CARING FOR THE SICK--NEW METHODS OF TREATMENT--NOT PHYSICIANS
BUT NURSES--NO MEDICINES--A RAPID RECOVERY--A VOYAGE THROUGH THE
AIR--WONDERFUL OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS WHICH REVEAL A PANORAMA OF THE
WORLD--ARRIVAL IN ALTRURIA--MARVELOUS IMPROVEMENTS--DRUDGERY AND
POVERTY BOTH ABOLISHED.
[Illustration]
CAPTAIN Ganoe and myself took passage with MacNair and Iola. For the
first time, we had embarked upon an airship. I had witnessed many
balloon ascensions and had read much in regard to various contrivances
for navigating the air, all of which had been failures. But here was a
success, and I was on the alert to learn everything possible, in regard
to the mechanical principles involved.
We found ourselves in an elegantly furnished cabin, but we saw no
signs of machinery. Everything in sight seemed to be arranged for the
especial comfort and convenience of the passengers. The view in all
directions, through transparent sections, was unobstructed, but the
sections could be readily shaded, or the light shut out entirely as the
occupants might desire.
In the center was a table of exquisite design and workmanship, on which
were various optical instruments for the use of the occupants, and also
an electric keyboard connected with the hull which was elevated about
thirty inches above the floor upon which it rested.
The shape of the hull in which I concluded that the motor power was
placed seemed to be adapted to the navigation of the water as well as
the air and in answer to our inquiries MacNair informed us that it
could readily be converted into either a water craft or land carriage.
The ordinary propelling power consisted of an ingenious combination
of wings shaped like those of an insect, but when extraordinary
speed was required there was a rudder-like appendage, similar to the
tail of a fish, that was shot out from the hull. These were operated
by electricity and appropriate mechanical contrivances. He further
explained that the power of levitation, or rising in the air, did not
depend entirely upon the wings, but, that by a discovery in magnetism,
the vessel was rendered positive to the earth so that they mutually
repelled each other.
When all was ready, MacNair touched a button on the keyboard, and at
once our aerial conveyance became instinct with life. Its broad wings
that had been neatly folded, as it alighted upon the deck, now extended
out like the pinions of some mighty bird, there was a slight whirring
noise beneath our feet, and we began to ascend, moving as it were
forward, around a spiral incline.
As we circled around and arose to a place among the fleet which had
hovered over us, we had a full view of the ample preparations which our
deliverers had made for our rescue. On some of the ships we noticed
cables and powerful dynamos. These vessels were as unlike the light and
airy passenger boat on which we were embarked, as the ponderous freight
train is unlike the lightning express. They had evidently come prepared
to take charge of the Ice King as well as the crew.
Polaris, Dione, Battell and Huston had embarked, and ascended a short
distance, as if to be in a good position to give directions. The
hospital attendants were carrying the afflicted sailors on board the
Relief ship, on stretchers, with the exception of Pat O'Brien, who was
getting around as lively as if there never had been anything the matter
with him, and Mike seemed to be trying to keep him still. We were
surprised at what seemed to be such a wonderful recovery, and MacNair,
noticing the intense interest we were taking in what was transpiring on
the Ice King, asked:
"What is the matter? Anything going wrong?"
"Nothing wrong," replied Captain Ganoe, "but something strange. Do
you see that herculean sailor rushing around down there and evidently
making himself useful in caring for his comrades?"
"Well, what of that?" asked MacNair.
"Only this," said the Captain, "a few hours ago he was confined to
his bed with a severe attack of rheumatism and now he seems the
personification of health and vigor. Can you explain the change in his
case while the others are still helpless?"
"Perhaps his rheumatic attack had actually run its course, but still
remained to trouble him as the result of the impression that had been
made upon his mind. If that is the case, then he only needed a mental
suggestion, to remove the rheumatic impression which had fastened
itself upon him."
"That is a queer view to take of the matter," said the Captain, "yet
there may be something in it. But why are the others still helpless?
