Another World eBook

Benjamin Lumley
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 247 pages of information about Another World.

Another World eBook

Benjamin Lumley
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 247 pages of information about Another World.

Those who confer large benefits on the world are naturally entitled to enjoy a portion of the wealth and well-being they have successfully laboured to increase.

This truth I constantly bore in mind, and in spacious galleries perforating the rocks I built the Trombetski, or Internal Cities, for the especial use of those whose superior intelligence had been occupied for the good of the world.  Here, sheltered from the scorching rays of the sun, are the palace residences of the higher classes during the extreme season.  These galleries serve also to shorten distances between remote parts of the external world.  With their streets and passages they form of themselves cities, with scarcely less movement than in those without.

Light is admitted through occasional apertures—­some natural, some made by man.  It is not as vivid as that of the external world, but subdued and beautifully soft, is ample indeed for all purposes by day, like the pale red of the shade in the external world.  Even at night artificial light is not ordinarily required in the open air, the shade of the red light of night being sufficient.  Both sea and fresh water in abundance is brought to every part of the internal cities, which abound in waterfalls and fountains, nothing being omitted that may contribute to beauty, health, or comfort.

Many of the most lovely flowers and plants in the external world are those which flourish in the red shade, and are, therefore, eminently suited to the internal cities, where, planted in profusion, they flourish greatly, and emit aromas like your essences, but invariably fresh, sweet, and wholesome.  Their natural beauty and odours are increased by electricity, an agent by means of which we can give most beautiful fragrance—­nay, colour, form, and variety to flowers in general.

The communication from the palaces in the external world is often by means of a winding path, descending from the basement of the upper palace to the palace in the internal world.  By means of machines worked by electricity we have facilities for excavating earth; and where rocks or hard substances intervene we can remove large masses by the application of explosive electricities.  These paths are therefore excavated with ease.

My palace, situate on the summit of the upper mountain city, communicates with a magnificent summer palace, reached easily by a well lighted descent.  The daylight in the internal palaces is peculiarly beautiful, almost unearthly.  Pictures of life-like power are painted expressly for this light.

In my summer palace is a saloon of very great proportions, with a floor of ivory inlaid with pearls.  This saloon contains more than 150 pictures, works of our great artists, representing the principal events of my life.  In these the figures are large as life.  Here are depicted extreme perils which I had undergone; here are the present times contrasted with the past; and thus the benefits conferred by my reign are presented in a manner which appeals at once to the heart.

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Project Gutenberg
Another World from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.