"Our long life has evolved from thousands of years of constant improvement in our way of living. Some of the causes for our prolonged youth and vigor are freedom from fear, no worry and no misery. Our entire life is based on the principles of love, peace, and common brotherhood. By periodic physical and dental examinations of everyone and proper treatment afterwards, we are constantly preventing as well as curing injuries and diseases. These examinations and treatments are compulsory and take place weekly or more often, as the cases demand. We are also encouraged to participate in healthy exercise daily. Since we understand its importance, we have real enjoyment of our own participating in games and other forms of exercise.
"Hundreds of thousands of years ago, before the invention of flying machines, our ancestors felt that they should be able to train themselves to fly like birds. They started intensive arm and shoulder exercise to develop a very swift whole arm movement, similar to that of birds. Since water swimming could easily be learned by special arm and leg movements, there was no reason why they couldn't adapt themselves to fly in the air with arm-attached wings. It took many generations of training muscle and bone before they could overcome the disadvantage of weight and lack of bird body buoyancy; however, they succeeded in mastering flying. That is why we have longer arms and more muscular and bone development of our shoulders and arms than you Earth men.
"Health exercises, health rays, diets, and body massages, have kept us young looking, healthy, and vigorous and have kept our body weight very near to normal even in the aged. We prohibit the use of habit-forming foods, tobacco, drugs, and beverages other than low alcoholic beers and wines in limited quantities. Too many of you on Earth carry to extremes a commonplace habit, until it becomes a menace to your health."
I was disappointed at the ban on smoking because we had plenty of cigarettes and were craving a smoke. He immediately understood and said, "We will put no restrictions upon your desire to smoke as long as your cigarettes last. We do not smoke because we do not allow contamination of our fresh air with smoke, no matter how harmless. Self-control is a nerve and emotion tonic and exercise; smoking is a nerve stimulator and pacifier, and dulling them. In time a craving for the stimulant is created, contributing gradually to their weakening. It is a strong habit-forming pastime. We do not need it as we have no nerve tension.
"We lead a well regulated life. Our bodies and nerves get the full rest they require nightly. All our activities cease at 9:00 p.m. and everyone must be in bed by 11:00 p.m. week days. Naturally, exceptions are made for doctors, hospital personnel and workers in necessary utilities."
It was getting late; the meeting broke up. All the Martians present began mingling among us, trying to put us at our ease. After we had been served with refreshments, they began to leave. We were left nearly alone with their leader. He said kindly, "You gentlemen must be tired. Our attendant will lead you to your sleeping quarters." Then he bowed to me and said, "Good night." When I offered to shake hands, he politely refused, remarking, "We do not shake hands; it is not customary with us nor is it sanitary. Hand holding and fondling is done only within our intimate family circle. I am glad to know that Earth people are gradually adopting a practice which is old among us and universal—that of using the self-opening door, thereby doing away with unsanitary door handles."
We went outside and up a stairway to our sleeping quarters. Our attendant assured us that the beds and bedding were sun health rayed and sterilized, a daily precaution practiced everywhere. New night garments, as well as underclothing for our next day's use were laid out for us on chairs. The bed linens and night garments were as white as ours, but softer, and they felt like pure silk. The attendant then pulled out metal beds and springs with mattresses, pillows, and blankets from a wall closet. The mattresses and pillows were of a spongy rubber substance, and felt soft and comfortable.
After making our beds and placing pitchers of water for us on a small table, the attendant wished us a good night's sleep. Before retiring I wrote in my diary, in detail about what happened to us that day.
After a good night's sleep, we awoke, eager to see what the new day would bring. The attendant brought in the clothes allotted to us, pressed and ready for wear. A hot and cold, scented, sterilized water shower gave us an exhilarating body cleansing. We dressed and were led into a breakfast room, where it was ready for us. Afterward, we were taken on a tour of their ship. Some of us took the opportunity of looking out through space, admiring the grand sights of the universe and pointing out many known stars, even a tiny one far away, our own former home, the Earth.
I went, notebook in hand, with their leader, to look over the intricate instruments and machinery, and the general construction of their immense airship. The ship was now falling fast, attracted by the gravitational pull of the planet Mars. It seemed to me motionless. Her pilot told me that when we were about a million miles away from Mars, he would put a brake on her speed and come to a dead stop before he slowly entered her stratosphere. "Then I will put our motors to work when we travel in our atmosphere, you will feel nearly the same motion that you do in your own planes."