The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-16


that the chemical composition Of that wat
is identical with that of our own hqul'
n thereby demonstrating the existence OF OK.
3" gen and hydrogen.
>. These important facts enable Us to form
n idea of the meteorology Of Mars, which
" very similar to that of our globe. Yonder
= we'll as here, under the influence of the sofa
rays, the water of the sea is raised into tn
atmosphere in the shape Of vapor to forr
clouds, the winds arise from the same varia
tions in temperature, and we can even follov
the course of the clouds as they are driven b.
the winds over the surface of the martha
seas and continents. If we do not exactl,
, see the rain fall, there are sufficient indica
tons to establish the fact, and the presenc,
of snow is abundantly revealed by the tele
scope.
Here, then, we have atmospherical pheno
mena similar to those of our globe, and the
exlste nee of continents and seas shows that
this planet must, like our own, have passed
through series of geological commissions,
whereby the originally smooth surface Of
Mars was deeply modified by alternate eleva-
tons and depressions. Hence, it has noun
tains and valleys, plateaux and basins, deep
ravines and high cliffs. Hence, also, it has
streams and rivers which carry the rain water
back into the sea; hence also, had we but in
struments ofadequate power, We might gaze
upon the same variegated scenery in Mars
that strikes our eyes on every side around US.
Here, then, we find some millions Of
leagues distant in space globe almost like
our o,on, where all the elements of life are
found as they exist around us-water air,
heat, light, winds, clouds, rain, rivers, val
legs and mountains. To complete the resem-
blance. we note that the seasons have about
the same intensity that they have upon the
earth, the axis of inclination of Mars being
twenty-seven degrees, whilst that of our globe
is twenty-three degrees.
Can we look upon such q combination Of
elements and motions without being led to
the conclusion that the same physico-chemical
conditions which gave birth to vegetable life
on our globe being also found in Mars, they
must inevitably have produced the same re-
suits on that planet.
What logical or scientific objection can be |
raised to such an inference? It would re-
quire permanent miracle, an Incompetent
sible veto of the Supreme Power, to prevent
The solar rays in contact with air, earth and
water from producing organic life, when we
zee here that the smallest drop of water abso-
utely swarms with animated beings While
he very bottom of our ocean is the abode of
thousands of animal and vege able species,
low unreasonable to suppose that placed
lnder equally favorable conditions for life,
he world we are now speaking of should /
emain forever a vast and useless DESERT t
The mean density of the constituent matter
Mars is inferior to that of the matter {
the earth, in the ratio Of II to 100 From 1
us density and the rolo.me of Mars, the 4
eight of bodies is much less on its surface 9
ian it would be here. Thus, body weigh Q
e 100 pounds on the surface of the earth
ould only weigh 80 in Mars, which is the I
nallest intensity Of weight to be found on any g
1e OF the planets of our system. Hence a Il
eight OF 1000 pounds, ifcarried to Mars, would a
lily weigh there 3S2 pounds, and man of Il
% pounds would not be over 81 pounds on a,
at planet. 1t would require no more exer- II
IN for him to walk fifty miles there than to
over twenty upon the earth, and the mus q
lar effort of school boy when he plays the g;
me OF "leap-trog" here below would on III
ars carry him over the top of tree or the b,
Of of house. al
The rotation of Mars on its axis taking of
sce in "a hours 81 minutes and % seconds.
re is not much difference between the
rtial and the terrestrial days and nights;
martial year, however, is almost double
length of ours. its revolution aronnd tho lie,
being accomplished IN 6s7 Of our days. IN
The inhabitants of Mars see the constella- va
rs exactly as we see them. Our earth must W.
YEAR to them lice a brilliant star, shining
aetimes in the west after sunset, and some "'
es IN the east before the rising of that orb. -.
word, it is to them the morning and VA,
ming star, one of the most beautiful and
king of celestial appearances. Who knows 'ah
what II ia also n than q, oh;ect ~ 49, all.
~
- mil
up the above probabilities, Mr.. the
nmarion says of our planetary neighber WI
the atmosphere which surrounds and fer =
es it, the sun rays which give it light ,"'
heat, the winds that sweep over it, the .An
ons which transform it, are so many ele- -
its which contribute to give it modes of .i'e
similar to those that prevail on our globe. lug
relative weakness Of gravity at its sur Dui
must have introduced peculiar modifca- 'As
s in those organisms to adapt them to the -
ial condition Of the planet. Hence we
I'D no longer look upon the globe of Mars 1t
! mass of stone whirled into space scie
the sling of solar attraction, lied
, barren and destitute of life, Yorl
rather as living world, peopled with met
berless beings floating in its atmosphere, the
ned with landScapeS where the Eoht take