A Journey in Other Worlds: A Romance of the Future

by John Jacob Astor

  CHAPTER II.

  THE SPIRIT'S FIRST VISIT.

  "Greetings and congratulations," he said. "Man hassteadfastly striven to rise, and we see the results inyou."

  "I have always believed in the existence of spirits," saidCortlandt, "but never expected to see one with my natural eyes."

  "And you never will, in its spiritual state," replied the shade,"unless you supplement sight with reason. A spirit has merelyexistence, entity, and will, and is entirely invisible to youreyes."

  "How is it, then, that we see and hear you?" asked Cortlandt."Are you a man, or a spectre that is able to affect our senses?"

  "I WAS a man," replied the spirit, "and I have given myselfvisible and tangible form to warn you of danger. My colleaguesand I watched you when you left the cylinder and when you shotthe birds, and, seeing your doom in the air, have been trying tocommunicate with you."

  "What were the strange shadows and prismatic colours that keptpassing across our table?" asked Bearwarden.

  "They were the obstructions and refractions of light caused byspirits trying to take shape," replied the shade.

  "Do you mind our asking you questions?" said Cortlandt.

  "No," replied their visitor. "If I can, I will answer them."

  "Then," said Cortlandt, "how is it that, of the several spiritsthat tried to become embodied, we see but one, namely, you?"

  "That," said the shade, "is because no natural law is broken. Onearth one man can learn a handicraft better in a few days thananother in a month, while some can solve with ease a mathematicalproblem that others could never grasp. So it is here. Perhaps Iwas in a favourable frame of mind on dying, for the so-calledsupernatural always interested me on earth, or I had a naturalaptitude for these things; for soon after death I was able toaffect the senses of the friends I had left."

  "Are we to understand, then," asked Cortlandt, "that the reasonmore of our departed do not reappear to us is because theycannot?"

  "Precisely," replied the shade. "But though the percentage ofthose that can return and reappear on earth is small, theirnumber is fairly large. History has many cases. We know thatthe prophet Samuel raised the witch of Endor at the behest ofSaul; that Moses and Elias became visible in the transfiguration;and that after his crucifixion and burial Christ returned to hisdisciples, and was seen and heard by many others."

  "How," asked Bearwarden deferentially, "do you occupy your time?"

  "Time, replied the spirit, "has not the same significance to usthat it has to you. You know that while the earth rotates intwenty-four hours, this planet takes but about ten; and the sunturns on its own axis but once in a terrestrial month; while theyears of the planets vary from less than three months for Mercuryto Neptune's one hundred and sixty-four years. Being insensibleto heat and cold, darkness and light, we have no more changingseasons, neither is there any night. When a man dies," hecontinued with solemnity, "he comes at once into the enjoyment ofsenses vastly keener than any be possessed before. Our eyes--ifsuch they can be called--are both microscopes and telescopes, thechange in focus being effected as instantaneously as thought,enabling us to perceive the smallest microbe or disease-germ, andto see the planets that revolve about the stars. The step of afly is to us as audible as the tramp of a regiment, while we hearthe mechanical and chemical action of a snake's poison on theblood of any poor creature bitten, as plainly as the waves on theshore. We also have a chemical and electrical sense, showing uswhat effect different substances will have on one another, andwhat changes to expect in the weather. The most complex andsubtle of our senses, however, is a sort of second sight that wecall intuition or prescience, which we are still studying toperfect and understand. With our eyes closed it reveals to usapproaching astronomical and other bodies, or what is happeningon the other side of the planet, and enables us to view thefuture as you do the past. The eyes of all but the highestangels require some light, and can be dazzled by an excess; butthis attribute of divinity nothing can obscure, and it is thesense that will first enable us to know God. By means of thesenew and sharpened faculties, which, like children, we arecontinually learning to use to better advantage, we constantlyincrease our knowledge, and this is next to our greatesthappiness."

  "Is there any limit," asked Bearwarden, "to human progress on theearth?"

