Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-05


machine, or an instrument Of obscrva-
ton. Poets and literary men had their
heads bullying with the imaginative
faculties. The heads of inventors were
developed into a still different shape.
"And so, said Alma, translating for
us the words of u professor in the I'm
peral university of Mars, from whom
we derived the greater part of our in
formation on this subject, 1.-THE Marian
boys do not study a subject; they do
not have to learn it, but when their
brains have been sufficiently developed
in the proper direction they comprehend
it instantly by kind of divine instinct. "
But among the women of Mars we
saw none of these curious and, to our
eyes, monstrous differences of develop
ment. While the men received in add
tion to their special education broad
general culture also, with the women
there was no special education 1t was
all general in its character, yet thorough
enough in that way. The consequence
was that only female brains upon Mars
were entirely well balanced. This was
the reason why we invariably found the
Marian women to be remarkably
charming creatures, with none of those
physical exaggerations and uncouth de-
velopments which disfgured their mas
culine companions.
All the BOOKS Of the Martians, we as
certained, were books of history aud Of
poetry. For scientific tregtises they had
no need, because, as | have eXplaiI +,
when tho brains Of those intended for
scientific pursuits had been developed
in the proper way the knowledge Of ma
lures laws came to them without effort,
as spring bubbles from the rocks.
One word of explanation may be
needed concerning the failure of the
Martians, with all their marvellous
powers, to invent electrical ships like
! those of Mr.. Edison and engines Of de-
struction comparable with our di,inte.
orators. This failure was simply due TO
the fact that CD Mars there did not ex-
list the peculiar metals by the combina-
ton of which Mr.. Edison had been ablo
| to effect his wonders. The theory in
| volved in our inventions was Perfectly
understood by them, and had they pos
sessed the means doubtless they would
have been able TO carry it into practice
even more effectively than we had done.
After two or three days, all the prep
arations having been completed, the
signal was given for our departure. The
men of science were still, unwilling to
leave this strange world, but Mr.. Edi-
4 son decided that we could linger nc
| longer.
At the moment of starting most
tragic event occurred. Our fleet was as
sembled around the palace, and the sig.
nal was given to rise slowly to a con.
siderable height before inparting a
great velocity to the electrical ships
AS we slowly rose we saw the immense
crowd of giants beneath US with up.
turned faces Watching our departure
The Marian monarch and all his suit
had come out upon the terrace of the
palace to look at us, at a moment whcr
he probably supposed himself to be un
watched he shook his fist at the retire
ing fleet. My eyes and those of seven ]
others in the flagship CHANGED to b
fixed upon him. Just as he made tn,
gesture one of the women of his suit, il
her eagerness to watch us, apparent )
lost her balance and stumbled agails
him. Without moments hesitati l
with tremendous blow he felled hel
like an OK at his feet.
A fearful oath broke from the lips O.
Colonel Smith, who was one of thos,
looking on. 1t CHANGED that he stool
near the principal disintegrator of thu
flagship. Before anybody could inter
fere he had sighted and discharged it
The entire force of the terrible engine
almost capable of destroying fort, Eel
upon the Marian emperor and not mere
ly blew him into cloud of atoms, bu
opened great cavity in the ground Oh
the spot where he had stood.
A shout arose from the Martians, bu
they were too much astounded at VIVA
had occurred to make any hostile dem
onstrations, and anyhow they knew wei
that they were completely at our mercy
Mr.. Edison was on the point of re
bukng Colonel Smith for what he ha
done, but Alma interposed.
81 am glad it was done" said she
"for now only can you be safe Tina
monster was more directly responsible
than any other inhabitant of Mars fo
all the wickedness of which they hav
been guilty.
1.-THE expedition against the cart
was inspired solely by him. There is
tradition among the Martians-whic
my people, however, could never credi
, that he possessed kind Of immortal
, ity. They declared that it was he VIII
led the former expedition against til
earth when my ANCESTORS were brough
away prisoners from their happy HON
, and that it was his image which tht
I had set up in stone in the midst Of tn
| land of sand. He prolonged his exist
ence, according to this legend, by drink
, ing the waters of wonderful fountain
the secret of whose precise location wa
known to him alone, but which was 81
uated at that point where in your map
, of Mars the name Of the Fons Juventi
occurs He was personified wickedness-
that l know-and he never would hay
kept his oath if power had returned {
him again to injure the earth. In dc
stroying him you have made your vic
tory secure.
When ut length we once more sa'
our native planet, with its well remen
bered features Of land and sea rollin
beneath our eyes, the feeling Of JOY thu
came over us transcended all powers
|