bands with such ease that a new fear possessed all of those around me.
I then gave them positive assurance that I would harm no one and urged
that all should be silent as I wished to speak a few words to them.
Never before had I a more attentive audience. I addressed them in a
natural manner, informing them that I desired to become familiar with a
few of their forms and customs of life. I then proceeded to give them a
description of the world whence I had come. My audience became
enthusiastic and I decided to cease speaking.
The chief, although greatly agitated, still kept his hand on the
throttle of the occasion. He waved the surging crowd back, demanded
order and at once sent his arrowed questions at me again.
"Are you not a god?" cried he.
"I am only human."
"How could you have such power as to reach our world?"
"That I cannot explain."
"How many people live on your world?"
"One and one-half billion," I answered.
"Are they all pure-minded?"
I answered that I was pained to inform them that many of our inhabitants
are wicked.
My listeners were still incredulous as to my identity. They were
positive that I was a visiting spirit on a mission of evil or good, and
they urged that I should disclose the purpose of my commission.
I re-affirmed my past utterances and, turning to the chief more
directly, I informed him that he would see me no more. Then, without
pausing another moment, I vanished. As I went, I looked backward to see
the mystified countenances of all who were in the room, and then
proceeded to visit the surrounding city to examine the system under
which it is governed.
I found that the bulk of the trade is controlled by the city, one class
of goods being kept at one place in suitable store houses. The city owns
a full line of vehicles resembling our automobiles. These are very
spacious. Each one is supplied with certain lines of merchandise and
passes over an unalterable rail route at its own fixed period.
Thus all parts of the city are reached with the necessaries of life.
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