  "Practically none," replied the spirit. "Progress dependslargely on your command of the forces of Nature. At present yourprincipal sources of power are food, fuel, electricity, the heatof the interior of the earth, wind, and tide. From the first twoyou cannot expect much more than now, but from the internal heateverywhere available, tradewinds, and falling water, as atNiagara, and from tides, you can obtain power almost withoutlimit. Were this all, however, your progress would be slow; butthe Eternal, realizing the shortness of your lives, has given youpower with which to rend the globe. You have the action of alluncombined chemicals, atmospheric electricity, the excess orfroth of which you now see in thunderstorms, and the electricityand magnetism of your own bodies. There is also molecular andsympathetic vibration, by which Joshua not understandinglylevelled the walls of Jericho; and the power of your minds overmatter, but little more developed now than when I moved in theflesh upon the earth. By lowering large quantities ofhigh-powered explosives to the deepest parts of the ocean bed,and exploding them there, you can produce chasms through whichsome water will be forced towards the heated interior by theenormous pressure of its own weight. At a comparatively slightdepth it will be converted into steam and produce an earthquake.This will so enlarge your chasm, that a great volume of waterwill rush into the red-hot interior, which will cause a series ofsuch terrific eruptions that large islands will be upheaved. Bythe reduction of the heat of that part of the interior there willalso be a shrinkage, which, in connection with the explosions,will cause the earth's solid crust to be thrown up in folds tillwhole continents appear. Some of the water displaced by the newland will also, as a result of the cooling, be able permanentlyto penetrate farther, thereby decreasing by that much the amountof water in the oceans, so that the tide-level in your existingseaports will be but slightly changed. By persevering in thiswork, you will become so skilled that it will be possible toevoke land of whatever kind you wish, at any place; and by havinghigh table-land at the equator, sloping off into low plainstowards north and south, and maintaining volcanoes in eruption atthe poles to throw out heat and start warm ocean currents, itwill be possible, in connection with the change you are nowmaking in the axis, to render the conditions of life so easy thatthe earth will support a far larger number of souls.

  "With the powers at your disposal you can also alter and improveexisting continents, and thereby still further increase thenumber of the children of men. Perhaps with mild climate,fertile soil, and decreased struggle for existence, man willdevelop his spiritual side.

  "Finally, you have apergy, one of the highest forces, for it putsyou almost on a plane with angels, and with it you have alreadyvisited Jupiter and Saturn. It was impossible that man shouldremain chained to the earth during the entire life of his race,like an inferior animal or a mineral, lower even in freedom ofbody than birds. Heretofore you have, as I have said, seen butone side in many workings of Nature, as if you had discoveredeither negative or positive electricity, but not both; forgravitation and apergy are as inseparably combined in the rest ofthe universe as those two, separated temporarily on earth thatthe discovery of the utilization of one with the other mightserve as an incentive to your minds. You saw it in Nature onJupiter in the case of several creatures, suspecting it in theboa-constrictor and Will-o'-the-wisp and jelly-fish, and havestanding illustrations of it in all tailed comets-- luminosity inthe case of large bodies being one manifestation--in the rings ofthis planet, and in the molecular motion and porosity of allgases, liquids, and solids on earth; since what else is it thatkeeps the molecules apart, heat serving merely to increase itspower? God made man in his own image; does it not
stand toreason that he will allow him to continue to become more and morelike himself? Would he begrudge him the power to move mountainsthrough the intelligent application of Nature's laws, when hehimself said they might be moved by faith? So far you have beencontent to use the mechanical power of water, its momentum ordead weight merely; to attain a much higher civilization, youmust break it up chemically and use its constituent gases."

  "How," asked Bearwarden, "can this be done?"

  "Force superheated steam," replied the spirit, "through anintensely heated substance, as you now do in makingwater-gas--preferably platinum heated by electricity--apply anapergetic shock, and the oxygen and hydrogen will separate likeoil and water, the oxygen being so much the heavier. Lead themin different directions as fast as the water is decomposed--sinceotherwise they would reunite--and your supply of power will beinexhaustible."

