Life in a Thousand Worlds

se of J

ost fourteen hundred times as large as our Earth. I found it whirling on its ax

uid more than a solid, and it is quite hot but not luminous. It has cooled sufficiently to admit human forms, al

ever at rest and continually forming into imme

averaging twenty-five feet in height. Their two powerful arms extend from what we would call the hips, and no one would imagine with what facility these giants use them. After extended observation, I was almost tempted to wonder why our arms were placed

ugh not repulsive monster. The most unusual feature about the face is the peculiarity of the

e unknown. A Jupiterite can purchase, from one of the mammoth structural factories, house sides, house ends, house floors or partitions, after any general

the structure is very elaborate. Nearly all of their house furniture is also non-combustible, and no one

relatively larger than we see them in our world. Wagons and

ere all things are so gigantic. At times a feeling of insignificance crept over me, but I took courage when I thought that a man's greatness consists in his mental powers and not in his ph

this is quite as noticeable in their language as in any other respect. They have one simple language for the whole globe and in its use the

the action expressed, the manner of emphasizing syllables going

guage. Hence there is no Century, Webster, Worcester or Standard, each rivaling the othe

ed at intervals by a board of official educators; to this board all suggestions for inserting

to each private family. When a revision is made, a copy of all the changes is furnished to each dictionary

lescopes with the marvelous lenses that opened the locked doors of the Milky Way. No wonder the astronomers of Jupiter have a more comprehensive view of the universe than we have. Their lenses are so powerful that they have seen the outlines of our rugged mountains, a

displayed definite signs of human life. It is promised also that the coming lens will unlock the doors of t

cation between these moons and their planet, but all their efforts have failed. Either the Moonites ar

r the material to make them, we could watch with ease the inhabitants of the Moon or of Mars, and we could study the intelligent life on Mercury and Venu

. They have a sacred book which corresponds to our Bible, and it has a

ir great temples of worship, as we might call it. No vocal music was there, but the mute beckoning of severa

net, and that these same bonds unite them one to another. My conceptions were enlarging as I saw the family of God enlarging,

re formulated. It was seen that some, in exercising their liberty, proved to be a cu

on takes such a position, he is given a certain period to recant. If recantation is not forthcoming, he is placed i

rided myself that I belonged to a world of free thought and free speech, but when I saw the magnetic effect

ve animals that resemble our elephant and ox; these they use for food. Common birds, as large as geese

histles is only one-fourth as great. But the people of Jupiter have learned more tha

t are fed by subterraneous streams of lava, and the geysers

ielded at last to a desire that prompted me to make a personal appearance. So I stopped on a thoroughfare and occ

quadruped. It was larger than a wild goat, and was a small specime

full speed. Knowing my own homeliness, I had all charity for the animal

ess, while a feeling of fear and surprise evidently possessed him. I sat motionless, looking up into his eyes, and saw the convolutions on his forehead and chin quivering quite perceptibly. He evidently judged me to be s

ke an infant I lay in his arms, while he passed quick glances all over me. He was baffled beyond all measure, and hurried away tow

rofessors. They peered into the cage in painful astonishment, while I contented

the full circumstances in connection with his walk in the grove and the manner in which he ca

rofessor, while the other advanced the theory

iously through the bars and evinced by his actions what he

I put the watch together

er from fright or surprise, I knew not. His two companions were also in a sorry plight. I pretended

home, my child?" I did not lift my eyes, but completed my little self-ap

it and, as he received it from my han

rcumference of your world

time, and that I satisfied my propensities by gathering to myself su

d soon returned with certain morsels of food. Upon handing them to me, I at once remarked

their most delicate accomplishments, and they announced the fact to their other companion who again looke

ce of your world," was my evasive

w far away that is?" asked an

ourse I spoke in terms of

any mi

red and sometimes si

n I offered to let them see my home if they would permit m

volley of interrogations. I assured them that I would answer no

who, upon learning of my peculiar request and of my unnatur

st living astronomer on Jupiter. He peered at me in the cage and was dumfoun

you want the tele

edia

atisfy our curiosity," he sai

tly to tell no one of my presence, so a

gest telescope in our Solar System, watching the de

r Earth fr

inery that was required to swing this mammoth ins

t I was not an idiot, and I could see by their str

ndred feet in length and twenty feet in diameter, swing around until it

ed accurately, and then requested the astronomer to focus

e. After the focusing was completed, I looked and, behold, I cou

d triumphantly. "I live on Zo

ous, but I proceeded to explain to t

rough ridge to the right is 'the Allegheny System' of mountains." Then I indicated the location of our larger cities. As I pointed to New York, I saw a

ons peculiar to our world. But I insisted on the steamship explanation and proceeded to describe an oce

elebrities. We talked of the more powerful telescope that the government of Ju

ence. They were astonished at the great c

s and molecules of matter, which could be released and u

person of Jupiter can tell in daylight or darkness the nature of any surrounding substance, whether it be hard or soft, combustible or non-combustible, good for

I would see them no more, that I had paused at Jupiter station

ersons could get a glimpse of me; but I refused all their entreaties. When they found t

again?" affectingly

u are pure in heart to Him," I continued, "there can be no doubt but that we shall see one another again in that happy celestial center where our eyes wi