[Footnote 29: Page 1, _Reader's Digest_, January 1950 issue. "How Harmful Are Cigarettes," by Roger William Riis.] [Footnote 30: _Reno Evening Gazette_, March 10, 1947.] [Footnote 31: _Nevada State Journal_, July 21, 1949.] CHAPTER VIII _False Civilization_ _Quos Deus vult perders dementat prius._ _Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad._ Sun-Rank Banard asked me if it would be convenient for us to make an all around planet tour of visits to their different continents and races. They all would like to welcome you before your departure. We not only accepted the invitations for the tour but three of us also volunteered to speak at the presidential banquet, so I handed in their names to Sun-Rank Banard. Next morning early we boarded our excursion plane for the first itinerary of our tour. After landing at a large airport of another beautiful large city, we were welcomed by their greeting committee, with their band playing our national anthem, and our other triumphal marching songs; while we were marching in a file to their large stadium. Big crowds on both sides of our route and a great many body flyers overhead, all noisily welcomed and respectfully saluted us. Their decorated large stadium was packed to capacity of over one hundred thousand persons. With the band leading us all around inside the arena, we were greeted with loud cheering and sprinkled with beautiful flowers, and all of them in their Martian language, wishing me Bon Voyage, with my safe and quick return. After marching around a couple of times, we were led to a large outstandingly decorated front lower seating box, where we were received in a most friendly and cordial manner by their dignitaries who asked us to sit among them. They then started their very interesting athletic games, and body flying stunts. All that day and until we boarded our airship, they outdid themselves to entertain, to make us comfortable, and to show us around. It took us a whole week with many stops to circle the globe; we were treated, and received everywhere with the greatest honor and acclaim. We arrived back in Amboria in time to bathe, rest, and get ourselves ready for the evening banquet appointment. Sun-Rank Banard with about a dozen of high rank officials arrived in a large plane to escort us to the Presidential home. The grandeur of the building, without a single guard, and the marvelous outside, and inside decorations of that sumptuous palace, as well as its large magnificent banquet hall and table service with the richly dressed large assembly of notables was a beautiful and unforgettable sight.