We flew over a large territory of the so-called light side of the
Moon. The heat upon this side was terrific, yet the ship was of normal
temperature, very comfortable.
There is one thing we have noticed about these Martonians. They are so
friendly and so comfortable to be with that we feel we have known them
all of our lives. Dr. Johnston has been taken in by these scientists
as though he was an old classmate of theirs and their ship laboratory
has been opened to his use in any way he desires it. The servants
are treated with the same respect as every other man in the ship was
given yet they were servants in every degree. They were very attentive
concerning the comforts and wishes of all, asking every few minutes if
we were thirsty or desired anything.
After one such inquiry we asked if it would be proper for us to smoke
in the ship. No one understood what we meant by smoking, for cigarettes
were unknown to them, but we were told that if that was our pleasure,
it was proper. So we smoked. They were all very much interested in the
procedure and asked us what was the reason of it, and does everybody on
Earth smoke?
As is customary where we came from, we offered cigarettes to all of
them but only one of their scientists accepted. He didn't want to smoke
but he was interested because here was something new to him. Each
one of us smoked a different make cigarette, so we gave one of each
make to him. He went to the back of the ship and analyzed them in his
laboratory.
When he came back he looked at us with a sort of surprised expression
and said, "I can't understand how you men succeeded in getting to the
Moon, but I do understand why you can't get our messages if all of
your men on Earth smoke these things. This weed which is wrapped up
in this paper, as well as the paper itself, has a paralyzing chemical
in it which dulls the brain. That is why the brain of the Earth man is
not more alert: it is in a sort of stupor. We scientists on Mars could
never indulge in things like these, for if we did we could never make
the discoveries we have made. If our people used this weed they would
be going mad and we could not have the peace and harmony which we now
have throughout our planet. Instead, confusion would take the place of
understanding, for a stupor brain cannot conceive things clearly."
They were not criticizing us, only analyzing differences between our
habits and theirs. If we wanted to smoke, it was still all right with
them. So we felt no resentment.
During all this, we were heading straight for Mars at the speed of one
and a half million miles per hour, flying on her light beam and the
ship kept in contact with Mars steadily.
Noting our interest in their constant communication with planet Mars,
our host suggested that we might like to try contacting the Earth with
their instruments.
Both Johnny and George replied with an enthusiastic, "Yes."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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