A VISIT FROM MARS 221 



If he were a painter and if the Martians possess paint, 

 he would paint pictures to express the feelings which 

 a contemplation of the Earth had aroused in him. 

 That is, he would show them the Beauty of the 

 Earth in her various aspects. Perhaps he might 

 not be able to see as much Beauty in her as we her 

 children see. We may be too partial and see 

 beauties that a stranger may not perceive. On the 

 other hand, he might see beauties that we through 

 being so accustomed to them have never recognised 

 as men living always within sight of some superb 

 mountain scarcely appreciate its grandeur. Any- 

 how, he would describe to the Martians whatever 

 he had seen of the Beauty of the Earth, and then 

 at last they would feel that they were really able 

 to know and understand her. 



To descend from these celestial spheres and to 

 examine what actually happens among ourselves 

 when we venture into an unknown portion of this 

 globe and seek to know what is there, a chief in- 

 gredient in the lure which draws men on to fill up 

 the blank spaces in the map is undoubtedly a love of 

 Natural Beauty ; and its Natural Beauty is certainly 

 what above everything else regarding that region 

 remains in their memories after it has been ex- 

 plored. It is not only love of Natural Beauty that 

 draws men on. Love of adventure has much to 

 do with it also. Men feel a fearful joy in pitting 

 themselves against stern natural obstacles and 

 being compelled to exert all their physical energy 

 and endurance, and all their wit and nerve and 

 courage, in order to overcome them. The stiffer 

 the obstacle, the more insistent do they feel the call 