  "Will you not stay and dine with us?" asked Ayrault. "While inthe flesh you must be subject to its laws, and must need food tomaintain your strength, like ourselves."

  "It will give me great pleasure," replied the spirit, "to tarrywith you, and once more to taste earthly food, but most of all tohave the blessed joy of being of service to you. Here, all beingimmaterial spirits, no physical injury can befall any of us; andsince no one wants anything that any one else can give, we haveno opportunity of doing anything for each other. You see weneither eat nor sleep, neither can any of us again know physicalpain or death, nor can we comfort one another, for every oneknows the truth about himself and every one else, and we read oneanother's thoughts as an open book."

  "Do you," asked Bearwarden, "not eat at all?

  "We absorb vitality in a sense," replied the spirit. "As the suncombines certain substances into food for mortals, it alsoproduces molecular vibration and charges the air with magnetismand electricity, which we absorb without effort. In fact, thereis a faint pleasure in the absorption of this strength, when, inmagnetic disturbances, there is an unusual amount of immortalfood. Should we try to resist it, there would eventually be agreater pressure without than within, and we should assimilateinvoluntarily. We are part of the intangible universe, and canfeel no hunger that is not instantly appeased, neither can weever more know thirst."

  "Why," asked Cortlandt reverently, " did the angel with the swordof flame drive Adam from the Tree of Life, since with his soul hehad received that which could never die?"

  "That was part of the mercy of God," the shade replied; "forimmortality could be enjoyed but meagrely on earth, where naturallimitations are so abrupt. And know this, ye who are somethingof chemists, that had Adam eaten of that substance called fruit,he would have lived in the flesh to this day, and would have beenof all men the most unhappy."

  "Will the Fountain of Youth ever be discovered?" asked Cortlandt.

  "That substances exist," replied the spirit, "that render itimpossible for the germs of old age and decay to lodge in thebody, I know; in fact, it would be a break in the continuity andbalance of Nature did they not; but I believe their discoverywill be coincident with Christ's second visible advent on earth.You are, however, only on the shore of the ocean of knowledge,and, by continuing to advance in geometric ratio, will soon beable to retain your mortal bodies till the average longevityexceeds Methuselah's; but, except for more opportunities of doinggood, or setting a longer example to your fellows by your lives,where would be the gain?

  "I now see how what appeared to me while I lived on earthinsignificant incidents, were the acts of God, and that what Ithought injustice or misfortune was but evidence of his wisdomand love; for we know that not a sparrow falleth without God, andthat the hairs of our heads are numbered. Every act of kindnessor unselfishness on my part, also, stands out like a goldenletter or a white stone, and gives me unspeakable comfort. Atthe last judgment, and in eternity following, we shall have verydifferent but just as real bodies as those that we possessed inthe flesh. The dead at the last trump will rise clothed in them,and at that time the souls in paradise will receive them also."

  "I wonder," thought Ayrault, "on which hand we shall be placed inthat last day."

  "The classification is now going on," said the spirit, answeringhis thought, "and I know that in the final judgment eachindividual will range himself automatically on his proper side."

  "Do tell me," said Ayrault, "how you were able to answer mythought."

  "I see the vibrations of the grey matter of your brain as plainlyas the movements of your lips"; in fact, I see the thoughts inthe embryonic state taking shape."

  When their meal was ready they sat down, Ayrault placing thespirit on his right, with Cortlandt on his left, and havingBearwarden opposite. On this occasion their chief had given thema particularly good dinner, but the spirit took only a slice ofmeat and a glass of claret.

  "Won't you tell us the story of your life," said Ayrault to thespirit, "and your experiences since your death? They would be oftremendous interest to us."

