A few steps around a projecting bluff brought us within sight of what appeared to me a magnificent palace of alabaster.  This palace I soon learned was a hotel, or place of resort for travellers.

In ascending its polished steps I was met by some half dozen persons whom I had known.  You may be sure a wonderful handshaking ensued.  We remained here but a few moments, partook of refreshments, and then proceeded to the court-yard, where I was told a car awaited to carry us to our destination.

The car seemed to be a frame-work, apparently of silver wire.  We now comfortably seated ourselves, when two large wings struck out from it like those of some great condor.  We moved rapidly over the acclivity.  This is a new way of crossing the mountains, thought I; I will have to introduce it in the Sierra Nevada and Colorados.

I inquired how the machine was propelled, and was informed, “Simply by a chemical arrangement similar to your galvanic battery.”

You may conceive my astonishment when we descended into a park of a vast city.

“My God!” exclaimed I, “it cannot be that I am in the spirit world!  Why, look at the houses and churches, and temples!  What magnificent buildings!” But I must say the material alone struck me as something sublime and unearthly.  So transparent and rich in color, reflecting light as if through a veil or mist!  “This caps all,” said I, as doctors and lawyers, artists and authors, whom I had known, stepped up to greet me, smiling and full of life.  “Why, how is this?” “Is this you?” “Where did you come from?” Questions like these came from all sides.  Francis and Brady, Willis, Morris, and a host of New Yorkers who had slipped out of sight and almost out of mind, now gathered around me as if by miracle.  I rubbed my eyes in wonder.  Spying Brown, I cried out, “Why, how is this, Brown?  It can’t be that I am in heaven!  Do you have such things here?  Houses, stores, and works of art on every side?”

“Yes; people must live,” said he, “wherever they be.”

“And are men here the same, with all their faculties?” I asked.

“Yes; why not?  Have you any you’d like to lose?”

I shook my head and walked on absorbed in thought.  And are all our paraphernalia for funerals, our solemn black, and our long prayers but useless ceremonies?  Why, according to this, the beliefs of the Chinese, Hottentot, African, and Indian are nearer the truth than our civilized creeds!

I find that there are few things in which society in this world so much differs from that of earth as in its social and political arrangements.

All the great system of living for appearances, and the habit of self-deception whereby men live outwardly what their secret lives disavow, are here entirely done away with.

In the first place the marriage relations differ materially from those of earth, and no false sentiment nor custom, nor religious belief, holds together as companions those who are dissimilar in their nature.  Neither do men crucify their tastes and feelings from a mistaken idea of duty.