On this sphere man is extraordinarily intelligent.  He is almost totally ignorant of anything akin to astronomy, although some of the greater scholars have ventured the theory that there might be other worlds containing human life, providing there be fire enough to sustain them.

In some other particulars, these star-creatures have made astonishing progress.  They believe that the time is coming when the fires of their world will be blown out and all life become extinct.  This they would call, in our language, the coming Judgment when every human being that ever lived will receive his just recompense of reward.

With interest I studied the manner of government, and the admirable system of education which is the secret of their progress.

I made a special effort to ascertain whence this sun receives its continued supply of fuel.  The question had often perplexed my mind when I gazed toward our Sun from the shores of our world.  None of the theories advanced by our scientists and astronomers fully satisfied my mind.  And now I looked and studied in vain.  Although the awful burnings had been in progress for thousands of years, I could see no fuel that was added to the flames.  Hence I was driven to believe that Alpha Centaurus was on fire and was gradually being consumed; this must be true of all the stars that bedeck the canopy of Heaven.

The inconstancy of this star’s surface is the greatest menace to its inhabitants.  At times the solid crusts break in the contracting of the surface.  All this makes terrible havoc, but the new generations take fresh courage and pluckily restore the fallen habitations.

One of the luxuries enjoyed by these fire beings at certain times is to get where the chemical action of heat is at a low ebb.  That has a similar effect upon them as calming our nerves has upon us.

One of the great inventions consists in an instrument that neutralizes this chemical action of heat even where it is most intense.  It is a common sight to see creatures basking under one of these instruments in a somewhat comatose state.  The inventor of this instrument is worshiped almost as a god.

One of the most startling inventions of all is a machine that counteracts gravity.  This, to my mind, is the greatest invention I had yet seen, and, strange to say, these fire creatures know nothing about means of propulsion except by hand power.  If you were able to stand on the seething furnace of Alpha Centaurus, you would see these machines rise far into the shooting fire and beyond, as far as occupants can go without freezing to death.  Then at a reverse of the lever you would see the mysterious car descend.