Doctor Jones' Picnic Part 25

The mayor, a typical aldermanic looking person, advanced to the front of the stage and began a set speech after the stereotyped fashion. He was thoroughly imbued with the idea that the navigators of the great aluminum ship had premeditatedly visited their important city before going on to Washington, and it was no matter of surprise to him that they had done so. He thanked them, however, etc. He was discussing the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers and was evidently wound up for an hour, and the audience was beginning to move restlessly. A low murmur of disapprobation ran through the house as the untimely, uninteresting speech dragged its weary length, when a gallery G.o.d cried out: "Did you bring that thing from the North Pole, Dr. Jones? Trot it off and give us some more music." The audience received this shot with shouts of laughter and approval, and they did not stop until the crestfallen mayor backed off the stage.

An hour was then spent in solos, duets, quartettes, choruses, etc. Then Dr. Jones made a speech of a few moments' length, in which he gave an account of the leading incidents of their wonderful trip. He especially dwelt upon the planting of the aluminum flagstaff at the North Pole, and when he a.s.sured them that the flag of our Union, as they sat in that comfortable opera-house, was flying at the peak of that superlatively splendid shaft at the very apex of the earth, the emotions of the a.s.semblage could not be restrained, and they broke forth in thunders of applause.

Their return to the ship was a triumphal procession. The streets were packed with people who waited to see them ascend to their cabin.

Early the following morning the wind had shifted to the northwest, and the anchors were hoisted immediately. How beautiful the little town and surrounding country appeared to the aeronauts in the early morning light from their one thousand feet elevation.

"I had no conception of the beauty of this world until I saw it from the balcony of the Silver Cloud," observed Professor Gray.

"There is but one trouble in this beautiful world, and that is with its inhabitants," replied Dr. Jones. "We should have the restoration of Eden immediately if all men would but serve G.o.d and observe the Golden Rule.

Not another tear or sigh would ever be seen or heard again upon earth.

But O the pity of it! Man, willfully blind, goes stumbling on through the short span of life, blighted and blighting everything about him with unbelief. Full of misery and heartaches here, he goes into Eternity to stand at the bar of G.o.d, naked and undone, and hears the fearful sentence, 'Anathema Maranatha!' or 'Cursed and banished from G.o.d!' And all this in the lovely world that lies spread out before us this morning like the primitive Garden of the Lord, fresh as it came from His bountiful hand. It fills my soul with sadness when I think of our infinite foolishness. I do not wonder that Jesus wept over Jerusalem."

The whole company were a.s.sembled upon the balcony, and drew in long inspirations of the balmy morning air.

"What a panorama!" cried Mrs. Jones. "I am forever spoilt for living a terrestrial life again. We are Children of the Skies, and those low vales are well enough for those who are contented therewith. But this is our native element!" and she spread her hands toward the upper blue.

"Why, if I were to be confined to that humdrum existence again, I should be like--like--"

"--a fish out of water," suggested Fred.

"Now that is real mean," pouted Mrs. Jones. "I was trying to give expression to the inspiration excited by this lovely scene in the form of poesy, but you have spoilt it all with your prosaic comparison."

"I am just too sorry for any use at all," returned Fred, looking anything but regretful. "But, really now, Mrs. Jones, how could you possibly express the idea better?"

"We are moving straight for Washington," said the Professor, consulting a map in his hand, "and at this speed we shall not be far from it at bedtime to-night."

"We can prepare ourselves for a grand reception," remarked Denison. "The good people of L----r gave us an earnest of what we may expect."

"It is rather pleasant to be lionized, but we shall be obliged to draw the lines somewhere," said Dr. Jones.

"We can always retreat to Silver Cloud when tired of being interviewed, wined, and dined," interposed Will.

"Let's plant another flagstaff at the South Pole, Doctor," cried Mattie.

"I never feel so well as when afloat upon this boundless sea."

"Well done, Mattie," returned the Doctor, patting her on the head. "What a bold little navigator you have grown to be! And boundless sea is quite poetic, too. But as to starting immediately for the South Pole, I do not think we can do so. Perhaps we may, however, and you can rest a.s.sured that this sort of life suits me amazingly. I shall favor sailing for the South Pole at the earliest practicable moment."

"One thing is certain, and that is, that if we are to be the first to reach the South Pole, we cannot put the expedition off too long," said Will. "Others will imitate us and get there before us if we give them time. We must sail within a few weeks at farthest."

"That is true," a.s.sented Dr. Jones. "But let us see what Sing has for breakfast."

So they entered the dining-room and ate with appet.i.tes known to but few terrestrials. And why shouldn't they? Their sanitary environments were perfect; their minds were free from all worldly cares. Ennui and monotony were entirely unknown aboard Silver Cloud, because of the constantly changing panorama of land and sea. There were no heartaches nor burning envies among them, for all were pure-minded and lived as G.o.d's children should live the world over. Why shouldn't they be plump and pure and clean, inside and out? "We have all outgrown our clothes,"

as Dr. Jones expressed it.

It was a busy day aboard ship. The whole country was on the lookout for them. The Doctor lowered to within five or six hundred feet of the earth, and the cries of the mult.i.tudes that gathered in every town and country corner continually rang in their ears.

"Detroit lies directly in our course. Do you see it yonder?" said Professor Gray.

"O yes!" cried Mrs. Jones. "I am glad that we shall get a good view of the beautiful city of Detroit. Away to the left is Lake St. Clair, isn't it?"'

"Yes," answered the Professor, "and that is the Detroit River. There is the city. Across upon the opposite side is the city of Windsor. Just see the crowds of people! We are being well advertised by telegraph."

