Путешествие на Луну
A Monster Meeting
But,unfortunately,Iamneithertheologian,norchemist,nornaturalist,norphilosopher;therefore,inmyabsoluteignoranceofthegreatlawswhichgoverntheuniverse,Iconfinemyselftosayinginreply,‘Idonotknowwhethertheworldsareinhabitedornot:andsinceIdonotknow,Iamgoingtosee!’"
WhetherMichelArdan’santagonisthazardedanyfurtherargumentsornotitisimpossibletosay,fortheuproariousshoutsofthecrowdwouldnotallowanyexpressionofopiniontogainahearing.Onsilencebeingrestored,thetriumphantoratorcontentedhimselfwithaddingthefollowingremarks:
"Gentlemen,youwillobservethatIhavebutslightlytoucheduponthisgreatquestion.Thereisanotheraltogetherdifferentlineofargumentinfavorofthehabitabilityofthestars,whichIomitforthepresent.Ionlydesiretocallattentiontoonepoint.Tothosewhomaintainthattheplanetsarenotinhabitedonemayreply:Youmightbeperfectlyintheright,ifyoucouldonlyshowthattheearthisthebestpossibleworld,inspiteofwhatVoltairehassaid.Shehasbutonesatellite,whileJupiter,Uranus,Saturn,Neptunehaveeachseveral,anadvantagebynomeanstobedespised.Butthatwhichrendersourownglobesouncomfortableistheinclinationofitsaxistotheplaneofitsorbit.Hencetheinequalityofdaysandnights;hencethedisagreeablediversityoftheseasons
