The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-02


to trace the history of the conquest
of the moon. 1t was in 1850 that
new Christopher Columbus, long
foreshadowed by the story-writers,
landed upon our satellite. A vehicle
was built, moved by apergy, that
etheric force which counteracts the
attraction of gravitation and enables
body to pass through interplane-
tary space. The car contained an
abundant provision of oxygen in solid
form, of which it was only necessary
to melt small piece in order to
feed the lungs of the daring explorer
for several days.
After six months of anxiety and
hope this modern caravel landed its
captain upon the moon at the bot
tom of an arid hollow which astron-
omers had called the Sea of Serenl-
ty. The man, in divers suit, TOOK
several steps outside his car, enough
to gaze upon a vast amphitheatre,
dazzling in the crude light and brlst-
ling with hard ridges and mineral
efflorescence. He proved that this
dead world was utterly uninhabita-
bic.
Through the hermetically closed
costume which covered him he could
feel a glacial chill; his limbs swelled
and gave him acute pain; death was
lying in wait for him.
Hurriedly he started on his return
voyage to the earth. Unfortunately
the greater part Of the stored oxygen
had leaked out and spread itself over
the surface Of the moon, so that on
the RETURN trip he was obliged to
put himself on short rations of arr,
as ancient mariners used sometimes
to have to do with fresh water, and
he arrived home half asphyxiated
about a year after his departure.
But he opened the way. Crowds
ventured to rake the terrific voyase.
Many never returned. Visionary per-
sons suggested that, as weight count
ed for nothing in the etheromobile'
tons of solidified air might be trans
rorted to be liberated on the moon,
where, held by the attraction OF gray
itation, it would little by little form
an atmosphere. Such task
would have required centuries and
would have impoverished cur own
supply of air. Instead of this, chem
ical reagents were employed which
started a chemical revolution on the
moon and liberated vast quantities
of the oxygen that had been in COM
bination with its minerals.
After many voyages and many ex-
periments a thin stratum OF breath
able air spread over the lower places
at the surface of the ground. Slen-
der though it was it sufficed for the
vegetation Of humble plants such as
MOSES and lichens, and through nat
ural chemistry to form vapor. SEEDS
were planted and they grew. From
that time the dead moon was reborn;
it's atmosphere increased In volume
through the sole agency of the res
piration of the plants. Little by little
the inhabitants of the earth noticed
changes in the appearance of their
satellite, now covered by fine, misty
fakes, which broke up the light Into
exquisite twilight tints. 1t was al
last possible to live there. The high
er plants were now beginning tc
grow; the decay of vegetable matt7l
was forming soil. A few small AMI
mails were taken there; then whole
Noah's ark These, by supplying or
ganic matter, were contributing te
make the moon at some later day
habitable to man.
Matters have reached this stage
now, when John Smith is listening tt
the story in the Museum. If mar
has not yet taken possession or nj:
colony he has made many excursions
to it and is accustoming himself tc
its severe climate. The species o.
animals that are now extinct upor
the earth, save in a few geological
gardens, are developing at libert!
and Transforming themselves natur
ally to adapt themselves to their new
conditions of existence.
Catching Bank Thief.
When John Smith left the Museum
It was about 8 o'clock. He wa!
struck by the unusual aspect Of the
streets. The sidewalks moved. un
occupied, scarcely a vehicle flew
through the air. But vast crowt
was gathered in one Of the squares
and all eyes were turned upon
white sheet that hung before a win
dow. Suddenly, streams of ink be-
gan tracing letters upon the sheet
and Smith read:
"3 P. MIN checking the &C
counts of a certain Lafuite, cashier
of the Boston Bank, away on his
vacation, a deficit of 100000 has
just sbeen discovered. At this mo-
ment the portrait Of the defaulter Il
being sent By wireless telephotogra'
ply to all points of the world. It is
known that he is not in New York
Then the sheet was drawn up and
an immense photograph of the dis
honest cashier was shown. The crowd
greeted it with boots.
At this very moment this very
portrait was being displayed in every
city and town in the world, from the
cold abode of the Esquimaux to that