We were so intent in our conversation that I was surprised when she told me that we had reached the center. I have seldom on earth covered such a distance in such a short time. I did not feel tired; it was a pleasure to walk on the resilient pavements. We were at the edge of a large lake where a great many people were resting, sitting alongside or rowing in all kinds of boats. Rainbow-colored fishes, of sizes up to 18 inches, freely and fearlessly and swiftly glided in the water among all kinds of beautiful swimming birds. Xora pointed to an island in the center of the lake with a very large pavilion. "Our Symphony Orchestra plays there in the late afternoon tea period, and after dinner in the evening. This lake-shore is very popular with our people. Others in their homes or sick in hospitals hear it over their radios. "There are three large artificial lakes here. The round center one is the largest. The two oval ones at each end are both larger than your New York Central Park. In the winter time they are covered with young and old people skating and playing ice games. All about the edges of this center are located our libraries, museums, opera houses, theatres, hotels, stadiums, universities, theological seminary, dance halls, and public buildings, as well as the stately building of our Supreme Council of the Planet Mars." "Where are your temples of worship, and to what kind of religion do you people profess?" "Our temples for religious services are located in this city within this center. In our monotheistic religion we are not like you on Earth with your many religious faiths which cause disruptions." So I said, "I recall reading an article by Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick, in which he said we must face the fact that religion has helped make the world a mess. Fosdick is a well-known writer and thinker. He said that religious differences and prejudices set man against man. Instead of unifying mankind, religion seems to divide it."[17] "That's very true," Xora replied. "And at the same time your Earth babel of over 2,500 languages divide your people too. Here in Mars with a universal language and a universal deity we can come close to the ideal of man understanding man." "What kind of athletic games do you people indulge in?" I asked. "Now coming back to this center; at both ends and middle sides of it, we have large stadiums, each seating one hundred thousand persons. We have games like your football, baseball, basketball, tennis, running, figure skating, hockey. We also have our own body flying stunts, for physical upbuilding and enjoyment. Large exhibitions, performances, and circuses often take place here, but with no brutal, hazardous and dangerous feats, such as your boxing, wrestling, high trapeze swinging, wire rope walking, rodeos, bull fighting, or wild animal training spectacles.