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A Monster Meeting
Allthestarsexceeditinrapidity,andtheearthherselfisatthismomentcarryingusroundthesunatthreetimesasrapidarate,andyetsheisamereloungeronthewaycomparedwithmanyothersoftheplanets!Andhervelocityisconstantlydecreasing.Isitnotevident,then,Iaskyou,thattherewillsomedayappearvelocitiesfargreaterthanthese,ofwhichlightorelectricitywillprobablybethemechanicalagent?
"Yes,gentlemen,"continuedtheorator,"inspiteoftheopinionsofcertainnarrow-mindedpeople,whowouldshutupthehumanraceuponthisglobe,aswithinsomemagiccirclewhichitmustneveroutstep,weshallonedaytraveltothemoon,theplanets,andthestars,withthesamefacility,rapidity,andcertaintyaswenowmakethevoyagefromLiverpooltoNewYork!Distanceisbutarelativeexpression,andmustendbybeingreducedtozero."
Theassembly,stronglypredisposedastheywereinfavoroftheFrenchhero,wereslightlystaggeredatthisboldtheory.MichelArdanperceivedthefact.
"Gentlemen,"hecontinuedwithapleasantsmile,"youdonotseemquiteconvinced.Verygood!Letusreasonthematterout.Doyouknowhowlongitwouldtakeforanexpresstraintoreachthemoon?Threehundreddays;nomore!Andwhatisthat?Thedistanceisnomorethanninetimesthecircumferenceoftheearth;andtherearenosailorsortravelers,ofevenmoderateactivity,whohavenotmadelongerjourneysthanthatintheirlifetime.AndnowconsiderthatIshallbeonlyninety-sevenhoursonmyjourney.
