Our
Coming World
_by_
A.C. MICHAUD
THE WORLD PUBLICATION PRESS
P.O. BOX 2077 · PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.
Copyright 1951
By A.C. Michaud
Printed in the United States of America
_Preface_
"_Astronomers say the earth is constantly swelling and contracting.
They call this 'breathing.' Those aren't breaths--those are sighs._"[1]
The great mental suffering which the Nazis created in me with their
murder factories, their atrocious robbing and sadistic killing of
defenseless innocents, and their unprecedented merciless wars against
guiltless nations, spontaneously prompted me to write this book.
I am not writing it for personal gain, neither have I an ax to grind.
It is a message to humanity, purely a labor of love, hoping to finish
and have it ready before I die.
Since the beginning of the last half century, I was a part of our
economic system as a small financial speculator, investor, business
man, executive, and employer. Experienced success, failure, profits,
and losses, have traveled a great deal and always have been a keen
observer and reader.
I am not trying to set myself up as an authority on world subjects
and affairs, but I feel qualified by my experiences to help humanity.
Have no personal prejudice, nor feel inimical to the present way of
life, and economic and political powers of our country. My aim is to
show mankind, in my own way, and with humility, its defective economic
system of living.
Mankind has been looking forward for the millennium, when there will
be peace, and security on earth. For a long time I have with undue
anxiety been deeply reflecting to find out and analyze the fundamental
principle contributing to our world turmoil. Have arrived at the cause,
and maybe at the solution, in my following treatise.
Am not superstitious nor ultrareligious, but most of my inspiration
in the writing of this book came from impulses given to me by some
power other than my own. I seem to have been impelled by a supernatural
intervention.
Many another author before me has tried to show humanity the error of
its ways. But even that does not deter me from trying to make clear to
mankind my conception of how unjust has been our way of living.
Mankind as a whole would be humane if it were not for the false system
that our ancestors have created and planted in our world.
Man with his intelligence has two personalities. He is by nature on one
side humane, helpful, unselfish and self sacrificing, interested in the
welfare of his kind. On the other side, because of our economic system,
he has become in many ways a selfish, cruel, and a predatory animal.
I am going to picture as clearly as possible existing faults of our way
of living and am suggesting an imaginary remedy. I am fully convinced
that it is not only a workable plan, but it is the only solution and
antidote we have.
My objective is to help bring about, by my humble efforts, a gradual
evolution, believing it possible to work toward a sane and balanced
economic life without creating social unrest or strife.
* * * * *
My most sincere gratitude to Mrs. Dorothy Alger of Reno, Nevada, in
the scrupulous, good workmanlike manner she typed and retyped my
manuscript.
CHAPTER I
_Our Coming World_
On my daily afternoon strolls on West Riverside Drive Parkway, between
85th and 87th Streets in New York, I noticed a young man about thirty
years old sitting alone, always on the same bench, for long periods
looking up into the sky or fumbling in his brief case and reading
his diary and papers. Most of the time he seemed to me to be in a
disconsolate mood.
I sat down beside him, but his manner did not encourage conversation.
Every day afterward I sat down on the bench near him and finally, with
a great deal of tact, I began to talk to him. He gradually seemed to
gain confidence in me. After a couple of weeks of daily meetings I felt
by his actions that he was looking forward to my presence each day.
One day, seeming to feel somewhat communicative he apologized for his
former rudeness and said, "My name is Fred Balmore. I'm reticent but
it isn't because I don't like to talk to strangers. On the contrary,
I would only be too glad to tell anyone my story who would help and
believe me. My parents, my lifelong friends, the National Geographic
Society, everyone hearing or reading my story seem to think I am
insane. But somehow, I feel you'll understand.
"My parents had me examined by alienists and I was confined for a short
time in an insane asylum in an effort to cure my--," the young man
hesitated for a moment, "what they called my delusions. I am sure if I
tell you my story, you'll have a hard time believing me too.
