There is, however, no evidence of any kind to support such a theory; it is a mere fancy, the dream of an imaginative brain.

Upon the same grounds, it may be argued, that the interior of the earth is inhabited, and that elves and gnomes are possible beings.

Besides, the telescope has been brought to so high a degree of perfection, that objects the size of a house can now be detected in the moon." "It seems, I am afraid," remarked Jack, who, like his brother, was getting annoyed by the phantasmagoria on shore, "that we were about as well supplied with wild beasts here as they are with men in the planets." "In speaking of the moon, however," continued Fritz, "I do not imply all the planets; for, certain as we are that the moon has no atmosphere, so we are equally certain that some of the planets possess that attribute.

Still there are other circumstances that render the notion of their being inhabited by beings like ourselves exceedingly improbable.

Mercury, for example, is so embarrassed by the solar rays, that lead must always be in a state of fusion, and water, if not reduced to a state of vapor, will be hot enough to boil the fish that are in it.