Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-09-06
The Planet Mars.

Mars has not blazed so fercely in our
skies since 1S45, nor will he so shine
again for torty->even years, as during
the last days of August and the OPEN
ing days Of September. Moreover,
twice during his time Of greatest splen-
dor his rays will be closely conjoined
with those OF the malignant planet Sa-
turn, the greater Infortune, as Mars him.
self Is the lesser Infortune Of astrologi-
cal systems.
The raddy hue Of this planet, Justify
ing the evil qualities attributed to it by
nations believing in planetary influences,
has been noted from the earliest time.
The Greeks called Mars the fierv plan
ct; the Hebrews gsve to it a name sig
nifying "enkindled;" the Indians called
IT Angaraka, or burning charcoal. and
sometimes Lohitanga, or the red orb.
Ruddy stars also were compared to
Mars, as the chief of all ruddy stars, so
that the name Antares. given to the
star which CLOVIS like fiery coal in the
heart of the Scorpion, signifies that in
ruddiness that star is a rival of Mars or
Ares.
The last issue Of the Cornhill Maya
zine had an exceedingly interesting ar
ticle on Mars, discussing the question
OF its age, and habitabllity--written, we
believe, by Professor Proctor-the main
features OF which are here condensed.
In the first place We saw, in consider
ing the conditions which favor belief in
the existence Of life in the planet Mars,
that he presents the clearest possible
evidence of being one in origin and
structure with our own earth. We can
not tell what the nature Of the soil OF
Mars may be. but its generally ruddv
tnge--so well marked that, though the
telescope shows an almost equal part OF
the surface TO be grceni>h in hue. the
red prevails. giving to the planet as seen
by the naked eve its obvious red color
seems to show that it resembles the
red sandstone OF our own earth. This,
We know, IS one ot the older geological
formations, and IL we could safely COM
pare terrestrial with Marian geology,
We might almost be tempted to find in
the present prevalence of tint belong
ing to one of the earlier of our terres-
trial formations an argument in favor OF
the theory that Mars passed through
fewer stages of development during its
iife-bearing condition than our earth,
and that thus the later formations OF our
earth's surface are wanting in the sur.
face OF Mars.
This reasoning would not be very
safe, however: itimplies resemblance
IN details which is unlikely. the OBJ
served rule of nature seeming, so far As
we can Judge. TO be similarity in gen.
erals, variety in details. We NAV we'll
believe that the ruddiness of the soil Of
Mars Is due 10 the same general cause
as The ruddines> of our red sandstone
the general prevalence of certain or
ganisms: but neither the actual charae-
ter OF this particular formation, nor its
position in the terrestrial >eues Of stra-
IA, can be safely rredicated of the rud-
dy formation constituting the chief part
Of the visible land surface OF Mars.
Few will now suppose with French
writer, that the ruddiness NJ Mars is due
to the color of vegeta,ion there. A GER
tain support is given to the idea BY the
circumstance that the degree Of ruddi-
ness Is variable, aud is some " hat great
er during the Marian Summer than in
Spring and Autumn. But the ruddiness
OF the planets Summer-which will be
well marked Mis- year. for on Sepsem-
Der Is, only eleven days after its time
OF nearest approach and greatest spleu-
dor. II will be midsummer's day for the
Southern half Of Msrs-ean be other.
wise and better explained than BY sup