"I have inherited a large amount of money. The executors of my
grandfather's estate stopped my allowance because they think I'm not
mentally responsible. I am anxious to purchase an aeroplane, but my
pilot's license has been revoked. I went to a government airfield and,
without permission, jumped into one of the bombers standing idle;
before I had a chance to take it off the ground, I was caught, forcibly
removed, and sent to an insane asylum."
I asked him why he had been so rash and he answered, "When you hear my
story, you will understand my purpose.
"By the way, my superior in the air corps also has the idea I am
insane. He believes we cracked up somewhere and that I in some manner
was saved, and so reported it to the War Department, who officially
notified families of my crew members of their death."
His intelligent conversation and calm demeanor convinced me of his
sanity. He was obviously anxious to explain and justify his actions to
me. As a writer I was naturally interested. I encouraged him to tell
his strange story which follows.
"Before entering the army I had just graduated from a well-known
eastern college, with a degree in journalism. I became very adept in
taking down notes and lectures in shorthand. This was to be a great
help to me afterward.
"I am a Lieutenant in the air force, and was the pilot of one of our
latest and largest B-29 bombers--never mind its number. The government
might not want me to tell my story but my conscience is clear. I feel
free to tell you what happened to me, as there are no military secrets
involved. You say you are an author. I am sure you will be very much
interested and perhaps you will write and publish my story."
Taking from his brief case a bulky typewritten diary he gave it to
me to read. That evening I settled into a comfortable chair with no
inkling of what this diary would mean to me. This is what I read:
On a day known to only a few, I was ordered to prepare my ship for
flight early the following morning. Ten educated boys of excellent
background had been chosen for my crew. Each was able to speak another
language beside English. Their families had come from various European
countries. I, with my crew, was to take this ship, fly it over the
Pacific, deliver it to the command on one of our airfields in Japan and
wait there for further instructions. I was given a supply of silver
dollars and five dollar gold pieces to use, if by accident we should
land in Asia among the Asiatic tribes.
Early on the appointed day, fully equipped with oxygen tanks, breathing
pressure suits and ammunition, with our guns ready for action and our
instruments, including the secret mechanism in our radio transmitter in
good order, we took off. We flew fast, upward to the highest possible
altitude of the stratosphere, to make a speedy passage across.
After flying rapidly and smoothly for some time, when we were at about
the middle of the Pacific, we suddenly felt our ship was being pulled
higher and higher from the earth into and above the atmosphere. Our
altimeter without reason was fast rising. We could not understand why
such a phenomenon.
Looking up, we perceived an immensely large plane of a very strange
design, nearly twenty times larger than our own. Hovering in the
distance right over us, it covered us like a large, dark cloud.
Too far away to get any help, and thinking that this was a new kind
of enemy plane, we, according to orders, destroyed certain secret
mechanisms including our high frequency radio transmitter. Then, we
used all the force of our powerful motors in an attempt at a nose dive.
But even with the strong gravitational pull of the earth, we could not
shake ourselves loose from the upward attraction. I ordered our guns
manned to shoot it out. But a loud voice called out to us to desist,
that this was not an enemy plane. At the same time, all our motors and
instruments stopped, and we ourselves became as if paralyzed.
