On the trip, and on our landing on Mars, and after our quarantine period, we were all overjoyed to meet and make the acquaintance of Lieutenant Balmore's former crew, some of whom were friends of our fellow passenger veterans. They introduced us to their Martian girl friends and to many prominent Martians who gave us a royal welcome, and made us comfortable in one of their most sumptuous hotels. During our two weeks stay on the planet, we were not only welcomed to all their continents by all their races like conquering heroes, but we also attended continuous conferences with Sun-Rank Banard and other important Martian personages. We made careful, exhaustive observations and critical explorations of the planet. We checked in detail their ways of living and system of government.
During our explorative travels, the Lieutenant found many chances to rest and to be with Xora.
The Congressman, after our first dinner, was puzzled. He did not fully grasp their way of life. He was amazed at an occurrence which took place in their dining room.
The Congressman had taken along with him some gold coins, intending to verify Lieutenant Balmore's statement that the Martians do not use money. Finding the head attendant alone after dinner, he complimented him on his service and put in his hand a few gold pieces. The butler with the utmost courtesy returned the money to him and said, "I want to assure you that your satisfaction with the way I rendered my services to the family and to you is in itself a reward."
The congressman turning around to me said, "So Balmore was telling the truth. I wouldn't have believed there was a servant who didn't have his hand out."
After the dinner, Sun-Rank Banard took over. I am going to give you briefly the summary of a very interesting discourse delivered to us by Sun-Rank Banard, which I took down in notes.
"Mr. Congressman, I can follow the state of your mind, you are bewildered. Let me answer one of your thoughts, and then I will explain what is uppermost in your mind.
"You were first wondering at our having no servant problem. We have no servants and no such problems; all our house attendants feel it an honor to do their duties as experts in their calling.
"There is no master or servant feeling on Mars. The attendants of homes, and workers of factories and shops have the right to be transferred if they are not happy or satisfied in their jobs. A transfer seldom happens; but if it does, it is always done in a generous manner and friendly spirit. Servants get the same food here as we do, and entertain their friends here with the same food and services that we get. In my grade days, I also had the honor of performing similar service to a high ranking member.
"Furthermore, our head attendant acted very tactfully, because it is dishonorable and offensive for us to receive any material thing as a reward for service. It lowers us to the servile standard. If merited, the reward or gift which is appreciated and looked for is an honorable promotion in points to a higher degree. In fact, there are no gifts given to anyone, except children."