Thus, you see, there are varying signs of civilization. There is
a great gulf between the signs perceived by Aristippus--signs of
the mental activity which engages in geometrical
demonstrations--and Voltaire's sign of civilization--the brutal
execution of a brutal criminal. ----

Those accustomed to waste time in speculations that cannot bring
a financial return may be interested in the following application
of the sign of civilization which Aristippus immediately
recognized back in the days of two thousand years ago.

We know that some day the inhabitants on Mars or some other
planet will want to talk to us. They have doubtless been
studying us and consider us still too barbarous and primitive to
be worth talking to.

But when we become semi-civilized, in the cosmic sense of the
word, the older and wiser planets will get ready to open
communication with us.

How will they go about it? They are perhaps absolutely different
from us, in shape, in manner of thought, in every conceivable
way, including language, customs, and so on.

BUT GEOMETRICAL, MATHEMATICAL FACTS ARE THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE
UNIVERSE.

Will not the wise Martian who wants to speak to us and decides to
flash some message down here on our clouds, or on the surface of
the water, utilize the universality of geometrical truths in