The Washington herald., 1907-08-04

Employees at the White House are
called on nearly every day in the year
TO deal with some fanatic OF queer per-
son with a hobby, and one Of the strang-
est Of them all was a recent literary
caller who wanted the Chief Executive
Of the United States to give his personal
Endorsement to the authors book a
Trip 10 Heaven" written as nothing but
the truth and with the belief that every
detail Of the journey was absolutely ac-
curate. Mr.. Roosevelt didn't indorse the
publication. In fact. he didn't even see
the book. Secretary Forster, who is in
charge Of the White House work in the
absence Of the President and Secretary
Loeb looked after the man and sent him
on his way.
The writer Of the story about the re-
markable trip upward is a Washington
ian. Truth is oftener stranger than fc-
ton; II couldn't be in this case. The
writer does not make the claim for his
book that II is a work Of fiction. His
contention is just the opposite-that the
book is truth from beginning TO end.
starts from a Hospital.
The opening chapter Of the romance
locates the soldier Of fortune, who is pre-
pairing for the trip above the moon. in.
q hospital He has been injured and suf-
fers terribly. Finally the surgeons give
him ether, OF some other equally power
ful anesthetic. and gradually he falls into
a deep slumber. Almost at once he begins
his peTilOus trip through space, passing
the different stars and planets, and on
and on, upward and upward 70 Heaven.
The journey begins with the mans
sOul-that OF the author. mind yOu-pass-
ing silently. ghost like, through the roof
OF the hospital. There IS relief at once
and the author expresses the feeling Of
nothing but great happiness and joy and
ineXpressible anticipation at being out q
the institution for the sick and injured.
and actually on his way 10 the home.
the visit 20 which he had been looking
forward 70 for many years
Scars Like n Bird.
Then his soul begins TO soar higher and
higher, more lightly and gracefully than
any bird that ever few. The author
makes no claim 10 being an inventor Of
air ships nor at any place does he even
mention the thought Of a castle in the
air. Gradually the city below and the
cruel old earth. the earth on which the
writer is trying to-day to dispose Of sew
eral thousand copies Of a Trip to
Heaven. seems 10 fall farther and farth-
er away. Eventually the old ball is out
Of sight and nothing but light and space
are TO be seen in ali directions.
Then after journeying on and on-the
author doesn't say for just how lOng-ths
voyagers finally pass old man Mars in a
jiffy. But the author evidentally isn't
interested in astronomy or anything else
except his book and he fails to observe
whether Mars is inhabited as has been
claimed by the wise men for years. He
steers clear Of old Mars, runs around
the blockade, and continues the trip he
has planned so long.
Passes More Planets.
After while the soul begins passing
more planets. Jupiter is mentioned in
particular, and there are comets and
other freaks of the skies too numerous 10
recall Little twlnkling stars are every
where, so common that not much atten-
ton is paid 70 them by the writer
At last the souls goal IS reached It IS
seen in the distance, the golden gates and
everything glistening. And then, at last,
our author enters the gates Of heaven.
The remainder Of the book contains de-
tailed accounts Of heaven. the different
ones net there. and the influence and
power Of Him on the throne. The writer
claimed that be had spent nearly a thou
sand dollars In preparing the publication
for the benefit Of the people, and that
they were unappreciatiye OF his never
before-heard-Of trip, as he took il, 10 the
heavens above. It was TO call attention
TO this and TO give the President an op-
l