“FIRST of all,” continued Norbert Mauny to the assembly, who seemed spell-bound under the charm of his clear, musical voice, “we must face the nature of the problem before us. What is it that we all wish to do?...To go to the moon out of scientific curiosity and collect a whole treatise of notes and observations?...Doubtless this would quite content many people, but not—I will answer for it— the shareholders of the Company. (Applause and smiles.) What most of us want is a permanent way of access to the moon, that, when once opened up, will permit of our going and returning at will, enabling us, therefore, to explore the riches and carry away the products of our satellite...This way must not be too difficult, nor must it be beyond our financial resources. In a word, it must be as practicable to humanity as are railroads and steamboats...
“Now there are two chief obstacles to this enterprise.
The first is the distance of the moon, which, though insignificant in theory, is very considerable in practice; the second is the doubt existing concerning the nature of the lunar atmosphere.
Many astronomers are sceptical even as to the existence of such an atmosphere. I differ from them, and I could bring forward irrefragable proofs to support my opinion. But whether human life could subsist in lunar air is another point, concerning which no one can speak positively in the present state of science...Consequently prudence dictates the necessity of not venturing into the lunar atmosphere without a sufficient provision of our own air, much in the same way as the diver provides himself before plunging into the depths of the ocean. The scheme, in fact, is only feasible as a scientific experiment; it would not subserve the interests of commerce, nor could it ever come into general use. (Evident astonishmmt.)
“These considerations have forced upon me the conclusion that there is only one solution of the problem-we must endow the moon with an atmosphere similar to our own, and we can only do this by forcing the moon to come down into our atmospheric zone (Exclmations of wonder.) This would annihilate the distance between us, and do away at the same time with many other difficulties...Our satellite would henceforward be at our mercy...We could go there either in a balloon or by means of a tubular railway. We could turn to account all her resources, and, getting hold of her riches, bring them to earth...unless, indeed, we might choose to settle down permanently in our lunar colony. (Laughter and great applause.)
“In fine, the whole question may be thus resolved: we must not go to the moon, we must force her to come to us.
“There are several good reasons for this. First of all, it will be less fatiguing and more convenient to us; for when she is partially at least immersed in our atmosphere she will become habitable, which is not perhaps the case at present, and, secondly, it does not seem possible to solve the problem in any other way, whilst this appears to be quite feasible.
“We need not be afraid of disturbing the inhabitants of the moon, for they have disappeared now, even if they ever did exist, which is doubtful. The moon is a dead world. Daughter of the earth, she has grown cold before her mother because of her smaller dimensions. It would be an act of kindness to give her a little heat, if only by utilizing the combustible treasures that are doubtless concealed within her. (Applause.)
“‘It is all very well,’ you will perhaps say, ‘to talk in this light manner of bringing the moon down to us. ..Pray have you any means of getting hold of her?’...I might reply with Archimedes, ‘Give me a well-balanced lever of sufficient length, and I will lift up the earth!’ But this would be no answer, and I prefer to say just simply, ‘Yes, I do firmly believe that we have a force at our disposal that can act upon the moon.’ (Great attention.)
“The force I speak of is Electricity of Induction. or Magnetism, if you prefer so to term it, or again, the unique power that manifests itself in diverse ways of Electricity, Heat, Light, Movement, Cosmic attraction, Weight, and Magnetism...
“There can be no doubt that we possess this force. It is equally certain that we can turn it to any account, and that it is a mere question of its presence in a sufficient amount; which again is, as I hope to prove to you, only an arithmetical calculation. But, first, we must form a right conception of the earth and moon as they really are two globes rolling along together in space, many forces combining to keep them suspended, whilst, notwithstanding their size and weight, they are light, and sensitive to the least accidental influence, as might be two soap bubbles of unequal size in our own atmosphere. That they are indissolubly united is plain to everyone; and not a fisherman on our shores but knows as well as an astronomer that they exercise upon each other a mutual influence, subject, indeed, to various modifications, but an undoubted fact in these days. The tides are under the direct influence of the moon. She draws us forward in her first quarter; in her last she retards our course. We, on our side, hold her irresistibly enchained to our fortunes...But we are also influenced in other directions. This great globe of ours that we think so enormously big and heavy, is nothing more in reality than an imperceptible speck in boundless space. It may be compared to a child’s air-balloon fastened to a thread and disturbed by the slightest breath. If Venus happens to pass between the sun and us, the earth is attracted and sensibly drawn by the day-star. Her progress is likevise influenced by Jupiter, who moves serenely through the blue ether at a distance of two hundred million leagues from our globe. Neptune, distant thirty-seven millions of leagues, feels the solar influence like ourselves; and in the invisible depths of space comets, thirty or forty thousand million leagues from the sun, yield to his invincible power and fly to his fiery embrace. There are other worlds trillions, and quadrillions of leagues apart, far larger and heavier than our own, moving through space and sustained in like manner. Of what nature is this mysterious power thus mutually binding and upholding all the globes that hang in the blue ether?...I will tell you, not in my own words, but in those of Père Secchi, the far-famed Director of the Observatory of Rome: ‘The mysterious bond that links all the worlds together is magnetism, that strongest of all cosmic forces, inasmuch as its action is absolutely irresistible. It is not confined to the earth, but is to be found in all the other worlds that act and react upon each other as if they were great magnets of immense power.’
