It remained to Ralph, however, to perfect the Hypnobioscope, which transmitted words direct to the sleeping brain, in such a manner that everything could be remembered in detail the next morning. This was made possible by having the impulses _act directly and steadily on the brain_. In other words, it was the Menograph reversed, with certain additions. Thus, while in a passive state, the mind absorbed the impressions quite readily and mechanically and a story "read" by means of the Hypnobioscope left a much stronger impression than if the same story had been read while conscious. For thousands of years humanity had wasted half of its life during sleep--the negative life. Since Ralph's invention, all this was changed. Not one night was lost by anyone if anywhere possible, conditions permitting. All books were read while one slept. _Most of the studying was done while one slept._ Some people mastered ten languages, during their sleep-life. Children who could not be successfully taught in school during their hours of consciousness, became good scholars if the lessons were repeated during their sleep-life. The morning "newspapers" were transmitted to the sleeping subscribers by wire at about 5 a.m. The great newspaper offices had hundreds of Hypnobioscopes in operation, the subscriber's wire leading to them. The newspaper office, notified by each subscriber what kind of news is desirable, furnished only such news. Consequently, when the subscriber woke up for breakfast he already knew the latest news, and could discuss it with his family, the members of which were also connected with the newspaper Hypnobioscope. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 1: At the time this was written there was no newspaper of that name.] 3 DEAD OR ALIVE? An apologetic cough came through the entrance to the laboratory. It was nearing one o'clock of the following day. Several minutes later it was repeated, to the intense annoyance of the scientist, who had left orders that he was not to be interrupted in his work under any circumstances. At the third "ahem!" he raised his head and stared fixedly at the empty space between the doorjambs. The most determined optimist could not have spelled welcome in that look. Peter, advancing his neck around the corner until one eye met that of his master, withdrew it hastily. "Well, what is it?" came from the laboratory, in an irritated harsh voice. Peter, in the act of retreating on tiptoe, turned, and once more cocked a solitary eye around the door-jamb. This one feature had the beseeching look of a dog trying to convey by his expression that not for worlds would he have got in the way of your boot. "Beg pardon, sir, but there's a young--" "Won't see him!" "But, sir, it's a young lady--" "I'm busy, get out!" Peter gulped desperately. "The young lady from--"