“Goodness, gracious, me! If you are thinking of leaving us, we will return to the heavens this minute rather than lose you, for no other guide would be acceptable to us after having been led by you,” said Ione.
“You are very kind, but there are dozens of other guides far superior to me,” said Mercury.
“Of course you would say that,” said the Prince, “but we don’t know how good the others are and we do know you, so we are going back at once to those mysterious, fascinating lands that float in heaven’s blue ether.”
Having all agreed to return with Mercury, the captain pointed the bow of his trusty ship in a direct oblique line for Uranus, where he was to hand them over to Mercury once more.
Although “The Queen” traveled with the speed of electricity, it took several days for our party to reach Uranus as, unlike their magic robes, she could not quite do away with time and space. On their way to Uranus the captain told them if they should ever want for money all they had to do was to go where there was a large deposit of radium and sell enough to supply their needs, for it was much more valuable than gold itself, and he then proceeded to tell them where they could always find this white chemical in the form of crystals, which much resembled salt.
“On Uranus we have no money or specie of any kind,” he continued. “Our trading is done by giving out thoughts and ideas. Each man’s bank is his brain and he who has the best brain is considered the wealthiest man, while he is valued for what he actually has done, and not for what he says he can do, for the good of his race. No repetition of others’ thoughts or bragging can be either traded or taken in account here. A man must do what he says he can do and he who does the most for the public good is looked upon and taken for the guide and ruler of the island. All questions and decisions are referred to him and all depend upon his judgment as to ways and means of settlement.”
“How I wish things were arranged in that way on our Earth,” said Harold. “Then the right man would be in the right place every time, and prosperity would be ensured.”
“I see it! I see it!” exclaimed Ione.
“See what?” asked Harold.
“Uranus,” replied she.