PREFACE。
Theprotractedstrugglebetweenscienceandtheclassicsappearstobedrawingtoaclose,withvictoryabouttoperchonthebannerofscience,asaperusalofalmostanyuniversityorcollegecatalogueshows。WhilealimitedknowledgeofbothGreekandLatinisimportantforthecorrectuseofourownlanguage,theamounttillrecentlyrequired,inmyjudgment,hasbeenabsurdlyoutofproportiontotheintrinsicvalueofthesebranches,orperhapsmorecorrectlyroots,ofstudy。Theclassicshavebeenthoroughlyandpainfullythreshedout,anditseemsimpossiblethatanythingnewcanbeunearthed。Wemayequaltheperformancesofthepast,butthereisnoopportunitytosurpassthemorproduceanythingoriginal。Eventhemuch—vaunted\"mentaltraining\"argumentisbeginningtopall;forwouldnotanythingequallydifficultgiveasgooddevelopingresults,whilebylearningalivematterwekilltwobirdswithonestone？TherecanbenoquestionthattherearemanyforcesandinfluencesinNaturewhoseexistenceweasyetlittlemorethansuspect。Howmuchmoreinterestingitwouldbeif,insteadofreiteratingourpastachievements,themagazinesandliteratureoftheperiodshoulddevotetheirconsiderationtowhatwedoNOTknow！Itisonlythroughinvestigationandresearchthatinventionscome;wemaynotfindwhatweareinsearchof,butmaydiscoversomethingofperhapsgreatermoment。
Itisprobablethattheprincipalgloriesofthefuturewillbefoundinasyetbutlittletroddenpaths,andasProf。Cortlandtjustlysaysatthecloseofhishistory,\"Nexttoreligion,wehavemosttohopefromscience。\"
CHAPTER1。
JUPITER。
Jupiter——themagnificentplanetwithadiameterof86,500
miles,having119timesthesurfaceand1,300timesthevolumeoftheearth——laybeneaththem。
Theyhadoftenseenitintheterrestrialsky,emittingitsstrong,steadyray,andhadthoughtofthatfar—awayplanet,aboutwhichtillrecentlysolittlehadbeenknown,andaburningdesirehadpossessedthemtogotoitandexploreitsmysteries。
Now,thankstoAPERGY,theforcewhoseexistencetheancientssuspected,butofwhichtheyknewsolittle,allthingswerepossible。
Ayraultmanipulatedthesilk—coveredglasshandles,andtheCallistomovedonslowlyincomparisonwithitsrecentspeed,andallremainedgluedtotheirtelescopesastheypeeredthroughtherushingclouds,nowformingandnowdissolvingbeforetheireyes。Whattransportsofdelight,whatecstaticbliss,wastheirs！Menhaddiscoveredandmasteredthesecretofapergy,andnow,\"littlelowerthantheangels,\"theycouldsoarthroughspace,leavingevenplanetsandcometsbehind。
\"Isitnotstrange,\"saidDr。Cortlandt,\"thatthoughithasbeenknownforoveracenturythatbodieschargedwithunlikeelectricitiesattractoneanother,andthosechargedwithlikerepel,noonethoughtofutilizingthecounterpartofgravitation？Inthenineteenthcentury,savantsandIndianjugglersperformedexperimentswiththeirdisciplesandmassesofinertmatter,bycausingthemtoremainwithoutvisiblesupportatsomedistancefromtheground;andwhilemanyofthese,ofcourse,werequacks,somewereontherighttrack,thoughtheydidnotpushtheirresearch。\"
PresidentBearwardenandAyraultassented。Theyweresteeringforanapparentlyhardpartoftheplanet\'ssurface,aboutadegreeandahalfnorthofitsequator。
\"SinceJupiter\'saxisisalmostatrightanglestotheplaneofitsorbit,\"saidthedoctor,\"beinginclinedonlyaboutonedegreeandahalf,insteadoftwenty—threeandahalf,aswastheearth\'stillnearlysorecently,itwillbepossibleforustohaveanyclimatewewish,fromconstantlywarmattheequatortoconstantlycoolorcoldasweapproachthepoles,withoutbeingtroubledbyextremesofwinterandsummer。\"
