The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-18
THE LIFE OF WORLDS.
Prof. Proctor Explains His Theory TO Large
Audience in Tomlinson Hall.

It was fair sized audience that listened to
Prof Richard A. Proctor's lecture at Tomlinson
Hall, last evening. The lecture was entitled
1.-THE Life of Worlds" and was given under the
High-school management and for the benefit OF
the reference library of the school. The lecture
was supplemented by excellent stereopticon
views Professor Proctor deals SO largely in
stupendous facts. figures and theories as to be-
wilder the ordinary mind, and necessarily so
from the nature of tho subject. The outline of
the theory presented in his lecture is simple
enough, but the figures marshaled to support it
appallingiy incomprehenSible, and are the
products of the science of all time.
The speaker was introduced by Prof. l.. III.
Jones, superintendent of city schools. Mr..
Proctor's home is in st. Louis, but he is tempo
rariy located at Orange Grove, Fla He is of
English build, rudy complexion. wears side
whiskers and mustache, and speaks with decided
English accent.
lar hypothesis. He reasons by analogy concern
ing the changes and conditions of other planets
from scientific conclusions as to our own earth,
coupled with the revelations of the telescope
and the spectroscope. He the different
planets in the different stages of growth and de-
cay as he sees the development of a tree from
cline and death. So he speaks of
world in it's babyhood, childhood. man
hood, old age and death. corresponding
to the vaporous, fiery, solidifed declining and
We read the record of the earth's history.
not of its earliest formation. but after life be-
gan in the strata of its surface. We study the
progress and decline of world studies
his future, who is not supposed TO know his de-
cline save by reference to his own past
The Professor asserts that the water of the
seas is continually passing beneath the earth
surface. 1t is estimated that already one-third
has thus disappeared Suppose that an amount
equal to the thickness of sheet of paper should
disappear each year. In thousand years little
more than a foot will have. been absorbed. and in
million years the earth's surface will be dry.
In Gods calendar that tins will be short.
The various planets of our system present the
different phases of growth and decay. Longer
time is required for the larger ones to cool, and
SO they are relatively younger than the smaller
where changes have been more rapid The
while the former are yet in fiery youth. The
sun is in the first stage; Jupiter and Saturn in
the second; the earth and Venus in the middle;
Mars and Mercury on the decline, and the
earths moon IS barren of life. The relation of
the planets to each other suggest evolution, as
the symmetry of tree suggests growth.
Each .,i of the planets were taken
the evolution theory. The effects of winds.
rain, snow, storms, glaciers, earthquakes and
volcanoes was referred to a sign of life. and
yet all remind of the death that must come to
the world that is beaten and torn by them.
From the planets the speaker passed to the
stars, and said that millions of millions of
worlds in space may be occupied and inhabited.
many have been occupied, and many will
be. A scientist said years ago, THE known Is
little. the unknown much We must DOW
say that the known is nothing, the unknown in
finite. The speaker closed with lengthy
quotation from De Quncys translation of
Rchter's wonderful word picture, of bewildering
imagery