The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-15
THE PLANET MARS.

On June II. the planet Mars was In peri
heiion. II was then at a point reached
only once In seventy-nine years. and as
tronomers all over the world have taken
the greatest interest In the observations
which this exceptional condition OF az
fairs permits According to calculations
Ii was then Ave times as brilliant as II
ordinarily IL. being most brilliantly HUI
minated by the sun. and as its distance
from the earth was then only $3.50. 90
miles, II can never be seen 10 greater
Of which this Ia one.
The region of oaxaea, In Mexico. has
been selected as the best site for obser-
walton. and tbere an expedition was dis
patched under the special supervision OF
the Harvard observatory stan. In addi-
ton TO the American astronomers there
were to be representatives OF the Green
witch observatory and OF the Turin OBJ
seryatory. The Harvard authorities pro-
vided and sent TO oaxaca a lens cost
ing $4,000 constructed specially for the
purpose. IL has taken three years to pre-
pare the necessary Instruments: and the
mechanism OF the telescope Is so delicate
that three minute hairsprings control it.
The lenses are OF such exquisite power
that the naked eye would be scorehed IL
applied directly.
Even this powerful instrument viii not
suffice to discern any inhabitants OF size
such as the presumption is they could be.
hfat thsFk Ia H..
Of that contamination OF human inquiry.
Science has come to the conclusion that
the means by which we are to ascertain
II there are inhabitants OF even the near
est planet have not Jet been discovered.
Collateral testimony may be obtained. and
some deductions made more probable: but
even here there Ia wide field.
II there are inhabitants OF Aars IL seems
reasonable 10 suppose that they are fur
Their advanced In all knowledge and attain
ments than the people of the earth. and
IL may be thai the suggestion OF means
for communication may come from them
IL their knowledge OF astronomy Is as far
advanced beyond ours as In the nature OF
things seems probable. they must be no
less interested ia The opportunities for OBJ
'servation which these exceptionally
favorable circumstances afford than
We are. F7ammarion and schlapar.
ell. who have in recent years. de-
voted most attention 10 the physical con-
diiions existing On that planet. have gone
beyond the region OF mathematical as;ron-
n hA AL
marion particularly has given much
thought TO possible media Of eomrnun,.
cation, sud al ore time believed a raw Of
light might be used. This ne has ahan-
eoned and now inelines to the theory Of
an air current dexterousiy directed. This
Investigation opens Up an entirely new
science. ard It has yet no; passed beyond
the aeeuious stage
TX the day shah ever come when we shan
even know beyond aoue, that in,slaSen,
creatures fnhaslt the other r,an.,. az
r~sson strongly tnoiines us TO believe. The
whose scheme % the universe nav be
nsto known e "a From the nsaner,
that fact "a established sew thoughts VIII
I develop. snd the whole Plan 81 human al.
vencemeat Re changed by progressive
comparison. Hopeful as ~ nav =. a,
the result q The present ohssrvasscns.
/ hswsver. Il = 80 early - expc-s anv ssn.
( sstiossi Information The utrn>x. ~ -,
sope - learn + little more ssar,..
/ kneSlstse as - TIE canals. re afrns..
I pser~. he PoAsr spots. ara ne prosAenfty
( 90 seasons On Mar.