"It formed an equally striking scene. I turned to my companion and asked
him how it was that the mathematicians, chemists, physicists,
astronomers, were so crowded together. He said, 'The Patenta covers,
with all its buildings, a space about one mile square, and here in
laboratories and in the great observatories these men have flocked
because of a sympathy in their tastes and talents. Although astronomy is
the great profession, and, as I will show you, the marvels of the
Universe are being more and more fully known, yet the study of the
elements and the laws of matter is popular and also followed
unremittingly. It is true that we know these people are from your earth;
they have reported all that to the Registeries, to whom I will soon
conduct you; they yet retain strong memories of the earth, though it is
confined more largely to knowledge than to experience. In some, the
Martian life and habit has almost obliterated their earthly notions and
designs. It is singular that of the scientific workers of the earth the
astronomers, physicists, and chemists alone reach Mars. The biologists,
zoologists, botanists, geographers, and geologists rarely are booked at
the Registeries as coming from the Earth. Their lives may be prolonged
elsewhere, they seldom reach us.
"'There are some exceptions. The plants of Mars are numerous, its rocks
and animal life curious, and they are well understood. A few doctors
from the earth are here, but medicine and surgery are not so much
needed, yet in the study of life our philosophers have made great
strides.
Pages:
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100