UntiltheCallistoenteredtheplanet\'satmosphere,itsfivemoonsappearedlikesilvershieldsagainsttheblacksky,butnowthingswerelookingmoreterrestrial,andtheybegantofeelathome。Bearwardenputdownhisnote—book,andAyraultreturnedaphotographtohispocket,whileallthreegazedattheirnewabode。Beneaththemwasavastcontinentvariegatedbychainsoflakesandriversstretchingawayinalldirectionsexcepttowardtheequator,wherelayaplacidoceanasfarastheirtelescopescouldpierce。Totheeastwardweretoweringandmassivemountains,andalongthesouthernborderofthecontinentsmokingvolcanoes,whiletowardthewesttheysawforests,gentlyrollingplains,andtable—landsthatwouldhavesatisfiedapoetorsetanagriculturist\'sheartatrest。\"HowIshouldliketominethosehillsforcopper,ordraintheswampstothesouth！\"
exclaimedCol。Bearwarden。\"TheLakeSuperiorminesandthereclamationoftheFloridaEvergladeswouldbenothingtothis。\"
\"Anyinhabitantswemayfindherehavesomuchlandattheirdisposalthattheywillnotneedtodrainswampsonaccountofpressureofpopulationforsometime,\"putinthedoctor。
\"Ihopewemayfindsomefour—leggedinhabitants,\"saidAyrault,thinkingoftheirexplosivemagazinerifles。\"IfJupiterispassingthroughitsJurassicorMesozoicperiod,theremustbeanyamountofsomekindofgame。\"JustthenaquivershooktheCallisto,andglancingtotherighttheynoticedoneofthevolcanoesinviolenteruption。Smokefilledtheairinclouds,hotstonesandthenfloodsoflavapouredfromthecrater,whileeventhewallsofthehermeticallysealedCallistocouldnotarrestthethunderouscrashesthatmadetheinteriorofthecarresound。
\"Hadwenotbettermoveon？\"saidBearwarden,andaccordinglytheywenttowardthewoodstheyhadfirstseen。Findingafirmstripoflandbetweentheforestandanarmofthesea,theygentlygroundedtheCallisto,andnotbeingaltogethersurehowtheatmosphereoftheirnewabodewouldsuitterrestriallungs,orwhatitspressuretothesquareinchmightbe,theycautiouslyopenedaport—holeacrack,retainingtheirholduponitwithitsscrew。Instantlytherewasarushandawhistlingsoundasofescapingsteam,whileinafewmomentstheirbarometerstoodatthirty—sixinches,whereupontheyclosedtheopening。
\"Ifancy,\"saidDr。Cortlandt,\"wehadbetterwaitnowtillwebecomeaccustomedtothispressure。Idonotbelieveitwillgomuchhigher,forthewindowmadebutlittleresistancewhenweshutit。\"
Findingtheywerenotinconveniencedbyapressurebutlittlegreaterthanthatofadeepcoal—mine,theyagainopenedtheport,whereupontheirbarometershowedafurtherrisetoforty—two,andthenremainedstationary。Findingalsothatthechemicalcompositionoftheairsuitedthem,andthattheyhadnodifficultyinbreathing,thepressurebeingthesameasthatsustainedbyadiverinfourteenfeetofwater,theyopenedadoorandemerged。Theyknewfairlywellwhattoexpect,andwerenotdisturbedbytheirnewconditions。Thoughtheyhadapparentlygainedagooddealinweightasaresultoftheiretherealjourney,thisdidnotincommodethem;forthoughJupiter\'svolumeisthirteenhundredtimesthatoftheearth,onaccountofitslesserspecificgravity,ithasbutthreehundredtimesthemass——i。e。,itwouldweighbutthreehundredtimesasmuch。Further,althoughacubicfootofwateroranythingelseweighs2。5asmuchasonearth,objectsneartheequator,onaccountofJupiter\'srapidrotation,weighonefifthlessthantheydoatthepoles,byreasonofthecentrifugalforce。
Influencedbythisfact,andalsobecausetheywere483,000,000
milesfromthesun,insteadof92,000,000asonearth,theyhadsteeredforthenorthernlimitofJupiter\'stropics。And,inadditiontothis,theycouldeasilyapplytheapergeticpowerinanydegreetothemselveswhenbeyondthelimitsoftheCallisto,andsobeattractedtoanyextent,fromtwicethepulltheyreceivefromgravitationonearthtoalmostnothing。
BearwardenandAyraultshoulderedtheirrifles,whileDr。
