Chapter 1: The Eve of the War (The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells)

Ogilvy is an astronomer the narrator knows well and recently they e discovered beams of smoke coming from mars. Apparently they are missiles by advanced human species which many astronomers refuse to believe such notion. The narrator takes a walk with his wife and they both see a tranquil scene in the sky.

Humans nowadays believe there are other life forms on this universe platform, and I can understand how anyone in the past would consider it to be far fetched.

I don't think they mean harm, it could be something not from mars. It could be humans from earth trying to wipe out the population to be in control. Mars could just be a false shield to make people believe it's martians.

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (Page 1-10) vocabulary

Scrutinized - Examine closely
Transient - Lasting only a short time; existing briefly; temporary.
Complacency - A feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.
Fro - Obsolete . from; back. Alternating from once place to another. (To and fro)
Serene - Calm, peaceful, or tranquil; unruffled
Infusoria - Any of various microscopic organisms found in infusions of decaying organic matter.
Improbable - Unlikely to be true or to happen.
Enterprise - "A project undertaken or to be undertaken, especially one that is important or difficult or that requires boldness or energy. To keep the peace is a difficult enterprise."
Intellects - A particular mind or intelligence, especially of a high order.
Disillusionment - To free from or deprive of illusion,  belief, idealism, etc.; disenchant.
Secular - of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal: secular interests.
Equatorial - of, pertaining to, or near an equator,  especially the equator  of the earth.
Attenuated - To weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value: to attenuate desire.
Inundate - To overwhelm: inundated with letters of protest.
Eloquent - Movingly expressive.
Incessant - Continuing without interruption; ceaseless; unending: an incessant noise.
Wrought - Archaic except in some senses . a simple past tense and past participle of work.
Apostles - Any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world.
Warred - a conflict carried on by force of arms, As between nations or between parties within a nation; warfare, as by land, sea, or air.
Subtlety - "Delicacy or nicety of character or meaning."
Fluctuating - To change continually; shift back and forth; vary irregularly: The price of gold fluctuated wildly last month.
Incandescent - Bright, Brilliant
Scrutiny - A close and searching look.
Vigil - A watch or a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times: The nurse kept her vigil at the bedside of the dying man.
Feeble - Physically weak, as from age or sickness; frail.
Oblong - In the form of a rectangle one of whose dimensions is greater than the other.
Profundity - The quality or state of being profound;
Audible - Loud enough to be heard.
Quivered - To shake with a slight but rapid motion.
Vacancy - An empty spot.
Unfathomable - Undetermined
Unerring - Accurate throughout, no error or flaw.
Scoffed - To make fun of
Jubilant - Showing great joy, satisfaction
Zenith ward - Highest point in a division
Excursionist - Tourist