On a lark to the planets: A sequel to "The wonderful electric elephant"Montgomery, Frances Trego
Science
On a lark to the planets: A sequel to "The wonderful electric elephant"
Montgomery, Frances Trego
Fantasy fiction; Interplanetary voyages -- Fiction; Science fiction
Later on Mercury said, “Before you leave the island I want you to see
the Palaces these people live in and the superb way in which they are
furnished, to say nothing of the magnificent grounds that surround
them.”
“You lead and we will gladly follow,” said the young people.
Talk of Aladdin’s Palace! It was a paperdoll’s house compared to these
enchanting palaces built of snow-white marble and crystal. Think of it!
One palace was built of emerald-colored, crystal-clear glass cut in
prisms joined in dainty designs to represent flowers and leaves. Being
cut in this manner, no one could look in to get a peep at the occupants;
but the sunbeams found their way throughout, the rooms and corridors
reflecting an exquisite golden-green light. This whole palace was held
together by wide bands of purest gold, which took the place of our
woodwork, while it was furnished throughout with the corresponding
magnificence of its structure; for instance, one drawing-room was
furnished in white velvet with jewel-set chair-frames of gold; another
in rare satin and velvet, while for pictures, mirrors, and statuary, it
had no equal on Earth or any of the other planets, for the Jupiter
people love to a marked degree splendor and magnificence.
There were many of these rainbow palaces all different in design, for it
is against the law for one to copy another in any way—from matters of
dress to those of homes and furnishings, each must have an original
design. In this way there is an opportunity for great display of taste
and individuality and one can tell at a glance from the outside of a
person’s home how rich the owner is in ideas, for the buildings and
surroundings will reflect his nature and tastes.
At the summit of a hill they saw a palace shining so brightly in the
sunlight that it looked like the sun itself. It was built of yellow
topaz. Another of sapphire surrounded by green foliage looked like a
bluebell hid in the woods, and so on until one could not tell which he
thought the most magnificent or desirable.
“Listen! I hear music!” exclaimed the Princess.
“What you hear,” said Mercury, “are the church bells that ring at
sunrise and at sunset. Are they not the sweetest-toned chimes you ever
listened to?”
“Indeed they are,” replied the Prince.
When the music of the bells had ceased, Mercury told them it was time to
start for Saturn as it would take some time to reach it even with their
magic robes, as it was out in space some seven hundred and eighty
million of miles away from the sun and they were only part way there,
Jupiter being but four hundred and twenty-six million miles distant from
the sun.
“As we travel there, Harold will tell you what a surprise we have for
you,” said the Prince.
“Oh, how nice, for if there is anything I enjoy it is a surprise,” said
the Princess. “I hope it is a nice one, though,” she added.
“Of course it is, or we would not tell you,” said the Prince.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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