Why would not mental suggestion have the same effect on them?"
"I do not understand the particulars in regard to their condition,
and hence, am not qualified to offer an opinion. It may be that the
disease in them had worked some organic change that was not so easy to
overcome, or, it may be that the suggestion that removed the pain put
them to sleep. I see they are apparently sleeping soundly."
"I hope their sleep may be a favorable indication," said the Captain.
"I do not," he continued, "understand this strange disease which seems
to single out the most robust and powerful. Can you explain it to me?"
"The atmosphere of this inner world," interposed Iola, "is highly
stimulating, and it requires much active exercise to provide an outlet
for the surplus energy that is generated. You were becalmed. Your
sailors had nothing to do but to rest when they were not tired. The
energy was created and it must be expended. Mental activity would have
accomplished this, and their health would have been improved. But
failing in this, it took the form of fever and acute pains. The best,
in fact, the only efficient safeguard from disease, situated as you
were, is to be found in mental activity."
"You certainly do not mean to say that mentally active people are not
liable to get sick in this inner world?" remarked the Captain.
"Nothing of the kind," said Iola. "But I will say this, that all other
conditions being equal, mentally active people are not in as much
danger, provided they think healthy thoughts. If they think disease
and fear the worst, they will be even more liable than others to get
just what they think. But if the active mind is trained to exercise
its power to preserve the health of the body, there is no danger from
disease."
"This is a strange doctrine," said the Captain, "and one that I am
anxious to know more about, but that must be learned further on, I
suppose, as MacNair says."
We had been rising slowly until we had now attained a great height and
MacNair interrupted the discussion of mental suggestion by saying:
"We have designedly ascended to a greater height than usual, so as
to be above the more humid atmosphere. This will give you a better
opportunity to make observations."
"But what observations can we make," I asked, "that could not be made
from the surface? When I became satisfied from seeing the sun shining
through the southern verge, that we had passed into an inner world,
I expected with the telescope, to be able to scan every part of the
surface, but I found that I was seemingly as far from being able to
do so, as when I was in the outer world. Can you explain to me why I
cannot turn my glass to the zenith and see the opposite side of the
concave?"
"There can be but one reason," said MacNair, with a merry twinkle in
his eyes. "The gaseous contents of the concave must be opaque to your
vision."
"Well, well," I said laughing, "I found that out without your
assistance, and I am not going to let you dodge the question by a play
on words. What I want to know is, why these gaseous contents at the
center, are opaque while the air at the surface is not?"
"Well I see," said MacNair, "that you are determined to compel me to
reveal how little I know. The scientists of the early ages evolved the
theory that the center of the concave is a gaseous globe composed of
the very lightest materials which they knew by actual experience to be
opaque to their vision."
"But why," I asked, "is it that this concave sphere does not shut off
the light from the sun?"
"Because," said MacNair, "this opaque sphere is above our line of
vision,--our position on the surface, being twelve degrees below
the verges. Besides this, the central opaque sphere is conceived to
be flattened at the poles and bulged at the equator, and some have
contended that it is also hollow like the earth. But for this opaque
sphere our nights would be as light as day by the reflection from the
hemisphere above."
"I have thought of that," I replied, "and still I have so much wished
that the opposite hemisphere could be seen with the telescope."
"Well, that is precisely what you will be able to do from this
airship," said MacNair.
"How so?" I asked. "We certainly cannot rise above the opaque sphere,
and if we could, and got a clear view of the opposite hemisphere, that
would not be seeing from one side of the concave to the other."
"Not that surely," said MacNair, "but scientists knowing that magnetic
currents often pass more readily through opaque than transparent
substances, began to search for rays of this kind that would pass
through dark bodies and be reflected by substances beyond. At last
they succeeded in securing a photograph through wood and metal, and
then, all that was required in order to enable us to see through opaque
matter, was an optical instrument that would cast the reflection on the
retina of the eye. This, in the course of time, was accomplished. And
now, these wonderful discoveries are used by the medical profession,
in order to enable them to look into the bodies of their patients
and examine the internal organs. And, these electro-magnetic optical
instruments have been so improved that they are in general use, in
observations where opaque bodies obstruct the view."