Cortlandttookarepeatingshot—gunwithNo。4shot,and,havingalsosomehunting—knivesandasextant,allthreesetoutinanorthwesterlydirection。Thegroundwasrathersoft,andawarmvaporseemedtorisefromit。Totheeasttheskywasveiledbydensecloudsofsmokefromthetoweringvolcanoes,whileontheirlefttheforestseemedtoextendwithoutlimit。Clumpsofhugefernswerescatteredabout,andthegroundwascoveredwithcurioustracks。
\"JupiterisevidentlypassingthroughaCarboniferousorDevonianperiodsuchasexistedonearth,though,ifconsistentwithitssize,itshouldbeonavastlylargerscale,\"saidthedoctor。
\"Ineverbelievedinthetheory,\"hecontinued,\"thatthelargertheplanetthesmallershouldbeitsinhabitants,andalwaysconsidereditamakeshift,putforwardintheabsenceofdefiniteknowledge,theideabeingapparentlythattheweightofverylargecreatureswouldbetoogreatfortheirstrength。Ofthefactthatmastodonsandcreaturesfarlargerthananynowlivingonearthexistedthere,wehaveabsoluteproof,thoughgravitationmusthavebeenpracticallythesamethenasnow。\"
Justheretheycameuponanumberofhugebones,evidentlytheremainsofsomesaurian,andmanytimesthesizeofagrowncrocodile。Onpassingagrowthofmostluxuriantvegetation,theysawahalf—dozensacklikeobjects,anddrawingnearernoticedthatthetopsbegantoswell,andatthesametimebecamelighterincolour。Justasthedoctorwasabouttoinvestigateoneofthemwithhisduck—shot,theenormouslyinflatedtopsofthecreaturescollapsedwithaloudreport,andtheentiregroupsoaredaway。Whenabouttoalight,fortyyardsoff,theydistendedmembranousfoldsinthemannerofwings,whichcheckedtheirdescent,andontouchingthegroundremainedwheretheywerewithoutrebound。
\"Weexpectedtofindallkindsofreptilesandbirds,\"exclaimedthedoctor。\"ButIdonotknowhowweshouldclassthosecreatures。Theyseemtohavepneumaticfeetandlegs,fortheirmotionwascertainlynotproducedlikethatoffrogs。\"
Whenthepartycameupwiththemtheheadsagainbegantoswell。
\"Iwillperforatetheair—chamberofone,\"saidCol。Bearwarden,withdrawingtheexplosivecartridgefromthebarrelofhisrifleandsubstitutingonewithasolidball。\"Thiswilldoubtlessdisableonesothatwecanexamineit。\"
Justastheywereabouttorise,heshotthelargestthroughtheneck。Allbutthewoundedone,soaredoff,whileBearwarden,Ayrault,andCortlandtapproachedtoexamineitmoreclosely。
\"Yousee,\"saidCortlandt,\"thisvertebrate——forthatisasdefinitelyaswecanyetdescribeit——forcesagreatpressureofairintoitsheadandneck,which,bytheactionofvalves,itmustallowtorushintoitsveryrudimentarylowerextremities,distendingthemwithsuchviolencethatthebodyisshotupwardandforward。Youmayhavenoticedthetightlyinflatedportionunderneathastheylefttheground。\"
Whilespeakinghehadmovedrathernear,whensuddenlyapartiallyconcealedmouthopened,showingtheunmistakabletongueandfangsofaserpent。Itemittedahissingsound,andthesmalleyesgleamedmaliciously。
\"Doyoubelieveitisapoisonousspecies？\"askedAyrault。
\"Isuspectitis,\"repliedthedoctor;\"for,thoughitisdoubtlessabletoleapwithgreataccuracyuponitsprey,wesawittooksometimetorechargetheupperair—chamber,sothat,wereitnotarmedwithpoisonglands,itwouldfallaneasyvictimtoitsmorepowerfulandswiftercontemporaries,andwouldsoonbecomeextinct。\"
\"Asitwillbeunabletospringforsometime,\"saidBearwarden,\"wemightaswellsaveitthedisappointmentoftrying,\"and,snappingtheusedshellfromhisrifle,hefiredanexplosiveballintothereptile,whereuponabouthalfthebodydisappeared,whileasickeningodourarose。Althoughthesunwasstillfarabovethehorizon,therapiditywithwhichitwasdescendingshowedthattheshortnightoflessthanfivehourswouldsoonbeuponthem;andthoughshortitmightbeverydark,fortheywereinthetropics,andthesun,goingdownperpendicularly,mustalsopasscompletelyaroundtheglobe,insteadof,asinnorthernlatitudesonearthinsummer,approachingthehorizonobliquely,andnotgoingfarbelowit。