reached a high spiritual plane and learned +the lesson of true brotherhood. From your words I know just about the +point in our development which corresponds with the present state of +your race, and therefore I know something of the nature of the struggle +through which the earth is now passing. I warn you that the unrestricted +right of private ownership is a menace to your civilization, all the +greater because its evil is probably not clearly seen. We are assured +by our historians, who try to point out the causes for all the great +convulsions in our career, that excessive individualism in property +rights, with its selfish disregard of others, was a potent factor in the +downfall of many of the enlightened nations of our antiquity. We have +noticed that even our animals have the instinct of possession, and it is +certain that the love of ownership and accumulation has been one of the +hardest evils to eradicate from our naturally selfish nature. If you +should ever return to the earth, do not neglect to signal for this +danger.” + +“But what is the remedy?” asked the doctor. “The system of which you +have been speaking might be called the mainspring of our society. I can +hardly imagine what we should be without it. With our note of warning, +what message of help will you send?” + +“Doctor,” answered Thorwald, “it pleases me to hear you ask that +question, and I am rejoiced also that I have so good an answer for you. +The remedy is to be found in the law of love. Follow that law as closely +as possible. The way will be hard, the progress slow, but every step +taken will be a solid advance. It is the only safe road, and you will +find that every other will lead to disappointment and disaster.” + +Whenever Thorwald struck these high spiritual themes he spoke with such +enthusiasm and positiveness that our respect for him increased rapidly. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +WE REACH THORWALD’S HOME. + + +All this time we had been riding leisurely along, enraptured with the +delightful country, while the way itself and the estates on either hand +offered such variety of landscape that the view never became tiresome +nor uninteresting. + +But as the day was waning, our friends quickened the pace and showed us +a burst of speed. This was most exhilarating, and soon brought us to +the station where Thorwald told us we were to take an express train for +home, which was about two hundred miles distant. + +When we alighted we left our carriage by the roadside among many others, +and entered an immense building. Both inside and out there were plenty +of people moving around, but without noise or unpleasant bustle. With no +delay, and also with no haste, we entered what appeared to be a smaller +apartment opening out of the general waiting-room. It had the appearance +of an elegant drawing-room, the rich but comfortable-looking furniture +being disposed in a careless manner, which helped to make us feel at +home, if anything could bring us that sensation. There was a door at +each end of the room, and soon these were closed and we felt an almost +imperceptible jar. The doctor glanced hastily at Thorwald and said: + +“Can it be possible that we are to travel in this apartment?” + +“Yes,” answered Thorwald, “this is our modern traveling coach, and +we are already on our way to the city in which my friend here and I +reside.” + +This latter fact surprised us, for we could not perceive by our senses +that we were in motion. But as we sat wondering and trying to imagine +ourselves flying through space, the doors opened, a pleasant breeze +fanned our cheeks, and the doors closed again, we felt that slight jar +repeated, and then we were quiet once more. This occurred every two or +three minutes, and, remembering what Thorwald had previously told us, we +realized that we were riding in a perfectly tight car in a vacuum tube +and that these short but frequent stops were to keep us supplied with +fresh air. + +Thorwald explained this to us again, and told us that the coaches were +of different sizes to accommodate large or small parties, and that one +could ride alone if he chose to. The cars started so frequently that it +was seldom necessary to wait more than a few minutes. The doctor thought +there must be great liability to accident, but Thorwald said: + +“No, we do not consider the risk worth taking into account. Let me +illustrate with a familiar example. Suppose you had just seen a cable +tested with a ton’s weight without a strain. Should you fear to take +hold of the cable and lift yourself from the ground lest it might break +and you should fall? The mechanism of this road is just as sure as that. +The force that is driving us forward is no longer mysterious. The laws +of electricity are well defined, and its mighty power is under perfect +control. Nothing is left to chance, and the result is that there have +been no accidents for many, many years, and practically speaking there +cannot be any.” + +When we first entered the coach we noticed that there were no windows, +and as the doors had no glass we wondered why it was not dark. The light +was good broad daylight, exactly like that which fills a room when there +are good windows, but where the direct rays of the sun do not enter; +and, as we could see no lamps nor fixtures, we could not understand how +the illumination could be artificial. But such it was. We carried +an electric battery with us, and the lamps were out of sight, and so +arranged that they gave us only reflected light. The system was so +perfect that the imitation sunlight was just as good as the real, as far +as we could discover. + +“This is the way we light all our interiors,” said Thorwald, “and of +course the apparatus is so governed that we can have any amount of +illumination we please, little or much.” + +The doctor was about to ask some question in relation to this practical +improvement, when he was stopped by hearing a little silver-toned bell +ring. In an instant the doors opened, and Thorwald rose and announced +that we had reached the end of our journey. We could not have been in +the car more than fifteen minutes, and the doctor and I supposed our +ride of two hundred miles had just begun. + +“Well, if you travel at this rate,” said the doctor, “I do not wonder +you have obliterated all national boundaries, for the ends of the world +are right at your doors. And now, Thorwald, I would like to see the +great tube through which we have been carried so swiftly.” + +Thorwald smiled a little and led the way through another superb +waiting-room out into the open air. Here the doctor looked in all +directions, but could see nothing of the object for which he was +searching. + +“You have seen all any of us can see,” said Thorwald. + +“We merely step into the comfortable car, sit a few minutes, step out +again, and go home. In the meantime we have been carried under ground +and under water, across valleys and through hills, but the way itself, +the tube through which the car flies, is entirely hidden from sight. +Where it is above ground, trees and shrubbery screen it from view, so +that it does not mar the landscape. We think much of this, and should +regret exceedingly if it became necessary for any such utilitarian +object to interfere with our aesthetic enjoyment of nature.” + +Thorwald’s friend now took leave of us, expressing the hope that +he would soon see us again. He had taken some little part in our +conversation, but had left the burden of it to Thorwald, who was older, +and who was, moreover, our first acquaintance. + +It seemed singular to the doctor and me that we had attracted so little +attention among the people whom we had encountered since leaving the +ship. To give the reason for this, which we afterwards discovered, is +to reveal one of the pleasantest peculiarities of the Martian +character--that is, the entire absence of a disagreeable curiosity. Our +dress and appearance and the rather novel circumstances connected with +our arrival on the planet, which must quickly have become known, +were certainly calculated to excite their interest, and in a similar +situation on the earth there is no telling what might have happened to +us from a curious mob. But here all was order and quiet. Everybody went +about his own business and treated our party with additional respect, +it seemed, because some of us were strangers. We found out later how +anxious all these people were to learn everything about us, but they +were content to wait till the knowledge should come to them in a proper +way. + +Thorwald now selected a light, pretty carriage, and after a brisk ride +through another charming avenue and up a steep hill, we alighted at the +door of a noble mansion whose majestic proportions were in harmony +with the wide, open plateau upon which it stood alone. Upon entering, +Thorwald was at once affectionately greeted by his wife, and while he +was introducing us as natives of another world his son and daughter came +bounding toward him from an adjacent room. + +These were quite small children, but in a few moments Thorwald brought +in from another part of the house a young woman of about my age, +apparently, and introduced her as a neighbor. It needed but a glance to +tell us that she was beautiful as a dream, and she moved about with that +exquisite grace which comes only from the highest culture. She spoke +to us with such ease and naturalness that we were at once relieved from +whatever embarrassment the circumstances might easily occasion. + +“Antonia is our very dear friend,” said Thorwald, “and, although she +hides her curiosity so well, you will find her an exceedingly interested +listener to your history and adventures.” + +“Yes,” said the charming voice of Antonia, “Thorwald has told me just +enough about you to make me want to know more. Your moon, which is so +much larger than our little satellites, caused a great sensation when it +was seen coming toward us so rapidly. The situation was well calculated +to cause us anxiety, if we had been subject to such a feeling, but, as +usual with us at the present day, it has turned out to our advantage; +for it has given us two such worthy representatives of a neighboring +race.” + +“I am sure,” I answered, “that the advantage is greatly on our side.” + +I could not say more, for I was conscious that the doctor was watching +closely to see how I was affected by the presence of this royal girl. +When he saw I was inclined to be somewhat quiet he felt impelled to say +something, and offered the following compromising remark: + +“If we had only brought Mona safely off the moon with us, you would have +had something more worthy of your interest than we are, and my friend +here also would now be in better spirits.” + +Antonia had a question in her eyes but her perfect breeding kept her +from putting it into words, after the final expression of the doctor’s +speech. Of course, I could not ignore the allusion, and said: + +“Mona is a friend of the doctor’s whom I have not the pleasure of +knowing. I suppose he thinks her cheerful disposition, of which I have +heard before, would make our present situation even more enjoyable than +it is. Speaking for myself, however, I think that would be impossible.” + +With that she rose, and, with a pleasant word of adieu to us, told +Thorwald she would come in another day after we were well rested. + +It was now approaching night-fall and dinner was to be speedily +announced. The doctor and I were shown to a suite of dressing-rooms, and +as soon as we were alone he said: + +“Do you think Antonia is as handsome as Mona?” + +“If you will show me Mona I shall then be able to judge. But how did +I carry myself on my first introduction to a daughter of Mars? Do +you think I am in any danger of putting her in Margaret’s place in my +heart?” + +“Perhaps not,” replied the doctor. “You kept command of yourself +pretty well; but I think the secret of that is that you have not quite +forgotten Mona.” + +“Excuse my frankness, Doctor, but I must tell you I am getting a little +tired of Mona. I wish I might never hear her name again. If I can resist +the charms of such an exquisite bundle of perfections as Antonia is, +do you think I am likely to be overcome by a mocking-bird of your +imagination?” + +“If you could only hear the voice of that bird once more,” replied the +doctor, “you would soon begin to sing another tune. But let us go down +if you are ready, and not keep them waiting.” + +We had looked forward with much interest to our first meal in one of +these sumptuous houses, and, moreover, being quite hungry, we were glad +to find that we were just in time to sit down. If we had felt any +fear lest the absence of meat would make a meager bill of fare, the +experience of the next hour relieved us. The dishes were all strange, +but highly palatable, and the fact that there was nothing that appeared +to be in the least unwholesome did not detract from the delicious +savor which every viand possessed. The rich variety of courses and the +elegance of the service made it a dinner long to be remembered, and gave +a new zest to our life on Mars. + +It had been a long day to us, and we were allowed to retire at an early +hour, being conducted to adjacent and communicating rooms. But, though +our fatigue was great, it is not strange that we lay awake awhile, +talking of the wonderful things we had seen and heard. Speaking of the +Martian method of rapid transit the doctor said: + +“Besides its expedition, there is another feature to recommend their way +of traveling.” + +“What is that?” + +“Why, there is no danger of getting a seat just behind a window fiend.” + +“There is something in that,” I answered, “but I am thinking just now +of our dinner. We must certainly learn how to cook eggs and vegetables +before we return to the earth.” + +The character of our conversation, judged from these scraps, shows that +we had no excuse for remaining awake any longer. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A MORNING TALK. + + +Next morning we arose early, but found the family already up. Thorwald +seemed disposed to lose no time in showing and telling us everything +interesting, and so invited us at once to the top of the house, to take +a view of the country. The sun was just rising, and its pleasant rays +lighted up a scene of surpassing beauty. We seemed to be set in the +middle of a vast park, whose boundaries extended in all directions as +far as we could see. The landscape presented the most varied character, +wood and water, hill and plain, and every feature needed to make a +most delightful picture. Not the least of its charms, and perhaps +the greatest, was the profusion of color, which filled the vision and +satisfied the sense of beauty with its contrasts and its harmonies. Some +of the hills might justly be called mountains, and yet on the rugged +sides as well as on the summit of each were grand mansions surrounded by +cultivated fields. + +The doctor made some remark about this latter fact, and Thorwald said: + +“These situations, which would be almost inaccessible without the aid +of electricity, are now the favorite sites for building. This wonderful +power levels all hills in the ease with which it does its work. No task +is too hard for it and it asks no sympathy, so we may as well ride and +carry our freight up hill, if we prefer it, and build our houses on the +mountain tops. One characteristic of our nature has not changed, and +there is still a great variety of taste, so that plenty of people choose +the lower land to build upon. I see by your faces that you both admire +this panorama and think we were wise to place our house on such high +ground. We like to have our friends take this view in the morning, when +the world has been freshened by the night’s rain.” + +“Is it not just as beautiful at sunset after a shower?” I asked. + +“Oh,” answered Thorwald, “I haven’t told you that it never rains in the +day-time, have I?” + +“No, indeed, that’s another surprise for us. But how is it managed?” + +“You will remember I told you,” said Thorwald in reply, “that it was +found that rain enough fell for all parts of the world if it could only +be rightly distributed. Then when we had discovered by a long series of +experiments how to make the clouds shed their water at our pleasure, we +set about devising a means whereby we could give each section the right +quantity of rain at just the right time. + +“We established a central bureau in each country and let the people in +every city or district vote and send in their request for a shower or +a long rain ten days in advance. At first it required only a majority +vote, but this occasioned no end of trouble, as half the community would +often believe they were suffering for want of rain when the other +half wanted fair weather. Then the rule was changed so as to make a +three-quarters vote necessary, which did not help matters much, for very +often the crops would be seriously damaged before so large a proportion +of the people could be brought to see the desirability of a rainy day. + +“At length the happy thought was conceived of letting it rain over each +part of the country every night, and giving the right to vote only on +the quantity desired. This keeps everything fresh and has been found of +immense benefit to vegetation. Besides, it inconveniences no one, in the +present state of our society, however it might have been when the plan +was first adopted.” + +“What of those people,” I asked, “whose occupation or pleasure calls +them out in the night?” + +“We have no such class,” replied Thorwald. “We have found by long +experience that it is best to follow the indication of nature, and +take the day for labor and the night for rest. This practice and the +attention devoted to our diet have been chief factors in lengthening the +span of our lives. If this line of action is best for one it is best for +all, and, as everybody is doing the best he can, it follows that there +are literally no people out at night.” + +“I suppose you would call me stupid again,” said I, “if I should ask if +you have any such old-time personages as guardians of the peace.” + +“Indeed I should,” answered our friend, “for you ought to know us +better. If you will excuse a poor witticism, the peace is old enough on +our planet to go without a guardian.” + +As we smiled at this the doctor was encouraged to try his hand, but, not +feeling equal to addressing a pleasantry to the usually august Martian, +he turned to me and remarked: + +“This would be a pretty poor place for an umbrella trust, wouldn’t it?” + +As we left our place of outlook and made our way down stairs, Thorwald +resumed: + +“As I have said before, we have reached our present happy condition +through many bitter experiences. We read that at one time people had so +much work to do and were so thoughtless as to what was good for their +physical welfare that they began to rob themselves of their proper rest. +Others found it convenient to follow occupations which obliged them to +work all night and get what sleep they could in the day-time. Night was +considered about the only time that could be utilized, also, for the +activities of social life. + +“This condition lasted a long time, with the tendency continually +toward the practice of encroaching more and more upon the hours of rest +appointed by nature. It was then the period of making many laws, and +large and influential legislative bodies began to set a bad example to +the rest of the world by holding their sessions mainly in the night. +Newspapers thought it necessary to appear full-fledged at the break of +day, and the railroads made but little distinction between darkness and +daylight in the matter of carrying people hither and thither. The change +was slow, but it was in the wrong direction. Darkness was driven out by +more improved methods of lighting, and houses and streets were brilliant +the whole night long; and it finally became the fashion in both society +and business circles literally to turn night into day. For a time that +remained the universal custom, strange as it seems to us now, but the +practice of sleeping in the day-time never became natural. This means +that the whole world was living on from year to year without the amount +of rest required to keep the race alive. There could be but one result. +A brood of nervous troubles fell upon us; life began to shorten, and +we became aware that a serious crisis was before us. As soon as we were +convinced that we were bringing all this evil upon ourselves by our +disregard of the laws of nature, there was a change; and it is well +for us that there was still virility enough left in the race to make a +change possible. A gradual reform was instituted which, overcoming many +difficulties and delays but with no serious set-backs, brought us, after +long years, to our present happy way. Of course, our improvement in +every other direction, moral as well as physical, assisted us all along +in this reform. Now, looking back on our course, and comparing our +present with our former state, we are perfectly sure what is best for +us, and he would be a rash man who should intimate that we are not doing +right in using the night for rest. + +“But this is getting to be quite a long talk for so early in the +morning. Let us see if breakfast is not ready.” + +This meal proved to be as appetizing as the first, although the dishes +were entirely different; being made up, apparently, of fruit and +cereals. + +The doctor and I had been exceedingly interested in the way the dinner +of the evening before had been served. We did not understand it, and now +we were equally puzzled to see the breakfast courses come and go. No one +came in to make any change in the table, and our hostess seemed to +have as little to do with it as the rest of us. She presided with great +dignity, and, as I watched the changes going on with such perfect ease +and quiet, I could not refrain from saying: + +“If it is proper for me to ask, will you tell us how this is done, Mrs. +----” + +“We do not use those titles now,” she interrupted. “Call me Zenith, the +name by which I was introduced to you. I suppose Thorwald has told you +that electricity does nearly all our work. I arrange things in order +before the meal begins, and then by merely touching a button under +the table the apparatus is set in motion which brings and takes away +everything in the manner you see.” + +“It is wonderful,” I exclaimed. “And if we are to believe all that +Thorwald has told us, I suppose you have no servants for any department +of work.” + +“You are not entirely right,” she returned. “We have excellent servants. +This obedient power, that does our work so willingly, is our servant, +and so is the mechanism with which our houses are filled, and through +which this silent force is exerted. Many of our animals are domesticated +and trained to do light services, but as for servants of our own flesh +and blood, no such class exists. We all share whatever work there is, +and no labor is menial. Whatever I ask others to do I am glad to do for +them when occasion offers. Do not suppose we are idle. There is work for +us, but with our abundant strength and continual good health it is never +a burden. Then there are the duties connected with our higher life and +education, for we are ever seeking to fit ourselves for a still better +existence than this.” + +We had now finished breakfast and were walking through the house. +Zenith was a beautiful woman, although, from our point of view, of such +generous proportions. She possessed the perfect form and the vigor and +health of all the Martians. She was, moreover, graceful, modest, and +winning. But Thorwald and the other men that we had seen possessed these +latter qualities also, and Zenith exhibited the same strength of mind +and the same devotion to lofty aims as her husband. In their equipment +for the duties of life and in the ability to do valiant service for +their kind they seemed equal. Evidently neither had a monopoly of any +class of advantages, either of mind, body, or estate. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +PROCTOR SHOWS US THE EARTH. + + +We discovered at once that the Mars dwellers understand what genuine +hospitality is, for we found ourselves at perfect liberty to do what +best pleased us without restraint from our hosts. With so much to tell +us of their own high civilization and with so many questions still to +ask about the earth, there was no haste nor undue curiosity. Much less +was there any attempt yet by Thorwald to resume the argument about the +habitability of other worlds. + +But at the same time we were aware that our friends were at our service, +and early in the afternoon Thorwald asked us if we could think of +anything we should like to see. + +“Yes,” I answered, “I should like to see the earth.” + +“No doubt, my friend, but I don’t see exactly how I am going to take you +there.” + +“I did not expect that,” said I; “but, after all you have hinted about +your advance in astronomical science, I thought you might give us a +pretty good view of the earth without going any nearer to it than we are +now.” + +“Oh, that’s what you mean, is it? Excuse me for being so dull. Is it not +singular that I should wait to be asked to show you the wonders of our +telescopes? Zenith, let us all go with them to see their home, about +which we have so often speculated. + +“We have many good observatories,” continued Thorwald, speaking to the +doctor and me, “some of which are noted for one line of study and some +for another. The one that has given the most attention to observing the +earth and that has the best instruments for that work is situated on the +other side of our planet.” + +“Then, of course,” said I, “we will choose one nearer home for our +visit.” + +“Why so?” asked Thorwald. “It is always wise to get the best when you +can.” + +“Yes, but we do not want you to take the time and trouble to make a +journey half around your world just because I said I would like to see +the earth.” + +“Oh, our time is yours, and we will not make trouble of it; we will call +it a pleasure trip. We may as well take the children, Zenith; they will +enjoy it. How soon can you all be ready?” + +“In five minutes,” answered Zenith. + +“Then we had better get off at once,” said Thorwald. + +And without further words this remarkable family scattered to different +parts of the house and in five minutes were ready to begin a journey of +five or six thousand miles, and the only reason they did not start at +once was that the doctor and I were not quite so expeditious. We were +soon on our way, however, having locked no doors behind us and leaving +everything just as if we were to return in an hour. + +We took an electric carriage to the station, and from there went by the +tubular road to the metropolis. This was a great city whence there was +direct communication to all the principal centers of population on the +planet. As we had not been in any haste in making the changes necessary +to reach this stage of our journey, it was now late in the day, and I +began to wonder how we were to continue the trip without being out +in the night. When I mentioned my thought to Thorwald, he removed the +difficulty in a moment by saying: + +“We simply travel west and leave the night behind us. You know the +surface of Mars, even at the equator, goes east at the rate of only five +hundred miles an hour, and as our modern cars take us much faster than +that, it is easy for us to keep ahead of the night by going in the right +direction. So in making long trips we try to travel west.” + +“But suppose you want to go east?” + +“Then we go west to get east, and we arrange the speed so as to get to +our destination in the day-time.” + +We left our car and found another just ready to start for the distant +city in which our observatory was situated. It was a small car +comparatively, and we had it all to ourselves. There were all sorts of +conveniences in it, and we composed ourselves for a good rest. After a +ride of several hours we reached our destination. It was now about noon, +so that we had actually made nearly half a day, besides the time spent +in sleep while riding. I know some of my friends on the earth, who say +the day is too short for them, would appreciate such an improvement as +that if they could have it. + +We passed part of the afternoon in riding about the city. The same +language was spoken here as was used on Thorwald’s side of the globe; +but, although communication was so easy, we found enough difference in +the architecture and in the general appearance of the people to make +travel interesting. + +Toward night we all alighted at the door of the observatory, and the +doctor and I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a man of +Mars who had spent many years in studying the surface of the earth. It +may be imagined that he was glad to meet us and to get our answers to +many questions which had long perplexed him, some of which he had never +hoped to have solved. + +Proctor, for this was the name by which he was introduced, was one of +the oldest men we had seen, and impressed us as one possessed of great +wisdom. His manner was so dignified, also, that it seemed quite as +inappropriate to address him without a title as it was to call our +hostess plain Zenith. But when I asked Thorwald aside what I should call +him, he said: + +“Call him by his name, just as you do the rest of us. We have but one +name each.” + +“I should think that would be confusing,” said I. “For example, how are +you to be distinguished from any other Thorwald?” + +“There is no other that I ever heard of. There are names enough to go +all around.” + +As night came on we were brought face to face with the great instrument +whose work of observing the earth was known far and wide. + +Proctor was occupied a short time in adjusting it, and then asked us if +we could recognize what was in the field. I motioned to the doctor, but +as he insisted that I should take the first view I put my eye to the +glass with much trepidation. Instead of the magnified disk of the earth, +which I expected to behold, I saw but a small portion of the surface, +and that a familiar stretch of coast line. I never knew whether Proctor +thought by our accent or by the cut of our clothes that we were New +Englanders, but he had so pointed the telescope that our first sight +of the earth showed us dear old Massachusetts Bay, with its islands and +boundaries. I did not speak till the doctor had looked, and then we told +the others of our pleasant surprise. + +Proctor made another adjustment, saying he would bring the globe still +nearer to us, and we looked and saw a patch of beautiful green country. +It appeared to be but a few miles away, and we thought we ought to +distinguish large objects. But the appearance was deceptive in this +respect, and Proctor told us they had not been able to determine +definitely whether the earth was inhabited. They could see important +changes going on from time to time; they believed they could tell +cultivated from wild land; certain peculiar spots they called large +cities; and there were many such indications of inhabitants. But they +had not yet beheld man nor his unquestioned footsteps. As to their +belief on the subject, they had the strongest faith that the earth was +peopled by an intelligent race, and Proctor added that he rejoiced to +see that faith so happily justified by our presence. To which the doctor +pleasantly replied that he should be sorry to have him judge of the +intelligence of the race at large from two such inferior specimens. + +One question which Proctor asked was, whether we had ever made any +attempt to communicate with the other planets. We told him we had not, +but that if we should ever try such a thing it would probably be with +Mars; but that it would be useless to think of it with our present +astronomical attainments, for if we should succeed in attracting the +attention of another world we would not know it, because we could not +see the answer. + +Proctor said they had sometimes seen moving masses which were not +clouds, but which they took for smoke and were not sure but they might +be intended for signals. We replied that if it were smoke that they saw +it was probably caused by forest fires, but if we ever reached the earth +again we would organize a company and try to make some electric signals +which they could see. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A NIGHT ADVENTURE + + +It was late when the conversation closed, and Proctor said we were to +spend the night with him of course, and in the morning he would take +pleasure in introducing to us the other members of his household. + +The residence buildings, beautiful and commodious structures, adjoined +the observatory, and to each of us was given a separate apartment. After +Proctor had left us, Thorwald came into my room a moment and I said to +him: + +“Proctor is a friend of yours, is he not?” + +“Certainly,” answered Thorwald, “what could he be but a friend? But then +I never saw him before today.” + +“Is it possible? Are strangers always treated so hospitably?” + +“I see nothing unusual in his treatment of us. We are always at +perfect liberty to stay where ever night overtakes us, and it makes no +difference with the quality of the hospitality whether the guests are +acquaintances or not.” + +The memory of that night will remain with me many years. Before falling +asleep I let my mind dwell on the singular circumstances in which we +were placed and the strange manner of our leaving the earth. I had never +experienced anything that seemed more real, and yet I could not make it +appear quite reasonable that we were in truth living on the planet Mars. +All I could say was that it was an instance where the facts were against +the theory, and I knew that in such cases it was always safest to +believe in the facts. I could distinctly remember each step of our +journey, and there could be no mistake about our present understanding. +What settled the question more firmly than ever was this thought: If we +were not on Mars, where were we? We must be somewhere. + +By the time I had disposed of all my doubts I was becoming drowsy, and +then I began to think of the doctor and his unfortunate condition of +mind. This malady would doubtless increase and I should have to look +out for him, and at the same time fill the arduous position of the only +sound representative of our race in Mars. I resolved to try once more to +make my companion see how ridiculous his strange fancy was and realize +the danger of clinging to it. + +With this thought my brain lost coherence, and I passed over the +invisible boundary into dreamland. It was a beautiful evening in summer. +I was at home among my friends and we were sitting in the open air. The +doctor was there, taking his turn with me in telling the story of our +adventures. This went on till our listeners were tired out, and then +one of the company gave a little variety to the occasion by singing a +capital song. + +Here the scene changed to the country. It was morning in the woods. The +trees wore their spring foliage, bright flowers spread their beauty and +fragrance around us, and the air was filled with the music of birds. The +sweet notes of these songsters were by far the most vivid part of the +dream. Now loud, now soft, the unbroken melody absorbed our attention +and made it difficult for us to understand how our situation again +gradually changed, until the air became piercingly cold, the cruel wind +beat upon us furiously, and the violent elements seemed bent upon our +destruction. + +The doctor and I were alone, and the surroundings bore a strange +resemblance to the inhospitable surface of the moon. But what are those +sweet sounds still ringing in our ears? Sure no birds could live in +such a wild place. No, it is not a bird’s song. It is more like a human +voice. I thought I had never before heard music so pure and rich. But +wait--had I not heard something like it once before? There was a mystery +about it that enhanced its sweetness. Now I was really thinking, for +before I knew how it happened I found myself wide awake. The dream was +over, but, oh! wonderful dream, the best of it remained. My sense of +hearing, always acute, had waked long before and left my other faculties +to slumber on and dream out the unreal accompaniments of a real voice. +For now, with my eyes open and my mind released from sleep, I still +heard that marvelous, half-familiar song. + +Could I be deceived? I determined to know beyond a doubt that I was +awake. I rose and, throwing on a dressing gown, turned up the light and +walked about the room. I looked in the mirror to see if my eyes were +open, and then ate a little fruit from a tempting dish that stood on the +table. In one corner of the room was an elegant writing desk. I opened +it, found its appointments complete, drew up a comfortable chair, and, +choosing pen and paper, determined to record my impressions for future +perusal, if by any means my memory should fail me. This is what I wrote: + +“I, the undersigned, am in my private room in the house of Proctor, the +astronomer, province of ----, planet Mars. It is about the middle of +the night, precise date unknown. I am wide awake, in my usual health, +appetite good, heart a little fluttering but temperature and pulse +normal. I have been awakened from sleep by strains of distant music, +which mingled with my dreams but refused to be silenced when the rest +of the dreams melted away. Now, while I am writing, the delicious melody +fills my ears. I never before heard so sweet a voice, unless, indeed, +I have heard the same voice before. In regard to this I can form no +present opinion. I must take another time to consider it. Now I cannot +think, I am so engrossed in listening to the singer’s entrancing notes. +The song is so full of light and cheer and sends such beautiful thoughts +trooping through my brain that I wish it may go on forever.” + +I signed my name to this with a firm hand, and then, as I leaned back +in my chair to close my eyes and drink in more deeply still this rare +enjoyment, darkness seemed to fall suddenly upon my spirit. The voice +ceased, and in a moment the last sweet echoes had died away. + +I crept into bed as speedily as possible, to try to forget my sadness +in sleep. But oblivion would not be forced, and so I took what comfort +I could in thinking of that interrupted song, and in trying to feel over +again in memory that pleasure which my fleshly ears no longer gave me. I +could still recognize a distinct tinge of familiarity in the notes, but +when I came to the question of locating the singer I was utterly without +a clew. I knew well enough that there was no earthly voice which could +enter into the comparison, and so I need waste no time in going over +that part of my life. But I had heard no singing of any kind in Mars +before this night. How was it possible that I could have experienced +that delightful sensation before and not be able to fix the place or +time? It was a puzzling question, but I refused to give it up I knew the +song, and the memory of it warmed my heart with each recurring flash, +but the singer I did not know. + +At length I fell asleep, and woke to find the sun of Mars shining +pleasantly upon my bed. I recalled at once the experience of the night +and confirmed my memory by finding on the desk the paper I had written, +and still there was enough suspicion in my mind of the reality of the +whole thing to make me anxious to know if the doctor had heard what had +so impressed me. But on going to find him I discovered that he had left +his room, and so it happened that we did not meet till the family came +together in the morning reception room, in preparation for breakfast. +Here Proctor presented us to his wife, Fronda, and his daughters, two +stately girls, whom he did not name. Thorwald and Zenith kindly helped +the doctor and me to answer the many questions which these new friends +were so eager to ask, so that, as breakfast proceeded, all became +engaged in the conversation. My own mind, however, was somewhat +preoccupied. I thought perhaps Thorwald might be in haste to depart for +home, and I was determined not to let the company separate till I had +made an attempt to discover who my midnight singer was. So, when there +came a convenient lull in the talk, I made bold to say: + +“Can anyone present tell me who it was that woke me in the night ‘with +concord of sweet sounds’?” + +A general smile passed around the table at this question, while Fronda +looked at me and said pleasantly, + +“It must have been Avis. She is very fond of singing and considers all +hours her own. I hope it did not disturb your slumbers.” + +“It was no disturbance, I assure you. But is Avis present? I should like +to thank her for the great pleasure she gave me.” + +“No,” replied Fronda, “she took an early breakfast and started out for a +long walk.” + +“Then I may as well tell you all about it,” I said. + +And I related my dream and then read to them all the paper I had +written. Everyone listened with the greatest eagerness and showed more +interest, I thought, than the circumstances as I had related them called +for, but I afterwards learned that they had excellent reasons for it. + +When breakfast was over I was glad to find that Thorwald seemed to be in +no haste to go home. I began to feel an intense longing to see Avis, and +I had planned, if Thorwald should insist on leaving too soon, to +propose to Proctor that I would stay a few days and assist him in the +observatory. + +The doctor and I soon found an opportunity to speak together privately, +and he began: + +“So the voice of Avis was a little familiar to you?” + +“Yes,” I replied, “but I am not able to tell from what niche in memory’s +hall it comes.” + +“Does it recall anything you heard or saw on the moon?” + +“That dreadful place? No, indeed,” I replied. “Are you going to bring up +Mona again?” + +“You asked me never to mention that name again, and now you have spoken +it.” + +“Well,” I asked, “will you forgive me for that foolish request if I will +let you talk to me about her now?” + +“I am not anxious to talk about her,” the doctor answered, “especially +as I know the topic is not a pleasant one to you.” + +Without noticing this last remark, I asked abruptly: + +“Was Mona a good singer?” + +“Fair.” + +“As good as Avis?” + +“I think so, though I am not a critic.” + +“Did I understand you to say she was handsome?” + +“Beautiful.” + +“And I fell in love with her?” + +“You had all the symptoms. But why do you insist on talking on such a +disagreeable subject? Come, let’s go and find Proctor.” + +“Wait. One question more. Have you seen Avis?” + +“Yes.” + +“Who is she?” + +“I believe she is a friend of the family merely.” + +“Does she live here?” + +“She is staying here for the present.” + +“Is she beautiful, too?” + +“I shall leave you to be your own judge of that when you see her. Now, +not another question.” + +“Well,” I said, as we started to find some of the others, “if the Mona +of your imagination gives you as much pleasure as Avis has given me +before I have seen her, I do not wonder that you cherish her memory.” + +This conversation left me still more anxious to see Avis, and I looked +for her return every moment, but the morning passed and finally the day +wore to its close without bringing us together. I did not like to make +my strong desire known by asking after her, and, besides, I began to +have a slight suspicion that there was some design in keeping us from +meeting. + +When it was time to retire that night I took the doctor to my room, and +I think it was a surprise to both of us when we fell to talking about +Mona again. At my request the doctor related at considerable length our +experience on the moon, as he remembered it, and set Mona out in most +attractive style. I let him go on, without laughing at him as I had +formerly done, and the longer he talked the more serious and thoughtful +I became. As he told the details of our daily life, recalling many of +Mona’s words and actions, a new thought flashed through my mind--the +thought that possibly the doctor was right after all. At that instant, +when my interest was most intense, once more the distant echoes of that +happy song fell upon my ear. + +That was the magic influence needed for my restoration. At once, and all +at once, down fell the walls that had so unhappily obscured my mental +vision, and left my memory clear as day. I jumped from my seat, seized +the doctor’s hand, and exclaimed: + +“I see it all now, old fellow. You were right and I was the crazy one.” + +“Good, I rejoice with you.” + +With that voice coming nearer and pouring its melody upon us, we could +not say more at the time. I threw myself into a chair, let my head +fall back, and closed my eyes to enjoy it. The doctor, feeling it to be +better to let me think it out by myself, stole away and left me alone. + +Alone, but not lonesome, for was not Mona with me? I could see her every +look and motion, and experienced with a great throb of the heart that my +love had only strengthened with my period of forgetfulness. I remembered +her last words, that very likely we would never see her again. But why +should not she be saved as easily as we were? What if she were even now +afloat in the ocean? But perhaps some one had rescued her. Could she +be in Mars and singing for other ears than mine? Singing! Why, who is +singing now, right here in this very house? Can it be possible? How +stupid I have been. Perhaps I can see her now. + +I jumped up and rushed from the room, but was no sooner outside my door +than the voice began to die again, and in a moment the last notes had +floated away. I could not determine from which direction the song had +come and had no clew to guide me toward the singer. It was very late and +all the house was quiet. Unable to pursue my quest, I reentered my room, +but it was hours before I could compose my mind sufficiently to sleep. +The possible joy that awaited me in the morning, the dreadful fear +that I should be disappointed, the violent beating of my heart at every +thought of Mona, and my anxiety lest she might even now be exposed to +danger somewhere, all combined to keep me excited and restless the whole +night long. As I lay tossing and thinking, my most serious doubt was +occasioned by the reflection that people of such exalted morals would +not deceive me by declaring that this singer’s name was Avis if it were +not true. But then I thought further that the doctor had given Mona the +name by which we knew her, and that Fronda would have just as much right +to give her a new name. Perhaps her real name after all was Avis. + +When the welcome morning came I found the doctor and gave him a hearty +grasp to show him that there had been no lapse in my mental condition, +but I asked him to say nothing to Thorwald just at present about my +recovery. Then we hurried down to the reception room and, early as it +was, found most of the household already there. After looking eagerly +around and seeing only those whom I had previously met, I inquired, with +as little apparent concern as possible: + +“Hasn’t Avis appeared? I thought she was an early riser.” + +To which Fronda quickly replied: + +“Oh, Avis was up half an hour ago, and asked me to excuse her to the +company, saying she was going to spend the morning with a friend she met +yesterday.” + +This was a hard blow for me, and it was with difficulty that I +restrained my impatience, but I was a little consoled with the idea that +the morning only was to be consumed by this visit, and that we might +look for a return by noon. + +After breakfast, when Proctor had gone to the observatory and Fronda +and her daughters were showing Zenith about the house, the doctor begged +Thorwald to resume the talk begun on board the ship, which had +been interrupted by the discovery of land. As Thorwald expressed a +willingness to comply, the doctor continued: + +“You were trying to convince me of the probability of life in other +worlds besides the earth and Mars, and in your attempt to show a +likeness between the earth and other parts of the universe, you were +speaking on the interesting subject of meteorites.” + +“I remember,” answered Thorwald, “I was just asking you what theory you +of the earth hold on that important topic.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +AN UNLIKELY STORY + + +“If the doctor,” I said, “will pardon me, I will say, in relation to +the origin of meteorites, that our scientific men have held from time +to time many different theories. Some have believed that they are +aggregations of metallic vapors which, meeting in the atmosphere, +solidify there and fall, just as watery vapors solidify and come down in +the form of hailstones. Others have held that they are thrown out from +the center of the earth by volcanic action; and others still that they +all came from the moon when her volcanoes were active. These latter +theories imply that the meteorites in immense quantities are revolving +around the earth, and that occasionally they become entangled in her +atmosphere and fall to the surface. + +“And now, Thorwald, I am tempted to repay all your great kindness to us +with an act of ingratitude, nothing less than the relation of a story.” + +This rather foolhardy speech of mine made the doctor wince, and I am not +sure but he began to fear that my mind was weakening in a new direction. +But I had my own excuse for my action, which I felt that I could explain +to him at some future time. The fact is, I was so disturbed in my mind +about Mona and was anticipating so much from meeting the so called Avis, +that I thought I could never sit still all the morning and listen to a +dry scientific discussion. It seemed to me that I could stand it better +if I could do part of the talking myself, and so I took advantage of the +subject before us to propose relating an extravagant tale that I once +had heard. + +In contrast with the doctor’s frowns, Thorwald showed a lively +appreciation and insisted that I should be heard. + +“Not another word from me,” he said, “till we have had the story.” + +With such encouragement, it was easy for me to proceed. + +“I fear you will be disappointed,” I said, “for what I have rashly +called a story is only a fancy founded on the idea that the meteorites +were at some time shot out of the volcanoes of the moon. I had it from a +friend of mine, whose mind is evidently more open to the notion of life +in other worlds than is that of my companion here. As the story was +written long before the moon came down to visit the people of the +earth in their own home, the writer did not have the advantage of the +discoveries made by the doctor and myself, and it is well for me that +the doctor’s friend, Mona, is not here to disprove any of my statements. + +“On account of the smaller volume of the moon, the attraction of +gravitation on its surface is only one-quarter that of the earth, and it +is estimated that, if a projectile were hurled from the moon with two or +three times the velocity of a cannon ball, it would pass entirely beyond +her attraction and be drawn to the earth, reaching it at the rate of +some seven miles a second. + +“Now we all know--this is the way the story runs--that the moon was once +inhabited by a highly intelligent race. They tell us it is a cold, dead +world now, not at all fit for inhabitants. But that is because its day +is passed. Being so much smaller than the earth it cooled off quicker, +and its life-bearing period long since found its end. Men have often +speculated on the idea that our race will one day fail and the time come +when the last generation shall pass away and leave the earth a bare and +ugly thing, to continue yet longer its lonely, weary journey around a +failing sun. That day the moon has seen. That direful fate the race of +moon men have experienced. Some poor being, the last of his kind, was +left sole monarch of a dying world, and with the moon all before him +where to choose, chose rather to die with the rest and leave his world +to cold and darkness. + +“From our own experience we do not know how high a state of civilization +can be reached by giving a race all the time that is needed. But we know +that before the inhabitants of the moon passed off the stage they had +attained to the highest possible degree of intelligence. They began +existence at a very low plane, developed gradually through long periods +of time--there has never been any haste in these matters--and when they +had reached their maturity as a race of intellectual and moral beings, +primitive man was just beginning on the vast undertaking of subduing the +earth, a task not yet accomplished. + +“The incident I propose to relate occurred in antediluvian times, when +there were giants in the earth who lived a thousand years. Then matter +reigned, not mind. It was the age of brawn. Everything material existed +on a gigantic scale, and man’s architectural works, rude in design but +well adapted for shelter and protection, were proportioned to his own +stature and rivaled the everlasting hills in size and solidity. And they +needed something substantial for protection, for war was their business +and their pass time. They lived for nothing but to fight. It was brother +against brother, neighbor against neighbor, tribe against tribe; and the +man who could not fight, and fight hard, had no excuse for living. War +was not an art, but a natural outburst of brutal instincts. A giant +glories in his strength and cultivates it as naturally as a bird its +song. But it is pleasant to consider the fact that as man’s mental +and moral qualities have developed his body has become smaller. As the +necessity for that immense physical strength gradually passed away, +nature, abhorring such unnecessary waste of material, applied to us her +inexorable laws whereby a thing or a state of things no longer useful +slowly fades away, and our bodies accommodated themselves to new +conditions. + +“But in those early times men needed great physical strength and long +life to bring the world into subjection, and until that was done they +could give little attention to the cultivation of the finer qualities +of their incipient manhood. They were handicapped by the fact that the +lower animals had had the earth to themselves a few million years, more +or less, and no puny race could ever have driven them to the wall. + +“At length, when the conflict was well nigh over, with victory in sight, +men had abandoned the struggle and were using all their fierce strength +in fighting each other. This had been going on so long and with such +deadly results that it seemed as if the race must be exterminated unless +some superior power could step in from the outside and prevent it. + +“We can easily understand that there was no such thing as science then. +Men considered the sun, for example, only as a very useful thing which +brought them light with which they could see their foe, and the moon as +a mysterious object sent to make the night a little less dark. Sun +and moon and shining stars were all set in the sky for them, and went +through their wonderful and complicated movements solely for their +amusement. + +“But what was the real condition of things on the moon at that +time? Why, there was a race of people there of such intelligence and +scientific attainments that they were seeing plainly enough everything +that was taking place on the earth. This will not appear very strange +when we consider our remarkable success in scanning the surface of the +moon at the present day, and remember that the inhabitants of the moon +were then nearing the close of their history, and so at the height of +their civilization. + +“Yes, they had watched the coming of man upon the stage with the deepest +interest--with a neighborly interest, in fact--seeing in him the promise +of a companion race and one worthy of the magnificent globe which they +could see was so much larger than their own. Their powerful instruments +enabled them to see objects on the earth as distinctly as we now see +through our telescopes the features of a landscape a few miles distant. + +“Keeping thus so close an acquaintance with man and all his works, they +rejoiced at every success he achieved over the lower forms of life, and +grieved at all his failures. Especially were they pained when he tired +of the conflict with his natural foe, and began to battle with his own +kind. As this inhuman strife continued, the folly and wickedness of +it roused to the fullest extent the interest and sympathy of the +moon-dwellers, and they began to ask each other what they could do to +put a stop to it. They themselves had long since given up war and had +even outgrown all individual quarrels, and they could not endure with +patience what was then taking place right under their eyes. But +they found it easier to declaim against the evil than to suggest any +practical method of stopping it. Although so near them in one sense, to +the other senses the field of conflict was some two hundred and forty +thousand miles away. + +“However, of what value is a high state of civilization if it cannot +help a neighboring world in such an emergency as this? If they could +only communicate in some way with men they could soon make them +understand that it would be better for them to cease their fighting and +finish their legitimate work of subduing the lower forms of creation. +But how to open communication! The problem long remained unsolved, +the condition of things on the earth in the meantime growing worse and +worse. At last it was suggested that a shot might be fired which would +reach the earth. This was a bold suggestion, but it was well known that +they had explosives powerful enough to carry a projectile beyond the +moon’s attraction, and no one could give any good reason why such a +projectile, being entirely free of the moon, should not reach the earth +under the power of gravitation. It was determined to try the experiment, +and after due preparation, which was comparatively easy with their +facilities, an enormous shot was hurled forth. It was large enough to be +seen by the aid of their powerful telescopes as it sped on its way, +and it was with intense interest that they saw it enter the earth’s +attraction and finally strike the surface of that globe. Now that so +much had been accomplished, they saw immense possibilities before them. +What they now wanted to do was to use their discovery to make men give +up their fighting and turn to the arts of peace. + +“How could they do this? Some proposed that they should make hollow +shot, fill them with Bibles and other books, and bombard the earth with +good precepts till men should learn and be tamed. But from their close +observation of mankind the moon-dwellers knew they were too uncivilized +to get any good from books, and that they certainly could not learn +without a teacher. Hence arose the suggestion that missionaries be +sent in place of books. As soon as this idea was broached thousands of +volunteers offered themselves, and the plan would certainly have been +attempted if there had been the slightest possibility that one could +live to reach the earth. + +“The next proposal came from the medical profession. Long before this +time, when the inhabitants of the moon were sometimes governed by their +passions and before the day of peace and good will had fully arrived, it +had been discovered that what was known as the pugnacious instinct was +only a disease, bad blood in fact as well as in name, and a remedy had +been found for it. This was nothing less than the bi-chloride of comet. +Small comets, such as we call meteorites, were picked up on the surface +of the moon and put to this practical use. This medicine, administered +as an hypodermic injection, produced wonderful effects, the patient, +although afflicted with the most quarrelsome disposition, becoming as +mild and harmless as a lamb. However warlike one might be, a few days’ +treatment would take the fighting spirit out of him so completely that +the mere doubling up his fists and placing them in front of his face +would make him feel ill. Peace societies got hold of the remedy and +tried it on the soldiers of the standing armies with such success that +war had to be abandoned because the men would not fight. + +“And now the old recipe was brought out, a large quantity of the +medicine manufactured, and bombs made and filled with it, each one +containing full directions for its use written in Volapiik. These were +fired to the earth, and, strange to say, the simple language was soon +learned, and the moon-dwellers had the satisfaction of seeing men +rapidly metamorphosed into a peaceable, friendly race. Thus the moon +directly influenced and governed affairs on the earth. Looked at from +that distance it seems to have been the most remarkable case of the tail +wagging the dog that the earth had ever seen. + +“But we may as well relate the sequel. The effect of the treatment +lasted only a few hundred years, and as it was the moon’s policy never +to repeat a cure, men in time became as bad as ever again, and so at +last the flood had to come and wipe them off the face of the earth.