Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-23
ARE rae PLANETS INHABITED .

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Ans TmE PLANETS INHABITED
This is not a new question. On the
contrary. it is one which has caused an
imnense amount Of discussion among
scientific men for many years pas.. ou'
Il il mot until recently that any degree
Of uniformity Of opinion has exis'ec'
The question is not quite explicit enough
in ono sense.
That the planets nearest TO our eaf'n
arc inhabited by organized bodies, soch
A. trees, heritage and inferior animals
has been generally admitted. bo' inc
ar sstion of more interest to Us Is; Do
orosnized beings exist there, similar IN
form and mental qualities TO the human
r.c. ON our earth? The great thinkers
~ our time are now almost unit IN
answering this question in the affirma-
tive. Take tho planet Mars for exam
ple. Let Us look at some OF the faess
which modern science has developed IN
regard TO the conditions on this planet.
We need not explain the long processes
Of investigation which have revealed
thsse facts. We know that astrono-
mers predict eclipses and tho return OF
comets. stating their return to the nicely
Of a tenth of second of time. We
therefore, have faith in their statemsnts
regarding the climate and other condi-
lions existing ON the planet Mars
On the earth, at present, water pre-
dominates, being much in excess OF the
land. On Mars the land 10 in excess OF
the water. Here our continents are sur
rounded by water. There the water Is
surrounded by land. We know that
during the life of worlds, land and water
are at never oeasing warfare, resulting
finally in the total defeat Of water. Just
what stage of tho battle ia now going on
IN Mars We do not care to discuss Mt
present. We may hint, however, that
the land 10 rising for its last and com.
plste triumph over water. when Mars
vill continue ON his orbit, like our
moon, a burnt out world, incapable OF
sustaining animal or vegetable life.
Mars, like the earth, has four seasons
but they are nearly twice the length Of
eur seasons. The light and hea. OF the
sun ore less than half that which We 70.
oeive; but the torrid zone Ia quite warm
enough for beings like ourselves. Mars
has an atmosphere. and Of course II VS.
tied BY storms and snow. az We are. In
summer the poles are partly robbed Of
suov. and in winter new deposit II
made, Just a. We see the tops OF some
Of our mountains change from season
70 season. Figuratively speaking, our
scientific men have been there, and re-
port the conditions favorable for the
existence Of beings like ourselves. 1t is
therefore, not unreasonable to conclude
that rational, sentisnt beings, possibly
Of higher order than our RAGS, exist on
Mars, and also upon Venus.
Assuming such to b. tho case, the
question naturally arises: Shall we ever
b able to communicate with our broth
ers ON the planets? Considering the
wonders which have been accomplished
during tho past fifty years, it would be
unwise TO give negative answer to this
question. We do not know what new
wonders are in store for us. II ever
communication il effected, it will DO by
means of electricity. The electric light
il in its infancy. Who can measure ia
poesibilitiesp Our telescopes seem to
b limited in power. yet We do not know
but that they may be vastly improved.
Governments have expended immense
sums in fruitless search toward the
north pole. II one half the amount had
been given to perfect the telescope, in
ali probability We should have an in
strument Tar superior to any now in e.
istence.
Let M suppose the Marsians have
been moro favored in this respect, and
that they can see our oceans, and possi.
bly, distinguish our steamships on their
travels. Il il believed that the Marsians,
with telescopes no better than ours,
could have easily seen tho great fire in
Chicago, and possibly lessor condagra-
tious. Oncs establish the fact that the
inhabitants Of the two planets can go
each other, and ingenuity will soon de-
wise q method Of intelligent oommuni-
cation. In this work the electric light
viii cot a. an important factor, ~ with
Il immense circles, triangles. squares
and othsr figures oan be formed instan-
taAsously, taking the whole continent,
e necessary, - a base or draft board.
OF course this b speculation; but W
DO not know but that during the mex,
hundred ysazu it may become an actual
faet. and " b able TO hold daily con-
vsEuation with tho Marsians and Venus
ians, - " do nov with England and
R~~a~~