Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
BY HAROLD X. PHILIPS.

L mas D6en Sd1u t}ldl the conquest
of the air and the Zealousness of
explorers in the last decade have
l. left nothing more to be explored
on this earth. Already the vet
eran wanderluster, having followed
his last trail to its end. is beginning
TO feel cramped. to understand in full
measure how diminutive is this bit of
r. pill we call our world, Now he
wants new worlds to conquer. and
satisfy his craving for adventures into
unknown lands.
The North Pole, first reached by
Peary after soul-crushing journeys on
log sled and by foot has since been re-
discovered twice by intrepid scientist
aviators one of them few from the
fringes of the white mans civilization
to the Pole and back again in about
IS hours. The other, accompa MED by
an entire staff of assistants and even
n. pet dog, flew around it in an epOchal
1aunt across the top of the world.
The South Pole, too, has felt the
weight of the white mans tread, and
those of us who can give neither the
time nor the physical energy to per
Sonal visit may obtain a fairly good
idea of what that white waste looks
like through the eyes of the camera.
The once deadly valley of the Anna
Zon, whose jungles are marked with
the graves of scores of hardy eXplor-
ers who could not face its challenge,
may be traversed in a few days with
the aid of airplane and a good pilot.
The Andes, rich in relics of ahorig-
inal civilizations that once thrived
there and richer still in the pitiful
stories of stout hearted travellers who
sought out hidden trails and died in
the effort hold no terrorS even for an
aviator with a broken leg. The Hima-
layas, the Rockies. the darkest jungles
of darkest Africa. all have barred to
the birdman the secrets they so Jeal-
ously guarded and so dearly priced
in days that have melted into mem
cries.
But if this world has yielded up its
last secret, if there are no more ter
restrial lands to be explored, there is,
far more intriguing real Of romance
and mystery that challenges venture
some minds. 1t is the universe-un-
measured, unsolved, unattainabie. A
mere void, a complete nothingneSs by
day, it unfolds, to the eyes of those
who will behold millions of new worlds
by night, flecks of light that CLEAN at
us from its stygian pit.
The Babylonians looked at it, won
dered and explored. The oldest rec
ords of man marvel at its wonders
and ponder in vain over its mysteries.
But it remained for Johannes Upper
shey, an obscure German optician.
and Galilei Calico, the famous Italian
astronomer and philosopher, in 1909,
to reveal to the world the universe in
its truer beauty, by inventing the first
telescopes, instruments of threefold
magnifying power.
* X *
CINCE that time, lenses of such
~ power that we may be whiSked
hundreds of thousands of light years
out into space have been developed,
an outstanding example of which
occupies that peculiar looking, dome
shaped little white house, halfway
up Massachusetts, avenue hill, on the
grounds of the United States Naval
Observatory. Here, through the
eyes OF Calico, we may behold won
ders that lure us on but bid us not.
Let us step into that cylindrical
structure for a few hours and leave
this earth 100000 light years or more
behind, and see for ourselves some
of the wonders that remain to be ex-
plored in this unknown realm.
Let us stop, first, at the Moon, then
take in Mars and. If we are lucky,
its two satellites, Deimos and PhobOs;
Betelgeuse, the largest known star of
the heavens, and the gorgeous nebula
of Orion, which looks like bit of
rare lace, ready to adorn the ethereal
gown of a celestial bride.
The night is bitter cold as we halt
our cars in front of the observatory,
and we are bundled tight in sweaters.
furs, overcoats, several pairs of wool
en- mittens and galoshes over our
shoes to keep us as warm as possible.
Our pilot Prof. Asaph Hall, who has
charge of the telescope, had warned
us in advance that the journey will
he a cold one, for if we are to see
the real beauties of this new land we
must stand. on the bridge deck be-
side him.
The Moon CLEANS down in silent
contemplation upon this little group
OF terrestrial voyageurs who would
have a look at it's untrodden shores.
All is quiet, and as the big orb above
reflects the light of the hidden sun
upon our earthly scene, it wraps it in
a shroud of ghostly twilight. AL
ready Prof. Hall has opened the door
of his observatory and welcomes US
aboard his strange craft with the
heartinesS of veteran skipper.
Few persons would have recognized
in the heavily swathed figure in the