The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-10-14
WONDERFUL ASSERTED DISCOV-
ERIES.

Most people have heard of Jules Verne's
visit to the moon. Only one adyenturer
preceded him, whose access to the earth's
satellite was effected by means of bean
stalk, while Jules Verne, less POLITICALLY in
clined, and addicted to habits of fast age,
was blown out of a Parrot gun. Vernet
failed to effect a landing, though, from the
accelerated velocity with which he began
his flight, it was commonly supposed that
he would have found safe and deep anchor
age in some fathomless cavern among troy
lodytes on the rugged mountainous surface
of la Lune. Swedenborg, too, made the
same journey, and it is very curious that
Swedenborg gives almost precisely the same
account of people he there encountered with
Thomas Lake Harris, another more eloquent
seer, who visited the moon one hundred
and twenty-seven years later than the learn
ed Swede. Swedenborg said that he found
that side of the moon. which is never pre-
sented toGs, to be inhabited. The dwell
ers on that outer disk of the satellite were
small and breathless-not with astonish-
ment, as when Granger contemplates the
cost of supporting wife and children at
the capital, hut breathless because there is
no atmosphere to inhsle. For all that, they
lived and were merry and made a great
noise In tne-moon. TDsG O"SuonDorg auu
Harris had genuine visions, such as they de-
scribe in solemn books, we are willing to be-
lieve, and strangely enough, and incredible
as the multitude may deem the recitals OF
the Swedish and American sdUans. their as
serted discoveries in dreamland receive
quasi confirmation from most unexpected
quarter. Several years ago the Russian
government established on Mount Pamlates-
ka, the next highest point of the Himmalay-
an mountains, the costliest observatory,
furnished with the strongest telescope, save
one, in the world. More than a year ago
the Russian astronomer discovered won
derfully bright spot on the outer verge of
the moons disc. There was much talk about
tit among astronomers and then it disap-
peared and was seen no more until some
time in August, when this brilliant spot re-
appeared with greater splendor than before.
The astronomers are satisfied that those lu-
mar people, that Swedenborg talked about,
are raising mighty mirror to get a perfect
view of this planet. The scientists say:
1t is well known that the immense height
of that portion of the moon which Is turned
toward the earth, not only through the
well-known laws of gravitation, keeps that
portion of her surface presented towards US
but also renders it uninhabitable. 1t is sup
posed that the side turned from us may have
an atmosphere suitable for an animal life,
and that intelligent beings, observing the
halo of light shed around its horizon by re-
Elections frow the earth, may have taken
this means to ascertain the cause. Some in
genlous device to place mirror at a height
where animal life could not be sustained
was the result. 1t is to be hoped that this
discovery may lead to others in regard to
| our interesting satellite.
Our readers may accept or reject the
statements given. We find them, as repro.
duced substantially above, in English news
papers.