“It is not surprising that the most eminent of modern astronomers should have come to this conclusion. Elementary physics have already taught you that the earth is a magnet, having, like others, an equator and two poles, meridians, and magnetic parallels, and that its power increases in intensity from the equator to the poles. This, as you know, is why the needle of a compass always points in the same direction, and whenever there is an exception to this rule through some inequality in the direction of the magnetized needle, or in the intensity of the magnetic force, it is due to a local cause, such as ferruginous rocks or the like,...
“There can be no doubt that the same phenomena exist in the moon, for it is incredible that she could form a solitary exception to the other worlds. Kreil, Sabine, Bache, and others since their time, have established the fact that our satellite influences the magnetometers, and that its action varies with its horary angle.
“Your compatriot Gausse went still further. He succeeded in measuring the force of that gigantic magnet, our earth, and found that it is equal to that of 8464 trillions of soft iron bars weighing a pound each, and strongly magnetized.
“I come now, gentlemen, to the result of this somewhat dry statement, necessary though it was in order to elucidate my idea. Not only do we know the nature of the force that retains the moon at a distance of 90,000 leagues, preventing her from following her own impulse and flying off into space, but we also have it in our power to increase this force by making an electro-magnet of any intensity we like..., Is not this clear from what I have said? In order to bring the moon within our grasp, and diminish the distance between us, we have only to increase, by artificial means, the power of the earthly magnet.”...
The orator was interrupted here by a tremendous round of applause. The audience had suddenly seen his meaning, and it came upon them with double effect after their previous experience, first of disappointed hopes, and then of dizzy heights where they could only strain their eyes in
a vain attempt to follow science. They did not yet see how he was going to carry out his scheme, but that it was feasible was evident, and they had every confidence in the young astronomer. Silence being at length restored, Norbert continued:—
“Gausse calculates the force of the terrestrial magnet to equal that of 8464 trillion bars of magnetized soft iron weighing each an English pound. There are strong reasons for deeming this figure much too high. But we will follow out his calculation. The density of iron is about seven times that of distilled water (exactly 7.7); therefore, 8464 trillion pounds of soft iron would amount to about 30,510 trillion cubic inches. This mass would be equal to a mass 1090 yards high and 123,500 acres in area.
“This would be the size of an artificial magnet equal to the earth in power. It would be a long and costly proceeding to construct such a magnet. But there is no apparent necessity that, it should be so powerful. One of less intensity could sufficiently disturb the equilibrium of the cosmic forces that hold the moon 90,000 leagues off. Given the perturbations that the simple passing of a planet can cause, it follows that an extra magnet representing only the millionth part of the earth’s magnetism must be able to influence such a little globe as the moon.
“Now according to the above calculation, this artificial magnet, whose intensity would be as 1:1000 as compared with that of the earth current, would constitute a mass of 109.36 yards, and 1235 acres, or 1093.6 yards, and 123½ acres,
“Such are the normal proportions possible in works of industry at the present day; but when there is the smallest question of iron highways, the needful ramparts and earthworks are matters of much greater importance,
“But the ideal magnet made of soft iron and perfectly homogeneous would cost a great deal, something like one hundred million pounds. Men would not mind paying this sum for the expenses of a more or less stupid war, and indeed the annual military expenditure of Europe exceeds it; but they would look twice before investing two or three hundred millions at a time in a commercial enterprise for the general good. So we must manage to make our magnet at a reduced price.
“Most fortunately nature can herself furnish us with the requisite material in the shape of bisulphide pyrites, or protosulphate of iron. It can be used in its natural state, and is common to most countries, costing only the labour of extraction. I propose that an artificial mountain of iron pyrites shall constitute our magnet. We will erect it in a land that abounds with pyrites in order to have a free site and save needless labour. In this way we shall manage to make an electro-magnet of the required strength for £400,000, not quite a quarter of our working capital. This is of course only one part of the expenses. We shall still have to procure dynamos and the requisite motive power; but £600,000 will, I wager, cover all expenses.
“What is such a sum, compared with the results it will effect?...Not more than the annual income of an English peer or banker; and scarcely is it a seventy-fifth part of the military budget voted every year by France and England alone. We have quite sufficient money, and more than we need, if we only use it rightly. Such, gentlemen, is the outline of my plan. Its details will be easily settled. The first step is to secure our field of action. It should lie in a country easy of access, rich in pyrites, but poor from an agricultural point of view, so that we may get the soil for next to nothing. It w:ould be well also if its civilization be at a low ebb. We should be less likely to be interfered with if our object were not understood...Should you think fit, gentlemen, to approve of the general outline of my plan, I will hold myself entirely at your disposal as regards its application and the preliminaries!”...
