The record-union., 1892-01-16
Weather forecast.
A BRILLIANT FANCY.

speculatlOnS QUITO the Widest nights OF
fancy in which Jules Verne ever in
dulged. Yet Flammarion holds that
these speculations are no more unreason-
able than would have been prophecies
half a century ago about the telephone,
monograph, photophone or cinetograph.
Not long ago there died at Paris an
aged lady, Madam Guzman, who left
100000 francs to the Institute OF France,
to be awarded to whoever first communi-
Gates with another planet, and receives
therefrom an answer, attention being di-
rected especially, by the testatrix, to the
planet Mars. The interest on the sum,
in the meantime, is to be used by the In
stitute for researches into the physical
constitution of other celestial orbs.
Flammarion considers this odd legacy,
and speculates upon the question, SIS it
wholly absurd, is it unreasonable" He
thinks not. In view of what has been
accomplished; OF the revelations of spec
trum analysis; of the general advance of
science, and the wonders of astronomical
discovery, he holds that the bequest is
not to be laughed at
Then this witty scientist proceeds at
length to speculate upon the possibility
Of opening up communication with the
inhabitants of the moon, assuming it to
be peopled, and that they have astronom-
zeal appliances. 1t is a wild fancy, to be
sure, but Flammarion does not fear to
indulge it. believing that we have en-
tered into the vestibule Of our acqualnt-
ance with the universe, and that we may
go farther still, and still cry Excelsior.
Suppose we were to see, as was sug-
gested by earlier imaginings, triangle
traced in luminous lines upon the sur
face of the moon; for we can discern
lines there from twelve to thirteen kilo-
meters in length; that it should change to
square, and then, after few months,
to circle. We could nationally suppose
geometrical knowledge to exist there, be-
cause accidental formations would not be
likely to produce such accurate figures.
suppose now that on some vast ex-
panse of our planet we could, in lumin-
Gus lines or by points illuminated, trace
triangles, squares and circles which we
know would be visible to the supposed
astronomers in the moon, we would not
be long in developing communication
with our lunar brethren, because these
geometrical formations would indicate
purpose. If there are inhabitants in the
moon, why should they not consider the
earth inhabited also, like their own
world? Two and two absolutely make
four throughout infnity, and the propo-
sition that the three angles of a triangle
are equal to two right angles, being ev-
erlastingly and everywhere true, the
signs interchangeable between planets
could be made intelligent and the means
of communicating thought. The moon is
distant but thirty diameters of the earth.
A flash of the electric current would tray
erse the space in a second and quarter.
Why then, asks the essayist, shall we
look upon the proposition outlined as ir-
rational? But alas for this pretty inn
agining; Flammarion admits that the
cold and dead aspect of our satellite is not
encouraging for the realization of the
project.
In the case of Mars, however, he has
higher hopes. True, Mars is 100000
leagues away, but it is the best known of
the heavenly bodies, and presents a
striking resemblance to our own world
so much so that if transported there we
would, apperantly, hardly be denational-
lied. 1t has seas, islands and streams,
peninsulas, capes, CULTS, springs, clouds,
foundations, rain and snow. But GER
tainly NJ. Flammarion proceeds in
this somewhat rashly, for has it been ac-
ourately determined that all these things
are as they appear to be? We do not find
it so indisputably confessed.
However, to follow the speculation. 1t
proceeds upon the reasoning that may be
based upon the seasons as observable in
effects in Mars; the diurnal
rotation of the planet; its polar
SHOWS and their melting in sum-
mer; the continents, bifurcated by inter
vening seas and huge CULTS. 1t follows
along the line Of reasoning that the sun
must produce effects there correspondent
to those upon the earth; that it may shine
there upon living creatures; that the rains
of the planet may fructify something:
that its atmosphere may be breathed by
sentient beings, and that the planet rush
ing through space thus equipped may be
nationally fancied to carry passengers
rather than to go empty on its round.
How, he asks, can we think of the earth
ooursing about the sun uninhabited by
any living soul? By what permanent
miracle of sterilization could the forces
of nature existing in Mars, as here, be
kept eternaIly inactive and barren? But
Mars is so distant that it appears through
a telescope Of siXty-three diameters in
magnifying power only as the moon does
to the naked eye. So, if thereis ever at
tempted communication with the planet
Mars, the signals must be on much
vaster scale than in the case of the moon.
Such figures would have to embrace a
hundred kiloneters in extent, or-to put
M. Flammarion's figures into more IA
niliar form-about sixty-two miles in
length and breadth.