The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-01
CHAPTER III.


All through these latter years we
Cautio.-.sts had openly concerned our
selves with the pursuits of learning,
knowledge and scientific search.
Scarcely was there single great
academy, throughout the length and
breadth of the earth, which was moi
nourished and administered by oul
agency. OF what we had already &C.
complished. need not speak. Tele.
scopes of superb power had been in.
vented by us, and through their means
and those Of the new interplanetary
magnetic currents with which you, dear
nephew, are now so wholly familiar, we
had obtained distinct tidings from two
planets Of our solar system, Mars anc
Venus. But apart from q somewhat
vague interchange Of signals we were
then. as now. in ignorance Of the real
quality or the races on these neighoor
worlds. Still, the advance had been i'm
mense. From the moon, our compare
lively near stellar companion, we had
succeeded in securing no sign OF life.
This lack of success corroborated pre-
yious conclusions, namely, that the
moon was q frozen ORR, without atmos-
,here, a colossal cinder, so to speak,
revolving round a world which, bee cause
,f it's much smaller size, it had long
ago preceded in the cooling off process
ana III Jnose eyoluIlonaI changes OF
lower vegetable and animal life TO high
er, which every orb OF the billions
crowding space doubtless has been
tated to undergo. Our greatly in-
proved telescopes had shown US the
topography Of the moon as never before.
Her icy peaks and barren wales were as
familiar to our astronomers as to ordi-
nary tourists are the slopes Of the Ale
rhenies or Catskills. No longer had
science the faintest doubt on the sub
iert of her complete present sterlllty.
II the question OF her duration ever pre-
sented itself, this, it was taken Tor
granted, would depend on the general
stability OF earth and the solar system.
And yet, suddenly, to the surprise of
millions, the moon had of late revealed
some extraordinary novelties OF phase.
Not long ago, while observed here in
America during her second quarter, the
entire hollow OF her curve had become
flooded with mis'y golden fire, which
had faded, at length leaving a spirit OF
flame plainly visible. The sight was
horrifying to many Of the Indomitables,
for ignorance, as you know, too often
consorts with cowardice. AS fear, too,
is at the root OF SO much religion, in q
few days various new sects were formed
that spent Their time in praying for de.
liverance from the horror OF some ca.
ldmity-dreaded yet unknown. We
Cautionists, however, were for the most
part tranquility itself. Your own fam
lily, my dear boy. has been noted,
through several generations, for their
scholarship in different directions. &c.
ology has always been a study in which
| eXcelled; your father was devoted to
astronomy. and spont hours raking the
heavens ut night with q telescope Of
great strength. From him 1 learned
that these lunar phenomena were most
probably the arb.ngers Of the moon 8
final and utter extinction.
But I thought" was my reply to
him, that sh, had not had, for thou
sands OF years, q single trace OF life
left"
No visible trace" he answered. But
evidently. hidden deep down within the
bowels OF her sphere. have lain sluggish
yet savage fires. There is no doubt ut
all that from !hn cold era ers several
lo.canocs live liames have been gush-