50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: Sargasso Theory, Wright Skepticism and Dismal Division

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JANUARY 1956
SARGASSO SEAWEED--"Generations of scientists have sailed forth to study the Sargasso Sea. Contrary to what the seaweed might suggest, it is not a jungle teeming with life but one of the great oceanic deserts of the earth. Where do the weeds come from? Columbus theorized that the drifting weeds were torn loose from great submerged beds of plants near the Azores, but no such beds have ever been found. The floating Sargassum gives every evidence of growing, reproducing and living an independent life in the Sea where it is found. Many oceanographers now favor the theory that the great bulk of the seaweed in the Sargasso Sea is native to the Sea itself. Its forebears may have come from beds on the bottom, but it has now evolved the ability to live a free, floating existence on the surface."

JANUARY 1906
HEALTHY SKEPTICISM--"The Wright Aeroplane and Its Fabled Performances: A Parisian automobile paper recently published a letter from the Wright brothers to Capt. Ferber of the French army, in which statements are made that certainly need some public substantiation from the Wright brothers. If such sensational and tremendously important experiments [on airplane flight] are being conducted in a not very remote part of the country [Dayton, Ohio], on a subject in which almost everybody feels the most profound interest, is it possible to believe that the enterprising American reporter, who, it is well known, comes down the chimney when the door is locked in his face--even if he has to scale a fifteen-story sky-scraper to do so--would not have ascertained all about them and published them broadcast long ago? We certainly want more light on the subject." [Editors' note: The Wrights briefly lifted their veil of secrecy to make a statement but delayed a public flight until August 1908.]...

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