A Journey in Other Worlds
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A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE
BY JOHN JACOB ASTOR
PREFACE.
The protracted struggle between science and the classics appears
to be drawing to a close, with victory about to perch on the
banner of science, as a perusal of almost any university or
college catalogue shows. While a limited knowledge of both Greek
and Latin is important for the correct use of our own language,
the amount till recently required, in my judgment, has been
absurdly out of proportion to the intrinsic value of these
branches, or perhaps more correctly roots, of study. The
classics have been thoroughly and painfully threshed out, and it
seems impossible that anything new can be unearthed. We may
equal the performances of the past, but there is no opportunity
to surpass them or produce anything original. Even the
much-vaunted "mental training" argument is beginning to pall; for
would not anything equally difficult give as good developing
results, while by learning a live matter we kill two birds with
one stone? There can be no question that there are many forces
and influences in Nature whose existence we as yet little more
than suspect. How much more interesting it would be if, instead
of reiterating our past achievements, the magazines and
literature of the period should devote their consideration to
what we do NOT know! It is only through investigation and
research that inventions come; we may not find what we are in
search of, but may discover something of perhaps greater moment.
It is probable that the principal glories of the future will be
found in as yet but little trodden paths, and as Prof. Cortlandt
justly says at the close of his history, "Next to religion, we
have most to hope from science."
CONTENTS.
BOOK I.
CHAPTER
I.-JUPITER.
II.-ANTECEDENTAL
III.-PRESIDENT BEARWARDEN'S SPEECH
IV.-PROF. CORTLANDT'S HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE WORLD
IN A.D. 2000
V.-DR. CORTLANDT'S HISTORY CONTINUED
VI.-FAR-REACHING PLANS
VII.-HARD AT WORK
VIII.-GOOD-BYE
BOOK II.
I.-THE LAST OF THE EARTH
II.-SPACE AND MARS
III.-HEAVENLY BODIES
IV.-PREPARING TO ALIGHT
V.-EXPLORATION AND EXCITEMENT
VI.-MASTODON AND WILL-O'-THE-WISP
VII.-AN UNSEEN HUNTER
VIII.-sportsMEN'S REVERIES
IX.-THE HONEY OF DEATH
X.-CHANGING LANDSCAPES
XI.-A JOVIAN NIAGARA
XII.-HILLS AND VALLEYS
XIII.-NORTH-POLAR DISCOVERIES
XIV.-THE SCENE SHIFTS
BOOK III.
I-SATURN
II.-THE SPIRIT'S FIRST VISIT
HI.-DOUBTS AND philosophy
IV.-A PROVIDENTIAL INTERVENTION
V.-AYRAULT'S VISION
VI.-A GREAT VOID AND A GREAT LONGING
VII.-THE SPIRIT'S SECOND VISIT
VIII.-CASSANDRA AND COSMOLOGY
IX.-DR. CORTLANDT SEES HIS GRAVE
X.-AYRAULT
XI.-DREAMLAND TO SHADOWLAND
XII.-SHEOL
XIII.-THE PRIEST'S SERMON
XIV.-HIC ILLE JACET
XV.-MOTHER EARTH
BOOK I.
A JOURNEY IN OTHER WORLDS.
----
CHAPTER 1.
JUPITER.
Jupiter--the magnificent planet with a diameter of 86,500
miles, having 119 times the surface and 1,300 times the volume of
the earth--lay beneath them.
They had often seen it in the terrestrial sky, emitting its
strong, steady ray, and had thought of that far-away planet,
about which till recently so little had been known, and a burning
desire had possessed them to go to it and explore its mysteries.
Now, thanks to APERGY, the force whose existence the ancients
suspected, but of which they knew so little, all things were
possible.
Ayrault manipulated the silk-covered glass handles, and the
Callisto moved on slowly in comparison with its recent speed,
and all remained glued to their telescopes as they peered through
the rushing clouds, now forming and now dissolving before their
eyes. What transports of delight, what ecstatic bliss, was
theirs! Men had discovered and mastered the secret of apergy,
and now, "little lower than the angels," they could soar through
space, leaving even planets and comets behind.
"Is it not strange," said Dr. Cortlandt, "that though it has been
known for over a centu
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