Book cases stood about the room filled with large folios,
which, as I observed from a few spread upon the table, were not printed
books, but filled with writing in a round, clear hand, legible at some
distance.
"But the most extraordinary feature of the room was a marvellous
colossal figure at one end of the room, in a recess richly hung with
green tapestries. It was cast in silver upon which dull shades and
frosted and polished surfaces were appropriately combined, as their
position required, in the portrayal of a Being of incredible benignity
of expression, attired in flowing robes with an outstretched hand, his
face invested with a harmonious union of power and sweetness. Beneath it
upon the enormous black pedestal the letters in silver were
conspicuous--Tarunta--the Deity. This amazing creation arrested the
attention of my friend Chapman, and myself, and we stood half
spell-bound under the influence of its seraphic and potent beauty.
"The next moment we were conscious of the throng filling the room. There
were many of the great physicists and chemists and astronomers and
observers whom I had seen at the breakfast in the Dining Hall the
previous morning with a few others who were the first men I had seen in
Mars wearing the expression of age. They almost seemed venerable. I
remembered then what I had learned on my arrival at the Patenta--that
age and death also supervene in Mars.
"I was observed at once, and friendly hands were extended to me from all
sides.
Pages:
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127