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Spaceways, v. 4, issue 5, whole no. 28, June 1942

Page 17

SPACEWAYS     17

EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL LIFE

case of the Mercutian: He has finally conquered space-travel and believes himself in a dying solar system. His planet is the only habitable world in the system. The other worlds are far too cold--but, I might remark, we're here. The Mercutian lands at New York. He is heavily insulated, and is utterly astounded to find life. We are utterly astounded to find there is life on Mercury. Why, it's so hot there, you couldn't live a minute. But the Mercutian can. So, perhaps we can boil it down to the Theory of Relativity. Not the strict Theory, for that embraces light and gravitation, but a flabby sense of the relation of one to one's planet and atmosphere which is with what we are dealing.
The Saturnian might think that noworld inside the orbit of Jupiter is habitable. He is doubtful of even Jupiter, for think how hot that planet must be! The Saturnian laughs at the joke of life on such a torrid planet as earth. Again, I might quaintly remark: "We're here..."
One other (and I must admit this is one of my favorites) argument is: we'll suppose there is a ruling intelligence behind all our actions. Don't mistake me --by the word, "supposed", I don't contend there isn't, but we'll use this merely as the fulcrum of our argumentative lever. If this intelligence created our universe, why in all the thirty-seven hells should he place life on this one insignificant globe of ours? Place yourself in the place of this creator. If you experimented with life, would you build a whole complexity of nebulae, solar systems, star-clusters, sun-lives, etc., of galactic proportions? I don't think you would, not if you had the glimmerings of any common sense.
Or perhaps you're ambitious....
So, the arguments are pro-and-con. In truth, no one can actually say whether there is life on other planets or not. I still firmly believe there is. The three above-mentioned reasons should help to clarify my point, and I hope they will do likewise with yours.
As I've said, I'm not a scientist, but others, whose works you might like to read, can be found in any good library. Most text-books on astronomy deal with this highly controversial topic, and no doubt you'll find them interesting. In fact, I'm sure of it, because I've enjoyed them myself.

MAN AND TIME
by
R. L. FARNSWORTH
Thrice ten thousand years ago
Men moved ceaseless to and fro
Across a green and primitive scene
Called by us the Pliocene.

Look! A mighty ancient man
By his warming fire doth stand,
Where no Sahara's silent sand
Holds eternal sway.

Forget the subway that speeds you in,
Hear with no awe the city's din;
In Babylon the spiders spin,
At Angor-Vat the monkeys grin.

For the Peacock Throne and the Caesars of Rome,
Along with Ghengis Khan,
With the Pharoahs and the Mayas
Have joined the ancient man.

And our brave steel that proudly soars 
Will sooner fall in rust
Than old Stonehenge turn to dust!

Saving...

SPACEWAYS 17 EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL LIFE case of the Mercutian: He has finally conquered space-travel and believes himself in a dying solar system. His planet is the only habitable world in the system. The other worlds are far too cold--but, I might remark, we're here. The Mercutian lands at New York. He is heavily insulated, and is utterly astounded to find life. We are utterly astounded to find there is life on Mercury. Why, it's so hot there, you couldn't live a minute. But the Mercutian can. So, perhaps we can boil it down to the Theory of Relativity. Not the strict Theory, for that embraces light and gravitation, but a flabby sense of the relation of one to one's planet and atmosphere which is with what we are dealing. The Saturnian might think that noworld inside the orbit of Jupiter is habitable. He is doubtful of even Jupiter, for think how hot that planet must be! The Saturnian laughs at the joke of life on such a torrid planet as earth. Again, I might quaintly remark: "We're here..." One other (and I must admit this is one of my favorites) argument is: we'll suppose there is a ruling intelligence behind all our actions. Don't mistake me --by the word, "supposed", I don't contend there isn't, but we'll use this merely as the fulcrum of our argumentative lever. If this intelligence created our universe, why in all the thirty-seven hells should he place life on this one insignificant globe of ours? Place yourself in the place of this creator. If you experimented with life, would you build a whole complexity of nebulae, solar systems, star-clusters, sun-lives, etc., of galactic proportions? I don't think you would, not if you had the glimmerings of any common sense. Or perhaps you're ambitious.... So, the arguments are pro-and-con. In truth, no one can actually say whether there is life on other planets or not. I still firmly believe there is. The three above-mentioned reasons should help to clarify my point, and I hope they will do likewise with yours. As I've said, I'm not a scientist, but others, whose works you might like to read, can be found in any good library. Most text-books on astronomy deal with this highly controversial topic, and no doubt you'll find them interesting. In fact, I'm sure of it, because I've enjoyed them myself. MAN AND TIME by R. L. FARNSWORTH Thrice ten thousand years ago Men moved ceaseless to and fro Across a green and primitive scene Called by us the Pliocene. Look! A mighty ancient man By his warming fire doth stand, Where no Sahara's silent sand Holds eternal sway. Forget the subway that speeds you in, Hear with no awe the city's din; In Babylon the spiders spin, At Angor-Vat the monkeys grin. For the Peacock Throne and the Caesars of Rome, Along with Ghengis Khan, With the Pharoahs and the Mayas Have joined the ancient man. And our brave steel that proudly soars Will sooner fall in rust Than old Stonehenge turn to dust!