Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-07
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GOSSIP ABOUT MARS.
Star Gazers Have Guessing Fest About
Planet.

| GOSSIP ABOO MRhS.
Star Gazers Have Guessing Fest About
Planet.
To learn how star gazers at the Co
lumbia university regarded Prof. VIII
liam Henry Pickering's plan for COM
municating with Mars, a New York
World reporter sought out Prof. How
ard Jacoby, head Of the department,
and DR.. 8. A. Mitchell, his associate.
They were just bowling out venerable
I gentleman who had inquired as to the
weight Of holes in cheese.
His problem was little less obtuse
than some propounded to US concern
ing Mars" smiled Prof. Jacoby, but
we are always glad to answer ques-
tions, as discussion stimulates interest
in astronomy. Now, you ask IL we
might signal to Mars by projecting a
reflected ray of light from a mirror or
series Of mirrors a quarter Of a mile In
area. This is scientifically possible,
but impractical. Why not wait for the
Maritans, IL there be any, to signal us?
Would it not then be time enough to
rig up an answering apparatus?"
Quite the correct idea," agreed DR..
Mitchell, who was deep in a chart
showing that in September Mars will
be a mere 36,500,OO0 miles from earth
as the crow flies.
From all accounts Maritans are
much our superiors in intellect and
they must know that we are just dying
to hear the gossip up their way. You
see, their planet Is older than ours,
having been thrown off from the sun
first, and that accounts for their wis
dom. Besides 1t is smaller, having
cooled and shrunk more-4,2O0 miles
think the diameter Is"
Becoming more serious, DR.. Mitchell
said signals might be sent to the plan
ct provided the mirrors were attached
to one huge axis parallel to that OF the
earth, and made to revolve once every
twenty four hours.
But who knows whether the Mari
tans would understand the Morse code?
II they do not, could they be taught
the meaning of dots and dashes before
Mars recedes 2S0,O0O,OoO miles during
the coming year?"
Prof. Jacoby admitted he was scepti-
cism itself when 1t came to the exist
ence Of life on the planet
Prof. Percival Lowell, the noted as
tronomer, is sure Mars Is inhabited"
he said, "but haven't an iota of proof.
It was Lowell who discovered those
wonderful canals which bring water
from the poles. I've never been able
to see them, but II they are there and
were dug by the inhabitants, the Mar
itans must be remarkable people
much more learned than we."
According to scientific data It's real
cold up there" said DR.. Mitchell. "As
frigidity tends Rward the development
of the brain, 1t B easy to see why those
people are profound. I'm mfree to admit
1 am sceptic, but plead guilty to a
robust Imagination. 1t helps lot when
you delve in figures.
ITS a psychological fact that man
who thinks profoundly on given sub
ject eventually comes to see things ex-
listing only in his mind" suggested
Prof. Jacoby.
"There was a case In point here to-
day." observed DR.. Mitchell. "A strang.
er dropped in and asked for photo
graph Of the moon. He said that by
gazing long and steadily at old Luna
he could see on it's face the picture OF
a beautiful woman Of his acquaintance.
Not having the moon always with him
he wanted a likeness Of 1t. / think he
said he was going to gild 1t to make
1t more lifelike"
The professors were asked what a
Maritan ought to look like, according
to scientific data obtained.
"Well, to begin with he would be tall
and spindle -shanked," replied DR..
Mitchell. 1T is a certainty that there
are not fat men on Mars. The at
traction Of gravity is two-thirds less
there than here, hence he would grow
upward instead Of sideways. He would
make a great Marathon runner, as the
resistance is less. His head would be
immense when compared to the dame
ter of his body, and his eyes might be
as big as saucers. AS I'm creating this
Maritan I'm going to have him to my
own liking.
Being exceedingly brainy, he has
probably discovered a way. to perpet-
uate his kind through the incubator
process. Under these conditions the
population could be kept at certain
level. Women would probably vote
and run the government while men
were digging canals. It's too bad Pres
ident Taft can't get one Of those ca
nails, 1t would save endless annoyance
at Panama. don't believe the men are
web-footed, as there isn't enough wa
ter to swim in, but they probably grow
a fine crop Of fur, owing to the low
temperature
DR.. Mitchell thought earth folk as
sumo a good deal in thinking this plan
ct the only one inhabited. as there are
something like 1OO,OOO,OOO suns provid-
ing heat and light for as many solar
systems. 1t Is not impossible. accord
ing to his way Of thinking, that other
planets support life, but he has found
no proof.
SAYS THEY ARE MYTHS.