over the teacups-第9章

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I　don't　know　that　there　is　anything　very　original　about　the

experiences　I　have　recorded；　but　I　thought　them　worth　preserving。

Perhaps　you　would　not　agree　with　me　in　that　belief。〃



〃If　Number　Five　will　give　us　a　chance　to　form　our　own　judgment　about

her　dream　or　vision；　I　think　we　shall　enjoy　it；〃　said　the　Mistress。

〃She　knows　what　will　please　The　Teacups　in　the　way　of　reading　as　well

as　I　do　how　many　lumps　of　sugar　the　Professor　wants　in　his　tea　and

how　many　I　want　in　mine。〃



The　company　was　so　urgent　that　Number　Five　sent　up…stairs　for　her

paper。



Number　Five　reads　the　story　of　her　dream。



It　cost　me　a　great　effort　to　set　down　the　words　of　the　manuscript

from　which　I　am　reading。　　My　dreams　for　the　most　part　fade　away　so

soon　after　their　occurrence　that　I　cannot　recall　them　at　all。　　But　in

this　case　my　ideas　held　together　with　remarkable　tenacity。　　By

keeping　my　mind　steadily　upon　the　work；　I　gradually　unfolded　the

narrative　which　follows；　as　the　famous　Italian　antiquary　opened　one

of　those　fragile　carbonized　manuscripts　found　in　the　ruins　of

Herculaneum　or　Pompeii。



The　first　thing　I　remember　about　it　is　that　I　was　floating　upward；

without　any　sense　of　effort　on　my　part。　　The　feeling　was　that　of

flying；　which　I　have　often　had　in　dreams；　as　have　many　other　persons。

It　was　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world；a　semi…materialized

volition；　if　I　may　use　such　an　expression。



At　the　first　moment　of　my　new　consciousness；for　I　seemed　to　have

just　emerged　from　a　deep　slumber；　I　was　aware　that　there　was　a

companion　at　my　side。　　Nothing　could　be　more　gracious　than　the　way　in

which　this　being　accosted　me。　　I　will　speak　of　it　as　she；　because

there　was　a　delicacy；　a　sweetness；　a　divine　purity；　about　its　aspect

that　recalled　my　ideal　of　the　loveliest　womanhood。



〃I　am　your　companion　and　your　guide；〃　this　being　made　me　understand；

as　she　looked　at　me。　　Some　faculty　of　which　I　had　never　before　been

conscious　had　awakened　in　me；　and　I　needed　no　interpreter　to　explain

the　unspoken　language　of　my　celestial　attendant。



〃You　are　not　yet　outside　of　space　and　time；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　am

