a journey in other worlds-第42章

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tremendous　that　a　comparatively　small　one　would　contain　many
dozen　such　globes　as　the　earth。　　I　could　tell　you　also　of　the
mysteries　of　the　great　dark　companions　of　some　of　the　stars；　and
of　the　stars　that　are　themselves　dark　and　cold；　with　naught　but
the　faraway　constellations　to　cheer　them；　on　which　night　reigns
eternally；　and　that　far　outnumber　the　stars　you　can　see。　　Also　of
the　multiplicity　of　sex　and　extraordinary　forms　of　life　that
exist　there；　though　on　none　of　them　are　there　mortal　men　like
those　on　the　earth。
　　　
〃Nature；　in　the　process　of　evolution；　has　in　all　these　cases　gone
off　on　an　entirely　different　course；　the　most　intelligent　and
highly　developed　species　being　in　the　form　of　marvellously
complex　reptiles；　winged　serpents　that　sing　most　beautifully；　but
whose　blood　is　cold；　being　prevented　from　freezing　in　the　upper
regions　of　the　atmosphere　by　the　presence　of　salt　and　chemicals；
and　which　are　so　intelligent　that　they　have　practically　subdued
many　of　these　dark　stars　to　themselves。　　On　others；　the　most
highly　developed　species　have　hollow；　bell…shaped　tentacles；　into
which　they　inject　two　or　more　opposing　gases　from　opposite　sides
of　their　bodies；　which；　in　combination；　produce　a　strong
explosion。　　This　provides　them　with　an　easy　and　rapid　locomotion；
since　the　explosions　find　a　sufficient　resistance　in　the
surrounding　air　to　propel　the　monsters　much　faster　than　birds。　
These　can　at　pleasure　make　their　breath　so　poisonous　that　the
lungs　of　any　creatures　except　themselves　inhaling　it　are　at　once
turned　to　parchment。　　Others　can　give　their　enemies　or　their　prey
an　electric　shock；　sending　a　bolt　through　the　heart；　or　can
paralyze　the　mind　physically　by　an　effort　of　their　wills；　causing
the　brain　to　decompose　while　the　victim　is　still　alive。　　Others
have　the　same　power　that　snakes　have；　though　vastly　intensified；
mesmerizing　their　victims　from　afar。　
　　　　
〃Still　others　have　such　delicate　senses　that　in　a　way　they
commune　with　spirits；　though　they　have　no　souls　themselves；　for
in　no　part　or　corner　of　the　universe　except　on　earth　are　there
animals　that　have　souls。　　Yet　they　know　the　meaning　of　the　word；
and　often　bewail　their　hard　lot　in　that　no　part　of　them　can　live
when　the　heart　has　ceased　to　beat。

〃Ah；　my　friends；　if　we　had　no　soulsif；　like　the　aesthetic
reptilia；　we　knew　that　when　our　dust　dissolved　our　existence
would　be　overwe　should　realize　the　preciousness　of　what　we　hold
so　lightly　now。　　Man　and　the　spirits　and　angels　are　the　only
beings　with　souls；　and　in　no　place　except　on　earth　are　new　souls
being　created。　　This　gives　you　the　greatest　and　grandest　idea　of
the　dignity　of　life　and　its　inestimable　value。　　But　it　is　as
difficult　to　describe　the　higher　wonders　of　the　stellar　worlds　to
you　as　to　picture　the　glories　of　sunset　to　a　blind　man；　for　you
have　experienced　nothing　with　which　to　compare　them。　　Instead　of
seeing　all　that　really　is；　you　see　but　a　small　part。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　IX。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DOCTOR　CORTLANDT　SEES　HIS　GRAVE。

