The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-08
The Earth May Not lie tho Only Sphere
That IL Inhabited.

The splendor with which Venus snarkles
every night above us. the recent studies
which have been made of the length of
the rotation of this beautiful planet, the
unexpected discoveries regarding our
neighbor, the planet Mars; the prepare
tons which are being made at this moment
TO profit by its proximity; the progress
realized in the spectroscope and celestial
photography, all seem to concur to direct
the attention of astronomers. philoso-
pliers. naturalists and even poets toward
the supreme question placed before the
human mind by the spectacle of the uni
verse: What is there in those distant
abodes? Have We sufficient reason for adj
hitting that these other worlds are peo-
pied like ours! And if life has appeared
in these lands of the skies as in OR sub
lunar country, has it any resemblance to
our own? In n word are these other
worlds inhabited, and il they are, do their
citizens resemble US?
Our first object in studying the other
worlds is 10 know If they resemble ours,
writes Camille Flammarion. When we
observe the moon or Venus. Mars or Jupi-
ter, with the telescope. We naturally and
instinctiveiy seek first for analogies with
the world which we inhabit. We seek to
determine the conditions of inhabitancy
the climate the length of night and day,
the meteorology OF each world. with the
preconceived idea that the degree of proba-
bilitv in favor of the existence of lite is
proportionate - the degree of resem-
blance to the planet which We inhabit.
We have certainly some right TO reason
in this way, because In what concerns life
We know only that which exists around
us. The direct observation of the terres-
trial facts leads Us 20 think that an atmos-
phere Identical with our own is necessary
to life.
Well, This reasoning OF savants is the
reasoning of iishes. Imagine for = mo-
ment two Sl.very whitehall at the bottom
of river flooded with sunlight talking to-
Cether. Fishes understand one another
very well despite their apparent muteness.
One of them. who has more than once
been nearly taken by the net, but who
with certain cunning, recognizes fisher
men at once. assures has comrade that
there is A world outside of the water This
one. perfectly familiar with the conditions
OF ash life anu the functions Of the gi.ls.
easily brushes has enlightened adversary
with the weight of his scientific argg-
mcuts. Live out Of the water Wnat
sensible fish would believe such chatter for
moment! Come. nowl An oyster
would not believe such tales. The
shadows that We see passing on the banks
/ cannot be living. They are optical T.
/ lCslons, Live out OF the water What
/ loAel Whv, water Is essential to life. ana
! coot, fresh water, IN spite OF what that old
1 salmon trout sad the other day about
I loorneyias To the ocean and finding real
| hsae- LIVING IN the salt waterl tieih
However, Il glance at the entirety of the
| terrestrial. world warns Us not 10 incloSe
our horizon in too narrow circle. 4; the
/ outse; the immense difference between
/ aquatic lite and aerial life indicates the n
hh''e resources of nature. Formerly, in
oeed; short-slEh,ed natugaiists taught that
'"e tePths OF the ocean contained uu or
sahlc lie, oa account of the enormous
pressure IN those depths. which would be
sufficient 10 cause she discharge of a can