[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

three times as rapid a rate, and yet she is a mere lounger on the way compared
with many others of the planets! And her velocity is constantly decreasing.
Is it not evident, then, I ask you, that there will some day appear velocities
far greater than these, of which light or electricity will probably be the
mechanical agent?
"Yes, gentlemen," continued the orator, "in spite of the opinions of certain
narrow-minded people, who would shut up the human race upon this globe, as
within some magic circle which it must never outstep, we shall one day travel
to the moon, the planets, and the stars, with the same facility, rapidity, and
certainty as we now make the voyage from Liverpool to New York!
Distance is but a relative expression, and must end by being reduced to zero."
The assembly, strongly predisposed as they were in favor of the
French hero, were slightly staggered at this bold theory.
Michel Ardan perceived the fact.
"Gentlemen," he continued with a pleasant smile, "you do not seem quite
convinced. Very good! Let us reason the matter out.
Do you know how long it would take for an express train to reach the moon?
Three hundred days; no more! And what is that?
The distance is no more than nine times the circumference of the earth; and
there are no sailors or travelers, of even moderate activity, who have not
made longer journeys than that in their lifetime. And now consider that I
shall be only ninety-
Page 59
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
seven hours on my journey. Ah! I see you are reckoning that the moon is a
long way off from the earth, and that one must think twice before making the
experiment. What would you say, then, if we were talking of going to Neptune,
which revolves at a
FROM EARTH TO THE MOON
Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com
64
distance of more than two thousand seven hundred and twenty millions of miles
from the sun! And yet what is that compared with the distance of the fixed
stars, some of which, such as Arcturus, are billions of miles distant from us?
And then you talk of the distance which separates the planets from the sun!
And there are people who affirm that such a thing as distance exists.
Absurdity, folly, idiotic nonsense! Would you know what I think of our own
solar universe? Shall I tell you my theory? It is very simple! In my
opinion the solar system is a solid homogeneous body; the planets which
compose it are in actual contact with each other; and whatever space exists
between them is nothing more than the space which separates the molecules of
the densest metal, such as silver, iron, or platinum! I have the right,
therefore, to affirm, and I repeat, with the conviction which must penetrate
all your minds, `Distance is but an empty name; distance does not really
exist!'"
"Hurrah!" cried one voice (need it be said it was that of
J. T. Maston). "Distance does not exist!" And overcome by the energy of his
movements, he nearly fell from the platform to the ground. He just escaped a
severe fall, which would have proved to him that distance was by no means an
empty name.
"Gentlemen," resumed the orator, "I repeat that the distance between the earth
and her satellite is a mere trifle, and undeserving of serious consideration.
I am convinced that before twenty years are over one-half of our earth will
have paid a visit to the moon. Now, my worthy friends, if you have any
question to put to me, you will, I fear, sadly embarrass a poor man like
myself; still I will do my best to answer you."
Up to this point the president of the Gun Club had been satisfied with the
turn which the discussion had assumed.
It became now, however, desirable to divert Ardan from questions of a
practical nature, with which he was doubtless far less conversant. Barbicane,
therefore, hastened to get in a word, and began by asking his new friend
whether he thought that the moon and the planets were inhabited.
"You put before me a great problem, my worthy president,"
replied the orator, smiling. "Still, men of great intelligence, such as
Plutarch, Swedenborg, Bernardin de St. Pierre, and others have, if I mistake
not, pronounced in the affirmative.
Looking at the question from the natural philosopher's point of view, I should
say that nothing useless existed in the world;
and, replying to your question by another, I should venture to assert, that if
these worlds are habitable, they either are, have been, or will be inhabited."
"No one could answer more logically or fairly," replied the president. "The
question then reverts to this: Are these worlds habitable? For my own part I
believe they are."
"For myself, I feel certain of it," said Michel Ardan.
"Nevertheless," retorted one of the audience, "there are many arguments
Page 60
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
against the habitability of the worlds. The conditions
FROM EARTH TO THE MOON
Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com
65
of life must evidently be greatly modified upon the majority of them. To
mention only the planets, we should be either broiled alive in some, or frozen
to death in others, according as they are more or less removed from the sun."
"I regret," replied Michel Ardan, "that I have not the honor of personally
knowing my contradictor, for I would have attempted to answer him. His
objection has its merits, I admit; but I
think we may successfully combat it, as well as all others which affect the
habitability of other worlds. If I were a natural philosopher, I would tell
him that if less of caloric were set in motion upon the planets which are
nearest to the sun, and more, on the contrary, upon those which are farthest
removed from it, this simple fact would alone suffice to equalize the heat,
and to render the temperature of those worlds supportable by beings organized
like ourselves. If I were a naturalist, I would tell him that, according to
some illustrious men of science, nature has furnished us with instances upon
the earth of animals existing under very varying conditions of life;
that fish respire in a medium fatal to other animals; that amphibious [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • supermarket.pev.pl

    •