The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-06

1 Whas had already Deth o'S'Nii
! through the public press were quite SUI
ficient to convince all the representatives,
I who had assembled in Washington that
, the problem or how to conquer the Mar
tians had been solved. The means were
! plainly at hand. 1t only remained 10 apply
| them. For this purpose, as the Pres
ident had pointed out. It would be nee
! essary to raise worry large sum OF
! money.
How much will be needed" asked one
| OF the English Representatives.
AT least ten thousand millions OF dol
| lars" said the President,
1T would be safer" said Senator
from the Pacific coast. Ito make II TWEEN
ty-Hve thousand millions
"I suggest" said the King of Italy
that the nations be called In alphabet
Teal order and that the representatives,
Of each name n sum which II IL reauy
/ and able 10 contribute
ct shall not follow the alphabet etriet-
| "" said the President, hut shall begin
| with the larger nations first. Perhaps.
| under the circumstances. II is proper that
the limited states should lead the way
| Mr.. Secretary" ne continued. turning 10
| the Secretary of the Treasury, 'how much
| can we stand?'
at least a thousand millions" replied
J the Secretary Of the Treasury.
A roar Of applause that shook the room
burst from the assembly. Even some OF
the monarchs threw up their hats.
Tho President then proceeded to call
, the other nations. beginning with Aus
| tria-Hungary and ending with Zanzibar,
whose Sultan. Hamoud bin Mahomed'
| had come to the congress In the escort
of Queen Victoria. Each contributed lib
orally.
Germany. coming In Alphabetical order
tust before Great Britain. had named
through the Chancellor. the sum OF Sfp'-
! O0OOOO hut when the First Lord or the
British Treasury not wishing 10 be pc
| hind the United States, named double
that sum as the contribution of the Brit
ish Empire. the Emperor William looked
dlspleased. He spoke a word In the ear
| Of the Chancellor. who Immediately raised
his hand.
eve viii give thousand million dol
! lars" said the Chancellor.
Queen Victoria seemed surprised
though not 1ispleased The First Lord Of
! the Treasury met her eye, and then
| rising in his place, said:
make 1t fifteen hundred for Great
Britain"
Emperor william consulted again with
, his Chancellor, but evidently concluded
| not to raise his bid.
/ But at any rate. the fund had bene-
J fitted TO the amount OF thousand mllnon
! by this little outbnrst OF imperial rivalry.
| The greatest surprise OF all, however.
| came when the King Of Slam was called
| upon for his contribution. lie had not
been given Il foremost place in the con-
| gress. hut when the name Of his country
I was pronounced he rose from bis chair.
| dressed In a gorgeous specimen or the
! peculiar attire 81 his country. then slow
| ly pushed his way to the front, stepped
! UP 10 the Presidents desk and deposited
| o. n sn1all box.
] This Is our contribution" he said. IN
! broken English.
| The cover was lifted and there DART
! ed shimmering IN the half gloom Of the
! chamber, g. burst OF lridescence from the
] box.
4; MY friends Of the Western world"
! continued the King OF Siam. will be
| interested in seeing this gem. Only once
/ before has the eye OF a European been
| blessed with a sight OF IT, Your books
! will tell you that In the Seventeenth CEN
| tury traveller. Tavernier saw in India
| an unmatched diamond which afterward
disappeared like q meteor. and was
| thought TO have been lost from the earth.
! and its history. 1t Is the Great Mognl,
| and II lies before you. How 1t came into
! my possession I shall not explain. At
! anv rate IL is honestly mine. and freely
. contribute IL here to aid in protecting
! my native planet against those enemies
who appear determined to destroy It,"
When the excitement which the APP
pearance Of this lorg-lost treasure. that
had been the subject Of so many romances
and of such long and frutless search.
had subsidized, the President continued
calling the list, until he had completed
IL.
Upon taking the sum OF the contribu-
lions (the Great Mogul was reckoned al
three millionsj Il was found TO be still
one thousand million short OF the required
amount.
The Secretary OF the Treasury was
instantly on mis- feet.
"Mr President" no said. 1T think we
can stand that addition. Let II be added
to the contribution OF the United States
Of America"
When the cheers that greeted the con-
clusion OF this business were over, the
President announced that the next affair
of the congress was TO select director
who should have entire charge OF the
preparat tons for the war. 1t Was tho uni
yersal sentiment that no man could be
so well suited for this post AS Mr. Edison
himself. lie was accordingly selected by
the unanimous and enthusiastic choice
Of the great assembly.
How long a time do you require 10
| nut everything in readiness?' asked the
! President.
GIVE me carte blanche" replied Mr..
Edison, "and / believe l can have q
| hundred electric ships and three thousand
dlsintegratcrs really within Fix months.
A tremendous cheer greeted ms an
! rot nccnlcnt
'Yoyr powers are unlimited" said the
| President: draw or the fund for IL mucn
money as you need" 4ghereupon the
! Treasurer OF the United s. ties vas he
tine dishursIng officer 5f the iund, ana
The meeting adjourned.
w.
| The promised exhibition OF the cleo
trlcal ship took piece the next day Enor-
nous multitudes witnessed the expert
ment, and there was q struggle Tor places
in the car Even Queen Victoria. accom-
panied by the Prince OF Wales. venlured
| TO take ride In II. and they enjoyed II
| 40 much that AIR Edison prolonged the
| Journey as far as Boston and the Bunker
| Kin monument.
After the exhibition was finished. and
| amid the fresh outburst OF enthusiasm
that followed, II was suggested that a
| proper way TO wind up the congress anc
| IL. ns.fs.tf~ xxrrasotnu. "a tha feafivf