The Manatitlans: or, A record of recent scientific explorations in the Andean La Plata, S. A.Smile, R. Elton
Science
The Manatitlans: or, A record of recent scientific explorations in the Andean La Plata, S. A.
Smile, R. Elton
Science fiction, American
gratitude for the happiness I have enjoyed from your intuition, you can
rest assured of its strong impression in reciprocation.
H. BAUDOIS.
N. B. Since the above conclusion of my letter, I have visited and opened
a tumulus raised over the remains of a Roman woman. The inscription
engraved upon a stone covered by the mound, had been rendered nearly
illegible from detrition, but we were enabled to decipher, with an
approach to certainty, the following detached words: COR. * * * *, * * *
AUGUSTA * *. IB UXOR ⛳ * * * * * * *. ALLISSUIS. * * *. The distaff was
an emblem used for the commemoration of industrious habits when graved
in an upright position, but when trailed from a spun thread, it
indicated a gad-about reputation. Don Pedro will write you a particular
description of our joint labors. I will now stay my still overburdened
pen, to give my thoughts maturity for better expression. H. B.
* * * * *
As Mr. Welson read M. Baudois’s letter aloud with a slow, clear, and
distinct accentuation, it was intelligible to all, and elicited warm
encomiums, with a strong desire to listen to the reading of Don Pedro
Garcia’s, which we transcribe.
BUENOS AYRES.
QUERIDO DON GUILLERMO,—Since we received your letters describing your
marvelous adventures (which we believed, because we could not doubt the
truthful sincerity of your affection), we have been in a constant
flutter of joyous exhilaration, which has served to clear the murky
atmosphere of our household from its time-honored odors and rites of
instinctive religion. While bestirring ourselves for the relief of our
bodies with the labors of purification for domestic entertainment, we
(M. Baudois is now a member of our family) have employed our thoughts in
trying to anticipate the effect of your revelation in stemming the tide
of ritual selfishness. Also in measuring the extent of opposition and
consternation it will cause among the ceremonial adherents of sects
congregating for the worship of self-preservation while preying upon
each other. We have already felt a foreboding of its practical effect,
in demonstration, from our family incubus, Padre Molinero. By depriving
sects of their material heaven and hell,—upon which in positive and
negative entrance fee priestcraft has issued policies of insurance for
the soul of instinct from time out of date,—you will lay an eternal
embargo upon their selfish schemes of praying premiums. Indeed, in
sanguine forecast we can now see the gasping flutterings of saving grace
in its last ritualistic struggles for salvation from inevitable
oblivion, giving place to the glorious effulgence of an affectionate
immortality. As you can well imagine, I have but little to say in
extenuation for my past infatuation, other than that my reason and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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