Aslightanddiffusedsoundhereseemedtorisefromthegroundallaboutthem,forwhichtheycouldnotaccount。Presentlyitbecamelouder,andasthesuntouchedthehorizon,itpouredforthinprolongedstrains。Thelargetrumpet—shapedlilies,reeds,andheliotropesseemedfairlytothrobastheyraisedtheiranthemtotheskyandthesettingsun,whiletheairgrewdarkwithcloudsofbirdsthatgraduallyalightedontheground,until,asthechorusgrewfainterandgraduallyceased,theyflewbacktotheirnests。Thethreecompanionshadstoodastonishedwhilethisactwasplayed。Thedoctorthenspoke:
\"ThisisthemostmarvellousdevelopmentofNatureIhaveseen,foritswonderfuldivergencefrom,andyetanalogyto,whattakesplaceonearth。Youknowourflowersofferhoney,asitwere,asbaittoinsects,thatineatingorcollectingittheymaycatchthepollenontheirlegsandsocarryittootherflowers,perhapsoftheoppositesex。Hereflowersevidentlyappealtothesenseofhearinginsteadoftaste,andmakeuseofbirds,ofwhichthereareenormousnumbers,insteadofwingedinsects,ofwhichIhaveseennone,onebeingperhapsthenaturalresultoftheother。Theflowershavebecomesingersbylongpractice,orelse,thosethatweremostmusicalhavinghadthebestchancetoreproduce,wehaveaneatillustrationofthe\'survivalofthefittest。\'Thesoundisdoubtlessproducedbyashrinkingofthefibresasthesunwithdrawsitsheat,inwhichcasewemayexpectanothersongatsunrise,whenthesameresultwillbeeffectedbytheirexpanding。\"
Searchingforacamping—placeinwhichtopassthecominghours,theysawlightsflittingaboutlikewill—o\'—the—wisps,butbrighterandintermittent。
\"Theyseemtobeasbrightassixteen—candle—powerlamps,butthelightisyellower,andappearstoemanatefromacomparativelylargesurface,certainlynineorteninchessquare,\"saidthedoctor。
Theysoongaveupthechase,however,forthelightswerecontinuallymovingandfrequentlywentout。Whilegropinginthegrowingdarkness,theycameuponabrownobjectaboutthesizeofasmalldogandclosetotheground。Itflewoffwithahumminginsectsound,andasitdidsoitshowedthebrilliantphosphorescentglowtheyhadobserved。
\"Thatisagood—sizedfire—fly,\"saidBearwarden。\"Evidentlytheinsectshereareonthesamescaleaseverythingelse。Theyarelikethefire—fliesinCuba,whichtheCubansaresaidtoputintoaglassboxandgetlightenoughfromtoreadby。Heretheywouldneedonlyone,ifitcouldbeinducedtogiveitslightcontinuously。\"
Havingfoundanopenspaceonhighground,theysatdown,andBearwardenstruckhisrepeater,which,forconvenience,hadbeenarrangedforJupitertime,dividingthedayintotenhours,beginningatnoon,midnightbeingthereforefiveo\'clock。
\"Twentyminutespastfour,\"saidhe,\"whichwouldcorrespondtoaboutaquartertoelevenonearth。Asthesunrisesathalf—pastseven,itwillbedarkaboutthreehours,forthetimebetweendawnanddaylightwill,ofcourse,beasshortasthatwehavejustexperiencedbetweensunsetandnight。\"
\"Ifwestayherelong,\"saidthedoctor,\"Isupposeweshallbecomeaccustomed,likesailors,totakingourfour,orinthiscasefive,hoursonduty,andfivehoursoff。\"
\"Or,\"addedAyrault,\"wecansleeptenconsecutivehoursandtakethenexttenforexploringandhunting,havingthesunforonehalfthetimeandthemoonsfortheother。\"
BearwardenandCortlandtnowrolledthemselvesintheirblanketsandweresoonasleep,whileAyrault,whoseturnitwastowatchtillthemoonsrose——fortheyhadnotyetenoughconfidenceintheirnewdomaintosleepindarknesssimultaneously——leanedhisbackagainstarockandlightedhispipe。Inthedistancehesawthetorrentsoffierylavafromthevolcanoesreflectedinthesky,andfaintlyheardtheirthunderouscrashes,whilethefire—fliestwinkledunconcernedlyinthehollow,andthenightwindsswayedthefernlikebranches。Thenhegazedattheearth,which,butlittleabovethehorizon,shonewithafaintbutsteadyray,andhismind\'seyeranbeyondhisnaturalvisionwhilehepicturedtohimselfthegirlofhisheart,wishingthatbysomecommunionofspiritshemightconveyhisthoughtstoher,andreceivehers。ItwasnowthefirstweekofJanuaryonearth。
