a journey in other worlds-第54章
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case there is no natural manifestation of it on earth with which
to compare it。 While knowledge must be acquired here through
study； as on earth； the new senses we receive with the awakening
from death render the doing so easy； though with only the senses
we had before it would have been next to impossible。
〃At this moment snow is falling on the Callisto； but this you
could not know by seeing； and scarcely any degree of evolution
could develop your sight sufficiently； unassisted by death。 With
your instruments； however； you could already perceive it；
notwithstanding the intervening rocks。
〃Your research on earth is the best and most thorough in the
history of the race； and could we but give you suggestions as to
the direction in which to push it； the difference between
yourselves and angels might be but little more than that between
the number and intensity of the senses and the composition of the
body。 By the combination of natural laws you have rid yourselves
of the impediment of material weight； and can roam through space
like spirits； or as Columbus； by virtue of the confidence that
came with the discovery of the mariner's compass； roamed upon and
explored the sea。 You have made a good beginning； and were not
your lives so short； and their requirements so peremptory； you
might visit the distant stars。
〃I will show you the working of evolution。 Life sleeps in
minerals； dreams in plants； and wakes in you。 The rock worn by
frost and age crumbles to earth and soil。 This enters the
substance of the primordial plant； which； slowly rising； produces
the animal germ。 After that the way is clear； and man is evolved
from protoplasm through the vertebrate and the ape。 Here we have
the epitome of the struggle for life in the ages past； and the
analogue of the journey in the years to come。 Does not the
Almighty Himself make this clear where He says through his
servant Isaiah； 'Behold of these stones will I raise up
children'？and the name Adam means red earth。 God； having
brought man so far； will not let evolution cease； and the next
stage of life must be the spiritual。〃
〃Can you tell us anything；〃 asked Ayrault； 〃concerning the bodies
that those surviving the final judgment will receive？〃
〃Notwithstanding the unfolding of knowledge that has come to us
here；〃 replied the spirit； 〃there are still some subjects
concerning which we must look for information to the inspired
writers in the Bible； and every gain or discovery goes to prove
their veracity。 We know that there are celestial bodies and
bodies terrestrial； and that the spiritual bodies we shall
receive in the resurrection will have power and will be
incorruptible and immortal。 We also know by analogy and reason
that they will be unaffected by the cold and void of space； so
that their possessors can range through the universe for
non…nillions and decillions of miles； that they will have
marvellous capacities for enjoying what they find； and that no
undertaking or journey will be too difficult； though it be to the
centre of the sun。 Though many of us can already visit the
remote regions of space as spirits； none can as yet see God； but
we know that as the sight we are to receive with our new bodies
sharpens； the pure in heart will see Him； though He is still as
invisible to the eyes of the most developed here as the ether of
space is to yours。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
CASSANDRA AND COSMOLOGY。
The water…jug being empty； Ayrault took it up； and； crossing the
ridge of a small hill； descended to a running…brook。 He had
filled it； and was straightening himself； when the stone on which
he stood turned； and he might have fallen； had not the bishop； of
whose presence he had been unaware； stretched out his hand and
upheld him。
〃I thought you might need a little help；〃 he said with a smile；
〃and so walked beside you； though you knew it not。 Water is
heavy； and you may not yet have become accustomed to its
Saturnian weight。〃
〃Many thanks； my master；〃 replied Ayrault； retaining his hand。
〃Were it not that I am engaged to the girl I love； and am
sometimes haunted by the thought that in my absence she may be
forgetting me； I should wish to spend the rest of my natural life
here； unless I could persuade you to go with me to the earth。〃
〃By remaining here；〃 replied the spirit； with a sad look； 〃you
would be losing the most priceless opportunities of doing good。
Neither will I go with you； but； as your distress is real； I will
tell you of anything happening on earth that you wish to know。〃
〃Tell me； then； what the person now in my thoughts is doing。〃
〃She is standing in a window facing west； watering some
forget…me…nots with a small silver sprinkler which has a ruby in
the handle。〃
〃Can you see anything else？〃
〃Beneath the jewel is an inscription that runs：
'By those who in warm July are born
A single ruby should be worn；
Then will they be exempt and free
From love's doubts and anxiety。'〃
〃Marvellous！ Had I any doubts as to your prescience and power；
they would be dispelled now。 One thing more let me ask； however：
Does she still love me？〃
〃In her mind is but one thought； and in her heart is an
imagethat of the man before me。 She loves you with all her
soul。〃
〃My most eager wish is satisfied； and for the moment my heart is
at rest；〃 replied Ayrault； as they turned their steps towards
camp。 〃Yet； such is my weakness by nature； that； ere twenty…four
hours have passed I shall long to have you tell me again。〃
〃I have been in love myself；〃 replied the spirit； 〃and know the
feeling； yet to be of the smallest service to you gives me far
more happiness than it can give you。 The mutual love in paradise
exceeds even the lover's love on earth； for it is only those that
loved and can love that are blessed。
〃You can hardly realize；〃 the bishop continued； as they rejoined
Bearwarden and Cortlandt； 〃the joy that a spirit in paradise
experiences when； on reopening his eyes after passing death；
which is but the portal； he finds himself endowed with sight that
enables him to see such distances and with such distinctness。
The solar system； with this ringed planet； its swarm of
asteroids； and its intra…Mercurial planetsone of which； Vulcan；
you have already discoveredis a beautiful sight。 The planets
nearest the sun receive such burning rays that their surfaces are
red…hot； and at the equator at perihelion are molten。 These are
not seen from the earth； because； rising or setting almost
simultaneously with the sun； they are lost in its rays。 The
great planet beyond Neptune's orbit is perhaps the most
interesting。 This we call Cassandra； because it would be a
prophet of evil to any visitor from the stars who should judge
the solar system by it。 This planet is nearly as large as
Jupiter； being 80；000 miles in diameter； but has a specific
gravity lighter than Saturn。 Bode's law； you know； says； Write
down 0； 3； 6； 12； 24； 48； 96。 Add 4 to each； and get 4； 7； 10；
16； 28； 52； 100； and this series of numbers represents very
nearly the relative distances of the planets from the sun。
According to this law； you would expect the planet next beyond
Neptune to be about 5；000；000；000 miles from the sun。 But it is
about 9；500；000；000； so that there is a gap between Neptune and
Cassandra； as between Mars and Jupiter； except that in
Cassandra's case there are no asteroids to show where any planet
was； we must； then； suppose it is an exception to Bode's law； or
that there was a planet that has completely disappeared。 As
Cassandra would be within the law if there had been an
intermediary planet； we have good prima facie reason for
believing that it existed。 Cassandra takes； in round numbers； a
thousand years to complete its orbit； and from it the sun； though
brighter； appears no larger than the earth's evening or morning
star。 Cassandra has also three large moons； but these； when
full； shine with a pale…grey light； like the old moon in the new
moon's arms； in that terrestrial phenomenon when the earth； by
