Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1892 — MARS IS A MYSTERY. [ARTICLE]

MARS IS A MYSTERY.

ASTRONOMERS HAVE YET PROVED NOTHINO. Prof. Edward 8. Holden Tells of the Character of the Work Being Done at the Lick Observatory—Uiher Observations Being Made. Fiery Mar- in Review. Lick Observatory has replied to many inquiries received during the present opposition of Mars,'by telegraph and by letter, said Prof. Holden the other day. These inquiries indicate widespread interest, but in very many cases, at least, they appear to be based on misapprehension of the kind of work which is now being done on the planet here and elsewhere. The dase is not as if astronomers were pushing out on an unknown ocean expecting to find an unknown continent. In 6uch a case the mere announcement of discovery would be all that was needed and expected. The actual circumstances are very different. - It is as if some one had undertaken to makq a new survey of the State of Arkansas. For. example, he would begin by measuring the base lines and by setting stakes and by observing angles and distances. At the end of weeks and months he would have his note-books filled with figures, and after a.long season of calculation he would be able to issue a new and accurate map of 4he region, more accurate, that is, than any preceding one. This is precisely the immediate object of the observations of Mars which are now being made. The circumstances are very favorable in that the planet is unusually near to us. They are rather unfavorable in that the planet U very far south and therefore low down in the sky and subject to atmospheric disturbances. Future oppositions, in which the planet will be seen at greater altitude, will be more favoraole, even if the planet be then considerably more distant. The immediate object of our work Is to make the map in question*,and we already have enough material to be sure that we can considerably improve existingmaps, although some or them are very fine, especially that made by Prof. Schiaparelli, for example. Of course, the ultimate object of all observations is to determine every possible physical peculiarity of the object to be investigated. If it is.a planet, we wish to know hew nearly it xesembles the earth and whether it is fit to, be inhabited by beings likd ourselves.

With respect to Mars it has been proposed by certain very enthusiastic astronomers to determine the question, -Is -tho„.plap.et ..actually .inhaijjtedff ahd this is a .‘more difficult as Well'as important question than the mere inquiry as to whether it is flt to be so inhabited. In my opinion thfl, time has not yet come to even speculate on the iarger question, and my reason for saying this is that I think it very doubtful,if all observations yet made, numerous as they are, are at all sufficient to enable us to pronounce even the lesser inquiry. There is very little doubt that by and by science will be able to interpret all or nearly all of the phenomena now seen and to arrive at certainties. Just now it must be confessed that only a few things are certainly known with respect to our nearest planetary neighbors. I may say that I observed the planet at the opposition of 1875 and at every opposition since that time, and that my colleagues at Mount Hamilton and myself have faithfully followed the plißffb at the oppositions of 1888, 1890, and 1892. In fact, we are now giving nearly all the time of the great telescop e to this work. The Lick telescope has a magnifying power of 2,00 1, which would bring Mars apd its moons within an apparent distance of 17,500 miles from the earth at the time off the nearest approach. But Mars hangs at a declination of 22 degrees, and the greatest magnifying power that Can be brought to bear upon him will not be over 700, it is thought. That means that Mars can be brought apparently within 50,000 miles of the earth, and will appear through the telescope as if it were an object 50,000 miles away viewed by the naked eye.

WORK FOR TEMPERANCE. Total Abstinence Union Holding an Interesting: Session at Indianapolis. Indianapolis special; About 1,000 prominent Catholics from all parts of the country are attending the meeting of the National Catholic,Total Abstinence Union. To-day’s proceedings began with high mass at St. John’s. Among the leaders in the Catholic temperance movement who are present at the convention is Father Doyle of New York, who is well known throughout the United States as the leading missionary worker of the l’aulus order of New York City. It is likely that he will be selected to superintend the total abstinence literary bureau, as he is considered one <rf the most energetic workers in that branch. Father Haaagan, of Philadelphia, is another delegate. He has the honor of being the president of four temperance societies and is noted for his earnest efforts in building up total abstinence unions throughout Pennsylvania. The most striking delegate in appearance is Father Garland, of Ohio, whose white, wavy hair and finely cut features give him a distinguished appearance. John O’Brien, the millionaire Catholic of St. Paul, is also present. He was chairman of the St. Paul committee that made the handsome contribution recently of $-25,000 toward the endowment of the Father Mathew chair In the University at Washington. Cne of the interesting addresses was by Father Elliott, of New York, who advocated total abstinence in all the Catholic churches. To-night a mass meeting attended by several thousand Catholics wus held in Masonic Hall.