The boys and girls of the political-economy class rose to their feet atthe teacher's word of dismissal, and in the twinkling of an eye the scenewhich had been absorbing my attention disappeared, and I found myselfstaring at Dr. Leete's smiling countenance and endeavoring to imagine howI had come to be where I was. During the greater part and all the latterpart of the session of the class so absolute had been the illusion ofbeing actually present in the schoolroom, and so absorbing the interestof the theme, that I had quite forgotten the extraordinary device bywhich I was enabled to see and hear the proceedings. Now, as I recalledit, my mind reverted with an impulse of boundless curiosity to theelectroscope and the processes by which it performed its miracles.
Having given me some explanation of the mechanical operation of theapparatus and the way in which it served the purpose of a prolonged opticnerve, the doctor went on to exhibit its powers on a large scale. Duringthe following hour, without leaving my chair, I made the tour of theearth, and learned by the testimony of my senses that the transformationwhich had come over Boston since my former life was but a sample of thatwhich the whole world of men had undergone. I had but to name a greatcity or a famous locality in any country to be at once present there sofar as sight and hearing were concerned. I looked down on modern NewYork, then upon Chicago, upon San Francisco, and upon New Orleans,finding each of these cities quite unrecognizable but for the naturalfeatures which constituted their setting. I visited London. I heard theParisians talk French and the Berlinese talk German, and from St.Petersburg went to Cairo by way of Delhi. One city would be bathed in thenoonday sun; over the next I visited, the moon, perhaps, was rising andthe stars coming out; while over the third the silence of midnightbrooded. In Paris, I remember, it was raining hard, and in London fogreigned supreme. In St. Petersburg there was a snow squall. Turning fromthe contemplation of the changing world of men to the changeless face ofNature, I renewed my old-time acquaintance with the natural wonders ofthe earth--the thundering cataracts, the stormy ocean shores, the lonelymountain tops, the great rivers, the glittering splendors of the polarregions, and the desolate places of the deserts.
Meanwhile the doctor explained to me that not only the telephone andelectroscope were always connected with a great number of regularstations commanding all scenes of special interest, but that whenever inany part of the world there occurred a spectacle or accident ofparticular interest, special connections were instantly made, so that allmankind could at once see what the situation was for themselves withoutneed of actual or alleged special artists on the spot.
With all my conceptions of time and space reduced to chaos, and well-nighdrunk with wonder, I exclaimed at last:
"I can stand no more of this just now! I am beginning to doubt seriouslywhether I am in or out of the body."
As a practical way of settling that question the doctor proposed a briskwalk, for we had not been out of the house that morning.
"Have we had enough of economics for the day?" he asked as we left thehouse, "or would you like to attend the afternoon session the teacherspoke of?"
I replied that I wished to attend it by all means.
"Very good," said the doctor; "it will doubtless be very short, and whatdo you say to attending it this time in person? We shall have plenty oftime for our walk and can easily get to the school before the hour bytaking a car from any point. Seeing this is the first time you have usedthe electroscope, and have no assurance except its testimony that anysuch school or pupils really exist, perhaps it would help to confirm anyimpressions you may have received to visit the spot in the body."