The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-22

points over the ago OF tho sun. GsoloRists say
he must have been shieipg upon the earth for
millions OF years longer than astronomer will
admit that he can possibly have existed. Va.
rious attempts to enable the opposing
sciances 10 join hands across the chAsm
OF time which thus separates them
have failed. Recently Mr.. r. A. Proctor sug-
gestod that the problem could be solved BY as
Stunning that tho real body Of the sun IL COM
paratively small globe lying far within the
dazzling surface Of tho solar orb which We see.
and which he says Ia only shell OF blazing
clouds. We might thus add several million
years to the ago Of tho sun on tho contraction
theory. but he would still remain far too youth
full to meet the demands OF the geologists. and
particularly Of the followers OF Darwin who
require almost unlimited time for the working
out OF the processes OF evolution OF plants and
animals.
But now comes N. Faye. the distinguished
French astronomer. with new theory Of the
solar system, which. he thinks. may give the
biologists all the time they want N. Faye's
theory does not mako the sun older: on tho
contrary. 1t makes him younger. II Ia upon
the earth that the French astronomer heaps
high and heavy the burden Of time. The earth.
he concludes. is older than the sun. instead OF
being Its offspring. In fact. NJ Faye believes
that all the planets are older than the sun. OK
tune. These far.away worlds are noted for tho
fact that their satellites revolve backward
that IL to say. In q direction contrary to tho
motion OF the satellites OF all the
other planets 1t Is probable that the
two planets themselves also rotate In
this same retrograde direction. Now. this has
always been q source OF more or less bewilder-
ment to those who have undertaken to trace
the birth and growth Of the solar system.
.v,ovc ala, 10 49, Avl
thing moving from west to east. The sun turns
on its axis from west to cast; Mercury. Venus.
the earth. Mars. tho two or three hundred min
iature worlds called the asteroids. Jupiter. and
Saturn. all revolve around the sun from
west to east: every ono OF these planets
rotate on Its axis from west to east:
the moon moves from west to east around
the earth: Mars's two satellites. Jupiter's four.
and Saturn's eight all fall into line and swing
around their centres in the same direction.
The whole mighty sys.om marches ono way.
keeping stop. as it were. to the music Of
the spheres. This eastward motion seems
to be the result OF great primal impulse: the
beholder pauses in amazement and awe, for
here he can almost persuade himself that no
secs the hand OF the Almighty applied to set
the mechanism OF the heavens in motion.
Even the two otherwise erratlc planets on tho
outskirts OF the system obey this law OF uni
form motion. 80 far as their revolution around
| tho sun Is concerned and obediently take their
places in the great planetary procession.
But then thoy seem to become rebellous.
They will march with their comrades. but will
keep step to their own music. So far as the
revolution Of their satellites. and undoubtedly
their rotation on their axes. are con cerned they
proclaim their Independence. and move In
their own way. Uranus. the nearer Of the
| two. seems to have had a struggle to achieve
| its independence for It's satellite revolves al
most at right angles to the plano of the planets
| orbit and only just far enough over the line Of
| 90 to save 1t from compliance with the general
rule Of west-to-esst motion. Neptune much
| further away has its system tipped far over.
and SO becomes fragrant violator Of tho rule.
Various theories have been contrived to ac-
count for these eccentricties. and to show that
they are. after all. not violations OF tho great
| law OF tho system. as that law 10 Interpreted
by theory. N. Faye's explanation is briefly
| this: He conceives tho solar system as existing
originally in the form Of q spherical nebulous
mass. Then. revlving partially the theory Of
DESCRIBES he assumes that vortices were
| formed in this mass. These worthless. or whirl-
pools. tended to form rings within the mass. and
these rings. breaking. became globes the origi-
mails Of the present planets. Now. in this great
whrling mass Of nebulous matter the velocity
| OF any particle would DO directly proportional
to its distance from the centre. and the dircc-
| ton OF rotation OF the globes formed from tho
| broken rings would accord with the direction
| of the vertical motion. which in this case was
| from west to east. Finally at the centre OF the
| nebula a huge globular mass. tho original OF
| the sun. would become condensed. and draw to
| itself all the matter which had not formed into
| rings. After that the law OF velocities would
| change. the nebula no longer existing as n con-
ncCted wbOla and fha ve1Oeifv n RAJ on a
| any point within the systcm wouli be inversey
proportional to tho square OF tho distance from
| the centre. Just rs We find to DO the case now.
| NJ. Faye assumes that the nebulous rings
| which gave birth to Uranus and Neptune wcro
| not broken up until after tho central condensa-
ton. or. in other words the sun. had attracted TO
| itself the remaining matter OF the system and
the new law Of velocities had come into opera
| ton. That being the ease. the inner edges Of
the Uranian and Neptunan rings would tend
to move faster than their onter edges. and
| clearly when they broke and formed into
globes those globes would rotate In direction
| opposite to that Of the revolution Of the parent
| rings. Tho same law would operate upon tho
satellites OF Uranus and Neptune. and cause
| them also to move back ward with reference 20
! the primary motion Of the rings.
| NJ. Faye promises to develop his theory ut
greater length and in the mean time he shows
| IcauS W IL asuinSt Ill
| The manner In which his theory supplies time
| to the biologists who say the sun must
have poured it's radiations upon the earth
longer than 1t could have done accord
ing to the old theory that the earth
was much younger than the sui is clear. For
on Fayos theory the earth and the other
planets. except Uranus and Neptune. came
into existence. being born out of vortex rings
In the bosom OF the nebua. long before the sun
| separated itself from the mass and beclinc tho
| ruling centre OF the system. so. OF course,
| during all the time that the sun was forming.
the Garth must have received the Lenc.l, Of lls
| radiation OF heat and light.
| Mans Relation to Edibic Beasts.
| Ashrewd little five year Connecticut Yam.
kce, the grandson OF well known clergy man, last
| day pronounced ha opinion important matter Il
| h,yn NJ