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE DOCTOR IS CONVINCED + + +As I finished the doctor looked somewhat bored, but Thorwald was kind +enough to thank me, and then, at our earnest solicitation, he resumed +his argument. + +“You have told me,” he said, “of some of your earlier beliefs about the +origin of meteorites. Have you any more modern views?” + +To this the doctor replied: “If my friend here has really finished +talking for a while I will say, Thorwald, that the theories already +spoken of seem to be disproved by the discovery that these stones enter +the earth’s atmosphere with a planetary velocity. A body falling from +an infinite distance--that is, impelled only by the attraction of +gravitation--would strike the earth with a velocity of only six or +seven miles a second, while the meteorites come at the rate of twenty +to thirty miles a second, the earth’s rate of revolution being nineteen +miles in the same time. It is found that a necessary consequence of +these velocities is that the meteors move about the sun, and not +the earth, as the controlling body. Our latest study points to the +conclusion that they are of cometary origin, and, as comets have been +known to divide, some scientists believe the meteorites are fragments +of exploded comets. At any rate, they are found in the company of these +mysterious bodies, and appear to have similarly eccentric orbits.” + +“Your studies are leading you in the right direction,” said Thorwald. +“The meteorites do indeed come from the regions of space, and if they +have any story to tell it is a story of those distant parts of the +universe about which any testimony is valuable. Let us look again at the +fragment we are supposed to hold in our hand. Can we tell of what it is +composed, or is its substance something entirely new? I am sure you must +have analyzed it down to its minutest particle, and if so you have found +it contains nothing foreign to the earth. There is not a single element +in the meteorite that does not exist also in the crust of the earth. +Tell me, Doctor, how many elements have you discovered in them?” + +“Nearly thirty,” answered the doctor. “And one interesting fact is, +that the three elements most common in the earth--iron, silicon, and +oxygen--are also found most widely distributed among the meteorites.” + +“That is an exceedingly significant fact,” said Thorwald; “and now +do you not see how strongly the meteorites confirm the story of the +spectrum, and how everything tells us the universe is one in its +physical structure? By these two widely different sources of information +you find that beyond doubt other heavenly bodies are made of like +materials with the earth. Is it not time now to give your imagination +just a moment’s play and look upon some of those distant orbs as the +probable abode of life?” + +“There I cannot follow you,” responded the doctor. “I am wanting in +imagination; probably born so, as some people are born without an ear +for music. Let us stick to facts. Among the recent discoveries in +the field of which we have been talking was the finding of some small +diamonds in a meteoric mass. Upon this some enthusiastic writer, whose +imaginative soul would be your delight, Thorwald, built this argument: +‘Diamonds being pure carbon, their existence necessitates a previous +vegetable growth. Hence vegetable life in other worlds is proven, and if +vegetable life, it is fair to presume the existence of animal life +also. Of course, then, there must be intelligent life, and therefore the +stars, or the planets that revolve around the stars, are all filled with +men.’ This I call not reasoning, but guessing.” + +“And still,” quickly responded Thorwald, “the discovery of diamonds in +meteorites was a valuable link in the chain of evidence which you are +putting together. Keep on with your investigations. Some time positive +knowledge will come to you as it has come to us. But let me appeal once +more to your reason. At an earlier stage of development your race no +doubt believed the earth was the center of the universe, around which +all the heavenly bodies swept in magnificent circles. You have learned +that the earth itself, which was formerly thought to be so important an +object, is only one of those heavenly bodies flying through space. You +find the earth resembles its nearest companions in being subject to the +same laws of motion which govern them, but you have yet to learn that +they resemble the earth in the main purpose of their creation. You go +into the forest and see thousands of trees. You can find no two alike, +and yet all are alike in every material respect. Even the myriads of +leaves are all different, and yet all alike. So why may not the millions +of stars that fill the sky be like our own sun and like each other, +differing in such immaterial things as size and brilliancy, color and +constitution, but alike in the chief object of their being, the giving +of light and heat, as vivifying forces to dark bodies surrounding them? +And why may not these planets resemble the earth in being, at some stage +of their existence, the theater of God’s great designs? + +“Let me try to excite your imagination in another way, Doctor. Suppose +you should by and by awake and find this visit to Mars only a dream, and +then suppose it should be revealed to you in some superhuman way +that man was indeed the only race of intelligent beings in the whole +universe; that the other planets and all the stars were of no real +use; that not one world from that vast region of the milky way and far +distant nebulae would ever send forth a note of praise to its Creator, +and that the tiny earth was, after all, the center and sum of the +universe--tell me, would you not feel lonesome?” + +“When you put it in that way, Thorwald,” replied the doctor, “I begin +to see how unreasonable my position must appear to you. But, however +pleasant the idea, I do not see how I can believe that other worlds are +inhabited without more evidence than we now possess. This is speaking, +of course, without the knowledge we have gained since coming here. But I +do not mind saying that your talk has made me wish I could believe it.” + +I was glad for several reasons that the doctor acknowledged as much as +this. First, for Thorwald’s sake; for I had been thinking the doctor’s +obduracy was proving a poor reward for our friend’s great kindness to +us. I rejoiced, too, that my companion was beginning to show our new +acquaintance that, although he had little imagination, he was possessed +of a good heart. And, finally, I was myself so much in sympathy with +Thorwald’s views that I was glad to see his arguments begin to make some +impression on the doctor’s mind. + +But now it seemed to me that Thorwald had much to tell us from his own +experience. He had talked so far on this subject from the standpoint +of our earthly knowledge, but had hinted more than once that the +inhabitants of Mars had more positive evidence than we had ever dreamed +could be possible. So I said: + +“Your arguments have been very acceptable to me, Thorwald, but can you +not strengthen even my faith by speaking now from the results of your +own more advanced studies? We must base our belief in the existence of +life outside the earth on mere probabilities, which, however strong, +lead only to theory and leave us still in doubt. Have you any certain +knowledge on the subject, or, I might say, had you any before we came to +see you?” + +“Oh, yes,” replied Thorwald, “we have long had evidence almost as +positive as your presence here, fresh from one of our sister planets. +It will give me great pleasure to tell you of some of our marvelous +achievements in astronomy. The doctor says he would like to believe +in the habitability of other worlds; he must believe in it before I am +through if he has any faith in me. + +“I would like to say, to begin with, that whatever we have accomplished +in this science you on the earth can accomplish. I know enough by +comparing your development with our own to feel sure that our present +condition foreshadows yours, and that all the knowledge we possess in +various directions will come in time to you. Let nothing discourage you +in your quest for knowledge. If you seem to have arrived at the limit of +possibilities in the telescope, for example, have patience. Difficulties +which you think insurmountable, time will remove, and you will be able +to penetrate more and more into the mysteries of the universe. + +“Our telescopes have gradually increased in power until we have been +able to accomplish things that you will no doubt think truly marvelous. +But, before you call any achievement in this science impossible, just +look back and compare the ignorance of the early inhabitants of the +earth with your present knowledge; and do not be so proud of the wisdom +already attained that you cannot also look forward to an enlarged +comprehension of things you now call mysteries, and to a much closer +acquaintance with the works of God. + +“To our increasing vision the heavens have continued to unfold their +wonders. We have penetrated far into the depths of space only to marvel, +at each new revelation, at the power and wisdom of the Creator. The +number of stars discovered to our view would be incredible to you, and +yet it will be interesting to you to learn that we can still place no +bounds to creation. We have, it is true, found the limits of what we +call our universe and have mapped out all its boundaries. When this had +been done we tried to pierce the surrounding darkness, but for a long +time, in spite of our belief that we could not yet see the end, all +beyond seemed a void. Recently, however, our faith has been rewarded, +for we can now see other universes, buried in far space but revealed +dimly to the higher powers of our telescopes. + +“But you are doubtless eager to hear of some more definite knowledge +gained from this wide domain. Well, we have determined the distances, +size, and motions of many of the stars, resolved star clusters and +nebulae, solved the mystery of the double and variable stars, and, what +is of more consequence than all these things, we have in many instances +discovered the secondary bodies themselves, revolving around a central +sun. We now know, what we so long suspected, that the rolling stars are +suns like our own, giving light and heat to attending worlds. With this +knowledge, can you wonder, Doctor, that we acquired the belief that +these worlds, resembling so much the planets of our own system, are fit +homes for intelligent beings?” + +“I cannot see,” replied the doctor, “that such a belief necessarily +follows your discovery, which, I must own, was an exceedingly valuable +one. I can readily believe that each star that shines in our sky is a +sun surrounded by dependent bodies so dark as to be invisible through +our terrestrial telescopes, but still I presume even your instruments +are not powerful enough to find any inhabitants on those distant +worlds?” + +“No,” replied Thorwald, “but for what other conceivable purpose were +these bodies created?” + +“I frankly acknowledge that I am not able to answer that question,” said +the doctor. “If you have many more wonderful discoveries to relate I +shall soon have to own myself convinced.” + +“I am trying to convince your reason,” resumed Thorwald, “without the +aid of positive evidence, but I may as well proceed now to show you what +further knowledge we have gained. + +“The nearer planets of our own solar system have been naturally the +objects of our close scrutiny. As our telescopes increased in power we +diligently studied the surface of these globes, searching for signs +of life. We mapped out their features, noted the various phenomena of +season and climate, and discovered many ways in which they seemed to +be like our world. But for a long time we found no direct evidence that +they were inhabited. + +“At length, however, one ardent philosopher, full of hope, as we all +were, that we had neighbors on some of these globes, brought out the +idea that if these neighbors were as far advanced in astronomical +science as we were, there ought to be some means of communication +between one world and another. The thought took at once, and occasioned +the most lively interest. We had no doubt, from what we had learned of +these planets, that they were fitted to be, at some time, the home of +intelligent beings. Our question was whether the inhabitable period of +either of them coincided with that of Mars, and, if so, whether the race +was sufficiently developed to be able to see us as well as we could see +them. + +“The first means suggested to attract the attention of such a race of +beings was fire. You can imagine that we could get together material +enough to make a pretty big blaze, and we did. We lighted immense +fires in various places and kept them burning a long time, but without +accomplishing anything. We scanned minutely the surface of each +planet, but saw no sign anywhere that our effort at communication was +recognized. + +“Disappointed, but not discouraged, we determined next to try a system +of simple hieroglyphics by throwing up huge mounds on one of our plains. +We thought, if other eyes were studying Mars as closely as we were +searching the surface of our sister planets for signs of life, that +they would notice any unusual change in our appearance. Then if they did +notice it we hoped some means would be found to let us know it. + +“It was decided to try first the figure of the circle, because we +knew that the form of all heavenly bodies must be the most familiar +to intelligent life wherever it existed. It took years of labor to +construct the mound, for it was thought best to have it large enough +to give the experiment a thorough trial. And now you may believe we +considered ourselves well repaid for all our toil and expense when, soon +after the circle was completed, our telescopes showed us a similar +form actually growing upon the surface of both Saturn and Uranus. We +immediately replied by beginning the construction of a square, and +before this was finished both planets began to answer, one with the +triangle and the other with the crescent. The latter was made by Uranus, +and as soon as it was finished the triangle began to appear beside it, +showing to us that Uranus was reading from Saturn also. + +“Other signs followed, although, of course, the work was very slow, and +the experiments are still in progress. Some slight beginning has been +made toward the interchange of ideas. The time and labor required will +alone prevent extended communication, which would make it possible to +form, in the course of ages, a mutual language. As we were the first to +start it we propose to try to control the conversation, but if Saturn +and Uranus choose to steal our idea and gossip between themselves, we +know of no way to stop them.” + +As Thorwald proceeded with this marvelous recital, it was interesting +to watch the doctor’s face. It was so apparent to me that he was fast +losing his skepticism that I was not surprised to hear him say: + +“Thorwald, one fact is worth more to me than a world of theory, and if +you had begun by relating this wonderful experience you would not have +found me so incredulous. Who could refuse to believe with such testimony +before him? What news this will be to take back to the earth! But you +have, doubtless, other discoveries to relate to us. Excuse me,” the +doctor continued, turning to me, “for interrupting, even for a moment, +our friend’s most interesting discourse.” + +“Let me say,” resumed Thorwald, “that your interruption has been helpful +to me, for now I know you have lost your doubts and believe with us in +this matter.” + +“These efforts at communication have occupied us for generations, and +the close study which we have been obliged to give to the surface of the +other planets has made us well acquainted with their characteristics. We +have found many likenesses to our own world, as well as various points +of difference. The succession of the seasons has been an interesting +phenomenon. We have watched with delight the ever-changing rings of +our neighbor, Saturn, and can show you pictures of them as they were +thousands of years ago.” + +“We have taken great pleasure in observing the round of seasons on +the surface of the earth, not dreaming that we should ever have the +privilege of talking face to face with its inhabitants.” + +“Well, now that we are here, Thorwald,” said the doctor, “we want to get +all the information possible. So please go on and tell us more of your +discoveries. How about those bodies that you have found circling like +planets around other suns? Have you any evidence in regard to their +inhabitants? Your telescopes cannot surely bring any such bodies near +enough to enable you to communicate with them.” + +“True,” replied Thorwald, “but this is another instance where nature has +lent us her assistance. If you have been surprised at some things that +I have already said, you will probably find what I am about to relate +equally outside of your experience.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +STRUCK BY A COMET. + + +“The most remarkable event in the realm of matter that ever occurred +in connection with this planet, of which we have a record, was its +collision with a comet. This was many ages ago and it made an epoch in +our history, so that we say such a thing occurred so many years before +or after the collision. Although the records are rather meager we know +enough of the details to have a fair understanding of the wonderful +event. + +“The comet had no established period, as so many others have, but +seemed to be an entirely new-comer, and from its first appearance showed +plainly that it was making straight for our planet. The astronomers +predicted at once what the inevitable result would be, and you can +imagine the consternation of the world as this monstrous, fiery object +bore down upon us, increasing in size and splendor every day, until +it filled half the sky and threatened to engulf us in flame and +destruction. There seemed to be no possible escape, and, in fact, there +was to be no escape from a collision, but almost all the harm that +followed was the result of pure fright. For as the comet came rushing +upon us the whole hemisphere of Mars was filled with its blazing +substance, which appeared, however, to burn itself out in our +atmosphere, and to leave, in most cases, nothing to reach the ground. + +“Perhaps you have seen a shower of falling stars on the earth, brilliant +and threatening in appearance, but causing in reality little damage. So +the comet came to us. Its immense, fiery volume, which filled us with +such dread, was so diffused that it was nearly all consumed by impact +with our atmosphere. But there was a great solid nucleus, which struck +the ground with immense force, and remains as our largest meteorite. + +“Thus not only was our world spared from destruction, but that which +threatened to be such an evil proved to be a great acquisition. For the +comet, as it is still called, has revealed to us the most astonishing +secrets. For a long time the mass of matter lay untouched, superstition +and the lack of scientific curiosity tending to preserve it as it fell. +But at length the spirit of inquiry proved to be too strong, and +within a comparatively recent period the comet has been broken into and +explored with wonderful results. + +“You must know, to begin with, that this greatest natural curiosity on +the face of our planet is no common meteorite such as you are acquainted +with. Indeed, if it had struck the earth as fair a blow as it did us I +think the shock would have been felt much more severely by your little +race, for it is hundreds of miles in diameter and the velocity with +which it was traveling was simply incredible. Fortunately it fell upon +an uninhabited plain, partly burying itself in the ground, and for +several years the mass was so hot that it could not be approached. This +helped to make it an object of awe and almost of veneration, so that +many centuries of time passed before any critical examination was made +of it. Even then nothing was accomplished toward revealing its marvelous +secrets. The surface was found to be hard and metallic, with the +familiar burned appearance caused by contact with the atmosphere, +and the substance, in its chemical composition, resembled, with some +variation, other meteoric specimens. Some attempt was made to penetrate +into the interior of the mass, but all that was discovered led to the +belief that it was of similar structure throughout. + +“This was the extent of the knowledge obtained of the interesting object +until the beginning of the present age of advanced civilization. + +“When we had learned by our successful experiments that some of our +sister planets were inhabited, and when our powerful telescopes had +revealed what we believed to be planets of other systems, there was +intense interest in the search for any evidence of life in these more +distant worlds. They were so very far away that we doubted if we could +ever know enough about them to tell whether they were habitable, and it +seemed as if we could only judge of their condition from analogy +with our own solar system. These views prevailed until the brilliant +suggestion was made, and it is not known by whom it was first advanced, +that perhaps we had, right here with us, the means of discovering what +we so much desired to know. It had always been assumed that our comet +was of uniform structure, but why let such a matter rest in uncertainty? +It is one of the strange things in our history that this question was +not seriously asked long before that time. But now that the idea was +broached the work was entered into with great earnestness. + +“This was the position: Here was this huge mass that had come to us from +some unknown region of the sky, almost certainly from beyond the bounds +of our solar system, and we were to pry into it to see if it had any +story to tell us of its former condition. The advancement of science had +given us the means of easily penetrating into the interior of the comet, +and it was determined to make thorough work of it. And this feeling was +found to be necessary, for the enterprise proved to be discouraging +for many years. An immense tunnel was made through the entire mass, +and nothing was found to repay the trouble. Many were now in favor +of abandoning the work, but after a period of rest another trial was +decided upon and a second tunnel begun. Never did perseverance have a +more perfect reward; for, before the new excavations had proceeded far, +discoveries were made which suddenly changed our comet, in regard to +which most people had lost all interest, into the most wonderful object +in all the world. + +“In short, we now know that we have here a fragment of a former planet. +How the planet was dismembered and how this piece happened to come +flying to us, we do not know. But could it have come about more +fortunately for us if it had all been designed by an over-ruling power? +When we had learned all that our expanding but limited intelligence +could teach us of the other parts of the universe, and when our minds +were ripe for more knowledge, we found this magnificent object lesson, +which had been waiting for us all these years. Beneath the uninviting +surface of that familiar comet were revealed wonders which, if they +had been discovered when the mass first came, would not have been +half-appreciated, but which now told us, in answer to our eager +inquiries, more than we ever thought to know about the far-distant works +of our God.” + +The doctor and I were amazed beyond measure by this recital, and were +quite ready to admit that a superior intelligence had directed the +wonderful event. But we were exceedingly anxious to know some of the +details of the discovery, and when the doctor had expressed this wish +Thorwald proceeded: + +“I could talk on this subject,” he said, “till night-fall if you desire, +but it will be better for you to restrain your curiosity till you can be +taken in person to the scene. Let me tell you in general terms what you +will find. The comet fell, as I have said, in an uninhabited plain, but +it is now at the door of the largest city on our planet, which has been +built there since the discoveries were made. The excavations have left +an immense opening, where galleries and chambers of great extent have +been dug out. These have been finished off with untold labor, and new +ones are being constantly added. Here is our greatest museum, beside +which all other collections of natural objects are as nothing, for all +that has been found in the comet remains there; nothing has been +allowed to be taken away. You will appreciate something of the wonderful +character of these curiosities when I tell you that they give evidence +of a world many times larger than Jupiter and of an intellectual and +spiritual development as much beyond ours as ours is in advance of that +of the earth. + +“We have exhumed buried cities in our own planet more than once, where +volcano or other convulsion had overwhelmed them, and found the relics +of past civilization; but here, in our comet, we look not upon the past +but upon the future, as it were, and see what has been done in a world +much older than our own. The belief that the comet did not originate in +our solar system has been verified, for we find that the globe of which +it was once a part revolved around an immense sun which had a retinue of +twenty-seven planets of various sizes. Whether this great sun is one +of the stars of our firmament we can only conjecture; perhaps in some +future state of existence we shall know. + +“You have wondered if the earth will ever advance to the condition in +which you find us, and we are asking the same question in regard to +ourselves and the still higher development exhibited in our comet. My +opinion is that these very discoveries are to be in a measure the means +of our advancement. We are only beginning to make out their wonderful +character. As we learn more of them we hope to find out more closely +how that people lived, and to be directed in our upward path by their +example. In the pursuit of this knowledge we are hampered by our +ignorance of their language. All that we know of them and their planet +has been gained by their very suggestive pictures and illustrations, for +of their written records, which exist in great abundance, we can as yet +make nothing. In our former studies of the different languages of our +own world we found something common to them all, upon which we could +work; but in this case an entirely new principle seems to obtain, and +the problem so far baffles all our skill. So you see here is something +for us to do, and when we have accomplished the task, as I have no doubt +that result will come, we shall then be able to study in detail that +remarkable civilization the knowledge of which is wisely kept from us +until we can understand and appreciate it. + +“You come here from your young planet, representing a race that is still +struggling with the lower forms of materialism, and find us so much in +advance of your condition that perhaps you imagine we are perfect. We +ourselves know we are far from that state, especially since we have +been able to compare our development with the higher civilization of the +people who once lived on our comet.” + +Thorwald paused a moment, and the doctor, who showed by every indication +that he was engrossed in the subject, took occasion to remark: + +“We certainly have harbored the thought you attribute to us, Thorwald. +After all you have told us of your freedom from trouble, of the +dethronement of selfishness and the reign of love, of your great +achievements in every art, and of your ideal life in general, we shall +always look upon you as a perfect race. How is it possible to rise to a +higher plain? Can you express in terms suited to our comprehension your +idea of that advanced state of existence of which you find indications +on your comet? What is the character of that development?” + +“You will perhaps understand something of its character,” answered +Thorwald, “if I say it is almost entirely spiritual. While we have made +some progress in that direction, our superiority over the earth-dwellers +is chiefly in physical and intellectual attainments. In the realm of the +spirit we have yet far to go, and as long as we can see imperfections in +our nature we feel that there is something ahead for us to strive after. +With that example before us of a much more exalted life, we shall not +be satisfied until we have learned its secrets and attained to its +perfections. In this upward march we shall be sustained and helped by +the same divine Power that has thus far led us.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +I DISCOVER THE SINGER. + + +We were much impressed by Thorwald’s earnest words and manner, and +we began to realize that the civilization of Mars was above our most +exalted conception. I had been so carried away by the topics which I +had feared were going to be uninteresting that I had lost some of the +restlessness of the morning, but as our sitting broke up and I noticed +it was drawing near noon my anxious thoughts returned. Finding Fronda +and learning from her from what direction Avis might be expected to +come, I determined to go out alone and see if I could meet her. I +managed to get away without the fact being noticed, as far as I could +discover, and started down the walk at a brisk pace. The houses were +a good distance apart and were all attractive enough to draw out both +wonder and admiration, had my mind been in a condition to appreciate +their beauty. Occasionally an electric carriage would pass me, but the +first pedestrian I met was a woman of noble bearing and about the age of +Fronda, I should judge. After all I had heard of the physical and mental +perfections of the inhabitants of Mars, I did not expect to see any but +good-looking people. In this we were never disappointed, though still +there were gradations of beauty even there. This woman whom I had met +must have been at one time strikingly handsome, and if time had robbed +her of any of that quality it had made it up by giving her a rare +sweetness that fully atoned for the loss. As I was about to pass her she +looked at me with such a pleasant and agreeable curiosity that I stopped +and said: + +“Pardon me, but may I ask you a question?” + +“Certainly,” she answered in a charming voice, “and I shall be very +glad to help you in any way. I recognize that you are one of the +earth-dwellers, and I have met your companion the doctor.” + +“Is it possible? I wonder he has not told me of such good fortune. But +this is the question I wanted to ask you. As you came along this path +did you see a young girl named Avis?” + +“I did not, I am sure. I have met no young girl, and I could not see any +one by the name of Avis.” + +“Why so?” + +“Because there is no such girl.” + +“Excuse me,” I said, “but probably you do not know her. I have just come +from one of the houses yonder, where she is expected about noon, and I +came out to try and meet her.” + +“Do you know her?” she asked. + +“No--or, rather, I hope so; I cannot tell till I see her.” + +“That’s curious. Have you ever met her?” + +“I am not sure. I hope I have. I cannot explain it to you just now, +but the minute I put my eyes on Avis I shall be able to answer all your +questions.” + +“But her name cannot be Avis.” + +“Oh, yes, it is. It is quite plain that you do not know her.” + +“I beg your pardon,” she returned, “there is but one person in all this +country by the name of Avis.” + +“Then that is the very person I am trying to find.” + +“You have found her.” + +“Where?” + +“Right here. I am she.” + +I laughed outright and said: + +“Oh, no, you must be mistaken. I do not mean to be disrespectful, but +the Avis I am looking for is young, younger than I am--evidently another +person of your name, whom you have never met.” + +“How do you know she is young?” + +“Why,” I answered, “of course she is young.” + +And then, when I thought of it a moment, I remembered that no one had +told me her age, but I added: + +“I know she is young, because I have heard her sing.” + +It was now my companion’s turn to laugh, but although her merriment +was at my expense its expression, like all her actions, was exceedingly +pleasing. The thought occurred to me that even the most cultured of the +earth’s inhabitants have still much to learn in the realm of manners. + +“Oh, do you imagine,” she asked, in the midst of her laughing, “that you +can tell one’s age in Mars from the quality of the voice? Does this Avis +of yours sing well?” + +“Excellently well. Until I heard her I had supposed there was but one +singer anywhere, in earth, sun, moon, or star, possessed of such a sweet +and thrilling voice.” + +“And where, if I may ask, did you find that one?” + +“Oh, the doctor and I discovered her in our travels. I will tell you all +about her when I have more time. Now will you excuse me while I continue +my search for Avis?” + +“You have forgotten,” she answered, “what I told you. I am Avis.” + +“Not my Avis, the singer.” + +“Yes, the very same, and I can prove it.” + +“How?” + +She answered by turning half around, lifting her head, and sending out +on the air one full, rich note. It poorly describes my emotions to say +I was astonished. If I had been blind and dependent only on what I heard +at that moment, I should have thrown myself at her feet and called +her Mona. It brought back to me not only every expression of Mona’s +marvelous voice, but also every feature and every grace which had +formerly so bewitched me. If I had loved her passionately when we were +together in the body, it would be difficult to characterize my feelings +now that she was present only in memory. These sensations swept over me +rapidly, but before I could utter a word my companion spoke again: + +“I see you hesitate. Let me complete my proof by saying that you are +visiting, with Zenith and Thorwald, at the house of Fronda, and have +heard me sing two nights in succession.” + +“Then,” I exclaimed, with sorrow and despair in my voice, “I have indeed +found Avis, but, alas! I have once more lost Mona.” + +“How so?” + +“Why, don’t you see? I expected to find Mona and lose Avis. I thought +Avis was Mona, a thought born partly of hope, I suppose, but it did not +seem possible that there could be two such singers. So you are really +Avis. I must try and remember that, and not express any more sorrow +at not losing you. If Avis could not be Mona it is certainly a great +consolation to find her in you. Let me return with you to Proctor’s; and +now, will you not sing for me as we walk?” + +“Are you so fond of singing, or is it because you like to be reminded of +Mona?” + +“Both, I assure you.” + +“Does my voice sound like hers in conversation?” + +“Oh, no, Mona never talked as we do. Everything she wanted to say she +sang.” + +“You surprise me,” said Avis. “I should think she would soon become +tiresome to her friends.” + +“If you had ever known her you would not make such a remark as that.” + +“I beg your pardon,” she quickly returned. “I presume you are right. And +now, to atone for wounding your feelings, I will sing till we come in +sight of Fronda’s house.” + +“I thank you very much, and I promise you I shall walk as slowly as +possible.” + +She sang some sweet little things for me as we sauntered along, +attracting me powerfully and making it easier for me to conceal my great +disappointment. + +When we reached the house Avis explained, in a few pleasant words, the +fact of our acquaintance, and as soon as family and guests were +all gathered for the noonday lunch I told them about my peculiar +forgetfulness of what had occurred on the moon and then about the manner +in which the events had been brought back to my mind. They showed more +interest in the latter part of my relation than in the former, and when +I was through the doctor said: + +“I must confess to you now, my friend, that I told these good people +something about your aberration. It was entirely for your own sake, for +I wanted their help in bringing about your recovery, and now that we +have been successful I hope you will forgive me.” + +“You know there is nothing to forgive,” I replied. Then Zenith said: + +“The doctor implies that we have all helped in the happy result, but I +can tell you that it is entirely due to himself and Avis. He happened +to meet Avis and heard her sing. He was struck at once with the +likeness between her voice and Mona’s, about whom he had told us, and he +conceived the idea that if you could hear it when you were alone, say +in the night, and not know who the singer was, it might be the means +of bringing the forgotten circumstances all back to you. From what the +doctor has told us we have, every one of us, fallen in love with Mona, +and I presume when we get your estimate we shall think none the less of +her. If I am correctly informed you found her especially attractive.” + +“In answer to your kind expressions of interest in me, Zenith, I will +say that, in spite of my appreciation of what you are all doing for us, +I shall never see another really happy moment until Mona is found.” + +“Then,” quickly responded Thorwald, “we must redouble our efforts to +find her. I must tell you that ever since the doctor first acquainted us +with the loss of Mona we have had parties searching for her in all that +part of the ocean.” + +“How thoughtful you are,” I exclaimed. “But why do we not hurry home? +Perhaps she is found.” + +“I regret to add to your sorrow,” said Thorwald, “but we should learn of +it here as quickly as at home, for I am in constant communication with +my friends who are conducting the search. Still, we have been staying +here for you and can now bring our visit to a close at any time.” + +So after lunch we bade adieu to Proctor and his household, and started +for home, the same way we went out--that is, by going west again. As we +made a leisurely journey and enjoyed a good night’s rest on the way, it +was just before noon when we arrived at Thorwald’s house. Here we +found Antonia, who had been advised of our coming by telephone, and had +prepared a nice lunch for us. Just as we were all about to sit down +to enjoy it, a young man entered unannounced and, without formal +invitation, joined us in gathering about the board. This was not an +instance of undue familiarity, as we soon discovered, but illustrated +again the free and hearty hospitality of these generous people. + +“Foedric,” said Thorwald, as soon as the guest had been greeted, “let +me present you to these two friends from the earth. You doubtless have +heard of their arrival.” + +“I have,” answered Foedric, “and I am exceedingly pleased to make their +acquaintance.” And then turning to the doctor, he said: + +“We shall not let Thorwald and Zenith have the monopoly of your company +while you are visiting our world. Many others are anxious to see you and +to learn something of our sister planet.” + +“There is not much to learn,” said the doctor, “from such an unripe +race as we represent, and I must say your people have not exhibited any +unpleasant curiosity.” + +“I am glad you have not been annoyed. We understand too well what is due +you as our guests to crowd our attentions upon you, but you will allow +me to say that already the main facts in your case are known all +over our world, and our scientists are discussing the earth and its +inhabitants in the great light of the knowledge which you have brought.” + +Foedric spoke with ease, and yet with entire absence of youthful +pedantry. The doctor and I could but admire his fine face and robust +form, as well as his manly courtesy and friendliness. And before the +meal was over we discovered that one other person at the table admired +him, probably for the same and many other qualities. It seemed to us +accidental when Foedric had dropped in upon us and chosen a seat next to +Antonia, but it soon became evident that we had not witnessed even that +kind of an accident. + +What was exhibited to us there, among that highly developed people, was +a genuine, old-fashioned, new-fashioned love affair. We rejoiced in our +hearts to find that their advanced civilization left abundant room for +the development of the tender passion, and that it also seemed not to +discourage a plain and sensible exhibition of it. For these two young +people made no effort to conceal their happiness. Not the company of +their chosen friends nor the presence of strangers from a distant world +caused them the slightest embarrassment, as they spoke from time to +time their words of love, simple words to other listeners, but full of +meaning to themselves. + +“Say that again, Antonia,” spoke Foedric. + +“Why do you ask me to repeat it so often? I have said it so many times +and with so little variety of expression that I fear the monotony will +tire you. You can tell how strong my devotion is by my every look and +action.” + +“Very well,” Foedric responded, “then I, too, will be silent.” + +“Oh, no; I retract what I have said if it is to have that effect. It is +only my own expressions that seem tiresome. I could not be happy without +your voice in my ears, though you repeat from morn till eve the old, +familiar words.” + +“Then you must believe the same of me,” said Foedric. + +As we all happened to be listening to these two at that moment, Foedric +looked up to our host and said: + +“Thorwald, do you think Antonia and I had better try to reform the +customs of the world, and do away with all verbal expression of our +attachment, on the ground that it is unnecessary and only a waste of +breath?” + +“If some cruel master should force such a prohibition upon you, +Foedric, what would be your feeling? The heart craves such expression as +naturally as the body craves food. Suppose a couple were to start off by +saying once for all that they loved each other, and then agree to live +the rest of their lives on that one expression. They would argue that +all such sentiment was folly, and interfered with the serious business +of life, and so, denying a healthy appetite, their hearts would shrivel +up and the fair blossom of their love would soon wither and die.” + +As we smiled at Thorwald’s words, Zenith showed her interest by saying: + +“The subject reminds me of that epoch in our history of which we read, +when all the world went without eating for a time.” + +“Without eating?” asked the doctor. + +“Yes, I will tell you about it. Once science reached that condition +where it thought it could make the world over and improve on the first +creation in a great many ways. Men began to say that the time spent in +cooking and eating was all wasted, that time, being the most valuable +thing they had, should be employed in some more useful way than in +indulging a mere sensual passion. The appetite came to be looked upon +as something too gross for intelligent beings and suited only to the +natures of the lower animals. Under the influence of this growing +sentiment, science soon discovered a process for condensing our food to +wonderfully small proportions. All extraneous matter was rejected, and +only those particles retained which were absolutely essential to our +nourishment, chemical knowledge having reached a high state. The result +was that it finally became possible to subsist a whole day on a single +swallow. One pill, taken every morning, contained all the food required, +both for the growth and maintenance of the body Science prided itself on +such an advanced step, and men looked forward and wondered what further +marvels the future would bring forth.” + +The doctor did not try to hide his interest in this recital, and as soon +as Zenith paused he said: + +“My friend and myself are most truly thankful that that custom did not +continue to the present day. But did it remain long?” + +“No,” replied Zenith, “of course it could not. At first people thought +it an immense gain. Just think of the time and expense it saved in +every household, doing away with dining-room and kitchen, with all their +furniture and utensils, and reducing the cares of housekeeping much +more than half. But it proved to be a costly experiment, and nature soon +exerted itself, as it always will in time. Science, not satisfied with +what had been accomplished, kept striving after what it called more +perfect results, and just as it had made a pellet of such powerful +ingredients that it would sustain life for a week, men began to die +rapidly of the treatment. This called a halt, but the damage done was +serious enough to give the world a good fright, turn it back to the old +fashioned habit of eating, and confirm us forever in that indulgence. +Since then we have believed that such appetites are given us for a wise +purpose and that, rightly enjoyed, they are a means of growth toward a +more and more perfect state.” + +“This lesson from our experience then,” said Foedric to Antonia, “is to +teach us the plain duty of lavishing upon each other, without measure, +our affectionate words, because it is a legitimate, healthy longing +of our nature, and I sincerely hope you will take it to heart. Do not +undertake to make me exist a week or a day on a single morsel.” + +As for myself, I was not so much engrossed in this talk as to forget my +own condition, which seemed all the more forlorn by contrast with the +unalloyed happiness of these joyous beings. I wondered if such affairs +always went smoothly in Mars. Was early love always mutual, or did one +sometimes refuse to be wooed and prefer another? And did it ever happen +that the loved one was lost, as Mona was lost to me, perhaps never to be +found? + +But in the company of such happy people I felt that my anxious spirit +was out of place, and I tried to cast off my forebodings and to seize +from the image of Mona present in my memory a portion of her own cheer +and hope. That I was not entirely successful my looks must have +shown, for as we rose from the table Zenith said to me, with a look of +sympathy: + +“You are sad--I think I will send for Avis to come over and cheer you +up.” + +This was spoken as if Avis were just across the street and could run +over in a minute. But as I did not discourage the idea the invitation +was sent, and before night Avis was with us, filling the house with +melody. She delighted in her song and was as youthful in spirit as a +girl, and this was a quality always noticeable in the Martians. And, +moreover, under the influence of Avis the members of our own household +found their voices, so that the doctor and I learned that they need not +send to the antipodes for singers. Zenith and Foedric were exceptionally +good, but no one except Avis possessed the peculiar charm of Mona. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +A WONDERFUL REVELATION. + + +There was no way by which we could learn so much and so rapidly about +that wonderful world as by conversation, so at every opportunity we +tried to get Thorwald and the others to give us portions of their +history. From time to time my companion and myself compared our +impressions, and expressed to each other the pleasure we anticipated in +relating all the amazing things we had seen and heard to our friends on +the earth. The exceedingly doubtful problem of our ever getting back to +our home again did not trouble us then. + +We said to each other that the most startling things had probably all +been told us, and that we could not be much surprised by anything that +they could tell us further. And yet there was that to follow which, if +we could fully enter into its significance, would make us forget much of +what we had already heard, or at least care but little to recall it. In +truth, the new revelation which we were about to receive from the lips +of our friend was of so much value, and so different in character from +the other subjects Thorwald had spoken of, that we afterward came to +look upon all that had gone before as an introduction, perhaps intended +to prepare our minds for a much grander truth. Yet it was brought out +by a question from me, a question of whose importance I had little +conception. + +When Thorwald was ready to talk one day I said to him: + +“We have heard you several times speak reverently of a God. Will you +tell us definitely what your religion is?” + +“With pleasure,” he replied. “We worship one God, the maker of all +things, and his Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us.” + +“Why, how did you hear of his death, Thorwald?” + +“I might better ask how you heard of it. Many centuries ago God saw fit +to reveal himself more fully to us by sending his only Son, who came in +the likeness of our flesh, dwelt among us, and by cruel hands was slain. +He gave himself a sacrifice for our sins, but rose again from the dead, +as we, too, shall rise. He ascended into heaven and through him we now +have access unto the Father.” + +“But Jesus died on the earth too, and you but describe his relations to +us.” + +“I rejoice greatly to hear it,” answered Thorwald, “and I know now why +you were sent to us. This information is of inestimable value to us, for +we have spent much thought on the question of the moral government of +other worlds that we knew were inhabited. In God’s dealings with Mars, +lifting up our souls and preparing us for his service and glory, we +believed he was working in the very best way. There can be but one best +way; and so, considering that there might be many other races of sinful +beings needing a saviour, we wondered how God’s mercy was revealed +to them. This bright news which you bring is worth more to us at the +present time than all other possible information about the earth or its +people. The fact that the earth is inhabited was no great surprise to +us after what we had learned of our larger neighbors, but this--this is +news indeed. + +“As an example of what our interest in this subject has prompted us +to do, let me tell you that in our extremely laborious and limited +intercourse with Saturn and Uranus we made the form of the cross. We all +feared our work might be in vain and many doubted seriously the wisdom +of proceeding with the undertaking, which occupied many years, when it +was so probable that those distant people would not know what the sign +meant. But we labored on, and before the form was fairly finished it was +with the keenest pleasure that we saw the answer growing on the rounded +surface of each planet. They worked, they stopped, and then we realized +that both had replied to our question with the short straight line +which, in our communications, has come to be the affirmative sign, or +the ‘yes’ in the new universal language. + +“We interpreted this answer to mean that the great redemption signified +by the cross was known to the highly intelligent races that peopled +these rolling worlds. But how did that knowledge reach them? To that +question we never hoped to get an answer. Did a troop of bright angels +issue forth from the gates of heaven and wing their way from one planet +to another, as each race was ready for the joyful tidings, and make +this glad announcement?--‘Peace from heaven to this world! On Mars, +your sister planet, a child was born, the Son of God, the Saviour of the +universe. He lived a perfect life for your example, he died on the cross +for your salvation. Believe in him, love him, follow him!’ + +“We thought much on this point, wondering reverently how God had +wrought. And now you have come to explain all the mystery, to answer all +questions. One simple sentence tells it all: ‘Jesus died on the earth +too.’ + +“I see it perfectly now. Christ, the Lord of heaven, came to us in the +fullness of time, took upon him the likeness of our flesh, lived nobly, +was slain, rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven to prepare +blessed mansions for all his followers. So, too, in the fullness of your +time, when the earth was ready for the great sacrifice, Christ offered +himself again. He appeared in human form and lived among men as he had +lived with us, pointing your race, also, to a home of peace and joy +above. + +“Better than any announcement of angels of what had taken place in +some other world was his actual life among you, going about doing good, +shedding around him the spirit of love and self-denial, showing you the +way to live, the way to die. + +“Among the vast multitude of peopled worlds which God has made, there +is doubtless great variety in nature and condition. But if there are any +others whose inhabitants were ever in our lost condition, let us hope +and believe that the same great act of mercy has been shown to them +which has so greatly blessed the planets of our own system.” + +Here, at Thorwald’s request, I told him briefly of the Saviour’s advent +on the earth in the fulfillment of prophecy, of his beautiful life, and +then of the marvelous improvement his religion had brought about as it +spread in the world. + +Thorwald appeared intensely interested, and exclaimed: “Oh! how this +truth you have told us does make brothers of us all, and how it will +enhance the pleasure of our intercourse. Now in our future conversation +we shall be in full sympathy, knowing that, though born so far apart, we +are all followers of the same dear Master. + +“Zenith,” said Thorwald to his wife, who was sitting with us, “this is +a happy day for us all. These earth-dwellers, these men who have come to +visit our world, are not strangers; they are Christians. Think of it.” + +At this juncture I could not help studying the doctor’s face, for I knew +this was the first time he had ever been called a Christian. In spite +of the seriousness of the situation, I was obliged to indulge in a quiet +smile to think he had to go all the way to Mars to be recognized in his +true character. For although he would not acknowledge the divine source +of it, he had imbibed a great deal of the real Christian spirit. But +he had spent his life in seeking for scientific knowledge in various +directions and was content, as he often said, to leave the unknowable +without investigation. I wondered whether, in these novel circumstances, +he would care to give voice to his agnosticism. But the doctor was +honest or he was nothing, and he could not endure that Thorwald should +rest under the false impression implied by his closing words. So with +some effort, as I could see, he said: + +“I dislike exceedingly, Thorwald, to destroy the least particle of the +effect of your eloquence, but I feel compelled to say that, as for me, I +have never called myself a Christian.” + +“Not a Christian!” said Thorwald. “I do not understand you. But perhaps +you use some other name. You surely do not mean that you turn aside from +that divine being who came to the earth to save you.” + +“I do not know that such a being did come to the earth.” + +“What!” exclaimed Thorwald, “is there any doubt of it? Has your +companion here been deceived? Must we give up our new-found joy?” + +“Oh, no, no,” answered the doctor hurriedly. “I suppose it is true that +a good man named Jesus once lived on the earth and taught, and died a +shameful death.” + +“A good man! Nothing more?” + +“I don’t know,” answered the doctor. + +“What do you believe?” + +“I do not allow myself to have any belief.” + +“Well, now, Doctor, you are a thinking being. Considering all you know +about Jesus--his noble life, his character and the character of his +teachings, and then the claims he made for himself--what do you think of +him?” + +“Before such mysteries, and in answer to all questions relating to what +is called the supernatural, I always say, ‘I do not know.’” + +“Well,” continued Thorwald, “do you think the life and death of a good +man could set in motion forces that would so transform the world and +give it such a start toward a higher and more perfect state?” + +To this the doctor replied: + +“In the early part of this conversation my companion told you he thought +the condition of man on the earth was improving, or, in other words, +that the earth was growing better. In that opinion he has many +supporters, but it is only fair that you should know that some of us +hold just the opposite view. We see so much evil in the world, evil that +is unrebuked and growing stronger from year to year, so many forces at +work dragging men downward and such fearful clouds ahead, that it seems +to us that the good is overmatched, and that there is but little hope of +a happy future for our race. I will also say, in order to be perfectly +frank, that even if we should admit that our civilization was advancing, +we should not attribute it to the influence of the Jewish reformer.” + +“Then,” said Thorwald, “if I understand your feeling, you have no love, +no thanks even, for him who gave his life for you, and no sense of +gratitude for the loving Father who sent his Son to die for your sins.” + +“I think you are hardly just,” replied the doctor, “for I am not +conscious of living a life of ingratitude. Your words imply a great deal +that I know nothing about. I am not aware that anyone was ever sent from +heaven to die for me, and I do not even know there is a heaven and a +God.” + +“Did it ever occur to you, Doctor, that your attitude does not alter the +facts? In spite of your unbelief, or indifference if you will, there is +a God whose steps are heard throughout the universe, whose hand upholds +all worlds, and who looks with loving eyes upon all created beings, even +upon those who have the intelligence but not the heart to acknowledge +him. Oh! it is amazing to me that there can be one such being in all +God’s dominions.” + +“Why, are there not any in Mars?” + +“In Mars? Not one. Let me tell you, Doctor, that here you will be +unique, if that is any consolation to you. When this talk is made public +and the facts in your case are spread abroad everybody will want a share +in bringing you to your right mind, and we shall see what the result +will be with a world full of missionaries to one heathen.” + +“Please do not use that word, Thorwald. I was born in Boston--you must +know where Boston is--of good old Puritan stock, and I am not a heathen +because I don’t know about some matters that I cannot, in the nature +of things, know anything about. You found a while ago that I wanted +imagination, and you now see that I am deficient also in faith, which it +seems to me is a product of the imagination.” + +“No,” broke in Thorwald, “faith might rather be called the product of +reason and of the conscience, enlightened by every revelation which +God has made. But with us faith is an instinct. We believe in God as +naturally as we trust our parents. Our souls reach after divine things +to satisfy their longings, just as our bodies seek the food that shall +nourish them. In all this world there is not a heart devoid of love to +God, not one that does not own a personal and joyful allegiance to the +divine Saviour. + +“But I forget that the earth is still young, and that, very long ago, +when Mars was in your condition, representatives of our race actually +walked the surface of this planet with no more thought of its Maker than +you exhibit. Forgive me if, in this talk, I have seemed too positive of +things which you claim cannot be known. But here there is no uncertainty +in these matters. There is now no open question in regard to the +existence of God and his loving care of us.” + +“But, Thorwald,” asked the doctor, “how can you be sure? Help me to +see these things as you do. In the matter of the habitability of other +worlds you brought me over to your opinion by producing evidence which +took away all uncertainty and left me no room to doubt. Is it so in this +case?” + +“No, my friend,” answered Thorwald, “it is not so. The evidence in this +case is of an entirely different character. Your companion has told me +how God has dealt with men, by what means he has made known his will, +and how he has revealed his love and mercy to your race. So has it been +with us, only here we have had more time to acquaint ourselves with +these blessed truths. If you ask for proofs, I can only say they are the +same which have no doubt been reiterated many times in your ears. The +voices that come to us from the invisible world are not tuned to the +coarse fiber of our physical nature, but are addressed to our spirits, +our very selves, and he who does not heed those voices would not be +persuaded even though one should rise from the dead. + +“Let me induce you, Doctor, to cultivate the spiritual part of your +being, evidently undeveloped as yet, for only then will you begin to +realize that the evidence in support of these divine truths is more +convincing than any possible proofs that could be presented to our +outward senses.” + +“Under your instruction,” said the doctor, “and with the example of a +world full of spirits of your faith and practice, I will do my best +to follow your advice, and try to catch some faint strain from those +heavenly voices. If I cannot believe, it shall no longer be because I +will not. But now, Thorwald, you have given too much time to me and have +been drawn away from your purpose of enlightening us in regard to your +wonderful planet.” + +“Yes, Thorwald,” said I, “we must hear more of your interesting history, +and I think an account of what the religion of Jesus has done for Mars +will help to win the doctor to right views.” + +“I shall take much pleasure in doing the best I can whenever you are +good enough to listen,” Thorwald answered. “But we shall now be still +more anxious to hear further about the earth.