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shore； frills on the robes of the continents； so they looked to
my woman's perception； thevast South American forests； the
glittering icebergs about the poles； the snowy mountain ranges； here
and there a summit sending up fire and smoke； mighty rivers； dividing
provinces within sight of each other； and making neighbors of realms
thousands of miles apart； cities； light…houses to insure the safety
of sea…going vessels； and war…ships to knock them to pieces and sink
them。 All this； and infinitely more； showed itself to me during a
single revolution of the sphere： twenty…four hours it would have
been； if reckoned by earthly measurements of time。 I have not spoken
of the sounds I heard while the earth was revolving under us。 The
howl of storms； the roar and clash of waves； the crack and crash of
the falling thunderbolt；these of course made themselves heard as
they do to mortal ears。 But there were other sounds which enchained
my attention more than these voices of nature。 As the skilled leader
of an orchestra hears every single sound from each member of the mob
of stringed and wind instruments； and above all the screech of the
straining soprano； so my sharpened perceptions made what would have
been for common mortals a confused murmur audible to me as compounded
of innumerable easily distinguished sounds。 Above them all arose one
continued； unbroken； agonizing cry。 It was the voice of suffering
womanhood； a sound that goes up day and night； one long chorus of
tortured victims。
〃Let us get out of reach of this；〃 I said； and we left our planet；
with its blank； desolate moon staring at it； as if it had turned pale
at the sights and sounds it had to witness。
Presently the gilded dome of the State House； which marked our
starting…point； came into view for the second time； and I knew that
this side…show was over。 I bade farewell to the Common with its
Cogswell fountain； and the Garden with its last awe…inspiring
monument。
〃Oh； if I could sometimes revisit these beloved scenes！ 〃I exclaimed。
〃There is nothing to hinder that I know of；〃 said my companion。
〃Memory and imagination as you know them in the flesh are two winged
creatures with strings tied to their legs； and anchored to a bodily
weight of a hundred and fifty pounds； more or less。 When the string
is cut you can be where you wish to be；not merely a part of you；
leaving the rest behind； but the whole of you。 Why shouldn't you
want to revisit your old home sometimes？〃
I was astonished at the human way in which my guide conversed with
me。 It was always on the basis of my earthly habits； experiences；
and limitations。 〃Your solar system；〃 she said； 〃is a very small
part of the universe； but you naturally feel a curiosity about the
bodies which constitute it and about their inhabitants。 There is
your moon： a bare and desolate…looking place it is； and well it may
be； for it has no respirable atmosphere； and no occasion for one。
The Lunites do not breathe； they live without waste and without
supply。 You look as if you do not understand this。 Yet your people
have； as you well know； what they call incandescent lights
everywhere。 You would have said there can be no lamp without oil or
gas； or other combustible substance； to feed it； and yet you see a
filament which sheds a light like that of noon all around it； and
does not waste at all。 So the Lunites live by influx of divine
energy； just as the incandescent lamp glows；glows； and is not
consumed； receiving its life； if we may call it so； from the central
power； which wears the unpleasant name of 〃dynamo。〃'
The Lunites appeared to me as pale phosphorescent figures of ill…
defined outline； lost in their own halos； as it were。 I could not
help thinking of Shelley's
〃maiden
With white fire laden。〃
But as the Lunites were after all but provincials； as are the tenants
of all the satellites； I did not care to contemplate them for any
great length of time。
I do not remember much about the two planets that came next to our
own； except the beautiful rosy atmosphere of one and the huge bulk of
the other。 Presently； we found ourselves within hailing distance of
another celestial body； which I recognized at once； by the rings
which girdled it； as the planet Saturn。 A dingy； dull…looking sphere
it was in its appearance。 〃We will tie up here for a while；〃 said my
attendant。 The easy； familiar way in which she spoke surprised and
pleased me。
Why； said I；The Dictator；what is there to prevent beings of
another order from being as cheerful； as social； as good companions；
as the very liveliest of God's creatures whom we have known in the
flesh？ Is it impossible for an archangel to smile？ Is such a
phenomenon as a laugh never heard except in our little sinful corner
of the universe？ Do you suppose； that when the disciples heard from
the lips of their Master the play of words on the name of Peter；
there was no smile of appreciation on the bearded faces of those holy
men？ From any other lips we should have called this pleasantry a
Number Five shook her head very slightly； and gave me a look that
seemed to say； 〃Don't frighten the other Teacups。 We don't call
things by the names that belong to them when we deal with celestial
subjects。〃
We tied up； as my attendant playfully called our resting； so near the
planet that I could knowI will not say see and hear； but apprehend
all that was going on in that remote sphere； remote； as we who live
in what we have been used to consider the centre of the rational
universe regard it。 What struck me at once was the deadness of
everything I looked upon。 Dead； uniform color of surface and
surrounding atmosphere。 Dead complexion of all the inhabitants。
Dead…looking trees； dead…looking grass； no flowers to be seen
anywhere。
〃What is the meaning of all this？〃 I said to my guide。
She smiled good…naturedly； and replied； 〃It is a forlorn home for
anything above a lichen or a toadstool； but that is no wonder； when
you know what the air is which they breathe。 It is pure nitrogen。〃
The Professor spoke up。 〃That can't be； madam；〃 he said。 〃The
spectroscope shows the atmosphere of Saturn to beno matter； I have
forgotten what； but it was not pure nitrogen； at any rate。〃
Number Five is never disconcerted。 〃Will you tell me；〃 she said；
〃where you have found any account of the bands and lines in the
spectrum of dream…nitrogen？ I should be so pleased to become
acquainted with them。〃
The Professor winced a little； and asked Delilah； the handmaiden； to
pass a plate of muffins to him。 The dream had carried him away； and
he thought for the moment that he was listening to a scientific
paper。
Of course； my companion went on to say； the bodily constitution of
the Saturnians is wholly different from that of air…breathing； that
is oxygen…breathing； human beings。 They are the dullest； slowest；
mo