The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-15

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DOOMED WE ARE SO we forged ahead,
RUNNING DOWN THE sun. We spent
the first four days, lodging icebergs. At
length ] noticed an angry shore ahead.
against which the waters dashed and
roared. was terrified to observe that
our speed was in no wise diminished.
At this point the ice met the water
in very gentle slope, and while j was
considering what we should do next,
the remarkable craft, seeming TO catch
hold of the icy shore as If with claws,
climbed 10 the top like an overgroWn
goat We did not pause on gaining the
summit Of the ice field, but rushed on
with a speed which was even increased;
ana now observed that we were on
wheels Our progress was the more sur
prising because the ice was uneven, and
I'm places broken into crevices four or
five feet across.
"You see we carry our own track.
said my compf Mon.
Slight investigation revealed the secret.
Around this boat-wagon. ondwise, parall-
ell with the guards, ran two continuous
bands of iron hinged together in sections.
That part of the bands at any moment
steady rails on which the wheels ran;
and as we moved forward that part
which was behind was lifted up by an
automatic cam and carried forward over
our heads, dropping again in front OF
the wheels thus making an endless track.
As we advanced and the days grew
darker and the weather colder, my at
tention was invited TO sheet-iron panel
set in the bow. This l found radiated at
a high degree of heat
"Cosmical electricity" said Fitch.
"Transmutation of forces. What's the
use of freezing"
We were something over two months
on the way: but one morning ! was
awakened by Su-Kuoks electric whistle
tearing away like mad ! say zone morn
ing" conventionally, merely because 1t
, was the end of one OF our daily sleeps.
IL was a dusky twilight. We had not
seen the sun since September, and / just
managed TO keep alive my faith that it
was rolling around the earth somewhere
below the horizon OF faintish pink. AS
we suddenly came TO a stop / looked out
Of the cabin window, and through the
semi-darkness saw that we were moored
in the suburbs of what seemed popu-
lous village There were several car
riages like ours and snow villas and Ice
palaces i'm every direction. The stars
were all out, and we stood under the lit
tie dipper.
'Yonder is the pole" said Captain
Fitch. pointing 10 an upright post about
seventy-fve feet high. bearing what
seemed 10 be sun at its peak and
moons upon its side
by the way" he continued, II hap
pen to know that you have not kept
an accurate run Of the days during the
coming on of darkness: so you will per-
haps be surprised TO hear that this is
Christmas Day
Il see that the citizens of Polopolis are
i'm the midst of their customary festival.
Notice the lumnaries on the Pole, and
the stars, crescents, hearts, and other
symbols outlined in flame upon the VIII
las"
| FASTENED to follow him toward the
Pole, which seemed the centre of light
for all the region The ice near IL was
already occupied. Most of the people
were walking around it TO the left with
the sun; and some were walking very
fast indeed. while others We're weaving
ribbons around it. dancing and singing
the joyous song of the solstice.
rs this really the North Pole" I asked
Fitch. when the cheer with which the
Christmas assemblage had greeted him
hal subsidized.
"Tnis IS It," he answered. 'Su and /
came here alone and found II hun
dr,d years ago; and these later imVi-
grants. as. YOU see, never tire of thank
ing u.s.
/ was about 20 ask him IL he found the
pole put up on that spot on arriving,
when we heard the salute. Welcome
home, Colonel Fitch" by some young
ladies' near by. They were blooming
creatures, full OF ruddy health, lit
tie inclined to the boisterous, just on
the outer edge Of gigglehood.
These ladies have been here" he said
since the time when your father was
born"
"Inpossibe" exclaimed.
And some Of us were very passe at
that time" said one. laughing
Belonged TO the Palaeozoic PERIOD
said another.
you do not look at all antique al this
time" ! remarked
Il fatter myself not We've been doing
the circuit" said she
What is that, If you please?" ! ask
ed.
MY friend has just arrived" explained
Fitch.
"wnl you come and take walk with
me?" said the prettiest of the bevy. 4
gave her my arm with a little thrill of
regret that l had not known her before,
and we walked toward the Pole.
II was forty-eight years old when we
got here" she frankly explained IL ran
as hard AS ! could the first day. and went
around the Pole with the sun seven hun
dred and thirty times. | was dreadfuily
tired that night, but knew | had got
ahead OF the cruel tyrant OF the skies
by about two years. How much better
you look. said my friends the next
morning. These elderly people here, walk
ing the same way we are she continued
ARE growing younger all the while. or
course they are just as many days young
er as they are able 10 keep ahead OF the
sun. That scrawny looking old ruin over
there in a poke bonnet (they revert TO
the costume OF tho States sometimes.
when they walk very fasD has been here
only a few days: she will be a blooming
girl OF eighteen or twenty summers be-
fore the sun rises next spring. You no.
tice she carries a parrot on her finger?
Polly grows young too"
'sWhy are some OF the people going the
other way?" asked.
"Ony the babies" she answered.
kids are always a nuisance when they
are young: 90 tkeir mothers. or the nur-
Sea. take Ill the young things IT six weeks
old ana draw them rapidly round the
Pole on thsso cradle sleds-oGainst the
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