Trip to a Fixed Star

It Would Test the Patience of a Man on a Record Breaking Train

There is a perpetual fascination about the stars and the immense distances at which they lie from one another and from us. To demonstrate the vast distance of Centauri from this planet a popular scientist gives the following illustration: “We shall suppose that some wealthy directors, for want of outlet for their energy and capital, construct a railway to Centauri. We shall neglect, or the present, the engineering difficulties–a mere detail–and suppose them overcome and the railway open for traffic. We shall go further, and suppose that the proprietors of the interstellar space had not been exorbitant in their terms for right of way.

“Therefore, with a view to encourage traffic, the directors had made the fare exceedingly moderate, viz., first-class at 1 penny a hundred miles. Desiring to take advantage of these facilities, a gentleman, by way of providing himself with small change for the journey, buys up the national debt of Britain and a few other countries, and, presenting himself at the office, demands a first-class single to Centauri.

“For this he tenders in payment the script of the British national debt, which just covers the cost of his ticket, but at this time the national debt from little wars has been run up to £1,100,000,000.

“Having taken his seat it occurs to him to ask:

“‘At what rate do you travel?’

“‘Sixty miles an hour, sir, including stoppages,’ is the answer.

“‘Then when shall we reach Centauri?’

“‘In 48,663,000 years, sir!’”