I found as I had expected that the circumstances of my arrival occupied the place of honor. But what astonished me was to discover that the gist of my inquiries and the long explanations of Acquilla the night before were rendered with an amazing fidelity. I surmised that by some hidden recording device every word of our conversation had been transmitted. The portrait given of me was flattering, though certain liberties were taken with the amazement and admiration I had displayed for the marvels of the new civilization. But this I put down to the editorial tradition of local pride. The news of the day was given briefly without the embellishments to which we are accustomed; important discoveries in the social organization of Arcturus III made possible by the micro-photostatic enlargement of astronomical records; the launching of a new luminous fringe in the Paris fashions; the meeting of the Population Council in New Orleans to deal with an unforeseen outcrop of twins; the opening of the new Frigidrome in the tunnelled vaults of the Palisades, capable of accommodating a thousand new inmates, etc. There were talks on health, a description of a new symphony, the arrival of a hundred Scandinavian males and the excitement caused by their striking personal appearance. All this, while interesting, left me with a feeling of depression. I called Mag and said: “But isn’t there a man’s section; a sport page, you know? You don’t understand? Don’t men play football or baseball or golf or tennis? Isn’t there a world’s heavyweight champion?” “Yes, yes. I understand,” Mag replied vaguely. “Run-jump, you mean.” “Exactly. Run, jump, swim, you know.” “Oh yes, I know! Men run, men jump and they dance, oh, beautifully!” I gave a gesture of discouragement. “You make me fear the worst,” I said dejectedly. I rose. “Never mind. I’ll visit the grounds for a little walk and then return to the library.” When I stepped out onto the broad lawn a machinot was cutting the grass, seated on an electric machine which he guided so deftly that I watched entranced the mathematical inevitability of his movements.