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +A LITTLE ANCIENT HISTORY. + + +In the foregoing personal conversation, Thorwald had been uncompromising +in look and tone, as well as in word, toward the errors of my friend, +but for the doctor himself I was sure he had the kindest feelings. The +discovery of the dearth of spiritual perception in the doctor was +a greater surprise to Thorwald, I really believe, than our first +appearance was. And it was a surprise well calculated to awaken in his +finer nature a feeling as near akin to indignation as the Martian mind +of that era was capable of experiencing. So we had here the opportunity +of observing how a member of this highly civilized race, one endowed +with such lofty attributes, would act under severe provocation. The +exhibition was instructive. Thorwald certainly resented with all the +force of his pure and upright nature all that was evil in the doctor’s +attitude. Such doubt was entirely new to his experience. He had no place +for it; and he could do no less than cry out against it as he had done. +But his manner softened as soon as the doctor’s mood changed, and it +was apparent that he was ready to encourage in every possible way +the slightest indication of a change. And from this time Thorwald was +particularly tender toward the doctor, evidently desiring to show him +that, unbending to everything like disloyalty to God, he recognized his +sincerity when he declared that he would no longer set his will against +the reception of the truth. + +In this mind Thorwald said: + +“I perceive, Doctor, that your sturdy self-respect and the fear that +you might appear in a false position have compelled you to be unfair to +yourself. You believe more than you confess, else why did you repel with +such feeling my insinuation that you were a heathen? But if you have +ever determined to go through life believing in only what your hand can +touch and your eye can see, let me induce you to close your eyes and +fold your hands for a while, and with expectancy wait for the coming +into your heart of that divine influence which, encouraged however +feebly, shall presently show to your inner and better vision, in all his +beauty, him whom no eye hath seen nor can see. + +“I do not exclude you therefore, Doctor, when I say again that we have +all been drawn into close sympathy by the knowledge your companion has +imparted, and in what I have to say further I am sure you will both see +a great deal to cause you to realize that your race and ours have the +same dear Father, who is guiding us to a common destiny. + +“At your request I am to give you from time to time, as we have +opportunity, an account of the successive steps of our development, and +I would like to say at the start that there will be one great difference +between what I am to tell you and the rambling talk with which we began +our happy acquaintance. Then I gave you a few facts to show our present +condition, without intimating that there was any higher force at work +than a natural desire in us to make the most of ourselves, and treat our +neighbors well. Now, since I have discovered that you can enter into my +feelings to a greater or less extent, I shall not hesitate to refer to +its true source all that has helped us attain to our present condition, +and all that is urging us on to a still higher state.” + +“We shall he very glad to know what you consider the spring of all the +vast improvement in your race,” I remarked. + +“I did not use the word ‘consider,’” replied Thorwald. “That would imply +doubt where there is none. It is established beyond controversy that +both our material and spiritual development have come only through +the personal love and care of God for the creatures whom he has made, +exhibited through all our history, but especially through the sending of +his Son.” + +“Some on the earth recognize the same truth in reference to our race,” + I said. “But, in general, people do not think much of such things, or if +they think they do not say much. In fact, religious subjects are not as +a rule popular in conversation.” + +“Why, what reason can there be for that?” Thorwald inquired with eager +interest. + +“Oh, there is too much indifference in the matter,” I replied. “I +suppose most men do not think their relations to their Maker important +enough to give them any concern. And even the best among us shrink from +urging their opinions on others, partly because they know they are +not perfect examples themselves, and also from the feeling that their +friends are intelligent beings and ought to know, as well as they do, +what is best for them.” + +“Oh, then, my dear Doctor,” said Thorwald, “I perceive that I have +committed a breach of etiquette in forcing this subject upon you, and +in asking you to put yourself in the way of receiving spiritual +impressions.” + +“In the circumstances, I think you are excusable,” replied the doctor; +“and, besides, I believe I introduced the topic.” + +“If you stay long with us,” resumed Thorwald, “you will become +accustomed to religious conversation, for here there is entire freedom +in such matters. Our spiritual experiences and the great possibilities +of the future state are exceedingly pleasant things to talk about, we +think, and we feel no more sensitiveness in doing it than in conversing +on the ordinary affairs of life. Being relieved of so many of the cares +pertaining to your existence, our minds are the more prepared to occupy +themselves with these high themes, and what is more natural than that +we should often like to speak to each other about them? As these things +become more real to you and the necessity of spending so much time in +caring for the body diminishes, you will gradually lose your present +feeling. You will also find that, in making these subjects familiar, +they need not lose dignity and you need not lose reverence.” + +“Thorwald,” asked the doctor, “could you not give us a brief sketch of +your career, so that we may compare it with that of our race?” + +“I will do the best I can,” answered Thorwald. “I think that is a good +suggestion, and after that is done any of us can tell you the history of +different epochs as opportunity offers. You are both such good listeners +that it is a pleasure to talk to you, but I want you to promise to +interrupt me with questions whenever you wish anything more fully +explained.” + +We promised to do so, and Thorwald began: + +“Our world is very old. The geologic formations tell us of a time when +no life could exist--long ages of convulsion and change in the crust +of the globe. In time the conflict of the elements subsided and the +boundaries between land and water were established. Then came vegetable +life, rank and abundant, preparing stores of coal and oil for use in the +far future. Animals followed, the first forms crude and monstrous, +but succeeded by others better adapted to be the contemporaries and +companions of our race. + +“The planet was now ready for its destiny, and it was put into the hands +of intelligent beings, made in the image of their Creator. This race +started in the highest conceivable state, perfect in body, mind, and +spirit. The material world was soon subdued to their use, and paradise +reigned below. We do not know how long this condition lasted, but in +some way sin entered and all was changed. Sorrow and death came, and a +thousand ills to vex us. Another period passed, and the race had become +so wicked that it could not be allowed to exist. A pestilence swept +over the world, and all but one tribe perished. Through this remnant the +world was repeopled, but sin and woe remained, to be driven out at last +only by a struggle too great for the arm of flesh alone. + +“But the conflict began in hope, a hope inspired by the voice of God. +From the very entrance of sin help from above had been promised in the +person of one who should conquer evil, and through whom the race might +be restored to a much higher position even than that from which it had +fallen. Slowly the spirit of good, which is the spirit of God, worked +upon the heart, and in all ages there were some who walked in that +spirit. By one such soul God raised up a people to whom he committed his +message to the race, and through whom, at a later day, he fulfilled the +promise. Among this people there arose many faithful ones, and by them, +from time to time, God added to his message, acting as the personal +guide and defender of his people, and leading them by every path until +they finally knew him, in every fiber of their being, to be the only +God. + +“Prophets, too, there were among them, who, under divine guidance, +foretold a time of universal peace, when the kingdom of Christ should +come in all hearts and when even the beasts of the field should dwell +together in unity.” + +“Why, we have just such prophecies,” said I, “but they are generally +interpreted figuratively. Do you really think they will be literally +fulfilled on the earth?” + +“Well,” answered Thorwald, “I have already told you what has come to +pass here, and I will leave you to judge from our experience as to what +will come of the prophecies that have been made to you. From all you +have said at one time and another, I can see plenty of evidence that the +earth is traveling the same road with us, and I have no doubt it will +one day reach even a higher condition than the one we now enjoy. + +“At length, when the time was ripe, God sent the promised Saviour. He, +the Lord of heaven, came and lived as one of us. He gathered around him +a few faithful souls, he preached his gospel of light and comfort to +the poor, and wept over the very woes he had come down to remove. His +humility proved a stumbling-block to the selfishness of the world, and +his own nation rejected him. He conquered death and returned to his +Father’s home, but his spirit, which had always been present in some +measure, now came with force, and began, through his followers, the task +of regenerating the race. + +“A feeble church, planted thus amid sin and darkness, took deep root +in loyal hearts, grew strong with persecution, and soon kindled a light +which pierced the darkness and gradually spread its illumination +over all our planet. The history of that church is the history of our +development. The race has not come so far toward its maturity without a +mighty struggle. The long course of preparation for the present higher +condition has had many interruptions and obstructions. There have been +dark ages of stagnation and threatened defeat, and there have been +ages of hope and advancement. Through all this history the light of the +gospel, though often obscured, has never been extinguished, and every +step of progress that has been made in our condition is to be traced +directly to that light. We have not always been able to realize that; +but, now that we understand more fully our wonderful career, we see how +true it is that we have been led by a divine hand.” + +“Do you mean,” I asked, “that your vast improvement in material affairs +has come through Christianity?” + +“Certainly,” answered Thorwald. “Our civilization has walked hand in +hand with true religion, and in all ages every permanent advance in our +condition has come through the influence of the spirit of good, which +is always urging us to a higher and better state. In our progress many +mistakes have been made, with consequences so serious as to threaten at +the time our final defeat; but a higher power has led us through all our +troubles to a place of safety, where we can survey with gratitude the +field of conflict. If you so desire, I can relate to you at another time +some of the mistakes which have at times set us back in our march toward +a physical and spiritual superiority.” + +We were pleased to notice by this last remark of Thorwald’s that he had +still in reserve many things to tell us, and we so expressed ourselves +to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +AGAIN THE MOON. + + +Days passed and brought no news of Mona. I did all in my power to appear +cheerful, but often made a dismal failure of it. No one could help me, +and Thorwald, though sympathetic like all the rest, would allow me no +false hopes. He said a systematic and thorough search had been made, +both on land and water, without result, and he could see no prospect +of any success in the future. But, while I could see that Thorwald was +about ready to abandon in despair the attempt to find Mona, I would not +give up hope. I did not know at the time what excellent reasons Thorwald +had for his feeling, for I did not realize how very complete the search +had been, but my own faith was not founded on reason. I simply refused +to believe that I should never see again the object of such deep love. + +While affairs were in this condition, Thorwald said to us one morning: + +“I wonder you have not been more anxious to see one of our flying +machines. Our system of aerial navigation is one of the most enjoyable +of our material blessings, and I shall take great pleasure in giving you +a taste of it.” + +“I think one reason,” I answered, “why we have not asked about it is +because we have had so many other interesting things to see, and then +you know we had our share of traveling in the air in coming to you. +However, we shall be delighted to see your method at any time when you +are pleased to exhibit it.” + +“Very well,” said Thorwald; “then we will get up an expedition at once. +Zenith and Avis will accompany us, I think; and as we shall probably +fall in with Foedric, we will send for Antonia to go also.” + +“That will make a pleasant party,” I said. + +We found all were glad to go and witness our introduction to a modern +air ship, and we were soon off. + +Not far from the house we found a luxurious carriage of just the right +size for us all. We did not see another like it anywhere about, and I +was moved to ask: + +“How does it happen, Thorwald, that exactly the kind of conveyance you +want is ready without any prearrangement? This sort of carriage does not +appear to be very plentiful.” + +“Things generally ‘happen,’ as you call it, for our convenience,” he +said. “Is it not so with you to some extent? If all the people wanted to +travel in your cars on the same day and at the same hour, they could not +easily be accommodated, but some dispensation divides them up so that +there are, I presume, about the same number who find it necessary or +convenient to travel each day. This subject has been studied by us, and +we believe that even these details of our lives are all arranged by him +to whom nothing is small, nothing great.” + +A pleasant ride of a few miles brought us to a seaport, and to a +scene of much activity. It seemed to be a great distributing point, as +numerous loads of many kinds of goods were moving about, and immense +stores of fruit and vegetables were to be seen. These products of the +soil were of bewildering variety and surpassing richness, showing us +that agriculture, providing most of the food of the people, must be a +favorite science with many, and one that brought rich rewards. It was +pleasing to see everything going on in such a quiet, orderly manner, and +so many people at work without friction and with no look of fret, hurry, +or fatigue. Everyone seemed to be enjoying his work, if that could be +called work which looked so much like pleasure. + +After riding through several busy streets we drew near an imposing +structure, which Thorwald told us was the front of the aerial station. +At the same time he directed our attention to the sky, and we saw a +number of air ships sailing leisurely along, some just starting out +and others apparently returning home. The doctor and I had our interest +quickened by this sight and were anxious for a closer view. As the fact +of riding in the air was not new to us, we had not been much excited by +the prospect of seeing how the Martians did it. But these ships were +so different from anything we had ever seen before that we began to +anticipate a great deal from our excursion after all. + +Going through the building, we came into an immense court or open space, +large enough, one would suppose, for the fleets of a nation. Here were +a great number of flying machines of various sizes, all gayly decorated +with pleasing colors, and many of them, apparently, waiting for +passengers. Thorwald selected one of medium size, and as we approached, +whom should we find in charge but our young friend Foedric? In answer to +Thorwald’s question, he told us that both he and his vessel were at our +service, and we proceeded to mount to our seats in the car. + +Foedric pulled a small lever, and we began to rise. He then expressed +his pleasure to the doctor and me that he had the opportunity of making +our further acquaintance. + +“We are taking them for the ride,” said Thorwald, “and you may choose +any course and go to any height you please.” + +We thanked Foedric for his pleasant words, and then he showed us about +the car and explained its conveniences. It was quite large, with a +number of apartments and accommodations sufficient for a dozen people +both day and night. Besides the ordinary furnishings for comfortable +living, we saw air-condensing machines for use in lofty flights, a +good-sized telescope, instruments for measuring speed and height, and +other scientific apparatus of much of which we were obliged to ask the +use. + +Although Foedric was so much younger than Thorwald, he was taller and +larger every way--a magnificent specimen of a magnificent race. In +speaking to Thorwald he showed a proper respect for his greater age, and +he bore himself becomingly in the presence of Zenith; but there was not +the slightest sign of subserviency, nor anything to show that, though +engaged in what might be called a lowly occupation, he was not on terms +of perfect equality and even friendship with them. This easy poise of +manner would not have surprised us had we known what Thorwald soon told +us, and from this experience we learned never to judge a Martian by the +work he happened to be doing. + +“Foedric is a scholar,” said Thorwald, “and is engaged just now in +writing a treatise on the color of sounds.” + +This announcement was a double surprise, for we would have said, if he +was writing anything, that it must be something about ballooning--the +application of electricity to flying machinery, perhaps. But Thorwald +further enlightened us, the talk going on in Foedric’s presence: + +“He was attracted to that subject by the fact that he possesses in a +striking degree the faculty of hearing color, which belongs only to +refined minds. We all have this power to some extent, but in this, as +in so many other things, there are great differences among us. As an +example of this power, if you will excuse me, Doctor, I will tell you +that your voice is dark blue, while yours,” he continued, turning to me, +“is yellow. Foedric, a true son of Mars, speaks red, and as for Zenith, +her soft, pink voice has always been to me one of her principal charms, +and though it would be folly to deny that she has changed some in +appearance (not for the worse, however) since I first knew her, her +voice has retained the same tone or color. I will ask Foedric if I am +correct in my impressions.” + +“Quite correct,” answered Foedric. “When I first heard your friend, the +doctor, speak I thought his voice was brown, but it has changed since +to such an extent that I think as you do--that the prevailing tinge is +a deep blue. Such cases are not unknown among us, but they are not +frequent.” + +“If the color of my voice sympathizes with my thoughts,” said the +doctor, “I do not wonder that your quick ears have noticed a change.” + +“I ought to say,” resumed Foedric, “that I have to rely on my friends to +tell me the shade of my own voice, for to my ears it is as colorless as +a piece of the clearest glass, and this is the common experience.” + +“I would like to ask about the color of Antonia’s voice,” I said, “and +Avis’s, too.” + +“Antonia’s is a beautiful green,” answered Foedric, looking with a +smile at the fair one, “and Avis, both in song and speech, has your +color--yellow.” + +“Foedric,” said Thorwald, “tell our friends what you and others are +trying to discover in connection with the air vibrations. It may be +suggestive to them.” + +“I can claim but little part in the work,” Foedric responded, “but it +is this. Our ears report to our brain the air waves until they reach +a frequency of forty thousand in a second, and we call the sensation +sound. When the vibrations of the ether are more rapid than that, we +have no sense with which to receive the impression until they reach the +great number of four hundred million millions in a second. Then they +affect the eye and produce red light, and as they increase still more +the color becomes orange, then yellow, green, blue, and violet. Perhaps +your limitations are not the same as ours, but our scientists are trying +to discover some means by which we can arrest and make use of a small +part at least of those waves which strike our bodies at a frequency +between forty thousand and four hundred million millions. It is still an +unsolved problem, this search for another sense, and we are now +looking forward for help in the task to the studies of the civilization +represented in our comet.” + +All this time we were rising slowly but hardly realizing it, being +filled with that peculiar sensation, incident to balloon journeys, by +which we could almost believe we were remaining about in the same place +and the solid ground was falling away from us. + +Now Foedric increased our speed and showed us how easily he could +sail in any direction and at any rate he pleased, explaining to us the +mechanism by which we were upheld and propelled, and also the way +in which the current of electricity was generated and applied. They +certainly had a wonderful method of producing great power with little +weight, and the doctor eagerly drank in the information in regard to it, +as if for future use. + +It was charming. The atmosphere was as clear as crystal, the air balmy +and the motion delightful, and if the Martians, with their purer +nature and keener senses, enjoyed the trip that morning more than we +earth-dwellers did, then their capacity for enjoyment must have been +beyond ours. The ship seemed to be under perfect control; there was +nothing uncertain in her movements, and as we went sailing along without +fear of harm, in the very poetry of motion, the doctor and I realized +over and over again that we had much to learn in this method of +navigation. + +Now we were riding at a good height, and our vision could take in a wide +expanse of land and water. The peculiarity of the surface of Mars was +noticeable, the seas being long, narrow inlets, as it were, running +through or between winding strings of land, a decided contrast to the +great oceans and noble continents of our mother earth. It seemed to +me that this was much to the advantage of the earth, and so I was bold +enough to say: + +“When I used to look at a map of Mars, Thorwald, I remember thinking +that the planet was not a handsome one, whatever might be the character +of its inhabitants. But I have no doubt you have an answer for me which +will give some good reason for the peculiar structure of the surface of +Mars and make me ashamed of my sentimental preference for the earth.” + +“I certainly hope you will hear nothing while you are with us to make +you ashamed of your own planet,” said Thorwald; “but I must tell you the +truth in regard to Mars. How do you like our climate, as far as you have +experienced it?” + +“We have enjoyed it exceedingly,” I answered, “and I have been on the +point of remarking several times that we were fortunate in making our +visit here at so pleasant a season of the year.” + +“But,” said Thorwald, “you could not have come in a worse season, for +we have none worse than this. The temperature varies enough to give +variety, but not enough in either direction to cause discomfort. Each +season is quite distinctive from the others, but each has its peculiar +charm and all are equally enjoyable. Our telescopes tell us it is not +so on the earth, for we can see the winter snow creep well down on its +surface and remain there several months, then go away and come on the +other hemisphere. We know this means great changes of climate, and as +the inclination of the axis of the earth to the plane of its orbit is +about the same as that of the axis of Mars, we believe we would have +equally violent changes were it not for the fortunate distribution of +land and water on our planet. All those narrow seas which disfigure our +surface in your eyes, are in reality vast rivers, which are constantly +bearing the water from one part of the globe to another. The warm water +of the equatorial regions is carried to the cold countries north and +south, and the water thus displaced cools in its turn the lands more +directly under the sun. Thus the temperature of all parts is nearly +equalized. In the summer in this latitude the water that washes our +shores is cool and in the winter it is warm, and the strips of land +are so narrow that all places feel the influence, making the climate +delightful everywhere. At each pole there is a spot of perpetual snow, +but these are comparatively small, and the fields are cultivated right +up to the foot of the snow hills.” + +This recital excited the doctor’s interest amazingly, and as Thorwald +closed he said: + +“I rather think my companion did not expect so complete an answer, but +I am glad his words suggested to you this statement, Thorwald. It is +of great value to us in our study of your remarkable planet. How +wonderfully God has adapted everything to your comfort and well-being!” + +Thorwald smiled in appreciation of the doctor’s final words, but before +he had time to speak we were a little startled by the red voice of +Foedric, calling out: + +“The moon! Look!” + +It was nothing new for any of us now to look at our old moon. We had +seen it almost every day, had talked much about it, and thought the +novelty of its companionship to Mars about worn off. But our present +high position and the clear, thin atmosphere gave it quite a changed +appearance, as it was slowly coming into view above the horizon. We +watched it in silence for a while and saw it mount the eastern sky, and +I think all of us except Foedric had the same thought, that it appeared +to be much nearer than usual. Foedric had seen it before from the same +height, and knew when he called our attention to it that we were going +to be surprised. + +As the moon rose still higher it appeared to be coming toward us, +instead of aiming at a point far over our heads, and our next sensation +was caused by Zenith, who mildly exclaimed: + +“It cannot be more than a few miles away. Why not go and make it a +visit?” + +To her surprise, if people of such high endowments ever are surprised, +Thorwald asked quickly: + +“Are you willing to try it if the rest of us are?” + +“Certainly,” she replied. + +“Foedric,” said Thorwald, “what do you say to flying out to the moon and +attempting an invasion of it?” + +“I say,” answered Foedric, “that I am ready. We have provisions +enough for several days, and I believe the capacity of our battery is +sufficient for the trip.” Thorwald learned from Avis and Antonia that +they would not object to the trial, and then said: + +“Well, we have a good majority, but must not think of deciding on so +important a step unless the feeling is unanimous. Let us hear from our +friends here, who have had some experience with the moon.” + +The doctor said pleasantly that he should like nothing better than the +proposed experiment, and, as I was the last, I remarked that I could +not spoil such an interesting project by withholding my consent. But it +seemed to me all the time that the whole thing was a joke and that +it would end at once in a laugh. I thought of the cold and cheerless +surface of the moon, comparing it in my mind with the delectable world +we were leaving, and had no relish for the proposed trip. Something of +my feeling must have been reflected in my countenance, for Zenith, who +had been looking at me, said in a sympathetic tone: + +“Although you gave your consent, you look as if you did not enjoy the +prospect of another visit to the moon.” + +Thorwald heard this remark, and after a glance at me he said: + +“You are right, Zenith, and I think we will abandon the idea at once. +We started out today for the purpose of entertaining the doctor and his +friend, and it would not become us to treat them to more of a ride than +they desire.” + +“You are both excellent mind readers,” I responded. “And if I were as +honest as you Martians are, I suppose I should have said in the first +place that I preferred not to make such an extended journey. I suspect +the doctor is willing to go ahead, as he is too sensible to be affected +by such a feeling as now moves me. My thoughts turn back to our +departure from the earth in a balloon, and I cannot rid my mind of +the dreadful fear that perhaps we are now unconsciously bidding a long +farewell to Mars.” + +Thorwald thanked me for my frankness and said they should certainly +respect my sentiment. He then stepped to Foedric’s side to speak to him +in regard to a change of course. At that moment I looked at the moon, +which had been rapidly approaching us. What was it that suddenly gave it +a deeper interest to me? A flash of intelligence suffused my being +like an electric shock, frilling my imagination with the most beautiful +vision and making the moon appear to me now as the one desirable place +in all the universe. + +“Thorwald,” I exclaimed, “keep right on! I want to go now. I have +changed my mind.” + +“Yes,” he responded, looking at me with a pleased smile, “and I see you +have changed your face, too. You look like quite another man. Why this +sudden transition?” + +“Don’t you know? Mona is there.” + +“Where?” + +“In the moon, of course.” + +“How do you know that? You seem to be pretty confident.” + +“Why, she must be there. You couldn’t find her on land or water, and you +know you have no accidents in Mars, so she could not have come to any +harm there. I know we shall find her in the moon. She must have been +left behind in some way when the doctor and I were thrown off, and +now she is no doubt expecting us to come back to her. Oh, let us make +haste.” + +“Well,” answered Thorwald, “we were only waiting your consent, and we +can now keep on as we are going and try to reach the moon. But I must +give you a friendly warning not to let your hope get the better of your +judgment in regard to finding your friend.” + +With this Thorwald and Foedric consulted a moment, and at once our speed +increased till we were flying at a fearful rate, but none too fast for +me. I knew now why I had been so reluctant to go so far away from +Mars. It was because I thought Mona was there; but now, with my present +opinion, the moon had suddenly changed its character and become to my +imagination a bright and beautiful world. To such a degree does love +transform the most unlovely objects. + +I was struck with the easy way in which Zenith had accepted the result +of what I thought her sportive suggestion, and, not being able to fathom +her thoughts, I said to her: + +“When we left home, this morning, you did not expect to be gone over +night. Have you no anxiety about the house and the children?” + +“Oh, no,” she replied; “the house will not run away, nor the children +either. We do not often stay away from them over night, but we do not +hesitate to do so when we have a good reason for it. Our children know +us well enough to be sure we have such a reason now, and this faith +in us and in our safe return will permit us to stay away as long as we +please. As for our feelings, we have no such thing as anxiety, for all +our experience teaches us that no harm of any kind can come to our loved +ones. I suppose in such circumstances on the earth both the mother and +the children would have a feeling of great fear, caused by the fact that +there would be in reality some danger of harm, but here we have never +heard of such a thing, and even the word ‘danger’ has little meaning in +it to us, because all we know about it comes from our reading.” The moon +was now well above us, and we were making for a point in the western +sky where Foedric hoped to intercept it. We were already so far from +the planet that the air was getting weak, so we all put on breathing +machines. These were of such perfect construction that our lungs had +free play, nor were they cumbersome enough to interfere much with our +movements. + +By this time the moon had grown so vastly, owing to our swift traveling, +that our friends began to be amazed at its enormous proportions. The +jagged, mountainous surface was plainly visible, a most uninviting place +for people accustomed to the serene beauty and felicity of the planet +Mars. + +“Remember,” said the doctor, “that you are not to judge the earth by +what you see of her old satellite.” + +“Well,” answered Thorwald, “we mean to see what we can of the satellite. +Foedric, let us point the glass at it and be selecting a place to land.” + +But Foedric was obliged to let Thorwald handle the glass alone, for his +attention was needed just now to manage our craft. He had discovered +that shutting off the power did not diminish the speed, and for a moment +he was puzzled, quite a new sensation for a Martian of that era. But he +soon studied out the difficulty and made the following announcement: + +“I find this huge mass that we are approaching is pulling us toward its +surface, so that we are using but little power. I expect in a short time +we can merely fall to its surface.” + +This suggested to Thorwald the very trouble that the doctor and I had +encountered with our balloon, and he asked Foedric if we could get away +again after we had dropped to the moon. + +“Yes,” Foedric answered, “I am sure we have power enough here to +overcome the attraction and get away whenever we please.” + +Thorwald, who had been intently studying the surface through the +telescope, now spoke out with some excitement in his voice: + +“Doctor, I begin to think you did not make a thorough investigation of +the moon’s condition. Did you not report it practically uninhabited?” + +“Our means of investigation were rather limited,” replied the doctor, +“but we surely found no inhabitants except poor Mona, whom, I am +confident, we shall never see again. Why do you ask? Are there any +signs of life visible? I have no doubt you Martians can see more at this +distance than we could when standing on the globe itself.” + +“Well,” Thorwald answered, “either you reached wrong conclusions or else +a race has grown up there pretty rapidly. I cannot make out anything +definite yet, but there is smoke, I am sure, and I can see some object +moving about.” + +I had great difficulty in restraining my feelings as Thorwald uttered +these words, but neither he nor the doctor seemed to realize what +significance they had for me. Both had apparently given up all +expectation of finding Mona anywhere, and these evidences of life, so +plain to me, were therefore inexplicable to them. I controlled myself +and begged Thorwald to let me look through the glass. He adjusted it +for me, but before I could get a satisfactory view our swift motion made +such a change in the appearance of the surface that Thorwald could not +find the same spot again. + +As no one said a word to indicate any thought of connecting Mona with +the movements that Thorwald had observed, I determined that I would keep +quiet also and await the result of our landing. I let my thoughts fly to +my love, who, without doubt, had seen the approach of our air ship and +was expecting our speedy arrival. What an addition she would make to our +party, and how these Martians would study her history as she recounted +it in that exquisite voice. But I should claim a large share of her time +for myself. How glad I was to think that Foedric had so openly shown his +affection for Antonia. Surely I need not harbor the jealous feeling that +would arise, for so true a son of Mars could not fall to the level of +some earthly men, and be unfaithful to so noble a girl as Antonia. It +was beyond all reason, and yet my love for Mona, whom I thought we were +soon to find, was such that I undesignedly but still unmistakably made +up my mind to keep a close watch on handsome Foedric. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +WE SEARCH FOR MONA. + + +We were indeed approaching the surface with great rapidity, and Foedric +was obliged to put on power to prevent us from falling too swiftly. +Fortunately he was able to keep our ship under perfect management, and +so, without accident or even a shock, he brought us gently to land, +not far from the spot where Thorwald had seen the signs of life. It was +something new for the latter to show so much curiosity, but he could not +be more eager than I was to attempt to find out what we had seen through +the telescope. So, leaving the rest of the party, we two started out to +investigate. It was kind of Thorwald to take me along, because he could +ordinarily walk a great deal faster without me, but my love and hope now +added wings to my feet and I surprised him with my agility. + +Thorwald’s skill in determining locality enabled him to choose the right +direction, and after quite a walk we ascended a considerable hill, from +which we were delighted to discover in the distance a small column of +smoke--a remarkable sight on that sterile shore. We hastened toward it, +Thorwald with high expectations of an important discovery, and I with a +heart beating with joyful anticipations of a different character. + +As we approached the spot of such intense interest for us both, I +watched my companion closely to see how he would bear the disappointment +which I felt sure awaited him; and this, I think, made it a +little easier for me to endure my own grief, for, of course, I was +disappointed, too. I ought to have known better than to expect to find +Mona out on the bleak surface, when she had such a comfortable home +inside the moon. What we found at the end of our journey was merely +another party of Martians, who had stolen a march on us and made a prior +invasion of the moon. But so unselfish were they that when they saw our +ship afar off they began to make a smudge and smoke in order to attract +our attention and give us the opportunity of sharing with them the glory +of their anticipated discoveries. They were pleased with our success in +finding them, and proposed that we join our forces in a common camp. So, +leaving me, Thorwald returned for the rest of our party, and in due time +we were all together, conversing on the footing of old acquaintances. +The moon had improved somewhat since we knew it, as everything must +which remains in the vicinity of the planet Mars, but it was not yet, +as far as the outside, at least, was concerned, a desirable place for a +long sojourn. + +Our new friends had, unlike us, started from home with the intention of +making the attempt to land on the moon, and, having come prepared with +tools for a little scientific work, had already begun investigating, +with a view to finding out whether the moon contained any vestiges of +life. They had heard of the doctor and me and the outlines of our story, +but now we had to relate to them in detail all our experience on the +moon, while I concluded my part of the narration with the statement of +my firm conviction that Mona was still in her quiet refuge, waiting for +us to return and rescue her. This interested them exceedingly, and they +were eager to join us in searching for her. + +The members of our party, catching something of my hope, were ready +to enter at once upon this task, and it was decided to divide all our +forces into two companies, one to be led by the doctor and the other +by me, and then to start in different directions to try to find the +entrance to that long passage into the interior. As we knew not on what +part of the moon’s surface we had alighted, we were undertaking a +bold piece of work, but its apparent difficulty had no terrors for the +Martians, and I should not have hesitated if the circumference of the +moon had been a hundred times what it was. As for the doctor, he had too +much spirit to suggest any obstacles. + +We arranged a code of signals, and agreed that if either party were +successful the other should be notified and the descent made only when +all had come together. After dividing the provisions we made our adieus +and separated, not knowing when we should see one another again. + +But, fortunately, our elaborate preparations were not of much use, for +before we had been out an hour the doctor signaled to me that he +had found some familiar landmarks. This meant that he was sure of +discovering what we were in search of, and accordingly we started at +once to rendezvous with his company. On our arrival I recognized, with +exultant joy, the features of the landscape which had attracted the +doctor’s attention. We now led the way with complete assurance, and came +at length to the crater down whose side Mona had so strangely led us. +The wind was not so strong now, but I was none the less eager to descend +and enter that dark way, at the other end of which such happiness +awaited me. By this time, also, the whole party were becoming enthused +over the situation. When they came to see, one after another, features +which they had heard us describe, they acquired a personal interest +which had been impossible before, and everyone began to share my faith +in regard to Mona. + +As we entered the tunnel, the doctor and myself still in the lead, I +called Avis and asked her to keep as near me as possible. + +“I am flattered,” she said, “but what do you want to have me do?” + +“Sing,” I answered. + +“What for? You needn’t be afraid of the dark, for we can give you light +enough.” + +And at that instant out flashed half a dozen lamps from different +members of the party, a timely illustration of the use of their portable +electricity. + +“No, Avis,” I said, “I am not afraid, but I would like to recall +something of the sensation of our first descent into the moon, when we +were led, as you know, by the sound of beautiful music. And then, as +we near the end, Mona may hear you, and that would be a more gentle +introduction than if we should burst upon her unannounced. I know she +is not subject to fear or the usual emotions to which I have been +accustomed on the earth, but still I think she would like to have us +come back to her heralded by your noble song.” + +Seeing how serious I was in the matter, Avis promised to do as I wished, +only suggesting that all the rest should join her from time to time. So, +without any unpleasant incident, we traversed the long passage, walking +rapidly by the aid of the light and conversing about our interesting +situation. It was a rare and pleasing experience for the doctor and +me to be showing these wise Martians something new, and we enjoyed the +novel sensation of watching their excitement. The fact that we could so +satisfactorily entertain our friends after their own fashion with us was +something long to be remembered. + +But not another one of all the company had the intensity of feeling +which filled my breast. Knowing that every downward step was leading me +rapidly toward a determination of my fate, I could scarcely control my +emotions. Either I was soon to find my heart’s life and be raised to the +highest pinnacle of happiness, or I was to undergo a disappointment from +which I might not recover. For if Mona was not here, where could I look +for her? Could I ever regain my hopeful spirits if I should lose her +now? I tried to crowd out these dark forebodings by thinking of my love +and trying to picture the scene in the midst of which we should discover +her. + +At length we were drawing near the end. The path was growing wider, +which proved to the doctor and me that we should soon emerge into the +open village. Indeed, a faint gleam of light was beginning to be seen +far in the front. We now pushed on more rapidly, and as we approached +the exit Avis was singing at her highest pitch. She stopped suddenly, +and then a low and distant strain came to us, sweet even to the ears of +our cultured friends from Mars. My heart beat wildly as Thorwald, who +was close behind us, exclaimed: + +“Hark, hear the echo!” + +“Ho!” I cried, “that’s not an echo. That’s the original, and Avis is the +echo. Sing out again, Avis.” + +A loud, clear note trembled on the air, and brought back to our +straining sense, not a repetition of itself but a snatch of varied +melody which showed it to be no echo, although evidently an answer. +There have been few moments in my life more crowded with happiness than +that one. And it was not a passive feeling of enjoyment, but one that +spurred me to action. The swift pace which we had all by this time +reached was now too slow for me. Seized again by the same fierce passion +which took possession of me at my first acquaintance with Mona’s voice, +I started in her direction on a run, flinging aside everything that +might impede me, so overmastered was I by my desire to see her. + +But my unreasonable haste brought me a grievous reward. I leaped over +the ground with great rapidity for a few minutes, and then, stepping on +a treacherous stone, turned my ankle and fell heavily to the ground, my +head, thrust forward in running, being the first point of contact with +the cruel rocks. + +I returned to consciousness by degrees. My faithful ears were, as usual, +the first friends to renew acquaintance with me, and the sound they +brought was so soothing that I wished for nothing more than to remain as +I was, ears only, and listen to it forever. But this was impossible, as +I was slowly recovering my other senses and becoming a thinking being +once more. I now recognized the pleasant sound as the music of a +familiar voice; yes, it was Mona’s voice in conversation. I was sure of +that, but it seemed so natural that I was not startled. I felt that I +must remain perfectly quiet, or the spell would be broken and the +music cease. Then I began to wonder where I was and who were with me. I +recalled the circumstances of our descent into the moon and my fall as +I was running to meet Mona. My mind was active, but I feared that I was +physically weak, for I did not seem to have even a desire to move. I +wanted to see the face of the dear girl, and it is remarkable that I +did not open my eyes at once and call her by name. But I was not in a +natural state. The feeling was not sufficiently strong to move me to +action. I was just conscious enough to be passively happy, content to +lie there quietly and enjoy one thing at a time. + +Hitherto I had not tried to distinguish the words, so satisfied was I +with the exquisite tones, but now my attention was compelled by this +yellow expression: + +“So I understand you to say he would not give me up as lost?” + +It was the pink voice of Zenith that answered: + +“No, indeed. He never faltered in his faith that you would be found. You +owe it to him that you can soon leave this worn-out world with us, and +we are indebted to him for giving us such a dear friend.” + +“And he admired my singing?” said Mona in a questioning tone. + +“Yes, and everything pertaining to you. He never tired of rehearsing +your perfections, and the doctor tells us he loved you from the very +first. He certainly seems most devoted to you. I hope, my dear, that you +love him.” + +I was now recovered enough to feel some compunctions about listening +further to this conversation, but that is not saying that I had any +great desire to stop listening. I knew that in Mona’s answer to Zenith’s +implied question lay my fate, and my moral doubts were not strong enough +to make me do anything to keep it back. It has been said on the earth +that people who surreptitiously hear themselves spoken of are never +pleased, but things must be quite different inside the moon, for, +without a shadow of hesitation and in the sweetest air that ever floated +from her lips, came Mona’s answer: + +“Love him? Certainly I love him. Why should I not? I loved him when he +was here before, and I should be very ungrateful if I did not care a +great deal more for him when I know what he has done for me, and that he +now lies here suffering for my sake.” + +“Oh, Mona,” I said to myself, “if this be suffering, let me never know +happiness.” + +Zenith began to speak again, when she was interrupted by the opening +of a door. I heard someone walk towards me, and then the doctor’s voice +broke the silence. + +“How is he, Mona? Is there any change?” + +“No,” replied my beloved, “he hasn’t stirred nor shown a sign of +consciousness. Cannot something more be done for him?” + +I was becoming a little hardened in my guilt by this time, and, although +my strength seemed now to be returning to me, I decided to keep still +yet longer and hear what words of wisdom the doctor would utter on my +case. + +“I know of nothing that can be done,” he said. “He received no injury +except the wound on his head, and that, apparently, is not serious. +Time is the great healer in such cases. My chief fear is that when he +recovers consciousness we will find his memory is defective, as it was +after his plunge into your ocean, Zenith. He will doubtless forget how +we ever got into this strange place, and I am almost sure he will not +recognize Mona, for that was the direction in which he failed before.” + +“But you forget,” said Zenith, “that Mona herself will be here to sing +for him.” + +“I fear not even that will recall his wandering wits this time. You know +he is more badly hurt than before. I dislike to cause you pain, Mona, +but I must be frank and tell you that our friend will probably never +know you again.” + +One would naturally expect Mona to have burst into tears at this +hopeless prospect, but instead of that she sang out, as joyously as +ever: + +“Never mind me, Doctor. Only restore him to health and happiness, and +it will be of little moment whether he remembers me or not. No one knows +better than you do that I am always happy, that’s why I am singing all +the time.” + +Such unselfishness as this was more than I could appreciate, and rather +more, I thought, than was called for by the circumstances. How could she +love me so, and still not care if I never were to know her again? Was +she the same Mona, after all, who had so provokingly eluded my love +during my former visit? These reflections caused me to decide to come to +life, and claim her as mine before she resigned all her interest in me. + +So, opening my eyes and looking in her face, I said, as quietly as +possible: + +“I do remember you, dear Mona, and shall never forget you. Doctor, you +see your science has proved false again.” + +“And glad indeed I am that it has,” he rejoined, “since it is so greatly +to our advantage.” + +Then they all gathered around me, and called the others to a general +rejoicing over my sudden recovery. My physical injury was but slight, +and it was not long before my stupor was entirely gone and I was moving +about again. Aside from the finding of Mona, many other things in this +place of her abode interested the different members of our party. All +were jubilant over the new opportunities for study and investigation, +and they promised themselves the pleasure of many more visits to the +place in the future. They had now seen enough for once, and all wanted +to join in the agreeable task of escorting Mona to Mars and introducing +her there. So, without more delay, we ascended to the surface once more, +found our air ships in good order, and soon sailed away, leaving the +moon without an inhabitant. + +Our friends from the antipodes landed with us, and remained some days +before reembarking for home. + +During our voyage down there was a general agreement to give me plenty +of opportunity to remain in Mona’s immediate company, though no one +seemed to think we need feel at all embarrassed when our conversation +was overheard by others. + +“Mona,” I said, “were you glad to see our relief party when they +arrived?” + +“I was indeed,” she replied, “and yet I was as happy as a bird, living +there all by myself and singing for my own amusement the whole day +long.” + +“It is an astonishing thing to me,” I continued, “that after the doctor +and I had left you so unceremoniously you could go back to your lonely +home and be happy there.” + +“Why, did you think I would mourn for you?” + +“Well, yes, I think that would be natural, considering something I +know.” + +“Oh, I should like to hear what you know.” + +“If I tell you, I shall have to make a confession.” + +“What is a confession, and how can you make one? Have you anything to +make it of?” + +“Oh, yes,” I replied, laughing. “A confession is an acknowledgment that +one has done something wrong, and should be made to the person to whom +the wrong has been done.” + +“Well,” said Mona, “if that is it, I am sure I shall never have to make +one, for I have never done anything wrong.” + +This agreed so well with my conception of her that I did not then take +in the full meaning of her words, but said in reply: + +“But I have, and this is one thing when you were talking to Zenith about +me and thought I was unconscious I was recovering, and lay quite still +so as to hear what you said.” + +“And did I say anything to displease you?” + +“No, indeed; you said you loved me, and it made me very happy.” + +“Oh, I remember now. Zenith said she hoped I loved you, and I told her +I did. I have always loved you, of course, but I don’t see how that can +make you happy.” + +“That’s singular,” I answered. “I should think you would understand my +feeling from your own. But never mind. You and I will be lovers from +this time forth, and give the people of Mars an example of devotion +worth considering, will we not?” + +“You do make the funniest speeches,” she replied. “I don’t know half the +time what you mean. But I am getting tired of sitting so long. Here is +Antonia. You talk to her about love, and I’ll go over and see Foedric.” + +The lightness of her manner, when I was so deeply in earnest, gave me a +feeling of uneasiness, which was increased when I saw her easy, familiar +way with Foedric and heard her merry song as she chatted with him. I was +not very pleasant company for Antonia, for I could not prevent a return +of that dreadful jealousy. I wondered if this was always to be the +history of my wooing--an hour of the supremest happiness, followed so +speedily by a period of such anguish. I could not possibly talk on any +other subject, and so I said to Antonia: + +“They seem well pleased with each other’s society. Are you not afraid +Foedric will lose his heart to her?” + +“My friend,” she replied, “we never even think of such things as that. I +hope you are not serious in asking the question.” + +“Forgive me, Antonia,” I answered; “I hardly know what I am saying.” + +And then I rose and followed Mona, and said to her when I came near: + +“Well, my dear, what do you and Foedric find so pleasant to talk about?” + +“Why, you see,” she replied, “Foedric was the first one to find me after +you were hurt, and has been very kind to me since, and I have just been +telling him I love him. You said it made you happy to hear me say it +to you, and I wanted to make him happy too. And then I wanted to see if +Foedric would make such funny speeches as you did.” + +I controlled myself enough to ask: + +“And what did Foedric say?” + +“Why, his answer made me laugh more than yours did. He said it would +make you unhappy to know I had said such a thing to him. I replied that +I would tell you myself, and that you were always happy when I said +anything to you; and then you came up just in time.” + +“Now, Mona, do you think it is right to make sport of such a serious +matter?” + +“I assure you I am in earnest in all I have said.” + +“Then are you trying to deceive Foedric?” + +“Deceive him? What is that?” + +“Telling him what isn’t true.” + +“No, indeed. I would never do that.” + +“It is true, then, that you love him?” + +“Certainly it is; isn’t it, Foedric?” + +I did not wait for Foedric to answer, but continued: + +“And still a short time ago you said you loved me.” + +“Well, is that any wonder, after what you have done for me?” + +“But do you love us both at once?” + +“I do.” + +“And do you love Foedric as much as you do me?” + +“Certainly. Why shouldn’t I? And now let me ask you a question. Do you +love me?” + +“With all my heart.” + +“Then why do you bother me so, asking all these questions, and saying +things I don’t understand? You appear to be surprised to find that I +love Foedric. Why, I love everybody. What am I going to do, if I cannot +love people as much as I want to?” + +“You shall, Mona,” I replied, with a sudden softening of my heart toward +her. “I was only going to suggest that, if you love Foedric, Antonia may +not like you so well.” + +Foedric began to protest that Antonia would not care, but Mona went +right on with: + +“Another complication. What possible difference could it make to +Antonia?” + +“Why, Antonia and Foedric love each other, you know.” + +“Oh, they love each other, and therefore no one else can love either of +them. Is that it? But you have just been talking with Antonia. Don’t you +love her?” + +“Oh, no,” I replied hastily. “Or, at any rate, not in the same way that +I love you.” + +“Not in the same way. That’s another remark that I can’t see any sense +in. I must say for myself that I have but one way in which to love, and +that is with my whole heart, without reserve or qualification. I cannot +parcel out my love, a little to one, a little more to another, and so +on. It all goes out to everyone. I couldn’t be happy if I should try to +restrain it. I think it must be like this delicious sunlight, which I am +just beginning to enjoy, an equal comfort to all who choose to partake +of it. I love you dearly. What can I do more? If I love others, I am +not robbing you--take all you want, and then there will be just as much +left.” + +“Mona,” I asked, as she finished, “where did you get such a heart? You +are showing me how utterly selfish I have been.” + +“Good-by,” she exclaimed; “I am going back to Antonia. May I love her?” + +“You may love everybody,” I answered, as she left me with an exquisite +note on her lips. + +Foedric and I fell into conversation about her. Foedric praised her to +the skies, saying that, if this were a fair specimen, the inhabitants of +the moon must have been a remarkable people, and that it was unfortunate +that they had so nearly passed from the stage. + +When I found opportunity to think over the situation I concluded that +I had given my heart to a peculiar being, and what had I received in +return? She loved me--that was certain. But what kind of love was this, +which had no respect to persons? I knew I could claim no exclusive right +to the least corner of her heart, and yet she said: “All my heart is +yours. What more can you ask?” I was not able to solve the riddle of +her mysterious nature, but as I heard her tuneful voice and watched her +beautiful face as she talked with Antonia, the very picture of innocent +happiness, I realized with great intensity that I loved her more than +ever. And I resolved to be patient, and try to lead her gradually into +the way of loving which prevailed on the earth at the time we left it. + +In due time we landed on the ruddy planet, and there was great diversion +for us all in seeing Mona’s continued astonishment and in hearing her +varied song. + +It seemed almost like home to enter Thorwald’s house again, where we +found everything just as we had left it. The children did not exhibit +any astonishment at our long absence, but were glad to see us back and +eager to hear about our adventures. + +The next morning after our arrival Thorwald gave us a long ride in an +electric carriage to show Mona the country. Returning, we took her about +the large house and were all delighted to hear her naive remarks. At +length Zenith asked Thorwald if he could not think of something that +would interest us all. