The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-11
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| Johnston scowled, and the officer
who had overheard the remark, smiled
as be leaned toward the window and
gave some directions to the man in the
other compartment.
"You both take ii rather coolly," he
remarked to Thorndyke. Il took a man
and q woman over this route several
years ago. and both Of them were in Q
dead faint; but, in fact. you have moth.
ing to fear. We never have acci.
dents"
1T is safe as balloon, l suppose,
and we are at home in them," said the
Englishman, with just the hint of a
| swsgger in his tone.
But your balloons are poor, primi-
tive things at best" returned Tradmos
in his soft voice. "They can't be com.
pared to this mode of travel, though, of
course. our machines would not operate
in your atmosphere.
"Why noE" impulsively asked the
Englishman. II Thought
But he did not conclude his remark,
for they were rising, and both he and
Johnston leaned apprehensively forward
| and looked out of one Of the windows
Down below the long lines Of people
were silently waving their hats, scarfs
and handkerchiefs as the machine swept
along oasr their heads. As they rose
higher the scene below widened like a
great circular fan, and in the delicate
roselight the whole SO appealed to
Thorndyke's artistic sense that he ejacu-
lated:
"Gloriousl Superbl Transcendentl"
And be directed Johnston 8 attention to
the wonderful pinkish haze which lay
over the view toward the west like a
vast diaphanous web Of rosy sunbeams.
"You ask why our airships would not
operate in your atmosphere. said the
captain, showing pleasure at Thorn
dykes enthusiasm. 1T is simple enough
when you have studied the climatic
differences between the two countries.
You have much to contend with-the
winds, for instance, the heat and cold,
etc. This is the only known country
where the winds are subjugated. have
never been in your world, but from
what I have heard Of it I am not anx-
ious to see it. Your atmosphere and eli
mato are SO changeable and 80 diverse
in different localities that have heard
your people spend much Of their time
in seeking congenial climes. I think it
was a man who came from London that
claimed he once had q cold-'a bad
cold, think he called it It was a
standing joke in the royal family for a
long time, and be heard so much about
it that he tried to deny what he had
said"
Johnston glanced at the speaker nom
plused, but the captain was looking at
Thorndyke.
Your climate is delightful here
now" said the Eaglishman. lis it so
long at timer"
"Perpetually. It is regulated every
moment, and every year we perfect it
in some way"
Perfect it?"
"Ycs, Of course. Why not? If it ever
fails to be up to the usual high stand
ard, it is owing to neglect Of those in
charge, and neglect is punished So
verely."
Thorndyke's eyes sought those Of the
American incredulously, seeing which
Tradmos looked amused.
"You doubt it," he smiled. "Well,
wait till you have been here longer.
Tho fact is, any one born in our climate
could not live in yours The king ex-
perimented on a man who claimed to
have only one lung, but who had two
sound ones when he was cut open. Well,
the king sent him to China or America
or some such place, and he wheezed
himself to death in week by your
clocks The weather was too tickle for
him. Our system has been perfected to
such an extent that we live four lives to
your one, and our fruits and vegetables
are 100 Per cent better than those in
other countries"
"What is the name of your country?"
asked Thorndyke, feeling that no was
not losing anything by his boldness.
"Alpha"
"Whero is it located?"
II don't know" Tradmos looked out
at the window for q moment as if to
ascertain that they were going in the
right direction; then ho fixed his dark
eyes On Thorndyke and asked hesitat-
ingly:
II never thought-I-but do you
know where your country is located?"
"Why, certainly"
"Well, I don't know where this ono
is. We arc taught everything, I think,
except geography" Nothing moro was
said for several minutes; then an ex-
clamation Of admiration broke from the
Englishman. The color Of tho sunlight
was changing From east to west with
in the entire arc Of their observation
rolled all endless billow Of lavender
light, leaving placid sea of the same
color behind il. On it swept, slowly
driving back tho pink glow that had
been over everything.
II see you like our sunlight?' said
Tradmos half interrogatively.
''Never saw anything like it tefore. "
"Yours is, think, the same color all
day long"
Except on rainy days"
Must be great bore, monotonous,
too much sameness. 1t is white, is it
not?"
Eyes, rather-between white and
yellow, I call it,"
Something like our sixth hour, I
suppose. This is the fourth hour Of
morning. Then come blue, yellow,
green and at noon red. The afternoon
is divided up in the same way. The
first hour is green; then follow yellow,
blue, lavender, rose, gray and purple.
Yes. l should think you would find
yours somewhat tiresome.
1--WE can rely on it," said Johnston,
speaking for the first timo and in a
wsvering voice. "It is always there"
"Doiug business at the old stand,'