ter the manner of the Martians in the most
expensive manner. Thence we passed into a great circular apartment, with
a dome painted in imitation of the sky, and so lofty that to our eyes it
seemed like the firmament itself. Here we found ourselves approaching an
elevated throne situated in the centre of the apartment, while long rows
of brilliantly armored guards flanked us on either side, and, grouped
around the throne, some standing and others reclining upon the flights of
steps which appeared to be of solid gold, was an array of Martian woman,
beautifully and becomingly attired, all of whom greatly astonished us
by the singular charm of their faces and bearing, so different from the
aspect of most of the Martians, whom we had already encountered.

The Martians' Beautiful Women.

Despite their stature--for these women averaged twelve or thirteen feet
in height--the beauty of their complexions--of a dark, olive tint--was
no less brilliant than that of the women of Italy or Spain.

At the top of the steps on a magnificent golden throne, sat the Emperor
himself. There are some busts of Caracalla which I have seen that are
almost as ugly as the face of the Martian ruler. He was of gigantic
stature, larger than the majority of his subjects, and as near as I
could judge must have been between fifteen and sixteen feet in height.

As I looked at him I understood a remark which had been made by
Aina to the effect that the Martians were not all alike, and that the
peculiarities of their minds were imprinted on their faces and expressed
in their forms in a very wonderful, and sometimes terrible manner.

I had also learned from her that Mars was under a military government,
and that the military class had absolute control of the planet. I
was somewhat startled, then, in looking at the head and centre of the
great military system of Mars, to find in his appearance a striking
confirmation of the speculations of our terrestrial phrenologists.
His broad, mis-shapen head bulged in those parts where they had placed
the so-called organs of combativeness, destructiveness, etc.

Something Learned About Them.

Plainly, this was an effect of his training and education. His very
brain had become a military engine; and the aspect of his face, the
pitiless lines of his mouth and chin, the evil glare of his eyes, the
attitude and carriage of his muscular body, all tended to complete the
warlike ensemble.

He was magnificently dressed