New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
SIGNALS FROM MARS.

Mr.. Teslas recent announcement OF a sus-
picion that he had received electrical signals
from the planet Mars while he was experiment
ing on Pixies Peak two or three years ago was
unfortunate in some respects. 1t is 10 be re-
gretted that the first news of the incident
not given 10 a scientific society OF standing,
rather than TO a phianthropic organization or
an ordinary newspaper. The former method
was pursued by Faraday, Henry. Hertz and
other early investigators and has also been
adopted by Marconi, R0ntgen and many modern
devotees of science. Indeed, it may be said to
be the universal practice of the more advanced
and successful students of natures laws. The
great advantage of such a course is that the
question and criticism which are thus instantly
evoked promote an exact knowledge of the
facts and sounder Interpretation of them than
is otherwise possible If, for instance, Mr.. Tesla
had honored either the New-York Academy of
Sciences or the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers with n report of his experiments,
several obscure points in his story would have
been cleared up promptly, and perhaps the sug
gestion would have been made that 1t is more
rational TO look for a purely terrestrial cause
for the observed phenomenon than 10 go hunt
ing for one out in interplanetary space. In the
final event it is the scientific expert, and not the
average newspaper reader that must pass judg
ment on such revelation.
Another reason for wishing that Mr.. Tesla
had employed n different channel for his dis
closure IS that the general public does not dis
criminate. as do scientific men, between fact
and fancy The Imagination is a valuable agent
In the acquisition of knowledge 1t led Column
bus to America inspired Ieverrier to hunt for
the planet which afterward bore his name for a
time and has afforded the cew to many ar
Rut II iS from
a mere conception 10 a verifcation. Faraday
experimental for years before he proved what
he had long believed, that one could get elec-
tricty from a magnet. Now, the average human
mind is constituted that it cannot suspend
Judgment on any possibility. 1t can regard an
idea only as absolutely false or thoroughly
established. And the natural tendency is to
accept rather than reject any hypothesis that
may be advanced, without waiting for evidence
such as Il scientific man demands. Hence the
necessity for presenting any new and captivat-
ing notion with the utmost caution and reserve
Mr. Tesla's belief that the disturbance of his
apparatus was caused by force operating
from Mars has been treated with polite scepti-
cism by those whose opinions the subject
are worth anything and who can be induced to
talk Lockyer and other eminent astronomers
discredt the idea gracously but positively. So
do MarcOni and Fleming. The suppositiOn that
the temporary appearance OF brilliant streak
Mars, reported a fortnight ago from Ari-
zona, was meant for a signal has more to com
mend it than the attempt TO explain the Pixies
Peak incident In this manner. There can be no
doubt to the origin and location of the
luminous phenomenon. whatever be its signif1-
canoe, whereas number of explanations can
be offered of Mr.. Teslas experience Yet Flam-
marion does not consider the flash observed
near the Icarian Sea to be indication that
there are people on Mars trying to communicate
with And this is the more remarkable he-
cause the Frenchman is of highly lmagina-
tive temperament himself. and is a recognized
authority on the ruddy planet He saws that
. the same thing has been seen several times