The Washington times., 1903-04-05
CHAPTER XXXV.
FRAGMENTS FROM JOURNAL.

what to expect about anything in this
strange world, y day of hundred and
forty-four hours. with no apparent rea-
son why it should come 10 an end even
then. gives a new meaning to the word
interminable
"Oh. night. what would We not give to
greet thee again as Of old! How little
do our endless sfestas here resemble the
regular sleep that we enjoyed on the
earth, But I suppose We must expect
some drawbacks in such a glorious en-
terprise as this,
7 shall 90 on with my journal be
gan it for my dear father. and it is the
only thing now that seems 10 bring me
little nearer to him Poor father.
What. I wonder, is he doing? Why is he
not with Us. instead OF being shut up in
Khartoum? He must find it almost as
hot as this. and perhaps matters are
worse there. Poor father When shall
we meet again? will at least write
down ny seIenic experiences day by
day for him 10 read. if we ever have
the happiness Of being together again.
My uncle calls this life here a seIenie
existence, The word only means lunar;
but it sounds better. Anyhow, this ex-
istence is both monotonous and strange.
I am obliged to bite my finger at times
to make sure that I am not in dream.
Every morning when I wake, after some
hours of sleep in the artificial night OF
my room. it takes Eve minutes and
Fstima's solemn assertion to convince
me that an really on the moon But,
alas. I am obliged to acknowledge it al
last. and then I don't know whether to
laugh or cry.
1t is like being on board large yes
sci. except that one cannot go and take
a turn on the bridge. for the few steps
We are able to take on the csplansae.
thanks to those miserable boxes OF oxy-
gen. are not worth mentioning. The
first time I went out thought it -ather
amusing TO breathe in jerks, just as one
drinks, and to get over the ground by
leaps like a grasshopper- But in the
long run it is firing. A breatn Of sea air
would be much nicer, especially if had
dear papa's arm.
Mr.. Mauuy is the only one among
us who enjoys being out. He went of
again this morning-or rather, I should
say. after breakfast-on a new expedi-
tion. He has gone TO visit the other
hemisphere of the moon. the one that
the earth has never seen and will never
see
1T is somewhat curious that the moon
should always turn one side only TO
US. and never the other It seems ab-
surd when one first hears it. Yet. after
all. it is only natural. since she sc-
| companies US in our annual journey
round the sun. She is like a child walk
/ ing round merry -go-round. and keep
ing her face always turned to the man
who grinds the central organ; the riders
/ of the wooden horses lose sight of the
child from time TO time. but whenever
they do meet her it is always face TO
face. Mr. Mauny gave me this expIana-
ton.
( Well. to return to him. He has
undertaken to visit that side Of the
moon that no man has seen vet, not
even with a telescope. We should not
have minded being Of the party. bur
he would not let Us go. He said first
that it was too far. being nine hundred
miles of. and that it would take him
/ at least forty-eisbt hours to go and re
turn Then he said that the cold there
would be terrible on account o. the
/ lunar night now prevailing; and lastly.
I hat he was Obliged 10 take an extra
I allowance OF oxygen. which 1t would be
difficult TO manage if we were to go. too
/ He went alone. with Kaddour and
/ a perfect museum OF telescopes. retorts
and all sorts Of Instruments can
/ hear YOU say: What take such a
! journey in forty eight hours. across 2
country devoid of railroads. or even
roads, impossible He is of s. con
trary opinion. He says ne has made his
calculations. and that it will take him
/ eighteen hours to- so lat The rate OF
fifty miles an hour, eighteen hours TO
return. allowing twelve TO rest and take
observations or notes. \ journey on the
! moon, remember, is made with seven
+ league boots.
All the same I wish he were back.
What would become Of us if anything
happened to him Don't think I speak
selfshly. dear papa; you know whom I
am thinking of when / say, What viii
become OF u.s. The baronet certainly
would not be able TO ger US out OF this
and take US home Poor Sir Bucephalus ,
He is beginning to get over his captivity
somewhat but he was in sad condition
at first
I Il was saying il was like being IN q
big steamer. Our life is as regular
Eve~y twelve hours we sleep. On awak-
: ing which we call morning. the doctor
goes his professional rounds; sees that
the aeration is good. and the venuiatora