Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-08-09
Are the stars Inhabited

1t is positive and not very creditable fact to
many men ofscienti6c ability and reputation,
that they devote more time to controversy and
speculation on subjects of no practical benefit
whatever, and respecting which they never can
arrive at any correct conclusions, than to sub.
jects of real utility in which every person has
an Interest. In no instance has this been so
manifested as in the controversies respecting
the question embraced in the above caption
A short time since, a book by an anonymous
author, was published in London, (snce re-
published by Gould &. Lincoln, of Boston, en-
titled "The Plurality Of Worlds in which it is
assumed that our earth, solitary and alone, of
all the starry host is in all probability, the only
planet that is inhabited. The author displays
much learning, and fine imagination, but so
far as the question is a scientific one. 1t ap-
pears to us that it really makes no matter what
the opinion of one or ten thousand men may be,
as it can neither be settled by argument nor
science, in its present state. five possessed
telescopes of sufficient power to survey the sur
face of any OF the planets, the same as we can
that of our own, and whereby we can observe
objects of life moving unconstrained at dstan-
ces far beyond the scope of common vision then
no argument would be required to prove or dis
prove the question of the planets being inhabit-
ed. any more than it requires controversy to
prove that drop of water teens with life. when
examining it with a microscope. AND since
we have not instruments to accomplish this, the
best thing for astronomers and opticians to do in
! the premises, instead of quarreling upon the
subject, is to endeavor to construct such inStru-
ments as will settle the question beyond the
shadow of doubt. This advice we tender es-
pecaIly to Sir David Brewster, that eminent
philosopher who has just replied to The author
of the work in question, in keen and cutting
article in the last number of the North British
Review" The author of "The Plurality of
| Worlds" concludes that the planet Jupiter is
nothing better than huge, pasty mass ofmud
and water on which no inhabitants can dwell
Sir David Brewster considers that although the
gravity of Jupiter; in proportion to its size, is
no greater than that of an equal volume ofwater
yet it may be hollow, and its surface as inhabi-
table as our own globe. If there are inhabi-
tants In Jupiter, the anonymous author conclu-
des, that according 10 its mass the men are re-
quired to be l649 lbs weight each, while ac-
cording to the reviewer,who takes the radius Of
Jupiter, not its mass, as his line of measurement
they are not required to be over two aud three
quarter times as heavev as the men Of our moth
err earth. This question could be far better de-
termned were we informed of the particular
food of Jupiter's sons, and the abundance or
scantiness of its supply, whether it bread |,
and beef, or tea and toast as we find that these
things have wonderful effect on the gravity of
both aldermen and hecommon citizens ON our
little planet.
Hersehel has suggested that the sun may be
inhabited, that between It's luminous atmos-
phere and its surface, there may be interposed
a screen of clouds, whereby its inhabitants may
no more suffer from intense heat, than those
who live in our tropical regions. This may be
So as we all know how much the heat Of the
SUMS rays in the hottest days of summer, are
modified by an interposing cloud or "a swift
passing breeze" We also know that on the
extensive table lands Of high mountains in the
tropics, the glacier and ice-feld reign supreme
as in the artic regions, and all this although
they are nearer the sun than the adjacent burn
ming plains. The depth of the atmosphere,
and its pressure upon the surface of the earth,
effects its temperament as much as its relative
distance from the sun, and thus 1T is that many
simple questions must enter into the calculation
to determine by reasoning the complex ques-
ton of the probability of the stars being inhabi-
ted. We believe that neither the sun nor the
moon is inhabited The moon has been found
to be destitute of atmosphere, consequently no
living thing can dwell there; at least none pos
sessing the same functions necessary to life as
the oxygen breathing creatures of the earth
AS the sun has not an atmosphere like ours, we
also conclude that there are no inhabitants there
These two orbs appear to perform according
to science-no other duties than those describ
ed in the first chapter of Genesis, 'let the sun
and the moon be in the armament, to divide
the day and the night, to be for times and sea-
sons, days and years. and to give light npon the
earth"
1t is our belief that some of the planets, and
thousands of other heavenly bodies, in other
systems, are inhabited, but we can present on
scientific proof in favor of this belief positively
correct neither can any person present proof
that it is untrue. All we can say about it is,
that probabilities are in its favor, for we Judge,
as that our planet teens with life SO may many
others. 1t is reasonable inference from what
we see around US, that other worlds may be furn-
ished as luxuriantly with life and beauty as ours
We cannot believe that our planet is the only
theatre of life in the universe-that here alone
among all the starry host, the great Creator has
designed to display mis- manifold power, wisdom
and goodness. We cannot believe that our sun
and the other starry system shine for only one
single globe which, among the rest, is but
speck on the starry ocean. To believe other
wise, would lead us to contemplate being who
had brought into existence magnificent as
semblage of means, without corresponding
design, and who has prepared habitations fit for
the enjoyment of rational creatures, but has
failed to people them. To such view we can
not subscribe; all probabilities are favorable to