We were fully conscious. We could hear, talk, think, see. We could
feel our ship was gradually being pulled up to this plane, and finally
absorbed into her through a large opening in her belly. Our plane was
anchored within. Then a voice, calling me by rank and name in perfect
English, told me that our captors were going to free our bodies from
the paralyzing rays and that we would suffer no aftereffects. We
immediately regained our power of motion. The same voice ordered us
to come out of our plane as it was going to be cleansed and thoroughly
disinfected. We were to disrobe entirely and enter into their body
cleansing room. We had no alternative but to follow the voice's
instructions. We put our clothes into what seemed to be disinfecting
closets, and went into a steam room where we were sprayed with a
disinfecting shower. After a thorough bath and cleansing each one of
us was given by an attendant a full set of under- and over-garments
of styles comparable to the ancient Roman or Greek; two pieces of
underwear, a soft silky, loose fitting sleeveless undershirt, and
above knee length drawers; clinging socks of the same material up to
the middle of calf; shoes, leather laced Roman style up to middle of
calf. One loose over-garment, similar to a very soft linen material,
like a Roman tunica, open at the neck, girded at the waist, reaching to
the knees, with above elbow sleeves. Another over-garment was similar
to the Roman dalmatica; it was a soft rayon fabric, open at the neck,
reaching to just below the knees, with wide elbow sleeves; ornamented
with one inch purple or lavender bands around its neck, sleeves and
bottom edges; with a belt at the waist.
All garments and shoes were fastened with detachable buttons. The
attendant told us they were heat and fresh air dispenser atomic
batteries. They supplied the exact required degree of necessary body
air conditioning in all kinds of weather. The fibrous materials of
these garments were not only fresh air and heat radiation conductors,
but were also fire-proof.
Our attendant also gave us a one inch lavender ribbon for our heads.
He showed us how to wear it, as he did, tied with a small knot at the
back. Some of the boys were smiling a little; I think the attendant
sensed their amusement. "You look quite handsome now," he joked.
He told us all clothing was worn only once. The same applied to
household linens. Clothing and linens were worn, then sent back to the
factory to be crushed into pulp and made over again. "We don't consider
laundries sanitary," he said.
Over-garments like the stolla, tunica and the dalmatica were worn for
one week, or less; when soiled, they were also fabricated over again.
But all garments, new or worn, were sun rayed and disinfected every
day before being worn. Our own clothes, which by this time were also
disinfected and sun-ray sterilized, were stored away, excepting my log
book papers, diary books and shorthand notebooks. Our clothes were to
be given to us when we returned to earth. We were relieved at the time
to learn our stay was to be only temporary.
After dressing, he again assured us that our captors were friendly and
that we must not be afraid; they had a motive for their actions which
they would fully explain to our satisfaction. Later we consulted among
ourselves and decided that since we were entirely at the mercy of these
strange men, we had no choice but to obey.
He then guided us into an antechamber where he told us to leave our
firearms, parachutes, breathing suits, and other accoutrements. Then
mentioned us to follow him. He assured us our property would be held
safely and returned to us. The attendant puzzled me by anticipating
my wish in suggesting that I take out my pencil and notebook from the
disinfector and take them along so that I could take down notes on what
took place. Then, with great ceremony, he ushered us into a large,
high ceilinged, beautifully decorated sunlit room, where about fifty
men were seated, all dressed in Roman style. They wore their hair cut
short, with a mass of short, wavy curls around the ears, bound around
with a one inch lavender ribbon. They were all clean shaven, with hair
parted on the right or left side. Facing us at the far end of the room,
standing near a large desk, was their leader, who wore a distinctive
over-garment called the toga; a loose, long, sleeveless wrapper,
gracefully thrown over the left shoulder and arm, girdled around the
waist, decorated at the edges with a filet of gold. He also wore a one
inch wide gold filet ribbon around his head. With great courtesy he
bowed low to us and greeted each of us by our full name.
"We welcome you to our ship," he began, "even though you may be
unwilling guests at this moment. But after you have heard our reasons
for capturing you, and see what we want to show you, you will only be
too glad that we took these means to get you here.
"We are Martians from the planet Mars, which is today about fifty-eight
million miles away from your earth. Since this is the day of the year
when our two worlds are the closest together, we planned to use it in
some way to contact you. We wanted to land on your globe and deliver
our message, but its invincible gravitational attraction is so powerful
that once we landed, we could not, under any circumstances, overcome
and detach ourselves from it. Therefore, we have brought you into our
orbit, and we shall now explain our reasons.
