Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-06-06
rs TIE R.gRTH TIE O.vLF w.
H.aBETED upORLDe

rs TIE B.sRTH TIE O.vLr I.v-
HaBETBD BvORLDe
The idea that in other worlds life may
exist in conditions widely different from
those prevailing on this world in which we
live, however plausible at first. becomes
highly improbable when tested by the
light shed on this subject by the accumu-
ed knowledge of modern research in the
fields of astronomy, geology, spectroscop-
sy, and chemistry, especially that branch
of the latter science pertaining to organic
compounds. Thus it has been suggested
that-grantod even that when the tempera-
ture of the moon, and other satellites of
planets has been cooled TO such degree as
to freeze all water-living creatures may
exist there, having liquid in their arter-
les and veins as uncongealable as mercury,
glycerin, alcohol etc. or inversely-grant-
ed that the planet Jupiter is red hot, and
the sun much hotter-living beings may
exist, consisting of fireproof materials, and
of such an organization as TO feel happy
and comfortable in an atmosphere of super
heated steam, as in Jupiter, or even while
swimming on a surface of melted lava,
surrounded by an atmosphere of white hot
iron vapor, as would be the case in the sun.
Astronomy, now 50 pc Serfully aided by
the modern tools of the scientist, having
proved that the terrestrial elements exist
throughout the whole universe, only diff
ferently distributed, and chemistry having
studied the behavior of these elements un-
der extremes Of temperature we know now
that the possibilities of the existence OF or
ganic life are comparatively within very
narrow limits and confined TO a range of
not much beyond 1909 among the 6000 or
5000 degrees TO which our investigations
have extended. We have learned that the
wonderful properties Of that common but
most marvellous substance, carbon, aided
by liquid water, at temperature below
100 are the absolute and essential condi-
tons which MAKE the development and
continuation of life possibility. Without
these, no life can exist.
1t may be objected that in other worlds
there may be another substance, as effec-
tive in its function as carbon in our regions,
and that therefore we cannot make any
conclusion as TO the necessity of carbon for
the existence of life. In order TO meet this
argument, LET us consider the properties Of
carbon, which, by modern scientists, has
rightly been called the great organizer.
A substance, in order to take the place
of carbon in the economy of organized ex
istence, must be able to combine in differ
ent proportion with itself, to form COM
pick moecule, in o:der to enter again into
complex combinations. 1t must exist as a
solid, but also easily pass into the atmos-
| pheric condition by combination "ith an
| other substance, equivalent to oxygen, so
| that all vegetation may be surrounded by
atmosphere containing carbon in such a
| state that the plant may obtain it, and COM
| plete, with this substance as a solid basis,
| its organic tissues. We may go on and
| sum up other conditions which this sup
posed substitute of carbon would have
| to fulfill in order to take its place
but then we should in the end be driven to
| the conclusion that substance which pos
sesses all the proper les of carbon would
| be carbon itself. But now comes the spec
| troscope and teaches us that even the COM
cts consist chiefly of carbon dust, and that
their purpose may be to supply the plane
tary atmospheres from time to time with
some of this necessary element, when
sweeping close along them, as is often the
case.
AS the latest Investigations prove the
identity of the elementary matter in our
whole planetary system land this even ex-
tends 20 great number of the fixed stars)
we can come to no other conclusion than
to accept unity of chemical operations
of cry stalization, cell building, organic
growth, and organic life in general, OF
course greatly modified in accordance with
the conditions of gravitation, atmospheric
pressure, distribution of elementary mat
ter on surface, and especially of tempera
ture. If now we look carefully on all thu
conditions required to make life possible
on the surface of planet, we see that thest
conditions are very complex, that not only
the elementary matter, possessing the diff
ferent required qualities must be present
but also in the exact relative quantities, il
order not to annul the results of this dis
trbution. Let us, for an example, only
consider the amount of hydrogen presen
on our earths surface. We know tina
nearly all of this element is combined will
oxygen, forming the extensive oceans, riv
ers, lakes, clouds and moisture in general
in fact, the only source from which we car
obtain this element is by Gccomposing wa
ter. This compound is indeed burnt NJ
hydrogen, and this burning up, of course
took place at an early geological period o
our earth's history. Therefore all the by
drogen has thus been burned up, consum
ing an equivalent amount of oxygen AM
the latter now forms lightweight per cen
of all the terrestrial water. But suppos
that there had been some more hydrogen
Just enough to combine with the small por
ton of oxygen (2l per cent? contained In
the atmosphere; the result of the combus
ton would then have been some water |
the ocean, raising the surface only a FEY
feet, while no oxygen would have been LEI
, in the atmosphere. In this case life woul
have been simply impossible, and the cart
would now be desolate. 1t would be cas-
to adduce other instances proving how con
, pick the conditions of life are, and how i'm
probable that all these conditions are fu
, filled everywhere at once.
, We conclude, then, that our earth is
) highly distinguished planet, at present ia
vored above hundreds and perhaps aboV
r thousands with conditions which have nc
alone rendered the existence of vegetabl
and animal life possible, but developed
IN the bipheat state of organic exiStDQce