The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-09-19
OL~@} La 49, 1885,
A GLIMPSE BEYOND THE EARTH.

IA GLIMPSE BEYOND THE EARTH.
The outbreak in Java, formidable
and awful as it u.s.. appears small
affair beside the coovulsions which
anybody who will take the trouble to
visit an observatory may witness in
some Of the other orbs OF The solar
aystem. At this moment there are
visible upon the disk Of the sun the
effects Of commotions which would
not merely SKATER 40 island, but
would involve the whole round earth
in blazing ruins. It is not necessary.
however, to look to the sun, where
the dnal, fiery processes Of that ne
hular contraction, which, it is believ.
ed, gave birth to the solar system,
are proceeding with an energy of
which We can have no adequate con.
ception In order to find examples Of
the disrupting forces that are al
present manifesting their power in
other worlds than ours on 4 scale
that beli.tles the Java eruption. On
Jupiter, for instance, the telescope
reveals the most surprising changes
continually going on in the appear
ance of the planet, and which can on
Iy be produced by forces Of = magni.
tuds unequaled upon the earth. Az.
trouomers are just now watch, Jupi
ter. which 10 fast drawing away from
the ueighhorhood Of the sun in the
morning sky, with intense interest,
in order to determine whether one of
the most surprising appearance that
we're ever witnessed upon that planet
is yet visible. Late in the summer
Of 1878 faint gray spot OF an elou.
seape presented itself in the southern
hemisphere Of Jupiter. In . few
weeks it had changed il color to a
deep red, and had become 90 conspic.
uous that even small telescopes east
~ showed it. Singular phenomena
we're observen around it. The great
dark belt that encircles the planet
south of the equator was seen to be
bent away from this fiery looking
spot in the most curious manner.
The spot was pointed At the ends,
and surrounded at times Ivy sort Of
whitish aureole. II Was not less than
10000 miles long and 5000 miles
broad. After long watching, astron
omers found that this red spot took
4 longer time TO make its journey
around the planet than some light
spots which we're seen near the equa
tor Of Jupiter. What could this ex.
,raordinary object be7 Nobody could
tell, although = dozen theories sug-
gested. Last fall the great spot be
gan to fade. A thin veil, as Of smoke
or cloud, seemed to have been drawn
over it. The veil grew thicker and
The red spot lost ito red color. Last
winter only few Of the largest te|e-
scopes in the world could reveal q
slight trace OF the fading spot. Then
Jupiter went behind the sun, and now
that he has appeared within the
range Of telescopes it 10 probable that
not even the most powerful will show
where the red spot was. The obser.
walton Of such = phenomenon ~ this
on Jupiter is interesting to the inhab,
itants Of the earth, because there 10
reason to believe that Jupiter 10 nav
in = stage VI planetary development
that was passed by the globe upon
which We live ages and ages ago. So.
watching the changing appearance Of
Jupiter's surface, We are able to CON.
pare an early stage OF the eartl,'s
history, when It was subject to throes
that we're felt from centre to circum.
ference, or when perhaps it was yet
q molten ball surrounded by sea OF
dense vspors, with its present condi
ton, when volcanic outbursts are yet
able to sink islands anil Overwhelm
cities, but can, after al, only shake
aud split its crust here and there,
without being able to crush the rocky
framework.
The great volcanic eruption 10 Ia
" suggests another curious consid
GRAFTON. II We accept the conclusion
Of those who think that at leases two
OF the suns family OF works besides
the EARTH. namely, Venue and Mars,
are now Inhabited, we must admit
the possibility than tue Javan con.
vulsion has aroused the interest of
otner beings besides the Inhabitants
Of the earth, for with telescopes 40
powerful as those Of terrestial astron-
omers the supposed dwellers on Mare