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE PICTURE TELEGRAPH. + + +“Let us step into the music room,” said Thorwald. “Doctor, what +acquaintance have you with the telephone?” + +“We think we have brought the telephone to a considerable degree of +perfection,” said the doctor. “At first it was rather crude, and many +preferred to forego its use in order to escape its annoyances. But of +recent years great improvements have been made, until its employment is +now a pleasure, as well as an essential help in our business and social +life.” + +“Does it minister to any other sense than the hearing?” + +“It does not, although I have seen a vague promise somewhere of an +invention by which we could see an image of the person we were speaking +to.” + +“If that is all, I shall be able to give you a pleasant surprise,” + pursued Thorwald. “Just sit in those chairs, and do nothing but keep +your eyes open and listen.” + +We saw him arrange a series of long panels, in which were elegant +mirrors, and then, as he gently pulled an ivory knob, there fell +upon our ears, very faintly, like distant echoes, strains of the most +delicious music. Gradually the tones became louder and more defined, +and Zenith, with a quick smile and glance, directed our attention to the +opposite side of the room. There our wondering eyes beheld the orchestra +with whose notes we were then enchanted. There must have been a hundred +players or more, and we seemed to be looking upon them from a distance +which would bring the whole group within the bounds of the room. It +was not a picture thrown on a screen, but was as if the musicians were +actually present. Every motion made with their instruments was in exact +accord with the accompanying note, and, wherever this orchestra might +have its local habitation, it was certainly playing before our little +audience that morning. + +As the selection ended the scene faded away under the manipulation of +Thorwald, and in a moment the room was filled with a harmony of voices +such as I had never heard on the earth. And now the great chorus +appeared, crowding this time three sides of the apartment and rising, +tier on tier, to the ceiling. We could see the glad faces of the singers +and knew how they must be enjoying their work. Brilliant solo parts +burst out from one side and the other, and again from the middle throng, +but it was impossible to tell from what individual singers these notes +came. + +When this scene, too, had passed and the music, all too soon, had +ceased, Thorwald made haste to answer the inquiry he saw in our faces by +saying: + +“These concerts are now being given in two cities, both of them several +thousand miles east of here, so far that it is now afternoon there. If +we desire music after dinner this evening we can make connection with +some city west of us, and by going farther west we can invoke sweet +sounds to soothe us to sleep. Being connected with all the musical +centers, you can see how, by trying either one direction or the other, +we can have something worth hearing at any hour of the day or night, +with the players and singers themselves employed, of course, only in the +daytime. We have daily programmes of every concert sent us by telephone. +They are received here, you see, and printed automatically on these +sheets.” + +Zenith had watched us with eager interest during this marvelous +exhibition. It was a novel experience, for they had never before had +the opportunity of showing this perfected invention to those entirely +ignorant of it, and they both enjoyed seeing the pleasure which must +have beamed from our faces. I wanted to say something, but could think +of nothing fit for the occasion, and was relieved to hear the doctor +speak: + +“My good friends,” said he, “do not try to show us anything beyond this +or we shall lose our mental balance. I believe in fairyland now, for I +have just come from there. I never paid much attention to music on the +earth, and did not feel any shame for it either, but I am now sure it +will be to my everlasting disgrace if I neglect it another day.” + +This speech pleased Zenith exceedingly, and her emotion made her voice +and manner more charming than ever as she said: + +“If you stay with us, Doctor, you shall have plenty of good music, and +you will soon become not only a music lover but a music maker, for every +Martian is proficient in this art.” + +“Do you think,” asked the doctor, “that there is the faintest hope that +the earthly music will ever reach the high standard of that we have just +heard?” + +“Thorwald has told me something of your history,” Zenith replied, “and +I share his strong faith in your happy destiny. It seems to me that +your race is equal to any achievement you have witnessed here, and even +greater things, but it will take much time. Such changes are very slow. +As for us, we hope we are still making advancement in music. We have +few higher employments, and hardly one in which we are more entirely +engrossed. It was given to us at an early stage of our development, +and all through our troubled course music has been one of the chief +influences for good. It has helped to keep hope alive during the darkest +periods of our history, and has always been a mighty incentive toward a +higher spiritual state. As your race advances I am sure you will +realize more and more the beauty and value of this art, heaven-born and +exhaustless.” + +We all smiled at Zenith’s happy assurance that the earth was on the +upward path, and Thorwald said: + +“You see hope is contagious. But as we have been through all your +present troubles and have triumphed over them, it is perhaps easier for +us to believe in you than for you to believe in yourselves. + +“And now, should you like to see how the telephone works in every-day +matters?” + +On our replying in the affirmative, Thorwald turned a switch, waited +a moment, turned it again, and then there appeared before our eyes a +familiar object, nothing less than the ship in which we had made our +recent voyage. A number of the men, whom we recognized, were walking +about the deck, and one stood apart, near the side of the vessel, +conversing with Thorwald, the words of both being audible to us. When +they were through, the scene faded away and Thorwald said: + +“As soon as the ship reached its dock connection was made with the +general system of wires, and the instrument, which is stationed near the +place where the man was standing, was ready for use. + +“So, whenever we desire to talk to our friends, we summon them to +our presence. You see it is not necessary to speak directly into the +transmitter. We can sit comfortably in our chairs and converse as easily +as when our friends are actually present.” + +“Let me ask you, Thorwald,” said the doctor, “how all the electricity +you use is generated? The immense quantity you employ must necessitate +a great deal of power to produce it. Is there a huge plant in every city +driven by steam?” + +“No,” answered Thorwald. “We make no use of steam in these days. All +the power we need is obtained from natural waterfalls and rapids. This +power, which nature has placed ready made at our hand, is so abundant +that it can never be exhausted.” + +“These waterfalls must fortunately be well distributed,” remarked the +doctor. + +“Not more so, I presume, than on the earth,” Thorwald made answer. +“Every stream that runs in its bed has in it a power proportioned to the +volume of water and the swiftness of its current. Think of the amount +of water wasted every day in this way--no, not wasted, but unused. We +do not need, however, to utilize ordinary streams, as there are enough +great falls where power is transformed into electricity to be sent over +wires to any distance required. In every city or district large storage +facilities are provided from which power can be obtained for all +possible purposes. Our beds of coal and wells of oil were long since +exhausted, but while rain falls and water runs this power can never fail +us. + +“Doctor, what is the best metal you have for transmitting electricity?” + +“Copper,” answered my companion. “Silver is a little better conductor, +and a new metal, called glucinium, is better still, but both of these +are too expensive for general use. Our telegraph and telephone wires +were formerly made of iron for the sake of economy, but copper is now +used for these lines, as well as for distributing electricity on a +large scale. The copper wire now commonly used for the telegraph has a +resistance of something like four ohms to the mile.” + +“You are making good progress,” said Thorwald. “But we have a metal of +such good conducting qualities that, without making the wire too large +for convenient use, we have reduced the resistance to an ohm to the +mile.” + +“That is an exceedingly valuable metal,” the doctor said. “And now let +me ask you a practical question. You say you draw your electricity for +a thousand and one uses from a large storage plant in each city. Do you +pay for it by the kilowatt, or how is it measured?” + +“We ask for so many watts or kilowatts, and it is also measured by the +watt hour. But are you serious in asking if we pay for it?” + +“Why, you surely do not mean it is given away,” exclaimed the doctor, +“after all the expense connected with producing and transmitting it.” + +“Yes, I mean that whatever quantity we want to use is ours for the +asking. Before we could buy it some one would have to own it, and that +could never be. Besides, how could we buy anything without money?” + +“What! No money either?” broke in the doctor again. “Well, if you can +get along without money, that accounts in my mind for much of your +happiness. Just think of that,” continued the doctor, turning to me, “to +be forever rid of money and all the trouble it brings.” + +“Of what value would it be to us?” asked Thorwald. “We could not use +it.” + +“Some of our people on the earth,” replied the doctor, “have oceans of +it which they cannot use, and still they seem to think it is of much +value. It is an inherent characteristic of our race to love the mere +possession of money or other property, and human nature must change +a great deal before we can begin to reach the exalted moral condition +which you now enjoy, to say nothing of your spiritual state.” + +“Your nature will change,” said Thorwald, “and do not doubt that the +change has already begun. Time is what you need, and there is time +enough for everything.” + +After the midday lunch had been served we were invited to take a walk +about the grounds. As the doctor and I were admiring the beautiful lawns +and gorgeous beds of flowers, and then stood enraptured at the sight of +the noble mansion itself, Zenith watched us eagerly, and finally said, +with a smile: + +“You discovered my favorite department of art this morning. Now is a +good time to learn what Thorwald’s is.” + +“Judging from what we have already seen and heard of your husband,” said +I, “it seems to me he must be an astronomer, or, if not that, then a +theological professor.” + +“If he has been talking to you on either of those subjects,” she +returned, “I have no doubt he told you things worth taking home with +you, but his pet topics of study are architecture and its sister art, +landscape gardening. This house is a creature of his brain, and all the +artistic effects in color and pattern, which I know you have the taste +to admire, are of his designing.” + +The simple, unaffected manner in which Zenith showed her pride in her +husband’s achievements was refreshing, and the knowledge she imparted +only added still more to our high appreciation of our friend. + +It was now time for Thorwald to speak, and he remarked quietly: + +“It is true that I love architecture. It is another occupation of which +we can never tire and whose resources we can never fathom. A beautiful, +dignified, and truly artistic building is one of the highest possible +products of our civilization, and such work brings out all the poetic +feeling in one’s nature, just as the production of a fine painting or +piece of sculpture does. These arts, and literature as well, all have +their special devotees among us, but everyone knows enough of all arts +to appreciate and enjoy good work in every department. + +“We build truthfully, and this helps to make what we build beautiful, +for truth is beautiful wherever it is found; and beauty is an object to +be sought after for its own sake, an enjoyable thing well worth striving +for. Religion and art, using both those terms in a comprehensive sense, +have worked together, through all our history, to lift up our souls and +fit them for higher and higher duties.” + +“Thorwald,” said Zenith, “I think our friends would enjoy seeing some +of our imposing buildings and other works of art while this subject is +before them.” + +That this was not a suggestion that we should start on an extended tour +of the country was proved by Thorwald, who said: + +“Very well, we will then go into the music room again, if you please.” + +Here we were shown, by the new powers of the telephone, a bewildering +succession of the grandest structures our imagination could picture: +churches and cathedrals, college buildings, observatories, museums, +music halls and private residences. These were not like pictures or +views; but the structures themselves, in full perspective and in all the +richness of their coloring, seemed to stand before us. Trees waving in +the breeze, people and carriages passing in the streets and occasionally +a movement at a window or door, all aided the illusion and made it +difficult to realize that we were not in the midst of the scenes we were +gazing upon. + +Thorwald or Zenith told us the name or purpose of each building as it +appeared, and the novel exhibition closed with the presentation of a +large and splendid playhouse. + +As this was announced I involuntarily exclaimed: + +“So you have kept the theater, have you? Some good people on the earth +think the drama is demoralizing.” + +“That,” said Zenith, “is probably because you have allowed it to become +debased. We read in our histories of such a period here. Indeed, for +a long time both the play and the opera were abolished, our advancing +civilization having given them up under the impression that the good +in them was overbalanced by the evil. But when the era of a more noble +personal character had come the drama was revived, and now is not only a +source of innocent pleasure but is also a decided help to our growth. + +“I recognize the house we are now looking at. It is in quite a distant +city, and I see Thorwald has purposely chosen it because at this moment +an able company is presenting there one of our most popular plays. Would +you like to hear some of it?” + +No sooner were these words uttered than we saw Thorwald make a slight +movement of the switch, and, lo! the scene was changed to the interior +of the building, and there before us was the Martian theater in full +play. We sat as it were in the dress circle, with the orchestra and +stage in our front. All was beauty and life around us, and the richness +and harmonious coloring of the whole interior were simply beyond +description. The play was going on in a quiet, dignified manner and +every word and gesture were characterized with the greatest naturalness. +It struck the doctor and me as a peculiar feature that, while we could +hear everything that was said on the stage and even the rustle of +the people around us, we ourselves could talk and laugh without being +noticed. This effect was produced by an ingenious attachment to the +telephone, and the doctor was moved to remark: + +“This is an altogether comfortable and satisfactory situation.” + +“Yes,” added Zenith, “we think it is almost as good as being actually +present in the theater.” + +We assured her it was better, in our opinion, and then we thanked them +both for the pleasure they had given us. But we began to think their +resources for entertaining their friends would never be exhausted when +Thorwald told us he would, at some future time, show us specimens of +their paintings, sculpture, fine porcelain, elegant furniture, and many +other works of art. + +One morning, a few days later, as we were rising from breakfast, +Thorwald said: + +“Well, my friends, I suppose you will go to church with us to-day?” + +“To church?” asked we in one breath. + +“Yes, this is Sunday.” + +“Oh, is it?” I said. “I began to think you didn’t have Sunday here. It +is now eight days since our return from the moon, and this is the first +we have heard of it.” + +“Let me see,” said Thorwald, “I believe this is the first Sunday we have +spent at home since you came to us.” + +“Then how long is your week?” + +“Ten days.” + +“That accounts for our misunderstanding,” I said, “for our Sunday comes +every seventh day.” + +“That is an odd number,” returned Thorwald. “With us the week is the +basis of our decimal method of reckoning. We have one hundred minutes in +an hour and ten hours in a day.” + +Of course we were ready to go to church, and when we were on the way, +seated in a comfortable carriage, the doctor said to Thorwald: + +“If for any reason you do not care to go out on Sunday, I suppose you +can all repair to your music room, turn that little switch, and listen +to the best preacher and the best church music in the land. But do not +imagine by that remark that we have any fault to find with this method +of going to church. For my part, I think I prefer it.” + +“I perceive,” answered Thorwald, “that you have a good idea of the +capabilities of the telephone, but I shall have to correct you in this +case. Our instruments are not connected with any of the churches. But +to-morrow we can get, by asking through the telephone, phonograph rolls +of any sermons that are delivered to-day. If we preferred we could get +them in print, but the phonograph is pleasanter. This instrument is +now so perfect that the imitation of the speaker’s words and tones is +faultless. The works of all our authors can be obtained in this form, +and our libraries consist in great part of phonograph rolls. Even the +poets of former generations speak to us, and the voice of the singer +adds its charm to the song. + +“But you will want to ask me why we do not extend the use of the +telephone to the churches. We learned long ago that it is a good thing +for people to come together for worship and that nothing will take the +place of it. We do not go for an intellectual treat nor to enjoy the +music, but only for worship, and we try to keep our forms simple yet +dignified and as fitting as possible in all ways. Some day I must tell +you through what difficulties we have passed in church ceremonies and +church government.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +AN UNSATISFACTORY LOVER. + + +It was delightful to live in the same world with Mona, not for me only +but for every one who knew her. No one could help loving her; there was +simply nothing else to do. Others did not make as much show of their +affection as I did, perhaps because no one else was selfish enough +to claim the same personal rights in her, but I found every new +acquaintance she made succumbed to the power of her many charms. The +secret of this general homage was her own loving nature, which just +worked itself out spontaneously, but the more her love was shed abroad +the more she retained for new-comers. At first my naturally jealous +disposition continued to give me long hours of anguish, but I happily +was able to overcome this to a great extent as I became better +acquainted with her marvelous spirit. + +Although I was at that time too much under the spell of this fair +creature to form an unprejudiced judgment of her, I have since then +attempted something of the kind, in comparing her in my mind with +Antonia and others whom we met in Mars. Let me say that the Martians are +not a perfect race. With our undeveloped spiritual natures we could not, +during our entire visit, see any imperfections in them; but, as will be +seen further on in this narrative, our good friends Thorwald and Zenith, +under whose instructions kind fortune had placed us, were particular +to tell us that their race had reached only an advanced state of +civilization, to which the earth might one day attain, and that +perfection was still a dream of the future. Taking Antonia, then, as +a representative of her kind, I can see that she had a solidly formed +character. She was what she was, not because she could not help it but +because she herself willed it. That is, when she might have done wrong +she chose to do right. Her connection with temptation was not entirely +through her remote ancestors, whose sins filled such a large page in +their history, but she herself had felt drawings toward evil. Yet so +slightly had she yielded, and so strongly had her right years of living +buttressed her against all kinds of wrong, that she, as well as all of +her race whom we saw, appeared to us about perfect. Theoretically she +might transgress, but practically it was all but impossible. Hers, then, +was a truly noble character, and when she gave her love to Foedric he +had good reason to be proud of the gift. Nor did she defraud others of +their due, but her heart was open to every proper call. + +Such was Antonia, one whom we could in some degree appreciate, although +so far above us. But how could we understand a being like Mona, who told +us, and we saw no reason to disbelieve her, that she had never known +what it was to do wrong? She seemed as incapable of evil as the birds of +the air, or, to make the comparison still stronger, as a beautiful rose. +She was guileless by nature, and goodness and truth were as much a part +of her as her beauty was. She was made to be a joy and comfort to every +creature brought within the circle of her influence, and she could no +more help loving than the sun can help shining. All who came near her +received a share of her gracious beams. + +She was unselfish and full of sympathy and every right feeling, not +because she had seen the evils of selfishness and meanness, but because +these latter qualities were utterly unknown to her. Her high character +and perfectly correct life, therefore, were not the result of reason and +choice, but were the instinctive manifestations of her pure nature. + +I do not undertake to say which of these two presented the higher type +of womanhood, and I certainly entered into no such speculations about +them at that time, but I never had any difficulty in deciding that +Mona was the one I loved. I did not, of course, relish her fondness for +others. In that respect I considered her nature altogether too ardent, +but I found I must get accustomed to it, as she would not change. + +It made me quite despondent at times, fearing I could never lead her to +feel any special liking for me. Then when she smiled upon me and sang so +sweetly to me, I thought I ought to be happy though I had to share her +heart with all the world. Still I did not relax my efforts to make my +share larger. + +“Mona,” I said, one day, “I wish you would ask me to do something real +hard for you.” + +“Why?” she asked. + +“So that I could show you how much I love you.” + +“But you have already shown me,” she said. “I cannot think of anything +more difficult than you have done. Did you not keep up a firm belief +that I would be found, even after the doctor and these wise men of Mars +had lost all hope, and did you not, by your enthusiasm, prevail on them +to enter on a difficult search for me on the moon? I have heard all +about your deep concern for me and how you were affected by hearing +singing which you thought was like mine. And now that I have been found, +you are so watchful for my comfort and like to be so near me all the +time, that I am sure I do not need any further proof of your strong +attachment. But why do you pay me so much attention? Why do you not like +to be with Antonia as much as with me?” + +“Because I do not love her as much as I do you.” + +“Why do you love me so? Because I took you down to my quiet home and +saved you from being blown off the top of the moon?” + +“No, the doctor and I are both grateful to you for that kindness, but +gratitude isn’t love.” + +“I haven’t done anything else for you,” she said. + +“It isn’t for anything you have done that I love you.” + +“What then?” + +“Oh, I don’t know. I suppose it is because I can’t help it.” + +“Oh, then you are becoming like me, for I can’t help loving everybody.” + +“I shall never be good enough for that,” said I. + +“What is love, as you understand it?” asked Mona. + +“Love--love,” I hesitated; “why, it is the feeling I have in my heart +for you. Love is what kept hope alive when you were lost and gave me +such joy when I heard your voice and knew we had found you. Love makes +every task light that is done for you and every place where you are the +brightest spot in the universe. Even this delightful world of Mars is +more beautiful than ever because you are here. Love, if mutual, is +a precious bond, uniting two hearts and making them beat in harmony. +Cannot you and I be joined in heart, Mona?” + +“My dear friend,” she replied, “I am very sorry I cannot share your +feeling, but I do not understand such love as you have been trying to +describe.” + +“Then I fear you do not love me,” I responded, with great sadness in my +voice. + +“Oh, don’t say that,” she exclaimed. “Indeed I do love you. Now, how can +I prove it to you? What is the opposite of love?” + +“Hatred; or, in such a case as this, indifference would be about as bad +as anything.” + +“Well, I don’t know much about such things, but do I seem like a person +who could hate you or be indifferent to you?” + +“No, Mona, you seem to be the most loving creature in all the worlds we +have ever known, but--” + +“Oh, do not spoil that fine speech with a ‘but.’ I know what you want +to say. You think I ought to love you more than anyone else, or in some +different way. Now, that desire of yours is what I cannot understand. +I love everybody alike because I know of no other sentiment. So it is a +matter of course with me, and I do not feel obliged to tell people that +I love them. You seem to make too much of it, coming to me everyday and +telling me, over and over again, that you love me, just as if I doubted +it. Why do you like to be with me so much? Do you think it is right to +be so exclusive? You ought to favor the others with your company. As for +me, I must say I prefer Foedric’s society to yours, because he has so +many interesting things to talk about, while you stick continually to +one subject and give me little information even on that one. You know +I am a new-comer here and eager to learn all I can. Then there’s the +doctor. I take more pleasure conversing with him than with you, for he +seems to know more, or, at any rate, to be more able to tell me things +I want to know about the earth. If the doctor were not here and you were +the only one to judge from, I should be obliged to think the people of +the earth a very curious race. Your companion, however, appears to be a +man of considerable sense.” + +Mona sang all this in her easy, natural way, being perfectly free from +any intention of wounding my feelings, but the more innocent I believed +her the more incapable I saw she was of entering into my feelings. +I began to realize how, in loving everybody, she missed a certain +enjoyment derived from a more selfish order of love. It then occurred +to me that a world full of such people as Mona must have rather a +monotonous time from our point of view, and I asked her if she could +tell me about her race in general respecting the subject of our +conversation. + +“Certainly,” she replied, “I can tell you something from my own +recollections, but more from our traditions.” + +“Well, were the men of the moon all sensible, or were they all like me?” + +“Oh, I see you have a little sense as soon as you begin to talk in a new +direction. In answer to your question, let me say that the stress you +have put on our personal relations is something entirely new to me, +and I do not see any use or advantage in it. This must be my excuse for +speaking so plainly. I should not have spoken so had I not known, in +spite of what I have said, that you had too much sense to be offended.” + +“I thank you,” I said. “Do not apologize for your words. I have taken +them as a needed rebuke for my haste in appropriating you to myself. +But I believe, Mona, that the time will come when you will know the +happiness of loving one person so much that your love for all others +will not be thought of in comparison. Happy will he be who, in that day, +is able to prove the capacity of your great heart.” + +“Then, in that day,” she responded, “shall I prove myself to be the +degenerate daughter of a noble race. No, my friend, we were not made of +such stuff. We loved everybody, without question and without limit. We +could do nothing else, and to love one more than another was therefore +impossible.” + +“Let me ask if everyone was worthy of being loved?” + +“Why, as to that, we were all alike. What do you think of me?” + +“You know what I think of you, Mona; or, if you do not, I will tell +you.” + +“Yes; you needn’t tell me again. What I wanted to say is, that I am no +better than the rest of my people were.” + +“What a world it must have been then,” I exclaimed, “and how fortunate +that the earth did not discover it earlier. With such an example before +us we should have been utterly discouraged.” + +When Mona had left me at the close of this conversation, I proceeded to +take stock of my sensations. I had certainly been seeing a new phase of +Mona’s character. Could I make such vigorous language consistent with my +former conception of her? I answered yes to this question after studying +it awhile, for I concluded that she was only just in giving me a lesson +that I deserved. Her innocence was only the more evident, and that was +the ground on which I built my faith in her. But now came the inquiry +whether my love could withstand such a shock as it had received. I was +no longer blind to the truth. Mona had no stronger affection for me than +for her other friends, and it began to be doubtful if she ever would +have, considering her peculiar education in affairs of the heart. If I +continued to love her, it must be with the full knowledge that I had not +as yet gained the slightest success in my effort to secure her for my +own exclusive possession. My exuberant passion had received a serious +shock, for I had been plainly told that it was making me appear +ridiculous. Then, when there seemed to be danger that my love must grow +cold under such treatment, I began to argue Mona’s cause to myself, and +I bade myself take comfort once more in the old thoughts. She was young +and careless, besides being entirely new to our manner of wooing, and +I had been too hasty in my approaches and no doubt tired her with my +continuous solicitations. But then, on the other hand, I continued, the +case seemed much more hopeless than before after such a plain rebuff, +and if I had any self-respect I could not continue to pay my court where +my honest love was made a matter of jest. + +These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind, and I cannot tell to what +rash resolve they would have led me had not the music of Mona’s laughing +voice just then come floating in from another room. As usual, this was +more than I could resist, and its immediate effect now was to drive +out reason and to enthrone love once more. All my doubt and uncertainty +vanished in a twinkling, my self-respect hid itself in a dark corner +of my memory, and as I instinctively started to find the fair singer I +realized again, with a feeling too strong for argument, that I was still +very much in love. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +AN ENVIABLE CONDITION. + + +Our life in this cultured home continued to be as pleasant as were these +first days. There was always something new to show us or to tell us. We +would walk out every day and often step into a carriage and take a +long ride. Our friends were famous walkers but were considerate of +our feebleness, and still our returning strength, added to the great +buoyancy of our bodies on that smaller planet, soon gave us also +remarkable walking powers. + +Sometimes the children would accompany us on an all-day excursion, and +then the house would be left not only unlocked, but with the doors wide +open perhaps. When we remarked on this, Zenith told us that if anyone +happened along he would be at perfect liberty to go in and help himself +to anything in the house. This was always understood, whether the people +were at home or not, and one need not even go through the formality +of asking, if he could see what he wanted. This referred not merely +to bodily refreshment, of which one might be in need, but literally to +everything the house contained; and the reason why there was any sort +of comfort living under such conditions was, that the members of that +society were all and severally of such ripe characters that it was well +known one would not deprive another of anything he was using except for +a reason which would be satisfactory to both. + +“If we could communicate with the people on the earth,” said the doctor +to me when we sat alone conversing about these things, “and tell them +how the inhabitants here live, they would want to organize an expedition +and start for Mars right away.” + +“Yes, I think they would,” I assented. “And yet, if what Thorwald says +is true, the earth will one day be as good as Mars. Do you believe it?” + +“Well, the fact is,” answered the doctor, “I am ready to believe almost +anything now.” + +“Oh, I wish Thorwald could hear you say that.” + +“I should not object,” he continued. “I am sure that some power, not +comprehended by our science or philosophy, has operated here to bring +these people to the condition in which we find them, and if the same +kind forces are at work on the earth, let us hope they will do as much +for us, no matter how much time it takes. If a belief in such a power is +faith, then perhaps I am beginning to have a little faith. + +“I remember I used to hear our preachers in their public prayers ask God +that every form of vice and crime might be banished from the earth, and +that the time might come when there should be no more sin, but only love +and beauty and happiness. I have heard such prayers a hundred times, +and never thought much about them. But now I am forced to think, and +it seems to me that these prayers would not be made continually unless +there were a hope and expectation in the minds of religious people that +they would some time be answered. It is not for me to assume that such a +hope is unreasonable, drawn as it is from the book which so many believe +is the word of God.” + +I rejoiced to hear my friend talk in this way, but it seemed very odd +that he should be preaching my own doctrine to me. I had had the same +thoughts, and had been trying to find the right time to offer them to +the doctor. I am sure I was thankful that he was coming to such views +without a word from me, for he would probably be much more apt to hold +to them. + +The foregoing conversation was in the evening, and the next morning we +were all sitting comfortably in the music room, when Thorwald said: + +“The other day I began to give you some orderly account of our history, +but you see how it has been broken into by the relation of different +phases, in answer to your questions. It seems to me now that it will be +more interesting to you if I continue in the same way and take up one +subject at a time. And now that we have a little time before us, I wish +you would suggest some point upon which you would like to have me talk; +that is, if it is agreeable to you.” + +To which the doctor replied: + +“I like your plan very much and I am sure we both have plenty of +questions which will keep you supplied with topics. I have desired +for some time to ask you about your industrial system. I can see how +electricity has relieved you of the most arduous labor, but there must +remain much disagreeable work, as we would call it, to be done with the +hand. In our busy life there are a thousand such tasks, which I cannot +conceive of being performed by machinery, many of them hard only +because they are monotonous and awake no interest or enthusiasm in the +performer. Men and women are continually wearing themselves out with +such work. You must have abolished all that, if everybody here is +comfortable and happy. I am very anxious to hear how it has been done.” + +“In answering your question,” Thorwald began, “let me say, first, that I +presume we have learned to employ machines in a great many ways which to +you would seem incomprehensible. The drudgery and much of the monotony +of labor have been removed, as well as its severity. But still, as you +surmise, there is plenty of work for all. Our higher civilization +does not require less work than yours, but rather more and of greater +variety. It is all done quietly, however, without friction or any of the +unpleasant features of former times. + +“I suspect that the real secret of the change is in the elevation of +individual character. This has done more to better our condition than +electricity and all the material improvements and inventions of the +age. You must believe me when I say that no sort of labor is considered +disgraceful, and, further, that one occupation is just as honorable as +another. The man who goes into the mine and superintends the machine +which gathers the precious metal is esteemed as highly as he who, +with an artist’s brain and fingers, shapes it to its highest use. The +carpenter who works with his hands in the building of the house can hold +his head as high as the architect who has spent many years in learning +how to create the design. Why not? Both are engaged on the same work, +each one in his favorite, and so his best, way. Both are working, +not for daily bread or other selfish end, but for the sake of doing +something useful. The perfect content and satisfaction we all enjoy +in our labor come partly from our abundant health and strength, and +largely, also, from our entire freedom from anxiety in regard to the +means of maintenance for ourselves and our families. In these respects +we are all equally fortunate. We are absolutely unconcerned about what +material things we shall have for ourselves or leave to our children.” + +“Do you then all have equal pay for your work, and that so much that it +places you above anxiety?” asked the doctor. + +“Yes,” answered Thorwald, “we are all paid equally, because we are not +paid at all. So, having no wages and owning no property, why should we +be anxious? You know I have told you we can have for our use anything +that is produced or made without even asking anybody for it. The mere +fact that we need a thing makes it rightfully ours.” + +“But what is the incentive to labor if you get nothing for it, and can +live just as well without it?” + +“The incentive is in the love for our work and the consciousness that +we are doing something to make someone happier and the world a little +better. Let me give you an illustration, a personal one, if you will +excuse me. A neighbor asks me to make him a plan for a house. He may be +a writer of books or he may be a carriage maker, or what not, it makes +not the slightest difference. I enjoy that kind of work and, having +obtained his ideas in regard to a house, I do the best I can. I cannot +conceive that I could do any better if I knew he would pay me for the +work, as you say. In like manner he asks other neighbors to build his +house for him, and he has no difficulty in finding enough men who enjoy +that occupation as much as I do my part of the work, and the principle +which governs them in their labor is as high as that which controls me.” + +“Then,” said the doctor, “I should think the poor man--I beg your +pardon, I mean the hod-carrier--could have as grand a house as the +architect himself.” + +“I don’t know what a hod-carrier is,” replied Thorwald, “but I get your +meaning, and you are quite right. As an example of just that state of +things, I will tell you that the man who tends the digging machine in my +garden lives in a larger and handsomer house than this one. Why not? +He has a large family, and he and his wife are educated and refined +people.” + +“But with no physical wants to provide against, I should think some men +would find existence easier not to work at all. According to your theory +they could live in as good style as the toilers and have no one to call +them to account.” + +“No one but themselves. Every man is his own monitor, and he needs no +other. He knows his duty, and he has that within him which keeps him up +to it more effectually than any outside influence could. In regard to a +man’s not caring to work, we have been through all that, and we have now +no such cases. We found out long ago that it is better to have some one +stated employment and follow it. But this does not mean that the work +becomes a burden. One can rest as often and as long as he pleases. +There is no one to intimate in any way that he should be at work, as the +question is left entirely to him. The moment that work ceases to be a +necessity it becomes a pleasure and the most natural thing in the world. +The multiplication of mechanical inventions has greatly reduced the +volume of labor, so that there is really but little for each individual +to do; and the truth is, there is never any lack of men. If anything, +there is not enough work.” + +“Your words,” said the doctor, “reveal a remarkable condition of +affairs, and I fear it will be many, many years before we can begin to +think seriously of such a plan, so long as to make it almost hopeless; +but there is one more question I would like to ask. With all this +freedom of choice, how does it happen that all do not flock to the easy +and pleasant occupations, and leave the disagreeable tasks undone?” + +To this Thorwald replied: + +“Let me ask you, Doctor, if you have not an answer to your question +in your own industrial system. Do you not always find men to do every +required work, no matter how hard and distasteful it may seem to you? +I do not mean that the parallel is exact, but this seems to be governed +now, as it has always been, by a dispensation of nature. We are born +with different tastes and inclinations. Each one chooses his own +occupation, and it comes to pass providentially, just as it did in the +olden time, that all do not choose alike.” + +“Are all equally well educated?” + +“No, but all have an equal opportunity. Everyone is given a broad +foundation of general information. The mind and hand are both trained +and prepared to do good work, and then the choice of occupation is made +and the special education begins. But one who has chosen some kind +of manual labor as his vocation very often takes up literary or other +professional work in addition, and everybody has some kind of study on +hand, by which the mind is kept employed. There is no uneducated class +among us.” + +“Before you reached such nobility of character,” said the doctor, “that +panacea for so many ills, I suppose you had troubles enough. You have +already intimated as much to us. I wonder if it would not help us to +appreciate better your present condition if you should tell us briefly +of your experiences in solving so happily some of the problems of your +career. I am thinking now more especially of the difficulties of your +social and industrial reformation.” + +“I will attempt something of the kind,” Thorwald replied, “if you are +sure I shall not weary you. Remember to prompt me if I do not follow the +lines of most interest to you. + +“If you should prefer to read you would find the facts you want +fully set forth in our histories. The records are especially full +and exhaustive on the subjects you have mentioned, for the important +changes, or, at least, the changes whose story will be most instructive +to you, came in a time of great intellectual activity. Of the earlier +days the history is unfortunately less complete, and still further back +the records become uncertain and many are merely legendary. + +“Let us begin at a time when civilization was confined to a small +portion of the surface of our planet. Society was then crude and +unformed. It was a rude, selfish age. But the germ of better things was +there, for the gospel of Christ had been planted in the world and was +sure to spring into life when its time should come. But meanwhile our +evil nature was strong and choked the good seed, and made advancement +slow and uncertain. Power was divided among many rulers who were +despots, whose principal occupation was war. The people were valued +merely for their fighting qualities and enjoyed only such rights and +privileges as their cruel masters allowed them. Being slaves themselves, +they held in a still more bitter slavery every prisoner captured in war. + +“Life was mere animal existence for most of the race, without enjoyment +for the present or hope for the future. Education being denied them, +there was no mental stimulus to compensate for physical wretchedness, +and even their meager religious privileges were accompanied with so many +superstitious and unnatural rites that life was relieved of but a little +of its burden. + +“Gradually power was concentrated in the hands of a few autocrats, +nations were consolidated, and war began to be a science. Then some +attention was paid to the comfort of the people for the purpose of +making them better soldiers. Soon it was found that intelligence was the +best weapon a man could carry, and so education, in a very stinted form, +was encouraged. This was a fatal blunder on the part of the rulers, for +as soon as the mind was unfettered the shackles began to fall from the +body, and the days of absolutism were numbered. The spirit of knowledge, +once released from its imprisonment, became a dominant power in the +world, and as time went on the people demanded a voice in the management +of affairs. In this way came constitutional government, which for a +long time held sway, and under which there came immense benefits to all. +Religion and learning flourished, science and art blessed the race with +their bounties, and the world began to be a brighter and better place to +live in, comparing the times with the ages of ignorance and cruelty that +went before. + +“And now the stream of liberty broadened, and before long became a flood +that swept away thrones and scepters. Personal government ceased, and +the people became their own political masters. The right of suffrage +was extended and slavery was abolished, while commerce and the spirit of +adventure carried civilization to many parts of the world. Then appeared +a swarm of mechanical inventions to lighten the labor of mankind, +electricity came with its strong arm and great promise, and easier and +swifter transportation by land and sea brought the nations and peoples +together to the mutual advantage of all. + +“Education, once the possession of the rich and powerful only, now shed +its benign influence over the whole people. Whereas, in the early +times, learning had caused the downfall of despotic power, it was +now considered a principal safeguard of good government, and made +compulsory. Wealth was accumulated, luxuries multiplied, and great +strides were taken in the material welfare of both nations and +individuals. It was an age of intense activity. So rapidly did events +follow each other, and such possibilities were anticipated, that +enthusiasts, whose heads were turned in the mad whirl, prophesied the +immediate opening of the millennium. + +“Judged by all the race had previously known of freedom, of prosperity, +and of happiness, it was a grand age, and that generation might well be +proud of their timely birth. But, looked at from our present standpoint, +we can see it was still a day of sadness and sin. We understand, what +it was more difficult for them to realize, that the revival of pure +religion, awakening the conscience of mankind, had brought about all +that was good in their condition, while many evil tendencies had only +been exaggerated by their material prosperity. So it was still a +very imperfect world. Political freedom they had, but there was no +emancipation from the powerful thraldom of selfishness. That spirit held +universal sway, governing not only individual action but also the policy +of nations. + +“One of the highest sentiments known to the times, and some writers +placed it even above religion, was love of country. Impassioned oratory +was fond of declaring that loyalty to one’s native land was the loftiest +emotion the heart could feel, and no voice was found to rebuke the +utterance.” + +I was a little shocked to hear Thorwald, in his earnest manner, give +expression to these words, as though he looked upon such views in a very +serious light. I was therefore bold enough to interrupt him with: + +“Excuse me, Thorwald, but would not these orators, when their attention +was called to their extreme language, acknowledge that love to God was a +still higher sentiment?” + +“Perhaps they would, for with all the selfishness of the period there +was a deep-seated belief in a divine being. But even so, I still would +not allow them to be right.” + +“Why,” I asked, “is there more than one motive higher than patriotism?” + +“Yes, love is higher,” answered Thorwald. “Let me explain. What did +love of country mean? At first one’s country was a single family, then +a tribe, and later a city, when the measure of one’s patriotism was the +measure also of his hatred for everything foreign. In time a state was +formed from many cities and towns, and its citizens were taught to look +on all other states as enemies. Then these states that had been fighting +each other consolidated into a nation, made up, perhaps, of different +races and languages. By this time patriotism became a lofty theme, but +it was the same spirit essentially as that which prompts the members of +two savage tribes to fight to the death through a blind and unreasoning +devotion to their leaders. So do you not think that love to all, which +can only come from a generous heart, is more to be praised than love +to a part, which necessitates enmity to all the rest? I should think +it would have puzzled the people of that age sometimes to tell of what +their country really consisted. Was their highest allegiance due to +their city, or their county, or their state, or their nation? + +“To what did this immoderate love of country lead? To a passion +for aggrandizement at the expense of others, and what was this but +selfishness with a gloss so bright as to make it look like a virtue? It +led to the strangling of conscience in national affairs, so as to make +wrong seem right, and, more than that, to persistence in a course when +it was well known to be wrong. It taught false ideas of honor and made +the world one grand dueling field, where the energy of nations was spent +in watching for insults from their neighbors, and where the quick blow +followed every real or fancied offense. + +“Do not imagine, by what I have said, that I would have advised these +people to love their country less. On the contrary, I should tell them +to love it so much that they could not see it do wrong; to love it so +much that they should have no room in their hearts for bitterness toward +others; so much that they should strive to have it lead the world in a +march toward universal brotherhood. Love for one’s neighbor should not +stop at state or national boundaries. Love should know neither caste +nor country, but should take in the world, and, I might add for your +benefit, other worlds if necessary. Love is a condition of the heart, +something within, not without, the man, and when fully developed reaches +out to everything that God has made.” + +“It seems to me, Thorwald,” I ventured to say, “that these sentiments, +which I can see are admirable, belong to your present high development, +while we of the earth have reached only about the condition of the +people whose traits you have been describing.” + +“Then,” resumed Thorwald, “you can perhaps understand another evil of +those times. It did not grow directly out of love for country, but that +too much lauded sentiment prevented the people from seeing its full +enormity. This was the practice of attempting by law to protect the +inhabitants of one country by shutting out the goods of all others. +This prohibition included both the manufactured articles and natural +products, and the means adopted was the placing of a high duty +on imports. If the political leaders of a people could succeed in +convincing them that such a course would raise wages, increase the +opportunities for accumulating money, and make them in general more +prosperous, then it was forthwith adopted, entirely without regard to +the effect it might have on the rest of the world. It is not at all +plain to be seen, from reading the history of those times, that the +happiest results always followed the passage of these laws, but the +experiment was tried whenever a majority felt that there was a fair +expectation of such benefits. The only question considered was whether +it would be good policy for their particular country. And if one result +of this selfish legislation was the closing of mills and the loss of +employment to thousands of workmen in some other part of the world, +these facts were paraded in the public prints as though they were +matter for rejoicing. Men were yet to learn that the maxim which the +politicians were fond of quoting, ‘the greatest good to the greatest +number,’ should have a world-wide application to give it any meaning at +all.” + +While my prejudices were receiving another shock, I knew the doctor was +really enjoying this part of Thorwald’s talk. So, in order to draw him +out, I said to him, as Thorwald paused: + +“Doctor, I think our friend must belong to your party.” + +“I should rather belong to his party,” replied the doctor. + +“Thank you,” said Thorwald. “That is a compliment which I appreciate; +and now I think I have talked long enough for one sitting. Let us get +some lunch, and then go out for a good walk.” + +Thorwald must have seen that the doctor’s mood was softening, but he +probably thought it wise not to speak more directly to him at present. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE CHILDREN’S DAY. + + +As it was a holiday, the children accompanied us on our walk, and we +had further opportunity of observing the easy, natural relations +which existed between them and their parents. There was neither undue +familiarity nor too much restraint. There was respect as well as +affection on both sides, and a scrupulous concern for each other’s +feelings. Evidently the children had all the rights they could +appropriate to their advantage, while there was no abrogation of the +privileges or the duties of the parents. + +At a convenient time during the afternoon I spoke to Zenith about this +happy condition of family affairs, and I was greatly enlightened and not +a little amused by her reply. + +“It was not always so,” she said. “One of the sad chapters of our +history tells us of an unfortunate episode in the family life. In the +early days the father had complete control over his household, even the +lives of its members being at his disposal. But as civilization advanced +the law stepped in and protected the dependent ones from too harsh +punishment and from neglect. In time sympathy for the weak and +unprotected made all corporal punishment unpopular, both at home and +at school, and soon discipline of every kind was much weakened. There +appeared to be a growing impression on the part of the elders that there +could not be any evil in the child’s nature, and so if he were allowed +to grow up without any particular training he would not go far out of +the way. It seemed to be overlooked that this was something new in the +history of the race, that the experiment had never been tried of giving +the youth their own way, from the cradle up. It had been taught from +very early times that the child, for its own future welfare, should +receive correction, and the teaching had never before been departed +from. The parents might just as well have put the reins of family +government in the hands of the children at once, for this is what it +came to in the end. The children, released from all restraint, lost +first their respect for their elders, and then all regard for their +feelings. Instead of love there grew up a careless indifference, and in +place of that tender thoughtfulness so necessary to happiness in this +relation, parents began to receive harsh and even cruel treatment. As +we look back upon it now, it seems strange that the result was not +anticipated, and the trend of events changed by a decided stand against +such an unnatural course. But the approach to a crisis was insidious +and, as I have said, history furnished no parallel from which to draw a +warning. + +“Two things made it the worst time in the world for parents to become +lax in their discipline. One was the growing sentiment in favor of +independence which was permeating all classes of society, and the other +the great revival of learning among the people. Given a large class +of persons highly educated and taught to prize personal liberty above +everything else, and still without the discretion that comes only with +years, and what could be expected of them when left with no strong hand +to guide them? The methods of education improved so rapidly, and there +were such constantly increasing opportunities for obtaining knowledge, +that there was some excuse for the children in getting the idea that +they knew more than their fathers and mothers. This belief would not +under any circumstances improve their manners, and at this time it only +caused them to despise still more those who seemed willing to withdraw +all claim to authority over them. Precocity, which had never been +a popular trait, came to the front with no modesty to relieve its +disagreeable character. + +“But the conduct of the youth of both sexes was not confined to the +exhibition of bad manners, nor to the mere passive indulgence of an +undutiful spirit. These led gradually to a more serious phase of the +rebellion, the inauguration of a series of petty annoyances, to be +followed, naturally, by acts of downright injustice and cruelty. It +seemed as if the old years of oppression to which, in a ruder age, the +children had been subjected, were about to be repeated, with the parents +for the victims. You must not suppose that these vast changes came about +in the course of one generation. Just as a sentiment in favor of liberty +will be perpetuated in a people from one generation to another, and +increase with the lapse of years, so this feeling of independence +of parental control and this decadence of natural affection were +transmitted from one set of children to the next, and matters grew from +bad to worse. + +“At length the behavior of the young people became so notoriously bad +that the matter had to be taken out of the heretofore sacred precincts +of home and treated in a public manner. The press tried to work a +reformation by ridicule and threats, and when this was seen to have no +effect the legislatures took up the subject, and actually passed laws +‘for the relief and protection of oppressed parents,’ and ‘for the +reestablishment of rightful authority in the home.’ These bold measures +so angered the children that they declared they would not submit to such +insults, but would take the matter of making laws, as well as all other +branches of public business, into their own hands. They started their +own organs, which made such silly declarations as this: ‘We are young, +but in all other respects we are superior to our elders. We have more +intelligence, more spirit and courage, we outnumber them two to one, +and, what is better than all the rest, we hold them already in our +power. So why should we not use that power, and go forward and destroy +every vestige of their authority? Let them work and earn our support, +and we will do the rest.’” + +“And now,” asked Zenith, “how do you think the affair came out?” + +“I confess,” I answered, “that I shall have to give it up.” + +“Well,” she continued, “the problem was solved, as so many others in our +career have been, when the needed lesson had been learned, without our +being subjected to the extremely dire results which seemed so imminent; +and I am happy to be able to tell you that relief came through the +efforts of one of my own sex. Just before the last ounce was added +to the weight of foolishness and error which was to turn the world +completely over, a girl made her appearance with sense enough to call a +halt. She happened to be editing one of the fiery journals of her class, +when it struck her one day that they were carrying the thing too far. +She had the courage to say so, and got roundly abused for it. She +persisted, obtained adherents and helpers, and soon a decided reaction +set in. Like a house of cards, which a breath will destroy, the unstable +structure the children had built fell to the ground, never to be +restored. + +“The lesson was not forgotten, and the experience, which appears +laughable now, has been of great benefit to us at different times since. +But the broadening of our minds and the general improvement in our +character have long ago placed us beyond the danger of a recurrence of +such events. Compared to our present state those were the days of our +infancy.” + +As Zenith closed I told her I had enjoyed her story, and that I hoped +the earth would not require such a lesson. + +“I trust not,” said Zenith. