Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-17
DAILY RECORD-UNION
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

St.e of work by Thomas BasSnett, and is
issued by G.. z. Putnam Sons, New York,
and is for sale by A. L. Bancroft.& Co, San
Francisco. This Is not presented as work
for the man Of science it addresses itself
TO the general reader, with view Of giving
the history of theory and the evidences
in support of it The author claims to
have Invested the sun OF the mystery in
which Professor Young and Professor
Proctor have left it at the completion of
their works The volume is based on and
is supplemented 10 work issued by Mr.
Bassnett in 1854, entitled Outlines of a
Mechanical Theory of Storms" He be-
]ieves that infinite space is peryaded by a
subtle, imponderable medium, which CON
veyS to us the light OF the stars. 1t is ma
terial, but differs from ponderable matter
in its extreme tcHuity. The arrangements
of its equilibrium cause electric manifesto
tons, and, therefore. are to be called cleo
trio or ethereal fluid. If the solar system,
at T. beginning, was in nebuiOuS state,
rotating around common center as dis
seminated particles, its rotation was similar
to the rotation OF the medium in the man
ner of a vortex composed of series OF
worthless, the largest of which occupied
the axis and center of gravity of the
whole nebula. In the vortex of the earth
the matter involved was divided between
the earth and moon. and on the principle of
preserving a mechanical balance, the center
of the earth coultl not occupy the center of
the vortex; it would be displaced by the
moon III proportion to the relative masses
of the two bodies. The earth then, would
be an obstruction TO the circular current
and there would arise lateral worthless or
eddies. The number of these vortices is
seven. Their axes are assumed to be all par
allel and inclined to the earth's equator
BY the action of these worthless the cleo
trical equilibrium of the atmosphere in
proximity 10 their transit latitude is dis
turbed, which causes an influx of the colder
outside meaium-whOse specific heat must
far transcend that OF the tiuids-thus caus-
ing great !all of temperature Us one prom
jnent result of the disturbance, which at
first produces a contrary effect. As TO
whether the worthless exist, he appeals to
daily phenomena, and is not ut all dis
turbed by the fact that scientific authority
for forty years has refused to credit his
theories Certainly Mr. Bassnett is at great
pains, in volume of nearly 300 pages,
large octave, 70 fortify his theory. 1t is
with him no new chimcra, but he claims,
a system @! logical reasoning from effects
and phenomena back 10 laws and causes
In this column il Is simply impossible, with
any degree of satisfaction 10 follow him in
his peculiar theory Of solar spots. the CO.
roma, the solar surface, heat and light of the
sun, comctary phenomena. etc. We
abridge however his own statement of
conclusions as to the sun Rotation rari-
hcS the solar vortex, and perpetual cur
rent of ether Is originated throughout the
system. Except al the center the ethereal
medium is at its least density in the int
Tior of the solar vortex. In consequence of
this current there is central core of
greatest density, and that i greatest around
the axis. The part of the vortex, there
fore, where the ether Is least dense is sew
eral solar sc!ni-tliametcr from the axis. and
thence the rarefuction diuinishes according
to the square root Of the distance of the
axis. or the density increases outward di-
rectiy in the same ratio Solar spots are
due to the displacement OF the sun from the
center of the vortex, reaching their maxi
mum when the displacement Is At . maxi
mum, etc, oWingto the arrangement Of the
suns electric state by change Of position in
its orbit, as well rs by change Of position
OF portions Ct Its equatorial zone by its ro-
taIon. The solar corona and protuber-
anCcs are due to the ether or electricity
escaping from the sun, ~ we'll as to the
sweep of the great polar currents, which
account Tor all the pcCUiiariticS Of the Co
roma and for the Zodiacal light The
electric fluid he treats as he would the air
We breathc-its positive or negative condi-
hon being but question of density or in
tensity of pressure and elasticity, reducible
to mechanical principles. lie ignores all
forces in the discussion of physical ques-
tons not reduUble 10 such principles 1t
Is novel theory, and though the schools
Of science ignore it, il is interesting because
of its novelty originality and holiness and
the two score OF years of devotion Of an
earnest life to lis PRONUNCIATION.
We recent y made mention of a volume
on The History of Music in America,
by DR.. Frederic Louis Ritter The same
author now gives Us a soulewh hat smaller
book on Music in England Il i from
the press of thas Scribner's Sons. and Is
for sale at 81 20 by c. s. Houghton, Sacra-
mento. While less yoluminous. il is far
more interesting than the work first men
toned, since OF music in America com
paratively little could be said in a critical
way. About all the great musical char
acterS we have had here were from Europe
We have no school OF our owu-if we eX-
cept the plantation melodies of the South.
and the minstrel ditties of the North. and
these cannot be mentioned save as abnor-
nal and monstruStieS curiositieS and Oddi-
ties. But IN treating of music in England
DR. Ritter had real development TO follow
There IS an original productive side to
music culture in England. DR.. Ritter has
handled his subject well. beginning with
the English ballad and Gregorian chant,
and their relation 10 national taste, and
puntistS, the lililabethan composers, the
music decline under Puritan rule, and its
revival during the Restoration. and 50 on
u cathedral service. English Psalmodv, and
the attitude O.: the Church toward music as
an art.
From George p Rowclld, CO.. New York
we have the American Newspaper Di-
rect0ry for 1884, being the sixteenth an
Hual edition Of that yoiuminous and in
valuable work. 1t is one of the most ac-
Curate and thorough of compilations, with
only such doubt rs must always character
jze the effort 10 give an idea of the circula-
hen OF papers-a matter concerning which
publishers are very apt to keep tiicir own
counsel. The work rs a directory is of
much value, s,nce il treats quite fully of
the cities ana towns IN which papers are
published.
Lyrics OF me Law Is neat HFO, vol
ume, by J. Greenhag Croke aad is pub
lished by Sumner Whitney & Co /; is in
rhyme throughout. accompanied BY notes
explanatory and otherwise. Il is entirely
humorous and satiric.sl. Some old and
well-known comic poems are given, bat in
the main the pages are new. There is a
broad originality in the work that is mani
lest In many sarcastic and incisivelv
humorous strain. One of the best OF the
lyrics is the rhymny report of the case of
Hopkins ". Western Pacific Railroad Com
pany, IN the Supreme Court of California
The monthly magazine of John B. Alden,
publisher, New York. entitled Choice
Literature contains these papers Gen
cfai Gordon. by Henry {. Ewart Health
and Its General Conditions, by DR.. Andrew
Wilson India Her Wheat and Her
Railways, by William Fowler; The
Coming Slavery by Herbert Spencer
Rough Notes of Naturalisfs Visit to
Egypt by Principal Dawson: The Elk
pansion of England, BY Goodwin smith
The Prophet OF SAN Francisco bv the
Duke of Argyle. d" Science No-c. = ~. W