f our earth. The reports they
make from week to week of their inspection of the Solar system, and of
the commotions, changes, births and demolition of Stars, are the
sensations of Mars. These Reports are read aloud in the Halls of
Announcement and Recreation. But astounding beyond belief, they
photograph the surfaces of these distant bodies, and report in moving
pictures the disturbances of the cosmic universe. No wonder that the
whole Mind, as it were, of Mars is concentrated on the fabulous results
of their cosmic studies.

"We descended from Patenta Hill in an avenue that led between the white
columned houses with their spheres of Phosphori and their umbrageous
squares around them. It was a season of flowers, though I understood
that by the use of fertilizing injections the number of flowers in a
shrub and even in an herb can be here greatly multiplied. The windows of
the houses were open and their sills crowded with blossoms. The use of
the red blossoming vine was strangely extravagant. In many cases it had
thrown its branches over an entire house, clambering over the roof and
encircling the phosphoric cage, so that the white house was dissected by
its twigs and tendrils, while the red honeysuckle flowers depended in
clusters from the walls, the roof gutters, and the light house globes
above them.

"The Court of the Registeries was a long low structure made of the
prevalent white stone with a roof of what seemed to be red copper. It
was built upon one of the canals which here enter the city and formed
one side of a long pier or dock to which and from which interesting
little boats were constantly approaching and as constantly departing.

"A hum of business and everyday work surrounded the place, and it seemed
refreshing to note the stir and bustle of affairs. Streams of people
were entering the Court as we arrived. They were inhabitants and
watchers bringing the new incarnations to the Registeries to have their
origin recorded if they could recall it. Indeed many spirits fail
utterly to remember their former condition, and happen, as we might say,
upon Mars, unexplained and inexplicable. They even are without speech
and learn the Martian language as a child learns to talk.

"We pushed in with the jostling crowd, and even as I entered I could
hear the murmurous chant of the Chorus Halls, borne hither-ward on the
morning wind. It now seemed a long time, although but one day apparently
had elapsed since I sat, a tr