Amazing Stories — page 57: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MIRACLE OF THE LILY aya) Suddenly, the Venusian was joined by another being, a colossal ant, who bore in his fore-legs a tiny light-colored object which he handed to the beetle-announcer, who took it and heid it forward for our closer inspection. It seemed to be a tiny ape, but was so small we could not ascertain for a certainty. We were convinced, however, that it was a mammalian creature, an “insect” pest of Venus. Yet in it we recognized rudimentary man as we know him on earth! There was no question as to the direction in which sympathies instinctively turned, yet reason told us that our pity should be given to the intelligent reign- ing race who had risen to its present mental attain- ment through eons of time. By some quirk or freak of nature, way back in the beginning, life had de- veloped in the form of insects instead of mammals. Or (the thought was repellent) had insects in the past succeeded i in displacing mammals, as they might’ have done here on earth? There was no more television that night. Stentor would not appear, so disturbed was he by the sight of the Venusians, bat in the morning, he talked to them by radio and explained the very natural an- - tipathy we experienced in seeing them or in having them see us. Now’ they no longer urge us to construct ether- ships and go to help them dispose of their “insects.” I think they are afraid of us, and their very fear has aroused in mankind an unholy desire to con- quer them. I am against it. Have we not had enough of war in the past? We have subdued our own world and should be content with that, instead of seeking new worlds to conquer. But life is too easy here. I can plainly see that. Much as he may seem to dis- like it, man is not happy, unless he has some enemy to overcome, some difficulty to surmount. Alas my greatest fears for man were groundless! A short time ago, when I went out into my field to see how my crops were faring, I found a six- pronged beetle voraciously eating. No—man will not need to go to Venus to fight “insects.” THE END WHEN HEARTS REMEMBER HOME Eternity is calling Above the zigzag trail That climbs the furrowed mountain wall, High over brook and dale. My child, if you are weary ; My life, if you are sad, Look far, far up to cloudless blue And let your heart be glad. When darkness fills the valley, And slopes and peaks are dim, Infinity comes whispering Above the mountain rim. My child, if you are tired Of earth, of toil or play, Glance up and see the Universe, Aglow with endless day. —Leland S. Copeland. Amazing Stories in its New Size N THE Third Anniversary of AMAZING STORIES, we take pleasure in presenting the maga- zine in its new size. The magazine has been changed from its former page of 8x11 inches to the new one of 89¢x 115% inches, which now makes it a standard size. This means that we can give a little more text per page and that our illustra- tions can be larger and that the size will be much handier. We have also improved on the binding, as many complaints were received from readers that the magazine fell apart after its back was broken. It is now side-wire stitched, as are most maga- zines, and it is hoped that our readers will like the improvements. It will be noted that the magazine is a great deal easier to handle than it was before, and beginning with the next is- sue, we shall use a much better and easier reading type all the way through, and make certain other typographical im- provements, which we know you will like. We shall be very glad to hear from you if you approve of the changes and we shall be glad to receive any other sugges- tions that will tend to better AMAZING STORIES still further. THE PUBLISHERS. mcomicboo! Ss. som i] eae 2