Hecouldalmostseeherhouseandthesnow—cladtreesinthepark,andknewthatatthathourshewasdressingfordinner,andhopedandbelievedthathewasinherheart。Whilehethusmused,onemoonafteranotherrose,eachatadifferentphase,tillthreewereatonceinthesky。Adjustingtheelectricprotection—wiresthatweretoparalyzeanycreaturethatattemptedtocomewithinthecircle,andwouldarousethembyringingabell,heknockedtheashesfromhispipe,rolledhimselfinablanket,andwassoonasleepbesidehisfriends。
CHAPTERII。
ANTECEDENTAL。
\"Comein！\"soundedavoice,asDr。CortlandtandDickAyraulttappedatthedoorofthePresidentoftheTerrestrialAxisStraighteningCompany\'sprivateofficeonthemorningofthe21stofJune,A。D。2000。Col。Bearwardensatathiscapaciousdesk,theshadowspassingoverhisfaceasAprilcloudsflitacrossthesun。Hewasahandsomeman,andyoungfortheimportantposthefilled——beingscarcelyforty——agraduateofWestPoint,withgreatexecutiveability,andawonderfulengineer。\"Sitdown,chappies,\"saidhe;\"wehavestillahalfhourbeforeIbegintoreadthereportIamtomaketothestockholdersandrepresentativesofallthegovernments,whichisnowready。I
knowYOUsmoke,\"passingaboxofHavanastotheprofessor。
Prof。Cortlandt,LL。D。,UnitedStatesGovernmentexpert,appointedtoexaminethecompany\'scalculations,wasaboutfifty,withahighforehead,greyishhair,andquick,greyeyes,ageologistandastronomer,andaltogetherasableaman,inhisownway,asCol。Bearwardeninhis。RichardAyrault,alargestockholderandoneofthehonoraryvice—presidentsinthecompany,wasaboutthirty,auniversityman,bynatureascientist,andengagedtooneoftheprettiestsocietygirls,whowasthenastudentatVassar,inthebeautifultownofPoughkeepsie。
\"Knowingthewayyoucarrythingsinyourmind,andthedifficultyofrattlingyou,\"saidCortlandt,\"wehavedroppedinonourwaytohearthespeechthatIwouldnotmissforafortune。Letusknowifwebotheryou。\"
\"Impossible,dearboy,\"repliedthepresidentgenially。\"SinceI
survivedyourofficialinvestigations,IthinkIdeservesomeofyourattentioninformally。\"
\"Herearemyfinalexaminations,\"saidCortlandt,handingBearwardenarollofpapers。\"Ihavebeenoverallyourfigures,andtestifytotheiraccuracyintheappendixIhaveadded。\"
SotheysatandchattedabouttheenterprisethatinterestedCortlandtandAyraultalmostasmuchasBearwardenhimself。Astheclockstruckeleven,thepresidentofthecompanyputonhishat,and,sayingaurevoirtohisfriends,crossedthestreettotheOperaHouse,inwhichhewastoreadareportthatwouldbecopiedinallthegreatjournalsandheardoverthousandsofmilesofwireineverypartoftheglobe。Whenhearrived,thevastbuildingwasalreadyfilledwithadistinguishedcompany,representingthegreatestintelligence,wealth,andpowersoftheworld。Bearwardenwentinbythestageentrance,exchanginggreetingsashedidsowithofficersofthecompanyanddirectorswhohadcometohearhim。CortlandtandAyraultenteredbytheregulardoor,theformergoingtotheGovernmentrepresentatives\'
box,thelattertojoinhisfiancee,SylviaPreston,whowastherewithhermother。Bearwardenhadarollofmanuscriptathand,butsowelldidheknowhisspeechthathescarcelyglancedatit。Afterbeingintroducedbythechairmanofthemeeting,andseeingthathisaudiencewasallattention,hebegan,holdinghimselferect,hisclear,powerfulvoicemakingeverypartofthebuildingring。
CHAPTERIII。
PRESIDENTBEARWARDEN\'SSPEECH。
\"TotheBondholdersandStockholdersoftheTerrestrialAxisStraighteningCompanyandRepresentativesofEarthlyGovernments。