  "I was a bishop in one of the Atlantic States," replied thespirit gravely, "and died shortly before the civil war. Peoplecame from other cities to hear my sermons, and the biographicalwriters have honoured my memory by saying that I was a great man.I was contemporaneous with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay.Shortly after I reached threescore and ten, according to earthlyyears, I caught what I considered only a slight cold, for I hadalways had good health, but it became pneumonia. My friends,children, and grandchildren came to see me, and all seemed goingwell, when, without warning, my physician told me I had but a fewhours to live. I could scarcely believe my ears; and though, asa Churchman, I had ministered to others and had always tried tolead a good life, I was greatly shocked. I suddenly rememberedall the things I had left undone and all the things I intended todo, and the old saying, 'Hell is paved with good intentions,'crossed my mind very forcibly. In less than an hour I saw thephysician was right; I grew weaker and my pulse fluttered, but mymind remained clear. I prayed to my Creator with all my soul, 'Ospare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I gohence, and be no more seen.' As if for an answer, the thoughtcrossed my brain, 'Set thine house in order, for thou shalt notlive, but die.' I then called my children and made dispositionof such of my property and personal effects as were not coveredby my will. I also gave to each the advice that my experiencehad shown me he or she needed. Then came another wave of remorseand regret, and again an intense longing to pray; but along withthe thought of sins and neglected duties came also the memory ofthe honest efforts I had made to obey my conscience, and thesewere like rifts of sunshine during a storm. These thoughts, andthe blessed promises of religion I had so often preached in thechurches of my diocese, were an indescribable comfort, and savedme from the depths of blank despair. Finally my breathing becamelaboured, I had sharp spasms of pain, and my pulse almoststopped. I felt that I was dying, and my sight grew dim. Thecrisis and climax of life were at hand. 'Oh!' I thought, withthe philosophers and sages, 'is it to this end I lived? Theflower appears, briefly blooms amid troublous toil, and is gone;my body returns to its primordial dust, and my works are buriedin oblivion. The paths of life and glory lead but to the grave.'My soul was filled with conflicting thoughts, and for a momenteven my faith seemed at a low ebb. I could hear my children'sstifled sobs, and my darling wife shed silent tears. The thoughtof parting from them gave me the bitterest wrench. With myfleeting breath I gasped these words, 'That mercy I showedothers, that show thou me.' The darkened room grew darker, andafter that I died. In my sleep I seemed to dream. All aboutwere refined and heavenly flowers, while the most delightfulsounds and perfumes filled the air. Gradually the vision becamemore distinct, and I experienced an indescribable feeling ofpeace and repose. I passed through fields and scenes I had neverseen before, while every place was filled with an all-pervadinglight. Sometimes I seemed to be miles in air; countless suns andtheir planets shone, and dazzled my eyes, while nobird-of-paradise was as happy or free as I. Gradually it came tome that I was awake, and that it was no dr
eam. Then I rememberedmy last moments, and perceived that I had died. Death hadbrought freedom, my work in the flesh was ended, I was indeedalive.

  "'O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?'In my dying moments I had forgotten what I had so oftenpreached--'Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickenedexcept it die.' In a moment my life lay before me like a valleyor an open page. All along its paths and waysides I saw thelittle seeds of word and deed that I had sown extending andbearing fruit forever for good or evil. I then saw things asthey were, and realized the faultiness of my former conclusions,based as they had been on the incomplete knowledge obtainedthrough embryonic senses. I also saw the Divine purpose in lifeas the design in a piece of tapestry, whereas before I had seenbut the wrong side. It is not till we have lost the life in theflesh that we realize its dignity and value, for every hour givesus opportunities of helping or elevating some human being-- itmay be ourselves--of doing something in His service.

  "Now that time is past, the books are closed, and we can donothing further ourselves to alter our status for eternity,however much we may wish to. It is on this account, and notmerely to save you from death, which in itself is nothing, that Inow tell you to run to the Callisto, seal the doors hermetically,and come not forth till a sudden rush of air that you will see onthe trees has passed. A gust in which even birds drop dead, ifthey are unable to escape, will be here when you reach safety.Do not delay to take this food, and eat none of it when youreturn, for it will be filled with poisonous germs."

  "How can we find you? " asked Ayrault, grasping his hand. "Youmust not leave us till we know how we can see you again."

  "Think hard and steadfastly of me, you three," replied thespirit, "if you want me, and I shall feel your thought"; sayingwhich, he vanished before their eyes, and the three friends ranto the Callisto.