The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-07-11
The Inhabitants of Mars Little Moons,

PROBABLY the most convenient as
sumption we can make is that there
may be creatures in a general respect
like ourselves on those moons of Mars,
but that, owing to the extreme rarity of
the atmosphere, their vital energy is so
far reduced that they are not more
active than we are, despite the feeble
action of gravity in their world. The
air must be exceedingly rare, most GER
tainly, even if the quantity is proper
toned to the volumes of these moons.
On this assumption the quantity of air
is less than the quantity of terrestrial
as one is less than 400 times 400 times
4OO-that is, it amounts only to 1-64,-
OOO, 900 part of the terrestrial air.
Being spread over a surface which is
but 100000 of the earth's it fol-
lows that the quantity of air above each
square mile of surface is 1-4OO part on
ly of the quantity over each square
mile of our earth's surface. This would
be little enough in all conscience; but
this is not all. For the action CT grav-
ity being, according to our assump-
ton, only 1-6OO of terrestrial gravity,
it follows that the atmospheric pres
sure, and therefore density, is further
reduced in this degree, giving finally a
density of equal only to 1-24O, 900 of the
density of our own air.
Now, at height of seven miles j,
where the atmospheric pressure is re-
duced to one-fourth that at the sea lev
ell, men of ordinary constitutions would
perish in a few minutes, if not in
stantly. In Coxwelrs ascent to nearly
that height, Glaishcr tainted, and Cox
well only just had strength left to draw
the valve string with his teeth (his
hands being already powerless). Yet
at the height of seven miles the densi-
ty of the air is 1000 times greater than
that which, according to our very rea-
sonablc assumption, prevails at the sur
face of the Marian moons.
We can very well believe, then, that
in whatever way the inhabitants Of
these moons may be adapted, corpor.
eally and constitutionally, for existence
in their small homes, the rarity of the
air there must tend to reduce their vi
tai energy. So that we may well i'm
agine that, instead of being able to lear
to a height of half mile or over dis
lance of two or three miles, they are
not more active than we are on eartl
with 600 times greater weight, but fal
more effective respiration. We might
perhaps, go even further than this, ant
assume that, in order to give the inhab
itants of these moons locomotive pow
ers prOportioned in the same way t.
their own dimensions as ours are, the,
must be supposed very much smaller
than we are.
| We might imagine them in an at
mosphere so exceedingly attenuatet
that creatures which could have vital
ity enough to move freely about mus
be no larger than flies or ants, and mus
have also some such provision as in
sects have for more effective inspira
ton. In this way we might find in tn
Marian moons miniature OF our owl
earth, not only in the proportions o
these worlds themselves, but also il
those of the creatures living upon them
But it would not be very interesting II
consider mere miniatures of our earth
such as the moons of Mars would thu
come to be regarded. Indeed, in tina
case, little more could be said than tina
all the relations presented by this cart
were or might be represented in tn
Marian moons, but on q greatly re
duced scale.-Prof Proctor, in Bel
grGUiG.
Capt. Boyton's swim few week
ago across the Straits of Gibraltar wa
very periious. l. great shark swan
around him and grew more and NOR
aggressive until it was frightened ava
by the explosion of dynamite cartridge
Night came on and with it high win
and waves during which the Captai
was lost sight of several times by th
boats crew who accompanied him, an
who were so frightened that they in
sisted that he should give up tho voyag
and get into the boat. At last the CAP
tain made land and frightened terribl
. party Of Moors, who ran away as fas
as they could, thinking that som
dreadful sea monster had landed o.
their shores.