"And do you tell me this as sober truth?" I asked.
"Certainly," responded MacNair, "I propose to give you a practical
demonstration. You discovered that the space between us and the zenith
was opaque to your vision. Now, take these glasses and adjust them to
your eyes and look through those semi-transparent sections, which are
like a lace-work of tubes. The penetrating power of these glasses, you
see, can be increased or decreased by moving this slide. They enable
you to use the magnetic rays which pass through all substances for the
purpose of vision."
We followed his directions and the first glance gave us an ocular
demonstration that the surface was concave. "Now," continued MacNair,
"in order to get the best idea of the leading geographical outlines of
this inner world, I want you to examine with your glasses a zone from
the horizon in front of us, through the zenith to the horizon behind
us. We are now moving on an airline for your future home in Altruria.
Our course is a little south of west and the distance about one
thousand miles. We are now very near the center of the Oscan ocean.
East of us is the continent of Atlan. So, a zone, extending through
the zenith along the line on which we are moving will pass through the
equatorial belt, and give you a clear concept of the great centers of
population and material improvement. This is the most important part
of the world for you to study for the present, and until you learn the
language and mingle with the people, you must depend upon your eyes as
the chief source of information."
We were now moving at great speed and the sensations were most
exhilarating. Looking out over the bow we beheld the horizon of water
and raising our glasses as we had been directed, at an elevation of
about twenty degrees, the coast line of a continent came into view. And
still elevating our glasses, we rapidly passed in review a wonderful
panorama of flowing rivers, cultivated fields, tangled wildwood,
and lofty mountain chains until at an elevation of about forty-five
degrees, we beheld the western coast line of the Altrurian continent.
At the zenith, we saw the Umbrian ocean, and further down, and directly
opposite to Altruria, the continent of Atlan, suspended, as it were, in
the eastern sky like a map. Looking toward the north, and some ten or
twelve degrees above the horizon, was the barren island on which we had
landed.
We were so engrossed with our observations in a world where we could
take a bird's eye view of any part of it, that we did not care
to continue the conversation in which we had become so intensely
interested. The continent which we were approaching, looked through our
glasses like a vast concave picture of a most lovely country suspended
above the horizon, and covering almost the entire western sky. But when
we looked through our ordinary glasses, the general appearance was not
materially different from what it would have been in the outer world.
I could but wonder at this marvelous discovery, which had enabled the
inventor to construct instruments that converted opaque rays into rays
of light, and I could not help thinking, what a restraint the general
use of such wonderful optical instruments would be upon evil doers.
Nothing could be hidden from those who cared to investigate.
While my thoughts wandered into other channels, my gaze was riveted
upon the wonderful panorama presented to our view. I noted that the
divisions between land and water were strikingly similar to the
physical geography of the outer world, except in this, that the land
surface of the inner world on the line of the equator seemed to
correspond very closely with the water surface of the outer world,
though on a much smaller scale. The clear weather prevailing in
the western hemisphere gave us a splendid view of the continent of
Altruria. In a few localities dense masses of clouds obscured, but did
not entirely shut out the view; and on the whole we got a clear concept
of the topography of the country.
A lofty mountain chain extended from the north to the south, and many
long rivers flowed from the mountains into the ocean on either side.
Large areas of the surface seemed to be highly cultivated, and even
in the mountains, palatial buildings were brought into view by the
higher powers of our telescopes. Boats plowed along the rivers and on
the lakes, and the entire country seemed to be a network of railroads,
while airships appeared like specks in the field of our vision,
flitting here and there and speeding in every direction.
But the most singular feature which attracted our attention, was, that
notwithstanding all the evidences of a highly cultivated country and
the most active traffic and trade between the different sections, we
nowhere discovered any indications of great cities; and while what
appeared to be extensive manufacturing establishments existed in
numerous localities, and the harbors along the shore lines were filled
with shipping, nowhere did we see vast clouds of smoke such as vitiate
the atmosphere in the large cities and manufacturing districts of the
outer world.
