This means that all these birds and beasts must be adapted to great changes of temperature. To meet that they must be covered by some thick, air-holding, non-conducting covering, something analogous to fur or feathers, which they can thin out in summer and renew for the winter’s bitterness.
And now as to the ruling inhabitants who made the gigantic canal system of Mars, those creatures of human or superhuman intelligence who, unless Mr. Lowell is no more than a fantastic visionary, have taken Mars in hand to rule and order and cultivate systematieally and completely, as I believe some day man will take this earth.
How far are these ruling beings likely to resemble terrestrial humanity?
“Well, there are certain features in which they are likely to resemble us. The quasi-mammalian origins we have supposed for them imply a quasi-human appearance. They will probably have heads and eyes and back-boned bodies; and since they must have big brains because of their high intelligence, and since almost all creatures with big brains tend to have them forward in their heads near their eyes, these Martians will probably have big, shapely skulls. But their bodies will in all likelihood be larger in size than humanity, two and two-third times, perhaps, the mass of a man. That does not mean, however, that they will be two and two-thirds as tall; but allowing for the laxer texture of things on Mars, it may be that they will be half as tall again when standing up. And as likely as not they will be covered with feathers or fur.
|
|
There can be no doubt of the immense part the development of the hand has played in the education of the human intelligence. So that it would be quite natural to imagine the Martians as big-headed, deep-chested bipeds, grotesquely caricaturing humanity with arms and hands. But that is only one of several almost equally plausible possibilities. One thing we may rely upon: that the Martians must have some prehensile organ, primarily because the development of intelligence is almost unthinkable without it; and secondly, because in no other way could they get their engineering done. It is stranger to our imaginations, but no less reasonable, to suppose, instead of a hand, an elephant-like proboscis, or a group of tentacles or proboscis-like organs.
Finally, here is a thought that may be reassuring to any reader who finds these Martians alarming; if a man was transferred suddenly to the surface of Mars, he would find himself immensely exhilarated—so soon as he had got over a slight mountain sickness. He would weigh not a half what he does upon earth. He would prance and leap; he would lift twice his utmost earthly burden with ease. But if a Martian came to earth his weight would bear him down like a cope of lead. He would weigh two and two-thirds of his Martian weight, and probably he would find existence insufferable. His limbs would not support him. Perhaps he would die, self-crushed, at once.
H. G. WELLS.
From— The Chickasha Daily Express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]), 15 May 1908.
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
|
|
