A journey in other worlds by John Jacob Astor

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[Illustration: The Callisto and the Comet.]

A JOURNEY IN OTHER WORLDS

A ROMANCE OF THE FUTURE

JOHN JACOB ASTOR

with Ten Illustrations

PREFACE.

The protracted struggle between science and the classics appears to be drawing to a close, with victory about to perch on the banner of science, as a perusal of almost any university or college catalogue shows. While a limited knowledge of both Greek and Latin is important for the correct use of our own language, the amount till recently required, in my judgment, has been absurdly out of proportion to the intrinsic value of these branches, or perhaps more correctly roots, of study. The classics have been thoroughly and painfully threshed out, and it seems impossible that anything new can be unearthed. We may equal the performances of the past, but there is no opportunity to surpass them or produce anything original. Even the much-vaunted "mental training" argument is beginning to pall; for would not anything equally difficult give as good developing results, while by learning a live matter we kill two birds with one stone? There can be no question that there are many forces and influences in Nature whose existence we as yet little more than suspect. How much more interesting it would be if, instead of reiterating our past achievements, the magazines and literature of the period should devote their consideration to what we do NOT know! It is only through investigation and research that inventions come; we may not find what we are in search of, but may discover something of perhaps greater moment. It is probable that the principal glories of the future will be found in as yet but little trodden paths, and as Prof. Cortlandt justly says at the close of his history, "Next to religion, we have most to hope from science."

CONTENTS.

BOOK I.

CHAPTER

I.-JUPITER. II.-ANTECEDENTAL III.-PRESIDENT BEARWARDEN'S SPEECH IV.-PROF. CORTLANDT'S HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE WORLD IN A.D. 2000 V.-DR. CORTLANDT'S HISTORY CONTINUED VI.-FAR-REACHING PLANS VII.-HARD AT WORK VIII.-GOOD-BYE

BOOK II.

I.-THE LAST OF THE EARTH II.-SPACE AND MARS III.-HEAVENLY BODIES IV.-PREPARING TO ALIGHT V.-EXPLORATION AND EXCITEMENT VI.-MASTODON AND WILL-O'-THE-WISP VII.-AN UNSEEN HUNTER VIII.-SPORTSMEN'S REVERIES IX.-THE HONEY OF DEATH X.-CHANGING LANDSCAPES XI.-A JOVIAN NIAGARA XII.-HILLS AND VALLEYS XIII.-NORTH-POLAR DISCOVERIES XIV.-THE SCENE SHIFTS

BOOK III.

I.-SATURN II.-THE SPIRIT'S FIRST VISIT III.-DOUBTS AND PHILOSOPHY IV.-A PROVIDENTIAL INTERVENTION V.-AYRAULT'S VISION VI.-A GREAT VOID AND A GREAT LONGING VII.-THE SPIRIT'S SECOND VISIT VIII.-CASSANDRA AND COSMOLOGY IX.-DR. CORTLANDT SEES HIS GRAVE X.-AYRAULT XI.-DREAMLAND TO SHADOWLAND XII.-SHEOL XIII.-THE PRIEST'S SERMON XIV.-HIC ILLE JACET XV.-MOTHER EARTH

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