The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1875-08-25
Does Life Exist in the Planets 2

though the question would appear to be
beyond the limits of argument even, yet
it has been made the subject of many a
learned essay or poetic effusion. In O
recent number of the Oornhill Magazine
Richard A. Proctor ventures again to
approach the subject, reviewing it under
the title "Life, Past and Future, in
Other Worlds" Deeming it probable
that many of our readers may fail to
meet with the paper in full, we are
prompted to give extended space to a
condensed review of its. main points
convinced that they viii recognize in
the authors line of reasoning, though
necessarily one of analogy, many points
in favor Of the conclusion, viz. that it is
more probable that life is wanting than
that life exists at this present time in
other worlds than ours. At the close of
q brief reference to opinions expressed
in former essays, and at variance with
those now advanced, the writer adds
LET the matter be explained as it may,
it was only gradually hat both the
Brewsterian and Whewellite theories of
life in other worlds gave place in the
writer's mind to q theory in one sense
intermediate to them, in another sense
opposed to both, which seem to accord
better than either with what we know
about own earth, about the other
members OF the solar system, and about
other suns which people space. What
we now propose to do is to present this
theory as specially illustrated by the
two planets which adorn our evening
skies during the summer months of the
present year" The planets to which
allusion is here made are Jupiter and
Mars, and their past, present and future
conditions are made the subject of
thoughtful consideration. The ground
work upon which Prof. Proctor bases
his whole argument against the probable
present existence of life in other worlds
may be stated as follows Organic life
is but a natural phenomenon and de-
ponds upon congenial physical con-
dltlons, without which there could be no
life. In other words, to prove that life
abounds on any planet we must first
accept the fact that tho physical con-
dItIons on that planet are "life-sup.
porting" Returning now to the main
argument, the writer notices at length
the various forms of life upon orr globe
and the possible conditions under which
lt exists, giving special attention to
the evidence that Mature possesses q
power OF modifying the different types
in accordance with the varying condi,
tlons under which they subsist.
STILL" he adds, and in this sentence
sounds the keynote of all subsequent
reasoning, "there must be o limit be.
yond which the change of the earth's
conditions, whether through the cooling
Of her WI globe or the diminution of
the suns heat, will be such that no con.
celvable modification of the types of
life o existing could render life posi-
bic. The struggle for life in
VoiVes the repeated victory of death.
...' Nature, wasteful Of individual
lie, Is equally wasteful Of types Of life.
and "at length the time comes when
the struggle for existence can manifestly
have but 4 end, and then, though the
type may linger long before it actually
disappears, its disappearance is only a
question OF time" Admitting the Jus.
tlce OF this general proposition. the
writer arrives naturally at the following
conclusion 1--WE have also onlv to
consider that life on the earth necesssri.
ly had q beginning to infer that it must
necessarily have an end. Clearest evil
dence shows how our earth was once n
haze of light and how for count-
less aons atterward her globe was in
stlnct with fiery heat, amid which no
form OF life could be conceived to exist.
after the manner Of life known to us,
though the germs of life may have been
present IN the midst of the fire. Then |
followed ages in which the earth's glow
ing ernst was drenohed by showers of
murlatlc, nitric and sulphruic acid. not
only intensely hot, but t~iercely burning
through their chemical activity. ONLY
after periods infinite to our conceptions
could life such as we know it. or oven
the remotest degree like what ia now
known to US, have begun to exist upon
5he earth" The reader will discover
Prof. Proctor anticipates the vague
objections of the purely Imaginative op-
oonents BY limitIng his definition of
lie to that which exists g after the man.
ler known to u.s." If we have succeed.
ID IN the rather difficult task of con.
ienslng m already suecinct argument
he reader viii be ready 10 follow the
in his next step, and, as he has
ietined the nature of this step in a few
'riat sentences, we give them, %. fol-
oWs We see our earth passing
trough q vast period, from its first ex-
stonce as a separate member OF the
system to the time when life M.
'eared upon its surface: then began a
comparatively short period, now in
'fogress, during which the earth has
'een and viii be the abode of life
nd after that must follow q period
infinite to our conceptions, when
be cold and inert globe Of the
arth will circle as lifelessly roupd
no sun aa the moon now does. We
nay, ii we please. infer this from analogy.
that the duration oflifei is always
lhnitely small by comparison with the
uration Of the region where life an
ears 80 that, by analogy, the duration
{ life on the earth would be infnitelv
hort compared with the duration az
earth itself. But we are brought to
same conclusion ipaepen1 entity of
lalogy, perceiving that the fire of the
artiis youth and the deathlY cold of her
ID age must alike DO infinite in dura-
on compared with her period of vital.
representing warmth. sAnd what "a
OF The earth Is true OF every mem {
81 OF the solar system, major planet, |
planet, astariod, or satellite !
'onably OF every orb id space. from |
10 minutest meteorite to n n exceed |
8 our sur q hOusand-fo in volume" I
he remainder of the attractive essay I
occupied in an attempt to prove, by /
and fact, SO far as facts are S
tainable, that viewed merely as a |
oblem OF chances. IL il improbable d
OF ut the present time or at any given 7
ne, the conditions of two or more &
anets will be- oclosely allied asta make b
I'm hfe-supporting. Mars has in ali
stability passed this stage, and Jupi-
4 yet fsr from Il, though advancing. u
r need Ne stop, be adds, seat solar Il
- 49, -eMEA- ~ u