Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-30

World Making.


There is nothing to distinguish our
SIM from the multitudinous stars which
smile in a armament. Astronomers
readily admit that the sun is star OF
middling magnitude, emitting light
which is nearly white, with a very
slightly marked character of periodical
variability. We are, therefore, IN the
presence of a phenomenon which is
undoubtedly of great Importance to us,
but which is at the same time extremely
common in the stellar universe. Start
ing therefore. with the-simpfest and
most general ides, and the most applica-
bic to the aggregate Of stars, we have
successive union of matter -ln-vasf
masses, under the empire of attraction,
. out of the materials primitiveIy dlesem-
mated. throughout space. The star IN
state of a nubula; but at length a
cooling takes blaze at the surface; the
disunited clements gradually acquire
the power ofapprOacmng each other,
and chemical affinities developed. The
particles thus formed, acted on by
gravity, will descend toward the lower
strata. where, meeting with the temper
atuye of dissertation, they will be sent
mn AGAIN as masses of gas. There are
Thus produced vertical movements OF
reciprocal exchange, which necessarily
renew the emission of heat and light
at the outer circumference Will be
formed the apparent limit. of the sun.
The vertical currants which agltate the
mass easily explain the appearance
of the spot. !. Whenever the as
cending currents find an outlet,
they open a sort of vista into the int
nor, which appears to the eye compare
lively black, IN consequence OF Its lower
radiatipp mower. Father Seechi ascer-
tanned. bv means of thermoelectric
measurements, that the central portion
of the spots on the sun is less hot than
the superficial region. 1t would appear
then that a star passes through several
perfectly distinct phases. The tlrst Is
the nebulous condition, in which oul
sun no longer remainss' In the second
phase, the outer strata are sufficiently
cooled to allow the play of certain mo-
lecular afinities to be possible. There
&. is then formed sort OF superficial
laboratary which determines the appar-
emf outlines of the star. The emission
of light and heat is considerable, and Il
maintained at the expense of the entire
mass bv the action OF ascending and de-
scending currents which are established
between to deep strata and surface.
This phase lasts for an immense lapse
of time, and presents great fixity la It's
phenomena Our sun is now passing
through this very phase, The vertical
currents In this mass suffice to account
for every appearance hitherto observed.
The third phase arrives when, IN con
sequence of cooling, the vertical move
ment begins to slacken; when, the
entire mass gradually contracting, the
luminous surface little by little acquires
a LIQUID, a pasty, and finally a solo
consistence. From this condition, the
sun is still far distant. BY continued
cooling, at last come the phenomena o.
definite extinction Although the inte
rior NAV be incandescent, the exterior il
covered with an Opaque, cooland hab1ta
BILE crust This is the geological phase
Examples are recorded in history. The
seventh annual star of the Pleiades
after languishing for centuries, Wen
ont at the fall of Troy. Hevelius, {
celebrated German astronomer, men
tions five stars whose expiring rays ht
had the glory and sorrow to catch IL
his telescopes. Hershel, after as
certaining the disappearance of nota
BILE number OF stars, by the comparison
of ancient with recent catalogues, haC
Z also the honor of being present at I
stars last moments, and of registering
ifs deceasa Tt was the ffticth of Hen
cules. For some time past he had OBJ
served II growing paler; it then turned
red: and after hickering some dozel
wears, it yielded up its flame, and disap
reared forever In the shades of night
The oath of March, 1871. was the date
on which the great astronomer enterec
this remarkable phenomenon in hi
journal. The earth and the moon, vi
are told, offer examples of this success
sive evolution. Evidently, the cart
was once veritable sun for the moon
whose mass is very much smaller, wa
naturally the first to cool. Then tn
earth in her turn, after passing through
the very same phases as our actual sun
at last acquired a crust and became en-
tirely SOLID at the surface. After
fresh considerable lapse of time Organi
life became manifested. The. sam
transitions have been passed throug
by the moon, only much more rapidly
1t is probable that life was DEVELOPS
in the moon when it had scarcely We
appeared on earth. We are infvrme'
that the moon represents the earth
future, the sun her past. We are be
hindhsnd with our satellite, ard yer
much In advance OF our sun. And thu
worlds have their distinct ages an,
their corresponding conditions of life
Each star passes through its successiv
of the universe. (