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LONDON:SAMUEL TINSLEY, 10, SOUTHAMPTON ST., STRAND,1873.
[The right of Translation is reserved.]
The fact that there is a plurality of worlds, that, in other words, theplanets of our solar system are inhabited, has been so generallymaintained by modern astronomers, that it almost takes its place amongthe truths commonly accepted by the large body of educated persons. Astwo among the many works, which bear directly on the subject, it will behere sufficient to name Sir David Brewster's 'More Worlds than One, theCreed of the Philosopher and the Hope of the Christian,' and Mr. B.A.Proctor's 'Other Worlds than Ours.'
A fragmentary account of some of the ways peculiar to the inhabitants ofone of these "star worlds," and of their moral and intellectualcondition is contained in the following pages.
When the assertion is made that the account is derived, not from theimagination, but from an actual knowledge of the star, it will at firstreceive scant credence, and the reader will be at once inclined to classthe fragments among those works about imaginary republics and imaginarytravels which, ever since the days of Plato, have from time to time madetheir appearance to improve the wisdom, impose on the credulity, orsatirize the follies of mankind.
Nor can the reader's anticipated want of faith be deemed other thannatural; for, although tests applied daily during a period extendingover nearly a lifetime have proved the source of the fragments to besuch as is here represented, the Editor feels bound to say that,notwithstanding much confirmatory evidence, many years passed and manyfacts were communicated before all doubts were completely removed fromhis mind.
One great obstacle to the reader's belief that an authentic descriptionof another world is before him will arise from the circumstance that themeans by which such extraordinary experience was acquired are notincluded in the sphere of his knowledge, and that any attempt to explainthem at present would only increase his incredulity. He would only seeone enigma solved by another apparently more insoluble than itself. TheEditor, therefore, would call especial attention to the practical valueof the revelations here communicated, convinced as he is that they areso replete with instruction to terrestial mankind, that the difficultyof giving credence to them ought not to be augmented by prematuredisclosures. Ultimately satisfied as to the origin of the fragments, heentreats the reader not, indeed, to surrender, but simply to suspend hisjudgment until he has carefully examined them, conceiving that, apartfrom all external proof, they rest upon an intrinsic evidence, the forceof which it will be difficult to resist. Nay, he is even of opinion thatan impartial student will find it easier to believe in their planetaryorigin than in their emanating from an ordinary human brain. Thepractical value of the facts, considered apart from their source, willexcuse his request not to be too hastily judged.
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