THE PLANET MARS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 12287, 3 December 1897, Page 2

THE PLANET MARS.

< » . Another very interesting lectui'e-snter-tainment took place in the social hall of the Cosmopolitan Cub last evening, when there was a large attendance cf members of the Club and lady f aends. Mr E. W. Andrews presided. The Rev J. M. Marshall, M,A., was the lecturer for the evening, and he took as his subject the planet Mars. Astronomy is a science too vast for the average man or vroman ti deal wjth, but when in clear, concise and fluent language an audience is treated en an exposition of the leading features of one of the best known of the Heavenly bodies — BUcb, for instance, as our neigh. baur Mars— some idea of the grandeur and immensity of the universe may be grasped. With knowledge gleaned from the latest and most authentic authorises on the subject he had in hand, Mr Marshall introduced his heaters, as it were, to a new world. After tersely explaining £he general features of the planet under review — such, for instance, as its position in the solar system, its atmospheric conditions, and the general appearance o| its surface as presented to a telescope Mr Marshall went into detail in order to moiß clearly illustrate the deductions of astronomers aa to the existenca of intelligent life upon it. *" It was established, he said, that Mars was surrounded by an atmosphere considerably lighter in density than that of the earth, but an atmosphere well adapted to the existence of life ; further than that, it wai accepted that the planet was subjaet to much the came conditions as to seasons as ti our own eaitb, the regular and psriodical change in the appearance of its S9rfase olearly evidencing the influence of isuraraer and winter, Continuing, the speaker proceeded to show how Mara is becoming ehoit of water, and hoy, in the winter season, practically all the water on the planet is concentrated in the form, ef snow and ice in the Polar Zone, there to remain until freedgby the ensuing summer. It is in m this connection that the existence of an intelligent rape is assumed, it being surmised that the now clearly recognised series of lines are nothing more nor leas than a clearly devised syttsm of huge canals, artificially constated for the purpose of carrying the much-needed water from the ice region to the utter* moßt parts of the continent. By means of a carefully sketched surface view of the planet, these canals were shown to the audience, and it was contended that the systematic character of the network and the straightness and uniform width of every line indicated that they were artificial rather than the work of nature. Mr Marshall concluded an able and interesting lecture by a fitting reference to the marvellous immensity of the universe and the difficulty of studying its numberless detail. . During the evening eongs were contributed by Meßsra Bishop, Byrne, Mowtell and M, Neijl j a pianoforte selection by Mr Consterdine ; violin eolos bj Mr Dumeresqueja clarionet solo by Mr Forbes ; and a recitation by Mr Hall. A plentiful supply of refreshments were served round during the interval. The ntxfc lectute will probably be given on Tuesday, December 14th, when Mr J. Q. Woon will give a description of London, aa te saw it in 1896. The lecturer will be assisted by Mr S. H. Drew, who will show a number of illustrated views with his oxy r hydrogen lantern.