The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-09-24

had no more than done so when The door cioseo
with a suap. / Immediately suspected that had
deliberately allowed myself to be trapped by some
schemer. While thinking upon these things ana
hardly knowing whether to yell or keep quiet a
voice at my side, which recognized as that oil my
companion, said;
Don't be alarmed, / am in the machine also. we
are about to start Have confidence and rest assured
that will protect you from injury" At this moment
there was violent lurch of the gobular car and an
intense whistling sound, as though the car, like
bullet, was whizzng through the air at an incalcu-
liable rate of speed greeted my ears. My faculties
seemed leaving me. The whizzing of the car had
A bewildering effect upon my nerves and sank
into deep sleep.
Iawoke. looked around I rubbed my eyes in
a vain endeavor to realize my surroundings
"Where am 10" l said. At this there was the
sound of a door sliding back. was still in the car
and there was my strange friend Darrell looking IN
at me with an amused expression upon ms i0ce'
Come out, my friend" he cried, "and let me
introduce you to another world
Thinking myselfthe victim ofsome unusual night
mare or extraordinary hallucnation l crawled
forth from my narrow enclosure, when, 10! my gaze
rested upon such a scene as was never before wit
messed by an earthly human being Stretching out
as.far as the eye could see lay land OF exceedingly
rare beauty and of such totally different appear
ance from all earthly scenes that my DESCRIPTIVE
powers are worthless to convey proper idea OF lts
magnificence We had landed upon an elevation
from which we could gaze for miles and miles over
fertile fields clothed in a luXur1ant covering OF
many strange plants entirely new to u.s. Giant trees
unlike any we had ever seen stood pointing thelr
towering SUBMITS toward the sky, as though trying
to call attention to its many-colored magnlneehce.
Enormous creeping plants twined themselves ABOUT
the huge tree trunks like monster serpents. Gao
fuses of gigantic proportions reared their PRICK!
arms Heayenward, as though in mute supplication
Ever and anon strange animals scampered through
forest elades, wondering no doubt, what un-Mars-
iful creatures my friend and were. Birds OF all
sizes shapes and colors fitted from bush to bush
minrIing their sweet voices in one grand chorus OF
feathered minstrelsy. My friend and stood spell
bound for awhile ieasting our eyes upon the enraP
turing landscape spread out before MS lie was the
first TO break the silence.
Do YOU observe that silvery looking disc, of there
in the SKYE he asked.
looked in the direction indicated and saw what
greatly rcsemblcd the moon, she is frequently
seen after sunrise in the morning.
That" said he, sis the old Mother Earth, our
home She is quite an ornament to the Heavens
when viewed from distance, isn't she? But let us
not waste time in viewing such familiar world.
Here lies an undiscovered one at our feet. Let US
make haste and learn as much about Marsland as
we can in our limited time
willingly consented, and we hastily descended
into the valley.
Now" remarked my friend I've Will soon KNOW
whether or not Mars is inhabited
Hardly had he uttered the words before we both
gave II veil of surprise for right before our eyes
stalkcd as fine Il specimen of manhood as could be
seen anywhere Hearing our noise he stopped and
looked to see from whence the sound came, and
seeing us he came toward us in a very friendly
manner. lie was tall and well built, as we alter
ward found out all Martians are. His head was
covered by Il thick coat of dark brown hair, and
upon his face lie wore a full beard. His manly fig
ure was clothed in single garment of fine fabric
His feet were shod in peculiarly shaped boots made
of very fine leather Coming close to us he addressed
us in IL strange language, which, of course, we did
not understand. After several unsuccessful at
tempts forgot that he would not be any more likely
to understand our language than we his, and in
the excitement l said; My friend of Mars, we do
not understand you" Then, to our complete sur
prise he answered, in fairly good English
"oh, you speak English, see. You must be from
the Earth
Just so, answered my friend Darrell.
But, my dear Sir. how is it that you understand
English, / inquired, eagerly.
That Sir, is secret cannot divulge'
concealed my disappointment best | could.
We'll, my friend, said l, I'VE have come thousands
of miles TO see your beautiful land, and would like
To learn something about it before we return"
II will be pleased to give you any assistance in my
power" said the stranger. We thanked him for his
Kindness and suggested that we would like 10 see
some of the Marian customs and modes of living.
My Earthly friends" said he IF yon desire it /
will take you to "Spreatsio, one Of our most popu-
ous and beautiful cities, and let you judge foryour
selves the condition of our civilization
Capital. ex cyilent" we cried. How far is it,
only about 1900 miles" he replied I'VE will
take the great International Air Line, which will
take us there in about five minutes time. one of
the cars is approaching now"
As he spoke he blew a shril blast upon small
signal trumpet, and something resembling huge
bird came down upon us from mid-air. 1t was the
car our Marian friend had mentioned. We hastily
boarded ii, and in moments time were whirling
towards our destination with lightning-like rapid
fty what is the fare on this CARP l asked.
Nothing" was the reply: THE government con-
trolls all the means of transportation for the benefit
of the people,
And have you no "mOnOpolists' in power?
Never heard OF such thing said he.
just at this moment the car whizzed in among Il
perfect army of high steeples, rods and flag poles
aud quicker than it takes to tell it we were landed
in Spreatsio. Spreatsio we found TO be large and
beautiful city It's broad streets were unimpeded
by street cars, wagons etc. as each person had MS
own private flying motor. An immense business
was daily carried on but so quietly and harmoni-
Ously that scarcely harsh sound greeted the ear
such perfect system of laws prevailed and these
81 lfpaf tva
unnecessary Our friend informed us that the same
good order prevailed in the rural districts as in the
city. The government which was republican in
form, was completely in the hands of the people
who were a merry, Industrious fun and justice low
ing race We noticed that they all seemed tidy
especially the young ladies' some of which were
very beautiful. We visited many points of rare
interest enjoying the beautiful scenes and listening
TO our kind friends descriptions, and ere we knew
1t night was rapidly approaching.
BY jUyel" exclaimed my friend Darrell, I'VE must
hurry or we will miss connections with the earth OIL
our return trip"
So, accompanied by our new acquaintance, we
hastily boarded a car and in a few minutes were
landed in the same spot we had started from in the
morning We expressed gratitude TO the stranger
who had so kindly accompanied us during the day
and babe him adieu, promising TO come again in
the near luture We soon found our vessel as we
had left it in the morning. and without more ado
We closed ourselves within. Darnel soon had the
globe whzzng through the air again.
Click" What's tnatg' "Thumpw Look out
there - "Iellow "Stop.w "Crash!l.
Am alive or dead?' open my eyes and look
around. why, great Scott here are my newspa-
pers, and here my books. Why I've been asleep and
fallen out of my chair. HeayeHs' what funny
dream I've had"