Year: 1860

Life Oh the Moon.


The discoveries of science are becoming
moro astonishing every day and in no de-
partment are these more interesting than
the recent researches Of astronomers in lu-
mar geography.


Until quite recently, the surface OF the
moon has been supposed to be vast life
less desert. Astronomers have abused the
moon in every possible way. They have
said there was no heat in moonshine. They
have denied the moon an atmosphere, and
consequently water and organic life. They
have made US believe that residence In the
moon would be exceedingly undesirable
The old faith in the Goddess of the Night
was quite overturned in scientific circles;
and the destinations of moonlight were de-
parting day by day.


But all this is changed, and the present
acquaintance Of long-eyed science with our
satellite is very succinctly set forth in sum-
mary carefully prepared for the New York
Tribune from which we learn that Knox and
Melloni have shown, by very exact observa-
tions, that there is heat in the moons rays.
Zantedeschi has discovered that this heat
produces sensible effect upon the mimosa.
An English philosopher has found that the
earth is colder during the first quarter of
the moon than it is in the second.


Upon the growth of plants the moon ex-
ercises a remarkable influence. The chemi-
cal action of light is necessary to their prin-
cipal work, the ABSORPTION of carbon from
the carbonic acid gas of the atmospheric
This work all plants carry on during the day,
and in the night they sleep-except when
the moon shines. She wakes them and sets
them at work. So the farmers who plant on :
ly before the full moon are right, and the
scoifers who call them superstitious are
themselves the foolish ones. For, if eown
before or near new moon, the young plants
get ahove ground just at the full, when the
tender things need sleep. But if sown just
before the full, they come up about new
moon, pass their babyhood under the sooth-
Ing influence of dark nights, and when the
full moon comes are sturdy urchins, able to
work night and day.


The moon.worshipers are right, also, in
regard to the influence of the moon upon
the weather. Herschell, Arago and Whew-
ell recognized that the moon had some slight
power in dispensing clouds. The sailors go
further, and say the moon eats up the clouds.
AT the last meeting of the British Associa-
ton, it was shown that the weather, through
a long series of years. depended littie-a
very little-upon the phases of the moon:
and Quetelet, the director of the Brussels
Observatory, has shown that between the
first and last quarters of the moon; more,
not less rain falls than during the remainder
of the time. However, fine weather and
greater rain fall my 60 together.


Finally, Webb, after comparison of the
present appearance of the moon with the
very precise maps made by Madder, some
twenty years ago, has shown that there have
been considerable changes. Some of the
small craters, in particular, have a totally
different form from what they had when
Madder observed them. These changes
show the existence of water and an atmos.
phere. Father Secchi, director of the Ro-
man Observatory, after much observation,
has come to the conclusion that the peaks
of the highest mountains on the moon are
covered with snow. And, to make us still
more at home on the moon, De la Rive, the
owner of the observatory at GRAVEYARD, near
London, gives it as his opinion that what
were at first marked down as seas, and after
ward supposed to be barren plains, are in
fact extensive forests. In support of this
comes up great astrohomic authority
Schwabe, the discover of the periodic times
of the suns spots. Besides these great
smooth plains, which were called seas, there
are . number Of furrows and wrinkles, hear
ly hundred, the nature of which is en-
tirely unknown. Their length varies from
breadth is about five thousand feet; most of
them are considerably narrower. Their
sides are parallel and smooth; some of
:-xlR
gently curvedi. Ordinarily they are sepa-
rate, but sometimes they cross craters, but
occasionally they seem to be cut off by them.
They are found all over the surface of the
moon, except on the highest mountain
chains.


OF these burrows, Schwabe has made
careful study at various times. He found
them to consist of very fine parallel dark
lines; separated by clear spaces. A few
months later; the lines Of strehks had dis
appeared, but after little while they re-
turned, again to disappear: In this peti6dic
change he thinks that he finds proof that
these lines are rows of trees, and the clear
streaks between them are the bare ground
seen when the trees are leafless; when the
trees are in full leaf; the ground is 80 COW
cred as to produce q uniform shade, and
the lines disappear:


Nothing is more natural than to suppose
that the dark spots on the moon are forests
but how shall we account for the growth of
these trees in right lines? This hypothesis
we must for the present consider to be only
hypothesis. With the aid of photography,
which will secure for US accurate pictures of
the moon from time to time, we may hope
that the question win be solved. and that
we may really find out what is going on up
on the surface of our satellite.


NEVER PLEAD GUILTY TO oPovsRTY.-Credi-
tors never annoy man so long as he is get
ting up in the world. A man of wealth on
ly pays his butchers bill once year. Let
bad luck overtake him, and his meat bill
will come in every morning, as regular as
breakfast and hungry children. Again we
say, never plead guilty to poverty. So far
as this world is concerned, you might better
admit that you are scoundrel.