n earth are now cleared up.

I have spoken of the noble buildings of this city, surrounded by spacious
gardens and beautified by trees and flowers, fountains and singing birds;
but I have not alluded to the way in which property is held, and the
reader will naturally inquire if these handsome dwellings are owned by
their occupants.

They are not, but are simply loaned to them. Spirits congenial to those
at present residing here lived in them ages agone.

It is true, each individual taste may alter and embellish the buildings
and surroundings, but these improvements belong to the city and not to
the individuals. The titles are vested in the community, and its members
can vote, as in the case of Abraham Lincoln, in reference to any
individual coming among them.

There are three daily papers issued in the city, and only three. One is
especially devoted to reporting news from earth,--revolutions that
transpire, changes in state and national politics, recent accidents which
have thrown individuals suddenly into the spirit world, and to recording
the names, as far as possible, of persons who have deceased from earth.

Disasters that occur on sea and land are immediately telegraphed to the
newspapers in Spring Garden and published for the use of the community.

It may be interesting to the curious to know that in cases like the
sinking of a vessel, where fifty or a hundred individuals are suddenly
ushered into the spirit world, delegates are sent out from this and other
cities to meet the sufferers and offer them the hospitalities of the
city, in accordance with their individual merits and degrees of
development.

Our method of printing newspapers differs materially from that in vogue
on earth.

Our papers might be termed photo-telegrams. A much less space is occupied
by a communication of a given length than the same would require in your
papers. We have a system of short-hand, understood by all, similar to
that used by your telegraphic operator.

We have various places of public amusement, two fine theatres which are
devoted to dramas originating with the inhabitants of our world, and
another appropriated to the representation of dramas familiar to earth.
Our places of amusement are of large capacity, hence but few are needed;
and the people of this city being congenial in their natures, as many as
possible like to assemble in one place.

The several actors who have been famed on earth appear at the theatres in
S