We were so taken up with what we could see, that we had no inclination
to withdraw our attention from this wonderful panorama, to ask for many
explanations of minor details. We now had a view of an entire continent
and were disposed to make the most of the opportunity. It was doubtless
highly civilized, and had its libraries filled with historical,
scientific, sociological and ethical works that would, in time, reveal
to us all that was worth knowing. As MacNair had said, we must use our
eyes as our chief source of information, until we had acquired the
language and familiarized ourselves with the daily life and usages of
the people.
We were now nearing the continent and MacNair reduced our speed so as
to give us time to make our observations more in detail. The general
direction of the coast was north and south for some hundreds of miles.
Along the mainland, capes and promontories were numerous, while running
parallel therewith was a chain of islands, forming a continuous series
of bays which in the outer world would have been of inestimable value
as harbors.
One long island, lying parallel with the coast immediately before us,
particularly attracted our attention. It seemed to be some twenty-five
or thirty miles in length, and lay like an elevated ridge, between
two promontories which extended out from the mainland at either
extremity, from which it was separated by narrow channels. This formed
a magnificent bay which contained a number of smaller islands that
divided the bay into a series of land-locked harbors.
The Cocytas river, to which our attention had been called, flowing
from the mountains in the northwest, entered this bay at its northern
extremity, through two outlets about five miles apart. Between these
outlets was a triangular island about fifteen miles in length. The
north bank of the northern outlet was a promontory which extended
out from the mainland, to within a few hundred feet of the northern
extremity of the island which separated the waters of the bay from the
ocean.
As we neared the coast, what had seemed to be a huge smokestack on the
point of the promontory that constituted the southern shore-line of
the bay, was revealed to our vision as a colossal tower, that in its
general appearance, was an exact duplicate of the strange tower we had
passed at the northern verge, at the point where we had escaped from
the ice. The material used, the style of architecture, and everything
about it indicated that it was erected by the same people and for the
same purpose.
We had now been speeding forward in a straight line for five hours.
We had covered fully 1,000 miles, and MacNair assured us that we had
been traveling slowly, in order to give us an opportunity to study the
topography of the country, as a whole, from an advantageous position,
at an average height of about four miles, though at times we had
ascended to higher altitudes, as Iola suggested, to so train our lungs
to an attenuated atmosphere, that we would experience less discomfort
from the lofty aerial flights we were destined to make.
MacNair now called our especial attention to the region of country we
were approaching. It was an agricultural district, and, evidently,
in a high state of cultivation. It looked like a vast prairie farm,
regularly laid out, in the shape of a parallelogram, extending from
east to west about thirty miles, and from south to north about fifteen
miles. Magnificent buildings appeared at regular intervals, surrounded
by beautiful grounds, and connected by broad boulevards, reaching
from one end to the other, and crossed by elevated roads at regular
intervals. On these magnificent highways, splendid carriages were
rolling, but no horses were in sight. Electric cars were continuously
moving both ways between these houses, the north and south lines being
elevated.
Airships of all sizes and designs, seemed to be ubiquitous, and were
moving in every direction. Children amused themselves on the shaded
lawns that bordered the boulevards, and in the flower gardens of the
highly ornamented grounds around the palatial buildings which appeared
in every direction. While this district seemed to be distinctively
agricultural, much of the surface was given up to parks, shaded
driveways, miniature rivers, artificial lakes, fountains, ornamental
gardens and orchards.
The lands devoted to cultivation, were laid off into rectilinear fields
running the entire length of the district, thus securing a saving of
labor that could not have been accomplished in any other manner. From
one end to the other of these long fields, monster machines were
moving, operated by electricity, and completing their work as they
went. One machine to which MacNair directed our especial attention, was
a combined breaking plow, seeder and roller. It was moving at a rapid
rate, and leaving behind it a strip, fifty feet in width, thoroughly
pulverized, seeded and rolled. The operator occupied a comfortably
furnished cab, and directed the progress of the machine by what we were
told was a delicately arranged electric keyboard on a table before him.
