Two satellites to Mars have been discovered by Professor Asaph
Hall, of the Naval Observatory of Washington. Of course, savants will be peculiarly interested in and delighted by this discovery. They have hitherto until recently supposed that Mars had no satellite, and the consequence has been that they have been unable to know much about its Miles or density. But why
is it that the public at large, who know nothing of the structure of the solar system, are always visibly pleased when M. Leverrier or M. Goldschmidt discovers a new satellite for Saturn or Uranus ? Is it because there is a dim notion that the new-comer somehow means a possible outlet for the surplus population of our overrun planet, or is it because every one feels a minute sense of elation at belonging to a bigger order of things ? We suspect M. Leverrier will have settled all about the nature of the interesting strangers before this problem is solved.
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