Just then, stepping aside, Ione bumped into a man who happened to be passing at the time, and she heard him mutter, “Clumsy! Can’t you look where you are going so you won’t run into a person?”
“What a nice amiable husband that man would make,” said Ione to the Princess.
Presently two men passed, talking in loud voices and one said, “I tell you it is no such thing. You are an idiot for thinking so.”
And his companion replied, “What did you say? I’ll allow no man to insinuate that I am a liar or to call me an idiot,” and before the girls knew what was happening, the man who had first spoken was lying at their feet felled by a blow from his angry companion.
This is only one instance of the quarreling and fighting that they heard and saw on all sides. Every one seemed touchy, cross, overbearing and as if carrying a chip upon his shoulder for the express purpose of having some one knock it off and thus give provocation for a dispute or fight.
“Come on, Ione,” called Harold, “we are going to the top of the hill, for the battle is about to begin. Did you hear the bugle call?”
“Oh, you bloodthirsty boy! How can you wish to see men kill each other? You may go; I do not wish to see the battle, and while you are there the Princess and I will wander about to see how these people live and what their homes are like,” said Ione.
The girls, by means of their magic wishing-robes, became invisible and found themselves in front of one of the Martian homes which at first sight appeared like a huge bee-hive with openings at equal distances all around. Through one of these openings an electric wagon passed, loaded with packages, boxes and cans. The labels showed the contents to be condensed foods of all kinds. They afterward found that these people were partial to this kind of food because they do away with the tedious preparation and long time required to serve, which the food of Earth people makes necessary, besides they sustain life and make one much stronger and healthier than the more hearty meals which Earth mortals indulge in. Much of the food that Earth people eat is a detriment to digestion and health and is often only eaten because of fondness for its taste rather than for its nutritive properties, or for the sociability it affords one to be at a table dining with congenial friends or associates. From the openings in the building, covered passage-ways ended in small, two-storied outhouses which were the co-operative kitchens, laundries, dairies, cold-storage rooms, etc., and over these the servants lived. In the second story of the main building over the openings before mentioned, were the apartments of the Martians. Everything on the island, from business to the care of children, was carried on through co-operation. They found the interior of the building complete in all of its appointments and furnished as elegantly as the most fastidious lover of apartments could desire.
“Well, I am not fond of apartments, boarding-houses, hotels, or abodes of any kind where several families live together. As soon as different families share the same building it loses its home-feeling and atmosphere, while no dwelling is large enough to hold more than one comfortably,” said Ione.
“Let us now see how the battle is progressing,” said the Princess. Ione was finally persuaded and wishing themselves on the summit of the hill, what was their surprise and dismay on arriving there to find no one in sight!