going　with　you　through　some　parts　of　the　phenomenal　or　apparent

universe；what　you　call　the　material　world。　　We　have　plenty　of　what

you　call　time　before　us；　and　we　will　take　our　voyage　leisurely；

looking　at　such　objects　of　interest　as　may　attract　our　attention　as

we　pass。　　The　first　thing　you　will　naturally　wish　to　look　at　will　be

the　earth　you　have　just　left。　　This　is　about　the　right　distance；〃　she

said；　and　we　paused　in　our　flight。



The　great　globe　we　had　left　was　rolling　beneath　us。　　No　eye　of　one　in

the　flesh　could　see　it　as　I　saw　or　seemed　to　see　it。　　No　ear　of　any

mortal　being　could　bear　the　sounds　that　came　from　it　as　I　heard　or

seemed　to　hear　them。　　The　broad　oceans　unrolled　themselves　before　me。

I　could　recognize　the　calm　Pacific　and　the　stormy　Atlantic；the

ships　that　dotted　them；　the　white　lines　where　the　waves　broke　on　the

shore；　frills　on　the　robes　of　the　continents；　so　they　looked　to

my　woman's　perception；　thevast　South　American　forests；　the

glittering　icebergs　about　the　poles；　the　snowy　mountain　ranges；　here

and　there　a　summit　sending　up　fire　and　smoke；　mighty　rivers；　dividing

provinces　within　sight　of　each　other；　and　making　neighbors　of　realms

thousands　of　miles　apart；　cities；　light…houses　to　insure　the　safety

of　sea…going　vessels；　and　war…ships　to　knock　them　to　pieces　and　sink

them。　　All　this；　and　infinitely　more；　showed　itself　to　me　during　a

single　revolution　of　the　sphere：　twenty…four　hours　it　would　have

been；　if　reckoned　by　earthly　measurements　of　time。　　I　have　not　spoken

of　the　sounds　I　heard　while　the　earth　was　revolving　under　us。　　The

howl　of　storms；　the　roar　and　clash　of　waves；　the　crack　and　crash　of

the　falling　thunderbolt；these　of　course　made　themselves　heard　as

they　do　to　mortal　ears。　　But　there　were　other　sounds　which　enchained

my　attention　more　than　these　voices　of　nature。　　As　the　skilled　leader

of　an　orchestra　hears　every　single　sound　from　each　member　of　the　mob

of　stringed　and　wind　instruments；　and　above　all　the　screech　of　the

straining　soprano；　so　my　sharpened　perceptions　made　what　would　have

been　for　common　mortals　a　confused　murmur　audible　to　me　as　compounded

of　innumerable　easily　distinguished　sounds。　　Above　them　all　arose　one

continued；　unbroken；　agonizing　cry。　　It　was　the　voice　of　suffering

womanhood；　a　sound　that　goes　up　day　and　night；　one　long　chorus　of

tortured　victims。



〃Let　us　get　out　of　reach　of　this；〃　I　said；　and　we　left　our　planet；

with　its　blank；　desolate　moon　staring　at　it；　as　if　it　had　turned　pale

at　the　sights　and　sounds　it　had　to　witness。



Presently　the　gilded　dome　of　the　State　House；　which　marked　our

starting…point；　came　into　view　for　the　second　time；　and　I　knew　that

this　side…show　was　over。　　I　bade　farewell　to　the　Common　with　its

Cogswell　fountain；　and　the　Garden　with　its　last　awe…inspiring

monument。



〃Oh；　if　I　could　sometimes　revisit　these　beloved　scenes！　〃I　exclaimed。



〃There　is　nothing　to　hinder　that　I　know　of；〃　said　my　companion。

〃Memory　and　imagination　as　you　know　them　in　the　flesh　are　two　winged

creatures　with　strings　tied　to　their　legs；　and　anchored　to　a　bodily

weight　of　a　hundred　and　fifty　pounds；　more　or　less。　　When　the　string

is　cut　you　can　be　where　you　wish　to　be；not　merely　a　part　of　you；

leaving　the　rest　behind；　but　the　whole　of　you。　　Why　shouldn't　you

want　to　revisit　your　old　home　sometimes？〃



I　was　astonished　at　the　human　way　in　which　my　guide　conversed　with

me。　　It　was　always　on　the　basis　of　my　earthly　habits；　experiences；

and　limitations。　　〃Your　solar　system；〃　she　said；　〃is　a　very　small

part　of　the　universe；　but　you　naturally　feel　a　curiosity　about　the

bodies　which　constitute　it　and　about　their　inhabitants。　　There　is

your　moon：　a　bare　and　desolate…looking　place　it　is；　and　well　it　may

be；　for　it　has　no　respirable　atmosphere；　and　no　occasion　for　one。

The　Lunites　do　not　breathe；　they　live　without　waste　and　without

supply。　　You　look　as　if　you　do　not　understand　this。　　Yet　your　people

have；　as　you　well　know；　what　they　call　incandescent　lights

everywhere。　　You　would　have　said　there　can　be　no　lamp　without　oil　or

gas；　or　other　combustible　substance；　to　feed　it；　and　yet　you　see　a

filament　which　sheds　a　light　like　that　of　noon　all　around　it；　and

does　not　waste　at　all。　　So　the　Lunites　live　by　influx　of　divine

energy；　just　as　the　incandescent　lamp　glows；glows；　and　is　not

consumed；　receiving　its　life；　if　we　may　call　it　so；　from　the　central

power；　which　wears　the　unpleasant　name　of　〃dynamo。〃'



