The Sun’s Satellite Island was most glorious to behold, being bathed in
dancing sunbeams which twirled in and around everything and threw a veil
of splendor over all. This was called the Isle of Gold, as it looked
like one gigantic ball of that precious metal when seen from afar. Gold
mines abounded, formed as it seemed of petrified sunbeams. The flowers
and leaves of plants and trees opened and shut at the rising and setting
of the Sun as do the lotus and marigold. The birds too, sang at sunrise
to herald the coming of the messenger of day. A great many large animals
were seen here, such as the lion, wolf, bear, bull, and ox. The people
were broad-minded, whole-souled, and cheerful, their one aim in life
being to make others happy.
From the Sun Island they went to the island under the Moon, an island
locked in the grip of perpetual slumber. What a contrast they found! It
was like going from life to death. It had been struck by a blighting
blast and everything had been turned to stone; even the trees, birds,
and beasts were petrified, although they had retained their natural
colors. No one lived here and the only persons seen were visitors from
other islands, and these were generally of a melancholy, despondent turn
of mind, and they moved about like ghosts, in shroud-like white robes.
After our travelers had visited all of the planets’ Satellite Islands,
Ione said:
“Why! I never thought of it before, but if all of the planets have
satellite or tributary islands the Earth must, also.”
“You are right,” said Mercury. “Earth has its Satellite Islands but
instead of one it has many, and they revolve around the Earth from east
to west. Opposite each zone out in space revolves an island
corresponding in temperature and in vegetation to the zone it represents
and all of these are connected with the earth by rainbow bridges which
appear and disappear as there are souls that wish to pass over to any of
them.
“The passport to these islands is a pure heart full of love and sympathy
for everything that lives and breathes. None other can pass over the
frail rainbow bridges to these islands which are called the ‘Isles of
the Blest.’ Many people have seen these rainbow bridges when they have
been spanned for the passage of a soul to one of the islands but they
have not known that instead of the pot of gold, which children have been
told was to be found at the other end, there was one of the most
beautiful, peaceful, quiet islands that ever floated in space. On the
one opposite the Temperate Zone spirits live that prefer that
temperature, while those who prefer cold weather go to the island
opposite the Frigid Zone, and so on, for there is a climate suited to
every taste, and because of this every one is happy and contented, being
in a congenial atmosphere which is conducive to joy and contentment.
“No growling over the weather such as is heard on Earth, is ever
indulged in here. Spirits always live with those who are congenial and
have tastes similar to their own, so no quarreling is ever heard,
neither are divorces ever necessary.
“The most desirable place of all is that island opposite and tributary
to the Temperate Zone, for here everything is temperate like the
climate, neither too hot nor yet too cold. The inhabitants are high
spirited, joyous, and happy, being employed from morning till night in
making others happy.
“Deceit, lying, stealing, and anger are all unknown here, so you see, it
is very appropriately named The Isle of the Blessed,” concluded Mercury.
By this time they had reached Do-As-You-Please Land.
“What queer-looking people and houses they have here!” said Ione. “No
two persons are dressed alike nor are there two houses the same size or
color. There is a queer-looking house over there and no two sides are
painted the same color.”
“Oh! goodness! look at that funny hat that woman is wearing. It is like
a small parasol with the stick cut off and when she enters a building
she pulls a string and it shuts up,” said the Princess.
“Yes,” answered Ione, “but look at that woman with the laced-in waist,
high-heeled slippers and huge bustle and panniers. She is talking to
that tall, slim woman with flat chest and clothes made almost skin
tight. Why do the inhabitants of this land dress so differently?” asked
Ione.
“Because this is the Land of Do-As-You-Please and every one dresses
according to his or her particular idea of comfort or beauty. Come and I
will show you some of the queerest homes you ever looked at.”
They were loth to leave the queer-looking, peculiar people even to see
their more peculiar houses, but finally started to walk down the
principal residence street. They saw children dressed in the funniest
clothes that mortal mind ever thought of or designed. Some had rubber
suits so that if it rained or they fell in the water they would not get
wet. Others were dressed in silk, satin and laces or Little Lord
Fauntleroy styles. Still others were bare-footed with only a calico slip
for a dress. Some of the mothers had their hair done up high on the head
or in a mass of curls and puffs, others wore it parted in the middle and
brushed so smoothly that a fly alighting upon it would slip and break
its neck. But the houses! How queer and quaint they were built after
original designs of the owners. One, for instance, a yellow frame with
white trimmings had one large long room on the ground floor with a high
square tower on one corner, four stories high, with steps from the
outside. This we called the Light-House.
“Well, of all homely houses this is the homeliest!” said Harold. “I
wonder what they do in rainy weather with the steps on the outside!”
The man who lived next door evidently believed the only way to build a
house was to have all the rooms on the ground floor so as to do away
with climbing stairs.
The next man had few windows and small ones at that, seeming to like a
cool, dark house; while his next door neighbor delighted in light and
windows and had so many that his house was called the glass house; and
so on, and so on. One liked one thing, another liked its opposite and
each built as he pleased.
The grounds surrounding these houses were quite as characteristic of
different tastes as the houses. Some yards were laid out in set
flower-beds, others with the flowers running wild and untrained while
still others had not a flower or shrub to break the even roll of the
grass-sown lawn.
Some of the people had their meals served three times a day, some four
times, and some only twice. Some went to bed with the chickens and got
up with the Sun while others went to bed at Sunrise, after a night of
merry-making or dancing. Some believed in study, others in passing the
time as best one can only looking out for the fun of the moment; while
still others thought only of the future; and, as there are no Mrs.
Grundys, each one did as he pleased and no unpleasant or unkind remarks
were made.
All the inhabitants attend strictly to their own business and let others
do the same.
“After all, then, these queer people living in their quaint houses have
one custom which it would be well for our Earth people to emulate,” said
the Prince, in which all the rest of the party laughingly acquiesced.