ciently developed in the proper direction, they comprehend it
instantly, by a kind of divine instinct."

But among the women of Mars, we saw none of these curious, and to our
eyes monstrous, differences of development. While the men received,
in addition to their special education, a broad general culture also,
with the women there was no special education. It was all general in
its character, yet thorough enough in that way. The consequence was
that only female brains upon Mars were entirely well balanced. This was
the reason why we invariably found the Martian women to be remarkably
charming creatures, with none of those physical exaggerations and uncouth
developments which disfigured their masculine companions.

All the books of the Martians, we ascertained, were books of history and
of poetry. For scientific treatises they had no need, because, as I have
explained, when the brains of those intended for scientific pursuits had
been developed in the proper way the knowledge of nature's laws came to
them without effort, as a spring bubbles from the rocks.

One word of explanation may be needed concerning the failure of the
Martians, with all their marvellous powers, to invent electrical ships
like those of Mr. Edison and engines of destruction comparable with our
disintegrators. This failure was simply due to the fact that on Mars
there did not exist the peculiar metals by the combination of which
Mr. Edison had been able to effect his wonders. The theory involved in
our inventions was perfectly understood by them, and had they possessed
the means, doubtless they would have been able to carry it into practice
even more effectively than we had done.

After two or three days all the preparations having been completed,
the signal was given for our departure. The men of science were still
unwilling to leave this strange world, but Mr. Edison decided that we
could linger no longer.

At the moment of starting a most tragic event occurred. Our fleet was
assembled around the palace, and the signal was given to rise slowly to a
considerable height before imparting a great velocity to the electrical
ships. As we slowly rose we saw the immense crowd of giants beneath us,
with upturned faces, watching our departure. The Martian monarch and all
his suite had come out upon the terrace of the palace to look at us. At
a moment when he probably supposed himself to be unwatched he shook his
fist at the retreating fleet. My eyes and