New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-21
THE LECTURE-ROOM.
nR. nrFcHyER ON THE SUN.


DIR. BUECHNER ON THE SUN.
Steinway Hall was comfortably filled last
night with an intelligent and apprecative audience in
Guiding many prominent assembled 70 listen to the
delivery Of first of series OF four scientific lectures
sy Dr. Ludwig Biichner the eminent German scientist
The for the evenings entertainment was
FThe SUM- and its Influence upon Life
The lecturer gave aspicture sunrise and sunset
and showed how powerfully the majority Of these phe
nomena affected in Oden times. In those days men
Imagined that good and evil spirits dwe in the domain
OF Nature and all influences exerted by Natures laws
mere supposed TO be the effects OF these spirits or dciues
existing in andcontrong nature AS there Is no lnnu-
snce in equang that wmch inc
sun exerts, this body was deihed and received
homage from many nations. The lecturer here made a
digression, introducing many interesting pathological
facts confirmation of his assertion. He showed how
widespread faith in the suns among the
ancient Assyrlans and Egyptians, and traced the origin
of the fable Of Midas the source Continuing, he
said that sun worship existed IN the New World at
The time OF its discovery. The Romans borrowed the
belief from the nations of the East. and introduced IL
into Germany they conquered the latter land The
greatest festivals Of the Northern peoples were held IN
honor OF the the time of the sOlstices. That held
OF the time OF the Winter sOstce the more impor-
ant one and after introduction of Christianity was
merged with the festival of Christmas or Weihnaehten
All the distinctive German Observances OF the latter
festival are relics OF hcatbendOm. .
The lecturer then proceeded TO describe the sun G-
,nensions and magnitude. He explained the double
revolution the about IFS axis and with the rest OF
the SYSTEM about the pleades the IOrner DtIng COM
peted 25t days, and the latter occupying twenyIwo
and naf billions Of years. he then alluded 70 the IDEAS
fOrmerly entertained concerning ne CONSTITUTION VI the
sun and showed how these had been modified by the
scientific discoveries of the last few years Inc sun
now recognized be incandescent mass surrounded
by atInospheres That nearest the sun and enyeop
ing composed hydrogen ana being compare
sheis n1sey luminous ana is called the Dhotosphere.
Modern spectral analysis has shown that IN the sun
there is combustion OF solids as well of gaseous
bodies and not OF gases merely. II is also shown
composition OF the sun are the ono 40 those upon te
earth The presence calcium. manganese. titan
iu other bodies in the has been positively de-
terined. The sun is burning, and must at some future
time entirely consumed. This. however, VIII not
happen even the bum without receiving addi-
matter is Increased BY i6eteors' ana comets which
drawn into the sun by the power Of srSv!tation m
passing 10 the Influences when the exerts. he
hCw aa 9 a~ FL qfp ea @RSa
ow the the great source ~ power proved Ihe
Slater 70 eternal though cAangaai ana closed ms
aectre with alusion TO science 10 moral suhleht as
pellng the gloom and darkness Tl!cA igioI;ce ana
Superstition have dropped over INC horizon oi INC "ord
PROF. WEIR OF ART.
The fifth lecture OF Prof. Werrs course on
the Principle and Means Of Art" was delivered Last
evening at the Gallery Of Art Association, Brooklyn.
The subject Of the lecture Form and Composition.
with Illustrations OF the True and False" The lecture
WAS prelude to the one which is follow but very
Interesting and met the approval of large and
attentive audience Form and Composition treated
with particular reference 70 "llghs and darks." and
-ith the aid of his powerful hvdrOOxYgen lantern the
lecturer made easily understood In representing
s idea the lecturer exhibited several drawings Of DOr6
In speaiug of the drawings Exp laned the extreme
effects OF light ana shade by very little effort.
beautiful pictures were Produced novel erect was
here shown, by the application OF rev chalk ma MARKS
upOn a blackboard, where ire nagtnlt0D was lert 70
complete the picture the whole being the mere effect Of
light aud dark. .,, ,,..,
understood in the OiOen uue, ana lghofance on TINS
point the cause OF the do Lects IL Tue VOTES OF Oe
Of rho o M d
expression " their leas ieaVng rhe mind IN doubt as
10 the nature of subject But later times the rea
1ions and effect BEG 70 be better understood
and the result was improved style OF drawing and
the grouping, but hghts and shades that the full
idea Of the subject might De easily graspcd.
The that art the reflection
what created in the heart of the artist our organl-
ers to Europe view works Of art, each is AZ
fected in different manner. Que enjoys certain OBJ
ject OF art while his neghbor standing by his side Is not
20 rD ~ nTopetv tb relative merits Of form and com
position The lights ann shadows Of poetry were hap
PLY treated by tue lecturer rec1ng ana explaining
OF expression is 10 the artist and he must
have an Individuality u his own he must have some
be rightly expressed to command attention.
THE FATHER OF RAILROADS.
lecture by the Hon. William Parsons of
Ireland drew large ence 10 the Brooklyn raRer-
nace last evening. The speaker exceedingly gree
full in his manner, and tLruGhOut his DISCOURSE com
-panded unbroken attentuc After sketchng the con-
ditions Of life among the In the early part Of the
Dresent century he drew picture Of burly, SCOT be-
grmed lad. tending the AOisting' apparatus at the
shaft mouth ntrodU ed his hero to his audience
stevenson that time turning over in his mind
several visionary projects for accomplishing the work by
steam power ana with the Introduction OF the 5tion-
arv engines the young genius took his place as
guardian the thrOteyalfe the lecturer hen tIice "a
the partial and general failures OF the
rneluers and projectors VINO, III every instance,
assistance Of thorough mechanical education
and the influence OF capital Stephenson, without
influence, money venttred upon the con-
etIucton of a small engine which at first failure,
were Of the most dismal KIND Tic lecturer closed with
reference the ralroad la itlcs OF Tins country re-
marking that the pletO Il tls great ne 10 tue
Pacific IN truth REALIZED IL, Pfandest dream OF the
eavaNt
BISHOP SIMPSON on PROGRESS.
Bishop Simpson of ne ii i0dist Episcopal
Church ectured last evening IL Bedford.ave Re-
formed Church Brooklyn D., subject: 1861 70
lgT1." Reviewing the grcl. ucI have occurred
within the past ten years. e -,-up traced IN graphic
Language the influence wlAcL have already exerted,
and must still greater extent exert upon the cause OF
human progress The enlarged knOw age Of the worlds
geography, the increased OF l accommodation,
progress in science aG 1T lc spread Of literature the
advance Of free aud free government the eps-
ration OF church and state aud tbe growing unity OF
naiiOusi these n considered SIGNS 0f mgh nope Tor
fhe r.ture From freedom OF thought, especially he
augured much OLY the exercise 0T Thought DO IL
20 Wild. cCuid truth ever Dc wrought OUT
Touching upon the grand ccnfuIuons o1 tils country
" the cause vi human pf0sgss, % sp1he VI ncr nuu