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +BUSINESS ETHICS. + + +The next day the doctor and I took the first opportunity to tell +Thorwald that we were anxious to have him proceed with his narrative. + +“Yes,” he said, “I shall be glad to do so, for I had not reached the +important part when our sitting broke up yesterday. + +“I was describing to you a remarkable era in our career, and one of you +mentioned the fact that the present condition of your race corresponded +in some particulars with that age on Mars. If you shall discover further +points of likeness as I continue, it will add a peculiar interest to my +story. + +“There is a difference of opinion among our historians in regard to +those times. Some believe that the whole world was corrupt, that it was +an age of material development only, and that, if there were any good +impulses at all, they were so smothered with selfishness as to be of no +account. But these writers lived long ago, and were themselves more or +less under the shadow of that epoch. I strongly hold to the views of the +great majority of our scholars, who tell us that, while there was too +much evil of all kinds, there was also much good, and many believers in +a final happy issue out of all the troubles of the time. + +“In a society so entirely given up to the pursuit of wealth and worldly +advantage of every sort, those who were trying to hold up the standard +of righteousness and to alleviate the lot of their fellow beings should +be remembered with gratitude. Among the multitude of inventions were +many that were calculated to relieve the laborer of his severest tasks, +to mitigate suffering, to ward off disease, and to lighten the load of +mankind in various ways. Large sums of money were given for hospitals, +charitable institutions, and colleges, and for other kinds of +philanthropic work, while private benevolences were not uncommon. There +was prosperity, too, of a certain kind, and some people were happy, or +thought themselves so. In the records of that as of every period of our +history, it is possible to find rays of light if we search for them, and +I tell you these things in order that you may get a fair understanding +of the situation, for in what follows you will see something of the +other side. + + “I think I shall not err if I say that the gigantic evil of the times, +that from which others sprang, was the inordinate love of money. Even +political power, by which the opportunity was obtained of doing public +service, was too often sought merely for the better chance one had of +making money, as the saying was. In the revolt against aristocratic +government, the tendency in our race of going from one extreme to the +other was again shown, and universal suffrage was adopted. This would +have been wise if intelligence and honesty had also been universal. But +the result proved it to be an exceedingly bad policy, for it created +a large class of voters who held the high privilege of citizenship so +meanly, and were themselves so venal, that they would even sell their +votes to the highest bidder. This, supplemented by the immorality of +some of the intelligent citizens, made politics corrupt and the name of +politician too often a by-word. + +“In doing business, by which was meant buying and selling and +manufacturing, also financial dealings and commerce, the passion +for money-getting was particularly prominent. An astonishingly small +percentage of those that went into business, as they said, made a +success, if we except the large manufacturers, but in spite of that +it was a popular way of earning a livelihood. One thing that made it +popular was the fact that there was always more or less speculation +in it. The haste to get rich made men too careless of the rights of +others.” + +“Do you mean that all business was conducted dishonestly?” I asked. + +“No,” answered Thorwald, “not as men looked at it then. There was a +great deal of downright knavery in business, but there was another class +who satisfied their consciences by being as honest as they could. The +thoughtful ones knew the system was wrong but felt themselves utterly +unable to replace it by a better one, and feeling no responsibility for +it, they were satisfied to smother their sensibilities and drift along. +They had their living to make, and, though they were not making it in an +ideal way, they did not know that any other kind of work would be more +satisfactory to their uneasy consciences.” + +“Excuse me, Thorwald,” I said; “I am dull. What was there wrong in their +manner of doing business?” + +“Can you see nothing wrong,” he answered, “in a system where one man’s +fortune was built on the ruins of another’s, or perhaps a score of +others, or where a business was started and increased solely by drawing +from another one already established?” + +“Why,” said I, “that is competition, which they no doubt thought better +than monopoly. I can imagine that they argued that a man’s first duty +was to himself and his family, that one had a right to go into any +legitimate business, and that others must take care of themselves. The +evil, if there was any, they probably felt was incident to the nature of +business and could not be helped. I would like to ask how society could +exist with any other business rules.” + +As I closed it struck me that I had spoken pretty fast and without much +discretion, and the impression was not removed as Thorwald answered with +dignity: + +“I am telling you the state of things on this planet thousands of years +ago, and it is a sufficient answer to your question to say that society +at the present day is not governed on any such principles; still, we +seem to exist. It was a favorite saying in those days that ‘a man must +live,’ and one that was used as an argument or excuse for questionable +practices. The premise was wrong; it was not necessary to live: death +would have been far better for the world and for the individual than +a dishonorable life. So with society at large; better a change in the +social structure, caused by an awakened conscience, than a state of +peace founded on wrong principles. Our history proves that no particular +plan of society is necessary to the world and that no order based +on selfishness or injustice can long endure. But do not imagine such +changes were easy or swift in accomplishment. They came, not by +violence nor by the device of crafty men, but only through the universal +betterment of the race, whereby a state of things that had been +considered good enough, and then endured as the best attainable, became +at last positively wrong and was slowly pushed aside by a growing sense +of right. + +“To return to your first question, as to what there was wrong in their +way of doing business, I want to say with emphasis that the essence of +the wrong was in an undue regard for self and an almost total disregard +for the interests of others. There were exceptions to the rule, notably +in the direction of charity and philanthropy and in religious work, but +I am speaking of the mass of the business community. It was every man +singly against all the rest of the world. No man was his brother’s +keeper. If one did not look out for himself, that was the end of it; +there was no one else to do it.” + +“But the system itself made men selfish,” I ventured to say. + +“To be sure it did,” he replied. “But why did they not then abolish the +system before it had brought upon them its long train of evils? It had +to go at last.” + +“But,” I asked again, “was not competition a good thing for the large +number of people not directly engaged in business? Did it not keep down +the prices on all kinds of commodities?” + +“Certainly not in the main. It increased prices, because it increased +the cost of everything. But let us suppose a case where it had the +effect you suggest. Could a man with a heart wear a coat, for example, +with any pleasure, if he knew that rivalry between the manufacturers had +forced the people who made the garment to accept starvation wages? And +this was done, not from humanitarian motives, to furnish the poor with +cheap clothing, but for the purpose of getting more business and so of +making more money.” + +I could hardly resist the temptation at this point of asking Thorwald +if he had not been reading up on the current history of the earth, but I +knew well enough that was not possible, for we had brought no books with +us. And then I did not care to tell Thorwald just yet how near he +was coming to our experience. But I could not endure having the props +knocked from under our social structure without another effort to save +it. So I said: + +“But were not the great majority of business men honest, and were not +these instances that you have cited extreme cases?” + +“They were the natural results of a bad system. A great many men were +as honest as their environment would permit, and they tried to convince +themselves that they were not responsible for the environment.” + +“Were they?” I asked eagerly. + +“When they at last discovered that they were, then began a radical +change. I am not exaggerating the evils of the times. I am merely +setting them forth to show you how our race has improved with its +maturity. If my purpose required it, I could detail many good things in +the life of that people. One bright point in their character, to which I +just now referred, I will illustrate. My boy, who is also my student +in drawing, will never be able to make a straight line until he can +see that the line he has already made is not straight. His improvement +depends upon more than a steady hand. So with this people. Deep down in +their being, planted by a divine hand, were the instinct of truth +and the principle of growth, and when, in the natural course of their +development, they came to realize how unworthy they were of their better +nature, they set about the work of improvement. + +“But they came to that knowledge through many sad experiences. I have +not begun to tell you the number and extent of the evils they endured. + +“The desire for money affected all classes. The general prosperity had +bettered the condition of the wage-earners, creating many artificial +wants which could not be satisfied without good pay. Hence arose a +natural and constant effort to obtain higher wages, while competition +among the employers operated just as constantly to keep them down, and +the result was a sharp and increasing antagonism between capital and +labor. The general public shared in the blame for this state of things +by reason of the almost universal demand for cheap goods. + +“While the introduction of machinery was a real advance, whose benefits +we are reaping to this day, other conditions had not become adjusted +to it at the time of which we are speaking, so that there was often a +surplus of workmen, especially in the lower grades of labor. This had +a tendency to reduce wages, of course; and the want of employment, +improvidence in the use of small wages, intemperance and other +immoralities, ignorance and misfortune, all combined to keep part of the +people in poverty. On the other hand, it was a time of great wealth and +luxurious living, and these two classes, so far apart in their manner of +life but often so near each other in all their selfish aims, seemed to +have a strong mutual attraction, for they were always found together, +crowding upon each other in every large city. + +“One of the most difficult things for us of the present day to imagine +is, how persons of refinement and sensibility, living in comfort and +without a care, could take any pleasure in life when they knew that +within a stone’s throw of their doors were human beings who, very often +through no fault of their own, were so destitute that a crust would +relieve their want, or so friendless that a kind word would make them +shed tears of joy. Oh! I cannot comprehend it, and yet the record tells +us there were cases of just that nature, where such people, without +lifting a finger to alleviate the distress, actually laughed and were +happy. Happy! What could they know of happiness? The word must have +changed its meaning wonderfully, if we think of what it signifies +to-day.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM. + + +Thorwald continued as follows: + +“The unpleasant relations existing between the employers and the +employees created a host of troubles. It was an unreasonable feeling, +because the interests of the two classes were identical. But as capital +was consolidated and great corporations were formed for extensive +operations in transportation and manufacturing, the relation between the +two became very impersonal and difficult to control. In order to protect +their interests the wage-earners organized into unions, brotherhoods, +etc., almost every trade and calling having its own organization. + +“When these associations were first formed much stress was laid upon +their incidental benefits, such as assistance in time of sickness, +care of the families of deceased members, the holding of meetings +for discussion and mutual improvement, and the establishment of +reading-rooms and libraries. These commendable objects would have been +a sufficient excuse for the existence of these bodies, and other +legitimate ends might have been sought, but the labor unions did not +stop there. They instituted and set in motion the powerful machinery +of the strike, as it was called, making it effective by binding their +members, under severe penalties, to stop work when they were ordered +to do so by their leaders. They also practiced the severest measures +of intimidation upon non-union men, to prevent them from getting +employment. + +“Thus the trades-unions, too often governed by incompetent men, became +a mighty power for evil. Strikes and lockouts were common, and were +followed by loss of wages and consequent suffering, while the bitterness +of feeling between the two classes constantly increased. To meet the +rising power of the labor organizations, the employers felt obliged to +form combinations among themselves and sometimes also to employ bodies +of armed men to protect their property. Then, when a strike came, +conflicts would follow so serious that appeal had to be made to the last +resort, the military arm of the nation. Here another evil threatened, +for the individual soldiers would sometimes prove to be in deep sympathy +with the workmen who were making the trouble. At such crises, also, +there would appear on the scene the anarchist, who wanted to overthrow +society at once in the hope of bringing himself out nearer the top, and +who was kept comparatively harmless in quiet times. + +“You can imagine something of the disorder and apprehension caused +by these troubles. No contract for work could be made without the +stipulation that its fulfillment must depend upon freedom from strikes +in that particular trade, and no man could start on a journey with any +certainty that he would be allowed to finish it in peace and at the +appointed time. + +“To decide how these evils should be remedied proved to be one of the +greatest problems ever presented to the people of that age. + +“Political sages had long before promulgated the doctrine upon which +society was governed, that every man had a natural right to life, +liberty, and his own method of pursuing happiness. Now, both sides +in the conflict claimed to be following closely the spirit of this +fundamental doctrine. The workingmen declared that they had a perfect +right to organize and to induce all their number to join the unions. +They said the individual relation between them and the employers had had +its day and that experience was proving to them that every concession +and privilege they hoped to get must come through their associations, +working through the medium of an agent or committee. As independent +citizens they could not obey laws and regulations in the making of which +they had no voice, and their love of personal liberty would not allow +them to accept the wages and hours of service which their employers +might, without asking their consent, choose to prescribe. In case of +disagreement they asserted their right to stop the whole business, at +whatever loss to the employers or inconvenience to the public, and to +prevent, if possible, new men from taking their places. + +“On the other hand, the employers, while not denying to the workmen the +right to form associations for legitimate purposes, insisted that this +right was being abused. They claimed that they should be allowed to hire +whom they pleased and dismiss incompetent men when it was best for their +business, without regard to their membership or non-membership in a +union. + +“As time went on the trouble increased and society was fast forming +itself into classes with opposing aims and mutual dislike. The time +had been when a workman, by skill and diligence, could rise above his +station and become a large proprietor himself. But with the new order +this was hardly possible, and civilization, in this respect, seemed to +be retrogressing. + +“You may wonder why the lawmakers did not correct the evil at once, but +the fact was that the legislatures were made up of representatives from +the two classes, and so were undecided as to what remedies to apply. +It was proposed by some to enact a law preventing a man from selling +himself into slavery, or, in other words, from giving up his liberty +of action into the keeping of others, a thing which had caused much +suffering. In every strike a large part of the men, earning small wages +and with families dependent on these wages for their bread from one day +to another, would be obliged to quit work against their will. It was +thought, therefore, a fit subject of legislation to enjoin them from +binding themselves to strike at the dictation of others, when it was +against their judgment. It was suggested, also, to make the intimidation +or coercion of non-union men a criminal act. + +“When these measures were suggested the cry was raised that the +workingmen were to be deprived of their liberty and made the slaves of +capital. The labor parties in the legislatures were assisted by a +class of politicians who were made cowards through fear of losing the +workingmen’s votes, and this gave these parties the power to defeat +all measures of which they disapproved, and to pass laws in their own +interest. They claimed that they should be protected as well as the +manufacturer, and so they made it lawful for the government to inspect +all industries and to see that the employees received an equitable share +of the profits. This was radical action, but they went still further, +and took away from every employer the right of discharging men for any +cause without the consent of the union; and full power to fix the +hours of service and the wages was put into the hands of the government +inspectors and the representatives of the trades-unions. The wages +were to be based on what the inspectors found to be the profits of the +business, and the help or advice of the proprietors was not to be taken. +As these astonishing rules governed even the farmer and shopkeeper +as well as the manufacturer, you can imagine that there was not much +satisfaction in trying to carry on any business. + +“The laboring classes were beginning to discover that they were a large +majority of the community and that there was a mighty power in the +ballot. Their opponents, on the other hand, having lost the control in +politics through universal suffrage, now bent their energies still more +to the work of combining large interests under one management, hoping to +wield in this way a power too formidable to be withstood. Immense +trusts were formed in almost every branch of business, and the syndicate +gradually took the place of the firm and individual corporation. + +“A long time previous to the period of which we are speaking, the people +had put part of their business into the hands of the government, with +the idea that it would be done with more promptness and also with more +economy. A good example of this was seen in the excellent mail service, +which the national government conducted much more satisfactorily than it +could have been done by private enterprise. + +“The local governments, also, had full control of the highways and +bridges and the common schools, hospitals, etc., while in large +communities, at great expense, they stored and distributed water for +domestic and other purposes. As the people had received undoubted +benefits from this state of things, there were few to object to it, and +even their objection was more for theoretical than practical reasons. It +is not strange, therefore, that as the troublous times approached +these functions of the state should be multiplied. Besides the gain in +convenience and in cost that thus came to the people, they began to +rely on the strong arm of the government for protection from the +uncertainties and interruptions incident to private control of many +kinds of business. + +“As the telegraph and telephone came into more general use the +government found it necessary to add their facilities to the mail +service, in order to give the people the best means of communication. +From this point the step was soon taken of assuming control of all +the telegraph and telephone lines, in the interest of lower prices and +better service. This was attended with such good results that it +was thought wise to extend the conveniences of the mail in another +direction; and instead of carrying a few small parcels the government +took into its hands the entire express business, and it was not long +before everybody conceded it to be a good move. + +“At the same time, the municipal governments began to exhibit the same +paternal character. They first took control of the lighting and heating +facilities, and this led in a short time to their furnishing the people +with fuel, which was generally brought from a distance, and which, in +private hands, always had a way of going up in price at just the time +when the poor people were obliged to buy it. For the sake of economy, +also, the cities took possession of all street cars, cabs, and +omnibuses. + +“Affairs had reached this condition when the labor troubles became so +serious, and this absorption of private business by the government was +so recent and was in general so satisfactory, that men could but think +of it in connection with their efforts to solve the industrial problems. +The time had now come when some radical measures must be adopted to +preserve and extend civilization. The labor party were abusing their +power still more in making bad laws, and strikes became more frequent, +and were followed by rioting and bloodshed. At length the interruptions +to business occasioned by the irregularities in traveling became +unbearable. The public demanded better service, but the railroad +companies were powerless to render it, being in the hands of the +employees, who at the slightest grievance would stop every wheel till +the dispute was settled. The trouble generally started with one road and +spread to the others by sympathy, and the result was just as disastrous +to business whether the men gained their end or not. + +“There had always been a party, although at times pretty feeble, in +favor of government control of the entire transportation business. This +party now argued that that was the only thing that would cure these +evils, and they gained thereby many new adherents. When it was +considered that government ownership of the telegraph was working well +in spite of many adverse prophecies, the people began to entertain +the idea that it would perhaps be best to try the experiment with +the railroads, especially as it gave some promise of relief from the +strikes. To be sure, it would add to the government service immense +numbers of men, and increase a danger that had always been threatening, +that of making too large a list of civil officers to be managed without +great corruption. + +“But now it was not long before a large majority of the people asked to +have the trial made, and soon all railroads, canals, and steamboats were +in the hands of the general government. The employees were formed into +an army, with officers of all grades, and put under strict military +discipline. At the least show of insubordination a man was discharged, +never to be reemployed, and although this caused some hardship in +individual cases at first, it put an effectual stop to the strikes +and kept business moving. The best of the workmen had been among the +strongest advocates of national ownership, and as the movement gained +in favor no class were so satisfied with the change as the employees +themselves. Work was steady, wages were regular, faithfulness and +length of service were rewarded, and the aged and feeble were retired on +pensions. + +“In this way peace had come in one department of labor, but war still +raged among the manufacturers and in the building and other trades. The +workingmen literally held the reins in society, but did not know enough +to drive away from the rocks. Instead of taking advantage of shorter +hours and higher wages to improve their minds and prepare themselves +for a better condition, they were too apt to waste their energies +in denouncing the capitalists and in trying to force still greater +concessions from their unwilling employers. They would loudly demand +that every ancient wrong endured by them should be redressed, and then, +to show their idea of right, they would compel a builder, in the middle +of a contract, where time was more precious than money, to give +them higher wages than had been agreed on; or they would boycott to +bankruptcy a small shopkeeper who innocently bought goods that happened +to be made by non-union workmen. + +“But do not imagine that the wrong was all on one side. There +were employers who were unjust and cruel when they had the power, +unreasonable in argument, and boorish and exasperating in their manners. +Many seemed to think they were a different class of beings because they +had more money than their workmen, and they resented the idea of the +latter rising above the station in which they were born. They raised +wages only when forced to do so, and considered any amount of profit +made out of their men perfectly legitimate. When want came they would +give in charity to the unfortunate ones that which really belonged to +them by right. These disagreeable qualities were not possessed alone by +such as were employers. There was a class of rich people not engaged in +business, and although they had the greatest interest in the perpetuity +of society as it was, many of them considered themselves as members of +a superior caste, and looked down with disdain upon the majority of +mankind, and the real masters of the situation, who had to work for +their daily bread. + +“It was against this class especially that anarchy was forging its +thunderbolt. The freedom of the press and freedom of speech gave the +socialist and anarchist the opportunity to promulgate their seditious +doctrines, and they looked to the ignorant and depraved portions of the +community for adherents. By the successful risings of the people against +despotic power the word ‘revolution’ had gained a certain nobility of +sound and meaning, and now these incendiaries employed it to mislead the +credulous. They promised an overturning by which all property and money +should become a common fund and be redistributed on a more equitable +basis, and it is perhaps not to be wondered at that some poor, ignorant +ones, seeing the vast inequalities in life, should be carried away with +their arguments. The vision of a society where all should share alike +and live on the same scale of comfort was intoxicating. But the scheme +of the anarchist was not based on love and a desire to promote true +brotherhood. Judging from the violent means proposed to bring about +the change, it seemed rather to be based on hate. In preaching their +doctrine of personal license they were stealing the livery of freedom in +which to serve their selfish lusts. + +“While the vicious and ignorant thus threatened society on the one hand, +the accumulation of enormous wealth by a few fortunate, or unfortunate, +men was thought by some to be a menace equally serious. It was argued +that this could not go on without making the poor poorer and more +numerous, and thus emphasizing and perpetuating the separation of the +two classes. + +“I need not point out to you a fact that you must realize, namely, that +the spring of action with too many men, the one cause of the troubles +that really threatened the foundations of society, was selfishness. +Can you imagine any danger from all these movements if men could have +suddenly become unselfish, really unselfish? + +“I hope I have not given you the idea that all the world of people had +lost their heads. As in the history of nations of that period war seems +to have been the principal occupation, so in the social life of the +people the evils and dangers are most prominently seen. But all this +time there was a large party of men and women who were alive to the +perils of the hour, and intent on seeking the best means to overcome +them. This party was made up of many representatives of every class, +rich and poor, workingmen and employers, and included the great mass of +the intelligent and thoughtful members of society. + +“The general and local governments were carrying on, with marked success +and without friction, certain kinds of business, while in many other +departments there were disorder and possible ruin. Time brought no +healing power; the troubles increased and were now truly gigantic. Where +should help be found?” + +As Thorwald paused here, the doctor, who, I thought, had been wanting to +speak for some time, took occasion to say: + +“Don’t tell us, Thorwald, that this people turned over all their +business, both industrial and professional, to the government, and made +machines of themselves. I am becoming exceedingly interested in them and +hope they found some better release from their woes. I am sure there are +a number of methods of relief which they might have tried.” + +“I am glad you have spoken, Doctor,” answered Thorwald, “or I might have +talked you to death. We must really break off now and get out of doors.” + +Mona listened to different portions of the foregoing conversation. +It was dull amusement for her, as we could see by her actions, and we +wondered at first why she showed so little interest in it. She did not +seem to realize the full significance of her unique position in our +circle. As the last representative of the race of moon men, she had +now the opportunity of learning something of the history of two sister +worlds, and one would suppose that she would have been eager to hear +every word we said. She had expressed herself more than once as anxious +to know all any of us could tell her, nor did she hesitate to ask +questions continually--and intelligent questions, too. But she was +sympathetic only in certain directions, having a laudable curiosity to +hear about any of the pleasant phases of society, either on the earth or +on Mars. But when Thorwald talked of the former troubles experienced by +his race, or when we compared these with the miseries of our own times +on the earth, Mona became an indifferent listener. + +She was sitting with us when Thorwald proposed the out-door exercise, +and so we all went out together. As we walked, Thorwald said: + +“Mona, I fear you have not been enjoying my tedious talk this morning. +You would be better pleased, I am sure, with some other topic.” + +In her sweet accents, so charming to every ear, Mona responded: + +“I hope my lack of attention did not give you offense, Thorwald, but I +do not understand the things you have talked about to-day.” + +“Not understand? Why, I know from former conversations with you that +such things are not beyond your comprehension.” + +“Thank you,” said Mona, “but I think they are, for I never before heard +anything like the ideas you have advanced.” + +“We shall all be glad to learn, then, how these questions were answered +and these wrongs righted by your ancestors.” + +“They never had any such perplexities,” responded Mona. + +“Which means, I presume,” said Thorwald, “that the race became so far +advanced before your time that the records and traditions of their early +struggles were all forgotten.” + +“Oh, no,” she sang out, “that’s not it. What had they to struggle over?” + +“Was it then so easy for them to be just?” asked Thorwald. + +“Certainly, and I have been exceedingly surprised to learn by your long +talk that there is such a thing as injustice.” + +We were all becoming thoroughly interested, but left it for Thorwald to +continue his questions. + +“Mona,” said he, “do you mean that your people, even in the remote past, +were entirely ignorant of such troubles as we have been speaking about?” + +“Yes, and of all other troubles. I am sure there was always only peace +and happiness on the moon. Strife and hatred, sorrow, want, and misery +are all strange words to me, and entirely unknown except as I have heard +them in your conversation.” + +“Was there never any sickness there?” I asked. + +“I don’t know the meaning of the word,” she replied. “Is it another item +in the general unpleasantness of the times you have been describing? I +wonder that your race, Thorwald, ever survived those rude days.” + +“But,” asked Thorwald, “what think you of the earth? The doctor and his +companion say their planet is now passing through just such a period.” + +“Well, all I can say is that I am thankful I was not discovered till +after the moon had deserted the earth.” + +“Tell us more about your race,” said the doctor. “Were they all as good +as you are?” + +“Just the same. There were no degrees in goodness.” + +“And did they all sing as they talked, and in such sweet tones as +yours?” I asked. + +“Oh, many sang better than I do, and all made music of their words. I +never heard speech that was not melodious till you and the doctor came +to see me.” + +“And did everything else in your life there correspond to your charming +manner of talking?” asked Thorwald. + +“Why, yes, I think so,” answered Mona. “It was a delightful world. +Everything was bright and joyous, with no shadow of discontent nor +anything to cause sadness or discomfort. Do you wonder that I could not +sympathize with your story of wrongs and sorrows, the very nature of +which was a new revelation to me?” + +Mona’s notions about the people whom she represented seemed strange and +improbable to us, and we attributed them to the influence of her own +guileless nature. One so innocent and whole-hearted as she was would +naturally clothe her ancestors with at least the virtues and graces she +herself possessed. However, we had no means of proving Mona’s ideas to +be false. We had brought away from the moon no records of any kind by +which to study its history, and of that history Mona was as yet our +only interpreter. But every word she spoke on this subject only added +intensity to the pleasurable anticipation with which these Martians +looked forward to their study of the moon and its former inhabitants. + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. + +It was not till the next day that we sat down together again to continue +the conversation. Remembering what the doctor had said, Thorwald began: + +“In sketching for you the history of that age of activity and change in +our career, I was in such fear of wearying you with dry details that I +hurried along and omitted the very things to which you refer, Doctor. +This people did try all the experiments that suggested themselves, +and if you think your patience will endure it I will speak of a few of +them.” + +We both assured him that we would gladly listen, and that we considered +ourselves fortunate in having such an instructor. He was merely telling +us about a certain period in the history of Mars, but if he had known +how nearly he had been coming to the course of events on the earth he +would not have wondered that we were so eager to hear all he had to say. + +“Quite early in the labor difficulties,” he resumed, “state arbitration +had its day; a short one, however, for the appointment of the +arbitrators soon became a matter of partisan politics, and their +influence was gone. Whichever side was in power could appoint a board +that would be prejudiced in favor of that side from the start, and when +the trouble came the other party would not have confidence enough in +their judgment to accept their decision. + +“Next, laws were passed making arbitration compulsory, but allowing the +arbitrators to be chosen at the time of the strike, the employer to name +one, the workmen one, and these two to find the third. This did some +good as long as only first class men were selected, but a few flagrant +cases occurred where the arbitrators, who were allowed to inspect the +books of the concern, made public the private affairs of the business, +to the great injury of the owners. This brought the law into disfavor, +and, as there was no provision for enforcing the decisions, it came to +pass that they were often disregarded, and so, before long, this plan of +settling disputes was also abandoned. + +“For a good many years no other subject so completely filled the public +mind as this very troublesome one, and people of all professions were +continually suggesting remedies. It was held by many to be a good +working theory that the employees in every business, whether industrial, +mercantile, or financial, were entitled to some share in the profits +over and above their compensation in wages. This was disputed by the +large majority of the employers, who claimed that their contract with +the workmen was a simple one, by which they agreed to work so many hours +for so much pay, and as this was their due even if the business proved +a losing one, so they had no just claim to anything more if it were +successful the employees had nothing to do or say about the question +of profits. On the other hand, where a number of men had, by long and +faithful service, a strict regard for the welfare of the business, and +loyalty to all of the employer’s interests, helped to build up a great +industry, an increasing number of people, not only the wage earners but +many others not directly interested, felt that the workmen had +fairly gained, if not a share in the proprietorship, at least some +consideration from the owners. This feeling was especially strong in +cases where the laws of the land had materially aided the success of the +business, and where the profits were unusually large. + +“I want to say, in passing, that it is by such indications as the +existence of this sentiment that we can see, all through those troublous +times, the gradual improvement of the race. + +“As some of the employers came to be impressed with the same thought, +they began in a quiet way trying the experiment of giving their men a +bonus at the end of the year, proportioned to the amount of wages they +earned. In some cases this gave place after a time to the plan of making +the workmen regular partners, and giving them a certain percentage of +the profits in lieu of wages. But when a time of general depression came +and the percentage did not amount to as much as their old pay had been, +the men felt as though they had been led into a trap, and after they had +endured the situation for a time they were glad to return to the former +system. + +“Another scheme that was extensively tried was cooperation among the +workingmen, both in manufacturing and mercantile business. The argument, +which was a plausible one, was that the expense of big salaries for +management, together with the enormous profits, would all be available +for dividends. The results showed that in the long run the profits, in +all but exceptional cases, were not more than a fair interest on the +investment, and as to the salaries, it was found that financial and +business ability was scarce and costly, and yet necessary to success. +The associations of workingmen were willing to put their money into +buildings, machinery, and stock, and the men were ready to work hard +themselves, but they were not willing to pay for skill in management, +and so their failure was inevitable. At the same time they still held +to the opinion, which was at the bottom of these experiments, that under +the old system the owners and managers of the business got too much +of the profits and the operatives too little. Is there anything else, +Doctor, that you think these people might have tried?” + +“I am not satisfied,” the doctor answered, “with their efforts +at profit-sharing. It seems to me that that scheme, under proper +management, ought to have brought the two classes together by giving +them a common interest in every enterprise, and so to have gradually +done away with all bitterness and strife. Employers might have used a +part of their surplus profits in building better houses for their men, +in giving them instruction as to a nobler way of living, in opening +libraries and bath-houses and cooking schools and savings banks, in +keeping them insured against sickness and death, and in doing a thousand +things to show the men that they were thoughtful of their comfort and +welfare. If the workmen could discover by such means that the employers +were really their friends, I think it must have disarmed their hatred +and antagonism. Then if, with these benefits, they could have received +in money a small percentage above their usual wages, they would +certainly have repaid such friendliness by a service so faithful and an +industry so constant as to more than make up, in increased profits, for +all the philanthropic expenditures.” + +“Doctor,” said Thorwald, “I am pleased to see you take such an interest +in this subject. You talk as though you had thought of it before, and +you have outlined almost the exact course pursued by the people of whom +we are speaking. Hundreds of such experiments were tried and persisted +in for a long time, both before the serious labor troubles began +and after. Among their strongest advocates were men of theory in the +professions, who were actuated by high motives but did not appreciate +the practical difficulties. They were pretty sure they could get along +with the workingmen without so much friction. But the profit-sharing +scheme also had the aid of many excellent men among the employers, as I +have said. However, for one reason or another, the experiments all +came to naught. In some cases great expense was entered into to provide +comforts for the workmen, and after a few prosperous years depression +followed and the proprietors found they had undertaken too much. Several +large failures, brought about by such lack of judgment, helped to +produce disappointment and discouragement. Then it was found by +experience that the evil-disposed among the workmen were not to be +converted into honest, industrious, and faithful employees in any such +wholesale manner. Making men over could not be done in the block. There +never had been any difficulty in dealing with the sober, reasonable, +well-intentioned men. The trouble had all come from the vicious, the +incompetent, and the shiftless ones. And the more privileges this class +obtained, the more they demanded. If their working day was made shorter +in order to give them the opportunity of taking advantage of the free +facilities for improving their minds, they loudly demanded another +hour each day and frequent holidays, with the liberty of spending their +leisure time as best suited their tastes. If they were given a share +of the profits, they complained because it was so small a share, and +thought they were being cheated when the proprietors would not let +them inspect the books to see if the profits were not larger than +represented. Then as partners they claimed the right to be consulted +in the management of the business. Such demands brought on disputes, of +course; and the natural result was that strikes were not unknown even in +these humanitarian establishments. As the labor organizations were then +in full blast the better class of men were drawn into the strikes, which +sometimes became so serious that the owners were compelled to give up +their philanthropic efforts and go back to the old system of giving what +they were obliged to and getting what they could in return. + +“In general, employers found they had still an unanswered problem on +their hands. An undue spirit of independence had been fostered among a +class of uneducated, ill-natured, and thick-headed workmen, and society +was rocked to its foundation in the effort to keep them within bounds.” + +“Will you let me make another suggestion, Thorwald?” asked the doctor. +“Why did not all classes approach this difficulty in a businesslike way +and work together to remove it? Why did not the state see that the right +of private contract was a safe and useful one for all sides, and +cease to infringe on it by law? Why did not the public teachers make a +combined and continued effort to instill a conciliatory spirit into both +sides, and to show how peace and brotherly feeling would be a mutual +blessing? Why did not the employers--not one here and there, but all of +them--treat their men as they would like to be treated in their place, +make friends with them, talk reason even to unreasonable men, speak +kindly to the unfriendly ones, urge the value of sobriety upon the +intemperate, teach the incompetent, sympathize with the unfortunate, try +to reclaim the vicious instead of turning them off harshly, and in every +way strive to prove themselves to the men as beings of the same flesh +and blood with them? And why did not the workingmen receive what +was done for them with the right spirit--give up their envious and +suspicious feelings, improve every precious chance of getting knowledge, +work for their employers as they would for themselves, cease to use +the power of the unions unjustly, cultivate amicable relations with +everybody, and try in all possible ways to make true men of themselves? +If the men had worked along this line they would have found they were +bettering themselves in every way faster than they could by strikes and +conflicts.” + +“Ah! Doctor,” replied Thorwald, “you have now the true solution. Such +action would have annihilated the difficulties in a day. But to suppose +every employer and every workman capable of following such good advice +is to suppose that the world had then reached an almost ideal condition. +The very existence and character of the troubles show how imperfect men +were. It was a common saying then that human nature was the same as it +had been in the earliest days and that it would never change while the +world should stand. This was a mistaken view, for there had been a great +change. The heart had lost much of its selfishness and had begun to +grasp in some slight measure a sense of that distant but high destiny to +which it had been called.” + +“If the world,” said the doctor, “was not good enough for these troubles +to be cured by kindness, I am anxious to know how they were healed. I +am sure you can tell us, for those people were your remote ancestors and +you are far removed from such vexations now.” + +“That is true,” said Thorwald. “I can tell you how this social problem +was solved, and how our race has found release from the many dangers +that have threatened us. It has not been by man’s device or invention. +But God, whose arm alone has been our defense, has always called men +to his aid, and thus, in his own time and way, help has come in every +crisis. The most important changes in society have been brought about +gradually and without violence, and with that hint I think we had better +leave this subject for the present. Some day I want to go over with you +briefly the history of the work and influence of the gospel of Jesus in +the world, and it will then be fitting to refer again to the period of +which we have just now been speaking. + +“I am sure you will find it a great relief for me to change the subject, +or stop talking.” + +“We will not object to your changing the subject,” said I, “whenever you +think it best, but we shall try to keep you talking till we know a great +deal more about Mars than we do now.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +WINE-DRINKING IN MARS. + + +I went downstairs the next morning before the doctor was ready, and when +I met Thorwald I said, without thought: “A fine morning.” + +“Yes,” he replied, “all our mornings are fine. I do not mean that the +sun is always shining or that we do not have clouds and a variety of sky +effects, but we know the clouds can be depended on not to give rain till +night.” + +“Do you not lose something by having a perpetual calm?” I asked. “For +I understand the rain in the night comes only in gentle showers. In our +rough world some of us enjoy the grandeur of the storm.” + +“How about those who are exposed to its fury?” asked Thorwald in reply. +“I do not see how anyone can really enjoy what is sure to be bringing +sorrow or even inconvenience to others. Could a mother take pleasure in +a tempest if she knew her son was in danger of shipwreck from it? Why +should it change her feeling to know her son was by her side and that it +was only strangers that were in danger?” + +“But,” continued Thorwald, “are you and your friend ready for an +excursion to-day? If you are, I propose to give you a new experience.” + +“We shall be delighted to accompany you, and as I see breakfast is ready +I will go up and tell the doctor to hurry.” + +“Oh, I wouldn’t do that,” exclaimed Thorwald. “You must try to learn to +live as we do, and you will remember I said the other day that we are +never in haste. If, for example, it were Zenith who was late, I should +never think of calling to her to hurry, for I should know she must have +a good excuse for staying. Her liberty of action is as valuable to her +as mine to me, and however long she might keep me waiting, I should +feel sure that her action was the result of right motives and correct +reasoning. If the doctor does not appear, we can easily postpone +our excursion to to-morrow. There would be no lack of occupation for +to-day.” + +“What a delightful feeling it must be,” I said, “to be always free from +hurry. It is the commonest experience in our imperfect state for one to +start a few minutes late in the morning, and then be on a constant jump +all day to make them up. One of the evils of our driving age is the +wear and tear of our nerves in what we consider a necessary haste to get +there.” + +“Get where?” asked Thorwald. + +“To get anywhere or to do anything that we set out to accomplish,” I +answered. + +“I fear,” said Thorwald, “that I have talked too much about Mars and +not insisted enough on hearing about the earth. Suppose something should +happen to break off your visit?” + +“You wouldn’t miss much, Thorwald.” + +“We certainly should regret exceedingly not learning many things that +you could tell us,” he said. + +“Yes,” I answered, “but you cannot profit by our experiences, while we +of the earth are in a condition where we need all the help and advice +you have for us. If we ever return to our home we want to tell all about +your advanced civilization and how you have overcome the evils that vex +our race. But I wonder why the doctor doesn’t come. I think I will go +and see, but I promise not to interfere with his liberty of action.” I +soon returned with my friend, and we all went to breakfast. The doctor +said he would not eat much, as he felt somewhat indisposed. Here was +something new in the life of this household, and each one began to +express sympathy and ask what could be done. The doctor was amused, and +I said I thought a good, hearty breakfast would make him all right. But +Thorwald insisted that something unusual should be done, although his +inexperience was so great that nothing feasible suggested itself at +first. Zenith was in favor of all repairing to the library, hunting +up the histories of the days when people were ill, and finding out +the proper remedy for his ailment. This would have been a logical +proceeding, but I thought to myself that they did not understand the +value of time in such cases and that the doctor would probably either +recover or die while they were at work. + +As I did not appear to be any more alarmed than my companion was, the +excitement soon subsided. But Thorwald was not satisfied yet, and after +some further thought his face brightened and he asked me if a glass of +good wine would not be the thing for the doctor. When I replied that it +would probably not hurt him, Thorwald told his son to go and bring up a +bottle of the oldest wine in the cellar, and soon not only the patient +but the members of the family and myself were all partaking. No more was +heard after this of the doctor’s indisposition, and Thorwald no doubt +felicitated himself that he had effected a cure. The situation was +rather suggestive to me, and while we were drinking, and eating our +breakfast, I could not refrain from saying: + +“If some of our friends on the earth could see us now, Thorwald, +we would be discredited in all that we might say about your higher +condition. It would do no good to expatiate on your ripe character +and on your attainments in knowledge and virtue. I fear they would not +believe much of it if they knew that you not only drank wine yourselves, +but encouraged its use by giving it to your guests.” + +“Why,” said Thorwald, “you could tell them the wine was brought out to +be used as a medicine, and that the rest of us drank to keep the doctor +company. But when you see your friends you had better tell them the +truth at once, that while we all take wine here frequently this is the +only instance where I have ever known it to be used medicinally.” + +“They would tell us,” said the doctor, “that you have made one mistake +at least, and that it is a dangerous thing to have wine in the house, +and especially to give it to children.” + +“He would have a very gross and imperfect conception of our character,” + said Thorwald, “who should have the thoughts which you express. I can +judge something of the nature of the feeling which you say exists on the +earth, however, for only a few days ago I was reading a full account of +the different temperance movements on our planet. Few subjects in our +history are more interesting. Do not despise the temperance reformers, +and if you think they are sometimes too radical you can afford to excuse +that for the sake of the absolute good they accomplish. All through +the early part of our career there was a perpetual warfare against the +drinking habit. At first wine was an ordinary article of food, and in +some countries more commonly used for drinking than water. There was +much abuse of it, but in general people used it as a matter of course, +without thinking they were any more responsible for the drunkards than +they were for the intemperate in eating. But the evil of overdrinking +increased, and some religious reformers found that the easiest way +to check it was to forbid all use of intoxicants. Here is an extreme +example that I have read of what one such reformer taught: ‘If a single +drop of alcoholic liquor should fall into a well one hundred and fifty +feet deep, and if the well should afterwards be filled up and grass grow +over it, and a sheep should eat of the grass, then my followers must +not partake of that mutton.’ Could any of your prohibitionists be more +radical than that? + +“In later times many kinds of strong and poisonous drinks were made, +and untold harm was done by their use. Drunkenness was the most fruitful +source of crime and misery; it, more than any other cause, filled the +jails, the almshouses and the insane asylums; it kept men in poverty +and squalor; it scattered families and changed men, and sometimes women, +too, into beasts. No class or profession was free from the evil, for +it disqualified the scholar and statesman for their duties just as it +unfitted the laborer for his daily task. It helped to debauch politics +and public morals, while it brought disgrace and ruin to private +reputation and character. More money was lost by it than was spent to +educate and Christianize the world, and it cost more precious lives than +war and pestilence combined. Being a crime utterly selfish and debasing, +as well as extremely tenacious of its hold upon the individual life, it +was almost the greatest enemy to the spread of the gospel. + +“Was there anything in the way of good to be said of the drinking habit +to offset all this harm? Men drank to be sociable and companionable and +to please their friends, and when the habit was fastened on them found +they had lost every friend of value. They took to their cups to drown +their sorrow, and found a sorrow more poignant among the dregs. They +began the moderate use of stimulants to give strength to the body or +activity to the brain, and discovered when too late that their abuse +had brought down in common ruin both body and mind. No, it is impossible +that anyone should ever attempt to make an argument in favor of +drunkenness. + +“The more active the age the more prevalent was this evil, but +the greater, also, was the determination to overthrow it. When the +conscience was quickened by the growth of Christianity and men’s lives +became more valued, many persistent efforts were made to stamp out the +crime of intoxication. + +“Numerous societies were organized and good men and women entered +heartily into the work. Every argument was used to show the danger of +the drink habit and to teach the beauty and value of sobriety, appeal +being made both to the reason and the conscience. The power of the state +was invoked and punishment administered to the drunkards, while the +manufacture and sale of intoxicants were restricted and sometimes +prohibited. We see how firm a hold this evil had on all classes when we +read that very often public sentiment would not permit these beneficent +laws to be enforced. In all great reforms the apathy of a large part of +the people has been a most discouraging feature. + +“Of course it was never intrinsically wrong to drink a glass of wine, +but in view of the enormous amount of sorrow and trouble caused by +overdrinking, can it be wondered at that many earnest souls came to +abhor everything in the nature of intoxicating drink, and to practice +and insist on total abstinence? Oh, I can tell you if I lived on the +earth now I should be a radical of the radicals on this subject.” + +“Notwithstanding which,” said I, “here you are sitting at your own table +and pouring into our glasses this delicious wine.” + +As a smile passed around at this remark it was Zenith who said: + +“Do you see anything incongruous in that?” + +I paused a moment to choose a reply, when the doctor spoke up with: + +“Far be it from us, Zenith, with our earth-born ideas, to even seem to +pass judgment in this happy place, but I presume my companion was trying +to imagine what our temperance friends, who do not know you, would say.” + +“As for us,” said Thorwald, “I trust we shall be justified in your eyes +at least, before we are through, but let us inquire about those whom you +call your temperance friends. I suppose they would have a poor opinion +of a man who was loud in his public advocacy of temperance and yet drank +wine at home.” + +“I think,” I replied, “that I have heard some such term as ‘hypocrite’ +applied to men of that class.” + +“And yet,” continued Thorwald, “they would think it perfectly proper for +a man to keep razors away from his children, but at the same time have +one or more concealed about the house somewhere for his own use. It +might very easily be argued that razors were dangerous things under any +conditions; the children might find them by accident and do great harm +to themselves or others; the man himself, though accustomed to their +moderate use, might, in a moment of overconfidence, go too far and +inflict a serious injury on himself or even a fatal one; and, further, +it might be said that razors are of no real use to men, for nature knows +best what is needed for protection, and if hair on the face was not +necessary for the well-being of man it would not grow there. This +argument could be pushed until, under an awakened public sentiment, the +manufacture and sale of razors might be prohibited. + +“I have said this to introduce a plea for tolerance of opinion. You were +created, I have no doubt, as we were, with different temperaments and +inclinations, which, with various kinds of education, produce different +opinions. You cannot all have the same mind on any given subject, nor +all approve of the same methods of reform, but you will make but little +progress in true temperance until you can bury minor differences and +all work together. You must learn that everything that has been made, +whether produced by the direct hand of God or through the agency of man, +has its proper use. Do you say that some people would express the wish +that everything intoxicating could be destroyed from the earth, as +having no proper use? All the evil in it will surely be removed, but the +good will remain. At present it is one of the stubborn obstructions in +your thorny path. If your way were to be suddenly made smooth and easy +your race would never learn self-denial, the only road that leads to a +higher state. Your present imperfect life is a daily conflict, and it is +only by battles won and temptations overcome that you will ever be built +up into virtuous and God-like characters. + +“I said you must be tolerant. I can conceive that a man might feel +perfectly safe in the use of wine and have no scruples of any kind +against it, and yet be sincere in urging people in general to totally +abstain from it on account of the harm some might receive. This man must +not be denied a place in the temperance ranks. Another might think it a +sin to touch a drop. One might believe the only right way to deal with +the subject would be to prohibit the sale entirely, another would think +more might be done by some other method of restriction. All that I have +read of our experiences goes to prove that the people of the earth +will never drive out this evil till all shades of temperance people get +Christianity enough into their hearts to unite on a broad platform and +work as one army with a single purpose.” + +“Will you not tell us,” I asked, “how the reform was finally effected on +Mars?” + +“Like all other true reforms,” replied Thorwald, “it came about through +the sanctified commonsense of the church of God, not suddenly by any +means, but gradually and only after many years of severe struggle. +A combined effort of all good people, especially women, working with +spiritual as well as moral weapons, produced an impression which was +lasting. When men were taught from their childhood the dangers which +accompany the drinking habit; when one class of people denied themselves +all indulgence for the sake of the class who were weak; when drinking +became a disgrace, and those who could not keep sober were taken in +charge by the state and permanently separated from the rest of the +community; when the church awoke to its full duty and the rich poured +out their money; when men and women forgot fashion and pride and caste +in their love for the practical work of Christianity; when the power of +the gospel had strengthened men’s will and had begun to plant in +every heart a love for something purer than fleshly appetite; when the +spiritual part of our nature began to gain the ascendency and to occupy +the place for which it was made; then intemperance loosed its hold and +soon disappeared, never to trouble us again. + +“You see it was a long road with us and I have no doubt it will prove +so on the earth, but do not on that account lose courage. And let me +counsel both of you to join the ranks of the reformers when you get +home. + +“Although intemperate drinking has long been unknown among us, as well +as all other gross imperfections of character, we still make good wine, +and no more danger is felt in drinking it than in using milk. Everybody +can have all he wants of it. Our tables may be supplied with the +luxuries of every clime, but we have learned that it is best for us to +be temperate in both eating and drinking. I am sorry your temperance +friends, as you say, would not approve of us, but when you see them +I trust you will do what you can to let them understand that such +temptations as this of which we have been speaking belong to the +childhood of a race, and that the people of Mars have long since passed +out of infancy.