The herald., 1894-11-10
OUR NEXT DOOR NE|GHBOR MARS.
1t Rains and Shows, But There
IsNo Tariff Question.
The Result of Professor Knights
Projection of His Ego.
He Tells What He Thinks He Saw In
tho Mysterious PIanet-Interest-
ing Lecture to the Friday
Morning Club.

A large audience assembled at the
regular meeting Of the Friday Morning
club yesterday, to hear Mr.. William FL.
Wright read a paper on A Visit to the
Planet Mars-a scientific and socologl-
cal study.
A study indeed it proved to be, an in.
genious melange OF science and imagina-
ton. for after Mr.. Wright alluded to the
innumerable theories in regard to Mars
in which it was difficult to distinguish
facts from fiction, he announced that he
had studied that planet minutely and
under most favorable conditions, that
having projected his ego into space, he
watched our earth dwindle to star,
while the Ego approached our next door
neighbor Mars, which wheeling in
mighty orbit, disclosed its wonderful
freight of snowy mountains, valleys,
rivers, seas. Islands, inlets, headiands,
etc. 1t was a strange journey to another
world, and points OF contrast and re-
semblance were pointed out. In Mars
transparent atmosphere familiar phe-
nomena were observed, as rain, snow,
etc, the alternate day and night, sum-
mer and winter seasons. The inhabi-
tants OF Mars were described as much
more highly developed, as that planet
was much older cosmcslly; tropical
park was instanced as having no waste
or uncultivated places; the prevailing
tints OF the foliage were red and saffron,
like our autumn foliage. Intelligent be-
ings were but 40 inches tall, and the
weight of objects but four-ninths of
their weight on earth. Mr.. Knight
then spoke of the profound sensation
created there by the strangers appear
ance-not fright, but interest.
Trains glide there on cables overhead
in midair. A visit to great hall was
alluded to, in which were pictures show
ing Mars idea OF ths universe. The
language spoken there was iucompre
hensible to Mr.. Knights Ego. Con-
versation was carried on by signs and
gestures. A ride in the cars overhead
was described, electricity being the uni
versal motor, while the cars were made
OF aluminium, an abundant metal, that
was freely used and proved itself the
most serviceable of all metals. A great
city on Mars was then spoken of; the
overcrowded population, high houses ON
broad streets, characteristic aluminium
residences of six floors, OF which the
total height was 100 feet. Concerning
the hospitality experienced in Mars, Mr..
kuight cited singular experience,
in which communication was established
by means OF new sense - a
faculty of cisirvoyance, all the inhab-
itants being endowed with this faculty.
IN enumeration oi objects oi interest
followed; no Gimme Va nor smoke were
to be found there. substitute being
invented for coal and wood; the cum
an electric storage battery utilized for
warmth and light for buildings and per-
cons; breezes, streams and tides were
used to develop force the beautiful
moons OF Mars swiftly sailing in oppo-
site directions, our earth and its moon
appearing like stars; evening bulletins
flashed against the night sky at the
cost OF the government to be read by
millions; we'll OF hot air excavated to
the depth of 35 miles for warming a
cold country; in case of storm dwellings
were protected by crystalline domes,
preserving comfortable tempera-
ture; and devices for general cooking
aud laundry work were explained.
In the way of public architecture
there were no asylums nor prisons
crime, insanity and deformity were
ciiLuluhtou, ny IcHbrlCblV6 leBl6lALlOn as
to marriages, unworthy members were
isolated from the rest of the world-the
males on one island, females on another
where they were given every comfort
and pleasure. and they were known as
the happy islands; they were also used
as refuge for tine poor, aged and de-
pendent. No police was necessary, the
brutal, sordid and crafty were also
eliminated; war was succeeded by arbi-
tration.
Mr.. Knight closed his address by re-
citing some varied and remarkable ex-
periences. one of which was to find
fashions sway broken and women 8
dress and actions conducive to health
and comfort. An animated discussion
followed the address, and the meeting
then adjourned. The gueets of the club,
besides Mr.. and Mrs. Knight, were
Mesdames H W. Frank, Lucia Sheldon
St. John and Miss Ellen Norton, all of
Los Angeles, and Mesdsmes s. G. Mer-
rill of Pasadena and E. Ii. Montgomery
OF San Francisco.