Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-03


the red color of Mars is not due to an absorp-
tive power in its atmosphere, but to a ruddiness
OF color OF certain ingredients i'm its soil; that
IT'S atmosphere contains gases and vapors like
beautiful its evening sunset and morning sun
rises; and that fierce storms sweep over its
surface and obscure the view to the telescope
vision.
Astronomers delight to watch the changes
around
The snowy poles of moonIess Mars"
In summer the ice-b0und circle is reduced to a
range within ten degrees of the pole; i'm winter
the circle enlarges to fOrty-five degrees and the
widespread tracts OF snowy light cover its sur
Martial neighbors have only a quarter of the
light and heat which our more favored position
bestows upon Us, but Tyndall says in his
Radiation OF Heat that slight increase of
certain vapors in the atmosphere would com
pensate the planet for its increased distance
from the vivifying center.
Science Is constantly adding to the close
analogy that binds us to the planet Mars. 1t
belongs to the same family; it revolves around
the same great center; its day, its year. its sea-
sons; its atmosphere; its physical features; the
elements OF its soil; water in the various forms
portant part in the economy OF organized
beings-all find their complement there. We
need only one link to complete the chain, the
evidence of life. Ii Il not too much to hope
that in the days to come simple means will be
discovered to show that life Is not the sole In
heritance Of the intelligent member of the
planetary WOriu 10 which We belong. we are
on the eve of great discoveries. An instrument
which can detect the constituents of sun and
stars may be followed, and that at no distant
day, by one equally simple which will detect
the presence Of life In other worlds. Some
Prometheus will arise who will steal the divine
flame from the altar, and lind some hollow reed
in which 70 conceal the divine affiatus for NOR
tai inspection. .G0e- 81
Such are some Of the facts In regard to the
planet Mars, now brilliant object ia our starlit
sky. Nearly two years must pass before the next
opposition, or before 90 favorable q condition
for observation will occur. Meantime We may
watch its course among the stars, sometimes
advancing, sometimes retracing its path, and
sometimes standing still a. we look upon, yet
ever moving forward 10 the Eye that guides the
universe. Reason f0rbids ms to accept ~ truth
anything which cannot be demonstrated but
imagination wings Its fight to Q stand point on
the Martial planet, and thus sees the earth
dwarfed to Q golden star shining In the sky,
now Is evening star, now . slender crescent
now full-orbed sphere, closely followed by .
tiny satelite whose oclipoes are m index Of Mas
tial longitude, perception of whose presence
Is perhaps test OF Martial telescopes. II nav
be that rare phenomenon Of . transit arrests the
eye; . black star followed BY . black point
crosses the szzling disk of the sun. That tiuy
black circle Il our globe, to the myriads 81
human beings that live their life on It's surface
immense In extent, b0undless In Importance: "a
the 'Creator Of infinite gpace, only star little
larger and brighter than the planet Mars.
$3.50 ENNA ~. CONVERSE.