“Will you take the personal direction upon yourself?” asked a shareholder.
“Willingly, on the condition,” replied Norbert Mauny, “that I have perfect freedom of action in technical matters, and am assisted in financial questions by a committee of control.”
The meeting was so clearly unanimous in its assent to this proposition that Lord Randolph made no attempt to stem the current, and, addressing the shareholders, he said:—
“I put the first article of the statutes to the vote, substituting the name of M. Norbert Mauny in place of the original promoters of the scheme.”
“You have no right to do so!” cried Costerus Wagner, livid with rage. “It would be a fraud, a positive theft!”
“I shall not stop to point out the singular and regretable bad taste of such an expression in present company,” said the young president, with great dignity. “We formed ourselves into a company for the conquest of the moon, but it is evident that we never renounced our right to confide its direction to the one most competent to bring about a happy issue (unanimous applause). I believe that in putting the first article to the vote, modified as above, I speak as the mouthpiece of all. The vote will show if I am making a mistake. Let those hold up their hands who approve M. Norbert Mauny as Director, with full powers, of the Luna Company.”
Every arm was uplifted with the exception of two or three.
“On the contrary,” said the president.
Three hands went up: those of Costerus Wagner, Peter Gryphins, and Ignaz.
“M. Norbert Mauny is elected Director,” continued Lord Randoiph. “He requests, and I accord him, the right of speech!”
“In thanking you, gentlemen,” said Norbert, “for the honour that you have done me, allow me to remind you of the condition that I attached to its acceptance. This was the repudiation on my part of the financial responsibility, all the expenses of the enterprise to be regulated according to my views, by a committee of control. The funds will remain where they are, in the bank. All payments will be made by cheque, bearing along with my signature those also of the members of the committee...Subject to these conditions, which I do not suppose anyone here will controvert, I take the liberty of proposing, as an act of justice, that the three promoters of the company should form part of the committee.”...
The delicate thoughtfulness that prompted this proposition seemed to strike the shareholders, who assented to it, though without enthusiasm. By a slender majority of four or five votes only, Costerus Wagner, Peter Gryphins, and Ignaz Vogel were elected members of the administrative council. Although these men had found no fault with Norbert Mauny’s plan, and perhaps just because of their passive attitude, the shareholders had quite lost all faith in them. But anyhow, they were now duly elected.
The president then proposed to associate to their number his friend, Sir Bucephalus Coghill, who would, he said, be an excellent critical element, as he did not believe in the undertaking. This proposition was hailed with great approval, and immediately carried. Three professional financiers completed the list of the committee. After this, the meeting broke up, leaving full powers to the board for the regulation of all matters of detail in conformity with the statutes.
Thus did the scheme, so audaciously conceived by Costerus Wagner, for the purpose of gulling the shareholders of the Luna Company, become a scientific enterprise under the control of a man of honour, and distinguished savant to boot.
After serious deliberation, Norbert Mauny fixed upon the Soudan as the basis of action. He had learnt from the account given by a friend who had recently returned from an expedition to East Africa, that all the necessary geological conditions were to be found in the Bayouda desert, and more especially on the table-land of Tehbali, west of Berber, and north of Khartoum. It was not very
(easy of access, but as far as Suakim the sea would be available for the transport’ of material. The land could be had for nothing, and labour was cheap. There was every reason to believe the plans of the Luna Company quite unknown, and the existing state of anarchy in Egypt, with whom rested the suzerainty of the Upper Nile, relieved them from the necessity of soliciting authorizations that perhaps on other grounds too, it might have been difficult to procure. The open desert would be their field of action, and there would be no official complications in the dangers inseparable to an enterprise that would unquestionably be fertile in surprises. There was one serious drawback in the Soudan, the scarcity of fuel.
Norbert resolved to obviate this by simply utilizing the heat of the sun to work his machines, thus making even the temperature of the desert a positive gain in economy.
Five months were consumed in the choice and purchase of material that was constructed simultaneously in London, Paris, and New York. Six more weeks passed in the voyage through the Straits of Gibraltar, Suez Canal, and Red Sea; and seven months after the formation of the company, the expedition reached Suakim in the Dover Castle.
It did not take Norbert Mauny long to form his judgment concerning the three whom, in a fit of ultra-generosity, he had associated with himself in the Committee. He knew nothing of their history, but he saw clearly that they would prove most inefficient coadjutors, for not only were they ignorant and idle, but they also evinced an open hostility to all the measures he, as Director, saw fit to initiate.
But some such distasteful accompaniment was, he well knew, only to be expected in conjunction with any great undertaking, and, after all, there was nothing easier than to restrict his intercourse with these three individuals to the barest official relationship.