"On Mars we received all your radio waves. We heard all the languages
used on your earth. But try as we would, we were not able to send our
radio waves to your earth. There is a strange, strong interference.
Your earth has a protective shell of electrically charged gases, some
sixty miles thick, clinging to it. This shell seriously disturbs the
travels of our radio waves in your atmosphere. It prevented us from
making communications. That is one of the reasons we captured your
plane; we wished to analyze your radio transmitter and find the metal
or element which would help us pierce through.
"We knew about your orders to destroy your secret mechanisms and
transmitter; we would have deterred you, but you were too quick for us.
Even this action does not discourage us. We shall capture another plane
in the same way we have captured yours--or perhaps you will help us to
obtain a transmitter, after you understand our purpose. We aim to send
radio messages to your Earth people. After you gentlemen have seen the
way we live, you may help us by becoming friendly ambassadors to your
own people.
"We are now taking you to our planet to show you our way of life.
You may stay with us as long as you like--see everything, learn
everything." Then the speaker turned to me with a smile, "You were
perplexed when our attendant told you to take along your pencil and
notebook; he read your thoughts and anticipated your wish.
"I want to warn you, that we have a sixth sense, the faculty of
reading, receiving, and transmitting thought waves, even over long
distances. This faculty is very highly developed in us. You people of
the Earth also possess it, but in a limited subconscious and dormant
state; you may develop it in the future. We can read your thoughts,
and we ask that you please try your best to control them so as not to
offend us. We have long ago, through training, learned to control our
thoughts and minds, the guiding spirits of our actions.
"You will be surprised to learn how great our knowledge is of Earth
people. Each language is clear to us, because we read the thoughts
of your inhabitants. Our television cabinets are so perfect that we
can see everywhere on earth. We clearly hear all that is being said.
Through constant evolution, we have developed in ourselves an acute
mental receptive faculty of hypermnesis, extraordinary power of quick
mental absorption, and a sharp lasting memory. It is very easy for us
to learn any of your languages.
"We would certainly like to send you television pictures showing how we
live, but television receives the same interference as our radio waves.
You are surprised at the natural forces we command, no doubt. We'll try
to explain. As a pilot you have studied astronomy. You know that our
planet--
'Mars is the most interesting object in the heavens for your
scientists, because it is the one and only world where they appear to
have found direct evidence of life and because some astronomers have
held the opinion that it provides evidence for the existence on it of
intelligent beings.'[2]
'Our planet revolves in an orbit, that is outside the orbit of the
earth, its mean distance from the sun being a little more than one and
one-half times that of the earth.'[3]
'The distance of Mars from the sun varies by more than twenty-six
million miles. It requires a period of a little short of two years for
Mars to complete one revolution in its orbit.'[4]
'The diameter of Mars is about 4,215 miles, only a little more than
half that of the earth. Its weight is rather more than one-tenth of
the weight of the earth.'[5]
'The rotation period is about twenty-four hours, thirty-seven and
one-half minutes.'[6]
'Length of the Martian year is 687 days.'[7]
'Our seasons are nearly twice as long as yours.'
'They found that the vast extent of our continent was furrowed upon
every side by a network of numerous lines or fine stripes.'[8]
'That traversed the planet for long distances in regular lines and
extended for thousands of miles; the breadth of some may be as great
as one or two hundred miles; of others, not more than twenty miles.'[9]
'The channels intersected one another at all possible angles:[10]
and these channels were truly great furrows or depressions in the
surface of the Planet, destined for the passage of water.[11] Some
of these channels run straight and double paralleling others with
absolute geometrical precision, as if they were the work of rule or
compass.'[12]
'They found that many of the canals converged to dusky patches at
their junctions, the so-called oasis, and passed from one oasis to
another in an absolutely unswerving direction,[13] proving that
they have pumping systems, on a scale far surpassing any of the
works of man, and this in itself, presupposes an advanced type of
intelligence.'[14]
"This is a description of our planet; you will see for yourselves that
your astronomers were right in their surmise.
