The morning times., 1896-05-31
to our lack OF cooperation, no message
has been, as 1t were, delivered.

TO our lack or cooperation, no message
has been, as 1T were, delivered.
Camille Flammarion is now making some
highly Important investigation into the ma
ture of the media through which Martian
Information nmustnecessarily be transmitted.
He was at first inclined to suspect that a
ray of light would answer the purpose.
That is why we heard so much few years
ago about the feasibility OF radiant eff
fulgence Systematically coDtrived upon our
earth's surface as signal to our fellow
creatures, il it he not too fauciful to call
them so. so many million miles away.
But Flammarion has altered his vie ws.
He now iDclipes to the theory OF an air cur
rent, deXterously directed as connecting
thread of atmosphere along which signals,
perhaps acts and deeds, may be made mani
fest and effective
Once the lunliniferous ether now sunder-
ing Mars and earth like dividing chasm
has been penetrated, the whole difficulty
vanishes. Then not messages, but meetings,
how imperfect and partial their nature mat
ters little, become as ordinary as the At
lantic cable. These are the considerations
which impart to June 2 next an almost
feverish expectancy from the astronomical
standpoint.
The young men from Harvard. Oxford
and else where are now the envy OF tteir
less-favored fellow-students, not that the
cold and calculating professors allow any
thing but nlathematically exact cousidera-
tions to enter into their forecasts OF the
result. Moreover, it would be rather far
cical in them to make extravagaut claims
as to what they hope to ascertain. Fail,
Ject them to ridicule. Nevertheless, tie ex--
pedition has such far-seeiug ends in view
that even the coolest of astronomers have
been tempted into specializing upon certain,
possibilities involved in what may ensue
when the discoveries are made.
Imagine. as the great Schiapareli puts
1t. an unwittingly offered medium of COM
municatiOn presented to the Martians by
ourselves On that planet they are so far
our superiors in Intelligence az 10 be able
% seize opportunities which we would fail
aot alone 10 take advantage Of but even
to see. Were the Martians malevolent they
might occasion what we would mista Ike for
tremendous seismic convusion but which
in reality must be an act or hostility ON
their part.
FIGHTING MARS
Be these things as they may, nd n o doubt
the masses or mankind will EotEer t.eir
heads very little about them so far as
actual warfare is concerned, SChia parelH
and F!ammarion to the contrary notwith-
standing it is interesting TO note the COM
paradvely secondary importance of the
canals.
Those canals of Mars have heen pretty
well exploited by this time. This expedi-
ton OF Earvard's has rendered The science
OF astronomy great service by Demon
strating that the human eye, aided though
Ii be by the most powerful lens man can
devise, is rowerless to determine the GCes-
ion OF the reality OF Mars denizens Col
'ateral evidence. the testimony of PER-
.ormances not OF organs or beings. must
be the final authority. Upon this phase OF
the problem viii attentionbe concentrated.
Nor can anyone doubt who understands
the learning, the wealth, the genius, and
more than even all these. the unwelrying
patience and industry OF our starry toilers,
that triumph Of no ordinary grandeur
awaits them in tEeir approaching June
vigil.
The ethics of claiming Mars. in ca Sc
cUssed Astronomers have had no hesi-
fancy in regarding Il discovered star as
their own, though it stood forth for all
10 see 1T. But will the same reasoning
apply TO planet. one endowed with the
power to fight, even, and take part in our
own celebrations. And if so, could and.
would Mars understand and be willing:
Would she learn to know who owned her
Il
| Of her older existence into the hands Of her
new claimants? These are fanciful but
bewitching questions. Mars existed be
fore the Garth. say the scientists. VIII
Mars tell Us what we do not know? And
would she be willing to tell the United
States alone, in case we claimed her? All,
| come June u!
Only once in seventy nine years does this
| closeuess 10 Mars occur, and by the time
| it comes around again-thoGgh we shall
not he here to know it-doubt,ess Mars and
the earth will talk together like ma
! tives''