The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-14
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, TUESDAY JULY a. 1874
A COMETARY PROJECT.
MARK TwAIN's SUMNER TOUR.

| THE OUTFIT AND ALL NEEDED INFoRMA-
| TIoN-THE ROUND TRIP AND ITS ENJOY
MENT.
The New York Herald contains remark
able letter from Mark Twain, in which he
proposes one of the boldest journeys known
to modern civilization: This is to inform
the public that in connection with Mr.. Bar
mum have leased the comet for a term of
years, and desire also to solicit the public
patronage in favor of beneficial enterprise
which we have in view. We propose to fit
up comfortable, and even Luxurious, accom-
modations in the comet for as many people
as will honor us with their patronage, aud
make an extended excursion among the
| heavenly bodies. We shall prepare 200. 900
stste-rooms in the tail of the comet with
hot and cold water, gas, looking-glass, para
| chute, umbrella. otc., In each), and shall
construct more if we meet with sufficiently
generous encouragement. We shall have
| billiard rooms, card-rOOms, MUSHROOMS,
bowling alleys. and many spacious theaters
| and free libraries; and on the main deck we
propose 10 have driving park, with upward
of 10000 miles of railway in it. We shall
| publish daily newspapers also. The comet
will leave New York at 10 p. n. on the 10Th
instant, and therefore 1t will be desirable
that the passengers be on board by at the
| latest, to avoid confusion in getting
under way. 1t is not known whether
passports will be necessary or not,
| but it is deemed best that passengers
provide them, and 50 guard against all con-
| tingencies. No dogs will be allowed on
board. This rule has been made in defer
ence to the existing state of feeling regard
ing these animals, and will be strictly ad-
/ hered to. The safety of the passengers will
in all ways be iealOusly looked to. sub
stantial iron railing will be put all around
the comet, and no one will be allowed to go
| to ba aIu an6 lnOlr nn1aSC N
led by either my partner or myself.
THE POSTAL SERVICE
will be of the completest character. Of
course the telegraph, and the telegraph only,
will be employed, consequently friends oc-
cupying state-rooms 100000 and even 3d.,
900, 900 miles apart will be able to send
message and receive reply inside of eleven
days. Night messages will be half rate.
The whole of this vast postal system will be
under the personal superintendent of Mr..
Hale of Maine. Meals served at all hours.
Meals served in state-rooms charged extra.
| Hostility is not apprehended from any
great planet, but we have thought it best
to err on the safe side, and therefore have
provided a proper number of mortars, sledge
guns and boarding-pikes. History shows
that small, isolated communities, such as-the
people OF remote islands, are prone to be hos |
tile to strangers and so the same may be
the case with the inhabitants of stars of
the tenth twentieth magnitude. We |
shall in no case wantonly offend the peo-
pie Of any star, but shall treat all alike |
with urbanity and kindliness, never con-
Quoting ourselves toward an asteroid after !
fashion which we could not venture to !
assume toward Jupiter or Saturn. / re-
peat that we shall not wantOnly offend |
any star; but at the same time we shall |
promptly resent any injury that may be |
done us, or any insolence offered us, by |
parties Or governments residing in any star |
in the armament Although adverse to the |
shedding of blood, we shall still hold this |
course rigidly and fearIeSsly, not only to- |
ward single stars, but toward considerations. |
We shall hope to leave good impression of
America behind us in every nation we visit, |
from Venus to Uranus. And, at all events, |
II we cannot inspire love, we shall at least |
compel respect for our country wherever we
go. We shall take with US, free of charge,
GREAT FORCE OF MISSIONARIES
and shed the true light upon all the celes-
tial orbs, which, physically aglow, are yet |
morally in darkness. Sunday-schools will
be established wherever practicable. Com
pulsorv education will also be introduced. |
The comet Will visit Mars first and then |
proceed to Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and |
Saturn. Parties connected with the Gov !
eminent of the District of Columbia and |
with the former city government of New |
York, who may desire to inspect the |
rings, will be allowed time and every ia |
cility. Every star ofprominent magnitude |
will be visited, and time allowed for ex-
cursiOnists to points of interests inland |
The dog star has been stricken from the /
programme. Much time will be spent in |
the Great Bear, and, indeed, in every con-
stellation ofimportance. So, also, with the |
sun, moon and the milky way, otherwise the /
guilt stream of the skies. Clothing suitable for /
wear in the sun should be provided. Our |
programme has been so arranged that we I
shall seldom go more than one million |
of miles at time without stopping at
some star. This will necessarily make the |
stoppages frequent and preserve the inter-
est of the tourist. Baggage checked through |
to any point on the route Parties desiring |
to make only part of the proposed tour,
and thus save expense, may stop over at any |
star they choose and wait the return voyage. |
After visiting all the most celebrated stars |
and consultations in our system and per- |
sonally inspecting the remotest sparks that |
even the most powerful telescopes can now |
detect in the armament, we shall proceed |
with good heart upon
sTUPENDoUs VOYAGE
of discovery among the countless whirling !
worlds that make turmoil in the mighty |
wastes of space that stretch their solemn
solitudes, their unimaginable vastness bill
lions upon billions of miles away beyond the
furthest verge of telescope vision, till by
comparison the little sparkling vault we
used to gaze at on earth shall seem like a
remembered phosphorescent flash of span
giles which some tropical voyager's PROV
stirred into life for a single instant, and
which ten thousand miles of phos-
phorescent seas and tedious lapse of time had
since diminished to an incident III terly triv-
ial in his recollection. Children occupying
seats at the first table will be charged full |
70 foro he VI To TTro
nus, including visits to the sup and moon, !
and all principal planets on the route, will |
bs charged at the low rate of 81 for every
90, 000, 900 miles of actual travel. great re-
duction will be made where parties wish to
make the round trip. This comet is new and |
| in thOronnh rar,air and IL rnur ON har first |