Earthite n.

Alas, alas, short-sighted Earthites [in 1813 edition: mortals]! how little ye foresee the havock that will happen hereafter, from the pelting of these pitiless stones. For, about the time of the millennium, the doctrine of projectiles will be so prodigiously improved, that while there is universal peace upon earth, the planets will go to war with each other. Then shall we Lunarians, like true satellites, turn upon our benefactors and instead of merely trying our small shot (as at present), we will fire off whole mountains; while you, from your superior attraction, will find it difficult to hit us at all.

We loyal earthites may be pleased to think so; but what may the moonites…say to such a notion?

The inhabitants of Alpha Centaurus live as comfortably in fire as Earthites live in air or fishes in water.

The incidence of the Death is highest on my world, which is closest to Earth, and lower on each more distant planet…while Earth itself is immune. Somewhere in the biochemistry of the Earthite, there is the secret of that immunity.

The intergalactic scouting report on us Earthites has to be: ‘They can’t all just get along.’