　　
〃Is　it　not　distasteful　to　you；〃　Cortlandt　asked；　〃to　live　so　near
these　loathsome　dragons？〃
　　　
〃Not　in　the　least；〃　replied　the　spirit。　　〃They　affect　us　no　more
than　the　smallest　micro…organism；　for　we　see　both　with　equal
clearness。　　Since　we　are　not　obliged　to　breathe；　they　cannot
injure　us；　and；　besides；　they　serve　to　illustrate　the　working　of
God's　laws；　and　there　is　beauty　in　everything　for　those　that　have
the　senses　required　for　perceiving　it。　　A　feature　of　the
spiritual　world　is；　that　it　does　not　interfere　with　the　natural；
and　the　natural；　except　through　faith；　is　not　aware　of　its
presence。〃
　　　
〃Then　why；〃　asked　Cortlandt；　〃was　it　necessary　for　the　Almighty
to　bring　your　souls　to　Saturn；　since　there　would　have　been　no
overcrowding　if　you　had　remained　on　the　earth？〃
　　　
〃That；〃　replied　the　spirit；　〃was　part　of　His　wisdom；　for　the
spirit；　being　able　at　once　to　look　back　into　the　natural　world；
if　in　it；　would　be　troubled　at　the　mistakes　and　tribulations　of
his　friends。　　Now；　as　a　rule；　before　a　spirit　can　return　to
earth；　his　or　her　relatives　and　friends　have　also　died；　or；　if　he
can　return　before　that　happens；　he　is　so　advanced　that　he　sees
the　ulterior　purpose；　and　therefore　the　wisdom　of　God's　ways；　and
is　not　distressed　thereby。　　Lastly；　as　their　expanding　senses
grew；　it　would　be　painful　for　the　blessed　and　condemned　spirits
to　be　together。　　Therefore　we　are　brought　here；　where　God　reveals
Himself　to　us　more　and　more；　and　the　flight　of　the　other
soulsthose　unhappy　onesdoes　not　cease　till　they　reach
Cassandra。〃
　　　
〃Can　the　souls　on　Cassandra　also　leave　it　in　time　and　roam　at
will？〃　asked　Cortlandt。
　　　
〃I　have　seen　none　of　them　myself　in　my　journeys　to　other　planets；
but　as　the　sun　shines　upon　the　just　and　the　unjust；　and　there　is
no　exception　to　Nature's　laws；　I　can　reply　that　in　time　they　do；
and　with　equal　powers　their　incentive　to　roam　would　be　greater；
for　we　are　drawn　together　by　common　sympathy　and　pure；　requited
love；　while　they　are　mutually　repelled。　　Of　course；　some　obtain　a
measure　of　freedom　before　the　rest；　and　these　naturally　roam　the
farthest；　and　the　more　they　see　and　the　farther　they　go；　the
stronger　becomes　their　abhorrence　for　everything　they　meet。〃　
　　　
〃Cannot　you　spirits　help　us；　and　the　mortals　now　on　earth；　to
escape　this　fate？〃　　　　

〃The　greatest　hope　for　your　bodies　and　souls　lies　in　the
communion　with　those　that　have　passed　through　death；　for　the
least　of　them　can　tell　you　more　than　the　wisest　man　on　earth；　and
could　you　all　come　or　send　representatives　to　the　multitudes　here
who　cannot　as　yet　return　to　you；　but　few　on　earth　would　be　so
quixotically　sinful　as　to　refuse　our　advice。　　Since；　however；　the
greatest　good　comes　to　men　from　the　learning　that　they　make　an
effort　to　secure；　it　is　for　you　to　strive　to　reach　us；　who　can
act　as　go…betweens　from　God　to　you。〃　　　　

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　said　Bearwarden；　〃that　people　are　better　now
than　formerly。　　The　sin　of　idolatry；　for　instance；　has
disappearedhas　it　not？〃　　　　

〃Men　still　set　up　idols　of　wealth；　passion；　or　ambition　in　their
hearts。　　These　they　worship　as　in　days　gone　by；　only　the　form　has
changed。〃
　　　
〃Could　the　souls　on　Cassandra　do　us　bodily　or　mental　injury；　if
we　could　ever　reach　their　planet？〃　asked　Bearwarden。