The　Lunites　appeared　to　me　as　pale　phosphorescent　figures　of　ill…

defined　outline；　lost　in　their　own　halos；　as　it　were。　　I　could　not

help　thinking　of　Shelley's



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃maiden

　　　　　　　　　　With　white　fire　laden。〃



But　as　the　Lunites　were　after　all　but　provincials；　as　are　the　tenants

of　all　the　satellites；　I　did　not　care　to　contemplate　them　for　any

great　length　of　time。



I　do　not　remember　much　about　the　two　planets　that　came　next　to　our

own；　except　the　beautiful　rosy　atmosphere　of　one　and　the　huge　bulk　of

the　other。　　Presently；　we　found　ourselves　within　hailing　distance　of

another　celestial　body；　which　I　recognized　at　once；　by　the　rings

which　girdled　it；　as　the　planet　Saturn。　　A　dingy；　dull…looking　sphere

it　was　in　its　appearance。　　〃We　will　tie　up　here　for　a　while；〃　said　my

attendant。　　The　easy；　familiar　way　in　which　she　spoke　surprised　and

pleased　me。



Why；　said　I；The　Dictator；what　is　there　to　prevent　beings　of

another　order　from　being　as　cheerful；　as　social；　as　good　companions；

as　the　very　liveliest　of　God's　creatures　whom　we　have　known　in　the

flesh？　　Is　it　impossible　for　an　archangel　to　smile？　　Is　such　a

phenomenon　as　a　laugh　never　heard　except　in　our　little　sinful　corner

of　the　universe？　　Do　you　suppose；　that　when　the　disciples　heard　from

the　lips　of　their　Master　the　play　of　words　on　the　name　of　Peter；

there　was　no　smile　of　appreciation　on　the　bearded　faces　of　those　holy

men？　　From　any　other　lips　we　should　have　called　this　pleasantry　a



Number　Five　shook　her　head　very　slightly；　and　gave　me　a　look　that

seemed　to　say；　〃Don't　frighten　the　other　Teacups。　　We　don't　call

things　by　the　names　that　belong　to　them　when　we　deal　with　celestial

subjects。〃



We　tied　up；　as　my　attendant　playfully　called　our　resting；　so　near　the

planet　that　I　could　knowI　will　not　say　see　and　hear；　but　apprehend

all　that　was　going　on　in　that　remote　sphere；　remote；　as　we　who　live

in　what　we　have　been　used　to　consider　the　centre　of　the　rational

universe　regard　it。　　What　struck　me　at　once　was　the　deadness　of

everything　I　looked　upon。　　Dead；　uniform　color　of　surface　and

surrounding　atmosphere。　　Dead　complexion　of　all　the　inhabitants。

Dead…looking　trees；　dead…looking　grass；　no　flowers　to　be　seen

anywhere。



〃What　is　the　meaning　of　all　this？〃　I　said　to　my　guide。



She　smiled　good…naturedly；　and　replied；　〃It　is　a　forlorn　home　for

anything　above　a　lichen　or　a　toadstool；　but　that　is　no　wonder；　when

you　know　what　the　air　is　which　they　breathe。　　It　is　pure　nitrogen。〃



The　Professor　spoke　up。　　〃That　can't　be；　madam；〃　he　said。　　〃The

spectroscope　shows　the　atmosphere　of　Saturn　to　beno　matter；　I　have

forgotten　what；　but　it　was　not　pure　nitrogen；　at　any　rate。〃



Number　Five　is　never　disconcerted。　　〃Will　you　tell　me；〃　she　said；

〃where　you　have　found　any　account　of　the　bands　and　lines　in　the

spectrum　of　dream…nitrogen？　　I　should　be　so　pleased　to　become

acquainted　with　them。〃



The　Professor　winced　a　little；　and　asked　Delilah；　the　handmaiden；　to

pass　a　plate　of　muffins　to　him。　　The　dream　had　carried　him　away；　and

he　thought　for　the　moment　that　he　was　listening　to　a　scientific

paper。



Of　course；　my　companion　went　on　to　say；　the　bodily　constitution　of

the　Saturnians　is　wholly　different　from　that　of　air…breathing；　that

is　oxygen…breathing；　human　beings。　　They　are　the　dullest；　slowest；

most　torpid　of　mortal　creatures。



All　this　is　not　to　be　wondered　at　when　you　remember　the　inert

characteristics　of　nitrogen。　　There　are　in　some　localities　natural

springs　which　give　out　slender　streams　of　oxygen。　　You　will　learn　by

and　by　what　use　the　Saturnians　make　of　this　dangerous　gas；　which；　as

you　recollect；　constitutes　about　one　fifth　of　your　own　atmosphere。

Saturn　has　large　lead　mines；　but　no　other　metal　is　found　on　this

planet。　　The　inhabitants　have　nothing　else　to　make　tools　of；　except

stones　and　shells。　　The　mechanical　arts　have　therefore　made　no　great

progress　among　them。　　Chopping　down　a　tree　with　a　leaden　axe　is

necessarily　a　slow　process。



So　far　as　the　Saturnians　can　be　said　to　have　any　pride　in　anything；

it　is　in　the　absolute　level　which　characterizes　their　political　and

social　order。　　They　profess　to　be　the　only　true　republicans　in　the

solar　system。　　The　fundamental　articles　of　their　Constitution　are