The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-15

4 -well-appOinted table stood laid out
in the middle OF the hall. which was car
peted with wooden stuffs. and furnished
with broad divans Of embossed camel
skin. The walls were adorned with
drawings Of the heavens. typographical
charts. AID large lunar photogrs phs.
Through fielding doors. At the end OF the
hall there was a glimpse OF sstronom-
ical apparatus a large globe. telescopes.
electric batteries. and strange looking
instruments OF all kinds
Gertrude got up from the table TO ex-
anime some OF the charts hung on the
walls OF the Hall O. Motors"
What is that?'' she asked. looking
attentively at a kind OF map OF the
world. whose seas and continents she
failed to recognize
THAT is a general map OF the moon"
replied Norbert. "or rather OF the lunar
hemisphere visible TO us"
How, a map OF the moon" cried Ger
trude. HAS anyone been there
That was not necessary in order to
draw up this map 1t was quite suffi
cient to observe the moon on fine nights.
and note all that happened on her sur
face. The geography Of our satellite was
verified by a great many observations
made by several different astronomers
But there are. see. names on the
maps Sea o. Tranquility Ocean OF
Tempest Chain OF the Apennnes.'
They are bestowed by the observers
themselves We can take photographs
Of the moon almost as easily as OF
human being See Here is one Of the
chain OF lunar Apennines taken by me a
month ago. Can there be a doubt as
10 its being a photograph OF one Of a
long chain Of mountains looked at YER
ticaIIy. as from the car of a balloon
1T is astonishing"
DO you want another prOofZ Look
at this drawing. exactly resembling
volcanic island covered with craters:
a birds eye view. as # were, Of the Peak
OF Tenerine II is not a striking like
ness2"
so striking that It is impossible TO
doubt that the model must have been
similar But how did YOU manage to
photograph an isolated chain? I could
understand the whole surface, but a
partg''
You will have no difficulty in cOmpre-
bending the whole matter il you bear
in mind that a telescope masnifyinS
1 . 600 fold brings our satellite within
/ 100 miles. so to speak. OF the observa-
tory. Now. the moon appears enormous
so near: we can choose our portions
/ and FIX them separately on the sensitive
plate You know that a microscope
photograph can easily be enlarged and
developed so as TO show details pre-
viously invisible 10 the naked eye"
How I should like to see all this
myself"
You shall see it. and not later than
J this very night; the moon is at its fall.
and just ht for observation
What. will you really show me the
Chain of the Apennines. as IL is here,
/ and the Ocean Of TemPests2"
! And a great deal more into the bar
/ gain"
TT is indeed marvellous.
/ You may call IL marvellous IL you
| like. For my part. I think it much more
marvellous that scarcely anyone takes
any notice Of these wonders"
! Then" continued Gertrude. after a
minutes silence. you really think il
possible that the moon should be like
| our earth-shouId possess a similar geo
/ logical constitution. and have. like us,
| continents seas. mountains. volcanoes -
/ 1T is rot only possible but probable.
and / may say certain. that such is the
case. DO not forget that the moon is
only a fragment of the earth detached
from her thousands or tens OF thousands
Of years ago. at an epoch when our globe
was but a nebulous ball turning on it's
own axis. The chemical elements OF the
lunar soil must therefore necessarily he
the same as ours. At most, they may
perhaps lave formed different combins-
lions. or may be differently distributed
from the center 10 the poles. But the
probability is In favor with their exact
identity with the earth. This does not.
OF course. mean that life has manifested
Itself under the same foTms-far from IL.
The climate conditions Of the moon
are. on the contrary. entirely different
from those # the earth. by reason of
her more restricted dimensions. her pc
culisr position. and the fortnightly al
formations of heat and cold through
which she passes.
1t is not only probable. but certain
also, that her vegetables aud animals
are. or were. quite different from ours.
! DO not say anything about her atmos-
phere. which exists, l think. though il
must be very rarefied."
Have you learned anything fresh
about the subject lately asked Briet
someWh hat ironically.
Yes, l have learned sonnet hing fresh
lately" replied Norbert. grayely- What
do you suppose l am doing in the after
moons and evenings I am gazing at the
stars. as that is my business; and l hav,
been able to take several observations
in these clear skies On the whole
am inclined to believe that the moon has
an atmosphere, but that il is so rarefieC
that human beings could not live in &c.
IF that Is so" cried the doctor, good
by TO your plans
That remains 10 be seem replied
Norbert should the atmosphere prov,
mil FRY s.1hstftrrf.