"And if there
isn't a dozen of them!"
"And yet," continued the astronomer, "there are sordid wretches in
this crowd who hang to ten cents in preference to observing such
sights as these in ethereal space. Venus is millions of miles away,
and yet by means of this telescope and by paying ten cents this
intellectual young man is enabled to observe the inhabitants of that
far-off world hugging each other just as natural as they do in this!"
The instrument was wheeled around to bear on the tower of the
engine-house some distance away, and the astronomer, continued:--
"Behold the beauties and the wonders of Saturn! This star, to the
naked eye, appears no larger than a pin's point, and yet for the
paltry sum of ten cents this noble young man is placed within one
mile of it!"
"Well, this beats all!" murmured the young man, as he slapped his
leg.
"Tell me what you see, my friend."
"I see two fellows in a small room, smoking cigars and playing
chess!" was the prompt reply.
"Saturn is 86,000,000 of miles from this town," continued the
astronomer, "and yet the insignificant sum of ten cents has enabled
this progressive young man to learn for himself that the celestial
beings enjoy themselves pretty much as we do in this world.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236