\"GENTLEMEN:Youknowthattheobjectsofthiscompanyare,tostraightentheaxisoftheearth,tocombinetheextremeheatofsummerwiththeintensecoldofwinterandproduceauniformtemperatureforeachdegreeoflatitudetheyearround。Atpresenttheearth\'saxis——thatis,thelinepassingthroughitscentreandthetwopoles——isinclinedtotheeclipticabouttwenty—threeandahalfdegrees。Oursummerisproducedbythenorthernhemisphere\'sleaningatthatangletowardsthesun,andourwinterbyitsturningthatmuchfromit。Inonecasethesun\'sraysarecausedtoshinemoreperpendicularly,andintheothermoreobliquely。Thiswabbling,likethatofatop,isthesolecauseoftheseasons;since,owingtotheeccentricityofourorbit,theearthisactuallyfifteenhundredthousandmilesnearerthesunduringourwinter,inthenorthernhemisphere,thaninsummer。Thatthereisnolimittoaplanet\'sinclination,andthatinclinationisnotessential,wehaveastronomicalproof。Venus\'saxisisinclinedtotheplaneofherorbitseventy—fivedegrees,sothatthearcticcirclecomeswithinfifteendegreesoftheequator,andthetropicsalsoextendtolatitudeseventy—fivedegrees,orwithinfifteendegreesofthepoles,producinggreatextremesofheatandcold。
\"Venusismadestillmoredifficultofhabitationbythefactthatsherotatesonheraxisinthesametimethatsherevolvesaboutthesun,inthesamewaythatthemoondoesabouttheearth,sothatonesidemustbeperpetuallyfrozenwhiletheotherisparched。
\"InUranusweseetheaxistiltedstillfurther,sothatthearcticcircledescendstotheequator。Themostvariedclimatemustthereforeprevailduringitsyear,whoselengthexceedseighty—oneofours。
TheaxisofMarsisinclinedabouttwenty—eightandtwothirdsdegreestotheplaneofitsorbit;consequentlyitsseasonsmustbeverysimilartoours,theextremesofheatandcoldbeingsomewhatgreater。
\"InJupiterwehaveanillustrationofaplanetwhoseaxisisalmostatrightanglestotheplaneofitsorbit,beinginclinedbutaboutadegreeandahalf。Thehypotheticalinhabitantsofthismajesticplanetmustthereforehaveperpetualsummerattheequator,eternalwinteratthepoles,andinthetemperateregionseverlastingspring。Onaccountofthestraightnessoftheaxis,however,eventhepolarinhabitants——ifthereareany——arenotoppressedbyasixmonths\'night,forallexceptthoseattheVERYpolehaveasunriseandasunseteverytenhours——theexactdaybeingninehours,fiftyfiveminutes,andtwenty—eightseconds。Thewarmthofthetropicsisalsotemperedbythehighwindsthatmustresultfromtherapidwhirlonitsaxis,everyobjectattheequatorbeingcarriedaroundbythisattherateof27,600milesanhour,oroverthreethousandmilesfartherthantheearth\'sequatormovesintwenty—fourhours。
\"TheinclinationoftheaxisofourownplanethasalsofrequentlyconsiderablyexceededthatofMars,andagainhasbeenbutlittlegreaterthanJupiter\'satleast,thisisbyalloddsthemostreasonableexplanationofthenumerousGlacialperiodsthroughwhichourglobehaspassed,andoftherecurringmildspells,probablylastingthousandsofyears,inwhichelephants,mastodons,andothersemi—tropicalvertebratesroamedinSiberia,someofwhichdiedsorecentlythattheirflesh,preservedbythecold,hasbeendevouredbythedogsofmodernexplorers。
\"ItisnottobesupposedthattheincliningoftheaxesofJupiter,Venus,theEarth,andtheotherplanets,isnowfixed;
insomecasesitisknowntobechanging。Aslongagoas1890,Major—Gen。A。W。Drayson,oftheBritishArmy,showed,inaworkentitledUntroddenGroundinAstronomyandGeology,that,asaresultofthesecondrotationoftheearth,theinclinationofitsaxiswaschanging,ithavingbeen23@28\'23\"onJanuary1,1750,23@27\'55。3\"onJanuary1,1800,and23@27\'30。9\"onJanuary1,1850;andbycalculationonehundredandtenyearsagoshowedthatin1900（onehundredyearsago）itwouldbe23@27\'
