Omaha daily bee., 1915-06-11
Will the Earth Be Like Mars?
by GARRETT p. sERvIss.


Prof winoheil, the Michigan geologist
once wrote a book on Comparative
Geology" The idea that he developed in
the book was that great deal may lie
learned both about our own world and
other worlds by the method OF direct
comparison. whereby their resemblances
and differences are rendered clearer. and
more certain conclusions can be drawn
concerning their relations as members Of
a single planetary family,
The ono question that everybody
wishes especially to have answered con-
corning any other planet is whether or
not Il IL an inhabltable world. Nine
tenths OF those who express an interest
in astronomy. without particularly de-
string to cultivate scientific acduaint-
ance with II, are moved by curiosity as
to the possible existence out in the sky
OF intelligent beings. other than but like
to, and perhaps superior 10. ourselves
II may be that this question OF other
inhabited worlds will never be definitely
and positively settled. but II Is certain
that one of the best ways TO undertake
it's solution is that pursued by Prof.
WlnGhCll IN the DOOM 10 WNlNh i ANNN
ferred Something OF this kind is under
taken in the pictures herewith shown
which were prepared by Mr.. Scriven
Bolton Of the Royal AsT Economical society,
They exhibit the planets Mars and
Earth, and enable the reader 20 grasp at
a glance the likonesses between them.
Mars is not often very conspicuous OBJ
ject in the heavens. and II would never
have attained the high degree OF popular
interest which Il enjoys but for the dis
covory NJ features on It's surface which
resemble the oceans and continents that
cover our globe 1t Is fair argument
that wherever there is enough water TO
make oceans there are. in all probability
the other things, such as air, plant life,
etc, upon which the higher forms of
animal existence depend.
The method Of comparison Is not con-
fined to the present condition Of the
planets that are subjected to it, but It
Involves their past and future. For in
stance. Mars being much smaller than
the earth (only 400 miles In diameter
against the earth's 1924 miles), is sup
posed to have run through the stages OF
evolution faster than the earth
has DONE because those stages depend
mainly upon the process of cooling. and
a small body, equally heated at the be-
will part with its heat and be-
come externally cool and solicited sooner
than a larger body
Consequently II is argued Mars was
probably in habitable condition mill
lions OF years before the earth had
reached similar stage, and so It may
well have developed species. or several
species, of intelligent inhabitants now
much further advanced intellectually and
morally than we are. This Is very
speculation. but it opens the
way. by the very data upon which II is
based. to the counter proposition that,
although Mars may once have been in
habited by beings superior to us. II has
now parted with them. having passed on
to later stage of planetary evolutions.
in which highly organized life is impos-
sibIe.
This Is suggested by the failure OF
the theory which prevailed in the mid
die OF the nineteenth century that the
dark areas on the surface OF Mars were
seas. It has since been shown that these
are. at the best. only places where seas
may once have existed. but that Mars
at the present day contains no large
bodies of water. Whether with the
gradual deslccation Of the planet ats
higher forms OF life have persisted. or
yet remain, in diminished numbers,