I paused at a star of variable magnitude in the Milky Way, but took only a passing glance at the physical wonders of this great sun, compared with which our own Sun is a mere pigmy.  Onward I hastened to one of the larger worlds of this solar system which, for my convenience, I will call Swift.

Here new wonders opened wide to my view.  Human beings, charmingly beautiful, moved over the face of the planet or on wings through the air at pleasure and with great ease.  These creatures are about three-fourths of our size, and are most gracefully formed.  Their whole physical appearance is more similar to a bird than to a human being of our Earth.  They are relatively much lighter than we, and are covered with nothing akin to feathers.

If you were to see them standing in their erect posture and walking with man-like dignity, you would at once feel that they are the lords of the creation on their world, and so indeed they are.

These ethereal creatures have the loveliest eyes of any human beings I ever beheld in any world.  They sparkle with the brilliancy of a diamond and move with the quickness of electricity.  The head is small but symmetrical and all physical proportions are most harmoniously adapted even to a nicety that would be pleasing to the most refined tastes of our world.

At first I could not understand how these people of Swift could travel so conveniently in the air, for their wings are very small and the exertion when flying is very limited.  But the lightness of the body, the heaviness of the air, and the unusual strength of the Swiftites, each conduces its share to the fortunate result.

In my thoughtlessness I envied these gifted people and wished that when I would return to my world, I could enjoy such privileges of flight.  I soon checked this rising covetousness, and again contentment flung over me its white mantle.

The bodies of these Swiftites are covered by nature with a clean growth of soft, silken hair.  They change their garments with the seasons, but at all times dress very sparingly and neatly.  They are so easily clothed that all their apparel occasions them no more trouble than the more seasonable covering of the head gives to our women.

The average length of life is nearly four hundred years of our time.  There are very few worlds in space where the general health of its inhabitants is as perfect as is found on this beautiful planet.  There are but few doctors because there is but little demand for them.  Those who are engaged are under government service, and all persons who are unfortunate enough to become ill receive at least all medicine and professional attention free.

We are quite an exceptional world in our medical system.  In all my journey I saw comparatively only a few worlds that have the private system of medical treatment.  Have we not noted the laboring husband bending at his toil for eight or ten hours to pay the physician who calls for a few minutes?  In some cases this program is continued for weeks, until the honest toiler finds himself confronted with a doctor’s bill and medicine bill to haunt him until the debt is either forgiven or paid at great sacrifice.