The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14

opposition December next offers facilities
for observation that cannot be overI ooked,
and expeditions to suitable latitudes are
planned and rumored far in advance The
high tablelands of Mexico and similar
climes have been proposed as favorable
localities for observing this coming Marian
phase, which has not been satisfactorily
seen for several years.
The Marian perihelion of the 18th inst.
offers no incentive, for the earth is seventy
seven degrees from that point. Mars is
not even in quadrature, its disk is but six
seconds in diameter and its surface mark
ings invisible except in powerful tele-
scopes.
The south polar region and its vicinity
having been a subject of discussion and
OF diverse opinions during the last four
years, it may be very advantageous to
transfer investigation to the waxing and
waning of the opposite polar area and seek
new light and evidence there. The seas,
continents canals and lakes, if such they
be, are now familiar to every one in out
line and description; but the inha bita-
/ bility of the planet still remains an unset
tied though deeply interesting question.
To enthusiasts Mars is miniature
world, peopled with intelligent beings
whose civilization is similar to our own /;
but the very different degrees of gravity
on the surface OF the two globes, as well as
! the difference in light, heat and motion,
/ probably make the Marian life forms as
| distinct from ours as any two species in
| the animal kingdom, or even more so.
If intelligence there has attained as high
range as here, and if natural science is
as well understood and applied, still the
| difference of standpoints, ways and means
would render it comprehensive to a
| sister world. Mr.. Percival Lowell, who has
studied the planet carefully during the
last opposition, admits that the evidence
/ of water vapor has not been established,
/ but nevertheless maintains its existence in
an atmosphere probably thinner than ours
is at the summit of the Himalayas. He
adds: zone deduction from the extreme
rarity of the air we must, however, be
careful not to make: that because it is
| thin it is incapable OF supporting intelli-
! gent life. That beings physically consti-
tuted like US could not exist with any COM
fort to themselves is more than likely; but
lungs are not inseparably linked to logical
powers, as we are sometimes shown in
other ways, and there is nothing in the
world or beyond it that we know of to
hint that being with gilIs might not be a
superior person Notwithstanding"
Flammarion, the French scientist, also
maintains the existence of water and
states that the so-called lakes are pur-
poseIy created GASES fed by these waters.
However, he also requests him to reflect
on the seas until next December, when he
may cease to regard the canals as stretches
of water.
| Professor Hussey of the Lick Observa-
tory has courteously furnished the follow
ing information as to future observation
of this supposed kindred world: when
Mars comes into position for observation
it will be observed again at Mount Ham
ilton. The work will go on regularly, but
it is not expected that it will be attended
with any sensational results. 1t is the OBJ
| ject of the astronomer to accumulate and
coordinate the facts of his science so that
he may gain an insight into the deeper
meaning of the phenomena presented by
the heavenly bodies. In the case OF Mars,
we want a more intimate acquaintance
with its geography; we want 10 know bet
ter what are the succession of the phe-
nomena that it presents; we wish more
complete investigation as to the extent
and character of its atmosphere, and no
small number of points," Thus, though
the time has not yet come for microscopic
views of Marian water-works, or the in
terchange OF luminous signals, still, in
view OF recent progress in natural science
and the accompanying achievements OF
art, who can draw restricting line as to
the possibilities of future ages? If the
/ coming centuries show the same practical
progress as the nineteenth, even to its
close, interplanetary communication may
not seem the absurd and baseless fancy
that it seems to-day.
ROSE O'HALLoRAN.
!