The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-02-23
CONDITIONS ON THE MOON.
Interesting Theories of II Toledo As.
tronomcr Who Has n New Meth
cd OF Research.

new Gentry DR.. l.. j. Van Marter, of To-
ledo, o., advances some new theories
as TO an ice-bound, snow-bound moon,
having traces of vegetation i'll the de-
prcssions and probably having inhab.
itants. He holds that the planet SIM
ply is in it's glacial epoch at this time
and that the depression surfaces, which
at some day may be ocean bottoms, are
the regions where animal and vege-
table life first appears, says the Chi
caso Tribune.
"Retlcctoscopy" is the coined word
which DR.. Van Marter uses as indicat-
ing his method of observation. This
refiectoscopy he defines as the science
OF determining what Il substance is by
an analysis of the light reflected from
1t. This, he says, is entirely different
from the spectrum ANALYSIS, as that
shows only what is in the flame In re-
Microscopy he determines by an an
alysis OF the light reflex the substance
from which that light emanates. Sum-
ming up his theories and the proofs
that he feels to have established, they
are, III brief:
That the moon is covered with snow
and ice.
That the so-called extinct volcanoes
on the moon are ice mounds and caps.
That, considering the present state
OF the planet, there are reasons for
believing that it is inhabited.
Incidentally he explains how an at
mosphere free from moisture cannot
refract Light, and also why no clouds,
rain nor SHOWS obscure the face of the
moon.
The absolute clcarness of the
moons atmosphere" he says, ''its lack
OF clouds. rain and snow is because
Watery vapor is chilled and condenses
before 1T can get away from the val
leys; this also explains the formation
OF the ice mounds and ice caps. In the
Low and shielded valleys it is warmer
than on the surrounding highlands.
'aPor rises, but because of the intense
colo cannot rise and float away far, but
IS soon condensed. This process re-
peated over and over resulted in the
crater-like formations. The moon be-
ing almost entirely covered with snow
ana ice, the sun cannot vaporize suffi-
clent water for the formation of clouds,
ana this explains their absence in the
moons atmosphere"
as TO the snow reflex, DIR. Van Mar
Ter says he determines it lust as an
ocullst diagnoses atrophy of the optic
nerve from it's light reflex He says:
The light reflex from the moons
mountains, poles, and highlands is
pure write, but gloomy and usterlcss.
FROM the moons equatorial lowlands
here is the same quality of light,
only somewhat darkened, and this
is evidence Of struggling vegetation.
Lava, lgneus rock, or meteorc metal
no not give pure white reflex; vol
canoes or barren mountains do not:
snowclad mountains do. Sailors in
the tropics sleeping OH deck in the
moonlight get disease of the eyes
similar to snow blindness. Thus does
Every bit of evidence and its logical
analysis harmonic with my dcduc-
TONS"
lie concludes that the uniformly
pure Wilderness of the highlands also
points to snow, just as the Wilderness
Vi the rims of the darkcned areas
point I" Infringing glaciers.
DR.. Van Martcr insists that the
volcano idea is an nbslrdity for sew
'ral rcasors II assumes the absence
Of water, in the first place, and with
out this element the doctor saws that
rock would not have crystallizcd. even
conceding that the jagged outline of
the moon surface could be rock. That
II is not rock he claims to prove for
he reason that no volcanic rock could
reflect white light.
Again. he says that the large size
Of The so-cnllcd volcanoes, with diam
"tcrs OF 20 to SO miles, point TO an in
slant cooling, and that without the
agency of wafer lie says would be
impossible. On the other hand, n
slow cooling would have suprrmposcd
ronicai peaks. leaving thr crater cups
II th" apex instead of low down in
the present giant basins.