The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-03-20
REeARpINa - MARrIANs

Martan literature has lately been enriched by an
article IN the current number Of MeCures Magazine writ
ten by Professor Edward s. Holden and entitled what
We Know about Mars" No doubt we should all like TO
know an there is to be known concerning this much be
ten planet 1t is generally recognized that astronomers
and not romancers the proper persons to whom TO
apply for Information the subject Professor Holden
is an astronomer of sufficient emnence to have been Sc
leced the first director Of the Lick Cbservatory he
has taken part in the recent observations Of the planet
at rate has been closely associated with those who
have made of the valuable of these observations
and he may fairly be presumed to be an expert witness
In the case For this reason the article referred to has
probably been read with interest by very many non Dro
tesslona sargazers. who found Mars an exceedingly
fascinating object particularly since schemes have been
boached for opening communication with its inhabitants
snch readers must have been gevousy disappointed to
learn from this astronomer how very unlikely it is that
any of these schemes viii ever be realized.
Mars Professor Holden tells us is uninhabited and nm
nhabtabe for two excellent reasons If for no others In
the FIRST place the cold there intense that terrestrial
man. E any miraculous means he could transported
tnIher would undoubtedly freeze solid in exceeaney
short time In the second place there is at anv rate
not sufficient air upon planet to sustain hnnanges
Il this be then whole BIartian business must be
considered rs settled at least for the great majority of the
nonprotesonas. for why should we coacera ourselves
particularly with world which however pretty # NAV m
as am evening STAR practically only bg lumD of ce2
So long as permitted to indulge the Fancy that
Mars msht be The scene of life analogous to that which
exists upon the earth identical in an essential re-
srects it was impossible take lively interest IN
the nanet; but now-we may pocket our teIescopes
aAd turn our attention to profitable rnsttersi
Is is more than likely however that many Of the rea5-
@ 50 Professor Hodens article have some KNOWLEDGE Of
aa s-eet derived from other sources which they deem
equally Trustworthy, and such persons viii be disposed to
question Jae validity of some Of his conclusions They win
note " surprise that he has restricted his discussion of
@ subject no two on three points While the most sienid
cane ef the facts bearing the hababy of the planet
facts which have been brought ley the observations OF
me t eight vears-are passed in absolute silence Pro
tss Holden tells rs that there little or no water anon
Aals This IS somewhat strongly put statement of what
Is noW generally accepted wen established fact-that
te water supply of Mars is exceedingly limited He tells
a tat The atmosphere Of Mars is excessively rarerr
perhaps than that Of the earth summit Of the F7is
as This. too is generally admitted to be the case
When however he tells that lit Is certain thar the
polar caps o Mars not snow and that water never
melts anon Mars he makes assertions which cannot lie
proven aAlch are contrary 70 the prevailing opinion Of
OBSERVERS q Mars and which incompatible with certain
remarkable phenomena thar are now known TO recur reg
narF upon Mars with its change of seasons He has not
word to say regarding extensive color chauees here
referred To- which have been observed place upon
the planet ana which one time supposed 10 be due
to inundaeone caused by the melting of the polar caps
Now that it Is hnowu that ars has little water and that
the dark areas are not these color changes can be
accounted for enthusiastically only rs being due 10 the
growth and decay q vegetation The whole question on the