CHAPTER 17

The seventh planet, then, was the Earth.
The Earth is not just another planet! It contains one hundred and eleven
kings (including, of course, the African kings), seven thousand geographers, nine
hundred thousand businessmen, seven-and-a-half million drunkards, three-
hundred-eleven million vain men; in other words, about two billion grown-ups.
To give you a notion of the Earth's dimensions, I can tell you that before
the invention of electricity, it was necessary to maintain, over the whole of six
continents, a veritable army of four-hundred-sixty-two thousand, five hundred
and eleven lamplighters.
Seen from some distance, this made a splendid effect. The movements of
this army were ordered like those of a ballet. First came the turn of the
lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia; then these, having lit their street
lamps, would go home to sleep. Next it would be the turn of the lamplighters of
China and Siberia to perform their steps in the lamplighters' ballet, and then they
too would vanish into the wings. Then came the turn of the lamplighters of
Russia and India. Then those of Africa and Europe. Then those of South
America, and of North America. And they never missed their cues for their
appearances onstage. It was awe inspiring.
Only the lamplighter of the single street lamp at the North Pole and his
colleague of the single street lamp at the South Pole led carefree, idle lives: They
worked twice a year.