08。8\"。Thisnaturalstraighteningis,ofcourse,goingon,andwearemerelyabouttoanticipateit。Whenthisimprovementwasmooted,allagreedthattheEXTREMESofheatandcoldcouldwellbespared。\'Balancethoseofsummeragainstthoseofwinterbypartiallystraighteningtheaxis;reducetheinclinationfromtwenty—threedegrees,thirtyminutes,toaboutfifteendegrees,butletusstopthere,\'manysaid。Beforewehadgonefar,however,wefounditwouldbebesttomaketheworkcomplete。
ThiswillreclaimandmakeproductivethevastareasofSiberiaandthenorthernpartofthiscontinent,andwilldomuchfortheantarcticregions;buttherewillstillbechangeintemperature;
awindblowingtowardstheequatorwillalwaysbecolderthanoneblowingfromit,whiletheslighteccentricityoftheorbitwillsupplyenoughchangetoawakenrecollectionsofseasonsinoureternalspring。
\"Thewaytoaccomplishthisistoincreasetheweightofthepoleleavingthesun,byincreasingtheamountofmaterialthereforthesuntoattract,andtolightenthepoleapproachingorturningtowardsthesun,byremovingsomeheavysubstancefromit,andputtingitpreferablyattheoppositepole。Thisshiftingofballastismosteasilyaccomplished,asyouwillreadilyperceive,byconfiningandremovingwater,whichiseasilymovedandhasaconsiderableweight。Howwepurposetoapplytheseaqueousbrakestocheckthewabblingoftheearth,bymeansoftheattractionofthesun,youwillnowsee。
\"FromCommanderFillmore,oftheArcticShadeandtheCommitteeonBulkheadsandDams,Ihavejustreceivedthefollowingbycabletelephone:\'TheArcticOceanisnowinconditiontobepumpedoutinsummerandtohaveitsaveragedepthincreasedonehundredfeetbythedamsinwinter。Wehavealreadyfiftymillionsquareyardsofwindmillturbinesurfaceinpositionandreadytomove。ThecablesbringinguscurrentsfromthedynamosatNiagaraFallsareconnectedwithourmotors,andthosefromthetidaldynamosattheBayofFundywillbeincontactwhenthisreachesyou,atwhichmomentthepumpswillbegin。Inseveralofthelandlockedgulfsandbaysoursystemofconfiningissocomplete,thatthesurfaceofthewatercanberaisedtwohundredfeetabovesea—level。Thepolarbearswillsoonhavetouseartificialice。Perhapsthecheersnowringingwithoutmayreachyouoverthetelephone。\'\"
Theaudiencebecamegreatlyinterested,andwhentheendofthetelephonewasappliedtoamicrophonetheroomfairlyrangwithexultantcheers,andthoselookingthroughakintograph（visualtelegraph）terminatinginacameraobscuraontheshoresofBaffinBaywereabletoseeengineersandworkmenwavingandthrowinguptheircapsandfallingintooneanother\'sarmsinecstasiesofdelight。Whentheexcitementsubsided,thepresidentcontinued:
\"ChairmanWetmore,oftheCommitteeonExcavationsandEmbankmentsinWilkeslandandtheAntarcticContinent,reports:
\'Twohundredandfiftythousandsquaremilesarenowhollowedoutandenclosedsufficientlytoholdwatertoanaveragedepthoffourhundredfeet。Everysummer,whenthebasinisallowedtodrain,wecan,ifnecessary,extendourreservoir,andshallhavethebestseasonoftheyearfordoingworkuntiltheearthhaspermanentspring。Thoughwehavecomparativelylittlewaterortidalpower,theearth\'scrustissothinatthislatitude,onaccountoftheflattening,thatbysinkingourtubularboilersandpipestoadepthofafewthousandfeetwehavesecuredsoterrificavolumeofsuperheatedsteamthat,inconnectionwithourwindturbines,weshallhavenodifficultyinraisinghalfacubicmileofwateraminutetoourenclosure,whichisbutlittleabovesea—level,andintowhich,tillthepressureincreases,wecanfanorblowthewater,sothatitcanbefullthreeweeksafterourlongestday,or,sincethepresentunimprovedarrangementgivestheindigenesbutonedayandnightayear,Iwilladdthe21stdayofDecember。