The squares, streets, and housetops of Detroit were black with people.

Such cheering was never heard in that city as when Silver Cloud majestically pa.s.sed over it. The guns of the fort below the city poured out thundering salutes of welcome.

"The poor, dear people!" said Mrs. Jones. "I am so glad that we can give them a few moment's pleasure."

"And yet we have done nothing marvelous," returned Dr. Jones. "We have only made use of one of G.o.d's laws, and without any hardship or special exertion, have been to the North Pole and back through the kindness of Providence, who furnishes us with extraordinarily favoring gales. The people, as well as ourselves, should give all the glory to G.o.d."

"You are too modest by far, Doctor," replied Professor Gray. "You may as well prepare yourself for unstinted praise and honor. What you have done is simple and easy enough now that it has been accomplished; but it is the conception of the idea, and courage and faith that you have exhibited, that the world will honor. It was precisely so with Christopher Columbus. To cross the Atlantic was a comparatively easy affair after he had led the way. You may as well prepare yourself to stand in the niche beside the discoverer of America. You are in for it, sir, and I am exceedingly pleased that you are. For I know that you are worthy of these honors, and will not become spoilt and puffed up thereby. Accept my heartfelt congratulations, Doctor Jones," and the two shook hands cordially.

"And mine," said Denison, also shaking the Doctor's hand. So they all expressed their spontaneous and sincere respect for the hero of the expedition who had so evidently excited the praise and honor of the entire civilized earth. The little man was deeply affected.

"I should be but an arrant humbug to affect to despise the honor that the world seems disposed to bestow upon us. I say us, for I cannot and will not take it all to myself. I may have been the originator of the idea, but I could have done nothing without your co-operation, dear friends. But this is very unprofitable conversation. Let's talk about something else. There's my old duck pond, Lake Erie. Scores of times have I sailed from one end of it to the other; and hundreds of times have I bathed in its limpid waters. There is no spot on earth that I love as I do beautiful, historic Lake Erie."

This was the grand and peculiar feature of Dr. Jones' character--an utter disregard for his own aggrandizement and self-interest, and a sincere desire to make everybody about him happy and comfortable. And, underlying it all, was a sublime faith in Almighty G.o.d. These three essentials make the great man: modesty, unselfishness, and faith in G.o.d.

Anyone is great who possesses them, and no one is great who lacks either of them. If the reader has not gathered that Dr. Jones' character was a most happy combination of these cardinal virtues, then we have in no degree done him justice. And while he was kind and loving to all about him, yet he was terribly severe with the incorrigibly mean and vicious.

If he had a great fault, it was in this particular. No one could be more loving and tender with a penitent; but the stiff-necked and haughty, the oppressors of the poor, were an abomination unto him.

"I used to fear that I was too savage when I came into contact with such people," said he; "but one day, while reading the 15th Psalm, I received a flood of light upon the subject. This psalm begins by asking: 'Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?' In enumerating the qualifications of such person, the psalmist says: 'He that contemneth the evil man, but he honoreth them that fear the Lord,'

Now that word 'contemn,' for the first time, attracted my special attention. I had read it scores of times, but had never realized how strong a term was here used. No stronger is to be found in the language.

It means to despise, detest, spurn, etc. I was startled, but I was at the same time glad. I could not help it, but I always did despise and detest a man who would grind the face of the poor, or who would keep back the wage of the laborer. Not that I would judge him, or take vengeance upon him; and I must forgive him and receive him as my brother when he repents. But until he does turn from the evil of his ways, and does his best at making rest.i.tution, I can do a jolly good job at 'contemning' him."

The blue south sh.o.r.e of the lake soon became visible. A more entrancing picture than that of Silver Cloud floating swiftly over the great lake, so thickly dotted with steamers and sailing vessels, cannot be imagined.

The exhilaration of the occupants as they looked from their commanding alt.i.tude upon this delightful scenery was extreme. Many adjectives are used in describing the scenery and experiences connected with this notable voyage, but language is far too feeble to do the subject full justice.

The Doctor pointed out the various islands, lakeports, etc., with all of which he was perfectly familiar. The wind became more westerly, and they pa.s.sed into Ohio away to the east of Cleveland.

"I would have been glad to have stopped a little while at Cleveland,"

said Dr. Jones, "but we must hasten on while the wind is favorable."

"Is it absolutely necessary that we take Silver Cloud to Washington?"

asked Denison. "Suppose the winds should be contrary for a considerable time, could we not anchor, and Professor Gray, the ladies, and yourself take the train for the Capital?"

"Yes, and we will do that if necessary. But I much prefer that we sail there together. It would then look as if we could come and go as we liked, and give some degree of color to my theory, that we can find any current we wish by hunting for it."

"That is all right in America, but doesn't hold good in Russia, Doctor,"

said Will, laughingly.

"Never mind, sonny," good-humoredly replied the Doctor. "All rules have their exceptions, and we happened to strike a full-grown, l.u.s.ty one that time. But I shall always be thankful that my rule failed for once. I think more of the seed I sowed there than I do of our planting the flagstaff at the North Pole."

The wind continued very brisk, a little north of west, and the ship was heading considerably north of Washington.

"We are pointing straight as a gun barrel for New York City," said Will, who was consulting a map.

"New York is considerably east of Washington," remarked the Doctor, looking over the map with Will. "I will tell you what we will do. If the wind continues as it now is we will go on to New York and await a favorable wind. What do you all think of that proposition?"

"Nothing could be more appropriate, since we must anchor, than that it should be at the metropolis of America," answered Professor Gray.