The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-08
REVERSING THE TELESCOPE.
Are the Inhabitants Of OTTER Worlds TAX
Ing "a ny Peep mt Us?

Scientific peorde and those attracted by
the results of their labors and discoveries.
have doubtless been deeply interested in
the discussion of the proposition that has
come from California looking to the con
str,iction Of forty inch telescope for the
deeper and clearer study Of the wonders
of the heavens above us. The announce
ment, on the highest authority IN this
country. that there are no insurmount-
able obstacles in the way Of producing
even a sixty inch lens. provided there are
no limitations Of time or money, must
stimulate the imagination To an excited
pitch over the dazzling prospects Of the
lew fields Of science 10 be worked by
such powerful means. And if. with
achievement. prophecy should grow
boller and ambition prepare the way for
larger things. why would it be necessary
10 stop NJ the largest limitations yet
dreamed Of;
Much as the telescope has already
shown rs of the worlds beyond. IL has
only intensified the eagerre,7 Of cnihu-
siasts % extend It's wonderful power and
lead them still further into the fa,cina-
ti0ns ol those undiscovered countries. IL
snite Of an the study Of centuries. our
knowledge of the heavenly bodies is "a
vet only elementary and largely irferen-
tial. The time m9y rot le far distant
when We hall IKE able 10 confirm or re-
ice. on the basis of ocular proof many Of
the theories now wholly or in part ac-
cepted. Surprising. as many have dared
10 suppose. that sonc of the other planets
are capable OF supporting intelligent
forms OF life. we have certainly not yet
advanced So far as TO threaten the pri-
vacy of the beings who are our planetary
ncighboTs.
But can we feel sure that We are
equally secure; In our Astounding HUI
man cgolism we lattcr ourselves that
we stanl at the head Of all physical and
moral life We maintain, without any
annoying contradiction, that we are SUI
perior to all other material orders Of being
with which we have ever compared our
solves Tile growth Of the telescope may
Vet bring a severe shock to our self com
placency and upset all preconceived ideas
that the universe was made exclusively
for the benefit Of that inflated form OF
life called man. Judging Of the I'M
known simply by the limitations Of the
known. il j. not for Us 10 say that one of
our ends is not 10 furnish objects of spec
ulatiye wonder and scientific research 10
beings # richer endowments and more
wonderful development than ourselves.
Probably many OF our readers are IA
miliar With Fitz James o Briens story OF
the mad microscopic, who, with dla-
mond lens of uncqualed sower. went on
an exploring expedition through drop
of water with marvellous results. There
were valleys and mountains and rich
fields, and Respondent perspective every
where. Yet all this was but the habitat.
he looked for forms of life. and bis
search was rewarded by the appearance
If a sylph of radiant beauty, IN human
shape. 1T adorable beauty lifted II
ilhmitable heights beyond the loveliest
daughters OF Adam. " He became lrln-
tically in love with the enchanting ami
malcule. He wasted days and nights
studying her Grace Of form and action
and drinking in her beauty, until the
drop Of water cvaporated, when she
shriveled and died, leaving him stricken
with grief and despair.
How do we know but many q Brob-
dignagian telescopist has his animalcule,
and piercing through the riffs OF the
dense cloud layers that cnvclop his 70
mote sphere languishes over the exquisite,
but elusive. charms of some fair daughter
Of Eve to tho neglect OF lis own family
the hurt Of his standing in society and
his reputation for sound sense: Or, per
haps. some entertaining specialist IS re-
cording orr social and political habits tor
the benefit of his fellows. as Sir John
Lubbock describes those Of the ants.
With the liltlo peep that we have into
the infnity Il power that knowledg,
brings, it is not safe to adopt the ostrich
theory-that we can be seen I'd further
than we can see.-RoDert G.. Fitch in
Boston Globe.