Путешествие на Луну
A Monster Meeting
Tothehurrahswhichgreetedhimherepliedbyagracefulbow;then,wavinghishandstorequestsilence,hespokeinperfectlycorrectEnglishasfollows:
"Gentlemen,despitetheveryhotweatherIrequestyourpatienceforashorttimewhileIoffersomeexplanationsregardingtheprojectswhichseemtohavesointerestedyou.Iamneitheranoratornoramanofscience,andIhadnoideaofaddressingyouinpublic;butmyfriendBarbicanehastoldmethatyouwouldliketohearme,andIamquiteatyourservice.Listentome,therefore,withyoursixhundredthousandears,andpleaseexcusethefaultsofthespeaker.Nowpraydonotforgetthatyouseebeforeyouaperfectignoramuswhoseignorancegoessofarthathecannotevenunderstandthedifficulties!Itseemedtohimthatitwasamatterquitesimple,natural,andeasytotakeone’splaceinaprojectileandstartforthemoon!Thatjourneymustbeundertakensoonerorlater;and,asforthemodeoflocomotionadopted,itfollowssimplythelawofprogress.Manbeganbywalkingonall-fours;then,onefineday,ontwofeet;theninacarriage;theninastage-coach;andlastlybyrailway.Well,theprojectileisthevehicleofthefuture,andtheplanetsthemselvesarenothingelse!Nowsomeofyou,gentlemen,mayimaginethatthevelocityweproposetoimparttoitisextravagant.Itisnothingofthekind.
