Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-04-21

But what is the nature of the body whose
action is so universal? Early astronomers
supposed it 4 globe of red hot iron, about
seventy-five miles away; later it was
supposed to be an Opaque globe with II
luminous atmosphere, which was enabled
in some mysterious way to produce heat
by its rays of light combined or dispersed
or united with our own atmosphere. Some
supposed it Heaven where all good people
were blessed.
But thanks to the speclrOscope, that
wonderful instrument brought into scen-
tlic Use 10 tell us the composition of the
sun, by dry goods clerk in London, who
discovered that when the ray of sunlight
was divided or dispersed by the prism, and
then magnificd, that there were numerous
dark places not filled with light. 1t is
now known that the particular kinds of
light which originally belonged in these
dark lines have been culled out by the
gases surrounding the sun, through which
the light from Il more heated portion
passed. 1t has been found that such gases
absorb the light which they give out to
make bright lines in their own spectrum,
letting all the other light pass. Hence
we are enabled to get the exact spectrum
of the gases that surround the sun, and by
comparing with gas on earth, we identify
such as we know here, and we also ident-
fly the bright lines of metals in the same
or similar manner.
That this may be understood | will
suppose that Dame Nature makes Il pres
ent TO all nations of the earth of blank
gold coins which exactly correspond in
weight with their established usage fol-
money. In this immense hoard of nature
are blank coins ranging from fifty cents
up to fifty dollars. France weighs them
one by one and picks out five. ten. twenty
and fifty franc pieces. The English rum
mage the pile and pick out all the pieces
of proper weight for sovereigns and hall
sovereigns. The United States pick Out
their fifty cents, one. two and a half, five
ten, twenty and fifty dollar gold pieces
and an expert is then called. without any
knowledge of the transaction, to tell what
nations have picked it over
Looking at the pile the task seems hope
less, but he causes them all to be PLACED
in rows of corresponding weight, anC
where there is too great difference il
weight for the regular progression, to
leave space. After this is done he ha.
but to look upon the rows to see the gaps
and rs he knows the standard weight O
the various coins he us we'll knows thai
France, England and the United State.
have had their share; so it is with tht
! spectrum. CA fine spectroscopc was here
: presented and its use explained.)
. This little instrument tells US that hy
drogen gas is there in great abundance
also many other gases. 1t tells of i'm
mense heat of the vapor of iron, silver
gold and many OF her minerals. 1t in fac
tells us that the whole body of the sun il
} glowing with heat which we can gain NJ
!. conception of, and we may we'll ask
J What fire burns in its vast censer?
) Some suppose its heat is kept up b,
: meteoric bodies which, coming into tn
, sphere of its attraction, fall to it, causin,
heat by conclusion; but this to my mine
is inadequate. Some suppose that th
shrinkage occasoned by the cooling O
/ this immense mass by the radiation of hea
, into space forces up the immense Jet
which we frequently see upon its surfac
when we look through telescope. thu
covering the surface which gives us lioh
and heat with liquid fire; but reason come
to our aid, and we believe that it teacho
us that it is the larger part Of our sola
system, as the sun is seven hundred times
at least, larger than all the planets pit
, together; as it came from the hand
Q God heated to an immense degree, Il
t were all the planets when created.
S The planets being smaller have, some
l them, at least, cooled down so us to /
habitable, while the sun is so large that
e has as yet lost no appreciable amount
its heat, and will not for millions of yeal
$ to come; but, by-and-by, us time goes OF
if unchanged by God, it will cool dow
and become like our earth q solid glob
AS it is, it is in density only like air {
gas, and the extreme heat keeps it ,
: without union of its material substapc,
'f That this theory may bo true comes IL
G facts of immense cruptions; craters or su
d spots forming larger than all earth; to
n nadoes upon its surface moving at the IN
a Of one hundred and fifty miles secon
d which are electrical, always causing ec
d trical disturbances on the earth, often
d Il marked character; lis low density, O
in other words, its extreme rarity th
Is allows such immense velocites. If W
S had such n storm on earth it woul
g sweep away all things, even the sol
IL ground itself. Such a velocity would eau
IL all inilammable substances TO burn;
IS fact, would produce chaos here. But
S us not speculate; we are in Gods hands
Most glorious orb! that were worship ere
. The mystery of thy making revealed;
l. Thou earliest minister OF the Almighty,
@ Which gaddened on their mountain tops the heart
OF the Chaldean shepherds, till they pour'd
Themselves in prisons; thou material God
1t And representative Of the Unknown
Who chose for His shadow thou chief star
70 Centre of many stars; which max st our earth
j. Endurable, and temperest the hues
And hearts of all who walk within thy rays,
u Sire of the seasons! monarch of the cimes
o And those who dwell in them! for near or far
u Our inborn spirits have tint of thee
s Even as our outward aspects; thou dost rise
l. And shine and set in glory"
CHICAGO, April 5, 1880.
Editor Freenaan You can find on r.
CURING to The files of vour manor o ,,o.