The morning news., 1892-01-21
A STARTLING PROJECT.
WaY CAN'T WE COMMUNIC ATE
WITH tbs PEOPLE IN MARSp

hope.
From the Chicaqo Tribune.
Nine Guzman, who died June so last in
Pau, had been deeply interested In the de-
scriptions of the planet Mars which have
given in my works, and the theoretical
possibility set forth therein Of communion
tion between our planet and the neighbor
worlds. She made the following legacy:
A prize OF 100 900 francs is bequeathed 10
the Institute of France Science section) for
the person, no matter of what nationality,
who shall discover within ten years of the
present time means of communicating
with star planet or otherwise) and Of re-
ceiving a reply,
II the Institute Of France does not accept
the legacy it will pass to the Institute of
Milan, and in case of a new refusal to the
Institute Of New York.
The Academy of Science has accepted the
legacy.
NOTHING IRR ATIoNAL ABOUT IT.
The idea in itself is not at all absurd. and
il is perhaps less bold than that OF the tele-
phone, or the phonograph, OF the photo
phone, or the cinetograph. II was first sug-
gested with respect to the moon. A trian-
gle traced In luminous lines on the lunar
surface, each side from ~ to Is kilometers
long, would be visible from here by the aid
of our telescopes. We observe details even
much smaller-for instance the peculiar
typographical formation noted in the lunar
circle Of Plato. 1t follows then that trl-
angle, square or circle Of the dimensions
stated, constructed by us upon vast plan
by means OF luminous points reflected in
the daytime by solar light and lighted at
night by electricity, would be visible to the
astronomers of the moon, il astronomers
there are, and IL they have optical instru-
ments as good as our own.
HOW MARS LOOKS.
The cold and deathly aspect of our pale
satellite did not encourage the realization
of the project and the imagination sped
more easily to the planet Mars, which, to be
sure, never approaches nearer to US than
4,OOO,O0O leagues, but which is the best
known of ali the lands in the heavens, and
which offers so many points of resemblance
to our world that we would scarcely feel
like exiles if we we're to pack up our house
hold goods and transfer them thither The
appearance Of Mars, in fact comforts us q
bit for that of the moon.
One would believe, indeed, that be was in
some terrestrial country; continents, seas,
islands, beaches, peninsulas, capes, gulfs,
lakes, clouds, rains, floods. SHOWS, seasons.
winter and summer, springtime and
autumn, days and nights, morning s and
evenings; all these are there, occur there,
and succeed each other almost exactly as
they do here. The years there are longer,
for they last 6S7 days. but the intensity of
the seasons is absolutely the same as with
us, the inclination of the axis of Mars being
the same as the earth's.
The days there are also a little longer
since the diurnal rotation of that world is
accomplished in "a hours 81 minutes and
% seconds; but, as you see, the difference is
not great, and note, that is matter of exact
knowledge; this diurnal rotation, for in
stance, is calculated nearly to one-tenth of
a second.
When on a beautiful starry night we ex-
anime this world through the telescope,
when we see those polar SHOWS that melt Ia
the summer, these continents clearly defined,
these Mediterranean seas, with their great
CULTS; this delightful and varied geograph.
lcal conhugration, we cannot refrain from
asking whether the sun that lights this
world as it does our own shines upon moth
ing living there whether these showers fer
tillze nothing, whether this atmosphere is
breathed by no living being, and whether
this world of Mars. which whirls with such
rapldlty through space, is like railway
train travelling empty, without passengers
without merchandise?
1t is understood, then, that we must ap-
ply to the planet Mars the idea originally
suggested in regard to the moon. The dis
tance of this world is such that, although it
is far superior to the moon in volume, it yet
appears when ir is nearest us to be sixty
three times smaller. Nevertheless il is clear
from this that telescope of only sixty
three magnifying power shows Mars with
the dimensions that the moon appears to
have to the naked eye, and that a magnify
ing power Of $50 gives it diameter ten
times creator than that OF our satellite as
seen by the naked eye and a surface 100
times greater.
But If we attempt to put into practice
any project whatever for communication
between this world and our own the signals
must be established upon a much greater
scale. 1t will not be matter OF construct
ing triangles, squares and circles measured
10y few kilometers, but the figures must
be 100 or more klometers in extent and al
ways upon the hypothesis: First, that
Mars is inhabited; second, that the inhabit-
ants are versed In astronomy; third, that
they have optical instruments of sufficient
power; fourth, that they observe our planet
with care, a planet which is to them a
splendid star Of the first magnitude, the
morning or the evening star, and, in fact,
the most brilliant star ia their sky. We
are, indeed, for tsem, "L'etoile du Berger"
or our Venus, and their mythology ought
to erect affairs to us.
THE INHABITANTS OF MARS.
"Why ever try to begin an optical corre-
spondence with the world Of Mars?" say the
wiseacres. "If it is inhabited The inhadit-
ants could not be possessed Of our force, and
the labor would be wasted. Further, even
should they see our signals they would have
no idea that we were addressing them.
Therefore let us never begin"
Note again what we said above. The will
of the venerable lady of Pau shows that the
idea is making progress in the human miud
and is ceasing to be considered as the purely
imaginative. Moreover, Mars is truly
tempting. Its geography, climate, the
mouths of its great rivers, its immense
canals offer themselves to us like invita-
tions to be not too disdainful of this neigh
boring country Older than the earth,
smaller, lighter in weight, more quickly
cooled, it is further advanced than we in its
astral life, and everything leads to believe
that its intelligent races, whatever they are,
are far superior to us.
But it may be said, Why do not they
themselves begin TO try to enter into rela-
tions with us2
1t shy no means proved that they have
not done 80.
Look at the maps published by M.
Schiaparelli Of Milan. You will see there
the geometrioal triangulations which gave
rise very naturally to the idea that they
should not be regarded as wholly foreign TO
some rational design Further, men have
sometimes observed luminous points which
appear placed very regularly. 1t is proba-
-.