Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-10
A Messaqe from Mars.

Again the matter of alleged signals
vigorously discussed among the great
astronomers of the world. No less a
body than the Astronomical Society of
France meets at Paris, today. to dis
cuss the luminous projections recently
observed in the planet by distinguished
American astronomers at the Arizona
observatory. 1t is held by some that
these phenomena are the attempts of
the inhabitants of Mars to communi-
cate with the earth There is nothing
new in the theory that Mars is in
habited. Science has long ago given
us much knowledge of this distant
world. 1t was the first to lead Keplar
to the truth about the solar system
and it has generally been looked to as
the first to give us true knowledge of
life beyond the earth. Novelists, as
Du Maurier in his "Martian," have
used as theme the idea that Mars is
inhabited by superior race and that
communication with it is not un-
known.
At the meeting OF the French scicn-
lists, today. that eminent astronomer
Camille Flammarion. will deliver an
address on the alleged signals, an alb
stract Of which has already been
tyiN 70 tho IA u
not think these are signals made to
us by the inhabitants of Mars: they
are atmospheric phenomena. If the in
habitants of Mars had wished to signal
to us they would have done so long
ago. They are much older than we of
the earth. The inhabitants of Mars
are millions of years more advanced
than We and had they any desire to
communicate with us they would have
ply, would have set us down as vulgar
beings not interested in their planet
so why should they continue to interro-
gate people who do not answer? They
have long since judged us. Moreover,
they would have selected the proper
time to signal US. namely, when Mars
presents its non-luminous disc toward
the earth. l envy the lot Of the in
habitantS of Mars, the beautiful earth
of heaven, without storms or cyclones
and years twice as long as here. An
object weighing 200 pounds here would
weigh about - there: everything is
lighter, more delicate, more refined.
Millions of years may lift US to its
perfection. l believe there is an or
ganized humanity dominating the
forces of nature throughout the whole
planet for the benefit of its inhabi-
tants."
Other astronomers, while believing
that life on Mars is more advanced
than on the earth, hold that the in
habitants have not despaircd Of max
ing US understand their signals Will
fred de Fonvielle, a leading member of
the Astronomical Society of France,
says: THE luminous projections OBJ
served are undoubtedly signals from
the inhabitants of Mars to US A line
of bright lights several hundred miles
long has been observed on the border
of Lake Iscarie. These gigantic ilh-
limitations continued 30 minutes and
vanished suddenly. Light never fol-
lows geometric lines. and the rec
tilinear disposition of the illumination
mentioned indicates the action of in
telligent agents. Simultaneous illumi-
nation has furnished a like argument.
Hence the projections were signals of
the inhabitants to us. and consequent
~ sure to be repeated. We ought to
observe Mars closely from now till
February 80, when it will be in oppo-
sition.'
1t is a fascinating theme, and we can
only hope that science in it's wonderful
advances will soon tell us more about
the race on our sister planet. and be
able to interpret the mysterious signals
sent us across the millions of miles of
space. Who knows but the beginning
of the next century will find our news
papers publishing authentic dispatches
under Mars date-lines? The genius
which has harnessed for the use OF
man the lightning of the clouds will
not hesitate to approach with conf
dence the great problem OF inter
planetary communication. And after
the communication. what? Tie great
philosopher Kant had theory that