Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-07-02
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"rhe moon inhablted7 Ridiculous.
We have telescopes that bring that
old hulk only forty miles away. and
we have wormed all Ets secrets from
H. The moon is colJ aud lifeleSs. It's
devoid Of vegetation. being simply an
old volcanic shell, Without an atmOs-
phere and consequently without living
and breathing human beings The
moon ceased to interest me II long
time ago. It's only a couple Of hundred
thousand miles away. and I'm in
terested in big suns whose distance Is
reckoned in billions.
"For instance. with the aid of Prof.
Michaelsons new measuring device,
We have ascertained that the star
Betelgeuse Cor sun, which II really Isl
has diameter Of three hundred million
miles. Retelgeuse Is IL member Of the
been a subject of much speculation.
Think Of II our own sun Is less than
million miles In diameter. and II
hollow 1t would contain million
bodies as large rs the earth; and the
earth would make forty-nine moons.
No. I'm not interested In Luna any
longer: leave that for the children.
How foolish | used to be-
Yes. how foolish - sighed Nina.
and wished he would get foolish once
more She still loved Sylvester, in
spite OF the great change that had
come over him with the learning he
had acquired.
Sylvestcr's return to Beaver Falls
created quite social stir. due to the
eminence to which he had climbed In
scientific realms; and Mrs Clayton
Hill. one of society's leaders who did
not even know him by name when he
was II resident Of the city. conceived
the idea Of entertaining in his honor.
So she invited a select crowd TO q
rather elaborate function at her home
and, learning that Sylvester and Nina
were supposed 10 he engaged. she felt
compelled 20 invite the young lady
In question. although the latter was
not up in society.
Nina enjoyed herself until mid
die aged guest who was II semi
scientific crank got into conversation
with sylvester and caused the latter
10 neglect her. II II had not been for
another young man of her former
acquaintance, she would have been
wall-nower In the dancing part of the
evenings programme. Still she was
not angry with Sylvester
"Whai is the spiral ncbula theory
aS TO the origin of the solar SyStemT'
the semiScientiiic crank wanted 10
know. The subject being one Of Syl-
veSicrS hobbies, he offered To 60 ~
his home. Il few blocks away. and re-
turn with a treatise dealing with the
nehula which he had written for a
magazine and brought TO Beaver Falls
20 undergo the process of correction.
knowledge had made Sylvester
absent minded and be had trouble in
locating the manuscript. His search
carried him through all the drawers Of
his dresser. and in the bottom one he
rame across package of letters tied
With blue ribbon. and photograph.
The picture was OF Nina. "A snap
shot he had taken one summer af-
'ernoon five years ago and she also
had been the author of the letters.
Somehow. he felt touch of the old
SrntlmentalSm. and this prompted him
10 unite the ribbon. In a few seconds
h.. nd 1nVnitrinly
them. while moonshne streamed
through the window and wrcathcd his
head
As Sylvester read these letters Of
the past a smile played about his
lips and now and then drop OF
moisture trickled from his eyes lie
forgot his surroundings, and had no
thoughts Of the foolish within that had
caused him and his sweetheart 10
correspond through the mail even when
living in the same town.
When Sylvester finished reading
the letters. he replaced the blue rib
hon around them, and stood for a
moment gazing into the laughing eyes
~ the photograph Then he leaned II
ngnnSi the dresser mirror and turned
70 seq tho moon pceping into the
window He smiled and sighed. re-
placed his hat on his head and left
the house. As he did so he recolle'ted
where he had placed the manuscript,
but he made no further effort 10 PRO
cure II,
The semi scientific crank was wait
ing 10 hear about the spiral nehula.
hut sylvester gave him slight heed.
Instead he sought out Nina, who was
sitting out dance with young man.
and asked IL she could excuse herself.
She did SO. and he led her to the
veranda of the Hil home,
He said placing an arm about her
and gazing up nj the moon. "ScA
Luna Is smiling at Us once more. Per
hapS her inhabitants are looking down
on us now"