What It'd Be Like To Discover Intelligent Life on Mars

1920

FROM HOMES IN THE STARS

At midnight April 20, when Mars is approaching the nearest point to the earth, the wireless operators of the world are to listen for messages from the Martians.

When the day arrives on which word comes from the heavenly bodies that day will displace Armistice day as the greatest in all history.

Our earth is insignificant compared with some of the celestial bodies. There is no good reason presented in support of the contention that human intelligence exists on no planet other than earth. With active minds on Mars it is possible that for years the inhabitants have been signaling to us and have been puzzled at our stupidity in not catching the messages.

Mysterious wireless waves have been received of late, and scientists of the learning and practical experience of Marconi are hopeful that the messages are from out of space.

Now if, on April 21, there is positive information that Mars is talking to us, we shall await further disclosures with deepest interest.

The man of strong religious convictions will ask, first of all:

What do the Martians know of a Supreme Being? Has a Christ appeared to them?

The man of letters will inquire as to the literature of Mars.

The scientists will seek word as to the discoveries and researches.

Doctors will ask as to the physical structures, the ailments and cures.

And, if the people of Mars are 500 years ahead of us in civilization they will tell of things as strange and wonderful as wireless and electric lights, telephones and airplanes would have been to Christopher Columbus in 1492, when, landing on the shores of the West Indies, that daring navigator, 100 years in advance of his own time, thought he had reached the East Indies.

When Mars has spoken, then will come the call to other planets, and at night, when the stars shine out, each twinkle will be an eye wink from the worlds in the depths of the universe.

—The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden City, Utah, April 10, 1920, p. 4.

Marconi Listens for Signals from Mars, Doyle for Spirits

1922

MARTIANS AND SPIRITS

With Mars only about 40,000,000 miles from the earth, Marconi, the inventor of the wireless, is trying to get signals from that planet. True, the most powerful wireless outfits yet built on this planet are capable of sending messages only an infinitesimal fraction of that distance, but Marconi hopes the Martians can do better. That is, if there are any Martians.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle announces that he is installing a complete radio outfit in his London home, for use in his psychic investigations. He feels confident that by means of radio he will be able to communicate with the spirit world.

It might simplify things if the "spirit world" happened to be Mars. Then Marconi and Doyle could work together on the job.

Scoffing is easy, and it is also futile. Nobody can say with assurance that either of these gifted men is wrong. But certainly the chances of their being wrong are great. The least that can be expected of the public is an open mind, a willingness to be "shown." There is a long chain of "ifs" in both cases.

—The Monessen Daily Independent, Monessen, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1922, p. 3.

Astronomer Who Has Plan to Talk to Martians

Professor William H. Pickering, the Harvard astronomer, believes he has discovered a way to communicate with the planet Mars. The only trouble is that it will cost about $10,000,000, and no one has so far signified a willingness to put up the money. Professor Pickering has long believed that the planet is inhabited by a highly civilized people. His plan is to flash signals to the planet by means of a gigantic arrangement of mirrors fixed so as to revolve upon a great axis in exact time with the movement of the earth.

--The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio, April 21, 1909, page 5.