was quickly joined by a band
of Sioux Indian chiefs, whose whoops and yells so startled the leader of
a German band on their part of the floor that he dropped his baton and,
followed by the musicians, took to his heels.

This incident amused the good-natured Emperor of China more than anything
else that had occurred.

"Make muchee noisee," he said, indicating the fleeing musicians with
his thumb. "Allee same muchee flaid noisee," and then his round face
dimpled into another laugh.

The scene from the outside was even more imposing than that which greeted
the eye within the brilliantly lighted enclosure. Far away in the night,
rising high among the stars, the vast dome of illuminated balloons
seemed like some supernatural creation, too grand and glorious to have
been constructed by the inhabitants of the earth.

All around it, and from some of the balloons themselves, rose jets
and fountains of fire, ceaselessly playing, and blotting out the
constellations of the heavens by their splendor.

The Prince of Wales's Toast.

The dance was followed by a grand banquet, at which the Prince of Wales
proposed a toast to Mr. Edison:

"It gives me much pleasure," he said, "to offer, in the name of the
nations of the Old World, this tribute of our admiration for, and our
confidence in, the genius of the New World. Perhaps on such an occasion
as this, when all racial differences and prejudices ought to be, and are,
buried and forgotten, I should not recall anything that might revive
them; yet I cannot refrain from expressing my happiness in knowing that
the champion who is to achieve the salvation of the earth has come forth
from the bosom of the Anglo-Saxon race."

Several of the great potentates looked grave upon hearing the Prince of
Wales's words, and the Czar and the Kaiser exchanged glances; but there
was no interruption to the cheers that followed. Mr. Edison, whose modesty
and dislike to display and to speechmaking were well known, simply said:

"I think we have got the machine that can whip them. But we ought not
to be wasting any time. Probably they are not dancing on Mars, but are
getting ready to make us dance."

Haste to Embark.

These words instantly turned the current of feeling in the vast
assembly. There was no longer any disposition to expend time in vain
boastings and rejoicings. Everywhere the cry now became, "Let us make
haste! Let us get ready at once! Who knows but the Martians have already
emb