New-York tribune., 1906-11-03

WITH fifteen illustrations. svo pp xiv, 1872. Lit
Is Mars Inhabited? Mr.. Morse believes that II
Is lie considers that the markings on the sur
race or that planet observed by Schiapareh
Lowell, Perrotin. Thoon and others are of such
regularity as to admit of no other Interpretation
than that they the result of intelligent de-
sign. Mr.. Morse is not astronomer himself
out he does not on that account hold hlmseif
the less competent to express his views and to
form a judgment in such matter. The problem
involved he asserts. Is quite outside the ordi-
nary domain of the scientific astronomer. and
should be included in a branch of science.
for which he suggests the title Of "planetology."
Mr.. Morse is traveller and geographer, and
he maintains that his experience better qualities
him for judging of the significance of the physi-
cal features of Mars than do the mathematical
studies of the professional explorers of space.
His position is sufficiently logical to render
his argument worthy of consideration, and it
is to be regretted that he weekens his cause by
intemperate criticism and sarcastic characteri-
cation of those who presume to differ with him.
Doubt has been upon the correctness of
the maps of Mars. as drawn by its most faithful
students. because the lines and oases thereon
described have not been seen by some of those
who more casually observed the planet. The
author explains this difference in results by
stating that the extreme fantness of the mark
ings renders a long training necessary before
they be definitely discerned and plotted. Mr.
Morse spent two months at the Lowell Observa-
tory at Flagstaff. Ariz.. nightly studying the
planet through the great 24-inch telescope, and
it only by the most gradual degrees that
he was able to anything on its surface
What he did see and was able to plot how
ever. coincided with lines the maps, and
the fact remains that in all essential respects
he Of XVhO
so-caled canals agree in their main features
If the markings are, have claimed
only the result of too vivid imagination or
Of alterations of the lens it Is at least curious
that precisely the same errors should have oc-
Cured to astronomers working in widely sep
arated regions. Certain divergences in the maps
of Mars are reasonably accounted for by the
fact that they have been drawn by hand, and
that the ability TO draw correctly does not neces-
sarily Co-eXist with the ability to see correctly
1t is likely. however, that few at this day
unwilling to concede that the delicate lines
called canals do exist and have certain discern
ibIe characteristics. The most striking of these
are their length and straghtness, corresponding
to no other physical phenomena observable in
nature The author presents a series of COM
parative plates. reproducing the lines made by
pottery crackle. mud cracks, asphalt cracks,
earth cracks and moon cracks: Of railroads
streets, irrigation canals and of the markings
on Mars. 1t is at once obvious that these last
bear resemblance whatever TO the lines made
by the contraction of natural surfaces, while
they do distinctly suggest the lines which are
the product of human intelligence.
Arguing from analogy the author holds that
the only rational theory in regard to the mark
ngs Is that they are In fact artificial canals
constructed for the purpose of irrigation carry
q melting
through regions and to points favorable for
cultivation What see, of course, when the
markings become visible in the Martian spring.
time, not the canals themselves. but the
verdure springing up for distance of approxi-
matey thirty-five miles each side of the
main water courses. What sort of vegetation
this may be or what sort of beings there are
capable of living in the extremely rarehed at
! mosphere of our nearest planetary neighbor
| must remain a matter of conjecture. We know,
! at al events that animal and vegetable life
| exist on the earth under widely varying coudt-
tions, that men can work III caissons under
forty pounds of atmospheric pressure
and can live extremely high attitudes; the
principal requisite seems to be that they shall
! be conducted gradually from condition tc
| another. As Mars is much older planet thar
/ the earth, and at one period probably passed
| through the same stages of development the
! earth. the rarefaction of its atmosphere has
doubtedly been matter of gradual change. to
which the forms of life there existing have had
ample time to conform themselves.
The author makes entertaining study Of
the surface Of the earth 1t must appear to
observer in Mars. and thinks that in this
manner may be led TO appreciate the atti-
tude Of mind of those who seek TO interpret
Mars in the light solely of their own expert
ences. rather than by allowing some play TO
their imaginations. He says:
In examining the earth, then. as we have ox-
amined Mars, the Martian would ind large yellow
beslqtS' large regions OF varying shades Of blue,
possisy occupying tEree-fourths of the earths sur
desert land. the greenish areas he might consider
vegetation but what would he make OF the
puzzle him, because unfamiliar with oceans he
could not believe that such vast tracts could really
sno"caIs and the waters at their edges but the
oceans would be impossible to solve. The suetes-
blue area was water would be answered by show
ing that these so-cal"d bodies of water bordered
into them for irrigation navigation purposes.
Even the polar snowcaps would be doubted, be-
Sr fl ,od anu n ea el 'itIi ne IeflGe IA sum @
stead Of unfolding at the north and gradually
direction appearing first in south temperate Iati
character OF the vegetation in the tropics would
puzzle him. Even if he recognized oascs In the
deserts OF America and Africa. the result of ar
tesian wells springs. ne could not believe them
to be vegetation; he could detect no irrfsat ting
canals running into them. He would to the
conclusion that creature could possibly exist on
the Garth as the tremendous force OF gravitation
with great atmospheric pressure would forbid the
existence of any organic forms.
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NOTES on JOHNSON.
From, The Iondor Chronicle