登陆注册
5302100000050

第50章 BOOK II.(26)

"I do not see,"said Bearwarden,"why the identical species should not exist here that till recently,in a geological sense,inhabited the earth.The climate and all other conditions are practically the same on both planets,except a trifling difference in weight,to which terrestrials would soon adapt themselves.We know by spectroscopic analysis that hydrogen,iron,magnesium,and all our best-known substances exist in the sun,and even the stars,while the earth contains everything we have found in meteorites.Then why make an exception of life,instead of supposing that at corresponding periods of development the same living forms inhabit all?It would be assuming the eternal sterilization of the functions of Nature to suppose that our earth is the only body that can produce them.""The world of organic life is so much more complex,"replied Cortlandt,"than that of the crystal,that it requires great continuity.So far we certainly have seen no men,or anything like them,not even so much as a monkey,though I suppose,according to your reasoning,Jupiter has not advanced far enough to produce even that.""Exactly,"replied Bearwarden,"for it will require vast periods;and,according to my belief,at least half the earth's time of habitability had passed before man appeared.But we see Jupiter is admirably suited for those who have been developed somewhere else,and it would be an awful shame if we allowed it to lie unimproved till it produces appreciative inhabitants of its own,for we find more to admire in one half-hour than its entire present population during its lifetime.Yet,how magnificent this world is,and how superior in its natural state to ours!

The mountainous horns of these crescent-shaped continents protect them and the ocean they enclose from the cold polar marine currents,and in a measure from the icy winds;while the elevated country on the horns near the equator might be a Garden of Eden,or ideal resort.To be sure,the continents might support a larger population,if more broken up,notwithstanding the advantage resulting from the comparatively low mountains along the coasts,and the useful winds.A greater subdivision of land and water,more great islands connected by isthmuses,and more mediterraneans joined by straits,would be a further advantage to commerce;but with the sources of power at hand,the resistless winds and water-power,much increased in effectiveness by their weight,the great tides when several moons are on the same side,or opposite the sun,internal heat near the surface,and abundant coal-supply doubtless already formed and also near the surface,such small alterations could be made very easily,and would serve merely to prevent our becoming rusty.

"As Jupiter's distance from the sun varies from 506,563,000miles at aphelion to only 460,013,000at perihelion,this difference,in connection with even the slight inclination of the axis,must make a slight change in seasons,but as the inclination is practically nothing,almost the entire change results from the difference in distance.This means that the rise or fall in temperature is general on every degree of latitude,all being warmed simultaneously,more or less,as the planet approaches or departs from the sun.It means also that about the same conditions that Secretary Deepwaters suggested as desirable for the earth,prevail here,and that Jupiter represents,therefore,about the acme of climate naturally provided.On account of its rapid rotation and vast size,the winds have a tornado's strength,but they are nothing at this distance from the sun to what they would be if a planet with its present rate of rotation and size were where Venus or even the earth is.In either of these positions no land life with which we are acquainted could live on the surface;for the slope of the atmospheric isobars--i.e.,the lines of equal barometric pressure that produce wind by becoming tilted through unequal expansion,after which the air,as it were,flows down-hill--would be too great.The ascending currents about the equator would also,of course,be vastly strengthened;so that we see a wise dispensation of Providence in placing the large planets,which also rotate so rapidly,at a great distance from the sun,which is the father of all winds,rotation alone,however rapid,being unable to produce them."They found this lake was about six times the size of Lake Superior,and that several large and small streams ran into its upper end.These had their sources in smaller lakes that were at slightly higher elevations.Though the air was cool,the sun shone brightly,while the ground was covered with flowers resembling those of the northern climes on earth,of all shapes and lines.Twice a day these sent up their song,and trees were covered with buds,and the birds twittered gaily.The streams murmured and bubbled,and all things reminded the travellers of early morning in spring.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 迦叶仙人说医女人经

    迦叶仙人说医女人经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 寻寻觅觅寻花开

    寻寻觅觅寻花开

    惹了他,还想跑?这一辈子都只能是他的人。本文为虐宠文,欢迎入坑!
  • Margaret Ogilvy

    Margaret Ogilvy

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 少女鉴宝师

    少女鉴宝师

    神秘的古玩店,美男如云,珍宝如山,我和小伙伴们都惊呆了!梅先生看着端木宝莲,说道:“你不喜欢古董,你喜欢珠宝?翡翠,黄金,和田羊脂玉,南洋大珍珠,都给你!”宝莲:“不要!”梅先生:“那你到底要什么啊?”宝莲:“我要你!”梅先生头上青筋暴起,把他温雅高贵的形象破坏不少:“我是你老爹的朋友,我和你爹平辈论交……”宝莲揉着他的脸,乐呵呵的笑道:“你又不是我爹,既然你和我爹平辈论交,我吃点亏,叫你大叔好了!”
  • 总裁的失宠娇妻

    总裁的失宠娇妻

    【本文小虐小色小白不喜勿入。喜欢的亲们记得点击【收藏+推荐】本文新群【157097284】后宫为亲们敞开。欢迎大家加入......】没有医生,没有护士,没有产婆,没有没有什么都没有,她自己痛苦的挣扎了10几个小时,终于把孩子生下来了……没想到他却一把拎住孩子脚悬在半空住,阴冷的笑着说:你死了他也别想活……来不及伤心,他却领了一串花枝招展的女人进门,她这个新婚妻子变成全职女佣。身上的伤,心里的痛她都可以忍。可是她却怀孕了,她不要这个孩子。可是他却冷笑着说:你非生下来不可!我要让你记住你的丑恶。她想尽一切办法想要弄掉这个孩子,可是换来的却是他一次次的残暴欺辱。有孕在身她不仅要随时供他差遣,还要当他那些女人的全职菲佣,不小心从楼梯上滚下去差点一尸两命。他却仅仅瞟了一眼,转身继续风流快活......
  • 网游之魔创世

    网游之魔创世

    徘徊在光明与黑暗之中手中的十字啊祷告冷酷的恶魔变的善良在漆黑的云中我展开恶魔翅膀当无情的眼眸融化成绿色后光的降临,在洁白的云中聆听来自你心中的誓言眼里以没有了坚强眼里以没有了冷漠风,飘动心也跟着跳动云,飘动带走不去永久载着黑夜与灵魂来临就算死亡也无法隔离距离
  • 重生之大明鹰犬

    重生之大明鹰犬

    王戈重生到了明洪武年间,明面上的身份是青州城一小捕头,但实际却是燕王朱棣众多密探之一。傍上了未来的九五之尊,王戈却没法轻松,因为即将到来的“靖难之役”对燕王阵营而言堪称九死一生,他必须要早做准备。虽然武功平平,但依靠收罗而来的各种装备,王戈却依然在江湖上混得风生水起,“暴雨梨花针”、“软猬甲”、“八面雷”、“化功散”、“十香软筋散”等等暗器毒药层出不穷。
  • 言兵事疏

    言兵事疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 以芭蕾之名行公主之礼

    以芭蕾之名行公主之礼

    本书共含心灵篇(羽翼丰满,何惧深渊)、雅趣篇(仙气缓缓流)、礼节篇(君子和而不同)、仪表篇(优雅是一种布施)四个部分,文中作者分享了其多年的学习心得,从芭蕾、礼仪、心理等方面多维度地为公主们量身定制了一本优雅公主入门手册,希望可以和大家一起进步、共同成长、内养气质,外塑仪表:优雅是一场漫长的修行……
  • 穿越之狂傲魔妃:凤逆九霄

    穿越之狂傲魔妃:凤逆九霄

    她,是二十一世纪最顶尖的天才杀手,阴狠狡诈,在杀手界叱咤风云,所向披靡,无所不能!然,却因一场精心策划的地雷阵爆炸而身亡。她,是兴元大陆中千灯国的七公主,软弱无能,体弱多病,人称“废物七公主”。然,因深宫的争斗被暗杀。当素冷的眼眸再一次睁开,展现的不再是懦弱,而是嗜血的光芒,阴狠的笑靥!比灵兽?她有上古神兽青阮凤凰,兴元大陆中屈指可数的拥有神兽之人!比灵力?她是紫级幻灵师,随意召唤一个灵兽便可地动山摇!比势力?她是兴元大陆三大家族中位列家族之首的白羽谷谷主,富可敌国!在这以强者为尊的时代,她必然褪去草包的皮囊,朝着强者之旅一路狂奔,登上最高的巅峰!