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 with a large surrounding society. But again, as regarded our own independent explorations, as time wore on, improving our practice and increasing our energy-wealth, we would send forth, on periodic occasions, a grand mission of general search, on the chance of its touching some system or world not already within our pale. This was counted, indeed, high class liberality, for few indeed of such costly missions returned from their long journey with the results sought for. They mostly either passed unnoticed through space, or were arrested and destroyed by solar photospheres or other forms of cross-electric force.

On one of these exploring occasions, however, our missive entered a somewhat remote coloured-sun system, and, by rare good fortune striking upon one of its worlds which had already entered a higher-Hfe society of its own vicinities, we were at once introduced to a new friend, who, in spite of the costly intervening distance, was disposed to reciprocate our mission, and with whom, as it is pleasant to relate, we have ever since maintained cordial intercourse. But although this far-off system had not yet been in direct relationship with our section of the higher life, we ascertained afterwards an indirect connection through another great section of universe to one side, with which our section corresponded. I shall have no little to say presently, about the remarkable coloured system in question. But there is another subject which it is now necessary to allude to; and that not only as an instance of marvellous progress in an age full of such marvels, but also because of its now intimate association with all this outside procedure of our world. I allude to—