〃They　might　oppress　and　distress　you；　but　your　faith　would
protect　you　wherever　you　might　go。〃
　　　
〃Can　you　give　us　a　taste　of　your　sense　of　prescience？〃　asked
Bearwarden　again；　〃for；　since　it　is　not　clear　in　what　degree　the
condemned　receive　this；　and　neither　is　it　by　any　means　sure　that
I　shall　be　saved；　I　should　like　for　once　in　my　history　to
experience　this　sense　of　divinity；　before　my　entity　ends　in
stone。〃
　　　
〃I　will　transfer　to　you　my　sense　of　prescience；〃　replied　the
spirit；　〃that　you　may　foresee　as　prophets　have。　　In　so　doing；　I
shall　but　anticipate；　since　you　will　yourselves　in　time　obtain
this　sense　in　a　greater　or　less　degree。　　Is　there　any　event　in
the　future　you　would　like　to　see；　in　order　that；　when　the　vision
is　fulfilled；　it　may　tend　to　stablish　your　faith？〃
　　　
〃Since　I　am　the　oldest；〃　replied　the　doctor；　〃and　shall　probably
die　before　my　friends；　reveal　to　us；　I　pray　you；　the　manner　of　my
death　and　the　events　immediately　following。　　This　may　prove　an
object…lesson　to　them；　and　will　greatly　interest　me。〃
　　　
〃Your　death　will　be　caused　by　blood…poisoning；　brought　on　by　an
accident；〃　began　the　spirit。　　〃Some　daybreak　will　find　you　weak；
after　a　troubled　night；　with　your　bodily　resources　at　a　low　ebb。　
Sunset　will　see　you　weaker；　with　your　power　of　resistance　almost
gone。　　Midnight　will　find　you　weaker　still；　and　but　little
removed　from　the　point　of　death。　　A　few　hours　later　a　kind　hand
will　close　the　lids　of　your　half…shut　eyes；　which　never　again
will　behold　the　light。　　The　coffin　will　inclose　your　body；　and
the　last　earthly　journey　begin。　　Now；〃　the　spirit　continued；　〃you
shall　all　use　my　sight　instead　of　your　own。〃
　　　
The　walls　of　the　cave　seemed　to　expand；　till　they　resembled　those
of　a　great　cathedral；　while　the　stalactites　appeared　to　be
metamorphosed　into　Gothic　columns。　　They　found　themselves　among　a
large　congregation　that　had　come　to　attend　the　last　sad　rites；
while　the　great　organ　played　Chopin's　〃Funeral　March。〃　　The　high
vault　and　arches　received　the　organ's　tone；　and　a　sombre　light
pervaded　the　interior。　　There　was　a　slight　flutter　and　a　craning
of　necks　among　those　in　the　pews；　as　the　procession　began　to
ascend　the　aisle。　　While　the　slow　step　of　the　pallbearers　and
those　carrying　the　coffin　sounded　on　the　stone　floor；　the　clear
voice　of　the　clergyman　that　headed　the　procession　sounded　these
words　through　the　cathedral：　　〃I　know　that　my　Redeemer　liveth；
and　that　He　shall　stand　at　the　latter　day　upon　the　earth。〃　　As
the　bier　advanced；　Bearwarden　and　Ayrault　recognized　themselves
among　the　pallbearersthe　former　with　grey　mustache　and　hair；
the　latter　considerably　aged。　　The　hermetically　sealed　lead
coffin　was　inclosed　in　a　wooden　case；　and　the　whole　was　draped
and　covered　with　flowers。
　　　
〃Oh；　my　faith！〃　cried　Cortlandt；　〃I　see　my　face　within；　yet　it　is
but　a　decomposing　mass　that　I　once　described　as　I。〃
　　　
Then　again　did　the　minister's　voice　proclaim；　〃I　am　the
resurrection　and　the　life；　saith　the　Lord；　he　that　believeth　in
me；　though　he　were　dead；　yet　shall　he　live；　and　whosoever　liveth
and　believeth　in　me　shall　never　die。〃
　　　
The　bearers　gently　set　down　their　burden；　the　minister　read　the
ever…impressive　chapter　of　St。　Paul　to　the　Corinthians；　a　bishop
solemnly　and　silently　sprinkled　earth　on　the　coffin；　and　the
choir　sang　the　398th　hymn；　beginning　with　the　words；　〃Hark；　hark
my　soul！　angelic　songs　are　swelling；〃　which　had　always　been
Cortlandt's　favourite　and　the　service　was　at　an　end。　　The　bearers
again　shouldered　all　that　was　left　of　Henry　Cortlandt；　and　his
relatives　accompanied　this　to　the　cemetery。
　　　
Then　came　a　sweeping　change　of　scene。　　A　host　of　monuments　and
gravestones　reflected　the　sunlight；　while　a　broad　river　ebbed　and
flowed　between　high　banks。　　A　sexton　and　a　watchman　stood　by　a
granite　vault；　the　heavy　door　of　which　they　had　opened　with　a
large　key。　　Hard　by　were　some　gardeners　and　labourers；　and　also　a
crowd　of　curiosity…seekers　who　had　come　to　witness　the　last　sad
rites。　　Presently　a　funeral　procession　appeared。　　The　hearse
stopped　near　the　open　vault；　over　the　door　of　which　stood　out　the
name　of　CORTLANDT；　and　the　accompanying　minister　said　a　short
prayer；　while　all　present　uncovered　their　heads。　　After　this　the
coffin　was　borne　within　and　set　at　rest　upon　a　slab；　among　many
generations　of　Cortlandts。　　In　the　hearts　of　the　relatives　and
friends　was　genuine　sorrow；　but　the　curiosity…seekers　went　their
way　and　gave　little　thought。　　〃To…morrow　will　be　like　to…day；〃
they　said；　〃and　more　great　men　will　die。〃
　　　
Then　came　another　change　of　scene；　though　it　was　comparatively
slight。　　The　sun　slowly　sank　beyond　the　farther　bank　of　the　broad
river；　and　the　moon　and　stars　shone　softly　on　the　gravestones　and
crosses。　　Two　gardeners　smoked　their　short　clay　pipes　on　a　bench
before　the　Cortlandt　vault；　and　talked　in