THE PLANET MARS : IS IT INHABITED ? 127 



differing in detail, such as density of atmosphere, quantity of 

 water, cloud formations, and contour of surface. But on the face 

 of the planet we see something startUngly unlike anything upon 

 Earth, and having no resemblance to geological or glacial cracks, 

 volcanic rents, river ways, or the coursing impact of tiny plane- 

 toids. A strange gigantic network of lines encompasses the entire 

 globe. Apart from artificiality, they stand utterly opposed to 

 reason and explanation. They are matched only by the fabulous 

 deeds of the mythical gods of old. 



Thus seemingly compelled to accept the evidence for these 

 superhuman-like structures, it by no means follows that our 

 Martian neighbours are necessarily prodigies of mind and body 

 as compared with ourselves, or rather, with what we might attain 

 to by lives of righteousness and culture. Rather the contrary, 

 indeed, if size of habitat and similarity to our own environment 

 are to count. And another objection must be reckoned with. 

 The Martian atmosphere is excessively tenuous, much thinner 

 even thaft that on our Himalaya Mountain tops. No clouds of 

 consequence ever veil its surface. If, therefore, mental and phy- 

 sical labour are to be construed in terms of consumption of carbon 

 and of other chemical elements, as in our own case, we must 

 conclude that the Martian lung capacity is either much larger or 

 more active than with us, to produce a like equivalent of work. 

 How then, with these drawbacks, are we to account for the 

 Martian ability to execute such colossal designs ? To this we 

 reply : i. — That the feebler gravitation on the Planetary surface 

 (38 against Earth's 100), necessarily increasing the ease of mus- 

 cular exertion, may largely compensate for atmospheric deficiency 

 in oxygen, the inbreathing of this element in sufficient quantity 

 conditioning the amount of animal life and activity. 2. — Given 

 the gradually increasing necessity for such works, during, say, tens 

 of thousands of years, " time being thus on their side," the 

 superhuman element to account for them becomes superfluous. 

 " Strength for their day " would be the lot of each generation. 

 What is suggested in these stupendous evidences of a civilisation 

 possibly exceeding our own, is the existence of some constitu- 

 tional peculiarity in the planet or its inhabitants, or, on the 

 other hand, some relentless antagonism in the forces of nature. 



