Neptune was so far away that it required repeated wishing to get there.
Think of it! It is 2,791,000,000 miles from the Sun, a distance one
cannot realize or grasp from cold figures. It has to be compared to
something on Earth for one to form any definite idea of its immensity.
“Now, one, two, three,” said Mercury. “Let us make a last wish and it
will surely land us on Neptune’s Satellite Island.”
They complied and in the twinkling of an eye found themselves standing
on a high arched bridge facing, well! how can I describe it? A
magnificent white temple-like edifice all domes, porticoes, and windows
of rainbow hues. It stood in the center of a small island connected with
the mainland by twelve bridges similar to the one on which they were
standing. Each bridge faced an imposing column-porticoed entrance, with
broad sweeping steps leading to it, on either side of which were
symbolical figures that represented the different signs of the Zodiac.
The entire temple was built in such a style as to form an eight-pointed
star, in the center of which was a circle. The audience hall was a
stupendous circular room with twelve doors leading from it. Overhead in
the lofty dome, which was of sapphire to represent the blue of the sky,
were sprinkled diamond stars and differently colored jewels representing
each planet in its characteristic color. Looking closely, one could see
that this dome was divided into twelve sections by gold bands and in its
center was one enormous diamond representing the Sun, while each
division or section was marked by a sign of the Zodiac, and the colored
jewels that represented the planets were placed in the sign of the
Zodiac in which they were located at the time of the birth of Christ,
while the whole circle was called “The Circle of Life.”
Directly underneath this dome was another Zodiacal Circle set in the
floor where the planets moved by clock work and were always to be found
just where the real planets in the heavens are each day in the year.
This temple was one dedicated to the twin sciences Astronomy and
Astrology. The people who live on Neptune call Astronomy the backbone
and Astrology the soul of the science of the stars.
“Here is where one can have his horoscope or life-wheel calculated, and
can learn what his talents, abilities, and future prospects are,” said
Mercury.
“Let us go and have our future predicted,” said Ione.
As they stood on the bridge talking and looking about them, beautiful
gondolas had been gliding along on the placid waters beneath. Each
gondola had elaborately carved jewel-set figures, representing sea
horses, mermaids or Undines for its bow, and carried a minstrel or
musician, and its passengers leaned on silken cushions apparently
oblivious to surroundings while listening to the soft, plaintive tones
that fell from harp, flute or mandolin. The musical plash of the single
paddle which guided the pleasure-boats furnished a harmonious
accompaniment. This was truly a silent city where carriage wheels were
never heard or the clatter of horse’s hoofs, for there were no streets,
only canals and lagoons.
“Suppose we cross this bridge and enter the temple,” said Mercury. “I
have a pass that will admit us to all buildings on the Satellite
Islands.”
“That will be agreeable to us,” answered Harold.
So they wished themselves dressed in simple white robes and then walked
slowly over the bridge and followed the path that led to the Temple of
Astrology. As they approached, they saw a stately old man about to
descend the steps. He had a snowy beard and flowing, white hair. A
mantle of purple velvet was thrown across his shoulders and on its hem
were embroidered the signs of the Zodiac in threads of gold. On his
breast flashed a diamond star, while on the third finger of his left
hand he wore a priceless seal ring set with his birth-stone.
Mercury recognized him at once as one of the twelve wise men who
presided over the Wheel of Life set in the Temple floor, also one of the
“Brotherhood of Twelve,” a secret order legally licensed to calculate
horoscopes and read the lives of people.
Mercury introduced our party and told the Brother that the ladies would
like to have their life-wheels read. He courteously consented and
offered also to show them the marvelous telescope, with lens so powerful
that the star farthest away in space could be brought into plain view.
“Now, if you will come with me I will tell you a curious thing about
this temple, for though you may wonder why, you will soon realize that
you are drawn in a certain direction as if by invisible hands. For
instance, as you walk around the circular hall, when you arrive at the
door leading to that sign of the Zodiac under which you were born, you
will feel an irresistible desire to enter and stand on that sign in the
Zodiacal wheel set in the floor. Like, they say, attracts like.”
“But I do not know which sign I was born under,” said Ione.
“It does not matter in the least whether you know or not,” replied the
Brother. “You will instinctively enter the door and be most strongly
attracted to the especial sign which appeared at the eastern horizon at
the hour of your birth.”
“What fun!” said Ione. “Let us walk around and test it.”
“How very interesting,” said the Princess. “We can walk slowly and
completely around the circle taking a good look at each entrance, then
on the second round we can enter the door that seems most attractive.”
“And when you find that out,” continued the Brother, “as you stand on
the sign in the wheel, I will tell you something of your disposition,
nature, and inclinations. Another thing I will mention is that a special
color is also assigned to each sign, also a jewel which is called one’s
birth gem, and which it is fortunate for one to wear. We planet people
wear ours on our third finger.”
“Why on the third finger?” queried Harold.
“Because three is a sacred number and is symbolical of many things.
Another fact about these signs is that each represents one of the four
elements, fire, earth, air, or water. Look at the wheel in the dome and
you will see that each of its divisions is colored according to the
element it represents, red for fire, brown for earth, blue for water,
and white for air. There are three red, three brown, three white, and
three blue sections.
“When the early astrologers were consulted by two people with regard to
marriage, and found that one was born under a sign representing fire,
while the other was born under one representing water, they would advise
them not to marry, for one would be warm-hearted, impulsive, and
impetuous while the other would be slow and easy-going, so that, not
being congenial, they would not be happy together. Fire is quenched by
water, while water is disturbed and made to steam or boil by fire.”
“How very interesting this study of the stars must be,” said Harold.
“I mean to pursue it,” said the Prince.
“If you think simply the signs are interesting to hear about, you would
find the position of the planets in the different signs perfectly
fascinating, but the stars are a life-long study and the longer one
studies them the more absorbed one becomes. Shall we begin our circuit
around the hall now? I am always interested to know through what door
one is inclined to enter.”
As they leisurely sauntered along they plied the Brother with numberless
questions and when any of their number would stop unusually long before
any door, the others would immediately ask, “Do you think that leads to
your sign?” or “Do you truly feel inclined to enter that door?” and so
between questions and much laughter they finished their first round.