"Since you Earth people discovered radio, we receive your world space
echo waves within three minutes. Our thought reading and our remote
reading faculty control and our television are so powerful that we
can see and read from here, your books, newspapers and periodicals.
We know what is in your concrete and steel safes. We pierce through
your earth's surface within your deepest caves and mines. To our
consternation we see a terrible picture of Earth man's treatment of his
fellow human beings. Frequently his selfishness and ruthless brutality
lead to pestilence, famine and destruction. He seems to be heading
toward the extinction of the little civilization he has gained.
"Our women and children are not allowed to see some of your horrible
scenes. We are certainly very happy on our planet Mars; we are grateful
we do not have to struggle through the ordeals of the men on earth. We
feel it is not necessary for you to continue so.
"Since what is happening on your earth has become intolerable to us, we
have decided on action. We see only total annihilation for your good
people if the others are allowed to continue in their present behavior
patterns. You now are able to understand our objectives are not
aggressive but humanitarian. We would like to act as advisors to those
people of earth who are capable of change, feel the need of change but
are at a loss where to start.
"But, you must be hungry. We have an insulated room, adjoining this
one. Here no one can read your thoughts or hear your conversation. That
is where we hold our own secret conferences, there you may adjourn for
an hour for food, refreshment, and consultation among yourselves. When
you have finished, I will be waiting for you."
I had been taking down his comments. I knew then I was entering into a
new world.
We were led into an adjoining room of about 30′ by 60′, where a table
was placed and set for us. In front of each of our eleven chairs was
a place card with the name of each of us. An attendant served us all
kinds of tasty foods from heavy, solid gold and silver tureens and
platters. Food and service were of the best. When we had finished our
excellent meal, the attendant told us that he was leaving, and that we
could shut the door and safely converse among ourselves.
You can imagine our feelings. Our senses were overcome. It was
unbelievable.
Our conference was brief. Confident that for the time being we were the
friendly guest-prisoners of these strange people of another planet,
we decided to conduct ourselves as correctly as possible and to gain
information which might benefit our own people.
When we opened the door, the attendant, who was waiting for us, led us
back to the assembly room. All the men present rose from their chairs
and greeted us as we passed, with deep bows. We again stood in front
of their leader. He also bowed, and begged us to sit down, and said,
"I hope you gentlemen have confidence in us now, and believe in our
sincerity, and fully understand the purpose of our action."
Addressing himself to me, he continued, "I am aware that you wish to
ask me many questions. I know them as I read your thoughts; I shall
endeavor to anticipate a few of them.
"You are surprised that our airship which is traveling so fast, or
rather I should say falling or being attracted towards our planet Mars,
is going so smoothly that it seems as if we were motionless. As a
matter of fact, we are traveling at the rate of 20,000 miles per minute
in the ether of vacuum of space where all atmosphere is totally absent.
We are in a void without air pressure or friction. Our speed has no
effect on our motion nor does it cause damage to our ship. Flying time
from your atmosphere to ours is nearly forty-eight hours. We expect to
land on Mars tomorrow night.
"You are also wondering at our appearance. Because we have the
reputation among you of being warlike, you Earth people were led to
think that we were of abnormal physical size. You are surprised to find
us not very much unlike yourselves in looks and stature. What is your
opinion of our appearance?"
After carefully looking the men over and contrasting them with
ourselves, who were considered on Earth as good athletic and handsome
fellows, I answered him. "Frankly," I said, "Your men are as like us
as our high bred champion race horses in their prime are like the nags
that pull our junk wagons. The other difference between us seems to
be, the extramuscular development of your shoulders and arms plus an
apparently longer arm reach than we have."
I had to give them credit for their white clear skin, their regular
features, their vigor, and their erect posture. Their proud, but frank
and gentle appearance exuded powerful heavenly personality. There were
among them many men with deep sky-blue and grass-green skin, colored
men, who also were the same fine specimens of manhood.
