The past religion of these giants is not even on a par with idolatry.  There are many saints sleeping in their graves, bright remnants of the time of the old civilization and religion.

Amidst all this present moral wreck of humanity, there are a few indications that point to better times.  The nobler people of Scum are banding together with the avowed purpose of bringing back the light of culture and refinement.  But it will require several thousand years of determined effort to climb to the height from whence their ancestors were cruelly and thoughtlessly dragged.

CHAPTER XV.

A World of Highest Invention.

After my profitable stay in this immense solar system in the Milky Way, I crossed the vast dome of the heavens and lighted on Sirius, the brightest star in all the canopy of night.  Here I found the fire life of Alpha Centaurus repeated, but I did not pause to study the odd phases presented to my view.

Onward I moved to survey the remarkable systems of worlds that revolve around Sirius.  It is a veritable medley of planets, large and small, inhabited and barren, sinless, sinful and millennial.  A little universe packed in a nutshell, figuratively speaking.

The orb of this group that first held my attention is very notable indeed.  I have labeled it “High Invention,” and it is still entitled to that distinction.  It revolves around Sirius at a distance of seven million miles and is thirty-three times as large as our world, with physical features and climate quite dissimilar.

Here, in this world of ours, we are proud of the wonderful genius displayed by our inventors, and is not this conceit pardonable?

If this world should stand and inventive genius continue at its present compound rate of progress, what may we expect to see a hundred or a thousand years hence?  Now imagine yourself looking down upon a world where the highest inventive skill is found.  Such was my privilege at this time in the course of my universal journey.

This surprising world is inhabited by a persevering race of human beings, among whom are a large number of illustrious characters who walk in the light of ten thousand years of human achievements.

It need not be said that I was intensely interested in the study of this phenomenal world which I will call Ploid.  I went from one portion of the planet to another, continually remaining invisible.  After I had witnessed the unequaled sights, I paused to complete my memoranda and now, as I review my jottings, I am at a loss to know what few things I should select to try to make intelligible to my fellow-men who live on this infinitesimal speck which is our world.  First, let me call attention to: 

THEIR TRIUMPHS IN THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM.

The people of Ploid have in their possession a remarkable line of fertilizers, not in the form of ground bones, but acidulous juices.  These juices were improved for three thousand years until there was a particular liquid suited to each separate class of vegetables.