Everywhere within the range of our vision was presented a scene of
industrial activity, and yet comparatively few appeared to be engaged
in actual labor. The major portion of the population seemed to be
out enjoying a holiday. So impressed was Captain Ganoe with this
appearance, that he asked if it was some special festival occasion.
"Not at all," said MacNair. "This scene of recreation and enjoyment is
of every day occurrence. The people of this inner world have learned
that it takes very little physical labor to provide an abundance of
every article of necessity, comfort and luxury for the whole people.
They have discovered how to control the great forces of nature and the
machine has taken the place of human muscle."
"But," said the Captain, "does not that throw the great masses of the
people out of employment, and place them at the mercy of the people who
own the machines and the land?"
"It certainly does," answered MacNair. "It deprives all persons of
toilsome drudgery, and places them absolutely at the mercy of the
people who own the machines and the land. But this is just what they
want, because these same people who are deprived of employment, own
both the land and the machinery of production and distribution. Hence,
they are enabled to enjoy a perpetual holiday. The amount of work to
be done, is a much coveted task, as it provides necessary exercise,
and from the fact that it is useful and contributes to the commonweal,
it is ennobling. The people of this country are too wise to permit the
private ownership of land and the means of production, and thus deprive
themselves of the abundance, that can be provided for all by the
intelligent application of human labor to those natural resources which
exceed in productiveness all the demand that can be made upon them.
"But here we are," continued MacNair, "over the land, and now we will
loiter along, so you can study the immediate neighborhood in which you
will have your home until you want to make a change. These magnificent
buildings are communal homes, and this is a communal agricultural
district. I am engaged here as a teacher of English, and it has been
thought best to bring you here, because quite a number of people are
learning to speak our language. It will therefore be more agreeable to
you until you have learned to speak the language of Altruria, which has
long been universal throughout the inner world. But this will not take
you long, and then your services will be in demand as a teacher. The
people are anxious to learn all that can be discovered concerning the
outer world."
This country is divided into numerous districts which are numbered
from north to south. This is District No. 1, Range No. 1, west. This
range line corresponds with longitude 180°. These longitudinal lines
are numbered east and west just as they are in the outer world, but as
the circle is smaller, the distance between the lines is proportionally
less.
"The tower which you were examining so closely as we came to land, is
the point from which longitude is calculated. It stands on the equator,
and the north and south verges are said to have been marked on the same
longitude by similar towers, in ancient times, before communication
between the inner and outer worlds was closed by the great ice age,
and floods which are said to have submerged all the lower lands. Some
regard these traditions as mythical, but many of the ablest scholars
accept them as the fragments of authentic history which were saved from
some great cataclysm."
"Then," said Captain Ganoe, "it will doubtless be interesting to
these people to learn, that our log book confirms the truth of these
traditions. At the point where we escaped from the ice was a stupendous
tower situated on a point of land, and it was in latitude 85° north,
longitude 180° west. So from this it seems that we are now situated
directly under the Pacific Ocean."
"This indeed will be welcome news to the people of the inner world,"
said MacNair. "Numerous expeditions have been sent to discover these
towers, but thus far, they have either perished, or have been driven
back by the cold and storms of the icy verges. Our ancient histories
record, that, from the top of these towers, the philosophers made note
of some wonderful appearances in the heavens which threatened the race
with destruction. Oqua, who is at the head of our district schools will
indeed be glad to converse with you on this subject. She has been an
enthusiastic patron of polar expeditions, believing that the discovery
of these towers would confirm much in the history of the world that has
been regarded as mythical. It was the first of these expeditions to use
the airship, that rescued me. The only important discovery made was
that while the airships are all the most enthusiastic expected in these
medial latitudes where storms are unknown, they are not equal to the
task of penetrating the icy verges."