The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-24

Il
formation OF the organs of vision. They
accordingly applied the opthalmascope,
an instrument by means of which the
structure oil the eye can be minutely
explored, and any peeulIarities readily
detected. On applying the instrume mt
it was Immediately discovered that the
boys eye was abnormal by presbyopia, a,
or "far sightedness," to most wonder
full degree; to such degree, indeed,
that no eyeglass could possibly remedy
the imperfection IN vision. BY mathe-
matical calculation founded upon the
degree OF fatness of the eye it was as
certained that the natural focal dis
tance was about 100000 miles; and that,
consequently, the moon with all its ap-
Ipurtenances must be within easy range
of vision of this boys eye.
On the 9th OF January last, the moon
being full and the atmosphere clear, an
experiment was made as to his observa-
tion Of the satellite. This experiment
was in private, attended only by the
professional gentlemen and the boys par
ents. His description is thus rendered: {:
THE PEOPLE IN THE MOON.
The Lunarlans are not formed at all
like ourselves. They are less in height,
and altogether of different appearance
When full grown, they resembled some
what a chariot-wheel with four spokes,
| converging at the center or axle.
They have four eyes in the
head, which is the axle, 30 to
speak, and all the limbs branch out di-
rectly from the center, like some sea
forms known as tRadiates." They move
by turning rapidly, like wheel, and
travel as tast as a bird through the air.
The children are undeveloped in form,
and are perfectly round, like pumpkin
or orange. AS they grow older they
seem to drop or absorb the rotundity OF
the whole body, and finally assume the
appearance OF chariot-wheel.
They are OF different colors, or nation
alluies-bright red, orange and blue be-
ing the predominant hues. The reds are
in large majority. They do NO work.
but sleep every four or five hours. They
have no houses, and need none. They
have no clothing, and do not require it.
There being no night on the side of the
moon fronting the sun, and no day on
the opposite side, all the inhabitants,
apparently at a given signal of some
kind, form into vast armies and flock in
myrlads to the sleeping-grounds ON the
shadow side of the planet. They do not
appear to go very far over the dark rim,
for they reappear In immense platoons
in a few hours, and soon spread them
serves over the illuminated surface.
They sleep and wake about six times in
one ordinary day of twenty-four hours.
Their occupations can not be discerned-
they must be totally different from any
thing upon the earth.
THE SURFACE OF THE MOON
is all hill and hollow. There are but few
level spots, nor Is there any water visi-
Bile. The atmosphere is almost as re-
fined and light as hydrogen gas. There
is no fire visible, nor are there any vol.
canoes. Most OF the time of the inhab-
itants seems to be spent In playing
games of locomotion, spreading them
selves into squares, circles, triangles, or
other mathematical figures. They move
always in vast crowds. No one or two
are ever seen separated from the main
bodies. The children also flock in herds,
and seem to be all of one family. Indi-
yidualism is unknown. They seem to
spawn, like herring or shad, or to be
propagateu like bees, from the queen, in
myriads. Motion is their normal condi-.
tion. The moment after mathematical
figure is formedit is dissolved, and fresh
combinations take place, like the atoms
in kaleidoscope. No other species Of
animal, bird or being exists. upon the
illuminated face of the moon.
THE sHRUBBERY AND VEGETATION OF
THE MOON
are all metallic. Vegetable life nowhere
exists; but the forms Of some of the
shrubs and trees are exceedingly beau
tiful. The highest trees do not exceed
twenty-five feet, and they appear to have
all acquired their full growth. The
ground is strewn with flowers, but they
are all formed of metals-gold, silver,
copper and tin predominating. But
there is new kind Of metal seen every
where on tree, shrub and flower, nowhere
known on the earth. It is of bright
vermilion color, and semi-transparent.
The mountains are all OF bare and burnt
granite, ana appear to have been melted
with fire, The committee called the at.
tention Of the boy TO the bright ''sea of
glass" lately observed near The northern
rim of the moon, and inquired OF what it
is composed. He examined it carefully,
and gave such minute description that
it became apparent at once to the COM
mittee that is was pure mercury or
quicksilver. The reason why it has but
very recently shown itself to astrono-
mers is thus accounted for:
1t appears close up to the line of de-
marcation separating the light and shad-
ow upon the moons disc; and on closer
inspection distinct cataract OF the
fiuid-in short metallic Niagara was
clearly seen falling from the night side
TO the day side Of the luminary. 1t has
already filled up vast plain--one Of the
four that exists upon the moons surface
and appears to be still emptying it.
self with great rapldity and volume. II
covers an area OF five by seven hundred
miles in extent, and may possibly del
uge one-haif the entire surface OF the
moon. 1t does not seem to occasion
much apprehension to the inhabitants,
as they were seen skating SO to speak,
! in platoons and battallions over and
across it. In fact, 1t presents the ap.
pearanee OF an immense park, to which
| the Lunarians flock and disport them
selves with great gusto upon its pol
| shed face. Thus has been solved one o
the great astronomical questions OF the
century.
| THE WONDERS or MARS.
There is but one large telescope prop
| eyiy mounted In San Francisco, and tha