Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-09-25

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of its existance, has passed far on its
way toward the same stage of decrepi
J tude as tho moon. As to Jupiter
though he is so much further from us
than Mars, we have direct observa
tional evidences, because Of the vast
scale on which all the processes in pro
gress on bis mighty globe are taking
J place. We see that his whole surface
is enwrapped in cloud layers of enor-
nous depths, and undergoing changes
which imply an intense activity (or
in other, an intense heat throughout
the whole mass of Jupiter. We recog-
nize in the planets appearance the
signs of as near an approach to the
condition OF the earth, when as yet
the greater part Of her mass was va
porous, as is consistent with the vast
difference necessarily existing between
two orbs containing such unequal
quantities of matter.
Mars, on the other hand, differs
from the earth in being a far older
planet--probably as respects the ac-
tual time which has elapsed since the
planet was formed, and certainly, as
respects the stage which it has now
reached. Jupiter, on tho other hand,
differs from the earth in being q far
younger planet, not in years, perhaps,
but in condition. As to the actual age
of Jupiter, we cannot form so proba.
BILE an opinion as in the case Of Mars.
Mars, being an exterior planet, must
have begun to be formed long before
the earth, and being q much smaller
planet, was probably shorter time in
attaining his mature growth on both
accounts, therefore, he would be much
older than the earth in years, while,
as we have seen, his relative smallness
would cause the successive stages Of
his career, subsequent to his existence
as an independent and mature planet,
to be much shorter. Jupiter, being
exterior to Mars, presumably began to
be formed millions of centuries before
that planet, but his bulk and mass so
enormously exceed those Of Mars that
his growth must have required far
longer time; so that it is not at all
certain that even in point Of years Ju.
piter dating from his maturity may
not be the youngest member Of the
solar system. But even if not, it is
practically certain that, as regards de-
velopment, Jupiter is far younger than
any member of the solar system, save
perhaps his brother giant, Saturn
whose greater antiquity and inferior
mass (both suggesting a later stage Of
developmen) may have been counter
balanced by comparative sluggish
ness Of growth in the outer parts Of
the solar domain.
II is manifest from observed facts
in the case OF Jupiter, that he is as YET
far removed from the life bearing stage
Of planetary existence, and theoretical
considerations point to the same con
clusion. In the case OF Mars, theoret
ical considerations render II extremely
probable that he has long since passed
the lifc.bearing stage, and observed
facts, though they do not afford strong
evidence in favor Of this conclusion
suggest nothing which, rightly con
sidered, is opposed to it, 1t is true
that as we have shown in former es
says on this planet, Mars presents
many features OF resemblance to oui
earth. The planet rotates in period
not differing much from our days; hi'
year does not exceed ours so greatly
as TO suggest relations unpleasantly
affecting living creatures it has been
shown that there are oceans in Mars
though it is not quite so clear that
they are not for the most part frozen
he has an atmosphere, and the vapoi
Of water is at times present in that at
mosphere as in ours clouds iorm
there snow falls, and perhaps rair
from time to time ice and snow gather
at the polls In winter and are partial
ly melted in summer; the land sur
face must necessarily be uneven, see
ing that the very existence of cont
nents and oceans implies that once, a
any rate, the globe of Mars was sub
jeeted TO forces resembling those which
have produced the Irregularities Of the
eaith's surface; glacial action mus
still be going on there, oven if there il
no rainfall, and therefore no denudinl
action corresponding to that which re
suits from the fall Of rain on our ter
restrial continents. But il is mis-
take land a mistake too commonly
madc) TO suppose that the continuance
of these natural processes which ar,
advantageous to living creatures I'm
plies the existence of such creatures
The assumption is that the beneicont
processes of nature are never wasted
according to our conceptions. Yet wt
see over and over again in nature mol
merely what resembles waste, whei
in fact is waste according to cur ideas
but an enormouso excess of wasted
over utilized processes. The sun pouri
forth on all sides the supply OF light
and heat which, where received as or
our earth, sustain vegetable and ami
nal life but the portion received by
our earth rs less than the 1000 mill
ionth part Of the total force thus con
tinually expended. And this is typi
cal Of natures operations everywhere,
The earth on which we live illustrates
the truth as clearly as the sun. We
are apt to say that 1t teens with life
forgetting that the region occupied by
living creatures is mere shell, while
the whole interior mass Of the earth
/ far larger in volume, and undergoing
for more active processes of change
: tecming, in fact, with onergy-con
tains no living creature, or at least can
only be supposed to contain living
creatures by imagining conditions ol
life utterly different from those We
are familiar with.
The mere continuance, therefore, on
Mars, of processes which, on the earth
we associate with the existence Of life
in reality proves nothing as TO the con
tinucd existence of life on Mars. The
surface Of the moon, for example, must
undergo disturbances-mighty throcs,
as the great wave of sun distributed
heat circles round her orb in each lu,
nation--yet few suppose that there il
life, or has been for untold ages, on
the once teeming surface of our com.
panion planet. The formation Of Mars
as planet must so long have preccd
cd that of our earth; his original heat
must have been so much less his
small glove must have parted with
heat as it once had so much more rar
, idly; Mars lies so much farther from
the sun than our earth does his at
mosphere IA so much rarer; his sup.