The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

538 A MONTH IN THE MOON. expedition. He has gone to visit the other hemisphere of the moon, the one that the earth has never seen and will never see. ‘‘It is somewhat curious that the moon should always turn one side only to us, and never the other. It seems absurd when one first hears it. Yet after all it is only natural, since she accompanies us in our annual journey round the sun. She is like a child walking round a merry-go-round, and keeping her face always turned to the man who grinds the central organ ; the riders of the wooden horses lose sight of the child from time to time, but whenever they do meet her it is always face to face. M. Mauny gave me this explanation. “Well, to return to him. He has undertaken to visit that side of the moon that no man has seen yet, not even with a telescope. We should not have minded being of the party, but he would not let us go. He said first that it was too far, being nine hundred miles off, and that it would take him at least forty eight hours to go and return. ‘Then he said that the cold there would be terrible on account of the lunar night now prevailing ; and, lastly, that he was obliged to take an extra allowance of oxygen, which it would be dificult to manage if we were to go too. ‘‘ He went alone, with Kaddour and a perfect museum of telescopes, re- torts, and all sorts of instruments. I can hear you saying, ‘ What ! take such a journey in forty eight hours, across a country devoid of railroads, or even roads? Impossible!’ He is ofa contrary opinion. He says he has made ‘his calculations, and that it will take him eighteen hours to go (at the rate of fifty miles an hour); eighteen hours to return, allowing twelve to rest and take observations or notes. A journey on the moon, remember, is made with seven league boots. ‘“ All the same, I wish he were back. What would become of us if any- thing happened tohim? Don’t think I speak selfishly, dear papa ; you know whom I am thinking of when I say, ‘ What will become of us?’ The baronet certainly would not be able to get us out of this and take us home. Poor Sir Bucephalus! He is beginning to get over his captivity somewhat, but he was in a sad condition at first. . ‘TI was saying it was like being in a big steamer. Our life is as regular. Every twelve hours we sleep. On awaking, which we call morning, the doc- tor goes his professional rounds; sees that the aération is good and the ven- tilators doing their work. He even extends his care to the three miscreants in the prison ; you know how every human being is, in his eyes, equal! On his return, we breakfast ; then I give Fatima her lesson, or learn my own. Iam so glad to have the dear child with me, and I love her more and more every day. You will find that my pupil does me credit. She is wouderfully docile, and succeeds in everything she undertakes. ‘“ For instance, she is the best of all of us at the deaf and dumb language taught us by my uncle. Fatima is at the head of the class after M. Mauny. Already they converse by signs with Kaddour, who sets up for being quite an adept. Yesterday he held forth on‘the subject of what he terms the General Grammar of Gestures. He is certainly making fun of us, but he him- self is the most ridiculous object on the moon! .He will have it that it is the =),