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March 13, 1855

Percy Lowell was born March 13, 1855. This famous American astronomer is included here for his views which got him a logical place next to a Professor Goodspeed, in the 1904 book celebrating science and religion: The Universe a Vast Electric Organism. My quote below includes a charming reason for the electricity of the human body, and is perhaps lengthy because I found the jumbling of science and religion in George Woodward Warder's book appealing.

"[God] gives man vastly larger life and loftier powers than all other earthly beings, so that they may not only wonder and adore; but become co-workers with the Infinite, and understand and execute His eternal purpose, and , Omnipotent Will....

"We now live in a world of electrical wonders, marvelous luxuries and personal freedom, that has millions of years behind it and eternity before it. Time enough to solve all problems, dispel all ignorance and discover all truth.

"Recent experiments by Prof. Goodspeed of the Pennsylvania University prove that man is a magnet and electric organism which gives out an aurora or light from his body so that cats, mice and other animals may see him in the dark. He has also taken photographs from the electric light or rays from the human hand. This was also done by French scientists six years ago and is mentioned in 'Invisible Light.'

"On May 26th, 1903, Prof. Percy Lowell, of Flagstaff Observatory, Arizona, announced that a brilliant projection has been discovered on the planet Mars, and was seen for thirty-five minutes. Some think it is Mars signalling to us, others that it is a snow-capped mountain or a luminous cloud, but all agree that it shows Mars to be inhabited."

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