New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-16

But ia order to get rid OF those numbers, which will be
found in the textbooks of astronomy, let US take
relative conceptions 20 the distance II you CAL the
distance OF the earth TO- then for the distance of Mer
curry from the sun you have the Dumberi; Venus T.
and Mars le For the diameters of those planets we
have MERCURY 5000 miles Venus. $500 miles for the
randi progress upward TO the earth aud then downward
Mercury being 5000 Venus 1900. the earth 'so-the
q moon and then we have Mars with its diameter of
500 miles All these planets rotate on their axes IN
,out "a hours They all resemble each other In tnat
respect They all seem to have very similar densties
TO be composed Of matter of about the same density as
of this earth the density OF earth being about ~
times some say much 81 times the density OF water
IL 10 somewhere between these values.
THE INTENSE HEAT OF MERCURY.
To begin with Mercury the nearest OF oil these
on.t, 10 the SUM- Tue feature which strikes first in
dealing with Mercury is the great heat to which that
oanet IA exposed Mercury travels ON an eccentric
orbit and exposed 10 greater heat from the sun
Al certain times than Others We have before us ola
grams the orbits. This inner orbit Is the orbit OF
Mercury and you will notice Mercury Is AT one time
much nearer the than IN another part OF ms year
The year OF Mercury 80 OF our days 50 that III the
rorse OF 50 DAYS Mercury from very great neat
when nearest, 10 comparatively Tess neat Wneh
farthest from But, even when the sun hat s
least IL is much greater than that to which our EARN Is
exposed The quantity OF neat recelVeu pS "ui o
have. Now that is really a serious dlnerence. oDH
imagine what would happen TO us II tie sun ns1t ano
p ron tS, e heat m that ease would be so great
that such could not exist; anuIti
life would be destroyed the earth If the sun suddenly
gave out from four 10 ten times much neat as be
actually does. Then, can there he inhabitants IN Mer-
cury say that II only the atmosphere we're very
sbiy have life there In the Torrd Zone at a certain
night you reach line, that line there
that life NAV exist ana does exist there
But there is one circumstance that is overlooked in
where the air Is so rare the suns RAYS dmin-
i,ned The air does warm 1t does not prevent
aud IN the shade the air is cold But in direct heat
OF the sun expose haud aud the heat Is more in
tense than easily oearbie Even with snow and Ice
covering the mountain tops, the face ana hands are b
tered by the heat Of the sun We should have more
lntOerabe contrast in Mercury thah III tue east Oh an
atmosphere like own There would be very intense
heat under direct ray OF me sun ana SomisIlYe
cold In shadow. aud Ire WOuu DC 1uost uhenuuid
Die TO u.s. aud the atmo sphere OF Mercury were so
tim there would be evaporation OF all ths water ana
tere Would be another condition Opposed To ours. III
apprars 10 me that that difficulty is suhcenty great 10
make doubt whether HE can exist on MerSurS
vii not say such lie exist Oh The ealtD' Ous any
of TIE lg her forms OF lite, under these cOhd4tous
LIFE IN OTHER WORLDS.
Mercury IS planet waiting for the time when NE
may exist Oh IL; when the suns heat shall De suhclenJ
reduced and then life will be comfortable as II IS on
earth Here We are introduced 10 considerations OF greal
oortance In TINS point Of view Of lie in other worlds
rn,agb life now exists Oh the earth, there have been
tong success OF during which NE mas not Deen
possible earth aud there may De long suegessiUns
y, geS during WIZ DE tOierablc on tlc planets
planet Is Intended TO support me- Dut hot iol All ''0'
bul Tor suall portion o. ine planet net The
gravity of Mercury, owing TO IT'S smalhcss Is 80 re-
fuced that pound would only press d' iou
av ounres aud We are Introduced 10 consldeIa
non OF The Importance gravity 10 ourselves we
sometimes look ON gravity edI weight OF maiel as DC
80 moi for gravity shOuld be continually at los
objects would not stand hrn and we sh9nH nEseI ior
ge lind In endeavOring 20 walk III "S.ef oeS QUIZ cel
tain depth. As you know divers Wis,ns 10 Win aVr =,
In deep water have heavy weights attached 90 40 70
Ieep tnemsc elves IN place. a.. ,,
IL II absolute necessity the'ciore' '"'' s'"'''