\"\'WeshallbeabletofinduseformuchofthepotentialenergyofthewaterinthereservoirwhenweallowittoescapeinJune,inmeltingsomeoftheaccumulatedpolarice—cap,therebydecreasingstillfurthertheweightofthispole,inlightingandwarmingourselvesuntilwegetthesun\'slightandheat,inextendingtheexcavations,andinchargingthestoragebatteriesoftheshipsatthisendoftheline。Everythingwillbereadywhenyousignal\"Raisewater。\"\'\"
\"Letmeaddparenthetically,\"saidBearwarden,\"thatthismeansofobtainingpowerbysteamboilerssunktoagreatdepthismuchtobecommended;for,thoughtheamountofheatwecanwithdrawistoosmalltohavemucheffect,thefarthertowardsthecentreourglobecanbecooledthedeeperwillthewateroftheoceansbeabletopenetrate——sinceitisitsconversionintosteamthatpreventsthewaterfromworkingitswayinfarther——andthemoredrylandweshallhave。\"
\"Yousee,\"thepresidentcontinued,\"thestoragecapacityatthesouthpoleisnotquiteasgreatasatthenorth,becauseitismoredifficulttoexcavateabasinthantoclosetheexitsofonethatalreadyexists,whichiswhatwehavedoneinthearctic。
Theworkisalsonotsonearlycomplete,sinceitwillnotbenecessarytousethesouthernreservoirforstoringweightforsixmonths,oruntilthesouthpole,whichisnowatitsmaximumdeclinationfromthesun,isturnedtowardsitandbeginstomoveaway;then,byincreasingtheamountofmatterthere,andatthesametimelighteningthenorthpole,andreversingtheprocesseverysixmonths,wedecreasethespeedatwhichthedepartingpoleleavesthesunandatwhichtheapproachingpoleadvances。
Thenorthpole,wesee,willbeasomewhatmorepowerfulleverthanthesouthforworkingtheglobetoastraightposition,butwemaybesurethatthelatter,inconnectionwiththeformer,willbeabletoholdupitsend。\"
[Thebuildingherefairlyshookwithapplause,sothat,hadthearcticworkersusedthemicrophone,theymighthaveheardintheenthusiasticuproaragoodcounterpartoftheirownperiod。]
\"Ionlyregret,\"thepresidentcontinued,\"thatwhenwebeganthisworkthemostmarvellousforceyetdiscovered——apergy——wasnotsufficientlyunderstoodtobeutilized,foritwouldhaveeasedourlabourstothepointofalmosteliminatingthem。Butwehavethisconsolation:itwasinconnectionwithourworkthatitsapplicabilitywasdiscovered,sothathadweandallotherspostponedourgreatundertakingonthepretextofwaitingforanewforce,apergymighthavecontinuedtoliedormantforcenturies。Withthisforce,obtainedbysimplyblendingnegativeandpositiveelectricitywithelectricityofthethirdelementorstate,andchargingabodysufficientlywiththisfluid,gravitationisnullifiedorpartlyreversed,andtheearthrepelsthebodywiththesameorgreaterpowerthanthatwithwhichitstillattractsorattractedit,sothatitmaybesuspendedorcausedtomoveawayintospace。Sicituradastra,wemaysay。
Withthisforceandeverlastingspringbeforeus,whatmaywenotachieve？Wemaysomedaybeabletovisittheplanets,thoughmanymaysaythat,sincetheaxesofmostofthosewehaveconsideredaremoreinclinedthanours,theywouldratherstayhere。\'Blessedaretheythatshallinherittheearth,\'\"hewenton,turningafour—footglobewithitsaxissetverticallyandatrightanglestoayellowglobelabelled\"Sun\";andagainwaxingeloquent,headded:\"Wearetheinstrumentsdestinedtobringabouttheaccomplishmentofthatprophecy,forneverinthehistoryoftheworldhasmanrearedsosplendidamonumenttohisowngeniusashewillinstraighteningtheaxisoftheplanet。
\"Nooneneedhenceforthbetroubledbysuddenchange,andeverymancanhaveperpetuallytheclimatehedesires。NorthernEuropewillagainluxuriateinaclimatethatfavouredtheelephantsthatroamedinnorthernAsiaandSwitzerland。Toproducetheseanimalsandthefoodtheyneed,itisnotnecessarytohavegreatheat,butmerelytopreventgreatcold,halfthesummer\'ssunbeingabsorbedinmeltingthewinter\'saccumulationofice。