The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-06
OUR NEIchRoR STARS.
There are Scholars who Think they
are Inhabited.


are Inhabited.
You remember" said the professor,
as reported in the Cincinnati Times-Star,
'my allusion some time ago to the fact
that Mars resembled the earth in many
of its observed features. 1t has for years
been the dream of astronomy to prove
that life exists in some or all of the mill
ions of stars which surround us. The
poetic astronomer reasons in this way:
All things were created for the use and
support of living beings. What use do
the myriads Of heavenly bodies subserve
If there is no life? Would not the earth
be altogether devoid of interest if life
did not exist? If there was neither life
nor thought what would be the signif-
canoe of the universe? Reflections of
this sort enkindle the lively imagination,
and speculation as to what the science Of
astronomy will eventually reveal runs
to extravaganza extremes.
SUBJECTS OF SCIENCE IN THE FUTURE.
Mathematical astronomers, like New
ton and La Place, arouse by their mar
velous calculations high state of en-
thusiasm. But is this the only line
along which we can work? The pre-
diction of eclipses, the division of time
the mapping out Of the courses of GER
tain heavenly bodies with perfect ac-
curacy, the discovery of comets, planets
and suns-are those to be the final tri-
umphs Of the science which has revolu-
tionized human thought at two or three
stages of mans history? Let me answer
in the words of an enthusiast: That is
not the aim. Behold those millions of
suns, similar to that which gives light
to the earth, and, like it, sources of
movement, activity and splendor; well,
those are the subjects Of the science Of
the future-the study Of universal and
eternal life. You are going to witness
the dawn of new day. Mathematical
astronomy will give place to physical
astronomy, to the true study of nature
HE goes on to say that by the study
OF nature he means the study of the con-
ditlons of life in the various parts Of the
universe, the physical condition Of the
planes, their geographical aspects, their
clmatology and their meteorology. 1t
Will probably be proved that Mars and
Venus are peopled by thinking beings;
that Jupiter has not yet reached a con-
dition where life can be supported; that
the conditions are such on Saturn that
the beings which inhabit it are of an
entirely different organization from our
earth jewellers. Still further, astronomy
will show that the earth is but one place
In the celestial country, and that man Is
a citizen of the heavens. 1t will thus
lead up to new philosophy, the religion
OF superior minds
NEITHER PROVED NOR DESTROYED.
'Such is the dream and such the final
object of the telescope search. The
best that IN be said for it from scien-
titic standpoint is that the facts OBJ.
served neither prove it nor disprove it.
There is only one body where the condi- |
tons are believed to be such as to sup
port intelligent beings of our kind. But
that is inconclusive. We can observe
with our telescopes but three or four out
OF the millions of heavenly bodies. More
over, there can be definite adaptation.
Should our temperature be greatly raised
or lowered life as it exists now would
disappear from the face of the earth; but
perhaps there are forms of life which
would thrive under the conditions which
are fatal to us.
again, millions of years passed by
before life got foothold on our globe,
according to the best evidence that we
have, and for millions of years after life
is extinct here it is expected that our
planet will roll on through space. The
period of intelligent man is but mo-
ment out of an Unreasonable lapse of
time 1t is not probable that, if it were
possible to visit each one of the so 900, 900
stars visible through our telescopes, we
should find more than one or two at the
best where our stage has just been
reached.
whether the stars are inhabited or
not, we know something about the APP
pearance of the universe as presented at |
some of them by analogy.
I'm the solar system of Gamma, in
the constellation of Andromeda instead |
OF one sun, shining with white light,
any possible observer would behold three |
suns-a yellow sun, blue sun and a |
green sun. AS one of these suns would |
be setting another would be rising, and |
the color of objects would be constantly |
changing. When the blue sun should be |
IN the zenith all the landscape-ther rocks
and the waters-would reflect the blue |
rays, throwing, perhaps, slight tinges of
gold or green, due to one of the other |
suns as it was setting or rising.
This is but a suggestion of some of |
the magnificent sights which must be |
presented near the multiple, triple and
double stars, and we know of this
through telescope observation.
The double stars especially love to |
show brilliant complementary colors,
taking the hue that will contrast most
charmingly with that of the next star
rose colored one beside an emerald. a
sapphire blue with pale yellow prim-
rose for neighbor, white and ruby
gold and purple, sea green and orange,
each increasing the beauties of fine
others.
There is a nebula on the Southern
Cross which is composed of 10 stars, of
which eight of the more conspicuous
ones are colored various shades of re-
green and blue; the whole gives tho APP
pearance here of a rich piece of iewelry.
What must be the infinite variety and
beauty of the coloring in the near vicin-
ity? Sir John Herschel said that the eff
feet produced on him by this remarkable
group was that Of "a superb piece of
fancy jewelry.''
A Lecturer CompIImented.
While Max ORelI was on lecturing