New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
A MYSTERY OF MARS.
THE sO-CALLED CANALS AND THEIR Ap.
PARENT DUPLICATION.
A NEW EXPLANATION OF THE PHENOMENON
OFFERED BY NJ. MEUNTER-WHAT OTHER
SCIENTISTS THINK.

SCIENTISTS THINK
The two mysteries connected with the planst
Mars which have excited the most interest in thu
last few years Involve the nature Of the so-caIled
"canals" and the phenomenon or duplication. Tho
strange dark lines which crisscross the orange.
colored area Of the planet with geometrcal resa-
larity and which have a breadth Of about thirty
or forty miles are sometimes numerous and dis
tinct while at other times few and faint A arg,
number OF canals which have once been observed,
but were utterly invisible few years later have
subsequently been seen again in precisely the
same place as before. Hence 1t has been practi.
ca BILE 10 chart and name them for Identification on
all future occasions when the planet Is advan-
toeeously placed for study. The appearance OF
second line Of the same general character as the
first parallel Herewith, and at ieast % or o miles
away is Of infrcquent occurrence ana me dura-
ton OF the spectacle is comparatively limited
Various theories have been advanced to explain
this "gemination." but none Of them have yet been
accepted by any considerable number OF astrono
,ncrs And now within a few days, new one has
been offered Whatever may be thought OF It's
soundness g. at least deserves mention as a contn-
button to the discussion.
A brief predatory reminder Of the earlier hypo.
theses on this subject may possibly be welcomed
nv the general reader VI. Boo. Of Amber"s. Be-.
GUM denies the objective reality Of the genirz.
ton and concludes that II l. an Illusion, due 70
the fatigue experienced by the vision after a,ter.
tive observation. NJ. Daubree regards the twin
canals az deep assures In the Marian crust which
widen under the influence Of an enlargement ex-
perienced by the planetary globe itself According
70 If rizeau they arc glacial creyices. the edges
Of which produce the Illusion Of two parallel
canals Proctor attributes them 70 cold, and sug-
gested that gigantic rivers, frozen over ard COW
cred with snow would have white centres and
black borders resembling the double canals Flam-
marion imagined that they might be caused by
parallel currents Of water, In state of yiscosty
kept apart by electric repulsion Mesel suggested
that the phenomenon was an optical one. The
vapor rising from a single canal ne thought mght
acquire NJ an elevation the form Of senl-cylnder
which IT. certain would produce duplics-
ton Of the image. Other scientists have asked
whether or not the doubleness might not be due to
a different kind Of atmospheric refracton
The latest explanation comes from Sianislas
Meunier a well-known French geoloist, who won
his doctors degree in science by thesis on me-
teorites nearly thirty years ago He has conducted
the scientific department Of a Paris paper
"L'Opinon Rationale" for more than decade
His theory briefly stated is that the second line
IA shadow reflected from the surface u the real
canal upon a translucent cloud sheet suspended
above the surface of the planet In support OF this
hypothesis he is able cite series OF laboratory
experiments. which ne proceeds 10 describe az
| length. He says:
Il draw In dull black. upon level surface Of
| polished metal n series Of lines which represent
more or less faithfully the geographical map Of
| Mars, and | let fall upon that surface A ray Of
| light from the any other conveniently
situated source. At the same moment place. a
few mmetres In front Of the metal surface and
parallel to 1t. piece of fine and very transparent
muslin. stretched a frame Then IN success
sion all the lines and all the spots Of the map
! spread out. that is, 'geminate, because OF the
development at the side OF each one OF them. Of
| the shadows thrown upon the muslin by the light
which the metal reflects"
Subsequently NJ Meunier took polished metal
sphere instead of a plane mirror. the basis OF
his experiment. Upon this surface. as upon the
| other he traced lines and dots in dull black. A
covering of glass employed TO support the
| muslin at slight distance from the In.
scribed surface. Then when the globe was illumi.
| mated properly. the termination OF the markings
| was again observed The effect resembed The
drawings of Schiaparel Terby and others Who
| have drawn charts OF the Marian surface. The
Frenchman proceeds to declare that all the essen
| tial conditions of his test repeated on the
planet, sunlight being reflected strongly from the
bright continental surfaces, and feebly from ne
dark areas that have until recently been considered
seas. but are now believed by a few scientists 70
be enormous tracts OF vegetation W. en tne
! Marian atmosphere Is clear says VI Meun.er,
rounding air contains mist, which is Transparent
| 10 a certain altitude. and then possesses mod.
msn ssbe TO an observer Who placed be-
| yond, the prolongation OF the reflected rays.
not be exclusively peculiar to Mars; It ought 10
exhibit itself likewise above the earth and above
| cannot be verified which fact ought to be noted
| as one proof OF the absence OF any gaseous
| ticed that at the moment Of termination The two
| adjoining canals are not always parallel some.
times appears deformed. and on other occasions
they spread apart only for a certain portion Q,
! their length All these peculiarities and many
irregularity of the nebuous cloak, which may be
easily initiated by wa'ing the muslin up and down
The great variations OF separation which exist be-
tween the two ends OF the same geminatioIn ar. are
likewise accounted for by the very variable altitude
OF the nebuous covering upon which the shadoww
may be thrown. and by the angle. large o. sma.-
placement of the canals themselves which has
also by be tb vap6f Of me
III NAV be asked why the termination appears
TO be a thing confined exclusively 10 the canals
and to other chance spots of the Marian soil ana
does not occur IN the zane me WAY Hon by nS
stratng that the shadow of the large spots SNIP;
ff erent az b hI concernins the spots 2.
seas observed in Mars they are explained III 'A'
I'm the special of rejecting sphere
must be noted that the separation IN eacg s sIh
the most important are the angle OF Incidence y
the suns light, the situation of the genllla..s
ask dhla and. lastly the altitude above the level .:
the soil Of the nebulous cloak which nomS s u,s
the luminous centre II is easy 10 see that The maxi =.
| mum separation would be produced toward m I.s
| centre OF the disk fact which conforms ".on
what has been more than once observed "fN
Mars" M 49,, i, 49, r,,rds
The first objections which will arise IN me m, nrs
of those familiar with the supposed c3naities pisr
| vailing on Mars the suggestion OF VI Mss.n,s,
nre these The atmospheric envelope on tha' p ins
is believed TO be much rarer and ., less ,o a1gr
than the earth's and there Is difficulty IN nlass :,
Ing cloud screen there al suthcient rle,sso" ,p.
dispiace shadow Is or 100 miles from the sS ~,
| nosablv reflected canal and the air must oe M no.
steader and the density OF the m'st ras n adm,
| OF the continuance Of this shadow for Weeks A
! even months I'm the same relative position. ,,.A
| Schaparelli and other astronomers are sssra
with hav wing extended 20 NJ Meunier their si'' on
fecitations' upon his work, but II d9es ~ "a Ne
| pear that they have eNpresseu any oP'
| significance.