VI 

 MAES IN HIS ICY CUIRASS 



Next to the earth itself, Mars is by far the most 

 interesting of the primary planets, notwithstanding that 

 it is the second smallest. The reason for this lies in the 

 fact that, with the possible exception of Venus whose 

 surface is hidden by a dense atmosphere, it is the only 

 one thought to be capable of supporting forms of life 

 similar to our own. When very closest to us, Mars is 

 still over 35,000,000 miles distant, and this distance may 

 vary all the way up to 235,000,000 miles. It will there- 

 fore not surprise the general reader to learn that very 

 little is positively known regarding the details of its 

 surface, and that even that little has been the subject of 

 grave controversy between recognized authorities. 



Prof. Percival Lowell, of the Flagstaff Observa- 

 tory, whose facilities for observation are unexcelled, and 

 who has devoted many years to the special study of this 

 planet, has published the results of his investigations 

 in a series of books, the last of which, Mars as the Abode 

 of Life., appearing in 1908, contains a summary of prac- 

 tically all that is known about the planet, together with 

 an expansion of his now celebrated theory of the exist- 

 ence of a race of intelligent beings upon it. 



93 



