The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-08-08
The sun.Doctors DHfer.

All the astronomers who have taken
observations of the late solar eclipse
from stations in the West agree in the
importance of the revelations made.
The great luminary is pronounced to be
in a state of comparative quiescence,
for which, in spite of the alleged law of
the periodical city of sun spots, they ap-
pear to have been somewhat unprepar-
ed. Only one protuberance was noted,
and the corona gave continuous spec
trum from which the green line 1474 X
was missing, showing, according to
Prof. Draper, that it consists of band
of continuous light solely due to refec-
ton. The low energy of the sun, and
its consequent lack of masses of ignited
vapor projected beyond the chrome
sphere, is held to account for the absence
of the green line, which represents the
unknown substance, probably q very
light gas, and which is called helium
forwant of better term. This appar-
ent lessenihg of the vitality of the sun
appears to Prof. Draper as something
which at the first blush should induce
wonderful changes in the climate of the
earth, but in the fact that no such mu-
tations are noted on this globe he con-
cludes that the abnormal condition of
the sun at the II year period of maxi
mum sun spots "counts but little
against the total amount of heat sent out
at all times" He therefore sees no
portent of i'll to climate or crops in the
activity or quiescence of the sun. Not
so Prof. Lockyer, the famous English
astronomer. The absence of the green
line shows a great reduction in the tenn
perature of the sun, and shouli he
thinks, produce corresponding changes
on the earth. He would not be sur
prised at serious results and radical eli
matte variations. The connec-
ton between sun spots and
droughts which produce fam
ines, he holds proven. Terrestrial
magnetism, he points out, has been less
energetic during the past four years
than during the preceding 40. Mr.. Nor
ton of the Stevens Institute follows the
English scientist in gloomy, or, rather,
fiery forecasts. He, too, is surprised
that no great changes have occurred.
The absence of the green line shows that
the self-luminous gaseous matter pre-
viously observed in the corona is only
temporary occupant. He thinks that
he sees an argument in favor of the old
theory that the sun is fed by meteorites,
huge iron bolts fired at old Sol, and he
can not shake from his mind the belief
that such changes are liable to occur on
earth as would make the pole tropical.
1t is comforting that Prof. lanyard, of
England, agrees with our American as
tronomer, DR.. Draper, and is not a prey
to fears of an intolerable increase of So
lar heat on the earth or its equally in
tolerable diminu ion Prof. Loder also
keeps his imagination COOL We pre-
sumo that a little later these learned
sun-doctors will come little nearer to
an agreement on the temperature of their
illustrious patient, but at present the av-
erage citizen, while convinced that there
is great astronomical erudition just now
at Denver, will have chance for choos-
ing his own favorite from among the
many contradictory deductions drawn
by astronomers. The growing certainty
about the discovery of the. new star at
only fifteen million miles from the sun
looks like the probability of a great
posthumous triumph for Leverrier.-
Neso York Herald.