“The plates moreover show that great blizzards, snow-storms, and volcanic eruptions are also frequent.” So no doubt the blossoms are edelweiss.

“We find,” says the professor, “a living world at our very doors where life in some respects resembles that of Mars.” All I can say is: “Pray come in, Mr. Moony. And how is your cousin Signor Martian?”

Now I’m sure Professor Pickering’s photographs and observations are really wonderful. But his explanations! Come now, Columbia, where is your High-falutin’ Nonsense trumpet? Vast fields of foliage which spring up at dawn (!!!) and come into blossom just as quickly (!!!!) are rather too flowery even for my flowery soul. But there, truth is stranger than fiction.