Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-02
Are other Worries Tnhabitedf Lecture
by Professor Draper.


On the evening of the 18th inst, Profess
sor Draper, says the New York Hsrdls,
delivered lecture before the Young Mems
Christian Association, at their rooms in
Fifth avenue, his subject being, "Are there
Other Worlds Inhabited7" The novelty Of
the theme and the reputation Of the distin-
guished lecturer attracted an audience which
would have filled large hall. The lecture
room Of the Association can only Accomno-
date about three hundred, and II was so
densely crowded that a number of ladies
were compelled to retire soon after the lee
ture commenced. The Representatives OF
the press were compelled TO elbow their way
through the crowd on the outside, whoevincep
the greatest indisposition TO permit them
toget within hearing distance of the speaker.
After some Introductory observations Pro-
fessor Draper said that within the last few
years science had stretched her hand across
the almost immeasurabIe distance which
separated us from the fixed stars, and told
us that there were in them many substances
with which we were here familiar. He
by examining the light coming from the
stars, to detect their appearance. What
reason had they TO conclude that the planets
were inhabited? The two planets that were
nearer to the sun than the earth might be
dismissed, for they were too hot TO permit
of animal or vegetable life. The first planet
outside the earth, Mars, was fifty millions of
miles more distant from the sun than we
were. II seemed TO him by far the more
interesting object in the heavens, from its
similarity TO the earth. There was visible
upon il a large expanse of water of a green
ish hue, the remaining parts were land of a
reddish tinge, and at the North and South
were accumulations of snow, presenting APP
pearances strictly analogous To those OF the
Arctic and Antarctic regions of our globe.
The lecturer then spoke of the moon, which
he said. seen through telescope of moder-
ate power. presented, when eight days old,
a very ragged surface on the northern side.
Valleys could be seen, but they did not con-
tain water, and consequently Il was no use
to search for inhabitants there. There were
several reasons 10 believe, however, that
water was in the moon. There might be air
and water on the opposite side, and we could
not see them. There might be inhabitants
there, but our chances of making their
acquaintance were feeble. SO far as per-
ceiying any visible traces of habitation on
the moon, she presented through the teles-
cope only sterile waste, and no tokens OF
activity. Astronomers wer( able to deter
mine now, by the aid Of photographs taken
from time 70 time (which was done with
considerable difficulty, the unchanged condi-
ton OF the moon. 1t was shown by tins
means that no change took place, though
an interval of years may have elapsed. The
Professor then exhibited a photograph of
the moon taken by himself, which, by the
aid Of the calcium light, was unexpectedly
intelligiblelto the audience. He went into
minute explanation of its surface, which was
very interesting, and was highly appreciated
by the audience. Professor Draper, very
properly, remarked that on reasoning such
q theme as the one presented for their con-
sideration, they ought 20 be admonished not
20 let the imagination control them in their
Investigations. He maintained that 1t was
clearly established that on many OF the bod
les oftke solar system many Of the elements
Of the earth were found; that the same laws
which ruled the solar system rule the uni
verse; and that we might be sure that nature,
operating upon like substaces by similar
laws, must ever produce the same results: IL
seemed in accordance with reason TO believe
that there may be many other globes con-
tanning intelligent beings formed on the
plan as we were, but different some perhaps,
better. and others worse. In conclusion,
the lecturer spoke Of the effec. OF climate
upon human beings and was warmly APP
,,f,,,la1 s,,, fakfno his seat