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +A GENUINE ACCIDENT. + + +Mona did not feel obliged to be present at our conversations after she +had explained her position to us, but I saw her many times every day. I +tried to respect her feeling and avoid the subject which still occupied +so many of my thoughts. I fought against my passion, which I told myself +was unmanly, since it was not returned in the good, old-fashioned way. +What man of spirit would submit to the enchantment of one who, while +professing she loved him with her whole heart, declared in the same +breath that she also loved equally well half a dozen others? I tried +to make up my mind to shake off the spell and be free. To this end +I endeavored to examine my heart with the purpose of discovering if +possible the secret of Mona’s power over me. + +I was sure I could not be weak enough to be held so firmly by her beauty +alone, lovely as she was. Her mental equipment did not seem to furnish +the ground for such a deep attachment, and I could not believe that +I was good enough to be so powerfully drawn to her by the inimitable +character of her spiritual nature. What, then, was the attraction? It +was not far to seek. What was it that first moved me, before I had ever +seen her? What accomplishment was it that always came to my mind first +when I thought of her? In short, what would Mona, silent, be? I could +hardly imagine. But then, she was not silent, and I knew well enough +that, struggle as I night, I never could successfully resist the subtle +charm of that voice. + +So, as I saw no escape for me, I next began to study how I could infuse +into Mona’s love for me something more of the personal element. How +could I teach her to love me just a little for myself alone? Evidently +she had been educated in an atmosphere of the most uncompromising +monotony. Where everybody loved everybody what chance could there be for +lovers? I wondered what would move Mona. Some heroic action which should +appeal to her sympathies would probably do it. She had been pleased with +the part I had taken in discovering her retreat in the moon, and perhaps +something else in that line would help me. But what was there one could +possibly do in Mars which could be called heroic? I should have to +ask Thorwald if he could think of anything I could do to arouse the +imagination of Mona and bring her a little closer to me. + +Not long after I had been indulging in these conflicting thoughts I had +a more promising opportunity than I had hoped for of showing Mona that I +could do something besides make love to her. + +One morning she came to me and said she would like to go out for a long +ride. As I never lost an opportunity of being alone with her I eagerly +accepted this one and hurried off with her, lest any other member of +the household should appear and propose to accompany us. Mona was as +agreeable as ever, and chirruped away in her musical style as we walked +down the hill in search of just the right carriage. We soon found one +which pleased us, and as I was by this time perfectly at home in the +management of these vehicles, we started off at a brisk pace along a +road which took us through a charming section of the country. It made +me happy to reflect that this pleasant ride was at Mona’s suggestion. +Although she had peculiar views about my manner of wooing, she did not +shun my company, and I could not refuse to believe she really loved +me as she said. I turned on more power, and as our speed became +exhilarating I said to my companion: + +“Mona, they will think we have eloped.” + +“Excuse me,” came out in sweet notes, “you will have to explain.” + +“Dear me, were your people so very proper that you don’t even know the +meaning of that word? Didn’t they ever do anything wrong?” + +“Oh, is it wrong to elope?” + +“That depends entirely on the point of view. But I cannot explain +further without bringing up the subject which you have forbidden me to +speak about.” + +“What subject is that? I have forgotten that I have ever put you under +such a prohibition.” + +“Why, the subject that is always nearest my heart and nearest my lips, +the subject of my great love for you, dear Mona, so different from my +regard for any other person.” + +“Oh, I remember now, but I assure you I had forgotten all about it.” + And here her voice suddenly lost much of its tenderness and assumed a +character which she rarely employed, as she continued, “But let us not +discuss that topic again. I already know all you have to say on it, and +why should we waste our time with such useless talk when there are so +many more valuable things to occupy our attention?” + +“Forgive me,” I exclaimed. “If you will promise me not to sing in that +tone again I will talk about anything you wish.” + +“I agree,” she responded, and never did her accents sound sweeter. + +Somehow I was not so much affected by Mona’s coldness this time as +before, and I was able to recover my cheerfulness at once. I then +determined to give her no occasion for another rebuff if I could help +it, but to do all in my power to entertain her with what she called +sensible conversation. There were many things connected with society on +the earth in which she took a lively interest, and I made a great effort +to talk myself into her favor, so that she would not say again that she +preferred the doctor’s company to mine. + +We had been riding a couple of hours or more, generally at a swift pace, +when, from a high point in the road, we saw we were approaching the +shore of the sea or a large lake. + +Mona was so delighted with the view that I said: + +“If we can find any kind of a boat on the shore we will have a ride on +the water.” + +“Can you manage a boat?” she asked. + +“Oh, yes, if it is not too large.” + +“But it may be some new kind, something you are not acquainted with.” + +“Then I shall have to study it out. But you are not afraid to go on the +water with me, are you?” + +“If there is anything in this pleasant world to give me fear it is water +in such mass as that,” she replied, stretching out her hand toward the +sea. + +“But I thought you were afraid of nothing,” said I. + +“You have taught me the word,” she responded, “and I hardly know its +meaning yet, but I must acknowledge that I shrink from the ocean. Its +vastness, so much water, overwhelms me. You know it is many, many years +since the moon had any large bodies of water.” + +“So it is,” I exclaimed, “and everything will be new to you. What sport +we shall have, and I shall make it my business to see that the water +does not harm you.” + +We hurried down to the shore and found the prettiest little boat I had +ever seen all ready for us, as if we had ordered it for the occasion. It +was evidently intended for children, but was fitted with both sails and +oars, and also, I was glad to find, with a little screw and an electric +apparatus to turn it. I was overjoyed with our good fortune, and +prepared at once to embark. But Mona plainly hesitated. She kept up her +musical chatter and tried to be as cheerful as ever, but I saw she was +not as eager for the trip as I was. I did not let her see that I noticed +her manner, however, and went on with my preparations. When I had +brought the boat around so that she could step into it conveniently, she +looked in my face, and asked in a voice which trembled with excitement: + +“Are you sure you understand how to manage it? It is all so strange to +me.” + +She wanted to decline to make the venture, I thought, but her courage +was too great. Now was the time when I proved myself still a son of the +earth, with fallible judgment and a will too much engrossed with self. I +had been wishing for an opportunity to do some difficult thing for +Mona, something noble which should win her affection, and here, when the +chance offered, I did not recognize it. The truly heroic action would +have been to respect Mona’s feeling and give up the idea entirely, for I +knew she had a strong aversion to trusting herself on the water. But +it was really my own pleasure and not hers that I was seeking, for in +answer to her question I said hurriedly: + +“Why, certainly. It is as easy to control as the carriage we have just +left. We’ll not put up the sails if you say so, and I promise to bring +you back all safe and sound in a short time. I am sure you will enjoy +the new experience, and then I want to hear how your voice sounds on the +water.” + +“Well, I will go,” she said, “on your promise to protect me; but I have +the queerest sensation, I don’t know what to call it. Do you think it is +fear?” + +“Oh, no, it can’t be that, because there is nothing to fear. Are you +ready now? Let me take your hand.” + +As she stepped in and felt the motion she realized how unstable the +water really was, and sank down at my feet, emitting an involuntary +note of not very joyful quality. But she showed great bravery and, as +I helped her to a seat, she said she would no doubt enjoy it after a +while. I now shoved the boat out and used the oars a few minutes, +but soon tiring of that exercise, I looked into the operation of the +electric motor and found it quite simple. Turning on the power, the +screw worked to perfection and sent the boat through the water in good +shape. + +Mona was now recovering her spirits, seeing that no harm came to +her, and at my request she sang some of her native songs. This was +delightful, and I resigned myself to the full enjoyment of the occasion. +It seemed to me that the excitement she had just passed through added a +new and pleasing quality to her voice, if that were possible. As I sat +listening and musing, my memory carried me back to the first time I had +heard this marvelous singer, and I could not help contrasting the two +situations. I felicitated myself on my present happiness, for when Mona +was singing I wanted nothing more. I seemed to forget then that she +would not listen to my tale of love, or if I thought of it I attached no +consequence to it. The voice seemed to be a thing by itself, and a thing +which in some way appeared to belong wholly to me, whether Mona was mine +or not. + +She stopped singing after a while and asked if we had better not start +for home. To which I replied: + +“I turned the boat around some time ago, and we are now headed directly +for the place where we found it.” + +When she expressed surprise at this I steered about in various +directions to show her how easily it was done, and then some mischievous +spirit, which. I myself must have imported into Mars, put it into my +head to try and see how fast our little vessel could go. My idea was +partly to satisfy my own curiosity and partly to treat Mona to as +great a variety of sensations as possible. The electric apparatus was +extremely sensitive, and a slight movement of the lever made an instant +increase in our speed. A little more, and we began to go through the +water at quite a handsome rate. I enjoyed it immensely, and if Mona did +not like it she had pluck enough not to make it known. This emboldened +me to put on still more power, which sent the boat ploughing along at +such a velocity that the spray flew all about us and the boat shook so +that we kept our seats with difficulty. Not knowing what I might be led +to do next, and being in reality terribly frightened, if she had only +known what the feeling was, Mona now mildly expostulated with: + +“Isn’t this a little too fast? Something might happen.” + +“Don’t be afraid,” I replied. “I’ll take care of you. The doctor must +have taught you that last word, as it is not used here. You know nothing +ever happens in Mars. Everything goes along in the even tenor of its +way, moved by laws which are fixed and certain. This boat, you see, +is strong and well able to bear the strain. The water is smooth and +contains no hidden rocks, and it is perfectly easy to steer clear of the +shore, which you see is some distance off yet. But now that I have given +you this little excitement, which you will not regret after it is all +over, I will stop the current which produces this great force and bring +in an artificial law, as it were, to override the natural law now in +operation. Just look at this lever and see how easily it is done.” + +I seized the handle, intending to shut off the power suddenly, but by +some unaccountable mistake I turned it the wrong way. Instantly I saw +the bow of the boat jump out of the water and go over our heads, and +then Mona and I realized that something had actually happened on Mars, +for we were both buried under the boat. + +I was the first to extricate myself and come to the surface, and, not +seeing my companion, I thought she was surely lost. I might save her +yet, though, and was just about to dive under the boat again, when her +head appeared insight, only a little way from me, her eyes wide open +and, really, a smile on her face. + +“Can you swim, Mona?” I cried, excitedly. + +She had not the breath to answer or else thought my question +unnecessary. But I soon found my own answer when I saw her head sinking +again just as I had reached her. I clutched her, and, as I held her head +above the water, I began to understand that I had something on my hands +to fulfill my promise to take care of her. At this instant I saw one +of the oars from the boat floating a little way from us and managed to +secure it, holding Mona with one arm and swimming with the other. I now +helped my companion to half support herself by grasping the oar, while +for the rest she was induced to throw an arm over my shoulder. In this +way I was left free to make what progress I could through the water, and +I lost no time in swimming toward the shore, since there was no hope of +our being able to make use of the boat, which now lay, bottom up, on the +surface. + +All this was done without a word from Mona, although I had been talking +to her freely, giving her directions and assuring her of my ability +to save her. As this was her first experience in drowning, she had +evidently been trying to sing under the water and had found it so +difficult that she had determined to keep her lips closed till she was +well out of it. With this thought in my mind I said to her as soon as we +were under way: + +“Your head is so far above water now that you can open your mouth with +perfect safety. You see I can talk, and my head is much lower than +yours.” + +She was so situated that I could not see her face easily, and therefore +I do not know whether she ventured to unstop her lips or not, but no +sound came from them if she did. Perhaps the water still filled her ears +and made her deaf. So I called aloud: + +“Can you hear me, Mona?” + +No answer in words, but I imagined I felt a slight pressure of her hand +on my shoulder. I toiled on, musing over her strange behavior, till +it occurred to me to try a subject which had never failed to bring a +response from her. + +“I hope this will make you more affectionate to me, dear Mona,” I said; +and then, as she made no answer, I continued: + +“If we reach the shore alive and get home safe you will love me more +than you do Foedric, will you not?” + +I thought this would bring an answer, and I was not disappointed, except +in the manner in which it came. Not the faintest note escaped from her +lips, but a throb of feeling came along her arm, and her hand grasped +my shoulder with unmistakable vigor. I suppose she thought I would +understand what this answer meant, but I was puzzled. It might mean so +many things. Perhaps her heart was softening toward me and she was so +much affected by her love for me, stronger and deeper than she had ever +thought it could be, that she dared not speak. With this possibility +in view I began to feel very tender toward her and to experience the +pleasure of one whose love is returned in full measure. + +But then her answer might have quite a different meaning. What if she +were telling me that she had determined never to speak another word on +that subject, and that my question was an offense to her? Surely she +had told me often enough to talk about more sensible things, and perhaps +this was only a new and forcible way of repeating the same injunction. I +reflected, too, that it was hardly fair to take advantage of the present +situation to force upon her a prohibited topic of conversation. + +There was another possible meaning to her manner of answering me. +Perhaps she was indignant because I had insisted on her getting into the +boat with me against her wish, and held me strictly responsible for +all that followed. With this view in mind I imagined she was saying to +herself: + +“I want nothing to say to you. I accept your assistance because I cannot +get to shore without you, but when once out of this dreadful water I +shall have nothing more to do with you.” + +To place against the latter theory I had the fact that Mona’s face had +beamed with pleasure all the time I was getting her fixed so I could +swim freely. Dwelling upon this memory my mind returned to thoughts of +love, and I felt that I must try once more to start that familiar song. +So I said: + +“Forgive me, Mona, if I have offended you, and let me hear your voice +again. You are too good to punish me so severely for my fault in getting +you into this trouble. Will you not cheer me with a few notes while I +bear you safely to the shore?” + +Again a pressure of the hand but no expression from the lips, and I was +left to further conjecture over the strange mood my companion was in. +I swam leisurely, so as not to exhaust my strength, and as there was a +considerable distance to go I had plenty of time to think after I had +found it impossible to induce Mona to enter into conversation. Although +so near, my companion seemed far away, and I became extremely lonesome. +In trying to determine what had occasioned such a mishap in a world +where I had been taught to believe such things entirely out of date, +I came to the conclusion that the Martians owe their freedom from +many misfortunes to their ripened characters, rather than to anything +peculiar in their physical laws. With my imperfect development I had +made an error in judgment in taking Mona upon the water, and with my +untrained mind I had simply made a mistake when I turned the lever of +the electric apparatus the wrong way. The Martians had reached such high +attainments in every direction that it was practically impossible for +them to make mistakes. Thus had they freed themselves from many of the +vexations which harass the people of a younger world. + +I was fortunately able to endure the strain of the great task which I +had undertaken, and finally succeeded in bringing my precious burden +to land and helping her to a place of safety. We were both pretty well +fatigued with our exertions, but felt no danger from our wet clothes, +because of the mild and balmy air. + +Mona’s behavior still perplexed me. Her manner was delightfully pleasant +and familiar. Now that we were safe she appeared to appreciate the +humorous part of the situation, and I was loath to believe that she +could or would affect such good nature if she were harboring unpleasant +feelings toward me. But I could not account for her continued silence, +for as yet no word nor sound of any kind had come from her lips. Her +face and hands, however, were continually in motion, and after I had +overcome my usual stupidity I discovered that she was actually making +signs. + +“Why, Mona,” I exclaimed, “can’t you speak?” + +She shook her head. + +“Nor sing, I mean?” + +Another shake. + +“Do you mean to say you have lost your voice?” + +A nod. + +For a moment a shadow settled upon her face, occasioned, no doubt, by my +falling countenance, for I must have shown something of the great shock +to my feelings. Mona without the voice of Mona! I could not at once +realize the depth of my loss. And now it was her turn to attempt to +restore my spirits, as we fell back to our original mode of conversing. +I urged her to make an effort to sing, and she told me she had tried +many times, and that it had grieved her to be so unsocial while I was +toiling so hard to save her life. + +“Why, my dear,” I answered, “I thought you were angry with me for +speaking to you again about my love.” + +Her reply was a look so full of tenderness that I was almost sure +that, if she had had her voice, she would have used it more kindly than +before. Still it may have been only compassion. + +By this time we had found our carriage and were on our way home, and I +am sure that if, on our arrival, our friends had judged from our looks, +they would have supposed I, and not Mona, had experienced a great +misfortune. + +Avis had returned to her distant home several days before this, but +Antonia and Foedric were at Thorwald’s when we arrived, and I had the +unpleasant task of relating to the whole household our sad experience. I +did not spare myself, although they were all kind enough to offer every +manner of excuse for me. Everybody showed sympathy with Mona in +all possible ways, but she herself still exhibited the same sunny +disposition as ever, although the house seemed quiet without her bright +and happy song. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE EMANCIPATION OF WOMAN. + + +Family life in this model home went forward without a jar. Thorwald and +Zenith exhibited not the least sign of restraint before us, so that +what we saw from day to day we were sure was their natural and usual +behavior. They never worked at cross purposes, were never impatient +nor forgetful of each other, but without effort, apparently, to avoid +friction, they always did what was best pleasing to themselves, and at +the same time what was just suited to each other. This happy state of +affairs did not come from a division of labor, by which Zenith should +have nothing to do with outside matters and Thorwald nothing to say +about how things should go in the house, but it seemed to proceed from +their innate love of harmony, their perfect compatibility, and their +practical equality. The doctor and I saw there was something here far +different from anything existing in the conjugal relation on the earth, +but we could not decide just what it was. The doctor was strongly of the +opinion, however, that it arose in some way from the higher condition of +woman. + +“You know,” he said, when we were alone, “the civilization of a people +on our planet is pretty correctly measured by the position occupied by +the women, so that here, in this exalted society, they must be held in +high esteem, if there is the same analogy between the two worlds in this +as in so many other things.” + +I quite agreed with him, and took the first opportunity when we were all +together to introduce the subject. + +“I should like to direct the conversation,” I said, addressing our host +and hostess, “to a topic of considerable interest, just now, to the +people of the earth. I am sure we can learn something of value in +regard to it from you, and I will introduce it, if you will pardon my +impertinence, with a personal question. Will you please tell me who is +the head of this household?” + +“Zenith.” + +“Thorwald.” + +Two answers in one breath. + +“It is very polite of you,” I said, “to disclaim the honor and each one +give it to the other, but, seriously, is there no head?” + +“Why, no,” answered Thorwald; “we never think of such a thing, and yet +you must admit that things run smoothly without it.” + +“I will then try again, if you please,” I said. “Which of you is the +bread-winner?” + +To which Zenith replied: + +“That question is hardly appropriate, for you know we do not work for +our daily bread. The bread would come anyway, whether we worked or +not; but then, as a matter of fact, every one does work at some useful +occupation, because we have found out by long experience that it is much +better for us than idleness. If you reply that you have not seen us work +while you have been here, I will say that our time is considered to be +well employed if we can be learning anything or imparting knowledge to +others, as this is supposed to add indirectly to the general well-being +of society. But perhaps what you want to know is which of us does the +more to benefit the world, and even this would be a difficult question +to answer. Thorwald creates, we will say, an elaborate design for a +noble cathedral, and as he watches its fair proportions rise under the +hands of skilled men, who take an equal pride and satisfaction in their +work, his heart is made glad by the thought that for many years after he +has left the body the structure will be used as a place for teaching the +way of life, with its graceful spires pointing men to heaven. While I, +perhaps--” + +“Let me tell that part,” interrupted Thorwald. “While Zenith, with just +as strong a feeling of responsibility for a share of the world’s work, +composes a beautiful song and writes the music for it, and then sings it +before a vast audience, while the phonograph catches it and holds it for +future generations. Is she not doing as much as I am toward earning the +bread for the family?” + +“It certainly cannot be denied,” I answered. “But what I want to find +out is, to use a homely expression common with us, which of you two +holds the reins in this home?” + +“Well,” replied Thorwald, laughing, “that is a figure of speech which is +not employed here, for we use no reins of any kind; but I know what you +mean, and I will answer you by saying that we each hold one rein, and in +that way drive as steadily as if we were one person.” + +“But when disputes arise, which one gives in?” + +“Disputes never arise, and if they did we would both ‘give in,’ whatever +that expression means.” + +“If not your wills, do not your wishes or inclinations sometimes oppose +each other?” + +“Why, no,” Thorwald answered quickly. “It is impossible, and for this +reason: each one of us is so intent on trying to please the other that +we are saved from all temptation to selfishness, which is the root and +source of all differences.” + +While I was considering what next to ask, the doctor broke in with: + +“I think my companion will be obliged to discontinue his questions +and accept the truth that here we have found an ideal household, where +husband and wife are in reality equal. Let me ask if the women, all over +this happy world, are treated with as much consideration as in the case +before us.” + +“Why, what a funny question,” exclaimed Zenith, before Thorwald could +speak. “Why don’t you ask if, all over this happy world, we treat our +men with consideration and respect? But, to save you the trouble of +asking, I will say that, all over this happy world, a man is held in +as high esteem and is as tenderly cared for as a woman, every bit. Your +words, Doctor, remind me that I have several times wanted to speak to +you about a certain manner which you and your friend have exhibited +toward me. No one could accuse you of disrespect to Thorwald; indeed, I +think your carriage toward him is excellent, but with me you seem to be +a little strained, and your manner is a trifle effusive. Pardon me +for the criticism. I know your action is well meant, although it is +something I am not accustomed to.” + +“I suppose,” said the doctor, “you refer to our feeble and, it appears, +stupid efforts to be polite.” + +“Oh, then I ought to feel complimented instead of finding fault with +you. But why should you wish to be more respectful to me than to +Thorwald? He is more worthy your regard than I am, and has as many +rights in this house as I have, exactly.” + +“We have been taught to pay an extra deference to women,” answered the +doctor. + +“Why?” asked Zenith. “Because they are superior beings?” + +“Hardly that, I think.” + +“Then it must be because they are considered inferior, and you seek to +hide your real feeling, which is one of commiseration, by a false show +of politeness.” + +“That sounds harsh,” said the doctor, “and I believe you are not +correct.” + +“Oh, I do not mean to criticise you personally,” Zenith made haste +to say, “but the system. It seems to me that you, Doctor, try to be +sincere; and assuming that to be so, let me ask you why you are +more ceremonious in your manner to your neighbor’s wife than to your +neighbor’s husband.” + +“Well, let me see. Why do I instinctively make a special show of respect +in meeting a woman? I never analyzed my feeling, but I will try to do +so for you. I think one principal reason is because it is so very +conventional that she would expect it, and think me either piqued or +ill-bred if I omitted it. Then, deeper than that is a desire to tell her +that I recognize in her and admire those graces and amenities which +are supposed to be peculiar to her sex. And I suppose there is, also, +a little selfishness in it, as if I were asking her to take note that I +knew what were the usages of good society.” + +“But would you not also tell her in effect by your flattery, if you will +excuse the word, that she and the rest of her sex are by birth not quite +equal to men, and you are trying to make up the difference all you can +by politeness?” + +“I am not conscious of such a feeling, I am sure,” answered the doctor. +“It seems to me that woman is entitled to some extra attention because +she is physically weaker than man.” + +“True,” said Zenith; “that is a good reason why she should be +protected.” + +“And should we not maintain and practice toward her the spirit of true +courtesy?” + +“Most certainly. But women should also exercise the same spirit toward +men. The duty is reciprocal. The days of knight-errantry, when men were +chivalrous and women were merely beautiful, should not last forever; +women, too, should learn to be chivalrous. Do not imagine I would have +you less considerate or thoughtful of anyone, or less demonstrative in +your feelings, if you will only remember that men and women are equal, +have equal duties and privileges, and should have similar treatment. +Great respect should go where it is deserved, whether to man or woman. +If I were an inhabitant of the earth and a woman, I should try to have +some such thought as this: one man of character knows another good man +is his equal; therefore as they treat each other so I would have them +treat me, for then I would know that they held me, also, as an equal, +and not as a doll, pretty and well dressed perhaps, but brainless, nor +as a child who must not be told things too deep for its mind.” + +“I begin to understand you,” said the doctor. “You first get me to admit +that women are not a superior order of beings, and then you argue that, +as we do not treat them exactly as we do each other, we cannot consider +them our equals, and therefore nothing remains but that we must look +upon them as inferior to us.” + +Zenith gave a pleasant little pink laugh and answered: + +“I see you have found me out. But you do not deny that my logic is +correct.” + +“I have tried to tell you several times,” returned the doctor, with a +smile, “that, as for me, I do not feel guilty of harboring the least +degrading sentiment toward women. But I cannot answer for the opinions +of the world at large. This subject promises to be more interesting than +we anticipated. I see you know a great deal about it. Have women always +been accorded an equality with men, or is it a part of your mature +development?” + +“Now, Doctor, just see how prejudiced you are. You would never think of +asking if the men of Mars had always been the equal of women. It would +be quite as natural with us to ask it in one way as the other.” + +“I will try again, then, by asking if the two sexes have always been so +happily equal as at this time.” + +“I will give you a direct answer to that question. They have not. But +I think I have talked enough for once. Thorwald will tell you all about +our tortuous course in reaching our present condition, if you wish.” + +“Not at all,” said Thorwald. “I would like to tell it, but this is a +topic that Zenith has taken a special interest in, and she shall have +the pleasure of talking to you about it.” + +“Now then!” I said to myself, “here is a difference right away. Zenith +says Thorwald must tell it; Thorwald would like to do so, but insists on +sacrificing himself for Zenith’s sake. Now, what if Zenith should prefer +the pleasure of self-denial, and refuse to let Thorwald immolate his +desire so readily? What could prevent war in this happy family? Would a +quarrel be any less a quarrel because its cause was unselfishness rather +than selfishness?” + +But if I, with a worldly heart, was expecting a lapse from these +excellent people, I was disappointed, for Zenith, with a look of wifely +affection toward Thorwald, said pleasantly: + +“Very well, since Thorwald is so kind, I will do my best, if you are +sure you will not tire of hearing me talk.” + +The doctor and I expressed our pleasure with the arrangement, and Zenith +began: + +“I wish to say at the start that, whatever may have been your experience +on this question, it is hardly possible that your mistakes have equaled +ours, for the folly and wickedness of our race have been stupendous and +of long continuance.” + +“If you will excuse the interruption,” I said, “I will suggest that we +can sympathize with you, as our history shows the greatest injustice to +women.” + +“Your remark proves to me that you cannot fully sympathize with us. I +did not infer, as you seem to do, that the women of Mars had been the +only victims of injustice. + +“But without further delay let me begin, only do not hesitate to break +in upon my story with any inquiries that suggest themselves to you. + +“We read that God created man, male and female; that is, there came +forth from the hand of the Maker a male man and a female man, and all +through that early age of gold they loved each other, and served their +God with purity of heart and without a selfish thought. God was their +father, they were his children, with equal privileges, equal affection, +and equal ability to do faithful service. No evil spirit was near +to whisper in the ear of either a suggestion of personal leadership. +Ambition, that ambition which would exalt self at the expense of +another, was not yet born, and neither of these happy beings could +conceive it possible to achieve a higher happiness by lording it over +the other. + +“So they lived till sin came; and among the woes which sin brought in +its train there were few more dreadful than the decree that the man +should rule over the woman and that her desire should be unto her +husband. For thousands of years our race struggled against that giant +evil. During a long period the condition of woman was so low that we +know nothing of her, and when she reappears it is only as the servant +of man. Made in the image of God as the companion of man and an equal +sharer in all his rights and duties, she is now his chattel, a piece of +property, held for his selfish use or disposed of for his advantage. + +“Even in these dark days individuals of our sex rose out of the general +degradation and showed that they were fitted by nature for a higher +position. But sin and ignorance kept the mass of them under the heel of +their masters. As civilization advanced there came some mitigation of +their lot, and where pure religion gained a foothold women began to +receive recognition; but their state was deplorable indeed among all +those peoples whose religion was only gross superstition and idolatry. + +“In the process of time Christ came and brought the light of heaven +to this dark world, and from that hour woman can well say that her day +began to dawn. One of the sweetest strains in her song of salvation is +that evoked by the memory of her resurrection from misery and abasement +to a position of honor among the children of men. The change, however, +was very gradual, for Christianity itself was slow in gaining ground; +but the gospel was ever the friend of woman, as of all the oppressed, +lifting her up where she could influence the world and begin to fulfill +her destiny. As fast as the nations shook off barbarism and became +in any degree enlightened, the unnatural burdens were lifted from +the shoulders of woman, although for a long time she was compelled to +perform more than her share of severe toil even among people who thought +themselves civilized. + +“Then came a time when, in nations of some refinement, there was such +a reaction against the injustice and degradation to which woman had so +long been subjected that she suddenly became an object of sentimental +regard among courtly men. Her noble qualities were exaggerated far +beyond their merit, and she was set on a pedestal, to receive homage and +all the outward forms of respect from those whom she so recently served +as a menial. Being so poorly fitted by her long training in serfdom +for such exaltation, what wonder is it that her head was turned by the +flattery, and that her recovery was slow and difficult? The insincere +and superfluous manners of that period remained for ages a vexation to +our growing intelligence and a hindrance to our true progress; and, +from what you have said, I am inclined to think you of the earth are now +going through some such experience as ours. + +“After that epoch had been passed, woman never fell back to her former +condition, although she did not yet for a long time reach a position +that was at all enviable, except as compared with the dark days of her +bondage. But she was now where she could take advantage of the general +uplifting of the race, and though kept in the background by man as much +as was possible, she was constantly growing and learning, preparing +herself for a future of which she would then dare not even to dream. + +“And now I am coming, in this rapid sketch, to that period of activity +and change which Thorwald has described to you in its industrial +features. In portraying some of the evils of those days, arising from +our almost ineradicable selfishness, he was obliged to make his picture +a somber one, a necessity under which, happily, I am not placed. Looking +at the times, not as compared with the present era but with what had +gone before, which was the only comparison the people of that day could +make, there was much room for encouragement. It was, in truth, a bright +day, whose beauty, however, consisted not so much in the realization +of happiness as in the promise of still brighter days to come. Material +prosperity abounded, education flourished, and religion was beginning +to creep down from men’s heads into their hearts. Wrongs were righted, +justice enthroned, and philanthropy sprang into being. Even while there +was so much evil, and while some men seemed to be trying all they +could to keep back the breaking dawn, the day was surely coming. The +brotherhood of man, long preached as a settled principle, now became +a living force, showing itself in a multitude of devices for relieving +distress, lessening pain, alleviating poverty, and for the general +betterment of society. + +“Surrounded by such a universal spirit of improvement, woman felt the +impulse of new life, and heard the call to a higher service to humanity +than she had ever yet rendered. As men’s minds broadened and their +hearts grew more tender, and as their sympathies reached out to the weak +and down-trodden of every class, it was not possible that their ancient +prejudice against woman could much longer survive. Her rise from this +time forward was rapid. Let us examine the position which, under the +influence of this kindly feeling, she soon came to occupy. Protected by +many special laws, guarded by all the legitimate forces of society, but +exempt from military and police service, honored for her high and noble +qualities, respected by all whose regard was of value, and loved with a +true affection which scorned the question of individual rights, her lot +seemed indeed a happy one. Shielded from the severe struggles of life, +freed from the cares of business, released in a great measure from +uncongenial work and from the dangers attending exacting labor, with the +disagreeable things in life kept from her as much as possible, always +seeing the best of every man’s character and manners, and, more than +all, being supreme in her natural domain, the home, with none to dispute +her right, what more could she ask?” + +“What, indeed?” I remarked, as Zenith paused a moment after her +question. “The picture you have drawn looks so bright, beside your +description of her former lot, that I have no doubt she was now +contented and happy.” + +“So you think that shelter and protection and the love of husband and +children and the serenity of home ought to be enough to satisfy one +who was created with a spirit as restless, a brain as active, an +individuality as marked, and hands as clever as those of man?” + +As Zenith threw this question at me and waited for me to answer, I +realized that I had been caught by her former inquiry, and found not +that Zenith was about to take advanced ground on the subject before +us. Wishing I had not drawn her attention so squarely to my personal +opinions, and yet feeling obliged to stand up for my position, I said: + +“It seems to me that woman’s surest path to honor and happiness is that +marked out for her by nature, a path which she adorns because so well +fitted for it, and that to forsake the home and compete with man for +the thousand places in the work of the world would be to cast aside the +charm of her womanliness and all that makes her what she is, a solace +and comfort to all the world. If she seeks for a pleasurable life, where +can she find such keen and lasting pleasure as among the duties of home, +and if she is ambitious to lift the world to a higher plane, where is +it possible for her to have so much influence as in the nurture of the +young?” + +“So spoke the men of our race in the era I am describing to you,” + replied Zenith. “It seems as if you must have been reading some of our +old writers, so closely do you follow the ideas then prevalent. I have +read and reread those histories until I am quite familiar with them, +and you shall hear how such views as you have expressed soon became very +old-fashioned.” + +“I am sure your account will closely concern us,” I said, “for the age +of which you are now speaking must be that corresponding to our own +times on the earth. The woman question is attracting special attention, +and seems bound to remain with us indefinitely; but I am frank to say I +think our women are making a mistake in trying to elbow their way into +man’s domain, whatever may have been the result of the movement in this +favored world.” + +“I suppose you would have them stay at home where they belong,” + said Zenith, with a good-natured laugh, which sounded as if she were +confident enough of her ability to meet any possible argument. + +“Yes,” I replied, “out of pure kindness to them. It is an astonishing +thing to me that they can think of gaining anything by giving up all +that is distinctive in their nature and becoming more like us. I am not +so much in love with my own sex as to enjoy seeing our sisters and our +wives and daughters trying to make themselves over into men.” + +I now felt that I had said enough, and so expressed myself to Zenith, +but she replied pleasantly that she was glad I had told my thoughts, as +it gave her an opportunity to say some things that might not otherwise +have been called for. + +“You seem to think,” she continued, “that woman’s supreme happiness is +to be gained by self-effacement. I suppose her custom is with you, as it +formerly was here, to renounce her own name at the marriage altar.” + +“It is,” I replied. + +“And from that hour,” resumed Zenith, “she makes every effort to bury +herself, to deny her personality, and to lay aside whatever individual +desires and aspirations she may have had; that is, if she is what +you would call a true woman. If she objects to this renunciation and +attempts to make an independent career suited to her talents, then she +is strong-minded and is trying to unsex herself. With the world full of +work waiting for her nimble fingers and loving heart, she is compelled +to suppress all secret hope of doing something to impress her own +character on that world, because her only duty is in the home. A man is +also called upon to be a good husband and father, but that by no means +comprises all he is expected to be and do. To him it is given to strike +out into untrodden fields, and, without reproach, to make a name for +himself if possible. + +“You say work is hard and disagreeable, but is it all dull and +uninteresting? Are there not sweet moments of hope in every work, and +then the joy of achievement when it is over? Do not men find this joy +and the rewards of labor amply sufficient? The more difficult the +task, the greater the satisfaction when it is accomplished. Business is +perplexing and uncertain, you say, but what of the triumphs of success? +Would any man refuse to undertake an enterprise because success was not +certain? The very uncertainty adds zest to the business, and makes +hope possible. From all this striving and achieving, and from all the +satisfying rewards which come with success, woman is debarred. Then +there are the professions and the wide range of occupations which +require education and special training. What a variety for man to choose +from, while you would confine woman to one; and a great many women, not +being born good cooks or good housekeepers, cannot fill that one with +any credit to themselves. So what can life be to them compared with +what it ought to be? Think of the opportunities they might have in these +higher occupations of competing for the prizes of life--honor, fame, +position, riches, and, above all, the consciousness of doing some good +in the world. Oh, it is impossible for you to realize anything of the +longing in woman’s heart to be someone, to do something, and so to be +relieved from the everlasting monotony of the treadmill, which, if men +were obliged to submit to it, would make the majority of them insane. + +“You see I have put myself in the place of one of my sex in that olden +time, and have spoken as she felt when to express her feelings would +have been almost a shame to her. + +“What I desire to show you is that woman had not then received all that +was due her, although men seemed to think she was fully emancipated. But +events moved rapidly in that stirring age, and this great question could +not be kept in the background in a day when every abuse and injustice +was allowed a hearing and reform was in the very air. Even the dumb +beasts had such powerful advocates that cruelty and unkindness +were greatly checked. What wonder then, as men’s sensibilities and +consciences became quickened, that they should begin to see, what they +could not see before, that a fuller liberty ought to be accorded to +woman? But this vision came not without help. Sometimes in our history +we have known of a race being deprived of their freedom, and so benumbed +by their condition that they desired nothing better, and so perforce +waited for a movement for their enfranchisement to come from without. It +was not so in this case. Women themselves cried out against their +lot. They were not so enraptured with the calm and quiet of their +conventional life but that they felt the stirrings of ambition for +something different, and they did not fear to raise their voice for more +liberty.” + +“Liberty!” I echoed. “Were they really deprived of liberty?” + +“Yes, liberty to choose a calling that would suit their individual +tastes and satisfy their growing ambition.” + +“Excuse me,” I again interrupted, “but were not these women who +exhibited so much restlessness unattached--that is, without many family +ties? And were not the great majority so contented in the shelter of +home and so engrossed in the care of husband and children that they were +entire strangers to any such disturbing fancies, or ambitions as you +call them? And, again, did not this large class of happy and busy wives +and mothers resent the action of those self-appointed liberators who +were fighting for an image of straw and crying themselves hoarse over +imaginary wrongs?” + +Zenith smiled again in that peculiar manner which told me, in the +pleasantest possible way, that she was perfectly sure I was on the +losing side, and with the smile she resumed: + +“Your questions are so familiar to one who has studied this subject that +they seem like another plagiarism, as it were, from our histories, but I +will give you fair answers. + +“It is true that the early protests came from the solitary women, +unfortunately not a small class at that day, who, being without legal +protectors, felt the inequalities of the law and the unjust restraints +put upon their sex by society, but the truths they spoke came with added +force because of their intimate acquaintance with their needs. + +“You are wrong in your supposition that the mass of women were so +shallow in mind as to know nothing of those longings for a fuller, more +satisfying life. Deep in their nature, planted by the Creator himself, +was the same lofty spirit with which man was endowed, and it could not +be smothered by marriage. Taking a husband should not, and in reality +does not now, change one’s ambition or aim in life any more than taking +a wife does, but in those benighted days men, after marriage, could +go forward with their plans just as if nothing had happened, while +the women were supposed to forget their high hopes and aspirations and +confine themselves entirely to the trivial round of domestic duties. +The men, however, were much mistaken if they thought their wives were +forgetting. They but bided their time. + +“In your last question you are not altogether wrong, for there were a +few unthinking ones who joined with some of the men in ridiculing the +whole movement as unnecessary and foolish. But this class had not much +influence, and, in spite of such opposition as they offered, the reform +made steady progress. + +“As a help to obtain what she was striving for, woman asked for the +right of suffrage, and thereupon had to undergo a fusillade of cheap +criticism from those who would not understand her, and who supposed she +wanted this privilege as an end and not as a means. Men were slow to +grant the right to vote, but after much discussion suffrage began to be +allowed in matters where the women were particularly interested. With +the first concession, however, men realized that the force of all their +arguments was broken, and before many years the full right was bestowed. + +“And now, Thorwald, I am sure our good friends did not come so far from +home to hear me talk all the time. The rest of the subject concerns +your sex as much as mine, and you had better take up the story at this +point.” + +“Oh, no,” replied Thorwald, “I shall not take the narrative away from +you now, you may be sure, for what is left is just the part you can best +relate. I shall enjoy it as much as our friends from the earth. But I +propose that we hear the rest this afternoon, and that, in the meantime, +we go out for a drive.” + +“A drive,” I asked, “what do you drive?” + +“You shall see,” Thorwald answered, as he stepped to the telephone. I +thought I should hear his message, but found the instrument had been +further improved. In the use of the telephone as I had known it, +everybody in the house was much surer of hearing what was said than the +person at the other end of the line was, but here the one addressed was +the only one to get a word of the communication. + +Thorwald talked to us a short time about other matters, and then asked +us all to prepare to go out. When we reached the door the doctor and I +were surprised to see a beautiful and commodious carriage, to which were +attached, with the lightest possible harness, four of the handsomest +horses we had ever seen. There were, besides, two fine saddle-horses for +the children, who were to accompany us. + +Thorwald drove, but without rein or whip, the horses being guided +perfectly and easily merely by word of mouth. The animals were also so +large and strong that they seemed to enjoy the sport as much as we did. + +“Do you mean to say,” I inquired, “that such a turnout as this can be +had for the asking?” + +“Certainly. I just said through the telephone that I would like a +carriage for four persons, and two saddle-horses. The man who has the +care of the horses is a friend of mine who likes the work better than +anything else.” + +“The horses appear to be well broken,” the doctor remarked. + +“Broken,” said Zenith, “what do you mean by that, Doctor?” + +“Why, it is an expression by which we mean that the high spirit with +which they were born has been subdued, making it easy to train them to +obedience.” + +“They must be wild, then,” spoke Zenith again, “and you are obliged to +tame them. The difference here is that the horses are born tame and do +not need breaking, and though they have plenty of spirit, as you see, +they are so intelligent and have such solidity of character that there +is never any danger that they will become unmanageable.” + +“That must be so,” said I, “or you could not be sure of being free from +accidents. But tell us, Thorwald, how it happens that we have not seen +others enjoying this delightful mode of traveling.” + +“It is not very singular that you have not seen any horses before,” said +Thorwald. “They have been entirely superseded in all kinds of business, +you remember, by mechanical power, and even for pleasure-riding most +people are too tender of heart to enjoy using them. They fear the horses +will be fatigued, and they do not like to see them straining themselves +in dragging a heavy load, when there is a force that has no feeling +ready to do it a great deal better. + +“But you can see these horses are not working very hard, and it is a +good thing for us sometimes to give up a little sentiment. There is some +danger that our sympathies may carry us too far. For instance, it is +probably a real kindness to these horses to give them a little work, if +we are only careful not to render their service galling to them; and yet +there are many people who never drive, on account of the feeling they +have for the beasts.” + +“It would be a good thing if we had more of that sentiment on the +earth,” said the doctor. + +[Illustration: “THE HORSES ARE BORN TAME”] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE EMANCIPATION OF MAN. + + +After an exhilarating ride, in which the doctor and I, certainly, were +not troubled by any over-sensitiveness in regard to such robust horses, +we returned to the house and soon found ourselves seated in the music +room listening to one of their famous dramatists reciting his own words +through the phonograph. Next we had some music, and then a poem, from +the same prolific instrument. + +When this entertainment was over, and after lunch, Zenith, at our urgent +request, seconded by Thorwald’s solicitation, resumed her narrative. + +“We read,” she began, “that during the time when men were grudgingly +bestowing the right of suffrage on our sex, woman was making rapid +strides toward a position in society fitted to her talents and +aspirations. One occupation after another became available, and it was +no longer a disgrace or hardly a peculiarity for women to be earning +their living instead of depending for support on their fathers or +brothers. This tended to create in them a feeling of independence, +and in many employments they had every right to be proud of their +attainments, for, with so little training, they often surpassed the +men at their own trades. Even then, however, some of the old +prejudice against the sex seemed to remain in force, since women were +discriminated against in the matter of wages. When they did the same +work and did it better, still their pay was less than that of men. But +this was a temporary injustice, which disappeared, as it was bound to +do, when woman had acquired her full freedom and had been in the field +long enough to prove her right and ability to stay. + +“The work at which women excelled was that requiring a quick +intelligence, nimble fingers, and the faculty of easy adaptability. In +the realm of physical strength woman was not a competitor, but there was +another field in which she more than made up for that loss, and in which +she early began to show great native ability. That was in all pursuits +demanding the education of the mind. Here is where she was to look for +the greatest of her victories. Nature had endowed man with a superior +strength of body and muscle, but woman with a higher order of mind.” + +“I must interrupt you here, Zenith,” said the doctor. “This is assuredly +an instance where your race differs materially from that of the earth, +for with us man has by nature the stronger mind.” + +“How do you know?” asked Zenith. + +“It has been proved so in all ages.” + +“Yes, but does not the expression ‘all ages’ include with you only the +ages in which man has been the ruling spirit, and woman has been kept +down and allowed but little opportunity to show the strength of her +mental faculties? You know our history takes in not only a period +similar to that covered by your whole career, but also other ages which +we believe correspond with the years yet to come for the inhabitants of +the earth. It has been during the latter era, a time which you have not +yet seen, that woman has proved the truth of my assertion.” + +“I wish to make myself understood,” said the doctor again. “I am willing +to grant the equality of the sexes, as far as natural rights go; that +is, that every man and every woman ought to have the opportunity to +develop all their talents, untrammeled by any edict or convention of +society. Perhaps I would agree with you also in believing it would +be better to treat men and women alike, with open-hearted, sincere +courtesy, and use equal ceremony in showing respect to individuals of +either sex. But it seems to me that there is a vast difference between +all that and your latest position. There are many people of our +generation on the earth, and their number is rapidly increasing, who +believe in the essential equality of the sexes, but I never heard one +put forward anything approaching the claim you make, that woman was +created with a higher order of mind than man--I believe that was your +expression; and this is why I say that in this particular your race +differs greatly from ours.” + +To which Zenith replied: + +“I am not so sure of that, my dear doctor. It would seem hardly fair +that man should be given both physical and mental superiority. But +please tell me again why you think man has the stronger mind.” + +“Because he has done the thinking of the world. The intellectual +achievements of woman, though occasionally brilliant, are not to be +compared with those of man. This is true in every department throughout +our history--in science and art, in religion, in literature, in +government, and in everything that I could name. It is hardly to +the point for you to say that woman would have done more if she had +possessed a fuller freedom; perhaps it is true, but it seems to me a +matter of conjecture. Neither is it a complete answer for you to +say that in the years to come woman, being wholly enfranchised, will +revolutionize the world by her unexpected powers. We can judge only by +what she has done. Excuse me, Zenith, for trying to uphold my point. +It is rather discouraging, when I can see by your face that you can +demolish my argument in a moment, whenever you choose to attempt it.” + +We all laughed at the doctor’s want of courage, and Zenith answered: + +“I beg your pardon; I am greatly at fault if I have any such expression +in my face. My confidence, if I have any, is not in any supposed ability +I may have in conversation, but in our experience here on Mars. Your +history matches ours so well up to your generation that I cannot but +think the likeness will continue; and if it does, then woman, in your +near future, will prove the truth of my statement. But before I proceed +to tell you what she has done in this world, let me ask you if your +women have shown any mental peculiarity which distinguishes them from +men.” + +“Yes,” answered the doctor, “their intuitive perceptions appear to be +more developed than those of men, probably because they use them more. +A man may reach a certain conclusion by a course of reasoning, while +a woman will often arrive at the same point much quicker by intuition. +That is, a man will tell you why he knows a thing, when a woman simply +knows it because she knows it.” + +“Is that faculty akin to anything else with which you are acquainted?” + +“Yes, we call it instinct in animals.” + +“Is not the possession by woman of that quality a silent but powerful +suggestion to you of the fact that she was treated like an animal in the +dark days of her inthrallment?” + +“I had not thought of it,” returned the doctor, “but it certainly may be +looked upon as a sad commentary on that rude age.” + +“Do you consider this instinct an advantage to woman?” asked Zenith. + +“Certainly; it is a great help to her, often serving with much success +in place of other faculties.” + +“Would it be a valuable quality to add to man’s mental equipment?” + +“Yes, indeed, if he could retain all his other powers of mind.” + +“Well, now let me ask you what would come to pass if the women of the +earth, possessed already of that quickness of thought, that ability to +discern the truth by direct apprehension, should, by thorough education +and many years of patient training, acquire the power of reasoning, the +judgment, the strength of mind, and all the intellectual powers now held +by your men?” + +“That is a very large ‘if,’ and I cannot tell you what would happen,” + answered the doctor. + +“I have only described,” continued Zenith, “what actually took place on +our planet. When the movement for giving woman a higher education began, +men looked at the subject just as you do now. Women were supposed to be +of inferior mental capacity, and it was thought to be a foolish thing to +attempt to educate them. ‘Better educate the boys,’ men said, ‘and let +the girls learn to cook and sew and to play the piano; that is all that +will ever be required of them.’ But, in spite of every discouragement, +the girls improved their opportunities so well that they were soon +taking the prizes away from the boys. Broadminded philanthropists of +both sexes endowed schools for them, and the highest institutions of +learning opened their doors to them. When the young women, almost from +the start, began to be successful in competitive contests in different +departments of scholarship, it was generally thought that such cases +were exceptional and would not be apt to be repeated very often. But +this was a great mistake. These instances proved to be no exception. It +was found that woman’s facility of thought and native acuteness gave her +an immense advantage over the masculine mind in mastering any ordinary +course of study. But this was surface education. The reasoning power +and the solidity of mind for which men were distinguished in mature life +came later, but they came. + +“At first, only here and there a girl was fortunate enough to be offered +a liberal education; but when it was found that in almost every instance +they brought great credit on themselves, the number increased with +rapidity, until a college course was the customary and expected close of +almost every girl’s school-days. For it was not the rich only that had +this advantage, since by this time education was free, being provided +either by the public or by universities richly endowed. + +“All this time the boys seemed to find a great attraction in business +and the trades, and appeared to be willing that the girls should have a +monopoly of the higher education. One circumstance that greatly helped +this state of things was the extraordinary furor that prevailed just +then in the matter of manual training. This system had received more or +less attention from educators for many years, and it had been introduced +into schools as an addition to the regular course of study. That was +a material age. Men desired first of all to be practical, and the +new method of teaching, being eminently practical, became exceedingly +popular with the boys. The parents, not dreaming where it would end, +and seeing the eager interest with which their sons now crowded into the +schools, encouraged them in it. + +“Schools of technique, in which the literary branches were entirely +subordinate, sprang up on every hand, and two or three years spent +in these institutions took the place of a college course. The old +universities tried to meet the changing sentiment by paying more +attention to science, by giving the students a free choice of studies, +and by shortening the course when desired. But the mechanical idea in +the new education seemed to be the attraction. The boys were seized +with a passion for doing something with their hands, and their inventive +faculties were quickened, increasing in a remarkable degree their +interest in their work and studies. + +“For a long time this movement was thought to be a great advance in +education. It was such an improvement on the old way, to find the young +men learning something useful, rather than wasting their time over the +dead languages and other things they would never need after finishing +school. And it must be acknowledged that all this industrial impulse +was of advantage to the world in its way. It multiplied labor-saving +machinery, added to the people’s comforts in many ways, and increased +the general prosperity and well-being of society as far as material +improvements could do it. + +“But there was another side to the picture. So much time could not be +given to training the hand and hardening the muscle without detracting +from the attention due to the cultivation of the brain. To be sure, the +brain was active enough, but it was receiving a one-sided development, +which boded it no permanent good. + +“I have spoken at such length of this almost universal rage for +technical education, because it was a chief factor in turning the world +over.” + +We all smiled at this expression, and the doctor asked: + +“How did it overturn the world?” + +“By aiding in taking the real brain work away from the men and giving it +to the women.” + +“Did this actually happen?” + +“Certainly it did. Not in a day, but in the process of time. How could +it be otherwise, when the women alone had been for many years going +through that long, patient mind-drilling which is the only preparation +for a thorough education? When the young men observed that a civil +engineer, a superintendent of a factory, or even a skilled mechanic +could earn a larger salary than a college graduate, it took away much of +the incentive for the old-fashioned education, and they were perfectly +willing to see their sisters take what they had not time for. + +“And so it came about that the women began to crowd into the learned +professions; and, as there was not one which they could not adorn, the +prejudice against them soon wore off, and before many years they were +competing with men in all the grandest fields of human action. Even in +the matter of government woman’s power was felt. Men were so engrossed +in the endeavor to develop to their fullest extent the material +resources of the planet that they became careless of the higher duties +of citizenship, especially after the women began to take control of +things. They saw affairs were well managed, and seemed to be relieved to +have them taken out of their hands, not dreaming that they were forging +chains for themselves which it would take long years to break. Although +the world was constantly growing better, it was far from a perfect age. +Human nature was still a synonym for selfishness, and with men and +women measuring swords on every intellectual battlefield a contest for +supremacy was inevitable. + +“Man was absorbed in his chosen work, he was indifferent to public +affairs, and he was, in his way, proud of the position woman was taking +in the world, but he could not let her assume his place as acknowledged +leader without a struggle. He said he had given her her rights, and now +she wanted to deprive him of his rights. + +“There was too much truth in this, for society had not reached a state +where the sexes could live in perfect equality. It was admitted by all +that there must be a head, both in the household and in the state, and +it long remained a question which should rule. But was there ever a +struggle of long continuance on the earth in which mind did not triumph +at last?” + +“I must answer in the negative,” replied the doctor, “although I +perceive it will help your argument.” + +“Why, this is not an argument,” continued Zenith. “It is simply a story +of what has taken place on this planet. If you have any doubt of it, +ask Thorwald. You have known him longer than you have me, and, perhaps, +would have more confidence in what he would say. He ought to have told +this part of the story himself. I know you think I am exaggerating, +because you see I am making my sex come out ahead.” + +Zenith said this in a playful manner, which showed she was as far as +possible from being offended, but the doctor pretended to take her +seriously, and replied with feeling: + +“Do forgive me, Zenith, for my thoughtless expression, and pray do not +stop in your narrative at this interesting point. I will tell you how I +came to use the word to which you object. While you were talking I was +thinking how one would be received on the earth, who should attempt an +argument to show the probability that anything like what you are telling +us should ever come to pass there.” + +“Well, how would such an argument be received?” asked Zenith. + +“It would probably be passed by without any notice whatever, if you will +excuse me for telling the truth,” answered the doctor. “It certainly +would not be looked upon as serious, and I fear it would not even +receive the dignity of being called funny. Even the women would laugh +feebly at the extravagant notion, and think no more of it. But we were +talking of Mars, not of the earth, and I am exceedingly anxious to know +how affairs progressed here, though there is no likelihood that they +will ever be paralleled among us.” + +“I would not be too sure, Doctor,” spoke up Thorwald. “Better wait till +Zenith is through.” + +“I shall wait longer than that before I believe the earth will ever go +through such an experience. But now I am ready to listen.” + +“When I speak of woman assuming leadership,” resumed Zenith, “do not +misunderstand me. Although society was not perfect, still it was not a +gross age, and there was no return to the manners of those rude times +when women were cruelly treated and men took all the good in the world +to themselves. Oh, no, there was no absence of good manners. Women +treated men with the greatest courtesy, showing them every mark of +outward respect, and being much more polite to them than to each other. +And it was not all show, either; for, in spite of the fact that the men +were patronized unmercifully, the women really thought a great deal of +them, and often remarked to each other that the world would be a dull +and uninviting place without them. They admired their robust strength +of body, their brawny arms and well-trained hands, as well as their many +excellent qualities of mind; and they never tired of telling them in +honeyed words how necessary they were to their happiness. + +“The women were very considerate also in the matter of laws. The rights +of the men were well looked after. To be sure, they were not allowed +to vote and hold office, but in their fortunate, happy condition it was +incredible that they should care about a little thing like that. Were +they not perfectly protected by the law, and did they not have as much +to do already as was good for them? The women argued that if the men +were given the right of suffrage it would only be the cranks who would +avail themselves of it, for the great mass of the men were perfectly +satisfied with their condition. + +“A man was allowed the right of dower in his deceased wife’s estate, and +he could hold property in his own right, even after marriage. His wife +could not even deed away her real estate without his consent. By this +you see how carefully the men were shielded from the liability of coming +to want. + +“In matters of the heart it was not considered modest for a man to make +a direct proposal, but in reality the affair was in his hands, for no +woman could make any advance unless she received encouragement from the +object of her affections.” + +“How about the home?” asked the doctor. “Did man take the place of woman +there?” + +“He did whatever he was asked to do in the home. You must know that at +this time domestic duties were quite different from what they formerly +were. Men had not given up all their thought and time to handicraft for +nothing. The drudgery had pretty well disappeared under the full play of +the inventive faculties, so that the home duties were not exacting. +What work there was, was shared by the sexes, each doing that which was +appropriate. The management of the home was, of course, in the hands of +the women.” + +“Was there no department in which the men were masters?” inquired the +doctor. + +“Not one. They thought they were in full charge in their peculiar field +of labor, but here, as everywhere, the women dictated their terms when +they chose.” + +The doctor was bound to learn all he could about this curious state of +things, and asked again: + +“What effect did all this strain upon the mind have on woman’s physical +nature? You have admitted that she was weaker in body than man, and it +seems to me she must have been ill prepared for the struggle you have +narrated. From the experience we have had in educating women, we believe +it is a positive injury to them to attempt to reach that high degree of +culture which is easily and safely compassed by men. Our idea is that +nature never intended that they should study much, for their minds +are really not any stronger than their bodies. Too much brain work has +already ruined the health of a good many girls, and when we left the +earth the reaction against the higher education of woman had fairly +begun. For we believe that her mental faculties can be developed only at +the expense of her physical powers, and that if she were to persist in +such an abnormal cultivation of her intellect it would be sure to result +in the deterioration of her offspring and disaster to the race. So, for +the sake of the generations unborn, we--that is, the male men of the +earth--who still retain our grip on affairs, have about decided to put a +stop to this foolish mania among our young women. We will probably pass +laws, setting a limit in the several branches of study beyond which +girls shall not be allowed to go, either at school or privately.” + +We all laughed heartily at this idea, including the doctor himself, who +continued: + +“Well, what else can we do to stop them? Stop them we must, or we shall +soon become a race of weaklings and mental imbeciles.” + +Thorwald had been getting more and more interested, as I could see by +his face, and now broke out with: + +“Doctor, you surprise me. I have acquired such a respect for your +intelligence that I can hardly believe you serious. If Zenith will +excuse me, I should like to answer your question. Hard study did not +hurt our young women, and it never hurts anyone. It is careless living +and a disregard of the laws of health that do the harm. Physical +training was an important part of the education of our women. They could +never have accomplished what they did without sound bodies, and it must +be unnecessary for me to say that the more highly cultured they became +the more our race improved. Learning never made poor mothers. Ignorance +does that. Do not keep education out of the home. Keep out folly, low +desires, sordid ambitions, uncultivated tastes, narrow-mindedness, envy, +strife, wastefulness, inordinate pleasures, and every evil thing that +comes from an empty, ignorant mind. Keep out the darkness; let in the +light. It is not God’s way to give capacity and desire for noble things, +and then shut the door to their attainment.” + +“Many thanks, Thorwald,” exclaimed Zenith, “for your good help. And now, +Doctor, will you ask anything further?” + +“I must admit,” answered the doctor, “that your experience gives you +more knowledge of the subject than we possess, and perhaps we are wrong. +Of course, we want that to come to pass which will be best for our race. +But let me ask if the gentler sex, as we call them, did not lose, by +such superior culture, their gentleness and their charm. The masculine +type of woman is not at all popular with us.” + +“This question, Doctor,” answered Zenith, “shows that you have a poor +conception of our condition at that time. This great change in society +had been gradual, and I must remind you that by the time it was +accomplished the world was much improved in every way, although, as we +have seen, it was by no means perfect. In her treatment of man there was +none of that domineering spirit which you might expect; and the victory +she had achieved was never used harshly. Her reign, if firm, was mild. +And woman herself, in the general betterment of things, had improved, +even in the direction you mention. Instead of becoming less womanly, in +her changed condition, every admirable quality in her had ripened toward +perfection, while she had thrown off much that was disagreeable and +unlovely in her disposition. In personal appearance the advance had been +remarkable. Being relieved of the severe labor and sordid cares which +were once her lot, and with her mind set free by high culture and her +artistic tastes developed, nature asserted itself by making her truly +a delight to the eye and a comfort to the heart of mankind. Whatever +charms she possessed in her old life were now doubled, making her indeed +a blessing to the world and preparing her for the next great change, +which came with the advent of the present age.” + +“In spite of the sweetness and beauty surrounding them, did not men fret +at the firm hand that held them down?” + +“At first, yes. But as time went on it came to be looked upon so +naturally that it was hardly thought of as a thing which should not be.” + +“How long did such a state of things continue?” + +“It continued until our race had outgrown all such trivial things as +selfish ambition and personal strife, until our characters had ripened +for a higher service than the old world had ever dreamed of, and until +love reigned in our hearts, supreme and unquestionable.” + +“What makes the situation seem so strange to you is because it is so +contrary to your experience. Let me see if I cannot make it look more +reasonable to you by epitomizing our history on the subject in this way: + +“Our career is made up of three eras. The first was one of brute force, +when man ruled by strength of body and subdued the world to our use. +Everything weaker than himself, even woman, his natural helper, was made +to feel the power of his arm. This age lasted long, but its rigor slowly +passed away, and it merged gradually into the second era, which was +one of mind. Here, too, man thought to rule, claiming the leadership +by right of possession and natural endowment. But woman’s sharpness +of intellect was more than a match for him when it was given full +opportunity, and she won, as we have seen, after a long struggle. The +third and present era is a spiritual one. In the realm of the spirit men +and women are equally endowed, and hence it is that in this age you find +the two sexes living in perfect equality. + +“Comparing the words you have spoken with what I have read of our +history, I conclude that the earth is now passing from the first to the +second era. The struggle is on. Soon your sex will be considering the +question of the emancipation of man. You have the sincere sympathy of +both Thorwald and myself, and that you may emerge from your trials as +happily as we have from ours is our heartfelt wish.” + +Zenith closed, and the doctor was silent. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +AN EXALTED THEME. + + +The doctor and I had not forgotten that Thorwald still held in store for +us a talk on the most important theme of all. We wondered why he did +not give it to us, as he had many opportunities in those days of quiet +pleasure. He seemed to take great delight in hearing from us everything +we chose to tell, asking numerous questions which showed a growing +knowledge of the earth and its inhabitants. + +It was the doctor who finally inquired when we were going to hear what +he had promised us. + +“I suppose I have been waiting,” answered Thorwald, “for you to ask for +it. I could listen to your talk a great deal longer with pleasure and +profit. It is astonishing how closely your history matches ours up to +your times. The period you have been describing to me as that in which +you live corresponds with a similar age here. It was a time of great +activity and rapid change, and one whose records make a deep impression +on many of our writers, judging from the attention they give to it. It +was an enviable time to live in, if you compare it with the previous +ages, but chiefly on account of the promise it contained of the glorious +day to come. + +“Doctor, are you sure you desire to hear about the growth of +Christianity in this world and the blessings it has brought us?” + +“Most certainly,” answered my companion. “I want to learn all I can of +your history and present condition, and, as religion seems to occupy +a chief place in both, anything you may say on the subject will be +listened to with delight.” + +Perhaps Thorwald was a little disappointed because the doctor did not +give a more personal reason; but he failed to show it if he was, and, +after calling to Zenith to come and sit with us, he began: + +“Fair shines the sun on this fair world. So shines the sun on other +fair worlds. Its piercing rays dart out in all directions from the +great glowing mass, and as they fly outward they lose in brilliancy +and intensity every second. In eight minutes some of these rays are +intercepted by the earth and find there an atmosphere well adapted to +receive them. In twelve minutes some strike this world, and although +they are less powerful than those that fall on the earth, the conditions +here are favorable for their reception. At varying distances from the +center other rays find other planets as ready to welcome them, no doubt, +as ours are. + +“As the sun is in the physical universe, so is the Sun of righteousness +in the domain of the spirit. Infinite in power, wisdom, and love, he +comes wherever there are souls to save, shedding light in every dark +spot, bringing life and hope and comfort, and lifting men out of the +darkness of sin up to a condition of peace and happiness. Many ages ago +he came to this planet, and started into life those forces which have +brought us to our present state. Then he came to the earth, and you +are at this time beginning to feel more intensely the impulse of his +mission.” + +“Your illustration is a forcible one,” said the doctor, as Thorwald +paused a moment, “and weakens my former position, which would make it +necessary for me to believe that all the rays of the sun, except the +few that fall on Mars and the earth, are lost. It seems to me now quite +reasonable that some do their beneficent work on other planets also.” + +“Yes,” answered Thorwald, “whenever they are ready to receive them. And +now I hope to lead you to see that the same intelligence that made the +sun and gave to its rays such power has been present as a personal force +in this world, molding it to his use and raising up a people here for +his service and glory. + +“In the perfect plan of that omniscient being the advent of the Savior +occurred at the most opportune moment. Deep in the heart of one nation, +firmly grounded in their nature by ages of discipline and suffering, lay +the belief in one only God. The other nations of the world, surfeited +with sinful pleasure and worn out with a vain pursuit of happiness, were +ready to abandon the gods of their imaginations. Some lofty souls among +them, following intently every prompting of their better nature, had +developed high characters, while of God’s peculiar people many pure +hearts waited, with joyful expectancy, the coming of the promised +Savior. + +“He came, the lowly, patient one, and, although the world was made by +him, it knew him not. The greatest event in the history of the globe +passed almost without notice; but the seed was planted, and in God’s own +time the growth began, which has filled our happy world with the perfect +flower of Christianity. + +“The religion which Jesus taught aimed to save the race. It was +universal, not only as adapted to all nations, but as fitted to +regenerate and perfect the whole nature of man--body, mind, and soul. It +would take me too long to tell all the changes it wrought. It found the +heart hard and unfeeling, and made it tender and loving. It found men +filled with every evil passion and almost without a desire to be better, +and it gave them a longing to be free from sin and pure in heart. It +found the race in darkness and despair, and brought them hope and light +and comfort. Above all, it attacked the demon of selfishness and gave +men the promise that in time they should be entirely free from its +power. + +“Slowly the truths of Christianity spread. The missionary spirit was +born and the gospel was carried to remote lands. It was ever God’s way +to work through the agency of his creatures, whether these be brute +forces or intelligent beings. And so through imperfect men the perfect +rule of life made feeble progress. But as it was the work of the Spirit, +there was never any danger, even in the darkest ages, that the gospel +would not triumph over all the sin and degradation of the world, and +lift men to a higher plane. + +“For a long period the truth lay buried beneath ignorance and +superstition. Then came an awakening, and men, with their minds more +enlightened and their consciences quickened, began to catch something of +the true spirit of the gospel. Christianity now became a dominant power. +Under its benign sway civilization advanced, intelligence spread, and +Christian nations outstripped all others and extended their power to +every part of the globe. + +“Soon the ameliorating influences of the gospel were felt on every hand. +Government began to be administered with more regard for the interest of +the governed, and men came to receive consideration simply because +they were men. All the aggravated forms of oppression ceased under the +newborn spirit of human brotherhood, a sentiment brought into the world +by the founder of Christianity. + +“This brings us, my friends, up to that intense age of which I have +spoken before, and which you say you recognize as that corresponding +with the time in which you are living on the earth. Let me state briefly +the condition of some of our affairs of that period. + +“The industrial world was in a ferment, as we have seen, and it was only +in a general and impersonal way that the Christian religion shed its +influence on the majority of the actors in that drama. Individuals, +among both employers and workmen, had good impulses and indulged them +as much as they could, and I am inclined to think this class was larger +than most of our writers admit. But we read that the greater part were +moved chiefly by motives of self-interest. Still, Christianity was +a growing force among them, and they could not entirely escape its +influence. They were born under its elevating power, and, even if they +did not acknowledge its sway, they were quite different men from those +who lived before Jesus began to preach the law of love. This remark will +apply to all the people of that day who were born under Christian skies, +and yet acknowledged no personal allegiance to the Savior. They were the +unconscious heirs of a priceless inheritance.” + +“I just want to say, Thorwald,” the doctor interrupted, “that I can +accept that idea fully now, with respect to the people of the earth, +though at one time I should not have been willing to do so.” + +Thorwald smiled his answer, and without further reply continued: + +“Let us look at the business situation. National and local governments +had begun to extend their powers beyond what had before been considered +legitimate. With one excuse or another they had taken out of private +hands many branches of business, and there was a strong tendency toward +a continuance of the policy. There was no difference in principle +between carrying the mails and carrying freight and passengers, or +between giving the people cheap water in their houses and furnishing +them with cheap coal. + +“It was acknowledged that there were certain things which the city or +state could do better than private enterprise, and the difficulty was +to decide where to draw the line. While this uncertainty existed in the +minds of most people, there was a small but aggressive party who were in +favor of not drawing the line at all, but of putting everything into +the hands of the government. They would have had the people, in their +corporate capacity as a nation, raise and distribute the products of the +soil, do all the manufacturing and dispose of the goods to consumers, +conduct all the trades and professions, and, in fact, carry on every +kind of business necessary to the well-being of society.” + +Of course, this woke up the doctor, whose practical mind could see +nothing attractive in such an arrangement as that, and he was moved to +say: + +“I trust, Thorwald, that your ancestors did not adopt that crazy scheme +as an experimental step in their development. But I beg your pardon for +using such vigorous language without knowing whether they did or not.” + +Thorwald smiled, as he answered: + +“You are safe, Doctor. From actual experience we cannot tell what the +result of such a trial would be, for the vast majority of the writers, +and the people too, of the period were opposed to the plan, and no doubt +with good reason. + +“But I do not wonder that this idea had a fascination for some +right-minded people, in the promise it gave of doing away with the evils +arising from competition, to which I have before referred.” + +Thorwald paused here, as if to invite one of us to speak, if he wanted +to do so. I accepted, by saying: + +“I wish you would tell us a little more on that subject. Competition is +said to be the life of trade with us, an accepted principle of honest +business. And yet you speak of it as something that should be done away +with.” + +“If you could know,” answered Thorwald, “how repugnant the idea is to +us of the present day, you would understand how truly you have voiced my +feelings.” + +“I have no doubt,” I said, “that your experience has taught you much on +the subject that we do not know, but this is the way it looks from our +standpoint: There is born in us a passion for getting that which belongs +to others, or that which others are trying to get. In some of us this +instinct is developed more than in others, and some are unprincipled +enough to indulge it unjustly; but let me ask you if it is wrong to +follow the leadings of such a desire if we are strictly honest in all +our dealings.” + +“We might differ over the meaning of the phrase ‘strictly honest,’ but I +will answer your question by saying it is certainly wrong.” + +“But it seems to be a part of our very nature.” + +“Do you offer that as a reason for its being right? I never heard you +claim that human nature was perfect,” said Thorwald. + +“Then,” I returned, “in our present state, with which you are now +pretty well acquainted, is it not possible to carry the principles of +Christianity into business?” + +“To answer that as I should be obliged to do would make me appear to you +too arbitrary, and so perhaps I had better let you find your own answer +in the questions which I will ask you. Is not unselfishness one of the +first principles of Christianity? Now, the very essence of competition +is a regard for self-interest, with no room for thought about the +interests of others. In an ideal state of society the rules of life +given by Jesus are fully obeyed. In such a state, would a transaction +be right where each person was trying to do what was best for himself, +although it might be to the damage or loss of another? It might be +called honest to own slaves, and probably in the history of the earth +a great many sincere Christian people have owned them, but you have now +reached that condition, I think, where you can see it is wrong. So your +way of doing business may be honest, but in our more ideal state we see +that it is not right. Our remote ancestors, through the various stages +of our development, did a thousand things with clear consciences which +we could not do now. I understand your situation perfectly, and am sure +your race will outgrow its imperfections.” + +I thanked Thorwald for his faith in us, and he resumed his narrative. + +“In the age of which I am speaking,” he said, “the church was taking a +prominent place in the world, but had not assumed the leading position +which it afterward reached. Many nations were still without the light of +the gospel, and even in nominal Christian lands the actual supporters +of the church were in the minority. In the midst of much evil and many +discouragements the church was trying to regenerate society, but it had +a difficult task, partly on account of the great perversity of the +human heart, and partly because the church itself was not free from +the imperfections of the age. Its members represented all shades of +spirituality, the great majority of them having but a faint appreciation +of the glorious cause in which they had enlisted. They called themselves +soldiers of the cross, but were so burdened with the ordinary but more +pressing duties and occupations of life that they never dreamed of the +grandeur of the service, nor of the brilliant deeds of which the church +was soon to show itself capable. + +“One chief hindrance to the growth of the church and to the spread of +its influence was the spirit of division within itself. Theoretically, +all believers, the world over, were one body, or church, but in point of +fact there were many churches, and in some particulars they were quite +sharply opposed to each other. This evil was in full force in that age, +but there were signs in the air that it was not to remain forever a +stumbling-block to the faith of the world.” + +“We are afflicted in the same way,” said I, “and some of us are hopeful +enough to look forward to a really united church. But many think it is +a part of our nature to differ, and are not able to see how all can ever +come to think alike. They say that if by a miracle all should be brought +into one church, and then left to their own inclinations, in a short +time there would be as many sects as there are now.” + +“And so there would,” returned Thorwald, “with your present ways. +Your imperfect nature must change under the softening influence of +the gospel. The differences that cause such trouble come from each +individual’s selfish regard for his own opinion. All must learn not only +to respect but to embrace the opinions of each other when they are +right opinions. Two streams may run in parallel channels forever if each +persists in following strictly its own course. If one turns toward the +other and the other turns away, they will still be kept apart; but let +each turn toward the other, and how quickly they come together.” + +I told Thorwald I could apply his illustration to our condition and we +would try to profit by it. + +“One of the promising features of the religious situation,” he +continued, “was the good start the church had made in missionary work. +In the zeal with which this was taken up it was quite a new departure +for the church, for not long before this time good men believed that if +God intended to save the heathen he would do it without any help from +man. But now success had come in the work in sufficient measure to +greatly encourage the faithful souls engaged in it. + +“When I speak of zeal, however, you must understand that this quality +was confined to a few people. Nearly all were only half-hearted +Christians at the best, doing something, to be sure, but not at all +alive to the grand opportunity of bringing the world to the feet of the +Savior. Only here and there was one found who was ready to give himself +unselfishly to the work, and the amount of money given to advance the +cause of Christ, at home and abroad, was small indeed compared to that +spent in luxurious living and hurtful indulgences. + +“At the same time, it was an age of progress. The ordinary span of life +was long enough to show improvement in many ways, and men, seeing the +rapid advancement the world was making, took courage and looked forward +more confidently for the dawn of a brighter day. Religion was beginning +to be more of an every-day matter, and Christians were coming to a faint +realization of the real value of the gospel in its adaptation to all +the needs of men. Care for the body, better ways of living, and right +conduct toward others were all taught, as well as duty to God, and +society began to feel the benefit of such sensible teaching.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +VANQUISHED AGAIN BY A VOICE. + + +We all hoped Mona’s affliction would prove temporary, but after a number +of days had passed, and no improvement appeared, Thorwald had an expert +anatomist come to the house and make an examination of the organs of her +throat. Although this was a new way in which to apply his skill, as the +Martians of that era were all physically perfect, he thought he might be +able to discover the cause of the trouble. The result of this experiment +was somewhat reassuring, for our scientist told us there was no defect +of organ or injury to any part, closing his report with the remark +that the case presented the greatest mystery of the kind he had ever +encountered. My companion, the doctor, now expressed his opinion, which +coincided with my own. This was, that Mona’s trouble was occasioned by +the shock to her nervous system when she was plunged into the water, +an element which she so much dreaded. Our good friends, including the +expert, were utterly unable to understand the meaning of this theory. +The remark that Zenith made was: + +“Why, but for our friend, and others who pry into these things for us, +we would never know we had any nerves.” + +“Happy will our race be,” responded the doctor, “when it arrives at the +same blissful ignorance.” + +“Well,” continued Zenith, “if your opinion is the correct one, what have +we to hope for in Mona’s case?” + +“Unfortunately,” answered the doctor, “we have no experience to teach us +what to expect. We can only hope with you that she may speedily recover +her voice, which has seemed to form such a great part of her, and has +given us all so much delight.” + +Perhaps it was imagination, but it seemed to me that Mona’s behavior +toward me was more affectionate than it had formerly been. She had told +me before, to be sure, that she had loved me with all her heart, but in +these latter days she appeared to seek my society more and to show other +indications that her love was assuming more of the personal element for +which I had once so assiduously sought. But how was it with myself? This +question forced itself on me, one day, and I was a little startled to +find that an answer did not spring up spontaneously. Was it possible +that my love was becoming cold? I would not admit it. Just as the poor +girl had lost her chief attraction, should I turn from her and forget +all my former professions? On the first suspicion that such might +possibly be my desire, I said it was a wicked thought and I should +never let it be true. But even if I could not force my heart to remain +faithful, no one should ever know it but myself. + +A little more time elapsed and I discovered that, in spite of my brave +resolutions, Mona, silent, was filling less and less of my thoughts, +and that I was living on the precious memory of her lost voice. But this +discovery did not shake my determination ever to be to Mona herself a +true and faithful lover. + +At this juncture I was sitting alone, one morning, going over in my mind +the strange vicissitudes of my love affair, when, in a far-distant part +of the house, I heard a sound which thrilled me. I stopped all +motion and listened, my heart, however, trembling with the fear of a +disappointment. The music, for it was sweet music to me, came nearer, +and now I could not be mistaken. What joy filled my heart! How +impossible to forget that voice! I sat still and let it come. She +evidently knew where I was and was coming to find me, pouring forth +her heart in the way she knew I adored. Where now were my fears that my +heart was growing cold toward her? Could it be possible that I had ever +doubted my affection for her since I first heard her sing? Nearer it +comes, filling my ears now with its familiar melody, a song without +words but full of meaning for one who hears aright. She is guided true +by the lamp of love and is now in the next room. I cannot wait, but +interrupt her song with this cry: + +“Come to me, my love, come quickly. I know your voice and the meaning of +your song, and my heart responds to yours.” + +The strain continues, and soon a form appears in the doorway. I spring +from my seat and start to meet it, but fall back almost immediately in +confusion. + +“Oh, Avis,” I exclaimed with vexation, “I thought you were Mona again. I +supposed you were on the other side of the world.” + +“I was, but I have come back to sing for you. I heard poor Mona had lost +her voice and I wanted to do what I could to fill her place. But I fear +you are not pleased with me.” + +“My dear friend,” I replied, “I beg your pardon for the abrupt manner +in which I received you. I thought Mona had suddenly recovered her voice +and was coming in the fullness of her joy to tell me about it, and you +can imagine my disappointment when I discovered my mistake. But now I +assure you I am glad to have your sympathy and delighted to know that +you are to be near me. Please go on with the song which I so rudely +interrupted, and let me hear your voice as often as possible. It is +exceedingly fortunate for me to have you here while Mona is recovering. +Will you stay till she can sing again, or do you think it is too selfish +in me to make such a request?” + +Instead of answering me, Avis began to sing again, and in a twinkling +I had forgotten my question and everything else in the enjoyment of the +moment. + +I now wanted little to make me supremely happy. There was Mona herself, +with her exquisite beauty and friendly manner, and there was Mona’s +voice in the mouth of one who liked me enough to go half around the +world to entertain me. And, if the truth must be told, my heart inclined +more and more toward the voice. This was a startling truth indeed when +it first fell upon me, and I fully determined that no one else should +know it. Mona should never discover that I loved her less because she +could not sing, and Avis should never know that her marvelous song was +beginning to make the singer dear to me. + +Whenever I found myself alone I could think of nothing but this +perplexing subject. As I dwelt upon my situation, I told myself I must +be careful, and avoid getting into trouble. Mona was becoming more and +more tender toward me every day, and now Avis had come, unconsciously +storming the seat of my affections with Mona’s own voice. I felt that I +was in some danger of embarrassing myself before the rest of my friends, +and it behooved me to simplify matters if possible. + +First, I must find out to a certainty just how I stood with Mona. +Notwithstanding the admission which I had been forced to make to myself, +I felt that it must be right for me to continue to devote myself to +Mona, even if my heart did not bound toward her as in the days of my +exuberant love. I should indeed be unworthy of her to give her up now. +When I considered my former depth of feeling, I fairly despised myself +for entertaining for a moment the possibility of her becoming less dear +to me. But, for all that, I knew deep in my heart that the charm which +had held me to her was gone, and I knew of no way to arrest and bring +back my wandering affections. + +Still, it could not be right for me to let her know I was changing. What +would she think of me, and what opinion would Thorwald and Zenith have? +I must own that the latter consideration had a good deal of force with +me, for I did not want to lower myself and our whole race in their eyes. + +So I prepared the form of speech with which to address Mona again on the +old subject. It seemed strange that she should begin to grow fond of me +just as soon as my love began to cool, and I determined with all my will +never to let her know the state of my heart. + +Not long after I had made this resolution, I was surprised to have +the doctor tell me he was sorry to see I was not so partial to Mona’s +society since she had lost her voice. I do not remember what I said to +him in reply, but I know his remark set me thinking hard. Perhaps other +observers had noticed the same thing and were too considerate of my +feelings to speak of it. Surely, I must have matters put upon a better +footing at once. + +As for Mona, she was never happier in her life, if we could judge from +her actions. She had now learned to talk so well in her mute language +that we all found conversation with her comparatively easy. Her +fascinating manners made her interesting always, and in spite of her +great loss she was still an important part of the life of the house. +I argued to myself that my heart must be hard indeed if I could not +continue to love her. To me her behavior was characterized by such a +peculiar sweetness that I knew she was ready, on a word from me, to +recall some of the harsh things she had said and to own a love quite +different in kind from her regard for others. + +The opportunity soon came to speak to her, and I embraced it. “Mona,” I +said, “I want to make a little speech to you. First, let me ask you if +I can introduce a subject on which you have more than once stopped my +mouth. Perhaps you know what I mean.” + +“Oh, yes,” she replied, “I remember it very well, and you may talk all +you please about it now. You must forgive me if I was unkind before and +used my voice to vex you. But I am surprised to have you bring up this +topic.” + +“Why?” + +“Because I thought from your manner that you did not love me as you used +to.” + +By this time the speech that I had prepared was all out of my head, +and I was wondering if it were possible that I had lost so much of my +affection for Mona that she had discovered it by a change in my manner. +In reply to her remark I said: + +“But such a thought has not made you unhappy, Mona, if I may judge from +your behavior. I have never seen you more cheerful and full of life.” + +“No,” she responded, “I think it has had the contrary effect. I was +rather relieved to find you were recovering from your foolishness, and I +thought we would now be able to live in peace, treating each other in a +kind and sensible manner. I am disappointed to find that you are still +clinging to the old idea, but I will not object to your saying all you +please on the subject, for I have my own reasons now for being gracious +to you.” + +“That’s the very thing I want to ask you about, Mona. I have noticed +your great kindness of late, and have supposed it came from the fact +that you were learning to love me in my way; that is, somewhat to the +exclusion of others. Isn’t it that?” + +“I think you will not be pained when I say you have had a wrong +impression.” + +“Why do you think such a discovery will not pain me?” + +“Because I am sure you do not care for me now in the same way as before. +It was my voice that inthralled you. In all this interview you have not +once said you love me, and you know at one time you could say nothing +else. But let me tell you why I have shown an extra tenderness toward +you recently. It was because I feared you would think I blamed you +for my misfortune. I wanted to let you know I had not the least unkind +feeling and that, in spite of the loss of my voice, I was as happy and +contented as ever.” + +“Well, after all, you do love me a little, do you not, Mona?” + +“Why, of course I do, just as much as ever. And now let us go right +along and be nice to each other. We will love each other and love +everybody else just the same, and you must promise not to look disturbed +any more when I am talking with Foedric; but you have been very good +about that of late.” + +“I will promise,” I answered; “but what will you do if you find I am +loving another person more than you?” + +“Oh, I cannot understand what you mean by loving more and loving less. +It is a strange idea to me, and I hope I shall never get accustomed to +it. My way is to love everybody with all my heart, and that’s an end of +it. Don’t you see in that way I escape all the worry and vexation which +you seem to have in the matter? As to your loving another, you will +pardon me if I say it will be a great relief to me for you to do so. +I have not been used to being the sole recipient of any person’s +affection, and I shall rejoice to be freed from the responsibility. If +you have thought me happy heretofore, you will now be astonished at my +sprightliness. I suppose you refer to Antonia. She is a lovely girl, +and--” + +“Allow me,” I interrupted; but before I could go on with my denial that +voice again fell on my ears--so distant and low that I held my breath to +listen. At first Mona did not hear it, but it soon increased in volume; +and now, as the sweet sounds came pouring upon us, my companion saw how +I was affected, and said in her sign language: + +“Oh, I was mistaken. Antonia is not the one.” + +My heart was now all aflame, and, with Mona by my side and gazing into +my glowing face, I almost forgot her presence in the approach of one +whose song had such power. Was she old? Music like that is never old. +Why should not my heart go out to her? She was still beautiful and not +so old as I had supposed. And then, of course, people in that advanced +condition, did not wear out in a few years as they did on the earth. As +for her size, she was rather small for a Martian, and I, living under +new conditions, would certainly take a start before many days, and no +doubt become as large as Foedric, almost. + +These ingenuous sentiments came to me with the sweet accents of that +melodious song, and when Avis appeared I had great difficulty to keep +from making some foolish exhibition of my feelings. + +At my next sober moment, that is, when I was by myself, and out of +hearing of that intoxicating music, it was very easy for me to realize +my ridiculous situation, but not so easy to tell how I was to escape +from it. As to my relations with Mona herself, I was greatly relieved by +our last conversation. I certainly need no longer feel obliged to tie +my vagrant heart to her. She would not miss it if it never once showed +itself again, but how could I hope to preserve any sort of character in +the eyes of my other friends? What sport the doctor would make of me +if he knew how I felt toward Avis. He little thought that this was the +daughter of Mars most likely to bring me to my knees. + +And the doctor would have good reason for whatever enjoyment he might +have at my expense, for I felt at first that I did not deserve any +sympathy. When away from the powerful influence of that voice I was +myself, and could see everything in its true perspective, but it is +difficult to describe the change that came over me as soon as those +entrancing notes fell upon my ear. The music sent great waves of emotion +through my being, the storm center generally appearing to be the seat of +my affections. My heart would beat fast, going out toward the singer +in sympathy and love. The doubts of propriety belonging to my sane +moments--hesitation, argument, uncertainty--all went in a flash, and I +was almost ready to throw myself before her and proclaim my love without +shame or embarrassment. At such times I felt that I could hold my head +up in view of all the inhabitants of Mars and prove to them that I was +not fickle, but as steadfast as constancy itself in following always one +and the same attraction. Was I not as true to the best that was in me, +when my heart was ravished by the voice of Avis, as I was when I had +loved Mona so tenderly for the same sweet charm? + +As day followed day in this delightful home, it was the society of Avis +which I continually sought, and I was never quite happy except in her +presence, or, at least, within hearing distance of her voice. And it was +not long before the constant association of Avis with the music I +loved so well began, even when I was not listening to her, to draw my +affections toward one who, at will, could exert such power over me. + +Mona was still herself, the same friendly, joyous creature as ever, but +the knowledge that I could never gain her undivided affection helped to +cure my infatuation. And now, with my heart free, why should I not love +Avis? The mere fact that she was an inhabitant of Mars proved that she +was far too good for me, but I could see by the example of Foedric and +Antonia that Avis would never, in consequence of her high development, +have any scruples against loving one person more than others. + +When I had fully persuaded myself that I was perfectly consistent in my +present course, I became quite anxious to know what others would think +of me. But I was too much afraid of the doctor’s criticism to confide my +secret to him. I must try one of the Martians, whose high breeding and +true courtesy would not permit them to make light of one’s feelings on +so serious a subject. + +So it was to Zenith that I went for sympathy. She had been more than +kind to me, and it is remarkable how easy and perfectly at home she made +me feel in her company. + +“Zenith,” I began, “I want to consult you on a delicate subject, and +I will first ask you a rather abrupt question. Will you give us your +permission to take Avis back to the earth with us?” + +A Martian never loses self-possession and is never at a loss what to say +to the most unexpected proposition. + +“Well, that is abrupt,” Zenith quickly responded. “Do you know, Thorwald +and I were talking only this morning about your apparent fondness for +the society of Avis. Are you forgetting Mona?” + +This was getting into the subject faster than I had intended, and I +determined to take my time, so I said: + +“Zenith, this province must be the New England of Mars, by the way you +evade my question and ask another.” + +“But you wouldn’t expect me to answer such a question offhand. You +see, it contains several new ideas. First, I didn’t know you thought of +returning to the earth. Then I am surprised that you should want to +take anybody with you. And, finally, I am more surprised that you should +choose Avis rather than Mona. Now that I have explained so fully, may I +not ask you again if this means that you are forgetting Mona?” + +“Mona is not able to sing for me,” I said. + +“And do your ideas of what is right allow you to become indifferent to +her as soon as she loses one of her attractions? Here her misfortune +would tend to make her only more dear to one who really loved her.” + +To which I made haste to answer: + +“I am proud to tell you, Zenith, that such sentiments prevail on the +earth, too, and I have been trying hard to hold them in my own breast. +But in living with you I am learning to be honest, and it would not be +right for me to deny that Mona’s chief charm for me is gone from her, +and is in the possession of another. The voice of Avis has the same +power over me that Mona’s formerly had, and shall I fight against my +growing fondness for Avis?” + +“Is your race so little developed, then,” asked Zenith, “that your ears +are the only avenue to your hearts?” + +Before I could answer, Mona herself came bounding into the room, and +Zenith continued: + +“There’s the poor child now. How can you be so unkind to her?” + +“Who’s unkind to me?” asked Mona in her sign language. + +“Zenith thinks I am,” I answered. + +“Why, you are mistaken, Zenith; he is just the opposite. We have always +loved each other, and I think more of him than ever since I lost my +voice, and he has ceased making serious speeches to me that I can’t +understand. I wish you could see how he enjoys hearing Avis sing.” + +In this way Mona proved to Zenith that she was not heart-broken. I was +going to explain the matter myself, but was glad to have Mona take it +out of my hands. + +The most difficult task yet remained. I must tell Avis how affairs +stood; and yet, was it the proper thing for me to do? I wondered how the +delicate subject of making love was handled in Mars, where the two sexes +were perfectly equal. Which one was to make the advances? The matter is +simple enough on the earth, where women are inferior and dependent. Of +course, they must smother their own feelings and wait to be discovered, +while the men can make their selection, and if they do not succeed at +first can simply try again. That is entirely proper, and everybody knows +just what to do; but here things are probably different. I don’t want to +make a failure in this case, as I did with Mona, not knowing the customs +of the moon-dwellers. Perhaps my best way will be to try a little +coquetry and pretend I do not care for her nor her singing. That may +draw her on to make some avowal to me. + +I had gone so far in my deliberations, when I was interrupted by the +doctor, who called to ask if I did not want to go out with him. I +consented reluctantly, as I preferred to go on with my thinking till I +could come to some decision. But the doctor had a purpose in taking +me out, and, as soon as a good opportunity presented itself, he said, +inquiringly: + +“You find Avis a pretty good singer?” + +“Excellent.” + +“And good company?” + +“Excellent company. Why?” + +“Oh, nothing; only I thought you were neglecting another friend.” + +“Why, Mona doesn’t care for me, and Avis does, or, at least, I think she +does.” + +“Do you mean by this,” inquired the doctor, “that you have transferred +to Avis the personal interest you had in Mona?” + +“Have you anything to say in disparagement of Avis?” I asked. + +“Certainly not. I have a high respect for her. But there is one other +plain question I would like to ask you, in view of your rather erratic +behavior.” + +“Well, what is it? I’m dying to know.” + +“It is this. What are you going to do with Margaret?” + +“Margaret? Oh, yes, I forgot about Margaret. That is something else I +have got to think over.” + +That night, as I was falling asleep, the same sweet, familiar music came +to me from a distant part of the house. Half-thinking and half-dreaming, +I let my mind drift where it would. The sensation received through my +ears was so delicious and so satisfying that I wondered why I could +not rest in it entirely and not think of the singer; but that was +impossible. The notes penetrated from my brain down to the region of +my heart. I thought of Margaret, but Margaret could not sing like that. +Mona could not, now; no one but Avis. Oh, how I loved her for it! I +remembered how nice Margaret was, and how much I had once thought of +her; but as for loving her now, with this music of Mars in my ears, why, +I simply couldn’t try to do it. At last Margaret, Mona, Avis, all became +jumbled up in my chaotic mind, and I thought they were one superb woman, +and I loved her. The conceit was worthy the colossal selfishness of a +dreamer. The essence of three worlds was mine. The earth, the moon, and +Mars had all given me their best. And she could sing. The thought was +soothing. I was asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +UNTIL THE DAY BREAK. + + +The events related in the foregoing chapter were interesting to us all, +in one way and another, but the doctor and I felt that the real purpose +of our visit to Mars, if anything so unpremeditated could be said to +have a purpose, was to learn all we could of the planet, and especially +of its people. And as we did not know how soon our visit might be +brought to a close, we lost no time in urging Thorwald to continue his +instruction whenever he could find it convenient. Thorwald’s answer to +this was, that he hoped nothing would occur to hasten our departure, but +that it was his convenience to heed at any time our wishes, and he would +resume his talk as soon as we pleased. So it was not long before we were +seated, and Thorwald began again as follows: + +“It is now my privilege to speak to you, my friends, of that part of +our history which differs from anything you have experienced, and I +anticipate much pleasure in doing so. I must say again that we have +found the parallel remarkably close between your career and ours up to +the time when you left the earth.” + +“We have indeed,” remarked the doctor, “and that makes us all the +more anxious to learn what came to you next and how you escaped the +threatening storms.” + +“There were certainly many clouds upon our horizon at that day,” resumed +Thorwald. “The people were full of unrest. The worst part wanted to +replace organized society with anarchy, but this extreme party never +succeeded in their purpose. The world had progressed too far for that. +There were too many churches and schools and printing presses. The +anarchists should have begun their efforts in a ruder age. + +“There was more danger from the jealousies and mischievous tendencies +among the great industrial class, because their number was so large. But +even here the same influences which saved us from the nihilist had their +effect. As time went on, men came to think more, and the result of this +was that both conscience and reason began to govern men’s actions. + +“The workmen had looked about them and had seen many corporations +increasing in wealth and power, and individuals rolling up enormous +fortunes, and they had felt that they were not getting a fair share of +the money their labor was earning. But then a little thought enabled +them to realize that these evidences of great prosperity came from the +successful few, while a large proportion of all business ventures were +failures; and in these the employees received more of the profits than +the owners did. Then the wage-earners had the benefit of much of +the money accumulated in large fortunes, by having the free use of +libraries, trade schools, reading rooms, and an increasing number of +philanthropic institutions, which were equipped and endowed by the rich. +Such a use of wealth became an ordinary thing, so that it was not a +matter of wonder and wide notice when a man spent a liberal share of his +fortune in educational or other humanitarian work. + +“All this had a great effect on the mass of the people, gradually +raising the average of character, and placing before the mind a higher +incentive for right living. Ignorance had always been to the race a +twin enemy with sin, and the growth of intelligence meant the general +elevation of mankind. + +“Another chief item in the reformation of men in that age of improvement +was the general abandonment of the drinking habit. You will understand, +of course, that the mainspring of all these reforms was the gospel of +Christ, under which man’s spiritual nature was gradually developing. +But, at the same time, there was always a secondary cause, and through +human instrumentality such blessings came to us. What do you suppose +brought about the overthrow of intemperance?” + +“I suspect,” answered the doctor, with a glance at our hostess, “it was +the growing influence of woman, who, by that time, according to Zenith’s +account, ought to be taking quite a leading position.” + +“Doctor,” said Thorwald, “you take in the situation completely. If +there was one thing woman had always been sure she could do, it was the +breaking up of the liquor traffic. In the old days, when she had been +treated as man’s inferior, she had declared that, if she had the power, +she would stamp out the manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks, and +make it impossible for men to get them at any price. And when power came +to her I am glad to say she proved that her boast had not been in vain. +Not that she fulfilled her threat