Then their leader answered, "There is nothing superhuman or
supernatural about us. We as yet have not reached perfection. From what
we have observed of Earth men, I would say we are more healthy, virile,
better developed physically, also mentally. I mean no offense, our
intellectual force is much more advanced than Earth men. But you still
have a chance eventually to reach our development, if you will only
seize the opportunity."
"You will notice among us Martians something else which will surprise
you. Look us over. How old do you think he is?" the leader asked,
pointing to their youngest, an erect young man.
"Why," I replied, "I should say about 25 years old."
They all laughed.
"No," he said. "This one, who is our youngest, is now 100 Earth years
old. You will notice that none of us have any gray hair, wrinkles,
or false teeth; those few of us with false teeth acquired them by
accidentally breaking their own. None of us use eye glasses or hearing
aids. There are no bald-headed men on Mars. Our old people reach the
age of 150 Martian years or 300 Earth years.
"Our women, even those past middle age, retain their natural color
texture, youthful figures, velvety skin and texture of their soft,
youthful hair.
"Due to our planet's distance from the sun, our seasons and years are
double yours. Our minimum life span, according to natural phenomenon
is 200 Earth years. Because of our careful way of life, we have
extended it to 300 years. Since Earth is so near to the sun, your year
and seasons are half the length of ours; the hypothesis is that your
minimum life span should be at least 100 to 150 Earth years, providing
you lead a natural life, similar to ours.
"Your perverted actions and corrupt standards of living diminished
your life span to nearly half of what it should be. Your habits have
made your bodies fertile ground for diseases which deprive you of
vitality, consume your life, and, by transmission, attack your progeny.
Thus large numbers of you are destroyed within half, or less, of your
allotted period of life.
"Our long life has evolved from thousands of years of constant
improvement in our way of living. Some of the causes for our prolonged
youth and vigor are freedom from fear, no worry and no misery. Our
entire life is based on the principles of love, peace, and common
brotherhood. By periodic physical and dental examinations of everyone
and proper treatment afterwards, we are constantly preventing as well
as curing injuries and diseases. These examinations and treatments are
compulsory and take place weekly or more often, as the cases demand.
We are also encouraged to participate in healthy exercise daily.
Since we understand its importance, we have real enjoyment of our own
participating in games and other forms of exercise.
"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, before the invention of flying
machines, our ancestors felt that they should be able to train
themselves to fly like birds. They started intensive arm and shoulder
exercise to develop a very swift whole arm movement, similar to that of
birds. Since water swimming could easily be learned by special arm and
leg movements, there was no reason why they couldn't adapt themselves
to fly in the air with arm-attached wings. It took many generations of
training muscle and bone before they could overcome the disadvantage
of weight and lack of bird body buoyancy; however, they succeeded in
mastering flying. That is why we have longer arms and more muscular and
bone development of our shoulders and arms than you Earth men.
"Health exercises, health rays, diets, and body massages, have kept us
young looking, healthy, and vigorous and have kept our body weight very
near to normal even in the aged. We prohibit the use of habit-forming
foods, tobacco, drugs, and beverages other than low alcoholic beers and
wines in limited quantities. Too many of you on Earth carry to extremes
a commonplace habit, until it becomes a menace to your health."
I was disappointed at the ban on smoking because we had plenty of
cigarettes and were craving a smoke. He immediately understood and
said, "We will put no restrictions upon your desire to smoke as long
as your cigarettes last. We do not smoke because we do not allow
contamination of our fresh air with smoke, no matter how harmless.
Self-control is a nerve and emotion tonic and exercise; smoking is a
nerve stimulator and pacifier, and dulling them. In time a craving for
the stimulant is created, contributing gradually to their weakening.
It is a strong habit-forming pastime. We do not need it as we have no
nerve tension.
