LIFE ON MARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20087, 26 October 1928, Page 16

LIFE ON MARS.

Sir, —The intriguing mystery c? Iho heavens—the existence of life on Marshas onco more been brought into prominence by the wild stories of one Dr. Rob inson. The establishment of the fact that Mars -has both air and water proves that some sort of life may exist on the planet, but the Martian, if he does exist, resembles nothing described by Dr. Robinson, for the air he has contains one-tliird less oxygen than is found on the top of Mount Everest, and the only man who ever reached tho highest peak of thatmountain died from the lack of that vital element. It is also an established tact that the water vapour in the Martian atmosphere is so rare as to cause a condition much drier than the Sahara Desert, with its surface parched and, cracked, while the temperature in the Martian tropics is something like 90 degrees below zero at midnight, to 60 degrees above zero at noon. Imagine what a Martian would be like to meet such conditions, lack of air, lack of water and tremendous temperature changes—obviously nothing like Dr. Robinson's story of handsome men and beautiful women. The only deformity ho gives to these wonderful creatures is enormous ears. This is absurd, as in a rarefied atmosphere hearing would be more acute, and large ears unnecessary. Evidently the only ones to profit by his wildly impracticable scheme to communicate with his lady friend in Mars is the Post Office officials, who charged kiiu eigliteenpence a word. Mrs. Robinsou has evidently solved the mystery when she declared she would have no more .foolishness in the house. J. F. Gallagher.