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A Journey in Other Worlds
by J。 J。 Astor
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。
Jupiterthe magnificent planet with a diameter of 86；500
miles； having 119 times the surface and 1；300 times the volume of
the earthlay 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 century that bodies charged with unlike
electricities attract one another； and those charged with like
repel； no one thought of utilizing the counterpart of
gravitation？ In the nineteenth century； savants and Indian
jugglers performed experiments with their disciples and masses of
inert matter； by causing them to remain without visible support
at some distance from the ground； and while many of these； of
course； were quacks； some were on the right track； though they
did not push their research。〃
President Bearwarden and Ayrault assented。 They were steering
for an apparently hard part of the planet's surface； about a
degree and a half north of its equator。
〃Since Jupiter's axis is almost at right angles to the plane of
its orbit；〃 said the doctor； 〃being inclined only about one
degree and a half； instead of twenty…three and a half； as was the
earth's till nearly so recently； it will be possible for us to
have any climate we wish； from constantly warm at the equator to
constantly cool or cold as we approach the poles； without being
troubled by extremes of winter and summer。〃
Until the Callisto entered the planet's atmosphere； its five
moons appeared like silver shields against the black sky； but now
things were looking more terrestrial； and they began to feel at
home。 Bearwarden put down his note…book； and Ayrault returned a
photograph to his pocket； while all three gazed at their new
abode。 Beneath them was a vast continent variegated by chains of
lakes and rivers stretching away in all directions except toward
the equator； where lay a placid ocean as far as their telescopes
could pierce。 To the eastward were towering and massive
mountains； and along the southern border of the continent smoking
volcanoes； while toward the west they saw forests； gently rolling
plains； and table…lands that would have satisfied a poet or set
an agriculturist's heart at rest。 〃How I should like to mine
those hills for copper； or drain the swamps to the south！〃
exclaimed Col。 Bearwarden。 〃The Lake Superior mines and the
reclamation of the Florida Everglades would be nothing to this。〃
〃Any inhabitants we may find here have so much land at their
disposal that they will not need to drain swamps on account of
pressure of population for some time；〃 put in the doctor。
〃I hope we may find some four…legged inhabitants；〃 said Ayrault；
thinking of their explosive magazine rifles。 〃If Jupiter is
passing through its Jurassic or Mesozoic period； there must be
any amount of some kind of game。〃 Just then a quiver shook the
Callisto； and glancing to the right they noticed one of the
volcanoes in violent eruption。 Smoke filled the air in clouds；
hot stones and then floods of lava poured from the crater； while
even the walls of the hermetically sealed Callisto could not
arrest the thunderous crashes that made the interior of the car
resound。
〃Had we not better move on？〃 said Bearwarden； and accordingly
they went toward the woods they had first seen。 Finding a firm
strip of land between the forest and an arm of the sea； they
gently grounded the Callisto； and not being altogether sure how
the atmosphere of their new abode would suit terrestrial lungs；
or what its pressure to the square inch might be； they cautiously
opened a port…hole a crack； retaining their hold upon it with its
screw。 Instantly there was a rush and a whistling sound as of
escaping steam； while in a few moments their barometer stood at
thirty…six inches； whereupon they closed the opening。
〃I fancy；〃 said Dr。 Cortlandt； 〃we had better wait now till we
become accustomed to this pressure。 I do not believe it will go
much higher； for the window made but little resistance when we
shut it。〃
Finding they were not inconvenienced by a pressure but little
greater than that of a deep coal…mine；