in any such dramatic way as she had +had in mind, but the end was accomplished just as surely by the force +of her high character, working itself out in many ways. It was chiefly a +crusade of education. The children of one generation after another were +taught the value of right habits and purity of body, and in time the +change was wrought, a victory for woman more precious to the race than +any army of mailed warriors had ever won. + +“With temperance came better manners, more self-respect, a kinder +spirit, a more tender care for others, and, along with these things, +better hearts and better homes.” + +As Thorwald had invited us to interrupt him as often as we pleased, I +took advantage of a pause here by saying: + +“I see, Thorwald, you are making the people all too good to leave any +fear in the mind of a social convulsion, but I would like to ask how +politics were smoothed out. During that period of industrial war, which +you described to us, you said the workingmen and ignorant classes +found they were in the majority and were beginning to use their power +unjustly. We are threatened in a similar way on the earth at this time, +and I am anxious to know how the cloud in your sky was dispersed.” + +“I will endeavor to make it plain to you,” replied Thorwald, “but you +must remember I am trying to condense the history of a great many +years into as few words as possible. It was found that there had been +a mistake in making the right of suffrage universal without universal +education, and that the ignorant and vicious were so numerous as to make +the average unsafe to rely upon in a crisis. It was a difficult matter +to remedy this state of things. Some attempts were made from time to +time to confine the privilege of citizenship to the intelligent part of +the community, but many of the best people thought this was taking the +wrong course, and that the only safe cure was in educating all classes +up to a full appreciation of their higher duties. There was a growing +faith, the world over, in the virtue of the people at large, and +wherever they had been given full power to govern themselves, or had +taken it from their former rulers, they were exceedingly jealous of any +abridgment of this power. + +“Here, again, we see the effects of the beneficent influence of woman. +The more her dominion increased the more was intelligence diffused, and +although she yielded to the subtle temptation of power and reigned alone +for a while, yet the world had, on the whole, great cause to be thankful +for her signal advancement. With education made compulsory, and with +society brought gradually under the sway of woman’s finer nature and +more lofty ideals, communities were molded to a higher form of life, and +saved from the evils which threatened them in their former state. + +“Let me tell you briefly how war was banished from our world, that +monster whose hideous presence would be so utterly out of place here +now. At the beginning of the age I am describing, the foremost nations +kept powerful armies and navies, all ready for their deadly work. Wars +were frequent and bloody. The best of the young men in nearly every land +were forced to bear arms and fight for their country at the command of +their rulers, while the conscience of mankind was dulled and stunted by +the spectacle or constant menace of war. + +“The lives of millions of men were actually in the hands of a few +irresponsible autocrats, who were possessed with exaggerated or false +notions of national honor. Now came a time when the world stood hushed, +as it were, on the eve of a mighty conflict. Every nation had increased +its army and strengthened its defenses to the utmost limit. Every day +threatened to see the match lighted--a hasty word, a fancied insult, any +trivial thing, which would bring on the struggle and put the world in +mourning. And what was it all for? No one could tell. It seemed to be +nothing but the selfish ambition of the rulers and their innate love +for supremacy. As for the real actors, those who were to do the actual +fighting, they had no love for their work. However it may have been in +the past, the world was older now and better, and war was abhorred with +all its accompaniments both by the army and by the people at large. + +“It was a time of great inventions, looking not only to the saving of +life but to its destruction. Even while the nations were standing, arms +in hand, waiting for the signal to begin the conflict, their weapons +were rendered useless and the strength of their fortresses reduced to +nothing by the working of one man’s brain. Yes, by a single invention, +inspired by God for the good of his creation, inhuman war received its +death-blow and the world obtained a mighty impulse toward its final +goal.” + +The doctor became somewhat excited by these words and asked with +eagerness: + +“What wonderful invention was that?” + +“The perfection of the air ship,” Thorwald replied, “by which any +required weight could be taken into the air, and carried with ease and +certainty by currents of air or force of gravity. + +“You no doubt see what such an invention implies. It means that powerful +explosives could be dropped from the sky in quantities sufficient to +annihilate an army or utterly destroy a city. Experiments were made, +and engineers learned, with surprising rapidity, to cast the bombs with +great accuracy from any desired height. + +“At once every government hastened to build air ships and manufacture +explosives. There seemed to be no limit in sight to the production of +either, and soon power enough was stored in this way to extinguish +half the life of the world, when rightly applied. The entire system of +warfare was revolutionized; but, while all were preparing for offensive +operations, there appeared to be no adequate plan of defense under the +new system. It therefore became apparent that, should the threatening +cloud burst, it would be difficult to imagine the extent of the +destruction it would bring. This feeling, which filled all hearts with +dread, delayed the catastrophe, for no one was ready to assume such an +immense responsibility. So matters stood for a long time, the fear +of the dire consequences preventing an outbreak, while the sentiment +against war was rapidly growing. In nations of the highest civilization, +where the Christian character of the people was reflected in the +government, some serious disputes had been settled by arbitration, and +every time this humane method was adopted a precedent was created which +made war appear more and more useless and barbarous. The world was now +becoming so much changed that such a good example was contagious, and +the result was that the aerial warships and the deadly dynamite did not +have to be used. + +“Among the legends of the time is the improbable one that, when these +air fleets were at their highest point of efficiency, and the world +was literally lying at their mercy, one hot-headed young monarch, whose +selfish pride had stolen away his senses, gave the command to fire +the train which would ram destruction upon his foes, when, wonder of +wonders, not a man would obey his order. Angered beyond measure by +such an unwonted experience, he seized with his own hand the electric +apparatus arranged to give the fatal spark, but with such violence +and indiscretion that, instead of sending the current on its appointed +mission, it turned from its course and destroyed the angry youth +himself. + +“This is undoubtedly a myth, but the rest that I have told you is +well-authenticated history. + +“The abolition of war seems sudden, but it never would have taken place +as it did had not the people been prepared for it by a radical change in +their character. For many years the spirit of peace had been quietly at +work on the heart of mankind, until it came to be realized that warfare +and strife, whether between individuals or nations, were bound to die +away under the growing appreciation for the higher law. + +“It was one of the supreme days in the history of Mars, when grim war +passed and became but a memory. The effect was instantaneous. At once +the people of the different nations were drawn together to their mutual +advantage. Commerce became world-wide, one language was adopted, and the +arts of peace flourished as never before. Men began to feel that they +were one family, national distinctions were made little of, and the +world drifted gradually toward universal brotherhood. + +“I must now draw your attention to the work of the church and show you +how it was carrying out its great commission. First, to prepare for +the highest usefulness, it quite early freed itself from the sectarian +spirit. As the magnitude of its mission became more apparent the points +of difference between the denominations grew constantly smaller, and, in +time, all Christians found themselves united on the fundamental truths +of the gospel, and working together to bring the world to the light. +With this union fully accomplished, Christianity became more than ever +the dominant force in the world, and the church the chief center of all +work looking to the elevation of the race. + +“The progress of the world was along the line of the brotherhood of +man, and that doctrine was the church’s own Christianity taught the true +socialism, which, however, could not be realized till the heart had lost +its selfishness, and each one had learned to care for the interests of +his neighbor. Although such a condition was not in sight at that day, +there was a mighty awakening which set the current of men’s thoughts and +desires strongly in the right direction.” + +“Do you call yourselves socialists now?” asked the doctor. + +“No,” answered Thorwald, “but you can call us so, if you please. It is +a good word, but our condition is much more perfect, since the coming of +the kingdom of God in every heart, than any dream of socialism, in the +olden time, ever contemplated. + +“I was speaking of the increasing power of religion. Where the church +had been weak and dependent on a few half-earnest, timid believers, +it was now strong and active, and supported by all the self-respecting +portion of society. Instead of being forced to beg for its meager +subsistence, it now received in abundance the money that was poured out +voluntarily. Men did not wait for death, but gave their fortunes away +during their lives, and enjoyed the blessing which followed. The church +went down to the people, and in so doing lifted them up to itself. +It showed them how to make much of life, gave them instruction and +recreation and social enjoyment, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and +visited those in trouble. It strengthened family and neighborhood ties, +encouraged peace and good-fellowship, and taught men to love each other +as a preparation for loving God. + +“A local church of that day was not a feeble body of men and women, with +an overworked and underpaid man at their head, who was expected to do +all the varied work required, except what he could get done by a small +number of his members, themselves worn out with the labor and business +of life. No, I will acquaint you with a then modern church. It was an +institution rich in resources and men, male and female, reaching out +into the community in every direction, helping the people in every +imaginable way to live as well as preparing them to die, a beauty and a +joy to all. It appealed to every side of man’s nature, first supplying +physical wants, not by indiscriminate largess of money, but by teaching +sobriety, industry, and thrift as virtues necessary to a rounded +character. Such teaching was not confined to pulpit precepts, but there +was no lack of good souls who took delight in going into the homes of +the people and showing them by example the best ways of living, and how +to make even the homeliest duties a loving and beautiful service. +To provide further for the needs of the body, there were gymnasiums, +bath-houses, swimming schools, playgrounds, riding schools, and the +like. + +“More numerous still were the means offered to meet the intellectual +and social desires--club-houses, lecture halls, conservatories, +museums, picture galleries, libraries, reading rooms, observatories, +kindergartens, manual training and trade schools, besides games and +sports, spectacular and dramatic exhibitions of a high order, and +many other things, designed to compete with attractions of a debasing +character. + +“Then, rising high over all, both in outward form and inward grace, +was the church edifice itself, set apart and strictly preserved for its +sacred purpose. In the noble lines of its architecture, in the beauty +of its artistic adornment, and in the character of its service, +intellectual and musical, it represented the highest culture of the age. +The structure included under its roof accommodations for the various +departments of religious work, and its doors were always open, inviting +every passer-by to enter and seek for spiritual refreshment. + +“Imagine, if you can, an institution employing all these agencies, every +one of them fully equipped and manned, and with streams of money flowing +in to their support; no barren appeals from the pulpit for funds to pay +expenses, and no auctioneer’s hammer profaning the sacred aisles. + +“This was the church of the period. Can you wonder that God’s rich +blessing was on such work and that his kingdom made rapid progress? +There was an ever-increasing number of God’s ministers, men and women, +imbued with Christ’s own spirit, working in all these various activities +to elevate and save their kind. + +“In the life of the people there was nothing in all the world that so +surrounded them as the church. They could not escape from its influence. +It touched them from one side or from another, calling upon them, by +every manner of appeal, to lead less sordid lives, and seek the highest +good. Whereas in the olden time they seemed to be set in the midst of +evil influences, which imperceptibly molded their characters and too +often wrecked their lives, their condition was so changed that their +environment was now a help and not a hindrance, and so the gospel found +easy entrance to their hearts and lives. + +“This much the church had done by giving its money and itself, with +new-born zeal, to the work of the Master. And from this time you may be +sure its victories were rapid and notable. + +“While this great change in society had been going on among nominal +Christian people, hand in hand had gone the work of the gospel in +heathen lands. The faster the money was poured out for the church +at home, the more plentifully it was offered for the foreign field. +Sometimes it was feared there would be more money than men and women for +the work. Then the laborers would come forward in such numbers that the +money would be exhausted, which, however, gave no concern, for it was +sure to come again as soon as needed. Where one missionary, in the +former days, had had the courage to take up the work, now thousands +sprang forward and with eager hearts went into the field. + +“Going to the heathen in the same spirit of brotherly love and +helpfulness which had been so successful at home, the church was almost +overwhelmed with the happy results. One people after another threw away +their idols, and became followers of the gentle Savior, whose disciples +showed so much of his spirit. In every part of the world the gospel +was gaining fast over superstition and ignorance. In Christian lands no +other news was so sought after by all as the reports of the progress of +the cross, at home and abroad. Enthusiasm is a small word with which to +describe the burst of genuine interest in this great cause. Nor was it +a transient show of feeling, but so steady and constant that there was +never any doubt of its enduring till the final victory was won. + +“Where now were the dangers that threatened society? What had become +of the labor troubles, the schemes of the anarchists, the menace of the +unemployed, the risk of a plutocracy, and all the evils that darkened +the sky of that former day? How far away, how trivial these things +seemed, now that they had passed, and men were learning to dwell +together in peace.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY. + + +Thorwald paused again, and the doctor felt moved to say: + +“Your sketch has been richly enjoyed, Thorwald, and if it can be taken +as prophetic, in any sense, of what is to come to pass on the earth, we +are to see some happy days indeed. But a question has arisen in my mind +which I would like to ask you. When you broke off your former narrative, +things were in a pretty serious state among your ancestors. You have now +told us in a general way that there was a great change for the better, +and that every thing and every body improved until the time came when it +was easier to be good than not. I accept the fact, but do not understand +the practical operation of the causes that led to such a result. For +instance, I would like to know how that industrial strife came to an +end. The parties to it seemed to be full of bitter enmity and far enough +from ever loving one another. You have perhaps answered my question +already, and my stupidity has prevented me from grasping your meaning.” + +“Let me first ask you a question,” said Thorwald. “I have inferred, +from some words you have let fall from time to time, that your mind has +changed somewhat. Will you admit that whatever advance this world has +made has come through the teachings of Christ?” + +“It would be rather presumptuous in me,” answered the doctor, “to think +of denying anything to which you hold so firmly. More than that, in +the light of what I have seen and heard here, my own views, so rashly +expressed in the first days of our acquaintance, seem to me out of +place. They were formed without sufficient study of the subject, and I +am free to tell you that I now believe the same influence to which you +attribute your growth is the strength and growth of our race also.” + +“Your words give me great pleasure,” Thorwald resumed, “for now I know +I have your full sympathy. The troubles to which you refer, and all the +clouds of that period, were dispersed by the growth of the spirit of +love in the world. Does that seem a vague and insufficient answer to +your question? Does the cause appear inadequate to the effect? Perhaps +I should have warned you not to expect any new or startling method +of removing these evils. The world was not in need of any nostrum for +curing sin, nor of any new scheme of the visionary for teaching men how +to find peace and happiness. + +“No, the old gospel was sufficient. The power was already at work which +was to regenerate the world and, in time, to do away with all kinds of +oppression and injustice. The gospel did not spend its force so much +in attacking special forms of evil. It struck at the foundation of our +sinful nature, and, by long and patient effort, won a firm place in our +hearts. Then the whole structure of evil passions and low desires fell, +and our race began to build, on this new and safe foundation, more +beautiful and enduring mansions. + +“If we were to be the children of God, it was necessary for us to be +like him, to deny ourselves, and to love our enemies. So, with that +spirit growing in our hearts, what place was there for greed and anger +and strife between man and man? + +“One secret of the new power put forth by the church is to be found in +the union of all good men and women in its support. Before that period +many people of character had stood aloof, giving little thought to +religion for themselves, and less still to its influence on the world +at large. Some of them were out-and-out unbelievers, but, for the most +part, they were careless livers, too much engrossed in the affairs of +this world to feel any anxiety about the world to come. + +“But now, in the march of events, the time came when the lines must be +sharply drawn between the good and evil forces. Iniquity presented +such a bold front, and all the foes of order and decency became so +threatening, that the moral forces of society had to combine for mutual +protection. The church, being the conservator of morals as of religion, +was the only rallying point for these forces, and felt at once the +impulse of new life. Thus, society, in the hour of its extremity, found +the true source of its salvation, and from that day its progress toward +a higher state began, a progress which has never yet been stayed. + +“Let me urge you, Doctor, to learn a lesson from our history. You +acknowledge that, if the earth is to be saved from the evils which +threaten its peace, it must be through the gospel. If, therefore, you +and others like you wish to help speed the earth in its upward path, +you must obey and work for that gospel. To do good to your fellowmen +and assist in the regeneration of the world is only one motive for doing +this, but it will, I am sure, lead you to that other motive, a desire to +please your God. Every consideration calls you to leave your doubts and +negations, your neglect and indifference, and join with all the strength +of your character in a united effort to free the earth from some of its +sin. When this is done, when all the good forces cease their strife and +their cold neutrality and come together under the banner of love, you +will see a mighty change. Then will the earth grow bright with hope and +begin to realize something of the nature of its high destiny. + +“Let me continue to describe the effect of such warm-hearted, combined +labor among us, and the result on our planet of the great spiritual +awakening to which I have referred. + +“As men took note of the vast improvement going on around them, for +every department of life felt the quickening of the new zeal, they +became more and more eager in the overthrow of evil. And they had +learned thoroughly the great truth that the way to regenerate the +world was for everyone to build up his own character in truth and +righteousness. Noble lives, devoted to lofty aims, were the natural +result of the change, and our race, emerging from such a state of +imperfection as I have tried to outline, began to realize with joy that +they were living in a new world. + +“I wish I could describe to you in fitting words the wonderful nature of +this advancement. All the pride and selfishness, so common to all hearts +in our degenerate days, were now driven out and replaced by the spirit +of self-denial. Love, the living principle in the gospel, had conquered +all its foes and was now enthroned in every heart. + +“Do not suppose all this came about in one generation. It is only by +comparing one period with another that we are able to see such marked +progress. Our development toward the higher life has always been step by +step, and sometimes so slow that the people actually living, and in whom +the change was taking place, were not aware of any growth. + +“But there have been special periods in our history when, after long +years of preparation, the race has come to a sudden appreciation of a +higher and better condition. The most glorious epoch of this kind came +at the close of the period I have just been describing. + +“Perhaps you have seen some rare plant, having come to its maturity +through a process so slow as to bring discouragement, often, to +those who are cultivating it, now suddenly burst into bloom with such +magnificence that the disappointments of the past are all forgotten in +the enjoyment of its beauty. + +“So broke that blessed day upon Mars. None so fair had ever dawned +before, and none less fair have we ever seen since. + +“While this spiritual awakening was taking place, there had been rapid +progress, also, in our material development. The evils that formerly +vexed our bodies having disappeared, we were now free from sin and +sorrow alike, and so were prepared to enter upon duties relating to our +higher condition. + +“All nature rejoiced with us, for the world itself was filled with the +joy and beauty which came from the knowledge of the Lord. Peace reigned +in the animal creation, and such gladness abounded everywhere that it is +hardly an exaggeration to say that the mountains and hills broke forth +into singing, and all the trees of the field clapped their hands.” + +As Thorwald uttered these closing words, so beautiful and familiar, I +was so impressed with their appropriateness to his narrative that I +did not stop to wonder where he had obtained them, but inquired with +eagerness: + +“And is it true, Thorwald, that instead of the thorn there came up the +fir-tree, and instead of the brier there came up the myrtle-tree?” + +“That describes the situation admirably,” he answered, “and it is +literally true.” + +“Why should that be so?” I asked. + +“Because, when sin was banished from our world, it dragged in its train +every evil thing and left all bright and joyous behind it. Even the +unconscious soil was so improved in character that, whereas in the +former time it had brought forth by nature the thorn and brier and +noxious weed, there now sprang up spontaneously all manner of healthful +plants and fruits.” + +“But,” said I, “we do not attribute moral excellence to the ground that +produces our food. How could the absence of sin make it any better?” + +“Like everything else,” replied Thorwald, “it reflected the spiritual +condition of our race. By long and patient cultivation, by a constant +use of good seed, and by a persistent fight against every tendency to +evil growth, men had so changed the nature of the soil that it yielded +only that which was good. Even if left without care the ground did not +deteriorate, but the products took on the character of the times and +gradually improved. To such a degree had our once sinful world been +changed. + +“The disagreeable features in nature’s laboratory were lost to every +sense, while everything that was beautiful in sight or sound, or that +was pleasant to the taste, now possessed an added charm. The birds +sang in more joyous notes, the flowers glowed in brighter hue, and all +created things burst forth in a song of praise to their Maker.” + +“Is it possible,” I asked, “that the growth of love in the heart will +so transform a world and make even inanimate things more beautiful? The +earth is full of selfishness and I fear will be so for a long time, and +yet we think we have a few things that are perfect. I cannot conceive, +for instance, how anything could ever grow, sin or no sin, that would +surpass in beauty one of our finest roses.” + +To which Thorwald replied: + +“Is this not of value to you, to learn that the roses of the future are +entirely beyond your conception? Let me assure you that, with each new +advance in your progress toward a higher condition, there will unfold +within you new powers of appreciation for the increasing beauties in +nature, and new desires for spiritual perfections which are now too high +for your mind to grasp. Is it not a pleasure to know that there are many +things in reserve for the earth of whose character and perfections you +cannot conceive?” + +“It surely is,” I replied, “and we shall never cease to thank you for +this hour’s talk. But now let me ask if you were not really in heaven +when you reached such a happy state. With both man and nature redeemed +from sin, with the tears wiped away from all eyes, with all griefs +assuaged and sickness and sorrow forgotten, and with love supreme in the +heart, what more was needed to make a heaven? Many of our generation on +the earth believe that the earth itself will be our heaven, when sin has +been driven out and peace and joy abound.” + +“Oh, no, not heaven,” answered Thorwald. “The earth will be better in a +thousand years than it is now, much better in ten thousand years, but it +will never be heaven.” + +“But why?” I persisted. “We cannot understand how there could be any +more blessed place than the earth would be if it should ever reach the +condition which you have pictured to us as existing here.” + +“You have just stated the trouble,” Thorwald replied. + +“You cannot understand. With your present capacities you think a state +such as I have described would be perfection; but you--I mean, of +course, your race--will come in time to see imperfections even in such +a life, and will, with increasing spiritual vision, see still higher +things to strive for. Let me urge you to keep your hearts attuned to the +heavenly music and your minds open to divine influences.” + +Here Thorwald was about to leave us, as we remained in quiet thought +after his solemn and impressive words. But I kept him a moment to ask +if they had solved all the mysteries of God’s moral government. “By no +means,” he replied. “There are still many things unexplained in God’s +dealings with us, and we think this is well. Life would lose much of its +value if the time should come when there would be nothing to learn. +We know much of God’s character, but are not acquainted with its full +depths, and whenever we see or experience anything mysterious in his +providences we are content to wait for a fuller revelation of truth in +the future. + +“We shall see the time when all our questions will be answered--that is, +in the world to come--and, in the mean time, we try to strengthen our +high and beautiful conception of God’s character by referring everything +we do not understand to his loving and gracious qualities, which we know +so well.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +A SUDDEN RETURN TO THE EARTH. + + +That night, when the doctor and I were alone, I said to him: + +“Well, doctor, what do you think of it all?” + +“It would take me a long time,” he replied, “to tell what I think. I +confess I am beginning to imbibe a little of the spirit of this place. +I have spent my life in the pursuit of material facts, which we supposed +were the only substantial and valuable things in life Now I find myself +thinking lightly of such matters, with my mind held in the grasp of far +different thoughts. I realize now something of the substance and reality +of unseen things, and believe that man has a spiritual side to +his nature, which must be developed if he is to fulfill the high +expectations of our friends in this world. Taught by Thorwald’s words +and by all I have seen here, I have come to that point where I can say +I am losing my doubts and acquiring a love for things which formerly +did not exist for me. If we ever return to the earth we shall find +occupation enough for the rest of our lives in teaching the lessons we +have learned here.” + +“Yes,” I said, “if we ever return. But doesn’t that seem impossible?” + +“It certainly is difficult to imagine how it can be accomplished, but +going home ought not to be any more impossible than our coming here. +Perhaps we had better bestir ourselves, for Mars is now getting farther +away from the earth every day. Thorwald says the two planets were nearer +each other at the recent opposition than ever before since their records +began, and this is probably what drew our moon here, so fortunately for +us. For the return trip we might get these generous people to loan us +Demios or Phobos.” + +“What are they?” + +“Why, don’t you know? They are the little satellites of Mars, named +after the favorite horses of the war god.” + +“But seriously now,” I asked, “how are we to get home?” + +“Well, seriously, I don’t know,” the doctor answered. “Some accident may +happen to send us away from here in a hurry.” + +“You know this is not the right world for accidents,” I said. + +“I am not able to see,” he replied, “how they can be sure that they are +entirely free from accidents. They have been so long without them that +it seems to me it would not be strange if a big one should come almost +any day. One must be due, as we say.” + +In the morning Thorwald met us with a pleasant greeting, as usual, and +then said: + +“I have been surprised that you have not shown more curiosity on one +subject of vast importance to us. You have not once asked to see our +comet.” + +“We have talked of it by ourselves,” said the doctor, “but we have been +too much engrossed in studying your history and customs to think much of +a topic so far above our comprehension as the comet. Your civilization +is much higher than we can appreciate, and I am sure we should make +small progress in attempting to investigate a development that is so +much beyond yours.” + +“Your excuse,” returned Thorwald, “is as complimentary as it is +ingenious. But should you not like to see an object which possesses so +much interest for us?” + +“Certainly,” the doctor made haste to reply; “and just as soon as you +choose to take us. You told us it was at the door of a large city. Is it +far from here?” + +“Yes,” Thorwald answered, “a long way in miles, but not far in minutes +if we go by the tubular route. But if it is agreeable to you, suppose we +take the air line and make a leisurely excursion of it.” + +We both assured him that we were delighted with the prospect, and I +suggested that Zenith and the children should accompany us. + +“Yes,” said Thorwald, “and in anticipation of your consent to go on the +expedition, I invited some other friends of yours last night to share +the pleasure with us. And here they are now,” he continued, rising and +stepping to the door. + +The doctor and I hurried forward, and were heartily greeted by Proctor, +the astronomer, and Foedric of the red voice. The latter was accompanied +by a comely-looking ape, which had been trained to act as his body +servant. The animal was intelligent, and quick to understand every word +addressed to him, but quiet and respectful in demeanor, and, to all +appearance, as well fitted to fill the station he occupied as the +servants we had been accustomed to seeing on the earth. + +Zenith explained to us that in many households the ape and other +creatures were employed for light services, and were exceedingly useful. +But as for their own house, she said the work that could not be done by +mechanical means she preferred to do herself, assisted by her children. +It was much better that every child should have some stated work to do. + +It was not long before we were all on our way to the aerial station, +where we selected a commodious air ship, managed by one of Foedric’s +friends. + +When we were seated comfortably and were enjoying once more the +exquisite sensation of sailing so easily through that balmy air, +Thorwald said to the doctor and me: + +“We all anticipate a great deal of pleasure in showing you our big +natural curiosity and what it contains. We want to see your surprise +when you look upon its vast proportions, and your growing curiosity as +you try to make out some of its mysteries. Things which baffle our skill +may be plain to you, and perhaps you will even be able to do something +with that puzzling language.” + +“Yes,” said the doctor, “if it is beyond your skill we shall no doubt be +able to read it at sight.” + +“Well, at any rate,” continued Thorwald, “we shall enjoy the novel +experience of exhibiting the marvel of our whole world to those who +were, until so recently, entirely ignorant of its existence.” + +“I hope,” I said, “that our behavior will not be such as to disappoint +you, when we are brought face to face with the object for which you have +so deep a sentiment. + +“But, Thorwald, the doctor and I have been talking about going home. Not +that we are tiring of your society, but we are filled with a desire to +tell the people of the earth what we have found on Mars and try to teach +them some of the good lessons you have given us. The doctor, who has a +monopoly of the scientific culture in our party, can see no prospect of +our getting away from your planet. With your more advanced science, can +you suggest any way by which we can take a dignified leave of you?” + +“We should regret exceedingly,” replied Thorwald, “to lose you just as +we are becoming well acquainted, but I have no criticism to make on the +excuse you offer for wanting to revisit your home. I must say, however, +that you present to us too hard a problem to solve. With all our +attainments in astronomy and in the navigation of the air, you went one +point beyond us when you took passage from the earth to Mars, for we +have no means by which to express passengers from one planet to another. + +“We consider the circumstances of your leaving the earth and your +journey hither the most remarkable thing of the kind ever heard of, and +we have nothing in our experience on which we can begin to build any +scheme for sending you off on so long a flight through space. If you +will only be content to stay here till we have progressed further with +our investigations of the high civilization brought to light in our +comet, perhaps we can help you. The remarkable people whose exalted +condition is there represented may have had powers in this direction +of which we cannot conceive. The subject will add even more zest to our +researches. + +“Why do you desire to leave us so soon? You have seen but few of our +notable improvements, and learned comparatively little of the practical +workings of our high civilization. And then I have been hoping the +doctor would come fully into our belief before he went away.” + +“If you could hear what he has told me,” I said, “you would see that +he is already fit to be sent as a foreign missionary from this blessed +world to the struggling earth.” + +“Good!” cried Thorwald. “I am delighted to hear it. If anything could +reconcile us to the loss of your society, it is the knowledge that you +will both he glad messengers of hope to your promising race. I rejoice +that I have had a share in the work of preparing you for your mission. + +“And now, suppose we all humor your conceit and give you our parting +words, as if the ship were at hand which was to sail the mighty void, +and bear you safely to your distant home. + +“Come, wife, friends, the day is young and the air delightful. There is +nothing to hasten us on our way. Let us ride leisurely along and take a +little time to speed these earth-dwellers on their prospective journey +with a few words of cheer. + +“Foedric, what advice have you to offer them before they take their +leave of us?” + +Foedric was modest, as we had learned before, but he entered into +Thorwald’s plan with evident pleasure, and said, addressing the doctor +and me: + +“My friends from foreign skies, you do not need advice from me after you +have been so long with Thorwald and Zenith, but I will send a message to +your unfortunate fellow beings who have never had the pleasure of their +acquaintance. When you have related your experiences and told them the +condition in which you have found us, ask them to call us no longer +Mars, but Pax, the world of peace. Our planet is red, but not with +war. Its red is rather the blush of the dawn that ushers in the day of +universal love. My word to men is to expect the advent of that day, and, +expecting, to prepare for it. Useless, cruel, inhuman war must cease, +with all strife and hatred and envy and bitter feeling; and then shall +you begin to see the full measure of beauty in the song of the angels of +which you have told us, and ‘Peace on earth’ will be a blessed fact and +not a prophecy. Thorwald, I have finished.” + +“You have spoken well, Foedric,” said Thorwald. “And now, what wise +counsel will you give, Proctor?” + +“From what I have learned in regard to the people of the earth,” replied +Proctor, “it seems to me they will be obliged to have a great deal of +war there yet--war against a world of evils, which must be driven out +with a strong hand before they can have peace. When each individual has +subdued his own spirit, then there will be no more war, and no other +enemies to conquer.” + +“Study the majesty and power of God as exhibited nightly in the starry +sky, and learn to revere a being who holds in his hands a million +worlds, and not only guides their movements but directs with a heart of +love the minutest affairs of all their inhabitants. Look over the broad +field of creation, and think of the earth, grand and beautiful as it +is, as only one among the vast number of peopled orbs, all swinging in +unison, parts of one plan, every one in its day sending forth a song of +praise to its maker. So shall your hearts expand and burst the narrow +bounds of selfish desire and trivial occupation, and you will begin to +grow into the full stature of the sons of God.” + +Proctor spoke with such feeling that the doctor and I now began to think +that these people must be in earnest and were really preparing to send +us home in some way, but the latter idea was, as will speedily be seen, +an unjust suspicion. + +“Zenith,” said Thorwald, “will you take your turn, after Proctor’s +inspiring words?” + +“If we were in truth making our farewells to these friends,” replied +Zenith, “I should feel more sadness than I am conscious of now. + +“My message, O men, shall be a plea for purity. If you would seek to +make your world the better for your visit here, teach men everywhere to +be pure, a hard lesson to learn, but one that will bring a rich reward. +First make the fountain sweet. Be pure in heart, and then your lives, +and even your thoughts, will be pure. When you can fully obey the +command, ‘Think no evil,’ you will need no other commandment to keep +your lives unspotted. Such a requirement no doubt seems too difficult +for you now, but the earth must come to its maturity by following the +same high ideal which has ever been set before us. There is one law +for all worlds, an infinitely pure and holy God commands us all to be +perfect even as he is perfect, although to that perfection nor earth nor +Mars, nor, perhaps, any other world, has yet attained.” + +“But, Thorwald, I fear you will not have time to give your farewell +words before our friends depart.” + +“I shall not require much time,” replied Thorwald, “but I should not +like to lose the opportunity of adding something to what has already +been said. I think we have been wise in having this talk, for those who +could take advantage of such a novel way of coming to us may discover +some means of going home again before we suspect it.” + +Then, turning to us, Thorwald continued: + +“Go back to the earth, my brothers, and tell men to despair not in their +conflict with evil; for God reigns, therefore the good will triumph. +Tell them you found a race of happy beings here, not perfect, but aiming +toward perfection, having escaped many of the perils that belong to an +earlier stage of existence. The earth, too, will one day be old. Will it +be happy then? Your generation can help to make it so. With our history +to guide us, and with the knowledge you have given us of the earth’s +present condition, we have high hopes of your race, and I venture the +prediction that your world will see, in the near future, such an advance +as you have never dreamed of. The era of a united effort to overthrow +the evil forces is approaching, when all will press with eager, sincere +hearts into the work, when money will be poured out like water, when men +will begin to lose their selfishness and take each other by the hand as +brothers, and when the dark places of the earth will grow bright with +the light of the gospel. + +“I do not wonder you want to get back there. I hope I should have the +same desire if I were in your place. What a time in which to live, with +so much good work to do, and such encouragement and sure reward!” + +Thorwald’s enthusiasm made him eloquent, and we all regarded him +intently as he spoke. How well I remember that group of persons: +Proctor, the devout astronomer; the stalwart and earnest Foedric; +Zenith, the queen of all womanly graces; and Thorwald himself, our +friend and brother, the rich fruit of an advanced development. + +My companion and I were deeply impressed with the words we had heard, +and could hardly realize that these friends were not aware that our life +in Mars was nearly over, their farewells were so genuine. + +But, hark! Thorwald is still speaking: + +“Go back to the earth, I say, and--” a crash, a sensation of falling, a +dull pain in my head, a new voice at my ear, saying, + +“Why, Walter, are you hurt?” + +During the effort to recover full consciousness I said: + +“There, Doctor, the accident you expected has certainly come.” + +And then I opened my eyes and discovered that I was sitting in an +undignified position on the deck of a vessel of some kind. + +Again the voice, now more familiar and identified with a lovely face, +said: + +“You must have had that broken chair; I knew it would let you down some +time. Don’t you know me, Walter?” + +“Why, yes, it’s you, Margaret, isn’t it? But where’s the doctor?” + +“Oh, how are you hurt?” cried Margaret in alarm. “Tell me, and I will +run for the doctor at once.” + +This conversation had all passed in a moment, and by the time it was +finished I had extricated myself from the broken chair with Margaret’s +assistance, and was now wide awake. I had never expected to leave Mars +without the doctor; but now he was gone with all the rest, and I was +well content to find myself back by Margaret’s side, and to hear her +pleasant words, the words of a plain inhabitant of the earth, not too +good to love me a little selfishly. A wave of intense happiness in the +possession of such a love passed over me. It was a feeling I had never +before experienced in my waking moments and it must have illumined my +face, for Margaret continued: + +“I don’t believe you are hurt at all. You look too happy to be in pain. +What have you been dreaming about, that makes your face shine so? How +thankful I am for this bright moonlight. I never saw you have so much +expression before.” + +“Margaret,” I replied, as soon as she would let me speak, “don’t you +remember you sent me on a quest for my heart? Well, I have found it and +brought it back to you.” + +“How lovely to find it so soon,” she exclaimed; “and I know by your +looks it’s a large one and full of love. But tell me about it. How did +it happen?” + +“Why, I fell in love with a voice.” + +“With a voice? Whose voice?” + +“Well, it didn’t seem to matter much. First it belonged to Mona and then +to Avis, and part of the time to both of them.” + +“You make me jealous,” said Margaret. + +We were now standing, hand in hand, leaning on the rail of the vessel, +in the full enjoyment of our new-found happiness. + +“You will not be jealous,” I answered, “when you know all about it. I +have enough to tell you, Margaret, to occupy a week, I should think. +I have seen and heard a great deal, and seemed to be living amid other +scenes for many months, and yet I notice the moon is but two or three +hours higher than when you left me there in the chair to go and find +your book. I shall take great pleasure in relating to you the entire +experience when we have time. Perhaps I will write it out for you. I +have been stirred as I never expected to be, but I assure you I have +brought back my whole heart to you. Only,” I added, as a sudden flash of +memory startled me with its vividness, “I should like to hear that voice +once more.” + +“Ah,” said my companion, “why do you think of that so much? I fear you +are not quite heart whole. What was there peculiar about the voice?” + +“Margaret, it was the most exquisite music anyone ever dreamed of. I +cannot describe my emotions or the intensity of my enjoyment whenever I +heard it. First the voice belonged to a beautiful girl whom I thought we +met on the moon, and who talked only in the language of the birds. Then +she went to Mars with us, and there I heard the same sweet voice also +from one of the noble women of that happy planet. + +“Oh, what queer things we do in our sleep, and how supremely selfish +a dreamer is. I once had a theory that we are all responsible for the +character of our dreams, but I hope, my dear, that you will not call me +to too strict an account in this case, I should blush to tell you how I +loved each singer, and yet I know now it was only the voice that charmed +me. I shall seek my pillow with delight to-night, to try and catch in my +sleep some faint echo of that song, for I never expect to hear its like +in my waking hours. You are laughing at me, and I don’t wonder. Let me +see. I dreamed that I dreamed that you and Mona and Avis were all one +grand, sweet singer. I wonder what would have happened if I had staid +there long enough to tell Avis something that was on my mind. Perhaps I +never should have come away. + +“But forgive me, dear Margaret, for my enthusiasm for simply a memory, +and put the blame on my sensitive ears. And now, tell me what you have +been doing during these long hours. Did you find the professor and get +your book?” + +“Yes, but I had to stay a few minutes and hear him talk. I hurried back, +however, to be with you, and for my reward found you fast asleep.” + +“I was only dozing. But what did you do then?” + +“Oh, I sat quiet for a while, and then took up the amusement I usually +follow when I find myself alone.” + +“What is that? Pray tell.” + +“Singing, of course.” + +“Singing?” + +“Why, yes, didn’t you know I could sing?” + +“Do you mean to say you were singing all those two or three hours?” + +“Not all the time, but at intervals. I sang so loud sometimes that I +thought I should wake you.” + +“Then,” I exclaimed with feeling, “it was you that I heard. You know my +ears are never fully asleep. Margaret, it was your voice that I have +been falling in love with.” + +At this Margaret laughed heartily, as she answered: + +“You have been a good while finding it out. I knew it all the time. +That’s what I sang for, and I had my pay as I went on, for every time +I began, whether soft or loud, I could see your face light up with the +light of your soul, and then I knew my voice was finding its way to some +corner of your brain.” + +“How stupid of me,” I said, “not to wake up the very first time I heard +you; but I thought it was Mona. Oh, how it did thrill me! And to think +I am to hear it again when I am really awake. Come, why do we waste all +this time in talking when I have that great happiness still unfulfilled? +May I not hear you sing now?” + +“Oh, you might be disappointed, after all. My idea is that you enjoyed +my singing because all your critical faculties were dulled in sleep, and +you heard only through your heart, as it were. Don’t you think it would +be better to live awhile on the pleasant memory you have brought back +with you?” + +“Not at all. I can retain the memory, and have the present happiness +besides.” + +“But you said you never expected to hear such music in your waking +hours.” + +“Do not be so cruel, Margaret, as to recall those words against me, +although they were really a tribute to you, for it was your own voice +that forced me to utter them. But what can I do to induce you to sing?” + +“Go to sleep,” she replied. “I will sing for you all you please when you +are asleep, and you can hear me and think of Mona at the same time. That +will be a double pleasure.” + +“My dear, I prefer to think of you. Mona was a beautiful girl, but she +could never love me as you do.” + +“Why so? Wasn’t her heart large enough?” + +“Yes, it was too large--so large that she loved everybody, and one no +more than another; while you, darling, have chosen me, out of all the +people in the world, as the object of your highest and deepest love, and +yet in doing that have only increased your power of loving others. Now +what will you do to pay me for that speech?” + +“Well, I’ll relent. But you must at least pretend to be asleep. Come +back and find another chair that you can rest in easily, and I will sit +beside you. There, that will do. Now turn your head away from me, close +your eyes, and promise me you won’t open them till I tell you to do so. +I intend to have the calm judgment of your ears uninfluenced by your +sight or any other sense. If you can manage to fall asleep while I am +singing, so much the better.” + +“Margaret,” I replied, “I shall try hard to keep my eyes closed, but +there isn’t a drug in the ship’s dispensary powerful enough to put me to +sleep.” + +“Then keep quiet and think of Mona. That will be the next best +occupation for you. Stop laughing, or I shall disappoint you, after +all. I should think the memory of the first time I sang for you would be +enough to sober you. Now I am going to turn away my head, so that if you +do look around you won’t see my face.” + +I said nothing in reply, being too eager to have her begin. And now I +had not long to wait for the fulfillment of my oft-expressed desire. + +Sweet and low came the first accents of her song, and, with all my +anticipations and with the foretaste I had had in my sleep, I was not +prepared for the effect they had on me. It was Mona’s voice, but with +every fine quality so exaggerated that all my faculties, now in the +fullest sense awake, were completely taken captive. I made no movement, +except to turn my head slightly so that I might drink in the sweet +sounds with both ears. As the notes increased in volume my pleasure grew +to rapture. Not only was my critical taste fully satisfied, which of +itself was almost bliss, but that other and higher effect followed--my +heart was enlisted. I had never known love till that hour. We had been +introduced to each other years ago and had kept up a cold and formal +acquaintance, and in my recent sleep we had made notable progress, +but only now did love and I really clasp hands in a warm and lasting +embrace. + +If I had loved Margaret before, then the feeling I now had was something +else, it was so different. But it was nothing else, and, therefore, I +was obliged to conclude that I had lived all these years with a false +notion in my head. As the song changed now and then, but did not +stop, my heart swelled with its strong emotion, and I had the greatest +difficulty to keep my promise and remain quiet. At length the music +ceased, and I jumped from my chair with the intention of giving Margaret +some palpable sign of my new love, when I was arrested by her warning +hand and these words: + +“Wait, Walter, someone is coming. I can see all you want to tell me in +your face.” + +I was obliged to stop, and reserve for a more private place any violent +manifestation of my exuberant affection, but answered quietly: + +“Not all, dear Margaret. You will never know all my love.” There was now +more or less passing back and forth by the passengers, preparing for the +approaching landing, but yet we were able to continue our conversation. +At Margaret’s request I told her more about Mona and Avis, and the +principal incidents of what seemed to me a real experience, reserving +the graver parts of the story for other occasions. Her sympathies went +out particularly toward Mona, and suggested the question: + +“Did not the poor child recover her voice?” + +“I think she did soon after we left,” I replied. “I neglected to tell +you that, the morning we started for our last aerial trip, Antonia told +me she was teaching Mona the use of the vocal organs, and the results +were already such that she believed she would in a short time be +entirely successful.” + +“How fortunate for me,” said Margaret, laughing, “that you came away +just then.” + +“Oh, Margaret,” I exclaimed as loud as I dared, “I thought I was happy +last night, but what shall I call my condition now? Do you have that +intensity of feeling for me which is nearly bursting my heart?” + +“Yes, my dear, I have had it for years. But my love is certainly +increasing now, when I see yours flowering out so luxuriantly.” + +In such sweet converse the time passed rapidly. Steadily our noble +vessel carried us every moment nearer home. And with the last words of +Thorwald, “Go back to the earth,” still ringing in my ears, we steamed +amid familiar scenes--the lights from Long Island, New Jersey, Staten +Island, and soon Liberty’s torch, Governor’s Island, and the great city +in front of us. This voyage was ended, but our life’s voyage seemed to +be just beginning as I led Margaret forth with wonderful tenderness and +whispered in her ear, passionately, the magic words, “I love you.” + + + + +POSTSCRIPT. + + +Every book should have a purpose. Notwithstanding the popular character +of much that is contained in these pages, the purpose of this volume is +a serious one. + +I acquired the belief in the habitability of other worlds when quite +young, and it long ago grew into a settled conviction. + +Firmly held by this idea, what is called the astronomical difficulty in +theology gave me great concern. When I considered the vast extent of the +universe, and saw, with but little imagination, millions on millions of +habitable worlds, I felt the force of the old objection, How could our +tiny earth have been chosen for such peculiar and high honor as we read +of in the gospel story? + +Thomas Chalmers, in the preface to his astronomical discourses, +states the difficulty in these words: “This argument involves in it an +assertion and an inference. The assertion is, that Christianity is a +religion which professes to be designed for the single benefit of our +world; and the inference is, that God cannot be the author of this +religion, for he would not lavish on so insignificant a field such +peculiar and such distinguishing attentions as are ascribed to him in +the Old and New Testaments.” + +And then Dr. Chalmers proceeds in his able manner to overthrow both +assertion and inference. He shows that it is only presumption for the +infidel to claim that Christianity is designed solely for this world, +and asks how he is able to tell us, “that if you go to other planets, +the person and religion of Jesus are there unknown to them.” “For +anything he [the infidel] can tell,” the writer continues, “the +redemption proclaimed to us is not one solitary instance, or not the +whole of that redemption which is by the Son of God;... the moral +pestilence, which walks abroad over the face of our world, may have +spread its desolation over all the planets of all the systems which the +telescope has made known to us.... The eternal Son, of whom it is said +that by him the worlds were created, may have had the government of many +sinful worlds laid upon his shoulders.” + +In this and in all the rest of his argument Dr. Chalmers, while +intimating that the redemption may include other worlds, retains the +belief that the actual occurrences related in the gospel took place only +on this globe. Others may have heard the story, or, as he beautifully +says: “The wonder-working God, who has strewed the field of immensity +with so many worlds, and spread the shelter of his omnipotence over +them, may have sent a message of love to each, and reassured the +hearts of its despairing people by some overpowering manifestation of +tenderness.... Angels from paradise may have sped to every planet their +delegated way, and sung from each azure canopy a joyful annunciation, +and said, ‘Peace be to this residence and good will to all its families, +and glory to Him in the highest, who from the eminence of his throne has +issued an act of grace so magnificent as to carry the tidings of life +and of acceptance to the unnumbered orbs of a sinful creation.’” + +But, as Dr. Chalmers truthfully says, it is not the infidel alone that +raises this question. It is asked by many sincere believers, generally +in communion with their own minds, and has disturbed, if not hindered, +their faith. These brilliant discourses left me still perplexed on the +main point, and I was forced to ask myself again if it was at all likely +that one world could be made so unlike all others as to become the only +scene of such a wonderful event as the death of the Son of God. And even +if this could be made to seem probable, what an infinitesimal chance +there would be that our earth would be the one chosen for this +exhibition, out of the unnumbered worlds that fill the immensity of +space. + +As a feeble hint toward a possible solution of this difficulty, this +volume is offered. The argument may not be acceptable to a single +reader. I do not say that I believe it myself; but the thought has +helped to satisfy my mind and may be of assistance to some other soul. +I will merely say that, of course, I do not believe the analogy between +any two worlds is so close as I have made it, for the purposes of the +story, between Mars and the earth. + +In my effort to relieve the book of dullness, I have exaggerated some of +the situations, as in the treatment of the woman question for example, +but the intelligent reader will easily discover whether there be +anything of value remaining after the extravagance has been brushed +away. + +Alvan Clark & Sons, the celebrated makers of telescopic lenses, in view +of their recent successes in casting larger object-glasses than was once +thought possible, now assert that they can place no limit to the size +these glasses may reach in the future. It is only a question of time, +skill, patience, and money. + +Is it, then, presumptuous to believe that the day will dawn when this +world will know whether Venus or Mars is inhabited? And if either or +both of them shall be found to be peopled, among the many questions of +engrossing interest to be studied it seems clear to me that the most +important will be the moral and spiritual condition of the inhabitants. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Daybreak: A Romance of an Old World, by James Cowan + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAYBREAK *** + +***** This file should be named 7814-0.txt or 7814-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/1/7814/ + +Produced by Anne Soulard, Suzanne Shell, William Craig, +Robert Laporte, Steen Christensen and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at + www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” + or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +“Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email +contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the +Foundation’s web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |