"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.
