The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-14

isn't absolute. I used TO believe what
the text books told me. Now l am get
ting ready to revise the text books
But how do you keep the Eye fixed
on moving star? BY the time you get
1t focused on Mars. Mars viii have
moved thousands of miles out of range.
will it not?"
II am glad you asked that question.
If the Eye were an ordinary telescope.
yes. But 1t isn't 1t is as nearly like
the human eye in the particular you
mention as crude human mechanism
can be like Divine creation. When you
look at moving train, does the train
get out of range while you are adjust
ing the focus. or does your eye move In
unison with the train? To be sure. it
moves. Well, its that same principle
which governs the Electric Eye But
let us see for ourselves"
In a moment the mechanism was
pointed out the Eastern door, properly
elevated and nicely focused.
Now is your time" exclaimed the
professor, 1t Is an exceptionally fine
view of Mars. You can see every detail
distinctly"
ALMOST WITHIN REACH.
paioi ltSelI
bore fewer startling features than any
that had proceeded. 1t looked like a
landscape such as one would see.
standing on range of hills and
looking across valley three or tour
miles wide, to the opposite hills. There
was white center, which looked as
II 1t might lie water-possibly q lake.
On the nearer side of this lake stood
a range of hills, their sides and slope
dotted in places by dim objects which
looked like towering tropical palms.
In the background, another range of
hills, some touched at the top by Il
white, misty substance which might
have been fog or snow, completed the
view.
Now / will snap that shot for
you" said the professor: and suiting
the action to the word he drew back
snringy steel wire. let it go sudden
iy, forming an electric current: there
was slight sound as of the rafting
of pan. and Professor Coles drew
forth from the body of his mechanism
sheet of common white wrapping pa
per upon which u perfect disc picture
of the foregoing scene was printed in
black shading. The picture looked like
charcoal drawing of remarkable del
icacy, but the surface of the paper was
Another view of Mars was taken.
presenting forest scene of exception
al distinctness, with mountains in the
rear. This scene was similarly phOt-
oSraphed upon paper which one of the
visitors supplied, and upon which each
person had first written his name for
purposes of Identification. A third view
Of Mars was attempted, hut by this
time the Eye" had grown weary of
the prolonged strain upon its optic
nerves and incontinently went to sleep.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE THING.
Upon what principle does this me-
chanism work?' Professor Coles was
asked.
Upon the principles of light linked to
electricity. Light is fast steed. and
50 is electricity. Yoke the two together,
and you have speedy team"
But how did you come to think of
this?"
"By reason of the thunder storm and
the china nlacque that told you of Il
while ago"
lis Mars inhabted?"
ITO the best of my belief it is, and by
n race superior in intelligence to our
own. Mars has three satellites. each
stronger than our moon. Yes, | know
school book astronomy says there are
only two; but l tell you there are three.
l have seen them. Besides, speaking of
the Marsians, they get ten or a dozen
times as much sunlight as we do. l
figure it out that their night Is as bright
as our brightest day. They must,
therefore. be more Intelligent than
We. Light means brains, always"
But what about the disturbances
said to be going on in Mars? Are they
real, or are the astronomers dream
ing?"
They are real enough. have reason
to believe that Mars, at its southern
pole has not yet got down to q solid
business basis. Great eruptions and
Internal commissions have been occur
ring there during the past few months.
The equatorial zone is solid enough.
Here the country is in fine state of cul-
tivation. 1t Is laid out into rivers and
lakes and canals. ! haven't been able
to identify any human being on Mars.
but can plainly see evidences of mans
handiwork, and ! believe it will be pos
sible to locate them and find out how
they are getting along up there in that
sultry climate"
What are your plans, professor"
We'll, they will depend somewhat on
circumstances. ] am building q work.
shop. where / shall have the proper
room and light and tools. expect to
have some skillful physician make a
study of all the germs of disease. in the
identification and treatment of which
there Is fabulous fortune. Then I
propose to publish book. which is
in manuscript, on The Human
Body as Seen Through the Electric
Eye. Strange as it may seem, / pro-
pose also to store sunlight and let ii out
on demand. i can do that now. on
small scale. If my experiments sue
ceed, electricity. as an illuminant. will
be Outclassed 10y conserved sunlight,
which will he at once. safer and cheap
er. This sounds to ordinary ears like q
fairy tale, I'll admit; but 1t Is the ac-
tual fact. based on long and hopeful ex-
periments. Heretofore / have been
in every way. Now have
means, friends and renewed health.
and new Eye four times as effectual
as the one you have seen. is probabii-
ity of the next few months"
And after what one had seen, what
cOull one saw