THE HABITABLE GLOBE
The term "Habitable Globe" was doubtless invented by some Celestial
Humorist who had never visited this planet.
People live on it, to be sure, but they have no choice. There is nowhere
else to live.
The Giddy Globe ...*
* Isn't it about time to drop this
personal simile?
_The Reader._
... Quite so. Suppose we consider the Globe as an Apartment House.
We are told it was finished in six days. No wonder it is faultily
constructed.
The Heating Apparatus is out of date. The apartments nearest to the
Radiator are insufferably hot, those farthest away unbearably cold, and
those between too changeable for comfort.
The Water Supply is unreliable. In some apartments, great numbers
perish every year from thirst.
In the cellar there is a munition factory where, in defiance of
regulations, there are stored High Explosives. These blow up from time
to time, causing great damage and loss of life among the tenants.
The janitor is a disobliging old person who has been there since the
house was started and holds his job, in spite of incessant complaints.
When asked to hurry, he fairly crawls and, when people want him most to
stay, nothing can stop him.
His name is Tempus.