Page:Alerielorvoyaget00lach.djvu/240

218

I must also apologise for the word "Venusian." I know well that compounds ought to be derived from the genitive Veneris; but these are already connected with ideas opposed to those I wish to convey.

The ideal of vitality on Mars appears to be that as Mars is so like the earth in (1) geographic configuration, (2) climate, thus possibly its vitality is like that on earth. I have supposed it nearly the same at least in higher intelligence, only more near to the higher mammalia, i.e., the carnivora, than on earth, on account of:—

1. The tradition of the ancients of Mars symbolising War.

2. Its Arctic climate. The carnivora, e.g., the bear and dog dominate in earth's Arctic realms. If there were a world in which the Arctic element dominated, it would be one in which the carnivora might be supposed to be supreme. The idea of a lion or bear being endowed with reason is not so ridiculous. The former was called the king of beasts, and there is a school of German naturalists who regard the bear as nearer man than other animals.

In Mars we see an older world than that of this Earth, and thus I have ventured to suggest there a more advanced state of society, heir of all the ages, and thus something—like what human society may tend—if progress is healthy. The differentia of nature, however, the fiercer Martian character, I have tried to preserve. It has been suggested