Leaving the Soldiers' Club, _Mr. Punch_ and Father TIME continued their journey. They had not proceeded far, when the A.D.C. invited them to enter a building known as the Museum. "It really is a most useful and interesting institution," said the officer of the Planet Mars. "Here, you see, we have portrait models of the officer of the past and present. In the past, you will notice, he sacrificed everything to athletic sports--if he could fence, shoot, hunt, and play cricket, polo, and football, he was quite satisfied. His successor of to-day devotes all his time to study. He must master the higher branches of mathematics before he is considered fit to inspect the rear-rank of a company, and know the modern languages before he can be entrusted with the command of a left half-battalion. Here again we have the uniform of an officer in peace and war--swagger and gold lace on the one side, and stern simplicity and kharki on the other." In another room _Mr. Punch_ and Father TIME discovered that everyone was fast asleep. There was a Cabinet Minister supported by two minor officials--all three of them absolutely unconscious. There were any number of Generals decorated from belt to neck--any quantity of higher-grade clerks--one and all slumbering: "This is called the Intelligence Department of the Army," explained the A.D.C. "You have nothing like it in England?" "Nothing!" returned _Mr. Punch_, as he disappeared. * * * * * VISIT TO MERCURY. [Illustration] Mr. Punch and Father Time were once again whirling on their way through boundless space. They were approaching their next destination, and the dark globe of the planet had just come into view on the horizon. Rapidly it increased in size as they neared it, and the seas and continents could be easily traced. "Dear me?" exclaimed _Mr. Punch_. "Why, I declare if there is not something written upon it!" and he put up his binoculars, "Why, it is nothing more nor less than a big advertisement. Looks like humbug," he continued. "What's the name of the Planet, eh?" "Mercury," replied Father TIME, with cheery spirit; "and with that device they try to catch the eye of a passing Comet." "Hum--they won't catch me!" observed the Sage, brightly. "I brought my truth-compeller with me--a little, patent, electrical hypnotic arrangement, in the shape of this ring"--he showed it as he spoke. "I have only to turn it on my finger, and it obliges anyone who may be addressing me instantly to speak the truth."