"We lead a well regulated life. Our bodies and nerves get the full
rest they require nightly. All our activities cease at 9:00 p.m. and
everyone must be in bed by 11:00 p.m. week days. Naturally, exceptions
are made for doctors, hospital personnel and workers in necessary
utilities."
It was getting late; the meeting broke up. All the Martians present
began mingling among us, trying to put us at our ease. After we had
been served with refreshments, they began to leave. We were left
nearly alone with their leader. He said kindly, "You gentlemen must be
tired. Our attendant will lead you to your sleeping quarters." Then
he bowed to me and said, "Good night." When I offered to shake hands,
he politely refused, remarking, "We do not shake hands; it is not
customary with us nor is it sanitary. Hand holding and fondling is done
only within our intimate family circle. I am glad to know that Earth
people are gradually adopting a practice which is old among us and
universal--that of using the self-opening door, thereby doing away with
unsanitary door handles."
We went outside and up a stairway to our sleeping quarters. Our
attendant assured us that the beds and bedding were sun health rayed
and sterilized, a daily precaution practiced everywhere. New night
garments, as well as underclothing for our next day's use were laid
out for us on chairs. The bed linens and night garments were as white
as ours, but softer, and they felt like pure silk. The attendant
then pulled out metal beds and springs with mattresses, pillows, and
blankets from a wall closet. The mattresses and pillows were of a
spongy rubber substance, and felt soft and comfortable.
After making our beds and placing pitchers of water for us on a small
table, the attendant wished us a good night's sleep. Before retiring I
wrote in my diary, in detail about what happened to us that day.
After a good night's sleep, we awoke, eager to see what the new day
would bring. The attendant brought in the clothes allotted to us,
pressed and ready for wear. A hot and cold, scented, sterilized water
shower gave us an exhilarating body cleansing. We dressed and were
led into a breakfast room, where it was ready for us. Afterward, we
were taken on a tour of their ship. Some of us took the opportunity of
looking out through space, admiring the grand sights of the universe
and pointing out many known stars, even a tiny one far away, our own
former home, the Earth.
I went, notebook in hand, with their leader, to look over the intricate
instruments and machinery, and the general construction of their
immense airship. The ship was now falling fast, attracted by the
gravitational pull of the planet Mars. It seemed to me motionless. Her
pilot told me that when we were about a million miles away from Mars,
he would put a brake on her speed and come to a dead stop before he
slowly entered her stratosphere. "Then I will put our motors to work
when we travel in our atmosphere, you will feel nearly the same motion
that you do in your own planes."
When I asked him what kind of gas he used, he answered, "We use atomic
energy; some machines and motors use ocean-wave electric energy, others
use concentrated sun-ray energy. We use no gas, oil, or coal, even
though we have them in great abundance. Their fumes, gases, and smoke
would pollute our fresh air. Furthermore, coal mining is hazardous and
we do not want to endanger the lives of our potential miners."
* * * * *
This is only the beginning, the first chapter of my strange story which
I wrote on my return. There are a great many details I would like to
give you; but since I want to finish as quickly as possible, I am
omitting description and details of minor matters. Tomorrow I will give
you my second chapter, a bird's-eye view of a city on Mars.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Nevada State Journal, Editorial, January 26, 1946.]
[Footnote 2: LIFE ON OTHER WORLDS, H. Spencer Jones, Macmillan Co.,
1940, N.Y., p. 200.]
[Footnote 3: Ibid., p. 200.]
[Footnote 4: Ibid., p. 200.]
[Footnote 5: Ibid., p. 200.]
[Footnote 6: Ibid., p. 204.]
[Footnote 7: Ibid., p. 213.]
[Footnote 8: Ibid., p. 207.]
[Footnote 9: Ibid., p. 208.]
[Footnote 10: Ibid., p. 208.]
[Footnote 11: Ibid., pp. 208-9.]
[Footnote 12: Ibid., p. 210.]
[Footnote 13: Ibid., pp. 217-18.]
[Footnote 14: Ibid., p. 218.]