The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-28
he SAW GRASS ON The MOON.
Or, at Least, He Took the Green
Tint for Vegetation.
Gathmann's Sectional Telescope and
Astronomical Theories.
Try Associated Presa.)

CHICAGO, Sept. 2s.-Refore a compa-
ny of twenty-five or more friends ana
neighbors, who met at his residence last
night, Louis Gathmann exhibited
model of his sectional lens telescope.
He also answered the objections made
by Astronomers Hale and Burnham to
his announcement that he had discov-
Ell ed what seemed to be signs of vegeta-
ton on the moon. In answer to the OBJ
lection that astronomers with excellent
telescopes had never seen green spot
on the moon Mr.. Gathmann said:
There can BE- but two reasons for
this fact, First, no first-class telescopes
were in use for making observations the
night l saw the spot Second. II obser-
vations were made the telescopes were
inferior to mine"
Mr.. Gathmann said his sectional lens
had been examined by Prof. Colbert, who
said 1t had excellent definition and
would prove OF great interest to- the
| whole scientific world. Many eminent
| engineers had pronounced the sectional
| lens instrument superior to any instru-
"A 2O-inch- built-up lens" said Mr.;
| Gathmann, with clear glass OF
even density, will be equal In proven TO
any telescope that has 4o-ineh solid
He then spoke of his observation OF a
green spot on the moon as follows:
about o'clock In the evening or aug.
IL. in sweeping my telescope over the
| face of the moon, l saw spot OF vivid
green in the midst of mountains in the
valley OF the Sinus Roris Green Is
| color hitherto unknown to me among
| the shades of the moon thought there
might be an error somewhere. but after
| changing the eye-piece six times IL was
there each time-a well-deined space OF
''The idea of 1t being an error Of the
telescope Is out Of the question, because,
the whole field OF the glass, the strange
spot kept stationary on the moon with
every magnifying power used. seven
persons beside myself saw tbst a. anE u ~
were color blind. II Luna has a flora II
must be far different from ours, be
cause the conditions on the moon are
Science has not progressed so far as to
know the atmosphere prevailing on the
moon: In fact, all the elements OF the
ITO say that vegetation cannot exist
on such a large planet is to make an
assertion which cannot be proved.
Lunar vegetation must be very different
than that of the earth. That Lunar
should be without animal life l cannot
understand. On earth, In the Arctic re-
round. we find the polar bear. the
whale and other animals suited to the
climate and the conditions. If men had
never known Of the existence OF these
animals, and II we common men were
asked ii such animals could exist there,
we would say, We do not know But
universities, would simply say No.
Because scientific men did not know OF
their existence, they would conclude
that such animals could not exist there,
| "That there is vegetation on the moon
10 highly probable, but 1t does not follow
| that the color should be green. The
| greenish tint observed Aug. II may
have been a rare exception"
In conclusion, Mr.. Gathmann said he
believed the inhabitants of Mars Were
making signals TO the earth. and he
thought communication between neigh
boring planets by means OF signals
would eventually be established.